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RdMarquis
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, NeoNet Datafarm, Fort Lewis, Seattle]

<If I may?> She interjects. <The data is actually contained in a number of hard drives we retrieved from the site. Assuming you'll want the devices as well, I suggest a physical meeting place. Are you familiar with the Alabaster Maiden in Downtown Seattle?> In other circumstances, LeFey might have considered her fixer's club. With this job, there was too much risk of bringing her curses "home".
Aria
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Fleeing the scene... Seattle]

<<@Team [eTher]: I haven't been to the Maiden in a while so that will be most acceptable. Can you hole up until then? My flight touches down around ten in the morning so by the time I have cleared customs I'm afraid it will be late morning before I can join you...>>
Vegas
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Fleeing the scene... Seattle]

Ali kept up with the conversation as she maneuvered her car back onto the roads and reconnected to GridGuide. With their rendezvous point pre-plotted and the route pre-determined, she was able to address her thoughts and concerns with the rest of her team.

<<@team (minus eTher): Is there any chance our tech team can make copies of the drives and or upload their contents before the meet at The Maiden tomorrow? Perhaps then we could meet at our rally point, split the drives and go to ground in various safehouses till the meet with eTher? Just as a form of an insurance policy so to speak.>>
Shadowrenamon
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

PsyOp took a moment to think on Vegas's words, rubbing the back of his head some.

<<@team: We can give it a try, though I feel like our employer wouldn't appreciate the extra copies lying around even if we do just scrub them afterwords. First things first though is taking care of the security on these things.>>

He then looked over at Peaches (or her Persona or Icon), his hands slipping into his pockets, "So how are you at handling these sorts of things? I normally have something helping me out but it seems they don't want to listen to me all the much today." He remembered the last couple tries he had compiling, and shook his head a bit; he'd had better days when it came to the inhabitants of the Resonance.
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

They were well past those small fringes of the Puyallup district that were civilized, or that even had power. Al was headed south towards their rally point, headlights off to avoid attention, driving by the light amplification systems in his eyes.

With one ear he was tracking the comm chatter, with his other the techies in the back of the van.

He responded to Ali's idea: <<Spoken like a true thief, Peaches darlin', guess it's in yer blood. But I second the new guy's opinion - makin' extra copies don't seem like the job we was paid ta do. An' as fer splittin' up, hell, comin' up onna rally point now, so we's only just gittin' back together. Gotta say it, girl, seems like ever' time we split our forces we git ourselves into a world o' hurt. Now I was thinkin', they rent rooms down ta the Crime Mall, safe from the blue crew, safe from pryin' corp eyes, an' they do frown on disturbin' the piece. Whaddaya say?>>

In the back they were still talking about the drives, but he reckoned he'd leave that to his betters.
mister__joshua
Jan
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

Jan thought about what Al was saying before offering his own, somewhat self-serving suggestion. "I fancy an expensive downtown hotel with it's own security. The Ritz or the Hilton or something. We get to live in luxury for a night and have someone else do the fighting. Make all that security work for us for a change"

"Wouldn't take much. Make sure their corp affiliations are different and they'll be reluctant to send their own guys after us. Any runner team would struggle to prepare and assault a building like that in a night...."
he nodded to himself "...and I could get a bath" he finished, as if that was the clincher.
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

Al laughed at the elf merc's suggestion. Assuming it was a joke. But the idea gnawed at him as he drove. Wormed its way into the thirsty part of his mind, the sleepy part. The part that was missing the post-season combat biker events and the latest episode of his new favorite anime, which was airing tonight on the sort of channel you had to pay for.

The kind of hotel Jan was talking about would have it.

The GPS showed them coming up on the rally point, and there in the gloom Al's enhanced eyes could see that Peaches had beat them there. He pulled up, tires crunching out a rough whisper on the coarse volcanic sand. Got out, shotgun slung but ready, lit a cigarette and went over to greet his friend.

Soon they were all standing around in the dark between or leaning on the two vehicles, the only light from the stars and Al's Lucky Strike. And the now distant spires of downtown Seattle.

They were deciding their next move. They all knew NeoNet would be after them, and that could make one short night into one long vigil.

"...so yeah, there's points fer splittin' up an' keepin' onna move, I'll grant it. But it ain't how I'm made. Maybe the best way fer one of us ta make it ta the meet, but me, I want us all ta make it, an' don't see how we's gon' have each other's backs doin' it thataway. So y'all know I was thinkin' the Crime Mall. Off the radar, an' things don't go so well fer them what make trouble there. But a NeoNet strike force - not convinced they'll care much."

