1219 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

But not so quietly that Sybersnake didn't pick up on it. He sees it in her shoulders, if not in her eyes. Her hands are working on the deck automatically, without any directed pattern. "I saw her face when you shot him," she said at last. "You didn't tell her what you do for a living."

Dragon did a good job of concealing the exasperation. "It's not something you just out and tell people," he said. "It doesn't mean I don't know who I am."

Sybersnake's voice was very steady. Very cool, very controlled. "What about your friends?"

Dragon took in a breath, didn't immediately expel it in a sigh. "We'll find Roberto. I promised, didn't I? It'll be all right. I don't let my people down."

As soon as he said it, he saw her face and knew he'd misstepped, again. What is with her? What does she want from me? It's like I'm giving every promise I can, and she knows I'll back it up, and it's still not enough?

"You never told me, either," said Sybersnake. "You brought us out of Aztlan, and you got money and my work and a couple of good lays out of it. And you never were looking for anything else, were you? Not in an actual person who'd really seen you, and not just what you project to the world."

Tiffany's phone buzzes quietly in the other room, punctuated by Tiffany's "Aw, frag it!" and the sound of stubbed bare feet and something falling.

1800 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"I'm Durin," growls the dwarf without preamble. As he steps over the threshold, the sensors built into the doorframe pick up a surprising number of weapons under the worn overcoat: pistols, knives, an old billy club, even a pair of brass knuckles. The dwarf looks like he knows how to use them. In fact, he looks like Mothers of Metatypes should be trying to get him off the street, since his appearance reinforces every last dwarven stereotype in existence.

"You must be the person I'm supposed to be talking to. Andie, right?" He indicates the step with a jerk of his head. "Who's he?"

1800 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"That is Jack Soloman, a friend of Sara, who is looking after the store for a while." as Andie responds to Durin's question.

"If you don't mind let's go to the back of the shop to talk. I have some work cooking and I don't want it to burn. This way please."

Andie leads Durin into the back of the shop and checks the circulation batch again. He then turns back to Durin. "What can I do for Durin"

1800 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

The dwarf sniffs the air as they move toward the back of the store: "Gawd, that stinks. What are you cooking in there, explosives?"

1800 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

Andie smiles at the dwarf's gruffness. Well. At least he's not afraid to speak his mind., Andie thinks to himself. I like that.

"What can I do for you, Durin?"

1801 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"I heard you the first time." But the dwarf follows Andie back, and plunks himself in Andie's chair without being asked and before Andie can react. His legs don't quite touch the floor. Andie's left with the uncomfortable choices of either standing or sitting on the floor: I don't think there were any chairs in the main part of the store?

"Everyone I talk to tells me Sara's the best. I need the best. She said I should talk to you. So why am I talking to you?"

1220 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

The sound of Tiffany's phone dropping momentarily distracts them, even causing Dragon to rise and half pull his gun before her voice kicks in and calms himself down from the reflex enhancers kicking in. Turning to face Sybersnake's smirk, he says, "Look Selina, that's not true and you know it. You know I never saw you as just another piece of hoop that I could score and run with."

She raised an eyebrow, as if to say, 'oh really? then what am I to you'? Pressing on, he continued, "I know that I didn't tell you who I was. I usually don't. It's just not the kind of thing you advertise. Honestly though, I did...I do want someone who can really see me. Really know me. My family knows me beyond what I project. I like to think my friends do too."

"I wasn't talking about just Tiffany, you know." Sybersnake interrupts him, stopping Dragon dead in his tracks. Oh frag, she was talking about Christina too...

"Tiffany bothers me, but that's a new thing. She might just be misreading you. Maybe it has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with her. Christina's different. She's your choice. Your choice not to tell. Your choice to lie to. She doesn't know you, and yet you still can't make up your mind?"

Placing her deck on the floor and looking up at him, she continues, "It seems pretty fragging clear to me Vincent, you say you want someone that knows, really knows you, but the one person who does, you won't accept. Because you're chasing an illusion in Christina. Or am I missing something?"

Gazing steadily at her, Dragon answers, "OK then. What about you? What is it that you really want? Why don't you spell it out for me so there's no confusion. At least I'm being honest."

He looks at the floor, continuing quietly, "I don't know if I want to spend of the rest of my life in the shadows, and yeah, some part of me sees Christina as a way out of the shadows, a possible start to a new life. But the other part of me, the part that admits this is probably not just who I am, but who I always will be..."

