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adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 0136; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Bronwyn laughed out loud. "You're all right, dragon-kid. Hey, check this out!" And with a mischievous smile, she stood up, took a few steps towards him, and lifted the short skirt of her cocktail dress to around her waist. Her panties were microscopic, decent by milimeters, and Vexboy could see that scrolled low across her bikini line were letters reading: Boldly go where no man has gone before.

She held her skirt up just long enough for it to be read, then dropped back down on the sofa with a giggle.

Holding up her hand with fingers properly splayed, she intoned, "Long live and prosper, dragon-dude."
Raiderj
Vexboy's face went red but he manage to laugh as well. And did the vulcan as well saying: "You as well o, Epetai-zana. We have got to hang out when this is all over."
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 0136; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Vexboy though he saw something sad or dark shadow Bronwyn's face when he said that, but it was gone so fast he couldn't be sure he hadn't imagined it. "Absolutely. Quality time on the holodeck! Not joking - I know some illusionist Trekkies that can make it happen for the right people!"
Raiderj
"Hold on Kid I saw that too. Vexboy remembered something. They weren't coming with him. This was most likely a suicide run. "Yeah... Hey where is this guy? Is he... Waylaid?"
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 0138; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Bronwyn pursed her lips. Now her concern was clear. They'd just survived an assassination attempt, and, as she's said, their enemies were getting proactive on other fronts as well. When she spoke, her optimism seemed forced. "Of course he'll be fine. He was chosen by the Pattern. So of course he'll be fine."

D-Pop was obviously less concerned. She smirked confidently. "From what I've been told about this guy, we should hope he was waylaid. It'd just be that many fewer bad guys for you to deal with later. No, this guy isn't going to get himself killed, at least not in some street ambush. He'll be here."
DireRadiant
Thursday, 21 November, 0139; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

DES hadn't paid much attention to the conversation. He has sat himself comfortably and taken out some reagents and spent his time calling forth a manifestation of his Will. He sent it forth to to act as his eyes in the Spirit World.

DES next started looking for something suitable to serve in the Material world.
mister__joshua
Jan
Thursday, 21 November, 01:40; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Jan had been across the street for about 15 minutes blending in convincingly as a homeless bum, the sweat and blood of his recent encounters nicely offset by clothes unwashed in weeks. He'd surveyed the outside well before his approach. He didn't want to be seen yet, not until he was sure. As he passed the window he saw a chick flash her thong, and a kid blush. Surely this wasn't the right place? He re-checked the address, but he already had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew this was the place. What was the Dr. getting him into...

He drew his Ceska and held it close to his side, knocking the door while spinning away to the window. It'd be interesting to see what he was working with.
Raiderj
"Is that the guy?" Vexboy asked simply. He seemed at ease. Then again he had his guns in his arm slides.
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 01:40; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

D-Pop already had a pistol out and on her lap, but she answered "Probably." in a calm voice without getting up.

Bronwyn's head nodded forward, and about one second later her voice reached Vexboy's ears from somewhere near the ceiling. "Yup, that's our guy." And a moment later her head came up and her eyes opened.
Raiderj
"Should... Someone open the door? It there a secret knock?" Vexboy asked. He noticed D-pop's pistol. "Why don't I... Double check if this is the guy? Any back entrances out of this place?"
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 01:40; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Bronwyn said, "I just checked. He's the guy. But I think there's a back door out the kitchen."

D-Pop asked, "How could there be a secret knock? None of us have ever met him."
Raiderj
"Well it seems weird he would just be standing out there like a weirdo. It makes him seem suspicious. Its gotta have been like a minute or two and he hasn't knocked yet. Well might as well test my Doc Wagon..." Vexboy opened the door and saw Jan. He didn't say anything but went back inside and said to Bronwyn and D-Pop. "So he is just looking out the window... Is this normal behavior for a run?" Vexboy asked perplexed. "I guess this isn't a "run" but..." He went outside again. "Uh... Hey... Come on in. They scoped you out with magic like 3 minutes ago..." Vexboy said aloud to him very awkardly.
mister__joshua
Jan
Thursday, 21 November, 01:40; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

"3 minutes ago? Interesting..." Jan was already unimpressed "...I've been out there for 15. Is this a safe house or a frat party? Why is no-one posted on the front? If anyone had a mind..." Jan trailed off before spelling out the consequences. Needless to say they weren't pleasant, but he didn't want to appear too harsh. Afterall, he may end up having to work with this crew, though he didn't see them that way at the moment. "Apologies. It's been a long day." He let his annoyance fade, and messaged the commcode he'd been given by Know.

