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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 26, 2010 10:31:57 GMT -5
Janie looked at the latest reports. Still no viable candidates had been hired by the dwarf. She looked at the report from the background people in Chicago. After two days of sniffing the Doctor's back trail they had come up with exactly nothing. The university people and faculty loved him and said he was a brilliant Magical therapist. The Knight Errant people pronounced him a citizen of extremely good character. He had assisted them in several high level investigations. The charities loved the guy. The politicians were lavish in their praise. He had several of them as clients. The guy was cleaner than Kleenex.
She slammed the report closed in disgust.
Nothing.
The obvious clues bothered her. Never truest the words, watch the actions.
Why the sudden move to Seattle? According to everything in the background report the Doctor was a well known, influential and highly known figure with numerous contracts in Chicago among the wealthy.
Why now?
He comes out on vacation and suddenly drops all his obligations in Chicago to set up a shop out here? Granted, he appeared to have enough staff back in Chicago to run things and keep it going, It COULD just be he was expanding his business contacts and clientele. She doubted it. It just didn't feel right.
Why set up in that Z Street building?
There were a lot better places. Given the economic problems in Seattle and his funds he could have set up anywhere in the city, even in the rich enclaves where he would have his contacts easily. Why set up in downtown Seattle among the lower classes.
Sure he was moving slow but he was getting closer and closer to a direct meeting with Gobwit. He had a legitimate and obvious reason to do so but it was all to trite.
She didn't have an ounce of proof that this guy was trying to contact Gobwit for the run. She didn't need proof. She went on instinct and she flagged the report for further investigation. Two days wasn't enough to dig deep on this Doctor.
Maybe she was approaching this in the wrong way. What about the secretary he just hired. A nobody from New York he just happened to meet? She flagged the secretary for an extensive background check. In the meantime?
Increased surveillance on the pair. If they had anything in their past her teams would eventually discover it. It was only a matter of time. Time was one thing she had plenty of.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 27, 2010 8:14:36 GMT -5
I'm in a lot farther than I expected at this stage. That doesn't mean Rainbows are breaking out in the clear blue sky, little unicorns and ponies are giving the sweet teddy bears rides or that things won't get worse quicker.
I've managed to glide in hidden by the Doc's reputation but it doesn't mean they won't be taking a good close look at me either now or eventually.
The typical UCAS query is not always going to turn up people well hidden in the shadows. So just how much UCAS involvement are we talking about here? No way of knowing that yet.
If the subject is hot they are not going to stop with a simple back-grounding. That usually only takes a couple of days. It gets passed to UCAS at where ever and they go out and look at your neighbors and friends. They read old papers and check the matrix. They look at court records and maybe if they feel militant your tax records. Another words they are lazy and they go through the motions and they go by the procedure book.
If the subject is HOT? Like you walked away with a couple million NuYen or you killed a bunch of politicos or cops? The background is going to get real thorough and extensive. They get warrants and they get into everything you ever did. It's said that when you die normally no one knows you.
You die in a homicide involving millions they are going to delve into everything you ever did or thought of doing. They will also get into the backgrounds of anyone you ever met or even intended to meet. In an investigation like that you have no privacy and eventually, unless you are the kind that makes no mistakes, they will find something in your past. I haven't met a person that's ever been perfect from birth. They will find something.
Maybe a whole lot of somethings. Again, it depends on how hot this case is. I suspect it's pretty hot. Maybe a full on UCAS military and espionage operation. If so they are going to know all about me and the Doc in a month, maybe less.
Time is not on my side.
Why?
I have to make contact with Pelchey and then maybe the Johnson. Sign a contract. Then stay a jump ahead of crack UCAS teams to probably rescue his hoop from the fire. I have to do this with a team I've never worked with before with all the problems that involves.
I was going to earn every bit of the Nuyen on this one and probably it will be so hot I'll never be able to add it to a brag sheet.
So I made my apologies to the Doc, using that old standby Jet Lag as an excuse. Took out my makeup kit and a different dress and went out the door.
It didn't take long on my shopping trip to realize I was being followed. At least four cars and two drones. I bought a camera and took tourist pictures.
I even managed to catch the drone once when I shot the 'fabulous' skyline and a couple of cars in some of the shots I took of random places. I might want to do ID's later. I even got a picture of one of the guys on foot and asked another to take a picture of me in front of a store. For the 'folks' at home.
He looked uncomfortable but he did it and then he had to stand all embarassed while I took a picture of him so I could show the folks the 'nice and handsome' gentleman I met who was so helpful to me. I even got some street instructions and directions on other tourist spots and casually brought up the 'famous' ork underground. He informed me that there were illegal things down there and I looked scandalized but obviously thrilled and curious at the same time.
Now that he and I knew where I was going, We headed to the ork underground. Not as a team though, he had to swap out so another guy could follow me. He was probably already being questioned vigorously about what he might have discovered about me in detail. I was sure they would grill him for hours on every detail trying to learn something. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.
I'll bet he hated that.
I was going to need a deck and warez fast. Things were already hot. If you can't take the heat, don't get into the biz.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 27, 2010 8:54:59 GMT -5
It worked out for the best. The little Azzie secretary had a headache and jet lag. So I didn't have to take her out partying. She went to her room. I immediately went downstairs to sample the nightlife. She'll probably sleep like the dead all night.
Something had changed though. You can change people but you can't change aura's, unless your really good with masking. I am of course. I was being tailed, they hadn't thought to mask everyone yet, and that is magically expensive. Besides I can penetrate the standard UCAS masks. Yep, I'm that good.
Somebody was getting nervous. Not totally unexpected. I went and bought entrance to an exclusive club and went in. The auras registered consternation and I just knew that they were going to have to shake loose the permission to get a few of their guys into the club fast. By the time they got the authorization and paper work out of the way, I'd be gone. Hidden by the magical defense just long enough to slip them all. Whistling a merry tune I went into the steam room and traded my image for a fat balding guy sleeping on the bench. He got mine with a suitable mask by default. He made out on the trade because he was pretty ugly.
I walked back out put my wardrobe in his case and swiped his wardrobe for myself. He was a tacky dresser but any port in a storm. His wallet was full of credit sticks, Nuyen and all kinds of wealth. Super.
