Anna replied "Sure... will be fun to practice on Sprinklers. I even have a spell to help."

To Dr Schmidt she replied. "Men are a fun topic... I want to do so. How can I make an initial contact?

Schmidt shrugged: "You'll have to ask bnc to snoop around in her life a bit. I'm certain you'll manage. If all else fails, just happen to be there when she needs help with a flat tire or a mugger. That usually works to get invited for a coffee."

"So who wants to play mugger for an hour?"

Anna looks at Schmidt "Won't work on a clever street rat, but should work on her." She grins at Slob and says "So you mug her and I comfort her?" She looks pensive and then says" Or you may want to mug me and let her do the comforting. Slightly riskier but less chance of police involvement. Or of her Spider friend digging to info on who robbed his girlfriend."

bnc simply nods, when he announces that the group will split. Still, she casts Krestov a wry smile. She bites her lip, and proceeds in a business voice: "Fine by me. Still, we should check his aura and stuff.
In principal, I like your approach, honey bunny. But just some small stupid voice inside me tells me, that a small, fragile, blonde sarariwoman might not get involved with a big, bad tusker to protect some random chick on the street. Best thing she'd so is call KE, and this is not really what we want. I wouldn't go for robbery. What else could you do? You don't look exactly like a technician, but I prefer something nice over something brutal. It'll also look suspicious. It's a classic aproach."

"I can show up in her Yoga class and make friends. Or steal her wallet and then run after her, waving it around and explaining that she dropped it. Go to her AA meeting and tell a heartbreaking story that she would sympathize with.

There are plenty of non-violent options ranging from wigging it like the wallet thingy to actually researching it and tailoring some con, suited especially for her own personality. "

"What about losing your wallet in front of her. When she brings it back, invite her to a coffee. If you want to add some drama, we could put up a fight during which you lose it. She'll feel more sorry for you if she sees you getting slapped in the face or something."

Anna replied "So basically you say that for the good of the mission I need to be slapped...
By all means, let's do so."
Looking around her she asks So... who volunteers to have me as an ex-girlfriend? "

I do

Anna looked amused "Sounds exciting and makes sense actually, I mean some of you can slap me in a way that invokes social services.". She looked at bnc and said, "...and I am happy to get you off the matrix to run a physical con." Pausing she added, "seems like we have some training to do."

"I think, slapping you will come quite naturally."

Anna replied "Well, with the complexity of your emotions toward me... you could very well be an ex. Though, by all means, let's use what we already have."

"Alright, I'll leave you to your planing, but remember: Stay save and don't get caught. Zola is a dangerous man. We have much accomplished already, but we aren't safe until we are all home and dry. Keep up the good work and we'll make it happen. I'll see you all in a few days."
Schmidt got up and gestured for Krestov and Flatline to follow him.

For bnc it was quite easy to find info on the spider's girlfriend - social media at work: Annita Gilbert worked as a marketing manager for another small firm within the Aztech conglomerate. She was 29, kept a small Beagle called Peppy and lived in a small flat outside Tacoma only five minutes from the monorail station. Her most frequented cafe was the Pequods close to a small park next to the high rise that housed her flat.

"If you insist on training the slapping part, be my guest, anyway.
Now, Kite, be a nice rigger and do some 24 hours of surveillance on ... uhm ... Annita. Annita Gilbert. I'll send her work and living address to you once I dug it out. Which should be soon. Barbie, please come with me once we're finished with this... uhm, well-spiced whatever-it's-supposed-to-be and learn how to recognize a biomonitor on the astral plane. It's gonna be nasty business, but you'll do it anyway.
Agen - oh, you're not a real person. Let's see what gear my agent found, gear-wise.

We finished here, buds?"

"Seems like we are..." She said.

"Let me know when you all are done with that book so we can get it back into Ramirez's possession without him noticing it was missing.

"I'll help in this fake mugging whatever the best way possible may be."

Slobber shrugged.

"I can be a getaway driver or something."

"Or perhaps you can steal her dog... I bet she loves the little bugger and would go looking for it. " Looking at bnc she asked "What do you think Sprinklers? I'll just need to be at the right place to help her look for it."

"I believe that every plan that doesn't contain me hitting you square across the face is a bad plan. No, seriously. How the fuck would that look? Some bastante grando orc who looks - rightly - like a mass murderer steals a cute puppy. Then - bam! - enter the skinny blonde from next door. She comes to the crime scene with a blue-and-red trikot which looks like underwear and helps her out. Trumpets. So you sit together and sip a cup of soykaf, retell the story three times and, almost accidently, here and there a question about her husband, who is a very important security officer in a very important bank of a very, very, very important AAA corp, slips in while you're laughing bubbles on how you rescued her whelp from the fangs of this gross, ole tusker. Come on? Are you a shadowrunner or a movie star? Forget the question. Porn is movie, strictly speaking.
If you insist on my opinion, I say every social contact to the other side should be kept to a minimum. But if we have to talk to her, let's do it smart.
I'm doing the Elemental now. You may follow me and think of other great ideas how to win her trust, if you want."

