Sirus Mechanicus & Shakes
Stubs motions to a pile of junk. "If you can get one piece of that crap working consider the information paid."
Shakes you see Stubs the shop owner talking to the metal man and then points him in the direction of a pile of junk where he heads toward off to the side of the shop.
Josiah Graves & Lil Lazlo
Lazlo your unable to hear what they are saying but as they are talking one of the 3 big guys starts pointing at another man walking toward them.
The big guy yells. "Well if it isn't Josiah Graves! What the hell are you doing down here?"
Josiah you finally realize what you missed! The big Babyface gang members lead by someone you know as Skinner talking to your mark.
Sirus scans the pile and doesn't see anything right away. Maybe if he scrounged around he could find something, but he didn't feel like spending that kind of time here.
I said I would repair an item for you, not sort through your scrap. he says without inflection.
Lil'Lazlo is a large man, more muscled than most but not overly so, his skin is covered in scar tissue from various duels. One long scar is prominent on his forearm marking him as a member of a flesh cutter gang. His black hair is long and his face lined with stubble.
He's clearly from further down hive and looks askance at the crowd milling about. He has a bow and quiver with a cloak about his shoulders. A chainsword on his hip and a knife strapped to his thigh.
Josiah Graves & Lil LazloThe big guy yells. "Well if it isn't Josiah Graves! What the hell are you doing down here?"
Josiah you finally realize what you missed! The big Babyface gang members lead by someone you know as Skinner talking to your mark.
Taken aback for a moment, Josiah remembers vividly his spell in the Goldenheads - and that disastrous last night-cycle he spent with them. His stomach churns a little, almost as if something is gnawing at it...
But only a moment. It's time for gameface, smiles, and jovial tone.
"Skinner, you rascal, it's been an age! Things got a little heated after that last duel up top so I'm slumming it down here for a while. Have had some good times and better shooting. Heard there might be some fun and gun-play on offer here tonight, so I wandered in. So what's your angle?"
In appearance, Josiah still has some indications of his high-born life. He is an average sized man, but agile. His grey leathers were of good make, if having seen rough use down here. His custom flak top-hat. His auto-pistol and stub revolver are holstered on his sides. His face is bearded with no moustache. To a very observant onlooker his smile here is one of necessity, not of true joy of life.
Agility Check (hard -20)
vs -1
Believing he is as stealth as possible shakes creeps up to the shop as inconspicuous as possible. Bumping into people walking causing them to shout and curse, staring straight into an open window shakes hides in plain view.
"I could get a better view if I..."
shakes walks into the shop and acts as if he is browsing its wares right next to the shop owner
Sirus Mechanicus & Shakes
The tech-adept appears to not be in pleasant mood as he goes through the crap and Shakes stumbles about unable to control his tremors is easily spotted by both Sirus and Stubs.
"What do you want you miscreant!" Stubs yells at Shakes.
Josiah Graves & Lil Lazlo
The employer/mark looks a bit taken aback when Josiah interjects on their conversation as him and Skinner go back in forth in conversation. He looks back to Lazlo motioning for him to come to the group with the look of "just in case".
Skinner grins a big toothy grin at Josiah. His two men who your not familiar with stand behind him always appearing to be ready for any kind of action that may occur.
Skinner turns to the mark before replying to Josiah. "Have the goods?"
The mark looks around a bit after Lazlo turns up at his side. "Perhaps a more quite place is in order now that half this Cantina heard you yell."
Skinner looks around and shrugs "Whatever, lets go." Skinner looks to Josiah "Come with if you want maybe we could use you down here for something."
The Mark looks at Lazlo "Stay close by my side in case things go sideways." he says as the Babyfaces and Josiah lead the way out.
Josiah gives Skinner a jaunty nod.
Fake it 'til you make it. Or just fake it.
"Let's do this."
He approaches the mark while walking.
"Heard word you were the man to speak with about the action."
Sirus is a pretty unremarkable person in his fleshy bits. Average height, brown hair, and a bushy moustache are the only notable features. What made him stand out were his robes (slightly worn) and his Utility class mechadendrite.
He regards tree shaking man with the neutral mask that is the hallmark of the Admech.
73% chance birth defects, 20% chance traumatic or neurological disruption to nervous system, 7% chance warp corruption. he concludes and turns back to his business.
Lazlo nods and keeps an eye on the newcomers... and his employer for that matter.
He's got a very self assured stride, certain that even if he doesn't walk away from a fight he wouldn't be the only one bleeding out.
shakes is a tall slender middle age man, bald, eyes are the color a blackest coal. Corrupted by the surges of warp energies sethlar shakes without control. He shakes so much that it feels as if it was his natural movement. There is an erieness to shakes although he is unpleasant to look at it seems more than just his looks its as if he is a stain on reality itself
"Its not everday one sees a member of the adeptus mechanicus I was curious what would bring one down so low into the underhive"
Sirus turns to the shaking man. Trouble. If you have any information concerning a reduction in the regular deliveries of Adamantium uphive or are willing to assist me in my investigation into the same, say so. If no, go away.
holds his hand to his chin in a pondering state tryinv to recall any information about reduced deliveries, from a distance it looks like he is scratching his chin profusely instead of thinking
shakes shrugs throwing his hands up
" sure, Ill help. It beats waiting around to die "
A single eyebrow lifts a fraction of an inch. "You are waiting for death?"
