The transactions leave you with:

1,276c on one chip, 25k on one chip, and 3 full 100k chips, and 3 empty chips.

The main office for the SoE tradition is rather bussy, what with running the place with this many people here. It takes a bit for some one to notice you but eventually some one addresses you. "Sir, can I help you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:59, Wed 05 Oct 2011.

Peter scratches the back of his head.

"New initiate. Dr. Peter Cicatrix.  I got my letter of approval from the SoE but it's rather unclear what happens next.  How does it work for initiates?  Do I meet with a counselor?  Am I to be an apprentice of sorts?  Perhaps I lock myself up in my lab, cobble together an army of subhuman monstrocities and cackle, 'Science!'  Do tell."

He shrugs with his bags, hesitant to set them down in the busy lobby.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:37, Wed 05 Oct 2011.

She hums some looking over some files as she brings them up. "Usaly such requites are to various labs.... this might take a little longer... hum... I see you studied at the Miranda Collage. Did you put forth a thesis or proper invention to accredited Ether Scientest? I am showing you were supported by the Cybernetic Research Institute.... will you be affiliating yourself with that faction? ...." She bites her lower lip "um, ah... Can I conferim you are currently studding; Etherical Chemistry and Engineering, Etherical Biology, and Energetic Physics?"

"Sounds good so far.  I'm wearing my invention, actually," he explains, extending a pair of tendrils to wrap gently around his forefinger.  "My original nervous system was so damaged I became the perfect candidate."

"Either I didn't hear any of this or I was on a regiment of strong painkillers when I did.  I basically woke up with the perfect foci and extensive medical bills, care of the University.  I also know that I am officially a member of the Sons of Ether but I'm 'fresh off the boat', as it were.  I am primarily focused on Engineering and Biology, but am slowly expanding into other fields.  I prefer things with practical applications and am a surgeon by trade, so C.R.I. would be appropriate.  So am I headed off to the C.R.I. headquarters?"

She keeps her nose in the computer as she works "I am afraid the CRI base is a Lunar Lab, and last I heard transport on and off the station is reserved, but we should be able to take care of you here unless your looking to work at that lab. As for your invention it will need approval from 3 Ether Scientist for your official sanctions. Do you plan on joining a lab, founding on of your own, or doing personal studies?" She is apparently just reading out requirements for a form of some sort.

"Personal studies," he says, because it sounds the easiest.

Beauracracy was already wearing his synthetic nerves thin.

"So, where do I find these scientists?  Do I simply travel between labs until I make friends with somebody or are there official channels I can go through?  Are there any CRI representatives I can talk to on the station?" he asks, trying not to sound frustrated.

She pulls another screen over tapping away at it. "Well.. If you wana go big, and who dosn't, you can try and get an audiance with Dr. Howell Maddock while he's here for the auction. If you feel like a trip to a less than safe lab or a bar you can catch up with Luftwelle...  Hum.... they say Dan is a Ether child if he's real.... hard to tell though, if you wana try and find him."

"Did your professor never introduce you to other professors and scientists? It's kind of expected you would have used that opportunity to make connections," a silky voice said from behind. "It really is an old boys club at heart." An immaculately-dressed young woman with short black hair, and a shadow that went in the wrong direction, stepped forward. "Excuse me, I was coming up and couldn't help but overhear. My name is Anja. I could maybe help, as long as you don't drop my name."

hum
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:13, Thu 06 Oct 2011.

Anja was wringing her hands behind back in the awkward silence after her introduction, an action that somehow her shadow highlighted.

"Hrm?" he says, dazed by the flurry of activity around him.

"Oh, hi there, miss.  Peter Cicatrix.  So, you can help as long as you're not explicitly identified.  The answer to your question is no, there was quite a lot of confusion during my initiation, or pre-initiation, or whatever it was.  Sufficed to say I wasn't in the best condition when I signed on as an Etherite.  Please, enlighten me!"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:14, Fri 07 Oct 2011.

"Umm.., Okay." Her entire demeanor changed. "Well probably better for you if you didn't. I don't have a good record. Um, do you need a research partner?" Her voice, although still sweet sounded hesitant and unsure,

"Not really," he says.

He thinks for a moment.

"All I really want to do is to get back to work.  I'm not exactly thrilled at the prospect of being under all this scrutiny.  If you can help me get this whole initiation mess behind me, feel free to call yourself whatever you want," he explains.

"Where do we start?  I suppose I should go make nice with one or more of these mysterious professors."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:16, Fri 07 Oct 2011.

"Well, if you want to use their labs and such, yeah. You'll need to get one to sign off on it. They don't really scrutinize your actual work that much, they just like to make sure they know who is using what."

Anja lowered her head. "I don't know how much help I can be. I can advise and all, because I've already been through some of this before, but I'm still a researcher myself. That's not much better than an initiate. I'll help as much as I can though."

The girl behind the desk intergects "It is awfull late you could likely find Luftwelle in Ebury St Bar."

"Thanks," he says to the person behind the counter.

He does a surprisingly smooth about-face.

"Let's go! he announces.

"You know this Luftwelle fellow?" he asks his new associate.  "And what are you researching?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Fri 07 Oct 2011.

Amja turned to follow Cicatrix. "Well, my main fields are Etheric Chemistry and Engineering plus Energetic Physics. I research other fields of course, but I'm still laying the groundwork in them."

She mulled the name over briefly. "Um, I don't recall ever meeting him, but the name is somewhat familiar."

The girl behind the counter nods. "oh that is good, if your both in the same spheres of study then you could work on a thesis together if the invention don't pan out for you."

"Excellent idea.  We'll discuss it on the way," he says with a  wink.

"Anja, you're not above a little barhopping, are you?" he asks as he marches towards the exit.  "If you'd like to collaborate I don't see any harm in hearing you out, either, we'll discuss it on the way."

Anja continued to walk along with the doctor. "I don't mind at all, barhopping is a great way to both kill time and search an area," she replied to his inquiry. "You wouldn't mind collaborating? That'd be great."

The Ebury St Bar was part of the historical district of the station very near the museum and a part of the original station. Part of the bar is in what was left of a building that got shot up into space with the old rail station, the rest of it is a more modern structure. It's right on the promenade that was built along the part of London's Ebury St that was yanked up as well, though most of the street is gone replaced by metal and glass. Asking around Margrave Karl-Werner Luftwelle III is pointed out as a older man dressed like old-world gentleman drinking in the back with a rather sophisticated robot in full 19th century engish dress uniform, a hussar complete with sash, medals, ray pistol, and saber. Other than all that 'he' looks like a domestic servant robot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:01, Sun 09 Oct 2011.

"I'd need details about your particular project.  If you don't have anything yet I can think of a few things, though most of my work gravitates towards regenerative technologies and cybernetics.  I'm sure we can find something agreeable between the two of us," he says as they stroll about.

Upon reaching the bar he finds himself uncharacteristically cheerful.

"Amazing!  I've only seen places like this in old television reruns," he says, marveling at the concrete and wooden structure.  "I can't believe this came from Earth!  Have you ever been to our ancestral planet, Anja?"

With a small, awkward wave, he approaches the table.  He shifts awkwardly as he waits to be noticed by Professor Luftwelle and his metal-skinned companion.

They look over, it's kinda hard to read the robot, and Luftwelle seams a little to drunk to tell exactly whats going on in his head ether. It is the robot that speaks having a much more pleasent tone than most. <Can I help you?>

"Peter Cicatrix," he says, offering a handshake.

"I was hoping to speak with-"

Professor?  Doctor?  Baron?!

"-Luftwelle.  I'm trying to, er, 'put forth' a proper invention.  I'm an Initiate with the Sons of Ether."

