[Shaman_Yuri]

I listen and consider the older girl's words as I slip back on the jumpsuit.  The bodice is still warm from the work, but not uncomfortably so.  In fact, given the pervasive, cold dampness of Seattle in mid-December had penetrated even in here, it was kinda nice.  I had to marvel at the deft work and fully professional result. 

She's really good with her hands.  I suspect she'll be able to make happen whatever I might come up with...or just as likely we come up with together.

I nod both in satisfaction at my adjusted suit and also to Arc's final words.  "So stay flexible, watch each other's backs, and always keep an eye out for potential exits.  Straight out of The Book.  I guess the people who wrote the thing actually did know a thing or two."

[gilga]

I smile and think to myself... Personal?  Can it be? Do this person even have emotions? He seems so far gone.  Killing us will alienate Yelena. If he actually care about anything it is about her. I calm my head and am relieved that Nikolai is gone. There are few smart things that I can say about that... Killing people is not that hard. Even Nikolai. Yelena has done so many times.

"There is this other job that may be conflicting to this one if we do not hurry.  I almost feel unprofessional for accepting. " I say. "I just commited to Blake that we finish what we started. There is also somthing that I need to do for him. Impersonate someone, but we should let him know. He just gave us like 60k as wages."

[SgtBoomCloud]

The mechanic gave a grin as she agreed with what the decker was saying.  "I know nuthin' bout this book y'all referring to, but it may just be right, eh?  You might just be all right..."  She clapped the girl on the back a bit in a friendly gesture with her cyberarm before leading her back out to the garage.  "We've got a few hours to get ready, so rest up and do what you need to do.  Hope that deck works out for ya..."

As they returned to the garage, Arc first noticed that Nikolai had already departed, leaving the team alone to do their thing.  And Marco was bringing up a matter that needed to be dealt with.  "Impersonate?  Sounds like you'll be making forward progress on this doing that.  Wiz, then I'll let you do that once we're done here, no interruptions aight?" She chuckled, brushing some hair from her face, arms akimbo.  "Well, we'll just have to do this job done right soon, won't we?  Yeah, we'll let Blake know.  Shouldn't be an issue"

Swinging around, she caught Tuskaloosa off the the corner, making a few finishing touches on the King Scorpion bike they were borrowing.  Turning her head to Yelena, she gave a nod.  "Feel free to chill out, get some food, or what eva you need, Srui.  We got some time"  She held eye contact for a moment, the younger's intense stare telling more than her words: there was concern there, and she did genuinely want Yelena to take it easy after her hellish night.

That done, Arc turned back and strode towards the troll, clearing her throat.  "Ahem...you gonna play and tweak widdat all night, or should we put a few miles on it, huh?"  Fastening her jacket up, Arc headed to the jet-black Scorpion Yelena owned...since ownership was now shared, she was sure the elf wouldn't mind a quick borrow.  Opening the garage enough to clear both of them, she wheeled out the bike and tilted her head with a grin, fitting her goggles over her forehead.  "Let's see if you can keep up..."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena nods at both Marco and Arc.  "Yes.  Tell Blake we still do club."  She pulls out the pen she had bought from Jimmy and calls out to Arc as the human is wheeling the shared Scorpion outside.  "Srui know anyone can put whip in finger?  Wait, Yelena call TriggerT.  Need call contact for gun anyway.  Go see for special fit." 

She searches her 'link for the commcode for the arms dealer.  >>TriggerT.  Is Yelena.  Have questions.  Yelena want buy monowhip.  TriggerT know where get?  Need training too.<<  Her next call is to the contact that TriggerT had sent the assault rifle to for the special modifications.  >>Is Yelena.  From TriggerT.  Send Ares Alpha for modifications.  Tell Yelena should contact you for special fit.  Can meet?<<

To Marco she asks, "Marco need help imitate job?"

[gilga]

I look at Yelena, remembering Nikolai and doze off for a second... "If all goes well I should be fine with Blake, but it is always nice to have the cavalry around in case I need a quick get away."
I then look at her and say:  "We have a few hours to burn...  Would you like to go somewhere? perhaps to that Jazz club? It's been a while." Sometimes Jazz is just Jazz but once meeting a man like Nikolai I feel the urge to remind Yelena of the good times of her  past, the love and passion. After all, she is the only one that keep us alive in there and as for myself I need to believe that Yelena and Nikolai are worlds apart. That man is a test to my faith, he challenges everything that I am.

