The Wrecking Crew (Inactive)

Game Master Ryuko

Each of you finds a strange message in your inbox upon awakening for the morning.

Feel free to describe your living quarters, routine, character, etc.

Slide flows out of bed after reading the message, and starts getting dressed. Truth be told, he's not that attached to this cop (it's more of an occassional business relationship than "friendship," but he read nuyen signs between the lines, and the landlord's been barking down his neck for the rent lately. He loads up his Ares Predator, and stuffs one pocket with a couple of green rubber snakes, just in case.

*Yawning blearily Deirde stretches and rolls out of bed. Still wearing a t-shirt and gym shorts her cornsilk hair spills over her shoulders (one fleshly and one shining, well polished chrome). For the time being ignoring the flashing message light in the corner of her vision she instead takes a relatively hot shower and eats some 'waved synth bacon for breakfast*

" 'Oy; a'right then lesse wha' this is all about then. "

*The message opens before her eyes and she quickly takes it in with a grin*

"Twisted Nights eh? Ha ha ha; a'right then Mr.Johnson I'll play yer lattle game then. And what the 'ell is a compatreoot. Are he talkin' about mah friends? Pfft; that wankah's a schoolboi or a corp slag for sure. *snickers*"

*Now starting to hurry a bit Deirdre hop-dances about into her favorite pair of hip hugging jeans (a bit torn and faded but not unfashionably so) before pulling on a pair of no nonsense leather biking boots. Rummaging her small closet she tosses various articles of clothing hither and yon before hastily pulling on a tired old t-shirt that strains to contain her un-elf-like proportions. Lastly she shrugs on her armored racing jacket; a black leather affair with a logo on the back of a skull and two crossed checkered flags.*

"Best shoo' a lattle message ovah ta Kid an see if 'e got somefin aboot this. They'll 'ave rang him up too f'sure. Looks like it's goin' ta be an interestin' day."

*Already composing a message she checks the ammo in her Fichetti and buckles on her wide leather belt (the one she keeps her Cougar Fineblade on) before blowing out of her run down apartment with her helmet in one hand and an energy drink in the other*

Son of a b*#!~!

Neko stared at the two pictures, aghast. They really had him by the balls. The first one showed him halfway through changing form. The second showed a panther, its eyes glowing with reflected glare, as it methodically devoured a haunch of troll.

The bastard had really had it coming to him, the troll was a part of a human trafficking organization that supposedly hired girls from the ground levels to work in brothels. Their storey went that the women would do their time working between the sheets for a few years then leave with a nice bonus and a shot at life a few floors up. Most of the poor girls had gone right to the chop shops, their organs gone to buy a few more years for some sarariman upstairs. They'd lured in one of the Tribe's girls and turned her into spare parts before he could chase them down... the new man in charge of their operations in this district didn't come anywhere near their neighborhood.

Where could those photos had come from?! A microdrone most likely... but how had they known to keep an eye on him? This 'Mr. Johnson' might give him a fair deal, but he didn't like being over a barrel. He'd have to ask a few of the boys what could be done about this sort of thing...

Neko has a signature style as well, although I had already reached the limit for negative qualities so I didn't bother taking points for it. When he wants to leave the message that someone should stay the f**@ away from the tribe, he leaves a Maneki Neko statue at the site of the kill. If they dig into it, most people end up believing that a powerful beast spirit has been sent to do the deed.

Starting nuyen: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 6, 1) + 9 = 17*50 = ¥850

"Well you certainly are the start of something are you?" Kid mumbled to himself around a bite of sugar flakes. The plans looked legitimate but with all the numbers filed off so to speak it was hard to tell, "If they are right it'll certainly make for a faster bike."

Shrugging and leaving the plans on the table Alan returned to his room and got dressed for the day... not that he had much to do currently. Between jobs most people would have called it, perhaps considering it a bit of a vacation. Alan hated it -- it made him feel useless and a bit adrift... the last garage he had worked for was a corporate type, they hadn't allowed bereavement so when he had to get the details worked out when his mother had passed on and was late to work they canned him. So far the few other garages he had put in for had liked his work but were afraid he was a spy or corporate saboteur.

