Oh. My. God.

I can’t believe it.

I’ve got nothing to wear. Seriously. Nothing.

I’m not going to wear that! God, it’s a family restaurant! I’m not going there looking like a five nuyen hooker.

Maybe just a simple black dress? No, too sultry.
Sweater and skirt? Too grandma.
Jeans and jacket? Too casual? Well…ok, maybe.
But which jeans? Skinnies? Boot cut? Shredded?
Why are there so many kinds?

Why did I buy so many kinds?

Oh. My. God.

Maybe I’ll just buy something new…

Ok, looks good. Right? Maybe?… Crap, gotta go. Got everything?

Dressed? Check.
Commlink? Check.
Hair? Check.
Make-up? Check.
Heels? Check.
Calm? Not so much…

Marcus’ Hovel
October 31, 2072 21:43

Hey, this place isn’t half bad. The aquarium is mesmerizing. Could do without the noisy brats though.

Oh, crap, here he comes. Wow! Nice outfit. Yum! I think he’s lost weight too. Do guys like it when you ask if they’ve lost weight?

A hug and a peck on the cheek? What the hell am I supposed to do with that?

Nice voice, pretty strong for an elf. Love the eyes…

Nice to talk to someone who isn’t all cars and guns and other metaphors for their inadequacy. Seems pretty interested in me, instead of just talking about himself.

October 31, 2072 22:01

Drinks? Should I? Maybe I better stay clear. And what? Order off the kids menu? Shit. Ok, something light. White wine goes with fish, right? Or maybe a martini is more sophisticated? Crap.

What? Oh, ID? Sure dork, here you go… No, I don’t look that old, do I? Moron…

Oh-oh. Got that look. Should have ordered more than a salad. Should I call the waiter back and get something real? My stomach’s so tied up in knots I’d probably puke if I ate anything big. That’d be a real turn-on… Frag. Too late anyway. It’ll look lame if I change it now. But maybe he’ll share with me.

October 31, 2072 22:38

Whoops. Ok. Note to self: don’t ask about that. Way to go, genius. Jab that question right into a raw nerve. Maybe a pee break? No, don’t give him time to stew about that topic.

Frag.

Come on.

Awkward silence… getting longer…

Thank God! Saved by the drinks.

Mmmm… nice…

Ok, slow down and don’t gulp or he’ll be carrying you home.

October 31, 2072 23:16

Ok. Sharing his is more fun. Maybe that’s why girls always order salad.

At least I didn’t puke. The wine helped…feeling calmer.

Actually… kinda hungry now. Wonder how far can I push the ‘can I have a taste’ thing?

Maybe I’ll just have a big dessert. Or another glass of wine.

November 1, 2072 00:08

Mmmmm… so relaxed…

Uh-oh. He’s got a blank look on his face. Is he surfing the Matrix during our date? Don’t tell me he’s just as much of a dick as those other guys.

Hello, I’m talking to you here! Stop watching the game, or porn, or whatever you’ve got playing in there and listen to me! Just because you’re hot, it doesn’t mean you can bat your elven eyelashes and make me swoon without trying.

Hey, what the hell is wrong with this guy?!? Ohmygod! Is he having a seizure, or something? SHIT! WHY IS THERE BLOOD COMING OUT OF HIS NOSE! NONONONONO! DON’T FALL OVER ON THE FLOOR!

Why is the room going so dark? Feeling dizzy….

DocWagon™ Medical Facility
November 1, 2072 02:39

Oh. My. God.

Dead? How can he be dead? He was like, 25, or something! How do you just fall over dead when you’re 25?

And what the frag is an ‘aneurysm’?

Just great. Finally find a great guy and his fragging brain explodes on our first date.

Maybe I should become a nun or something…

Brought to you by: Wuxing: We’re behind everything you do

Simmonds Support Raises Republican Hopes

Republican campaign officials are highlighting recent polling results that show incumbent presidential candidate Anne Colleton gaining on her Democratic challenger, Bartholomew Ogama. Pundits attribute the last minute surge to increasing involvement of speaking sensation Paul Simmonds, son on Microdeck VP Jack Simmonds. The young executive has made numerous appearances on behalf of Republican candidates in the past month, and observers point to his easy charm, self-effacing style, and heroic story as reasons for the public response to this otherwise unknown newcomer.

Colleton’s campaign has made no comment on rumors that the president plans to announce her intent to make Simmonds part of her cabinet if she wins re-election, but observers say such a move is likely. The younger Simmonds has been booked for rallies and fundraisers nearly every day leading up to next week’s election.