While the flatfeet were coming in? I was going out. Their mages never had a chance. I had re-masked my aura and by the time they got in past the magical defenses of the club without setting them off, I had done my magic inside and was out the door. The Pink Panther Strikes again.
Why give myself away that I was on to them?
Think ahead, chummer. Sooner or later I have to pass some kind of message to Honest Pelchey, right? If they are watching me now how close will they be watching when I get my one and only meet with said dwarf? Now, somehow, I have to be able to pass, sight unseen mind you, something that will alert him as to who I really am.
You see time is on the side of the watchers.
Sooner or later you have to reveal to Pelchey who and what you are. All they have to do is be alert and watching. If they suspect me already then they are already ahead of the dwarf on the recognition factor. He hasn't clue one. They can even wait for him to give me away with some sudden inadvertent movement or look.
I'm only going to get one shot at this and then I have to begone and maybe move onto a Johnson who also might be under surveillance. It behooves me not to waste the opportunity.
I was going to where I could do some deep ritual magic without being bothered. I needed time. The best place close by? The famous ork underground of course. Plenty of everyday magic to clutter the background as long as I shielded my ritual properly.
I'm not suicidal. A mage always shields his rituals.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 27, 2010 11:55:51 GMT -5
The UCAS is all over my fragging hoop.
Aren't they supposed to at least bring me some fragging ersatz flowers? I feel so used.
It's been a week and still nothing shaking on the shadow front. Even with the loot I'm offering most runners worth anything have been staying away. They don't want to:
A:) Get on the bad side of the UCAS.
B:) Expose themselves to the retribution of the UCAS especially when you can make less and live to spend it elsewhere easier.
C:) Don't have the skills or smarts to even have a hope of success. I haven't seen runners this bad since Armageddon ticked off the Dragon at Uni-Oil and got their hoops fried big time.
Mostly C.
Do you think that was any concern to the two hoop holes that got me into this? You think they know how HARD I've been working on this? You think they'll be a little understanding or maybe relent when all I've run into is a great fragging wall of China?
Get real.
So here they are in my office again. Drinking my booze. Eating my food. Enjoying my air conditioning. Giving me the look.
PigOne: "You're not trying hard enough."
"What? I've offered huge money. I've advertised in and out of UCAS. What am I supposed to do go out and threaten to shoot someone if they don't come work for me? You want I should louse up this mess any further by hiring any imbecile off the street to mess me up further? This stuff takes time. It's only been a couple of weeks since you dumped all this on me with no fragging clue or help. Maybe if you guys would back off and stop following me around and planting cameras and bugs all over the fragging place someone useful may actually show up so I could actually try to hire them! I even found a camera in my dreker yesterday. You want to take pictures of my hoop and study the results, I got nothing to hide."
PigTWO: "Excuses. All we get are excuses. Maybe you should contact your old friends and buddies. They might care enough to pull your hoop out of your mess."
"What old friends? Show me some?"
PigONE: "Where's your old buddy Mao?"
"Fragged if I know. Besides, he was a pain in the hoop. He probably married some nice girl and has a dozen hat wearing kids by now. Can't contact someone when I don't know where he is. You slots keep track of everything, you tell me where he is AND I'll get him and he can do your job for you."
PigTWO: "He needs an attitude adjustment. He's not desperate enough or trying hard enough." He looked at me like I was in the electric chair and he had the switch safely in hand. "Maybe he needs some encouragement."
PigONE: "Well he has done SOME work. Just the kind of work that might be useful later but doesn't do a devil's rat worth of droppings towards getting anywhere now. I suggest we give him maybe one or two more days to come through. If he doesn't then maybe we show him we mean business."
They got up and left.
I looked at my appointment book for tomorrow. Sign a contract with some medical doctor who did magic work. I sure hoped it wasn't a snake shaman. I'd had enough of those to last me a lifetime. After that I was going to have to hit those mean streets myself and at least try to get some street talk on the cases I could use.
I hoped it would be enough.
Somehow I doubted it.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 28, 2010 9:11:26 GMT -5
It turned out to be ridiculously easy to spot the trailers in the ork underground. Big Trolls, Big Orks, lots of elves and dwarves, and a variety of other creatures abounded. The ways were tight and you can tell that this is where the real business was booming.
When things get real tight, sin sells.
As a chick, I was safe enough as long as I didn't wander into any convenient ally ways where the rabid awaited to conduct a one on one transaction with the unwary. I still had the vibro-blade.
Under the cover of talking to one of the ork merchants I pointed out that several of the humans were TAX collectors. I recognized one of them when they had nailed me on tax evasion. He nodded knowingly. Walked over to his neighbor and started to pass the word then came back. Before long, about ten minutes later, the humans never knew what hit them they were all suddenly jumped, sucker punched, beaten and bloody. I wandered away whistling a HAPPY tune. The crowd was having a fine time stripping the limp bodies. I don't play nice.
Nothing like letting some criminals know when a few dorks entered their domain with nefarious intentions. The UCAS jerks shouldn't have come into this part of town without a fragging panzer anyway. When the orks discovered their badges it turned into a real riot. I was glad that with a few words I could bring such joy to so many. Viva Revolution!
Not that you could get a Panzer down here.
You see before I left NY I had sold my old deck and warez. They were getting old. I had then reinvested in a custom made, top of the line, Absolution 5000 cyber deck, and whole new suite of Russian and Chinese cyberwarez. I had the stuff mailed to me in care of a guy in the ork underground. A guy called Vankler, in a place called Maxine's. I had a code setup with him so I could collect my stuff and he would get his balance of pay on delivery.
Once inside the place, I went to the ladies room and I changed into a joygirl costume. A little too much makeup, and a quick rearrangement of my hair. A skintight dress that only half hid my assets and no one would be looking at my face unless he was dead. I hid the knife, packed the regular clothes away in a rental locker and went back out into the bar area. The place smelled of barbecue and synth whiskey. I sat down at the middle runway since the crowd was bigger and it would give me more cover.
It was also the most likely place a joy-girl would pick. Let the stripper get the Johns hot and then I could make a score. Meantime? I was going to get some free drinks.
Three runways held strippers. One, a dark elf broad wasn't bad. She was on the middle isle. The rest were going through the motions. Cat Calls and risque cheers followed the beat of the music as the dark elf swished her hips. She had a costume that showed a black widow spider. Yeech. I guess some guys like the hint of danger. She was pretty graceful. Tips were good. I watched with a practiced eye. I had made a living like this at one time and still kept my hand in. She'd had professional training.