He inhales through his teeth.

"Boy, he looks drunk, though.  Who might you be?"

<Henri Maudir, at your service.> Luftwelle speaks up (and I'm not going to try and type a drunken slur). "eh.. have a seat, drink with us... we.. we just talking about the bitches that stole our jobs."

"I don't have a particular project at the moment. My last project drained my resources and it's been a little hard getting funding for another, so I've concentrated on studies recently, like Etheric Biology and Noetic Science. It's hard to get my mind around most of it though." Anja continued to talk about her studies while they strolled along.

Later, when he asked about earth, Anja nodded. "I was born there, in the New Californian States. I didn't move to Victoria until I was initiated."

When they eventually found Professor Luftwelle, Anja did her best to melt into the background behind Cicatrix, thinking it be for him if she were not noticed especially as it involved a new invention.

Peter takes note of Anja slipping off.  With a plastic smile he pulls up a seat.

"Thanks for the invite," he says.  "I'm sorry, I'm still new to all of this.  You were fired?"

<If you will excuse my companion, he gets like this some times. He regrets that Professor Dubrius left control of the station to Urr Re'ok instead of himself. As to the myself he speaks of the fact my security rating was downgraded to allow a new security chief due to my increased maintenance needs.> "There bitches... both of them... stone cold bitches" <Well um> The robot emulates a cough. <While I think I would better serve this station, it his hard to argue that I do brake down from time to time> "oh your fine chap, they just don't oil you up nearly enough"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Sun 09 Oct 2011.

"Sorry to hear the bad news.  I'm still figuring out my place with the Etherites.  I don't suppose you have any tips, do you?  I'm supposed to present my work to somebody and honestly, I'm worried they'll be a bit of a stiff.  Or a real jack bastard like Urr Re'ok.  Nice to see that some of the Sons still like to live it up.  Henri... or do you prefer Mr. Maudir?  Are you Awakened?" he says as he settles in.

When he gets a chance he orders another drink for Luftwelle and, assuming he's drinking anything, Henri, with a beer for himself.

He casts a look of concern into the crowd.  His companion seems to have vanished, or at least hidden herself away.

"yah jack bastard bitch.... my computer... my computers its only reason this station works..." He don't seam to be much use right now.

<I am not sure I have ever hurd of a machine, even a construct, ever awakening sir. Though some of those that where a part of Iritation X say that the whole of all technology almost awoke... or did for a moment, but was crippled by a small band of attackers. But this was before the fall and it is hard to confirm such things. But even as far as I know organic constructs don't have awakenings ether. It is apparently a phenomena strictly linked to the human genome>

"I try not to judge," he says.  "Informative, though, thank you.  I'm only beginning to learn about non-humans, constructs and the like.  I have no doubt consciousness is not anthropocentric.  Your friend here seems a bit too drunk to be of much help.  Personable fellow though.  Good that you're looking after him.  Say, could have him contact me when he's sober?" he says, relaying his contact information.

He reaches over to put a reassuring hand on Luftewelle's shoulder.

"I'm very sorry for the bad luck, my friend.  Have a drink on me," he says loudly and slowly.

<Ah it was some time ago, he is just still gets like this some times. You can catch up with him tomorrow in his lab.> He sits back into his chair the sound of old joints creaking. <My consciousness as with most constructs was programed over a long time, and then evolved as I developed. However the Dreamspeaker say that everything has some form of consciousness, it just needs to be stirred and awoken from some of the more simple of patterns. They speak of such things as conversing with anything from a tree to a building.... they even say a city as a whole has a consciousness of it's own. I am not sure if such is true but it is interesting conversion material if nothing else.> This one must have been programed to serve as a detective as well as security, he is quite smart... it makes you wonder if those medals are decorative or not.

"It's not unheard of among the Akashics, either," he says.  "You're interesting yourself, Mr. Maudir.  Call on me if you ever need a mechanic's assistance; my focus is on cybernetics but I've the facilities to give you at least a basic tune-up should the need arise."

He rises to his feet with a groan.

"Oh my, what a day," he says.  "I guess I'll be on my merry way.  It's been a real treat, gentlemen."

He scans the crowd, wondering if he's already lost Anja.

Anja was over at the bar getting a drink.

<I hope the night treats you well> Luftewelle has ether passed out or fallen asleep.

Peter saddles up to the bar beside Anja, still nursing his one beer.

"So, Anja, what's next?  I'm guessing it's rather late to be visiting any of the other Sons this late in the 'eve.  Anything you'd like to discuss?  If not I'm probably going to call it a night," he says.

He covers his mouth as a yawn comes on.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:16, Fri 14 Oct 2011.

"Probably," Anja said while checking her watch for the time. "It is pretty late. How did things go with Luftwelle? Did you make any progress on whatever you were wanting to accomplish? I didn't want to hurt your chances so I didn't sit down with you. I've got a kind of bad reputation." Anja went back to nursing her own drink she had gotten before Cicatrix rejoined her.

"I doubt he'll even recognize me tomorrow," he says.

"All I want is to get past the tedious stage of initiate with the Sons of Ether.  My hope is to exchange whatever pleasantries are required so I can get on with my business.  I can't go back to my old Tradition and I don't fit in well with any of the others, so I'm kind of stuck with them."

He thinks for a moment.

"What exactly happened to you?" he asks, turning to her.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Fri 14 Oct 2011.

"I blew up a lab and vaporized a library. It all belonged to my old mentor. He wasn't to happy with me." Anja looked back at Peter as if judging his reaction. "I have these dreams... I think maybe my avatar leads me through them... something. Anyway, they usually lead me to new discoveries. That time I just wasn't paying good enough attention to was I was doing and accidentally ignited the air inside the building. Made a pretty fireball."

"What tradition were you before you decided to pursue a life of Science?"

Peter shrugs.

"Accidents happen.  At least your mentor wasn't vaporized.  You might have deserved reprimand, but to be ostracized?  I've heard much worse stories of very famous, well respected mages.  You'll be back on your feet in no time."

He offers a toast.  "To new beginnings."

"Me?  I was with the Akashic Brotherhood," he states flatly, gauging her reaction now.  "I got along with most of them.  Not all of them, though.  That's how I got my, er, apparatus," he says, patting his chest.

"To new beginnings," Anja toasts

"Oh, he was burned, just wasn't killed... or vaporized. It got him pretty good though, third degree burns. And of course the building was toasted, nothing but a shell left. He probably should have been paying more attention too, but you'd never want to tell him that."

"An Akashic?" Anja leaned forward, interested. "Odd, but cool. You may want to check with the Adventurers Union or maybe the Ethernautical Society. What kind of Apparatus you got?"

"I presented a prototype Nano Repair Net to the team of physicians who repaired my nervous system.  It's a series of hollow, plasticine tubes that deliver medical-grade nanites with extreme precision and a range of approximately fifty feet.  Had I been wearing this chassis when I got hurt I might have been able to fix myself.  Unfortunately, it seems it was the trauma that catalyzed this particular invention," he explains.

"I never intending on using what I learned at the Temple for anything but spiritual development.  Not that I learned much, I've always been a bit uncoordinated when it comes punching and kicking.  I find violence distasteful.  I feel I'm more of a healer than an adventurer."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Fri 14 Oct 2011.

"I do too. I never have liked violence. I can't stand to watch people get hurt." Anja agreed.

"What happened? Why can't you fix yourself now?"

(note you guys still on day 1.... rest of the stuff is going on the next day so if you guys wish to say get drunk on awakened drinks that are way stronger than you think they were and sleep in.. and not go out due to hang over... you can rp some stuff out in PMs and skip on up to join the stuff going on)

"Sorry, maybe I'm getting tipsy.  Not much of a drinker, you know.  What I was trying to say is, I wish I had this device before I got hurt, instead of after," he clarifies.

