She chuckles a bit, You are asking if we can trust a hacker? Probably not... but you just need to give hackers a reasons to stay. We offer a lot to be part of this faction of the society. Plus our security here is pretty tight so it is unlikely they will get anything useful from us if they try to betray us.
|
Ceolor gives a wide smile at the talk of being quick and discreet. "Oooh, this sounds like my kind of job! So in other words we need to find this hacker, discern their intentions, get a copy of the data they stole and possibly recruit them? All before security catches up with them? Oooh, I am gonna enjoy this!" He pulls out a comms device and flips it open with one hand, starting to dial in a number. "Where in Drifter's End? I'll call us a taxi."
Moving off as his device starts to ring, giving people time to finish asking questions, Ceolor waits for them to answer. "Hey Fred! How you been? ... Uh-huh... Oh so you saw the Junk Race today? Yeah that was us! Close wasn't it? ... Haha, only if you want it to not work anymore! ... Sorry to cut this short, but is Speedy Suzy free? We've got to get down to Drifter's End, asap."
|
"I leave the messing with computers to other people, but if it's just finding a person, then ok. Tracking a person down can be hard if they don't want to be found. But I'll give it a shot. Let's not waste any more time here."
In spite of her brusque words, Volkzari appears a little excited at the idea of working against the clock.
Historia-7 gives you the exact coordinates to where the hacking took place. Good luck, let us hope we learn some new information from this adventure!
Speedy Suzy is there to pick you guys up in no time. Luckily, the drive from the Lorespire Complex to Drifter's End is not a long one, especially with the reckless diver behind the while. You thought the races were crazy? Speedy Suzy definitely earns her name. She drops you off at a building that looks like cement cube. with several tomato plants in plastic barrels sitting on an otherwise barren porch.
The plants are being hand-pollinated by a young man when you show up.
"Oh hello young man, you seem to have a hand with plants. Maybe you can help us. We are looking for a computer specialist as we have a potential job to discuss that could be of great financial benefit!" Navasi says smiling.
The man looks up from his plants. Why hello there! Yes, yes I do live here. But trust me, I am no computer specialist. I think you may have the wrong address. He seems genuinely confused.
"Oh we believe you! But somebody lives here that is computer specialist or somebody hat has access to this house and could have used your network! I promise you a chunk of the reward when we find this computer genius!" she says.
|
|
Ceolor hangs back from the group to make sure Suzy gets paid and a little extra, as well as standing still for long enough for the world to stop moving. He gets back to the group a little later, just in time to catch Navasi spilling everything on the front porch. ...that has tomatoes, real tomatoes! Wow, non-processed food!
With a quick glance up and down the street to make sure there is no one nearby that could possibly be overhearing the conversation, Ceolor steps in closer. "We have it on a very reliable hopefully source that someone hacked a big wig from this address, and even if there's no computer specialist here, you and anyone else at this address might be in danger...."
With another look around, Ceolor continues, "But we should move into a more... private space. Mind if we intrude? I promise we mean no harm."
To prove the worth of his words, Ceolor even reaches down and hands his laser rifle to the young man. "Here, I'll even give you the only weapon I'm holding."
_________________
He is still looking absolutely lost here. The only people who live here are me and my grandmother. Trust me, I do not think you have the right house.
When Ceolor asks to come in and hands him his rifle, I guess you can but let me go make sure it is okay with Grandma. My name is Jubair by the way.
After a few moments, he comes back out and says that you may come inside. He leads you to the kitchen where a elderly lady in a blue-and white abaya is making some tea. Hello dearies, would you like some tea? Once she gets the tea all settled, So tell me, why are you here?
|
|
Volkzari looks blankly at the offered teapot. Tea? That's not exactly what we came here for. She waits a few impatient moments while they all get settled and then jumps in, "We've been told that someone here was doing some elite hacking, and is probably in danger now. If you are hiding that person, or know anything about it, it would be best to tell us. We want to help."
