Kai and Glide arrive neck-and-neck and a bare edge away from out of control, almost crashing into the lamppost outside the pawnbroker's, sweat-soaked, drizzle-soaked, so close upon each other's trail that it's impossible to tell who had arrived a single step ahead of the other. Competitive though they are, neither really cares too much. Exhilarated, they're too busy catching their breath.

Finally, still halfway between laughing and sobbing for breath, Kai looks a question down the block toward Ming's, and when that doesn't work, asks, "Guess we oughta go check the place out, huh?"

"Guess so," says Glide.

Kai settles in to follow her lead ... after stepping into the questionable shelter of the overhanging eave long enough to wring out his coat (and to elicit a curse from the owner -- "Get the hell away from my store, you thieving little punk!"). Kai's proud of that coat, that he is. It's very durable, and keeps him real warm at night ... not that that's an issue, just now.

Merciless Ming's, the place is just perfect for a meet. Surveillence of any kind at a place like it, at least the permanent kind of surveillence, or anything overly sophisticated, is almost impossible. Why? Simple, the place is located halfway down a street that is used as an open air market. Keeping any kind of listening devices there would be fruitless, since the teaming masses of people alone generate too much background noise. Add in with that the catcalls of the vendors, and it's a suprise anyone can hear anything. Ming's itself has a pickup window that draws a crowd enough that most people, aside from the ocassional moving mountain of a troll, have to shove their way through to the open faced sit down interior. Oddly enough the decore is Southwestern, seeming out of place with the noodlehouse menu. But the whole market seems to have a temporary nature to it, as if no one expects to stay too long.

Glide had to laugh, "Well Mouse, looks like scouting this place is a bit of a bust. At least with all of the foot traffic we souldn't have to worry about a double cross. Just too many people for a shoot out. Lets have a look around really quick anyway. So we can let Johnson know the layout."

"Yeah," says Kai. "Ya takes the front, an' I'll go 'round back?" Wonder if this place has a way up to the roof?

The joys of back alleyways are not universal. Over and above the smell of frying noodles, this one's picked up the hidden scents of the marketplace: decay, rot, and oh frag, they was sellin' live chickens back there. Ground's a bit slippery, nothing Kai's not known before. Open-air front, gotta be a kitchen round back somewheres, owner-guy live here? maybe there's an apartment up top?

The back alley isn't as much of an alley, as a gap between the market and the buildings it is huddled between. It seems the area used to be a strip mall of some sort, before all the build-up. The mall itself is boarded up and looking dangerous. Ming's however, seems to be the only permanant structure aside from it. Around back there is a window from what looks like an old-drive through. Access to the roof doesn't seem overly obvious, but there's a dumpster that might be climbed, if a person is willing to brave the smell.

Sures, Kai'll climb the dumpster. An' he'll scope out everything that's scopeable, like he knows Glide will, up front. Heck, if anything'd've gotten him curious 'bout this place, he'd've done that anyway. It's just who he is.

Finishing up her survailance Glide waits for Mouse to get re-appear. She spends the rest of her time skating around the block. It isn't long until Mouse's small frame comes riding out around the corner. With a gentle kick she glides up next to the boy.

"Let's get outta here. It's only 15 till, but J's probably starting to freak."

Not waiting for an answer the young orc girl starts down one of the side streets toward The Shore, gaining speed with every push of her toned legs.

Feeling satisfied with the excellent krill and linguini from Uncle Vito’s, Steve wheeled in to a parking spot near The Shore.
As he strolled toward one of the sidewalk entrances he couldn’t help noticing Johnson, snappy dresser as always, had changed into yet another of those suits.
A guy could probably live on what he pays for all those…
As Steve approaches and casually sits across from the man, his eyes fix on a volleyball game that a group of young girls are playing to the blaring sounds of some thrash band on a boom box.
"Looks like the sun might come out."

It's after that sudden brake on arrival at the Shore, with a protesting shriek of metal and a showering of sparks, that Kai asks: "Was we s'pposed t' hang low?"

Walking into the Shore, Viper is not too surprised to see Johnson and Steve already there. In the beach-themed club, her gothic attire sticks out like a sore thumb, but judging by her smirk, as she glides over to the two men, she doesn't mind that at all. Inwardly, though, she is a bit miffed that the volleyball girls are stealing some of her "spotlight".