"When I steal things I try not to let the other person know that I took it.
Also, I do not have to find her dog, I can help the damsel in distress look for it and then buy her some coffee to make up for it. I can tell her that my girlfriend is a spider and can track lost things quickly. Which will make her tell me that her boyfriend is also a spider and then I can perhaps even pass her my girlfriend's CV because she really is looking for a break. This may get perhaps even get you a job interview - or at least give you legitimate to ask questions which would otherwise feel intrusive - about the hours the wage, the risks the technology they use...

The dog can be found at a later time depending on how the conversation goes. Perhaps, bnc can find it demonstrating her matrix magic even. I am sure that you can find a reason for slapping me in this plan as well... and if you ask nicely I can also dress sluty. Perhaps you get jealous that I asked her out for coffee or something. "

bnc has already begun walking off. She half turns her head while responding:
"Whatever you decide, honey-bunny. I do the matrix jobs, you do the social stuff. People don't tend to work the way I expect them to. Go for it. But don't expect me to give a convincing spider. I'm-"

She pauses mid-sentence. When she turns around, she looks almost shy. "That is ... unless you boost me a bit."

Anna said to Slob - "Perhaps you see with Kite how difficult it is to discreetly steal her dog. If it is too dangerous we'll do the lover's affair thingy - but there is value in getting bnc to ask technical stuff. "
She turned to bnc and grinned "It will be my pleasure Sprinklers. Now lets go practice on spotting that biomonitor. "

The really worrisome thing about places like The Grim Wave is how easy it still is to have fun in one. The music is awful, certainly, but also incredibly catchy, designed -- and Chaim knew this for a fact -- to elicit certain physiological responses. Physiological responses he especially likes. He's been here about thirty minutes now, which puts him well into the third act of his small corona, so when he finally caught sight of Schmidt, Chaim let them get settled while he savored the last few puffs and deposited the parejo lengthwise into his ashtray.

Chaim isn't so sure about this job, and as soon as the cigar is out of reach he thinks about grabbing it back up and enjoying it a little longer before he goes marching off to meet with a group of some strangers he'll be expected to put his life in the hands of while they go off and merrily march toward some old Azzie colonel, or something, which is about the last place on earth he'd want to go if he had any inkling of sanity, or any nuyen in a spare credstick or two. He has the latter.

Which means. . .

"Schmidt," Chaim says, extending his hand after he's crossed the dance floor. "It's good to see you again. Introduce me to your friends. Pretend you didn't tell me anything about them,"

"Yeah, sure, come along."
This time, bnc sounds almost inviting. Still, she doesn't bother waiting for Anna, but rather leads the way from a few paces ahead.

Anna follows bnc, few steps after her... She thinks "Biomonitors ... how difficult are they really to spot from the astral- and how would bnc know that - even on magic she seemed to know more than me. Either that or she needs an excuse to spend time... heck she may just be immersed in her matrix by the time I open the door. "

Chaim nods to Flatline and Krestov. The pair was playing it close to the chest, which Chaim could appreciate. The mention of a specific ex-captain of Aztlan intelligence certainly caught Chaim's attention as well.

"Who?"

"Does that mean you're interested?" Schmidt asks.

"Seven figures has me interested. Blood magic wielding spooks has me concerned. Still, it sounds like a lot of the legwork has already been done, and if there are no casualties to speak of, then that speaks well of the team. Flatline, if you'll have me aboard. . ."

Despite Anna's doubts, it proved indeed quite difficult to identify a biomonitor from the astral. They were small and inside the body, a tiny grey speck amidst a sea of living aura. It hardly hat a characteristic form. Hardly recognizable sensors which would measure blood pressure, body temperature and so. An almost indistinguishable spot right under the skin's surface to measure temperature, humidity and blood stream in the outer regions of the body. You had to know exactly where to look to identify the different elements of a biomonitor as such.

Chaim resisted the urge for oneupsmanship. Clearly, Schmidt had related to the team some of Mr. Delgado's history in those regards, and there was nothing to be done about that now. But if the team had suffered some lumps from Aztechnology as well, all the better from his perspective. Nothing united like a common enemy. Unless, someone on the team had been the cause of those unfortunate -- what was the word used, "scars"? -- externalities, that could certainly cause problems.

"Yes, it seems hardly anyone can escape the jaguar unscathed. I hope no one is too worse for the wear."

He drains the rest of his modelo soy beer synth alcohol and real tobacco. Fitting, and intimates that he is ready whenever Dr. Schmidt, Flatline, and Krestov are.

The trip back to the safehouse is uneventful, if a bit cramped. When they enter, Chaim introduces himself to each member of the team in turn and asks, "So, what are our immediate next steps?"

Slobber had finally gotten out the gorgeous suit he hated so much and back into his regular armored jacket and pants. "I'm about to go practice kidnapping a dog, and figure out how to get a book we stole back into a safe now that we've read it. Your help on that latter part would be appreciate. C'mon Kite, let's go stakeout a puppy."


Slobber patted Zelda on the head, "Don't worry, we'll make sure to give it back and that it's taken care of while it stays with us."