His voice was a lot like powersanding a shark, but without the harmony.

"But now Jan, here, he's got an' idear sounds mighty nice ta ol' Al...."
RdMarquis
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

"I can help with the drives," she offers. "Whatever is going to be done with the data, we need to examine it before turning it over." Just to be safe. It was another reason they needed a place to lay low for the night. LeFey pulled her jacket closer against the cold. "While I'd love the chance to go to ground in comfort, there's the issue of getting our equipment inside a room without undue fuss." Or rather, undue risk. She could probably work her magic on hotel security if she needed to. Did she? "Admittedly, the Crime Mall isn't a perfect hideout, either." LeFey produces a six sided die from her pocket. "Given that, why don't we leave this one up to Fate?"
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

The ember at the tip of Al's cigarette glowed more brightly as he pulled deeply, and the momentary flare drew deeper lines and shadows across the uneven crags of his face.

Seconds ticked by. No one objected.

"Well girl, whatcha waitin' for? Roll them bones."
RdMarquis
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

She complied with a flick of her wrist. The die landed on a smooth patch of sidewalk (perhaps unnecessarily) displaying a six. "Hmm. Guess we need to find a nice hotel to case, hack, and check into."
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

"Well, ol' Al stayed down ta the New Century Square a few weeks gon' by. Watched combat biker onna wall-sized screen, had a view o' the whole city, had the best food inna city brought up ta the room, an' the skirts onna girls servin' it were as short as the building was tall. They was a bit uppity 'bout smokin' inna room, but I soon put 'em straight." He shrugged. "But then I'll confess ta always wantin' ta stay at the Undersound, what with the walls lookin' out into the Sound an' all. Either spot's no more five minutes' drive up Mercer ta the Maiden."
AlyW
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

As part of the backup team, Samara had remained off-site during the 'run, and as a result she had been held up by late traffic on her way to the Puyallup meeting point; arriving a few minutes later than the others, she'd parked a block away, leaving her car in a deserted parking lot before travelling the final distance on foot, hunched against the chill.

The elf soldier was a little nervous; she'd been contacted by a fixer named Silk to take on a short, potentially low-danger mission to act as backup to an infiltration 'run; she didn't know much about what was going on, but low on nuyen she decided to take the job; Samara (or Sammy, as she preferred) had then contacted several of the primary team via voice-mail to introduce herself. However, she'd not met any of them in person, and was uncertain on what to expect.

Samara made a point to approach the group from out in the open, giving them a few hundred feet to identify her, or at least to let them give her a once-over for assurance that she is not a threat. Indeed, she sends a short message to the group identifying herself as Angel, one of the backup team members.

Currently, Sammy is clad in a dark calf-length long-coat, under which she wears an equally dark hoodie, to help ward off the chill. The hood is up, partially obscuring some of her features, although her face is fully visible, grey-green eyes seeming to glitter slightly in the low light. As she approaches, she raises a hand in greeting, the movement briefly revealing a holstered side-arm at her belt.

"Hoi, chummers. Sorry I'm late. A bit of traffic held me up." the elf greets, before rolling her shoulders in a slight shrug. "What did I miss?" Samara then inquires, giving a tilt of her head then glancing to each of the other shadowrunners in turn, studying them with open curiosity. Up close, it becomes more apparent that she is an elf, displaying the fine-boned facial features typical of the race, although the hoodie keeps her ears hidden; her movements are graceful and confident, but lack the haughtiness that can be common in Homo sapiens nobilis.
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

Al congratulated himself again on getting into this business. He'd done a lot of different jobs, but he'd never imagined there was a profession where all the girls were hot.

He gave Peaches a shove with his shoulder. "Little more space, darlin'," he whispered, "wouldn't want 'er ta think ol' Al was spoken for."

As the woman drew within spitting distance and he was a bit disappointed to see she was a keeb, but decided to forgive her. "Well, we got the goods, drop's not till manana, so we's jist now cogitatin' on which o' the Emerald City's finest hotels we should kill the intervenin' time in."
AlyW
Angel, Sammy's street handle, nods briefly to the older-looking human's reply, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "I heard." she responds, lifting her be-gloved right hand to tug back one side of the hood briefly, revealing a slender elven ear.

