Bone'ead takes the duck and hands it to the Kobold
Bone'ead favorite duck. Need back. Also more pizza he says as he gulps down the last bit of pizza he had
The kobold smiles and says. Human order many drink. Stay on C. Handsome! She points to herself. Urista.
She looks at the duck and laughs when it begins to speak.
Barnabus Barclay has spent quite some time here in the bar. I believe that he is staying on C level. He is quite charming, will you put in a good word for me? My name is Urista.
She hands the duck back to you and begins preparing another pizza.
What do you do?
Pointy eared s&~%! Dexter thinks as he punches the wall. he looks around, wondering where they put his stuff.
Are there any containers in the room?
air vents or other escape passages?
Did they get the hidden comms device in my boot (Can't be flashing around a phone with Grellicks number on it?)
There do not appear to be any other exits beside the door. There are not even any air vents. The only things in the room are you, two dead dwarves, the chair, and your boot comm.
However, as you punch the wall it shimmers for a moment and you can see a odd grid. The wall reappears, but it is shorting out. You have no doubt that this is a holosuite and you think back on how you got here, bound, gagged, blindfolded, and unable to hear anything at all.
What do you do?
Dexter takes out his boot-comm, and hits the first number on the speed dial. Uncommon signal frequency, and moderate Faraday cage penetration, I hope Grellick doesn't want it back when this is over
when it goes through, I begin Grellick, I have located a few operatives of the AOS on the station, and lost an ear for it. I would like to have a word with you about the backup you were supposed to send
Dexter takes out his boot-comm, and hits the first number on the speed dial. Uncommon signal frequency, and moderate Faraday cage penetration, I hope Grellick doesn't want it back when this is over
when it goes through, I begin Grellick, I have located a few operatives of the AOS on the station, and lost an ear for it. I would like to have a word with you about the backup you were supposed to send
"Thanks Urista!" the elf-boy says through his voice-modulated RAB speakers, as the kobold lady walks away.
BoT has a special, unobtrusive slot in his torso specifically designed for flatbread pizza, and right now he's focused on slipping the pizza slices inside his chassis for later consumption on the ship. It takes a minuscule amount of power to keep the compartment slightly warmed for the pizza's longevity. "Looks delicious," he comments to Bone'ead. "Can't wait to eat it later. We're going to have to remember...Barnabus Barclay was on C level. C level - marked. I have a note of it written down now. So, what's the story with that duck?" as he speaks, he grabs another slice of pizza and puts it through the slot.
It had been an interesting day. he had woken in his room, and went to get breakfast at the Bakers daughter (the place may be dirty, but they do one hell of an omlette), before heading out on his mission. ostensibly, he was going to beat some money out of a patron who had stiffed the tenders at the bakers daughter, and had promied to pay them the next morning. 4 days ago. He spent an hour asking before he found the guy's hidey hole on the planet-side of the station.
Okay, I've got to know, what are you drinking that nets you a 482 credit tab in one night? He says as he presses the guy (Samson or something) into the wall, holding his arm painfully behind his back. He spits, and says Go to hell. He sighs, He hates it when they resist, it always gets messy. Look, man, I'm just here to collect the credits you owe the bar, cough up, and I'll leave.
You tell that scaly f%%% Darrius that he can shove my tab right up- He began, before Dexter slams his head into the wall, a little concussion to make him more cooperative. The man continues swearing, about Dexter, and Darius, and the bartenders. Dexter sighs, and draws his knife, a serrated survival knife that would make Mick Dundee blush, and knocks him to the ground, pinned face up, to let him have a good look If you can't pay now, then we're gonna have to take some collateral, which hand would you like to keep?{/b] He asks, waving the knife in his face. the man breaks [b]I'll pay, my wallets in my pocket, there should be enough in there he pleads. dexter takes the money (and a decent mugger's tip), and leaves, calling back before he does By the way, Ashryn says you owe her 600 credits, and said to tell you that if you don't pay up soon, she'll hire me to collect
after dropping off the cash to Darrius (a weeks room and board to rough up a low-life, nice gig), he went to a local tech shop (for all your computing and mechanical need) he believed to be a front for the local AOS group. he tried hacking into their computer database, or at least his version of hacking, which involves charming one of the people at the computer, and then using it while they are still logged in. part 1 went according to plan, she was a nice girl, but apparently didn't get much romantic attention, an easy mark. but when he tried to access their personnel database, he had to re-enter the password, and got it wrong (Looking back, it probably had a camera security feature). I decided to try again tomorrow, maybe I could talk the girl (Meira) into helping me.
