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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Oct 6, 2008 0:55:00 GMT -5
Pelch stated quietly to the drunk Mao as they are both heading home, ' “.... this is the point in the day where everything good goes to drek!”
Mao was gliding along behind Pelch down the street without moving his feet. If asked he would have said he was practicing moving silently. Pelch would have said that Mao was drunk and afraid of tripping. Mao looked at Pelch curiously. "What do you mean by that?"
"See those two bikes and the drek in the seats this time of night? Look familiar?"
Mao looked adjusting his vision. "It appears to be Widow and Freddy. They seem to be watching the men watching our house. So? Freddies talking on the phone, to Fang's. by the glowing numbers highlighted on the cell-phone. Want me to read his lips?"
"No, I don't want you to read his lips, drekhead." stated Pelch sarcastically. "I already KNOW what he wants. He wants to be invited in to eat my food and rip off whatever he can from my place. Figures that when you set Lone Star on their hoops the useless over paid donut eaters were so incompetent as to let them get away. Now they've brought their traveling road show to my doorstep. They probably want those papers we got off the lawyer for the good ol'boys at Z Street."
Mao looked at Pelch and adjusted his hat. "As usual you're overreacting. They probably just need a place to stay for the night. C'mon, and let me do the talking for a change. If you open your mouth they'll know your lying."
Even as they walked toward the two on the bikes Freddy and Widow both noticed them approaching. To the surprise of the pair both Pelch and Mao looked DRUNK! This was certainly an unusual sight for them.
"Why Hello!" Mao stated cheerfully to them holding up a very large half full bottle labeled; 'Old Yeast Bubble's Best Home Brew Sour Mash' to Widow. "So I see that you got the word that we've all been fired. Did you guys get the sack as well? Pelch and I been out celebrating the happy event. So what have you two been doing and what brings you to our neighborhood?"
Widow pretended to adjust a crease in her leathers and spoke nonchalantly while carefully watching for any sign of guilt. "Actually we were in the middle of the run with the lawyer and when we got out someone had set the Star on us. Then we found out we had no support and that we had been fired too. It took us a bit to get away from the Star. Now I wonder who set us up?"
Pelch's look did not change at all. He still looked drunk and confused. No help there thought Widow as to his guilt or not. She looked at Mao who also looked confused but then to her? He always looked a bit vacant. Could it be the pair had NOT set them up? Pelch should have smiled if he had and at least pretended to be concerned to throw off suspicion. The fact he didn't seemed to indicate he had Not done it.
Mao looked at Freddy with some surprise. "Is that true? That's just plain nasty. Anyway, we came home and found BB and Fang's here as well, I guess they were included in the tossing out of the useless. I reckon they decided working for Smythe and Krass wasn't what they wanted either. Why not come in the house and say Hello. If you need a place to stay we can put you up no problems, but you might have to share a room. There's been no sign yet of Headcrack, Wheels or Quick."
Freddy had been watching Mao's aura to see if he was lying. There wasn't even a flicker of a lie. Mao appeared to be telling the truth. he looked at Pelch but saw no sign of guilt either. If the pair hadn't set him up who did? He decided on another test, "That may not be a good thing. It appears the Mafia has your place staked out." Pelch looked surprised at the news and his aura reacted as it should have. His spell was working properly, at least on the dwarf. Mao was the surprising one. His aura remained rock steady and calm. He must have known about the Mafia.
Mao adjusted his hat. "You don't need to worry about them." Mao stated calmly. "They've been assigned to make sure that no one bothers us by friends of mine." Again Pelch looked surprised. Freddy would have to think about this. Mao doing things Pelch knew nothing about? Could Mao have somehow been behind their release from Z Street? It seemed unlikely. Mao wouldn't care where he was working. Mao started walking toward the house with Pelch following. Waved to the goons and went right on through. One tipped his hat and the others acknowledge Mao with what looked like respect. definitely bodyguards. Mao motioned for them to come in.
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 8, 2008 13:09:48 GMT -5
weve been in contact with Headcrack - we asked for and got a few leads. Our current problem is that its not just the Star who are now after us - the City will be too - so every freelancer and bounty hunter will soon know there is a price on our heads or rather should I say on the heads of the two who last visited the Attorney's offices
So you turn up here like a bad penny here at my place and ruin my night..
We got Headcrack to tap into what the Star has got - and also to see what else may have turned up between after we left and just before the attorney got his.. Hey listen to me giving away information for free - not very Snakish is it..? answered Freddy
soooo.. drawled Pelch
Snakes like information and brokering it too - for a fair price..
Like someone does us a dirty turn, we ask nice and then they straighten it out for us too - easy peasy - job done - price paid - you dont need to see us again
Mao put his hand onto the doorknob squeezed - twisted slowly and stopped before opening the door then asked in a nonchalant deadpan voice What happens if NOONE ever sees you again?
That would then turn out to be real shitty for the ones who really did the hit - but it doesnt have to be that way does it?
We're asking for your help to sort out this mess - there'll be a lot of deckking needed and as BB is one of the finest...backed up by Fangs.. we thought..
Mao opened the door
Hey - it's us - an guess who's coming to dinner..!
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 9, 2008 13:30:38 GMT -5
Freddy watched the dynamics of Pelch and Mao - there were distinct changes.. like - well Pelch seemed more annoyed at specifics now rather than railing against everyone and everything.. justifiable outbursts - he also had a soft spot for BB which was identifiable when he shut up cussing Widow when BB walked in.. sort of embarrassment.. could Pelch be starting to interract with people instead of just using them? difficult to stop a lifetime's habit and become civilised? - maybe Headcrack was a surgical genius...
