[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 11^th, 2075 - In a...dream?] #157

Cynthia sighs "Ok Gene... You may want to write this book you know. I'm pretty sure it would be a hit." she chuckles, a bit nervously. She takes a moment to think about this...surprising...situation, and then says "Let's do this."

[Mercy Merchant]

Gene smiles at you and says, "Yesssssssss.............''

The sibilant last letter just seems to drag on and on until it just suddenly stops.  You are awakened by the clank of your cell door opening.  Opening your eyes, you see a male nurse placing a rolling food tray at the side of your bed.  The food looks about as appetizing as cardboard and you rather suspect it might taste as good, too.  Widening your perspective, you see the same male nurse that copped that blatant feel of your boobs standing off to one side and a third man dressed in some sort of security guard outfit standing in the doorway.  The second man smiles at you, but it is more of a leer and is certainly reflected in his eyes.  "Time to wake up, dear.  Professor Freed wants you to eat and walk around a bit again, today.  She says that you need a bit of exercise.  Eat and take a shower and I will be back to clear the plates and take you for a walk..  We will be back in about an hour."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 11^th, 2075 - In a...dream?] #158

*Drek, three against little me, no way I'll be able to get away from them right now.*

Cynthia looks at the tray, then back at the men "And what professor Freed wants, professor Freed gets, right?" she smiles thinly, not really amused "I'm not sure what she sees in me that would require no less than the three of you to keep watch though. Unless you don't have anything better to do, and thought that you might as well be here?"

She cocks her head and asks "Did you fail your first year of med school to end up here?" looking at the guard, she continues "And failed KE psych evals? I didn't know you could but hey, what do I know..."

She shrugs then grimaces *Frag, why did I say all this? That'll make them want to leave me alone, sure... Maybe when they come back I could smash the food tray in the face of the first one, but I don't know what I'd do with the others... Err, maybe...*

As she looks at the food tray, apparently not convinced it's even edible, she thinks about what she could do to get out of this mess, convinces whatever she's supposed to do, it doesn't include respecting the promised schedule. *All this is not real. Well, not Meat real. But even if there's no 'trix as I understand it, it doesn't mean that there's nothing similar.* she tries to reach to the Matrix, to check if the men have a 'link she could access. *If they do, I could draw them somewhere else, and smash the fragger's head...*

[Mercy Merchant]

The nurses and the guard look at each other and then back at you.  The man with the tray grumbles a bit as he leaves and the man in the door scowls.  The nurse remaining just shakes his head.  "Feeling a bit off today, dear?  I will let Professor Freed know that she may want to increase your dosages.  I will be back in an hour for that exercise."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 11^th, 2075 - In a...dream?] #159

Cynthia grumbles, not answering. She moves a bit, finding an angle from which she isn't visible by the guard *Frag, no 'trix, nothing... Reminds me of a Foundation... Except that it's much easier getting things done there. Whereas here...* frowning, she pauses *That being said... I never even tried anything... If I fail, I'll have big problems. But if I don't... Ok... I really hope I'm not making a big mistake. But what could they do eh? Erm... Well, best not think about it... Wait, he's turning. And... now.*

As the nurse turns to leave the room, Cynthia grabs the tray and sneaks behind him, hiding from the guard for as long as possible. Once she can reach him, she tries to hit him in the head as fast as possible with the edge of the tray, followed by a hit in the face of the nurse, smashing his nose if she can but happy to just delay him and make him think about anything else than raising the alarm. Really, really hoping that it works as in a Host Foundation, where she is at least decent at this drek.

[VegasRigged]

>>Twenty minutes Sian, impress me. And yes I'm aware of the situation, thank you for the tip.<<

I look again at the map. fifteen minutes is too long to expect the target of this raid to hold out, and while their survival isn't integral to the success of my plan the completing of their mission does mean that they are likely to vanish into the night. I could also learn something from the rescued party if I can get to them in time and join the fight. I don the armored overcoat that goes with my suit and call close the air spirit, asking it how long it will take to reach the battle is it were to carry me there.

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday   11 June 2075  0351  Sylvia's Car  Seattle


Sylvia shakes her head while you are sending your message to Sian.  "Well, we certainly cannot get there before the dance starts.  I guess we will be walking into a combat zone.  Either of you have any ideas how not to get shot by the people we are trying to help?"

You air spirit nods her head at Sylvia and says, "Oui, cherie.  What she said.  How do we not have them shooting us?"

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   The nurse is a bit heavy-footed and does not hear you slide out of the bed and your ploy seems to succeed in keeping you from the view of the guard at the door, but as you raise the tray to strike you hear an alarm going off.  The man is still caught off-guard and your strike catches him on the side of his head, sending him reeling back out of the doorway.  However, the nurse is not caught completely by surprise and manages to raise an arm to protect his face.  As he takes the blow on the upraised arm, he swings the other at you, connecting with enough force to send you back into the room.  He slams the cell door and snarls at you from the other side.  "Nice try.  I should have remembered that from the first few days here.  The thing is, though, that you cannot remember the past and we have at least learned to respond by putting cameras and microphones in your room.  And now I have even more reason to hate you.  Freed may have power here, but I will make your life hell when you get sent to the factory."

He laughs at you as two additional guards run up.  Motioning for them to see to the still dazed guard, he laughs once more and walks away, turning back to say, "Oh yeah, you can just forget the exercise walk, I think."

