After Tony and Emvee get back and sleep off what they can, Emvee gives a shot to healing them both up.
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 13t4: 4 5 5 4 1 5 5 3 5 4 2 2 2 | 8
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 7t2: 1 1 4 3 6+4 5 2 | 5
He heals himself with no trouble and no drain.
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 13t7: 3 6+2 5 2 4 2 2 2 3 4 2 2 2 | 1
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 7t2: 2 2 6+1 3 2 2 4 | 7
But can only manage one box for Tony, because of all that nasty 'ware clogging up his system. He has to spend five days in the hospital (for 1000nY) and three and a half resting up afterward to get back to full health.
Jota
This lion thing's got an aura like a floodlamp. I'm gonna check it out -- you wanna take a look too, Thurgun?
I'll do some research with my mage library and the Matrix, and if that doesn't get us anywhere I'll call up Leslie DuMont (magic instructor at the tech).
Gunther
Hello from the hospital -- they reckon it'll be another few days, and I'll need another few at home to get back up to full. I don't know when you all will be wanting to head back, so let me know, ok?
inky
"I figure we can stick around here for that long -- we'll want to see if we can find somebody who'll pay us for the run back to Seattle, anyway. Maybe Istereth knows somebody. Speaking of cash, though, I'm wondering how we made out on this run. Here's how I figure it for our run:
Base pay: 70k
Run expenditures:
Drugs for tainting the food: 4k (2k base, 2k for a rush job)
DocWagon van/uniforms/paint job: 12k
ID cards: 800nY (200 each, *4)
Quint's assistance: 3k
Run extra income:
5 uzis resold (probably @300 nY each, half the street price)
Net profit: 51.7k
Seem right? Kinda heavy on the expenses, but I guess you gotta spend money to make money. I'd offered Hex a full share back when I thought he was going to be on-site with us -- if folks want to negotiate that down with him to a half-share because he ended up not going into the compound, that'd be the same deal Quint was getting earlier."
katre
The chips you picked up: all are standard data-flecks. Two have the Zeta-Q logo on them, the third is unmarked.
The boxes are very similar. One is labelled "β-Datajack", the other is labelled "β-Memory - 100 Mp".
lpsmith
"Emvee" wrote:
This lion thing's got an aura like a floodlamp. I'm gonna check it out -- you wanna take a look too, Thurgun?
Sure. Thurgun rolls a 2. Hunh, pretty. I can see if Long Feather knows anything about that sort of thing, but O'i have no idea.
katre
"Thurgun" wrote:
"Emvee" wrote:
This lion thing's got an aura like a floodlamp. I'm gonna check it out -- you wanna take a look too, Thurgun?
Sure. Thurgun rolls a 2 . Hunh, pretty. I can see if Long Feather knows anything about that sort of thing, but O'i have no idea.
Looking at it astrally, it reminds you a lot of that Increase Reflexes sustaining focus you have. Also, for some reason, the word 'speed' comes into your head a lot.
inky
"Asher" wrote:
"I figure we can stick around here for that long -- we'll want to see if we can find somebody who'll pay us for the run back to Seattle, anyway.
Unless anyone is interested in heading over Denver way instead and taking advantage of Dr Rohm's offer, that is.
Gunther
Things to add to/subtract from the total: we spent 2600 NY on gear, and found a bottle of mophium. No idea what the street price of that is.
Jota
Minus 1k nY for Tony's hospital stay, plus the actual 20k nY for the data itself. So I think that brings us to 68.1k, plus whatever we get from re-selling the extras we found.
I looked around on th'Matrix, an' I think this "beta" thing's s'posed t' be top shelf 'ware -- an' a hundr'd Mp? I think we're ont' somethin' good. Unless s'meone wants t' count it 'gainst their cut, I think we c'n get a pretty sweet pile o' n'yen f'r it. We sh'ld shop th' morphium around too.
These other parts I got, they're pretty standard 'puter bits, so's prob'ly not worth th' trouble o' sellin' 'em off -- mind 'f I hang ont' 'em in case we need spare stuff later on?