Mao too had changed - he carried that middle line between the ying-yang in his aura.. and the air of authority he carried was severe - when he spoke which was sparringly - everyone paid attention. The Mafioso outside kowtowing ..... It was like he had shed a skin or emerged from slumber.. like somebody had awakened a sleeping giant
Freddy thought back to the grip Mao had put on the door - let them in or kill them now - he went over the noows clips in his mind - the attorney had been murdered - a shot between the eyes. Most bulletts that could smash one part of the skull would rip the innards around as well - however a low velocity shuriken..
Well they had delivered what they needed to deliver, and it would be time to go pretty soon...
Thanks for your hospitality Pelch - nice to see you doing so well - I got people to see an places to go at some point. It would be great if you could help us with the Identity thing. Is this place secure? Shouldnt need to ask really..
I do have reservations about what has happened recently - Z street closes unexpectedly with a lot of loose ends unaccounted for - could it be we are still in the game.. being manipulated? Suddenly opportunities arise that throw us together again - Look at it this way .. We seek you out to help us with a few outstanding problems and we link in with BB and Fangs -
What do Me an Widow represent.. we were the last ones to deal publically with the attorney .. so we have a public link to the files that people want to know about. Personally I feel like a duck lure at the moment - painted in the right colours and pushed out into the lake to see who takes a bite..
I think that Control or similar has set this up to get us to pull all of the loose ends together for her. Does that make sense?
Doesnt alter our predicament - but it is nice to blame someone else for a change... We could use this situation to open up a few cracks and keep ahead of the game.. It would make a lot of things move along ssssooo much easier and make a lot of yen...
Right people right place right goods Me an Widow, in the library, with the lead piping..
Lovely to see you again BB - you look a lot different from when you were carrying out boxes..
Well guys - Headcrack should be finishing cleaning up the local traffic footage for the attorney's area before anyone else has been able to get to it..
What do you recon? Should we follow this through and make a ruck of cash - or can I call in a lot of favours and get it cleaned up for me an Widow?
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 13, 2008 15:42:30 GMT -5
hello Freddy I see you still dont have a clue about security - ahhh* Barging in - probably bugged - letting everyone know what's going on...
Widow was left out of the erm.. greeting from BB
We scanned and dropped the trackers - even gouged them out of our spines if you dont mind BB - Headcrack helped trace this place as has an interest in us all - he would have followed this lead eventually - because you are worth Yen to him... now if we were able to up the stakes, then you - and me - would be worth so much less compared to the bigger prize..
Headcrack has a vested interest - his team has been disbanded but he still knows an awful lot about previous deals and potential future ventures -
What happens if you never surface again? Wouldnt it be better for these two to be found dead and the electronic files smashed and corrupted - everyone is off the hook - all you two have to do is turn up dead.. Mao spoke from the back of the room - fingers touching, contemplating
eeyiwww.. Now Mao - that's not funny
well then, Headcrack would release all of the evidence he has been collecting - interposed Widow
Pelch felt the sting in the tail - putting a couple of dirty deeds together - followed up by framing the two 'guests' leading to their present meeting - the question was - did Widow and Snakey have anything worth offering
It is good that you came to us now - now that BB and Fangs are on the case - I am sure that we can put some deserving SINner in the picture instead of you two.. BB you got your eye on a crooked politician who deserves being placed at the scene?
the 'Old Rotgut' might have got to Pelch - or his concience (hah! - though the very fact that he questioned himself was disturbing~) - or the fact that Freddy and Widow had kept their mouths shut about the real assassins..
Even shares, all seven of us- including Headcrack.. We all work together for the intel on who is the J behind BB it is Widow who has the public persona who will be able to make this deal quickly - what do you think?
Freddy was pretty crap at negociating but the offer was out there - seven - Headcrack seemed to be supporting Freddy and Widow's offer - if they were dissappeared then everything they knew would be exposed to various authorities.
widow looked around- Mao had a look that could crack ice - Pelch listened inbetween half grumbles - Fangs and BB would be ten times more attentive if they realised that the dynamic duo had killed the attorney and framed Freddy and Widow..
could it be that Freddy had just bartered and sold a bundle of info to Pelch and BB had missed it..?
Pelch opened both eyes.. I'll drink to that.. if only...
From her side bag Widow put four bottles of Mexican Mescal onto the table and smiled
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Oct 16, 2008 16:14:34 GMT -5
"...always have for dinner?"
Pelch looked at Freddy and Widow and made no moves toward any drinks. He might be drunk but he wasn't THAT drunk. "Leftovers?" Pelch sat down in a chair that looked suspiciously to Freddy like a hotel chair.
"You came running to us because the Star is on your hoop and you think we can clear you? Now you're hinting that maybe we got the papers from the lawyer without a shred of proof that we even went near the place? Listen Snakeboy, if I was that fragging good, you still think I'd be a burned out old street dwarf? If I was that good enough to have put the Star on your hoop and gotten the papers without even letting the lawyer know when you were already there then I'd have to be the Archangel Gabriel."
"So let me run a few things by you even drunk as I am. You visited old lawyer boy and while that was going on Mao and the rest of us were told to pack our things, given sack pay and booted out. So I don't care if Z Street thinks I'm working for them for free. They called it quits and it's still quits as far as I'm concerned."
"Now you want conspiracies? Maybe Headcrack sold you out. It wouldn't be the first time he has done that, as I fondly recall. Maybe he said something to the Head Mistress that made her decide to shut it all down with some prejudice? Maybe they decided you and Widow would make a nifty decoy for whatever they got planned. My theory makes as much sense as yours and the Tonfa Tart's. Z Street would find it real easy to put the Star on you."
