Tuesday, 26 November, 0630; Mercy General Hospital, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Song Ai starts awake and notices that someone has draped a blanket over her as she slept in the chair next to Fu Shing's bed. A nurse is puttering about the medical sensors that link the man's medical indicators to the control station. She gives Ai a small smile and a quiet good morning as she steps up to take Fu Shing's pulse. The nurse hands Ai a menu and whispers that breakfast will be available in about two hours. "Please indicate what you and Mister Fu would like to eat. I have already passed out similar menus to the men at the door. I can take them with me and place the orders. Oh, and the good KE Major has returned and has some questions for you."

Ai nods in thanks and quickly scans the menu, marking down those things that she would like to order for breakfast. She waits for the nurse to leave the room before going into the small bathroom in the private hospital room. She returns and checks on Shing before stepping out into the corridor, where she is greeted respectfully by her guards. The female KE Major is talking to a couple of her minions and drinking from a vendor machine coffee cup, but she looks up as Ai leaves the room and motions for her to come over. Ai nods for one of her men to go inside the room and walks over to where the other woman is standing. "Good morning, Miss Song. I hope that you got some rest from your activities of last night?"

Ai nods. "Yes. Thank you for your concern. I do not expect that the doctors will need to keep my employer here for too much longer. Will be be able to return home at that time?"

"Yes, as long as you can be available to answer any additional questions. One of the main lines of investigation I am following is trying to ID the assassins at the site of the rocket attack on your convoy." She gives Ai a close look. "It would seem that a very sharp object cut into the men, killing all of them except for one that seems to have been the victim of friendly fire from one of his associates. I am sure that I do not have to caution you that such a weapon is not to be treated lightly. I will not push the legality issue as there is just too much paperwork involved, but try to make sure that I do not regret that decision."

Ai nods and gives the woman a smile. "I will do my best, Major. And my master and I will be available to answer any questions that you may have. Please feel that you can contact me at any time. I am certain that Fu Shing will be extremely grateful for your assistance and for finding out who attempted to kill him."

The KE major chuckles. "I don't suppose that it could hurt to have your boss owe me one. I have your code and will contact you later."

Ai nods again and returns to the room, resuming her seat at the side of the bed and sending the guard back to the corridor.

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 0136; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Al stretched full-length on his cot. Apparently there was little to do at this point but wait for the rest of their little quorum to arrive so they could decide on the least objectionable path forward. Committee decisions always yielded the worst possible resolutions, so it was a good thing he didn't care that much.

With no ETA on any of the others, and knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep, he considered putting in his fortnightly fifteen minutes practice at Dragon-Phoenix Death Style, but the T&Cs he'd signed on the course were strict about never revealing the Ancient Secrets to any non-subscribers, so he couldn't reveal the moves to Johnny. He supposed he could pay the thirty nuyen to buy Johnny a subscription of his own, but he couldn't really be sure how seriouslyJohnny would take the T&Cs. What if he uploaded Grandmaster Dragon Initiate Ryder's copyrighted secrets to the Grid for free? Al wouldn't be able to live with himself if he let his sensei down that way.

So the answer was simple. Not wanting some delivery schmuck ghosting their hidey hole, he went out and thirty minutes later was back with a trid. How he could have been so good about food and smokes but forgotten a trid...first sign of age, he supposed. Johnny was still charging his batteries when Al got the unit set up. There was something flashing in the news window about a simmering Triad war. Could be useful, but was probably just tedious. He tuned in to the monster truck rally in Tacoma and put his feet up with a beer.

Tuesday, 26 November, 0830; Mercy General Hospital, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Song Ai is reviewing more of the video feeds that her subordinates are sending her, as well as anything she can pick up about the assassins that have made it necessary to be sitting in Mercy General when she could be in a much more comfortable bed. Bit by bit, she begins to put things together, finally catching a break when Cora Lee comes back with an ID on two of the assassins and Han Sing manages to get names of the two apparent leaders of the thugs that attacked them at the bar. She smiles as she accesses her 'link and sends a message. >>John [Tanya]: I have a positive ID on two of the assassins that attacked my employer's vehicle last night. If you have nothing to do until we get together after noon, do you think that you could do some legwork for me? The two are Roger "Mick" O'Hanlon and Patrick "Scar" O'Reilly. It appears that they are, or were, a couple of mid level thugs working for a sub-capo of the local Mafia by the name of Jimmy Jakes. It would help a lot to know just who paid for the hit on my employer. Is this something that you could feel comfortable doing?<<

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 0831; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #175

John received the text with mild amusement:
<<Roger, roger. Teasing organized crime has become somewhat of a hobby by now.>>

He relayed the request to Al and said: "Seems like we could cook some mafia ass for breakfast. How are your contacts with that particular organization? I'll send Jan the rundown, but I don't expect him to be enthusiastic about poking the Omerta."

