"Well, back in the day, perhaps. But no, no that's not my life anymore. How did you get my name anyway? And who are you? You really haven't explained anything."
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'This is getting us nowhere.'
Staring straight at the child, the mechanical voice rings out. "We know someone from this location hacked one of the corporations. We know there was information retrieved. We did what we could to hide the trail the hacker left, but the regulars will find their way here."
"We need to acquire the information obtained. If you give it to us, perhaps we can protect you. But I make no promises."
Biting into one of the cakes offered, she turns to the woman. "Not bad. The consistencies are all within range. Near perfect production."
While the diplomacy may not be the best, the message gets through. The old lady says "Oh my... hold one."
Fiddling with an implant in the side of her head, the old woman examines her neural implants and says "You are correct. I have the files, but I have no idea how I got them."
Jubair (the child) is shocked, but Ceren (the old lady) calmly explains.
"I was once a hacker - in my earlier years. One of the best of the best! However, old age brought on a degenerative brain disease, which forced me into retirement."
She goes on to explain that augmentations in Ceren’s brain halted the damage and keep her functional, but she still has large lapses in memory and is no longer as capable as she once was. Ceren concludes that she must have slipped into a younger mindset, performed the hack, and forgotten about it.
"Listen, I don't know what happened, but you are right. They will come for me. If you can help me, I will gladly give you the files. Help me fake my death, and get my grandson and I protection. Please!"
I am not going to give you all of the specifics, but I will give you some of it. You are also welcome to create your own solutions.
First, you will need a death certificate. Then, you will need to provide her with a new identity.
Death Certificate: In order to fool any pursuers, Ceren needs to be declared dead. This would involve finding a body, and trying one or the following approaches.
- Disguise or Medicine skill to make the body look like Ceren.
- Hacking records to make Ceren's details match the corpse.
- Bluffing a mortician by pretending to be relatives and "identifying" the body as Ceren.
Alternatively, you can try to bribe someone to file the certificate for you, but sometimes that leaves a trail. (Money + intimidate would work).
Or, if anyone happens to have Profession (funerary, medical, or security field) you can try to submit your own. (Easiest skill check, but does anyone have this??)
New Identity: Ceren needs a new identity if she wants to survive her false death.
You can help set up a solid new alias for Ceren with a successful DC 15 Bluff, Culture, or Disguise check.
You can use a successful Diplomacy check to provide Ceren with allies and contacts in her new life. A successful Profession check in any field can pull strings to get Ceren a new job, though she refuses degrading or dangerous employment.
Using the Computers skill can attempt a check to forge Ceren different identification papers. You will need at least three successful checks to create a solid legal persona for Ceren.
Not every check needs to be a success, but # successes vs #failures will determine how successful you are.
"Thank you! Meet me at the bridge in Jatembe Park in 6 hours. If you have the papers I will need, I will give you the data then. Meanwhile, I am going to get Jubair to a safe place and hide out until I meet you."
With that, she starts quickly packing a bag.
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Squee has the pertinent skills to do most of which is needed.. He starts with locating a body, assuming Historia-7 can help with that.
He then begins to hack the records and put in the information about Ceren.
Then he starts forging some new paperwork for the woman..
And ends with crafting her some new ID papers..
He cannot set her up with a job or new contacts however..
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"I don't do much with the nuances required of you biomasses, but when it comes to tech I'm your girl." she states openly. "Here, let me give you a hand with those computers."
Looking over the ysoki's shoulder, she frowns a few times. "Careful, you'll trip that firewall there. Hmmm...Yeah, if you just..."
You have six hours to complete your work. For sake of ease, let's say that it is 0:00 when you start. You might work together, or split up. Historia-7 is currently not available, which might make it more difficult, but this was your task to complete...
Given that, we will put a hold on the death certificate part of it until you come up with a body, or a way to avoid having a body.
----
Squee comes up with a solid new alias for Ceren without much trouble (DC 17 culture). (About 30 minutes)
With Daph-9's aid, he manages to make three forms of identification to back up this identity. They aren't great, but they should pass scrutiny.
(This requires about 2 hours for both)
So Squee is busy from 0:00 - 0:30.