"In actuality, The Star would be MORE likely to arrest Mao and I than anyone else here, especially given our record. Given the circumstance with us in the Lair and you out on assignment it was probably easier for them to DO you first. They may get round to the rest of us later but why should you care? Z Street ain't protecting us now and Old KD&A sure ain't lifting no welcome home banners on us either."
"Considering all the trouble Mao and I gave Headcrack and those cork brains at the good old Z, they may have decided to leave us alone for a change and hope we aren't stupid enough to get involved in their operations any more. To me that's a big plus for them to leave us alone whilst at the same time, hoop fragging you because you can't leave it alone, is not something I would find terribly troubling."
" Now accoring to MY theory, you two may not be in the same lovely position that Mao and the rest of us are in. I heard vague rumors at one time that Smythe didn't like Widow much. Shows the first sign of a brain I ever saw in that bunch, since I tend to have an even lower view of Widow especially from here." He stated looking pointedly up at Widow standing in front of him glowering, with her short skirt she was still wearing to seduce the lawyer. It was obvious where the dwarf was looking and leering. She flushed.
SO? Maybe it's payback time. That's your fragging worry. Why should I get between Smythe and Widow? Those two can go tongue kiss a ghoul for all I care, it's a match made in heaven. I won't shed no big crocodile tears either if the Snake just happens to get between them and stomped on during your little mating dance. You're the one decided to walk around with her and it's your fragging problem."
"What bothers me is you decided to bring all that fragging trouble to my fragging doorstep. You make all kinds of wild hints that we done it to you without a SHRED of proof and now we are supposed to bail your hoops out because we feel SORRY or GUILTY?"
"For FRAGGING FREE? Stop and smell the reality split tongue. I don't have a guilty bone in my body and I sure don't feel sorry that you two screw ups have to find a way out of your own problems for a change. You of all people should KNOW I don't fragging do FREE!"
"For old times sake though I'll leave you an out if you think you can't handle your problems. You want to be a Mr. J and and hire a team? Specifically, THIS team? Then let's negotiate. But we treat you like any other Johnson and we do it our way. You want us to crawl back to Z Street and tongue kiss their hoops, you're on your own and as a favor you can let me recommend a good fluoride toothpaste and a fine brush. You're going to need it with Headcrack and that bunch."
"You see as far as I can tell Headcrack was NOT fired. He wasn't with us when we got the sack. So you keep talking to him maybe he'll take you back into the friendly Z Street family. That's your BIZ! It sure ain't putting no gold in my pockets. So check this Sherlock, if I ever get mixed up with that bunch of military rock-heads like Z Street again, it will be too fragging soon."
Mao and BB came in because it looked like Pelch was on a soap box and was getting loud. Mao looked at Pelch owlishly. "Please excuse the senile old man. He is drunk and he gets mean when he's like that. Please forgive his rudeness, it's all my fault I should not have left him out with people when he is like this. If you will excuse me I will put him in his bed before he annoys the neighbors." Mao grabbed Pelch by the back of his collar and with one hand lifted the heavy struggling armored dwarf effortlessly and holding him at arms length took the cursing, struggling dwarf off to his room. BB looked on with some amusement. She turned to Freddy and Widow.
"From what I could hear from the shouting near the end, it appeared you were offering Pelch a run? If it hasn't anything to do with Z Street we might be in the market at the moment. So just what is it you would like to hire us for and how much are you willing to pay?"
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 17, 2008 7:58:05 GMT -5
Widow looked like she was about to burst and let fly with all of the circumstantial information that they had in order to make it awkward for the twisters - Pelch was right however there was no evidence.
But there certainly was mileage in hiring them - It could start to cost a lot - with input from Headcrack as well - that made a team of deckkers to sift out loose ends and Pelch and Mao to do the legwork. There had to be cash at the end of it - a clean sheet for Widow and the heat off investigations that could expose Freddy were good reasons to start. The rest of it was just Pie in the Sky.
Fifteen grand - find the people responsible for the attorney's murder and clear our names while this business is still hot - three days.
In the meantime me an Widow get connections into the kiss and tell suppliments ready to release the tale of wrongful accusation and the mental agony experienced.
that ought to avoid any connection with Z-street biz.
We need to lie low - we can get in touch easy enough - call us when you decide.
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 17, 2008 13:47:18 GMT -5
Freddy got onto his end of things -
The trid and scanning taken in the attorney's office would pick up a lot. There were no biosamples taken and the SIN would now be redundant and probably cleaned out.. leaving Freddy Fredrickson with his own SIN and his own face. He had taken steps to be disguised from any cams in the building by a few subtle facepoint reorganisations - throwing the flesh bumps away after the biz.. so he was off the hook
Leaving Widow in an even tougher spot - a non-citizen already ...and the sudden removal of her accomplice's identity would certainly raise her wanted profile. The City would want it's murderer to show that the law couldnt be trifled with.
He made a mental note to ask Headcrack for some further jobs.. The guy had already scooped the traffic cam intel - a search for Mao and Pelch would be needed. The dwarf had been right about the evidence being required and about Headcrack .. more smokescreen he wondered. The stint under Control had been useful - at this point Freddy would drift off into 'what if's' and lose the point altogether.. focus on the facts gather the evidence.
If it turned out that it had been a coincidence - then fine! Freddy was paying for a job to be done well and fifteen Gees was a lot. If it turned out that the dynamic duo had framed them - then that information could be bought and sold too.
He thought about linking in with other people - a failing for a heard-nosed runner but Freddy wasnt hard-nosed - too soft by far.. reflected in his rep.. then it struck him.. good job they hadnt blasted the z-street goons in the black van.. those guys would have the surveillance tapes from the time that Freddy an Widow had left the building as it had been the guys in the black van who told them the z-street contract had been pulled. The tapes from that would get them in the clear..