Glo
Tuesday, 26 November, 0835; approach to storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Glo had spent the rest of the night tracking down an ultrasonic masking package and thanks to Silk had been introduced to Cannon. His travelling emporium catered to the wide and varied needs of the runner community in Seattle and although his specialty was grade A bang bang he had come up with the small device that would help her to stay hidden under unwelcome observation.

When Jon’s text had come in she was still in two minds about exposing herself to the relatively unknown runners and so she had paid for Silk’s observations once more and been assured, with some amusement, that at least one of them, Guthrie, was a good sort. Jon was an unknown factor and Glo regretted that she hadn’t got a good look at Triad lady…so a more personal meeting would be worthwhile…

As such she was stood in the early morning damp wrapped in an inconspicuous grey hoody, respirator and goggles and she sent a text to Jon

<<I’m outside, can I come in?>>

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 0831; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #176

John didn't bother to answer the message. Instead he just opened the lock and pulled the door open.
"Good morning. Lovely to see you once again. Come in.

Hey Al, get the soycaf ready. Our number one mono whip NIC is here."
Casually, John filled Glo in about the latest developments.

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 0835; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Al had pretended to ponder Johnny's question, but really he had wanted to wait for the scene he was watching to be over - it was one of his all-time favorite sequences, the one where Uncle Shagrat's mischievous nephews slip him a concoction that leaves him unable to stop farting loudly just as the MOM worker comes to review his child-support subsidies.

By the time Al managed to stop laughing and wipe the tears from his eyes, Johnny was opening the door for the NIC. Except she wasn't N and she wasn't even I. She was just a C, and Al had seen plenty of those before. Hell, near as he could tell from his side of the hoody and goggles, she might not even be hot, which caused him to question whether she was really one of the females in this business at all.

But he tossed her a beer - she was a guest and he hadn't been raised in a barn, plus there wasn't a woman in the world wasn't improved at least a little with some alcohol in them - and greeted her before responding to Johnny's query.

"I knew some o' the main cats inna Gianelli family. But then I done burned my bridges with those assholes. Napalmed 'em, more like. Hell, one o' the primary reasons I'm breathin' is they think I'm dead. But I know who Mick an' Scar ta say hello to. They's with the Finnegans. Not that I'd like 'em ta know I'm breathin'. They do jobs fer the Family, but mostly they's freelancers. Real heavy stuff, nothin' quiet. Usual arrangement - Finnegans keep the law off 'em, they fork over a cut o' they earnin's. Reckon I can git they number, ya wanna talk to 'em."

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 0835; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #177

"Don't bother. If I understood her right, the two assassins didn't survive their hit. Now, I can't say I've done business with the Finigans before, but in my experience those guys aren't particularly keen on talking about hits and stuff. Them being out for blood on you leads me to believe it would be best to discretely abduct one of the more knowledgeable peeps, turn our tender mercies on him and have him vanish afterwards. Pete as a pretty large larder."

Glo
Tuesday, 26 November, 0840; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Glo caught the beer and set it aside unopened, then, after a quick mental command, removed her breather, goggles and hood…her skin glowed luminescent in the dingy unit, only her eyes remained unaffected. It removed any shadows from her face and effectively stymied any facial recognition software the runners might be employing but at least she was face to face with them rather than hiding behind the impersonal breathing gear

“You can call me Glo…” she said rather unnecessarily…

To John's summary of events to date she responded

"I've no real interest in pursuing a vendetta against the mob, any mob...I have my own specific reasons for targeting the 88s, and my own search for redemption. If that goes hand in hand with your efforts then I will assist you but I want no part of actions against the mafiosa"

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 0840; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #178

"Are you sure? Poking the mob is fun - there are usually big explosions and lots of screaming.
But whatever - as I said we can do this discreetly and since the Triad who tried to off Tanya's boss is possibly also the guy you are after... eh, by the way would you mind giving us a short summary of what your deal is exactly? Figuring things out piece by piece is fun and all, but it can lead to some dangerous misconceptions along the way causing much drama.