Josiah halfway raised his right hand to call attention to himself, and pointed to his teeth with his other. "Slobbertooth. I'm the guy who shoots people, steals dogs, and is notably terrible at birthday parties."

bnc is currently in her room.

Anna was practicing spotting the biomonitor, each time bnc placed it in a different place on her body. Anna felt like she knew bnc's aura by heart - but she also got relatively good in spotting the biomonitor. When Chaim arrives, she projected to assense the man before exiting the room to say hello.


She tells bnc "Difficult to be certain from the astral, but he seems good looking. Are you coming to meet him?"

Chaim looks around the common room, and counts heads. He nods as Schmidt gives the main brush strokes of the con.

"Yeah, that could work. And the book?"

Slobbertooth explains, and Chaim nods again, this time with eyebrows raised. "Sounds like you got your work cut out for you. And nobody likes birthday parties anyway. You want some company?"

Counting heads one more time, Chaim frowns a little before saying, "Where's the matrix support? I have a couple questions."

It takes some time till bnc returns to the common room, but eventually she'll appear and introduce herself.

"I'm sure she only has a few questions, too." Slobber sighed and went to get a drink. This could end up taking a bit.

After a while, bnc comes downstairs. When she recognizes Chaim, she greets him with a nod and something like a somewhat frozen smile.
"Look who's there. Turf's getting crowdy.
bnc."
bnc nods towards him. "Nice to meet you."
Towards Gerhardt she says: "See how nice and cozy I can be? Ugh.
I assume he's the new Torrent?"

Anna follows shortly and curtsied as she shook Chaim's hand doing her best to practice her cooperate level etiquette. "Anna", she said. It was not as much for Chaim as it was a way to keep practicing the body language expected from her. She was wearing a black dress, as she did not yet have time to change clothes since the hotel.

Chaim turns to bnc. "I'm not the new anyone. I'm assuming you'd be the matrix support. You have that air about you." Whether Chaim was referring to the odor or the attitude was something he left unsaid.

At Anna's curtsy, Chaim smiles. "Chaim," he answers, the guttural "H" of his name sounding almost gentle. He waits to see if Anna offers her hand before extending his own, a holdover of days long past.

"Quite the digs you all have here. Assuming I can leave my gear in one of the empties?"

Uncertain exactly what kind of etiquette Chaim aim's for but a bit flattered, she extends her hand. She is many things but is not a nun. A hint to the man's past perhaps she ponders for a moment but suppresses that thought - there was no essence in starting digging skeletons on her fellow colleagues.

"It's a nice prison indeed, makes me grateful for any chance to get out. Come! I'll show you around to an empty room. "

bnc raises her eyebrow and says in mock-surprise: "Tough answer. Really original. Only you weren't the adressee.
Yep, I am our decker. And you are..?"

"Then welcome on board, non-Torrent.
What exactly are you a specialist of, by the way?"

Anna chuckled "Seems pretty obvious to me... He is clearly a charmer. You'd notice if you weren't so gay."

"So are you. Why do we need a second specialist for spending a lot of time looking in the mirror?"

bnc takes a seat on the couch. Her hair is still wet - apparently she has taken a shower recently. She doesn't meet Chaim's eyes as she talks with him. Maybe she's reading something. Maybe she's not feeling well. Or maybe she's just being rude.

Chaim takes Anna's offered hand, and makes a brief bow with his head as they shake. "That really is a stunning dress. The next time I decide to strap on a pair of heels, I think I'd like to find one just like it."

Before Anna can drag him to an empty room, Chaim turns to bnc. "Ah, a quip about originality: the refuge of the hoop without a retort. Besides, it was a simple observation.
One can hardly expect every statement of fact to be dripping with the inimitable, now can we? And my name, I would've thought you'd caught it," he motions toward his exchange with Anna.

"Regardless, I need your help," he says as he drops his bag on the floor and begins rifling through it. A moment later, he draws out a neutral, flat, face-like "thing." "Programming's not my strong suit, but I would certainly like an extra layer of anonymity as we move forward. I'd like to stay Aztlaner, and keep my famous cheekbones, but maybe a slightly stronger chin, a different arch to my eyebrows. Something you can handle? It'll keep me away from the mirror at least.

Anna, lead the way, please. And tell me more about this plan. Anything I can do to help?"

Anna Chuckled "Thanks... I am the 'other' mage by the way."
When he pulls off his face thing she seems intrigued
"Wow cool gizmo!... I can probably achieve the same with cosmetics but it is harder work. Are they expensive?"

She shrugs "We plan a con to gain the trust of a doll-like girlfriend of their spider. Ask her some questions about her husband and then move in bnc to ask technical stuff... We thought of having someone hides her dog and then I help her look for it. Gain her trust invites her to coffee the dog is found or not found depending on her emotional reaction and what would be best. I tell her about my spider girlfriend, she tells me about her spider boyfriend. We gossip a bit - then I send in bnc to ask some more professional stuff because she is between jobs or something...

I usually just improvise, but in this case, we try to make a plan. You get bonus points if you can find an excuse for bnc to slap me as part of the con... Perhaps we can do it slightly differently now that you are here. "