Online Shadowrun by Excalibur

Storytelling in the shadows

For information on the game in general, and house rules, etc., go to the Rules Page.

Table of Contents

• Turn 1
• Turn 1A
• Turn 1B
• Turn 2
• Turn 3
• Turn 4
• Turn 5
• Turn 6
• Turn 7
• Turn 8
• Turn 9
• Turn 10
• Turn 11
• Turn 12

Turn 1

Seattle, Redmond Barrens:

It's night. It's cold, and it's wet. what the frag was he doing out here in the streets after dark. "Damn, why did I get myself involved in this?, I knew I shouldn't do this." He looked around nervously. There was a blonde biff down on the corner selling, who knew what, an Ork of two, standing down on the other corner, looks like they're wearing the colors of a gang. "Damn, I shouldn't be here. Now, where is that guy?.." He'd arranged to me the man who called himself by the strange name of Marker here outside the Razor's Edge. It was a seedy run down bar up here in the Barrens, where he had absolutely no reason to ever be here, until now. He'd been approached by this man, and offered an incredible amount of nuyen, if he would just bring him one of the prototypes of what he was working on. That and a chip containing all the data he could get. Now, he didn't know if it was such a good idea to go along with it, but,.. well, it didn't matter now, he was already here.

"Nervous chico?," ask a voice behind him.

He jumped, almost clean out of his shoes, and damn near pissed in his pants. He turned, and there stood Marker, with a drekkin' grin on his face. "Frag! Marker, don't do that!"

"Keep your voice down chico. Come over here..", said Marker and he turned the corner into an alley.

Up on the top of a building across the street, a figure moves slightly, making adjustments.

The kid follow's the dark figure around the corner. After moving about half way down the alley, the figure stops, and turns around. The kid thinks to himself, "Better get this out," and he reaches inside his coat. Before he can even blink, he realizes he's staring down the barrel of a very large pistol.

"Don't even fraggin' move chico," Marker says in a voice, much to calm for the situation.

"I,..I, I was just getting the stuff..," stammers the kid.

"Take your hand out, real slow like."

The kid pulls out his hand, and hands over an object that looks like a pistol, sort of. He then reaches back inside the coat and comes back out with a chip carrier, and hands it over to the dark figure.

"Is that it? Marker ask.

"Yeah, that's all. It's compact, ain't it." grins the kid.

"Yeah, yeah,. real small, here," reaching inside his coat and pulling out a credstick and handing it to the kid. "It's been a real pleasure doing biz with you kid, have a good rest of your life." Marker starts back out the alley, "Hey, don't follow me out right away kid, give me a minute or two to get gone." He winks, then walks out. As he walks out, the reaches up and adjust his hat with his left hand.

The figure on the roof moves ever so slightly again as he sees Marker come out of the alley. There, that was the signal. He sends the signal down the smartlink wire to the rifle to disengage the safety. He keeps looking at the mouth of the alley through the scope on the big rifle. The kid starts out, and as soon as he's in the light, he once again sends a signal down the wire, "Shoot". There is a quiet thump.

The kid's thinking to himself, "Drek, that wasn't so bad," twirling the credstick in his fingers, "and lookie here what I got," he thinks, as he steps out into the light. The credstick flips up into the air, and then his world explodes."

Seattle, Downtown:
02:15 Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

Gabriel opened the door to his dos after checking the telltales he'd left on it. He released his grip on the Viper underneath his Houndstooth jacket. As he closes the door, he removes his Great Coat and hangs it up, then takes off the Houndstooth Jacket and hangs it up also. Loosening up his tie, he crosses the room and enters his office, he moves to the desk and checks the telcom unit. No messages. "That's good," he mutters to himself. "I need a break. After this last 'assignment', I'm beginning to think I should go back to work for Mr. Rizolli full time. The last thing I need is another old woman fawning over me after she hires me to protect her. Geeshh, she needed protecting about as much as I need another datajack. I feel lucky to have gotten away from that party with my pants still intact!" He sits down in his chair and turns on the trideo. He flips the channel until he finds a news cast then he leans back in his chair. "Gotta' catch up with what's been going on lately." He takes note of the stock prices, a new model of limo being released, and a murder up in the Barrens. "Hmmm.. what's so unusual about that that it makes the trid cast? People get killed up in the Barrens all the time. Oh. an Ares employee. Hmmm poor fragger shouldn't been up there anyway. Well, I gotta' turn in." He reaches up and flips off the trid unit and heads for the bedroom.

Denver, UCAS Sector:
04:00 hours Mountain Time, December 3, 2055:

A shadow slips out of the shadow, and moves quickly down the street. His objective was moving on ahead of him. He moves to the corner of the street and waits. The shadow moves to within 10 yards of the objective. The shadow reaches up to his throat and clicks a small button on a microtranceiver twice. A car turns the corner and starts up the street. As the car approaches, the objective watches it, and the shadow moves closer to him. Just before the car stops in front of the objective, the shadow moves up directly behind him and there is a sound of electricity buzzing. The objective goes limp and the shadow catches him before he hits the concrete. The car stops and the back door opens up of it's own accord. The shadow slips the objective into the car and slips back into the surrounding shadows of the street. The car door closes as the car starts to move off. The shadow smiles. The clan will deal with the traitor now. He can go home. He walks three or four blocks back down the street to where he left his bike parked. He climbs up on the bike and rides off. He stops about two blocks from his apartment and pulls into a dark alley unobserved. There, he pulls of the dark sweat shirt and mask he'd been wearing and puts them into a pack, then rides to his apartment building. He stops at the gate and presents his id to the guard. "Have a good night Mr. Li?" the guard ask.
"Hai," he answers. "Very good time with pretty young lady, yes." he says. He thinks to himself "Moron. What I do, to keep up this charade for these goons."
He makes his way up to his apartment and gets undressed and climbs into his bed.

Seattle, Downtown:
08:00 hours Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

Gabriel wakes slowly from his dream. "What is that damn buzzing?" Then he realizes it is his telcom unit. He rolls over in the bed and sits up, and reaches over to the telcom unit, he remembers to hit the video mute button before he answers. "Yes."

"Archangel?"
That makes him sit up straight. "I'm sorry, you have the wrong number." he says quickly and hits the disconnect. He pulls on a robe and goes into his office and picks up his pocket secretary. He calls up a number for Cash, turns on the telcom and dials. The telcom rings, and the other end picks up, then he hears a couple series of clicks and whirls. The a voice comes on, "Yes?"
"It's Archangel," Gabe says.
"Hold on," the voice says. Then the screen kicks in, and Cash is looking at him. "Hoi, Arch, whatz wiz?"
"Did one of your people just try to call me?"
"Probably, I needed to get hold of you," he grins.
Gabe isn't smiling. "Well, the fragger called me on my open line and asked for Archangel, what are you tryin' to do, get me killed?" Now, Cash isn't smiling either. "Hold on a minute," says Cash. He comes back on the line. "That won't happen again Arch, I'm sorry. New employee, err.. new ex-employee. I called because I gotta' LTG number for you. Guy ask me for my best, so I called you. He paid well for this let me tell you. I've heard of the guy, goes by the name of Arthur, high class guy, I think you'll like him. Give him a ring, he's got a job for you if you want it." Cash hits a button on his telcom, a window opens up on Gabe's side and a number is displayed. He keys it into his pocket secretary.

Denver, UCAS Sector:
10:00 hours Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

Michael's telcom beeps. He is in the middle of practicing some forms, to exercise and try to relax. He stops and goes to the telcom unit and hits the receive button. "Yes?" he says. "I would like to order a pizza." says a voice on the other end. Michael looks at the telcom strangely, he recognizes the voice. "I'm sorry, the pizza palace has a number similar to mine, you've made a mistake." He chuckles to himself as he breaks the connection and dials a number for Styx. Styx comes back on the line. "A pizza?" Michael ask, "Are you hungry Styx?" "Well, you know me my friend, I can always eat! I've got a proposition for you. I know someone in Seattle who needs your particular talents. Are you interested in taking a trip?"
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Turn 1A

Seattle, Downtown:
08:10 hours Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

"Fraggin' fixers."

Gabe notices that he didn't even think to put on his slippers when he got out of the bed, but did have the presence of mind to immediately hang up on whomever had used the unsecure LTG. Those two small, unimportant-seeming actions seem to say something about their author. Something that Mr. Denny finds distressing in some small, undefinable way. He thinks back on his life of 6 or 7 years ago, when putting on slippers upon leaving his bedclothes would have been second nature, and worrying over secret call-signs would have been completely alien to him. But then, Aztec and Renraku weren't likely to have any grudges against the man who would become "The Archangel" in those days, either. Things have certainly changed, and without any possibility of ever returning to "the way they used to be". Gabe accepts that this morning, as he accepts it every morning. With a small grimace, followed by a wry smile and a steaming cup of soy-cafe. But the small tin of bitter-tasting flakes of fake coffee are forgotten in a flash, as something far more important pops into this ersatz shadowrunner's consciousness. The call. If one of the corps, or drek knows who else, has a decker making periodic checks on the LTG of a certain bodyguard, that call could spell a really huge pile of trouble. Again Gabriel picks up his pocket secretary (it's never more than arms-length away, apparently) and calls another number from the tiny thing's remarkable memory. The device on the other end signals, then does so again. In the midst of the third beep, the connection is established. Several sharp clicks might sound like static to the untrained ear, but Arch has heard it enough times to know that his call is not only being routed through the various LTG's that he's programmed, but through several more from the other end as well. Ahh, security. That naive fellow grins again at him momentarily from several years ago.

"Virgin?"

"Who's this??? Do you realize it's 8:15 in the morning, you drekkin' chod-thumper?"

"Now, now", chides Arch. "Is that any way for a youngster to be talking? And to his student no less." Speaking with this enthusiastic child always brings a fond smile to Gabe's face, even as the brain behind it thinks "The god's will he's never in my sights."

"Oh, Archangel. (chuckle) What's wiz, ancient one?"

"Was hoping you might do a quick little check for me. Some idiot um, improperly used my unsecure line this morning, and I really need to make sure no traces of the call are hanging around in 'space for some Johnson to find. Thought I might make something of a contribution of the "Improve Virgin's Deck" fund, if you know what I mean."

"Well, let's see,. flying the LTG and scraping data from the grid? Toughie,.. let's see, I think 3000 ought to cover it.."

"Excuse me!? Who are you trying to kid, kid? 800.

"Huh? 2000"

"Fragit kid, quit trying to scam me, you of all people should know better than that. I tell you what, since I want this done quickly, and I want you to quit yapping and get on with it, I'll go as high as 1300."

"But..."

"Eh,.. no, don't even think about trying to get me to go higher."

"Okay chummer,.. you win, and you're right, I should've know better than try that with you,.. I'll take care of it right away, null sheen."

"Thanks kid," Gabe says as he inserts the end of a credstick into the jack on the telcom and hits the transfer button. "Scan ye later." And with that, Gabe hits the disconnect on the telcom and the most urgent matters seen to, Gabe proceeds to allow himself the luxury of a hot drink before dialing up the contact Cash just gave him for this new job. And not soy-cafe, this time. An even smaller glass jar yields up a steaming cup of actual coffee. He disdainfully notes that only a few more cups will necessitate the purchase of a new jar. Black market, of course, and VERY expensive. Well, one must pay for the amenities, mustn't one???

After a quick-but-efficient shower (clean water is also a commodity), Gabe returns to his desk and calls forth the number which cost one of Cash's flunkies a job, and maybe more. Gabe performs a quick vid lock-out, then hits ENTER. Once again, the telcom starts up a series of clicks and whirls that others might take for a faulty connection, but Gabe recognizes as relays. He tries to count them, and soon looses count. "Damn. " he mutters. After a minute or two the screen lights up to a completely white screen, then goes blank, and is then replaced by a blue background, with a black shield on it. On the shield is the image of a dragon, drawn up as one would expect of old english art. The image tugs at Gabe's memory, then a voice comes over the telcom.

"Who's calling, please?" says a decidedly english accent.

"The name is Archangel," Gabe says, "I was told to call this number, someone wanted to speak with me?"

"Ah, yes,.. one moment please," and then the screen changes, and the image of before turns into a background and the face of a white human male appears on the screen, he smiles, "Eh,.. if you would not mind, would you turn on your video uplink please? I think that we can do away with all the cloak and dagger stuff at this point." Gabe reaches over and toggles the video lockout. "Ahh.. that's much better. Greetings Archangel, my name is Arthur."

Archangel takes in the man's appearance, he looks to be dressed in a very expensive suit, and is well groomed he notes with some satisfaction. "Pleased to meet you Arthur, what can I do for you?"

I am currently looking for people to make up a team to take on a job."

"How did you come by my name?," asks Archangel.

"I was calling around to various people in my line of work, asking if they would not mind sharing some of the wealth, as it were. I have a line on a job, but I do not yet have many contacts in Seattle proper. It is not my usual play ground. Since I was planning on hanging my shingle out in Seattle, this seemed to be a good time to get to know some of my peers. So, I ask about some talent, and handed over some nuyen. Would you be interested in hearing of a job?"
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Turn 1B

Denver, UCAS Sector:
10:00 hours Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

Michael looks at the telcom kind of dumfounded. "Well?," prods Styx, "you do know what a trip is, don't you?"

