[Mulcarn]

He waves the lovely pair goodbye and travels to Strawberry's domain.  The recollection of her not wanting him there anymore comes to mind as he walks.  Maybe she would detect his very presence the moment he arrives and skip the unpleasantness of having to pursue her.  He would not come as a troublemaker if he could manage his composure.  All Maxwell wants is to talk and gather up the remainder of his equipment to take to the cult's facility, Amy's home.  However, if she chooses to be obstinate and unwilling to listen to reason, then he'd show her how much of a hellraiser he truly could be.

Nearly an hour passes once Maxwell finally shows up at her domain.  Refugees flock to Strawberry's tree shrine like moths to a flame.  Some kneeling and crying out to her as if she were some pagan god that could be invoked with fervent word.  Maxwell couldn't help but feel something was off.  Cautiously he heads for the shrine to see what all the fuss was about.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos nods to the girls and carefully ignores Nagisa's touch, although it is hard to do that.  He sets to eating with gusto, talking between bites.  "You two are right.  But if I give up, I might as well leave Seattle and go find another home.  I am a good soldier, but I have been thrown into more than that.  Do I just ignore that and go back to being what I was?  Or di I go forward and risk losing all of it?  However, I can see the reticence in both of you and will advise you to stay as far away from me as possible.  It is likely that I will make disaster and I would not want either of you to suffer for it."

Finished with the breakfast, he compliments Nagisa on the meal, rises, and leaves, wishing them both the best of luck.  He returns to the surface and goes to the warehouse to find Bruno.  Hey, man, you ready to go see those two buildings Dona Valentina is interested in?  Been putting it off enough."

[gilga]

@Athos Yulia say "Be whomever you want to be Oni, you deserve at least that. We just care so we are careful in our advice."  She said and wore her leather jacket, preparing to get out. "Catch you later Nagi" she said. Nagisa said her farewell and Athos and Minnie met Bruno near the buildings. It was evening and most of the people were at home.


@Maxwell as you approach your home you can see mourners near Strawberry's now half burned tree. They cry about her death. In silent and place flowers and other trinkets by the tree. Other than that you arrive to your apartment undisturbed.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos chats with Bruno and Yulia as they walk over.  "We are looking for new soldiers for Dona Valentina.  I would like to find people willing to be loyal to me, but lack the real skills needed to talk well in front of them.  Suggestions?"

[gilga]

@Athos Bruno tells you "Well, we have the family's reputation and they lost their guardian already, they'll need the backing of some organization they just need to decide what organization and it is either us or the Yaks. What makes us better from an army of Yaks with military grade rockets and stuff like that?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos laughs.  "Those Yaks lost their military grade rockets, did they not?  I would say that is some pretty poor protection of a vital asset.  They lost Venom.  They would have lost a boss if it were not for Nagisa, Yulia and I.  From what I understand, the Yaks failed to stop a guy on a motorcycle, even when they were using drones and grenade launchers.  So how can we word all of this right to get them to back my play?  We can use the Finnegan name and reputation.  And Yulia is a much better speaker than I ever will be.  Sell it like you are offering something no one else can provide.  We can help take care of their families in exchange for soldiers for the Finnegan Family.

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos watched Alfred go and took position once again and waited for Athos.

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell stops and raises an eyebrow at the spectacle.  "What the fuck.  She's not dead and how the hell did that tree get burned?  It couldn't have been from me.  Someone else must have tried to torch it.  They didn't really do a very good job whoever they are, damn thing still standing.  This is eerie.  What happened while I was knocked out?  I should ask Strawberry later and see what's up."  He shrugs and continues on.  Indifferent to the zealotry that Strawberry inspires.

Maxwell enters his soon to be forgotten apartment and looks for his duffel bag and survival kit.  He finds the bag and starts placing the pre-packed lodge materials inside, along with the full body armor and some clean clothes and utensils.  It'd be impossible for him to carry everything in one trip.  He'd have to return a second time to gather up the rest.  Before he departs he locates his gas mask and secures it over his face, the duffel bag slung over his shoulder.  The bag bulged and was cumbersome to lift, uncomfortably straining against him.  Maxwell had his exercise cut out for him as he returned to the compound through the sewers. 

[gilga]

@Athos Bruno say "it seems like you have it figured out then. Lets see who we can meet." he walks with Yulia toward one of the houses and begins knocking on doors trying to find out whom should you talk to. It is a bit of a hassle but eventually you are able to schedule a meeting involving their stakeholders for tomorrow, evening at 18:00.
 

