Hyperkinetic puts away his costume, revealing a rather scrawny teenager beneath with shock-red hair wearing shorts and a black tank top with a yellow lightning bolt in a white circle on the chest.
Shoving his hair under his hat, Hyperkinetic heads out into the city to more or less take in the sights.
Being naturally shy, Ace doesn't mind not getting any kind of attention. He'll keep his eyes open while the other two work the crowd, scanning the crowd for anyone that looks like they're about to attack.
= 8
"Hyper, take your com and keep it on, if I know Jace when things turn they will turn fast.
'Thumper' begins working on his plan, step one a viewer, he goes through his bag until he finds what he is looking for he pulls out a cloth wrapped parcel tied with twine. he carefully unties the twine taking care to keep it free from tangles, as he begins to open the cloth he begins to whisper "Shh! quiet, it is ok, I'll give you some juice but you need to listen" his whispers trail off or become unintelligible.
In the center of the cloth is an old pre-Rifts "Smart Phone" the screen has a pattern of cracks but is intact.
He takes this and connects it to the disassembled lamp with a series of copper wires.
"Now I need to find some sort of targeting..."
Jace and Arsenio: Wary of a trap, you follow the suspected bait. After a time though, no trap is sprung, and the girl's conversation skills seem to be somewhat lacking. They basically just want to hear you brag about yourselves, and seem disappointed anytime you don't make yourself sound heroic. Any time you mention anything someone else doing something, their questions lead you back to how you were the real hero.
You skim their answers for information, but what they know is pretty basic. Putting what they say with what you have heard from others, you put together the following:
Juicers are legal here, so there is not much of a black market, except maybe in recycled parts. Selling recycled parts isn't illegal either (it is quite common, particularly since Juicers don't live long), but dressing them up an selling them as new is.
For repairs, there are about 4 main outlets that service juicers in town, that have reasonably good reputations. There are another dozen where you take what you get. Dragon Juicers are only made or resupplied in two places; The Kingsdale Magickal Guild (a.k.a. the Monolith), and the private clinic of an Alchemist named Regius, the man that invented the process. In the 30 years since he he came up with the procedure, he has become extremely wealthy, and is generally retired from the business, except for the occasional exclusive (rich) client.
Regarding the Police, or the Municipal Security Service, as it is known, works for the city council, and not the people. Their job is to investigate crimes that disturb the peace, but their main purpose is really to protect the economic interests of the oligarchy, and to reinforce economic stability. There is no 'Corruption' per se, at least not from the top, as it is literally in their job description to protect the interests of the city elite. However, cops can and do get bought off from time to time, mostly to turn a blind eye to marketing behaviours that might undercut one of the city council members. As well, as with any oligarchy, there are always tensions and infighting, and some cops and/or offices are known to be loyal to particular council members, as opposed to the council as a whole. However, as stability is good for all, outright favoritism is avoided, and the balance generally respected.
As for information brokerage, the girls aren't particularly savvy about that sort of thing, but they give you the name of someone that is always able to give them whatever they might be looking for at the time. His name is Dex, and he hangs out at a place about 2 blocks away.
Ace: You size up the girls as your pretty typical bar-types, looking for a random hook up, and thrilled it might be a local celebrity. The rest of the crowd in the place seems pretty standard as well, though your keen observation of the place lets you catch glimpses of various people snapping pics of Jace and Aresnio, and apparently posting the pictures and map location to some sort of page on the local CityNet. However, they are not doing it surreptitiously enough to make you think they are planning an attack. It's more like a What-is-happening-in-town kind of page, and locals are reporting the sighting of the city's most recent heroes.
A couple of the toughs in the place are watching them as well, but no one seems to be planning an attack. As time passes, some folk come in the door and look around, and only have a seat after having spotted Jace and Arsenio. One even compares their picture to one on his handheld device; a picture obviously taken from within this room in the last half hour.