<<@FemaleRussianJohnson: I'm here. What's going on? I'm not working in the dark. Ten minutes then I'm back underground.>> Jan was acutely aware there was still a large target on him. There were more people gunning for him than he cared for, and he wasn't going to hang around.

adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 01:40; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

A tall, spicily attractive woman stood up from the sofa. She glanced briefly at her commlink before sliding it into a pocket. Then stepped forward, hand outstretched. "I am the female Russian Johnson. But everyone here knows me as D-Pop. We just arrived ourselves, as I think you're aware, and I have trusted my Warrior to bring us to a place unknown to our enemies. But you are right, our security could certainly be tighter. Perhaps you'd like to take charge of that before letting us know the information you've gathered."
Raiderj
Vexboy nodded. "What she said... Maybe I can help secure it. Im pretty good with sneaking around." He stepped loudly on the floor but no noise came from the impact. "My steps don't make,noise."
DireRadiant
Thursday, 21 November, 0141; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

DES was ashamed. He'd been so busy searching for appropriate materials he had not paid enough attention to the external feeds. He would have to just deal with it. And with his Watcher.

"It is true. I cannot do everything needed."

DES straightened himself up and looked challengingly at the newcomer, "I will do what I can."

Raiderj
"Ok. So... Whats the plan? Do we do recon seperately or as a group?" Vexboy asked hoping to get started.
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 0141; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

"Vexy, have a seat. Take a breath," implored D-Pop. "Recon of what? We don't know the location of your target. That, in fact, is one of the things Jan is here to tell us. And now that he's here, he's right, we would do well to tighten our security. Let's take a few minutes to see to that. Bronwyn and her minions will handle the astral plane. Then we can all sit down to hear what the newest of our number has found out for us."
Raiderj
"I am perfectly ok with that. Thank you." Vexboy said with a sigh and a smile and went inside. He sat down and waited for the info.
Vegas
Thursday, 21 November, 0141; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Rave had done a visual recon of the safehouse upon arrival from where she sank down into an armchair in what passed for the living room of the space. Once she was fairly secure in the idea nothing was going to jump from the shadows and they were, at least for the time being, safe, she immediately began to assess her physical injuries.

She unhooked the bloodied halter of her outfit and let it drop to her waist, exposing the skin-toned form fit beneath. It was still intact, but smears of lead decorated her chest and it was as if she could feel the bruises burrowing deeper into the skin beneath.

As Bronwyn entertained Vexboy who seemed all to eager to move forward, she re-tied the halter behind her neck as much as a test of her mobility as it was to remain “decent” for the company she’d be keeping. She felt rather exposed in an entirely different sort of way. She hadn’t carried in heavy to the club, not wanting to have to concoct a story that would be thin at best to the coat check girls, or worse, to Ilya.

She unstrapped the pair of sandals from her feet and settled back into the chair, thinking more about the still images she had uncovered on the server earlier and how that might benefit them as they went searching for their target but her thoughts were quickly interrupted by a knock on the door and the arrival of Jan.

As he stepped into the room, everything about him caused her cop training to scream at her to take notice. She forced herself to appear relaxed and managed a silent nod in his direction.

“I’m traveling a little light for any addition to security measures, but if we get any time off for good behavior, I can make a few calls and remedy that situation?” The lilt in her voice was different, her Russian accent was much lighter, almost nonexistent as she turned her attention away from Jan for an instant and pitched her question towards D Pop.
mister__joshua
Jan
Thursday, 21 November, 01:42; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Jan knew his information was a little vague, but he'd gotten all he could out of Jae-Geun, he was sure of that. "Here's what I got."

Jan reeled off his info, parrot fashion where he could remember.

"The Komun'go have complex channels for procuring children. My 'contact' was unaware of the details, but they acquire about a hundred a month, as unlikely as that sounds. And not street kids, apparently. These are healthy, educated children, mostly white, mostly human or elf and all attractive. They fetch a very high price, but carry a lot of risk. They are the sort of children people come looking for, children that are missed, and often by people with money.

He paused and glanced at the ceiling, as if accessing a part of his memory stored there. "Secrecy and security in this thing are formidable. Jae, my contact, was Choson, and they provide protection for the transfer to the buyers, the Shotozumi. He was in charge of security at both sites. There are two exchange sites lined up, but they won't decide which to use until the last minute. This makes things tricky for us. He also didn't know the time of the exchange." Jan provided the addresses Jae had given him.

"He emphasized the security. It was recently doubled due to them being targeted by some sort of witch coven. I assumed you might know something about that? Jae's disappearance will raise more concerns and probably lead to even more security, but there there weren't any viable options for letting him live."


