Gun & Brick

After being bored for the last few days, since your last mission, you decide to run through a few contacts for missions. It's the Don who comes up with a run.

"Ok, I need someone to discover who killed my perfectly bribed CEO, and slaughter him! I had big plans for that boy, and BAM! FRAGGING DEAD! Catch that damn slotter, and slit him like he deserves! I'll give you something nice for it, BUT I WANT HIM DEAD!"

Dawn-Treader and Flattop

Lt Michaels calls up Dawn, and he needs a favor...

"Look, Dawn, I need you to go and solve a murder. I know this is my area of experteice, but... Look, the Police of California are stumped, and well... A CEO was killed, and this won't look good for us at all if we don't find someone. I need you to get some friends, and do some stuff we can't. Turn him in for us, and we'll give you 300,000 , and look over something we... wouldn't normaly for awhile. I'm fragged without you."

"That's alot to ask of you. Don't think I can refuse. So what information have you managed to gather already?" Dawn-Treader asked.

Cleansing of his record...not having to fear a return to prison. Being an ex-cop in jail had been pure hell. If Starfyre hadn't gotten him out...he didn't know what he would have done. Unfortunatly, cleansing the physical records still left the human stigma of his former co workers...but perhaps in time he could persuade them of the truth...

Brick starts tinkering with a few Legos he had in his pocket seeing the different he can come up with. He almost always does this when he's trying to think. The tan hands put together a configuration resembling a tiny pyramid, while an intense look goes across his face like he's searching for something and the answer is within the plastic.

"Ah yes," he mutters as he looks up. "Can you elaborate on the dead? Name, corp affiliation, any pertinent details, et cetera."

Dawn-Treader
-------------------
Well, really, all we have is the REALLY obvious stuff. He was a CEO of Fuchi, who was at his desk, when he got murdered. His name was Charles Robertson, one of the few UCAS people to make it to a high rank. He was apparently killed through magical means, as mages senced a large presence of Astral Energy in his room, he had a face as if he had seen Hell and came back again.

Brick
-------------------
Fraggin corpse worked for Fuchi! High uper, but he musta been good, because he was UCAS and got to be a CEO. His name was Charles Robertson, and by pressing some of our contacts, we found he was slotted by magic! Killed at his fragging desk! We don't have any fragging thing else, but I'll be dreked if I don't get revenge for my 2.3 million Nuyen! I was gonna buy him off for some info on the corp... What they were doing ya see....

"Hmm...so any luck tracing the astral signature?"

"Oddly enough, even though it was obvously there, it was untraceable. As soon as you left the room, it was gone."

"Hmm...next to nothing to go on...you have anything that might give a starting point for looking for this guy? Any watcher spirits that noticed anything?"

Rearranging the pieces in to a cube, Brick ponders on the information given him. Fuchi has a very limited scope in the CFS. Only one division, the industrial electronics one, and it's floundering at best. As for the murder, well, it was done magically so there goes 99% of the world's population. Need to see about any enemies, any advancements miraculously being made by his division, check the anti-White angle. Guess Richard would be the first person to ask, or perhaps peruse Shadowland first. Hm...

Brick inspects his creation turning it over in his hands and lets out a whimper of displeasure. "A 2 by 2 off. Damn. Figured I had enough." There was a tiny hole in the side of the cube. "Anyways, unless there's anything else we should know and Gun doesn't have anything to say, now'd be a good time to get started."

Brick
---------------------------------------------------
"I don't have anythin else! Go Slot the fragger!"

Dawn
----------------------
"We don't have much more. As you know, Fuchi only has one division here. Go ahead and check there, but I'd reccomend going to some of your magical friends if you have any. No watcher spirits were there, he felt... he was frightened by magic apperantly."

"Alright. I'll see who I can find, and get back with you if there are any further questions. I always did like a challenge. I'll do my best not to let you down."

Disconnecting with the Lieutenant, Daniel placed a call to FlatTop. "Hey. Up for some detective work?" he asked.

FlatTop checks the ID of the caller, unsure if it is who it says it is, he answers the phone wearily, "What's the password?". Daniel replies, "Hey. Up for some detective work?".

FlatTop scratches his head in contemplation, had he told Daniel a password? Well, his immediate reply indicated at least, that he wasn't trying to figure out a password, that could be good, since if he was one of "them", he may have stopped and tried to come up with the most likely password he would have given.

"Uhm, yeah, detective work sounds like an idea, I'll meet you at that one place we met that one time, where there was a girl in a red outfit.", thinking quickly he had a place pictured in mind, but thinking just as quickly, he realized that Daniel had no way of actually knowing which place that was, but if he said anything more then "they" might figure it out.... But wait, "they" were probably following him anyways, so was it that important to keep the location a secret? "In other words, the Burger Spot 2 blocks from your place." he added on, just to clarify as he looked as his clock, "64 minutes ok?"

Password? What password? Daniel wished he knew why FlatTop was so paranoid. Then again, perhaps it was better he didn't. 64 minutes...now there was something to investigate. "That works...but out of curiosity, why the change and not just an even hour...?"

