[adamu]

[Thursday June 18th, 2076, ~02:17, Al’s Safehouse, Docklands, London]

"Friend might be stretchin' things, but we's had our associations. An' yeah, she did say she was pretty high up in NeoNet. Though not so high she didn't have to play some seriously cutthroat internal politics."

Now, knowing eTher was involved, he wondered if any part of Dr. Dick's work involved the Sybill virus. There were few things Al wanted more in this world, besides sim stardom, of course, than to wipe that soul-sucking scourge out.  Without a word he headed upstairs.

He opened the door without knocking. "Say Doc, what sorta math you do?"

[gilga]

" Al... every time there is more than a single person in the room there are politics... for mages... there are politics even if there is a single person... Mundane talking to himself - insane - mage talking to himself... he got a mentor spirit. Go figure... " Solo laughed as he followed Al to the Doc.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint chimed in from the sidelines: "I'm neither in the habit of abandoning a run nor of people whose well-being I've taken responsibility for. I won't start now and I don't particular care if I have to step on some toes.
But I'm all for opening negotiations. Maybe we can trade the data without selling out the family.

And when all's said and done I want to have a conversation with Art."

He finally stashed his weapons and followed the two unasked upstairs.

[obidancer]

He patted the Frenchman on the shoulder: "Sorry again about that whole falling out of a helicopter. Next time, I'll try to time it better."

The Frenchman wasn't too sure how to approach ISaint anymore, but his apology seemed sincere enough.  The man may have tried to kill him, maybe on several occasions after today, but he knew more about his past than anyone he had ever met since waking up in that clinic in London.

No harm done. Can't blame you, I was invisible and radio silent. It was a great shot too. Before you try to geek me again, let's make sure we'll share a heavy drink and our 'mutual story'. He added jokingly.

The conversation was interesting. Evo, SK, Neo Net, Drake, Magic hacker.  They definitely had hit the jackpot in getting into deep drek.
I ain't too keen on selling anyone either. We've took on the responsibility to take the Doc and his family alive; until we're sure about what's going with Art, it's still our job to keep it that way.
Al's right, seems to me SK's approach was more to kill the Doc than take him back from us. There were shaped charges in the safehouse itself! Someone wants the doc alive for his skills, someone else wants what's in his head, and someone else wants that no one have access to neither.


The Frenchman pondered for a second... I have a powerful datalock. Why don't we transfer what's in the Doc's head into mine? fully protected, Hacker free, and it could take someone off the Doc's back.

[obidancer]

Anxiety was high in the building, but the Frenchman boosted olfactory sensors picked something higher than expected....
The Albino Ork looked really agitated.
Snow Crash... Are you ok, l'ami?

[gilga]

M... I think I'm like the only bad person in there... this is why I work alone. This art person is either evil or incompotent... 

You are right... he's probobly terrible in bed too.


Aw... Thanks for the image.

You are welcome!


Solo added:
"Look guys... Art is either a bad apple or an incompetent idiot. With what he is paying us he could at least hire some goons to make sure that the "safe house" is really safe.
He is bad news for the corp that hires him, he treat their money like it is others people money.
 I don't do for jerks... not since that awful night in Dusseldorf.  I'll finish this gig I am a professional -  but seriously I want nothing from this Art guy.  He is deleted in my book - you do not get to hire me if you cannot do your freaking role.  If I was his cooperate boss I'd fire his lousy ass already. Throw him to the streets, see how he like being SINless... " Solo laugh a dark laugh.  "Oh the memories... priceless!" Thought Solo.


"But you know... when life give you soy... you make soykaf. Taste bad, but at least you can open your eyes in the morning.  We got to flow with what we have... We have a Doctor that is looking for a new career path. Common Doc - do you really want to work for that Art guy? he is bad news... you do not want to work for a guy who can't keep you safe. That's bad for career planning - you want to work for some powerful corp - with competent managers.   Lets find you some nice employers and collect our mediator fee, how about it? "


To himself - "M once this is over, I am going to dig out so much dirt on Art he is going to eat right out of my hand. People like him are easy to blackmail. You will see my lusting friend... there is more than one way to fuck with a person."

Do you really think you can teach me? I am way smarter than you... and older!

[Crossbow]

Smiley was extremely adverse using ANYONE's personal bolthole as a base of operations, it was too much exposure for the runner involved and, especially if the invitation was made, screamed set-up to his paranoid professional mind.  That said, once it was clear that there was nothing forthcoming from Torrent soon, and most of the rest of the group had gathered there, he knew he needed to follow suit.

Smiley approached the building as cautiously as he was able to, scanning the area and doing what tricks he knew to lose any tail he might have picked up.  Inside the safe house he made a point to check in with everyone personally, getting any results they had on the mage, though it seemed like a dead end now.  For now he played the quiet heavy, letting the others do legwork while he concentrated on physical security and making the family safe and comfortable as possible.

[ScytheKnight]

[Thursday June 18th, 2076, ~02:17, Al’s Safehouse, Docklands, London]

The combat decker takes a swig of the bear and grimaces, although it's unsure if it's from the beer or the question.

"Ever have one of those jobs where you feel like you're standing over a rabbit hole? A Johnson you can't pin down, an end game you can't see? Yeah well I went and jumped headfirst down that rabbit hole didn't it?" he pauses to tap the side of his head "I come out the other side with an Ivy League certification, upgraded neural-ware and here's the kicker.... a comcode I've never learned but can't forget."