I motioned the bartender over and ordered a synth-whiskey on ice. When I passed him the money I also passed him a written code word folded into a napkin. He reacted well. He took the napkin and walked away without any sign. He would read it where the cameras couldn't see him.
A short while later a flashy looking guy, obviously cyber enhanced came out and gave me the code line... "You work for free or is it going to cost me?" I started the typical bargirl negotiations and we went into a back room to supposedly consummate our biz arrangement.
Once inside I got right down to business.
I checked the goods thoroughly for damage and tracking devices, or squealers. It was all clean. It took me about half and hour. Let any watchers think the guy was stud. Never let a John lead to soon. He has to have some bragging rights. I paid the man. Then after he left, I took the back way to the John and the locker. I changed back to my original outfit. Put my good in my various shopping bags, washed off the makeup and left.
It was as easy as that.
I was ready to give someone the business. I should have picked up some takeout BBQ. It smelled like Victory.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 28, 2010 9:55:25 GMT -5
Once I was well away I dropped the human disguise and took a new one as a troll. Actually I modeled it after a troll butler I used to have called Smedley. I figured a rich out of town Troll would excite less interest in a place called the ork underground. Man I was glad I did.
Never doubt the efficacy of prayer, even before you've prayed it.
I walked into a full scale riot. Luckily, it was a beat the humans kind of day. It was more of the UCAS guys. I joined right in kicking one while he was down. It was fun.
I discovered they were UCAS when one snaggle toothed orc, that had teamed with me on the kicking, waved around a badge in triumph. Somehow, the UCAS must have sent a team down here ahead of me which would have been BAD, or more likely, I had stumbled into another operation. I purchased the badge, papers and ID from the orc for a few extra NuYen as a souvenir. That got me in solid with the him. I even got a nice Colt Manhunter and ammo in the deal. He got the credit sticks, the Nuyen and his clothes. We were both satisfied.
I moved on with my trophies. They could be useful, magically as well as in the mundane way. The Mardi Gras continued behind me as the UCAS tried to funnel more men down. One of the guys must have been in touch when they got hit. I could hear the sounds of faint Doc Wagon alarms. The orc underground police didn't like the UCAS police on their turf. Gang war, Corp war, what's the diff?
I moved off. I had an appointment. According to my questioning. A guy at Maxine's called Vankler had the muscle to set me up with a quiet and protected place to perform my magic. I had paid an orc housekeeper at the Mayflower to set up the meet and greet for me and paid her extra to keep it quiet. Under cover of this riot it should be a shoe in.
I wandered into Maxines. The BBQ smelled good. In my troll disguise I was readily accepted. I sat down at the middle stripper stage next to a Joy-girl with to much make-up but a body that wouldn't quit. She gave me a typical joy-girl smile. Then some over-chromed dude made a move on her. Will it cost him? Yeah probably the creeping crud, his wallet and anything else the little tart could lay her hands on. They left to enter the gates of Tycoon Heaven.
I turned my attention to the dark elf stripper. She was shaking it like it was on a slide. Black Widow Spider motif. Not a big fan of spiders.
I passed the bartender the code word. "Got any Dom Perignon?" He smiled a bit. "A Troll with an expensive taste." He gave the counter sign that all was clear. I passed him half of Fatboys certified cred. He nodded. "A drink like that deserves some privacy to enjoy it. Let me take you to the private area. I nodded and followed a waiter he signaled over.
In moments I was in a back room with several other magicians. A ceremony was all set up and ready to go. The shaman were coyote, raven and chameleon as specified. All tricksters. When you put a ceremony together it is best to use the right types of sympathetic magic. The holy water, diamond, lights, chameleon skin, all properly spelled and ready. A large gem in a silver tie stick pin was laid ou on black velvet and under bright lights. It gleamed gold and silver with a large ruby in it.
With the door sealed by magic and guards it was time to begin. The chanting began. This would take most of the night.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 28, 2010 18:03:06 GMT -5
Janie looked up from the reports that were still coming in. The radio was feeding on the spot info as she looked up at the Officer standing at attention in front of her desk. She leaned back in her chair and spoke in her controlled sexy voice.
"Why is it, that every time we get involved in anything with Gobwit it turns into a first class disaster?"
An officer sat to the right of her desk nonchalantly staring at the ceiling. His name was Commander Addams, and with only one eye and a cyber arm he spoke calmly back. "He's smarter than he looks and has a talent for Chaos."
Janie glared at him in disgust. "I wasn't asking you." He shrugged unconcerned. Addams continued unabashed, "You made a mistake. You assigned all humans to the Gobwit case. We are not sure how the riot actually started yet. Dead bodies can't give us much information. The politicians are screaming and want to know why we're starting a new racial war. We activated the best spin team in the business, but we're going to have to answer a lot of questions.
Janie shrugged, "That's Smythes worry. He can easily handle the city government and the Holo Vid outlets won't be reporting anything he doesn't want known. What I want to know is did Gobwit set us up?"
Addams looked at her steadily with his one yellow eye. "Of course he did, but you're never going to prove it because I suspect even he doesn't know he did it. Let's start with the secretary. She leads the team into the orc underground and out of nowhere they get ambushed. No reason for that to happen unless it was pre set. Even the orcs know it's not smart to start mass attacking humans. Retaliation is sure to follow and they need the business. If the city government wants to get all hairy hooped, we have first rate footage and evidence that shows our people were ambushed and had given no reason for offense. They never stood a chance. The crowd literally tore them apart. The girl vanished in the melee. She appears two hours later back at her apartment from a shopping trip acting all innocent. We don't know what she had in the bags, yet. We will find out. We had matrix and drone cover on the girl until the riot got out of hand. We lost her in the mess. We are back on her now."
"Better late than never but we need to fill in the gaps. Why not magical cover on her as well?"