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos is happy with the meeting and thanks Bruno and Yulia for coming along.  He sends off a quick note to Kynos telling him he can make the earlier 1300 time after all, if it is still OK.  He asks Bruno and Yulia to come with him to the 1800 meeting then watches as they return to their homes before contacting the NH to see if it is safe to go to his suite.  He is told that the problems with the zombies seem to have passed by and that it is safe for him to return.  He stops by the warehouse on his way out to talk to Faith for a moment.  "Just a quick chat, Faith.  I liked the way you handled the deliveries today.  I think it is time that we talked about the next step.  I am still working for Dona Valentina of the Finnegan Family.  She sent me out here to set this place up as a base of operations for the Family.  A means to carve out an expansion after the chaos of what is happening in Seattle.  I do not have good conversation skills, so this is as plain as it gets.  I need soldiers.  I need people that are loyal to me to help create and protect this expansion.  There is room here for you and your people if you want to stay, but there are certain requirements.  Most important is that you are loyal to me and the family.  I will earn that loyalty.  Second, we may need to move the drug addicts and chip-heads to a different place because we need to work closely with Strawberry for now.  We can find somewhere beyond her control radius, which I hear is about 600m from that burned tree outside.  So find me a place nearby that I can buy for them to live in.  Addicts do not make good soldiers or good delivery people.  We can still protect them because they are part of your family and now part of mine, but there will have to be restrictions.  Third, I want you as one of my lieutenants.  I cannot micro manage this and need reliable people I can trust.  So I need a personal oath from you to that effect.


He pauses, letting that sink in.  "So what do you think?  I will let you stew on it overnight and talk to you in the morning.  No hard feelings if you need to move on, but I hope that you will stay.  Good night."

Athos drives the van to The Hostel, one of the brothels the Family owns and walks inside.  Going to the counter, he flips through the virtual catalogue, looking for a familiar face.  He smiles when he sees that Carla is on and available, putting enough money down to give the talented girl two hours to help him forget his problems.  The transaction taken care of, he removes his cred stick from the slot and heads up the stairs to Carla's room.  The pretty girl is waiting for him at her door and welcomes him in like the near regular he is.  The sex is not as frenetic as with Blue, but she is experienced enough to satisfy his needs for the entire two hours.  Feeling refreshed, he slots her a generous tip and leaves the brothel for the NH, where he takes advantage of his sleep regulator to get a full rest.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos wakes in the morning, feeling a bit revitalized.  He has made an important decision in regards to Dona Valentina and the Finnegans.  He will do as he has been told and see if he can rise up the spire before trying to branch out on his own.  He checks his commlink after showering and does not see anything from Faith.  He shrugs and tosses the link to the bed; perhaps Faith needs more time to make up her mind.  There are other potential soldiers out there if she decides to move on, although it would be good to have her on board.  He goes to the closet and selects his Big Game Hunter outfit.  The fancy suit has done little to help him lately and he will reserve it for further meetings with Valentina.  He picks up the link from the bed as he leaves the room.

Athos eats a nice, leisurely breakfast and walks around outside the NH for a bit, trying to get his ideas in order before his meeting with Kynos.  The man had teased him with information about more bad news and he wonders what that is, but it does no real good to wonder too much; he will be told later.  He gets in the van and drives to the location of the noodle shop.  If Kynos is true to form, he is already watching him so he orders enough food for both of them and waits.

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos appeared inside the noodle shop and plopped into a seat opposite Athos without any warning.
"Hi Athos, nice of you to order already. It's been a few crazy days.
So first things first: I killed Venom in Japan. Cost me a good chunk of the bounty 'cause DemoX cut in a mercenary outfit. Which in turn means I am debt free for the moment but still need a bit more cash. The bastard had a cortex bomb in his head - I was really lucky to survive that.
Bad news is, I didn't bother to get any infos from him or a confession for you. But as I understand it, you don't need that anymore.
Bad news no. 2, I no longer have a contact with Knight Errant. Officer Max has been booted from the force and KE now seems to be controlled by Grail or his pet AI. Likewise the local military has been turned into a puppet show.
Bad news no. 3, I still have no contact to our mage - the last I heard of him was that Ginger Elf captured him and is torturing him somewhere on her property. I intend to change this situation. Since you have still business contact with her, I'd ask you to ask her nicely to release him. If that doesn't work, I'll have to make her do it.
Which is sort of good news for you: If you want, I'll do it in a way that will allow you to claim her resources.

In any case, I intent to go after Grail as soon as I have the mage back."