He thinks for another minute.

"Want to get drunk?"

"Oh... Um Well, if I can help, I will, but I don't know how. I don't know much about medicine."

Anja laughed at his question. it was apparent she had already crossed the line into tipsy.

"I'm already working on it," she replied.

"Right.  Excuse me, bartender?"  He points to the Awakened drink menu.

"Give me one of those.  Two, actually.  And give her another of whatever she's having."

From this point forward unto the morning Peter's memory is fuzzy.

end day 1

it's now 11 days until the auction.

Dr. Cicatrix gains 4 exp
Anja gains 1 exp



The hang over is a bitch, but least the local hotel's have anti-hangover drinks available.

The station rocks and the lights flicker some, a warning coming up over the intercom. "There is a minor security breach on the promenade, for your own safety please stay inside and avoid the promenade till further notice" This is not the sorta thing you need to hear when your nursing a hangover.

"Lights," he says, immediately regretting it.

Peter crawls off of the fold-down cot at the rear of his office, grimy and discombobulated.  He ops to wash up in the scrub sink, shuffling a few dozen feet from his office into the attached sanctum, all the while cursing the bright, antiseptic environment his trade necessitates.

After a splash on the face he walks to the center of his meager operating theater, still in his briefs.  Hanging in the center of the room is a tennis ball on a string*.  The doctor presses the ball into motion.  It swings out in a wide arc and returns, heading for him.  He dodges about, staying close but out of the way.  Usually this goes on for about fifteen minutes, one of the few practices from the Temple that stuck with him.  It's a novel way to get his morning workout.  The doctor wasn't a health nut but he tried to take stay in shape.  It also made for good physical therapy as he got used to his freshly augmented body.  Today he lasts all of a minute before giving up.

Breakfast is a batch of a nutritious, bland porridge.  Then he showers, taking a moment afterward to check himself out in the mirror.  Suture marks were no longer visible but the channels that carry the nano-repair net appear as oblong indentations following the countour of his arms, legs and sides.  Briefly there's a flash from yesterday, visions of surgical grade titanium alloy clamped to dry, dessicated flesh.  Peter quickly dresses.

"Security breach?  Really?"  He has a seat at the comm and tries to think of who he can call.  Did he even have contact information for Huoshi or Anja?

Anja.  Last thing he remembered was ordering three drinks.  Had they split off at some point?  He hoped they hadn't caused too much of a scene.  Shit happens when you blank out.  With any luck he'll see her again.

Assuming his place is empty and the lock down is still in effect, he tries to find contact information for Luftwelle, or any of the other available Etherite researchers.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Sun 16 Oct 2011.

(oh and if you wish to roll your wits+Medicine at a diff 8~10, up to you depending on how much you think you char would actually remember something like that. You can have a back up of the events saved some where in your nano-mesh's hard-drive. You have enough medicine to know that the brains ability to send things from short term memory to long term fails when that drunk, so it's not so much you can't remember it's that there is nothing to remember because it never got saved)

Peter decides to root through his nano-mesh hard drive to piece together last night's shenanigans.  If nothing else it's best to ensure there's nothing incriminating on record...


FYI my specialty is cybernetics.  Here's the roll:

11:40, Today: Dr. Peter Cicatrix botched using 7d10 with the World of Darkness 2nd ed, Specialised system with a target of 8 with rolls of 7,7,4,2,5,1,2. wit+med: what happened last night?.

Awesome, if I was rating my rolls like golf scores...

You were thoughtful enough at some point to think to save your shorterm memory to your net. However unfortunately you didn't do so until you were so piss poor drunk you messed things up royally. Not only was everything saved such a jumbled mess of code it could take months to decrypt but you saved it over your rotes, forcing you take take a few minutes out of your hung over morning to restore them from external backups.

Well past 24 hours have certainly been a learning experience if nothing else.

Rolling over in her sleep, Anja woke up rather suddenly when she hit the floor. She groaned loudly as her head throbbed echoes of the impact with the floor. After a few minutes she felt steady enough to open her eyes and look around. Immediately when it dawned on her that she was in some operating room, Anja sat up while holding her head and checked herself out. There were no wounds or anything missing, so she breathed a little easier.

A fragment of memory caught up with her then and realized that she was in Peter's place. she was mostly undressed, a fact that made her wonder what exactly went on as she got to her feet.

It was about that time that the station's intercom beeped, demanding attention. Anja cursed the noise as she held her hand to her head again. She listened to the broadcast and hurriedly gathered her clothes and put them on. She then wandered off looking for Peter.

Peter's neck cranes.  Very, very slowly, he pushes away from his desk.  Through the small window in the door he wonders if he saw movement.  He slips up to the door and peeks through.

"Anja?  Anja!"  He offers a nervous wave through the window.  "I, um.  Hi."

He presses his finger on a blank spot along the door frame.  It took a few seconds to remember where the button is.  The door slides open.  Peter tries to look relaxed.

Anja hurried over to the door and opened it when Peter got her attention. "Oh Peter! Is this your place? What happened last night?"

He makes a face.

"Yeah, my place.  As to what happened?  That's an excellent question," he says.  "I have no clue."

Peter walks over to a small refridgerator beside his desk.

"Hungry?  I have protein bars, and not much else.  There might be a box of emergency rations around here somewhere.  An apple, I think.  IV bags full of parenteral nutrition supplement.  Yummy.  Got any plans during the lockdown?  We might be hanging out for awhile."

"Yeah, I am a little hungry. A protein bar will be fine. My head is pounding. I drank too much of that stuff, whatever it was." She walked over to where Peter was at the refrigerator and gratefully took one of the bars. "How much do you remember?"

"I'm not sure... did we graffiti something?  I remember ordering Awakened drinks.  The rest, not so much.  Looks like we had fun, maybe raised a little Hell, and somehow got back here intact.  No major injuries and we're not in a jail cell, so that's something," he says.

Anja ran her fingers through her hair. "I don't know. Maybe. It's all fuzzy. Oh. Did you hear the intercom a few minutes ago? What was that about? It mentioned a security breech."

"Yep, security breach.  I guess that leaves us stuck in here.  I mean, you wouldn't want to hazard going out to the promenade, would you?" he asks.

"I don't know," Anja confessed. "I've never been here during a security breach, but no, not really. I don't like to be a trouble maker or anything."

"But then again, we're with the Sons of Ether.  We're running this station."

He inches closer.

"Wouldn't that make it our duty to defend it?  And me, I'm a doctor.  What if there are injuries?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:41, Sat 22 Oct 2011.

Anja considered what Peter said. He made good points. She shrugged then nodded. "True. I guess we should go see what the problem is. I can't do much about wounded, but can help in other ways."

Peter grins devilishly.

"Great idea!"

He grabs up his medical bag and tool kit, and a protein bar for the road.  With a swipe of his hand the door reads his biometrics, sliding open for the two of them.

"Ready to rock?" he asks, already stepping outside.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:36, Sun 23 Oct 2011.

While Peter was getting his things, Anja was doing the same, getting her purse and travel bag together. She met Peter at the door when she was ready, after checking and fixing her appearance quickly in a mirror. "Ready to rock," she told Peter in response to his question.

OOC:
Do we just wander over to the Crown's Darkest Jewel thread and start talking to everybody?

if you like but the scene is closing up there

OOC:
Well, at least we can introduce ourselves

Walking to The Promenade (CHAPTER 1: The Crowns Darkest Jewel)

A distant dream leaves him upon his return to the waking world.  Peter sits up in his cot, leaning his back on the wall.  A minute ticks by, afterimages dancing behind his eyelids.