Dragon looks up again, straight at Sybersnake, "That part of me knows there's no better person for me than you, and I know that. So yeah, I'm torn between two worlds, and two girls. Maybe Christina is an illusion. I've admitted it before and I'm admitting it again. But what about you? What do you want from me, from us, and from your life?"

1801 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"I suppose the reason why you should be talking with me is Sara obviously feels I handle what ever you are looking for. Otherwise she would not have suggested you meeting with me. So, you going to have to make a decision. Trust me with your proposal or not."

Andie turns back to the circulation and makes sure things are still OK with it; astrally perceiving to make sure no background noise interferes with the batch.

1801 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"Huh. Guess she would, at that. And you do sound like you know what you're talking about," says the dwarf a bit doubtfully, visibly looking Andie up and down. It might have been comical had it not been for the mage's constant awareness of all those weapons hidden just under the coat. Never take any situation for granted, comes back one of Sara's lessons to him, for it's absolutely certain that the moment you do, nothing will turn out to be like you assumed it to be.

His back to the dwarf, Andie continues to focus on the circulation, letting him come to his own conclusions in his own time. Either he will, or he won't -- and he's not the kind that talking's likely to sway. I've said my piece. He's heard it. The next move is his. ... Although I wish he'd stop looking at me like he's wondering whether I'm ripe yet or not.

"All right," said the dwarf suddenly. "I've got this job, big thing, weapon. It's got to be special. Interested?"

1801 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop


A weapon focus, ahhh, Andie thinks to himself; pleased that the dwarf has decided to trust him.

"What kind of weapon and just how special are we talking about?", Andie asks with some doubt in his voice. Can't appear too eagar...

1222 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

"Right now?" Sybersnake stares at her deck. "Right now I want to hold Robbie so bad it hurts. I want to hurt whoever did this to him. Encabronaro! Hell yeah, I'm pissed off." She hesitates. "I also know that if I set foot outside this place I'm likely to get shot again -- and it almost wouldn't matter, except that that wouldn't help Robbie any. I know you'll do a lot to find him ... maybe even more than his ... cabrón." The Aztláner word she used didn't signify "father", not exactly -- and in a blazing "suddenly" Dragon understood the "why" of what lay unspoken under all of this: Why are you doing all this, why are you acting like a real father to him, if you don't want to really be his father?

"I know I owe you -- all of you -- my life."

For the first time she looks straight at Dragon, her face a mask: "I also know that yours was the voice I heard, promising to pick him up, before he went missing."

Dragon tries to say something, but she overrides him: "Oh, I know it wasn't you. No hey pedo. But I know it with my head, Dragon." She blinks. "You know, I don't even know your real name. Just Vincent, and of course Dragon, your professional one, the one you use to kill people."

"Get out of my fucking life!!!" shrieks Tiffany suddenly from the other room.

1802 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

The dwarf stares at him like some sort of idiot. "Special! You know," he flails with his hands, vaguely sketching out something almost as big as he is, something with a staff and what looks like two heads or blades, broader than his shoulders ... he brings his hands together and leans forward a little on the seat, and repeats, low and in the voice of one who's thought and thought about this: "Special."

Durin reaches suddenly under the coat, and the mage barely forces down the reflexive flinch before the dwarf drags out a large, dog-earred envelope with what looks like pages upon pages of hardcopy inside and thrusts it at Andie, who automatically holds out his hands to receive it. "Here's the general idea," he says gruffly.

He's clearly waiting for the other to pull out the diagrams and look at them, so Andie does. It's large all right, a double-headed axe yes, roughly the size of the dwarf sitting in front of him. Fortunately, the draft diagrams are extremely professional -- so much so that Andie has a sudden suspicion he might have been lost, had it not been for his own engineering background. On separate pages are lists of suggested alloys, woods, forging processes. The sketches, from several different perspectives, are vivid, showing every detail of the runework running around the axehead and charred into the handle. In every aspect, the level of detail is extraordinary ... every aspect, but one.

Apart from loose mythic references mostly notated as being from the "Gylfaginning", "Lokasenna", and something called the Tolkein notations, nowhere in any of the diagrams can be found the least suggestion of a formal enchantment.