As he spoke Jan paced the floor, looking out of the front windows. He didn't even realize, as it was natural to him, but he was still gripping his MP and it swayed towards the window occasionally when he turned. Once he's finished his recollection he turned back towards D-Pop. "So, that's it. I'm hoping you know what to do with this info. I agreed to get is as a favour to Know. We don't have the manpower to hit both sites, and have no idea when the exchange will take place... ...but it will be soon, and once it's happened I feel we may lose track of Audric. I'd be surprised if he stayed in the UCAS."
Raiderj
QUOTE (mister__joshua @ Aug 9 2016, 01:41 PM) *
Jan
Thursday, 21 November, 01:42; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Jan knew his information was a little vague, but he'd gotten all he could out of Jae-Geun, he was sure of that. "Here's what I got."

Jan reeled off his info, parrot fashion where he could remember.

"The Komun'go have complex channels for procuring children. My 'contact' was unaware of the details, but they acquire about a hundred a month, as unlikely as that sounds. And not street kids, apparently. These are healthy, educated children, mostly white, mostly human or elf and all attractive. They fetch a very high price, but carry a lot of risk. They are the sort of children people come looking for, children that are missed, and often by people with money.

He paused and glanced at the ceiling, as if accessing a part of his memory stored there. "Secrecy and security in this thing are formidable. Jae, my contact, was Choson, and they provide protection for the transfer to the buyers, the Shotozumi. He was in charge of security at both sites. There are two exchange sites lined up, but they won't decide which to use until the last minute. This makes things tricky for us. He also didn't know the time of the exchange." Jan provided the addresses Jae had given him.

"He emphasized the security. It was recently doubled due to them being targeted by some sort of witch coven. I assumed you might know something about that? Jae's disappearance will raise more concerns and probably lead to even more security, but there there weren't any viable options for letting him live."


As he spoke Jan paced the floor, looking out of the front windows. He didn't even realize, as it was natural to him, but he was still gripping his MP and it swayed towards the window occasionally when he turned. Once he's finished his recollection he turned back towards D-Pop. "So, that's it. I'm hoping you know what to do with this info. I agreed to get is as a favour to Know. We don't have the manpower to hit both sites, and have no idea when the exchange will take place... ...but it will be soon, and once it's happened I feel we may lose track of Audric. I'd be surprised if he stayed in the UCAS."


"If he gets exchanged I'd would give it a good 48 hours before he is gone forever...whoever he is. If they are REALLY good possibly even under 24 hours. So yeah, looks pretty grim prospects wise." He coughs. "Do we have any magical force up our sleeves that can track these kids in anyway?"
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 01:41; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

D-Pop answered Rave. But she hesitated first. "We tread a fine line." She took in the entire group with her gaze. As I may have touched on with all of you but Jan, so I apologize for repeating it for his benefit, it is imperative that the upcoming task be completed by you chosen ones alone. Two more will join you, and there are some others working in concert I may be able to talk to you about later, but no members of the organizations I represent can take any direct action in this thing. To elaborate on what Bronwyn explained earlier, suppose you were to shoot Hitler in 1942. You'd save so many lives, right? Maybe so. Or, a Third Reich in disarray would be unable to slow the advance of an enraged Stalinist Russia and the Red Army sweeps over all of Europe before anyone can do anything about it. A murderous brand of totalitarian socialism becomes the dominant force in the Western Hemisphere costing countless more lives than the always-doomed Nazis could ever have dreamt of. It's the law of unintended consequences. Any good act could, in an entirely unforeeable way, lead to worse consequences. Now, however, through heretofore unheard-of levels of big data interpretation intertwined with powerful scrying techniques, we can glimpse what the Fates have in store. It is a woefully inexact science, but in this case all of my sisters are in total agreement - any direct involvement in the interception of the children by anyone but our specially chosen surrogates will lead to disastrous and unpredictable results. Indeed, the closer we come to the process, or the closer any third parties are brought into it, the more the danger increases."

She looked back at Rave. "So yes, I suppose you need your gear. But if that means contacting anyone, please do so as quickly and quietly as possible. The less of a role, even a tangential one, played by anyone outside this room, the better. While Bronwyn's Sight gave her the glimpses of your reality she needed to deduce your true profession, we know you only as Victoria. Is that the name you wish us to keep calling you by?"
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 01:44; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

"You bring up an important point, Vexy. As you and some others may have inferred, while we are determined to rescue all of these children from their plight, our particular interest is in a boy named Audric. He's eleven. Kidnapped from Atlanta. Above all else, he must be secured alive and delivered to myself for safekeeping."

She distributed AR images of the boy, the same as the hard copy that Jan had received from Dr. Know.