Having eaten and dressed Kid moved to his 'living room' -- not that the size of it was much, all told he had maybe 1,000 square feet... but he didn't have to deal with much rationing and it was big enough to keep his bike inside and work on it some. He had to shell out a bit more for a clean pad to keep the site manager happy but once that was in place on the floor the only thing the man cared about was the fact Kid stated ahead on his rent -- it was enough that he was polite enough to Alan usually.

The rest of the day was pretty plain -- fiddling with his bike, sending off a reply to D-Frag confirming he had gotten a message and when he was planning on leaving, and sending off a few more resumes took up his time until lunch.

He headed over to where his sister worked for lunch, one to keep the money in the family and two to let her know about having a possible job offer (not that she needed to know doing what yet).
4d6 + 12 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 2) + 12 = 25 * 100 Starting Nuyen

Twisted Nights is, to put it bluntly, tacky. The entire place is entirely too dark and what isn't difficult to see is obscured by day-glo nano-paint in swirling patterns, changing constantly. This doesn't seem to bother the regulars, who have begun arriving by the time you get there. The bar seems not to know what a 'beer' is and serves the brightest mixed drinks you've ever seen, which the regulars have begun drinking in earnest quickly. The entire place is topped with a huge mirror, Matrix enabled and thus showing every person's PAN as a multicolored aura and giving a clue as to their tastes and interests. The club is strangely quiet until you switch to the appropriate station on your Commlink, which as soon as you do blares emoti-synth music, calculated to force the metahuman mind into a 'partying' mood of being a little more loose and impulsive, but ignorable with a little effort.

Winching at the 'music' for the area Kid turns his Comm off, letting the bud zip back to the unit -- watching the ceiling as his PAN fades from view, he didn't see anyone he recognized right off the bat, but he was also wasn't use to such a scene. Moving to the bar Kid flags the bartender. Sliding the man a suitable tip Kid tells the man, "I want to see the most Twisted room in the place." Mentally winching again at the very idea of what might be concerned even more twisted than the psychedelic main room.

Slide sidles up to the bar at Twisted Nights, and he can feel his eye start to twitch at the flashing lights around him. He sniffs and wipes his nose as he pulls on the bartender's cuff.

"Yo, ain't this supposed to be 'Twisted Nights?' I was looking for somethin' a little more twisted. Show me the most twisted room you got, chill?"

*Deirdre roars up on her blindingly white bike, nickle and gold plating sparkling in the half-light of the streets. Purple ground effects seethe hypnotically under the chassis and a rampant unicorn lunging forward horn first is emblazoned as a black silhouette on either side of the front. A skull with a pink bow on it's head is slapped haphazardly on the rear. Pulling her helmet off; silken tresses spill down over her shoulders as she hangs her helmet on one of the handle bars. Ignoring the admiring looks and occasional cat calls with a sour grimace and a flex of her well polished cybernetic arm she barges into the club shouldering past several club go-ers that try to hit on her*

"Pis off; yeh lug I en't 'ere to give you somefin to look at. So WHAT ARE YOU lookin' at I said SOD OFF you !#&%^$".

*She tunes into the music and relaxes a little bit; stopping to order a neon green drink and dance a little before bellying up to the bar for another "refreshment" and a little chit chat with the bartender*

"Ere now; I wanna see the mos' twisted rum in the place"

*socking back another swig of drink she grins at her reflection in the ceiling mirror as she wonders what might happen next*

Starting Nuyen Roll: 3d6 + 0 ⇒ (6, 4, 4) + 0 = 14 x 50

Neko was surprised they kept the club kept so dark- the norms probably had a hard time seeing in here... of course, it didn't look like this was a club for norms. Most of the kids in here had some obvious chrome showing and the others were probably well enough off buy the stuff that looked real.

He had arrived around 7pm to give him time to get a feel for the place, and was starting to have a good time even though it wasn't really his sort of scene. He had one of his burner commlinks with him, imaged with his usual array of programs and media. In the mirror above, the ork's reflection is shrouded in a purple-blue aura that pulses and ripples in tune with the music. On his first trip up to the bar he just asked for something red. It was spicy and fruity and a little sweet, but not bad. On his second visit to the bar, around 7:50, he asks for another drink and complains "Hey, this scene is pretty tame. I want to see the most twisted room in this place!"