Now, 'bout that lion thingy... I don't know that I trust it. May be nice t'ave around, but... I don't wanna get caught by 'n Ares power-Mage comin' back f'r 'is toys. 'f we 'ang ont' it, I think we oughtta try t' break that bond ASAP.
What d'y'guys thinK?
inky
"Emvee" wrote:
Now, 'bout that lion thingy... I don't know that I trust it. May be nice t'ave around, but... I don't wanna get caught by 'n Ares power-Mage comin' back f'r 'is toys. 'f we 'ang ont' it, I think we oughtta try t' break that bond ASAP.
What d'y'guys thinK?
I agree we don't want to give Ares any leads on us after what we just did. Is there any way we can hide the thing without breaking the bond in case we want to track it down later? Like, put it in a lead box or something?
Jota
"Asher" wrote:
Is there any way we can hide the thing without breaking the bond in case we want to track it down later?
In case a Magic Knowledge check is relevant:
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 3t4: 1 1 5 | 1
(Using 4 as an arbitrary TN; katre can re-interpret the numbers as appropriate for the real TN.)
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
"Asher" wrote:
Is there any way we can hide the thing without breaking the bond in case we want to track it down later?
In case a Magic Knowledge check is relevant:
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 3t4: 1 1 5 | 1
(Using 4 as an arbitrary TN; katre can re-interpret the numbers as appropriate for the real TN.)
You have no idea if that would work or not.
Jota
No idea. Y' c'n try it -- I mean, I doubt puttin' it inna box'll be any worse 'n not puttin' it inna box -- but I know next t' nothin' 'bout astral trackin', I gotta admit. Mayb' that Feather dude o' Thurgun's knows that kinda thing?
lpsmith
[after chatting with dr. rohm about this thing...
OK, it looks like if O'i break the enchantment on this, it's not made of anything that O'i can use to make a new one I couldn't find cheap somewhere else.
But as it is, it's probably worth something to Ares. We can't sell it to them directly, of course, but we know that one fixer guy in town who might be interested. Asher, you want to give him a call? You seem to be better than O'i am at getting people to give us more yen.
Jota
After the meeting with Longfeather and the subsequent research, I'm going to look for a little model of a Camaro. When we get to San Fran, I want to locate Albert Grand's grave and leave it there as a memorial.
I'm also going to try to look up Kelly Wildes' shop if I can. If it's still around, I'll pay it a visit (even if it's not, I may as well visit anyway, in case anyone in the neighborhood remembers it). If anyone else in the group wants to come along for that part, I wouldn't object to company. If it's gone, I'll try to research what happened to it and to her.
lpsmith
Oh, O'im definitely up for that. In for a penny...
inky
"Thurgun" wrote:
But as it is, it's probably worth something to Ares. We can't sell it to them directly, of course, but we know that one fixer guy in town who might be interested. Asher, you want to give him a call? You seem to be better than O'i am at getting people to give us more yen.
Sunny's really the negotiation type -- I'll pass off to her, if she's up to it. But before she tries, maybe I'll spend a day or two trying to research the lion symbol. Maybe it's some kind of secret society or something.
Int roll for research, for what it's worth:
[shadowrun] Asher rolls 6t4: 2 2 6+6+3 4 2 1 | 2
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
After the meeting with Longfeather and the subsequent research, I'm going to look for a little model of a Camaro. When we get to San Fran, I want to locate Albert Grand's grave and leave it there as a memorial.
I'm also going to try to look up Kelly Wildes' shop if I can. If it's still around, I'll pay it a visit (even if it's not, I may as well visit anyway, in case anyone in the neighborhood remembers it). If anyone else in the group wants to come along for that part, I wouldn't object to company. If it's gone, I'll try to research what happened to it and to her.
Dropping off the model, you feel a sense of peace and well-being. You get one point of Karma.
You manage to get the modern street location of the shop, and head by. There's a small junk store there, called Wildes'. Going in, and asking some questions, you learn that a) the store is run by Kelly Wildes' grandkids, and b) the entire coin collection was sold off to a rich collector about 30 years ago.
katre
"Asher" wrote:
Sunny's really the negotiation type -- I'll pass off to her, if she's up to it. But before she tries, maybe I'll spend a day or two trying to research the lion symbol. Maybe it's some kind of secret society or something.