Charitable Organizations Raise Alarm on Disappearances

Several local charities and homeless organizations have publicly called for a police investigation into alleged disappearances amongst the city’s SINless population. Representatives for NWB, MPP, and UBL held a joint press conference yesterday, claiming that over a dozen underprivileged residents have disappeared over the past week. They acknowledged that most of the missing individuals were involved with the use of the street drug, tempo, but argued that these “unfortunate souls” deserved due process and protection of the law as much as any other citizen.

Lone Star Security Services has released a statement indicating that they are aware of the “alleged” disappearances and have “dedicated resources to look into the problem”.

New Life for Banned Drug?

Spectropharm officials have refused to confirm or deny recent rumors that the FDA has reopened the files on their anti-follicular agent, Bearantin. The medication was released in July, but recalled several months later after reports of severe side effects that prompted a court injunction and several class-action lawsuits. Unofficial sources have hinted that the FDA may be evaluating an alternative use for Bearantin, but further information is unavailable. FDA officials have declined comment.

Student Union Protests Corporate Takeover

Pharmacy graduate students at the University of Washington have staged several protests with the backing of their student government. The demonstrations are in response to the disruption of graduate research activities after the University administration announced that several labs would be leased to an unidentified corporate client. Student Body President Susan James told reporters that the move was “corporate exploitation at its worst.” She pointed out that the state-of-the-art research labs were funded through the “exorbitant” tuition fees paid by students and “generous” donations by alumni organizations, and should not be “summarily co-opted” by corporate interests. The K-wing of Magnuson Health Sciences Building has been closed to public access and University representatives have declined official comment.

More Revelations Expected at Inquiry

Observers are predicting more fireworks at the Hutts Inquiry today as Roger Muran continues his second round of testimony. City Solicitor Sharon Tremblay questioned the Lone Star executive about the recent deaths of twelve employees at a Maritech Enterprises factory. Miss Tremblay introduced transcripts and recordings of communications between Lone Star executives that suggest a high level attempt to cover-up the security corporation’s involvement in the deaths. Lone Star lawyer Nathan Burrows raised numerous objections to the evidence, citing corporate privilege and complaining of a lack of disclosure by the city legal team. Justice Hutts conceded parts of Mr. Burrows’ complaints and adjourned the hearing for the weekend to allow the Lone Star representative to review the new evidence.

Knight Errant Baffled by Elven Murder

SAN FRANCISCO INQUIRER (NNT) – Knight Errant investigators have finally released the name of an elven male found dead at the Majic Kingdom™ theme park last Tuesday. Elias Kirby was a park performer specializing in mime and busking. His body was found Tuesday evening by maintenance staff who were emptying waste bins at the popular Hurler ride. An official cause of death has not been released, but unofficial sources suggest that the young mime’s body showed no evidence of trauma or assault at the time it was found. KE officials say they have not yet identified suspects in the case, and have appealed to park attendees to come forward with any information they may have, no matter how small.

As seems to happen in my life, things seemed to be gathering together to push the team to San Fran. I had talked to Carlito and he told me the elf killings where still going on even after Joshua’s arrest. Guess I was right someone is hunting Wolfe.

Wolfe needs to talk to his family and specifically his sister who is currently in San Fran, Sitara seems to have leads on her daughter from San Fran and Hirito wants to find Rodrigo who has/had an apartment there.

Since the Gianelli’s seem to be killing each other off, my tasks can wait until I see how things will turn out.

We call up Cinquieme and see if they can give us a lift to San Francisco. Seems like they could use the excuse to make it to that part of the woods. They drop us off in a roughish neibourhood and we get a cab. The cab driver seems interested in earning some extra creds and gets us in touch with a buddy who can loan us a van.

We drive to Rodrigo’s place and Hirito goes in to talk to the security guard who tells attempts to call up to the room and says Rodrigo isn’t there. Hirito is on the way back to the van when Wolfe decides to check out the place astrally and gets attacked by a strong air elemental as soon as he leaves the van.

We send up a drone and keep an eye on the apartment building. Eventually we see a van leave the underground parking lot and we decide to follow them but suddenly we are surrounded by fog.

Frenchie is driving using his drone to see until Hirito fires off 2 shots out of the window and takes down the elemental and the fog disappears.

Hirito takes another shot and blows one of the vans tires. Wolfe summons an elemental who eventually causes some electrical damage to the van. The driver of the van pulls over when Frenchie starts to gain some ground. Hirito fires a bullet through the passenger side window and I fire a HEG just past the van. 5 people pile out the far door of the van not far from my grenade but start to move away from it. 4 of them are dressed in black body suits and 1 is dressed as a security guard.