1222 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

Two thoughts leapt into Dragon’s mind. First, that he finally understood the issue over Sybersnake’s confusion regarding him. If I’m acting like a father to Roberto , of course she would wonder…and she would of course wonder where that leaves her and I in all this. But what gives her the right to think that all I do is kill people?

His face a mask as well now, Dragon answered, “I don’t use that name to just kill people. I’m not an assassin, I’m a soldier. Killing people comes along with the territory sometimes, yes. But that doesn’t mean that a killer is all that I am. And anyway, what…”

Suddenly the sound of Tiffany screaming interrupts his train of thought, and he immediately bolts to the other room before her words even process. Knocking on the door to the bathroom, he asks, “ Tiffany , what’s going on in there? Is everything ok?”

A glance back at Sybersnake confirms the thought on both their minds. This was neither the time, nor place, to finish this discussion. Indeed, as if the discussion even could be finished right now. Nodding at him, she affirms what they both already know. We’ll continue this another day. Assuming, of course, that we live to that day, Dragon thinks to himself.

1223 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

Sybersnake met his glance, nodded confirmation, visibly became once more the consummate professional as the mask slid down in turn over her own features. Despite his absolute frustration with her, and, yes, hurt: Dragon discovered a brief moment of regret -- and shoved it away, focusing on the relief that at last she was acting like a member of the team.

Fairness had nothing to do with it, not for anyone ... and by the look of her as she opened the door Tiffany was not having a good day either. At least, thankfully, she was wearing Virgil's sweatshirt and jeans. She didn't fit too badly into them either.

"Well, you don't look like you're being murdered," said Sybersnake from somewhere behind the two men, gathering up the last few parts of her deck into its carrying case, the two holes in it now temp-patched with sticky tape. "You done with the shower?"

The reporter gave her a wild-eyed look. "It's not your deck. We've got to get out of here."

"Hold up," said Virgil, who'd stood up from where he had been keeping guard on the door. "You want to try that again with help files enabled?"

"The bitch called me. I've got the call on tape, I tape all my calls. Said we'd picked up a surveillance drone on the way here."

0120 January 6th - Somewhere in Seattle

I have to find her. Blaze's thoughts focused on a single point, a single image the entire way home. Riding his Bike out into the street Blaze's thoughts aren't on the road. I've got a team, I've got a direction, and I've got a lead, now I just have to try an find her, and figure out what I'm going to do afterwards. Letting his coat open up behind him Blaze flies down the road way, weaving in and out of the little traffic there is at this hour. The coat whipping around in the wind an image of Blaze will be forever engraved in the minds of those he passes.

Arriving at his home Blaze slides off his bike and locks it up in his parking space. Light glinting off his Shades Blaze walks over towards the woods near his home. Great Leopard grant me your power and wisdom, your eyesight and your speed to find my family member, and to protect her from the evil of the corps. Arriving in his small grotto of the forest Blaze sits cross legged in the center of the lodge that he prepared.

Pulling his head clear from the clouds that had once blocked his vision Blaze begins to chant softly to himself, seeing the barriers of his lodge form around him he begins to twist and shape the mana lines around his Lodge. Forming first a head, then a body, followed by arms, and legs, he carves a Leopard out of the mana surrounding him. Feeling the familiar surge of the Leopard's gifts Blaze's body flashs briefly out of existence, replaced for a moment with that of a spotted Leopard.

Still in his astral form of the Leopard, Blaze reaches inside him self and pulls some of his life energy out of his body and places it within the Spirit. "I need you to help me to find my cousin". Placing the finishing touches to the watcher Blaze reaches out his hand, fist to let it gain his scent, then reaching up to scratch it behind the ears. "Please find my cousin Melissa, She should be somewhere in the city, Please find her and Tell her the following message 'This is from your cousin Richard, I'm looking for you, to find you and help you to escape from your pursuers. Please tell where you are, and let me help you.' Wait for her return message, and come to me with it, along with where you found her."

Mumbling to itself, "find cousin, tell her message, return to master, tell him where she is." The watcher speeds off into the astral space of the city.

As the spell ends Blaze'sbody returns to its normal appearance. The light of the stars glinting off his eyes his image is that of a hunter on the prowl.

Making a slight twist in the mana that makes up the barrier around his Lodge Blaze sets it to allow the Watcher to pass through it as well.