"Undersound is nice, when you are there for the scenery... the upper floors are a little less interesting. There is always the Gates over in Bellevue. Sure, it is a casino, but how often do you hear about casinos being raided or robbed?" the elf adds, that slight smile returning. "Outside of movies, that is." After chiming in with her own suggestion, Angel shifts her stance a little, taking a moment to gaze around the area cautiously.
adamu
Al's face lit up at the mention of a casino. If he could resist to urge to do anything creative with the cards, a few hands of poker might be just the thing to take the edge off a hard evening of shadowrunning.

But he held his peace, waiting to hear what the others thought of the new girl's idea.
RdMarquis
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

LeFey speaks up at the newcomer's suggestion. "Actually, there was this incident in Las Vegas where six casinos were hit almost simultaneously. And no one could figure out what was taken, at first. There wasn't a single nuyen lost, except in damages. The culprits were actually after the magical artifact being kept by each establishment. It turned out to be kind of a big deal, too..." She trailed of, realizing her explanation was becoming a lecture. "Ahem. The Gates isn't a bad idea. Their security is supposed to be better than most, even it it's not specifically around to keep guests safe." She'd heard a thing or two about the casino's management.
mister__joshua
Jan
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

"Isn't a casino a little public?" Jan thought to himself, and then out loud. "In a Hotel you don't get far past the lobby if you've not got a reservation. Casino's encourage the public to come and wander around."
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

Al threw his cigarette but on the ground and stamped it out. "An' here I thought we'd done picked our poison," he lamented. "So if'n yer nixin' the casino, that leaves you ta pick somethin' else. Reckon ever' minute we spend standin' round here is a minute I ain't commando under a fluffy robe watchin' Uncle Shagrat's House an' swillin' overpriced foreign beers."
mister__joshua
Jan
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

"I ain't nixing nothing bru, I ain't team leader. I just put forward ideas I think best for keeping you ladies safe." Jan bagged his rifle while they talked, and tossed it into the back of the van. Wherever they ended up, he wouldn't be taking that. "If you say casino it's casino. I'm sure the upper suites are plenty secure. Be careful on the floor though, don't want be getting fokked over now."
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Puyallup Seattle]

"Gates in Bellevue it is, then," said Al, and he winked generously at Angel, as though he'd just given her an unimaginably extravagant gift. "Hell, we play our cards right, we might jist double tonight's take...pun intended." He had trouble not laughing at his own joke, and had to congratulate himself on his refined sense of humor.

Hopping into the back of the stolen van with the satanist symbol emblazoned on the side, he rummaged around and found some rags. Got out and began stuffing them with practiced art into the fuel tank. His Zippo appeared in one burn-scarred hand. "So how we gittin' there?"
Aria
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

With unparalleled views across Lake Washington, the Gates is the epitome of indulgent opulent excess, a far cry from the dusty streets of Puyallup a little while ago. Reservations made under various fake SINs the runners are able (after some cosmetic arrangement of their apparel) waltz into the joint. A suite on the upper level provides enough space to comfortably relax in the knowledge that the mob are unlikely to look kindly on corp HTR teams rampaging through the lobby...

Now, time to assess these harddrives that have been so hard won...
AlyW
Angel watches as Al moves to torch the fan, offering a quick nod of approval. "I've got my own vehicle nearby.. it can seat 3 more.. or 4 with a bit of a squeeze" the elf offers, then flashes a brief smile. "I'm a pretty decent driver.. I got a lot of practice on the front lines." she adds, a touch of humor in her tone.