In 64 minunites (I suck at spelling) Daniel goes to the burger joint, a small little place, crappy decor, but at least it serves real meat. FlatTop is sitting at the darkest table in the corner, trying to cover his face with the menu, making him more obvious ironicly.

"Yeah, uhm, I'm not sure really, something to do with binaries and bit locations, but it's outside of my understanding", replies FlatTop before abruptly hanging up to make sure the call isn't traced.... but wait, guess that only applies if you make the call, not receive. Oh well, less chance that they are after him.

"Binary? Computer code? Not exactly my thing either..." he commented, but FlatTop had already hung up. So he killed time until the meet.

Giving the waitress his usual order, Daniel went over to join FlatTop. "Still looking out for Them, I see." he commented as he took a seat. "Well, anyways, I should be to the point. An old friend called me, and asked for some help solving a murder involving magic and a CEO. We bring in the murderer, we get 300,000 to split between those involved. Still interested?"

FlatTop seems mildly aggitated, looking up and down Dawn, trying to see if there was anything different, he was probably bugged and the poor kid didn't even know it. Coming in and talking like nobody else in the world would listen. Seemed like harmless enough chatter, but doesn't it always? 300,000?!? He could afford a white noise generator, and a bug sweeper with that sort of revenue... but then, maybe that's what 'they' intended, sweeten a jackpot so well that he couldn't say no... Well he'd show them, he could say no to that sort of money, no problem. Watch....

"I'm in, what have we got to go on?"

Crap, that wasn't a no. Have to work on that, oh well; he could use the money, that's for sure, and he liked avenging wrongful deaths. We'd have... we? Someone seems to be mind-controlling me... something's just not right here...

"Admittedly not much. The CEO in question was Charles Robertson, one of the few UCAS people to make it to high ranks in CalFree's extension of Fuchi. He was apparently killed by magic, as there was a large amount of astral energy in the room. However, the signature can't be traced. As soon as you leave the room, it simply doesn't exist anymore. Whatever killed him terrified him...and we're left to figure out who or what did it."

"Hrmm, you need someone who can assense the astral plane, not a warrior such as myself. Of what use would I be in this endeavor? I have no magic, and have never understood the ways of those who do. Best I can offer is protection or avenging. Shouldn't we find one of them magic types for this?"

"Well...my skill is in magic. But I've learned from experience that it's best not to go hunting criminals alone. That, and admittedly, I don't know the first thing about tracking down other shadowtypes that could help us."

"Sounds like a plan then, let's do it. I could use the cash, and have no other plans at the moment. Your lead.", FlatTop replies in a non-chalant voice. He's willing to play along with Daniel, it would be the only way to make sure the Yaks or Mob hadn't gotten to him. If he was acting as an informant, or worse, Keep your enemies closer, right?

"Hmm...well, guess the place to start is at the begining. The Lieutenant said that it would be alright to head over to the Fuchi offices to investigate there. Perhaps we'll find something there that the other investigators missed."

"Sorry, my mind was wandering. Well any ideas on what to do first? Murder solving isnt exaclty my cup of joe."

From now on, to avoid stuff like last time, I'm waiting before I send you off.

Just tell me when you're done

Ok, you drive whomevers car you're using. Tell me which one you decide.

Ok, I need 2 concealibility tests for any weapons you're planning on taking.

Anyway, after security takes your weaponry, you go up to the secene of the murder. The body has not been taken away yet. While even a mundane can tell this is was magic, there dosn't appear to be any obvious signs... It's more of a nagging feeling. The face is, like copper said exteremely scared looking. Tearing yourself away from the body, you note that this is a wonderful office, and you really wouldn't be surprized if he lived here. This couch is more comfratable then your beds, and there is a fridge and a microoven in the corner, a few plants, just wonderful decor.

There are no obvious signs of struggle.

"I'm going to grill my contacts and see if I can turn up any leads. It's up to you as to what you do. Let's say we meet up this time tomorrow at the Stuffer Shack on 23rd." With that, Brick pauses for a moment to see if Gun will reply and heads out the door if the adept doesn't. All the while he's disassembling his work into its principal parts for easy travel. Walking out, the decker continues thinking, First'll be a rundown of just straight up leads, see if anyone knows anything and what I have to do to get that info. If it doesn't pan out there, then on to my own little detective work, enemies, reasons for wanting him dead, drek cetera.

As the thoughts fly threw his mind, Brick hops on the 4:10 Westtown cablecar to take him back to his neighborhood. Make sure you just get dropped off at a local shop and then foot it the rest of the way. Best not to be directly alerting anyone of my current housing, especially where all my goodies are stored. Leaping off just as the car stops at the McHughs, Mr. Jackson enters in to the McHughs for a soyburger and soycaf to jazz him up before hopping in to the 'trix back at his place.

Now that he's alone Brick starts thinking aloud. "Shadowland is free as far as info posted there goes so it'd be most economical to start there." Brick jacks in to the RTG with his most recent fake account and heads over to the Shadowland PLTG. Entering the access code, Brick gets right down to business. He loads up the Browse utility and sets out on a search with "Charles Robertson" as the starting parameters.