Int roll for research, for what it's worth:
[shadowrun] Asher rolls 6t4: 2 2 6+6+3 4 2 1 | 2
You spend some time on the matrix terminal, and turn up an early-21st-century novel by someone called Dave White called The Lions of Malta. Apparently it's about some cult on the island of Malta in the early medieval era, who wore lion pendants to prove their membership to each other. Apparently they guarded an ancient and terrible secret which, many readers of the book believed, was ACTUALLY REAL. There is nothing else anywhere on the matrix about the Lions of Malta, except for more references to this book.
Jota
"katre" wrote:
Dropping off the model, you feel a sense of peace and well-being. You get one point of Karma.
Woo! Karma without anybody getting killed or anything getting stolen! Thank you muchly.
"katre" wrote:
Going in, and asking some questions, you learn that a) the store is run by Kelly Wildes' grandkids, and b) the entire coin collection was sold off to a rich collector about 30 years ago.
D'y'have any idea, 'r any records maybe, o' who it mighta been that bought it? 'm tryin' track down a sorta fam'ly heirloom that I think mighta been part o' that.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
D'y'have any idea, 'r any records maybe, o' who it mighta been that bought it? 'm tryin' track down a sorta fam'ly heirloom that I think mighta been part o' that.
The owner says, "Hmm, let me see if I wrote it down.... Oh, yeah, old Byron Halseth bought it all. He used to come by once a week, looking for stuff for his collection. That was before the agoraphoria set in, of course. Now he just stays in his mansion all day every day, looking at his stuff, or so they say."
Jota
At this point, I think I'm going to cut into someone's phone line and make a few calls (since long distance charges are things that happen to other people). One to the dealer in Denver, to find out where his/her penny came from and how much he/she's asking for it. A second to Byron Halseth (or whoever answers the phones for him) to try to find out A) if the penny was in the collection when he bought it, and B) if so, what's happened to it since then. And a third to my grandfather in Vegas (used to be a blackjack dealer until he came up with a design for an improved tamper-detecting card shuffler, which he sold and then retired on the profits from):
Gramps? Gramps, 's me, Marv'n.
No, Marvin -- Marvin Locke, y'r grandson.
Yeah, 'sright, Becky's kid.
Nah, I ain't seen 'er since. You heard what hap'ned, right?
Yeah, me too. Anyway, look, did either you 'r Gram have a grandfather called Albert? Lived in San Fran?
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Gramps? Gramps, 's me, Marv'n.
No, Marvin -- Marvin Locke, y'r grandson.
Yeah, 'sright, Becky's kid.
Nah, I ain't seen 'er since. You heard what hap'ned, right?
Yeah, me too. Anyway, look, did either you 'r Gram have a grandfather called Albert? Lived in San Fran?
"Albert? You askin' 'bout my Grampa Albert? What you wanna know about him for? Great man, auto mechanic, he invented the 150 mpg carburetor! Of course, then the government refused to issue a patent and it was stolen by the CIA and he was never allowed to sell it. But still, a great mechanical mind! Taught me everything I know."
Jota
"katre" wrote:
Nicola Barba, the dealer in Denver, says that she just sold the penny, but that she aquired it from an auction in Miami two years ago.
Oh, huh. Who's th'lucky buyer? 'd like t' get in contact with 'em, t' try t' do an int'view.
I'll also look up the auction in Miami to find if there's a record of who the seller was (and when it took place).
"katre" wrote:
You dial the number. Someone picks up the phone, yells "LEAVE ME ALONE!", and then slams down the receiver.
Hey, guys. 'm tryin' track down an ol' fam'ly heirloom, an' there's a chance that it might temp'rar'l' b'long t' this "Halseth" guy. He won't gimme more 'n three words on th'phone, though. An'you guys got any good ideas on how I c'n get a look in 'is coin c'lection wi'out makin' too much trouble? Seems like th'kinda guy who's got a pretty good lockdown on 'is house, unfort'nately.
I'll check around for any gossip or news articles on him (a mysterious rich recluse probably generates a bit of buzz, I'd think). See what I can find out about his interests and habits and such. I'll also talk walk around his neighborhood to see if I pick up any proximity vibes from the coin.
