What do you think, credits? If so, how much? About 15 is fine, right? She messages Pilgrim.
Drive isn't that pricey- I'd say 15-25 credits might grease the wheels here.
"Julia Juggs is your girl. I'm sure you'll have a good time with her."
She points you over to an overly endowed Catholic school girl carrying some sort of paddle, while making the rounds and approaching different patrons.
Pilgrim approaches Julia, preferably out of earshot of any other patrons.
"My friends and I have been very bad, Julia and I think we need to be punished severely. But do you have a private confessional here for the three of us? Maybe we can take a quick look and make sure that it'll have the kind of space we need?"
Catarina nods enthusiastically.
"A private session starts at 100 credits an hour plus 25 credits per extra person, hun." Julia says, gives you a wide smile and an ample view of her cleavage.
"You the kind that likes two mistresses, or perhaps you like to hold the paddle, hmm?"
"Sure, we understand that but can we check out the room first? We've had some bad experiences with some of the other places around here and we want to make sure it's got the right mood and that it's private. We don't want the session leaking onto the mesh, our bosses and clients don't need to see that."
Pivo notices there is a kitchen area to prepare drinks and food for the guests. Might be a back door there, and perhaps even nonhuman workers kept out of sight.
Back with PIlgrim and Catarina,
"We are completely confidential sir, I can't let you in the back unless you pay up front. Policy. I'm sure you understand. I mean," she seductively rubs your chest with one hand, looking up to you with her head cocked.
"You wouldn't want to make me a naughty girl, right? Or would you?" she asks as she giggles.
Pilgrim sighs, muttering in Korean.
"Look, we want to talk to you in private for a minute. David Williams is missing and he bought Drive from you. We believe he may be involved in some dangerous business. But if you want to discuss your side deal in front of all these customers..."
Alexander arrives huffing into the brothel. Seeing the crew across the room, he pauses to put his hands on his knees and pant heavily.
"And we don't care about you selling Drive. We only need Williams," adds Catarina in case Julia gets any unnecessary ideas.
"David? I don't know a David Williams. But if you're into drugs, I think I can hook you up with a fix.."
Julia really doesn't seem to know anyone who goes by David Williams, but in this business, using fake names is habitual. Plus his 2nd morph doesn't look anything like a David.
"How about this person?", Pilgrim says, projecting a security spime image of David's female morph on his ecto as he holds it up.
You see her eyes rise a bit, and she pauses, most likely either thinking or searching her memories.
"Victor huh? He bought an abnormally large amount of drugs from me, mostly Drive, and then left. Said he was in some kind of trouble, and have to lie low for a while."
"Trouble, huh? He didn't happen to mention what kind of trouble? Has anyone other that us asked about him?"
Julia shrugs, looking uncomfortable talking about a customer.
It does occur to you that you could get definitive knowledge of her and David's interaction through an xp of her time with him, but most people would be reluctant to share those with even close friends or relatives. And something tells you she would not be willing to do so.
Aleks addresses the nun at the entrance, "Do you happen to have any voyeur rooms? With screens and things?"
"Any chance we can see your meeting? I'm sure we can arrange something in return."
Pivo remains in place, scanning for what he can and looking to see if he can see his comrades.
Julia looks shocked that Cat would suggest such a thing.
"That's well and beyond a common courtesy, and even talking about other customers is looked down on. I'm sorry, but I can't."
"As for voyeur rooms, sure we do. Would you like to be watched, or do the watch cutie?"
"Watching."
"It's a serious request and we don't make it lightly. But it may be the only way we can find him- and possibly help him, if he's involved in something this serious."
Pilgrim leans in.
"We all know nothing is free, right? And I don't expect charity- you do us this favor and we can repay in kind, in more than credit. We're capable people and we have capable friends, almost anything you need we can cover for you."
Julia frowns, her demeanor changing.
"That's not how it works hon. Look, xps are a personal thing, even in this business, and while I don't think you folks are the ego-napper types, I can guarantee you the only reason we can sell these booties is that we can prevent folks from coming in and taking them willy nilly."
She does look thoughtful.
"Maybe you can ask around the business's outside. Some folks have cams, even if only to know who stole their stuff."
After a few moments of thinking, Cat asks Alex. "Can you check if you can access those cams without their owners knowing? I know you couldn't from afar, but now that you're on site..."
Ignoring Cat's whispers, Aleks asks again " I am interested in watching voyeur in an isolated room with screens. Is that available? "
Julia perks up when the talk shifts back to business.