[ismilealot]

@ Yelena  TriggerT answers, >>Damn slitch, ya wanna take summat's arm and yer leg off dead certain. Ya can't set them damn things biometrics so's ya don' fragging kill yerself wid'dat. I kin get yer one mebbe'. But I only know two guys, one in India goes by Dr Jones and one in Cincinatti by the name 'o Mark Scarlotti what are good enough that mebbe you ain't hospitalized during 'training'. Hiring either is a dice roll an I don' have an in wid either.<<

>>Good to hear from you. Been looking forward to meeting you and training you in your weapon. It's a solid piece and TriggerT tells me you actually know how to use it and are a damn fine looking woman on top of it. I've got tues, wed, thurs avail in a week & a half if you want to take that or we can do this after the New Year if you want a full week.<<

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena's eyes brightened at the mention of Josie's.  She nods and heads off to the living area.  She knocks on the door first and gently announces her name so that Frirefly will not be surprised.  Carefully opening the door, she walks in and looks at the decker.  "Hey, decker girl.  Arc and Tuskaloosa driving bikes for test.  Yelena and Marco go jazz club for relax and eat.  Firefly want come?  Nice music.  Good food.  Yelena play sax."  She walks over to the side of the bed and picks up the sax case before going to the door.  She looks over her shoulder.  "Decker girl come.  Have fun."

The responses come in as she waits at the door.  Smiling, she sends replies.  >>TriggerT.  Yelena not want take own leg.  That why ask for trainer.  Any others closer?<<

>>Yelena thank.  Can try for early your Tuesday Wednesday Thursday.  Be tight.  Yelena leave city for holiday.  Yelena call to make sure in a couple of days.  Thanks.<<

[Shaman_Yuri]

When Yelena knocked, I'd finished praying and had just gotten settled into finishing up the AR work I'd do with the deck before trusting myself to IR with it.  All my files had been transferred and I was now just running checksums to make sure that everything was exactly as it had been with my Erika and not a byte more or less.  One of the first things a decker learns is to make damned sure new equipment doesn't come with "undocumented features".  It looks like this new MiAz, despite my general distrust of Aztechnology in general, was mint and the only extras on it were the usual crapware that could easily be identified and rooted out - something I'd already completed before doing anything else.

Aztechnology is a bunch of goons, but they make good products.  I think I can work with this...

Jazz.  The word settles into my mind like a seed in fertile soil. 

Yeah, that could be fun!

"Jazz club?" I chirp.  "And they let patrons play?  I think that could be cool!"  I slip my new deck into the protective deck pouch of my jumpsuit as I rise from the bed.  I grab my jacket and slide my Erika in a pocket.  I'll still take every free moment to use my Erika to get my new MiAz into ship shape.  "Think they might have a fiddle I could borrow?" I ask with a grin as I present myself to my elven mentor.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena nods, "Probably.  Glad to have you along."  She goes into the garage and heads for the car, talking to Marco as she walks.  "Marco come.  Firefly come, too.  Go Josie's"

[gilga]

Right at least we can go listen to some music and clean our heads before all the fun begins. I say "That's great... It is a fun club and we are already in the Barrens so what the heck."... "So Yelena, do you happen to know a good place to get an Ares Alpha? I mean with all the amount of killing that your comrade described perhaps it is worth the risk of carrying one. It is slightly more hard hitting and handles the recoil in a more advanced manner than the AK-97. I cannot get a licence for the Alpha but I can also not get a licence to kill... can I? I lost track in the middle but many many people should lose their life so we have our justice." I sigh, and I obviously do not like how dirty the kill is going to be. "I'd prefer a sniper shot or poison or something a little more subtle than shock and awe tactics. He seem to have a small army this friend of yours."

[Mercy Merchant]

As Yelena and the others pile into Arc's car, she says, "Is funny Marco ask license.  Yelena get one for Marco.  Now, no business until after leave club.  Yelena go play sax.  Go relax."  Yelena leaves the garage, using the remote to close the large door behind her.  After setting the autopilot, Yelena looks over the front seat at Firefly.  "Firefly not go Josie's before?  Is nice club.. Josie is Troll.  Club neutral ground like Arc garage.  All gangs welcome but no fight..  Sit, eat, listen music,  Play music if can."

[Shaman_Yuri]

I remain in my own little world as we ride to the club.  Marco seems pretty caught up in morality, and I feel for the man.  For me, I'm used to delegating my morality to a higher authority.  Renraku, Allah, and now Yelena have served as my moral barometer.  If the people we face are, indeed, kafir slavers, then Allah certainly does not restrict my actions.  Renraku has no obvious role here.  I would ethically still not act against the interests of what I still consider to be my 'country', but there is no conflict with Renraku.  And Yelena wants these people dead.  Who am I to judge?