"katre" wrote:
"Albert? You askin' 'bout my Grampa Albert? What you wanna know about him for? Great man, auto mechanic, he invented the 150 mpg carburetor! Of course, then the government refused to issue a patent and it was stolen by the CIA and he was never allowed to sell it. But still, a great mechanical mind! Taught me everything I know."
I was, uh... jus' talkin' t' him. Kinda. I mean. Uh... I mean, I was in San Francisco, an' I saw 'is gravestone. You should... you should give 'im a call. Er. A visit. Somethin'. Y'know. Uh. D'y'believe in ghosts?
Jota
Also, Sargent agreed on-MUD to handle the negotiation for selling the lion amulet to someone who might sell it back to Ares, but with his intermittent Internet, I don't know if he's going to have time to post about it.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Also, Sargent agreed on-MUD to handle the negotiation for selling the lion amulet to someone who might sell it back to Ares, but with his intermittent Internet, I don't know if he's going to have time to post about it.
GM says, "Okay, Sunny is looking for a fixer in San Fran who handles magical artifacts."
[shadowrun] GM rolls 4t4: 3 4 1 4 | 2
GM says, "After a day of calling around, she gets the number of Alesia Vesel, an elven fixer who lives by the waterfront."
GM says, "Sunny shows the amulet to Alesia, and explains what it does. She asks if he knows what this is."
GM says, "Sunny just asks if Alesia wants it."
GM says, "Sunny's negotiate roll:"
[shadowrun] GM rolls 5t6: 5 3 4 1 4 | 0
GM says, "Alesia's negotiate roll:"
[shadowrun] GM rolls 6t5: 5 1 4 6+2 1 3 | 2
GM says, "Alesia looks at it, says that she'll have to turn it over quickly, but that she'll give 30,000nY for it. Sunny sighs and takes it."
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Oh, huh. Who's th'lucky buyer? 'd like t' get in contact with 'em, t' try t' do an int'view.
I'll also look up the auction in Miami to find if there's a record of who the seller was (and when it took place).
The coin was sold to a man named Darius Jagow, who lives in Denver. According to the records, it was auctioned in Miami by the estate of Laventa Pique.
"Emvee" wrote:
I'll check around for any gossip or news articles on Halseth (a mysterious rich recluse probably generates a bit of buzz, I'd think). See what I can find out about his interests and habits and such. I'll also talk walk around his neighborhood to see if I pick up any proximity vibes from the coin.
Halseth apparently made a lot of money a few decades ago as a proto-decker (pre-deck, even, so he was just a hacker). He was involved with the early attempts to create the modern Matrix, cyberdecks, and ASIST technology, but quickly left the field, with a lot of money, and now lives alone in a large house in SF. He never leaves his house, and everything is delivered.
Walking through the neighborhood, his house is the big on one the bigger lot with the brick wall around it. Peering through the wrought-iron gate at the driveway, you see a nice big grassy lawn, a two-story brick house, and a guard dog racing towards you.
lpsmith
Assuming this is a rather upscale neighborhood, Thurgun will see if he can find out the place where the servants in the neighbors' places go to unwind and see what he can find out. Barring that, find out where some of the delivery people go to unwind, etc. He's looking to see if there's any crack in the recluse facade, find out what the story is on why he became such a recluse in the first place, see if he can find someone who used to work for him (or, heck, if anyone works for him now), and find out if he has any family (preferably local). These are all possible inroads to discover: what does he want, and how might we get it for him?
katre
"Thurgun" wrote:
Assuming this is a rather upscale neighborhood, Thurgun will see if he can find out the place where the servants in the neighbors' places go to unwind and see what he can find out. Barring that, find out where some of the delivery people go to unwind, etc. He's looking to see if there's any crack in the recluse facade, find out what the story is on why he became such a recluse in the first place, see if he can find someone who used to work for him (or, heck, if anyone works for him now), and find out if he has any family (preferably local). These are all possible inroads to discover: what does he want, and how might we get it for him?
