"I thought it was to kill the scrubbots."

"Yeah, that's what the crazy suicide bomber said, but how do we know he wasn't a traitor?  He basically tried to kill us all.  The Computer is our friend and would not have set us up for destruction like that."

The jackobot leads you confidently through the chaos of the plaza and into a RED corridor. The corridor leads to a T-intersection, where you turn right. The corridor splits... there are a couple more turns.. An elevator takes you down.. and out into an INFRARED hallway. Another couple of turns, and you find yourslef in what is apparently the PLC Outfitting Center. Several narrow tunnels lead off in various directions. Steam conduits line the low ceiling. Lining the sides of the tunnels are stall after stall of every sort of item: guns at this one, clothing at that one, bottles and cans and boxes of consumables, Teela-O merchandise... In each stall, an outfitter beckans invitingly. It's enough to make your eyes tear up with joy.

Eddie says, "Welcome to Outfitting."
Checking your PDC's, you see you should have about 4 hours left on your mission. Plenty of time!

Eddie wheels off, turning around the first stand and disappearing behind a big pile of I-LOVE-WARBOT T-shirts.

Fat merchant: "Well hello." The merchant puts his hands together as he squints his eyes. You now notice the big warbot standing behind him. "Today, we're having a discount on everything you see. Clearing out last year's models. 25% off across the board. Normally it would be 200, but today: 150!"

Another merchant steps in, this one is holding a big pile of sweaters. He is probably from the stall next to the one you are standing in front of.

Sweater merchant: "Is this your first mission? Ah! It's good luck to sell to a Troubleshooter on her first mission. Please, find something you like and I'll give you a great price on it, even if it means I lose a little money."

Presenting a big pot with the image of a YELLOW droplet and holding it right in front of you he continues.

Sweater merchant: "This is GLITTER-Y. Don't let the YELLOW droplet fool you, it's really Clearance RED or INFRARED. If you put this over your reflec it reflects laser as if it was reflec of one Color higher! Really!"

Short Merchant:  "No, no.  You don't want that.  Come over here.  You'll see footwear like this all over the Complex, but only these sneakers have the extra rubberized tread!  Look at the traction on these!"

Mustached merchant:  "Wait, this model slugthrower is brand new!  Nobody else has these but me.  It's self-aiming too.  You can pretty much just wave this in the general direction of your target.  Soon, everybody's going to have one but right now, you can have on edge on everyone else."

Tall merchant:  If you want weapons talk to me.  I got ammunition, grenades.  See this Bouncy Bubbly Beverage?  If you shake it up enough and then throw it, you can get the same effect as a grenade at a fraction of the price!  How many do you want?"

The merchants cram around, trying to sell you all sorts of things, including the following:

Original Bouncy Bubble Beverage
Crunchee Tym algae chips.  Salt & Vinegar flavor!
A 55 gallon drum
Chocolyke Can Opener ("double duty as a knife!")
Cancer free cigarettes ("Teela's brand!")
Absolutely cancer free cigarettes ("for just a bit more")
Cancer Curing Cigarettes ("They'll at least get you in remission!")
Telescopalamine injection ("Self finking pills, a truth drug!")
Benetridin injection ("All day supervivid hallucinations, better than any vidshow!")
Thymoglandin/Combat Quick tablet ("Turns you into a killing machine!")
Ink refills ("Get the white.  At just 450 credits, you'll feel like a simulated UV citizen!")
X-traphedrine Rush! Bouncy bubble beverage ("Drink it drunk for even better results!")



You notice that there does not appear to be much surveillance here, including a total lack of security cameras.  Hence: Tension level 1

They haven't told you prices yet.  It appears they want you to suggest what you're interested in first.  They say they've got more stuff in the back, but this is some of the best.

OOC: In case I forgot to mention it, at RED clearance you have a monthly allowance of 1000 credits.  You all currently have 1000 credits.

Keep in mind that you may be fined for various reasons.

Dexter views the steam plumbing with interest as they pass by.  Once with the merchants, he starts to examine various items.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:47, Thu 28 Feb 2008.

"I want a model slugthrower!"

Some of you may have noticed a lack of prices listed.  That is not by accident.  This is not your typical store; it is a marketplace where all things appear negotiable to some extent.  You can offer a certain amount of money or ask them what they are asking for certain items.

(You have the sneaking suspicion they don't jump right out with prices all the time because they want to see if you'll offer more than their asking price, which would get them more profit.)

Ginger gives a sigh of excitement and says, "How much are you asking for that polyshine spray?"

Some of you inquire about asking prices for the following:

new sneakers-"Come back when you're rich," the merchant says with a laugh.  "They're going for 10,000 credits, rated for UV citizens."

Telescopalamine-"Ah, hope you're honest.  These go for for 100 credits."

Benetridin-"Want some good hallucinations, eh?  300 credits."

Thymoglandin- "400 credits for this, but they're worth every credit if you're in battle!"

X-traphedrine- "Just 10 credits.  How can you beat that, man?"

slugthrower- He says to CL, "With the self aiming capabilities, 1800.  no, wait, I can't cheat a projectile fan like you. 1200.  No, you're new, so just 1000 flat, and I'm losing money!"

Another merchant with a deep voice says, "Just wait til you see what I've got.  Everything from your simple ligher fluid, at just 250 credits, to slumbersoft tablets...put someone to sleep far easier than hitting them with a hammer.  And I got some stuff in back too."  He nods toward the rear.