Glide shrugs off Kai's comment. "Hey with Viper here hanging low ain't gonna happen. She's gonna stand out way more than either of us chum. Lets go talk ta the others and see what J wants to do now."

Johnson Sits there calmly sipping from his Power Jack and Coke with Soy. Soy is the cranberry of the 21st century, sneaking its way into every type of food and drink.

As the team arrives, Johnson greets them, standing for each of his comrads.

"You all want to grab a bite to eat? We may not get a chance again."

"You payin'?" asks Kai practically, settling himself into the chair next to Johnson and kicking up his skateboard. He's already spotted the dozen-odd untended drinks, half-finished meals, and the tip that someone's left behind -- that one makes his fingers twitch a little, but (meeting Viper's eyes as she walks in and reading her expression only too well), he decides against acting on any of them.

For now.

“Thank you, no. I have recently broken my fast, however, please indulge yourselves – as you say, we may not get a chance again.”
Steve notices Glide’s far-off expression, and wonders what could be on her mind. He also wonders how effective half a Tranq patch would be at calming the ever energetic Kai.
He smiles slightly as he pulls out the pocket sec, inserts the E memory and wakes it.

Viper raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'may not get another chance'? I thought this place we were meeting at was a food joint?" She shrugs. "Well, I could always use a tide-me-over, anyways." When the waitress comes over, she enthusiastically orders a garden burger, fries, and a chocolate shake. How she keeps her figure is a mystery... she must have a really high metabolism.

"You never know what the job will may entail."

Or else it's just that Viper knows what it means, having Kai sitting between her and Johnson. "Cuttin' t' the chase," he says, "place's open-air cut-out inna streetmart. Not even a decent rooftop."

Glide smiles. "What he means is ..."

And she tells them what the layout of the place is like. She must have done it well. She's only interrupted by Kai once. Well, maybe twice.

Mr. Johnson, perhaps you would like to attend the meet alone? You do have some communications gear, and perhaps some method of recording the meet? We might not be able to provide direct cover but we should be near enough to ensure that you make it to the hospital instead of the organ-leggers.
Or maybe several of us should go, but I insist that at least one of us remain outside.
Steve then makes another entry in the pocket sec and looks at each of the others in turn.

"Thats a good idea. Do we have com gear, so who ever is outside can communicate with whos inside? This is an odd place for a meet, but then again, its not like we are a marquee shadowrun team, yet."

Viper looks at them. "Well, I gotta be there, 'cause I'm the only one who can scan things astrally. But you guys, Hermes has already pretty much told these people what we all look like, so anyone staying outside better remember that."

"What, so ya j'st wants the guy that's outside t' keep an eye on things?" Kai asks, tossing back the last of the Power Jack just as Johnson realises it's no longer in front of him. "Geez, what kinds o' stuff ya expectin' t' go down anyways?"

Damn, I got to remember to keep my hand on my drinks around him. "Well, I still would like someone watching my back. I highly doubt its a set up to get us, but you never know who the Johnson is. Maybe he is getting set up, and we are simply pawns. You never know."

"Geez, lighten up, will ya? If it's jest' matter o' lookin' out for guns 'n stuff, I'm your guy. 'sides, d'ruther stay out an' watch an' move than sit 'round agin talkin' 'bout how t' talk t' people. An' messages -- hey, there's Liddy!"

Fidgeting, with the coat mostly covering the jumpsuit, Kai looks just like every other street rat hanging around the place; including the one he's just waved toward. "Liddy's cool. I kin stay outside an' Liddy kin letcha know if somethin's goin' down."

Steve moves to restrain the overenthusiastic Kai.
Humm.. maybe a WHOLE Tranq patch?
“Look Kai – There ain’t no friends in this business – there’s your Team and there’s everybody else. One or more of those everybodys wants to stop you, maybe even kill you – real guns, real dead.”
OOC: Assuming a City spirit isn’t having fun with Steve yet, he will continue – in a calmer tone.
“You want to bring someone else in on the job – you need to discuss it with your Team.”

"What's it looks like I'm doin'?" Kai wants to know. "An' anyways, Liddy's different. Liddy's okay. We talks all a' time. Y' kin trust her."