After a bit of work and hanging out and watching you find that the food deliveries are from the upscale neighborhood grocery, McKroger's. Hanging around the back, you find some of the delivery guys on break, smoking cigaretts.
You chat with them a bit and talk about stuff, and work the conversation around to Halseth.
"Oh, man, that guy. Totally wacko. Whenever he stays in and it's just the butler, I'm always happier to do a drop-off."
"Yeah, same here. I was delivering yesterday, and the old guy came out, waving his cane and telling me to go back to Skynet. And then he started wailing on the truck with his cane until the butler dragged him off."
They talk a bit more about the deliveries and then say they have to get back to work.
Jota
"katre" wrote:
"Yeah, same here. I was delivering yesterday, and the old guy came out, waving his cane and telling me to go back to Skynet. And then he started wailing on the truck with his cane until the butler dragged him off."
Hmm. I'm going to go talk to the delivery guys myself, then. Tell them that I'm interested in meeting Halseth, and ask if they'll let me come along on a delivery with them. If they're reticent, I'll offer a bribe.
Meanwhile, I'll check if I can find any info on Laventa Pique's heirs. If I can, I'll contact them to see if they can tell me how and when she acquired her penny.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Hmm. I'm going to go talk to the delivery guys myself, then. Tell them that I'm interested in meeting Halseth, and ask if they'll let me come along on a delivery with them. If they're reticent, I'll offer a bribe.
After a bit of financial discussion (150nY worth), they agree to let you ride along on the next delivery, the next day.
"Emvee" wrote:
[/i] Meanwhile, I'll check if I can find any info on Laventa Pique's heirs. If I can, I'll contact them to see if they can tell me how and when she acquired her penny. [/i]
After a bit of matrix work, you find a phone listing for a Billy Pique, in the right city. You call and, yes, he is her son. Upon being asked about the penny, he says, "Oh, mom was a big coin collector. I'm not sure wheer they all came from, but she got a big lot of them back about, oh, 20 years or so ago, from another collector in New York who went bankrupt and had to sell. What, his name? It was my mother's hobby, and 20 years ago. Tell you what, send me a small, hmm, donation towards, uh, maintaining her grave, and I'll see if I can turn that up."
Jota
"katre" wrote:
"Tell you what, send me a small, hmm, donation towards, uh, maintaining her grave, and I'll see if I can turn that up."
Yeah, sure. 'f that's how y' think she'd've wanted it, guess y'r time's valu'ble.
I wire him the cash. When he sends me the name, I see what I can do about contacting that seller to find out if he or she had the penny that was in Pique's estate.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
"katre" wrote:
"Tell you what, send me a small, hmm, donation towards, uh, maintaining her grave, and I'll see if I can turn that up."
Yeah, sure. 'f that's how y' think she'd've wanted it, guess y'r time's valu'ble.
I wire him the cash. When he sends me the name, I see what I can do about contacting that seller to find out if he or she had the penny that was in Pique's estate.
Yo eventually get back a name and a phone number and call Lyman Rowzee, the New York collector.
"What? A double-headed 1949 penny? I used to have one, but I sold it years ago. Call up Laventa Pique, ask her about it."
"Oh, she sold it? Why're you calling me, then?"
"You want to know where I got it? Trying to poach my source, huh? Well, I'll tell ya, cause it's kinda funny. About 50 years ago now, this guy comes into my store, old fella even then. He says he has this lucky penny he wants to sell, cause his son needs the money, yadda yadda. I gave him some cash for it, and asked where he got it. He says that he got it back in change from buying a screwdriver! Can you believe it! Anyway, that's the story, I gotta go, bye."
Jota
Looks like Halseth's the last lead for the time being. Between now and tomorrow, I'll ring up my grandfather again to talk to him about Albert's 150 mpg carburetor. Both because it's a cool thing in and of itself, and to find out if the design still exists. If I can get a copy of it, it might be a useful bargaining chip to use when dealing with Halseth: something that's very rare, a bit old-fashioned, and a feat of highly clever technological ingenuity.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Looks like Halseth's the last lead for the time being. Between now and tomorrow, I'll ring up my grandfather again to talk to him about Albert's 150 mpg carburetor. Both because it's a cool thing in and of itself, and to find out if the design still exists. If I can get a copy of it, it might be a useful bargaining chip to use when dealing with Halseth: something that's very rare, a bit old-fashioned, and a feat of highly clever technological ingenuity.