"We have a limited number of mages. They don't grow on trees and we only have so many we can use. Our mage cover effort has to be on the Doctor and from his background it definitely is not enough. Whoever planned this had to have inside information. Each time they've hit us precisely where we were weak and they did it all at the same time. The Doctor threw off his people too. He ducked into a place our mages couldn't immediately follow or observe him magically and vanished. All innocently or course. They know we are on to them and after this mess, they'll be sure we are. No one saw him leave club, but when we did get in finally we found him supposedly asleep in a steam room with a towel around him. We went closer to make sure it was him. One of our guys, disguised as an attendant, shook him awake all concerned about his safety. When the contact was made the magic spell on the guy just unraveled. Our mages had never seen anything like that spell. It even had reproduced the Doc's ASTRAL signature. A new type of spell. Our guys would dearly like to get their hands on that. It left us with a very angry city alderman, who was missing his clothes and personal items, you see he had somehow been robbed. We put out an all points but we gathered in nothing yet in the way of information or sightings. The mage hasn't resurfaced, but we suspect he will for the meeting with Gobwit."
"You asked if it was deliberate? It sure was. They must be part of a bigger team and they may or may not have already made contact with Gobwit. They diddled us good. Since Gobwit kicked this off it appears he is the culprit even unknowingly. Someday I'm going to kill that little fragger, slowly."
Janie looked at the officer across the desk and motioned him to leave. With a sigh of relief he saluted and walked out the door. She looked at Addams intently. "What do you have against Gobwit?"
Adams looked at her blankly. "Remember the Om Kincer and Dracheat Vonderdyne duo?" She nodded, remembering vaguely, Pelch and Mao, supposedly had infiltrated some radical group. Adams continued, "They stole a Lonestar City Master, I was part of the group that was activated to intercept them."
The incident was starting to come back to Janie. "Gobwit shot down a chopper. We're you in that chopper?"
"Not in the chopper. I'd have been instantly dead. I was in one of the cars underneath it. I lost my left eye and arm. My partner lost her life. The rescue team pulled me out pretty burned. My Partner had a husband and two nice kids. I went to the funeral."
"Why didn't you get the eye replaced and some cosmetic surgery? I know the medical plan would replace them."
"I'm not one of your decorative staff officers. I'm a field man. The surgeon did a good enough job on me. He replaced my arm with a military grade cyberarm. My skull is armored like you wouldn't believe and has several interesting gadgets. The arm's better than the original and someday I'm going to kill Gobwit with it. He's the one that somehow cracked the codes and fired that missile."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "Very well start getting replacements for the cover team and start getting some different racial types. We aren't going to be making that mistake again. Gobwit's won the first round but the fights not over yet. We're going to be short handed until we can get the replacements and bring them up to speed. That means it's going to give him the playing room he wanted. We can't cover things as closely. Pull the extraneous people and reassign them to direct cover on the secretary, mage and Gobwit. I don't want to lose them again." She looked down at the damages. It was going to be expensive.
Addams gracefully arose and started toward the door but stopped and half turned as Janie addressed him without looking up from the reports scrolling across her screens.
"Recall the forces we sent into the ork underground. Get them out. We don't need to lose anymore people in a useless firefight. The only gain on this project so far is that Gobwit does appear to have started to put a top team together. He's either the smartest brain in espionage or the luckiest blighter in the universe."
Addams closed the door softly.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 29, 2010 8:09:35 GMT -5
The secretary was down in the dining lounge, eating breakfast. Addams was unconcerned about that. She was being watched. He would be notified the moment she broke routine or started in his direction.
He was with a team and they were searching the room. One man was bugging her clothes and other assorted items. Another was making a list of all the items to be background checked. Another was going through any documents or electronic media and downloading it. They were also planting monitoring devices in those as well. Two others were searching for hidden items which included false panels in luggage and such. Two mages were taking ritual samples and astrally scanning the area for hidden compartments and items. Another man was using an X-ray scanner over the walls floor ceiling and furniture checking in case the mages missed something. Addams was by the door watching the action and filming it all. They might want to review it all later.
They were not being polite or neat. In essence they were trashing the place. They wanted the mark to know they were on her. She would make more mistakes that way. Another team was busy tossing the mages room in the same fashion. He had not returned yet but the doorman would alert him the moment he entered the building. The third group was going through the doctor's office. In the same way.
Thirty minutes after they started the groups left by ones and twos in various ways, there work completed. Was it all a snipe chase? They had found nothing obvious of use, yet. Maybe the forensic boys would discover more when they got the samples downtown.
Addams left the door open when he left. Welcome to Seattle scumbags.
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Post by Braddoc on May 29, 2010 16:02:25 GMT -5
“9:03, the guy pulls up at the motel, the camera`s in place. Let`s see if palm greasing that manager will land something. I took my place in the empty tenement building across the street. With video proof, that old hag better cough up the cash she promised me.”
“9:05, He’s headed in room 113. Money well spend. Now, time to see if that camera was worth it.....No, this ain’t working...it’s on but not sending..”
“9:12, Turns out the camera ain’t compatible with my receiver. That was a waste of cash. Both companies are sub-divisions of Renraku, but their crap can’t working together? Fraggin' bull. Now I got to get there and get the tape back afterward. I knew I should have bought that shotgun mike. This is gonna be boring. At least here I can go about without wearing my suit. Thank God he didn’t go to some fancy Hotel. He really wants this to stay private, or at least not too visible. He picked a good place for that.”
“9:28, his elven bimbo arrives, with just high heels and a trenchcoat, I bet she’s naked underneath. Anything to please some rich fatso and get some of his cash.”
“9...57, lots of gunshots from the dead zone, 2 blocks East, but it sounded deeper, maybe 2,3 blocks inside, right into zombieland. Those guys must be having an easy time, or they’re surrounded and doing a last stand. A few explosions too. They’re gonna shoot their profit to high hell if they keep going like that.
Oh, the modification on the Doc’s paste did worked well; the aftertaste tastes less like mud, more like mint. At least with that it doesn’t feel like forever, just damn long, next glub in an hour.”
“10:07, the gunshots and explosions stopped. The Night went silent again. I think a car parked near the motel, but I can’t see if from here, I should have taken up shop in the building at the corner instead, I would have had a wider arc of view. Yeah dumb idiot, there`s no power in this grid for months, I got camouflage clothing and I`m 4 floors up from the street. I could stroll around in my underwear without shocking anyone. Lessons learned I guess.
Oh, and those self-heating rations are the bomb. Shrimp Fettucini Alfredo, and I even got a dessert, and not a hint of soy. Just real food and chemicals. Miam.”
