Author Topic: Shadowrun - Chapter FIve - Welcome to the Sprawl (Read 220252 times)

Maxx · « **Reply #100 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:53 pm

"It is indeed acceptable to me," the man said. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you. Hopefully we can do business again in the future."

"Don't tell me that," Lobo said. "I'm just back-up. I'm keeping Bishop occupied with witty repartee and dirty jokes. He's not so bad. True professional. If you need to take her down, remember she owes Bishop some serious change and he'll be pissed if he doesn't get paid."

LadyJallyn · « **Reply #101 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:53 pm

Hitome accepted the 100Ny up front and took the contact information, and where the club was as well as all the other odds and ends she felt were pertinent to the job. She turned to look at her partner. "Well it looks like I am done here for the night. Since you have no need of my services tonight I wish you well."

She stood and offered a formal bow to both parties though the man that had fronted her part of her paycheck did receive the deeper of the two bows.

Micula · « **Reply #102 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:53 pm

Alyss accepted the other hundred and returned the bow to the Japanese girl. Straightening up from the bow, she glanced over towards the door. Kahlia was stood between her and the exit, her eyes were fixed on her face and a slow smile inched across the other's features as she stepped forward.

well so much for sneaking out Alyss thought with a touch of irritation as she moved across the sticky floor to intercept the other woman halfway.

"It's gone!" She said simply. "you were far too late!" She couldn't resist needling the other woman slightly as she caught the distressed look on Kahlia's face. "So there's no need to make a scene is there!" She said quietly, gently reminded the other of the barkeep's reputation.

Kahlia considered Alyss' words, for the briefest of moments, the image of running amok through the bar with guns blazing had held a real appeal. She clamped down on her temper and decided to be civil. "I know you didn't hand it to those two!" Kahlia said in a soft tone, her eyes indicating Hitome and the man. "So who did you hand it too?" Despite her calm exterior, she felt like shouting.

If I can't get that off her, is there any point in shooting her... who knows when we'll need such a runner in the future

Alyss considered for a brief moment, her fixer was known to most of the corps. A corp operative would have to be incredibly dense to tackle with one of the assets that they used.

"I handed it to Baron Taylor!" She replied truthfully and watched as the other girl's face fell. "He left five minutes ago.."

Kahlia grimaced, she'd wasted far too much time following the girl when she could have intercepted the guy on his exit.

"I'll be going now!" Alyss said with a bright smile. "I have someone to pay.." She walked past Kahlia, hoping that she wouldn't hear the drawing back of a hammer and pushed open the door.

"Fuck!" Kahlia swore bitterly as she followed the girl to the exit and they both entered the street.

Maxx · « **Reply #103 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:53 pm

"Well? How'd it go?" Lobo asked. He was leaning casually against a post, obviously having managed to forge some male bond with Bishop. "I take it either she handed it over like a lamb or it's long gone?"

Bishop simply extended his hand and twitched his fingers in the universal gesture of 'wheresmymoneybitch?'.

Micula · « **Reply #104 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:54 pm

"Long gone!" Kahlia said with a bitter note to her voice as she approached Lobo. "Baron Taylor has it!" She reached the guy and looked at him.

"So let's go!"

and i bet you go running to your master like a poodle lap dog that was the kicker, not so much that it was her first failed intercept, but that Richard had to be there to notice it.

"Bishop.. Here's my end of the bargain!" Alyss divided a share of her run money from the credstick in her hand and placed it in Bishop's. One check revealed that she hadn't cheated and had in fact added an extra two percent. "Danger bonus!" She said, interpreting the look on Bishop's face.

Maxx · « **Reply #105 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:54 pm

"Yeah, I'll use that bonus to buy a new fucking truck," Bishop growled. "I hope I never see you again because I'll take what I think you owe me out of your hide."

Lobo straddled his bike. "Well? Let's get a move on. Just because he has it doesn't mean he's home free yet."

Micula · « **Reply #106 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:54 pm

"Well screw you Bishop... I held up my end of the bargain." Alyss replied with a definite bite to her voice. She'd been true to her word, not only had she paid him the grand he'd initially asked for and the added nine thousand for being shot at, she'd also tacked a two percent extra on top. She felt she was being more than fair, particulaly as she was now tired, dirty and coming out in lumps.

"You're lucky I didn't hightail it out the back!" She kept her fingers close to the handle of her pistol as she spoke.

