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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 6, 2010 14:15:36 GMT -5
They call me the Duk. Not the Duke you fragging pantywaist. The DUK. Don Duk. I'm what you call a soldier in the Spiked Wheels. I'm one of the yard monsters that keeps the other fraggers in the gang in line. I answer to the War Boss, he's called The Pipe. Yeah, he likes to use red hot pipes on people. A bad troll to cross.
It appears he was approached by the biz department. In case you don't know it chummer the gangs now-days operate like a biz. They have departments. The biz side tells The Pipe that some Johnson is offering good Nuyen, if a certain Honest Pelchey were to get roughed up. Maybe a couple of legs broken or an arm or a head. Two thousand NuYen. We do this kind of stuff all the time. The Pipe tells me to take a couple of guys and go case out the place. No killing but I could put the hurt on him all I wanted and then deliver him a message. "We ain't forgot you." Whatever that means.
I figure it means someone is putting the pinch on the guy trying to sell insurance and he hasn't been making the payments. To me it's like a miracle come true. This Honest Pelchy is about as honest as a two bit whore. He did time in UCAS prison and he killed my brother Daffy. He didn't do the job face to face either. He paid off the Arryan Brotherhood and they sliced him up in little pieces.
I was looking for some extra payback, and if the slotter got dead, well, accidents like that happen.
It was starting in the nightly rains out here and Lone Star was cruising the neighborhood, like they meant it. We had to keep moving and ducking the foot patrols, vehicle patrols and they had some drones out too. Unless he came waltzing out it was going to be a slitch to get at him. The grounds were being patrolled by Templetons. They were a cheap joke in the plex. Figures the dwarf would hire them, they were the cheapest. They had out some foot patrols and that was about all I saw. Talk about lame.
What I would have liked to do was get a couple of war teams, drive right into that underground garage and start blowing up cars. We could grab all the stuff we wanted and be out of there and heading for I-5 in minutes. We could spray paint the message on the wall and wait some more for him to show. Later, when the heat was a little less.
It sure looked like we weren't going to get a straight shot at him tonight. Maybe tomorrow night, or the next, or the next...
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 7, 2010 17:28:41 GMT -5
I spent a fine peaceful night catching up on my rest. The next morning it was a fine breakfast. It was magic time. The first thing I did was check out the local area, only the part I rented. Nothing inside the Fab IV treatment. No watchers, or astral presences. I quickly put up a nice strong ward around the work area and my private quarters then, I masked the ward.
If the UCAS was hanging about magically it certainly didn't seem to create any interest. Of course it shouldn't anyway. Do you know why? This is where I am going to be working (supposedly) and it would make sense that I would want the area shielded. It's in the contract anyway, chummer. I mask the ward, because I'm a neighborly kind of guy and I don't want to irritate the neighbors. If you believe that though I want to sell you a cat in a bag for pig prices.
How many people can mask their aura's and do so to hide their abilities to astral snoopers but never think to mask their ward's as well so that someone snooping will stumble into it, thus alerting you? You can mask trap spells too just like I did with the pendant. Taking old spells and using them in new and exciting ways is what the magician is all about.
Of course, now that I had a ward I set a few magical traps. Things that look magically active just need to have their nature hidden my the mask or made to appear to be non magical so they excite no interest at all, until activated. Some things like the safe and medical supplies were heavily trapped. Then I placed a water elemental on patrol. Water elemental aid in creating illusions. It would watch and maintain what illusions I wanted maintained even to cameras. No one would know the guardian was there until they blundered past the ward and while dealing with the pain it dealt the elemental would deal with them.
Feeling that I was adequately shielded for the moment, I was ready to continue on my quest to foil the UCAS. I know it's only a matter of time until the UCAS people recover from their recent set backs and I wanted to be ready.
Today is a good day to see some patients and of course gives me a good excuse to do some magic. Might just as well make some NuYen. I buzz the secretary to send in the first pigeon.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 7, 2010 17:51:56 GMT -5
I was already for work when the Doc walked in but still a bit nervous about the UCAS. I had decided it would be really silly to cut an run from such a lucrative paycheck and besides I would have been out all I invested just to get this far. Maybe the explosions covered up enough of the mess that they couldn't be sure what happened.
The Doc seemed in a good mood today as I sent in the first over padded, wealthy matron to be coddled. The Doc does not maintain a waiting room for his wealthy clients. Wealthy clients think they are the elite and they don't like to wait no matter what the surroundings. So the Doc maintains a very strict schedule on who sees him and how much time they can spend. The bill this pigeon was about to incur in time and talent was close to 15,000 NuYen per hour. 5,000 NuYen for twenty minutes.