Sirus Mechanicus & Shakes
Stubs ignores the two as he polishes some gear grumbling to himself.
Josiah Graves & Lil Lazlo
The mark looks to Josiah "Possibly but my man Lazlo behind me is filling the spot I need right now. Stick around and lets see what we can do since you know these Babyfaces alread."
The group finally makes it to a quite dark alley in between a few hab buildings where not much traffic is flowing through.
Skinner turns to the mark "So where is it?"
The mark frowns "So straight forward. Do you have the credits?"
Skinner grins and pulls out a small bag and empties some of it's contents into his hand. Most worlds use thrones, down here in the hives these credits are like gold for trade and purchasing of goods. The coins he pulls out are of top grade quality the likes the two of you probably have never seen or been a long time.
The mark grins "Good." and then pulls out a small item from his pocket wrapped in cloth and hands it to Skinner. "Hope your contact enjoys it" he grins.
"I put holes in the lippy, which might suit you too. And I know my way around the darker corners here."
Josiah is about to add a conspiratorial wink at that last part, but his guy roils at some of the thought of some of those "darker corners".
Lazlo snorts at Josiah's comment, clearly unconvinced by this uphiver knowing 'the darker corners', probably hadn't even seen the proper muties around here more likely than not. Little day trip round the sump and he thinks he's a tough guy.
Lazlo looks around keeping an eye out for danger but if anything he seems bored by these Uphive Dandies and their little games. At least the coin seemed real enough, maybe his 'employer' might have some better paying or more useful work for him after this. But it probably would have been more eventful for him if Lazlo wasn't here.
Shakes looks at sirus awkwardly
" no my good man I am not waiting to die in a literal sense. I was saying I have nothing to do in the forseeable future might as well help out. It beats doing nothing in a place where death is so prevalent. One might even die of boredom. The only rumors that I have heard is that people have been disappearing at a much more rapid pace. I mean people go missing all the time but here I have heard more people have been disappearing at an accelerating rate maybe this has something to do with the adamantium deliveries that you have mentioned"
Sirus nods. I was just told the same from this upstanding merchant here.
Very well. I accept your aid.
He looks back to the scrounging scoundrel and starts to stare at him while he waits for something fixable to emerge from the pile of scrap.
Josiah Graves & Lil Lazlo
Skinner takes the items and puts it in one of his pockets and then hands the Mark an envelope with something obviously inside of it. At that moment all hell breaks loose as over a loud megaphone you hear a voice.
"Drop all your weapons and get down on the ground NOW!"
3 Arbitrators can be seen one block away with one cyber mastif!
Sirus Mechanicus & Shakes
Accepting the offer the two of you leave Stubs shop. He just grunts as you leave not saying a word.
You both get strange looks as you head deeper and deeper into the hive to where only those desperate go to find work. You come to a lift that will take you down to the mining areas and start your decent.
The air is thinner and filled with more fumes the further down you go making it a bit harder to breath but still can survive, for some time at least.
*Clunk* the lift reaches it's destination and you disembark. You do not see a single soul down here. There are numerous shafts going in different directions from where you are with some lifts available for transporting heavier things down here laying about in all sorts of different disrepair states.
Sirus supresses a cough as they arrive. I've got to get my respritory system upgraded. This flesh goes haywire at the slightest thing. he thinks.
The state of the machines down here was downright offensive, which was to be expected, but still.
Josh looks for a shortcut, a way out and away from the biters.
He is unsure. Draw or run. Run, draw if he can't.
"Let's move! Biters are no joke!"
"What did I tell you about Arbites? Run for it!" Not waiting for any response he starts legging it. He wouldn't like to tangle with arbites at the best of times, and with only a bunch of Uphive Dandies for back up he was not sticking.
He might be able to outrun the Arbites, big heavy armour and all compared to his cloak but the Cyber Mastiff was likely a different story... but he didn't have to outrun it alone just not be the first one it caught.
No one knew him here, just make it Downhive in one piece and keep his mouth shut. Arbites? Even if he killed them it'd be one of the worst things he could do, who'd gang up with or hire a man who was wanted for killing Arbites... his feet slammed against the rockrette, if someone looks like they know where they are going he may well follow them.
A truth of the Underhive.
When even the muscle is running, it's suicide to stick around.
Josiah runs. The muscle has the right plan.
Josiah Graves & Lil Lazlo
Before you start to run you see the Mark pull out a bolt pistol and the Babyfaces do similar with their more advanced weaponry than you have seen in a while and start the gun fight with the Arbites. You know this isn't going to end well.