"Lights, fifty percent illumination," he says.

His feet meet the cold floor, shocking him fully awake.  Peter goes for the coat draped upon a nearby chair.  His hand dives down into the right pocket for his cigarettes and lighter.

"Increase ventilation," he says.

Fans whir to life above him.  He stops at the bathroom for a tinkle, stretching his calves and back as he stands there.  The cigarette is dropped into the bowl in front of him with a sizzle and promptly flushed.

Afterwards he waddles back out into the operating theater, eyeballing his meager exercise equipment.  Remembering his failure yesterday he steels himself and approaches.  His knees relax, allowing his hips to turn from a forty-five degree angle to directly in front, shoulders locked and following as he forms an outward fist and open hand.  Then he returns his bent arms to his sides, padding his left foot outward in a small circle into horse stance and gently presses the ball forward.  As it returns he steps by, sticking close and giving the ball another push.  At first his muscles protest, his nerves burning and twitch awkwardly.  Over the next half hour he manages to get himself warmed up, dodging about animatedly while trying to maintain his "center", as his instructors had called it.  Whatever that was.

After working up a sweat he retires his tennis ball.  On a lark he takes a seat on the floor in front of it, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees.  His eyes flutter shut.  Peter tries to clear his mind.

10:15, Today: Dr. Peter Cicatrix rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the World of Darkness 2nd ed, Specialised system with a target of 6, rerolling 10s. Meditation: Stam+Meditation.

The world briefly falls away.  Perception edges towards boundlessness.  All that is Peter Cicatrix expands and contracts, receding as his lungs fill, then slowly pouring back out of him.

In time he loses his grip on that distant place.  Like the dream it there and then gone.  Awake.  Taken by the spirit of productivity, he decides to do some cleaning.  With his relative spiritual success this morning he can't help but dwell on Huoshui's words from yesterday.  Peter remembers long, frustrating days at the temple, marching around with a rag and bucket, cleaning everything while the students around him punched, kicked and grappled majestically.  He remembers cursing the work, to the point where he was relieved to be pulled off cleaning duty to inspect rashes and boils, or perform long, tedious surgeries.  He eschews automated systems and his cybernetics this time, fishing a small broom he uses for quick touch-ups.  Broom in hand, he again twists the hips to salute, then goes to work on the floor, still trying to hold his "center" as he works.  Whatever that was.

Another hour passes.  He's shaved, showered, dressed; pleasantly refreshed.  Bags are sitting by the door.  There are still hours before he meets with the others.  Idling at the moment, he fishes in his jacket for his datapad.  "Get learned", that's what Flavius had said.  Well, he did have a few spare credits, and if he were to do any more special work it might help to do some anonymous exchanges online.

Why not? he thinks.

Going out onto the promenade, checking out a few places Flavius had suggested for good net-diving gear.

OOC:
Not sure if the other players have anything else to say before we meet up.  If there's time to spare I can do a bit of shopping, or assume I've bought some net-gear and return to my office to do a bit of browsing.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Thu 19 Jan 2012.

He sent you to a rather 'meat-bag' friendly sorta place knowing your exsperance with the web. It's just your average electronics shop really, only in space and well ok so it's not the average electronics shop, but think of it as the localy owned version of the radio shack of 2054 hehe.

The guy at the counter only seams to have one implant and it's a few ports in the back of his head to allow stuff to be accessed by his brain. He turns around when a motion detector chimes as it picks up your approach. "Ah can I help you?"

With a simple explanation he laughs some nodding. "Yes, well we all have to start some where... I take it your just looking for some of the standard data pads or power gloves with access to the info sphere or maybe some minor scenery immersion gear, correct? Or you the type to jump right into the deep end of things?"

Peter haphazardly investigates the store's contents, mild concern puckering his jowls.  He brightens slightly as the store's representative approaches.

"I've dealt with VR-related injuries before.  Mostly jacks pulled the wrong way and electrical feedback issues.  What are the inherent risks of the 'deep end of things'?  Go ahead and give me the going rate on the power gloves.  Maybe you can even sell me on immersion gear... assuming the price is right," he says.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:34, Thu 19 Jan 2012.

"Well the riskes rise the more immersed you are, but so do your ability to interact and your control over your surroundings. VR as you have said is quite safe, user errors and feedback from a hard dump are about all you have to worry about... it takes some serious spice to really hurt some one with a hard dump if there just using various sensory immersion methods. It really depends how you wire your senses in... if your just looking through some goggles and getting tactual feed back your quite safe."

"Most people use the light end of sensory immersion, VR equipment, or just remote access with no immersion like data pads or power gloves."

"Now if you want to go deeper there is astral or cerebral immersion makes things a lot more real but your brain is in the computer... with all the hazards that come along with that... you can actually get brain hacked... and a hard dump can cause neurological damage... even full on brain damage or brain death depending on the severity of the dump."

"The 'deep end' as it is would be holistic immersion, where your body is translated into data and there linked with a data version of yourself holistically or is broken down into energy and translated into data to inject into the sphere. This is ... well... I've never done it but I hear it's hard to describe and it's just the only real way to exsperance the info sphere's true face. However the risks are quite obvious, anything that happens to you there, happens. There is no hard dump... you are your avatar and what happens to it happens to you... it don't derez, it bleeds, you bleed... and you can die in there and your body will be an empty sack of meat or if you did full on digitization, well you just don't come back."

He sits what looks like a device meant to attach to your wrist. "This is your standard powerglove... it's... well not really a glove, most people call them omni-tools. They come in all shapes and sizes and don't always go on your arm at all. But the name hails back to the original models of the late late 20th century, they actually had to have radio transmitters at the finger tips of the gloves and receiver/transmitters on the back of the hand and wrist to tell how the hand moves. They where given such a name buy the people that used them, and a gaming accessory was released for propaganda to dampen the paradox of it's use and the strange looks of people having computer accessories on there arms... which was rather odd at the time." he uses a display to bring up an image (http://donthatethegeek.com/wp-...Nintendo-Glove-2.jpg) "here is an old add that was part of the propaganda. If you want one you have to really look into what kinda hard ware you want, standard is just some form of display and a trinary computer with some ability at procedure/rote storage and execution. The high range stuff is cybernetic and quite advance."

He shows you some models, they range from cheep ass models in the 5k range to standard units around 10~30k... some advance ones can go up to 250k though, using top of the line custome made equipment he says can get in the 500k~1m range but there capacity is amazing.  (prity much in line with computers now a day ranging from echonemy, to higher end personal computers, to power PCs and the redunculalusly priced super computers)

(Would also note it looks like a powerglove/omnitool would interface quite well with your implants.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Fri 20 Jan 2012.

"Oh my," he says, a bit overwhelmed by it all.

He strokes his chin.

"Let's drop 20K on a decent model of omni-tool.  I'm not up on the best models so I'll have to trust your judgement.  Something compatible with these," he says, his jacket parting to allow plasteel tendrils to wave in the open air.

"Speaking of, well, these, maybe there's a separate deal we can work out?  An exchange of advertising?  If you pass on my name to those who need it, I'd be happy to recommend your shop to my clients.  I think it would be a fair trade."

He hums and dose a scan raising a brow. "I see you have an adaptable nanite system in you.... hum.... I can get you a prity good model to interface with it for 100k and throw in a visor with the programing to use your system and the visor for sensory or cerebral immersion. it's procedure capacities will be limited but looks like you don't need it as much, but it will let you remotely interface with anything that can be interfaced with and will have a bit of a display... here hold on let me get you a similar model and you can try it out."