"Jan, you've done very well indeed. Now I would like to invite you to join us. You were not chosen at random. We will need you to complete the mission. Consider your willingness as we converse, and then speak to me once the meeting is concluded." She shifted on the sofa, looking around the room. "I have already relayed the two addresses to individuals that will take a first look for us, but they will be unable to get very close for the reasons already laid out. Once they've done a first pass, we will have to scout the locations tonight - Jan is right, against the sort of security you will face, splitting your numbers would be hopeless. And the locations are too far apart to make a quick switch, and even if we could move that fast, it would preclude setting up an ambush. So we must figure out some way to know which location it will be. I am very open to suggestions on this. And we have to pray we even have time to reconnoiter and set up, since we still don't know exactly when the transaction will happen. Sadly, we know precious little about the timing. We know, or strongly suspect, that these deals have been going on perhaps once a month for the past several months, but we are not even sure exactly when the past ones took place. So thanks to Jan we've narrowed it from all of Seattle to two spots. That's progress. As for the when, we only know it will be soon..."

She closed her eyes. "I'm afraid my reserves have been horribly depleted by the past day or so, as have many of yours. Let us continue to discuss this. But for the sake of our efficacy, let us take what opportunity we can to rest. And for the sake of avoiding further attempts on us, let us remain secure here at least until this evening, at which time we should know just a bit more about the two locations. And please use the time to consider how we will solve these final riddles. It is perhaps no accident that my people have been unable to penetrate them..."
Raiderj
"Kid... Excuse yourself for a sec...I gotta talk to you... And I need you to focus." Vexboy nodded. "Very well..." Vexboy said. He got up. "Id like to be alone for a second. I want to be able to focus to commune with my totem. Apparently its important..."
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 14:30; somewhere in Southwest Renton, Seattle Metroplex

.
..
...
....
.....
......
Restart Protocol.......Successful
Firewall...............Online....
System Integrity.......100%......
Alignment..............Successful
Unread Messages........2.........


John blinked. At least it felt like blinking. One second he was aware of his maintenance drone doing its thing on his chassis and the next it was six hours later. His body showed no error messages and according to the repair log a faulty contact on his chin actuator had been resoldered. John moved his head slowly from left to right and up and down. Smooth and easy. He activated smile no.3 - excellent.

He opened the two messages.
The first one was a demand from the Koreans: "We want your report. Get back to us ASAPOIYA"
He ignored it for the moment, because the second message was from an unknown link: "Meet your colleagues: 38th Avenue NE - be nice!"

Great. No names, no passwords... he took a quick look at his bank account... but at least half the agreed sum had been transferred. That had to be enough. Unsure about what would come next, he packed his gear into the special compartment beneath the driver seat and navigated the Morgan through the relatively mild afternoon traffic.


DireRadiant
Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

DES spoke up, "We make one place insecure in a way that does not look like they are targeted, then they must use other location."

DES tried to focus on what happens next but he just couldn't. Red Otter wouldn't let him.
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

D-Pop smiled with the appreciation of a connoisseur - delighted but in no way surprised.

"I think you've cut the Gordian Knot, my Warrior. Any other thoughts? Or specific ideas on how we might implement DES's ploy? And of course the timing would have to be right, and we're still in the dark on that..."
mister__joshua
Jan
Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Jan was looking around furtively. He still didn't like this place much.

When he spoke, he wasn't really listening to the way the conversation was going. "I'm an insomniac with a sleep regulator" he said, somewhat out of the blue. "Give me 3 hours to sleep and I'll be good for 2 days. I can keep watch til you're all recovered." He preferred to do it himself anyway.
Raiderj
"Kid! I really gotta talk to you its important! Vexboy ignores it. "Well Im fine. I could probably try and cook something simple if you all like."
DireRadiant
Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

DES struggled to speak, controlled himself and quietly issued his thought, "We must perform the Hunt in the same ways it is always done. A Blind. Set downwind where we will not disturb the prey as it comes to it's watering hole. Hidden and made to look as it belongs. We make or find one and then we wait."

This too was something DES reflected he had not done with any other company than the Wind since Red Otter took his step off the mountains.
JDragon
Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

As promised Rocky had waited till he was a few blocks from the Green River Inn before he had made the call for a cab to head for the address in Tacoma Daphne had given him. Once he had given the cabbie an address at the end of the block from the safe house Rocky started working on other things before he forgot. He sent a quick message to Hack'ed to cover the dismissal by Daphne and arrange access to some cash he had stashed away for a rainy day.

::19:00:: Hack'ed :: Thanks for the help. Better you are in the dark on this chummer. I'm going to need access to my funds from the UO job, normal transfer ::

After he had sent the message he'd shut down his 'link and thought about what Daphne had told him. It wasn't his normal gig, but sounded like if he survived it would be good for his karma pool.