As a measure of trust in that regard I'll regal you with my tale first: Hi, I'm John, I'm a dead guy come back to life in the matrix and now stuck in a robot body... which is awesome compared to being dead. I used to work for the MET2000 mercenaries until my demise a year ago. After that I was picked up by S-K from which I got away with this bitching body."

Glo
Tuesday, 26 November, 0840; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Well that explained a couple of things, Glo mused to herself, she had assumed John was a decker or rigger holed up somewhere and interacting through an, admittedly impressive, anthroform…that is assuming he wasn’t just full of shit and his scawny form was in a van around the corner!

“Then in the spirit of avoiding misunderstandings… I was created in a programme, one that moulded me into who and what I am now. The originators then decided to capitalise on their investment by selling the programme details to the highest bidders. My intel says the 88s were one of those foolish enough to want their own assassin training programme and I intend to forcibly disabuse them of that idea before they destroy the lives of more like myself…is that enough detail for you? One of the scientists that oversaw the programme is somewhere in Seattle trying to sell his product…if the 88s can lead me to him then even better!”

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 0840; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #179

"Ah, now I get it. Fair enough - kill the creator. Quite Frankensteinian of you, but a classic.
But just out of interest - what's the going rate for an assassin program these days? Just in case I'm offering my services to cheaply on the open market..."

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 0840; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Al shook his head as the conversation between the robot and the test-tube killer, realizing that he was now holed up in a room with two people that weren't people. It reminded him that Jan was way overdue. So while the other two traded tales of inhumanity, he texted the big elf: <<Where you at, kemo sabe? How long's it take to squeeze a couple of low lifes? You haven't let that sneaky tusker turn the tables on you? Get your ass back - the NIC's here, and Miss Gangster-but-Not-Evil is due at some point. You don't want to miss it.>>

Tuesday, 26 November, 0850; Mercy General Hospital, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Song Ai and Fu Shing have finished the breakfast provided by the hospital and the trays have been removed. A nurse and doctor arrive to do a final check, but that is just a formality as the monitors have already told them all they need to know and the appropriate release forms are signed and checked. Fu Shing is glad when all the leads are disconnected and he can get dressed. The KE major enters the room for a final few words with the Triad lieutenant then wishes him well and nods to Ai that all is ready. Fu Shing fusses over the hospital policy of using a wheelchair to leave the hospital but eventually sits in it, actually seeming to enjoy the attention a bit. Song Ai's guard detail falls in place and they move to the hospital parking garage, where a limousine is waiting to whisk them all back to Chinatown and the casino.

Fu Shing swears at the way the casino looks and spends a bit of time walking around, inspecting the damage and conferring with the head of security. The two of them and Al decide that new and better security arrangements need to be put in place to help prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future. Finally, Fu Shing tires and he and Ai return to their suite in the penthouse. Once there and out of the sight of any of the guards, the man sags against Ai. "I am feeling a bit tired and my damned leg is still sore. I think I will go to bed to rest for a while. Song Ai, I cannot express how much I appreciate your being here has meant to me. Thank you."

Ai smiles. "It is my pleasure to serve. I will be following up on some leads and setting some actions in place to make things safe for us. This will take me away from the casino but you can contact me at any time."

It is a measure of how tired and weak the man is that he simply nods and undresses to get into bed. He is gently snoring in seconds and Ai looks at him for a few moments before sending a message. >>John [Tanya]: It is 1100. I can be at the meeting location in thirty minutes. Any requests for type of beer and snacks?<<

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 0840; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #180

John bantered a bit more with Glo insofar the living weapon allowed herself to be dragged into conversation.
"Seems like we won't hear from Triad Tanya this morning. I suggest we go on and nab one of the Finnigans in the meantime.
Al, if you can give me the name of their capo, I can task my contact with getting his current whereabouts. I'm sure we can get him out discretely with Glo's help. I'll just put him into my VM to find out what he knows and/or what he's made off."

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 0840; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

As talk of initiating hostilities with yet another crime organization became more serious, it occurred to Al that it could, conceivably, be a better idea not to drag yet another powerful group of enemies into his life, seeing that he was already playing dead with one and in an open war with another.