She vaguely remembers someone saying that people on Absalom Station have a good opinion of Starfinders, so she activates her implant to show the symbol. "We're from the Starfinder Society, see?"
The extra rumbling and display of sharp teeth probably made her message sound more threatening than she intended.
|
|
"Oh, right. Where are my manners, I am Ceolor. It's a pleasure to meet you Jubair." Ceolor says as he takes the man's hand in a quick shake.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In the apartment, Ceolor is glad to accept a cup of tea. When the elderly lady asks them about why they are here, Ceolor gives Jubair a quick dirty look. He didn't explain this earlier? Even though I said he might be in danger? Arrgh.
With a smile that hides his slight annoyance at her grandson, Ceolor extends a hand and introduces himself. "I am Ceolor. As you can see from the distincitve red coloring, I'm from Akiton. The woman in the brown jumpsuit, holding on to the squirming drone is Friye and..." Ceolor reaches down and presses a button on his short sleeve. A short sound byte plays in Friye's voice saying, "|<¡††¥" With a shrug, Ceolor comments, "I'm not sure how she gets her voice to do that, but it is amazing!"
He next points to Navasi and Volzari. "The woman with the streak of color in her hair would be Navasi, and the gold vesk is Volkzari. I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of either, but for very different reasons. The man in the slightly shiny clothes would be Alazandre. He just won a junk race if you can believe it. And finally the man with the permanent scowl, coffee in hand and complete unwillingness to get over his hangover would be the illustrious Dex."
Introductions over, Ceolor turns back to the woman and starts to explain why they are here. "Now as to why we are here... Well we have it on good athurity that someone at this adress hacked a major company on the station and got away with a massive amount of data. Your grandson assures us there's noone here by that description, but still it's likely the authorities and possibly more unsavory people might come knocking around here. Personally, I'm a bit worried some of them might be inclined to shoot you before asking questions..."
___________________
The woman listens to each of the introductions doing her best to remember each name. I am Ceren.
She seems uncomfortable like she might be nervous about something. I can assure you I do not know of what you are talking about and I know my grandson could not do it himself. She pauses to think for a moment and seems confused. Well maybe... Give me one moment. She messes around with a neural implant. Was the data from the Bluerise Tower? Because I think I found them...
Jubair is completely surprised at this development. But she calmly explains I was a hacker back in my golden age. I was in fact one of the best! But has I got older, I developed a degenerative brain disease. I decided it best for me to retire while I was still good and not get sloppy because of this brain. I was able to buy some augmentations to the thinker that halted the damage to my head. But sometimes, as with most technology, it glitches as I have large lapses of memory. I have done some crazy things during those lapses but I have never tried hacking a major corporation before! Well, I must of gone into one of those lapses, hacked them and forgot about it... and got sloppy. Back in the good days, there is no way you would of been able to find me!
|
|
That's...amazing! I've never met anyone who could hack a hard target in their sleep.
Friye seems genuinely impressed to meet such a formidable hacker.
But here's the thing...we found you first, and we're not your enemies. But your enemies are not far behind. Will you come with us to the Starfinder Society? I think we can make you safe there.
She chuckles a bit at Alzandre, Trust me, those days are way behind me. I am in no condition to be a real help in your society. But I am worried about the consequences for my hacking. You guys will really help me? She looks at her grandson, I don't see an easy way out of this situation. I think we are going to need to fake my death while Jubair and I go into hiding. I am sure those corporations won't be far behind you. Have any of you had to fake a death before? She finishes with a smile.
|
|
Volkzari takes in the revelation with some surprise but quickly picks up Friye's enthusiasm for the challenge. "Faking a death? No... I have some experience with undead, but that's probably not going to help. An explosion sounds like a good idea. I did help defuse a bomb once. That's kind of the other side of the question though, isn't it." She looks hopefully at Alzandre to see if he has any practical suggestions about how they could make an explosion look realistic.
|
|
"We get to fake a death? I've always wanted to try that; writing that has basis in actual experience is always sooo much more believable!" Ceolor gives a nod at Friye's suggestion. "Hmm, a body, a body... Wait, this is Drifter's End right? No one would bat an eye at an explosion happening here, even one hot enough or bad enough to completely destroy a body, or at least mangle one badly enough that it doesn't matter too much about size and shape."