'Thumper' radios Arsenio, ::Boss, I have my surveillance device up and running, but it is going to burn out pretty quick. I need to know where to look, but I should be able to see anywhere in the city if you can give me a target.::
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I chuckle as I recognize the con they're running. Normally, if I wasn't on biznez, I'd round up a few sammysams, just whisper in their ear that I got a feelin' about a curbbeat and I'd do the heavy lifting myself. But karma's a me, an' time's a tide, so no need.
Drek, I can't really slam them anyway, I might-a done the same meself, had I thought. Frag, this time with RockOn and D-...
I shake myself, coming to the now. That's...that's all done now. Gotta be zen. Dumb place must have bad air, wipe my eyes, scarf is double useful.
Frag this L4meZ0rz scratch. T3h Net is tossing up fresh reads. I hit the HUD and my steps again hit the ferrocrete---no, they don't got that here, fragging barbarians.
New pix, high rez. Yup, thems mah peeps. Probably. Cute. But I thought they'd be taller.
Grafter ho!
Jace, after talking to these women for awhile realizes that they aren't going to get much more out of them other than going to meet this Dex fellow. Frustrated, he decides that he is going to enjoy what he can tonight and start fresh in the morning. "Tell you what. You get us in to meet Dex in the morning and tonight, well, I'll let you show me around your place..." He then looks at his two wingmen.
"Don't let Ace sleep in my bed at the hotel. I'll check in with you later."
He pats the pilot on the back. "Loosen up man. Not everyone is here to kill us."
Arsenio excuses himself for a moment when Thumper radios in, and goes to the bathroom.
Assuming nobody is in there, he radios back. If they are, he waits in a stall until they leave.
"See if you can get a lock on this 'Regius' guy. He's the best lead we have so far that's not in the big, probably impenetrable Magickal Guild. Not sure we want to risk being detected spying in on those guys; from what we heard before we even got through the gate they're a secretive bunch. If you have time, take a look at this 'Dex' as well, see if he's worth our time." Arsenio is helpful enough to provide teh address for that one.
Androva relaxes into the bath, sinking into the hot water and letting it soothe her tired and aching muscles. It felt good to relax for a change. The events of the last week or so had been harrowing, to say the least. Guess the boys are out getting into trouble. Hopefully, they will refrain from destroying any property, she thought to herself. I wonder what happened to that young dragon we rescued?
By the time Arsenio gets back from the men's room, Jace and his two friends have left, intending to have a memorable evening.
Looking things up on the CityNet connection at the hotel, Thumper is able to find an address for this Regius fellow. He lives in the Heights, which is an exclusive and very wealthy part of town, more or less like a large gated community (though with smaller gated areas within it) patrolled by city security. Only residents and people with invitations are allowed to enter. Being caught in the area without an invitation is a criminal offence. His address is listed as both his home and place of business. There is a message center on CityNet that allows you to send a text or video message, but his live contact numbers are not listed.
The Magick Guild has its address posted, and is easily accessible in the commercial district. Their page has the same message options, but also has a live business connection available.
Hyperkinetic heads out to look around town, it being the first time he's really had a chance to explore one of the settlements in this post-apocalyptic america. The set up of the city is pretty weird. It is kind of like a walled medieval city, with poor slums all around the outside. Except instead of knights and crenelations, the walls are topped with surface to air missile launchers and Rail guns. Probably the only place that even comes close from your world would be something like the Gaza strip in the middle east. Inside the city, the weirdness continues; cyborgs, aliens, wizards, and juicers walk around everywhere, doing whatever they are doing. Some people literally fly through the air, and at a few points you see what looks like someone riding some sort of winged beast, or something similar pulling a coach, or dodging out of the way of a hovercar. The buildings are all strange, ranging from urban decayed out old highrises, to futuristic castles, metal fortresses, and parts that look like the freaking Los Vegas strip. All in all, the entire thing is really really hard to make any sense of.
The guy sitting next to Arsenio looks up from his drink, smiles a hesitant smile, says "Hello, you can call me Ace" and looks back to his drink.
