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During Jax' discussion, he glances over at Tiktik to see him staring at Jax with great intent. Somewhat concerned for the little guy Jax gives him a thumbs up and a wink then remembered something he had not asked yet.
Oh, and is there a cheese shop around here? Preferably one with a massive selection including Parmesan, Mozzarella, Fetta and Gouda?
Jax looks back down at Tiktik after asking his question and gives him another wink and thumbs up.
Tiktik was starting to get frustrated and disheartened, until he heard Jax utter the word ‘gouda’ at which point he started bouncing up and down with joy, winked at Jax and at Volter, and then kept “practicing” on the others.
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"Now, I have a meeting with some of the other forum members about this blasted deal with Zo! we've made. Please contact me when you've made progress on your investigation, or if you have any questions for me on how to proceed." They rise, nod to each of you, and lead you out of their office.
Volter speaks to Tiktik, "Tiktik, you seem familiar with the streets and these gangs, where do you think we should start this investigation of information?"
”Hmm, I think I remember some of their hangouts.”
I agree with Volter maybe Overclock might be the best for this. Also B-Bop would you know anything about these gangs? Bepo says in his growly grumbly tone.
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You remember the following about the Downside Kings:
The Downside Kings are a brutal street gang that controls several decks of Absalom Station’s lower levels, or “Downside,” through a combination of intimidation and violence. They are known to engage in a wide variety of illegal activities, from extortion, fraud, robbery, smuggling, and theft, to drug and arms trafficking, kidnapping, murder-for hire, and trafficking in sentient species.
You remember the following about the Level 21 Crew:
The Level 21 Crew are a street gang that claims (unsurprisingly) Level 21 of Absalom Station’s seedy lower decks as its territory. Their known criminal endeavors include theft, fencing stolen goods, gambling, prostitution, racketeering, and smuggling.
You aren't sure where exactly they hold court, but you may know the right people to ask.
Tiktik passes all of his knowledge along and then leads the group to one of his contacts for the Downside Kings.
Hmm, I need to procure a few items, but after that the Level 21 crew sounds slightly less murderous than the Downside Kings for the purposes of investigation. Also, I just self defensed two members of the Downside Kings so it may be better for me to avoid their attention for the time being. Should we secure lodgings before we begin our investigation?
”Waitthesecredsticksarereal?! Fourhundredactualcredits? I’mgonnabuyallthethings!
Hmmyoumakeagreatpointthough. Weshouldbuystuffandthenheaftolevel21.”
If we are going to be getting into more fighting I'm going to go pickup some Serums of Healing. I also agree with Talek about getting some lodging setup first then we can get to work on looking up these gangs. Yeah the Level 21 crew seems less violent.
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After asking around with the usual suspects, you learn the following:
The Level 21 Crew may be a criminal gang, but they have a reputation in their territory (and neighboring levels) for promoting community
empowerment, and many neighborhood residents tolerate or tacitly endorse their activities. The gang has also been known to hire itself out to defend marginalized and threatened groups or factions. A grizzled ysoki called Jabaxa currently leads the Level 21 Crew.
Fearing retribution from powerful corporate interests, the Hardscrabble Collective, a miners rights group, has recently hired the Level 21 Crew for protection.
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Your questions lead you through a half a dozen grimy bars and back alleys, but you hit pay dirt and learn some excellent information.
- Turnover among the Downside Kings’ leadership is high, but the gang’s current boss is a barbarous human woman named Ferani Nadaz.
- Astral Extractions has recently hired the Downside Kings. It seems that a group of dwarves in the Diaspora discovered an Asteroid floating in the drift. Thinking it may have valuable--and unclaimed--ores on it, they towed it with them back to Absalom Station.
However, when their ship, the Acreon arrived at the Station, the crew had disappeared and the ship was ruled abandoned. Security quarantined both the ship and the asteroid, which has since become known as the Drift Rock.
Astral Exctractions wants the Downside Kings to help convince the Hardscrabble Collective, a clan of Diasporan miners, to hand over the Drift Rock over to Astral Extractions for a 'reasonable price.'