Regardless of who accepts her offer, Angel makes her way back to the vehicle, taking care to observe the area nearby, wary of a potential ambush. This *is* Puyallup afterall. Indeed, before even opening the door she gives it quick walk-around, checking for overt damage and signs of tampering alike. Assuming neither damage nor tampering are found, Angel then settles into the drivers seat before unlocking the doors for her passengers. "All aboard. Next stop, Bellvue."

~~~~~~~~

Angel decides to park in a semi-secured lot near the Gates rather than driving right up; she doesn't trust valets, and doesn't want to shell out regardless. Additionally, she didn't really have any plans on bringing in any heavy gear into the hotel, not wanting to risk setting off any weapon alarms or whatnot. Fortunately, with her armor being form-fit, the elf is able to quickly change into something a little more appropriate for a public place than a simple hoodie and jeans.

Once inside, Angel makes a point of renting her own room, as close to the others as possible; not out of any desire to be a loner, but (as she explains later) to prevent all the eggs from being placed in one basket, metaphorically speaking. Joining the rest of the team, she eyes the hard-drives curiously. "So, what is supposed to be on these things? It wasn't need to know before but.. now that I am here, I think it is."
adamu
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

Al had already ordered filet mignons along with king crab legs flown in this morning from the TPA. His Docs were up on the glass coffee table and he was chuckling non-stop at Uncle Shagrat's antics. Now that boy was one charming damned tusker. He had half a mind to hit the jacuzzi, but figured it'd be more strategic to wait until the ladies had some more drinks in them first.

"Hell, ol' Al's purty damned sure we ain't supposed ta look at 'em at all. But..." and he gave the new medic an expansive 'but apparently we're all crazy shadowrunners' look. Then his face grew slightly more serious. "We been led ta believe it might be data that can help sort out this Sybill thing, an' if so, then I reckon we better make sure it gets into the right hands...or claws, in the case of Fairy Twinkle Dragon."
Vegas
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

Ali stepped out of the bathroom of their suite, running a towel over her dark hair damp and freshly washed from the shower. She had traded the corporate power suit she had worn at the data farm for a pair of yoga pants and well-worn tshirt with the logo of the DJ known as Zombi3chri5t. She carelessly tossed her damp towel over the back of an expensive chair just as Al's last words filled her ears.

"I don't think you should let it hear you refer to it with such a colorful nickname."

Her face was serious, but her eyes betrayed her as they flashed with humor. She nodded to the rest of their team that was gathered around the drives and were beginning to hash out their plan for how to deal with them before turning them, or the specific data to eTher. Her gaze became all business as it turned point blank towards the team's two tech heavy-hitters.

"You have a plan of attack for those yet?"

mister__joshua
Jan
[Sunday September 29th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

"There's nothing quite like the sight of a good ass in yoga pants." Jan said to himself, but loud enough for Ali to hear. When Jan stripped off he revealed a body that had been shot, stabbed and generally put through the ringer on too many an occasion, but it was bio-engineered to perfection. Powerful, athletic and perfectly symmetrical. He gathered up the discarded towel and headed into the bathroom.

"I'm thinking steak tonight" he announced in general. "It's been a good day."
Aria
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Due mainly to the comparatively early hour the high class joint is fairly empty but in this twenty four hour age nothing ever really sleeps…the holographic light shows are muted but music gently permeates the air, just enough to mute the quiet conversations of the few patrons. The group are seated in a private booth away from anyone else but with a clear view of the main area of the club.

It’s her bodyguards that the group notice first, two big black guys with creative dread locks and the gait of those who have received extensive combat awareness training. She by contrast, is strangely uninspiring. She looks to be in her late teens, dressed in a linen business suit that makes her look even younger than that. Pretty enough but no super model…she does however walk with a confidence unusual for her apparent age and surveys the group with a proprietary air that might make some uncomfortable…

Her voice is gentle but with subtle overtones that somehow remind the group of the subliminals in corp broadcasts…but maybe that’s just how drakes speak?

“You’re all here, good…”
adamu
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Al had had hangovers.

And he'd had bad hangovers.

Then there was today.

He remembered ordering some Wild Turkey. Drinking it with some of the others. At some point he was pretty sure he'd found his way out onto the ledge. When he woke up in his boxer shorts on the floor he had a thousand-nuyen chip Scotch-taped to his forehead.

Staggering into the john, he'd managed to pee and puke simultaneously and with complete accuracy - a rare skill for which he never failed to congratulate himself. Stepping back into the suite, he gazed at the luxurious beds he'd paid so much for - what a waste. At least some of the others were getting the most out of them.

