Kynos replied:
<<If you want to play it like that, fine. But that means that your balls are personally on the chopping block for the money, regardless of what happens to Strawberry.
I'll keep a low profile for a month or two and look forward to the payday for each member of this team.>>

Simone observes the instruments and readouts, waiting for the word from the doctor as to what is wrong with Sovereign's blood.

@Wheely Heya Wheels I'm in a tight spot and I need to get past some folks to make it to this address I don't think I have the skills needed to pull this off do you think you could sneakt me past these cops?

@Simone, Maxwell after several minutes, when none of you selects any piece of cyberware - a voice says "So... what are you doing in my clinic?"

Kynos Casa texted ">> That was not what agreed either, you are an entrepreneur now but there are serious moves in place to secure the mage. You and I are in the same boat though - and I hope that you know better than to try and intimidate the man that selected you for this gig.

Maxwell, being the first to speak, rasps out his intentions. "There is some sort of foreign agent in my blood, in my system. We didn't have the equipment on hand to do a more in-depth analysis. We were hoping you could help with that and maybe purge whatever it is inside of me. Without harming me in the process of course."

@Maxwell the voice said "1k for diagnosis, 1k extra if we can treat you. Please pay 1k so I can start."

Grabbing his credstick that's tucked inside his jacket, he then slots a terminal. Paying one thousand to the good doctor. "It is done. Now... find out what's wrong with me." Said Maxwell right back at the voice.

<<@Irris: Sure if it has wheels I can drive it. Think you can find a way to give me control?>>

<<Casa, you should know that I never threaten people who don't betray me and keep their word.
But I want a clear answer: If this whole venture falls through because you and your bosses ignored my warning about Andu and my offer to take care of him, who is going to pay us?
Nobody, right?
After all that half-assed intelligence you gave us that made this whole venture from start to finish much harder than it had to be and that whole cock-up your lawyers made with the Alliance you now expect us to just take your word that it will be smooth sailing?
Your employers squandered a lot of credibility, so don't be surprised that I'm more than a bit concerned about your organizations ability to make the right decisions.>>

Sure thing. I offer Wheely a mark on the car.

@Kynos >> And a bunch of angry yaks with military grade weapons trashing Mafia buildings in retaliation for taking out one of their commanders comes out of your pocket? Face it Kynos, despite how invested you feel about it - this is Valentina's show and we are the pawns. Nothing in life is guaranteed but your financial interests and mine are aligned in this one. And no, you are not going to come to me with demands if things go south. I expect you to know better than that. Enjoy your vacation.


@Maxwell - the doctor leads you to a test -bed and a small drone runs all sorts of tests on you. After about an hour you get the diagnosis "Nanites" It is nothing sophisticated, and they should be cleared from your system in a week or two. Their function is anyone's guess but they do not seem to cause you any harm. It is possible that you can be tracked to a degree with them.

Simone takes a look at the diagnosis readings. "Nanites? Where did you pick those up." She taps on one of the terminals then looks to the monitor that the doctor is using. "Not looking at a CFD case here, are we, doctor?"

@Maxwell, Simone, The doctor replies "There are no documented cases of CFD in unaugmented individuals. "

@Irris - with Wheely's help you get to the meeting point undetected. There is nobody at that meeting point but a bag.

I will inspect the bag via matrix then open it if there are no danger signs.

Irris the bag contains a link with one number - calling that number illuminates a navigation program on the link leading you to a tunnel that is big enough to pass with the car. Seattle is waiting on the other side.

Maxwell goes wide-eyed for a second upon hearing his prognosis. He settles down some when he learns that the nanites in his bloodstream are largely benign. Turning to Simone, he says in a matter-of-fact kind of way. "Must have been at some point during these last few days. I've been clean since the big CFD outbreak a few weeks ago. The place I was staying at with my girlfriend while the riots were happening had a med-bay that could detect drek like that. So, it must have been pretty recent." Shifting the conversation away from her and to the doctor, Maxwell asks. "I don't like the idea of being tracked. Can you purge them with an EMP?"

@Maxwell, Simone The doctor says "Purely medical advice is to wait it out, and perhaps be in a Faraday cage. Two weeks and you are clean. I can also inject you with anti nanites - that work to an extent against other nanites. Another 1k for that option."

<<I didn't ask the mafia to do it - I'm still an independent operator and so is Sovereign. We are on the Yak's shit list anyway. A clean hit would open the way for a saner leader. That's why I offered to to the necessary work in the first place.
But as I said: I will abide for now. See you at the payday.>>

I will head towards the tunnel then.

Without thinking, Maxwell slots the doctor another thousand and says. "Let's do it."

@Maxwell - it feels like being tickled from the inside. Then it is painful, Maxwell's body jerks. Little buggers have defensive mechanisms. After something like 10 seconds that feel like forever - the doctor's voice declares "You are clean".

Simone reaches out to take hold of Sovereign's hand as he spasms in pain, wordlessly letting him use her hand as a conduit to shunt his hurts away quicker. She smiles at the doctor's pronouncement and lets go of the scary mage's hand, shaking it a bit to get the blood flowing again. She looks around at Kynos. "Seems to be OK, now. Are we done here or do you have anything that needs medical attention?"

<<As soon as we have out payout I might come back here to get some of my ware upgraded - might even get enough empty soul back to squander it on some new enhancements.