If the tapes from the black van boys were unavailable then the traffic cams should put them driving sedately through the traffic at the time of the shooting.. (ballistics was soon due to make an announcement)
It diddnt take long for a check-in from Headcrack - I'm running a search on the traffic pics I copied for the hour before and up until the shooting - there is a lot downloaded and will take time which means yen to filter through.. I'm trying to get access to the security cams but they were all impounded by the Star - the secretary is being debriefed under guard but I might be able to asccess transcripts. Next step would be for someone to debrief the desk security guy though there were and still are a lot of people moving in and out of the building so getting a positive ID on an unknown will be tough at best.
I got the original trid from the snaxbar across the road too - could turn something up - that's 400 you owe me on top of my present fee.
I will let the programme run and call you if there is a positive.
I got a few things of my own to sort through but that wont stop the programme crunching away
About the black van boys - they should have the journey recorded - I will make a couple of calls to see if that could be released, but it will cost you...
He had been busy - the guy liked his job. Freddy had put him onto the task of digging for evidence of the duo being involved as that had made sense earlier. If other leads came up from the cams then they could be followed up or used to backup BB's research.
Freddy couldnt care less for the attorney - typical piece of slime - but he did care about the people around him, including Pelch. He really hoped that Pelch wasnt involved. However if Pelch was involved then it meant that he and Mao had found something juicy enough to have the attorney rubbed out - which had to do with the files.
Widow was a link to quite a lot so she had to lie low for a couple of days until they coud gather enough evidence to remove suspicion. It meant that her known associates would be targetted - although targetting a shadow was difficult.
Next step was to call his socialite pal Daisy - she would know the best positioning of the story along with a few glamour pix of Widow.. Beauty and the Bench a color spread in Tiffany maybe? or Elf Biff and the Law in 'News of the Screws' ? could they both get an exclusive? That would be the next step once they had the evidence that they were in the clear. It would put some further links to BB's Johnson.. and if it turned out that Pelchy had swiped the files then it was like Widow was publically advertising that she had them.
Very dangerous.. which meant very lucrative.
Three days - the two of them would have to stay away from known places and associates for that time to let the others sort out the story.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Oct 17, 2008 17:31:54 GMT -5
"... is a tough old bird." Fang's said to Mao with a smile. Widow quickly replied, "Then maybe you should put him back in the oven for another three or four hours."
Since Freddy had left without negotiation or waiting for any type of response, BB had done some checking. It appeared that Headcrack was talking to Freddy already! They were also trying to go through the traffic logs and obviously were going to question the secretary and security guard at the building. That part could cause them even MORE trouble with the Star.
Those people were under Star surveillance and approaching them was going to excite even more suspicion! Especially since it appeared an informant in an investigation had been killed by some means unknown. The autopsy BB had hacked into had read that the cause of death was from some unknown type of small sharp instrument that had penetrated at extreme speed into his brain. The instrument had NOT been found. No one appeared to have seen where it came from, according to the follow up investigation records.
Freddie was proving to be a typical Johnson! Hire the team to get his hoop off the fire and then going in and mucking about so that when the team walked in unawares they would walk right into a malfing TRAP and take the heat off. If BB had disliked Widow before, Freddy was sure making it easier to let them both fry on their own! She was beginning to understand Pelch's irritation with the pair last night.
BB sent a message to Freddy by his phone. After all he had wanted to be contacted when the team decided to clear him. He was going to get a shock that the group was not going to take a bullet for him. The nicest thing about him leaving a number to contact was that it had also conveniently given her his latest phone number, the one in which he was making those calls to Headcrack and others. It hadn't been hard to put a tap on that phone and find out what he was doing. Typical Freddy, no sense of security at all. If you're going to frag someone over don't give them a phone number to call you back on and then use that phone to contact people who might be out to get them!
She had the message text to his box. "We didn't accept your contract. Why? First, you seem to already believe we're guilty of setting you up. So why should you hire the guys you think set you up to clear you? Unless of course you're trying to trap us. Second, you already have Headcrack checking all this out for you as far as I can see, for free, and HE IS still working for the Big 'Z'. So maybe you guys are up to no good? Very suspicious. We already told you we're not going to be sitting there double crossing and re-crossing with that particular 'Z' crowd. Third, you offered some money, but you never offered any up front money or expenses.
Sorry but 15,000 NuYen is not enough 'incentive' for us to go and irritate Z, KD&A or the Star. So the answer is NO, we decline the job. However I'll give you a freebie for old times sake. Headcrack will find nothing on those tapes. Second I cracked into the Star and the guy that fingered you is a Captain Krunch, a deep undercover operative out of Quebec for the UCAS Justice Department. I won't even charge you for the expensive equipment I lost getting that info out of the Star. Let's just say you owe us a big favor."
"On a final note, this Captain Krunch had your new aliases and disguises, even to a description of your car. Headcrack set all that up. How did they get it so fast? The guy you have looking might be giving YOU false information, so why not think about it before you jump in with them? So if you're in with Headcrack to set us up and betray us, get lost, creep. If you're letting Headcrack play you so he can get to me and my knowledge, get double lost creep! If you're just plain stupid enough to play both sides against each other and sail away leaving us to take the heat, I hope the Star skins you and that hussy and hangs you both on a very tall pole!"
The next day BB took the copy of the information that Mao and Pelch had gotten from the lawyer, and forwarded it on to her Johnson. She had found this extremely suspicious that Mao and Pelch had this info at all but working on Freddy's problem had kept her from investigating it or questioning the drunk pair sleeping it off in the room they shared.
