.
Blip
Dot, as they say.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The training wheels were off, in more ways than one. Six weeks into her new position, and they were throwing her to the wolves, so to speak. It was frustrating, but she would manage. She shrugs her furs higher onto her shoulders and takes the dispensed recaff from the machine in her cubical. Careful to lean into her cane, she makes her way back to her chair and eases herself back into its polygel cushions. LaChessa already felt safer in the chair than out, an impulse she buried with disdain.
A panoramic sphere, projected through the Veil, displays the Telesist™ conference countdown. It's one of the few affectations LaChessa allows inside her cubical- unless she's expecting visitors. She still doesn't trust that it's real, of course, but it's in her contract that she have control over the projections in her own cubicle "to the fullest extent of corporate facility".
She tests the recaff with a finger: too hot. She'll have to put in a service ticket again. Helpdesk™ was useless. She'd have to brave the lower pantheon without the chemical stimulant.
The countdown blinks, and LaChessa activates her confessional motif, filling the cubical with the trappings of garish opulence: tapestries, furs, and gold-weave silks, all in intricate pattern-work, and all on-brand. The lower pantheon materialize in a section of the room that was not previously there. A few unexpected faces, and nobody from the top tier. LaChessa mimes taking a sip of the too-hot recaff. Her own veil displaying a decades-younger version of herself.
"Mmm! So good to see you! Please, relax, take a seat. What can Mz. LaChessa do for you?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rache sat in the middle of Kosto Corp.'s lush grotto, the water and grass centering her. It wasn't cheap to bring so much nature into the 'scrape like this, but it was worth it. She didn't know what she'd do if she couldn't dip her feet in the water every so often.
Her HUD chirped at her urgently. There was a new violation. She moved quickly to the stark conference room that her mother used as a set to establish each episode of "GiriGirl." The chrome and mirrors in the conference room chilled Rache as she moved from the warmth and life of her grotto.
She sat in one of the high-backed executive chairs, clearly designed by someone who had a blood-vendetta against spines.
She positioned her body to place Tybalt and his glass paneled control room out of the frame. From the corner of her meat eye, she could see him flash her a smile and count backwards from five on his fingers.
And five...four... He continued the rest of the countdown silently. When all fingers were down, Rache could feel her tech eye spin up, timecode flashing in the corner of her vision. The red recording light blinked on in the middle of her iris (a legal requirement for anyone with built-in recorders). Her mother entered from the sliding door (that the audience believed lead to Revanche's office but Rache knew really lead to their well-appointed green room.
Mother was wearing a thick layer of screen makeup. She approached the view monitor and brought up this episode's target...
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Umidiz, She grew up on level 1176, same as me. the two of us were been pretty similar, both quiet, good at hiding, neither of us were part of the gangs. the 1100 through 1250's, right.
She and I both discovered Joywires around 11-12. nice high, and easy to make, if you could get scrap and do a bit of coding, nothing tricky, and the feeling... I'm not sure I could really describe it. Better than sex is both cliche, and unhelpful, but it felt really good. But I joined the Onomastics, who made me quit. I tried to get her off it to, get her to apply for membership... It didn't end well. Na-Zo said, licking the last of the Nutri-paste off their spoon. Nutri-pase, 100% human-free, since the scandal 3 years back. They hadn't checked the date on that bag of Meal... and now they'd eaten it they certainly weren't going to
That sounds... sad. Perhaps, now that there is a spare bedroom, and no one to- Coil said from her node on the opposite end of the table
Let me stop you right there. I'm glad she chose to stay. if she hadn't, she'd probably be like all the others. I hope she gets to live a normal life, away from the Iconoclasts and my nightmare of a life- Switch to your shower node- And besides, Even without that in the way, we both said some very hurtful things. I would understand if she hasn't forgiven me. Na-zo said. they were almost used to these conversations with Coil. Always odd, with questions apparently from nowhere. Some days, they almost thought she was a real person.
b]I'll need to go out. Only have enough meal to keep the dispensor running another couple meals. I'll try to be back before to long.[/b] they said. they found the farce of domesticity they had with Coil comforting, a companion without needs
I wish I could accompany you. Coil said. another in a long line of desires. Scary good programming, Zander. She can even feel, or fake, loneliness.