Back at the Baker's Daughter, Dexter sits at the bar, talking with Lierin (The elven bartender). Another soda? she asks
Yeah. How are you?
Good. so, Urista and I have been wondering, what happened to your arm
Dexter flinches, he had been careful to wear long sleaved garments, and gloves. How did yo-
your sleeves fell when you came down this morning
Okay, I was in an accident when I was younger, lost my arm
What Happen? Urista chimed in.
My ship got caught in a solar storm, bits of it collapsed, one bit collapsed on me. he said. He was spared further questioning by a sudden influx of patrons, which forced Lierin and Urista back to work. Dexter slunk off to a table near the back, and spent the next half hour reviewing all the leads he had collected. it wasn't much, but maybe he could find another front of theirs, or some pattern to the disapearances. around then, a girl had brought him over a drink, and sat down at the table. Whats your name? she asked. dexter almost replied with his real name, but caught himself, and said
Barnabus Barclay, yours? he asked, downing the root beer in one sip
Adlynn, Why are you sitting over here in the corner?
Well, I just... not a big fan of... his speech was slurring, and the world quickly faded to black, and he woke up here
Dexter waits on the line, praying Grellick picks up quickly.
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Once they're in the back, Retzack first says. "Oh, of course, it has been too long, Shotz! Hey, first off, I've been travelling a lot and it's so hard to get decent food, and my bodyguard hates to work on an empty stomach. Could you give him something? Go ahead and impress him with something really exotic."
Once it's delivered Retzack leans in, "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm looking for someone. There seems to be several conflicting rumors about not only where he is, but also what -exactly- is going on here."
So I need you to tell me: What is everything you know about Barnabus Barclay?"
Retzack listens closely, trying to get not only where he was nabbed and where he was staying, but also the likely kidnappers, and what he might know about the nabbings.
Hyde you a+*$%!$! The next time you go 36 hours without checking in you better be dead! Have you met up the team I sent in? Drop dead android, ogre, couple of combots ... and Retzack. Look don't ask. Did you meet up?
Once they're in the back, Retzack first says. "Oh, of course, it has been too long, Shotz! Hey, first off, I've been travelling a lot and it's so hard to get decent food, and my bodyguard hates to work on an empty stomach. Could you give him something? Go ahead and impress him with something really exotic."
Once it's delivered Retzack leans in, "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm looking for someone. There seems to be several conflicting rumors about not only where he is, but also what -exactly- is going on here."
So I need you to tell me: What is everything you know about Barnabus Barclay?"
Retzack listens closely, trying to get not only where he was nabbed and where he was staying, but also the likely kidnappers, and what he might know about the nabbings.
Yeah, I know Barclay. He's been staying here for some time now. Mellow guy. Usually drinks a lot of root beer. He's an odd one. Word is he is doing slicer work at a cut rate price. Dangerous line of work. Oh, last night he decided to get into the alcohol. A nice elven lady had to basically carry his ass back to his room. Ha! He's probably still sleeping it off down in 13C.
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Retzack's mouth drops open as Shotz illuminates the situation. "Still in his..."
His voice trails off as he turns to go, slowly regaining his mental facilities. "Ah, well, you have been most helpful. I'll just pop down to 12, erm, 13C and see what the old chap is up to. If he's still able to walk we'll be back so we can catch up on old times, eh?