While the doc was working on the fat stupid cow, I scanned the sec logs from last night. A rigger called Winter had spotted some Spiked Wheels hanging about the building. Now I'm not that familiar with the gangs of Seattle but the local stations had quite a bit on them and I had no problem hacking into the public files there for a look see. They looked like plenty bad slags and they were as Winter had pointed out to her bosses way out of their hood.
What was worse the Templeton people had ignored the alert because it appeared Templeton could not be reached until this morning. Then he had told them to fragging ignore it. Stupid. It was easy to change the priority level and the message itself and elevate it to Honest Pelchy himself. Let him deal with Templeton when he saw it. Templeton would figure out the file was hacked but it would only lead them on a false trail to the UCAS. It would be interesting to see the reaction. I then checked the rigger feeds, the Spiked Wheels were still out there.
I went and checked on my latest smart frame. I had set it up last night to run and I wanted to see what it had pulled in this morning. What was it running?
First, it was running the pictures I took of the UCAS, people and the cars and checking it against public data files. Maybe I could find a match and get some background. Second, I had looked into the Sec cam logs and found where Honest Pelchey had been approached by the two UCAS goons early on when all this started, the conversation was enlightening, and two times again later. I was running background on those jerks too.
What I was really counting on though was the three names they had given old Pelchey. Miss Elver, Charles Boyson, Athbell Marting. It was pretty obvious with the UCAS computer being blown that it would take them at least a week to procure new equipment and restore the files from backups. Then they would have to re-secure it so what happened to it wouldn't happen again.
That meant I had to look elsewhere for the information on this. The best place was to look in the public data-files to see what was known about them. My smart-frames were searching but so far I had no luck. I would most likely have to go deeper and that meant a quiet place and time to do a run. I think I was well on my way to finding out what this mess was about. I was going for a bonus on this job.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 7, 2010 21:02:52 GMT -5
2 hours. 2 fraggin’ hours of waiting for Meg and her ‘preparation’; turns out it was just some foci she had to make. Good news is I’m good as new, like I never got hurt at all. Bad news is my face decided to scar over. Something about Snake not having all the info and that not that happened was said and bla bla bla a lesson in something bla bla bla unwise to anger a Totem Spirit bla bla bla magic sucks. The last I added to Meg’s blather, but it’s pretty much resume the 15 minutes monologue I was submitted to. It must be hell being her kids. At least He didn’t call me a liar. That would have been trouble...if I could get back to It, or Him, that is. No wonder she insisted how more details
Henry had finished shopping and put everything in the van. I didn’t bother to check. I was too busy pointing out his equipment didn’t work properly. Turns out they do, just with-in 20 meters. Like in Room 213 for example. And I learned that this Stevey guy’s actually a Poser. That’s possibly what Bishop meant when he said he and I were similar: both Humans, just that I deal with it better.
One last stop then I,ll get my spycam back, ‘see just what the hell happened last night at the Vacation Inn. Ol’ Bradbury had some unseen enemy? Maybe some hot drek newcommer VP who’s lookin’ for a bigger slice of the furniture factory? Nooo, More like thugs who jumped him when he got out, robbed him and just dumped him somewhere. Without taking the car. Yeah they might not know a guy, must be that black car then. So those suits were?..The thugs..back for the car? That’s stupid, why not grab it the first time? And with suits and silencers. Runners? Like who? Well, that means I might have runners after me. Or well-dressed and equiped gangers. This is stupid! The guy’s got no trouble from anywhere! It can’t be bodyguards, ‘they had ample time to act. He he’s not that important or bigshot to actually OWN bodyguards. I need a smoke. This gimmic better fraggin’ work. She gotta know something. She better.
Kate was waiting where she said, No one seemed to be around. I did saw a few zombies having a walk, give it another hour and it’ll be dark. Then they’ll be more than the crazy ones who go out in the evening sun. Those must rot faster. Poor bastards.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 8, 2010 7:35:26 GMT -5
It had been a long night of dealing with the crisis people, the reporters, Lone Star, the politico's and everyone running around like it was an elf fire drill. Now that everyone had their hoops kicked the work was getting done, putting things back together. Janie now had time to look at the reports from last nights operations and to review what steps they needed to take now.
Addams walked in with the latest damage assessments. Janie motioned to a chair. Addams sat down a placed the chips on her desk. "We got royally slotted last night. Our people got stupid and sloppy. They paid for it by getting dead. Maybe they need some time in the field. They have had it easy for so long that they've forgotten the rules."