I wish you could too. but you'd terrify Rache, and Excite LaChessa, and I don't know which is worse. They say, pulling their trademark battered longcoat, checking that the plasma cudgel is in the interior pocker. it always was. they approached the exit gate. SO, what do you think, go try to score work from Rache, and maybe have to kill someone, or work with Lachessa,a nd get another 100 posts about my "ninja outfit" on the Titan character forums? hard choice
Owing Giri to an enforcer is no joke, and owing that Giri due to a mitigated transgression is doubly so. Therefore, while LaChessa isn't a fan of the genre, she does keep a media filter running that alerts her to any time the two of them may have parallel interests. If Rache's target has a favorable connection, or a notable vulnerability to LaChessa's MO, she's sure to come calling like a knight in gilded armor.
As the lower pantheon confers, ChLover sifts through aggregate data, threading variables together, setting up dominoes, plotting, and scheming. A landscape of feeds and raw data slides through the air in Lachessa's peripheral, traced with golden thread. Chlover sends a few branching auto-routes to Trophy to get her positioned for a dramatic entry, then she pings Na-Zo:
>U busy? :V
Na-Zo straightens as their HUD indicates a message. they pll up a simple keyboard function, aligned to their fingers. A quick repy. [i]Whelp, that answers that question.
CHLover: U busy? :v
Enigmastic: not especially. be right there.
They key the gate to the pantry-entrance in LaChessa's house. really had been a pain to move it, after they had that closet sealed.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
LaChessa
A green skinned elven looking figure on the left side of your screen responds on behalf of the Board. LaChessa, it is a pleasure. Thus far your performance has been ... adequate, but it is time to live up to your potential. The corp would like you to continue to improve the brand in the lead up to our initial launch. After that unfortunate business with Information Automata last quarter, we feel that the market needs further reassurances that our drone units do not share similar ... design flaws.
The board members take turns droning on for some time, until finally releasing you.
How's that sound?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Who was this then? LaChessa laughs. "Oh, is that all? I am sure our field tests will prove most elucidating. The product is sound. That I can tell you without reservation." The board descends into its usuall competition for the last word. Posturing for cameras that should not be on, for viewers who may never see this highly classified meeting. No one wanted to get caught off guard at a reunion dinner by footage that, by contract, should not exist. Not since second quarter.
LaChessa maintains her cordial facade until they've all signed off. "Yes, of course. Lovely seeing you too. Give my regards to your partner. You hold on to that number, the shellfish are divine. Thank you. Thank you- cucking dross! how long have you been standing there?" The call closes, the projected room extension dissolving into spinning voxels to reveal Na-Zo, standing in front of LaChessa's dispenser.
A small blue figure points at the message that summoned them, and the chain protocol LaChessa triggered that resulted in the message. The crone waves away the HUD with an unsteady hand. "The target is Information Automata. I need face-to-face with someone in logistics... in a warehouse they'll count as acceptable loss. Not too out of the way. We need coverage. Two days to find the mark, three days to case the location, then you and Trophy will take a walk."
Trophy enters the cubicle through the only door. Her eyes are voids, indicating she's in auto-pilot.
"I'm giving us plenty of room for error because I expect a few interruptions. Don't use that as an excuse to drag your grubby little feet. Here-" LaChessa dispenses a pair of Bitcoins from her chair and throws them at the aforementioned feet. "That's your retainer. One of those should cover your daily expenses, if you aren't too greedy. The other you can use if you need to outsource work."
The cold processing off of one Bitcoin might be able to keep a small child fed, or keep a light lit indefinitely, but much more than that would burn processor allocation until the chip was dead. These two chips were clean, though. Their circular status bars showed a solid green ring. Computer Runtime Escrow Deposition is counted in teraflops, and when someone doesn't have an account, those TFs are distributed physically in Bitcoin.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Thanks for the genrousity Na-Zo says, rolling their eyes One middle-management sucker in a place you can trash without pissing people off too much, coming up
Tey call up the feeds for Information-Automata, get an idea for the style, ho best to make the on-camera appearance. would Mystery give Trophy an audience? veiled threats? maybe showboating?
Easing into her process, and further into her chair, LaChessa syncs into Trophy. What was IA again? We're they Peabody's Corp? She had done so many jobs, they were all starting to bleed into each other. The constant mergers didn't help. She was confident it would come back to her, especially once Trophy's IO accelerator made everything sharper.
Trophy's eyes blink online and her posture becomes more organic. A hand rests on one hip, adjusting the fall of her chains and silks. She hated admitting it, but slipping into this body gave her a surge of Confidence.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rache, your view screen pops to life and a young woman's face begins slowly rotating.