Getting dressed, it finally occurred to him to wonder whether any of their number had stayed awake to ensure their throats were not cut by any Nightstalking NeoNet Ninjas, but then shrugged it off. This wasn't the trid, after all. Pocketing the thousand-nuyen chip, he pulled out his commlink and was unsurprised to find that his cred balance was lighter by roughly ten times that amount.

Eventually they'd gotten themselves organized at this unholy hour and now here they were looking at a well-dressed little girl flanked by Marley-dee and Marley-dum.

"Shee-it, you it? Don't look much like that fairy twinkley persona of yours." He didn't add, but maybe it's not even really you, but hoped it carried in his voice.
Aria
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

QUOTE (adamu @ Aug 18 2015, 09:03 PM) *
"Shee-it, you it? Don't look much like that fairy twinkley persona of yours."


"Did you expect me to?" and there is wry amusement in her voice "whilst I do not try and hide what I am, I find that showing my true self upsets the general populace, and makes riding in taxis so much more difficult!

Now, to business...you have the drives for me?"
AlyW
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Angel had spent a fairly quiet night, avoiding alcohol and some of the richer foods in favour of lighter fare, abstinence and guard duty; the others didn't know her well, so she wanted to set a good impression of her professionalism - this didn't, however, prevent a brief stare at Ali and her yoga pants.

The next day, Angel offered to drive, given the hang-overs present. Once downtown, she chose a spot near the Alabaster Maiden, no more than a block away, and taking a moment to observer the night club before approaching it. Maybe I'm being too paranoid... it's a public place after all. Well, sorta...

Briefly, Angel stops before the statue that gives the night club its name, gazing up at it quietly for several long seconds before reaching up to give the statues left cheek a brief carress. I would have liked to have met her, before this happened.. no doubt she was even more beautiful than her current countenance would reveal.. she thinks to herself, giving her head a little shake. Drawing a breath, Angel moves past towards the entrance, carefully taking a moment to check over her own kit; Light Fire tucked away in the small of her back, combat knife in her boot, cyber-arm good to go...

Once inside, the elf follows the others, ignoring the few 'civilians' present; she realizes that she might be drawing some eyes with her not-so-night-club attire, but she doesnt care; they likely won't be here long, and there isn't exactly an evening crowd going on. Once at the booth, Angel makes a point of taking a rear seat, with a good view of the main area. "So, have any of you met Her before? In the flesh, I mean. Who or what are we looking for?"

That last question is answered fairly quickly; the bodyguards obviously noticed first, drawing a raised brow from the elf, then the girl herself. Pretty, young.. and she's an exec? Not at all what I expected... unless she has some sort of para-natural blood running through her veins, that is.. Angel muses, eyes narrowing just a little. Once eTher has approached close enough to speak, Angel tilts her head slightly. "True self?" the elf inquires, a little puzzled; she had not been there for the Matrix meeting.
adamu
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Al leaned close, whispered in Angel's ear: "Her icon's a dragon...make of it whatcha will."

And then, realizing the young woman was waiting for an answer, he straightened up. "Yeah, reckon we do. Ya gotta talk ta tech-support here," he said nodding over at LeFey.
AlyW
(Same time and Place)

Angel nods to Al at that, raising a brow slightly. True self.. is she a drake or dragon? she thinks to herself, eyeing eTher curiously. When Al speaks up in response to their contacts question, Angel settles back a bit, seeming relaxed but remaining on guard.
mister__joshua
Jan
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

So the new girl's a dyke Jan thought quietly to himself. That's how she was able to so effortlessly refuse his advances.

Jan hung back and grabbed a drink from the bar as he tried to piece together the night before. There had definitely been drink, and steak, and tits. He rubbed his temple with his fingers and grimaced slightly, but it focussed him back on the situation. He dropped back towards the door, but kept his attention on the conversation he could hear through the team's comms.

RdMarquis
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Several hours earlier...

LeFey got to work soon after the group had settled in. To be honest, she wasn't inclined to relax. The break-in and violent escape were still on her mind. Plus, she'd grown up with a measure of finery. Which she actually found a bit stifling. Not that she would have preferred the Crime Mall over a comfortable hotel room. She sat cross-legged on a cushion as she regarded their stolen prizes. Mentally, LeFey traces a circle around the data drives. "I'm going to look these over. If you need anything," she tells the others, "just send me a message." As an afterthought occurs to her, LeFey clears her throat awkwardly. "At the risk of dampening the mood...if I start to have a violent reaction to whatever is on these drives, there's a taser in my jacket. Try not to hurt me more than is necessary."
Aria
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Taking the drives with a word of thanks, eTher produces a high end cyberdeck, a Transys Graygul, worth more than most runners will see in a decade, and after isolating it from the matrix, plugs in the drives one by one…

