Glide sighs when Mouse bolts from the table. She stuffs the last piece of chicken in her mouth and stands up. "Call me if you need me." she says grabbing her helmet off the table.

Heading out the door Glide looks around. Mouse is nowhere in sight, which was to be expected. He was fast.

'Fraggin kid, he better not slot this run up. I need the money.' Hard to admit but Glide liked the kid. He was like the little brother she never had, but this was business and she really did need the money. Catching up to Kai would be pointless, so Glide didn't hurry. She slides her cellphone in place around her slightly upswept ear and pulls her helmet over her head. A feather light mental pulse to her skates and she was off.

The buildings fly by as her augmented muscles push her faster and faster. Glide weaves in and out of traffic until she gets closer the warehouse location. Travel is a bit more difficult the closer she gets to Redmond. You have to be careful not to stray into the wrong territory especially if you are an Orc like Glide. Lucky for her she could pass for human at first glance, but she took a more round about route to avoid any street life.

Before she arrives at the wharehouse Glide slows to a stop. She stuffs her helmet into her backpack and begins to walk keeping an eye out for Mouse and a good place to observe the wharehouse.

Steve watches the two kids take off, then looks at Mr. Johnson; “They stiffed us for the check…”
Scooping a credstick off the table he adds; “But this should cover it.” He continues; “Do you think you could give me a lift back to the shop?”

In the growing gloom of twilight, without any warning, comes suddenly Kai's voice in Glide's ear: "Hey, what keptcha?"

Glide spins towards the voice unnaturally fast, her gloved fist shooting out towards the voice.

'No!!!!!!!' she screamed to herself, her body reacting to the threat before her mind had been able to process Kai's voice.

With a great effort she forced her body to react and pulled her punch which was dangerously close to Kai's face.

Anger flared up as she looked at his still smiling face.

"Geez kid, don't ever sneak up on someone with moded reflexes. I coulda killed ya."

She calmed herself enough to answer his question though.

"What took me so long? Wasn't really in a hurry chum. Took some round about ways to get here too to avoid some of the worse areas. Redmond ain't really the safest place for a pretty orc girl like me."

"Ehn? Who'd be lookin'?"

Though he'd nodded solemnly earlier (not quite holding back the continuing grin), the kid's barely phased ... and now that Glide's had the moment of breathing space, she's realising that he'd been ready to move if he had to, and maybe he just might have been able to scramble out of her way. That'd explain why he's still alive, pulling stuff like that. Though one of these days you're going to time things a little too fine, Kai.

" 'Sides Pike up there," he adds and waves casually -- and Glide's body discovers that it still has some adrenaline to spare. "Found us this here spot," he's continuing matter-of-factly, "perfect view, an' ain't no one kin sees us. An' th' fans behind, they runs loud an' hot, can't no one sees us even wi' thermo."

Geez, kid, do you want to live to see thirteen?

"Lets go have a look then and see what you found." Glide says following Mouse. Then something he just said registered to her. She waits until they ducked into the nearby alley before saying...

"Umm Mouse...you invited someone else to hang with you during this?" Glide looks exasperated. "What the hell were you thinking?"

'Geez Hermes, why did you send this kid along...he isn't ready! Fat bastard!'

And Kai looks exasperated in turn: "It's like what Viper said 'bout Liddy before, it's cool. Pike's a friend."

"No Mouse, it isn't cool and Viper was right. You don't pull this kind of stuff without letting your crew in on it first or having a Fraggin good reason." She stares a hole in Kai. "So let's have it Mouse, what's your fraggin reason."

Kai can tell that Glide is furious now, though she is sure to keep her voice low to not give away her location. She doesn't give him a chance to answer just yet though.

"You don't keep secrets from your team Mouse. What's your deal? Your obviously wired or an adept or somethin. You where too fast back there to not have a mod of somekind."

Now she stops and waits for his answer.

"No, no," packpedalling quickly, too surprised and shocked that this would be her reaction (but also instinctively keeping his voice down) -- "I mean, Viper said it were cool 'bout Liddy ...? y'know ...? ya knows I ain't chipped! an' geez, Glide, think 'bout it -- ya think I'd be scroungin' up a slottin' crashpad wi' Hermes if alls I had t' do was Deus someone? I'd be livin' th' life o' Knight!"

"Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't chipped and you can still match my reflexes?" Glide tries to keep herself calm and think a bit more clearly. An idea was coming to her, but she needed to know more.