- The Downside Kingsare known to use a nightclub called Fusion Queen as a front for their illegal activities.
Volter tries to recall if their creators ever had any dealings with Astral Extractions and what they might remember them for.
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Astral Extractions is a powerful mining conglomerate with business ties throughout the Pact Worlds. Most of the company’s operations are entered in the Diaspora and the rocky moons of the outer planets, but it has also begun sending scout vessels into the Vast in search of new claims.
The public face of Astral Extractions is that of an ethical and respectable corporation, but outside of the public eye, some say the company uses hired muscle—corporate mercenaries, strikebreakers, and even criminal elements—as proxies to intimidate and threaten those who stand in its way.
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Jax recalls times where the free captains may have been hired to guarantee there would be no issues with certain operations. Jax gets ahold of some old contacts to ask and see if they can provide any further information on the Astral Extractions, as far as dealings and contracts made as well as any current contracts being held and as well as ship logs and sightings of said asteroid.
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You get a hold of an old contact of yours named Richter--an excellent pilot, but a bit of a burnout.
"Well, hell, man, if you got some kind of goings on with Astral Extractions my advice would be to back the hell down," he says, pushing his stringy hair out of his eyes.
"Now that I've assuaged my guilt over your imminent demise, all I can tell you about the Drift Rock is what I've seen on the Infosphere and the trivids--it's a big damn rock some dwarves found out in the Drift. They thought it might have some good mining on it, so they towed it back here. Thing is, when the ship finally showed up there was no signs of life and no one communicating. Security stopped it before it crashed into something important, and they've got it on quarantine for the nonce, thinking there might be some kind of disease--or something worse--on board."
"Rumor has it Astral Extractions wants to get the rights to that rock once the authorities relax that quarantine--which a company with the credits to swing that AE does could make happen sooner than later, mind--but the people who do own the rights aren't selling. Its an outfit called the Hardscrabble Collective, sort of a union for independent miners out in the Diaspora.
"So, AE went and hired a gang--I wanna say its the Downside Kings? They want them to put the screws to the Hardscrabble boys and get them to settle up."
He shrugs. "Well, that's about all I know. Now you owe me some Dreamshiver next time we meet."
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"I'm afraid there's no backing out of this one and sounds like a decent pay day should we pursue the matter. A pirate lord by the name of 'Large' Sunderland should be able to forward you the Dreamshiver next time you dock back at Broken Rock."
"You shouldn't miss him, hence his name, but should you find trouble finding him just look for the massive red cruiser with the slogan 'Looks good, runs great' eched in gold above the cargo doors and in bold lettering across the hull 'Crimson Storm'. I'd be surprised if you missed that."
"Just mention 'Boots' to him and he'll know I owe you one. He's owed me a few anyhow. He may even have some on board as well as work for any potential crew, should you like the high risk high reward types."
"Here." Jax offers 50cc and mentions a tavern on this station with a decent brew in reserves. "It's nothing like you'll find on Broken Rock but it's the least I can do for now. Jax crosses his arm across his chest with a closed fist, "Best we serve Besmara, in her name!"
Ok, while Jax is off getting cybered up, shall we do some shopping Bepo?
Tiktik bashfully tugged on Talek’s arm and asked, ”Mr. Talek, would you buy me some things? I’m kinda banned from most of the shops on the station...”
Certainly Tiktik. If you would be so kind as to provide me a list of items and the credits to procure equipment for you, I would be happy to help
Volter, though they have healing capabilities, decides that buying a couple of healing serums wouldn't be a bad idea and joins the party in shopping for supplies.
Yeah, Talek that would be great while we have some time to burn anyway. I know a place we can get them, follow me.
Bepo is going to buy 2 Serums of Healing mk1 for 100 credits.
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You're able to purchase your items with no issues. While waiting in line at Joe's Serum Hut, you spot a trivid playing that seems to be talking about the Acreon.
"--been isolated from the other ships in the Armada. This thing has been under constant surveilance since it arrived, and no one has seen the slightest bit of activity."