"Well,... uh,.. yes, I do, but I do not know whether I want to go to Seattle, my life is here."

"Well, I thought maybe you were a bit bored with things here, the town has been kind of dry lately."

"This is true,..."

"And the fellow has paid me well for the name of someone with `special talents', if you know what I mean. I've given him your name, and I told him I would have you call. Here's the number," and Micheal's telcom displays a window with the LTG number. He writes it down.

Michael thinks to himself for a minute,"That would be Darkness, then." Then says, "Do you know anything of the job, or the payment?"

"Nope, but given the type of talent this guy's lookin' for, I'd bet it's gonna' be good."

"Okay, I shall call the number and see what this person wants. Do you have a name?"

"The chummer's name is Arthur."

"Thank you my friend, I will call you with a bit of maintenance work for you to do for me if I go."

Michael hits the disconnect on the telcom and sits down in his favorite chair staring at the LTG number still displayed upon the telcom unit. After thinking if over for about 10 minutes, he decides that the change of scenery might be good for him. He decides to call the number and see what this person wants of him. He sits back up in the chair, and like all good shadow ops, he hits the video lock-out on the telcom, and then he dials the LTG number. Clicks, whirls, and beeps... and Michael sees the same banner on his LTG that Archangel saw before, and the voice with the English accent chimes in, "Who is calling please?"

"I am calling for Arthur, I understand that he is expecting my call. My name is Darkness."

"Ah yes, one moment please," and the screen changes and the face of Arthur appears. Michael too takes note of the man's appearance, thinking to himself "This man looks like a professional." Given that, he reaches down and hits the video lock-out without being ask. "Thank you for calling me so promptly Darkness, Styx said that you would not wait long to call me. I would like to invite you to Seattle for a visit. We could talk about some employment issues face to face if you would like. Could I arrange a flight for you?"
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Turn 2

Seattle, Downtown:
8:10 hours Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

Arthur: "Would you be interested in hearing of a job?"

Some thoughts flash through the mind of The Archangel, as he listens to what this man, Arthur, has to say.

First impression of the fellow is that he's professional, and good at whatever it is that he does. No hee-hawing around, either. The man comes to the point without having to be impaled on it. And, perhaps most significantly, he's looking for the best, which means that he's willing to pay for the best. This is always a good thing, Gabe notes to himself, managing not to smile more than just a little into the vidlink. Then the 'runner reminds himself that it could all just be an act. Johnsons are almost always good actors. But, hell, who needs to live forever, eh???

"Before I answer your question, Arthur, perhaps you would be so kind as to give me just a detail or two. Or, if you'd prefer, we could simply set up a face-to-face and handle all the arrangements that way??? Cash wouldn't have requested that I call you if he didn't think there was a good chance that we'd be able to do biz."

"As I'm sure you can understand, I would rather meet to talk about this. And, I am currently expecting a call from another perspective employee from out of town. I would like to arrange a meeting, but I wish to have him here also. If he agrees to come to Seattle, I will need someone to meet him at the airport, would you like to do that for me? I will call you back and give you flight information and meeting time and place if so."

Archangel thinks only a few seconds, "Okay, call me later with the information, use this LTG number," and Gabe types in the number of his secure line.

Arthur says, "Thank you my new found friend, I shall speak with you later."

Gabe disconnects, then sits back in his chair and thinks to himself, "Well, all in all a satisfactory morning so far. The idiotic call on the unsecure LTG taken care of and the possibility of lucrative employment. Not bad. Gabriel allows himself a satisfied smile, then proceeds to change out of his "work clothes", which consist of an armored suit by Hound's Tooth and expensive Italian shoes, into something more suitable for strenuous exercise.

On the second floor of the building, Gabriel Denny walks into the fitness center that's provided for the use of the residents and their guests. As usual, there are a fair number of people enjoying the facility. And, as usual, many of them hurriedly leave, glancing surreptitiously at the new arrival as they do so. Gabe acts as if he doesn't notice, mainly because he can easily understand their reaction. These people are on the low end of the upper crust, and as such are unused to having a barely-human monster for a contemporary. Yet another thing over which Gabe must grimace and then accept. "No way to blame them for feeling that way", he thinks to himself, catching a full-length view of his form in one of the wall mirrors. He notes, for only about the seven-millionth time, not only the massive size of every muscle on his physique, but also the layers of biokev that make him look something like a robot with skin stretched over its carapace. Then there's the fact that his body practically hums from the restraint that the man must maintain to keep from performing every action with unnatural speed. All well and good in a fire fight, but somewhat less desirable when engaged in day-to-day activities.

Gabe walks over to a recently occupied kinetic repulsion machine and sets it to half power. After 15 solid minutes of fast reps, he increases the setting to 75%. Fifteen minutes later, he maxes the machine out and continues with fast reps. After a 5 minute rest, he begins again, this time working on his legs. So it continues until each set of muscles has been driven as hard as is possible with these facilities. The two or three men who stayed around to try and keep up with "the monster" give up and leave mid-way through the first set. Then he starts over, knowing that if anyone has need of him, his pocket secretary is only a few feet away in his gym bag...

Denver, UCAS Sector
10:00 hours Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

"Could I arrange a flight for you?"

"Thank you for the courtesy, but I cannot bring myself to imposed upon you in such a fashion. If there is a meeting place and time that pleases you I will be there to discuss matters." Darkness replies to Arthur.

Arthur frowns, "No, I insist upon paying you for your time." Arthur pauses and taps some keys on a laptop computer beside of him. "I see that a flight leaves Denver for Seattle tomorrow a 10:00, your time, can you make that flight?"

"Yes, I should be able to."

"What name shall I book your tickets in?"

"John Li, please, that's L-I."

"Good, I shall have someone waiting to pick you up, his name is Archangel, I suppose he will have a placard for you to look for at your gate when you arrive. Until then." Arthur nods and the screen goes blank.

Seattle, Downtown:
10:30 hours Pacific Time, December 3, 2055:

Two hours later, while Gabe is still working out, his pocket secretary rings, being forwarded from his secure telcom upstairs in his apartment. He gets up off the kinetic repulsion machine, picks up the pocket secretary and speaks, "Hoi?"

"Archangel, this is Arthur, Darkness will be joining us tomorrow at 12:20. If you would, please meet him at gate 23 at Sea-Tac. TWA flight 803. I told him you would have a placard and be waiting for him. He is using the name John Li,.. err.. L-I."

"Null-sheen," says Arch.

"Perhaps you could take him to lunch and show him around town a bit? Get him settled. I will, of course, reimburse you for all your expenses. The meeting will be at The Grey Line on the waterfront at 19:00, do you know where that is?"

"Yes,.. I've seen it before," says Archangel, a bit surprised at the choice of such an elegant restaurant. "Who should we ask for?"

"Ask for the Randolph party."

"Okay, we will see you then, goodbye." Arch disconnects.

Denver, UCAS Sector
12:30 hours Mountain Time, December 3, 2055:

Michael sits down in front of his computer and pulls up his financial information. He transfers money from his main account to a holding account that will automatically pay for the apartment and the rest of his bills while he is away. Then he taps the number of building security into his telcom and waits for the officer to come on the line.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"This is John Li in apartment 238. I will be out of town on a business trip for several weeks. I wish to let you know this and to give you an LTG number where I may be reached if necessary."

"Okay sir, one second please," the guard taps on his computer pulling up the information on apartment 238. "Go ahead with the number sir." As Michael recites the number for his pocket secretary. "Thank you sir, will there be anything else?"

"I am going to arrange to have some of my things moved for my use while I will be gone, I will however, be here when they arrive to pick them up."

"Yes sir, if you would, please just let us know a bit ahead of time when they will be coming."

"Yes, I will, thank you." Michael says as he hits the disconnect. Michael makes a call then to the two lovely ladies that he had a date with tonight. When Shari's face comes over the telcom, she smiles, "Hi John,, what's the matter, can't wait until tonight?" she says seductively.

"No, I'm regret I must cancel our date tonight, I have been called out of town on business."

"Ohh Pooh, that's not fair," pouts the pretty face on the screen.

"I am sorry, that is, as it must be. I do not know how long I shall be gone, but I will call you when I get back, goodbye now." and he disconnects once again. "Damn Styx," he thinks to himself, "you couldn't wait until tomorrow to call me, could you?" He then picks up his pocket secretary and looks up the number for Ghostwheel and dials it into the telcom.

"It's yer nickel.." the voice on the other end of the line says.

"Ghostwheel, it is Darkness. I have a request for you."

"Omae, it's good to hear from you, what would you have me do?"

"I need an apartment in Seattle. Something upper class, I may be staying there for a while."

"Denver's loss is Seattle's gain, and how would you like this registered?"

"Put it under the name of Ken Tanaka please, and while you are at it, I would like you to also book me a hotel room under another name, John Li. This should of course be up to my standards."

"Okay, I can do that, any particular area you want the apartment and the hotel room?"

"As long as their is a decent level of security, and the accommodations are what I am used to, no, I do not know that much about Seattle. Please get all the pertinent data together and drop it here in my telcom mail box, I will be out for a bit, and I am leaving in the morning."

"Okay, standard rates, plus the fee for the apartment and hotel room."

"That will be satisfactory, domo arigato." Michael disconnects once again. Then he dials up Styx again. When Styx answers, he ask him to make arrangements to have his bike and equipment shipped to the address of the apartment in Seattle.

"What address is it that you want it sent to," questions Styx.

"Call Ghostwheel later, he will have the address, I will be out of the apartment for a while this afternoon."

"Consider it done my friend." Then Styx grins at him like the cat that ate the proverbial canary, "I just got a call from Shari, sorry I broke up your date tonight, guess I'll just have to keep them company!"

"Frag you, Styx," Michael grins, "Leave me word on when they are coming to get my things, I must be out this afternoon."

Michael gets up and goes to the shower, washes, then changes into his clothes, there is someone he must see before he leaves. He goes downstairs to the garage and climbs aboard his bike, fires it up, and head out of the garage. He takes the streets that eventually lead him out of downtown, and into the more rural suburbs of Denver. Michael leans into the turn as his metallic red Rapier climbs up the cobblestone driveway. He twists the throttle and accelerates up the driveway to the clan's house, more importantly Shidosha's home. The driveway is lined with tall thick hedges on both sides, providing privacy and hidden protection for those within. Their familiarity causes him to remember the first time he had passed this way, several years ago in the Oyabun's Nightsky limousine. This place has special meaning to Michael -- it is where he learned of his true nature, his gift, as Shidosha called it.

The driveway leads to a heavy wrought iron gate set into to tall stone columns. It is painted black and he remembers that it squeaks when it opens. An Asian man dressed in a black suit stands in front of the gate, wearing small rectangular mirror shades that make it seem like he is squinting.

The man appears calm, but Michael knows that the hand held behind his back grips a pistol or possibly a throwing knife. There is also another guard, watching from a small hollow in the hedge that is only visible once a person has passed through the gate. Michael knows, because at one time it was his post too.

The man in the black suit, his face devoid of smile or frown, holds up his visible hand.

"How may I help you?"

"I petition an audience with the jonin of this house," Michael responds.

"The jonin is a busy man, may I inquire as to the nature of your visit?"

"It is a personal visit, I wish to pay my respects."

The man smirks, a trait not uncommon in those who have not yet grasped that things are not always as they appear, "If you will leave your name, I will be most happy to schedule an appointment for next week."

"That would be very kind of you, but I will be leaving town before then and I am not sure when I will return. Please tell him that 'Kagetatsu' sends his regards." Michael begins to turn the Rapier around in preparation to leave.

The man at the gate recognizes the clan name of an initiate and stutters, "Please -- please wait, I will see if the jonin has a free moment in his schedule!"

Michael waits as the man quickly walks to one of the stone columns and picks up a black slimline phone and repeatedly jabs a button. After a moment of whispered conversation he returns to Michael and bows.

"The jonin will see you. Please follow the drive to the house," he says as he extends an arm, pointing in the same direction. The gate opens slowly, making a squeaking sound. Michael nods once and rides through the gate, heading for a place he once called home.

The Rapier's engine dies as Michael extends the kickstand. Crossing the large green lawn he briefly pauses at one of the meticulously kept gardens. The house itself is three stories tall with a very American flavor to it.

Michael wondered, when he first saw the house, why it had not been changed to reflect a stronger Japanese influence. When he had asked Shidosha, the old man grinned and said, "There is more to the art of concealment than hiding in shadow or dressing in dark garments."

Michael presses the bell and waits at the door. After several moments the door opens, answered by a young Asian girl in her late teens. She has grown more beautiful with the passage of time and he knows her name is Shinobu, after her grandmother. She smiles and gestures that he should enter.

"Come in, come in, grandfather is anxious to see you," she says as she looks at Michael grinning the same way Shidosha as she catches his arm in her's.

"Shinobu, you become more beautiful each time I see you -- perhaps I will have to steal you away."

"Be careful, grandfather might let you, he says I am too expensive to keep."

They laugh and converse as they pass through the house, heading for the large wooden deck in the back. Shinobu slides open a screen allowing Michael to enter the deck area. As she begins to close it behind him, she remains inside.

"Aren't you coming?"

"No, grandfather will not tell you, but he has missed your company."