Squee and Daph-9 from 0:30 - 2:30.
What is everyone else doing?
It is relatively easy to find a mortuary. Maybe with some asking around, you could find one that is less scrupulous?
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After completing the task on the computers, she checks to see if her companions had obtained a body yet. Hearing nothing promising, she shakes her head.
'Why send a biomass to do a computers work' considers the mechanical woman as she heads outside.
Finding a passerby, she stops them and asks "So, hypothetically, if one needed to deal with a mortuary with as few inquiries as possible, where would one go? Have you any suggestions? Don't worry, it's just the rituals of you biologicals intrigues me."
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Knowing there are many people in this station, but not all can pay the cost for a proper funeral. So there must be places which take the bodies, and don't ask questions. So Qary also inquires this from local-looking people who pass by, trying to put his words as clearly as he can.
"Even the poor will die
- Their souls embraced by the gods.
But where they take the bodies,
with no money to pay?"
Raia does her best to help the others, but is not very familiar with such matters. She is much more interested in learning and studying tech than underworld dealings.
As most of you awkwardly try to ask passers-by questions, Qaru in his unique patter manages to find the location of a less-than-reputable mortuary. Once he gets a whiff of what you are after, he offers to "lose" a body if 80 credits appear in his accounts.
"Hmmmmmm? What do you mmm say to this mmmm exchange?"
"I never would have expected a body would be worth so little. I guess we have a deal then."
OK, you have a body. Squee could spend some time applying makeup to disguise it, but he is pretty busy. Alternatively, someone can try to change computer records to make this body appear to be you hacker.
After making their deal for the body, Raia gets to work changing local records and creating arrest accounts, to frame the corpse as the hacker.
You believe you have successfully faked Ceran's death, and she has convincing papers for a new identity. The only thing you really still need is to find her a job and some friends.
Though Raia doesn't have an actual profession, she introduces her to some people who are known to help those down on their luck. Hearing about her past as a hacker though, they are a bit reluctant to offer their assistance.
Raia finds enough contacts with Daph-9's aid, that you think you are now set. You have an hour or so before the meeting in the park.
You arrive at the park, and see Ceren on the bridge as expected. However, you also notice 3 corporate thugs coming out of the woods. One of the motions for you to stop. "Back off, citizens. This is a matter for our security force. Please leave the vicinity immediately."
The one across the bridge appears to be heading directly for Ceren.
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Squee dives for cover and fires at blue.. He uses trick attack..
Trick Attack: As a full action, you can move up to 30 feet and make a single attack with a small arm (or a melee weapon with the operative special property) as a trick attack. Just before making the attack, you may attempt a Stealth with a DC equal to 20 + the target’s CR. If the skill check is successful, the attack deals 1d4 additional damage and the target is flat-footed against this attack.
"Ninja!!"
vs FF..
plus trick
"Oh no, this doesn't look good! It always has to end in a fight it seem..." Raia touchs a few buttons on the pad on her wrist, causing three bolts of arcane energy to fly off towards the man on the far side of the bridge.
Squee and William take down Blue very quickly, and Revvy cuts open green before he even has a chance to react.
Ceren huddles by the edge of the bridge, but there is no need to worry, because Raia's blast has red reversing direction and running away.
Daph-9 hits the last thug with a parting shot as he runs away.
Ceren waits for you to approach. Once you show her the work you have done, she becomes very excited. "I don't know how to thank you! Here is the chip, as promised," she says, as she pulls a microchip from the back of her head. "Now I must be off to get my grandson and start our new life!"
Historia-7 contacts you remotely shortly and thanks you for your help. She relays that Ceren feels comfortable enough in her new identity to risk a return to public life. The aged hacker claims this is the most alive she has felt in ages and offers to assist the Dataphiles if they ever require her skills.
A rudimentary courier robot flies in a few hours later and delivers a gift box containing a standard datajack and 200 credits. A simple electronic message from Historia-7 indicates that the datajack is a token of thanks from the Dataphiles. The box also contains a frostbite-class zero rifle. The rifle is an old—albeit out-ofplace—acquisition of Ceren’s that Jubair found while cleaning out the family house. Historia-7 entrusts both items to you (for the remainder of the scenario).