Another voice breaks in. "And the rumor mills are running wild, D'turm, with stories all over the info sphere about how the rock contains rich seams of minerals, or treasures of lost Golarion. Others are saying that the crew saw something they shouldn't, and were all killed to keep it secret."
The video shifts to a self-shot video uploaded to the infosphere. A heavily augmented human is speaking.
"There's a lot of misinformation out there, and I'm here to tell you what the authorities don't want you to know--the crew of that ship are goners, man. They saw some advanced, secret military #S!% and now the Pact Council had them airlocked. Now its just yet another mystery for talking heads to yap about for a week until we aaaalll just forget about it. But you fools are so busy playing Doot Doot Magic Flute you can't see the space station for the bulk heads, man."
The video cuts to a pair of anchors, a blonde human woman and a host Shirren.
The woman chuckles. "Lot of strong opinions out there on the Drift Rock! Share yours with us, at--"
The store owner switches the channel irritably.
Bepo looks at the store owner. Who was spouting all that garbage?
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"Oh, thats SwordofGolarion, he's a, whatya call it, conspiracy theorist guy." The vesk rubs a hand over head. "Thinks the pact worlds should have stayed fighting the Veskarium after the Swarm were beat. Not too fond of my kind. Or yours, I'd wager."
He sighs.
"What do you think's up with that rock?"
”Ohboyohboyohboy! ThanksTalek! IwantaMarkTwoCyberpad, butmakesureitisaseriesSix. TheSeriesFivesaregarbage. TheycanbarelyrunDootDootMagicFlute. Iwantaserumofhealing, butB-BopisrightonlyFrankenBerryorBooBerryflavors. AndlastlyIwantsomeIonTape, anybrandbutQuackersisfine.”
I am not sure but it sure is interesting. It has the possibility to have so many interesting finds. Where does this Sword of Golarion usually stay around, so I can avoid that place.
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"Heh." The Vesk shrugs.
"I don't think he stays on the Station proper. He's out in the Armada, somewhere. Easier to keep things 'pure' out there, eh?"
He reaches over the counter to offer you his hand.
"Call me Joe."
He grabs a vial from behind the counter and stuffs it in your bag with the other things you are buying.
"Here you are. You have a good day now."
It appears the Vesk gave you a Tier 1 Antitoxin, on the house.
Thanks Joe Bepo reaches out his hand, gives a firm handshake and says, Call me Bepo. Nice to meet some friendly faces around here. I will make sure to let you know if I hear anything. See ya around.
After leaving the Serum Hut, Bepo realizes he doesn't have a pistol and thinks it might be wise to pickup a small one. Hey guys I just realized I don't have a pistol and since we still have some downtime waiting on Jax, I am going to swing by a shop and pick something up.
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Alright, you lot just about ready to have'a visit to da Fusion Queen? I got da directions an' it's time to have a chat wit' Ferani Nadaz. We can do dat over some drinks or we can do dat over some laser discharge ozone smoke. I'm acceptable ta either'a dem choices, B-Bop says as he cracks his knuckles and smooths the seam where his armor meets his gun holster.
He then turns away to look over the included stickers from his heal serums, disappointed to have found duplicates of Slogar the Solarion of Justice but quickly turning his attitude around that there was one shiny foil sticker of Happy Scrappy- Hero Pup.
You are most welcome Tiktik. Once I recieve money from Tiktik for his purchases I head into the shop to make his purchases and my own. After making my purchases I return and present Tiktik with his new gear.I see what you were saying about the series five Tiktik it was quite inferior to the series six.
Volter will also purchase a round of small ammo as the gun Talian gave them came loaded but with no extra ammunition.
As Volter goes with Bepo to the ammunition store, knowing a little bit about uplifted bears from their studies at Inspiro Corp, they telepathically call out to them,
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Jax' procedure went somewhat smoothly, only an apprentice augmentor, over seen by his superior, had done the job.
Unfortunately, the end result of the procedure left Jax with a slightly painful recovery time and was told its best to not speak for at least an hour or until pain medication is administered. What's even worse, he'd have to find it himself...