Oh, and if anyone asks, just tell them I wasn't here. The media circus that would otherwise follow would be bad for both you and me, yeah?
Shooter, Simmons, come on. We have a date."
Big Shooter stuffs his mouth full of the last bite of the lobster-and-artichoke dish he had been brought and steps into line. Simmons shakes Shotz's hand one last time and departs.
Back in the main area, Retzack stops by each member of the group. "Alright, he's probably still in 13C. And probably not alone. Let's go."
"Oh you don't say, 13C. Huh, we never could have found this valuable information without you. So glad we brought you on board voluntarily."
Sona considers, briefly, lifting her personal ban on organic interface modules to find out why those two tagalongs were suddenly so jellicle.
Missed that DD back there. Never mind actually. 2BR and Haeph will wander around the block, waiting for Sona's signal. If all goes well inside the brothel, they will quietly return to the ship.
Diplomacy isn't 2BR's strong suit, so until it breaks down, he's keeping out of it as much as possible.
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Sorry Grellick, next time I will give you advance warning before I get roofied, tortured, and mutilated. Your backup hasn't gotten here yet, you got their number? Dexter repies, pounding on the wall again, and looking over the furniture, trying to figure out anything about his prison.
BoT nudges Bone'ead and mutters "C'mon, he's going. Wolf down that last bite." Back in the control room, the elf-boy's stomach rumbles and he nibbles on some snacks from the ship's canteen, staring enviously at the pizza through his viewport. Making sure the ogre follows him, he lays in a course to follow Retzack. Not too closely though. He gave him the creeps.
Sorry Grellick, next time I will give you advance warning before I get roofied, tortured, and mutilated. Your backup hasn't gotten here yet, you got their number? Dexter repies, pounding on the wall again, and looking over the furniture, trying to figure out anything about his prison.
[dice=DR on the room]2d6
Cut the sass. I have confirmation that the team is on station. He gives you a number.
Nothing but you, your ear, and the dwarves is what it appears to be. You are in a holosuite, and the image disruptions from your pounding soon reveal that the holosuite exit is concealed beneath the wall opposite the holographic door. You also quickly locate the unit's storage locker, which contains your gear. The exit opens readily enough.
What do you do?
Retzack, BoT, Rotgut, and Sona make their way down to room 13C. It is locked, but you easily open it. Dexter, what do the find inside?
I presume that your investigation is interrupted by a comlink call. What do you do?
> Sona, awaiting your commands
When you open Dexter's room, the first thing you notice is the general shabbiness of it. the bed lacks a sheet, and sports a good collection of stains (Mostly blood stains), and the blankets are rumpled and pushed to one side. there is a half-full bag of space-M&M's on his bedside table, and in the draw there are a few maps of the place, with notes about various locations ("Good gnomish food", "Go here armed", "Nice place If you're feeling lonely", and "Probably an AOS front").\
in the far corners, it is messier still. in the right hand corner, there are about half a dozen two-litre bottles of soda, and in the right is a pile of clothing (about half of it his). in the centre of the far wall is a big screen TV, and under it a small computer (space-HDMI'd into the TV), and a com-chip necklace (usually used to smuggle data).
Meanwhile, Dexter retrieves his gear (good old shooty and stabby) and calls the team up on his comlink as he leaves the room to investigate where they took him.
Sona bolts upright from investigating the space M&Ms to receive an incoming hail.
> This is Sona, Theta model 3, acting Commander of a the crew of the Lucky Sixes.
> We are currently out on an investigation, but if you would like to leave a message, we can address your concerns in a timely fashion.
When you open Dexter's room, the first thing you notice is the general shabbiness of it. the bed lacks a sheet, and sports a good collection of stains (Mostly blood stains), and the blankets are rumpled and pushed to one side. there is a half-full bag of space-M&M's on his bedside table, and in the draw there are a few maps of the place, with notes about various locations ("Good gnomish food", "Go here armed", "Nice place If you're feeling lonely", and "Probably an AOS front").\
in the far corners, it is messier still. in the right hand corner, there are about half a dozen two-litre bottles of soda, and in the right is a pile of clothing (about half of it his). in the centre of the far wall is a big screen TV, and under it a small computer (space-HDMI'd into the TV), and a com-chip necklace (usually used to smuggle data).