0155 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Puyallup civic centre, standing in a corner of the bus platform and generally being one with the night

[OOC: carryover from Salvation]

No one seems really to notice her. No one in this area of the city pays attention to anyone else, not unless they're out to hassle them, or to avoid being hassled. She's standing in a darkened corner of the shelter where the lightbulbs have been shattered by random stones or perhaps by gunfire, faded into the shadows around her in body and in spirit, and lets her mind slip into that meditative awareness that would alert her to any changes in her environment without her consciously seeking them out.

With the ease of long practice Alleycat quickly undoes the dreadlocks, leaving her hair a dark nest of straggly, crinkly strands which she combs roughly back from her eyes with her fingers and ties back with an elastic band. The belt she slips inside the tunic top. Removing her gloves and the mirrored visor and tucking them into a pocket of the longcoat, she rubs the white slashes from her face and neck. The cuffs of her jeans she inverts to reveal the hidden fraying. Out of the same pocket, she pulls a pair of cheap sunglasses, their shading more suggestive than any real sun protection, and puts them on. Finally, as her bus pulls into the bay, she pulls the longcoat, with the taser in its left main pocket, just a bit more tightly around herself, again stopping short of silhouetting the hidden Predator.

The effect, now, is that of darkened, blotchy, gray upon gray upon brown-gray skin: just another of the city's many working poor, one bare step away from homelessness.

0210 Saturday January 6, 2063 - bus stop, coming up to the Puyallup doss

Alleycat took the opportunity on the bus to re-focus, to make what she had just learned, her own. It only took a few minutes. The bus ride took longer, but not exceptionally so.

She was the only person to get off at the stop, which didn't surprise her. From here, it would be only a short walk of a minute or so. Alert to every change in her environment, still she listened, hopefully, for the sounds of motorcycles.

If I could find Ripper here, that would save me a lot of time. Even if she doesn't know anything about a newcomer like that in Puyallup, she might be able to point me in the direction of someone who does. I wonder if this Melissa might have ended up in someone's street clinic? If Ripper doesn't know, maybe I'll go find Trank and the rest and ask them. Since I'm doing this on behalf of a relative, they might make an exception. I'll have to pick up that stash I keep here first though, just in case. They'll almost certainly want a "donation".

1809 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

After Andie's skimmed through every page and has turned back to the beginning to examine the whole thing again, the dwarf, who'd been surprisingly patient up until then, can no longer hold silence.

"I see you looking," he says in his rough voice, laced with just a tinge of returning suspicion, "but you aren't saying anything. Why aren't you saying anything? Is this contract too much for you?"

0211 Saturday January 6, 2063 - coming up to the Puyallup doss

No one in the immediate vicinity. Her steps slow as she approaches the steep staircase, consciously giving some extra time against the off-chance. It accomplishes something with the time, to quickly call Grail ... and this time it is she who has forgotten what that time of the morning means to most people. Maybe it's because Grail's rousted her out of bed all those times before. She knows better than to set patterns for other people and then rely too heavily on them, but at some point she seems to have pegged him as a night person. Still, this time she gets his answering service:

0145 January 6th - Home

It has been a long day. Blaze shuts the door behind him, double checking that his ward is still intact. Walking through the house, if it can be called that, Blaze begins taking off his "working clothes". Sliding off the long coat Blaze hangs it up in the closet and slides the pistol out of it's holster and places it in it's single drawer, next to an extra clip of ammo. Finally able to go to sleep Blaze takes a quick shower, letting the warm water wash away some of his stress and his exaustion. Stepping out Blaze looks around the hose once more, just to check up on things, and then finally goes to sleep, first setting his alarm for 9:30 AM.

1223 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

As Tiffany said "call", Virgil suddenly became aware that his own earplug phone had been quietly pulsing against his ear for some time: not with the urgency of an incoming call, just reminding that there was a message waiting for him. ("Vibrate" is an interesting setting with earplug cell phones.)

He took the moment to pull it up while Dragon was focusing on Tiffany, noting absently that it had been sent directly to the message box without ever contacting him directly:

1810 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop


After looking over the diagram notes of the axe Andie was impressed by the detail of the plans. As he starts thinking about what he would need for such job request Andie says, "Well, Durin. The diagrams are very detailed. I am impressed. Do you already have the axe created or will that be part of the request??"