[gilga]

@Maxwell your apartment is empty but the refrigerator is fully equipped and it was cleaned up. All your things are in place and you are undisturbed on your way back. Your room is a bit lonely without Charlie and as the hours pass rumors start to stir about the missing mechanic and doctor and people are worried. Searching for them in the compound surveying cameras and so forth.

@Athos Faith tells you "I had a feeling you'll mention it. We are family and we do not just toss away people for drug abuse, life are harsh people need their little worlds. Live short die young but enjoy what you have - this is our way. I will  not tell people how to enjoy their life,  what you are suggesting is me betraying my own clan for a syndicate job. This cannot be Athos. I am the leader of these people, of all of them. Take us or leave us. I'll go and talk to the mage myself once she is back from the dead."
 

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell had used the last service of his spirit to conceal himself before he entered the facility.  The rest of the cultists were frantic about Charlie's and Sarah's disappearance.  They searched and searched for any modicum of information that led to their whereabouts, but he knew that they'd find naught but disappointment.  He sets the heavy bag he had been lugging through the sewers off into a corner, ready to be accessed should the need arise.  Tearing off his gas mask and throwing it onto the other empty bed.  Maxwell crashes for a bit and waits for nightfall, all stretched out and lazily resting.

Hours pass and the mage stirs.  Yawning quietly to himself as he gets out of bed.  He goes next to his duffel bag and unzips it, taking out its contents and stashing them underneath Charlie's former bunk.  Maxwell's stomach growls fiercely during the physical chore.  He realizes that he hasn't eaten anything in over a day, he'd been so busy that he neglected something as simple as a meal.

Maxwell shoulders his duffel bag and re-equips his gas mask in preparation for the second trip to his old apartment.  Remembering that the fridge was still well stocked as he readies himself.  He puts a hand to his chest and starts casting a spell to cloak himself from the mechanical sky hounds.

Force 5 Improved Invisibility: 11d6t5 2
Drain Resist: 11d6t5 4
Spell failed and let's say I healed 1 Stun because Sovereign took a nap when he got back.
Force 5 Improved Invisibility: 11d6t5 6
Drain Resist: 11d6t5 3
Limit is 5 so 6 Hits redcued to 5.  Background Count lowers the Force and Hits scored to 3.  Sovereign takes 1 Stun and i'm going to sustain the spell.

The first time time he casted the spell didn't go as intended.  The magic couldn't stabilize itself and fell apart right after Maxwell crafted the mana into a spell.  Determined he tries again with phenomenal success.  The invisibility spell worked as planned, albeit a bit weaker due to the tainted astral space of Redmond.  Maxwell sneaks out of the compound yet again to reclaim the remainder of his street gear.  Using some light steps to better evade the drones.

Sneak past the Drones: 5d6t5 3

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos grimaces at Faith's message.  >>Faith.  Athos.  You have misunderstood me or you are not listening to me.  I will try to be as fragging clear as possible.  I am not asking you to betray your people at all.  I AM saying that we need to locate a different place nearby for all of you to live.  That way, you can still do my deliveries and provide me with soldiers, and can even keep up with your smuggling of weapons.  We all win.  Just send some people out to find a building or buildings near enough that can house all of you and we can try to procure it.<<

He is half way through one of the plates of food when Kynos shows up and takes a seat.  Good day to you, too.  I agree that is has been one fragging week and probably not getting much better soon.  The city is partially fragged, which gives opportunities as well as takes them away.  As for all the bad news, I expect little more than that these days.  There is less need of the confession Venom have given, but I would still like to pursue that angle some time.  I will just need to do it without the information he could have provided."

"Yeah, KE is partially fragged.  Maybe more than partially.  I saw Winter take a ride out of the sprawl.  He will be some nameless, faceless toadie to someone else now.  Long way to fall for a man like that.  Say, if Max is unemployed, would she consider working for me?  Send her my comm code, would you please?  I can use someone with her type of training.  Tell her I am impressed with her and want to talk, but I will be up front in that I work for the Finnegans.  Tell her to call me if she can stomach that."

"I am under the impression that Sovereign is not with Strawberry.  Not sure where I got that, so will check to be sure.  Hang on."  Athos takes out his commlink and sends a text.  >>Nagisa.  Athos.  Say, I heard a rumor that Strawberry is keeping a mage by the name of Sovereign as a prisoner.  Can you please verify or deny that for me?  Thanks.<<

He turns back to Kynos.  "As to employment.  I am looking for people willing to sign on with me as part of the Finnegan Family.  Not sure it is your cup of tea, but there it is.  And you can count me in on anything that will help take Grail down.  But is there any money in it or is it just a personal thing?"