Janie nodded, "I agree. I think the video's will wake a few of them up. Some supervisors will be replaced, some supervisors will worry about being replaced and will be jumping around tightening things up. Lone Star was sloppy too. They bought that story about stolen badges. They never background the two dead bodies. They looked for stolen goods, which they didn't find and that was it. No forensics or investigations as long as we didn't seem to care. Case closed."
Addams smiled, "We got lucky on that one. If it happens again or we get nailed near Gobwit again someone might get smart and start really looking."
Janie sat back and glared, "YOU are not going to let that happen again. The politico's and Smythe are already yelling about a botched operation and they want a head. I pointed out that they saddled me with the people who have proved so inept so far and stated they might want to start in their own training and recruitment programs."
Addams laughed a low evil laugh, "When a politician attacks the smartest thing to do is attack them back and smear them with the same brush. They like to yell in packs, it's safer. I assume you scared the drek out of them?"
"For now. If we have another frag up like this last one they may only be satisfied with your head." Janie finished quietly.
Addams nodded accepting the risk. "The Spiked Wheels sent some members over to Z Street."
Janie glared, "Yes, I know. They were spotted by Templeton's security. How stupid is that?"
Addams looked surprised and then disgusted, "The trolls never mentioned they were spotted but then their gangers and trolls, they wouldn't probably know when they slotted up and worst they may know they slotted up and don't want to lose the NuYen. I say we leave them hanging and find a better way to give Gobwit a pounding. So how did you know?"
"I think not." Janie said reflectively. "Templeton was here when his phone and messages went off. He was looking at the message but the Sec Cam was still in operation as was the mic. I heard him cover up the alert so Gobwit wouldn't get it."
"The man is a triple agent. He's selling us and Gobwit out to someone else." Addams said grimly.
"It would seem so. Which might explain how a first class team was able to hose us over. Their getting help they don't know about. Someone knows we started investigating those disappearances and they're putting obstacles in our way. Templeton may be helping them. The obvious thing is to tail him and watch."
Addams disagreed, "No, the obvious thing we should do is sell his hoop out to Gobwit and his team. The secretary has been making searches using KPOW, servers. She's good and it would be easy to plant enough evidence so that her smart frames would point her at Templeton. Given she is already aware that Templeton quashed the report we watched her re-elevate it. We're going to let Templeton 'discover' her fingerprints on it. We're already planting them. This should bring both of them into conflict and we stay out of it. The Spiked Wheels will look like Templeton is using them. We can plant that evidence too. It will explain nicely why he squashed the alert. This way we stay out completely, recover and let them butt heads for a while. It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of people."
Janie nodded in agreement.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 8, 2010 12:28:42 GMT -5
It was a hearty good morning for the Gobwit. Someone had bombed the UCAS downtown dump about the same time Lone Star was taking out my two thieves. It was worth losing the stuff, even though the tie pin was nice. The best part was that no one had made a move on me since then. Could it be that these were a couple of con artists? Maybe. I wasn't going to bet NuYen on it.
I considered looking over last nights reports but frag I hadn't been alerted to anything that was happening yet. Why bother. Today seemed like a good day to be out and about. I checked on the Doc with Vulpine. He told me the Doc was at work making some money. Good. Yep, all was right with the world. I grabbed Wanker and the Midget Petite Harley and blasted out of the garage. It was a nice sunny day, sometimes you could almost see blue sky through the industrial waste.
I hit I-5 and headed south. That's when I noticed, three gangers on my back-trail. Spiked Wheels by the colors. Trolls. Why did it have to be trolls. If there was ever a sign that this was going to be a day when someone was going to get killed, it was because I had a troll or a group of trolls glaring at me. I hit the turbo button and Wanker got the idea. Duck.
Man I screamed down I-5. The Scorpions they were riding weren't even close and didn't have the speed of this machine. When I was out of sight I slowed down and went the wrong way up an access ramp. Hidden safely near the overpass I watched them scream by then I started to follow them. The idiots never looked back. Using the rig, I popped a mini-missile right up the last guys tailpipe. It was a great sight him all flying through the air with that stupid expression on his face. The other two almost wiped out.