The screen closes and Michael turns, looking at the small man kneeling in front of a large stone brazier. It is carved from a heavy blood red stone, depicting three intertwined dragons. Shidosha had explained that the dragons represent the three aspects of the ninja, spirit, stealth, and endurance, combined as one. Steady streams of incense smoke rise upward to be lost in the outside air.

"Do you intend to stand over there all day?"

Michael smiles as he approaches his teacher and friend.

"So you are going away for a while?"

"Yes, Shidosha," Michael says, knowing he can hide nothing from him.

"Do not worry, I understand that your path requires you to part from us at times, but remember that you are never far from us. I understand you have been keeping practice with your skills."

Michael nods, he is not surprised that Shidosha is aware of his shadowrunning activities. Michael looks down slightly embarrassed that he has not spent more time with his friend.

"Do not look so glum, remember, you have never failed us. When you complete your tasks, you will return and we will talk as before."

"Thank you Shidosha."

"I hear you have taken a new name in your 'activities'. What is it again?"

"Darkness."

"Ah yes, that is it. It suits your talents and your nature." Shidosha stands placing his hand on Michael's shoulder. "Remember, you are always welcome here, always. Now what shall I tell Shinobu about your running off, hmmm?"

"Tell her when I return I will take her shopping and buy her something expensive."

They both laugh, Shidosha stands, "Will you stay for dinner?"

"I was going to ask you if I may, I would very much like to spend some time with you before I leave, but, I must be home before too long, I have matters to attend to before I leave."

"Of course, of course, come, let us go find Shinobu, and have her tell the cook that we have a guest."

They spend the rest of the afternoon reminiscing, then enjoy a nice dinner of rice and fish and squid. Shortly after dinner, Michael makes his excuses, and leaves, promising to return and tell Shidosha of his trip.

When Michael gets home, he checks the telcom, there are two messages, one from Ghostwheel, the other from Styx. Ghostwheel has for him an address of an apartment in Bellevue, in the Yarrow Point section of the town. He notes the address of 380 NE 54th Street, number 318. He downloads this information to his pocket secretary while reading it. He notes that his apartment overlooks Lake Washington and smiles with satisfaction. Next he notes the hotel address and likewise downloads it into the pocket secretary also, Hotel Nikko on Third Avenue and Pike Street, a suite, no less. His next message from Styx indicates that his crew will be there at 08:00 in the morning to pick up his equipment. With that in mind, he first calls down to the security desk and informs them that he will have guest a 08:00, then he goes into his room and packs some clothing to carry with him, then gets some sleep.

Denver, UCAS Sector
05:30 hours Mountain Time, December 4, 2055:

Michael wakes, performs some forms, and exercises, then showers and fixes himself breakfast. At precisely 08:00 his telcom rings. He goes over and answers it. It is the security people telling him that his movers are here. He shows them to his "office" and tells them which crates to take down, then shows one where the bike is parked. He then goes upstairs and gets his coat and bag, and calls for a taxi to take him to the airport. Once the cab arrives, he initiates his masking ability, and goes down stairs, and heads to the airport. The ride to the airport, and the walk to the counter are uneventful. At the counter, "I believe you have a ticket for me? John Li?"

Checking her computer, "Why yes Mr. Li, of course, may I see your identification please?"

"Certainly," Michael says as he reaches inside his jacket and pulls out the credstick. She slots the stick into her reader and is satisfied with the results.

"Here you go Mr. Li, your flight leaves in 25 minutes at Gate 5, have a good flight."

"Thank you very much." Michael heads toward the gate, and waits on the flight.

Seattle, Downtown:
08:30 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055:

Gabe wakes up, grabs a shower, a cup of soy-cafe, and tries to bring himself to wakefulness. "Ohhh...," he thinks to himself, "I gotta' quit staying out so late." He get's up and gets another Houndstooth out of his closet and dresses. He then picks up the telcom and calls the number of the driver that Mr. Rizolli has provided for him and ask to be picked up at 11:30. He spends his time cleaning his Ares Viper Slivergun and making a placard out of some white pasteboard and a magic marker he had available, putting the name John Li on it. At 11:30, the telcom rings, and his driver is below Vinnie is below. He descends in the elevator and drops into the back seat of the Nightsky. "Hmmm..'" he thinks to himself, "this ought to impress this `Darkness' fellow." He gets out of the car at the airport, leaving his Viper in a drawer in the limo and telling Vinnie that he will call him on the car phone when they are ready to leave the terminal. He goes in and checks the arrival boards, seeing that the TWA Flight 803 arrives at gate 23 at 12:20, and it looks like it is going to be on time. Gabe proceeds down to gate 23, having the usual problem going through the security system that people with cyberware have.

Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport:
12:20 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055:

Sitting back in his seat, Michael thinks back on how he has enjoyed the first class flight from Denver. That was a surprise, finding first class tickets waiting on him at the TWA counter when he got there. The plane has landed, so, getting up out of his seat, he reaches overhead to pull out the bag that he had stored there and goes to the door.

Gabe is sitting at the gate when the announcement comes in that the plane has landed, and he stands, holding the placard up in front of him he realizes that almost looks like some of the chauffeurs standing there, "Damn, I could've had Vinnie do this."

Michael exits the tunnel from the plane, and looks around for a second before spotting the tall man in a very expensive looking suit holding the placard with his name on it.
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Turn 3

Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport:
12:25 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055:

The minutes are hours. And there's a distinct vacant feeling under Gabe's left arm. How long has it been since the last time there wasn't a Viper containing a full clip of flechette ammunition nestled comfortably under his armored jacket? Well, it should have been longer, in any case.

It's laughable, really, this huge man, lethal to an astonishing degree if he were bare-assed naked, worrying about the absence of a handgun. But such are the thoughts which belabor the mind of one who's on edge, as one must always be if one wishes to survive in the 21st century. Gabe catches at the vanishing thread of that thought, using it to calm himself for the wait. It won't be much longer.

He smiles as, just at that moment, the light on the passenger debarkation tunnel goes green, indicating that the flight from Denver is ready to disgorge it's cargo into the cold, cloying atmosphere of Seattle. Gabe's attention is rivetted on the tunnel exit, the sign held immediately in front of his chest. The remaining wait is very short. Third off, obviously a first-class passenger, is a lean, intense-looking man of Nipponese heritage. Arch has his feeling that this is his man confirmed as the fellow's eye wastes no time in latching onto the plaque and arrowing over.

Michael stands just inside the tunnel doorway and glances out just as a Japanese man exits the doorway, and heads over to meet his family standing behind the man holding the placard with his current personas name on it. As another passenger exits, Darkness exits along beside of him, skillfully timing his steps keeping his form hidden from view of anyone to the left of the other, unsuspecting passenger. Michael looks at the man holding the placard bearing his current persona's name. The man has the subtle air of a warrior, standing out from those who surround him on a level that is invisible to most. His stance, even at rest, is solid and balanced, showing martial training. As Darkness moves closer he sees that the man also shows the ominous markings of technology. Combat training and cyber-enhancements make a very lethal combination for those who choose that path. He works his way around the man he assumes to be Archangel, staying behind other passengers and people in the terminal, always keeping someone between him and Archangel until he has come up behind him, standing just out of what he judges is the man's reach.

As the Nipponese man makes his way over toward Archangel, he is talking with another passenger and taking his time, as he approaches Arch, he suddenly realizes that the man is not coming to him, but to a Japanese woman and small boy standing over to his right. Arch looks back to the tunnel, the last of the passengers are coming out, and no one looks like the Li fellow he is to meet. The door to the tunnel is closed, and Arch looks around at several passengers still milling around in the immediate vicinity, no one seems to notice him.

"Damn," thinks Archangel, "did he miss the flight?" He decides to go over to the ticket counter and check to see that Mr. Li did indeed miss the flight, as he starts to turn, he is startled to see a man standing behind him.

"Excuse me, I am John Li" says the man with a small smile on his face.

Archangel's first reaction is to jump, but he restrains from doing that, his next impression is that this Li must have much in common with Michael, youngest of the three Denny brothers. They both have that same intensity, the same quick, precise, and economical way of moving. They both look, in short, like bad folk to get on the wrong side of. And the wonder of it is that they seem able to project some sort of glamour that obscures their dangerousness from casual observers. And thirdly,... he doesn't really look Japanese! "Drek," he thinks to himself, "that's what I get for making assumptions. That will not, happen again."
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Turn 4

Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport:
12:30 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Ignoring the placard he's holding, now in just his left hand, and without showing either pleasure or displeasure at the manner in which he's just been outsmarted, Arch dispenses a single shallow bow. "Mr. Li, our car is out front. Oh, and please," smiling, "Gabe or Gabriel will do just fine."

Darkness gives a brief bow of respect.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Gabriel," pausing, "an interesting name for one in our 'profession'. Please call me Michael -- my mother always preferred to call me by my middle name, and now it is somewhat of a habit."

Inwardly, Arch certainly admires what just happened. And rightly so, since it's only happened once before. Complacency is the enemy. With that he gives it no more thought than the placard, which gets deposited in a waste/recycling bin along the path back to the drop-off area.

Arch is silent during the walk, and gives Vincent the signal to wait for a further signal before getting the Mitzu underway. As they approach the car, Vincent gets out and comes around to open the door. He allows the door to be held for him, and shifts over quickly to allow Li a comfortable seat.

Once both are inside and the door shut, "I only think it fair to the both of us, Mr. Li, for me to be completely up front with you about a few things. First among these; I trust you implicitly. Second, the reason for number one is that my most reliable fixer arranged all of this. I imagine we will be working very closely, so to not trust you is to distract at least one of us, perhaps fatally. Don't know about you, but I'm having way too much fun for that, so far. Forgive my bluntness. Or let me know now if you cannot. I don't make a habit of wasting much time beating around the bush. No profit in it."

Michael looks at Gabriel and appreciates the candor of the words spoken. It has been a long time since he has dealt with someone who has said what he was thinking. Perhaps Gabriel will be a worthy ally.

"Gabriel, while my methods may differ from yours, I respect your position. I too agree that there is no place for misunderstanding in our situation. Very reliable contacts arranged this meeting for me and so I too feel that our mutual security is dependant on trust. You have my word as a warrior that I will not betray you and I will honor our trust."

Arch hits a button on the side panel of the limo and it starts rolling forward.

"So my friend, where do you go for lunch in this town?" says Darkness as he examines the limousine, "Judging by our transportation and driver, it appears the shadows have been generous to you Gabriel."

Gabriel gives a little chuckle. "Vincent's been with me a good bit longer than that, Michael. An employer in my 'legitimate' line of work, for whom I still perform services from time to time, decided that I need transportation without the hassles of keeping up a vehicle of my own. You appear to have a successful practice, yourself, now that you mention it."

"Let's just say that without the shadows, I might have missed my calling." Darkness watches the city pass by as the limousine exits the airport, "Tell me about this place called Seattle. I have never had the opportunity to visit before now and if our 'business' is successful I might remain here for a longer stay."

"Seattle. Well, it's wet. A lot. That's probably the most physically descriptive thing I can say about this city. On the up side, I think every major organization in the world is represented here in one way or another. Folks in our 'line of work', as you might say, either make a very good living, or get dead really, really quickly. About like in Denver in that respect, I imagine." Arch grins toothily at his obscure little joke. "Oh, the meet. You'll need to show up at The Grey Line on the waterfront at 19:00 this evening. Ask for the Randolph party. Now, didn't I hear you mention food a few moments ago?"

"Yes, I am rather hungry after the flight. I trust you must know of several fine restaurants that would make excellent lunch selections."

After a pause and another look out the window, "Excuse me, I need to get my breather out of my travel case. It looks as if Seattle's air is a bit thick -- an unfortunate side effect of progress."

"Ah yes. You do get used to that. If only to negate having to wear that fragging mask on a run. As for lunch, not a problem. We'll stop in at Green Village, it's right in the downtown area, and the food is really marvelous." Arch hits another button on panel beside him, "Vincent, take us to the Green Village, please."

The two new companions ride along in silence for a bit, Michael is looking out the window intently, taking in every bit of scenery of the city, quickly storing it all away in his brain for further use. After a short trip, the limo pulls up to a stop. Vincent gets out and comes around, his eyes always moving, scanning the street and the crowds walking up and down them. He opens the door, stands there a second longer looking around, then moves out of the way and nods to Michael that he may get out of the car. Gabriel follows right behind him and they move to the door. The Green Village is a mid-sized restaurant. The patrons sitting at tables throughout the room look to be mid-level corporate types, some of them with their families, who may have taken the time to come and have lunch together. Gabriel is meet at the front counter by a chinese man who bows and smiles and introduces himself. "Hello, I am Donovon Won, manager, would you like a table for two please?" Gabe nods and Won moves off to a table in the middle of the restaurant. As he turns at the table, Gabe nods his head and says lowly, "I think we would rather have a booth on that wall," pointing to the wall opposite the door. Won nods, "As you wish sir..." and he leads them to the booth. As Gabe and Michael take their seats, Won places menus in front of them, "The Soy-Octopus Tentacles are on special today. What could I get you gentlemen to drink?"

As the two runners scan the menu, they see a long list of Chinese dishes, and on the last page, some more Americanized dishes.
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Turn 5

Seattle, Green Village Restaurant:
13:15 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

As Gabe and Michael take their seats, Won places menus in front of them, "The Soy-Octopus Tentacles are on special today. What could I get you gentlemen to drink?"