I leave the two of them to their talk and continue working on the MiAz and Erika until I hear my name again.

"Firefly not go Josie's before?  Is nice club.. Josie is Troll.  Club neutral ground like Arc garage.  All gangs welcome but no fight..  Sit, eat, listen music,  Play music if can."

A troll?  Huh.  Seems like they're coming out of the woodwork in my life these days,  No matter.

"If they have a violin, I'll join in if they'll let me.  I'm pretty rusty and jazz isn't my strength as I've said already, but it would be great to have a bow in my hands again.  Maybe when we get back from Poland I might have enough nuyen to get a decent low-end violin so I can start practicing again."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena smiles and turns back around for the rest of the trip.  She disengages the auto pilot as the car approaches the club, looking for a place to park.  She finds one not too far from the entrance and locks the car.  Muted lamps line the parking lot, providing sufficient light for the three to walk to the smallish two-story block building.  A bright neon sign on the roof proclaims that this is indeed JOSIE'S.  The soft tones of a sax emanate from speakers over the doorway.  The door opens to reveal a small entryway and a second door giving access to the club proper.  The sounds of jazz are louder here as Yelena opens the inner door and motions for the others to precede her. 

The door opens into a largish room with a number of small tables on the main floor and booths lining two of the walls.  A wide stage against the far wall has a number of instruments on stands and a piano.  A trio of humans is on the stage, providing the music.  A bar runs the length of the left hand wall and several waitresses are ferrying food and drinks to the crowded room.  And it is crowded, with only a few scattered seats available.  A man in a tux is standing at a small podium just beyond the entry.  His face lights up as he sees Yelena and the others.  He comes forward and embraces the Russian.  "Yelena!  So nice to see you.  Josie will be so glad.  And you have brought your instrument?  How magnificent."  The man turns to Marco and busses his cheeks.  "And Monsieur Marco as well.  Welcome, welcome."  Turning to Subaru, he reaches for her hands then stops, simply bowing before speaking in Arabic.  "مساء الخير واهلا بكم جوسى. رجاء الاستمتاع فى المساء." 

Yelena turns to Firefly.  "Is Henri.  Here forever."  Turning back to Henri, she says, "Yes Henri.  Yelena and friends come for music.  Place to sit?"

Henri nods and leads them over to one of the booths.  "Please have a seat.  Jacques will be your server.  I will go let Josie know that you are here."  As Henri leaves, Yelena is already swaying to the soft beat of the jazz coming from the stage.  She turns to her companions, "See?  Is good place.  Like so far?  Nice music?"


  Translation:  Good evening and welcome to Josie's.  Please enjoy the evening.

[gilga]

The soft music calms my mind and I feel that in some metaphysical level places like Josie's change the world, effect it and make it a better place. The music is intoxicating and more than I want to eat I want to dance. It is stronger than me, my legs carry me and I instinctively move to the beat. I look at the two girls and ask "Want to dance?"  Between dealing with troll gangers called the pink ladies, meet with Cain, kidnap a mage and impersonate a lawyer my life seems full... full of crime and some sweet money.  Money that I watch being spent on shadowy things. This is the vicious cycle, there is always something expensive that will make you more powerful and you rationalize wanting it saying that it increase your chances, but once you are better equipped you only get bolder. A vicious cycle to turn the runner into more and more, shadow runner and less and less person.

But these concerns are for some other time, there are pretty things in this world, things that are worth living for and dancing is one of them. I will think if I can give Tsina in a simpler cleaner manner later, although with my little experience killing people I do not hold my breath. After all what do I really know about life beside dancing, sex and sweet talking people into making good about themselves. The rest is just wigging it.

[Shaman_Yuri]

From the outside, this Josie's looks like a few of the understated club's my team and I frequented back in Singapore.  I'm sure there are places like this in every big city all over the world.  It's almost homey compared to the Stardust, and I'm already glad Yelena sensei invited me.  When the host recognizes my personal space, based on the hijab I assume, and then greets me in Arabic, I'm floored.  I haven't used my Arabic since...since...my last moments with mother.

But enough of that.  If I get teary every time I think of her, there's no way I'll be able to get through what I have to do in order to avenge her and save Renraku from the cancers that right this minute suck the life from my corporation.  Instead I thank the kind man and follow Yelena to our table.  I look at the instruments and eye a violin, but before i can ask Yelena about the protocol here Marco speaks about dancing.

How can I welch out of this, I wonder...

I hesitate and watch how Yelena-sensei will respond.