A few zigs and zags you make your way through the hive streets and the residents begin to freak out from the gun fire. After a few minutes of running the gun fire begins fade in the distance and the crowds seem calmer. The two of you are alone now in a quite alley and the sound of fighting could not be heard any longer.
Sirus Mechanicus & Shakes
Sirius you spot something out of the corner of your eye. A small green looking creature that scurries off when you notice it. Shakes appears oblivious to it's presence.
Sirus's mind almost instantly pulls up a list of things that could be small and green. It's an extensive list.
"Identify the green creature that just fled the area" he demands.
Josiah sweats and coughs. Not so much from the exertion, but from the roiling in his guts.
Has he woken them up? Will they chew him up?
He gathers himself and speaks up. He could use backup and this guy seems with it. He offers a hand to shake.
"Josiah Graves. Do you know what action was going down? Is there anywhere with goods that those guys aren't going to make it back to?"
"I was told little and only paid a small amount but with full salvage of the goods of any man I took out if things went bad. I told him I'd not get involved in anything that would bring down the Arbites on me. Even if they win I'm not sticking around, strong chance we're marked for death now as is."
He looks Josiah up and down "I've no idea about loot but I'm headed down hive, they have the men they wanted and hopefully the Arbites will be happy with that but I amn't inclined to take chances, what about you Uphiver?" He shakes Josiah's hand.
Time to take a chance. It's more dangerous for him alone and there's less trust down here for a gold-plated uphiver. Time to show some grit.
"I agree about the Arbites, staying to fight them was suicide. And the lawmen are persistent so-and-so's. Truth be told, I left out a few details when I was talking with the babyfaces, things got heated after that duel uphive and I've made no plans to go back up. I wasn't kidding about the shooting though and I've a nose for getting around. Further downhive is a good plan, I'm heading that way too."
"And I've ideas on how to get there quicker."
"Good, I'd rather not use the way we came up. If the Arbites get the details from him and check the way we came up I'd rather be far away from it than risk tangling with them. Enforcers would have been something."
Josiah nods to the best shortcut he can think of, given the circumstances.
"Agreed. Sanctionaries are enough trouble, let alone the Arbites. We'd best be moving."
Shakes spins around in a coughing fit. Pointing to himself
"ME!, I see nothing good sir. You want me to go off into the unknown to identify some Creature you should just happen to see vanish into thin air"
Shakes places a hand over his chest as if it would help him breathe easier. Looking down the different paths.
"Which path did it flee?"
Not you, Him. Sirus points at the store owner.
And I saw it going in that direction. he points again.
I saw it going in that direction! he points, But it's probably gone now. Let's keep moving. Whatever it was, it was too fast for me. If it meant is harm it'll be back.
Josiah Graves & Lil Lazlo
Josiah leads the way down hive with ease taking strange paths that Lazlo probably knew existed and before you know it, much faster than you anticipated your back down in the lower hives.
No one bothers to try to chase you down and you feel rather safe, well as safe as you can down under.
Sirus Mechanicus & Shakes
Moving along you find a sweet spot you can use the tools down here to help collect some of the metal you were looking for. After about an hour of gathering you hear a strange squishing type sound, like something playing around in thick mud, making it's way to your area through the tunnels.
Sirus isn't exactly thrilled to have to mine the stuff himself, but it was better than nothing.
Sirus pats his arm when the sound appears. It looks like a unconscious fidget. He's actually setting his hidden lasgun to overload.
Something's coming. What do you think? he says quietly.
"Got any business or plans down here or are you just going to keep heading downhive til you stop seeing people who recognize you?" Lazlo sat on a pile of rubble and pulled off a boot to remove the pebble inside it. "If that new Uphiver friend of yours shows up I'm not sure if I'll go looking for my money or clear out of town before the Arbites show up."
For a moment, Josiah considers replying with grox manure. But no, that would be a big mistake with this one.
He shakes his head.
"No, no plans. I'm looking for action, need the creds."
He stops a moment and proposes an offer.
"If you want some help getting your pay off the guy, I can help. Take my cut out of whatever else he has on him so you're not out of pocket. What do you think?"
Lazlo spits on the ground. "He's either dead or with Arbites coming for him after fighting those we saw. I'm not stupid enough to jump into that kind of a mess."
"At least your not like they were. Best to stick together til the next settlement and if we can get some work for creds together we might get a better price but if not I'll go my own way."
"Sounds good to me."
Gnaw, gnaw.
"Two pairs of eyes and ears give an edge.
"I have no clue as to what could be tunneling it was towards us but I suggest we kill first and ask questions later. We wont find out if we are dead"
shakes whips out his autopistol activating the laster with a small electronic whine holding his gun at the ready. Shakes is pretty handy with the hammer although his body movements looks as if he is timid and could misfire at and moment.