Kirk happily agrees to look at fixing the glasses and making them “better” after her nap.
In a good mood after the bike ride, Nail waits for Goethe to speak. If he doesn’t, then he will nudge him with his foot.
Goethe displays his own smartlinked heavy pistol in it’s quickdraw holster while saying:
"I see McManus got you the same model. Works well doesn’t it? Just let him know that Goethe is here to see him and I have some friends with me. I also have some cheap gear he might be able to fence and need to ask a favor of him.
Thanks."
Seneth to Goethe:
“I apologize to you, my child. Are these glasses…rare? Expensive? I hope they are but common items.”
The elf sizes you up suspiciously, but at mention of McManus the elf reluctantly steps aside. “He’ll want to talk to you. Main office is his,” the elf says, gesturing to the closest entrance.
The gate opens up widely enough for all of the team’s vehicles to fit through. “Don’t get too cozy, chums,” the elf says ominously as the group passes by him.
–
After the group explains the situation to McManus -
McManus takes a long, casual puff on the fattest cigar any of the team have seen. The smoke curls around his copious gray beard, and the fingers on his fully replaced cybernetic left arm are tapping a mindless tune on the surface of his desk as he leans back in his chair.
He peers through the smoke at Goethe. Finally he speaks.
“A long time ago you saved my life. But never forget that I gave you yours. Debt’s paid, far as I’m concerned. Nothing’s free now, kid.”
McManus glances at the ragtag assembled group of injured and exhausted runners, and their prisoner Fortnight.
“You bring these lowlifes into my home, and expect…what, exactly? A welcome party? Forget it. You want a place to stay, it’s gonna’ cost you. Two thousand credits is the price. You get a place to stay for the night, a guard for the elf scumbag, and an uplink to the Transportation Authority network. If your ‘mancer’s any good, she’ll be able to monitor the security cameras around the station and on the 11:55 train without getting her squirmy hands all dirty. You want some hackers to back her up, it’ll be another 500 each. My wizkids’ time 'aint cheap, chum.”
Goethe to McManus:
“2000 it is then. As to whether Kirk needs backup, I’ll leave that decision up to her. We got some low-grade firearms from Fortnight and his group. I figure you could probably fence them for a pittance, given the quality. You might even be able to convince Fortnight to invest in better gear in the future for his own good.”
BTW, how much was in Fortnight’s credstick?
I was under the impression the group gave Fortnight his credstick back. Unless you take it from him, he won’t volunteer the information.
If she can squeeze in a night’s rest to get over the rest of the stun damage, Kirk assures the group she’ll be fine on her own. If they need her capable sooner, however, some backup wouldn’t be a bad idea.
After agreeing to McManus’ price, he leads you down a hallway to a series of doors that lead to rooms with concrete floor and no windows, each approximately the size of a prison cell. He motions to a Dwarf who’s eye has been replaced with an obvious cybernetic implant and has a series of gruesome scars across the side of his face.
“Lenny, show this man to his room,” McManus says to the Dwarf. Lenny sneers at the sight of Fortnight and grabs the elf by the scruff of his neck, pounding his frail shoulder with mock comraderie.
“With pleasure, boss,” Lenny says, and the terrified elf is led away from the group down a side hallway and out of sight.
“Your room will be a bit less…dark,” McManus says to the group. He leads you to the end of the hallway, where crude reconstruction has been done. The wall between two of the rooms has been cut away, doubling the size of it. There are no windows, but plenty of light, 3 beds, a bar full of cheap booze, and a desk.
“If you need anything, just ask,” McManus says. “Also, I’ll take that extra gear you showed me for 200 credits. Take it or leave it.”
McManus turns to leave, but as he’s walking away he stops as if suddenly remembering something. “If you want to lose some more money, come by my office in two hours. The boys and I have a poker game tonight. Bring at least 500 credits. It 'ain’t for the faint of heart. If you don’t show, nobody’ll think less of you.”
The team has a place to rest for awhile. Seneth and Kirk must spend some time resting, but the other characters are free to either join the poker game, plan the meeting with Chaggo, or do something else for the next few hours.