She had gone over the information on the death of the lawyer. The traffic cameras at the area were no help. Especially in that area! Most of them were stolen or destroyed. Pelch had mentioned a long time back that this was a bad neighborhood. Full of thieves and the poor that would swipe anything in sight and sell it. It made her very uneasy to think of a whole street full of Pelches just watching for something to steal and sell. Those cameras would be no help and going through the bad video of the ones that did work had shown nothing! It had been a waste of time.
The interior building cameras had been wiped by the Star team. She had managed to trace the the phone call made by the lawyers secretary to the Star and had gotten a copy of it. It appeared a Captain Krunch of the Star had ordered the arrest of Freddy and Widow under their NEW aliases! Since information in the building had been wiped she had no clue to what the Captain looked like.
The fact that Widow and Freddy had been released from the Star shortly afterward against the orders of said Captain, made her suspicious again. She tracked that back and discovered that had been arranged by Smythe and the Z. The Star rank and file were still unhappy about THAT! The bosses hadn't said why and BB couldn't get to that info at all! She wondered what kind of favors the Z had offered the Star for that piece of skulduggery?
So BB had looked a little further. Who was this Captain Krunch? What she found was not in the ordinary Lone Star personnel files. Which made it even more scary. This guy was buried deep and the ICE was a black as it got! This guy worked out of Quebec, UCAS Justice Department. He was a deep plant monitoring criminal organizations. His latest case appeared to have something to do about investigating the fighter missile attack out in the harbor! BB remembered that incident all too clearly. This guy was totally legit as far as the Star was concerned. His credentials and background was impeccable. The list of awards was long and he had a record of criminal arrests that would have made senior commanders green with envy. This guy was on a corporate fast track to the top.
As one report she had read quickly, put it, 'His information has always been first class and his ability to investigate superb. He has never failed to make an arrest or conviction on any case he has been assigned to." If this was the guy on Freddy and Widows trail they were in deeper than they thought.
BB had barely gotten out of the Star matrix alive with the information even with her decking skills and equipment. As it was several banks of her processing power had gotten fried for the trouble. She pitied Headcrack if he tried to get in there with those systems on alert now. Still that raised a question. How the heck had Pelch and Mao gotten that information from the lawyer without the Star being all over them as well? Then who had killed the lawyer? Her Johnson? Freddy, Widow and Headcrack being sly? BB wondered what kind of mess they were getting into now. She made a call to Fangs and then she started to sort out and replace the burned out processor banks.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Oct 17, 2008 18:29:24 GMT -5
after discovering the guy who wants her has slept with another woman. "You know your latest girlfriend, Widow, has everything a man desires, bulging muscles and a mustache!"
Quick was walking along in the hot sun. He had to admit that being a large striped Tom Cat had it's good points and bad. Cat's were night hunters but in this area it never seemed to be night. They had walked for what seemed like days, catching the occasional mouse or snake, or toad, or whatever. It had been easy to get the little water he needed just by using his nose and digging. Luckily he didn't need as much as a man.
The sun made him want to sleep. He did that a lot too. Outside of that? It was pretty fragging boring. He twitched an ear toward his spirit guide, which of course was another cat. A female. She was supposedly going in the same direction but cat like, not on the same road. The stupid female was purring!
Quick almost asked her but decided this was not a good idea. She wouldn't give him a straight answer anyway, even if she did answer. Most of the time she would just turn away and go hunt a rodent. He thought a while. So here he was a cat in what looked like the Vestibule of Hell itself. If he was a man he would have been dead long ago. Did this mean he was dead in the real world? Surely it must. His body was exposed to the elements and he had been wounded and poisoned. A LOT of time had passed.
He just had to ask. "Am I dead?"
The female looked at him with a cat's smile. "Do you feel dead?"
"Why is it every time I ask a question, you answer with a question and confuse me even more? The ME that's in this cat body doesn't feel dead. That may just be my spirit self though. The body I used to have might be dead. If it is then I have no way back. Now maybe you can be comfortable here in the desert but that was not what I had planned."
"So what is it that is important in your plan that you have to do it now? Do you even have a plan or are you just in a hurry to get this done? So tell me this fine plan that is going to make your world all just and correct. Besides I have to answer a question with a question. Not because it's a rule but if you don't know what you want to accomplish then how the heck am I supposed to tell you how you can accomplish it?"
"You see you want to BE a Cat Shaman. WHY? What makes that better than what you were, a hunter and killer of your own ape kind? What is it you expect to gain that you didn't already have? Why go to all this trouble? You survived. You made a living. You had females. What was lacking in your life? The ability to tell others what to do? Try that with a cat. If that was what you were after here then you are again on the wrong road."
Quick thought a bit. What the cat said made sense. His goal was to become a Shaman, specifically a cat Shaman but why? Well first he was tired of being alone. The cat was pretty much an independent animal though so what had he gained? Wait.
Independence was NOT the same as solitary. Most cats were pack creatures, however they each had their own way of doing things. They cooperated because they wanted to. That had to be it. He wanted to be part of a group but he didn't want to be forced to do things in that group. Or was that right? Sometimes you had to do things you didn't want to do for the good of the group.
Was it a lust for power that drove him? If so then the spirit guide was correct , where did cooperation end and a power grab begin? What had he gained? Quick continued to wander in the desert of his mind.
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 19, 2008 11:46:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the information on this Captain Crunch BB - Headcrack is currently analysing the street vids and a copy of the internal security cams.. He ought to come through with an ID from somewhere. Theres nothing available on the hit apart from the noows items.
Nice thing there is we asked him to pull traffic files real quick so there may be something left that hasnt yet been wiped
Im not trying to set you up - but I am folowing up all of the potential leads to put the picture together. When it turns out that Pelch and Mao had nothing to do with it I will send you the information that keeps them in the clear.