The bartender, a rather sloppy looking troll, nods at your requests and points you to a door near the back of the club, which has two men standing in rather sharp suits near it. As you approach you can see that one is a rather thin dwarf while the other is a human with a bright blue steel datajack glinting on his temple. The dwarf steps forward with an upraised hand as the human pulls out a small scanner which he plugs into his datajack and then runs over each of you, stopping for a moment at your weapons, then steps back politely and motions you inside.

There are stairs past which open to a small door which puts you right on top of the dance floor, above the Matrix-enhanced, apparently two way, mirror. The 'most twisted room in the place' is in fact rather tame, comparatively, and looks like nothing more than a quite dark meeting room. Sitting at the table is a well dressed ork with a small set of glasses showing the telltale gleams of Matrix overlay and seems to be interacting with some sort of file, flipping his finger to scroll. Two other men in slightly less well-tailored suits stand at either side of the door in the classic bodyguard stance, each not even glancing at you as you step into the room. When he notices you the ork immediately turns off his glasses and then steps forward with a winning smile. "Nice to meet you, I am Mr. Johnson." He says, his smile showing his rather prominent canines and outlined by his impeccably coifed hair.

Neko doesn't trust that smile, hell he doesn't trust corporate trogs in general and this ork definitely looks like a 'made man'.
He gives a small chuckle and shows a Cheshire cat grin, "Of course you are. So, what's this all about?

Aside from the stairway we just entered from, are there any other exits to this room?

*Casually switches her drink to her other hand; so that her cyberarm is free; and then takes another sip while eyeing the bodyguards with a smirk*

"Yeh; I'm wif 'im on this un...you're got us all 'ere now wha' is it? I don't think you invited us 'ere to sip cocktayls an dance wif yer 'ired maries *grinning at the bodyguards* so spill it Mr.Johnson"

Are we *walking* on the two-way matrix enhanced mirror? If so how sturdy does it feel?

Kid tries not to smile when they scan for weapons, "You could have just asked, I'm not carrying." When they finish he shakes Mr. Johnson's hand if it was offered, "Good evening. Hello D-Frag, I see it was the same person after all."

Looking at the others in the room with him Kid almost frowned... Neko wasn't someone he knew personally, but he had seen him before and knew enough that to leave him and his alone. It seemed odd that someone like him would have anything to do with engines or motorcycles, perhaps this job was going to be a bit shadier than he had thought.

*grins and nods at Kid; raising her glass of fluorescent green booze*

Slide nods a cursory greeting to everyone else, then slips into a chair near the corner of the room, leaning back and watching the others get settled.

There are no other exits and you are walking on the mirror, though it seems entirely sturdy. You are uncertain if it would hold up to gunfire, but it hasn't moved even under the weight of seven metahumans, a table and several chairs.

Mr Johnson shakes any hands offered and acknowledges each of you by your street handle before sitting down and removing his glasses. "I am glad that all of you could make it. I represent an anonymous executive who sits in a spot of fair power within one of the AAA Megacorporations. He is offering you a job." He motions and a screen behind him activates, showing highlights from a recent UCB Race. You recognize SkyRide, a tall, athletic Elf who rides with the Scorpions, as he leaps from the back of an allies bike and onto the top of a van. Then a scene where M-Disc, one of the trolls of Mean Green, jumps his bike between two freeways as a shortcut. Each scene following simply gets more ridiculous, showing some of the best scenes of the last couple months on the circuit. The highlight reel continues as Mr. Johnson speaks.

"I know that each of you has managed to participate in at least one race of Urban Combat Biking. The Executive I represent believes that none of you will be able to go further without a team, and, more importantly, financial backing with powerful influence." Mr. Johnson places a small stack of four datachips on the table, sliding them towards you. "These chips contain data on an Urban Combat Biking race, exclusive and invite-only for a Mr. Machita, who runs a significant portion of the Yakuza in the mid-level depths. It will also contain special information on the course, and a few dossiers on what other teams we were able to find information on. My employer will pay you 6000 nuyen, in addition to the winners purse and certain... sensitive data or other payments promised to each of you, if you are able to win the race 'in the money'. You will receive 2000 upon agreement to participate in the race, and will be allowed to keep this deposit even if you are unable to finish the race in a significant place." Johnson rested his hands together in a contemplative pose. "Do you have any questions?"