Michael looks up at Won and says, "I'll have the special, and a glass of plum wine please."

Won nods and looks over at Gabe. "And you sir?"

Gabe looks down at the menu, "I'll have the Shrimp Platter with Scallions, a Chang Xi beer, and two Xyphlone B tablets." Gabe looks over at Michael and says, "that's to counteract the pollutants from the ocean that are probably in the shrimp."

Won looks at Archangel with a straight face and says, "Yes sir, I'll have your drinks brought right over."

As Won walks off, Michael reaches inside one of his coat pockets and pulls out a small black box with a white button on top of it, presses the button and places the white noise generator on the table behind one of the condiment dispensers. "We should be able to talk now. May I ask you your opinions on our potential business opportunity now, or would you prefer not to discuss it here?"

Gabe responds, "I believe this is as good a place as any. Here's what I know; My contact is a chap named Arthur, he's set up a meet for 1900 hours this evening at The Gray Line. Other than those few facts, I am completely and totally in the dark. You are the only other team member I am aware of. Which reminds me, would you mind shutting that down for a moment? I need to make a quick call, and I'd like you to be here when I do it."

Michael reaches up and pushes the button on the white noise generator as Gabe produces his pocket secretary, and dials the number he was given for Arthur. The phone responds with the clicks and whirls that he heard earlier, and Gabe knows that this is as secure a line as he can get from a pocket secretary.

Arthur picks up, "Who is calling please?"

"Good afternoon, Arthur."

"Archangel?, Is everything okay, Li arrived okay?

"Yes, I'm doing very well. Thank you. Mr. Li has arrived without complication, and we are about to luncheon."

"Then there is another reason you have called?"

The waiter arrives with their drinks, and Archangel pauses and nods to the waiter as he sets the glass and bottle down in front of him, then Michael's wine, bows and leaves the table, then Arch picks up the conversation again,...

"Indeed, Arthur, I do have another reason for wishing to make contact. I would like to ask you if the team is currently full, or if you would be open to suggestions about making it that way.

"No. As I told you earlier, I am new in Seattle. I was hoping to have you help pull a team together. I may have a line on a few others, but as of yet, none."

"The gentleman I have in mind goes by the name Charcoal. I've worked with him before, and can honestly say I have never seen talent like his elsewhere. Provided you give the word, I'll make every effort to contact him and see if he'd like to attend the meeting that you've scheduled."

"I have no objection to you bringing him in, if you feel that he is trustworthy, and would be an asset to the team. Please feel free to bring him along. Enjoy your lunch, I shall see you this evening."

"Yes, thank you, you too," and Gabe breaks the connection.

Archangel turns back to Michael, observing the other dutifully reactivating the jamming device on the table, "You and Charcoal should have a good bit in common, I think, other than specific species, that is." An easy grin, "Wonderful chap. For that matter, I think you'd get along famously with my youngest brother. His name's Michael, too. Hmm? Oh, Charcoal is a Troll."

Another waiter appears carrying a tray with their two plates, deposits it on the table, bows and leaves. Michael speaks after the waiter is gone.

"A troll, hmmm, it has actually been quite a while since I worked with a troll. They tend to be a little large for most of my tasks, but they do have that ever so pleasant gift of being able to launch a sec-guard past the horizon line."

"Oh, so you've met Charcoal before?" laughs Gabe.

"As far as our meet I seem to have no more information than you do. Let me make a suggestion then -- I have a few minor details to attend to before our rendezvous, but I think some reconnoitering is in order. After we finish here, if I may impose as my personal transportation has not yet arrived, I suggest we go to my new dwelling and plan a brief sight-seeing tour of the Gray Line. After all I am new in town and I wouldn't want to miss any of the sights."

The two new companions finish their meals quickly, not talking much once they have decided on a course of action for the afternoon. They are anxious to get on the move.

13:35 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

When they finish, Arch reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a cigarette holder, and lights one up. Darkness looks at him quizically, "I'm going to need my breather again," he says smiling. They go back to the car. Vinnie has grabbed him a bite to eat and is waiting on them at the door. After sliding into the car so that Darkness can get in also, Archangel reaches under the seat into the drawer and pulls out his Ares Viper and slips it back into his holster. He pushes a button and the partition to the driver compartment slides down. He then looks over at Darkness, and says. "So, where are we heading?"

Darkness pulls out his pocket secretary and pulls up the information on the apartment in Bellvue. "Bellvue, in the Yarrow Point section of the town. The address is 380 NE 54th Street, number 318."

"That is our destination Vincent."

As the car pulls out from the curb, Arch pulls out his pocket secretary and looks up Charcoal's LTG number, then dials it.

Seattle, Redmond Barrens:
13:40 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Charcoal is walking down the street toward the old abandoned church that he now calls home. Down on the end of the street, he had just past several members of the Hammers, and on the opposite end, another group. This is their territory, and they protect it and the people that live there well. If you don't live there, you had best know someone that does, or you do not stop on the streets in this part of town. This street and four or five streets over in every direction. Charcoal muses as he walks how he once was, a gang banger, until he met Master Arrow. Until he met Master Arrow and got the drek beat out of him, along with the other gangers he was with that day. He learned then that things were not always as they seem. He remembers asking Master Arrow if he would teach him the things that he knew, and Master Arrow had sensed something about the young troll. Sometimes he wished that the old man was still around.

His musing is interrupted by the vibrating of his pocket secretary in his coat pocket. He reaches inside and pulls it out. "Hoi?" is all he says.

"Charcoal, this is Archangel, are you busy??"
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Turn 6

Seattle, Redmond Barrens:
13:40 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

The pocket secretary vibrates in his pocket, (Charcoal long ago disconnected the ringer), so he moves over to a wall and flips open the screen. "Hoi?"

"Charcoal, this is Archangel, are you busy?"

"Considering how profitable associating with you usually is, of course not. Where can we meet? You could come by my place, but it's the maids century off."

"Glad to hear you're still alive and well, Charcoal." Gabe smiles remembering the last time he and the enormous Troll worked together.

[Interlude]

The chatter of gunfire was deafening. Two shadowy figures were pinned down, enemies all around. Things were beginning to look grim. They decided on a desperate plan, a last ditch effort that would either get them completely out of this mess, or eliminate their need to worry about it.

First, the smaller of the two, a human only about 1.9 meters tall, bounded from behind the cover the companions were using, sprinted pell-mell for the enclosure, and leapt for all he was worth, barely managing to scramble over ahead of the tracking machine-gun fire. Then it was the big guy's turn; over 2.5 meters of tough-as-nails Troll. The other watched with trepidation as his friend gathered speed, heading for the containing wall. Then stared in utter disbelief as the huge Troll managed to lift his massive bulk, easily clearing the wall and freeing them both to clear the area.

[End interlude]

"Hmm, tell you what, Charcoal. Give me a landmark and we'll be there to pick you up asap. My new associate and I will fill you in on the details then. Sound good?"

"Okay, let's see,... Come up to Purity, meet me on the north side of Devil's Lake. I'll be feeding on, err... I mean I'll be feeding the pigeons," Charcoal grins toothily, knowing that Archangel will get the joke."

"Great," smiling broadly. "See you in a few, then," and with that, Archangel hits the disconnect on the phone.

Archangel then turns to Darkness, "I think we'll end up saving time overall that way. Then we can make straight for your hotel, yes?"

"Gabriel, if there's room enough in our vehicle it would be expedient to pick him up on the way to my place. If you trust him, I do not mind him coming along to help us plan."

Archangel lowers the divider again and gives Vinnie the latest instructions, then sits back and makes himself a mild drink.

They drive on then, exchanging a few more words, Archangel pointing out more points of interest to Darkness. They arrive in the neighborhood of Redmond know as Purity. It's a real drek covered run down section of town. Archangel gives Vinnie instructions to drive around the north end of Devil's Lake and he de-polarizes the window enough so that he can look out and finally spots the big troll, standing by the edge of the lake, feeding pigeons bread crumbs. Archangel tells Vinnie to stop and he gets out.

As Archangel starts to get out, Darkness says, "Archangel, please..."

"Don't worry my friend, only street names for now," says Archangel, anticipating Darkness' request. Darkness exits from the opposite side of the limo. When the doors shut, Charcoal looks up from his musing.

"Hello, Archangel. It is, as always, a pleasure to hear from you. How might my talents be of service to your hopefully nobel, preferably profitable, cause?" He pauses and looks to Darkness, "Greetings, I am called Charcoal. It is a pleasure to meet you." Charcoal watches Darkness VERY closely for any sign of hesitation.

Darkness reaches out and takes the big trolls hand enthusiastically, without any hesitation and shakes it as Archangel says, "Charcoal, this is Darkness." Noting the mannerisms of the troll, and way he stands and the way he acts, it is obvious to Darkness that Charcoal has martial training. "It is a pleasure to meet another who follows the martial way," Darkness says, then steps back and makes a deep bow.

Pleased at not having to give his warning speech about troll jokes, Charcoal bows back with the same depth and duration, then he smiles. "So gentlemen, what is it we are up too?"

Archangel claps his old friend on the back, and says, "Let's go for a ride gentlemen."

Once inside the limo again, Archangel lowers the partition again and instructs Vinnie to head back to the address that he was given earlier for Darkness's apartment. That done, he turns to Charcoal and fills him in on the events leading up to his call, and their idea to go ahead to the Gray Line and check out the site for the meet early. Archangel reaches under the seat of the limo and pulls out three microtranceivers. "Here, these are all set to the same frequency. We can use them today."

The limo pulls up in front of the apartment building on 54th street. Vinnie gets out, looking around cautiously, then goes to the back, and opens the door. Darkness exits first and approaches the building. The doors are locked and reinforced. He hits the call button, and a voice answers "Hello?"

"I believe you have an apartment for me? The name is Ken Tanaka."

"Oh yes, Mr. Tanaka, please come in." The door buzzes and Darkness steps into the building. He spots the first door on the right having the sign of "OFFICE" and enters it. Inside, they give him an electronic key to the apartment. Darkness steps outside and motions for his two companions to follow him. They go up to the 3rd floor and down the hallway. When Darkness opens the door, he is pleased to note that there are several crates sitting in the floor, and a note from a moving company that his bike is in the underground garage.
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Turn 7

Seattle, Bellvue, Yarrow Point 380 NE 54th Street, number 318:
15:30 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

When Darkness opens the door, he is pleased to note that there are several crates sitting in the floor, and a note from a moving company that his bike is in the underground garage. He turns to his two companions with a finger help to his lips for silence. He steps in opens a pocket secretary and opens an encrypted data file. The device's screen scrolls through a catalog of items. After a moment Darkness closes the device and moves to one of the crates.

He quietly motions for Charcoal to approach. The big troll enters the room, leaving Archangel standing in the doorway looking up and down the hall. Darkness whispers as he motions to the crate, "If you would do the honors."

Charcoal grins and nods once, then slides a finger under the shipping bands and snaps them as if they were paper. Darkness opens the macroplast lid and rummages through the crate, pulling out a device. It is a black box that fits into the palm of Darkness's hand. On the top are a switch and two lights, one green and one red, also a analog meter. Darkness turns on the switch and starts moving around the apartment holding the box in front of him. He starts at the front door and moves around to his right. As he walks in front of the sofa sitting on the far right wall, and passes the box over the painting of a waterfall hanging behind the sofa, the little box beeps, the red light lights up and the meter jumps half way up it's scale.

Darkness looks over at his two companions, and Archangel's left eyebrow quirks up at the corner. Charcoal just shakes his head.

Darkness starts moving again and when he gets to the table with the telecom unit on it, the box beeps once again. He continues to the two bedrooms, and gets two more beeps, then the kitchen and the office sitting to the left of the door.

"Damn,..," Darkness thinks to himself, "someone has been busy."
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Turn 8

Seattle, Downtown, Aztechnology Building:
15:10 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Adolph sits in the apartment, twirling the small flame on his finger, down to the palm of his hand and then over to the back of his hand, looking out over the Elliot Sound. It is a small exercise of concentration that he learned long ago, but now it is almost second nature to him. "I could get used to living here," here thinks to himself. He breaks out of his reverie to the sound of air whispering in his ear as Shandra tells him that Y-ram is back. The maglock on the front door engages. In walks a beautiful young woman wearing a business suit, stitched with arcane symbols on the sleeves and the lapels. Adolph stands and greets her, giving her a small peck on the cheek.

"Have a good day?," she ask him.

"Oh yes,.. I slept late, then sat here and stared out at the sound all day. To be honest, I'm feeling a bit restless. I think that maybe I need to find some work."

"Do you have anything lined up?" she ask.

"No, and I do not have any contacts here in town really, other than you and James, and I don't think you can get me the kind of work I'm looking for," he says with a smile.

"Well, I might know where you could go to find someone though, are you really interested?"

Adolph thinks for just a minute, staring out the window at the sound again. "Yes, I think maybe I'd like to stay here for a while. Where is this place you speak of?"

"There is a place downtown called Reno's. It's a bar and restaurant, but, it is also a place where shadowrunners hang out. Reno himself also arranges and finances some runners. If you go down there and talk to him, he might line you up some work."

"I think I'll go down there,.. you want to join me?"