They split in different directions one taking an off ramp the other stupidly trying to buzz turbo. I kept straight on and popped another missile. The troll dodged in front of a Saab Dynmit. The heat seeker adjusted in mid-flight and smacked into the back end of the Saab-Dynamit. The Saab flipped forward and came crashing down on the troll and his bike. Instant road pizza. I just kept going. No sense trying to swing back to find the other guy by now. He'll have gone to ground or be lost somewhere in the sprawl. I'll swing by Corndork's and pick up some reloads. Just in case.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 8, 2010 17:31:41 GMT -5
She was smoking one of the cigs I left her. 10 Nuyen says it’s the last one. She stepped closer, but I stopped her. “Don’t come too close with that thing, what with all the fuel I got.” She gives me one of those thin lipped smile, filled with those grayish squared ghoulish teeth. Like a clown smile. At least something made me laugh today. “What’s so funny?” “Huh?..Oh, nothing..Just..You didn’t thought I would come right?” “I had my doubts. But I’d figured you’d be back sooner or later.” “Oh really now. How so?” “Call it a hunch. So, did you get everything?” “Everything.” “Yeah, did you?” “Yeah, I did.” Again with the clown smile, it kinda lost it’s fun fast. “Could you turn that van around the generator’s feeding pipe’s over here.” 4 zombies taking a walk now. Together. Weird.
Everything was in bags or in crates, the only problem was the oil drum. It was standing. Tipping it over required some work. Not much the tipping over part, more the tipping it over without having it spill all over the place. 15 minutes or so passed when Kate plugged the pump and started cranking empty the barrel. “So you build that little system yourself?” “No. I know it’s a modified oil furnace that generates electricity. Don’t ask me how it works, I don’t know. I know how to start it and maintain it a little, and I’m finally going to start it again.” “How long since you last had fuel?” “2, maybe 3 months, I dunno, I don’t keep track of the time.” “Damn...And how long is that going to last you?” “About 3 weeks, 4 if I don’t abuse it too much.” Small talk’s all fun and games, but it’s getting darker. The howling of the undead was getting louder, and all around as well.
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Audi. Black Audi. He’s as predictable as sunlight. Full of electronic gizmos, high quality security system. My luck he did not put it on. The idiots I hired put the man in the trunk, a day holed up in there must make him very receptive. He was confused but he’ll soon pay attention. “Wake-up dumbass” ”Where am I? Wha..what do you want?” I snapped once and Mr Jones was poking him with the taser. “What’s this talking when you haven’t been given the permission to? Don’t you know where you are, who you’re talking to drek-for-brains? I’m Vincent Delacroix, your best buddy in the whole wide world. Here, take a business card” I shoved it down his throat, not that it went far, but he was crying in fear, trying to push me away. “Oh Drek, here am I bein’ such a nice guy and you go ahead and hit me.” I got out my Manhunter, fired a few shots at his leg. I hurt him a couple of times. Good, he’s bleeding. I close down the trunk. Impressive sound dampening qualities on those Audis. “Idiot....now where’s that other guy? Weren’t you three yesterday?” They looked at me like I was from another planet. “Hello? HELLO? Where’s the other guy?” “H..he got killed boss. You shot him.”
“I did? Of course I did! Ha Ha Ha! He failed the first job like a wannabe! Serves him right. Not to mention you’ll get a bigger cut!” The gutter trash was ecstatic. He fitted the role until he opened his mouth, then he was just well ornate garbage. Mr. Jones seems less enthusiastic. “I rigged the bomb. Here’s the remote.” “Oh yeah this gonna be the DREK!” “Mr Jones will hold the remote for now. Here’s the place you gonna crash it in.” Jones glanced at the paper “Are you certain? There alot of LoneStar patrols on visibility patrols. And the place’s under contract by the T..” “I KNOW this already, why are you telling me things I already now huh? Just get it done tonight, I’ll double your price. Later, I won’t.” “So we need another car? I got my ride outside, all ready to bl..” “No no no! Take the sedan, I..don’t want you to get in trouble if they ID your car, right?” “Drek man, you’re right! That..” He just kept blabbering about, Jones was a little more direct “You said the cameras on the street would be disabled. “ “They will, that’s a just in case angle. Can’t be too cautious in those cases. Now get going, I got somewhere else I need to be for the alibi.”