Kahlia nodded and dove onto the back of Lobo's bike. "Hit it!" She wasn't particularly comfortable with riding pillion preferring the feel of the link between her and the machine.

hopefully if we chase him down, I can get back to my party

Maxx · « **Reply #107 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:55 pm

"Girl, you don't have what it takes to throw down on me," Bishop snarled, a single finger resting ever so lightly against the strap of his Panther cannon. "So either take your hand off that gun or pull it out and see what happens to you. Your little adventure blew up my fucking truck, so an extra 200 nuyen is not going to make me feel better. And don't think you could have snuck out on me without having it bite you on the ass. I've got more contacts in this sprawl than you've had bed partners."

"He was moving on foot the last time I saw him, heading in this direction," Lobo yelled to make himself heard over the engine of the Widowmaker. "Whether he got into a car or not I'm not sure. There wouldn't be time for somebody to fill the parking spot so if he did drive, we'll see a hole and then it gets easier."

Micula · « **Reply #108 on:** »

Rusty Nail (greasy spoon& bar)- Redmond barrens- Wednesday August 13th 11:55 pm

"Do you think that shelling out twelve grand makes me feel great? I gave you our agreed sum, you didn't bargain for damage to your ride, most runners would have stuck with the initial sum. And let's face it, you did leave a trail that a blind man could have followed. Most people would have just stepped on the gas at being approached by a bunch of gangers. but not you, oh no... you had to use a fucking phosphorus grenade. Like that would just vanish under the radar as just another night of gang violence." She stepped back away from him and released her hold on her gun.

"Christ...isn't it any wonder that I usually work alone." She was tired, sore and completely pissed off, it did annoy her that he was angling for extra. It annoyed her more that he was right. Alyss knew that the guy had lost a heck of a lot in the combat. She took a deep breath and looked down at the credstick in her hand.

"But you have got a point.." She said finally in a more calm tone. "you did total your truck for me." She spun another two thousand off the cred-stick and tossed it at him. "Now take that and fuck off!"

Kahlia settled in behind the guy and easily leant into each turn. "sounds like a plan.." She called back, allowing her body to settle into the rythmn. They passed the car and Kahlia smiled. "Look's like our boy's on foot."

Maxx · « **Reply #109 on:** »

OOC: two grand isn't a 2% bonus. It's a 20% bonus.

Bishop took the extra two grand in silence. "You work alone because you can't find anyone who will work with you twice. God knows I won't and I'll be advising anybody who is thinking about working with you to think twice or get extra insurance. Your mouth buys more trouble than any ten people can afford." He didn't turn away but backed away until he was well into the extreme range of her pistol. He kept the cannon pointed away from her but didn't take his eyes off Alyss.

"Hold on," Lobo said, gunning the bike up onto the sidewalk. The front wheel came off the ground and came close to taking the pedestrian's head off.

"What the fuck?!"

"Can I interest you in a subscription to the Watchtower?" Lobo asked, once he'd come to a complete stop."

Micula · « **Reply #110 on:** »

OOC I know.. Typo.. I'm sorry for taking so long to answer.. Writers block.

Bic

"Suits me fine..." Alyss replied with a definite snap to her voice. "You're far too fond of blowing shit up for me ever to work with you again." She kept her eyes on him until she had backed into the alleys.

"And think about this.. It wasn't my rocket or theirs that took out your ride.. You managed that little doozy all by yourself by sending out a heat seeker. You're lucky you got something for a demolition job you did yourself." She was in the shadows now, back in the city that she knew well. As she spoke those final words, she turned and headed into the streets and home.

Kahlia chuckled under her breath at the startled look on the guy's face.

like a rabbit in headlights She thought as the man turned an greenish white and looked at them both.

"What the fuck do you want?" He demanded, scared and angry at the same time.

"Well honey.. We want to trade.." Kahlia said with a kittenish tone to her voice.

"yes?" He questioned, curiousity entering his voice.

"Umm hmm..." Kahlia levelled her weapon at the guys throat. "Your life for that itty bitty package that bluebell handed to you.." She cocked the hammer on the heavy pistol and the man gulped.

"You have ten seconds and then we take it from your corpse!"

Maxx · « **Reply #111 on:** »

Lobo snorted. "Sure. Given him time to think about it. Hand it over or I will personally strip search you followed by body cavity search, even if I find it in one of your pockets." The big biker cracked his knuckles, then extended a hand. "Come on. Hand it over so we can all go home."