Someone who knew about the Zstreet operation betrayed us and left us out to burn. Could have been anyone. It sounds like we were set up just to establish a very public link through us to those files.
That keeps the files alive - and whichever groups are searching for them will come looking through me an Widow. That keeps the heat off the real culprits who can go about arranging a deal to sell the files without the hassle.
to wipe evidence from this high profile crime scene This Cpt Crunch has a lot of clout - and knew about us - so someone associated with z-street is involved with Crunch and is releasing a lot of information just to keep the pressure on us two.
I intend to find out who is doing the dirty on us - once we do we should find these important files - whoever has them also has a link to the murder. The files are the key.
Once Headcrack has analysed the camera data from a variety of sources we may have a few leads - until then my next step is to make an appointment and go talk to Mr Smythe to get hold of the black van boys evidence.
FONE TAP TERMINATED - TRACING.. TRACING..
Why.. BB.. how very sly. Your tracer has been terminated. I'll be in touch.. as a final thought - what happens if it is Pelch and Mao ?
Next step arrange a meet with Smythe or his representative. Freddy wanted the recordings from the black van boys which would put them in the clear.
This Cpt Crunch was pulling a lot of strings too - no way to get to asking the secretary now.
Meanwhile back in the lair..
Headcrack's programme came to a result - Freddy had asked to ID Pelch and Mao at the offices or to have enough evidence to put them in the clear by eliminating them from the scene. The traffic pix from immediatly around the building had been impounded which was standard Star procedure. The cams from the cityblox around had not been collected before Headcrack had been able to do a rush copy all of them - which was why the programme was taking so long.
The snaxcaf camera footage was very useful indeed - a primary untampered source that could be blown up and up to check on everyone going up the front steps into the only entrance and also covered the entrance to the underground carpark
He treble-checked the images - the group of four workers appeared on the impounded Star footage going off for a break nopone else in the foyer or on the steps - at the same time on the snaxbar trid there were the same four passing the front desk where a couple of people were talking to the security guard and he was nodding and pointed..
Back to the Star trid - still nodding and pointing but noone there.. someone has gone to a lot of trouble to erase this data..
He ran a search for shadows and reflections estimating the time it took to get to the elevators -
He ran the footage from ten minutes earlier to check on the cars entering, once he had a lock on three potentials it was easy to follow them back through the traffic cams outside of the exclusion area..
Now that was very interesting -
Mr Smythe please, a priority call... I have been working on the camera footage which Freddy requested very early - I think you should take a look at this as I need further advice on how to proceed..
Thank you Mr Headcrack, Frederickson has requested a meet - I am downloading information which may be released - would you arrange and make the contact please..
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Oct 21, 2008 14:19:04 GMT -5
Freddie heard a page on his cell phone shortly after running a bug trace. The only text message he found read; "This is your Cell Phone Operator. We just found out you're too dumb to use your phone, so please put it on ground and start jumping on it. Thank you." The phone had been completely gutted and emptied. The only noticeable sign was a lanky gray rabbit chewing on a carrot.
**********Mao was here! ****************
Peach woke up grumpy. He had a hangover. The sun shining in through his window just up and whacked him right between the eyes! Mao was already up. Like a bothersome cat or dog he was exercising while waiting for Peach to get up and give him his breakfast.
"GAAAAHHH," exclaimed the dwarf and then clapped a hand over his own mouth. Some farking idiot was talking too loud! The fool should be boiled in oil. The only thing more irritating than that, was that Mao was doing some strange dance in the room and moving his hands around like a spas. Pelch considered barfing in his direction and gave it up as a bad task. He would have to be the one to clean it.
The dwarf still dressed in last nights clothes and armor got up painfully. The trench coat armor had left deep marks on his hide but his dermal plate seemed to be fitting better. {Shows what a couple of years eating good food could do for a guy.} Pelch thought to himself. He was actually starting to look a bit more healthy than he had when he started in this mess working for Dom.
Mao, never having had a hangover was relentless. "I'm hungry."
Pelch politely responded. "Frag Off and Die!' He staggered toward the porcelain throne. Mao shrugged and went over and washed in the sink then putting on fresh clothes went out. Maybe BB would have some breakfast ready.
BB was just putting the finishing touches on the breakfast table. Belgian waffles, with assorted fruits. Fresh whipped cream and sausage with bacon on the side. Fresh buttered toast. Milk and juice stood in tall cups. Mao ignored the pretty flowers and fancy dishware and started eating. BB looked at him smiling expectantly. She was doomed to disappointment. Mao never said a word.
After five minutes in which her smile slowly vanished and large amounts of food disappeared down Mao's throat she was glaring at the totally oblivious Mao. Her hands went to her hips and she looked ready to burst. Her mouth opened to initiate a blast of ice upon the hapless Mao but she stopped and closing her mouth she turned and stomped loudly back into the kitchen. The sound of banging pots and pans came from the area. Mao ignored these small domestic distractions the same way he ignored traffic.
A half hour later, Pelch cleaned up but looking a bit pale and ragged around the face made his way to the table and looked at it suspiciously. The clashing pots in the kitchen now punctuated by what appeared to be low muttered threats and embellished by a large knife in BB's hand did nothing for the dwarf's disposition or hangover. So much for any signs of domestic bliss.
Mao pushed back from his empty plate. "You should get some sugar in you. It will help to counteract the poisons inside you. You should also exercise more."
"What are you my mother? Frag Off and Die!"
Mao shrugged and adjusted his hat. BB considered using her knife to cut the hat into very small pieces and serving it, armor and all, to Mao for his next meal. Suddenly she smiled and then spoke sweetly.