After musing for a second more, Ceolor's eyes light. "But, wait, we might have two different forces chasing after us, right? What if we were to make it look like a professional job and sow some doubt among the corporate and station security? It might buy us some more time."
____________
|
"Well now....Let's see what's around here. Any old electronics should be able to be tinkered with to short-circuit and cause a fire. Perhaps some of the cleaning and plant chemicals can be spread around to make the fire spread rapidly. Trashing the apartment to make it look like a robbery will also help. Any other ideas?"
She is shocked at how quickly you get to work! Wait let us leave before you start burning things. Can we move the tomato plants to a safe place before we go? It would break my heart to lose those.
They pack some stuff up and get ready to head out. Don't forget, the two parts of faking a death is actually faking the death but also you need to build a new identity for me as well. In 6 hours, meet me at Jatembe Park. She gives you directions to a bridge in a secluded part of the park.
You do know some of the corporations that are hunting for her so it would be possible to frame them for the explosion.
Navasi is quite amused about the turn in events!
"Ceren please see all this a an opportunity to find the profession and the life you always wanted!"
After talking to Ceren about her life goals and what she wishes for her grandson in terms of environment Navasi will support to create a false identity.
Friye is able to pull together a very convincing birth certificate for the new identity and no one in the group is able to tell it apart from the a authentic one. Unfortunately, Navasi was being a bit too "imaginative" for what Ceren has done with her life and her new job history looks extremely unbelievable.
|
|
Alzandre goes outside the building, looking around for some children/teens on the block. When he does, he will wander up to them, trying to look confused...."Ummm...I was sent here to pick up some homeless lady's corpse? Have you kids seen the one I'm talking about? I'm sure smart kids like you know where everything is around here."
|
|
I see what your doing here.
Tossing his coffee aside, Dex walks up behind Alzandre while 'studying' his data pad, "I don't know Draz, the address doesn't seem to around here, and the frackin'Station Positioning System is not taking me to the right address. You have any luck finding out where we are supposed to pick up the body yet? Oh, hey kids. Didn't see you there. Don't suppose you might know something to help us out?"
|
|
Ceolor takes a second to think of anything he might be able to do to implicate one of the organizations likely to hunt down Ceren. Hmmm, the Stewards would be difficult to pin this on. There's very little they do that is distinctive enough, and they wouldn't be sloppy. Also this type of thing isn't their style. A private security firm, however, might just do something this messy. Now how do I tie them into this...
Ceolor, having done his best to try make the 'accident' look like a deliberate act of murder, pulls out his comms unit and dials another number. "Salsman! How's the family? ...She's playing the eggplant in her school play? That's amazing!... Sorry for calling out of the blue. This isn't about my current manuscript, it's still no where near being ready. It's about my other job. We're trying to help this sweet old lady you might have inadvertently screwed up her life and needs to build a new one. I know it's legally questionable, but I was wondering if you could create a few bogus books and attribute them to her new identity? I'll promise to ask for less in royalties for my next book!"
_____________
The kids look confused for a moment. Ohh you mean crazy Ada? We stubbled on her body a few hours ago and called it in. I figured they wouldn't send anyone because it sounded like a prank call... which it would be a pretty good one if it was! Here we will show you.
Between Dex and Alzandre's bluff, you have successfully gotten a free dead body!
Next, you need to blow it up. Alzandre tries the bomb he made before but he must of mixed an ingredient up because it just turned into a stink bomb rather than a explosive.
When Celeor makes the call to his publisher, he is easily able to throw together a nice looking bibliography. This will really make her look like she has been busy with her life which is important to making her look like a real person.