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"'Hello' back at ya, wiz mentat," Wraith says back at Arsenio's shy companion. She doesn't have a trace of a foreign accent, but still seems to pronounce the first word like a strange dish whose taste she's not yet acquired.
She pauses for a moment, re-viewing a moment in the firefight. "Wizworm," she states at Arsenio, "this output your sardine?"
It may be that since sardines are encased in metal, it might be slang for something else that also operates in metal.
'Thumper' will use his device to scan the home of Regius, starting by looking outside then moving inside. The POV on the screen is from that of a electronic device. He looks around the outside for about 12 seconds, moves into the building starting at the front door and jumping from place to place looking for a general layout and location of any people. After about 45 seconds there is a loud POP! as the connector to the lamp arcs and the lights flicker. the smell of ozone fills the small hotel room.
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Figuring that Ace wouldn't be hanging around such a high-profile mana-tosser without reason, Anya turns back to him. "Hoi Ace. Watcher?"
Wraith shakes her head, like she was trying to find the broom closet and instead found the men's bathroom. She tries again. "Scan yer screamsheet?" She frowns, still not liking the taste of that. She screws up her face, like trying to remember something, then tries again. "What's yer mission and how can I help?"
Finally satisfied, she smiles big, proud of herself, and waits for his response.
Arsenio stares at amazement as the crazy person spouts random strings of words in no particular order. At a stretch (a loooong) stretch he could almost sort of figure out what she was trying to say, since some of the words being said vaguely related to some kind of known human speech, but it was difficult.
He's just as amazed when the word vomit ceases, and she speaks normally. That amazement turns to mild annoyance as the actual words register, but he tries to hide it.
"M'am, we are not accepting civilian assistance at this time. I apologize if you've come out of your way to meet us, and appreciate the offer, but I'm not at liberty to share sensitive information with strangers."
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At this Anya rolls her eyes back to the flamehand. "Scan this, nukegake, I ain't yer prole skirt poser input olly. I jock some -platinum- panzer, hai? Paranoid 'street sez we got leeches up the hoop and neg on the reduction. I wear yer colors, an' this'll be a kitty run without me. Subzero this wind, chummer. Sub-fragging-zero."
Wraith nods once and sits back satisfied that she told the tosser what for.
As the silence stretches on and the confusion fails to evaporate, she sighs. Sighs again. Again she screws up her face, closes one eye, and tries again. "I'm Refuge too, hai? Just did a milk run, so I'm ronin." She pauses, tries to make sure he's following. "Heard tell of leeches...vamps...from wizards of smart. I'm wiz, chummer."
She waits patiently before throwing in a wierd phrase she heard when she first got here a few months ago.
"Let me help."
Whatever -that- means.
"Tanstaafl," she says, as if that explains everything.
Picking up on one of the few things she said that he understood, Ace turns to her and says "So, you're Refuge too, huh? Can you prove it?"
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"Sod yer a choob," Wraith breaths in exasperation. "Like Charley Romeo hands out credcards, neh?"
She takes a moment, then leans in close to Ace. Lowly, seriously, she says, "Scan this, dirtwalker," and leans in closer still.
"Chiptruth?" she almost whispers, breasts resting softly on the table. "Deep, deep down, in the bottomly south...you...wanna JAMMY-JAM Cap Fairbarne!" she leans back and laughs. "You wanna see if your Boomstick can unwind that golden knot, hai? See if all that tightness unwinds down in the downy! Tell me that's bulldrek!" she's smiling now, beaming at escaping the trap.
"Need I go on? Scan what Grimjack would do he caught you port-docking his E-Lint Dr. Know? Concrete poisoning in a nano!"
A waitress comes by and Wraith takes a large brandy. She sips and smiles in sublime satisfaction. "FRAG that's good. Frag synthahol amirite?"
"So that's a 'no', then. Look, I'm sure you're fun and all, and probably don't mean any harm, but we have some work to do. Enjoy your drink." Arsenio says, and leaves the bar.
