[adamu]

Having said his piece to Karasu-san, Al went back to his idol-bomb.

Catching Deckard's eye, he said quietly, "Listen kemo sabe, I hear yer concerns. But ol' Al's the one gon' be drivin' 'round with the thing, so even though I don't give a rat's ass about what gits released or whose grave gits desecrated, I still reckon I'm a lot more motivated than you ta make sure it never comes ta that. But mark my words, though, I'll blow that baby up an' me with it afore I let some threat-spoutin' asshole have his way with me or mine." 

[DireRadiant]

[Yukika Karasu - Sunday July 5th, 2076; Angel's, West End, London]

The Dirty Old Cheater vouches for them. I acknowledge him. I cannot help myself, I touch him. I am certain he notices.

"Venerable one, we have faced each other where the outcome is uncertain, neh? You pray. I answer."

I barely put the detonator back in The Dirty Old Cheaters pocket before he turns away to comfort the Sorceror. I cannot keep it. It has a wire.

My feet hurt. Riding the medical drone will give them a rest.

I approach.

"Please, I do not think you have time for 18 more questions. This place is known to your enemies. You will be less vulnerable while you move even if you have no destination."

I bow. Eyes on feet.

I move back to the drone. I enter. I speak, I know they can hear me.

"I have connections through whom I can deliver a safehouse. Any safehouse I find will be in someone else's control. You may decide if this is more or less safe for you. For the least likely location associated to you I would have traded two favors. It would be like a game of Cho Han Bakuchi. Both favors would need to turn in my direction to achieve a desired result. Or in terms you understand, it would be a crap shoot."

I never lose at Cho Han.

"Please, I will attend you while you recover."

I have even more dirt on my hakama.

[obidancer]

 Deckard''s palm landed on his own face when he heard ISaint calling out the Priestess. The man could hide in plain sight, but his tact was plain 'in your face' and for sure upsetting the opposing party... the Mage had to admit though, he liked the blunt honesty and the Chaos that ensure after.


He looked and listen to Al before answering.
I fully believe you my friend. And because of that, it's exactly the reason why I fear for the bomb to detonate.

Let's do it though. The longer we stay here the more time we give them to get to us. I agree with our Priestess, we'll be safer on the move.

And her safe house will be as good as any.

He looked at ISaint, acknowledging he was going to make the final decision as the designated leader of the group.

[adamu]

Al double-checked the connections to his pull-detonator (which he'd now have to check over once he was in his car) and nodded at Jackhammer.

Together they put it back in the crate and with some effort put it back on Al's homemade trolley.

"Lady's right - decide where we's headed now or decide on the road, this thing's rigged an' now it's time ta move. This place is a bull's eye, an' I want as few of ya as possible near this thing anyway. So give a shout when ya know where we's headed."

He glanced at Robyn. If his eyes were flesh instead of high-end polymers, there might have been something there.

Then he started rolling the trolley out to his car.

[Jack_Spade]

"Fine, let's get a move to this safe house. I don't mind getting my deposit back for this lot.
Ok, I think I know where we can do this. Brookwood cemetery. It's outside London, closes at 16:30 and has a part that is exclusively filled with historic war graves. Security should be low enough for us to get in and out without a fuss. As soon as we have set up shop in the safe house, we can take care of that.
Or better yet - we go there now. That will give Mrs. Karasu time to get our accommodations ready."

When no-one had anymore objections, Kynos once again set a course for the VTOL drone as well as Arthur and went out to his bike.

"Robyn, be a dear and set up the strongest Databomb you can for the file I'm sending you and depot it somewhere accessible in the matrix. When the time comes, I want only our Mr. Johnson to be able to open it."

#358

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn listens to the Japanese woman speak and tries one more time to be friendly.  Bowing, she says, Yukika Karasu, I am familiar with Cho Han and would enjoy playing with you if we have a chance."

She turns to ISaint to answer his question.  "I will do my best to secure the file."  As she heads to the vehicle she is to ride in, Robyn says, "Al, please do be careful with that thing.  I am looking forward to that date you promised me."  Once in the vehicle, she sits back and relaxes for the ride.