As usual Rocky had started heading away from the safe house when he climbed out of the cab and didn't change directions till it was out of sight. The walk down the street hadn't taken more than a couple minutes and he was now standing out on the street in front of the address Daphne had given him.

Not seeing anyone outside and not having any passwords he headed for the door and knocked, like any other normal visitor would do.

KNOCK! KNOCK!
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

John had parked across the street of the given address, observing. After the last two adventures he took his time to ensure it was no trap. His laser microphone caught some small pieces of conversation - not enough to know what was going on in there, but good enough to know that more than four persons were inside.

He was just about to call it a day and go in there, when he noticed the troll walking towards the front door and knock.
Carefully, John opened the car door and stepped outside. The temperature had dropped and he was acutely aware that he didn't produce any visible exhalation. With quick, quiet strides he closed in on the house, a friendly grin (no.2) on his face, hoping to time his arrival with the opening of the door.

He was almost on top of the Troll when he whirled around.
John stopped and said: "Hi, nice night for some Korean Kicking..."
Raiderj
“Okay kid. You asked for it.” Vexboy suddenly turned visibly red. He began to sweat and shiver. “I… I… need a moment…” He went into the bathroom. He washed his face. He looked up into the mirror and noticed… behind him wasn't there anymore. Instead was a wall of bricks in a dimly lit room. He looked forward and saw a hall of paintings. “Wanted to give you a proper send off… Hey remember how we met?” Vexboy looked at his commlink. “No signal."

He looked at a painting nearby. It was of him reading his parents collection of 5th world paperbacks. He smiled. His eyes were hazel back then. “I wanted to be Samwise the brave when I was little.” He started to look at the other paintings. Some were of happy times. Some were of dark times. He stopped at one. He remembered it vividly and smiled. It was him crying and being contacted by the Dragonslayer. His awakening. He smiled and looked at another. Of the day after. “This was the day I used my first stage of improved reflexes… and the killing hands trick…” The Dragonslayer sighed. “Yeah. That kid was shocked when the bruise started bleeding huh?” There was one of him getting kicked out of a car by his parents. Vexboy scoffed and chuckled. “Jokes on them. Im fine now.” He looked at another of him mastering Wall Running. “The first trick you taught me!” Vexboy said happily.

He went onwards… but slower. There was one of his first kill. Vexboy had to stop here. The 8 year old him was in tears… holding that Streetline Special. Vexboy pulled it out and stared at it. He couldn't think of anything to say. He had moved on. Then the next one was one of him sleeping next to his sister Jessica. “Yeah we shared that first night.” Vexboy said. “It was shady as heck. I can safely say though this is one of the few times I was wrong on something.” Vexboy started to notice his feet becoming heavier. “Whats going on?” The Dragonslayer chuckled. “The Weight of Life. As you all walk down the hall of life it weighs you down. Each step is heavier then the last. Life is funny that way. But it gets better.”

Vexboy started to turn around but found the wall had followed him the paintings gone. “Each moment is a work of art honoring the impact on life. Remember that Pattern Stuff? Well guess what kid? Every painting in the hall was a tiny tiny tiny impact on the pattern. Your Pattern. Life is an adventure... Each painting is a great moment. But they vanish. Each moment can only be a memory after they happen. Each moment is gone. Each moment weighs you down for the emotions, the actions, who you are… die. And you know what they say about DEAD WEIGHT.”

Vexboy looked at his feet and saw corpses of himself pulling on his ankles. He shook in horror. “You didn't just kill others. You kill yourself. Everyday a new Vincent is born. The old one dies. Some Vincents share core characteristics. These painting are when the core of you… your very essence changes. This is your challenge. Look at all the paintings and make it to the door at the end of the hall.” Vexboy nodded and his eyes flared yellow. “Gladly. I don't know what the hell is going on… but…” He took a slow step forward. “I intend to win!” Vexboy saw a painting of him becoming a formal,detective. Receiving his badge. A new corpse on his body. One of him running from an orc with a cyberarm turned sawblade. Vexboys legs were both pulled by corpses of himself. He visibly struggled but maintained a steady pace. One of him noticing his new Low Light Yellow Eyes as he brushed his teeth. Another corpse grabbed his waist.

One of him finding Noodlepost for the first time and meeting Drillbit. One of him meeting Astral after a bit of street vigilantism while she flirted and patched up Jessica. One of him meeting Mr Mouse. One of him meeting Rico. One of him getting his Foci from Lore. He could barely move dragged on by many corpses. One of him getting that poster of Kane in the mail after hearing his story and being introduced to the idea of Shadowrunning on Noodlepost. One of him getting fired… one of him on the bed...being told by the Dragonslayer to become a runner.