Hirito kills one of them as he pokes his head around the side of the van. Wolfe uses some magic to move my grenade right by 3 of the other guys and there is a bunch of screaming as the grenade goes off.

Sitara starts running to the other van. I fire off a smoke grenade and one of the guys from the other group does the same thing. Either that guy or another one fires off a HEG that hits Hirito, the van and I. Hirito manages to get back in the van before the explosion but I get caught flat footed and some shrapnel digs into my left shoulder.

Most of us pile out of the van and try to catch up to the group that’s making a getaway. I manage to get out of the smoke on the other side but there is no sign of the other group. When I get back to the van, Hirito has found 4 duffel bags of gear and Sitara has found 2 dead bodies. Looks like my grenade got one of them.

We head back to Rodrigo’s apartment and see that there isn’t a security guy sitting at the desk but there is a body hidden behind the desk. We grab the guard’s pass and head up to check out the apartment. We let Hirito do the searching because he knows what he’s looking for and he’s probably the most observant of all of us when he’s not desperate for a tempo patch that is.

Sitara has been wanting to get to a hotel all night so we finally find a place to lay low.

The next morning we split up, half of us go to one amusement park and half to another to see if we can find the tea cup ride where her daughter’s picture was taken. Sitara’s group manages to find it and actually finds a carnival worker who remembers the girl and that she was with a tall thin Japanese man.

K-Bunny comes strolling in glares at Hirito, punches Wolfe who either has no clue how to avoid a punch or was manly enough to take the punch. She eventually tells Wolfe that his sister (Amrita Rollins-Clarke) is heading back to Seattle in an hour. So we pile back in the van and while K-Bunny does some hacking. She manages to tell us that his sister took a separate cab. She gains control of the cab, tells us the location and has it pull over on the side of the road right behind us.

Wolfe gets out, walks over and opens the door to see his sister pointing a gun at him. She blinks a few times, realizes she’s holding a gun up to her brother, drops it and says, “My god John, where have you been?”.

Wolfe explains that he’s lost most of his memory. His sister wants him to come in to see the kids but Wolfe explains he’s being hunted down by some unknown enemies and that it would be safer to meet somewhere in Seattle in a few weeks.

Before she heads into the airport, she sends a photo album of her family to Wolfe’s commlink.

As we head to meet up with Cinquieme for a ride back to Seattle, Wolfe pages through the photo album and realizes that Amrita’s “daughter” is actually Sitara’s daughter Damienne.

Brought to you by: MicroDeck: Go Where You Want to Go, Today

Colleton Continues to Struggle

In the closing weeks of the election race, incumbent President Anne Colleton’s campaign continues to struggle against the rising popularity of Bartholemew Ogama’s message of hope and change. The Republicans have been rocked by recent accusations that Vice President Xavier Dunn traded Gubernatorial influence for sexual favors during his term in Massachusetts. Several former lobbyists came forward last week, claiming that Dunn offered to support their proposals if they performed sexual acts. Several of the young women have admitted, under oath, to acquiescing to the deal, but claim to have never received the promised influence with the Governor’s office.

Governor Ogama indicated that his campaign would not comment on the accusations, stating that ‘hearsay and innuendo have no part in UCAS politics’. Meanwhile, pro-Democratic Matrix broadcasters have been releasing and rebroadcasting excerpts from the lobbyist’s testimony on a near-hourly basis.

Executive Recalled to Hearing

Lone Star Senior Vice President, Roger Muran, has once again been subpoenaed to take the stand at the Hutts inquiry. Justice Hutts told reporters that the massacre of twelve employees at a Maritech Enterprises packing plant last week was “a tragedy that needed to be discussed.” Rumors have persisted for days that Lone Star attempted to whitewash the killings, and many observers believe Justice Hutts may have received information about this alleged cover-up. Muran was present for a marathon session of testimony at the inquiry, spending 12 days on the stand from late September to early October.

Two More Elves Found Dead

The bodies of two elven men were found floating in Lake Sammamish early this morning, dead from apparent strangulation. The identities of the men have not been released, but bystanders reported that both were dressed in expensive business clothing. Lone Star officials have not made any statements to the public at this point, merely indicating that their investigation is ongoing.

The deaths are the 15th and 16th murders of elven males in the past month, continuing to fuel concerns of a serial killer or killers in the city. Rumors previously swirled that Aztechnology was behind the killings in retribution for the rape of the Aztlan ambassador’s daughter, Eréndira Bonilla, by an elf. Music agent and elf-poser, Joshua Rochu, was arrested last week for the sexual assault and remains in custody.