Slide tries not to drool at the thought of 2000 nuyen up-front. That would keep the landlord off his back and food on the table for at least another month or two. But he knew about how the Yakuza tolerated failure, and he preferred to keep his pinkie fingers.

"Why is this bigwig so eager to sponsor a UCB team?" he asks. "And why us in particular?"

Neko stares hard at Mr. Johnson, "I think you know that I'm in no position to turn this deal down, but why all the cloak and dagger? Why not just talk to my agent?"

Alan frowns, not that the money was bad or that he had specific reason to believe that the Johnson was lying but with the bit of dealings he had with corps before he didn't believe they were getting all the details.

"I've got a couple of questions," Alan announces holding up a hand ticking of the question on his fingers as he talks, "1. Is this a public sponsorship? 2. What race is this for? 3. Why not use his own men? and finally 4. do you have a working model of the engine yet, and why provide such astounding technology as payment for a single race when instead you could keep it in house and sell it yourselves?"

*Tosses back the rest of her drink and sets the glass down on the closest table. While the others start to question Mr. Johnson she puts her hands on her hips and directs an appraising gaze at these prospective team mates. She knows Kid has the chops, the spirit and as a plus the mechanical experience. Is he hard enough though? Frowning she turns her gaze to the ork. Neko was it? He looks tough; a little on the scrawny side for an ork but that just means has to be twice as tough as everyone else. How does he handle a bike though? And then a wiry looking human called Slide...not heard of him so that's a mystery then. With a shrug she drops her 1,000 yard stare; unknown odds are the best kind and if I can't count on my mechanic and 2 strangers to watch my bike in race who can I count on...chuckling inwardly at her little joke she steps up and joins the fracas around Mr. Johnson*

A'right Mr.Johnson; them sounds loik pre'y good terms ta me wif un lattle detail missin'...you throw in sum kinda med coverage and yeh got yairsalf a deal. We're nar gonna get tore up winnin' 1st place in this thing so's we can spen' that loverly payout of yers on 'ospital bills eh? *grinning she stretches tawnily and then folds her arms over chest*

Mr. Johnson takes each of your questions in turn. "My employer wishes to sponsor UCB because it is a growing venture, a 'booming market' if you will. You're the best we could find who didn't have enough backing to get us lost in the shuffle. The truth if you need money, hardware and influence or each of you would simply stop caring after awhile." He smiles at Neko in a predatory fashion. "Would you like us to give the information we are holding to your agent Mr. Neko? Besides, I personally do this kind of thing for a living. I'm simply a connection, and the 'cloak and dagger' keeps me alive." Kid's astute questions seemed to please him. "Good questions. 1, No it is not. You will not know what Corporation sponsored you, or the name of your provider unless you manage to do particularly well. Should you begin to gain enough prestige you will no longer be deniable assets, and my employer will reveal himself so that you can ensure the world knows that he was sponsoring you from the first. Should you fail, he will simply forget you existed, and that this messy little venture lost a profit. 2, For now the sponsorship is for one race. Do well enough and it will continue. 3, Refer to number 1. Using corporate assets would fail to allow us deniability and increase our costs further. 4 is complicated. For one, my employer cannot use the technology, it is technically still owned by Yamatetsu, even though they have been absorbed, and thus placing it on the market would be extremely illegal and bad for the company image. That, of course, will not actually stop us. The intent right now is to put forward our specialized new brand of engine which is not as advanced as this one in order to reap the profits, before releasing this one in a year or two, hopefully with a UCB rider able to claim how much better it is and thus increase sales. By that point our hackers should be able to eliminate any trace of it being a Yamatetsu product. We get more money, from both lines of engines, and avoid a messy lawsuit." At D-Frag he looks askance. "Not likely Ms. With 6000 nuyen you will be able to afford a basic Lifelink plan for a year, perhaps you shall pick that up first thing after the race, but the risks are part of the reward milady."

Lifelink is the Japanese equivalent of DocWagon. If you're unsatisfied with the deal you may make a Negotiation check to attempt to gain more from it.

"Keep a clean nose and you might be worth our time, eh?" Alan chuckles a bit, "It'll make the run a bit more difficult, but whatever. One last question -- I get the rest of the specs after the race, build the engine, prototype it out for you, what sort of assurance do I have that Yamatetsu isn't going to come down on me like a falling layer?"