“I will get our techs to analyse these in detail but a cursory glance doesn’t seem to provide me with the information I need about who is directly responsible for the fiasco in Bellevue. So I have another little task for you if you are prepared to accept it? I know it is not normal for professionals to brag about their runs, but I want you to do just that. Perhaps you can create false handles so that your reputations aren’t impinged, but I want to see if we can draw out our foe, with you and these drives as the bait…what do you think?”
adamu
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Al turned the proposition over in his mind. Drawing a target on one's own back would generally be considered an injudicious course, at least for those less cosmically gifted than himself. Moreover, he was fairly certain the Italians had not yet tipped to what he'd pulled a few weeks earlier, and he'd been enjoying his vacation from being actively hunted. But then he thought of those assholes in Bellevue just coming in and...he'd been mighty pissed at those desperadoes. And worse, the thought of whatever had infected those patients getting out and about...this soul-stealing infection was something he wanted to do something about.

Besides, wouldn't it be fun if he could work it so the eye-ties showed up right when these other banditos did? Now that would be a hootenanny!

"Salome shakin' it fer Herod, toots, ol' Al ain't got no reputation ta tarnish, less'n ya count a thirty year trail o' brokenhearted beauties in muh rearview. I'll talk 'er up. Hell, know plenty o' places a yarn like this'll keep me drinkin' fer free all night. Reckon any o' my faithful compadres here can make noise along with me, an' them as don't fancy playin' bait for a pack o' hired killers can lie low inna background, hit the bastards from behind when they come fer us."

He looked around for an ashtray, and seeing none, pinched out his spent Lucky with a quick motion of scarred thumb and forefinger.

Settling back into a slouch in the booth seat, he glanced out of the corner of his eye to make sure Angel could see just how cool he was being and added, "Reckon I'll use muh own name, though. Ain't never had no call ta use no other, an' not likely ta start now."

mister__joshua
Jan
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

"How you expecting this to go down then?" No one had noticed Jan approach the meet, but this line of conversation had drawn him in. "We're professionals. If we go shouting about a job it's an obvious draw. I wouldn't expect them to fall for it if they're half way professional themselves." He paused to think through his options. "I think for this to work the information needs to come from somewhere else... maybe second or third hand. I think I'll stay at the casino. May as well carry on enjoying it. We getting expenses for being open ended manhunt bait?"
adamu
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Al's first thought on hearing Jan's plan - which was obviously smarter than his idea of going around mouthing off in seedy underworld dives - was that he'd miss out on a lot of free beers.

But when the elf mentioned getting expenses paid for more partying back at the casino, well, that surf and turf last night had been mighty fine...
Vegas
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Ali had all but blended into the background of the Maiden. It wasn't that she fit in per se, but more like she was just quiet enough and non-descript enough that she faded into the background from the attention of most that gathered, some of her team included. It didn't bother her, in fact she much preferred it this way as it allowed her to become a fly on the wall, to listen to and watch all the verbal and non-verbal cues taking place amidst their meet. Truthfully she much preferred her anonymity, to play her part, get paid and be remembered only by reputation for being reliable and for the skill sets she could provide to a job. What eTher was asking them to do went against every fiber of her being and how she preferred to live her life.

Besides, she had another job on the line that could be jeopardized by spotlights turned on her, even under a false identity that could possibly be cracked.

It was going to take a lot of persuading to have her come around to agree to do this, expenses paid or not.
adamu
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

Glancing at his friend where she sat well out of the spotlight at a nearby table in the dimly lit bar, Al's optics made sure he didn't miss the hesitance on Peaches' face.

He spoke again to eTher: "Looks like the he-keeb an' I are in, provided ya pony up the hotel tab. Reckon the rest'll speak fer theyselves." And with that he scooted out of the booth, past the rastaguards, and over to Peaches' table.

"Heya li'l darlin', ain't no thing fer ol' Al ta see ya's thinkin' twice 'bout this new wrinkle. Reckon we done what we said we would, baby, job done. An' that were a sneak an' snatch. No shame in takin' a pass on this new gig, cuz a job like this ends jist one way by design, an' that ain't hardly your skillset. Hell, I'd feel pretty bad, in fact, if'n I didn't try an' talk ya out of it."
AlyW
Angel settled back in the booth, listening to eTher speaking, watching curiously when the drake (?) pulls out a rather pricey looking piece of hardware to examine the drives; at her proclamation, the elf slumps just a bit in disappointment. With the suggestion though, she wrinkles her nose a little.

"A suggestion, if I may.." she speaks up, after Al and Jan have their say. "Some of us should remain in the background, as it were... it would give us a good vantage point, as it were, to keep an eye on outside influences. And of course, having hidden backup is never, ever a bad thing."

Glancing briefly in Ali's direction, Angel then looks back to the two males. "I think Ali and I would be happy to volunteer for that bit. I'm not.. overly comfortable in the spotlight.."