“10:45 The keeb left the room, hopped away in her jackrabbit. The guy`s must be taking a shower, he’ll be out in 20 minutes. Time to pick my stuff and get to my car.”
“11:00 on the clock, his car didn’t pass in front of the alley where I’m parked. I’m getting jumpy, the paste is wearing off. No way in hell I’m driving when I’m down, almost feels like driving drunk, I’d rather have my reflexes high and wait he’s coming ab..
No, just a black sedan speeding off, It musta been the zombieland mooks. At least they managed to get out, or one of them.”
“11:10, no car yet. The hell`s taking so long? And it’s not like he’ll just stroll around zombieland with his grey metal sport scar....Lemme go check...Well his car’s still there. Door’s a little open too...What now?”
“11:12, I parked my car near in reverse, in case I got to leave fast. Time to go in the room.”
The room’s empty, clothes all over the place, the shower’s off. No sign of the guy. At least I got the spy cam. Bathroom’s empty too, and it’s not like he crawled off the bathroom window naked as a worm too.
“Hey you!” 2 suit-wearing man were at the room’s door, guns out aimned at me. Bradbury didn’t have bodyguards, at least none that his wife told me. No bodyguard uses silenced weapons as well. At any rate they looked like they would shoot first and be polite after. I jerked to the side, the tudding of the silenced weapons getting off. I feel a sting at my side; at least they aren’t using APs, my vest is holding on. I leaned on the bathroom wall, shards of cheap ceramic flies off. I took out my own piece and let it bark a few times. 27,26,25. I might have hit one, maybe. It did brought me a few seconds to close and lock the bathroom door.
The paste is off now; If it isn’t at least the adrenaline’s kicking in. I got up the toilet and opened the window. Such an old place, but the window got some locking bar like it was classy. No time to fool around, 24, 23, and it slide wide open. 22, 21, might as well, buy me a second or two as they duck away from the door as hole forms up in it.
I crawl head-first into it, only to land into a couple of trash cans 3 meters down. Not that there’s a point being discreet now. I got up and glued my back to the wall, More tudding, they must be shooting the door handle. I get the empty shells in my pocket and a speed loader in as they kick open the door. I kneel and get ready, gun pointed at the window.
“The window!” One of the two stand on the toilet to get a view of the alley, but the instant I see his eyes I fire, 20, hitting him just over the right brow. The creme-coloured ceiling get redden. And judging by the short, panicked scream, he musta fell over his buddy.
I ran. I wasn’t geared up for a fight, the last one might be alone, but since I saw nothing, they might be a group. I arrived in the street, crossed over and kept to the alley. I’m not getting to my car with the suit so close. Three-quarters of the way down, I slowed my pace: I didn’t have my goggles, I had to switch to my rims if I wanted to see something in here. Lucky me the buildings here are empty. Flesh-eating freaks sure makes a good argument for moving out, else that would be bad for my rep. I was almost ready to simply walk out of the alley when the screeching of tires from behind make me turn. Nothing.
Then a dark-coloured car rolls backward in the street, passing the alley, I saw it before, he’s gonna chase me around with his car. The alley’s pretty tight, so I swung around a dumpster, it’s not blocking the way completely, but it might slow him down. I kept running across the street and into the next alley. I could hear the car engine’s revolutionizing fast, his tires were spinning. I reached the next street and cut right before crossing on the other side and ducking into the alley there. Right again at the street and down the other alley. I slowed down before reaching the next street, I couldn’t hear a car engine. I saw no one behind me. No persky watcher tailing me close too. Plus there’s a large group of people a block away, perfect way to confuse a stalker. There’s only 20, 25 people, but it’ll do, at least they can smoke screen me as I cut and run. Maybe “borrow” that van or buy a ride. I walked toward them as nothing to it. A few of them seems to be down on all 4, like they were checking on someone who’s lying there. A few were armed: I hope I didn’t land on a gang who’s out for blood. That'll be a nice way to end the evening.
Wait.
Gangers? There’s no gang turf here. I stopped on my tracks.
I crossed 4 alleys.
So that means 4 blocks.
Uh-oh. That’s not good.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 30, 2010 8:44:36 GMT -5
My room has been trashed.
Let's not be brain-dead here. The UCAS trashed my room. Obviously they want me to know that they are on to me. Big deal.
Like big sweaty pig hands haven't gone through my undies before. I reckon I'm supposed to get all upset and call Security and Lone Star screaming, yelling and all hysterical and then I'll have to sit around all day answering questions on what I've done to deserve all of this.
In those kinds of cases, according to the Lonestar mentality, the victim always deserves what happens to them. Especially if the victim was a girl. I must have enticed some pervert to do what he did by the clothes I wear or the way I fix my hair. You see I probably deserved whatever the lowlife did to me.
If you have something illegal going on the side? Don't be so innocent, baby. Everyone has something illegal going on the side because the UCAS has so many laws out there you can't help being illegal somewhere. Even if you don't know it yet. Who else keeps all the lawyers in business? The politicians, who just so happen to be...lawyers.
Under those conditions you are guilty, even of the crime against you. So what do you do?
Easy.
I called Vulpine and told him my room was trashed and maybe the Doc's as well. That he should wakey-wakey the good Doctor and check things out. Let him deal with the questions, answers and the insurance people. He has lawyers. I let Vulpine know that if the cops wanted to question the victim, they could talk to my lawyers. That will tie them up for a while.
Luckily, I carry my deck with me, in it's nice carrying case with all the apps and such. I was also dressed well so I at least had that much of a head start. I was going to have to count everything in the room as a loss right off. Bugged, dusted and so on. None of it was salvageable. Maybe the Security forensic people could make something of it. I made sure that Vulpine would assign us both a new professional area and quarters right away. Security would have to be tightened up. He promised to jack up the Security teams and make them pay for everything lost and then get on the insurance people. I liked his style.
I had nothing else to do today except be at the signing with the Doc and Honest Pelchey this afternoon.
When I get my check for the damages and personnel items I was going to go shopping. Westlake Mall isn't far away.