After the audience has had an opportunity to get a good view of her face, the view zooms out to a full body display that continues rotating. Some vital information begins scrolling:
Name: Umidiz Nareef
Probable Location: 1176
Famous Associates: Na-Zo, Location Unknown, Suspected Occupation "Ninja"
Giri: Franz Hiit gifted Nareef a Mark 3 IA Datajack as part of an apprentice program with an understanding she would assist in the development of an interactive high fantasy Mesh program. Nareef immediately went off the grid and has not been sighted for 2 weeks.
Task: Retrieve the Datajack
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rache looks into the mirror so that the audience can get her face as she says the catchphrase that her mom insisted that she use. It’s time to set things right!
She hated the phrase, but mother thought it reenforced what they did. She waited for the light to go out in her cam and returned to the grotto, letting the water and wind and pleasant mossy smell return her to her center. A property jumper is the type least likely to submit quietly. The more she knew about her target, the better.
She sent a text to Na-zo.
Calling out 2 my favorite ninja. ;) Central core says U kno a one-kayer named Umidiz Nareef. Swiped IA property & went dark. Big no-no. Can u help? Its 4 show=€€€ 4 u
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Within moments of the feed going live, thousands of viewers are tuned in, and the chat window is aglow with ignorant comments.
A tall thin man stands in a darkened chamber, with his head bowed. The IA logo rotates slowly in the lower right corner. As the live viewer count hits 100,000, he lifts his head with a broad smile.
Greetings Scrapers! Lew Nosrettap here at IA HQ with your daily update! But first, I hope you are all having a wonderful time!
The camera pans back and a digital image of a small gadget appears. We are incredibly proud of the obsessively engineered Mark III Datajack released a fortnight ago! Redesigned from the ground up to give you unprecedented control and comfort in the Mesh. Upgrade your Feed! Available now.
Lew pulls out two pistols that look like old time six-shooters. Scrapers, do I have a treat for you! You voted and we listened! Last night yours truly infiltrated a Holden Tech lab on 1223, and I have some great video with your weapons of choice: Alice and Chains! He holds up the pistols to make sure the audience gets a good view. As we all know, Holden Tech is garbage so this was just a simple smash op, nothing worth grabbing. Still, I think you will be impressed!
A video begins playing showing (presumably) Lew's view of a brightly lit but otherwise nondescript building. Lew is clearly a skilled marksman, and Holden Tech's security is simply no match. He toys with them, and an audio feed appears to be playing his internal monologue (which you have never seen done before). He is thoroughly enjoying himself and internally mocking his victims, who lie unconscious from Lew's energy blasts. After about 10 minutes the entire building is ablaze and Lew casually withdraws, laughing on the inside.
Don't worry folks, we made sure all of them got out just fine before the fire started. What did you all think of that audio feed? Pretty cool right? Direct Thought Transmission. Exclusive to the Mark III, now you can truly Broadcast Yourself! The feed ends with the IA logo spinning slowly with the words "Broadcast Yourself (TM)" displayed beneath.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Trophy grants Na-Zo a smile. “I trust you know your way out. I have business to attend.” That said, she turns her back, and leaves the duct trash alone in a room with her prone and practically unconscious body.
As she leaves the censor zone and ducks into an uber, she sends out a notification to her Die-hards and goes live through the dashboard confessional. “Hey there SnuffBox, TwitterVU, Gallows.hu, dARKnet, and last, but certainly not least, every one of you tuning in from Olympus Heights Municipal Home for Veteran and Infirmed Persons--let’s not talk about that today--I’m coming to you live and in consumate fidelity to read the day’s obitz. I’m feeling very nostalgic today. I was just putting the last touches on a new design.” A swatch of cloth materializes in Trophy’s hand and she pulls it over her chest, “Doesn’t that just look marvelous? Anyway, I was finishing that up, which you can find in my designs closet, and I noticed some unfinished business making a very public boast about a recent conquest. That’s right, old friend of the show Nosrettap has found a new position with IA.” The feed cuts to a third party perspective of LaChessa, in the pique of organic prime, dropping a passenger elevator on then-partner Lew in order to take full market share on their joint venture. The video is layered with slow motion and vignette filters to cover the passengers that have been edited out. Anyone who could survive that and rebuild their portfolio had a special place in Trophy’s hard drive. “Yes, the only things that are certain are death and taxes, and I’m not here for your money, honey.”