But then he remembered that life was for living.

"Roger that, kemo sabe. Guy we want - guy all o' Mick an' Scar's contracts got approved through - was Gimp Flannery. Squeeze him, we'll git who signed off on the hit in question. Anything ya can git off'n yer contact's gravy, but I can tell ya were he is between early mornin' an' noonish, an' that's home in bed. With his wife. Kids inna next room. Reckon that's a job I don't want. Makes his way ta his favorite waterin' hole, Big Mike's in Ballard most ever' afternoon - easy enough ta take 'im thereabouts. More security, more eyes. An' altogether fewer little kids. Hey, hang on a sec..." he held up a hand for quiet to watch the part where Uncle Shagrat accidentally walks in on his niece's elf girlfriend in the shower, then trips in surprise and falls face first into the toilet..."Or...with them dead anyhoo, he might not mind jist tellin' us, we ask right..."

Tuesday, 26 November, 1130; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Tanya cruises through the area under the Alaska Way viaduct with her eyes open. She has been in some dodgy places before, but this is about as dodgy as it gets outside of the Barrens......or maybe in the glow. She finally locates the storage unit John had described and pulls up next to it, parking the bike off to the side and setting its colors to match those of the unit. She grabs the case of beer and the bag of chips and candy from the storage bin and goes up to the door. She puts her beer on the ground to free a hand to knock and is rewarded when Al opens it to let her inside. She picks up the beer and enters, looking around to where Al motions for her to put the things down.

Turning to face the others she takes a breath. "OK, apology time. I know that I came off a bit strong earlier and I want to say that I am sorry. I sometimes forget that I am not a real Triad soldier and that can make things tough. I would like a chance to start over, if I may. I have lived here on these streets for several years now and I have seen so much misery that it hurts. I do what I can by supporting street clinics and orphanages, even some educational scholarships to try to get deserving people out of places like this and the Redmond Barrens. But I can only do so much and it is not enough. A few days ago I was involved in stopping some Yaks and Seoulpa gangers from moving a bunch of kids and it felt good to be involved in that. That got me thinking that maybe there is a better way and I thought that I might be able to infiltrate a gang and hurt it from within. I chose the 88s Triad and found a way to get close to the inside, to the top of part of the organization. I took a look around and saw the same things that you see: drugs, prostitution, loansharking, protection, gun running. All of it supported in some way by the gang I was now part of and I had a thought. What if, instead of attacking the Triad and leaving, I could change the Triad from within? I know it sounds crazy, but looking at things from my point of view, it might just work. I cannot fix all of the problems and I cannot fix much overnight, but I can make a change for the better and get things moving in the right direction. I have a good connection with a powerful Triad lieutenant and I can work on that to change things."

"What I need is some help. What I need is you guys helping me. In return I can help you. I can get the hit lifted for Al and Jan. I do not yet know what I can do for John or......or you." She stops to look at the other person in the container. "You must be the woman who killed those security guards. That may not have been necessary, but there is little I can do about it now. I would ask that we work together, not apart, and that means leaving the casino alone for now. Please. I can try to help you get whatever it is that you were looking for."

She pauses to look around at all of the others. "Can we work together for now?"

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 1131; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

"Shee-it woman, we's already workin' together. Else ya wouldn't be standin' here. But if half the stuff ya jist said's got any truth to it, reckon that's worth somethin'. Big if though. S'pose time'll tell. An' actions. Like she says inna Good Book, faith without works is a sucker's game. So we'll see."

He helped himself to a bag of crisps.

"Helluva a lotta trouble yer goin' to, though, assumin' yer story is true. Reckon shootin' 'em all inna head be a damn sight easier. More reliable, too."

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 1130; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #181

"Oh honey, we wouldn't have invited you if we weren't interested in working with you. The sentiment is appreciated, and doing good certainly won't hurt your soul, but I at least am not concerned about your motives as long as we can get the job done without anyone here sticking a knife into anyone else's back." John replied.

"And don't worry what you can do for me - I'm old fashioned in that I'm pretty mercenar."