Micula · « **Reply #112 on:** »

The man thought about it, looking at Lobo and the gun barrel nervously. His eyes kept darting from side to side as though looking for a way out. Kahlia slowly counted and still he made no move towards his pockets, neither did he protest.

"Time's up!" Kahlia said as she fired into his skull at point blank range, sending bits of brain and blood flew over the rain soaked concrete and slowly trickled into the nearby storm drain. Reaching forward with a brief hiss of disgust, Kahlia went through the guy's pocket's and eventually pulled the slim data crystal from an inner pocket.

"Well that's that!" She said with quiet satisfaction, looking up at Lobo. "Let's head back!"

Outside the Cherub's kiss bar August 14th 1.30pm = Wirejam

Alyss sat in a cafe waiting for Hitomi to arrive. The information was open on her lap and she glanced up every now and then at the door to the club, keeping an eye on the clientele. So far no alarm bells had sounded in her head, so she stayed put and watched out for the other girl.

Maxx · « **Reply #113 on:** »

"Nice!" Lobo cried. "I love a woman who won't take no for an answer." He flicked an imaginary bit of skull off his jacket. "Hang on. I'll get you back to your party before the rest of the ice melts."

LadyJallyn · « **Reply #114 on:** »

Outside the Cherub's kiss bar August 14th 1pm = Hitome

A woman approached the table her curly black hair was swept up into a cute pony tail. Her skin was a warm latte color and her almond shaped eyes were a striking green. She looked as if she might have either an Asian Spanish background or perhaps even Asian and African. She wore a pair of designer sweats, something you would expect a yuppy corp wife to wear while she was out on a morning jog or heading off to an exclusive fitness club.

"Good afternoon I hope you weren't waiting long. I hope you are ready to head over to the club. We are working on a tight time frame."

Maxx · « **Reply #115 on:** »

Outside the Cherub's kiss bar August 14th 1.00pm

Across the street was a nondescript building that declared itself to be the

WOMEN ONLY
FITNESS CLUB AND SPA
BRING A FRIEND AND WORK OUT IN PRIVACY AND PEACE

A little research had turned up that the club was one very much a women only club and the members list was stored not on the matrix but in a stand alone system that was never connected directly to the net. It guaranteed absolute privacy to its members.

Micula · « **Reply #116 on:** »

OOC That's fine, I just stuck a time in to kick the plot off.

BIC

Outside the Cherub's kiss bar August 14th 1.00pm - Wirejam

"No I haven't been here too long!" Alyss replied as she looked at the other woman, she too had changed from her appearance the night before. The bright, punky, neon blue hair had been replaced with a strawberry blonde loose braid and a set of contacts gave her irises a green tint. A pair of loose trousers were worn over a dark blue leotard and a tracksuit top covered up the bruises on her upper arms. Skillful application of makeup had removed any trace of powder burns and with the athletic figure she looked every inch the trophy wife.

"Well we have some time to wait." Alyss said as she casually tossed the braid over her shoulder and ordered a coffee in tones that sounded completely different to the ones she'd used the night before.

"Thanks!" Kahlia got to her feet and climbed on the bike of Lobo's bike. "First of all though, let's get this baby back to the boss and see how my guy's doing!" She didn't look at the leaking corpse as she eased in behind Lobo.

LadyJallyn · « **Reply #117 on:** »

Outside the Cherub's kiss bar August 14th 1:01pm = Hitome

Hitome sat and nodded "Perhaps a quick coffee. However I was hopping to get the ball rolling since they no doubt will want to bore us to tears with how great the gym is and give us the tour and discuss work out packages and memberships. We have to be able to get past all that and get what needs to be done in less than an hour now." The young woman replied as she looked down at her watch.

Maxx · « **Reply #118 on:** »

Lobo grinned. "Still in surgery," he said. "No real prediction as to the outcome. Don't worry though. There's more where he comes from." The bike engine roared, the tire screamed and Lobo left a three meter skidmark as he pulled away from the curb.

The bike was fast. Lobo handled it with care, taking risks but not too many risks. The Widowmaker was well named. Most riders got rid of them within the first year, after a near death experience. There were always people willing to step up to try their skills, however so the bikes were always in demand. Lobo rode his like he'd had it for years.