I had to wait for the Doc to show up anyway. I left the area to Security people taking nothing.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on May 30, 2010 9:18:18 GMT -5
When you do a long magic it sure takes a lot out of you. I had a magical hangover and rather than put the mask back up I decided to rest an lt the magic cool down a bit. The others left after collecting their final pay from me and took Vankler his share. I held an exciting new magical tie pin.
Vankler's staff would clean up after me.
I went out to the bar as myself and had some Hair O'Dog. The riots outside appeared to have ended. Cleanup crews were at work. As an elf I was still semi safe. It was bad time for a BBQ breakfast but I was famished. The old magic sure takes it out of you.
After my breakfast of champions I wandered outside.
The area had been sealed off but it appeared negotiations were underway towards an uneasy peace. Since I had a SIN I was allowed to leave after telling them I had been staying with a lady friend all night and I was on my way home. Seeing my obvious wealth and the nature of my clothes (rumpled) they decided to believe my story and let me go.
Back at Z Street I was greeted by Vulpine and some Security people with lawyers. It appeared the UCAS had not been idle while I was out. They had trashed not only my place but the secretaries as well while she was down at breakfast. They assured me there was no need to be bothered and already a fresh place was being prepared and new clothing and equipment procured. Security on our premises had been increased.
I nodded and went to get a shower and cleaned up in the new apartment. The secretary was out shopping but left me a memo reminding me of my meeting this afternoon. I had my shower and with guards outside my door I drifted off to sleep. The pin under my pillow.
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Post by Braddoc on May 30, 2010 10:43:58 GMT -5
“Fortunately” for me, they seem to be busy with eating the poor bastards who possibly tried to shoot their way back to their van. Looking at the zombie trail, they set-up in a building then tried to escape when they got over their heads. A van means a way to escape.
It also means there’s keys to unlock it and to bring it to life. There’s no chance of having your ride lifted here, except if the undead can drive (they can hold guns so who knows), but reflex dictates that you kill the engine, you take the keys out. It’s reflex, you can’t help it. That means the keys might be somewhere with the ripped clothes, uneaten body parts and blood.
I crossed the street, going toward the building with the bloodied entrance. There’s a fire escape in the alley, just need to get those zombies’ attention, climb a floor or two as they give chase into the alley, then stroll out the front door, get the keys and drive away. Easy does it. Those bounty hunters musta cleared the building anyway if they hung around in it. I hopped on the sidewalk when the shot rang out, hitting me in the right shoulder blade. I fell, not much from the hit but the surprise of it. Zombie Shooter popped a few more rounds over my head; by the bang of it, it was Ex-Ex. I returned the favour, 19, 18, at least they’re too slow to duck or dodge. I have their attention now. The damn round blew up my jacket and vest, I’m bleeding. Moving dinner with a nice smell, and I can’t get my right arm higher than my chest. I got up and into the alley, a SMG burst following me. Dumbass Ex-Ex. I had to run almost to the end of the alley to get a trash can. I flipped it over and got up. The damn ladder was still a feet away. I holstered my piece and jumped. I hung to the bar, getting my weight into it. It took a couple of swings to get the ladder down. They arrive, the SMG one firing again. The burst hit the wall, I get a chunk of brick on the face. 17, 16, 15 ,14. At least now they won’t shooting. I got up on the first floor and reloaded. I took out my painkillers when another burst got off. ‘Bastards are clever for moving corpses. I tried to get as small as possible, dropping my PKs in the excitement. ‘Guess I’ll have to tough it up. I ran up a floor, no more shooting. They’re smart but don’t know how to reload, at least something going my way.
I reached the second floor. The window was already broken up for my convenience. Too bad right inside there was something rushing towards me. I sucker-punched it in the face, zombies are not known for their strong balance, what with the muscles rotting away. It didn’t stumbled back, or seemed to be affected by the hit. When it upper body got out from the darkness of the corridor into the moonlight I saw why: It was a ghoul. I must be like a forest fire to him. I put my right arm in the way, which he bit with all of his might. Good thing I got my forearm guards, it feel more like crushing than piercing, but my arm’s not good to hold his goddamn claws back and he slashes me a couple of times in the face. My rims flies off, mow I’m attacked by some pale blur. I stick my barrel under his jaw and fire, 13. I pushed him to the side, screaming half in fear, half in panic.
*CROUNCH* I stepped on something, something I know.
Fragfragfragfragfrag. Good news is I can see now. The bad news is it’s now looks like I’m looking through the offspring of a broken windshield and a kaleidoscope, minus the colours. I checked my forearm guard: there’s teeth marks all right, but they didn’t go through. At least that’s that. No way I’m going into that building if there’s ghouls. Zombies I can outrun, ghouls never slow down when there’s food on the line. Especially food they can see as clear as day. And I’m not gonna glub down some paste, not now, not here. I got up to the fifth floor before the ghoul started to wiggle and moan. On the ground a large group of flesh-eaters were gathered, way more than 20-25. I climbed the ladder to the roof and jog to the door. There was a pair of bolt-locks on it, they seemed new, one even had the price tag on it. The hunters musta thought of using the roof as a last resort. There was a duffel bag and a few planks of 2x8, nailed and drilled together, it looked long enough to form a bridge to the next building. They were busy, looks like there’s chicken cages and some draw-bridge 2 buildings away. Their HQ maybe? I locked the door down and checked the time: 11:47. Sun’s gonna be up in 6, 7 hours. ‘wonder if I’ll see it.
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Post by Braddoc on May 31, 2010 20:33:20 GMT -5
The duffel bag had a few useful things; a couple of frag grenades, few IR smoke grenades, some water and rations bars, half a dozen glow stick, spare batteries (but no flashlight), power drill, screws, some rope and climbing gear, AK banana mags, Ingram mags, Predator mags, all filled with Ex-Ex. Those damn things can explode in your gun, blowing your hand and face. Those idiots should have gone with Hollow-Point: I never saw a Ghoul or a flesh-eater wearing armour. All and all, just a bunch of crap that doesn’t serve any purpose now. At least there was a first aid kit, even if it was the 20 Nuyen kind they sell at Stuffer Shack. Cheapo kit but at least there’s a mirror.
Damn, those scratches were deeper than I thought, I think, it’s kinda hard to see. They’ll scar for sure, I’d need some magical healing to close those up. I didn’t have time to work a bandage when there was a loud whack at the door. The steel door would hold, but those Robertson screws drilled on the frame might not be as tough as they were right now.