He produces a sleek wrist cuff, something that goes on the upper arm, and a bit of a heavier device that is slung over the shoulder... and in all a rather light and sleek device that wouldn't get in the way. If you try it out it produces a holographic interface around your arm and can project holographic images in front of you as well. Interface is with hand moments and pushing 'buttons' on the holo displays.

"I'll even throw in a 3 year warentee."

It seems nice enough, though it is obvious it will take time to get confortable with this sort of stuff.  The doctor tries not to get roped in by flashing lights or bright colors, though he must admit this is pretty nifty.

Peter takes the equipment off and sets it on the table in front of him, looking it over carefully.  He rubs the back of his neck and looks back up, squinting hard at the store's proprietor.

"Mmm hmm.  That's a little steep.  I see the advantage - ease of use, quick access, cross compatibility with  my neural net.  The warranty's a given, same thing I'd offer, so obviously we both stand behind our work.  Tell you what, how about we include the mutual advertising?  Then it's a done deal," he says.

He offers up a handshake.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Fri 20 Jan 2012.

The guy shakes his head some "I've never seen your work my friend, and no offince but this store isn't really in need of any help getting people in... besides I just work here, you wouldn't be doing me any favors sending people my way.... but you know if some one is looking for an unlicensed doctor I guess I can drop your name." He's apparently assumed your not licensed being that your looking for people to send directly to you and not some office or something like that.

"Technically I am licensed*.  There was a billing issue with the University but it's been resolved.  I have a private office but it's not right off the promenade.  Shall we say very private, since some people need very private consultation... and other things... so yes, I think that will be fair.  I'll gladly buy this particularly fetching piece of equipment from you if you could only drop my name to those in need of... private consultation."

At that Peter produces a 100,000 credit chip.

*Aren't I?  Payed off the University, not sure what your requirements are.  Will I need to acquire a status background, take a test, make a roll, etc.?
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:21, Fri 20 Jan 2012.

Walking through the promenade Anja paused a moment when something caught her eye in one of the shops. She recognized Peter and so waved at him as she approached the shop herself. Since Peter looked busy Anja stopped at a dispay to browse a bit while waiting on him to conclude his business.

Peter clears his throat, finding himself a bit stiff at Anja's approach.

"Right, no more mention of that in present company.  So!  This looks all looks very good.  Bag me up while I talk up my friend over here," he says.

He quickly shuffles over to Anja.

"Why, Miss Wiersema!  What a pleasure.  I was just getting into this whole online thing.  Honestly, I feel a bit anachronistic, since most folks have been wired in one way or another since the 1990's," he says, laughing loudly and awkwardly.

"So, uh, what brings you to this neck of the woods- er, space station?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Fri 20 Jan 2012.

The guy rubbed the bridge of his nose some... he had delt with people like this but Peter was a little blunt for him. "Sorry to assume sir, it will take a while to put all the componates together and configure it for your needs. If you want to add another 5k I'll do my best to get it done in time for you to come back in an hour and pick it up. Do you have a preference on memory types... I know some people prefure the semi-organic drives, while others insist on fully mechanical ones."

Anja smiled as Peter freed himself up to come speak with her.

"Well, trying to find a way to make myself useful in this catastrophe thing. Right now I'm just walking about and hoping to bump into something, or I was. Now I've found you again."

Anja laughed about the internet issue and patted Peter on the arm. "I know exactly what you're talking about. I feel a bit out of touch with the times myself a lot. The whole interweb/infosphere thing will do that to you."

"Well don't feel bad, with the last grate white out caused by the fall there wasn't one to connect to at all. The destruction of Mount Qauf did it in, it seams like the mountain was some sorta ancient version that the internet of the 20th century was built onto. It's destruction was like ripping the back bone out, and the whole house of cards came crashing down. We now know Mount Qauf was the earths correspondence point and people have been using the solar systems correspondence point, Mercury, to rebuild the sphere for decades. It's only really taking hold again the past decade when all the planets (exspet earth) are connected. You arn't the only one that's new to all this, some people arn't even aware there is an info sphere to access."

"Right," he says to the sales rep, sliding him a few more credits.  "Here, 5K for that... 5K just for being you... and a 5% cut for any references you send my way," he says, leaning in to impart that last tidbit.

"M'lady, this place is getting stuffy.  Let's walk and talk!"

Leading Anja outside he breathes a sigh of relief.  Obviously he has a lot to learn about this whole black market thing.  What he lacks in tact he makes up for in skill.  Or so he thinks.

"So, what's the plan?  I know we've got a get-together around 4PM or so.  Maybe lunch?  Our friendly neighborhood monk might be around to talk.  Or perhaps we could visit the open market.  Though... I'm already stretching my budget as it is.  I try to haggle but really, I'm a pushover."

He takes your chips, trasfuring most to the store and the little to him. "Thank you very much sir." He hands you over a small data chip with your order information on it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:45, Fri 20 Jan 2012.

Anja noticed the relieved sigh but said nothing of it, content to let it sit for now and maybe bring it up later.

"Oh, I don't have a plan. I'm trusting in luck and happenstance. Lunch sounds wonderful though. I'll go wherever you feel like eating." She gave a little laugh. "I suck at haggling too."

"Seriously before you take off on me, you ok with the semi-organics? I know some people are picky seeing how many you guys like to make your own repairs and not all can exactly heal compressed plates of fungal membranes."

Anja looked at Peter curiously. "What are you buying?"

"Ah, sorry," he says, poking his head back into the shop.

"Semi-organic is fine. I can make repairs if I drop my new toy."

He turns back to Anja.

"I'm establishing an online presence.  Trying to stay with the times.  Maybe when I have some experience under my belt I'll be able to open a larger, more prestigious medical facility."

Despite the thinning of his wallet, Peter feels saucy.  He picks a decent soup and sandwich place out after they've walked a bit, preferably somewhere they can sit down without a long wait.  Once he's situated he orders himself a coffee and whatever Anja might want.  Peter browses the menu unhurriedly.

"I should probably do that myself," Anja said to Peter in agreement with his plans. "I'll have to wait before I can invest in anything like that. I need a source of cash."

When his coffee arrives he sets it aside to cool a bit.

"Are you ready to order?"

For himself he's going for a Reuben sandwich, assuming they have them.  Otherwise its roast beef or something equally hearty.

When the server is gone a single ivory fiber distends, splitting a sugar packet over the coffee and carefully stirring with a spoon.

"Have you been actively seeking employment?  What kind of jobs are you looking for?  Something official?  Something... under the table?" he asks

Dino meat is cheaper than cow so depends where you go. Also kelp and aquatic (particularly floaty type) plants are cheaper. But Cows espeashaly are expensive unless the meat is grown in a lab.

So most the places you will got if they have one it's going to be in the form of dino meat and sea plants, or lab grown meat and genetically modified plants designed to optimize growing space.

Natural cow meat is likely not to get 'wasted' on a Reuben.

Pete sometimes forgets that the quality of life he enjoyed at home and as a graduate student at a prestigious university came at great expense.  Some budgeting was in order.  After failing to explain the construction of a proper Reuben with his server he picks a gravy-smothered, open-faced sandwich approximating that of roast beef, perhaps brontosaur or Algae-Enhanced Meat Product D, with the vegetable of the day as a side.

The coffee tastes enough like coffee and provides enough stimulant to meet his low standards, i.e., keeping him awake but not causing convulsions or rupture of his internal organs.

"Ready to order? Yeah, sure. I'll take something simple, a salad or club sandwich." Anja began sipping on her coffee as soon as it arrived.

"As for a job," Anja began thoughtfully. "I don't know. Mistakes aside I'm a good technician and researcher. Particularly in physics. I'm a little behind the curve on the biological technology, but electronics and stuff, I'm good with."