Y-ram smiles at him, "No dear,.. I already have a job, remember?"

"Okay," he grabs his lined coat and heads for the door, "see you later." And he pulls the door shut.

Seattle, Downtown, Howell St:
15:30 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Lindsey had been to see her tailismonger to pick up some supplies, and see if she had a line on any work for her. It had been a while since her team had been on that run that got Joseph's brain fried. She grimaced at the thought. While the run was a success, Joseph had been attacked by some black IC while he was running matrix cover for the team. The Renraku building was definitely not the easiest place to get into, and without the matrix cover, it would have been impossible. And their matrix system must have been pure hell, but Joseph would not even think of backing away from this run. It wasn't the money that Mr. Johnson had offered them for the extraction, it was simply the pure challenge of getting into the Renraku system for him, once the opportunity was given him, he would never have backed down. The team decided they'd better lie low for a while, they'd become known together, so they decided they would be better off splitting up for a while. Lindsey's brought back to reality as she is driving down Howell Street in her Honda when all of a sudden, all hell broke loose. As she passed underneath the monorail, a group of go-gangers pulled out from an ajoining street. They started blasting away at cars driving down the street,.... and they were coming straight at her. She quickly tried to turn off onto another street, but a cab got in her way as it plowed on it's brakes. Gunfire rang in her ears and then her tires were blown out, the windshield disappeared and she swerved into the side of the cab. Lindsey is slung sideways and down into the seat as more gunfire comes through the side window.

Adolph sees the go-gangers round the street and open fire. Before he can yell at the cab driver, the gangers have opened up on the cars to their left, and one beside them swerves into the cab. They both come to a halt.

Paulo is walking down Howell street, heading for the monorail station when the gunfire starts. His reflexes kick in, and he moves like lightning, quickly diving behind a nearby dumpster and drawing his Savalette. As the gun slips into his palm, the induction pads in his hand make contact with the pads on the gun and the smartlink hardware puts a dot over his vision, showing him where the gun is pointed. He sees the green Honda slide sideways into the cab across the street. The gangers are shooting at anybody and anything that is moving. Paulo shakes his head as he realizes they much be high on something, taking random shots and anyone and just generally reeking havoc on the street. And to make matters worse, they've reached the end of the second block down, and they are coming back.

Seattle, Downtown:
15:25 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

The big troll walks down the hallway, his long blonde hair, nay, long tawny hair swinging behind his head in a ponytail. When loose, his hair was thick and bushy, surrounding his face and looking like a lions mane. Ziggy always wore his hair tied back when on the job. He's just happy to be working again. After that last run with Ares, he was left on the street with no money, no equipment, and he didn't dare go back to the Ares complex and report in. With every bit of his instinct, he felt that the run had to have been a setup from the get go. Things just didn't feel right from the very start. Luckily, Ethan had heard about Arthur, and lined him up some work. Walking down the hallway he reaches into his inside coat pocket and pulls out the key for the maglock. Ziggy enters the room and the figure looking down at the computer screen looks up and smiles. "Ziggy my good man, good to see you. I trust things went well?"

"Yes Arthur, I suppose that they did. I have delivered the data." to our principal, and I have their payment here," as he digs the credstick out of his pocket and hands it to Arthur.

"Excellent!, Thank you Ziggy, you've done a great job. Now, I guess the only thing left for today is to go to our meeting with Archangel and Darkness this evening. I would like for you to come along with me. If Archangel doesn't have a team already picked out, you will probably make a good addition to his team, if he doesn't mind of course. Being new to the market, I will not presume too much." He looks at his watch. "We've plenty of time yet though,.. help yourself to a drink from the bar or box if you wish," pointing to the refrigerator.

Seattle, Bellvue, Yarrow Point 380 NE 54th Street, number 318:
15:40 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

"Damn,..," Darkness thinks to himself, "someone has been busy." Darkness' brow furrows as he wonders if the location selected by Styx has already been compromised by opposing forces or if this is just a random occurrence.

Making a snap decision, Gabe takes Charcoal by his massive arm and motions for Darkness to step out into the hall. He then signals the two others to accompany him back to the car.

Once safely inside, Charcoal says, "This is all great fun, but would someone please tell me what it is that we have gotten into that would bring about this kind of attention?" Look at Darkness. "Are you really that popular?"

Darkness gives a wry grin, and begins to speak but then Archangel says, "D, I have no idea who brought you in, but whoever that was, he's either dirty as hell, or too stupid to live. I can't really decide which of those options I find more distressing. And something else; whatever we're getting ready to find out about tonight, I'd say there're a minimum of two parties who're also very interested in it. Tell you guys what, though, I have a safe house that nobody knows about. Nobody but Vinnie, anyway. I propose that we spend the rest of the afternoon over at the Grey Line, then adjourn to my bolthole after the meeting. We can check it when we get there, of course."

"Well," Darkness says, "My fixer set me up with Arthur, and someone else set up the apartment. I trust both of those and Arthur knows nothing of this place... I can deal with this." and he exits the car and heads back to his apartment.

Once there, he quickly moves to the already opened shipping container and removes two packs. The larger is a modular backpack followed by the smaller which appears to be a thigh-pack. Darkness opens them and begins fishing out various devices and tools.

After a few moments he moves to each device, performing the same operation on each. Darkness disconnects the microphones and hard wires the audio inputs of each device to a country music feed from the trid system -- knowing this channel will never be used in his lifetime. For the video a more complicated solution must be implemented. Darkness mouths the word 'patience' to his companions while he gestures for them to back into the foyer.

Darkness turns on the minicam he removed from his kit and takes a two second video feed from each device's POV. The video data is downloaded into another device called a 'looper' and is in turn fed and re-fed to the video inputs providing a very dull empty apartment view. This will do as a temporary measure.

After about 30 minutes Darkness finishes and starts putting away his tools. "Please forgive me gentlemen I had not expected to have to do this when I walked into the door.", Darkness says to the others as he gestures for them to re-enter the room. "Would either of you like something to drink? I have a few preparations to make before our outing and we still have some plans to make."

Charcoal says "There wouldn't happen to be any fruit juice with even a nodding acquaintance with real fruit would there?" and heads over to the frige. He gestures at the crates. "If you could use a hand with anything heavy, let me know." He reaches into the frige and pulls out a bottle of orange juice.

Darkness it thinking, and finally looks up and says, "If you both do not mind I would like to take this issue up with the manager. This wouldn't take more than ten or fifteen minutes and might turn out to be quite profitable."

Charcoal glances over to Arch, who raises an eyebrow and says, "Why not?" Charcoal polishes off the juice and says, "Let's go."

The three return to the managers apartment avoiding the video cameras in the corridor. Both Darkness and Charcoal using their skills to help keep Archangel from being caught on the cameras.

Once there, Archangel takes up a position on the right side of the door, and Charcoal stands to the left. Darkness knocks on the door. "Hello, this is Mr. Tanaka -- I'm afraid I need some help."

After a moment of silence the door opens a crack and a reddened eye peers around the door. Taking this moment of contact Darkness begins...

Darkness' focuses on the man's visible eye and concentrates. His green eyes seem to glow with a light of their own as he grasps at the man's mind from his own. The manager's eye begins to glaze as Darkness' influences settles in. A voice speaks in the man's mind.

"Tell me about the spying devices in my apartment..."

The manager is swaying back and forth on his feet, "I know of no such devices..."
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Turn 9

Seattle, Downtown, Howell St:
15:31 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

"Freaks!" Lindsey mumbles to herself, and she crawls out the passenger side door, reaching underneath the seat for her pistol. Getting out the passenger door proves to be a bit difficult, her car veered into the left front fender of the cab, and the two cars are only about a meter apart when she opens the door. She crouches down, then realizes that she can not see anything where she is now, and between the two cars may not be a very good place to be hiding. She peeks up over the back of her car just in time to see the go-gangers starting to turn around at the end of the block.

Adolph take a moment to look around. He quickly slips to the astral plane and takes a quick look around. He sees Lindsey crouching between the two cars, and takes note of how bright she appears on the astral. He quickly scans the area and the go-gangers looking to see if any of them are magically active. None of them are, so he looks around at the civilians in the street. Directly behind of the green Honda is a red Ford Americar with a family in it. From the astral plane, he can see that the man in the front seat is not moving, and one of the children in the back is also very still. He quickly slips back into his body, all that taking a mere seconds on the physical plane. Once he's back, he slides out the right side of the cab and starts around the back, where he promptly collides with Lindsey. They look at each other briefly before turning around to see the gangers coming up the street, taking pot-shots at bystanders and people in cars.

Paulo is looking at the gangers too, and decides to take some action. He lifts his Savalette and targets the lead bike of the gangers, the red dot overlaying his vision centers on the chest of the ganger, then he fires off a three round burst.

Adolph quickly throws up a Barrier in front of the red Ford with the family in it. Lindsey sees the gangers coming straight for the Ford and prepares a Fireball spell, just as she is targeting the lead rider, his chest opens up as Paulo's burst from the Savalette connects. The lead bike turns sideways and flips over, sending the already bleeding rider into the air, and then down hard on the pavement. Lindsey quickly shifts the focus of her building spell to the second bike, thinking to take out more than one by targeting the new leader. Adolph quickly looks to the other side of the street, trying determine where the shot came from that stopped the lead biker. He manages to see the figure of Paulo couching behind a dumpster in the mouth of an ally. As Adolph scans the area again, he can see no one else putting up any resistance. Lindsey releases her spell and the new lead biker burst into flame. The impact of the fireball sends him flying backwards into the next bike, knocking off that rider also. Biker number six is not paying attention to his friends, and runs right over number two and number three, sending him flying over the handle bars and onto the street, head first, he doesn't move. Bikers four and five are shooting toward the red Ford, biker 4 takes a shot, but the bullet from his pistol hits the barrier that Adolph put up and seems to hang in mid-air, before falling harmlessly to the ground, biker six takes aim at Adolph, but before he can shoot, his left arm is turned into a bloody mess, as Paulo hits him with another burst from his Savalette.

It's over that quick, just a few seconds, really, and all of a sudden, biker number 4 realizes that he is alone, and somebody has been shooting back. He turns his bike around heads back down the street, deciding that he'd better leave before he ends up like his friends. He manages to get away while Paulo and Lindsey both are firing their weapons at him, but Paulo doesn't now have a good clear shot, and Lindsey's shot must penetrate the barrier that Adolph has up. Paulo looks across the street to see who else was shooting and sees the pretty pale skinned woman with jet black hair with red streaks holding a pistol, and the man in the long coat standing beside of her looking into a red Ford. Adolph lets the barrier drop as soon as he sees that the ganger is gone, and there doesn't appear to be any more shooting going on, Lindsey quickly pockets her Predator II and looks around, she sees the big man standing in the alley across the street. Adolph moves around to the drivers door on the Ford and is trying to get it open without much success. Lindsey walks over and tries to help him. Paulo sees that they are trying to open the door and starts across the street. While walking over, he checks on the ganger number one, which he shot in the chest. No pulse, he reaches over and picks up the gangers Colt Manhunter and snorts with disbelief. His military mind is appalled by the appearance of the weapon, the barrel is rusty, and the action feels like it has putty in it instead of gun oil. He slips the weapon in his pocket and gets up and walks on over to the Ford. Adolph and Lindsey haven't managed to get the door open yet, so he reaches in and gets his hands in the crack of the door. Adolph pulls on the handle and Paulo pulls on the edge of the door and it finally comes open. Adolph leans inside the car and checks out the man behind the wheel. "He does not look good," he says. With that, he takes his hand and places it on the man's back where a bullet had entered his shoulder. He closes his eyes and starts mumbling the words to a spell. Lindsey sees what he is doing, and goes back around the car to the back right side where the little girl is slumped over in the seat. Lindsey lets her vision slip to the astral plane and looks at the body, her aura looks fine, except for a red spot on the side of the head, bringing her vision back to the physical, she checks the girl's pulse, then sits her up slowly, holding her head so as not to move her neck. There is a bad bruise forming on the girls right temple, and a knot growing. Lindsey too places her hand on the girls head, and starts chanting. After a minute, Adolph removes his hand from the man's back. He is breathing regularly know, and is not bleeding, but he isn't conscious yet. The little girl in the back seat is starting to wake up. The woman in the right front has been watching all this in stunned silence. Paulo notes that she must certainly be in shock, and he takes the woman's jacket and pulls it up around her shoulders, then does the same for the little boy in the back seat, who appears to be okay. Then, Paulo hears the sirens, nobody else has as of yet heard them.

"I think that it might be time that we left, my friends, I know I certainly must," he says with a heavy hispanic accent as he looks down the street, "We are about to have more company, and I believe they can take care of these now, Si?"

Seattle, Bellvue, Yarrow Point 380 NE 54th Street, number 318:
15:45 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

"Tell me about the spying devices in my apartment..."

The manager is swaying back and forth on his feet, "I know of no such devices..."

Darkness is disappointed with the man's response. "Is there anyone else in your home right now?"

"No, I live alone." The man answers.

"Do you know of anyone who would place such devices in my dwelling?"

"No, I don't know who would do such a thing."

"Who handles the service on the buildings telecoms and electrical utilities?"

"Jimmy does all of our maintenance. He will be back tomorrow."