Mob Violence on the Rise

Near open warfare on the streets of Seattle has escalated since the bombing of a Tacoma port warehouse last week. Insiders claim that the building belonged to the Gianelli crime family and that its destruction appears to have triggered some sort of internal struggle for power and control. At least three businesses known to be front organizations for the crime family have been targeted by fire bombings and drive-by shootings. Lone Star officials have been hesitant to speculate on the meaning of the growing violence, but unofficial sources suggest that the destabilization of the mob organization could spill over into other criminal organizations as they compete to snatch up the spoils.

Violence across many major UCAS cities has escalated steadily over the summer, as criminal organizations compete for shares of the profitable tempo trade. Boston, Chicago, Manhattan, San Francisco, Seattle, and Toronto have all experienced levels of street violence not seen since the chaos of the Matrix Crash of 2064.

“I should have done more. I will do more, even though it is too late. I take the blame for what happened. I should have known.”

Monica stood in stunned silence, looking down at Mazula as he knelt before her, emotional and regretful. She’d never seen Dwayne’s ex-partner express any emotion but anger. Or take responsibility for his actions. Or express regret. Or cry.

Or refer to himself in the first person.

And yet, here he was, apologizing to her for something he wasn’t even responsible for. Something he couldn’t have prevented. Acting like a real person instead of a caricature from some bad cop movie.

The irony struck her hard. Years of being angry with Dwayne about his friendship with this man. Telling him that Mazula was going to get him killed. And only months after Maz leaves the force, here she was, burying her husband with his ex-partner actually regretful for a loss he couldn’t have prevented.

Maybe that was the real issue. They’d been partners for years. Maybe Maz felt responsible for Dwayne’s death because he wasn’t there, because he couldn’t look out for his friend.

Monica looked down at the ex-cop, seeing him in a new light. Carlito had told her about Maz’s part in getting her and the kids away from the mob hit team that had come to the apartment. Without his help, who knows what might have happened to them. He’d been there for them when they’d needed him, the way he’d been there for Dwayne over the years.

Maybe it had been Dwayne that was right all along. They’d fought about this friendship so many times, they hadn’t even needed to speak in full sentences anymore. Maybe she was the one who was wrong about Mazula. Maybe he was the good friend that Dwayne saw.

Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she thought about the fights, the screaming, the anger. She’d been wrong. She’d been the one who hadn’t accepted Dwayne’s friendship. Tried to change him, pull him away.

She wanted to say something to Mazula. To express the regret that was overwhelming her. But the only thing she could manage was a choked, “It’s ok, Maz.”

Unable to bear more, she turned and fled to the relative safety of Dwayne’s wake, leaving Mazula and Carlito staring after her as the rain started falling heavily.

I hate my actioneer business suit, especially today. I’m sitting at the back trying to avoid notice.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul…

Blammm!!!

Flashback to October 16, 2072 22:47
“An alarm is going off”, I hear Hirito’s voice say through the commlink.

“Damn, quick get that door unlocked Sitara”, I say.

My attention focuses back on the sermon.

…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

It seems that no matter how religious we are in life, in death we seem to seek it.

Flashback to October 16, 2052 21:45
“Grand-father, why do people die?”, I ask looking up at my grand-father as he was tucking me into bed.

“Well Mitchell, one day, the Navajo people placed an animal hide in water. If it did not sink, then no one would ever die. However, if the hide sank into the water, then death would be part of life. They did not watch the hide, but turned away from it instead. While their backs were turned, a coyote threw some rocks on top of the hide and it sank.”, said my Grand-father. My grand-father had been a big strong man in his prime but now was dying of cancer.

“I don’t want you to die, Grampa.”, I said as tears rolled down my cheek.

We are at the grave, I’m standing next to a tree somewhat back from the main gathering. They are in the midst of folding the flag. Ashley lays it on top of the coffin and walks back holding Connor’s hand to stand beside her mother.

Blammm!!!

Flashback to October 16, 2072 22:48
I walk through the main storage area of the warehouse, barely registering the 2 dead men. I run across to the smaller storage room and open the door with my gun in hand.

Blood on the wall. Dwayne on the ground.

Carlito comes up to where I’m standing by the tree.

“I’m glad you came Maz. Monica is too not that she’d say it.”, he shakes my hand.

“Mazula needs to talk to you, he wants to make things right but he doesn’t know how. He can at least give you the details he knows. Tomorrow, breakfast at Sound View Cafe.”, I say.

Flashback to October 16, 2072 22:49
My hands are covered in blood, there is nothing I can do for Dwayne except pray. I’ve called DocWagon and hope that they will be able to bring him back. The warehouse is empty except for the team.

“Woo hoo!”, I hear Hirito shout in the background.