Meanwhile, Dexter retrieves his gear (good old shooty and stabby) and calls the team up on his comlink as he leaves the room to investigate where they took him.
Dexter, you exit into the familiar halls of the VIP holosuite lounge of the Baker's Daughter. You are generally ignored by the large number of patrons in the waiting area. A service bot approaches the suite you just exited, presumably to turn it over for the next client. You see the large lizman, Shotz, enter the lounge on the far side of the large waiting area. He is about fifty feet from you but doesn't seem particularly interested in your presence.
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Dexter moves through the hallway, trying to get safely and inconspicuously back to the bar.
when he gets the machine, he curses, and says I am Barnabus Barclay. when you get this, meet me at the Baker's daughter. It is a bar, a motel, and a brothel on the cheapside of the station. he finishes, and closes the com, before wincing in pain. It's stuff like this that makes me wish I drank
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Sona is about to reply when the link goes dead. Shrugging, she moves to the corner of the room and starts washing and folding clothes.
The wringer on Sona's purifier grinds and thumps as she processes the clothes, churning out nutrient bar after nutrient bar before giving its last pitiful clunk. The clothes she manages to clean she folds into a nice, easy to pack pile on the nearest horizontal surface.
"Those are technically edible." She remarks, pointing to the stack of purplish-grey bars. They are in fact perfectly edible bars of clean, potable body lint and clotted blood.
> Pops, the mark is headed this way. Let me know when you spot him.
Dexter moves through the hallway, trying to get safely and inconspicuously back to the bar.
[dice=DD if nessesary]2d6+?
when he gets the machine, he curses, and says I am Barnabus Barclay. when you get this, meet me at the Baker's daughter. It is a bar, a motel, and a brothel on the cheapside of the station. he finishes, and closes the com, before wincing in pain. It's stuff like this that makes me wish I drank
You manage to slip out of the VIP area before the service bot raises an alarm. Looking over your shoulder you see Shotz rushing over to investigate your handiwork.
As you enter the main bar, you bump into Urista as she returns from waiting a table. She looks angry until she sees your ruined stump of an ear.
Ear blood! She takes a moment to come down. Then points a finger in your chest. Giant look you. She points down the stairs towards C level.
What do you do?
I flash Urista a smile, then she points to my room, and the smile fades Theres someone in my room? Who?, I say, rushing out. before I leave, I stop Lierin, and tell her That elf that toom me to her room, Adlynn, she roofied me. warn me if she comes around again. hoping shes fond enough of me to help me out. I rush to my room, to stop the snoops.
I flash Urista a smile, then she points to my room, and the smile fades Theres someone in my room? Who?, I say, rushing out. before I leave, I stop Lierin, and tell her That elf that toom me to her room, Adlynn, she roofied me. warn me if she comes around again. hoping shes fond enough of me to help me out. I rush to my room, to stop the snoops.
You find the snoops. What do you all do?
I burst into the room, gun drawn. Okay, four seconds to explain why the hell you're in my room, or I shoot the robo- Then I catch sight of Retzack, and it clicks. Oh, so you're the mercs Grelly sent, sorry about that, want some M&M'? I ask.
I look around my room, and notice their ministrations did you do the laundry? because that is gonna take me forever to sort through.
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Retzaack nods as the human survivor busts into his room. "My. Hyde, I presume. The rumors of your kidnapping, torture, and death have been greatly exaggerated."
Retzack looks around, feeling that there is little more to be done here. "Alright, we seem to have accomplished our mission. Dexter, it can be safely said that your cover here is thoroughly blown and you need to be reassigned. Specifically to us. Gather thy things. We have room for you aboard ship. Unless...you left behind live ones for me...erm, us, to interrogate?"