Darkness thinks for a moment, "Forget this conversation...", Darkness says as he releases the man gently. He watches as the manager's mental fog clears and starts mid-sentence.

"... and I really appreciate you handling the noise problem from upstairs. Good night and thanks again."

Darkness smiles a final time and walks away from the befuddled man's door. His irritation at this inconvenience shows slightly in his brow, as he does not have time for such complications. He waves for his new acquaintances to follow him back to the apartment. "I am sorry for this situation, but more research time must be spent before I can resolve it -- let us go back to my apartment and make plans for tonight. This problem will keep for a short while."

Gabe is reassured by the steps Darkness has taken concerning both the bugs in the apartment, and the building manager (assigning a mental note to pay close attention to that sort of thing in the future), or seems to be, anyway. On the way back to the apartment, Gabe makes it a point to catch Charcoal's eye, giving a warning look that Charcoal will hopefully remember, then loosens his Viper in its holster and proceeds to make way back upstairs, Darkness in front of him and Charcoal behind.

Once inside the apartment, Darkness keys Ghostwheel's number into his pocket secretary. After a few of the customary clicks a voice comes on the line, "Hoi?"

"Secure this line." Says Darkness.

"Hold," says the voice on the other side. Darkness sits down at the desk while he is waiting. "Clear."

"This is Darkness. This location was compromised. Is there a problem at your end?"

Ghostwheel is visibly shaken by this. "I'll investigate, but I do not think so. Only one other knew of the destination of the packages. I trust him, but will double check."

"If there is a problem on your end, I expect reparations and new location."

"Understood, I'll get back to you."

Gabe realizes just how used to the ways of the Shadows he's become when, as he listens to Darkness giving Ghostwheel (whomever that is) down the road about this situation, and finds himself thinking how the conversation would be very easy to stage for the benefit of onlookers (himself and Charcoal). He quickly subdues that line of thought, however, as he remembers what he said to Darkness at the airport parking area. Course, nobody ever said that the occasional precaution was out of line, he thinks to himself, giving up a brief smile.

"Well, what about tonight?" Darkness says, as he starts to remove the telecom panel. He glances up at Archangel and says, "How do you want to handle the meet?" He reaches in and pulls out the bug that was inside.

Archangel is still having those stray thoughts, and is brought back to reality by Darkness' question. "I think at the Gray Line we should go in separately, each taking up a good vantage point inside and keeping a close watch on what goes on. There may be nothing to gain from this, but there's nothing to lose, either."

While Archangel was speaking, Darkness had reached inside the telecom unit and found one of the apartments 240 volt power feeds. He connects the 240 VAC appliance power feed to the hidden back side of the listening device's case after disconnecting the chassis ground. As he puts the cover back on the telecom unit he says,"That will ensure the next unauthorized visitor will 'stay awhile'." He looks up at Charcoal, "Does that sound like a good idea to you?"

Charcoal has been watching Darkness work, he looks at him as he smiles broadly, "That's gonna' be a nasty surprise for someone. Yes, that plan sounds fine to me."

Archangel adds, "We've all got microtranceivers on the same frequency, we can talk once we are there."

With that, they head back downstairs to Vinnie and the waiting limo. Once they are all seated in the car, Archangel keys the microphone to the front and says, "To the Gray Line, Vinnie, and don't spare the horses."
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Turn 10

Seattle, Downtown, Howell St:
15:35 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

"I think that it might be time that we left, my friends, I know I certainly must," he says with a heavy hispanic accent as he looks down the street, "We are about to have more company, and I believe they can take care of these now, yes?"

Adolph looks at Paulo, "Thanks for your help, friend." He then turns to Lindsey, "I see you are a follower of the ways, fraulein. Which art do you pursue?" he says as he steps toward Lindsey's car.

Paulo, looking again at the weapon he picked up off the street, reaches his hand to his nose, sniffs and groans. Sometimes a good nose is not good. "Blasted punker must have worn the damn gun on his armpits." Looking to Adolph nervously, "No sweat, amigo. Look, don't you think we'd better scoot? We have incoming flatfeet and I could think of more convenient things to do than try to explain them what I'm doing in the street with a gun. Let's bugger off somewhere and have something, long as it's far away. They ARE getting near."

Lindsey nods dutifully, wiping her hand clean of the blood from the girl on the battered upholstery from the car. "Best idea I've heard in a while chummer." She slides her cooling pistol into her shoulder holster, and closes her jacket over it. "I love the LoneStar guys and all, but lets book before we join the gangers as street meat... We're not too far from my flat, follow if you want... Just know I'm watching you.....tsukishitagau..." She looks up at her car and stops, "First they ruin my commute, now they total my car, drek, I've had a hard day. . ., Okay, lets be off... Pity, I liked that car, such a nice shade of green." Gritting her teeth, she pulls a bit of yellowish dust from a small pocket inside her trench coat, and tosses it in a circle on the ground. Flame leaps to her hand, and she chants quietly....

Adolph seeing what she is preparing to do lays a hand on her shoulder, "Wait," he says, "pop the trunk," he looks to Paulo, "will you grab the spare tire?" With that, he starts chanting himself. As he moves his hands like he is shaping clay into a ball, the front of the car starts to lift off the ground. Paulo see's what is happening and quickly moves to the rear of the car as Lindsey reaches into the car and flips the latch for the trunk. Adolph shapes the barrier so that it lifts the car up enough to give clearance for the tire to be replaced. "Please hurry," he says to Paulo, "this car is heavy." Paulo kicks in his wired reflexes as he grabs the spare tire and the tire tool then moves to the front of the car. He is moving so fast that to some, he might be a blur, an onlooker could not see his hands moving as he removes the lug nuts and replaces the flat tire, puts the lug nuts back on and slips the tire into the trunk and closes the lid. Adolph eases the car down, and teeters a bit on his feet. "I need a drink now, I was going to Reno's, could I buy you all a drink?"

Lindsey is grinning from ear to ear as he looks at the two men, "Okay, I'm impressed. How 'bout I buy you that drink, chummer," she says to Adolph as she slinks into the driver seat with the grace of a cat. "Get in boys if you're coming with me."

Adolph and Paulo move to the passenger side of the car, Paulo getting there first and seeing he can not get the door open very far, "We need a little room please? We're not quite as thin as you are," he says, grinning. Realizing that her car's front right is still up against the cab, she puts the car in reverse and backs away with a sound of metal scraping metal and she winces, "I'm still going to have to have a paint job!" Paulo opens the door and slips into the back. Adolph, seeing the cab driver still lying in the front seat of the cab hiding, reaches into his pocket and pulls out some cash and tosses it into the cabby. "Here, I've found another ride," he says as he gets in and Lindsey drives away. Paulo is looking out the back glass to see if any of the Lone Star patrols are coming yet. Lindsey takes the next right and they are out of sight before the patrol shows up on the scene.

"Well boys," Lindsey says, looking over at Adolph and back at Paulo, "you can call me Moonsinger, what do I call you?"

Seattle, Bellvue, Yarrow Point 380 NE 54th Street, number 318:
16:15 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

With that, they head back downstairs to Vinnie and the waiting limo. Once they are all seated in the car, Archangel keys the microphone to the front and says, "To the Gray Line, Vinnie, and don't spare the horses."

Vinnie shoots the car down the street.

Archangel looks over to his companions, then reaches into drawer under the seat and pulls out a pen and a tablet of paper. "This is what I know about the Gray Line." He sketches out what he remembers of the floor plan from his last visit there. "The main entrance is on the right side, if you are facing the sound. It's toward the land side of the building closer to Alaskan Way. Alaskan way runs along the boardwalks the length of the sound. When you go inside, you turn to the right, and drop down a level. Part of the restaurant is actually under sea level and down in the sound. There are big glass windows giving you a view of the sea life in the sound. They really light it up out there at night too. There was some nasty business a while back about some gangers or such bustin' in the place. They shot out one of the windows and flooded the place. I know the glass has been replaced with a stronger bullet resistant material now, but they've been real careful about keeping people with weapons out. I don't believe that we will be able to carry anything inside." Once you step down to the lower level, the right side curves out and then back in in sort of a semi-circle. The water level is over the windows about a quarter of the way down the wall during high tide. The far end is also plexiglass. The place is about 45 meters long, and about 30 or 35 meters wide. Back here toward the back, the dining areas aren't as wide, and the kitchen areas are here and on the upper level. There's a bar on the far end up against the plexi, and another one back here near the entrance to the kitchen. The rest of the area out here is just tables. What do you think?"
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Turn 11

Seattle, Renton, Maple Valley Mall:
15:15 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Leaving Maple Leaf Computers, Laurel looks over and down at Nathan and says, "Well, do you feel better now that you've had your computer 'fix' today?"

Nathan smirks, holding the chip carrier as he looks over at his companion's shopping bag. "And you lassie? Doon' tell me you've nae enjoyed fillin' up yer sack? At least I ken carry mine own in me pocket." he says with a heavy Scottish brogue.

"Hey, these are work clothes," she says as she pulls out a pair of camouflage pants and shows them to the dwarf.

"Huh, and the black dress?" he says with a grin.

"Well, a lady's got to have SOME nice clothes, doesn't she?" she grins back and reaches down with her gloved right hand to ruffle the hair on the dwarf's head. "Let's go get something to eat."

"If we're gonna' eat, let's go up ta Reno's. We need ta start thinkin' 'bout our next job. Maybe we can put out some feelers there, or pick up some info."

"Okay," says the dark haired girl. "Let's go get get a cab."

The odd couple walks out of the entrance to the mall, and flags down a cab. They travel north up 405 till they hit 90 and head west over the lake and into downtown. They arrive at Reno's, exit the cab, and head for the door.

Seattle, Downtown, Blanchard St:
15:38 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

"Well boys," Lindsey says, looking over at Adolph and back at Paulo, "you can call me Moonsinger, what do I call you?"

"Name's Doc, Frau Moonsinger. You never did answer my question about what type of magic you pursue." He offers his hand to Paulo, "and you are...?"

"Way Out", answers Paulo. "Formerly in the army, now a freelancing civilian. Nice lift job on the car, amigo."

"Thanks. Are we going to Reno's? My head is still swimming."

Paulo says "Far as I'm concerned, Reno's will be a good place to have a quiet chat, if the Senorita agrees."

"Yes, remember, I'm buying." Moonsinger says, looking over at Doc she smiles, "Thanks for helping with the car, and to answer your question, I follow the Lady Wolf Doc, how about you? You believe in that scientific drek approach to magic, don't you?" Moonsinger grins.

As Moonsinger talks Paulo proceeds to expertly field strip the captured gun and check up its condition. It's not really in to bad shape he notes, and the serial numbers have been filed off, meaning it's probably stolen anyway.

Turning the car onto 4th Avenue, Moonsinger slows down a bit as he nears Battery St. where Reno's is. "The food here is great too, they make great Sioux dishes,.. almost as good as mine," she says with a grin.

Seattle, Downtown, Reno's, Battery Street and Fourth Ave.:
15:50 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Pavel was sitting in his booth, his head laid back and looking at the ceiling, nursing his gin and tonic. Another day almost gone by, searching, and searching,... one of these days he'll get the fragger....

FLASHBACK

Pavel was a cop, and a good one. After college he joined Lone Star, and was promoted up the ranks fairly quickly, partially because of attrition, but mostly because of his abilities as an investigator. But his career was not going too be a smooth twenty year slide into retirement. Bad Karma got a hold of him. Pavel had managed to track a particularly troublesome group of shadowrunners to an apparently abandoned apartment building in the Barrens. Pavel lead a team of Lone Star troops into the building, in an attempt to recover some stolen property. In the confusion of the fire fight, Pavel saw one of the mages trying to make a getaway out the back of the building. Pavel followed on foot. He stayed doggedly on the mages tail, exchanging gunfire for spells at a few points. Then the mage ducked into a ramshackle building. Pavel followed him in. Inside the building Pavel waited a second for his eyes to adjust to the dark. Suddenly he saw a terrible creature -- some demon-dog out of a horror movie charging him, and Pavel fired reflexively. When the shot struck the demon-dog it seemed to pass right through the dog, breaking the image of the dog like a cloud formation. But the bullet did strike something -- an eight-year old boy who had been playing in the building when the mage came in. Pavel gave up the chase and tried to save the boy's life, calling for Docwagon and support, but Pavel couldn't do enough, and help got there to late to save the child's life. The boy was a young SIN-less squatter, so there were no public charges brought against Pavel, but Lone Star, not sure how much of his `demon-dog' story to believe, assigned Pavel to a desk and ordered a battery of psych exams and evaluations. He might eventually have been able to return to active duty, but his own sense of guilt and shame drove him to near madness. He wanted to kill himself, he wanted revenge on that mage, he wanted a lot of things, but he couldn't go on being who he was, trapped at his new desk, with his friends afraid to talk to him, all the stares, etc. . . he had to make a change.

REALITY

"Fraggin' A," he mutters to himself, then takes another drink of the gin. He leans his head back and stares at the ceiling once again.

FLASHBACK

He decided to make himself disappear. He used his access at Lone Star to wipe out his own SIN, as well as tried to destroy all record of his existence. Then he left.

REALITY

"One of these days,... I'll get that fragger, one of these days..."