The Barrens wasn't an easy place to navigate by any means. Nightly battles between street gangs and shadowruns gone very wrong made certain intersections dangerous. The route Lobo took out of the sprawl was twisted in the extreme. It ended when he made a sudden turn into a parking lot, where two limos were waiting.

Standing between them was Richard Delaware.

Micula · « **Reply #119 on:** »

Kahlia felt her stomach lurch as she saw her old rival stood in the centre of the lot, yet she controlled her expression as the bike rolled to a halt.

Vaulting down from the back of the widowmaker, she pulled off her helmet, feeling the luxury of cool air against her skin as she walked across to Richard.

"Richard so nice to see you!" Her voice was politely warm as she neared the man. "Thanks for the loan!" She glanced over at Lobo as she spoke, yet her eyes never left Delaware.

Outside the Cherub's kiss bar August 14th 1:01pm = Wirejam

"Well I wanted to check the outside first and it's kinda hard to sit in a cafe without a drink before you.." She collected the drink in a disposable cup and glanced at Hitomi. "But now that's sorted, shall we head over?"

Maxx · « **Reply #120 on:** »

Richard smiled, a textbook perfect salesman's smile that looked remarkably genuine. "I thought perhaps you'd prefer to ride in a little more comfort," he said, geturing fluidly towards the limousine. "Lobo can be a little rough around the edges and overly enthusiastic at times. I'd hate for you to develop road rash." With a small wave of his hand, he dismissed the biker.

"Call me," Lobo said, winking at Kahlia. He spun the bike in a circle and roared out of the parking lot.

"Shall we go?" Richard asked. "We can discuss cab fare on the way."

LadyJallyn · « **Reply #121 on:** »

Outside the Cherub's kiss bar August 14th 1:02pm- Hitome

The young woman agreed with a nod and the two made their way across the road and entered the health spa.

Maxx · « **Reply #122 on:** »

August 14th 1:05 pm WOMEN ONLY FITNESS CLUB AND SPA

The foyer was beautifully designed, with a small tranquility waterfall and a number of birds flitting about through a stand of small trees. A remarkably low key desk was set near one side of the only door that lead out of the foyer. Behind it was a cute but not gorgeous attendant who was artfully dressed and carefully made up to look as if she hadn't worked at it.

"Can I help you?" she asked, leaving off the usually obligatory 'ladies' or 'girls'.

Micula · « **Reply #123 on:** »

August 14th 1:05 pm WOMEN ONLY FITNESS CLUB AND SPA - Wirejam

Alyss looked at the girl for a brief moment before speaking, her voice resonating with an almost plummy, upper class accent. "My friend and I are looking for somewhere to exercise in privacy and comfort." She indicated Hitome with a bare wave of her hand. "We heard that you can provide both." She glanced around at the tasteful décor with an appraising eye.

"Thank you Richard!" Kahlia replied in the same calm, polite tones, nodded farewell to Lobo and shrugged out of her gravel scratched leather jacket. Beneath the heavy armoured jacket she wore a tight vest in dark red. She slid into the luxurious interior of the limo and drew out the long grips that kept her night black hair in place, the dark locks tickled lightly as they drifted over her shoulders. Digging into an inner pocket in her jacket she drew out a comb, a pack of wipes and then she proceeded to clean off the grime that the inner city had imprinted on her face. After several silent moments, she finished with her face and then she turned to her hair, drawing the comb through until it shone like silk. When she was finally satisfied with her appearance, she turned her eyes to Richard and smiled.

"It was awfully lucky that you happened to be out tonight, I may not have made the pickup without the assist!" If there was any sarcasm to her tones, her voice did not reveal it, instead she removed her predator from its holster and began cleaning the sleek lines of the pistol.

Maxx · « **Reply #124 on:** »

"Now Kahlia, this really isn't the venue for gun oil," Richard said, reproachfully. "These are real leather seats. He rapped on the window, seperating the executive section from the 'hired help' section. It swiftly lowered. "Do I have a volunteer who will take excrutiating care in cleaning my guest's firearm?"

There were a chorus of offers. Richard looked at Kahlia expectantly.

August 14th 1:05 pm WOMEN ONLY FITNESS CLUB AND SPA

Then you've come to the right place," the young woman said, with what might have been a hint of a sly wink. "Have you ever been here before? First time visitors are welcome but if this is your second visit, then you'll need to be a member to get in." She gave them both a shy, slightly apologetic smile.