"No worries.  Despite my accreditation I can only perform mundane, time-consuming installations.  As a-" he strains to get the word out, "-Mage, I am limited to repairs and the healing of a few minor conditions."

Peter ponders pensively, patting his palm on the proximate protuberance of their shared table.

"With that accident on your record it must be difficult to get official work.  A few days ago you said you were worried that professional association with me might sully my own record.  I wonder if we might reach a less official agreement?  Something profitable for the both of us?"

"I'm sure we could work something out." Anja asked hopefully while taking a sip of coffee. "Did you have anything in mind?"

Peter rests on his elbows, looking both ways, then inching forward.

"I have a contact or two in the black market.  I'm sure there's risks; the punishment is more severe than the charges for public intoxication and graffiti.  Assuming we pool our efforts we can make a tidy profit.  When you're not directly assisting me, I can provide you with a few credits for accompanying me on my jobs.  As a fellow, er, Mage, I'm sure you can handle yourself," he whispers conspiratorially.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Tue 24 Jan 2012.

The Ganymede Salad is rather unpleasant looking but quite good.

"I can indeed. And you're only mage if you use magic, we use Science. At least I do." Anja took a big bite of her salad, undeterred by the sight of it since she found it quite appealing to the eyes. "So, what would some of these jobs entail?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Thu 26 Jan 2012.

A passing waiter with a omni tool passes by accidentally brushing her arms holo display over Anja's face.... which sticks to her face. The waiter keeps going not noticing but now Anja's got part of some one's order glowing on her face.

"Gah!" Anja yelped and reflexively tried to snatch the order off her face as if it were real paper, which got her nowhere. As soon as the futility of her action dawned on Anja she stopped and sighed. She then unrolled her datapad and held it up in front of her face. She then began to do a little programming on the thing before touching it to her to her face and attempting to transfer the photons from her face to the screen of the datapad.

Should I roll, what's the diff?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Thu 26 Jan 2012.

"That whole Science bit got pushed on me pretty hard at the University.  So much I'd nearly forgotten there was magick in the world.  The Akashics showed me otherwise.  I won't deny that the bulk of my work is mechanically and medically sound, but it seems we bend the rules.  A key point of the scientific method is reproducible results.  Strange that only a handful of people have the 'skill' to reproduce our kind of results."

When the light hits Anja's face Peter has to drop his fork and stop eating.  He laughs for a solid minute.

"That was unexpected," he says.

Once he's gotten himself together he takes a few more bites of greasy, gravy-covered dinosaur flesh, still smiling.

"I'm not sure about the work.  I've only had a brief foray into the underground scene.  I imagine some of the equipment I'll be asked to repair or install will require a working knowledge of physics.  You could assist with repairs and analysis as needed.  As I said, it won't be without risks."

It takes a few tries but the order is removed from her face.

It's also something to point out that things like that tend to happen around hyper sciences at lot more than normal science as well!

Anja sat her tablet down once the order was displayed on its screen instead of her face. She then sighed and looked at Peter. "Anybody can do what what we can. Anybody with the proper knowledge. That's what separates us from the rest, knowledge. We just happen to possess knowledge that is particularly hard to get your head around. And results are reproducible it's just things go awry sometimes. If you read the laws of chaos and quantum physics you begin to get the picture. Add in a liberal schooling of psionic paraphysics and just about anyone could learn to organize their thoughts enough to use true Science."

Anja shrugged. "I need cash, I can handle a few risks."

Will note it's getting close to the time of the meeting, though you will have enough time to finish eating and stop by to pick up the omni tool.

"Metaphysics or hyperphysics; there are many paths to the same goal," he says, smirking.

Peter wipes his mouth and fingertips with a napkin.  He pays the bill, stands, and quickly drains the remainder of his lukewarm coffee.

"Almost time to meet up.  I've got to go pick up my new toys.  That's probably how I'll get a hold of my, er, contact.  Try to drum up some work.  Can you give me an idea of your level of expertise in each field?  It would help to make sure we don't take on something we're not ready for.  I certainly haven't learned it all."

You can have a big, unwieldy post beating around the bush.  Or just tell me your spheres.  Mine's Life 3 Matter 3 Forces 2.  I figure we can do combined rituals on a few things.  If nothing else you could at least keep me from botching.

Peter walks briskly to the shop, checking the time every few minutes.  He doesn't like being late to anything if he can help it.

When you get there the guy immediately recognizes you and goes into the back bringing out two cases. One contains the unit, a spare battery, and a spare memory core. The other contains two VR visors. "Here you go sir, I got you two fully charged cells, your power glove is ready to use any time you feel like it.... if you like you can hand over your ID and I'll go ahead and configure it for you"

"Right.  Here you go."

Peter slides his identification over with some reservation.  He supposed he'd be careful until he understood how to do browse and communicate anonymously.  The doctor tries to look casual even as his nerves tingle with paranoia.

"So what kind of fun things are there to do online?  I mean, for people of Science.  You know, with a capital 'S'."

He inserts the ID and hands it back "Well really depends on the type of person you are hum here I got your messages and the like set up with a DNA/resonance lock... it's all ready for you to use, and looks like you got a message already."

It's like you guessed from your 'friend' "Mr. F"

Peter pockets the ID.  It looks simple enough but he goes the cautious route, having the clerk help him connect himself properly (and show him how to take it off later).  When everything is set up to his satisfaction he gives a final, "Thanks!" before heading off.  Outside the shop he finds a bench to sit down.  He checks his messages with trepidation.

Ah, Flavius, my friend.  Let's see what you've got for me... click, click... come on... yes, I accept the terms of service... junk mail... aha!

"This looks promising, Anja,", he says, tight faced as he clumsily navigates the interface.  "Give me a minute, then we'll be off for the meeting.  I might have found some work for us already."

Message is a short one.


To: Cicatrix
From: Mr. F
Subject: Possibilities

I might have something for you.

If you got learned dive into the CandyBar <Link Included> I'll find you.

If not I'll contact you when I've lost the fish bitch's goons.

After the meal, Anja wiped her hands and mouth clean. She then adjourned to the bathroom to freshen up. Afterwards she accompanied Peter to the shop and wherever else he needed to go, all the while explaining the limits of her knowledge.

OOC: I have Forces 3 and Matter 3. We overlap a lot.

Later, she sat down on the bench with Peter and checked her own mail while he did his. A few moments after his initial comment, Anja looked at him curiously. "So, how promising?"

Peter explains his own theories, crisscrossing the advanced theories imparted to him by the university applied by way of the Tao, with the approach that any tool that properly fixes a problem should be applied.

Life 3 Matter 3 Forces 2, yes we do.  Good for combined rituals.  I just knew I should have played a hedonistic physicist with time magick...

Peter turns to address Anja despite the headset blinding him.

"We're about to find out..." he says.

He reaches out across virtual space to click the link.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Sun 29 Jan 2012.

Link requires immersion.

Sensory Immersion requires avatar.

Avatar options:

Body scan (not recommended).

Use basic avatar creation software provided.

Purchase avatar from online site.

Please configure avatar settings.

I would buy one seeing as you don't have much artistic skills.... you could make one based off knowledge of anatomy or cybernetics mind you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Mon 30 Jan 2012.

Peter passes over a set of gloves and any other requisite equipment Anja might need to join him in cyberspace.

"If we're going to be business partners you should see what I'm up to.  Besides, with your knowledge you'd be handy on the other side," he says.

While Anja get acclimated Peter decides on an anatomically perfect avatar, working from the inside out.  Little reference is needed as he works mostly from memory.  While it may lack creativity it will not be without its own charms.