[DireRadiant]

[Yukika Karasu - Sunday July 5th, 2076; Leaving Angel's, West End, London]

I answer the Unclean Hound Mistress.

"Perhaps. Maybe some Hanafuda, though the old man prefers poker."

We move.

Finally.

I make my moves. First to collect the pieces. I make my calls. I know they will listen. They should. Everyone else listens.

I make my call to Uncle Murashi in the clear, as usual. Though I use a priority override code so he will answer. It is a one time code so it does not matter that they listen to me.

"Uncle... Yes, you will gain good favor if you Burn an offering to the Shrine of the Silver Hart tonight... Yes, tonight... Yes the offering agreed... Thank you Uncle."

I hope the favor I must perform will be a reasonable one. With Uncle I never know. There was the one favor with peacocks and the Yacht Club I hope we never do again.

I make the next call. This will be much more challenging. I make my play.

I enter the commcode, this time there is no override, but he will answer, because he thinks he should. I told him so.

"Beeeeeennnnn! It's Yuki! I've been waiting 5 minutes! Are you standing me up again!... Ten minutes? Ok." I disconnect. Ben understands. He needs ten minutes to get to the spot.

I command the Kami. I speak aloud so the others may hear. I know they can listen to what I say in this flying prison.

"Rat, serve me and I will leave you an offering of sweet rice balls at the Autumn Harvest Shrine. Go to the roof of the Pink Marble Gargoyle House and reveal yourself to the Orange Blossom Cigar Smoking Man and speak to him the words I give you.... very well, sweet bean buns instead of rice balls."

I wait. We are moving.

The time comes and I make my play. I say the words aloud so they can hear me.

"Yes Ben, this Kami speaks for me. It is secure. I have friends who need your help. They are hurt and afraid and given their situation I thought of you. Well, yes, I do think of you at other times. Please, my friends, they suffer. They have been set upon by a gang. Yes, you know them, the Neon Blades. No not all of them, one group in Hammersmith. Yes, that one. My friends did not give in to their demands and were beaten. No, they will not testify. They are afraid... Yes, I know... They do know what the Neon Blades will be doing... Yes, but first, my friends need a place to stay where they cannot be found... Yes, a safe house... For two days while I take care of them...The information... The Neon Blades will be making a delivery run through... Oh. Beetles... No, not Japanese Beetles, BTLs...The delivery is at the Bull and Bear... Yes that one. Tonight, 9... I understand...If you do not catch them tonight you will need them to testify... I will convince them, but first they must heal... very well... No it is my duty to serve...Thank you Ben."

Rat is gone. I summon another Kami to attend me.

I share the address and access codes with the others. I speak to them.

"Please, you are a group of informants who have given a tip to Met and will be staying in a safe house until you recover from your beating. I have arranged for a group of Neon Blades to be arrested carrying illicit items. If the Blades are caught, which I expect to happen given the commands they have been given and the usual competence of the Met, then Ben will not need to use your testimony and you are welcome to the use of the safehouse in exchange for your service to the Public Good."

Senji should not have gotten so drunk at the Spring Festival in front of Uncle. Even in prison he will serve. He should not have kissed me.

"If you can disable instead of destroying the standard surveillance at the Safe House it will cost me less."

This flying prison is making my feet feel better.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn smiles and her spirits pick up a bit.  "I have a very nice Hanfuda deck.  It is printed in Braille so I can "see" the cards.  Poker, eh?  I love playing poker.  Perhaps when we have some time.  I am still hoping that I will get a call from the hospital and can go pick up some medicine for us." 

Robyn is disappointed that she has not heard back from any of her contacts yet.  While waiting in the vehicle, she examines the file sent to her by ISaint.

[Jack_Spade]

The file Isaint had sent was short and to the point:
"You find the object at Brookwood cemetery. The exact location is marked outside the north entrance, pinned under the right gate hinge. The object is secured with a device. As soon as we have confirmation for transaction, you'll receive the code to remove the device safely. Beware of any Winter people, you are likely to be shadowed (Just in case you didn't already know that).
Best regards
The team"

Isaint for his part relied on the micro transceivers for communication: "Ok, now that we are on the road again, we'll do the hand off  quickly - until we are done the safe house should be ready.
Robin, your super brain will likely remember exactly what the first sentence was our Johnson said to us. Use that as the password for the file I sent you.
Johnson: "Right, let’s get down to business as all seven of you are here."