He shifts his weight and straightens up, "Not that I'm adverse to a bit of risk, but if I got a new engine running that's that much better I'm going to have enough people after me in the circuit, I would hope to know that I'm not going to royally piss off a big corp while I'm at it."

Neko gives D-Frag and appraising look and decides to throw his weight behind her request; it seems the area that Mr. Johnson might be most willing to budge.

"Look, you know my record and you know that I'm willin' to bleed a little to see a job done right. I just want some assurance that I won't be left bleedin' in the street if some Yakuza fanboy decides that the best way to give his team a leg-up is to slag the competition. I'll put my neck on the line for your sponsor but I want him to properly insure it- just like any other corporate asset..."

Negotiation(2) + Charisma(3) 5d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 3, 6) = 24 = 3 successes

The ork seems to blink in surprise. "Other than that Yamatetsu does not currently exist? However, Evo, as it was renamed after the Matrix Crash, will be far too busy with securing the other information that successful shadowrun took from them to be worried about an engine prototype. Not a garauntee but there are few garauntees in our business Mr. Kid." Johnson seems to consider Neko's request, then relents slightly. "Our corporation cannot be seen to sponsor you quite yet but... I suppose we could have a Corporate Ambulance nearby, with rush orders for each of you. It should be even more quick than LifeLink would be in the race circumstances. From there we will see." Mr. Johnson stands with a smile. "Now if we are finished with the questions I suggest you move your discussion elsewhere. I have only rented the room for the meeting and the troll behind the bar is very particular about loitering." He stops, miming forgetting something. "Oh yes. Here." From his pocket he pulls a small stack of cards. "For the fans. We've named you The Wrecking Crew."

"That's good enough for me about the engine." Alan replies, the line of questions were simply to confirm his suspicion that they didn't have a working prototype and that they would be looking at his to figure out what it could and couldn't do, "Wrecking Crew is fine too. You know another thought is perhaps simply a name of a doctor that would work on credit or on an understanding until we 'hit the big time' so to speak."

The insurance bit didn't phase Alan too much... he had his own contract having learned long ago that he preferred his employer not knowing his every medical quirk if he could help it.

oops lack of player knowledge there sorry, but that works!

*D-Frag cackles gleefully and gives Neko a playful sock on the arm (not with her cybernetic arm) before bouncing excitedly*

"Now we're talkin'; just need a little wagon on the side t'make sure nuffin regrettable 'appens. You wil'nay be disappointed Mr. Johnson - you take care of us 'an we'll take care of you. Take care of you; and take care of the competition. 'Oy look at us Kid we're propah UCB leagers now whaddaya think 'o that? Now hoo wants ta find a joint with some bettah music and grab a few? First rounds' on D-Frag"

*She jauntily swipes a few cards and tucks them in her jacket pocket on the way past Mr.Johnson*

Yeah, I'll "take care of" Mr. Johnson alright...

With a parting glower at Mr. Johnson Neko takes the data chip and a some of the cards. He takes one last deep breath before he goes to fix the guy's scent in his memory; he'd put up with the high-pressure recruitment for a chance to get ahead in his UCB career but if the ork ever overplayed his hand he'd learn just who he was messing with!

Neko's sort of joint was a traditional bar with a good selection of alcohol where people go to get drunk with a minimum of distractions from modern amusements. What the hell though, if they were going to be a team he might as well get to know them a little- wait. D-Frag? He'd heard of her before... she'd stirred up a lot of interest a while back when she joined her first race. There'd been a lot of speculation about what kind of 'ware she was sporting, and hadn't she broken that guy's arm when he copped a feel? Hmm... this team of Mr. Johnson's might have something going for it...

"I'm in, do you have any place in particular in mind?"

Fame check for D-Frag: Logic(2)+Intuition(3) 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 6, 4) = 24 = 3 successes

"I know a dive where we can talk without too much problems -- it won't be as exciting but the drinks are good, the prices aren't insane and the patrons leave well enough alone." Alan offers picking up his share of the cards from the table.

Deirdre squinted at Neko and scratched her chin thoughtfully for a second; feeling sure on closer inspection that she had seen him somewhere before...but where?