Tuesday, 26 November, 1131; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Tanya walks over to where Al has a cooler against one wall of the container and opens it to take a cold beer out and puts several of the warm ones in that she has just brought. Standing up, she pops the can open and tosses back a slug. Wiping her mouth, she looks around and nods her head. "Good stuff. But back to the Triads. Yes, it might be easier to just kill a bunch of them and say job done, but the job is not done. The problem with these guys is that you can kill a ton of them and stack the bodies to the ceiling and there will still be more to take the place of the dead guys. Not only that, but too often innocent people get caught up in the crossfire and explosions." She pauses but does not look at anyone in particular. "Or the fires. And, believe it or not, I really would prefer to limit the innocent casualties. My plan is to work from the inside to change the way the gang does business. It takes longer, but I think it works better in the end."

She takes another drink and sighs. "Look, I am not a gangster and I am not a terrorist. What I am is a thief, and a pretty darn effective one. I have been exiled here by my prick of a cousin and Seattle is now my home. I have no intention of moving on to anywhere else so I want to make it a better place. And you are right, Al, faith without works is nothing so I am trying to do good works. So I am going to put you on the spot. Will YOU help me do good works or are you just here today and gone tomorrow and Seattle nothing more than a memory to you?"

She finishes off her beer and takes another as she looks around. "And, John, you say you are mercenary. Would you be willing to work with me and what would it cost me for your services?"

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 1131; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

"Seattle? Woman, this burg's jist another dusty fillin' station onna long desert highway ta Hollywood. Or hell, if'n they's a diff'rence. Only folks can put me onna spot's my friends, an' y'all ain't there yet."

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "But good works? Already doin' 'em, hon. Ever' one o' them mooks we took out last night, that's how many girls din't git turned out onna street, how many kids not hooked on dope? Jist cuz there'll always be evil men in this fallen world ain't no excuse ta stop cappin' 'em...but yeah, I'll do it till I'm bored an' then be inna wind. Got nothin' ta prove cuz I ain't in with 'em an' then pretendin' ta be damned Mother Theresa at the same time. Jury on you'll be out till it's in. So jist drink yer beer an' stop yer frettin' - done already said we'd work with ya. Don't gotta like each other fer that."

Tuesday, 26 November, 1132; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Tanya purses her lips to keep a retort in, but it is very hard to put up with this man who is so bloody sure of his own morality and cannot see how hypocritical he comes off as. Still, he obviously has similar thoughts about her, only he is rude enough to say them out loud. She nods her head sadly. "I see. So you have no intention of staying and fixing whatever problems you might create here. Just kill a few gangers and move on and leave the cleanup to those that have to live with the mess. Well, at least you are honest about it and I can appreciate that. One thing does puzzle me, though, who the frag is this mother Theresa? And why would I pretend to be her?"

Glo
Tuesday, 26 November, 11:33; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Glo ignored the woman’s comments and remained quiet through the morality pissing contest. Beyond young children she didn’t really believe in the concept of innocence, and sometimes not even then. But she felt no need to justify herself to these people.

“So we work together while our goals are in line, and when they no longer do we part company. I am happy enough with that arrangement…”

She addressed the thief “These two want a hit mark lifted, he simply wants money, I need access to the Triad’s servers to locate someone, what you want is probably a little longer term than this loose alliance is likely to last but if our actions start you on your route I guess that will have to be enough…is that a fair enough summary? So, where do we begin…?”

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 1133; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

"Well, since y'all are a whole lotta talk an' no go when it comes ta jist randomly killin' the bastards till they sue fer peace, reckon Flannery's due at Big Mike's in a couple hours. Might could find out who hired Scar an' Mick. That's the rumpus, right? We's supposed ta narrow down who the baaad bad guy is? Which o' the four? Or was it we already know, but we need some sorta evidence? Honestly it's a lot fer ol' Al ta keep track of...either way, Johnny here wanted ta go after Flannery hours ago, but I was busy watchin' trid..."

Tuesday, 26 November, 1133; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Tanya purses her lips but says nothing right away, gathering her thoughts and calming herself down. Finally, she nods. "Yes. I have a suspicion as to which lieutenant ordered the hit, but I would like to know for sure. I am sorry, but can you please explain Flannery and Big Mike to me? I apologize if I have forgotten something you said earlier."

She turns to the other woman. "Glo, who are you looking for? I might be able to look for him and see where he is."