“Now, some of you viewers are thinking to yourself--you’re a very perceptive bunch--Maybe the old LaChessa could outsmart Lew, with his nerve wires and Optifine scopes, but Trophy can’t, not over satellite relay! Well, you just watch me. I’m coming for you, Lew. You’re at the end of your rope.” She rolls a censor bar across her knuckles before retracting it.
Damn, damn, damn Na-Zo thinks, as they receive Rache's message. they gladly take Lachessa's dismissal. Should deal with Lew soon, but Umidiz takes priority... just this once, for old times sake.
Still not a ninja. En-route, will fill you in there.
They slip back into the closet, taking care to avoid cameras, if possible.
Back already? Coil asks did everything go well?
'Fraid not, just using the entrances. Na-Zo says, altering the entrance to Rache's residence. But i have two jobs lined up. pretty quick, I do the job, and get paid, stock up, and bunker down with you again. They say, closing their eyes as they step throught he portal
They stumble out of Rache's bedroom, eyes still closed, and look around, trying to find where she was filming. as soon as they identify it, the walk over, in the speed-walking fashion that makes their longcoat billow behind them. You called for me. they say, an impish smile on their face as they walk into the room.
Damn, damn, damn Na-Zo thinks, as they receive Rache's message. they gladly take Lachessa's dismissal. Should deal with Lew soon, but Umidiz takes priority... just this once, for old times sake.
Still not a ninja. En-route, will fill you in there.
They slip back into the closet, taking care to avoid cameras, if possible.
Back already? Coil asks did everything go well?
'Fraid not, just using the entrances. Na-Zo says, altering the entrance to Rache's residence. But i have two jobs lined up. pretty quick, I do the job, and get paid, stock up, and bunker down with you again. They say, closing their eyes as they step through the portal
They stumble out of Rache's bedroom, eyes still closed, and look around, trying to find where she was filming. as soon as they identify it, the walk over, in the speed-walking fashion that makes their longcoat billow behind them. You called for me. they say, an impish smile on their face as they walk into the room.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
She never quite got used to Na-Zo’s ability to just...pop up places.
Thats exactly what a ninja would say, you know. She flashed them a warm smile. I’m not recording. You won’t have to be a guest star if you don’t want. I really just need to know more about your friend, though you’re welcome to come if you’d like. Often a friend or family member present can help people follow through with their obligations. It’s easier to disappoint a stranger.
Rache sat back down at the bank of the grotto, dipping her feet in the water. Please, join me by the water. Rest a bit and then tell me how you are. We can discuss your friend when you’re ready.
Rache has a calming presence that’s unusual for ‘casters, where a frenetic energy is the norm. It’s something she cultivated from years of providing relief to those who have violated Giri, long before the show. She did not learn this from her mother, who was expressly not allowed in the grotto, lest her clipping heels and shrill voice ruin the mood.
Do you need anything, Na-zo? Food? Power cells? Potable water? Are you staying somewhere safe?
Dam. Na-Zo says The one time I remember to make a dramatic entrance.
So, what do you want to know. She's an old friend, the only other non-delinquent my age within a few kilometers of me. She was a Joywire addict last I saw her, but that was 3 years ago. We were both really young when Phoenixolutions corp folded, and was not acquired. we both grew up in that s@#&show the 110's through the 125's turned into. anything important I've left out? they ask, giving Rache a third once-over, hand on their plasma cudgel... just in case they can mimic people, or disguise themselves enough to fool me at first glance.
All business? Ok...
Well, it’s unlikely that IA would hire someone on Joywire for that long. She’s probably kicked it by now. What...motivated her, when she was clean. Approval? Fame? Love? What would make want to resolve her Giri? And where would she go to hide? Would she go back to the lower kay blocks?
She was... lonely. we really only had eachother, and I left. maybe she's found someone else. maybe several someones. but she might still be alone.
The Lower K's... not safe, but she knows them. try not to corner or trap her, she'll pull a weapon. I should go with you, i could probably sniff her out without scaring her.
Once the message is sent, Trophy relaxes while the uber navigates through the twisted transport tunnels of 117X to reach an approved lift. She needed to make a show of hiring some muscle, and 666 was the floor to do such things.
@Na-Zo NE thing else I can help w/? I saw a frien of yours on a repo feed. I no some1 who can lessen sentences on Giri ^.^
When allowed by the recipient and the property owner, ChLover manifests through the Veil as a little blue faerie. She can't see the environment, but procedurally avoids obstacles. Permissive microtransactions (usually contextual) can include other persons present in the conversation.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
LaChessa, a video feed appears on your HUD unbidden, and you are not even given an opportunity to decline the call. Lew looks calm, but you can tell that he is furious. You can also tell that this call is being broadcast.