One of him and Jessica hugging after she told him she didn’t care what he did with his life. One of him talking with Mr Mouse… one of him meeting Facemaker John… one of him entering the house he was in now. He,made it to the door. He could barely move. He struggled. He could barely move. But he did…open the door. He noticed behind the door. He was looking at the otherside of the mirror. “Your first initiation.” The Dragonslayer said. In the paintng Vexboy saw a large knight. He was clad in dull grey armor with a spiked kite shield and a large axe. He had the severed skull of a horned dragon on his back.

Vexboy was on the other side of the mirror…he felt…AMAZING.
He came back. He looked hale and healthy. "Hey...how long was I gone for?"
JDragon
Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

KNOCK! KNOCK!

As Rocky's hand was hitting the door the second time he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Having had a long day of people trying to kill his friends, roughing up his boss and shooting at him his first reaction was to attack, so that’s what he did.

Spinning as quickly as he could and not lose his balance on the porch that was designed for people half his size he swung at the figure that had come up on him. The human sized figure was saying something as he came to a stop and Rocky's fist was arching for his head.

"Hi, nice night for some Korean Kicking..."

It was too late for Rocky to stop and he wasn't really inclined to anyways. But the guy was ready and easily ducked the boxer's swing and came back up still smiling, which brought Rocky up short and gave him a second to process what the man had said.

"What!?!" "Who the frag are you and why were you trying to sneak up on me?"
Vegas
Thursday, 21 November, 01:43; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

She had been slightly surprised to find that D Pop and Bronwyn hadn’t dug deeper into her beyond the cursory and that they only knew her cover identity, for the time being at least. She shook her head at the offer and looked the woman in the eyes. If trust from her was what D Pop was asking for, Rave would have to ask for it in return.

“My friends all call me Rave.”

She didn’t let the name of the young boy go unnoticed and added it to the mental check list she had tallied of things to cautiously look into when given the time. She had a feeling she could look into it with KE resources, but she also heeded D Pop’s warning that various people up and down the food chain at work could be aiding and abetting and working in concert against her.

She slid her toes back into the platform heels and strapped them tight around her ankles once more as she decided based on D Pop’s concern that they all keep the next 48 hours compartmentalized within the house as much as possible, that she needed to do her gear retrieval sooner as opposed to later.

Her K-E issued weaponry and gear was safely ensconced at her condo, but her less than legal gear was stashed precisely for occasions like this. A quick call to Locus to have him meet her at his shop in Bellevue for pick up was all that was required, even at this early hour, to make her gear available.

“I’ll keep my activities mixed into the ratio of signal to noise on the outside. Shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to retrieve my gear and get back to the business at hand and doing my part to secure the space.”

She cast a look between D Pop, Jan and DES before she continued.

“I might have some additional ideas and thoughts on how we can have a more reliable early detection of just which location they may be using, but it’s going to take some thought and coordination. Let me deal with my immediate need to get my necessary tools and we can start formulating the plans necessary to insure we all come out on the other side, with the acquired targets.”


Thursday, 21 November, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Rave was true to her word as she approached and reentered the safe house just slightly beyond her two hour estimation. Once she passed scrutiny and was allowed inside, she dropped her gear bags deeper into the living room of the house. Gone was the white club clothing she sported earlier in the morning, replaced by more suitable black tactical pants, broken in combat boots and a West Coast Armory t-shirt that hugged a few of her curves a little too well.

She was on the job, for better or worse. DES seemed to be monitoring the electronic feeds the safehouse provided and Jan was getting the sleep he had said he needed before he could go on an overwatch position. D Pop and Bronwyn were resting in one of the bedrooms and Vexboy had slipped away himself. Things were under control for the time being.

Once everyone had gained a bit of downtime and filtered in and out of the living room the motley crew got to hammering out the immediate needs of security and riffing on their options for how to implement DES' suggestion of how to make one site unsecure for the smugglers with the intention of diverting them into their path.

When D Pop had returned to the group, Rave shared what she had noticed in K-E's databases, about the frequency and dates of the trucks exchanging hands between the Yaks and the Rings back and forth with the plate swaps as a crude but successful way to throw off the scent of anyone watching them who didn't know what they were looking for. The vents, the dates, the trucks themselves might offer the team a way to locate or track the trucks to or from their origin locations.

D Pop had opened her mouth to share some additional information when a heavy knock came against the door.
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

John kept the smile going, but didn't move away.
"My name is John", said John "and I didn't sneak up on you. I just don't make much noise. I was given this address to meet up for... a bit of TNKA."