[OOC: Kai hasn't actually waved Liddy over yet, just waved her out to the others in the group.]

Viper tilts her head curiously, getting a glazed look in her eyes briefly as she looks at the raggedy street gir. Then she smirks (which you have come to realize is one of her more common expressions).

"Yeah, I can vouch for Liddy. She's a... spirited girl, but she can be very inobtrusive when she has to be. Seems to pop out of thin air, she does."

[OOC: Sorry, my bad – stupid bold names gave me the impression of shouting and waving.]
Steve looks at Viper, then to Kai, then back to Viper – as a confused expression crosses his face. He looks as if he is about to say something – but doesn’t.

"Well, now that I am finisished with my drink," Johnson gives Kai a look, "lets head out."

After a startled glance over at Viper -- "We cool then? Cool!" With the ease of long practice (well, a week anyway), Kai ignores the look Johnson gives him as the kid stands up -- well, "stands" really isn't appropriate to the instant way he comes to his feet, like his thoughts and mind and spirit are already halfway to the next place -- "c'mon, Glide, let's blow this joint."

"Can't," says Glide regretfully, snapping shut her cell, into which she'd been speaking quietly. "Boss wants me back in for something. Maybe I'll catch up with you guys later."

" 'K then," says Kai. "I be hangin' 'round Merciless Ming's. Yah, I'll be watchin'. Payin' attention even. There's a glitch, gotta phone, ya kin call --" and everyone winces as Kai pulls up the new ring du jour at increasing volume: something from Darwin's Bastards that might have sounded vaguely like fingers on chalkboard, had it drifted closer to an actual tune. "Hey, Liddy, gotta sec?"

Just that quickly, he's up and gone.

Kai knows he's gotten to Merciless Ming's way before the rest of the group. Nearly as he can figure, that's the point: if he's going to be watching for any trouble cropping up on the outside, he'd better be in place first. Standing lookout's never been his favourite job -- he'd much rather be doing -- but the way the others were talking, this was as close to doing as he's likely to be doing for a while.

Lookin' a' it that ways, I gots the good job. Go figure. An' leastways I don' gots ta do it lonesome, gots Liddy here t' yak wi' and lend an eye s'well. S'cool.

They're drifting in and around the booths and wagons and tables of the street vendors who've set up camp in this place, talking up a storm, Kai showing Liddy the new rings he'd talked the electronics guy on his last delivery run into downloading -- if Steve were around, he'd be relieved that at least while Kai's fingers were occupied with the phone, they wouldn't be straying into other people's things (which wouldn't be in the best interests of the team either) -- but both of them always keeping an eye on what's going on in and around Merciless Ming's; and Kai, at least, waiting with some degree of impatience for the others to just get there already ...

The scene around Ming's in the evening is still jumping, though the market is closing down for the most part, the crowds linger for the late food vendors, and for the chance to get a seat at the best Noodle House in an old Mexican facade in the greater Seattle Metroplex. With the crowd it takes getting fairly close to see it, but Kai will be able to easily spot their contact. Even in a place where everything seems to fit in, a suit stands out just a touch. Especially when he is alone at a table, with the table next to him occupied by two other, albeit less polished, suits. The off the rack look just screams Bodyguard.

Johnson steps into Ming's, brushes himself of, and heads in through the doorway. He quickly spots the suits, scanning the room as he approaches the table. If he spotted Viper or Steve, he didn't give it away. He continues his confident stroll toward the back table where Mr. Johnson and his two shlubs sit.

Arriving at the table, he nods to Mr. Johnson, "Hermes said you need some work done. Lets get down to business." He seats himself almost before Mr. Johnson can reply.

Viper bounces cheerfully into Ming's, rubbernecking like any other customer looking for a good table. When she sees their contact, she walks over, not bothering to conceal it. Hell, if they wanted discreet, they wouldn't have worn suits - they stand out even more than she does here. A smile dimpling her face, she sits at the table that has the two bodyguards, within earshot, but far enough away to let Johnson do his job uninterrupted. She idly looks at the suits, shifting to astral perception briefly to see if there is anything unusual.