"Deadeye?" says a voice. Pavel opens his eyes with a start and looks up into the face of Reno Pyatt, the owner of the restaurant. "Are you still with us, or are you gonna' sleep in this booth tonight?" ask the big indian man.

"No,...I'm okay Reno, thanks. Listen, if you hear of anything, I'm available for work, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, sure, just don't drink yourself right out of a job, okay?"

"Hey, I'll be alright.." and with that Reno walks back toward the kitchen.

As Reno walks passed the end of the bar, another man sitting at the end get's his attention.

"Say boss, what's with that guy? Chummer of yours?"

"Not really Glue. Just somebody I've come to know. He works the biz some. Had a bad run in with a mage a while back, spends most of his time either looking for the fragger or trying to earn some cred to finance his search."

The other Indian, "Glue" Reno had called him shakes his head, "He don't look to be much."

"From what I know, he's a stand up guy, and can hold his own."

As Reno heads on back to the kitchen, Glue turns around and looks back at the man sitting in the booth. "Yep chummer, we all got our own ghost to fight, don't we," he thinks to himself. Then he turns back around and takes a drink of his beer and studies the crowd in the restaurant. Families. He still can't get over the fact that people come down here and bring their kids to eat at this place. Not that the food isn't good, it's excellent. Glue wonders to himself if those husband and wives with 2.3 kids and 2 cars and a dog or cat realize what "other" kinds of business goes on here. "Hehe.." he laughs to himself, "Probably not, else they'd probably soil their britches right where they sit." As he looks around the bar, he notices a couple of people who are obviously NOT the family type. A couple chromed dudes here and there, and, as he scans the customers, he notices one in particular, looking back over at the guy in the booth that Reno was talking to. The guy is a tall, young, blonde haired fellow. He is wearing what, to his trained and experienced (and vision magnification enhanced) eyes appears to be an armored jacket made up like an old pilots flight jacket. As Glue is looking at him, he looks up and notices Glue looking at him.

Gambit had been sitting at the end of the bar nearest the door. He'd seen the man in the booth earlier, looked like he was asleep. Then the owner of the place went over and talked to him. As he looked up from staring at the guy in the booth to see an Indian on the other end of the bar, looking at him. Gambit puts on his best smile as he raises his glass to the man and smiles. The Indian nods back to him. "Hmm..," Gambit thinks to himself, "seems like a likable enough fellow." He gets up from his stool and walks down to the end of the bar.

"May I buy you a drink mon'ami?, I see you are wondering about the man in the booth, as am I. He seems to be to be a man with a great many problems on his mind, no?"

Glue looks up at Gambit, "Okay, you wanna' buy a drink go ahead. I think whatever problems he has are his own, and not mine." He sticks his hand out, "Name's Glue, you?"

"Gambit." He says as he shakes the big Amerind's hand.

Just about that time, Moonsinger, Doc, and "Way Out" walk in the front door. Laurel and Nathan are coming in right on their heels. Pavel looks up at the door and sees Doc. After just having the flashback of the mage, he reacts without thinking and without real recognition. He jumps up and yells, reaching for his gun, but he's been drinking and fumbles for it. Way Out sees him reaching and shoves Moonsinger and Doc down to the floor, reaching for his own weapon. Glue hears Pavel shout and looks over in time to see him standing and reaching under his coat. He dives off the stool and runs to the booth, grabbing Pavel's hand, and knocking him down into the booth. Pavel's head hits the side of the booth giving him a nasty cut on the temple, and knocking him silly. Families look around to see what the shout was about, but because of their reflexes, Glue and Way Out have already executed their maneuvers before anyone can see them. The crowd simply sees Glue in the booth, and Way Out standing at the door with two people on the floor beside him, and a woman and a dwarf standing behind them.

Seattle, Bellvue, Hwy 405 South:
16:20 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

The rest of the area out here is just tables. What do you think?," Archangel says.

Vinnie turns the car west on Hwy 90, and they head toward Lake Washington and Council Island.

"Is there an exit from the kitchen that leads to the street?", Darkness asks Archangel.

"I don't know for sure, but I would assume so, for deliveries and such."

Darkness says, "It would seem to me that the bars represent good places for two of us to take up positions and observe the restaurant prior to the meet. Especially the one near the kitchen as it provides an avenue of escape should things become difficult."

Charcoal looks over the floor plan and points a claw at the bar by the kitchen. "That's where I will head for." A shrug. "If any trouble starts I may as well try and draw their fire away from the windows." He looks over at Darkness, "I think that if you and I go in at just about the same time no one will notice you at all. Folks will be too busy staring at the Troll. We go in and make for the bars at say 15 before the meet is supposed to go down." He looks over at Arch, "I figure you to come in right on the tick, run the contact procedure, and give us the nod when things are set." He sits back and sighs, "Just your average everyday tactics for meeting with an employer. Ever wonder why you need a battle plan for every meet that goes down?" He smiles, "One ray of sunshine though. A good solid ban on guns works to our advantage."

Darkness speaks up "It might be wise to have the third man outside -- to follow our host in. If things go badly from the start, the man in back would make for a good safeguard."

"What do you think?", Darkness says to his companions.
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Turn 12

Seattle, Downtown:
15:30 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

...Arthur looks at his watch. "We've plenty of time yet though,.. help yourself to a drink from the bar or box if you wish," pointing to the refrigerator.

"Don't mind if i do," Ziggy says as he walks over to the refrigerator and opens the door. As the fluorescent light pours over Ziggy's massive presence, he searches endlessly for sandwich supplies. Then, as he stands there making this extraordinarily large sandwich he says, "Anything exciting happen while I was gone?" While Ziggy is making the sandwich, he takes the opportunity as Arthur stands up to take another video image with the camera in his cybereye, filtering it through the thermographic filter and then going back over with the vision magnification. When Arthur starts to speak, he records Arthur's speech from his cyberear.

"No, not really, just set up the meet with Archangel and Darkness. You'll hear more about it at the meet. We shall need a team for this run." I'm going to lie down for a bit, we shall need to leave about 18:30, make yourself at home, but be ready by then." With that, Arthur walks back into a bedroom and closes the door.

Seattle, Downtown, Reno's, Battery Street and Fourth Ave.:
15:55 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

...The crowd simply sees Glue in the booth, and Way Out standing at the door with two people on the floor beside him, and a woman and a dwarf standing behind them.

Nathan steps back to the left, out of the doorway and out of sight of the occupants of the restaurant while Laurel slips to the right of the door, just peaking in so that she can see what is happening. Some of the other customers look to the two people on the floor, some reaching to try and help them up, others just murmuring to each other. That really looked odd, two people falling down at once....

Wayout had managed to keep from actually drawing his weapon, and seeing Glue holding onto Pavel, he slowly pulls his hand out from under his jacket.

As the normal patrons look up to see what the shout was about, the AmerInd now sitting with the drunk takes one hand up and gets it in position to try to get a clear look at the new wound, while the other hand (which is the one HE's paying attention to) snakes into the aggressor's previously displayed hidey-spot, and pulls the weapon out, moving it under the table and under his left leg, which is the leg away from Pavel. As soon as Glue starts moving, he's talking. "So, I hear you've had a few prob's. Sorry 'bout that. Let's see if we can't do somethin' 'bout this 'ne before you stain that coat.... Don't look too bad."

Pavel is disoriented for the moment, as Glue slides in beside him, disarms him, and tends to his head wound. As his head clears he takes a look around, realizing first of all that he isn't holding his gun, and that some stranger is sitting practically in his lap, and that his head really hurts. Pavel clears his throat. "I always thought this was a friendly place." His facial expression reveals his discomfort and embarrassment with being tended, but he puts up with it. A careful look reveals to Pavel his mistake the man at the door is not who he was looking for at all, but something about him had triggered a recognition. It might be some sort of a lead, if only he figure out what it had been . . .

He looks over at Glue, "Who are you. And who's been telling you about me?"

"Friend of a friend. Reno worries 'bout ya, but don't say nothin' specific. Just like a real friend," Glue says.

Although not quite aware of what just went on, Gambit is experienced enough to guess something's up. After getting and paying for his drinks, he takes them over to the booth where Glue seems to have "disappeared" to. Walking toward the booth however, he notices the young lady on the floor,sets his drinks down as he passes Glue at the booth, then heads for the door, where he offers to help the young lady up.

"There now cher', this is neither the time nor place to be lying down. Can I offer you my assistance? The name is Gambit, and you are?..."

Wayout takes a second to look the room over, his eyes daring anyone to go and just try something smart. There is a slight twitch to his lip which makes it clear he would enjoy it. He doesn't seem to think that the fellow walking toward them with his hand out to Moonsinger poses any threat. "Upsy daisy!" he exclaims as he reaches down and bodily lifts both mages by the back of their shirts, pats them on the back and heads toward Glue and Pavel.

Gambit offers Moonsinger his arm.

Moonsinger looks at Gambit and smiles, "You can call me Moonsinger, gee, I'm just meeting all kinds of nice gentlemen today."

As Doc straightens himself up he thinks, Gott in Himmel, this guy is fast! "Thanks for the assist, Way Out. I never woulda' saw it comin'." He starts heading over to the now disarmed gunman.

Laurel carefully observes the reactions of the various players in the recent drama. Upon seeing that bloodshed will be avoided, she motions to Nathan.

"Its okay now. Seems that some patrons are a little excitable." she pauses for a second, smiles a little, and to thin air comments. "Wonder why?"

As Laurel and Nathan walk past the polite gentleman (Gambit) as he assists Moonsinger to her feet, muttering "Now that's a pickup line." Arriving at a empty table, she sits and where she can see the room and looks to order some food.

When Wayout reaches the booth he pulls out three chairs from a nearby table, and waits for Moonsinger to sit. She sits on the bench opposite Glue and Pavel, Gambit slides in beside her, Doc and Wayout sit in the chairs and then he adjusts his raincoat and sits with his back to the wall as best he can, resting his right hand on his belly. Though making a spirited bid for the "most relaxed man in the room" award, it is obvious to all but a terminal chip-head that in that position he can have his gun out faster than a troll can drain a beer.

Looking at Glue, Wayout gives him a respectful nod and says "Nice footwork, amigo."

Then looking at Pavel, "You are a lucky man, you know that? You have a good friend by your side who just risked his ass to keep yours water-tight." Wayout leans slightly toward Pavel and sniffs. "Not that water's exactly the problem here."

Pavel looks up, "Lucky," then he coughs, "Oh, yeah, that's just what I was thinking. I'm the luckiest little boy in the world."

Catching Glue's eyes, Wayout demands "You happen to be acquaintances?"

The AmerInd looks away from Pavel to get a good luck at Wayout. "No, but it seems one of you _IS_. All I know for sure is he," indicating Pavel, "was gonna start somethin' REAL stupid in a room full of children, and that he thinks one of you is worth it."

"Well, despite the odd circumstances I'm glad to meet you" he says, then offers him his hand. "I'm known as Wayout. I'll let my two companions speak for themselves, after all we've only just met."

"Can't say the same, yet, Glue," Glue says.

Wayout takes a good, close look at Pavel and then looks at his companions. "No, I never had personal trouble with the gentleman, proof is he's still alive. When he moved he was not staring at me either." Wayout closed his eyes for a second, thinking. "He was looking... to my right. Your direction, methinks," nodding at Doc.

Doc looks over at Pavel, "Why did you try to draw on me anyway? By the way, name's Doc," he says to the crowd around the table.

Pavel sits up "I thought he was someone I used to know. Mistake, that's all." He then looks over to Doc, "Look, I'm sorry. It's a long dull story -- I made a big mistake. You look like someone I kinda owe something. Look, Let me make it up to you. I'll buy you a drink. Hey Reno ..." he waves to the restaurant owner who had come back out to see what was going on. Reno starts walking over. "Look. It was a stupid thing to do, and I'm embarrassed about it. Drek. This sounds lame, right now, but I'll make it up to you some time if I can."

Wayout looks at Pavel's eyes for a couple of seconds then smiles. "T'was stupid, but we all get a little stupid sometimes." His eyes seem to focus outside the room for a moment. "Fodasss... sometimes a man just gotta drink himself under the table and no kidding about it..." Snapping back into the present, Wayout covers his embarrassment by looking up at Reno and asking for a menu. "Well, no hard feelings on my part. Just wondering, though, does Doc here really look like that dude you intend to ventilate or was it just surprise and stuff? He gave ya a reason for it, might be others making the same mistake."

Doc says to Pavel, "I think I'll take that drink. It has been a long time since I've been almost shot twice in one day."

"I'll certainly go with that, Doc. As a matter of fact, can't very well remember the last time I got shot at twice in a day," says Wayout, "Hmmm.... no, can't quite put my finger on it. Seems I've always rated at least a burst of three. Seriously now, this day's turning quite nicely for me. Since leaving the army my life's been so quiet I've been thinking of hibernating." Looking up at Reno, Wayout say's, "Let me have the grilled chicken and a beer."

Pavel looks at Reno and say's, "I think I've had enough of these, but bring Doc here whatever he wants, and bring me a plate of that chicken too."

Doc orders a beer too, Gambit orders one for Moonsinger, and Glue retrieves his from the end of the bar.

Laurel and Nathan are still watching the group. "Amazing!" she says, "just a minute or to ago, I thought somebody was gonna' get shot, now they're all sitting together like buddies."