Andie listens patiently for the dwarf's response. "I did notice that there does not seem to be any formal enchantment instructions on these diagrams. Is that correct?? I didn't miss that item, did I?? And can you tell me who drew up these diagrams?? I may need to consult with them over a few things. Some of these symbols appear to be runes of Norse mythology"

Andie sees if Durin is still with him browses the diagrams again; just to make sure.

"And how much are you willing to spend for this item and when do you intend delivery to be?? I have to warn you. I am very busy until the end of the month and a project of this magnitude will take some time to complete."

1812 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"Oh," says the dwarf to Andie's comment on the detail, "that's just the Readers' Digest version. I've got the full thing in the car. Didn't want to bring it over until I knew who I was dealing with."

From the front shop, as Andie continues talking, can just be heard the sound of Jack Solomon on the telephone, speaking just below the threshold of understandability.

"Of course I don't have the axe already created," interrupts Durin, and once again his tone reiterates the obvious. "That's your job, just like enchanting it is. It's got to be a really good ancestral axe, after all. I designed the thing, but it's going to take someone who really knows what they're doing to figure out a proper enchantment for it. Where else would you go but to Norse mythology? I've already found you some sources," he adds in an aggrieved voice that seems to ask: did you want me to make the whole axe for you as well?

Andie's still stumbling on the earlier word. "Ancestral?"

"Of course ancestral!" snorts the dwarf, and Andie decides to drop it. "Got to be made right, if it's going to be a proper heirloom." And once again he repeats the word that always seems to turn his voice into a rough caress: "Special. Price is no object. As long as you're not a thief and your work is good."

To Andie's warning, he just shakes his head: "Of course I'm not expecting it tomorrow! I know what I'm asking! But we'll make a proper contract now and you can start working on the enchantment details, and then at the end of the month you can start making the thing."

1812 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"Just so we understand each other", Andie replies to the dwarf's comment on expected completion. "I just wanted to set your expectations correctly for when this process will be completed."

Andie considers the deal with anticipation and trepidation. This could bring me some future referrals if done the right way....

"And since money isn't an object here to make it 'special' I would require a 250k nuyen advance to cover initial material costs for the weapon focus. Do you agree??"

1812 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"Well, yes," says the dwarf. "That's why we're writing up the contract now, with all the costs and things spelled out in detail." And his attitude seems to add: Sure, I've got the nuyen, but I'm not shelling out until you give me details.

1812 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"Since you are wanting a contract am I to assume you want a permit for this heirloom as well??"

1812 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

A shrug. "Permit, shmurmit. Go jump through whatever hoops you want." As Andie is trying to figure out if this is a yes or a no, the dwarf leans forward, far too close; and his longcoat falls open a little, slightly revealing the outline of a pair of nunchakus. "More trouble than it's worth, you scan me?"

???? January 6th - Blaze's Home

An indeteriminate amount of time later, Blaze is awakened by a shrieking voice, "MASTER!!! MASTER!!!"

"A whazzafugamahappening???" Flailing wildly, anticipating attack, Blaze rolls out of bed ready to fry the first opponent he sees, and instead comes face to face with his (weeklong) watcher spirit. "Holy drek, you gave me a heart attack! Did you find her? And what is with that yelling?"

Panting (if watchers could be said to do that) the watcher replies, "Boss...I found her...I think?"

With a deathly tone in his voice, Blaze replies, "What do you mean, think?"

"Umm...well...ya see...I was looking for her like you said...and I think I found her, but I spotted a nasty looking elemental while I was there. I figured I wouldn't be able to report back to you if I got killed, so I decided I better come back here and tell you what I found."

"And where did you find her?" Again, the deadly tone.

"Umm...somewhere in the barrens."

"I know she's in the Barrens. Where in the Barrens?" The death threat in the voice suddenly seems much more of a probability than a possibility.

"Uh...I can take you there?"

0211 Saturday January 6, 2063 - coming up to the Puyallup doss

As she is climbing the steps to her doss, mind still turning over how much money she was in need of, the roar of motorcycles behind her caused Alleycat to turn sharply. "Hoi Alleycat," a ganger's voice calls over the humming of the cycles. "Whazzapuning?"

1224 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

As anxious as he was to get back to Father Bremen, the possibility of their movements being tracked caused a sick feeling to rise up in Virgil's stomach. Locking eyes with Dragon for a moment Virgil shifted on the bed as he focused his sight to the astral plane and allowed his spirit to drift away from the confines of his meat-body.