She waits for the answer she knows is coming and follows up with.

"Ok lets head up to the roof before someone spots us. I have a couple of questions for you and your buddy Liddy."

"This here's Pike. Ya -- oh yeah, y' never met Liddy." He'd obviously been about to tell her something like Geez, can't ya tell the difference? but thought better of it -- and then he'd thought. "Got friends, like I tol' ya. Gots friends all over the city. They knows all th' good scrounge places, hides -- like here, ain't nowheres better t' go scopin' out this place. I ask, an' they shows me; an' then I shows you." And now he looks a little hurt: "Like I done."

Nibbling idly on the last bits of rice on her plate, Viper looks at Steve, then Johnson.

"Before you guys wiz out of here, like Kai and Glide did, ya wanna set up when we're going to meet up again tomorrow? I guess, since those two already took off, we can just chat them up when they show up at the Jam Pony tomorrow. Then we can figure out how to play this. I've already given you the low-down on what I can do. And I could always talk to one of the loaders if we figure out what bars they like to hang out at after work. Guys always like to brag... you'd be surprised what they can let slip when they're trying to impress someone."


She smirks at Johnson. "By the way, since Mouse likes getting stickey-fingered, I've given him... interesting... things to find when he picks my pockets. So the kid got clever, and put some of my stuff into your pocket. I saw him, though, so now we can turn it around on him. We can just keep it vague - you know, stuff like:

'Um, Viper, does that little... club... of yours accept new members?'

'Why Johnson, I never knew you would be into that sort of thing.'"

She chuckles. "Heh. We'll drive him crazy."

Seoul Food (Steve, Viper and Johnson)

"No problem, Steve...and as for Mouse, I think he is crazy enough...," Johnson takes another swallow from his glass.

"As for tomorrow, Im not sure I will make it. Hermes needs me to run the shop while he is off with a 'female friend' he says. Probably some sea donkey he met on the matrix. He also has a noob for the team, so now you will have two kiddies to watch. Im going to meet him at EC Nights shortly, if you want to roll with Steve and I."

"Hopefully I will be able to cover a few watches, if Hermes dont light up phones making sure Im not correcting his mistakes."

After handing the waiter the credstick, Johnson finishes his brandy..


The Warehouse (Glide and Kai n' Friends)

The warehouse isnt quite in the barrens, but it might as well be. The roads are pretty much paved, well they used to be. Now there are more potholes and chuckholes than smooth asfault. The area is mostly old warehouses, autoshops and the like. Either aluminum sheet siding or red brick, most of the buildings are vacant of business, but florishing in squatter population. Gangland is just a few months away.

However there seems to be a few businesses still in the area. Small cheap food joints, a Qwik-E-Mart, complete with fuel station and slooshies, and a few other work shops. In short, the two of you dont really stand out, talking on the sidewalk. Of those that notice you, dont really. You can easily assume that you will be forgotten within a few minutes.

"Mouse, this is important. Your friend Pike did find us a good location, but where did Pike come from? How do you know him? Think about it." Glide's was almost sure her guess was correct, but Kai didn't seem to have a clue that he may be an adept or mage or both. Something Kai had said earlier sprang to mind.

'He said Viper was ok with it. She would know or at least have some idea if Kai was awakened.'

She waits for Kai's answered before triggering Viper's number on her earplug cellphone.

He stared at her, uncomprehending, before he went back to watching the warehouse. "This part o' th' city, o'course." There's still a bit of sullenness in his voice, but it's fading fast. "Where else would Pike come from? This here's his doss. Like in 'bout Steve's eats, that's where Liddy hangs out. Got friends in every city. Jest goes onna streets an' asks around."

And then something flashes in his eyes and he glances at Glide with a big grin on his face: "I gets it. Ya didn' know Pike's a spirit, right?"

Glide cuts the call she was just about to dial and looks at Kai like he just splashed cold water on her head, then starts to laugh.

"That may have been something to let your team in on Mouse." She says when she catches her breath. "So how long have you known you were..." She searches for the correct term, "...awakened?" she asks as they make there way to the roof.

Now it's Kai who's real confused, and looks it. He's silent for a long time, then, "Glide," he explains patiently, "if I was a wizworm, I'd be able to cast fireballs an' call up twisters. like on Tyee!. I just gots friends everywhere. Some o' them is orks," and he favours her with another "who, me?" grin. "Some o' them is humans. Some o' them is spirits."