The dwarf grins up at her, "Strange things happen in the shadows lassie, strange things. Let's us keep our eyes and ears open. Might find some work in the booth."

Seattle, Over Lake Washington, Hwy 90 West:
16:25 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

...Darkness speaks up "It might be wise to have the third man outside -- to follow our host in. If things go badly from the start, the man in back would make for a good safeguard."

"What do you think?", Darkness says to his companions.

Arch finds himself mentally running through as many meetings with potential employers as he can remember. Long before he's even close to being finished, he realizes that Charcoal's point is a very valid one. Arranging for work is oft times as hazardous a proposition as execution of the task. That is a price that must be paid. Gabe can hardly make bones about it, considering that he had far more opportunity outside the shadows than most of the 'runners he knows. Hell, more than any of the others he knows, come to think of it.

"Hmm. Both of you seem right to me," Gabriel flashes a grin, "One of us needs to act as the main point of contact, so to speak, with others providing backup until we're actually in the room with Arthur. I have no problem being the point. I also think having one man in watching before-hand and one following the Johnson in seems to make a lot of sense. If I were to pick, I'd send D in first and let you be the closing parenthesis, Coal."

The man, who looks more like a Johnson than most of the Johnsons do, spreads his hands, indicating that his thoughts on that matter are at an end. "I'd also like to run a frame into the matrix and see if there's anything at all I can dig up about this Arthur fellow. If we could at least get an idea as to his affiliations or focus, anything, it might help to know how to deal with him. So far, he's been very sycophantic, which makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up."

Charcoal looks over at Gabe, "OK. I hang around and wait for Mr Johnson to go in, then follow him after a few ticks. You do have a picture of him I assume?" He grins, "Let's do it."

Darkness nods in approval of Gabriel's description of the plan. "It sounds as if we all understand and agree. It is time to get started."

Gabe nods and reaches under his seat to the compartment there and pulls out his Radio Shack deck. As Darkness and Charcoal make some small talk, getting to know each other, Gabe plugs his pocket secretary into the modem port on his deck, then he slips the cord from his deck into his datajack. He sits back in his seat and closes his eye's, and starts typing on the deck. After a short time, he uses the modem connection to his pocket secretary to connect to the matrix. He uploads the smartframe he's just created and it starts on it's way to collect what information it can on Arthur. Gabe checks the time on the pocket sec and see's it's only 16:35.

The three sit and talk quietly has they cross the lake, then head into downtown Seattle proper. Gabe tells Vinny to go ahead and drive by the Gray Line. When they arrive, it is 17:00. Vinnie pulls the car to a stop about a block past the restaurant and Charcoal get's out, and starts walking back up the street toward the restaurant. He finds a corner where he can slip into an alley and still keep an eye on the door and the surrounding area and waits. Gabe has Vinny pull on down a few more blocks and stops by the waterfront. He then places his deck back on his lap again, makes the necessary connections to his pocket secretary and his datajack and connects to the matrix again. He slides along the electric highway that is the matrix, until he comes up to the place where he'd programmed his smart frame to wait for him, after it had completed it's job. Arch looks up and is staring at an icon representing the Space Needle, the construct of the Seattle Metro Center. His smart frame is there waiting for him. He retrieves it and downloads the information to his deck, then disconnects from the matrix. He manipulates the data that the smart frame had collected. As expected, there are literally thousands of entries from the local LTG listings with the names Arthur and Randolph. There are only 6 entries that matched both keywords. After a quick glance at those, Arch realizes that he doesn't really know if that information will be useful, but he stores those six names and addresses away for further study. The thing that he does take note of, he had the frame try to locate a Shadowland node, and it did, and found several instances where someone posted messages under the name Arthur. Some of these looked to be a man looking for some contacts to do some work, so Arch gathers that these were the post that Arthur put out when he said he was looking for some talent. Once again, there's not much real info there, but he logs it into the decks offline storage also.

Then, Arch and Darkness sit and wait. Charcoal keeps an eye on the door and doesn't notice anything unusual.

Seattle, Downtown, Outside The Gray Line, Alaskan Way:
18:00 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Archangel's pocket secretary beeps. "Time for you to go priyatel." Darkness nods as Archangel taps on the glass to the driver compartment and Vinnie starts the car up. He then pulls up to the front of The Gray Line. When he get's to the front door and stops, Darkness slips his Yamaha Pulsar out of the holster and lays in in a compartment that Arch points out under the seat. He reaches into another pocket and pulls out two small devices. "Here, use these," he says as he hands Archangel a bug scanner and a white noise generator, then opens the door and gets out.

Darkness enters the restaurant, is checked over by the scanners and two burly troll guards standing at the door, then heads to the bar. He sit's down and orders a club soda with a twist of lime. Looking around the room, he sees some men who look to be business men of some sort, several couples having a quiet dinner next to the huge glass windows that show the underside of Elliot Sound to the patrons of the restaurant. Darkness does a quick survey of all the patrons, and doesn't see anything amiss. He spends some time looking out through the windows himself. Being from Denver, he's never see a sight quite like this. After a moment, he looks around the room again, he is after all, on the job. He takes note of the entrance on the upper level where he came in and the door at the end of the bar that leads into the kitchen. Down on the lower level, the restaurant it under water, and there is no other exit. "Pretty secure place," he muses to himself. On the lower level he can see four doors that he assumes lead off into private dining rooms. Darkness sips his drink, watches the customers, and waits... he is very good at waiting....

Seattle, Downtown:
18:30 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Ziggy is watching an adventure show about shadowrunners on the trid. "Yeah, right," says the troll as a human street samurai walks through a rain of bullets and is never even touched, only to fire off two burst from his own pistol and hit every bad guy behind the dumpster. Arthur comes through the bedroom door.

"Are you ready to go Ziggy?" Arthur comes through the door wearing a Houndstooth suit and a pair of Whitelaw electric glasses.

"Ja... let's do it." And he leads Arthur out the door. They head downstairs to the garage and up to a Toyota Elite limo. Ziggy gets the back door for Arthur then gets in the front. He starts the car and heads down to the waterfront.

Seattle, Downtown, Outside The Gray Line, Alaskan Way:
18:40 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Charcoal is still watching the front of the restaurant.

Arch's pocket sec beeps at him again. Once again, he taps on the glass partition and the car starts up and pulls up to the front of The Gray Line. While it's pulling up, Arch slips his jacket off, and slides the holster rig off, then puts his jacket back on.

He exits the car and Vinnie pulls it over into the parking area. Archangel walks into the door and through the same scanners that Darkness did earlier. When he walks in, he ask the maitre D' "I'm to meet with the Randolph Party?"

The maitre D' looks at his book and nods, "Yes sir, you are the first to arrive. If you will come this way please, your room is ready." With that, he walks down the steps, past the bar, and down to the lower level. As Archangel passes the bar, he glances over to make sure that Darkness sees him and continues on, without ever saying a word to him. Darkness watches as the maitre D' leads Archangel up to the second dining room, and opens the door. He leads Archangel in and ask, "Would you like anything to drink while you wait sir?"

Archangel is looking around the room, "Hmm, oh, yes, just a glass of water please."

The maitre D' smiles, "Yes sir, I'll send it right in.." and he walks back out, pulling the door shut behind him.

Arch reaches inside his jacket pocket and pulls out the bug scanner. He first runs if over the dinner table set up in the middle of the room, then starts back at the door, and works his way around the room clockwise, ending back at the same door. His scan comes up negative.

"Well, something's going right at least," says the big man. He turns off the scanner and slips it back into his jacket, then places the white noise generator on the table, but doesn't turn it on yet. He reaches up to activate his micro-transceiver on his throat, "Room clear," is all he says.

He sits down in a chair (one facing the door) and waits, a waiter comes in a moment later with a tray of 5 glasses and a pitcher of ice water. He sits the tray down and pours one glass and sets it down in front of Archangel, leaves the tray and exits the room. Arch sits back and waits.

Seattle, Downtown, Outside The Gray Line, Alaskan Way:
19:00 hours Pacific Time, December 4, 2055

Charcoal is watching the door when the Toyota Elite pulls into the parking area beside The Gray Line. He's been watching every car he can since about 18:45 looking for someone that matches the trid picture that Arch showed him from the telecom calls that he has had with Arthur. As he watches the Elite park, a big Troll, even bigger than he is!, with a long blonde looking ponytail gets out of the driver seat, walks back and opens the back door, and Arthur steps out of the car.

"Ziggy, be sure to leave your gun in the car, they will not let you into the restaurant with it," Arthur tells Ziggy. As Charcoal is watching from across the street, Ziggy reaches inside his jacket and removes the Savalette Guardian from his holster and slips it under the front seat of the car.

"He's here, and he's got company, a troll, a BIG fraggin' troll," Charcoal says in a low subdued voice. The others inside hear, and acknowledge. Archangel stands up from the chair he's been in, and stands behind it facing the door. Darkness gets up from the bar and walks down into the lower level over to the big glass windows, and appears to be looking out into the water. He's doing anything but that, his concentration is firmly set on the front entrance. Archangel thinks a moment, then makes a decision and moves up beside the door, to the side the door opens to, putting the door between him and the person opening it when it opens. He stays back a few steps, enough to clear the door if it is opened all the way.

Arthur walks into the front door with Ziggy behind him and meets the maitre D',"Mr. Randolph, I have a reservation."

"Of course Mr. Randolph, one of your party is already here. Right this way," he says as he leads the two into the restaurant.

Arthur's senses immediately go on alert, he looks around the room as he enters and down to the lower level as he gets to the top of the stairs.

Darkness sees Arthur and a big troll heading for the stair, and takes the opportunity presented by a waiter passing by. Darkness moves with the waiter as he watches Arthur scan the room from the top of the stair before he starts down. As the waiter passes by a large plant sitting in a corner, Darkness slips into the shadow of the plant and watches. Arthur and Ziggy continue down the stairs and over to the dining room. Darkness subvocalizes "Coming to the door,..... now," as the maitre D' touches the door handle and opens the door.

Archangel is waiting, tense, and ready to move in an instant. The fact that Charcoal called the troll with Arthur big, gives him reason to be that way, Charcoal is big. For him to call someone big, he must be something. As the door opens, he moves a bit closer to the door, up behind the maitre D' as he steps into the room and out of the way for Arthur and Ziggy to enter. Arthur steps in, expecting to see someone at the table, and there's no one there, he quickly looks around the room and sees Archangel standing behind the maitre D'.

"Hello Arthur," says Archangel, causing the maitre D' to jump and almost drop his notepad from his hand.

"Oh my goodness!" shouts the maitre D'.

Arthur's face breaks into a grin, and he walks on toward the table. "Hello," he refrains from using Archangel's name while the maitre D's is in the room. He doesn't know how the runner would feel about that yet, so 'discretion is the better part of valor', he thinks to himself.

Archangel helps the maitre D' to steady himself, "Sorry 'bout that friend," he says to the man, whose color is just now starting to return to his face.

Ziggy follows Arthur into the room and Arthur turns to the maitre D' "We should have another guest shortly." The maitre D' nods and exits the room.

Arch is thinking to himself, "Yep, we got a surprise for you too," thinking how Darkness is already inside, so Charcoal will be the one coming into the door asking for the 'Randolph Party.'

"Archangel, really, you shouldn't scare people like that," he's still grinning. "Darkness will be joining us will he not?"

"Yes, just about right now, I think." says Archangel as the door opens, and Darkness let's himself in. "By the way, the room is clean," Arch says as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the bug scanner and hands it back to Darkness, "Thanks priyatel."

"Null sheen," Darkness says simply.

"Darkness pleased to meet you. Gentlemen, this is Ziggy," Arthur says indicating the big troll. "Ziggy, this is Archangel, and Darkness."

Ziggy steps forward and sticks out a huge hand, "Pleased to meet you gentlemen," he says as he shakes each of the others hand. As Ziggy looks at each one in turn, he captures video and audio of both.

Arthur sits in a chair and reaches for a glass and the water pitcher, "Please gentlemen, sit down. Let's look at the menu."

Archangel sits, and as he is doing so, he subvocalizes, "Okay Char."

Charcoal leaves his place in the alley and moves to the parking area, where he walks up to the Mitzu. Vinnie rolls down a window and Charcoal reaches inside his coat and pulls out his Defiance shotgun, and hands it to Vinny, then heads for the door. When he walks in, the maitre D' looks up at Charcoal, "Yes?"

"The Randolph Party please."

"Yes, come this way," and he leads Charcoal in.

Now it's Charcoal's turn to subvocalize, "I'm inside, almost there, all's clear."

Archangel looks over to Arthur, "Arthur, you remember that we mentioned another person."

"Yes, you did didn't you? Is he coming tonight too? We'd better let the maitre D' know."

Archangel hold up a hand, "That won't be necessary," and he points to the door. A few seconds later, the door opens, and Charcoal walks in grinning. The maitre D' pulls the door shut and Charcoal says, "Hoi chummers, what's wiz?"

"Arthur, Ziggy, meet Charcoal," says Archangel.

"Damn," Arthur's mouth drops open,"Well, I must say, I'm impressed gentlemen, very professional, very bloody professional."

Archangel reaches out, and flicks on the white noise generator on the table. "We can talk now."

With that, the waiter comes in to take their orders.
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