I danced left and right; back down the fire ladder or get those planks across the next building? Hair raising scratches comming from the other side of the door made me go for the planks: that and I didn’t have enough ammo or two perfectly working arms to go melee with the undead. I sling the bag over my functioning shoulder, and got those planks up: 4 meters of drilled, nailed green wood, 16 inches across. I can barely hold it straight up, much less get it up the 2 feet wall. The banging gets louder. Actually it’s just because that it’s the only sound that’s breaking the silence. Now to see if it’s the ideal length.
The bridge bounces a couple of times, but it doesn’t fall. At least that’s that. I get up on the wall and begin crossing over. I don’t trust this one bit. It wiggles and bend under my weight. ThinklightthoughtsThinklightthoughtsThinklightthoughts. Halfway there, keep going..c’mon. One of the bolt-locks breaks off the door with a loud crack and, like an idiot, I turned to see, loosing my balance. I throw myself toward the other building, the plank bridge falls down on the ground, I land on the 5th floor fire escape railing, blowing out all of my breath. Leaning myself forward I fall down the stairs to the 4th floor. My heart beat can be felt form my right shoulder. What little blood coagulated on my face breaks open. I almost blacked-out from the pain. If it wasn’t for some blood getting into my eye, getting me to panic a little, I might have.
I woulda stayed there, taking a break for a few minutes, but the breaking of the door made me snap back to reality. I stumbled up, just too see some crazed ghoul fall off the building. Not exactly the smartest kind of freak. Tough as drek though, ‘probably be up in 2, 3 minutes. I get back up to the 5th floor and up the ladder to the roof. Breathing’s painful now. M right elbow can bend 90 degrees, can’t do much past that.
I leaned on the door. No bolts or anything. The makeshift draw bridge I saw was actually on the other damn building. By the R-roo R-roo-ing, the cages there are packing pigeons. What kind of dumb fraghead raises pigeons in this part of town? My musing was cut short when something pushed on the door, screaming. I returned the scream, just more terrified. The gravel on the roof didn’t help with getting a good foothold. I took my piece and fired blindly inside. 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7. Empty Empty. Whatever was pushing stumbled down the staircase. I threw a frag grenade in just to make sure, screaming as I did. I got the drill out, fumble with the screws and started drilling. Encouraging myself by screaming worked to keep me focus at least. I knew I was just pushing back the inevitable for a few moments. Suicide started to look good for the first time in my life. I drilled 3 screws in, fraggin’ battery died halfway on the fourth. Whole 10 seconds bought, maybe.
Dragging myself toward the draw bridge, I cracked a glod rod to at least see what was on the other side. Pulleys and ropes with a gear system in place, locked by a pawl. Pawl that was 4 meters away. The door ain’t gonna hold. Panic settled in. Something warm was dripping down my back. I took a battery and tried to throw it at the pawl, maybe flip it over. And another, and another. A few Predator mags, hard to get precision when you can’t see. I could shoot at it and break it up, but how would I get the bridge up? Lots of banging came from the door. Disorganized banging. If only I’d had gel rounds, that would be good pressure without breaking th..
Wait, that’s it! My Taurus was loaded with gel, in case a non-lethal solution presented itself, or just to remind folks what the deal was. ‘Took aim and fired. Miss. Relax, take it easy, breathe, even if it hurts, even if you can’t see nothing. Metal grinded, the screws were breaking up. Miss again. The pigeons were started to jump around in their cages. 3rd shot was a good, the bridge fell down, It was makeshift, but it was sturdy. The Taurus ended in my pocket and I started to crank the bridge up. My right arm was good for nothing, short of holding itself on my torso. 3 inches up and the door swung open, a few flesh-eaters fell down face first. Whoever made that gearing did a halfassed job at it, it’s too heavy to raise at a decent speed. Just a feet up in the air, that’ll stop those slow-mos from crossing. 4 inches...6...8....c’mon they’re getting closer. My chances were getting better by every tun of the handle, until something fast, yelling and bloodied bursted from the staircase.
I turned and ran in the mazes of wooden cages, screaming in terror. It sure makes you forget your pain. Something was lying there, a pipe or hose, dunno, but my foot got stuck and down I went. I rolled to my back as the thing rushed me. I pushed him with my leg, but it ended up being slashed. My strength was leaving me, I tried reaching my knife, but a loud bang made me jumped in fear as the Ghoul’s head jerked backward, spraying brains all over the birds. Crawling back with my good arm, I stopped when I hit a pair of legs. Looking up, the person was swinging me his rifle butt. I saw it, I could maybe block it with my arm or just letting me fall flat on the ground, but I didn’t...just too damn tired to do anythi..*WHACK*
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 1, 2010 12:51:19 GMT -5
So I got 'Templeton' of 'Templeton's Security Agency' standing in front of my desk. He's got a few of his boys. Their forensic teams are still going over the crime scenes. They are finding bugs, taps, camera's and such all over the fragging building for Frodo's Sake. (Patron god of thieves for those of you not knowing dwarf history.)
He's making excuses. I suspect the UCAS has gotten to him. From the look on his face and the weasel look in his eyes? He knows I know. The only good thing going on is that up in Thriller-Chiller territory the ghouls must have had a bang up night. A real party, followed by a feast. Man, there was gear all over the place just waiting for my salvage teams. A little clean-up, some air freshener and the gear will be as good as new.
I look at 'Templeton'. "Look you UCAS toady. When I let this out on the street, you can say bye-bye to your business. Despite what you may have heard we still have some laws here and the other corps ain't going to like you being pals with the government. Despite what the UCAS told you, you and I both know the Doctor has influence. The only reason he ain't here now going to some politician is we managed to convince him it was all a mistake. We both know it wasn't.
Templeton looked down. "The UCAS just told me they were going to look around a couple of criminals rooms. We didn't know they were after the Doc." He mumbled.
I slammed my fist on the desk and he jumped a bit. "You think I give a devil-rats hoop what they told you or what a little rat-turd likes you thinks? This guy is THE biggest deal put together in Seattle since Krass built that Fusion Plant! He's got contacts, money up the kazoo, political connections that supposedly don't end in just Chicago, and a medical background. I manage to land him here in Seattle, a coup beyond imagination and you idiots are about to blow it for me. The guy has worked with Lone Star on several big cases. They ain't happy with you and they won't be fragging happy with the UCAS. It may be big government but Corp's ain't going to take no drek from them and you know it. The place runs on NuYen, not political fantasies."