John showed his empty hands
"Relax, I just waited for an opportune moment to go in. If it's a trap it's always better to have another pair of fists at your side - that is I assume you haven't met those inside before, do you?"
adamu
Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 1955; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

"Well, you're meeting us now," said a tall attractive woman that opened the door. And then a voice from behind them: "Thanks for showing up guys." Turning, they saw what was essentially a ghost, a cute girl manifesting to them from the astral, all wispy, formlessly frayed robes below the neck. "I understand our sisters have put you each through the wringer in various ways," the ghost continued, "and we're glad you're here...Especially you, Rocky. Thanks so much for what you've done."

Entering, they saw the same ghost girl's body on a sofa, and she woke up and smiled. There was a very attractive young woman in a tight shirt who looked like she was ready to work, and three men: an obvious Amerind; a very young man, almost a boy but with a bit of age in his eyes, in a white tuxedo; and a tall, muscular white elf with a long beard.

Quick introductions were made all around, including the tall attractive lady's self-intro as the notorious D-Pop. "You'll all do well to get to know one another, but for now I will talk, since I need to go and take care of some things. My sisters have done some scouting - yes, cursory, for reasons I have explained - of the two sites. The cemetery still appears to be disused, but they noticed new locks on two sets of gates. Both mechanical and electronic, but made to look old and disused. Otherwise they saw no activity there. The location to the south, the automotive service area that had once served the warehouse retailer, remains a cordoned-off, burnt out shell. But our scouts report that there is nothing to impede vehicles entering besides some tape and ARO warnings. There is a lone security guard, probably for insurance purposes, and in their surveillance, they saw a car approach with two Asian men in it. They spoke to the watchman. I am afraid that is what we have. We found no further indication of which site will be used, or when. Hopefully DES's idea will solve the first problem, but as for the second...we don't know when this will be. As I said, we are not even completely certain when the first exchanges too place."

At that point Rave spoke up. "I believe I can help with that." She explained that before meeting D-Pop she'd been sent to look for her, and told that it somehow involved both the Yaks and the Seoulpas. Doing her own research, she dug deep into K-E archival surveillance footage of both organizations, and found something that the data-crossindexing agents had missed.

In the two separate sets of Yazuza and Seoulpa footage, a truck and another just like it, had been driven somewhere - she never saw where, but it must have been a different spot on each occasion - eight times in the past eight months. There was never footage of them meeting, but always the one driven by the yaks ended up an hour later with the rings, and vice versa. About once a month, the two organizations were exchanging trucks - big tractor trailers hauling shipping containers. But they always had different plates after the exchange - easy enough to do, and easy enough to spot if you were looking - but it was enough to stop the datasort agents from spotting them as the same trucks and flagging the connection. She had only spotted it herself by poring over the footage until her eyes ached and spotting incidental markings - scratches, bits of graffitti, bumper stickers - on trucks that were crossing over from the Yakuza to the Seoulpa footage.

Eight times. March first. April second. May fourth. June sixth. July tenth. August twelfth. September sixteenth. October eighteenth.

She knew that sort of shipping container - the type with subtle additions of air vents.
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 1956; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

"Hi there." Confindently, John walked in and straight through the apparition without taking any notice of her.

Politely he listened to the women speak, before saying:
"Aloha, the name is John. Pleasure to meet you etc.
I seem to have missed some key elements of this meeting - so correct me if I get this wrong: You guys want to free a bunch of otherwise soon to be sex-slaves and cannibal-entrees ferried from the Yakuza to the Seoulpa?
But you don't know the exact location where the human cargo will arrive?
A cemetery or a burned out warehouse, right? And I assume no-one around here has a chopper so we can crash where ever the party starts ad hoc?

Oh and another thing: What is you guys and gals specialty? Because I'm mainly here as a jumping gun."
Raiderj
"Your still dressed in the tux kid!" Vexboy cleared his throat. "Beg pardon." He took his things and went to the restroom. Again... He came back out in his lined coat and goggles. A pair of black pants and some sneakers replaced his other clothes. "Uh... Well I am a... Gunslinger Adept. I shoot guns well. I have some stealth abillities and can get around well enough. I don't really have any ideas on to determine the locations. But DES' plan sounded good."
DireRadiant
Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #37

DES had spent the night resting in between finding a nearby spot for a temporary lodge and picking up via a rented courier drone supplies from Red Eyed Jill. He'd given up on finding any appropriate materials for a Homunculus in the house. What it all meant is that he still hadn't gotten enough complete rest, but it had been serviceable.

DES nodded quietly when introduced and listened carefully. He would do what he could to help Warrior Woman.

"I am DES. If you wish to jump out of a plane the Flying Tigress can help you. Otherwise I can help as electronic eyes and Wards."