You call your grandfather back. He says he might have some of Grampa Albert's notes, he'll take a look and see.
On the appointed day, you show up at McKroger's, hop on the delivery van, and ride around doing deliveries. Finally, you get to Halspeth's. The gate opens, the truck drives in, and the two delivery guys hop out and start unloading. While they put stuff on a cart, a middle-aged man comes out of the house.
Jota
I approach him.
Mr. Halseth?
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
I approach him.
Mr. Halseth?
"Excuse me? I am Welton, I work for Mr. Halseth. Does McKroger's need to discuss something?"
Jota
Act'lly, I was hopin' t' talk t' Mr. Halseth about a matter o' cert'n rare items. One that 'e might 'ave, an' one that I might be able t' get f'r 'im. I hear he's in'rested in uncommon things an' by-gone technology...?
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Act'lly, I was hopin' t' talk t' Mr. Halseth about a matter o' cert'n rare items. One that 'e might 'ave, an' one that I might be able t' get f'r 'im. I hear he's in'rested in uncommon things an' by-gone technology...?
"Technology? Mr. Halseth detests technology, given his history. I am not sure how you got here, but I do not think you should be bothering him."
Welton begins trying to gesture you back towards the delivery van, as another, much older, man comes out of the house, leaning on a cane.
"Skynet! Are you back?! Is your blasted van trying to sneak in a killer robot again!"
Jota
"No, no, I mean pre-technology. Twentieth century!
"Mr. Halseth, please, I need t' talk t' you. 's OK, 'm not a robot. I don't e'en got any 'ware. But I need t' talk t'y' 'bout th'twentieth century."
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
"No, no, I mean pre -technology. Twentieth century!
"Mr. Halseth, please, I need t' talk t' you. 's OK, 'm not a robot. I don't e'en got any 'ware. But I need t' talk t'y' 'bout th'twentieth century."
Halseth peers at you strangely. "Twentieth century? Of course it's the twentieth century, it's 1997, we still have time, but only if I can escape from Skynet's assassins."
Welton turns to Halseth, "Sir, please, I will escort this man off the premises. Please go back inside."
Halseth looks at you again, and then turns and shuffles back in.
Jota
Are you a friend o' Sarah Connor? 'f so, mayb' I c'n help. 'm from 2060.
Old trideos knowledge test:
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 5t4: 6+6+2 2 4 1 1 | 2
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Are you a friend o' Sarah Connor? 'f so, mayb' I c'n help. 'm from 2060.
Halspeth turns back quickly. "Sarah? You know Sarah! You can help me! Soon, Skynet will destroy the world. I need to destroy it first! But I don't know anything that will totally destroy electronics quickly enough! Can you help me?"
Welton says, "Sir, he is not serious. Let's go back inside, and this man can go away and then NOT COME BACK."
Welton leads Halspeth back into the house, closes the door, and then returns. "Please leave the premises now. Mr. Halseth is an old man, and his mind was destroyed in an experiment in 2018. You have no doubt worked him up and now I fear he will do himself harm. Good day."
Halseth walks back to the door and goes inside. The delivery guys from McKroger's are standing impatiently by their van.
Jota
I whip out my phone and call the house. If the butler answers, then I let him talk to dead air while I go knock on the door, hoping Halseth will open it while the butler's busy. If Halseth is the one who answers the phone, then I just talk to him that way. If I can't get Halseth either way, I'll just shout near a window:
I c'n control 'lectricity. Lightning that'll short out any computer, an'thin' electronic. But I need an artifact from y'r era t' do it! 's made t' look like a penny, a 1949 double-headed penny...
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
I whip out my phone and call the house. If the butler answers, then I let him talk to dead air while I go knock on the door, hoping Halseth will open it while the butler's busy. If Halseth is the one who answers the phone, then I just talk to him that way. If I can't get Halseth either way, I'll just shout near a window:
I c'n control 'lectricity. Lightning that'll short out any computer, an'thin' electronic. But I need an artifact from y'r era t' do it! 's made t' look like a penny, a 1949 double-headed penny...
