Stumbling out of the marketplace, you emerge from the dark, cramped tunnels of the market and into a clean, well lit RED-corridor.  As you turn and look back, you see no sign of the exit you just came through that goes to the market.  Just as well, you think with a shudder about the slimy merchants.  But at least some of you have some new equipment to test out when you get a chance.

You notice on your PDC that you have three hours and 40 minutes left in your mission schedule.  You hear sudden shouting from just around a nearby bend in the corridor.

"Help!"  It's a frightened voice.  "Someone help me!"

A second voice--this one mechanical and sinister:  "Nasty!  Dirty!  Filthy!  Mr. Bubbles will remove you from his list!"

Tension Level:  5
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:41, Fri 14 Mar 2008.

Dexter looks over at Ginger for leadership and mentions laconically, "Sounds like our first mission task is calling."

She sighs.  "Our first mission task is calling?" she repeats.  Then she moves forward to peek around the corner and see what's going on.

Rounding the corner, you see a GREEN Clearance citizen in a PLC uniform being mopped violently by a standard scrubot.

"Lets play a game! First one to deactivatve the scrubot wins!" CL says. Making sure everyone has fun on this mission was his mission of course.

"Hmm well it seems that crazy guy that tried to blow us all up was right about something" Vixcis knowningly asserts herself "Hmm the hygine officer should probably talk to it or fix it or something, I mean it is a cleaning thing isn't it?

Ginger says, "Yeah, sure.  But it might be a good time to try out our new weapons."  She is hesitant to shoot before anyone else though.

Dexter heads over to the bot to have a look at it.  He is as careful as possible.

CL readies his Model Slugthrower, "Okay, so we take turns in order of name. Looks like I'm first if we get to shoot things. If you go against the rules, no one will have fun!"

"I dunno sugar buns, seems risky...we don't want to hurt the illustrious GREEN citizen, perhaps we should use someone as bait and lure the bot away first, then we can shoot it." Vixcis says loudly almost as if she wanted the GREEN to hear her sensibility

Since Dexter is running into the line of fire, Ginger holds her fire.  "I can't shoot it if you stand in the way."

You round the corner with your guns, and Dexter approaches the scrubot.  As he gets near, the scrubot turns and sees you approaching menacingly...unless that's just your normal expression.

The scrubot immediately flees down the corridor before Dexter can touch it, very fast for one of its kind.  It rolls down the corridor in flight and out to...*SMASH*...a large transbot runs it over, smashing it to bits.

After his mopping experience, the GREEN citizen stands up and brushes himself off.  "My name is Marco-G-BUD.  Thank you so much for your heroism.  I want to reward you.  I have no hard currency, but I'll authorize a 25 credit reward to each of you.  Just give me your names, and I'll transfer the money to your accounts.  Beam me your ME identity from your PDC and I'll put the transfer through."

(You understand this is the normal way everyone in Alpha Complex pays money to anyone, at least legally.  It is standard procedure and thus safe.)

"Done!" Cl says as he gives Marco his name and beams him his ME identity, "Thanks."

Ginger also complies.  "I could sure recoup some of that money I spent on supplies.  I'm practically broke."  She sighs and forwards the information.

"Glad to be of service to a fellow citizen," Dexter replies as he forwards his information.  "Did our recording officer get footage of the haywire bot?"

"Of course, I'm always filming...you may not notice it but Ive got my eyes all over" Vixcis says while complying with the green citizen.

"Anyone else want a reward?" your thankful rescuee asks.  "Really, it's the least I can do."  He pats down his jumpsuit.

Last chance to get the 25 credit reward.

"Look," he says, "I'm on my way to SPD Sector's R&D Demo Laboratory where me and my boss, Andrea-B-OCK, will review new candidates for my PLC firm's product line.  You're welcome to come along and apply as candidates.  I hear you Troubleshooters just LOVE handling new R&D prototypes."

Dexter looks Vixcis over for signs of recording equipment that is supposedly "always filming" as he listens to Marco's offer.  "Sounds interesting, but I dunno.  We're supposed to be on a mission."  Dexter glances at Ginger.  "Maybe we should finish our current business first?"

"Finish our first mission first?"  She sighs.  "As the equipment guy, I think you'd be first in line, but yes, I suppose you're right about finishing our mission, although R&D sounds fun.  Our happiness officer would probably want us to have fun, right?"

Vixcis smiles as she notices Dexter trying to find her...equipment...and then turns to the GREEN citizen. "I'm sure we would all love to go, I mean what if your new product actully helps our mission, and I wouldn't want to turn down an illustrious offer from such a kind person such as yourself"

Marco appears excited to have new victims volunteers for R&D experimentation.

A voice at the end of the hall interrupts your discussion.

"Did you get it?" an enthusiastic voice calls.

"I got it, baby!  Did you see how that scrubot smashed under its wheels?  We'll make prime time for that."

You turn and see an eager-looking YELLOW-Clearance citizen with a clipboard under his arm.  He sees you and says happily:  "There you guys are!  I've been looking for you everywhere!"

He's wearing an HPD&MC vest and a production cap for the reality vid series "Shooters."  His cameraman is nearby.

The producer gives each of you a firm, friendly handshake.  "I'm Harry-Y-LGT-3, your casting director.  Glad t'meet you.  Trouble finding the studio?" he says, then waves it off casually.  "I figured as much.  People get lost around here all the time.  I'm a produce for 'Shooters,' the hit reality-vid series about real Troubleshooters--not that scripted Teela stuff!  I put in an audition request for a new Troubleshooter team this morning.  When you didn't show up, I came looking for you."

He points to his cameraman before you can even open your mouth and gestures for him to roll.  The cameraman introduces himself as Trevor, a RED Clearance citizen.

The producer looks through his notes and says, "Okay, so you guys are...let's see...looking for missing fissionable material?  Yeah, okay, we can work with that.  Follow me back to my offices."

He gestures for you to follow him to the production offices.

Dexter is now thoroughly confused and it shows on his face.

"What is going on?" CL asks because he is just as confused as Dexter.