"Pelch? I have a run for you and Mao today. I sent off the papers you guys gave me to the Johnson but he hasn't contacted us back yet with any word. Since your friend Mao is such a growing boy were going to need a lot more NuYen to feed him and make payments on your place. So I took on a small run for you and him to get some ready cash. Eat up it's almost time to go to work." She finished cheerfully with a malicious smile.
Pelch glared, first at BB and then at Mao for letting these freeloaders stay in his castle. Mao started to pile food onto Pelch's plate and even prepared to feed him. Pelch growled and placed a hand on his gun, meaningfully. Mao did not feel like dodging bullets and BB might get hit. He sat back in his chair and waited patiently.
Pelch glared. It was like the three monkeys. Hear no Evil, See no Evil, and say no Evil. Smiling BB, glaring Pelch, and complacent Mao.
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 22, 2008 7:59:40 GMT -5
Freddy dumped the fone - Bugger.. He usually used a bagfull of dispozafones to connect to outsiders - now BB had to be classed as an outsider. Strike another bunch of runners he cold work with.
Back to biz then.. stopping at the nearest corner store he collected a dozen dispozas - ten call fones going cheap as the bright blue plas was just sooo yesterday..
Meg was unavailable so he made plans to hop over and see the kids and his folks - from now on he was out on his own - jobless but hunting down something that could be deadly so he began precautions..
Widow - I know a couple of places that we could lie low for a while - IWe need to visit your favourite Mr Smythe soonest to get the evidence from the black van boys to put us in the clear. I also want to ask him about where he stands in this Skagit run - If the NAN are still in the biz of collecting information on a potential hit on Skagit - course they will be - but for how much..?
There is a second stream to this that I want to keep under wraps - this Cpt Crunch is a deep operative with a lot of clout. If he is involved with the death of the attorney, then he has an interest in the files too. BB doesnt exaggerate - when she says the guy is dangerous then he will be deadly. Anyone who has lived through continual deep ops and keeps coming up with the goods for the Star will be exceptional. Finding out who this is would be worth a huge amount of yen to an awful lot of people.. or a real Ace in the hole for us one day..
Finally Pelch an Mao.. I hope headcrack has been able to analyse the tapes. I havnt told him anything about Crunch but I need to inform him that BB got blitzed by the Star so he doesnt get blasted as well...
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Oct 22, 2008 16:00:09 GMT -5
"What do you get if you cross Pelch with a Vampire?"
Mao looked back with no expression on his face, "Some kind of gross and blatantly sexual joke having to do with blood?"
BB looked surprised and then glared at the deadpan Mao, "No, you filthy minded pervert, you get a monster that sucks gold out of people's kneecaps."
She turned and walked away disgusted and angrily.
"If I stab him with an electric carving knife I can just tell the jury I didn't know how to turn it off. They'd buy that. It would certainly explain all the holes, especially if I told them how he ignored my breakfast and ate like a PIG!"
Pelch was near the street door downstairs getting some fresh air and waiting for Mao to finish with BB. Mao glided down the stairs calmly and looked at Pelch. The dwarf looked well enough that Mao could say something without Pelch pulling out his gun. He had a question for his Master but he didn't want to make it sound like a question. Master's ignored questions many times or decided you needed some form of INTENSE and highly painful training. Mao was cautious and smart.
"BB seems to be mad about something. Woman are always getting mad about something but they never tell you what it is your suppose to have done that makes them mad in the first place. Then when you find out it usually ends up being something stupid."
Pelch almost smiled, "True, but sometimes it's because you have insulted something they prize highly, unwittingly, and that is something men would consider small. Think of woman like a foreign country. You visit the country occasionally because of BIZ, but you don't know the background customs or history very well since you don't interact for anything but business reasons."
It stands to REASON that you're going to make inadvertent mistakes based on YOUR background and customs. They are not deliberate insults but they come across as barbaric and provocative to a culture that is used to dealing with things a different way. Neither side is wrong but when you are in someone else's Country, House, Area, it is important that you apologize before hand and tell them so they know that your rudeness is not deliberate."
"It may be embarrassing to admit to a female you know nothing but it's better than having some female you took a shine to thinking you're more knowledgeable than you really are. No man is that fragging wise where a woman is concerned anyway because they change the rules to suit their own moods and no man reads moods that easily. We are doers not feelers."
"Let me give you an example. Let's say I said to Widow that if she stood up on the Metro there would be room for four guys to sit down. Now she would immediately take that as insulting because all girls don't like to be told they are 'Fatties'. They want to be told they're pretty, and smart and desirable even when their attitude says they ain't. Even if they are not interested in you they still want to be able to have some handle on you. It's in their nature to manipulate."
"Now maybe all I meant was that the 'PLACE or Way' she was sitting was taking up room that others could be using. You see, according to a dwarf view I was being POLITE and NOT RUDE, but according to her view I was! So she gets mad and I, having no clue, am left with an angry... Uh.. whatever."
"Anyway, that's something I have been trying to get the snake-boy to understand. If you act like a snake, which I suppose he has to, the people he is involved with are going to be NATURALLY hostile, even unknowingly hostile. Something about him on the emotional level is going to set most of them off. So it behooves him to PROVE to them that he can be trusted. So far he hasn't done that because he acts like me, looking out for good old number one."
"Until he gets the idea he will always make a great target anytime you decide to send Lone Star after his hoop. You can bet they won't trust him either and any evidence he cooks up or even actually finds is going to be largely ignored as untrustworthy because in Captain Krunch they Trust."
Mao and Pelch started to walk South down University.
Mao looked at Pelch, "So what BB said about Freddy using Headcrack to find all this evidence is useless work?"