"Foam underbody, a reworked foam pad you can wear under your jumpsuit to protect from impact.  You're troubleshooters, so I know you need that.  200 credits is a trifle when you remember it's for your own safety."

"Oh, and an emergency alarm!  Detects fire, radiation, presence of mutants, you name it.  Comes with eight different alert voices!  Eight!  Can you believe that.  Eight!  I'll give you the special introductory price of 300 credits, but don't tell anyone else."

He looks around and says softly.  "I got exocrutch too.  It's a piston-actuated servo controlled limb assistant that lets you keep going when you should be down.  Don't let your wounds be the death of you."  He laughs at his pun.  "And it's last year's model, so I'm letting them go for a mere 800 credits each."

"But wait, there's more...

"Psychiatric assistant cards.  Use them to determine if someone is insane, on drugs, or affected by secret society propaganda.  What more can I say?  This is an uncertified version, so I can let it go for just 750 credits."

"And repellent spray.  It keeps insects away.  What are insects?  Like very small bots.  Nasty.  And sometimes they suck your blood.  It's a steal at 10 credits, but what you might want it for is to spray in the face of an enemy.  Hurts like the dickens."

"Oh, and this petbot here.  What more can I say.  Never be lonely again.  It can carry stuff for you, bark warnings for you, all sorts of things.  And what's 1000 credits compared to eternal friendship anyway?"

"And lastly in my short supply list is what we call the backstage pass.  It's a security card, and it opens any door...and I mean ANY DOOR...regardless of security clearance.  I can't let it go for less than...uh...4000 credits, are you kidding.  Maybe you can pool your credits together.  I also lease equipment with a security, or I'll buy your stuff off you.  New RED clearance items sell well, you know."

Gunther is dazzled by the ammount of space they have in the RED zones of the complex. Then they reach the area where the Merchants are congregating, hawking their wares.

Ginger heaves a great big sigh and says to the merchant, "I'll give you 500 for the slugthrower, no more."  She waves 500 credits before his face.

Knowing that fees may need to be paid, CL buys a foam underbody.
"I'm ready."

OOO i'll take that emergency alarm...knowing are luck with fire and such...but I'll umm *Vixcis zips her jumpsuit down to show a little clevage* only give you 175 for it, but we can always go...*Vixcis moves in closer to the merchant and fiddles with the zipper on the jumpsuit a bit*...lower...

PM

PM

"Bet ya a credit your alarm doesn't work."

Okay, I just typed out a long response and lost it when RPoL locked up.  Here we go again.  I am trying to collate all of your inquiries and haggling to make it go faster.  If I forgot anything, let me know.

A merchant says to Ginger:  "How much is the polyshine spray?  Let me see.  Most places ask 2000.  I have an overstock, so...1500?  No, wait, for you I'll come down to 800 credits.  It'll raise your albedo and reflect lasers like nothing else!"

The other merchant says to her, "500 for the slugthrower?  You drive a hard bargain, but for you and your friend," he nods to CL, "if you both buy one, you can have 2 for 1000 credits.  Should I pack them up?"

The merchant says to Vicsis:  "175 for the alarm?"  He watches her sultry ways and appears to be more scared than anything else.  "Um...okay.  Sold.  You drive a hard bargain."  He gulps, awaiting another double entendre on that remark.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE SO FAR:

Ginger: polyshine spray (asking price of 800)/ slugthrower 500
CL: model slugthrower (for 500 credits?)/foam underbody (200 credits)
Vicsis: emergency alarm (175)


Since you each have 1000 credits, you can simply deduct the amount of purchase from that.

In case I didn't mention it before, the amount of your monthly income is based on your clearance level.  As your clearance color goes up, so does your money.

Dexter's eyes go wide when he hears the price on the shoes.  "Holy guacamole, shoebot!  I only need a pair of shoes, not some super high tech footwear!  You have anything cheaper?"

He also talks with the drug merchants.  "I'll offer 200 for some of everything.  That's Telescopalamine, Benetridin, Thymoglandin, and Slumbersoft."

OOO if you're gonna take 200 for four drugs then I'll pay 50 to get me some Benetridin, can never have to much drugs that's what I always say...

"Definitly 500 credits for the model slugthrower."

Ginger says, "Polyshine for 400?  You're tapping me out, man.  That's about all I've got to spare."

Your offers are accepted.  Please add them to your inventory and subtract your credits.

Last chance.  Anyone else want to buy anything before we move on?

Dexter wonders out loud, "What clearance level are all these items?"

"Red Clearance. Duh."

One of the marketeers seems unconcerned about the security clearance.  "Pish posh!  How are you going to succeed in your mission if you are not properly outfitted?  A small investment in proper gear now will pay you back ten-fold--twenty-fold!--when it comes time to avoid danger...and treason.  What's my name?  You can call me Honest Dave.  My vendor license is...CC36-7150A!  Yep, that's it?  And what's the security clearance on this stuff?"  He looks you over and says, "RED, of course!"

OOC:  Okay, I'm going to assume whoever wants to buy has bought.  You don't of course exactly know the details of all the items, and you just heard of some of them.  Experimentation may be your best course of action.

When the marketeers see that you have bought and seem wary on buying anything further, they move on to the next potential customers.  They point you the way out of the market.  It was right there out of sight the whole time.

OOC:  Do you leave the market?  If not, make your last minute purchases now.  We are about to move onto the next episode.