When it comes to framing the a security force, it would be easy. Just leaving an insignia on a piece of shrapnel or something to make it look like it was their explosive.
|
|
Volkzari listens quietly to Ceolor chattering away on his comm, and thinks about what else they could do to help the old lady out in her new life. "How about some tips on how to look a bit different, so people don't recognize her? It's not like she's a vesk, with colorful scale patterns that anyone can see. How hard could it be to disguise a human?" She tries sketching out a few ideas.
Alzandre is able to make a much more effective bomb this time and it is able to destroy the body enough to make it hard to identify but is clearly a woman and older. This should be enough to fool the security when they show up and will result in an official death certificate.
Volkzari tries to disguise Ceren but the group quickly points out that while she doesn't look like herself, it is pretty obvious she is wearing a disguise.
Friye tries to help with the computer again to build the identity, but did you see That Cat Photo ohh and This One . How is anyone supposed to get any work done when pictures like that exist?
|
|
Ceolor spends a few seconds tottering around on his comms device, looking up the specific security firm that Bluerise Towers contracts out with and then tries to track down what their symbol looks like. With a piece of paper and a knife he tries to make a good approximation of a stencil for their symbol.
After twenty minutes focused on the paper, tongue out in concentration, Ceolor gives a small cheer and holds up a passible imitation of the insignia in stencil form. He proudly shows it off to everyone. "See, just look at this. Isn't it amazing? A piece of art, I tell you! Oh, shut it, Dex! If you could make a better one I'd love to see you try!"
Realizing that Alzandre is about to set off the bomb, Ceolor jumps in. "Hold it, hold it! I just need to spray paint this on in a couple places. I made sure to get some quick drying stuff, it should be good to blow in about 5-10 minutes."
___________________
You are fairly certain that you have created a good enough frame job that there will be official records that Ceren is dead. The only thing left to do is finish making her new identity.
"Oh wait a minute ... I know a guy that knows a guy whose cousing work at ..." and Navasi tries to use her contacts to get Ceren a job.
|
|
Well, it shouldn't be to hard to follow up with a call of my own. Dex places a call as he walks into the kitchen. After a short conversation, he rummages around the cupboards and cabinets and starts to brew some coffee. He looks over to Alzandre, "Just trying to make it look they were home. It's gonna be the last coffee this pot is ever gonna brew." And it helps me focus.
|
|
Oh, hey, and I have an old boyfriend who works in the station clerk's office. Wonder if he's still there?
...nice to hear you, too. Thanks so much for the info. And congratulations on getting married!
She closes the connection and sighs.
We never could agree on what vid to watch anyway. But I may have a line on a job for Ceren!
You guys are able to finish settling up Ceren's new identity just in time to meet her at the bridge. Everything should be all set up to give her a new identity.
As you show up to the bridge, you come up to an alarming sight. There appears to be 3 thugs talking to Ceren. We know who you are and you are coming with us...our boss has some questions for you.
The thugs do not seem to notice you approaching.
|
|
At a nod from Friye, Kitty moves out toward the group, stealthy as a...ummm...as a small carnivorous furry mammal. Can't think of one right now. It'll come to me.
When it reaches the bridge, it deftly moves underneath it to continue its movement.
Yes, stealthy as a crazed wombat.
Friye quietly readies her Pulsecaster pistol as she moves up closer, taking cover behind a nearby tree.
All three thugs seem to notice the approaching... cat? Then they also notice the rest of the group on the other side of the bridge. The thug in red clothes speaks up, This is official business fellas. This woman wronged our employer, we are just taking care of that issue. No need to turn this into anything violent. Sound good?
"I would also like to point out that we are not going to comply with your demands and a diplomatic solution is asked for." Navasi says in a calm voice.
|
|
Ceolor takes a step forward, openly setting his weapon down on the ground and kicking it over. "...Asked for and preferred! If there is anyway we can resolve this in a peaceful manner, we would love to find it. There really shouldn't be any blood shed over this. Here, as a sign of good faith I'll even give you my weapon."
______________