"Didn't say wizworm kid, there are other kinds of magic too. Maybe your one of those adept people. You sure are faster than any non-chipped norm I've ever scene. May have even gotten away from that punch I threw at ya when ya suprised me. O'course I could be wrong, but ya may wanna ask Viper next time ya see her. She would know better than me."

Climbing onto the roof just behind Kai she gives a nod to Pike, not sure really how to address a spirit.

"We got a long night ahead, best try and get comfortable."

She pauses a moment while she finds a place to sit.

"And Kai...sorry I snapped at ya down there chum."

"Adept, huh?" and he sounds a bit disappointed, like he'd been thinking over what Glide's been saying and been playing with the idea in his head, but now this is all he'll ever be, even if it's got a fancy name. "S'okay, Glide, it ain't like people ain't snapped at me before, an' I guess ya didn't know. 'Bout Pike, I means. He cool, Glide, he don't bite ... moren' me, neway. I'll call 'im over, if ya want, in-tro-duce ya."

He considers. "I'd'a bin careful, Glide, ya knows that. It's not like I called in Tiffany. Now she's a friend too, but she's nosy. Mebe she kin fin' out what ya needs t' know, 'bout that place -- but she's a snoop, ya knows? an' y'all said t' keep this quiet."

"Nah, lets leave Tiffany outta this if she's as noisy as you say. If we need her later we can get her. We just need to lay low 'till we get some more data."

Glide really did feel bad about snapping at him.

"And sure Kai, I'll say hi to your friend, I mean we're gonna be hangin here all night."

'Besides, not like I get to talk to spirits everyday.'

"Hey, Pike!" calls out Kai in a stage whisper almost lost against the rattling of the fans behind them. "Come hang! Glide's cool wi' it now, an' she'd like t' meetcha. We'll all scope out this place groupwise, mebe one of us ketch somewhat t'other don't?"

The three of them cluster on the nearby roof in the hot shelter of the fans, quietly talking as they're watching the door and trying to figure out the general layout and patterns of the place. Maybe they'll take different positions to get different views of the place later in the night as new information makes it appropriate, who knows?

Ah .... frag. My first double-post on these forums

Steve is quiet during the ride back to EC dispatch, which is to say, abnormally quiet even for him. He seems preoccupied – dark and brooding – wrestling with some inner demon.

Offering Johnson an automatic ‘Thanks’ as he gets out of the car, the worn-looking elf goes to his locker. After spinning in the combination he opens the door.

His first words were barely audible; “What the…” His voice rapidly increases in volume as he releases a very uncharacteristic string of profanities while storming toward the office.

“Hermes!...” He screams, interrupting the last-minute instructions the ork is giving Johnson; “Tell me why I’m NOT going to slap-patch that little shit and sell him to the chopdoc for spare parts…”

The human and ork are confronted by an almost comic sight: An elf, face purple in anger, voice cracked from screaming, shaking a key fob with a couple of keys in his fist as if it were a weapon that he intended to use.

The fat ork jiggles as he can’t suppress a chuckle as the elf continues in his loud-but-squeaky, damaged voice;
“I’m worried sick that the run is already compromised – MY LIFE is already compromised – because some little street-rat can’t keep his hands to HIMSELF?!?!”

Steve takes a gulp of air and continues in the subdued, harsh voice of someone who has blown-out their vocal cords; “THAT’S an idea, just his hands – I might get enough for just his hands to pay the locksmith and dealership; that’s what I’ll do!”

The elf pauses for a few ragged breaths; he looks like he’s going to pass-out.

Johnson's expression remains unchanged. Calmly he replies, "you can have the other credstick that was to cover expenses to cover the cost of your car. We will deal with Kai after the mission is over. Then his hands are less useless to the rest of us, and we wouldn't mind seeing them missing as well."

He returns to his conversation with Hermes as the elf's vital signs return to normal. Steve catches the end of the conversation about the boss taking off for a few days, and that Johnson will have to cover the office.

Exiting the office, Johnson's expression has now changed. He looks angry, but undercontrol. His complexion remains the same, so Steve is still the only purple faced employee mucking about EC Nights.

His voice a bit less enthusiastic, Johnson pats the elf on the back, "Lets go meet the new guy. His name is Peta or something. Half the time I cant understand what Hermes is saying. I really wish he would stop eating while talking to me."

He scans the shop for Viper, so she can join him and Steve in the break room, where the new guy is waiting.