They finally left. Good, I was sick and tired of holding that illusion. Plus I saw his mocking, grinning face in the window. I’m covered in his filth now. Now I got to burn those clothes and take a long, hot shower to get clean again. Like I have time for that! “Mr Bit!” The foot tall Dwarf appeared floating over my head. Typical “Yes m’am!” “Make sure those cameras are disabled, I don’t want them flinching at the last second.” “Right away m’am! They’ll never know what hit’em!” He faded out from view. He was a sneaky one. Always there for me, but his track records of failure should have gotten him killed a while ago. I would have done it myself, but he always manages to evade me. At least he’s not costing me a cent. Not that those 2 fools are, but they think they are. That's all that matters.http
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 8, 2010 18:55:12 GMT -5
Kate Robinson. 32, ‘used to be a vet down at the Seattle Zoo. Grew up in the CAS on a farm, until it was taken over by the Agro-corps. She did her schooling in Atlanta where she took odd jobs and hustled pool to pay for her studies. She like kayaking, rafting, listening to piano. She also had a husband down at Ares who cut and run when he was transferred (after request) to Denver after he leaned about her condition. He took their cat, their fishes and their 2 birds with him too. She also were a vegetarian and spend the first month or so vomiting all the meat she ate. She stopped when she realized there was no turning back. Short of dying. She’s got suicide on her mind, but she’s coping with it for now. She started smoking after her change, not that adding tar to your body will cause more trouble than what’s happening to her. 'Cooks steak well for someone who only eat it raw and she doesn’t stop talking. Every fraggin’ detail. 3 hours there and I only had the window open for follow-up questions. At least now I know she liked visiting her friends deep in the zone and having nice chats with George the Nosferatu, teaches stuff to Jo Ann and her younger brother David, both ghouls, but she stopped visiting them ever since some Wendigos came around and started pushing people around, backed by some vampire woman. She didn’t gave a name yet. Not that I had time to ask for one. So at lest that’s that.
And Kate gave me good cover fire when I made my way to the van. ‘Shot a ghoul as it bounce. Kickass shot she did. Too bad she’s one of them. Can’t win’em all I guess. I started the engine and drove off, running a few zombies over. They break like paper, it’s funny to hear, but a bitch to clean. Huh..’seems like there’s a bunch in that mini strip mall, wonder what’s the deal with that? Oh wait, ‘nother hunter’s trying his luck and now he’s stuck on the roof. Looser, what’s with everyone not plannin’ ahead wh FFFFFFF..
Right there, in the middle of the road, a goddamn dog was just sitting there. I was 5 feet away to runnin’ it over. At least it didn’t looked zombied yet, just..what the hell’s a dog doing here? It’s not like EVERYONE in this part o’ town was NOT into eating it raw.
“Hey you, Dog! Yeah I’m talkin’ to you, beat it! Place a death zone! Leave before you get eaten!” It turned it’s head toward the strip mall, lookin’ at the action like it was the news. Just some stupid head bounty hunter on a roof. Heh..funny, ‘kinda looks like Henry from down here.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 8, 2010 19:00:20 GMT -5
.....Wait a sec, that IS Henry! What the frag is he doing in zombieland after dark? And alone to boot. Great, now I got to haul some Frenchie and a dog outta..Wha? Where’d he go? Bah, he’ll manage. He did since now. I got the van going reverse and rammed into the mass of undead, only stopping when I hit the building. God it feels great breakin’ a vehicle when it’s not even yours. The roof popped in, and a couple of seconds later, Henry dropped his face and upper body down the roof hatch “ Ha, Vincent, again with your perfect timing! I thought I..” I didn’t let him finish his phrase or getting in the van that I stepped on it. Like I had time for clever lines with a dozen flesh-eaters banging at my window. The frog dropped in the back face first, then left and right as I swirled across the empty streets. 10 extra points for hitting 2 zombies. Weee...
I braked sharply and he just tumbled to the front. “You FRAG! What the hell you’re doin’ here huh? You spyin’ on me now? Did Meg put you up to it?” He was trying to get his bearings straights, I helped him by shoveling my flashlight’s bean in his face. At least he wasn’t wearing his commlink. “No! I’m alone, they’re thinking I’m having a date, and I left all my work gear at work. And don’t shove that light in my face!” “You’re in no position to ask for anything. Now, why were you spying on me man? That’s really low of you. Bishop maybe, Shade I wouldn’t be surprised ‘casue he’s a dick. You? Surprised man, shocked and surprised.” “Surprised? How do you though that I felt when you told me my top quality gear wasn't working? I HAD to make sure for myself..And I figured you’d believe me better if I filmed you well..” “Yeah yeah yeah, how noble of you to spy on me to prove a point. Get in the front.” Another stop to drop him off before going home...Oh wait, drek! “So, does your stuff works?” “Quite well, mon ami. Like I told you I only take the best.” “Huh..and just how much ‘best’ do you got on tape there?” “Nothing much, I only arrived a couple of hours ago. Interesting woman. I knew you like to take your chances, but I think you’re pushing your luck this time.”