I stood on my desk and got in his face. With a face like mine, that's plenty scary. "Now first, your going to cover every bill and every damage. I got an iron clad contract with your sorry hoop. If you don't my lawyers take you to court and eviscerate you and your company. Second all those guys taking bribes from the UCAS. Their gone within the hour and you make sure the people you replace them with hate farking UCAS and are desperate for jobs that pay real NuYen. Then you clear all the drek they planted around here and keep it out.
Templeton, "But.. that will cost me a fortune."
I smiled, "Maybe your buddies at the UCAS will bail you out. If they don't? Well it won't break you but you won't be paying any dividends for the next few years. I already sold your shares which were doing well lately. When word of this gets out, you'll have a whole lot more to lose. You'll make it but you sure won't be able to afford the better things for a while. Now get on the job and get out of here."
I watched him leave. It's good to be the El Jefe!
I checked my electronic secretary. The Doc's secretary was out shopping at Westlake. Eon would have been proud. The Doc was going to private and really costly tailors. The kind the elite use. You couldn't bribe them enough to screw around. Well that bill would be passed onto Templeton as well. I made notes to my lawyers to monitor Templeton closely and a recording of my meeting. They'd write it up in legalize and make sure he paid through the nose. I could make a profit on this.
Next an award and cash bonus to Vulpine. He'd been on the spot and done it right. Kid deserved a reward. Now he'd be moved up and taking care of the Doc and assistants full time. Kid deserved a promotion. The Doc was going to be the most valuable client in the building. Why?
You obviously don't remember a fragging thing I say. Look back in the transcript. Not only was he going to bring in lots of business and money, but I remarked before that I needed connections into the higher levels of society. Remember now?
The Doc at his level was going to have access to the cream of Seattle's social and very wealthy elite. Over the next few months he'd be invited to social events, parties, dances and dinners. Wives would be looking to get their daughters hitched to such a big star. The publicity alone of having him as your doctor was going to be gold in the bank. Honest Pelchy likes gold in his bank. The best part it would give me an in for the UCAS cops bird dogging me. I tell them I'll be using the Doc to get access so I can investigate those murders, all unknown to him!
Sometimes, I'm so smart I scare myself. The LUCK is with me again. Ride it baby.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 1, 2010 13:36:33 GMT -5
"Hey Winter! Have you heard the latest?"
I tried to shut out the noisy voice of my twin sister. Her names Fallon or Fall for short and we both are. That's because we are dwarfs. You got a problem with that, go take it uwith someone that cares.
I was under the carriage of a Fredericks Aurora IX. I was installing a brand spanking new GAZ-Willys G8 Torque Converter. The things was built like an anvil and trying to shoehorn it into a racing machine like an Aurora IX was a real Slitch Kitty. I didn't need Fall's aggravation right now. I ignored her.
Bad move.
Fall don't know when to quit. She's also got enough cyberware in her to make the Terminator XIII drek his pants. All this means, she has all the tact and empathy of a brick. "Frag it, Win! Did you hear me? I got some news." She lifted the front end of the car. "I know you're down there somewhere. You're always working on this thing. Listen this is really good."
I sighed and slid out. Gaz Willy still clutched in my hand. Fall was like a rock slide. I wasn't going to get nothing done until I got rid of her. I had two choices. A shoulder mounted Panther Assault Cannon, or pretend to listen to her, nod knowingly, tell her to check it out and then when she left get back to work. Gaz-Willys ain't going to install itself. "What do you want?" I asked bored.
Fall let the car fall and I winced as the tires bounced. Good thing I had installed 'Peerless' off-road shocks and Valiant AD stabilizers yesterday. In case you haven't guessed yet, this is my personal ride. It's got a Krass Tornado 12 cyl. engine with aircraft octane and nitrous bleed. The tires are of course, run flat, and it has enough armor on it to shrug off most major armaments. It's my pride and joy.
Fall stamped her foot leaving an impression in the ferro-crete. If you looked carefully you would see at least a dozen more. "Fall, stop crapping up my floor and get to the point! I told her angrily."
Fall shrugged apologetically. She may be King Kong but she knows if she frags me off to much I'll disable her cyberware. I had built it all myself. Then she went to her Doctor's to put it in. She was smart enough not to frag with her source of parts.
"Word is that 'Templetons' is hiring again. Seems that some classy site on Z Street was broken into last night. Probably Runners. Anyway they ripped off some really rich Doctor and the drek hit the fan. Here's our chance."
I wanted to get back to my baby. "Forget it." I advised her.
She looked at me like I was stupid. "What do you mean forget it? YOU were the one said we needed a job instead of robbing other people as poor as us to make ends meet. You're the one who said the landlord was on her case about paying rent on the garage or we we're going top lose your ride. You were the one...."
I put my hand up, not the one with the Gaz. "I know what I fragging said last night." I told her coldly.
She looked at me with those big brown puppy eyes. She was right. We were in a tough way. The economy was bad. Not many jobs to be had especially for a couple of twin dwarf girls who didn't spread for every guy with the NuYen. I hated the thought of losing my baby. "Z Street, that's Pelchs place now, used to be Ace Tomato?"
She nodded. Lots of talk in the sprawl about 'Honest Pelchy' and his criminal cronies. Sure he had money and that was a plus for any dwarf, but that also meant he wouldn't be inclined to part with it readily. "How much is Pelch paying?"
Fall stamped again. Cracks appeared. I winced. "Pelch's building is just what you guard, moron. Didn't you hear me? Templetons got the contract there. We'd be working for a human not a dwarf. The money is good and they specifically mentioned that those with affiliation to UCAS are not welcome. I know how much you hate the UCAS so I just knew you'd be interested."
I glared out of my ice blue eyes. That's why they call me Winter, Blue eyes and white hair. Fall was all browns and reds. She's also the eldest. Same mother, different fathers. Don't ask how twins can be like that. It's the Sixth World chummer. She was right though. The UCAS was a bad spot in my memory. I thought about it a spell.
"Lift the car up. need to finish putting this in." I told her. She smiled like a happy child.
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