Leaving the small room and it's fulasade of brillliant emotions Virgil allowed his spirit form to drift through the pale walls and out onto the astral bleakness of the shattered street in front of the safehouse. Feverishly he soared up above the tops of the dilapidated buildings and began scouring the space for any signs of the mechanical snitch.

1224 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

As soon as Tiffany finishing speaking, and Virgil's eyes locked with Dragon's, the whole conversation with Sybersnake, the emotional surges, the confusion, the desire, the feelings...all of it was washed away by a cold, almost refreshing sense of detachment.

Watching Virgil's body slump to the floor, almost in slow motion, Dragon smoothly picked up the shotgun from where it lay near the door, and directed the two women, "Stay down, away from the windows. If you've got a gun, now's the time to pull it. Virgil's going astral to spot the drone. Tiffany, I need you to be clear. Who called you, and how does this person know we've got a drone on us? Did she say who the drone was sent by?"

While this conversation was taking place, Dragon was smoothly monitoring the radio channels, scanning for any frequencies that might contain useful information. Finally, with one hand holding the shotgun close, he used his free hand to pop the case he carried with maps on chip. Finding the one labeled Redmond Barrens, he quickly popped the chip into the slot.

Almost immediately, the interface of the mapsoft and GPS, along with the orientation system, pulled up a nice 3-D map of the Redmond Barrens in the display in his eyes. Quickly locating the safehouse address on the map, he zoomed in on their area, looking for avenues of escape and attack, trying to guess where the attackers, if any, might be, and what they could do to deal with them.

Great...as if we didn't have enough going on already. Now a surveillance drone? It just keeps getting better and better...

0211 Saturday January 6, 2063 - coming up to the Puyallup doss

"Hoi, yourself," calls out Alleycat in turning, the grin in her voice. Last time she'd heard motorcycles at her doss, she'd had her hands full of bags. This time, they're empty, and she spreads them wide in greeting. "Workin' for Hobbes, couple months now, you heard? Thanks muchly for the ref!"

1226 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

"I had a gun," snaps Sybersnake, but it's more the emotional exhaustion speaking. "I think it's somewhere in the ground outside Tommy Wong's."

Her initial fury somewhat aborted by the sudden reactions, Tiffany just shrugs -- "I can replay it for you" -- seemingly unable to take her eyes off the suddenly "unconscious" shaman; but as another part of him scans the map Dragon notes with relief that she does drop to below the level of the window to crawl toward her purse and camcorder ... and that her actions are so unthinking as to seem almost instinctual. Interesting. She's been in other urban firefights before this mess. And then, a moment of wistfulness (bordering on irritation) breaking through the professionalism: Frag, but I wish the Redmond Barrens were better mapped. How can anyone plan out decent escape tactics with this many unknowns? The immediate area's not too bad, but I remember seeing that building on the way in, and it's not only no longer standing, its ruins are sprawled over a couple of blocks. And the white cross-hatched sections are anyone's guess.

The buzzing in his head competes with the hissing of far too many pirate channels to indicate a call coming through. Dragon lets it shift to automated messaging, his mind on other things: and then recognises it's from Susan and grabs it as she's about to leave a message. Thirteen minutes, not bad. He just knows she'd be looking at him quizzically from her tone, professionalism notwithstanding: "Call back when you've got a clear line. Sunrise." And she hangs up instantly.

Susan will know to wait as long as it takes. The last word tells him there's no rush on that end: a very basic time-of-day verbal code among the family giving a quick, single-word summation of situation and urgency. For now, Dragon sets that call aside, and feels safe in doing so.

What startles all of them -- except the slumped Virgil -- is Tiffany's own voice suddenly coming clear and articulated and far too loud, until the reporter catches that last part and quickly turns down the volume on her wrist phone:

1812 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

Andie isn't impressed by Durin's concealed threat. "You do realize the attention this little project will bring, don't you?? The more "special" we decide to make this item the more resources will be required to complete the project and since you want to keep this a secret it will mean paying people to be quiet and off the books." Andie pauses to gauge Durin's reaction.

"As for details for the weapon I will know more about that after completing the enchanting formula for the weapon and whether or not it will need any special components which may require hiring runners to retrieve said component." Andie pauses to make sure Durin understands the consequences involved with this project and what he is asking.

"I will say this though. At minimum the weapon will have to be created, an enchanting formula for the custom weapon, and at least 3 orichalcum units will be required for the enchanting process. The 3 orichalcum units will cost about $270k and probably 5k to build the custom axe. Do you know of someone who creates custom weaponry??"