Aria
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

eTher smiles at you all "I understand your reticence, and I take your point about the 'bragging', Silk has agreed to spread a little disinformation about a deal gone sour and a J who wouldn't pay...the drives now being up for sale to the right people. It will hopefully be enough to draw out our foe. I recognise that it will also draw out people who are simply interested in buying the data but hopefully they won't be starting from the point of eradicating loose ends. I know this is a risky strategy, if you have any other suggestions I would be willing to hear them..."
Aria
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

"Excellent, it seems we have agreement from most, enough for it to work. I will speak to Silk about arranging for the word to go out. I suggest you do not go back to your usual haunts for now, Silk will know of a safehouse you can use, at my expense of course. Unless you do indeed prefer the casino? We do not want you to be too secure, or this could be a wasted exercise... a location that invites an attack would be ideal...although not the barrens where the opposition has the chance to pull out all the stops to get at you. I leave you to arrange the details as you see fit, it would perhaps be best if I don't know too many of those details. Do you have any other questions for me?"
adamu
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

"Roger that - we'll decide where to hole up with Silk, an' not another word ta you on that. But yeah, reckon ol' Al's got a question or three," he said, shuffling back to the table where their draconian Johnson sat. "First off, these folks come fer us, sounds like the job is ta find out who they is, who they workin' fer, an' so forth. That mean ya want some alive, or can we jist have our way with 'em, git the skinny, an' put 'em outta they misery? That's the main question. Aside from that, anything you can tell us, even jist a guess, 'bout who we might expect ta come knockin', an' what sorta way they might come could come in mighty handy."
AlyW
Angel offers a quiet nod to their host, then looks to Al as he asks his questions; once he is done, she directs a a comment his way. "The casino seems like an ideal place in my mind.. a good combination of public and private to draw attention but not too much attention, you know?" the elf suggests, before turning her gaze to the others in the group. "I have to say, I've never done this sort of thing before... so it's a little off my own beaten track. Thoughts?"
adamu
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

"Darlin', ya want thoughts, seems some o' the best so far done come from yerself. Like ya said, if'n some of us is playin' bait, then we oughtta also have someone onna outside, waitin' ta play cavalry once the injuns show up. With your doctorin' skills, reckon you fit that bill right nice. You gon' stay close, jist not too close. Disappointed as that makes ol' Al."

The unshaven little man gave Angel a sly wink before turning briefly to eTher - "Now you close yer pointy ears fer this part, toots, if'n ya really don't wanna be privy to it." Turning back to Angel and Jan, he continued, "Can't fault yer thinkin' onna hotel. Seems whatever sorta place we choose, long as we's doin' the sittin' an' they's doin' the comin', they gon' come at us in some sorta bad way or t'other. Long as it's paid for, reckon we oughtta be good an' comfortable."
RdMarquis
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

That morning...

Hacking and analyzing the drives took her all night. LeFey would find the results somewhat enlightening (as usual, they raised more questions than they answered), but the first thing she did after returning to the physical world was curl up on the floor and sleep. She didn't quite dream. LeFey hadn't dreamed in about nine years. She retreated into her Bionode to contemplate what she had learned. "Imago." Butterflies. Symbols of growth, or perhaps perfection of the self. And the research concerned long-term VR exposure. There was an obvious conclusion to draw there, even if she hardly believed it to be possible.

What disturbed her was how the project had been going on for so long. It positively ancient by corporate standards, if she was hearing names from her history classes. All these lives and time, and for what?

Later...

She'd tried not to look incredulous at their employer's suggestion. That eTher had actually had a somewhat believable plan in mind helped, a little. LeFey crosses her arms. "Should we be expecting trouble right away, then?"
mister__joshua
Jan
[Saturday October 5th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

Jan slid between two crap's tables as bullet's flew overhead. From off to the side he heard a burst thump into the velvet. He'd get flanked if he stayed here much longer.

Four solid days of casino hookers and bad poker, expenses paid, was more than he'd hoped for. They were waiting for the team to drop their guard. Hitting Saturday was clever. Maximum civilians, the chance that Friday had been a bit 'heavy'. He was quietly impressed - maybe they'd been character profiling.

He looked across the room to where Al had been striking out with some attractive blonde. Al was closer to the weapon's locker behind the counter and Jan hoped a solid stare would convey this fact well. It hadn't been four days wasted, they'd got some scouting done. From where the bullets were flying Jan assumed the two guards at the door were dead, and probably the one guarding the fire escape. The alarm wasn't ringing yet, so they'd hit fast or they'd already got the host. LeFey would be sorting that. She'd been working on a backdoor for days. The luxury of time was theirs, for once. She wasn't on the floor. Jan hoped they hadn't breached upstairs yet.