Knowing that megacorps didn't like outsiders bringing weapondry into their buildings, Daniel didn't put up a fuss about handing over his gun. If push did come to shove, he could always stunbolt the guards. But for now he was a welcome guest. Heading upstairs, he took the time to take in the scenery. Nice place...

Scenery aside, Daniel slipped into detective mode. No outward sign of a struggle, or even evidence of a magical attack on this plane. Apparently whatever hit him, it was instantly deadly. He took a look into the astral plane to get a look at the energy that had been reported, as well as see what signs were left on the body.

FlatTop knows the tricks of UCAS, and recognizes immediately the trap they hope to put him into by taking his weapon at the door. "Daniel, I'm gonna take a look on the outside, check behind the building and such", he mumbles, backing away from the door, while eyeing the guards suspiciously, "you take care of looking inside, will ya?". After Daniel seperates, FlatTop walks around the building, looking for anything out of place, checking for entrance/exit points to the building other than the main doors, and possible cameras that might be watching him as he searches.

Right, contact, well my best source of info is giving us the job so that doesn't leave me much.

Gun tapped his ear, the miniature cell phone inbeded within sprung to life.

"Julias," the heavy set italian uttered. The phone micro electronics picked up his voice and matched it with a phone umber. Within seconds it was ringing.

"Hey, I need some info, a corporate slag got geeked a few hours ago, he worked for Fuchi. Yeah, uh-huh, yeah I know, usual price. Just tell me who you want the bejeezus scared out of and I will do it. Ok call me back when you have something."

The phone disconnected leaving Gun feeling cold. He dove his hands into the pockets of his long italian leather coat and wrapped it snugly around him.

Well the cops on the trid always say visit the scene of the crime.

A half hour later the dark complectioned enforcer stood on the steps of the fuchi building. He looked up to the towering mass of steel and glass and made his way inside.

Mind rolling a contacts test Hem?

The only thing you find on shadowland is the real obvious stuff...

But then, you check closely at one of the messages, there appears to be a link to contact a man, who apperantly thinks he knows something.

Hem. On the contacts you find nothing. But the man on the Shadowland Forums tells you to meet him in the industral park at midnight tommorrow.

whis. In the astral plane of the office you are blinded by the sheer amount of astral energy in the room. You can't even see and are forced to go back into physical view. In the real world you have to roll an INT or Preception test.


Shadow. You enter the building after giving up any weapons besides whats "permanant." You think you hear noise coming from within the office. Evidence removal noise.

Sph. Looking outside the building you just see that it's almost windowless, has 3 exits, and a shitload of turrets and security cameras/guards.

Looking through the physical world, whis finds a quickly scrawled note.

Meet A.R.M in the IP at MN.

FlatTop looks around fervishly, trying to locate someone else also checking the outside of the building, a hunch telling him the name of the other person is "Sph". Then, realizing he's succumbing to his own delusional paranoia, he slaps himself in the forhead and continues investigating.

Ok, I really have to complement that. Someone just earned a free karma point when this ends.

You see about 40-60 open air turrets. There is no way to get in them as far as you can tell... Untill the guard's shift changes. A batallion of 60 men run out, and the 60 men on the open air turrets slide down a rope to get down. Then the new men climb the ropes and pull them up the turret. There are 6 drones running around here, but you don't know the model. Let's assume fragging deadly. Oh, there are 6 guards holding what are obviously cyber-enhanced mutts (pit bulls you think.), telling you to frag off.

Brick figures it'd probably best to have Gun go with him to the meet tomorrow. He then logs off and starts running a game of 3-D tetris. The decker blazes through the first few levels, on fire. He's just with it today, seeing where each block goes and the three coming up along with it. They're fitting together perfectly, motion synchronized with thought. Henry's got a good feeling about this run, the game and job. He's been needing something to get his life headed in the right direction. Maybe this is the big one everyone dreams of, the perfect run where everything goes right. With all the introspection, the game's getting out of hand. Pieces flying everywhere they shouldn't be and everything distraught, Mr. Jackson focuses back in and pulls it together. No, it could never be that easy, he realised. No matter what, never think it could be that easy.

FlatTop takes in the view, looking at the almost medieval defenses. It's no wonder this is the first time, with such an open door defense, he thinks to himself as he goes over the security layout. And the drones, he continues to himself while scratching his head I can't seem to tell if they're hovering, rolling, walking, or anything... it's like they're just there... but Fraggin deadly as all get-out there. Oh, and look at those poodles, amazing how small French dogs are. Almost as if they were bred for.... that's IT!!! Dogs are smart, we all know that, but I bet the French dogs are actually spies for the French Interpol. Look at it, all cute and cuddly, garnished with metal ornaments like a damn christmas tree.... must be french., "Frag off? Get a real dog.", FlatTop comments as he continues strolling along, one hand reaching for his 3-sectioner.

==============================================

I don't like dogs, and am completely ready to defend myself. If any of them so much as look at me funny, I'm gonna bash its head through its, assk anyone.