“What the frag! Someone shoot Hirito please!”, I yell. The rest of the group heads back to the main part of the warehouse, most likely just to get away from me.

Blammm!!!

“I’ve got to go Carlito, I can’t take the 21 gun salut, I’m hearing enough gun fire. I’ll stop by the hall to give Monica my condolences.”, I say as I start to walk back to my bike.

Blammm!!!

Flashback to October 16, 2072 23:05
I walk into my apartment and find Joshua huddled in the corner.

“Hey Joshua, I didn’t mean to scare the crap out of you but you need to watch out. There is someone trying to kill elves in Seattle.”, I say as I remove my blood soaked T-shirt. I wash my hands and face to remove the blood.

“Yeah, sure.”, he says. I don’t think he believes me.

“Seriously, some chubby elf raped the daughter of the Aztlan ambassador and someone has been plotting revenge.”, I say.

Joshua goes dead white. He was the one responsible? I think to myself. And I saved him. Do I shoot him now or wait to ask Wolfe to get me confirmation? If I could only trade Joshua’s blood for Dwayne’s…

I make it to the hall, Carlito has seen to it that he and Martinez are blocking the view from the reception area to the receiving line. As the last person goes in the hall, Monica and the kids follow with Dwayne’s parents. Carlito motions to Monica and she turns to see me stepping in the door.

“You have my deepest sympathy on your loss. He was my dearest friend and will be sorely missed.”, I say as tears roll down my cheeks. I fall to my knees and Monica takes my hand.

“I should have done more. I will do more even though it is too late. I take the blame for what happened. I should have known.”, I say.

Brought to you by: Aztechnology – Bridging the past through the Future

Twelve Dead in Lone Star Raid

Representatives from Lone Star Security Services have refused to comment on the deaths of twelve Maritech Enterprises employees during a police raid on an Auburn-area facility. Official sources report that the operation was part of an ongoing investigation into rising problems with the street drug, tempo. Lone Star has not released information to support a connection between the Aztechnology subsidiary and the drug trade, but claims that the raid was based on “reliable information” from their ongoing investigation.

All twelve of the dead are employees of the facility, including four security guards and six workers. Police have a single survivor of the raid in custody. None of the officers involved in the raid were hurt, and unofficial sources indicate that all were former Metroplex Guard officers involved in Lone Star’s retraining program.

Officials from Maritech Enterprises and Aztechnology have expressed outrage at the raid and the implication that their organizations are involved with the tempo trade. Both corporations have vowed to initiate an independent investigation into the incidents, and have not ruled out legal action against Lone Star and the city of Seattle.

Trideo Star Narrowly Escapes Death

UK trid star, Simon Headley, narrowly escaped death Sunday night when he was attacked by two men in his hotel room in Seattle. The elven star was in the Emerald City for a charity event and promotional tour for his new film, Naughty But Niece. Headley’s bodyguards hustled the star out of the room and killed one of the attackers before the second gunman surrendered to hotel security. The man was in Lone Star custody until Monday morning, when he was found dead in his cell, the victim of apparent suicide. Police officials have not released a comment on how the man was able to obtain the belt used to kill himself.

Headley was not available for comment, although TFI officials have assured fans that the star is in good health and suffered no ill effects from his brush with death.

Bomb Threat a Dud

Operations were suspended at SeaTac International Airport yesterday, after Knight Errant Security received an anonymous tip about a bomb. A massive search of the facility found no evidence of an explosive device, and normal operations resumed within 30 minutes. The delay caused the disruption of flight service and resulted in chaos across the North American transport network, delaying thousands of travelers and rerouting dozens of flights. Knight Errant officials are investigating the source of the bomb hoax.

Rape Suspect in Custody

Lone Star Security spokesperson, Martin James, today announced a breakthrough in the Bonilla rape case. Officers arrested media agent, Joshua Rochu, late Sunday night after receiving a tip from Aztlan and Aztechnology representatives. Rochu was taken into custody at his Seattle hotel without incident, and is being held without bail. Inside sources indicate that Eréndira Bonilla has positively identified Rochu as her attacker.

Aztlan ambassador, Arlan Bonilla, publicly thanked the Seattle police force for their ongoing investigation, stating that he and his daughter were relieved that the ordeal was coming to an end. Bonilla refused to comment further on rumors that the deaths of over a dozen elves in the city were linked to his country and its parent corporation.