I lid a smoke, playing innocent “What do you mean? It’s not like I’m cheating on my wife..Not that I have one, but you know.” “I didn’t saw what happened, but I can deduct that she’s...less than human? To be polite of course.” “So? Didn’t you bang that elven decker at work a few times? You don’t see me patronizing you for that.” “I’m telling you, Meg won’t like this at all, Shade even less." “No, they WON’T ‘not like it’ because they WON’T know about it, ok? I just saved your sorry Ski-doo ridin’, pewteen eatin’, hockey lovin’ ass from the Zone, so you owe me on that one, mon ami.” Henry just blew air out. I love it when they know I‘m in the right. “Besides you heard who she hung out with? WE can fetch a nice coin. Just gimme time to set-it up, then I,ll get you and the others on it, ok? We got a deal here?“ He kept silent but took out his tapes and recording chips out. “You be careful now.” “I’ll be all right. Just thank God I decided to stop when you popped that Dog-shaped spirit in my way 'else you would be counting your rounds 'til you blew your brains with the last one.”
“My what now?”
“What?”
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 9, 2010 16:30:23 GMT -5
Fragging dwarf. He had a tricked out super bike. It was a cinch we ain't going to take him easy. I managed to get away but Zits and Snarl got wasted by some kind of fragging missile launcher. I reported in to The Pipe. He wasn't too happy that two of his boys got turned into road pizza. Looks like it just turned personal for him too.
He went off to report the mess to the Gang Boss and the Biz Boss. It looked like this one might get a little more expensive than they thought. I went to grab so sleep.
When I got back to the gang hideout things were still hot. The whole situation had changed. The Johnson had backed off. According to the Biz Boss we got made by Templetons last night. The Star never knew we were around at the time but somebody tipped them the next day too. The Johnson was fragged off about the whole thing. They were claiming I screwed it up. The Pipe was arguing on our behalf. It was obvious that someone had stuck us in the middle to be fall guys. It made some sense.
The Spiked Wheels had a total of three run-ins with this particular dwarf and each time gangers had died. The Gang Boss was inclined to take it personal. He wanted the dwarf wasted. Preferably with heavy pain.
That works for me.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 10, 2010 16:47:18 GMT -5
...but I did not call any spirits to get your attention. In fact, I was busy ordering mine to keep ghouls from going up the ladder. Besides, you know quite well that my spirits all take the form of a Legend of Hockey; no simple dog.” “All right, so you owe your life to some random dog who glanced your way right at the right moment. Lucky you.”
“Perhaps Kate simply send you a message hmmm?” He let off with his French smirk, the one that says 'I know', but in fact means 'I think'. “She’s no mage..or at least she didn’t told me so. And that’s generally a cause for bragging, right?” He just grinned. Just another mundane talking about magic. Like I have real experience. “Maybe for younger ones, I’m not really bragging about it; It’s IS my edge after all.” “True that Mr. Spirit man. Speaking of Edge, how did you end up there and without a car?” “I had one of my friends drop me off. He is supposed to pick me up in an hour, but I’ll have to call the rescue off.” “Your friend...he's clean?” “Yes. He's a talismonger I know. He helped me settle in Seattle, and we kept in contact, helping each other out, that sort of things.”
“’Kay. Like I said, let’s keep this between us right? ‘Don’t want people to get the wrong idea now right?” “My lips are sealed, but only if you spare people the story of my..situation back there, ok?” “No problem.” "I'm happy to hear that..wait, take a right; drop me at my apartment." "Ok..Oh and Henry?" "Hmh?" "You're recording the conversation?" He smiled and took out a small recorder. Looks high-end too. "A little gift for you Vince. It works with sound, you gauge at which decibel it starts recording and voilà! No need to push a button." "Gee, fancy stuff, thanks." I dropped him off at his place in Chinatown and drove back to my own place. Nightshade wasn’t there. Good. More time for me to check out that tape, just see who decided to mess around. And I got to check to see if Henry didn't bug the thing too.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 10, 2010 20:36:59 GMT -5
I'm running the matrix. My ICON is the Grim Reaper. Death on the Hoof. I glided through the SAN's without creating a stir. The smart-frames had led me to the case files stored in the Lone Star unsolved cases files. The problem? Not everyone is allowed to look at those files. The KPOW news snoops knew they were there but obviously didn't have access to them. If I wanted to see those files I was going to have to glide in personally.
The first thing I needed to do was mask my ICON. A quick few minutes of punching deck and I entered the public access of the Star as a Private Detective making inquiries for a client. I of course has stolen some of the Templeton's passwords while sifting through the building at Pelchey's. They weren't high level but they were enough to get me access past the Lone Star public network and into a slightly higher level of inquiry. This took the form of a Lone Star Sargent, handsome, cultured and just another data slave with an elaborate icon. I sat down behind the desk.