DES blew air over his hastily crafted pile of leafy branches which transformed them into a green and brown Kite. The Kite's vacant eye holes peered at everyone as it twisted it's head to look around, before it sprang out of DES's hand and flew off around the safe house.

"I can also Speak to the Wind."
JDragon
Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Rocky was about to answer the strange man, when he heard the voice behind him and saw the ghostly image approach from behind John.

Rocky followed the others in, nodding to acknowledge the comment about the help he had provided Daphne earlier in the day, or at least that’s what he assumed it was about. Looking around the room and not seeing any furniture sized for a troll, he found a spot on the floor where he could lean against the wall and not block traffic to much with his feet. He listened closely as their host outlined the what he had gotten dragged in to, which filled in some of the blanks from his conversation with Daphne.

While John's summary didn't seem to have much feeling it did succinctly cover the situation. Once the boy was back from changing clothes and talking about what he could do, without seeming to give his name Rocky spoke up.

"Evening all, names Rocky. I hit things with these clubs," gesturing with his hands.
"Usually it only takes a shot or two to end the conversation if they connect. I don't have anything else to add to the info, but I'm ready to do what I can to help."
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #53

"Hm, jumping from a plane... I haven't done that in a while."
He nodded at Rocky's introduction: "Always useful to have.

Alright, since those witches seem to have trouble scouting the astral, we'll have to do it the old fashioned way. Anyone of you good with computers? I already paid my computer girl a considerable amount these last two days and would welcome a stop to this resource drain. Looking for hidden icons around those sites might tell us something. For example hidden sentry turrets or booby traps - which is tremendously handy to know before you stumble into a place.

Anyhow: Breaking and entering silently beforehand seems to be a good idea, provided we have enough experts in that field.

But before we do that, I have a confession to make: I was hired by the Koreans..."
"...hold your guns, let me finish: I was hired not by choice. I tried to free a girl from one of their legal porn production companies. I did this on behalf of her friend. Went off without a hitch, but the stupid bitch didn't want to be rescued. Some Korean boys asked me nicely to get into a car with them and brought me before their boss. The guy wants to know who is offing his boys by evisceration - in exchange he wanted to null my supposed debt to him and his organization.
That's how I came in contact with the witches, who made me a better offer - namely stopping the exchange and - even more important - getting actually paid for my efforts.
Now I'm expected to report back. So all I need to do now is send a careful falsified report to have them react. For example I could tell them they will be attacked at a specific time and through that have them prepone the exchange. I could tell them, that the opposition has a considerable strike force ready at one of the exchange locations, so they use the other one, although that does include the risk that they use a third we don't know about.

So, I'm open to suggestions how to use this piece of leverage."
DireRadiant
Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #38

DES nodded to himself, laying a false scent of a predator at one of the locations was excellent. Fresh musky scent glands worked best. DES continued to listen.
Raiderj
"Maybe we could use the info to trick them into revealing the location of the drop? Give some lie that we found the kids prior and are en route... I dunno... I wouldnt know how to pull that off..." Vexboy admited with a sigh.
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 19:58; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #54
"I'll need a decision on this from you guys pretty soon. If I keep them waiting to long they smell that something is up.


Oh and another thing: All you knights in shining armor - has anyone asked what to do with the rescuees once we successfully freed them? I mean they probably don't have SINs, know nobody in Seattle and can't pay for their accommodation.
If that hasn't been addressed, this whole operation is like opening the cattle pen at a slaughter house onto the freeway."


John let his arms slowly rotate as if to work out a kink in his muscles. Only then he noticed that he hadn't changed his facial expression since he came here.
DireRadiant
Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #39

DES shook his head, and answered, "Not street kids. they have families and homes that will take them back." DES lifted a hand indicating Jan, "What this one found out."
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 19:58; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #55

"Huh? So this could be solved by the FBI? I mean, it's those guys job to look after kidnapped SINners. Damn, if I had known that, I'd have asked my friend to find out identities of those people and maybe arrange for an additional payday from their parents and friends.
Bah, nevermind - then it's a good feelings run."

But seriously: Which location would you prefer for the raid: A cemetery with open air and lots of entrance and exit points but danger from snipers or a closed off warehouse environment.
I'm equipped for both."

John inquired.
Raiderj
"We still don't know which is the drop site. We gotta figure that first." Vexboy said. "Also... How are we gonna get these kids out of either location? We would need some kind of freight truck."
Jack_Spade
Thursday, 21 November, 19:58; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #56

"Boy, that's what I try to fix by sending a fake report to the Koreans. If I tell them about a compromised drop site they most likely won't use that one.
For transport: How about we steal the one the Koreans are bringing - I mean - I plan to off them permanently, so they won't need their rides anymore."

John sounded impatient now.
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