Pelch nodded, "Of course. It distracts him which keeps him out of the real deal. While he's running around trying to prove he has been framed and is innocent, we can keep on going. You see no one having dealt with the snake is going to forget looking into those cold snake eyes and believe he has their best interests at heart. That's why BB doesn't trust him at all. Ninety Percent of the people he meets are automatically going to ASSUME, emotionally, that he is a liar and out for himself."
"They don't see him as a HUMAN. That is what makes me different from him even though I mostly treat them the same way. They see me as a greedy human, but I'm small and childlike so my behavior is mostly accepted and excused as being childlike and undeliberate. PEOPLE ASSUME my IGNORANCE. That's one of the good things and one of the most galling things about being me.
Mao nodded as they walked thinking.
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Post by wolflet59 on Oct 23, 2008 8:01:15 GMT -5
Headcrack - We have a meet with Smythe's representative.. Awww... I suppose I should have realised.. You goin' up in the world ! congratulations. Are you now the mouthpiece of Z-street?
Hah! long way to go there - however I am able to represent Mr Sythe and the NAN and Z-street to certain persons which include former employees. So what do you need us for?
The NAN and KD&A have to be still allied to keep you employed so you got yourself a cushy position untill they decide to go their own ways again. I would like to ask about Control but..
dont.. I cant answer But I can provide you with the trid evidence you wanted. I would demand 8000 for this. There is also the Black van tapes - a value of erm.. 20,000 would do the trick..
however Mr Smythe is waiving the cost involved in return for keeping us informed on your progress - we have already demonstrated good faith by demonstrating to the Star that you could not have been there using the van tapes. That would normally go through real easy all charges dropped - however we encountered a lot of resistance. Someone in the Star dont like you two...
KD&A dont call the shots in city hall any more so it could be that ex-employees of KD&A are spotlighted for some rough treatment.. ?
I could dig into the Star records and follow up the trail..
No - BB nearly got fried - one of the things I wanted to warn you about..
Good to know we are off the hook - That is really appreciated... now it is down to finding out who it was who was on the scene - It would be lovely to eliminate everyone else from the trid reports but there will be too many clients entering the building as well..
If it turns out to be Pelch and Mao who dobbed us in - do you have any preferences as to what you or rather what Z-street wants?
my personal choce would be to blow them sky high with a remote car bomb outside the house. However Smythe says to extract no revenge. Something is up... My guess is they have the files and Smythe wants to follow the package.. I am certain that if there is information on who this package goes off to - then Smythe will be very generous.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Oct 23, 2008 9:35:34 GMT -5
"I get the feeling that everyone hates me."
Widow looked back calmly, "Don't be so silly, not everyone has met you yet."
Freddie looked back. "Thanks a whole bunch, I think."
Widow smiled, "Don't take it so bad. Up to this time I haven't interfered with where you're going but I do have some questions. The first is why are we still messing around with Z and Headcrack? I know you THINK we have to clear ourselves but we ARE runners. It's easy enough to glide back into the Shadows. Think about this while you're mulling that bit over. Something I heard bothers me. Headcrack wanted to put a bomb in Pelch's car but SMYTHE said no. What is it that Headcrack wants revenge for that requires a bomb?"
"Sure I hate the little fragger as much as anyone because of the drek he pulls but not enough to kill him at this point. Maybe on the spur of the moment but not because I think he might have some info Z Street is hot for. It's obvious why Smythe said no. He hopes that Mao and Pelch will do what we are doing, which is to work for free and then he'll dash in to get the goods."
"Now what makes you so sure that they won't have a bullet or a bomb for all of us when this mess is done? Do YOU really trust Headcrack and the Big Z that much? My next point is we paid Headcrack to give us those van tapes and supposedly clear us. Now why is Smythe and the very tough Control we had, letting Headcrack moonlight IF he is still on the payroll of Krass and Smythe? You know and I know it doesn't make any sense. They don't sell info like that and they won't let low level menials like Headcrack do it either, info is money and power. What you paid him is going to be small change and how are you giving the money to him? I smell a trap."
"My shadow instincts are screaming bloody murder here. Corporations like KD&A or Smythe never give anything for FREE! There is always a catch or payback. Maybe not today or tomorrow but they will collect with INTEREST!"
Freddie looked at Widow, "So what do you think we should do?"
"Get out of that mess before the waves hit us from either side. Here's my take. They discovered something about Mao that has them scared drekless. Think about it, Mao is some punk kid that hasn't had a unique view of anything for ages. Why did Z Street decide to send Quick away to be a mage and suddenly Mao is supposed to be our new Drekhot assassin? What makes Mao suddenly so qualified to fill that roll? The only time we saw him do anything was when we got hit by the go-gangers. Outside of that Mao has never killed anyone. So I get the feeling they awoke something really nasty. A dragon from the Shadows of the past, a monster. Look back, when you talked to Mao and Pelch when we were on our bikes. Mao is pulling stuff that Pelch never even knew about."
"Mao never made a move without Pelch knowing it. Now Mao suddenly has Mafia goons guarding them? Get a clue Freddy, the situation has changed. Smythe, Control and KD&A are drek scared of Mao. Why does Krass suddenly resign as mayor? Why is KD&A suddenly reorganizing and getting OUT of Seattle? That has to be one of the most brainless and ludicrous decisions those guys ever made."
"Now look at the fact that Smythe or KD&A could swat us like we are bugs. So why is Headcrack backing their play? Even he should know better. In all your plan so far, I haven't seen you ask WHY on any of this. You're just reacting and maybe that's what the 'runt rodent' was trying to tell us, drunk as he was the other night. So before you go any further down this road with no real game plan maybe you should stop and take a whiff yourself?" If something in Mao is waking up do we really want to be Headcrack's stalking horse between him and Mao?"
"Maybe you need to step back and get the BIG picture chummer before we end up very dead."
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