Composure Roll (1):5d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 2, 6) = 20 >> 2 successes

That's where I know him from; saw him on a trid highlight last month when I was grabbing a knosh down at that sake bar. He plowed through a debris barricade and took out too chumps on over-the-counter rice burners. So he's the real deal then...that's good. Now if I knew a little something about this "Slide" character that would be even better.

"Ah joost about anywhere'd be bettah than 'ere. Kid if ya gotta joint in mind then let's roll I need a real drink and some music that en't sa frooty. Don' get meh wrong it's catchy an all for a bit but it's just not mah scene. Prefer a lattle grunge er goblin rock meself; or some period piece classeck rock."

Shooting a curious glance over her shoulder at Slide before directing her attention forward Deirdre begins busily muscling, elbowing and plowing her way back out through the crowd with a certain amount of belligerent relish.

Slide sidles up to Dierdre as they walk out of the meeting room. He'd caught that glance she'd thrown his way. Someone wanted to bring a little slip to his Slide.

"Yo baby," he says. "You D-Frag, yeah? It looks like we on a team now. What you say we do a little team-buildin' exercises at your place?"

Seduction roll (default on Con): 1d6 ⇒ 1
Critical glitch!

Oh god I see this going well. Feel free to come up with whatever you like. I will pop back in when you choose to do anything pretaining to the story.

LOL; Willpower Roll: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 = 0 successes.

Deirdre spins around from blazing a trail through the teeming throng of dancing club-goers; teeth grinding and eyes blazing and both fists clenched with rage. Her jacket slides down a few notches to rest just below her shoulders...faint luminescence from the glowing tattoos of thorned ivy on her left shoulder paint her face in greenish light.

"Wha'....did...yoo......jus'....say?" A flush begins to creep into her face highlighting the light spattering of freckles around her cheeks.

Subconscious Intimidation Roll (Directed into the crowd):
Cha + Intimid(Mental) - 6d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6, 6, 1, 6) = 31 = 5 successes

People in the area around Deirdre who had already started to back away when she started jostling the crowd now actively press back from this short but psychotic looking firebrand with the chrome arm. A ripple of anxious muttering which is only audible to those not tuned in to the music of the club makes it's way through the mass of humanity and meta-humanity.

D does love a good bar brawl; but if someone can say something to stop her it might be more productive in the long run to just get on to Kid's hangout spot so we can chew the fat over that data chip Mr. Johnson gave us XD

Ooops! As Neko noted in the Discussion thread those 5s are successes - that's my mistake! I'll dial her down on my next post; or if someone says something first she'll bite her tongue.

Face flushed with anger Deirdre facepalms with a grimace and struggles to bring her temper back in check.

"Look...'jus; 'jus ferget it but dinnae treat meh like a bleach blonde doxy agin' yoo got it? M'no one's doxy; and Ah've broken limbs fer less but you and me we're mates now - we're on tha same team. Gonna ferget 'ya pushed one 'o mah buttons and 'just let it go. Les get movin'."

She turns around and gets back to shoving her out of the crowd; which seems all too happy to give her some space now.

I was going to suggest he buy you a drink first ;)

As they file out of the building Neko takes a look at the bikes parked in front and picks out the UCB vehicles of his new team with a practiced eye. There were several Mirages and other fast bikes out here, but only a few were standing dead upright showing the telltale sign of some heavy-duty aftermarket gyros. Two of the remainder are easy to pick out; the machineguns are a dead giveaway. The other... probably that covered deal, he thought he remembered seeing it in a race once but it was hard to be sure. It was a wiz bike and probably plenty fast but he couldn't imagine doing a UCB race in it. Not a single gun, and you couldn't shoot out of it with all that armor between you and the action. The other one looked like a solid combat bike, if a little boring... he was curious to see which one was Slide's and which was Kid's.

Now D-Frag's bike is another story! He walks around the gleaming white and gold bike appreciatively; he firmly believed that the sport was as much about the personality you showed during a race as is was the guns and crashes. "So, what kind of engine do you have in there? It looks like a modded Ares Wildcard..." Neko makes small talk about her bike and its mods as they ride to the dive that Kid mentioned. He'd probably bring Kid in on the conversation, if it was mentioned that he was the mechanic that had done a lot of the work on it.