As you call, Welton picks up the phone. You quickly hit the 'Mute' button and knock on the door, which Halseth answers. You give him your message and he stared at you intently.
"I...think I have one of those. Come back tomorrow, I'll find it, thank you, thank you!"
Jota
Thank you. 'll be here, t'morrow.
While I'm waiting, I'll check the Matrix for info on the early years of ASIST, particularly looking for info on accidents, disasters, or other mishaps that occurred during its development.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
While I'm waiting, I'll check the Matrix for info on the early years of ASIST, particularly looking for info on accidents, disasters, or other mishaps that occurred during its development.
You search, and don't find much. There are a few references to some sort of problem during an early simsense test involving an old movie converted to the new simsense format via computer, but you can't find any details to follow up on.
Jota
Hey, guys, y'know that Halseth guy I mention th'other day? Looks like 'e's prob'ly got it, an' 'll be willin' t' lend a hand. 'E's a little off 'is rocker, but seems decent 'sides from that. 'm gonna give 'im a visit t'morrow, t' try t' pick it up. Anyone want t' come, i' case things go foul, 's fine by me.
So tomorrow I'll show up at the place with any friends who want to join me and my fingers crossed. To be safe, I'll leave anything obvious electronic either behind or tucked out of sight. I'd recommend that anyone who's got visible cyberware stay out of sight, as well -- we can keep in contact with concealed radios.
Sargent
Nifty, I've been getting a little bored. Did you know there are laws against things like target practice within SF city limits? Cali Free State my ass.
I'll join in the fun.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
So tomorrow I'll show up at the place with any friends who want to join me and my fingers crossed. To be safe, I'll leave anything obvious electronic either behind or tucked out of sight. I'd recommend that anyone who's got visible cyberware stay out of sight, as well -- we can keep in contact with concealed radios.
At the appointed time, you move up towards the gate, and wait for a few minutes. Just as you're getting tired, Halseth walks out of the house and down towards you.
"Did you bring it? Did you bring the Imp? Er, I think it's an Imp. Omp? Amp?"
Jota
"katre" wrote:
"Did you bring it? Did you bring the Imp? Er, I think it's an Imp. Omp? Amp?"
Yeah... I, uh, got th'EMP surgic'lly 'mplanted. So's I c'ld bring it back wi' me. (taps arm) Jus' point me at th' thing y'need zapped, an' 'm ready t' go. 'f y' got th' penny, that is.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Yeah... I, uh, got th'EMP surgic'lly 'mplanted. So's I c'ld bring it back wi' me. (taps arm) Jus' point me at th' thing y'need zapped, an' 'm ready t' go. 'f y' got th' penny, that is.
"I have the penny, here." He opens his hand to show you a small copper disk. "But you must leave the EMP with me, I need it for my safety. I'll give you this when you give me the EMP."
Looking at the penny with astral perception, it is glowing brightly.
Jota
"katre" wrote:
"But you must leave the EMP with me, I need it for my safety. I'll give you this when you give me the EMP."
Emvee nods slowly and starts going through his pockets.
Alright... 'll jus' need t'... download th' induction matrix... int' a proper recept'cle...
He fishes out a pocket flash-light and the can-opener he bought the other day. He pops them both open and quickly starts shifting parts from one to the other and back, cutting and soldering and occassionally swearing.
Electronics B/R:
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 6t4: 2 4 3 4 3 1 | 2
When he's done, he's got something that looks like it's a ray gun from a demented prop master working on a low-budget 1950's B SF movie. The bulb from the flashlight is visible on top, and on the front there's are two electrodes sticking out.
He holds it against the spot on his arm that he tapped before (and depresses a concealed button), and the bulb begins to glow dimly, then grows slowly to full strength (then winks out, when he releases it).
If you push the button that's where a trigger should be, the bulb will flash and the two electrodes will spark together brightly (wasting a substantial amount of battery power in the process).
'K, I think 's all charged up. Careful 'bout usin' it -- y'should save it 'til y' really need it, and y'got no other opt'ns, 'cuz 'm not sure how many shots y'll get. 'f y' waste it, then y' c'n be sure they'll show up th'next day an' y'won't be ready f'r 'em, y'know?