As Ace gets up to leave with Arsenio, he says "Look, lady, I don't know what language you *think* you're talking, but around here we speak English . I know you can speak it, because you've said at least two things that I understood. So try REAL hard, and tell me : can you prove you're with Castle Refuge? If you don't have ID, maybe you can tell me what the Major's aide's name is?"
Ace says "Follow me" and runs to catch up with Arsenio, and says Hey, Arsenio, she's legit, she's got Refuge ID! Let's take her back to the group and see what she knows".
Arsenio looks at her as Ace relays that info.
"...Why didn't you just lead with that?" he asks, then waves his hand dismissively.
"Nevermind. Have you been briefed on our primary mission, or should I give you the quick rundown?"
Hyperkinetic wanders the city for a while, feeling a bit homesick now that he has a moment to let everything sink in.
He wasn't home.
He was somewhere on the other side of the universe.
Sure, there were robots and...Dragons? really? didn't anyone have respect for keeping their genres separate anymore?
Eventually, Hyperkinetic makes his way back to the hotel and to his room without discussion.
Maybe he would feel better in the morning.
Jace gets to the hotel room just as the rest of the crew are falling in. "I got in.. I mean, we have an in to see Dex and his crew this morning, my friends have angles.. an angle for us, sir." He then stands in formation, eyeing the leftover food from the night before, awaiting dismissal..
Androva comes down in the morning, refreshed and bathed. She in enjoying breakfast when the rest of the party arrives.
Thumper: You zone in on the street address with your scanning device, picking up an image of the exterior of his building. Though they are probably not common in the areas you frequent, it looks like a typical rich mansion, like the type you've seen pictures of in old pre-rift scraps, or the occasional movie from the era you've seen.
You move your scanner to scan past the apparent iron fenced barricade surrounding the property. As you are moving the viewer towards the exterior walls of the property, the image fades out to static. No matter how much you try, you don't seem to be able regain the picture.
A few moments later, the hotel room viewer blinks and rings with an incoming call. When you answer it, the viewer fills up with a view of a messy desk, with stacks of books and sloppily scrawled notes. A voice kicks in over the view saying, "Who are you and what do you want?"
The next morning:
The bar Dex frequents/runs is a place called D-Lux. In the evening, it would be an obnoxious, loud, dim place with frenetic lighting and lasers. Of course, at 9 am, it is dead quiet, basically closed, with just one employee sweeping up garbage from the floor. He looks up when you come in the unlocked entrance.
"Uh, we're closed. Open for drinks at 11."
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Jace's satisfied smile is ever present on his face as he enters D-Lux. He wasn't impressed with this information broker's lack of security. "DeX is expecting us. Couple of his girls told us he could hook us up. Don't want to keep him waiting. " Drek! What were their names? He cursed to himself as he stepped in the room as confident as he felt.
The man looks surprised at Jace's declaration, and takes a second to glance at a device in his pocket, "Uh, Dex won't usually be up for another 4 or 5 hours; are you sure they told you to come by now? If it is important, I'll message him, but I wouldn't expect him to be chipper..."
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"Hoi chu--" Anya starts brightly, before catching herself. 'Gotta stay Rome, me droog. Biffs be bakebrain,' she thinks to herself. She takes a deep breath and starts again.
"Hello there, my friend. Um, yes, it IS important." She starts out slowly, like someone who finds a peanut while eating soup. But slowly her onboard comp brings some schemas online and she starts to relax.
She begins slinking closer to the janitor, a playful smile stretching across her face like a flame sparking to fire. "Now, I'm not supposed to tell -anyone- this, but you look like you've got an honest face, so I trust you."
She comes close to the man, slides one long, slender finger down his arm. "Oooo, and _so_ strong. I like that. Yeah, me and Dex go waaaaay back, but I wanna surprise him. I'm sure a playah like you understands." She follows with a sultry and understanding wink.
"Go ahead, call him," she whispers in his ear. "It will be our. little. secret." she breaths, hot and heavy, in his ear.
= 17. Is that a raise? I think that's a raise.
= 13. A fine roll, unless it's overshadowed by a 17. ^_^