Kid walked over to his bike chuckling a bit at Slide, "Buddy let me give you a bit of advice -- you try to pop a wheelie on that one all you are going to do is dump yourself off."

Once outside Kid walked to his bike -- it was fairly nondescript covered affair, with side by side wheels. The engine was covered, hiding it from public view but it was obvious there weren't any weapons mounted -- just armor which covered the rider and possibly a passenger (if they weren't Orc or Troll size), "Alright it's a calmer part of town but Slide don't be putting any moves on the staff -- the owner don't like it much and the staff don't either."

He tossed a chip to each of them, "You all have nav right? That'll keep me on your screen if I start to lose you."

He waits while they key the chips (or not) before starting it up. The engine starts smoothly and the constant thrum of a strong engine that doesn't need to announce its presence with a lot of show is easily heard.

Looking around Alan asks, "You all ready?"

Deirdre forgets her momentary flare of temper as soon as Neko comments on her bike; then she is only too happy to preen over her baby like a proud mother and gossip about bike building and bike parts.

"Yeh it is; r' use t'be afore Kid got done wif it. Shood'a seen it; 'e 'ad it all over 'is floor. We bored out tha fuel cylunders, swapped in some parts and made a lotta lattle changes. Was a good time it was"

She catches the chip that Kid tosses and slots it in her datajack; loading it up.

"'Ave we got nav? Who're ye talkin' to ha ha ha? Got the best nav I could afford; time is money when yer a courier on tha side. Don't hurt when yer lookin' for shortcuts in a UCB match neither."

She presses her palm to the biometric reader on her bike and says "Burn baby burn"; to which the bike replies by starting up with a deep purr. Tucking her hair carelessly into her helmet she opens a voice channel on her commlink.

"Ready"

Neko slots the chip in his 'link and sends it to his bike. As he settles into the broad and comfortable seat he pulls his helmet on and tells Sarge where they're going and how the meeting went. [smaller]So it looks like we got a team now. We might have to whip 'em into shape, but we could've done worse. Now, this ride's for fun- no need for a targeting solution on these guys..."[/b]

He listens to Sarge's chatter as the persona program goes over the system status until Kid's voice cuts in. "Ready, let's ride! A body-shaking rumble rolls through the street as Neko revs his engine. Of course this wasn't a race, but he'd be damned if he was the last one there!

Yes, Neko talks to his bike.

Very cool. If you'd like to race there, you can make it a simple Driving check for now. I don't imagine you'll want a crazy ass course for something like this. I don't see anyone crashing on their way to the bar.

Slide pops the chip into Margaret, revs the engine, and takes off with an extra little boost of power that you only get from years of knowing your bike.

Pilot Ground Craft:16d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 2, 6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 2, 6, 1, 1, 6, 3, 3) = 60= 6 hits
Using +20% acceleration from Gearhead quality, just because I can.

Deirde laughs and guns her engine in response; enjoying the pure thrill of the ride and the friendly competition. Not one to be outdone she pulls up her AR display and with a feral grin turns on her wired reflexes as drops into high gear on her bike. AR paints a neon display that she follows with an effortless grace; squeezing every last drop of performance out of her ride with almost instinctual ease.

Pilot Ground Craft: 15d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 6, 3, 3, 5, 2, 1, 4, 4, 6, 2, 6, 6, 6) = 62 >> 7 hits

That includes +2 from specialization; +1 handling from Gearhead this scene; +1 from Enhanced Articulation; +1 for using AR and her increase to Reaction from Wired Reflexes. If enhanced articulation doesn't work on drive rolls it is only 6 hits.

Neko speeds toward the bar. He almost overshoots it, caught up in the simple joy of motion.

Pilot check: Handling(3) + Reaction(3) + Pilot(8) + AR(1) = 15d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 1, 2, 4, 1, 1, 6, 6, 5, 1, 5, 6, 1) = 47 ⇒ 5 successes

Hmm... maybe he will be last :P

That's the first time I've added up the bonuses. I didn't think I'd end up with that many dice- spiffy!

Kid focuses inward subtly heightening his Reaction time:
Attribute Boost: Magic(6)+Power Focus(1)+Attribute Boost(1) = 8d6 = 8d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 6, 5, 5, 4, 5) = 33 = 4 hits

With that done he revs up Epicurious and takes off.

