[SR] "Chapter 1: Another day at the bar..."

[Shalimar]

"I'll do it, but I need to know more about where she was abducted from, and about this..." she paused for a second rolling the word cult around on her tongue, finally deciding it was as close as made no nevermind for the description thus far," about the cult." Something about the plight of the elf child reminded her of herself, and of her former duties as a Paladin, so long as the pay was enough to cover expenses she would do it, maybe even if the expenses ran a little over the pay, but there was no need to let the Johnson know that.

She had been mostly quiet until speaking up with her acceptance of the job, mostly letting her magically enhanced senses glean what they could about the others that she might be working with. Whether or not they carried the scent of gun oil, signifying their being armed, whether or not she could smell the delicate lubricants inhabiting cyberware, and anything else of interest.

 

[Tory Adore]

Bowie commits the girl's image to memory and lays the photo back down on the table.
"Hmmm...Metahumans... Cult... By family, do you mean _your_ family? You've got some pretty big gaps here O'Flaherty, and pay's just one of them like that guy said. Does your 'friend' that stormed in here have info to share on the matter? Hell, would he give it up to the Shadows anyway? There's gotta be more than what's been alluded to so far. That ain't much to go on as it stands currently."

 

[Howling Coyote]

Swart starts turning towards the door when O'Flaherty mentions the metahumans cult. Frag, I'm not going against any metahuman group for these humans... Darn it, I could really use the money. He takes a look at the picture. When he sees her race, "What's the pay, and what’s the cult?"

 

[Douane]

O'Flaherty coughs and seems absent for a few comments before he collects himself:

"About the cult, hmm. Perhaps it should be really called a policlub - I think that's how they name themselves these days -, but then I don't follow politics, so I wouldn't know.
Anyway, they are the "United Front of Metahumanity" and are some kind of superiority group, preaching that the 'age of mankind' is over and metahumans should now take the reins of destiny in their own hands. It seems to recruit metas of all kinds, no preference. Mainly in the Redmond Barrens, but I've seen 'em almost everywhere, even in Downtown.
Their 'headquarters' are in Tacoma's Westside, near Westgate Boulevard; I can give you the LTG."

...

"As for payment, I'll pay you 2000 Nuyen each, but that's all I can ...," once again he grows distant for a moment, but then continues with a weary sigh "Okay folks, I'll personally add another 1000 on top of that, but that's it. We'll really owe you, though, and we don't forget our friends.

What do you say?"



Finally becoming aware of your questioning stare, Bowie, O'Flaherty shakes his head and adds:

"Look, my 'friend' 's got some bad experiences with your kind, so he's kinda burned. That he also is a hothead you have already experienced. It's just that we all like the girl 'round here, since she has helped out here and there for years, even tended the bar sometimes, and, as you've seen, we are a very closely-knit bunch here; thus he worries, too."



"So, what about it?"

 

[Douane]

Interlude 1:

"Detroit, this is Raider 1. We've established contact with the target. It has entered a local establishment called 'O'Flaherty's'. Over."

"Interesting choice, Raider 1. Still, it matters not. Initiate appropriate response. And remember always that the target is to be taken alive. Over."

"Roger, Detroit. We'll strike ASAP. Over."

"Raider 1, under no circumstances will you take action while the target is within the present location! Perhaps you have forgotten the last incident of this kind, but Command has not. You will wait till a better opportunity arises! Over."

"Detroit, if we wait too long the target will get away again. We must act now! Over."

"Raider 1, collateral damage is acceptable within certain limits. Attacking the pub is right out. Understood, Raider 1? Over."

"Roger, Detroit. We will wait. Over."

"Raider 1, remember that patience is a virtue. Your fee should more than make up for your inconvenience. Over and out."

 

[Xael]

"Cults, policlubs, or just bunch of idiots. There's no difference to me.", Xerd says while staring at O'Flaherty. "They're no different from other racists.

I'll do it."

Hell, I'd almost do it for free if I wasn't so broke. Need to add that "United Front of Metahumanity" to my "shoot on sight" list.

 

[Xael]

"Let's just hope that there aren't any BUMPs at the road."

 

[Tory Adore]

"I'm game,"
Bowie says as she exhales through her pursed lips curls of white smoke from the long draw she had taken from the cigarette Luca had generously offered her.

 

[eric_the_half_bee]

”Hmm, infiltrating a Policlub .... rescuing the cute girl who helped out here ... for 3000 Ny ???“ Luca slightly shakes his head. “Sounds a bit too easy and too generous, what’s this: ‘Kill the dragon and rescue the princess’ - the new fantasy simsense from Fuji Entertainment ?”

Supplying his lungs with the last bit of nikotin he could wrench out of his cigarette, Luca leans forward and looks straight into the eyes of the generous Mr. Johnson, err, Mr. O`Flaherty.
“What kinda story is this, chummer ? 3000 Ny for each of us, just to rescue a ‘nice girl you all like’ ? ‘cause she helped out well ?“
With his best ‘innocent look’ on his face he asks: [/I]“Helped out in which way, eh´ ?“

...

“Look, O´Flaherty. 3000 Ny will get me truck new tires, an upgraded engine and I´ll have a good living for a quarter of a year to boot.
And you´ll pay 5 times that for this girl ?“

“O.k., where´s the hook ? .... Let me guess, this ‘United Front of Stupidity’ is Fuji and the good looking girl is the daughter of some exec, who´s in trouble ‘cause his rival kidnapped her ? Alas, that would make sense at least.“[/I]

After lighting a new cigarette Luca continues:
“Sure, you won´t tell us the whole ‘true story’ ´bout our job ... don´t suppose you´ll do ... but give me…,“ stopping in midsentence Luca looks around to check the reactions of the others. “ Give us a little more than that LTG, the address and a „recruiting in the barrens“-story“.

„The pay isn´t my problem. I´m in, but I don´t wanna risk my life for some kind of fairy tale.“

 

[Tory Adore]

At hearing Luca's wise words, Bowie steps closer, leaning in a bit to him with a smile creeping out of the right corner of her mouth saying in a lowered voice,
"Man Luca, I really do like how ya think. Well except the part 'bout the money. Usually I work alone, but maybe we should hook up on this one. Hell, maybe a few of us here should make a connection from the looks of everyone."

Bowie turns to the bar keep. By mere facial expression, as her eyes are still sheilded by her shades, one might pick out her confusion as she recounts how much each of them will be getting for the job.
"Not that I particularly care where the money comes from, but where _you_ gonna get the extra dough to kick in to each of us? Luca's got a good point. I ain't riskin' somethin' for nothin' either ya know. Perhaps you might wanna consider kickin' a bit of the pay our way before we head out to wrangle in your gal. Ya know... kind of a good faith deal with the rest upon her safe delivery to ya all."

Bowie straightens her body line to its full height, kicking one leg out to the side causing her leather long coat to rustle and stands with her legs slightly apart. Her hands are clasped behind her back in a relaxed military parade-rest sort of position next to Luca facing O'Flaherty with a half smile and raised eyebrows peering over the top of her black shades.