And it certainly won't look like me, he thinks, unaware that he's outwardly smirking as he sets to work.

Anja took the equipment Peter handed her then went about plugging them up so that she could put them on. Once finished, Anja took a moment to get her bearings with it, which was easy. It wasn't really that she didn't know what she was doing, she was just unfamiliar. It had been a while. When she was ready Anja hooked onto Patar's signal so that she could follow him around in cyberspace.

2 success on avatar creation.... It's passable, but people will be able to tell you didn't put much work into it.

Anja's old avatar is loaded what ever it may be

Anya Wiersema identified, temporary lunar citizenship
Please ensure full citizenship for full access

There is a rush of lights around you through the visors as you log in. Even with only a sensory immersion the initial sensations are a little overwhelming making Anja a little queasily at all the twisting and moving through lines and lights and sectors flying by.

After a few seconds the CandyBar sector loads.

The sector looks like a rather large, poorly lit strip club full of mostly many scantly clad or naked female icons. There only a dozen or so avatars loaded, the rest or simple icons or icons driven by various digress of complex code.

It seams the CandyBar is a Dollz shop.

Most people are ether spending time with the dollz, 'testing' the merchandise, or programing custom dollz at personal booths.

(Icons being the same as an avatar just with no real person behind it, and dollz are icons programed to play 'human' for there owners in what ever way they are programed for. Most often sexual reasons. )

At the message, Anja tried to verify her full citizenship while her avatar, a rendition of a robotic woman.

Initially, in the second it took the CandyBar to load, Anja had a fleeting thought it might actually be a candy shop. That thought was quickly dismissed when it fully loaded.

"This is... interesting," Anja noted. "Why are we in a doll club?" She asked Peter.

(if Anja resiliently came up from earth she wouldn't have any perminate citizenship in the CCG, they recognize NCR or ULS citizenship as a temporary lunar citizenship. )

(Oh, sorry, ignore that part then.)

OOC:
included this in my expenditures but forgot to put it in merits/flaws:
1 pt - ability aptitude: medicine
list says -2 difficulty, I'm not sure if you want this to be for a particular situation or for general medicine - either way I suppose it should be in the merits spot on my char sheet - if it does apply I might have a few extra successes to pretty up my avatar

"Oh, uh, well.  This is where my contact told me to meet.  I swear I had no idea what kind of place it was going to be," he says.

Peter shifts about uncomfortably.

"Hopefully he'll be here soon."

(3 points then... more passable)

After a minute or two one of the dollz walks over "This way please" she says and attempts to lead you to one of the private booths.

"Um, okay," he says, obediently following the doll.

"If this isn't my contact this is going to be very awkward," he remarks.

"That's okay," Anja told Peter. "Relax, you look more uncomfortable than I do." Of course that wasn't saying much since she didn't look uncomfortable at all.

After the doll came over, Anja held her hands up then motioned for him to go on. "I think I'll wait for you out here."

It was all rather particular, the booth was empty save for the basic doll customization interface.

Peter takes a seat.  Out of curiosity he examines the available customization and their prices.  He hopes nobody can see him blush.  Hopefully his contact is still coming.  He begins to tap his foot.  Peter brings up his itinerary and adds the current time to his H.U.D., with hopes he's not late for his meeting today.

The table rather indicates more so that the CandyBar is for sexualized dollz, and some things offered just down right wouldn't be possible in the real world and would probably classify as 'things I wish I could unsee' for the poor doctor.

He don't have to wait long though before the whole table glitches out some and his interface fades away the doll on display turns around and looks down catting her head a little to the side. "Ah well see you made it.... you still look like a trog though here try this on for size."

The doll seams to glitch out again and is replaced by a male doll, a copy of it in an avatar form provided for download (if accepted) to Cicatrix along with it. It was a much more abstract looking. (rather like the picture minus the gills)



Interesting mix of swirling shadows and light, along with the skin looking rather like the surface of the moon.

"Spinners tend to like elaborate avatars unless there is something speshal about there avatar or there in an area where there normal avatars don't fit the theme."

It glitches out again and reforms into a what looked like a figure made out of Base64 coding.



The figure laughed some. "This is a good place to meet up with people, high privacy, but the dollz are easy to highjack. Listen what do you know about chop shops?"

Peter hesitates, then accepts the download.  As the new form asserts itself he speaks:

"Not much.  I prefer to fix things, not take them apart."

"Yah well I got an iron head that people are not only willing to pay healthy well to make him disappear but there willing to let us sell off the parts. This isn't about money, they just want him gone it seams. You could stand to make some good money removing the viable splat with out damaging it, and when your done there you could always help take the iron apart for parts... guy sure was a hell of a lot more iron than splat."

His overblown sense of adventure deflates.  Was he tempted, even briefly?  Peter feels cold and a little sick.

"No," he manages.  "For future reference, I do repairs only.  I fix.  I modify.  Once I've made a few personal upgrades I'll be doing installs as well.  I cannot, will not, be a chop shop."

Despite the ice in his veins he gives Flavius a chance to respond.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Wed 01 Feb 2012.

"Don't tell me your upset with the idea of cutting up a corpse. He got himself fragged it's got nothing to do with you, saying no isn't going to bring him back. Your morals will let you help some one that likely will go on to hurt some one else, but not cut some splat out that's likely going to help some one? I'm not asking you to kill some one, just make sure whats left of them don't go to waste and make us all a fair amount of credits at the same time."

It seamed he had an easier time explaining things in more common terms like this, a bit calmer to, though a little distracted. Likely multitasking, could be why he was so spastic in the flesh... some one use to spending there time on the sphere with there consciousness spread out through multiple tasks, put them back in there bodies with more focused world and they get paranoid as they pay far far far more attention to there surroundings that most people. Likely Cicatrix has seen cases like it or least read about them. He's not as bad as some that use robotic constructs for 'bodies' so they can stay logged on.

"I've performed autopsies before.  I'm not squeamish.  How would I be able to tell if someone I take apart died by happenstance, or was killed specifically to be salvaged?  It's a slippery slope.  Look, I don't expect the window of opportunity to be a very large one.  If you have someone else who can help feel free to contact them.  The fact that I'm even considering this is crazy," he says.

Why am I considering this?

"I'm going to need a few minutes away from here.  I'm sure you get your cut, but I don't want to put you at unnecessary risk.  How can I send confirmation?  Message you?  Come back to... this... place?"

"I have monertering programs running in some of the dollz here. If you pop in here any time i'm connected or can be, I'll know. If never thought about that aspect of the game as this really isn't the case, but I know that some of the cappa families do. I'll have to cut into your pay some but if it will your decision easier I can make sure no one but the people you work with know you where involved in this. So that will just leave me, you, and some grease monkeys from the maintenance docks that know how to take a cybernetic apart."

The image glitches up again "I need twip this icon and deal with some overly curious bleaters that have no business being in one of my sectors. If you want a personal doll let me know I'll hook you up."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:18, Thu 02 Feb 2012.

"I'm not building a resume full of illicit activites, F.  I'd prefer to work anonymously through individuals like yourself on jobs like this.  Assuming I'd even take a job like this.  I'll get back to you in a few on that one.  And no dolls for me, I've got to concentrate on my work, thanks," he says.

Peter exits the room promptly, flagging Anja.

"Meet me on the other side," he tells her.

With that he gets himself to a point where he can disconnect, meeting his new associate back in the outside world.

"I'm having a bit of a moral dilemma.  They want me to take the, er, choice cuts of technology out of a body," he says, being sure to whisper the last few words.