Andie will pauses to gauge Durin's reaction.

"Tell you what. Let's do this for now. Let's create the axe and develop the enchanting formula which should take about a month, month and half to finish. Once this is done we'll have a better idea as to the final cost of your "heirloom" and whether you are still interested in completing the job." and spending all that money... "Sound fair??"

1814 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"Of course it will attract attention in my hands!" states the dwarf. "How else is Bûrk Khazâd to gain a reputation? You can't put a price on that! 270 k¥, you said?"

"That's just for some of the orichalcum and to build the axe," Andie says hastily, suddenly realising he'd nearly been roped into naming a final price, and one far lower than he had intended at that. "I won't have a better idea of the final cost until after I've developed the formula."

"Yes, and you're going to be hiring people to get your enchantments for you," says Durin contemptuously, as if to say About what I expected of you.

It's something Andie's getting just a bit tired of. "Do you know of someone who creates custom weaponry?" he repeats through gritted teeth.

And he could have predicted the answer. "That's your job," says the dwarf patiently and more than a bit patronisingly. "The enchanter's always supposed to make the weapon."

With determined focus on how this item could make his own reputation, Andie valiantly resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Expects me to make the axe itself too, does he? Actually, I probably could do it. And working from virgin materials would make the enchantment easier. If the warehouse comes through, I could turn part of it into a forge. It's got the ventilation for it.

"Tell you what," says the mage finally, and tells the rest of his proposal, watching closely for Durin's reaction. When he finally finishes, the dwarf is silent for a while, a silence which slowly grows into a deep, floor-throbbing "Hmmmmm ....." which sets one of the crucible mixtures to bubbling. It takes Andie a couple of minutes, working with tongs and with a light thread of mana, to get it steady again.

"So basically," says Durin at last, and for once his tone approaches respect, "you're offering to make the axe and develop the enchanting formula before I commit to paying a penny."

1814 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop


Andie responds to Durin's response to his suggestion. "It's either that or be prepared to spend 3 million on this project. The choice is yours. What would you like to do?"

1814 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"1 million," immediately counters the dwarf, "with 5% down payment. And it fraggin' better well have special components."

???? January 6th - Blaze's Home

Almost imediately Blaze has pulled on his long coat, and grabbed his pistol. Grabbing his phone Blaze dials Alleycat. While it's ringing Blaze looks to the spirit, "I'm going to hop on my bike in the parking lot, follow me there, and then take me to my cousin."

Alleycat, please pick up, I think I'm going to need some help here.

Sprinting down the steps Blaze listens to his phone hoping Alleycat will pick up.

1814 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop


Andie gives a counter offer. "2 million with 10% down payment."

Andie shrugs his shoulders. "You get what you pay for, Durin. Just how special do you want it."

0211 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Stairs of the Puyallup doss

A rough voice replies in a friendly sort of voice, "Don' be thankin' me chummer. Was Ripper that got yooze that set, na me. But 'neway, there's a party goin' down tanight, Ripper sent me ta aks ifs ya wanna com?"

A laugh. "less yu be too buzy to be hangin wit yer chums." Despite the sentence, the tone is friendly and inviting, with no hint of implied threat that could possibly have been in the words.

Before she can answer, her phone rings.

1814 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

"Yeah," says the dwarf, shaking his head, "but how much of that money's going into the axe, and how much to you personally? If I could be sure just about all of it's going into the axe, it might make a difference."

0211 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Stairs of the Puyallup doss

An irrelevant thought about showers and telephones flashes through Alleycat's mind. The signal is the one she'd linked to the shaman's number, which means no prospect of just letting it go to message. " 'ang on," she says to the biker, and then not quietly into the microphone even though it's subvocal, "Hold yer horses! Can't ye see I talkin' wi' someone? Be wi' ye in two shakes." With that she makes the gesture of flicking the earpiece telephone to hold, but actually leaves the line open for him to hear her side of the conversation: hopefully Blaze was in a condition to wait for a few seconds and to remember just why it was she was talking with someone.