[VegasRigged]

"Once we know why and where they are exactly I can go to them in astral form, manifest and tell them point blank what we intend, or at least enough of it to ensure care." I respond to both of them.

"I can also get their ahead of  the car by having my spirit carry me, what the sec rating of this neighborhood? Any chance I'll be seen using magic by more then the average ganger?"

I'm formulating plans upon plans in my head, how engage and what to do next and contingincy upon contingincy. For a moment i notice the complete lack of my usual fear and uncertainty. I am getting control of this situation, and I'll be in more and more from here on out.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 11^th, 2075 - In a...dream?] #160

"You don't need reasons to hate asshole, that's all you're good for anyway." Cynthia stands up, rubbing her hurt butt, grumbling. *Drek. Didn't go as expected now, did it? So... Doesn't work as well as a foundation. Or maybe as a high level foundation...*

She flips the bird at the nurse, and goes to the bed "I need my beauty sleep anyway." While he leaves, she tries to find an idea for what she could do *Nothing much... especially with those cameras and microphones. But if I start looking for them, they'll probably just drug me or something.*

Sitting on her bed, she looks around, a bit depressed *Still, I may as well try. In fact...* she rubs a sore spot on her butt *let's try to not make to much waves if I can avoid it. For now at least...*

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday   11 June 2075   0400  Sylvia's Car  Seattle

@Eva   Sylvia nods but frowns.  "That could work, but I will not be able to protect you if you do that.  In any case, you need to leave now if you are going.  I am getting reports of shots fired in the target neighborhood."  She leans forward to look at the projection and mark updates on it.  Tanya leans forward as well.  "It seems like these shots are designed to get the mercenaries to enter the neighborhood on these three axis, but two lead to some very narrow alleyways.  Well thought out, I would say.  Do you have any drones there?"

Sylvia nods.  "Several, but I had to pull them back a bit.  Both sides are actively engaging in attempts to take down any drones they do not know and I have lost two already.  I am told that matrix signatures are winking out in several places.  These Vory guys are certainly going to give these people a fight."  Sylvia remains focused on the projection but sends you a message.  >>Please be careful.  I want very much for you to come back safely.<<

Some Day   Some Date   Some Time  Cynthia's Alternate Reality


@Cynthia   "Hate is not productive.  It clouds reason and access to the resonance.  But you were wise not to eat the food.  They drug it to induce a fantasy in your mind.  They would never take you on a walk as that would expose their sets to you.  It is all pretend and they would just make you believe you were out on a walk.  At least now you are mentally free to search your inner self.  Are you ready?"

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 11^th, 2075 - In a...dream?] #161

"Err... Yeah, that's totally why I trashed the tray on the head of those...dudes. Absolutely not because they pissed me off and I hoped to take them down to wander around by myself..."

She coughs lightly, then abruptly stops "Wait, if's that's all my subconscious... Am I not trashing myself? Frag, this is messed up..."

Shaking her head, she continues more calmly "Ok, joke aside, I didn't want to eat the food but it was not really the main point... Not that said main point got me anywhere but... Oh and would you stop asking me if I'm ready? I already decided to do it, I won't go back now. I'm sure I can't anyway. Just tell me what you can, and let's get on with it."

[VegasRigged]

I lean over and kiss her cheek, then  whisper in her ear "I will." and without another hesitation I cover my face and step out of the car and into the hands of my air spirit. Its orders are to take me to the area in question and deposit me on a roof near the mercs. I then cast invisibility on myself and work to scrub my astral signature as we fly.

As we near the fighting I make not of every structure I can, getting the lay of the land and trying to determine where the Vory are hiding.

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday   11 June 2075   0401  Vory Neighborhood  Seattle Barrens   Seattle


@Echo   As you walk with Vlad and several of his hard men, you hear sounds of gunfire and a couple of explosions, followed by a fusillade of fire and a large explosion.  Vlad swears in Russian and says something to one of his men, who runs off.  Turning his head to you, he explains.  "The first shots went as planned, but the bastards are using rockets.  Rockets!  Who would have thought?  One man down and another injured, but the plan is partly working as some of the mercs are following my men into the rabbit hole."  He smiles at the sound of more gunfire and smaller explosions.  "Yes!  As planned.  Well, partially.  Four mercs down in a blocked alley with fire bombs dropped on them.  The other two traps will apparently not be used.  Still, it was a long shot.  They do have maps and drones.  And more rockets."  The last was said in response to another very loud explosion.  Vlad and his remaining men double their movement and head to the first of his prepared defenses.

@Eva   You can see dust and debris rising from a street several blocks from where you are.  The rattle of gunfire and explosions is definitely coming from that area.


Some Day   Some Date   Some Time  Cynthia's Alternate Reality


There is an almost pained silence then Gene says, "I meant are you ready now.  Some mortals are just incomprehensible.  But let's get started, shall we?  Please lay back and try to clear your mind of all thoughts.  Yes, I know it sounds trite, but it really works."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Monday June 11^th, 2075 - In a...dream?] #162

"Clear my mind from all thoughts? Easier said than done you know..." she sighs, then sits on the bed. She moves around a bit, then takes a bastardised version of the lotus position, eyes closed, trying to empty her mind. For a moment, she thinks she's more likely to fall asleep than anything else, but that's when...