The albino orc pauses, taking a long swig of his beer and eyes the door nervously. "Worst part is, still don't know who the frag they are... but something tells me that dreck that went down in Soho is bad news. Me, my car and my avatar where all seen there... so I don't doubt they know I was involved in that by now."

[Triskavanski]

[Tobbis -Thursday June 18th, 2076 - Al's Place - Current condition 0 Stun damage -
"Well, here's what I do know.. the enemy team is incompetent. They rigged the place up to blow.. and all they had to do was wait until we got everyone inside to blow it. They've got weapons, and gear and the like, but I 've got a feeling that personal skill is found wanting. With the kind of firepower they were packing... things should have gone a lot differently. If it had been me setting up an ambush, the first thing I'd have done was wait for us to think we did it, and begin to lax up a bit. Then gassed us, shortly before exploding the place.

36 posts worth add to sheet - 39th Post
So far Solo and Hal have cameras 8/10 cameras left in my possession.
Hal has a Datatap of mine

[gilga]

"I wouldn't call them incompetent I think that one of the drones sort of blew their surprise so they opened fire eliminating them and improvised since. They were not far from totally destroying Al's car and making escape almost impossible without a massacre. We had some luck with things we could not necessarily duplicate... for example lifting a car with magic is not something I can reliably do. I am not sure Smile could reliably take down their rigger - we got a lucky streak - but lady luck is fickle. Art is incompetent for not hiring people to secure his safe house especially in such a high paying job, and their demolition guy is seriously crappy."


Solo approaches Snow and give him a nod. "I know what you feel like... this is why I prefer working alone. The fish we swim with are too big for comfort... sometimes you only get to do one mistake. Answering torrents call was definitely a mistake. " He laugh. "So what are you going to do about it now tough?"

Solo's drones pick up someone approaching "Sorry about that Snow! Guys we have company! Some Black car with dark windows... looks expensive. I don't assume this is a pizza delivery."

He grabs his AK-97 and approach the window... thinking "This is going to be a long night". A quick glance in the matrix tells him they are wifi dark. 

[ScytheKnight]

[Thursday June 18th, 2076, ~02:17, Al’s Safehouse, Docklands, London]

A lone human in a well tailored, but otherwise bland suit get out of the car and approaches the safehouse. There's no obvious sign that he's armed and he strides confidently to the door. There's a faint whirring of an autopicker before the door opens, the human stepping inside quickly before closing and locking the door again. If he's the least bit concerned that he's just locked himself in a building full of armed shadowrunners, he doesn't show one iota of it.

Snow Crash grimaces, but makes no move for his weapons, giving the others a stand-down signal. "Dreck, I was hoping I'd never lay eyes on your mug again... but I can't say I'm surprised."

The human gives a faint smile. "Hardly the way to talk to those who've done so much for you Snow Crash, but it's a better greeting then last time so I see your education did not go to waste. As for my being here, you and your companions raised a lot of trouble in Soho, you've drawn a lot of trouble and disrupted some plans. As such I'm afraid we've had to accelerate our own schedual and are in need of your services. I'm sure you've worked out that your implants where not for free." For the first time he looks at the other runners "Your companion will not be harmed, by us anyway. Also I'm am well aware we are removing one of your number in the middle of a run, we have given the Fixer Torrent the details of an individual in London we are aware of, no doubt he will be joining you shortly. Now, if there is no other issues, we have an extremely tight schedule to keep...

[saithor]

"Yes, Art is incompetent for not checking the safehouses, but I'm still going to see him one time, and that's to get my money no matter how I have to convince him. Besides we're sort of stuck in this now." When Solo mentioned the incoming van she cursed and started preparing the chants to begin casting spell as she crouched by the same window as him. "Never a dull moment. What's next, Toxic or Bugs?"

[obidancer]

No other issues? interrupted the Frenchman, out loud in a sarcastic tone, moving so slightly away from his cover behind the Limo.
How about a "Hi, my name is John. Sorry to disturb but may I have a talk with M. Crash right here".  You know, manners over bully talk.
The guy's body language was telling he could probably whoop the Frenchman's arse in no time. But he couldn't let that small detail take over the fact that one simply couldn't remove a skilled teammate in a middle crisis with a promise of bringing some new guy in instead, without a least some good explanation.

[ScytheKnight]

[Thursday June 18th, 2076, ~02:17, Al’s Safehouse, Docklands, London]

The human turns to face Frenchman, if he's in any way insulted or ruffled by the interruption he doesn't show it. "It's quite simple, I've not told you my name because you do not need to know it. As for removing our albino acquaintance here I do concede that it is poor timing on our part. However, recent events have forced our hand and it can not be helped. We hold your crew no ill will, indeed your actions may have provided us with an opportunity we require. We could simply have extracted Snow Crash, but, in the event that you continue to act in the manor you have thus far, it was felt that replacing him with another talented individual may yield a positive influence on our own plans. This is why you are talking to me, not facing our extraction team who are... otherwise occupied right now."

[adamu]

[Thursday June 18th, 2076, ~02:17, Al’s Safehouse, Docklands, London]

Even as Doctor Pelletierre opened his mouth to answer, Al heard the activity downstairs, along with a deep-throated warning growl from Spike at his side.

Holding up a scarred finger, he said, "Hold that thought, Doc..." and stepped out onto the landing.

Leaning against the railing, he watched the events below unfold. He didn't like them much, but didn't see much point in stirring the hornet's nest further.

For now he was content to watch and see how it shook out.