"It's bad enough to do weapon and armor repairs, but this kind of thing?  What if someone thinks it's okay to, well, you know, because they're stuffed to the gills with choice tech?  What kind of doctor am I then?"

He sits forward, resting his chin on his fist.

"Given the same set of circumstances, would you do it?"

When Peter flagged her Anja stood and went over to him. "Alright," she agreed to his request, she then tried to disconnect.

After listening to Peter's dilemma, Anja considers quietly a moment then replies. "They're just wanting you to take implants out of people, right? After the person is dead or still alive?" She avoided the question of would she do it for now.

News stuff from Anja btw that I forgot to post hehe.

She would have seen some news stuff while waiting, or maybe even looked some up to pass the time... so here is some news.

Taisho Sōshin, one of the most renowned spiritual leaders throughout the outer-planets, is being elected as Governor of Miranda and it's outposts.

Naledi Owusu is pushing to restrict public access and create protected natural habitats in the valleys, ruins, and forests that are being discovered on the lunar surface. This rather unpopular movement has raised questions as to how a shape-shifter was so easily able to gain an office traditionally held by natural humans.

In other news on the moon, Smiling Jack has been brought down again, this time in the life of a nine year old boy who first slaughtered his parents and followed with what has unfortunately been one of the more successful streak of killings. Thankfully his identity was discovered and security forces moved in to capture him early this morning, unfortunately like many of the others he slit his own throat before he could be questioned and after resurrection he had no memory of the events. He is currently being studied in hopes of revealing answers to this terrifying phenomena.

In good news, another tree farm harvesting Frozen Sun has been uncovered on Venus. The authorities are currently burning the trees out and destroying any seeds or genetic samples now. This brings us one step closer to bring and end to Frozen Sun distribution. Groups still protest though that the complete extinction of a plant is not the answer to dealing with this problem.

Contact with the Alpha Centauri System has suddenly been cut off and the Eris Gateway has been unable to establish a link with there extra-stellar gate. The reasons for there sudden cease in communication and closer of there gate is unclear. Non-gate related communications have been sent and are awaiting a reply, we will keep you informed on this event as it unfolds.

The so called 'Jewel of the Crown' is being brought into question and cries to suspend the auction and return the sample to the nebula are growing louder. Despite the many possablites in research, there is a rapidly growing minority that feel it's simply not worth the risk or that it's morally wrong to try and prosper off what caused the death of so many.

"Egads, I'd never take it out of somebody alive.  I'm no kidney thief.  But is it any better when they're dead?  Even if it was a legitimate death in this case, who knows next time?  I'd never know the difference."

"Well, you could always refuse to do a certain job couldn't you? Maybe you could put that into an agreement with them. Can you take something out of somebody without killing them? You're mainly worried about them killing someone then having you take them apart, aren't you?"

"This one is dead.  What I won't know, for sure, is why he's dead.  I'm told he was killed for different reasons.  If that's true, that he would have been killed anyway, where's the harm?" he explains.

Peter's mood waxes darker and more introspective.  He faces Anja.

"But if I do this... and next time, someone gets killed specifically for their cybernetics... well, there's where I have a problem.  I'll never know if the corpse I'm working on got killed for their parts," he says.

He adds: "At least, not without intense study in temporal manipulation, or a creative bit of dimensional science."

"That's one way, the easiest probably, but couldn't you tell by a careful examination of the body?" Anja asked. She knew Peter was having a big issue with it even if she wasn't. What was beginning to trouble her was whether or how hard she should try to talk him into it.

He sighs.

"There are as many ways to disguise the body's origins as to check them.  You seem reluctant to weigh in on the moral aspects of this issue."

Peter looks to his upturned hands, as if an answer were cribbed on a sweating palm.

"Sadly, I'm actually considering this.  There's no other way for me to get that much money that fast.  If I did take this job, would you be willing to assist me?  Say, for a third of my take?  I- I'm not sure if I can do this sort of thing alone.  At least not yet."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:31, Fri 03 Feb 2012.

Cicatrix's omni tool poops up a display to show that the meeting is soon.

Anja reached over to take Peter's hand. "I'll do it. I hope you don't think bad of me, but it doesn't bother me."

The look on Peter's face is unreadable.  "Hrm."

He logs back in.  With slightly more ease he slips back into the private room, messaging Flavius.

"It's a go.  I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, my friend.  It seems I didn't warn you last time, so please note, I will have an assistant with me," he says.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Sat 04 Feb 2012.

"The girl outside? Yah, I checked on her. I don't think she's anything to worry about unless she's trying to get back in good light with the universities for turning you in. Ether way she's your problem, you can vouch for her to them no skin off my back that way should anything go wrong."

Your sent information on a workshop near the docking bay and a time.

"You will be meet up with once the grease monkeys shifts end, so they might be early or late... try not to be late though. Your pay will depend oh how much you remove undamaged."

Anja, while waiting outside on Peter looked up all the stuff she could find on Smiling Jack. As she read, she wondered why there was no mention of anyone consulting a psychic or even a priest. The entire bit sounded like possession to her.

Some where but mostly they tried the demetional science at first. If it's possession it's something they can't detect.

"All acceptable, F.  Your assistance is appreciated as always.  Message me when you're ready."

Peter promptly exists and logs back off.  He stands and stretches once the real world reasserts itself.

"It's all set for later this evening.  Ready to go?"

Assuming Anja is ready, Peter accompanies her to go meet with the others.

There is a side note left as you go.

Let me know if you are able to sense the flow of quentessence, I am aware of your other skills, however I have another job that needs some one who can feel out such energies on top of such.   

Peter checks the message.

<mono>Not offhand, but I will keep an eye out for you.

On the way to the meeting he lights another cigarette.  He rapidly smokes it to the filter, images of credit signs and dissected bodies dancing about his head.

Anja stopped her reading whenever she saw Peter. She stood to walk with him if he seemed ready to leave. "How did it go? Have you read anything about this Smiling Jack person?"

"Smiling Jack?  Any relation to Spring Heeled Jack?"

After Anja explains he gives a solemn shake of the head.

"I don't usually follow that sort of thing on the news.  Gives me the heebie-jeebies.  What kind of thing do you suppose does that?  Since I have so little experience with the ephemeral all I can do is hope that, that, thing never crosses our path.  Ugh."

"Spring Heeled Jack?" Anja asked with a shake of her head. "I don't think so. There's no mention of him jumping about. I haven't studied in any of the ephemeral field myself. But this sounds like a ghost or spirit. Something completely out of my field."

"How about a mechanical node that uses a series of nanites to override brain function?  Or a satellite that projects a new neural pattern on the target, using ambient power from the surroundings to maintain that field when it's signal is disturbed?  The possibilities are endless, sans some kind of proof."

Anja considered what he said. "Nanites huh? I guess that could work. Body-hopping with nanites. Interesting idea."

Red lights flash through the station.

Warning: explosive device detected.

This is followed by the sound of an explosion from near the temple, and the station shaking some. (like from a minor earth quake)

"We need to go." Anja said as she cut her link from the datapad. She grabbed up her stuff and ran in the direction of the explosion. She hated that there hadn't been more warning.

"What the devil?!" he manages before he takes off after Anja.

The Temple?  Why would someone attack the Temple?  Huoshui?!

Reflexively he opens his medical bag.  Beneath his veneer of his flesh nanomachines spring to life, ready to literally pour from him onto the wounded.  He utters a quiet blessing as he reconfigures his retina and optical nerves so as to scan the crowd for the injured, or signs of further danger.

Activating Auto Mapper to map my surroundings, focusing on seeing who's hurt and anything that may cause further harm

if difficulty can be reduced within 1 round I'll take it, otherwise I'm going for broke

guess everyone move to the main thread if your all coming together again