Bodyguards in Need of Better Protection

Three employees of Securitas Services, a local personal security firm, were found last night in an abandoned warehouse in the Tacoma region. Lone Star Security Services received an anonymous tip that the three bodyguards were imprisoned in the building, and the police freed them without incident. Securitas has declined official comment on the incident, but unofficial sources suggest that the men had been held in the facility since Saturday evening. The three may have been slated to escort an unnamed minor celebrity during a promotional tour, but Securitas has been unwilling to deny or confirm these rumors, citing client confidentiality.

Carver looked up from the maglock case and nodded, packing away the electronics kit. Rin triggered her sub-vocal mic to alert the team.

“We’re in. Any company?”

Highball’s Aussie twang cut through the soft static. “Two guards on routine patrol on the perimeter. No sign of trouble.”

“The watchers have reported no unusual astral activity”, added Manx in his cultured British accent.

Mezzo’s text-only reply popped up in everyone’s AR display.

No alerts. Four guards inside. No-one near your entry.

Rin motioned to the infiltration team and stepped through the doorway. She led the way up the quiet corridor. At the main hallway, she signaled Scar and Artemis to set up in the shadows, watching the escape route. The ganger and the girl took up positions to cover both passageways and did their best to blend into the decor. She and Carver loitered in the hallway, trying to look like bored maintenance workers.

October 17, 2072 14:47

Rin adjusted the maintenance uniform for the fortieth time, cursing the ill-placed utility pockets. Waiting was the most difficult part. Everyone got edgy with nothing to do, but the implants made her feel like she was vibrating unless she was active. And there was no way she could turn them off in the middle of a job.

“Security goons are on the move”, came Highball’s announcement. “Heading for the van.”

Activity inside. Two guards on their way out. Away from your position.

Rin double checked the chronometer in her AR. “Ok, it’s a few minutes early, but at least we’re getting it. Let’s go, Carver.”

Mibōjin? Security sweep in two minutes. We should stick with the plan.

“That’s enough time to secure the packages and get back out. We don’t know if Johnson’s distraction is going to last long enough to wait two more minutes. We go.”

Rin felt much better doing something, even if they were jumping the schedule a bit. The Johnson hadn’t specified what sort of distraction had been planned, and she wasn’t going to risk the possibility that the other team had messed something up.

October 17, 2072 14:48

Getting to the secure room was easy enough, and Carver finessed the door without incident. Rin stood near the entrance as the technician got to work on the lockers. The Johnson had been vague about the contents of the two silver cases they were retrieving, but very specific about their location, protection, and retrieval. And he was paying well. The job required subtlety and no body count, and Rin didn’t need any more details.

Carver’s soft curse drew her attention to the back of the room. The young man looked up from the tangle of wires he had connected to the locks, a look of annoyance on his face.

“It has a biometric scanner he didn’t mention. I’ll have to rig something to bypass or we’ll have alarms going off.”

“How long?”, hissed Rin.

“Two minutes, maybe more.”

“You’ve got one minute. Get moving. Mezzo, can you redirect the guard to bypass this room?”

Unlikely. It’s the key patrol node for his route.

Scar’s voice popped into the conversation. “I’ve got the loser in my sights. A couple of rounds to the head will ‘redirect’ him.”

“No bodies”, hissed Rin into the mic. “If you drop him, your corpse is going to be keeping him company. You copy that, Artemis?”

“Understood, Mibōjin.”

The monotone reply sent shivers down the older woman’s spine. Rin hadn’t expected to hear back from the blonde girl so soon after she left the hospital, but Jane had called the next day to discuss the offer of employment. She had adopted the pseudonym, Artemis, making a cryptic comment about ‘hunting wolves’. The rest of the team had been skeptical about the girl, but had changed their view when they saw her in action. Even Scar gave her a wide berth after what she’d done to the gangers that tried to jump her in that alley.

But that didn’t solve the problem of the security patrol bearing down on them.

The guard will be at the door in 15 seconds.

October 17, 2072 14:49

Rin stashed her Ceska in the shadows and strode over to where Carver was working. She grabbed the boy by the collar of his overalls and pinned him against the wall as she shoved the electronics gear out of sight with her foot. The teen’s eyes almost popped out of his head as she covered his mouth with hers, pulling his hands into intimate positions just as the locker room door opened.

The guard stared for a few seconds before clearing his throat. “What are you two doing in here?”, he asked with a smirk on his face.

Rin pulled back from Carver, who looked like he was going to faint. “Do you mind?”, she said breathlessly. “We’re in the middle of some very important ‘maintenance’ here.” She let her hand drop to the waistband of Carver’s uniform.

The kid recovered his composure enough to give the guard a pleading look that brought an even bigger smirk. He gave the boy a jealous salute and closed the door, muttering something about not making a mess on the floor.