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 1134; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #182

"Al happens to know the two would-be-killers that targeted your boss and by extension their boss, Flannery, who happens to visit a local called Big Mikes.
I'd say we use one of you sweeties for a little honey trap, knock him out, get him out the backdoor and into my valkyrie module, ask him polite questions and afterwards either Laes his memories or chop him up and leave him for the devil rats. All hush, hush and discrete."
John replied.

Tuesday, 26 November, 1135; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Tanya nods. "Thanks for the brief. I am not above working a honey trap and I can make it work unless he is immune to Narcoject. Does anyone know what this Flannery likes in women? Does he already have a mistress he meets at this club or does he play the field a bit?"

She sends off a couple of messages to some contacts. >>Petra [Tanya]: Hey, love, it looks like your information on that guy Scar was spot on. Now I am looking for some material on his boss, a Mafia guy by the name of Flannery. He is supposed to be some low to mid level boss and regularly goes to a bar/club called Big Mike's.<< A similar message goes to Cora Lee.

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 1134; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

"Ol' Flannery's a married feller, an' loyal as the day is long...if'n it's winter at the North Pole, anyhoo. Red hair, nice ta tas, trashy-thinks-it's-classy oughtta do the trick. He ain't stupid, though, an' too easy, middle o' the afternoon, could ring some bells no matter how much blood ya redirect from his inbred brain...."

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 1134; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #183

"Classic. So that's settled then. Maybe we can play the damsel in distress card - abusive boyfriend, giving Flannery the chance to feel like a hero. Jan could play that part convincing, I'm sure."

Glo
Tuesday, 26 November, 11:34; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Glo shook her head slowly “You are in open conflict with a Triad who have a hit out on you and yet now you wish to escalate this with an attack on the Mafiosa too? I understand their soldatos where involved in a hit on her boss, but is that really anything more than business as usual? Why would you want the risk of being on another radar?”

Jan
Tuesday, 26 November, 11:34; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Jan laughed from the doorway at Al's guidance of Tanya's getup. "So just get her to dress up how you like, eh?" Al looked a little relieved to see Jan and redress the balance of personalities in the room. Jan looked different. Clean. He'd showered and slept, and his clothes were new.
"Scrubbing dried blood from the nails takes a while, and I decided catch a few hours kip. Sorry" he finished, by way of a non-apology. "Got a decentish return. And some intel...." He trailed off without offering the information, as if that would satisfy the needs of the group.

"So, where we at with proceedings? What you cowboys been up to?"

Al
Tuesday, 26 November, 1134; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

"Waitin' on you, ya sorry excuse fer a heterosexual," Al replied, tossing his friend a beer. "This here's the NIC, an' ye've met Triad Queen Tanya here. We was jist talkin' 'bout squeezin' ol' Gimp Flannery fer who hired Mick an' Scar ta hit Tanya's people. Or ask 'im nicely. You know Gimp, right? Jimmy Jakes' number two. Leastways, that's what we was fixin' on doin'...less'n ye've already gleaned said wisdom from our erstwhile foemen...."

Tuesday, 26 November, 1134; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Tanya nods and shrugs her shoulders. "I am not partial to getting on the bad side of the Mafia and could maybe get the information I need in another way. It makes sense to leave Flannery alone for now. I had only tossed that out as a possible way to get the information." She turns to face Jan and waits with the others for his answer to the question of what he has found.

John
Tuesday, 26 November, 1135; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex #184

"Boo, you lot are no fun. Ok, ok, we'll be reasonable and not aggravate another powerful crime organisation. Spoilsports.

Anyway, what did squeezing the thug give you, except prompting you to wear an ironed shirt for once?
Previous to the abduction of the spaghetti-cheater we discussed going after one of the rice-eater lieutenants. That's still on the menu, right?"

Tuesday, 26 November, 1135; storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex


Tanya nods without taking her eyes off of Jan. "Yes. I am getting a list together of where he will be when. It is not as easy as it may sound, so I will need at least until tomorrow morning to get some of that information." She pauses. "So, Jan, am I the one causing you to not tell what you got from the former prisoners? If so, I can leave the room for a bit and let you guys hash it all out."

Glo
Tuesday, 26 November, 11:34; Storage unit under Alaska Way viaduct, Downtown, Seattle Metroplex

Glo kept quiet whilst the others debated but she prepared to follow Triad Tanya out if the woman showed any further signs of leaving…to Glo she represented a more useful potential source of info than these runners were likely to glean…