Big Shooter had been examining the room for traps or bugs (of either kind).
When no one is looking he stuffs the blood-and-sand bars into his pocket, his curiosity overcoming his revulsion.
BoT approaches Dexter and holds up one fist to the human's face. Then, the middle finger extends upward.
Just as the human is about to get offended, the tip of the middle finger slides to the side, revealing that the finger itself is hollow. The RAB points to the finger with his other hand. "M&M container," he explains. "Fill 'er up."
The first two were not, unfortunately, and that girl is still in danger, I'm not leaving her in the hands of the AOS Dexter says, holstering his pistol, and beggining to get his stuff together Should I leave these with Lierin, in case any of them come back to get their stuff? I mean, some of these are nice he thinks, smiling, as he puts aside the clothes that don't belong to him.
the Robot starts fliping him off, and he is thinking up a biting response, when it explains that it wants M&M's. He begins loading in M&M's (Eating a few himself), and asks You're a cyborg then? Wait, is that insensitive, do you prefer augmented human?.
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Retzack leans close to Simmons, talking low. "We're supposed to rescue someone else, too?" "Yeah, um, there was a female agent. Also kidnapped." "Hells bells how many people did that Gow yhun lose? Alright nevermind.'
He turns back to Dexter. "As it happens, dead ones work well too. Can you take me to them?"
Sona stays quiet. No reason to direct a group that hasn't misstepped yet. What's more, if she were to speak up, it would have to be to keep the crew on their assigned mission, which may involve interrupting the reckless rescue the crew seems set on.
Instead, she exchanges a quiet look with A'gatha.
BoT's visual interface holographic emitter, located in the center of his chest, flickers to life, projecting a (false) image of a matured-looking elf male wearing a transparent glass dome helmet. The flatscreen holo-image solidifies a few inches out and upward from the RAB's chassis. The made-up face is comprised of highly advanced facial mimicking software, and matches facial expressions perfectly to Jamee's actual face, but is visually altered to hide the fact that he's a youth. Speaking in a similarly altered voice, he says, "This robot's merely my remote avatar. This is the real me - my name's Jamee Lestrade. Nice to meet you." The elf hologram waves, and the RAB's same arm waves at the same time.
The elf hologram's expression grows serious. "Tell us about the situation your girlfriend is in."
Sona, Agent Hyde is alive and on the station. Rendezvous and locate our missing agent. I'm not sure what AOS has in mind for her, but it can't be good.
"Mr. Hyde, we are here to assist in locating a missing agent. Would you mind very much relaying any information you may have on the subject, and leading us to any location where we might be able to collect further intelligence?"
Okay Fangs, room A17 Ears, six million dollar chick, the details are pretty straightforward. this girl, Quibbick, nice girl, one of Grellick's diplomats, she's here to keep a foothold on the station. The AOS nabbed her. I tried to track her down, my style of hacking didn't work, are either of you good with other computers? Dexter says, pointing to Jaimee and Sona.
And by the way, what sort of team are you. tell me you specialize in stealth and infiltration, or at least extraction. I don't want Quibbick to get hurt, shes a nice girl he adds, scooping up the necklace and eating a handful of M&M's
"Cracking, or accessing?" Sona indicates BoT and herself respectively. "I can assure you with utmost confidence that our previous work was extraction, and it was successful."
Thorne raises an eyebrow, but nods. The two of them move for the door.
"I'll add you to the VOSSIP group, so you're in the loop."
VOSSIP? and I need to get past a password, which one is that Dexter says, fiddling with his knife I don't actually know much about computers, I'm just good with the people who use them He Flashes Sona a smile.
"Not to worry, I'll see to it you find machines working for you more often than not. Just don't let me find out you've broken a law without a well-thought-out defense." The smile is returned, and Sona holds the door for the rest of the group. "A17, you said?"
"When the machines are smarter than you are, you needn't worry about interfacing with them properly. She'll figure it out," he comments as he exits, gesturing with a nod of his head at Sona.