There were at least half a dozen more armed security ready to back them up, and a croupier's alarm just around the head of the table. He needed to get in close to someone, else find a weapon with a range to it.
adamu
[Saturday October 5th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

Not exactly gifted with large stature, Al had little trouble staying below the level of the tables as he made his way over to the bar.

Tables or no, though, there were a helluva lot of bullets flying his way, with the response from the rentacops hardly overwhelming. A place this size must have a response team to back up the floor guys, but he sure hadn't seen them yet. Hopefully they weren't compromised already.

At least one guy was shooting back, though. Just as Al was thinking of how to get over the bar without being perforated, another man was moving along behind it, unloading a Colt Manhunter has he went. He was clearly headed for the same weapons locker Al was, probably in the hopes of breaking out something a little bigger. He kept firing with his right hand as he pulled a swipe card out of a pocket with his left. And then he got shot in the head a couple of times.

Al took a deep breath. A sliight jump took his stomach up to the bar top, and from there he rolled himself over it, landing in broken glass next to the dead guard on a floor wet with blood and whiskey.
Aria
[Monday September 30th, 2075, The Alabaster Maiden, Downtown Seattle]

QUOTE (adamu @ Sep 16 2015, 11:04 PM) *
"Roger that - we'll decide where to hole up with Silk, an' not another word ta you on that. But yeah, reckon ol' Al's got a question or three. First off, these folks come fer us, sounds like the job is ta find out who they is, who they workin' fer, an' so forth. That mean ya want some alive, or can we jist have our way with 'em, git the skinny, an' put 'em outta they misery? That's the main question. Aside from that, anything you can tell us, even jist a guess, 'bout who we might expect ta come knockin', an' what sorta way they might come could come in mighty handy."


“Yes, find out who they are working for, I doubt you will be lucky enough to have the Primary come for you directly. How you get the information I leave to your discretion. If you manage to confirm they are a member of the NeoNet family then I would ask that you don’t kill them but turn them over to me to allow our own internal processes to be carried out. How they will come at you? That I cannot answer, other than it is likely to be another runner team and therefore inherently unpredictable!”

[Saturday October 5th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

With the bullets whizzing about and the panicked patrons generally getting in the way it is hard to get a clear view of the attackers, and even a clear impression of whether they are after your group or another target. Glimpses suggest they might be Triad soldiers which isn’t what you’d expected! One thing you go catch over the din… “Find the girl!” which girl though?!?
adamu
[Saturday October 5th, 2075, Gates Casino, 830 SE Shoreland Drive, Bellevue, Seattle]

Never one to think the conversation was about anyone but himself, Al tried to think which of the girls they were talking about. His first fear was Peaches, but she wasn't here. Did Angel have some jealous Chinese boyfriend?

Or had they figured out that LeFey was holding the drives?

And hadn't eTher said "the Primary" would probably send a runner team? If so, then these Triad goons might just be a distraction.

A hard one to ignore, though - a burst of high-velocity rounds splintering through the bar and past his craggy face reminded him that he had more immediate concerns.

Grabbing the sec guy's bloody swipe card, he sat himself on the floor, pinched the card in a pair of ice tongs, and reached up toward the lock. Hearing the beep, he swung the bottom of of the locker door open with a scarred fingertip, then shifted his angle so he could look up and see what treasures were on offer. A small collection of long guns - the guards already had their sidearms on them - sat in the rack, and he saw with some annoyance that some health & safety type had decided to have them in there unloaded. Spotting what he needed, he popped up just for the split second he needed to push some clips off the bottom shelf onto the floor and then grab a weapon in each hand.

Back on the floor, a piece of broken glass stabbing into his left ass cheek, he slammed a clip into the assault rifle he'd taken for Jan, then, not spotting any duct tape immediately to hand, quickly found some thick rubber bands under the counter and used them to attach a second clip to the first in reverse position.

He tried waiting a moment for the firing to die down, but gave up - these banditos had come ready to do business. Soon, the room would be cleared of all the poor Saturday evening revellers caught in the crossfire, and only the real players would be left. He stood up, yelled "Yo, Keebler," and tossed the rifle to Jan. And attracted plenty of fire - he was back on the floor before he even saw if his pointy-eared party pal had caught the weapon.

Time to get in the fight. He was left with an Enfield AS-7 and one lousy clip of slugs, which he wasted no time slamming home. The Enfield's laser sight was a little more bells and whistles than Al went for as a rule, but right now he was a beggar who couldn't be a chooser. He moved down the bar, staying out of sight but putting several meters between himself and his previous position, then squatted there listening and looking at what was left of the shattered ruin of a mirror behind the bar, trying to get an idea of who to shoot first.
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