Johnson’s reply catches Steve totally off-guard; the calm tone and demeanor such a counter-point that the elf’s anger is nearly completely short-circuited. As Johnson returns to his previous conversation Steve takes a few moments to compose himself.

As his breathing and heart-rate begin to return to safer levels Steve takes stock: The rising acid from his stomach is competing with the damaged vocal cords for his attention. The muscles on the back of his neck – right side – are starting to ache. A vein in his right temple is throbbing. It’s going to be one of those headaches…

“Well,…” He thinks, “at least no-one’s tossing, bugging or trapping my apartment or car, unless Kai is some kind of agent.” A hysterical giggle escapes the distraught elf. “Stranger things have happened…”

Still a bit light-headed from hyperventilation Steve falls in step with Johnson. I’ve got antacids and aspirin in my locker; and I can get the Doc’s prescription filled at any pharmacy.

“About the credsticks…” Steve is surprised with the hoarse croak of his voice; “that’s the team’s expenses, not mine. If I could just get 200 nuyen, to cover the locksmith and keep the landlord off my back, the guys at the dealership will bill me on a 60 or 90 day invoice.”

Viper, trailing along behind the other two, has been uncharacteristically quiet, perhaps because she has been observing Steve's outburst with morbid fascination. She hums tunelessly as she follows him and Johnson, interested in meeting this new guy. As she follows their conversation, she finally feels like interjecting.

"I have no problem with you taking an advance out ot the expenses credstick. But this is Kai's fault. After the job, he can pay you out of his share."

She smiles faintly at Steve's surprised look - after all, she and Kai are pals, while she seems alternately amused and indifferent towards him most of the time.

"Hey, I like the little mouse, but he's got to learn some limits, now, or the next time, he'll frag with the wrong person, and get himself geeked."

"My thoughts exactly," Johnson agrees. He pushes open the breakroom door to find a very slender elf sitting at the far end flipping through the pages of a tattered magazine. His hair is white and long, falling so that it slightly covers his face when the group first enters.

"Seta? Hoi, Im Johnson." After the others enter he quickly introduces them, "This is Steve, and this is Viper. Welcome to the team."

Seta's vivid green eyes look up from the magazine, a Maxim he'd scrounged from the otherwise biker-centric fair in the breakroom and he nods to the collected three. Odd, this workplace. If this group is any indication, it would seem for once he isn't in the minority, metatype-wise. The thought brings a phantom smile to his lips, which soon enough breaks into a wide grin, a trademark of his.

`Greetings, I hadn't known what to expect when Hermes gave me the call. I must say, I'm pleased so far.`

His eyes are upon Viper as he says this, though he does well in not leering. Instead he pushes the hair back out of his face, and looks to Johnson, canting his head a touch. Intriguing, to find a genuine suit in with this lot.

`I trust our malodorous friend wasn't out of line calling me in today?`

He could spare the time, of course, Katie is staying with Mamma Zen for the night. His manner of dress fits in well with the crowd at ECN, as it is for the most part urban sport, but the sheathed katana at his feet speaks of a different manner of employment than delivering packages.

2100 hrs, ECN breakroom

"Unexpected, but not out of line. You're not the only one on the first day with the team, so dont feel out of place. Speak your mind, do your job...and dont steal Steve's keys, and you'll be ok."


2100 hrs, Abandoned roof near Redmond, overwatching target
Glide and Kai

A slow flow of warm air pushes its way out of the vent and onto your backs, keeping you from getting too cold. The sky is overcast, but no rain or heavy winds, so all and all, you find yourselves somewhat comfortable. Minus the rough chafing at your seat from the buildings roof.

Your position provides you with a good view of the warehouse in question, while still keeping you at a distance. All the adjacent building are empty and about the same size, so that should not comprimise your position. The target lies almost straight ahead, just a bit off to the left. It is about 100 meters away, across an old parking lot sprouting up more weeds than cement, and a small clearing, also full of weeds and litter. You can see the main door, but it is at a small angle, around 30 degrees, so if open, you would not be able to see all the way to the back, but could see most of the interior.

For now the lights remain off, and the only thing near the building is a few squatters making shelter out of an old dumpster and some boxes. You've been watching the building for a while now, and come to realize, its a good thing the roof is so rough on your hindside, or you may have dozed off by now.

`Never drove a day in my life. Don't much intend to any time soon.`

Seta says this in a manner which could be for sheer levity, or a greater truth. Sometimes the distinction is hard to make.