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As soon as "A17" is out of Dester's mouth, Retzack and his entourage dart out of the room and make a direct line for it.
The carnage bothers them not in the least, and for Retzack he hesitates only long enough to gather the scene.
He's not really sure what happened here. It doesn't really seem to make sense, but sometimes few things do.
He puts on the Epoch Lens, and all three faces of the dead people go in to the Death Mask.
With the Lens' he examines the chair, the fetters, and the personal effects of the remains. He doesn't expect much, but you never know.
Then he puts on the visage of the dead Elf and looks around the room, waiting for the dead person to start talking. If she at least has something to say about her dwarven help, that would be a place to start.
Seeing more than a few meatbags (some more literal than others) Sona checks again to see if there's anything she can interface with. Without cracking into VOSSIP lines, or actually predicting the future, Sona hopes to do what she can to generate predictive data on the persons present (alive and dead). It's hard doing these things without the ORACLE module, but sometimes you have to do things the old-fashioned way. On a hunch, she also checks multi-spectrum for any residue or unusual emissions in the area.
As the group approaches Shotz, Sona determines that Shotz has a relatively unsecure wireless connection to the Baker's Daughter's primary computer system. In a few seconds, a wealth of information becomes available.
What is about to happen?
Shotz' records indicate that death is no stranger in the Baker's Daughter's VIP holosuites. Previous victims were silently removed from the premises without alerting law enforcement.
What here is useful or valuable to Sona?
Access to Shotz's database.
What here is not what it appears to be?
This appears to be your run of the mill, morally questionable attempt to dispose of bodies.
Shotz eyes the group warily until he sees Retzack. Mr. Black, I'm terribly sorry but this section is currently closed. I'd be happy to take you to a suite on B level if you like.
What do you all do?
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Retzack smiles and claps Shotz on the arm, leaning in close. "It's okay, my friend. I know what happened here. These two," he indicates the bodies, "took from me that which is mine. My business here is just about done, but I need to confirm their identities. Do not worry, my friend. I will be quick, so that both of us can get back to the business of being...discreet. Kapiche?"
Retzack bends over both bags and opens them enough to look at the face, at which point he applies the Death Mask.
Sona does the gynoid equivalent of removing her earrings and wig and handing them to a trusted friend before violently mauling an offending person: she sends Jamee a UI message that says "hold my s~+%" and she leans against the nearest wall and shuts down externals.
The avatar that knocks on the access port of Shotz's NIC is dressed in polished black leather and wields an ivory rod and weal. At the touch of the rod, sweet red light traces the subcutaneous circuits of the port. Aside from entry, Sona wants to prep the port for a mass datastream upload from Shotz's hardware.
Are any of you, by chance, A medic? Hyde asks before everyone rushes off. if the answer is yes, he sticks around long enough to receive treatment, if not, he goes immediately to part two, but asks if Lierin knows a good doctor around here.
part 2
Dexter goes down into the bar portion of the Bakers daughter, and immediately orders a double rootbeer.He waits for Lierin (His special favorite) before he asks Do you guys have a "Lost and Found" or whatever, some girls left some stuff in my room, and I wanted to return them He says It looks like im heading out tomorrow, so it seems rude not to put them aside.
He pauses a moment before his next line [b]I'll miss you quite a bit, would you care to get a drink tonight, someplace... different?{/b] he asks, capitolizing on a week or so of flirting to try to get one last enjoyable moment out of this station.
Yaelin slides out of one of the other suites, pulling her glasses back on. In the process of lighting a cigarette, she discovers her belt is undone, and rectifies the issue with her free hand as she takes a drag. She spots your bleeding skull, and flaggs you down with her cig. "Commandant she-hitler said you've sprung a leak? You on this decade's vaccines, or the last one? 'S verry important, completely different probe. Different hole, too."
Ummm... I got a few re-upped last year, after an interesting night on... wait, probes? Hyde says, stepping back Who the hell are you?