“So, we have 2 hours to plan our meet with Chaggo. The way I see it, if Kirk can take the heat off us from the security network, we can neutralize him right then and there. Goethe gives him a nice little electric hug, and I’ll tag along to handle any loose ends. If that sounds too hot for all of ya, then our only other choice is to tag him and pray.” Nail reaches into his pocket for something. “And I’m not much of the praying type.”
Nail raises up what he was reaching for. It’s a poker chip. Flipping it up with his thumb and catching it with his hand like a coin, he finishes saying, “Now Lady Luck… that’s something entirely different.”
Seneth rests immediately.
Kirk rests
The plan was only to give it back to him for his trouble if he was directly involved with the run against Chaggo. Since he isn’t going to be involved, it’ll help go towards the cost of his having a nanny. So the group is keeping the stick.
Well, if Kirk can hack the entire camera system of the transit authority and avoid any detection, tailing Chaggo becomes much easier. So here’s what I suggest we do:
I’ll be the closest to the meeting point apparently minding my business. I’ll essentially be faking a one-way conversation via a commlink phone. My shock gloves will be on, and my hands will be in the pockets of my jacket. Upon Chaggo’s arrival, I’ll prepare to take him out.
Nail, your job will be general backup and lookout.
Kirk will be monitoring the security system and cameras as already determined.
One of Donovan and Seneth will need to create a distraction when I give the go signal. The other will need to be waiting in the wings to intercept Chaggo should he run for it in some form other than taking the trains.
As to what the distraction should be, I’m all years. I imagine Kirk might be able to provide some support on that as well.
Sound good to everyone?
And if Chaggo comes with a full team, well, everyone prepare for a clusterfuck, because that’s what’s going to happen. At that point, we’re pretty much going to have to wing it regardless.
Oh, and I’ll be skipping out on the poker if you don’t mind. I never did have much of a poker face. I prefer to make my money, not lose it.
Oh, and one more thing.
Those of us packing heat probably want to invest in some stick-n-shock rounds, particularly for Chaggo. We can’t kill him until we know where he’s keeping Arrow. McManus should likely have some lying around somewhere, otherwise, I can spare some of mine.
“Sounds good to me.”
Seneth lifts his head off his hands, which he had been leaning on.
“I will wait to distract Chaggo should he escape. It should be…interesting should I have to do that. He won’t forget it.”
Seneth drifts off to a comfy doze.
Poker in the New World
The game will be simulated by opposed dice rolls between the players and NPCs. The dice rolls will be affected by Logic, Intuition, Perception, Edge, and any applicable gambling knowledge skills. If any characters attempt to cheat, they will use agility + a relevant skill (such as palming) in an opposed test vs each other player using perception + intuition to detect the cheating.
Needless to say, cheating is not recommended! If you succeed, you will gain great bonuses for a particular gambling roll. If you want to affect more than one roll, you will need to cheat multiple times. If you fail, you will at the very least be forced to hand over all the credits you currently have and be kicked out of McManus’ compound. If you resist, McManus and his men will hang your guts from a fence post.
Donovan to Goethe:
"I don’t mind being the stopgap if Chaggo runs. Hell, maybe I’ll give him some of what the troll got and we can take him home in the trunk.
"I don’t understand why we try and take the guy anyway. Why don’t we just tail him? We can set up a relay, like they did in those old school games between nations. That way no one person gets made so easily.
“And if he starts to take us in a loop, we nab him some place else. Some place less public.”
Donovan will pass on poker. He grew up poor and on the streets and never took much liking to pissing away what money he has.
As Seneth sleeps he dreams. He dreams of the past…long past. He sees the darkness laid before him, himself floating in nothing. A bright speck glows before him, growing and forming into…something solid.
Suddenly, his dream changes. A flock of…owls flutter before him. Well, toward him actually, diving down at his face and cutting upwards to soar over him. More owls than he can count. And all of them black.
And all of them his friend.
Beneath his closed eyelids, Seneth’s eyes dart around rapidly. He’s quite asleep, though.
And then he mumbles quietly.
“Keep away from me, you sick psycho, caring freaks.”