Pilot check: Handling(1)+Reaction(8)+Pilot(3)+AR(1) = 13d6 = 13d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 3, 6, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 4) = 61 = 9 Hits

Pulling up to the bar just behind the others, Neko rubs his chin with a bit of chagrin as he considers the display of driving he'd seen from this new team. 'Wrecking Crew' indeed; given a bit of time to practice together this group could really go places. He still didn't like the Johnson, but had to give him credit for the team he'd put together.

He couldn't wait to get a few drinks in everyone and chat about what they had 'under the hood' in their bikes (and maybe their 'ware, if he could figure out a way to ask without sounding too rude). His helmet under one arm, he joins the others, "Heh, last one in. Guess the second round's on me..."

After they're all seated with their drink of choice at a relatively secluded table, Neko slots the chip Mr. Johnson had given them to find out what this race was all about.

That's your cue, Ryuko!

Time to eat my drain! My understanding is that the drain is going to be 4 from the number of hits I got on the ability. I resist with Body and willpower so 5d6 5d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 3, 2, 4) = 15 = 1 hit = 3 stun.

Getting to the bar first had should have been fairly easy -- after all he knew where he was going more than the others, but D-Frag started edging ahead, and slide and Neko wouldn't let that go and before he knew it they were all jockeying for position.

Damn -- I wouldn't have had a chance if I hadn't boosted before we started Kid thinks to himself as they go in, the fatigue from the magic coursing through his body setting in, but they don't have to know that I guess!

The bikes were in good shape that was for sure, won't have to worry to much about keeping them in order and ready I guess Alan thought to himself as he held the door open.

"Thanks Kid; y'r a gentl'mun an' a scholar!"

Luxuriating in the afterglow of a good run; Deirdre bounds through the door with a cheerful wink for Kid and stops inside to wait for the others...hands on hips as she checks the place out.

Love a good race; and they're good..oh yes they're all good. I can hardly wait to actually get out on a course and do some serious damage.

Slide felt he should have beaten the rest of those losers to the bar, but if he had to be on someone's tail for the whole drive, this D-Frag girl was definitely his first choice. He orders a drink, then slips into a seat by the others.

"Neko who did the work on your bike? Getting it sculpted like that had to cost a fortune." Kid asked as they went in, "It has to be slowing you down some, have you considered trying to lose some weight and throw a mirage engine in it... wait are those smart tires? I didn't think anyone ran with those."

Any of you can consider this what happens when you boot up the chips

"This pre-recorded message brought to you by the Aztechnology Striker. When it just has to go." The advertisement is accompanied by a slowly revolving Striker rocket launcher on one side and a bit of video of the Striker blowing a building down on the other.

"Welcome all contestants to the Yakuza Closed Circuit Urban Combat Biking Event." States a tall man in traditional Japanese dress as he waves his arms to make images appear. "The course on race day will take you through the heart of Tokyo. We expect most racers to remain in the mid-levels, though of course rising or falling is not disallowed. The Course will consist of grabbing, in correct order, the ribbons placed near several of our historic Tokyo landmarks. The race will start at Yellow Sector Highway 83, near classical Tokyo Tower. Contestants will then have to make their way East towards the Rainbow Bridge. Then they will turn sights North, likely crossing the bridge, to Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower. Finally they will race down free and clear Highway 34 towards The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Tower. Each landmark will have it's own personal challenges for the contestants to face, but let's leave those a surprise shall we?" The man smiles a toothy grin, bows and then disappears.

Afterward, obviously cut in, comes Mr. Johnson. "Good day to you, member of The Wrecking Crew. My own men have found out a few of the challenges. For one, they intend upon race day to announce that each metahuman who crosses the finish line must hold one of your teams ribbons in order to count. The ribbons must be collected in order unfortunately. At the Rainbow Bridge they will have the ribbons placed somewhere high up. You will have to climb, fly or otherwise ascend to one of the arches in order to gain the ribbon. At the Cocoon Tower the ribbon will be inside. You will have to walk, talk, sneak or break your way through the security of the Renraku offices there in order to gain the ribbons. Finally, at the Tokyo Government Tower, Knight Errant will be called, and will be on scene to stop any 'illegal street racing activities'. They have been bribed not to use lethal force, but they can take you in if they catch you. Good Luck."