`What're we in for?`

Viper checks out the new guy - with the combo of the urban sport look and the katana, she is reminded of Glide a bit - muscle, but maybe bringing some other skills to the table. At least he's not one of the poetry-spouting Tir-phile types - the long hair had her worried for a bit. She gets enough of that "Alfheim uber alles" drek from Alfric. She raises a mental eyebrow at his choice of reading material. Maxim? Isn't that just for kids who are too young to buy real porn? She'll withold judgement for now, though. Maybe he only picked it up because it was marginally more interesting than all of the ten-speed gearhead mags littering the place.

She answers Seta with a dimpled smile. "Nothing too interesting, I'm afraid. Just a snoop job, to find out what these people are using a warehouse for. And we have to do it without them being any the wiser for it. Right now, the first shift is taking a look-see."

`Shift work? Nice and professional.`

Seta nods as if to approve of the action, though there is no need. He is fairly green to the organized world of the shadows, though he has had an odd mixture of training which leaves him well suited for it.

`Whereabouts are we talking? I've an associate or two who keep their ears to the ground...`

"Near the barrens. About your associates," Johnson pauses, "we need to keep this quiet, can they keep a closed mouth?"

Johnson looks over at Steve and Viper, giving them the we dont need any more "friends" look. Thinking of Liddy, one of Kai's "friends all ova da city."

After taking in the sights for a while Glide gets up to stretch her legs a bit. She knew casing a place could be a drag and if the boredom was bad for her, it must be killing Kai.

"Hey Mouse," she breaks the relative silence while stretching from side to side. "Why don't you and Pike take a look around the wharehouse. Not to close but see what it looks like from other areas. Maybe you can get a straight look into the back from a different angle. If Pike can help hide you so much the better. Whatcha think?"

She asked the question more to make him feel part of the descision making process than anything else.

"I's helpin' both o' you out," says Pike softly, odd counterpoint to Kai's natural exuberance, interrupting whatever he was about to say. "Kai says yer a team, yer a team. There's tonnes o' places 'round here, scope it out from all kinds of directions. Don' worry, Glide, mebbe ya won' see me, but I got ya covered."

Kai shrugs, but bounces to his feet with a quickness that suggests Glide's suggestion could safely have been made a lot earlier. "We'll scope 'round th' back an' then go all 'round," he decides quickly. "Get th' doors, windows --"

"Yer stayin' away from windows an' roofs, this time?" asks Pike quietly.

"Hey, no fair Pike, that only fragged up once!" protests Kai, to which the spirit answers, "Once's all ya'd need, here. Ya wanna git paid, ka?"

"Kuso shite shine, gutara," retorts Kai with a slap upside the head as he takes off to do Glide's bidding, but there's no heat in it and Pike don't take it personal: Glide gets the impression this is normal casual interaction for the two of them. There's obviously a story behind all this -- and maybe Pike will tell her, if she asks -- and maybe even gleefully. She's not that sure about Mouse: it feels like it's touching into those few places about Kai that always felt personal.

"So what's up with you and Kai?" Glide asks after Kai moves out of earshot, though she doesn't take her eyes off of the wharehouse.

"He's a chummer," says Pike, settling down beside Glide. "Gets into my end of town, we hang. 'Course he ain't bin in town all that long, an' neways he ain't stayin' long. Gots too much o' th' Quest, he." The spirit smiles a little to itself as he adds, "I'll miss him."

Seta smiles a rather subdued, though mirthful smile when Johnson questions how quiet his people can keep things. He shakes his head a touch.

`You don't have to worry. Xion isn't the type to go talking to just anyone.` The lithe elf laughs softly. `Not that they would understand him if he tried. Might be he'll know something about who's turf we're looking at, though. Taggers tend to know things, or they can read the signs that'll tell them what they want to know.`

Steve speaks softly, to protect his painful throat: “We need to decide who’s going to relieve Glide and Kai, and when.”

ECNights

"That is up to you guys. Hermes has me holding down the fort here...fat bastard."

`I can make a few inquiries with Xion and pick up a night shift.`

He shifts, and retrieves the katana, standing and stretching a moment.

`Shouldn't be much trouble at all for me.`

“Ok,” Steve croaks, “there is a coffin hotel a few blocks from here; I’m going to turn in. Buzz me if anything comes up.”

Steve returns to his locker and washes down some pain-relievers with the liquid antacid, transfers his pistol to his waistband and locks up.