Old Partner! It has been too long. So good to see you. Good to see you. I'm glad you are well. Listen, there is no need for these ... hostilities. Sure, you have always had the manners of a tramp from the hundreds, but people change. Maybe you can change. Oh, one other thing. I noticed that your feed is ... well ... hideous. Here is a peace offering.
Your digital inventory notification pings and you see that you have received a gift credit for one free Mark 3 Datajack, plus installation.
Upgrade your Feed darling, and Broadcast Yourself. The line briefly displays the IA logo and "Broadcast Yourself(TM)" before going dark.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Lew's feed shifts to his confession room.
You know, I actually loved her. Silly right? Loved her right up until she dropped that passenger elevator on me. A single tear rolls down his cheek. Then he perks back up.
You know what they say, the foolishness of youth. I do have to thank her for one thing. I learned a lot that day.
His feed shifts to a scene of the aftermath of the passenger-elevator incident, with a grievously wounded Lew helping first responders pull bodies out of the elevator.
As the feed plays, Lew says You broke my heart, LaChessa. After a few uninterrupted minutes (cleverly edited to emphasize Lew's heroism), the feed cuts to the familiar IA logo and then goes dark.
Sounds good. My producer will get you camera ready. We’ll depart for the lower levels in 20.
When she was alone again, Rache slid her feet back into the water. She took a few calming breaths, centered herself and readied herself for the confrontation. It was time to help this poor woman and she had every reason to believe the woman would want the help. She felt at peace.
Na-Zo slips away. their eyes fashion with a new message. Lover
Umidiz? have it covered. already working with a Giri-enforcer. probably gonna deal with the return of stolen IA tech personally. Thanks anyway
They double and triple check their weapon, and body armour. they'll be with Rache, but if they get swarmed... but the Iconoclasts haven't attacked in nearly 4 days, maybe they're backing off.
@Na-Zo: Hey, listen... the legacy wetware needs a Dfib T.T Possible opportunity on 1511, good place to look l8r if U R busy w/fren
LaChessa drops out of her chair with a gasp. That Giri slinging ingrate had business on 151X? And where does he get off calling me old? Spilling cold recaff on the floor of her cubical, LaChessa stumbles to her dispenser for something to settle her nerves.
Sipping her teaHC, LaChessa considers her options. A timer over her seat counts down Trophy's arrival at her favorite slum, making everything that much harder.
He knows I don't do implants. It was just a gesture for his audience... but that's top-tier hardware, even if it is IA crap. I might find a use.
A new link appears in the chair's UI, and LaChessa approaches. ChLover is pointing out the repo file displayed on Rache's feed, and the MkIII data jack that's owed. "An omen...."
Trophy reaches the elevator terminal, waltzing past the TSA compound to swipe her new executive ID. "Level six hundred and sixty six, please. I have business with Chenor." Chenor is a low-level fixer who makes his money connecting wealthy investors with desperate meat. He takes all the money up front, which is a hassle, but none of his charity cases expect to come out alive. They hope to, for sure, but the risk is what they're paid for. The two of them have a brand deal running, what with the parallel themes and all. He should be expecting her. He's been trying to leverage the relationship into a partnership, but LaChessa doesn't marry down. Wonder what he'll think of the new threads...
Feeling peaceful and ready, Rache donned her traditional uniform, readied her flute and packed her weapons. Even if Umidiz returns the data jack peacefully, there may be resistance from resentful underdeckers. It always paid to be prepared.
She walked briskly to the greenroom where Na-Zo would be waiting.
You ready? Can you bring me with you on your jaunts or do I need to meet you at the elevators?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I could take yo- Na-Zo says, before they remember Coil. I think we should just walk there together. Not gonna get my tricks on camera that easily, folks. they say, before looking around. Still no cameras? Damn. they say, feeling foolish.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Rache gave Na-zo a wry smile. We're live in 3...2...1 Her eye blinked red, the sign for people to know she's recording. Unlike other popular streamers, Rache did not broadcast live, for obvious reasons.
Hello honored fans. I am here with a childhood companion of today's quarry. It's my hope that seeing an old friend will inspire Ms. Umidiz to do the thing that is expected of us all and set her balance correct.
Rache turned to a mirror for her big monolog.