"Ain't no rest for the wicked," she concludes to the biker, a bit mournfully. Remember to identify yourself, for Blaze. "Since I started it's been Alleycat this an' Alleycat that. Not her 'neway, she decent. But I'm tryin' to find this sister who's gone awol Barrens-way for a chummer o' mine, an' he's a mite uptight 'bout findin' her, family an' all. Ye know how it is. Gotta ask around first, see if anyone scanned her." With a grin she adds, "She's a corper, so I kind of figured if she's anywhere in the area she'll stand out like a Scoot at a Terms party."

1814 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

Interesting, Andie thinks to himself. He didn't say no to 2 million nuyen....

"Tell you what, Durin. How about 1.5 million with 10% down payment as a comprise. With the understanding that depending on the needed special components and how hard it will be to collect a sample of it that the price for the weapon will have to go up to cover those expenses."

Andie pauses for effect. "Do we have a deal?"

1816 Monday January 8, 2063 - Land's End Magic Shop

During Andie's pause for effect, Durin has pulled out a wadded up piece of paper out of one of those deep pockets of his and has started scribbling away furiously. The writing goes on for some time, long enough that the mage is beginning to consider repeating that question, when Durin looks up. "We're still not quite there. Got the bare bones of the contract here, but I've got to flesh it out some. Got a printer?" And from another pocket he retrieves a pocket secretary and begins typing, pausing only to look up for a second: "You still haven't said how much of that won't be going straight into the weapon."

0211 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Stairs of the Puyallup doss

Alleycat can hear Blaze in her ear through the phone, his vioce sounds like he's running, "Actually I think I've found her, I'm enroute to where I think she should be, I was calling you to let you know, and if she's in pullyup, and I'm not sure she is, to ask for your help. One of the lines I put out has given me a lead, and I'm following it, literally." In a softer, apologetic, vioce, " And I'm sorry if you feel I've been over the top or rude with you."

0211 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Stairs of the Puyallup doss

"Oh," adds Alleycat as she's idly fishing out the scanned photograph, not yet pulling it up, waiting for the moment when the rhythm of the conversation would let her insert it naturally, "and it's for sure a go on that party if I pull her up before it closes -- and since it's a local thing, pretty likely, huh? Only if I'm to join the party, I'll need to know where I'm off to." A very slight stress on the "for sure a go" and "where" on the subvocal levels, probably only the microphone picked it up.

0212 Saturday January 6, 2063 - the Parking Lot.

Blaze can pick up the hint fairly easily, "I don't know yet, the contact couldn't give me a specific spot, I'll call you back as soon as I have a better idea. Sorry to interupt, and thanks for the help." Alleycat can hear the slight click of the other line turning off.

Securing his stuff Blaze slides his vision over to the astral, "There you are, alright, show me where she is. And make sure you go slowly enough that I can follow you." Gunning the engine of his bike Blaze hits it and heads out of the parking lot, following the spirit, watching it by flipping his vision back and forth between physical and astral.

Very late- Apartment above Key to the Future

Avalanche wearily enters in the last line of code in the agent program and sends it out. There. Maybe that'll turn up something. What the frag time is it?

(sorry, double posted)

0230 Saturday January 6, 2063

Across the sky suddenly streaks a blazing fireball, describing a huge stellar arc from east to west. Over the waters of the sound it fades so suddenly it leaves dancing afterimages in the eyes of those who have watched its passing with wonder, and amazement, and more than a little fear.

1228 Saturday January 6th, 2063 - Virgil's Redmond Safehouse

Damn, I must be losing my touch. Virgil poured over the myriad astral signatures and auras in vain, trying to grasp at the signature of an errant drone that just did not seem to be present. It would be easy and comforting to just say that no one is watching us, but I haven't felt that lucky in a long time.

Blinking back to his meat-body Virgil's head snapped to attention, a move that startled Dragon, who was vigilantly keeping his shotgun trained on the front door. Peering around the room to take in the sight of Tiffany and Sybersnake lying behind the cover of the couch and bed, Virgil realized it would be prudent for him to be as calm as possible. The sting from our last encounter is still very near.

"I wasn't able to spot anything watching us, but that doesn't eliminate the possibility. Some of those high signature balloon-like survellience drones would be virtually impossible to spot from astral space." Dragon nodded in agreement.

"I think we should be safe here for a while. I can call up some spirit support, and the relative desertion of the streets would make approaching this building very difficult if I run astral survellience."

Pausing for a second to read Dragon's face, an impossible task in itself, Virgil continued in a calm tone. "It's time to make our move, what is your assessment?"