Deciding that his bike will be safer at the dispatch office he chooses to walk – letting the cool night air take the heat generated by his anger. Within a block his mood is changing. At least it was only Kai, not someone intent on harming me…

By the time he slides into the sleeping chamber his stomach has settled and the sharp pains from his temple have subsided to a dull ache.

`Alright, I'll catch you on shift.`

Seta nods to the three of them in turn, discarding the Maxim atop the pile of testosterone publications. He exits the breakroom, stopping by dispatch long enough to leave contact information, should he be needed. As he heads out, he secures the sheath for his katana across his back, and he heads off at a brisk run. Xion's doss is about an hour out on foot, but he doesn't mind the exercise. He just hopes his pal's there.

On his own now, Kai has lots and lots and lots of time to do -- well, nothing -- so he fills it (a bit desperately) by discovering everything he can about the facility from the outside, trying to take his time about it and be as thorough as he can be.

But without venturing too near window, door, or roof -- not yet, not until Glide agrees that it's okay. It's not like there's anything vibrantly alive in here, after all. He'll note what he can through the windows from a distance -- there's enough light to see what needs to be seen -- but he's given his commitment to the group, and he can hold his curiosity at least that much in check. It's easy to keep a low profile when he wants to. (It helps a bit that the place is boring.)

Glide gives a side long glance at Pike. "Not stay'n long huh? Where's he going?"

"He wants to see th' world," says Pike. "Don' aks me what he mean. He's a'ready bin t' way morra' th' world than me. 'Course money's a problem so he's allays savin' up, but there's allays sumthin' it gits spent. Won' keep 'im from movin' on when th' time comes. Not like he ain't usedta bein' broke."

Staring out at the warehouse: "He lookin', but he ain't found yet, an' mebbe it ain't like he's gotta find it somewheres that ain't here."

Mouse moves like his name sake through the weeds, carefull to stay in the shadows and silent. Slinking through the high weeds around the front end of the warehouse, Kai finds himself with a good view. He stops for a second to take in all the visual information he can. Street lights pour into the warehouse through broken glass windows. The rays reflect a small amount of light off the dirt covered glass shards scattered across the cement floor. Its enough to get a basic layout of the warehouse, which appears empty, other than trash, dirt and weeds.

Empty? thinks Kai. That don't seem right.

"Hey, Pike," he calls out almost soundlessly, knowing the spirit will hear and relay the information, "what's Glide say 'bout th' place bein' empty? Kin I checks it out closer?"

Pike relays the message to Glide, who thinks about it for a second before replying.

"Tell him to hold tight. There may still be security measures that we don't want to stumble into. Do me a favor and tell him to check out the squatters while he is down there. Lets make sure they are really just street people. Tell him we can let the next watch in on what he's found and decide how we want to approach this tomorrow."

Check out the squatters? Like, she wan' me t' jives widdem? Then Kai shakes his head: Can't be, not iffn she want me keepin' low.

He's stuck for a couple of moments, pondering, while the night grows darker around him, leaving only the soft echoes of reflection from cloud base and a couple of surviving street lights. It's cool, that. He can still see just fine. Besides which, Kai's never minded the night. Nighttime things just eat you. It's day brings out the real vicious predators.

As he draws his longcoat a bit more tightly together it hits him suddenly and, as with all such things with Kai, with very nearly the force of a physical blow. 'Course I'll ken iffn they's ringers. They'd glue t' their stuff. Folks don' ditch their special stuff. Folks don' ditch their shoes! An' ain't no streeter got decent shoes like what Hermes or Johnson got.

He's not goin' close among them, he can see -- an' smell -- fine from the sidelines. Downwind: smell of alcohol? background or from the person? Weeds, stairwells, shadow of a building. As is always the case when he's running the streets with Pike, the shadows easily take him in. Frag, if he were to suddenly jump out from the shadows -- a light flutter of temptation there -- but a streeter'd react completely differently from a ringer.

Temptation quickly vanishes as he realises that if any of them really are ringers, that'd kind of not be the point -- and then besides he'd maybe be in way more trouble than he really wants to handle right now -- an' that's before Steve an' the others get their hands on him.

No, stick with what can be spotted/heard/smelled for now, stay out of sight, an' remember everything about the building he can, even the stuff he don't understand yet. Drek, wouldn't be all that hard t' boost himself up, just a tiny peek through those windows ...?

No. (Maybe later.)