As an afterthought, he adds:
I got 't tuned t' th'Skynet frequ'ncies. Dunno what 't'll do, 'f an'thin', t' reg'lar gear -- but 'f one o' th'droids comes after you, 'm sure this'll do th'trick.
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
'K, I think 's all charged up. Careful 'bout usin' it -- y'should save it 'til y' really need it, and y'got no other opt'ns, 'cuz 'm not sure how many shots y'll get. 'f y' waste it, then y' c'n be sure they'll show up th'next day an' y'won't be ready f'r 'em, y'know?
As you prepare to hand the device to Halseth, you see a faint shape take form behind him. Transparent, you almost think it's just a heat shimmer, except that it seems to be wearing overalls, and shaking its head at you.
No one else with you can see it, just like they didn't see the penny glowing astrally.
Jota
Seeing the shape, I'll take a closer Astral look at what's in front of me. Then:
...but... 'm not pos'tive th'charge took. There's, uh, a chance this one'll b' a dud. 'f y'want me t' be absolutely sure 't's th'real thing... 'm gonna need a li'l more time. (peering at his boots) T' do a full transfer. O' th' matrix thingy.
Then, mumbling more quietly: Din't kno'need'd s'mthin' Ic'ld l've b'hind...
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Seeing the shape, I'll take a closer Astral look at what's in front of me. Then:
...but... 'm not pos'tive th'charge took. There's, uh, a chance this one'll b' a dud. 'f y'want me t' be absolutely sure 't's th'real thing... 'm gonna need a li'l more time. (peering at his boots) T' do a full transfer. O' th' matrix thingy.
Then, mumbling more quietly: Din't kno'need'd s'mthin' Ic'ld l've b'hind...
Looking astrally, you're just in time to see the faint shape disappear completely. The penny is still glowing, but fainter than before.
Looking at Halseth, his aura is much more muted that most. There's a strong reddish streak that implies a creative mind, and a bluish undertone that seems to say he's very sad most of the time. Also, there are a few gaps in his skull, places where there's no aura at all. Most of them, near the surface, are a washed-out grey, but near the center there is a small pitch black patch.
Halseth looks at you, and says, "Oh. Okay. When will you be back?"
Jota
Might be a while. 'm gonna have t' find parts. An' 't'll take some work. Least a couple weeks, prob'ly more... 'll be back in a month. 'f 'm done 'r not, 'll let y'know then how much longer it'll be.
Let's start the tinkering rolls early:
First, Emvee considers Scrounging for the parts. But some instinct -- Albert? -- tells him that would be a bad idea; this is a not a good time of year to be looking for EMP parts in SF. The pieces for an Intermediate-level pulse generator are 1000nY, so we'll pick them up retail. Moving onto design:
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 6t6: 5 4 4 2 3 2 | 0
Nothing much there. It's a difficult thing to build, so rather than just winging it, we'll call Hex and pass him 500 nY to see if there are any good designs already out there on the Matrix. He gets two successes, so that'll help considerably with building the thing:
[shadowrun] Emvee rolls 6t5: 3 5 2 1 2 5 | 2
Success! Within a week, it's ready. It'll probably only hold together for one shot, but it's definitely a pulse generator. I'll try dropping by the Halseth place again during the next delivery time, in the hopes that I'll get lucky and catch him...
katre
"Emvee" wrote:
Success! Within a week, it's ready. It'll probably only hold together for one shot, but it's definitely a pulse generator. I'll try dropping by the Halseth place again during the next delivery time, in the hopes that I'll get lucky and catch him...
Showing up and loitering around, you see Halseth come running out the door as soon as the van arrives, only to dejectedly turn back around. You quickly call his name and he comes over to you.
"Do you have it?"
You hand over the EMP, explaining that it's still one-use only, and he gives you the penny, before running back into his house.
katre
A month later, watching the news, you see a brief story about an eccentric San Francisco native, formerly a research scientist, whose mental illness was cured after over 40 years of believing he was a character in an old movie from the 20th century.
You receive 2 karma.