Remember, honored fans: Without Giri, life on the 'Scrape would be like it is for the dirtsiders. No trust. No cooperation. Just taking and taking and not caring what is left behind. The threads that bind us together, that make this society work...it all depends on honoring your commitments. Without our honor, what are we? And if you know someone who suffers from the burden of Giri unfulfilled...or you yourself suffer...send a pip to @GiriGirl and we'll make things right.
The light cut out.
And we're out! shouted Tybalt, from the production booth. Make this one quick and clean. I don't feel comfortable with you so far down the 'scrape. Your elevator card is charged for the decent and the accent, but don't take any other trips or you might have the access to return.
Rache cocks her head to the side, indicating the door to the elevator bay. Shall we?
Chenor smiles as Trophy enters the ostentatious office.
LaChezza, darling, is that you? I was hoping you would come in person. No matter, no matter. How can I help you today?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Na-zo punches their access code into the elevator, suspecting that the elevator would be more compliant with theirs than with Rache's. They had tried, with Coil, to analyze the Elevator's algorithm once... but it was written in an unfamiliar and incomprehensible language. Okay, so some warning. If you didn't know, 1146 is rough. Most people worked for Phoenixolutions, and when it folded... well, a 72% unemployment rate can do a number on a level. we avoid anything valuable. a clinc, stockpile, area with power, we walk down another street. keep your weapons close at hand, in fact, if you have anything heavy duty, it might be good to be visibly armed.
the elevator door open, to reveal an image of the worst idea of pre-scrape cities, with rusted out building dominating the skyline, dim lighting, because half the environmental generators have burned out, and not been replaced. multiple groups lay beyond the edges, trying to cook questionable food over half-burning flames. a few of them started moving closer. Some of them will try to ride to another level with us, uiing our codes. your call how we deal with that.
Umi will be in deeper. she'll feel safer near the hear of the city Because no one would be b&!*+%@ enough to follow her here for a thrice-damned datajack.
Hell 9000 is a pit of a floor to begin with, brushed steel panels of button LEDs and red, blue, and green wires sticking into walls largely composed of flesh like the most unspeakable facets of femininity. The climate is best described as moist. So much so, that when Trophy reaches Chenor's bunny ranch, she's beading with condensation like a two bit manual service provider herself. She combs her fingers through the gold thread and white silk as they fall across her hips in an attempt to polish her stance before delivery.
What Chenor lacked in fluid Cred, he made up for in spacious real estate. He didn't own it all, as far as she knew. He occupies the only thing that might classify as a mansion in the lower K. It had taken three minutes for the bound and gagged doorman to walk her to the stuffed shirt's office. If she didn't the him. Her last deal with Chenor had come back to bite him. She left a redhat alive who was supposed to meet her end, and Chenor lost a client book as well as a leg. Always good to keep a few enamored thugs between one's self and the bone collectors.
"This is as in-person as it gets these days, hun. Lookin for dead meat, per usual. Got a rerun planned." What he needs is a ticket out of Hell 9000. No telling how he might get that out of her. She supposed his filters would make some kind of connection, but if he wanted in on her spectacle, he's have to work for it.
The thing that stuck Rache most was the smell. With the ‘viros offline, the effects of a closed system were more evident. She scrunched her nose and kicked on her camera
I’m on the mid-1100s, where every day is a struggle to survive. Rich or poor, Giri binds is all. No one is exempt from our responsibility. Due to the violent imagery we may encounter, viewers discretion is advised. Na-zo will lead me deeper into the city as we search for her friend, to help her climb from the pit in which she’s fallen.
She draws her sword and motions Na-zo to lead the way.
Dead meat love? I have plenty, you'll have to be more specific.
Team Ninja
As you enter 1176, you immediately draw the attention of a group of individuals that have set up a camp around the elevator shaft. They see your weapons and do not approach you, but a few rush into the elevator after you exit.
As you leave the camp and head into the level proper you immediately notice that two of the individuals are following you. They are brazen about it, and moving towards you at high speed.
What do you do?
"A disposable entourage. Muscle. A few desperate souls with dangerously high estimations of their skills. I haven't had much luck with lone deadeyes or mavrick redhats, and I don't want my quarry thinking he's worth the trouble."
"I don't know who Chanor thinks he's fooling." LaChessa is recording reaction confessionals for when she cuts up an episode. Her younger image is poured into her voluminous furs like rising dough threatening to spill over. The fact that the image is a record of a bygone reality is lost on all but her most dogged fans. "He does this every time, like we're strangers. It's all good. He knows who's signing the checks. He can posture all he wants, as long as he keeps the rippling sinew on tap."