"We offer live sessions here based on customer's willingness to be observed. However, if we don't have what you're after, we know xp dealers that specialize in sexual encounters. Male, Female, Synth, uplift, whatever your heart's after, its yours if you tell him I sent you."
She then goes on to list their voyeur costs. For a private room with a streamed live cast would be 25 credits. To have a private room with a one-way window to the room is 50 credits. To rent a camouflage stealth suit to be in the room costs 125 credits.
Aleks looks sheepishly, "Sounds like I'm pretty easy. I'll take the streamed live cast room." He hands her a cred stick.
The exchange is made and she shows you to a private room. detailing that your payment has secured an hour of unmonitored private time with the feed.
Once the door is closed Aleks begins working quickly. Pulling some cables out of his big pockets, he connects them together and then splices his wires with those of the room.
Lexi, can you start seeing what you can find? I'm gonna connect a couple more things to get a better connection, hopefully it'll be faster. Also I need an alarm set for 50 minutes from now.
Of course Aleks.
Once Lexi begins her work, Aleks proceeds to hardwire himself into the cables.
He electronically dives into the computer system searching for both David and Victor.
Aleksander gains access to the inner network (just barely as their are a lot of negative modifiers associated with their security). He remains hidden and undetected for now. Ten minutes have passed.
The rest of you have a decent idea of what Aleksander has gone to do, but now are currently being called at by the workers of the establishment.
A particularly muscular priest comes by, and sits comfortably near Pilgrim and Catarina, asking if they'd be interested in a "baptisim."
Pivo, you are able to pick up on your teammates, and it seems that Alek is doing his weird isolated thing again. While concentrating, you are approached by an officer of the law.
"No loitering up-lift. I need to ask you to vacate the premises." He looks down on you, with clear bias in his voice.
"Alright, alright. I'm moving."
Pivo goes for a stroll and looks for a place he can settle in without being bothered, perhaps by some trash cans or under a dumpster.
The (imo highly amusing) image of Pivo slowly making his way into a trashcan to wait out the biomorph-only mission, is seen by no one. Footsteps can be heard passing by every so often, but none inspect the inconspicuous trashcan.
Aleksander, having gained access to the system without setting off alerts, attempts to access further records. He does so successfully, though barely as the internal system almost catch him. However, he does gain access to inner records without his intrusion raising alarms.
Aleksander pulls up records verifying that cryptocurrency payment, but even more interesting it the following.
You find files indicating a job had been performed, which led to a "shipment" being on schedule done by Julie. However, it was done during the time she was supposed to be with David. Checking the cameras, you do find one large box being transported next door to the adjoining and related business, the Doll House.
Lexi, can you send this to the others? I've still got some time.
Of course Aleks
...Incoming files from Wyrm....
Cryptocurrency file...
Odd shipment file....
Odd shipment vid file....
"No, thank you. Maybe next time," Catarina shakes her head and exits the building.
Now that's interesting. She receives the info Aleks gathered. Pilgrim, do you want to check it now, or wait to see of there's something else?
"Let's check it out now, maybe we can slip in there undetected. Let's take a walk around the block, make sure we're not followed and then try to infiltrate the Doll's House."
Pilgrim gets up and heads for the door.
"I don't know- maybe we should check out the Buddhist themed rope suspension place before we decide."
Once Cat and Pilgrim are out of the brothel, Pilgrim will walk around the area a little bit and make sure no one's tailing them. Then he'll pick up Pivo from the garbage and scope out means of entry on the Doll's House.
Pilgrim, you don't find anything too alarming security wise. No battle mechs walking in, and heavily armed folks will draw attention, but nothing in the way of security or such to actually block you.
"Must warn you - I'm not the sneaky type. If you want to be stealthy and sneak in, it's best for me to stay near the entrance and warn you about people coming in."
"Sure, keep an eye out in front for us and Aleks. We'll try to be quick."
Pilgrim tries to find the most likely point of surreptitious entry.
Catarina nods, mostly to herself, and leans on the wall so that she can see both exits.
The coast seems clear for now Catarina, just the normal junkies, sex workers, and shady business dealings that are involved with this area.
Pilgrim and Pivo slip into the Dollhouse without too much trouble, If there was an imminent danger to be discovered, it might be different, but for now Pilgrim is able to most of the work in order for both to gain entry.
You find yourselves in a sort of small warehouse.
There are boxes of various sizes and labels. And there seems to be a private office of sorts near a truck offloading site. There are video cameras above, but if you know Aleks, he should have control of them for now.
Pilgrim starts looking over the boxes with his T-Ray emitter implant, looking for the one smuggled in on the feed Aleks sent everyone.