He looked at the badge I presented him along with my detectives ID. Embedded in the ID was 28 mega-pulses of code. I know it worked because small leech appeared on his neck. He didn't notice it at all. The code was already gathering any information he was looking at and storing it for me. He handed my ID back. "What can Lone Star Security Services do for you Detective Murphey?"
"I'm working for a client that is handling the insurance claims on Ms. Athbell Marting. I would like to know if you have a police report on the matter, any information as to foul play, and where the case currently stands so that my company Alliance Insurance can decide if payment should be made at this time."
"A reasonable request. Since your credentials are in order let me see what we have on the case." As he typed in for access my leech was already picking up the location of the files, the protocols, and the passwords he was using to access the data. In a short time I had the information the Star was willing to release for this level. The leech vanished leaving a slight mark on the icon, but that would vanish when the data-slave logged out. I thanked the drone and stepped into the hallway.
I was part way there. I changed my icon mask to correspond to the protocols I had pilfered. Dressed now like a desk Sergeant in Lone Star blue with the proper badge I was able to travel down the hall farther into the system. Particularly to the data retrieval system my dupe had previously used. Once there I pulled up the information on Charles Boyson and Samantha Elver. If I had asked the drone for all three it would have rang alarm bells. First, they would not have all had the same insurance company. I had hacked Martings from her nieces statements to KPOW. Second, the fact that I would be looking at three similar crimes would have also alerted the Watcher ICE. This way I had all three sets of information without setting off bells but I also was able to study the archiving and matrix directories of the information. I could also start to pick up similar cases and there was a bunch of them. It was time to take what I had and run. I rushed to place the files in my pocket and of course this type of wholeale copying of files set off the alarms. They continued to ring as I punched the disconnect. Even as the ice police dogs were closing in hwling in glee, I punched the disconnect button in mid-air in front of me.
Safely back in my pad I disconnected and started to scroll through the data. There was a lot of it. It was going to take some time to begin to sort it all out.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 11, 2010 14:38:46 GMT -5
A day has gone by. No sign of any kind of UCAS surveillance. Still a bit early but this may be the time to approach Gobwit and actually get hired. The trick will now be to lure Gobwit to a neutral place that is unlikely to be bugged by the UCAS. There are two ways I can approach that. I contact a crime boss and they arrange the meet, or I use one of those nifty new contacts I made as THE resident doctor to get us both invited to a party. The super rich are very paranoid about their privacy. It seems the easiest way for me is to do a party.
Tomorrow, I meet with Richard Villiers social secretary as one of my patients. It should be fairly easy to wrangle a couple of invitations to the party the big man is planning this weekend.
For now, I think I'll do some more magical preparation. It's always good top have a few hidden items on hand just in case.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jun 11, 2010 15:01:49 GMT -5
Ever have an itch you can't scratch? Up till now the UCAS has been more annoying than your common tropical rash. Suddenly, I don't see them around. The bugs are dead. No cameras, no goons following me around, except for the Spiked Wheels and they don't count for drek. I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall. When ego's get mixed up in a mess like this, and the UCAS has a BIG EGO, then I can't believe they are just going to walk away without some heavy payback.
I pulled into my parking space in the underground garage. Wanker dived out of the sidecar and started to head towards the secret entrance, then he stopped. He dove for cover and I took the hint and did the same. The vehicles behind me, unfortunately, including my bike rapidly depreciated in value. I peeked around a large Nightwind as a troll with a big Panther Cannon was levering a new round into the chamber. Wanker took a whole three seconds to tear the hoop head apart just as he got the round into the breech. Wanker was worth every NuYen I paid for him.
I kept crawling. Did I shoot back? Did I go help out Wanker? Frag NO! Give myself away and let them cut loose in my general direction? Let the dog do his job of protecting my hide. I paid enough for him. I kept crawling. How had the idiot trolls got past security to set up an ambush in the garage? That fragging incompetent Templeton. I was going to enjoy tearing up his hoop, if I survived the encounter.
The car I was headed for rapidly depreciated in a fire ball. A fragging mage. Oh MAN! I hate fragging mages. Especially when they want to kill MAMA GOBWITS favorite boy. If I wasn't her favorite I should be, I'm the richest one in the clan right now. Now all I needed was some UCAS hoop-holes to show up.
I started to head for the sewer grate. I was discouraged by a hail of bullets flying around. Some mage was directing their fire. I yanked out my two trusty pistols. This would have been a good time to have a few grenades.