October 17, 2072 14:50

Rin held the pose for a few seconds before signaling Mezzo. “Are we clear?”

He’s back on the route. Sent a rather tasteless joke to his buddies. You’ve probably only got a few minutes before one of them checks the maintenance records. I could try to insert a work order to delay them if you two want more ‘private time’.

Rin ignored the hopeful look on Carver’s face and shoved him back toward the locker as she retrieved her gun.

“Get back to work, Carver. We have a job to finish.”

The big bruiser’s fist slammed into Dwayne’s stomach again, and the cop was pretty sure he felt a rib break this time. He coughed again, flecks of blood spattering the warehouse floor in front of him. He groaned and looked up as Guido stepped back, rubbing his knuckles.

Louie smiled thinly as he looked into the cop’s eyes.

“Are we really going to have to do this the hard way, Dwayne?”

The battered man wheezed and coughed, trying to speak slowly around his swollen and bloody tongue.

“Told you…just calling…friend about…Brawl game. Nothing…about work.”

Stars exploded in Dwayne’s vision as Guido’s meaty fist slammed into the side of his head, knocking over the chair and bouncing his skull off the plastcrete floor. When the big enforcer had manhandled him back upright, the Mob lieutenant fixed him with that disconcerting dysoptic stare.

“Have it your way, pig. Pino’s working on your commlink. We’ll find out who you were talking to, and make sure we protect our operation. Save us some time, and you might save yourself some pain. Or not. Guido won’t mind.”

Dwayne shook his head and waited for the next round of hurt. He’d started the purge subroutine on his commlink after closing the link to Mazula, but he didn’t know for sure if unit had been wiped clean. He couldn’t do anything to prevent Pino from hacking the commlink if the purge didn’t take, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to give anyone up for free.

Guido was winding up for another round when he was interrupted by the arrival of Louie’s second in command. Terri crossed the room looking smug, and Dwayne had a deep sinking feeling in his gut that had nothing to do with physical punishment he’d been taking. The feeling didn’t improve when Terri whispered into Louie’s ear and the man turned to smile at him.

“Since pain doesn’t seem to be a motivator for Dwayne, maybe we should see if Monica, Ashley, or Connor would be able to shed some light on things instead.”

So I had finally make it into the matrix with my Pappa Smurf icon and the words “It’s not far now!” hovering beneath it. Ms. Johnson with her red anime icon had joined us and offered us $10,000 each ($5000 up front) to bodyguard some B list actor for 2 days.

I head to the airport on Sunday with my new smartlink system attached to my Ruger Super Warhawk. The limo pulls up and out rolls Frenchie in a wheelchair looking a bit thin.

“Esti, you didn’t even visit!”, he says.

“We thought you were dead. It was even in the obituaries.”, responds Hirito with a slight bow. Wonder if he even knows he did that, I think.

The actor, Simon, is a complete ass, strutting out of the terminal and ordering his manager around.

“So what is this meeting with Brown on Sunday afternoon”, Hirito asks Simon’s manager as we head towards the limo.
“Well Simon has developed a taste for tempo, so we need to refill his supplies.”

We get them into the limo and start heading for the first meeting with the entertainment company that holds his contracts.

Somehow Hirito thinks I’ll make the perfect bodyguard to go into the meeting room with Simon. Maybe he just wants me to record the meeting.

“I want my contract. I’ve got a great voice. People love me.”, says Simon and then he breaks into a cackling song…

“You’re right Mr. Hedley, that’s why we want to make sure we give the deal you deserve and not accidentally under value your obvious talents.”, one of the execs says.

“We’re busy figuring out the numbers, we’ll have the contract soon Simon”, his manager says.

My god! I’m thinking, even his manager is trying to pull the wool over his eyes and Simon’s buying it. An hour later, we head out. Simon has partying on his mind and slaps on a tempo patch. Wolfe manages to use his magic to influence Simon getting him to realize that we should finish with his duties and then well have a whole evening for partying. The bars are really going to be pretty lame in the afternoon anyways.

So we head to the record signing. I lead the group in and spot some hotties near the front of the crowd.

“Mazula says hi. He’s working security for Mr. Hedley. How would you like to come party with us once we’re done with this gig?”

“Really? Me? Sure. I’m Maureen and here’s my comm code just in case.”

The crowd starts to push forward and I quickly get back and start pushing people back into the line with the mall security guys. Wolfe booms out “Back off or we’re taking Mr Hedley out of here.”

The crowd quiets down and Simon seems to have taken Wolfe’s “suggestion” to heart. He sits patiently through the signing and politely exchanges pleasantries with his fans. After we’re done Simon wants to get on with the partying.