But for now, we should be good - provided Sovereign really is clear. Seattle seems to turn into the capital of body snatchers - bugs, nanites, shedim, possession spirits, bunraku puppets... cleansing fires would be too good for this lot.>>

Kynos quickly informed his team mates about the recent discussion with Casa and made no secret out of it that he was pissed off - even more than usual.

"Seems like hunting vampires is the only non-controversial fun we can have tonight."

Simone nods as they walk back to the locker area to strip out of the scrubs they had been issued here in preparation for getting back into the hazmat suit. "We doing the vampires? Can we consider getting some sleep tonight and going after the vampire tomorrow?"

"Tired already? We haven't liberated any compounds today, did we? Alright, let's find a secure place to catch some Z. Pitty about the vamps, those will likely go to ground as soon as the sun comes up. But it will give Irris time to get back here."
Kynos replied.

Simone nods. "Thanks. I could use the rest. I live in my van, so I don't really know too many places to go to, but it does have a bed that can sleep three if they don't mind being a bit close. There are six of us, once we get Nyx and Iris back. Do we want to use the van and take shifts sleeping? Or do you have a place in mind?"

@Kernel - You arrive in Seattle at about 4:00 am tired but unhinged. On the other side of the border, you meet the coyote that asks "Did you find our tunnel easily?" You are in an underground parking lot in Redmond. It is well protected by some gang with a distinctive flying snake emblem.

@Nyx when you are done with the negotiations and with Strawberry, Finestra texts you>> Dinner at the Red Phonix and then live music at the Skelton. Bring something comfortable to dance in...

The treatment was as bad, if not worse, as the nanites. He didn't anticipate there being any pain. He was tortuously surprised when it felt like thousands of wasp stings abruptly puncturing his insides all at once. Maxwell barely had the time or cognizant thought to grab a hold of Simone as the pain brought him to his knees. Wordlessly, while struggling, he got back on his feet. Using Simone as a boost up. Maxwell stayed silent for the most part as Simone and Kynos conversed. The elf wanted to slay vampires, and the medic wanted to turn in for the night and save that for tomorrow. The mage however had a whole plethora of chores and errands and tasks to see to. People to incinerate. Money to claim. Spirits to summon and bind. Contacts to hit up for gear. A girlfriend to spend some time with, hopefully, away from a certain wanted vampire. And close to a dozen pixies to sacrifice. But, for simplicity's sake, he'd narrow it down to only one of those for the time being.

Maxwell pipes into the conversation with a suggestion of his own. Starting with a few sardonic remarks beforehand though. "Agreed. This city is a bloody monument to the enslavement of the flesh and will. How we havn't been bombed into oblivion yet is a question I've been asking myself a lot lately these days. Oh well, no matter. It leaves me with the privilege to cull the meek of the masses and scorch this blight-rotted land all for myself. Except, not right now though. I'm with Simone when I say we should call it a day and regroup tomorrow night. Speaking of which... Simone, would you mind lending me a ride for a few errands real quick? I'm going to need to pickup the rest of my stuff stashed at the Brain Eaters HQ and visit my talismonger for some magical supplies. Shouldn't take very long. Assuming traffic is favorable."

Simone nods at the question. "Sure, I can do that. Kynos, can you go with Wheeley and find us a safe place to stay? You can send me directions while I help Sovereign."

"Alright. Don't get abducted. I mean it. If you manage to get yourself caught I'll be very angry.
Here, take two stealth RFIDs each. One is active, the other passive until you push it on top. Put them somewhere, where they won't be found or lost if you are stripped.
Third time's the charm and all that."

Once he was with Wheely in the car, he said: "Alright, next stop Kong-Mart. We need folding cots, blankets and a few more amenities like toothbrushes.
You lot can crash at my place - it's secure but pretty spartan."

Wheely learned that Kynos hadn't embellished his tale: His place was literally a hole in the ground, leading to a burried 40ft. shipping container, that was pretty barren except for a small, hard mattress, a gun cleaning kit and some suitcases.

"I'll have to give this place up anyway in a few days. So make yourself comfortable."

Wheely scoffs a little at the sight of Kynos place "You weren't kidding when you said spartan. Oh well I do live in a garage, don't worry about me."

"On general principle I live with nothing that I can't abandon in a heartbeat or take with me. You get used to it."

Once alone with Sovereign, Simone drives off. "OK, scary mage, where to first?"

Maxwell was standing up and leaning over the driver's seat. With his commlink in hand, he gives her the coordinates. "Brain Eaters first. They're located in Touristville. I left a bag there containing some armor that might prove useful to you. After that we'll head to my friend's magic shop. Also in Touristville."

>>Finnestra [Nyx]: Dinner? Uh... Ok?<< After a pause, Nyx added >>Finnestra [Nyx]: You know that outside of the casino's outfit or the stuff I use for things like yesterday, I don't have much to wear, right?<<

I drop off the car wherever slim wants it then contact the team, Right, I'm back. Should I meet you guys somewhere?

@Nyx Finestra replies >> if you want to go shopping before that I know just the place.

Wheely shrugs at Kynos' words "I would rather not lose my garage but my favorite stuff is on wheels anyway. I will make myself at home then."

He starts unfolding one of the cot and notice Ennui's message and replies <<Hey glad you made it back in one piece, we're at Kynos place I will send you the coordinate unless he wants to set up a meeting spot to be safer.>> while giving a questioning look to Kynos.