Anyone have any?
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 11, 2010 17:17:41 GMT -5
Of course I had 32 messages waiting for me when I got home. Half of them were from yesterday. A good quarter of them, the recent ones, were people asking me where I was and if I wasn’t in trouble. I should have hired that secretary instead of buying that car. Which I no longer have. Oh yeah, I got to pick up my Americar tomorrow and bring it to Red for an overhaul.
I took an hour to call everyone, book my few meets I’ve got to do and calmed everyone about my whereabouts. At least with the vid screen off, I didn’t have to waste time skating around about what happened to my face. Then I rolled myself a fat one and popped in that recording chip.
The first surprise came when the Elf was dressed under that coat. The second one was when both started talking about work, kids, school and showing off report cards to be signed by BOTH PARENTS. That wasn’t some guy cheating, it was husband and wife having a little fun when both happened to be in the same city for work. He did say he had 3 places to go, 2 in the UCAS, another in Europe. Same for her, just that she needs up in Asia. And all this in 2 days. Man, Lianna fragged that info up big time. That killed my buzz right there. That was a first for her. I skipped to the end. The man goes to the door as a knock is heard. He opens and a ray of mana hits him square in the chest and he goes down. Looks like a stun bolt, at least he might still be alive. A pair of suits enters, kicked some clothes around and picks him up, taking him outside. I can’t see the Mage, but I know he’s there. I tried booking a meet with Lianna, but she didn’t answer. She’s spending way too much time in the Matrix nowadays for her own good. I better get there, after I get my car outta locker.
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“There, he’s going for it”
“Stupid rent-a-cop. Keep that motor runnin’. I’ll go arm the bomb and block the pedal. Man, this is gonna be fraggin’ awesome!” Stichtes ran out of the car. Not out like a normal person, he just hurled himself out. Young and dumb, ‘think everything’s a game. Or like in the Trid. When you’re asked to clean a room, you clean it: remove the prints, blood, clothes, dead skin, hair, the whole nine yards: no one must see or think that anyone was ever here. No, he just kick a pair of pants on a blood stain and “Done deal Del! Man, I never did something like that before! I feel like a hitman!” Punk.
At least he managed to get his looser ganger buddies to do a little diversion to get the Templeton patrol car outta sight. The Star decided to cut the visibility routine since the Underground animals calmed down, that helped things. A lot. That Delacroix better have those cameras down. Even if there’s only one who seems to be in working condition. I’m not looking to get my face painted on the news, not when I got family problems. And it’s not the kind of ex-wife-calling-me-all-the-damn-time family problems too. Family, with a Capital F.
Tires screeching got my out of my day late-night dreaming. The car just drove itself into the building, half of the hood had passed the wall and went inside. Stitches made some bad attempt at being badass by jumping in from the window. It would have been decent if his right leg didn’t stayed outside. I drove away. Half a block down and Templeton’s patrol was there already. Another Rent-a-cop got out from inside. I should have known.
“Come on man, gimme the remote I wanna push the button!” I sighed, might as well get the dummy his fun. “This is stupid, why did he want to crash in there, there’s nothing here, it’s not even a front. LoneStar will only glimpse at that case and call it a day.” “Nah man, Del got a plan man! You’ll see, this is gonna be Fraggin’ hot drek man!...Hey, I think it’s broken, it doesn’t work.”
That’s all that was needed. I ripped the remote form his hand. “Dumbass, you forgot to arm the bomb first.” Blue and yellow flashing lights appeared in therear view mirror as I flicked the ARM switch. That was quick. At least we’ll fry a couple of pigs. ”Oh man, we’re gonna get a bonus for that one I’m sure! Del’s gonna pay us a FORTUNE ‘casue we blow up some LoneStar coppers man! Oh yeah, we gonna be ri-“
The sedan was going close to 70 Km/H straight, but the blast of the explosion turned it into a flaming rolling car. The bodies inside had their organs turning into jelly as the shock wave passed through them, the skin burned , muscles blown to bit. Their brain might have registered what happened, they felt the pain, just for a moment. Then their minds got turned to goo like the rest of their insides. A tire caught a large pothole and with the momentum of speed started to barrel roll in the streets before sliding a good 20 meters into a pawn shop parking lot, ramming into a few hobos huddled around a drum fire. A few people woke up and went to see, most didn’t care. Like an explosion doesn’t rock the Barrens every month or so. 4 blocks away, 2 Templeton Security officers and a LoneStar 2-men Road Patrol saw and heard the whole thing. That caught their attention more than the desperate banging from the crashed car’s trunk.
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