Steve approaches from the opposite side of the seating area, quickly settling in next to Viper, and sizing up the bodyguards himself. He scoots his chair around to face the Mr. J’s more directly, using the bodyguards table as an armrest. Comfy at last, he hears the contact say…

Kai watches the mutual positioning and posturing of the men and the slight stiffness which telegraphs Johnson's discomfiture over Viper's -- descent -- with some amusement. If any of them have seen him, they're not showing it. Well, maybe that grin of Viper's, but that could mean anything. Anyway, they're over there, and he's out here. Where he's supposed to be.

The thought makes him inwardly frown for a moment before he shrugs: he's given his word to these people. Sort of.

Johnson's approach isn't entirely unexpected, and so the suit doesn't seem to concerned. His bodyguards perk up a bit when someone joins their boss, and they outright tense when they are joined by not only Viper, but Steve as well. In a place like this, though, they shouldn't be so suprised. It's easy not to be noticed. Proof positive is that they haven't even spotted Kai yet, though they've been told who to look out for in general terms.

The suit manages an affable enough smile at the directness of Johnson's dialogue. The place wasn't his first choice for a meet, but it would seem things might take little time.

`Right to the point; I admire that. Hermes was correct, my employers require your services for, shall we say, some reconissence.`

His voice is neutral, accentless. No doubt Johnson knows the logic. A voice can give plenty away, and it is best kept in check.

Keeping his attention towards Mr. Johnson, only giving a strange look at the empty table in front of him, half expecting at least a small mixer there. He couldn't believe that there wasnt even a glass of water.

Looking back at Mr. Johnson, "So what's the job?"

Steve shifts position, accidently bumping the table, as he focuses in on what the Johnson has to say.

If The Suit catches that strange look, he doesn't let on. They're free to eat and meet here after, he doesn't much care, but he's not sticking around.

`My employers wish to know the contents of shipments going in and out of a certain warehouse.`

The implication there being that until the job is accepted, that warehouse's location will not be revealed.

`They wish the investigation to be done low key, without raising any potential alarm. If the people operating the warehouse know of your interest in the shipment, our deal will be cancalled, and you shall not be able to contact me again.`

"Sounds straight forward enough," Johnson flashes a confident, but not arrogant, smile.

"What are we looking at, in terms of pay and timeline?"

`My employers would prefer to know what is being shipped within the next few days, though their sources place the final shipment at being a week away.`

The Suit does not return the smile, his expression is rather bland.

`Payment will be one hundred and fifty nuyen for every day or part of a day spent on the job, but no more than five days.`

That's about three day's pay from that fat ork, depending on tips...
Steve glances at Viper, to see how she reacts.

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful for the job opportunity, but thats only a little more than we make at our regular job. Plus you will pay us more, the longer it takes us? Why don't we go with a more realistic flat rate." The last statement is more of a suggestion than question. Johnson knows that the offer is basically a lowball offer, to see how green they were.

As Steve glances at Viper, he sees her lip curl up slightly in scorn at the Johnson's initial offer. Even for someone as new to the shadows as her, the initial offer seems less than acceptable. Viper may not take home a regular paycheck, but she is still used to getting more money when she does get one of these jobs. She fidgets slightly, but stays calm enough to let Johnson handle the negotiations.

`I'm willing to speak with my employers on your behalf, and bring the paymet to two hundred a day, plus reasonable expenses.`

The Suit shifts his eyes a moment, catching Glyph's look of scorn at the offer, though he doesn't comment.

`My employer might also require you and your associates for a followup job, should this go well.`

"How about a flat rate? Lets say a flat rate of 75 hundred nuyen. That is 1500 a head...plus any additional expenses, such as if we need to hire a decker or something." Johnson's smile has faded, his face seems almost humorously serious to his chummers sitting near by.

The Suit considers a long moment, long enough that Johnson might get to worrying the deal was blown, and then he nods.

`I believe I can arange the flat rate, though only seventy-five percent of expenses will be covered in that case.`

His tone has an air of finality about it. Something about the change in the expenses deal also speaks that he thinks a decker would be exessive, given the task.

`Shall we move on to finalizing the details?`

"Yes, unless you would like to offer us a signing bonus."

The Suit considers a moment, then reaches within his suit jacket, a move that might get some on edge When he withdraws his hand, however, he is holding two certified credsticks. He places them on the table, hand covering them, and slides them to the middle.

`For expenses.`

He explains, rather simply.