“Nice job, Mazula, already lineing up the babes. Let get rolling.”, says Simon looking at Maureen and a few of her friends who gathered nearby.
“Ah Simon”, his manager says, “I’m going to head back to the hotel. I have some calls and paper work to attend to.”

So the rest of the guys head off with Simon to some Tempo bar near the docks while I follow his manager back to the hotel with one of Frenchie’s mini drones. I manage to get the drone under the hotel room door and I’m about to leave the hotel when I get a call from Frenchie.

“Hey Maz, it looks like he’s getting ready for a night out on the town in an elf poser costume.”, says Frenchie.

“Ok, Maz will follow him.”, I say as I get another call this time from Hirito, “Gotta go, Hirito’s calling.”

“Mazula san, buddy boy has tipped me off on a job. It looks like LoneStar is going to raid this warehouse for tempo. We can slip in and steal the stuff and the mob will think it was taken in the LoneStar raid. I could really use your help. The cops are moving in by 10pm so we want to hit the place at 9.”

“Maz is kind of busy right now Hirito. I need to tail the manager. I’ll try to be there by 9 if I can. Who is buddy boy?”

I get back upstairs to pick up the mini drone and proceed to follow the manager to a somewhat upscale bar where he starts trying to pick up women.

“Hi, how are you doing?”, I ask a woman who’s friends have all found dance partners, “My friend over there, the elf, is only in town for a couple of nights, do you think you might dance with him for a few minutes? It would really make his night.” I touch her gently between the shoulder blades to plant the mini drone.

“Oh a, yeah, I guess”, she says.

Frenchie really knows how to drive those drones, I see it make a nice pirouette and land right in his corsage. I head out driving quickly.

“Esti, he really bad with the ladies”, I hear Frenchie say from my commlink.

I make it to the warehouse Hirito mentioned a few minutes early. Hirito is there with a dwarf named Griswald who seems really strung out.

“Ok, there are 4 guys”, says Griswald, “2 patrolling out and 2 inside.” Griswald slaps on a tempo patch. Hirito watches him with a gleam in his eye and slaps one on as well.

“I’ve taken care of the cameras”, Griswald says.

“Hey Maz, you need to get back to the bar. Some woman has really started getting into the manager.”, Frenchie calls out from the commlink.

“Maz’ll be there in a few minutes. He just needs to take out a few guards.”

Hirito takes out the 2 guards outside with 2 quick head shots as they come round the corner of the building. I wander over to one of the guards and look for his ID Clay Wesley. My commlink buzzes.

I walk over to the door and knock when Griswald lets us know the guards inside are position in good stops.

“Hey, its Clay. Mind switching with me for a minute. I need to piss.”, I say.

“Sure thing Clay”, the guard inside says as he opens the door.

I put a gel round into his forehead and he collapses in a lump at the door. Hirito steps inside and downs the other guard.

“Maz’s gotta run, some woman is playing up the manager. You know that can’t be real.”

I make it back to the bar just as the manager is leaving with this hottie drapped over his shoulder.

“Drizzt!! Simon needs you, he’s taken a bit too many patches.”, I call out.

The woman pushes Drizzt into a sports car that’s parked right in front of the bar and 2 men who had been leaning against nearby buildings pull out guns and start firing at me.

“He’s not the elf you are looking for. Pull off his ears, he’s a fake”, I bellow as a duck for cover behind the bike.

Luckily the two goons with guns don’t really have any skill in using their equipment. They keep firing but only hit me once and my armor does its job.

I hit one with gel rounds knocking him over and then taking him out. The other guy jumps in the car and leans out the window to continue firing. He puts a few holes in my motorbike. I don’t want to think about the repair bills.

I switch to armor piercing rounds and put a big hole in the last goon. I start firing at the cars tires and burst the 2 rear tires. Out of no where a lightning bolt hits the car and smoke starts billowing out from under the hood.

Damn spirits, I think to myself.

I drive past the driver side door and schatter the window. The driver pulls out a gun but he’s no better with the gun than his friends.

By this point the driver has the car stopped and as I pull the bike around to the other side of the car, he takes another shot at me. I notice the woman is already running down the road. I shot the driver a few times and he collapses behind the car. I look in the car and see Drizzt cowering in the corner.

“Get out of the car and onto the bike NOW!!”, I say as I point the gun in his direction.

He hops on the bike as my commlink goes off again.

“Hey Maz, its Dwayne. I need help.”, he blurts. I hear gun fire in the background. The commlink goes dead and I look at the GPS coordinates he sent me, one of Louie’s places…

“Hey guys, Maz needs your help.”, I send in a burst message to the rest of the team.