Hopefully that will be enough to ensure no-one can intercept the content of the message.
We'll do this like we did the break in: Robin you are on overwatch outside. Jackhammer you keep an eye on her. Mrs. Karasu, you do what you do best and get the Kami on our side. The rest of us goes inside and finds a likely temporary resting place for our cargo. Rick, we'll again need a bit of concealment - although going into a historic cemetery after closing hour shouldn't be that tough we won't take any risks. Any questions, requests or ideas for improvement?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Robin grins in the vehicle.  "I remember every word, yes.  And so do you, apparently.  My question is whether the Johnson will.  Are you sure you want me to use this phrase as the password?"

[Jack_Spade]

"I always make a note of the first thing a Johnson says to me - it helps to confirm identity later.
If he doesn't it won't exactly elevate my opinion of him, but if needed we can just give him a hint or tell him directly."
replied Isaint.

#360

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; On the road, London]

Mr J, or Findley perhaps, agrees to your precautions readily enough with payment upon verification.  Whether he takes the threat of Winter seriously or not is impossible to tell but hopefully that will shortly be his problem!

The graveyard, when you reach it, is suitably abandoned, even the druggies and drop outs have vacated to more endearing parts in the wake of the light summer rain that is freshening the otherwise laden air.  Both astral, technological and visual surveillance doesn’t highlight anything out of the ordinary, certainly no waiting Techno strike team or corp hit squad.

As soon as the artefact is deposited and you back away the magic users, and Al, immediately feel a lightening of spirit as the mana warping effects recede with distance.  It would seem that you are clear…now it is down to J to come through and you to get the other monkey off your backs – your FAB infections…

***

#35

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint had just jammed the little piece of electronic paper with the exact placement of the artifact - just under a loose pile of dirt next to a large oak about 20 m down the main path - when he noticed another small bout of nausea. It went away again, but there was a persistent pressure inside his skull now.
"Time to get to our resting place - or lets better say our place for recuperation.
Ok Mrs. Karasu, where to now?"

[DireRadiant]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; On the road, London]

I resend the address and access codes. I did some research, it appears to be an old commercial enterprise in Harrow. A row of semi industrial units with attached residential quarters. This one looks like it was used for vehicle and drone repair and storage, though it is now empty.

"Here it is. In Harrow."

Maybe I can wash my pants there and get this dirt out.

[adamu]

Al drove away from the cemetery, his lips wrapped in a smile of self-congratulation around his cigarette.

Not really caring much about money these days (or ever), he kind of half-hoped the Johnson or Winter or someone tried to double-cross them and defuse his little masterpiece.

First he'd salvaged his pull detonator. That was the work of seconds, since it had never been live in the first place. There were things in this world worth dying for, but some creepy idol from a forgotten basement was not one of them, and neither was pride. Of course, he'd never let a soul know he'd been bluffing - asshole Johnsons wasted less time on silly threats when dealing with crazy people.

A remote detonation, though...he had no qualms about that whatsoever.

If they went at it physically, they were in for a treat: not only had he used both a mercury switch and a pendulum to detonate the device in case it was handled, but just to be a dickhead he'd quickly welded some scraps of beer can in a light casing around it.

Of course the three radio detonators were set to bypass the anti-handling apparatus, in order that the J could take receipt safely if he made the payment. Al had used the best radio detonators on the market, but knew even with added encryption provided by Alyce they could be subverted by Winter. So he'd taken the whole array analog. All three detonators had to be deactivated. But he'd physically shunted the circuits so that simultaneous deactivation was electrically impossible. And then he'd set the charge so that if the deactivation took place in any but the correct sequence of the three...well...heh heh....and since the only place the deactivation sequence existed was in his and Isaint's gray matter, anyone that tried to hack his little creation faced five-to-one odds of goodbye dingus (and anyone in the neighborhood).

Now if only someone would be so clever about a way to stop everyone from getting sick...because as good as he now felt leaving that cursed whatsit in his rearview, his muscles, joints and gut were feeling worse by the second.