Badge considers sparring, knows that practicing his wrestling moves will pay off on the job, but today is different, today he wants to kick something. Hard.

So as he goes through his warm-up sequence, he replies: "I'm gonna make that bag over there regret the day it was born."

Humor, he realizes, surprised. He wonders if Artemis could be having a positive effect on his mood, cursing her momentarily for spoiling his pure and undiluted streak of anger. He is still on the trial membership, and bringing that up might not the best of ideas, but he decides it's better him than her.

"Look, I'm really broke at the moment. I'm not sure how much longer my trial time goes, but my credstick is see-thru empty. I don't know if I can chalk up a month. Or maybe, I can work my fee off, if you have some odd job for me. Doesn't have to be glorious. It's not like my other job is stroking pink unicorns..."

His face clouds over for a moment as he thinks of his workday. Then he gives one of the bags an experimental kick, relishing the hard contact it makes with his left foot.

She paused for a second, then gave a full throat laugh.

"Sorry, gato, but I'm actually kinda in a similar boat.
You can imagine what I go through just in kibble and ripper fees.

Most of my jobs are bouncing and body man work.
Skip tracers, repo men and process servers. None of those can touch a cop.

But there are some jobs where a big cop with a gun might go well. Fixers. Bouncing in wannabe solo bars.

You'd be surprised how many gonks get a hold of a wondernine and suddenly think they can start something with me cause I'm not packing.

If I see anything, I'll let you know. And vice versa. Always looking for extra work and I'm in a bit of a dry spot right now."

She studied his form. Kicking wasn't her forte: kicking was something you did when the ref wasn't looking, though she'd picked up a few low stomps to adapt proper fighting technique. She could tell he knew what he was doing though.

"I was planning on checking out a place I hear has regular work, though it's a bit more high paying.

I'm off in a bit if you want to check it out togeather."

OOC: Might as well use the excuse to meet up at Battalion, right?

Before he had gotten what he called the kibble rash, he would have suspected she was coming on to him, but with his face at the moment, there was no chance. Only one person so far had seen past his red rash, and he loved Paine for it.

It was one of the things he had learned after leaving the corpzone: People treated you differently when you didn't look like money.

He had just told her that he was broke and she wasn't asking him for his great looks: It dawned on him how friendly and generous her offer was. It felt strange: Friendly hadn't been a common reaction by people lately - came with the job, of course. Friendship was a rare pleasure.

So he gave the bag three more kicks for good measure and said: I'll have a quick shower. Promise I won't be long. Ready in five?

The showers were cold water usually, and heavily chlorinated, so everyone was eager to get done quickly.

Artemis and Badge made their way to Batallion. Artemis had thrown on her armored black jumpsuit. The "armor" was more designed for rough combat sports, but it was servicable protection and it was far less gauche than her armored flackjacket. The bow on her back stood out, but people rarely gave her any trouble over it in a Night City combat zone. The helmet was just good policy.

You never knew what was waiting for you in a CZ. While most predators wouldn't be crazy enough to come after Artemis or Badge, there was always the possibility of running into someone who just didn't care from cyberpsychosis, or some gang who had enough numbers that they'd try and pick on tougher prey.

Thankfully, that level of threat was very rare this close in to the CZ.. but it kept you sharp.

To go along with the noise pollution that is the club's music, trash piles up on the streets, rats scurry into the sewers, a smell permeates the area and even the drizzle of acidic rain does little to make it go away....

---

Feel free to give me awareness rolls.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:04, Fri 21 Apr 2023.

Phoenix stands under the eaves of a building, hoping to stay out of the acid rain as much as possible.

17:43, Today: Phoenix rolled 14 using 1d10+11, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  Awareness/Notice (Int).

This was precisely the sort of dump that Lady Koi had been steadily moving away from her whole life, and coming to this part of the Zone was a bad memory for her.  Nonetheless, she moved into the place and through it like the native she was, eyes and all other senses alert for their quarry and trouble.

---

18:09, Today: Lady Koi rolled 21 using 1d10+13, rerolling max with rolls of 8.  Awareness.

The Salaryman found a spot opposite Phoenix outside.  Lady Koi seemed to be the best equipped to actually blend into the clientele.  She reasoned that, as much as she did not believe it was the best course of action to completely split up, she herself would draw too much of the wrong sort of attention, which would only elevate the risk of an already risky situation.

Therefore she decided to put her eyes on the place as best she could before taking them off of it briefly to open up The Menu and run a LOCATE REMOTE command.

The SalaryMan rolled 34.  Awareness

The sound of gunfire is heard off in the distance, the smell of the acid rain mixing with what ever contents of someone's stomach fills your nostrils, its the usual in the Combat Zone.... Nothing looks really out of the ordinary...

---

What shall you do?

The Salaryman continued for the results of her matrix scan to be returned to her.

As she waited she sent out a short message to the others.  Our recent moves in the marketplace appear to have generated interest amongst potential speculators.  She sent cryptically, perhaps wary of eavesdropping.  "There may be a trend developing of utilizing visibly upmarket assets to stake positions in market venues that are typically exploited through low value resources.  This will create the benefit of potentially minimizing brand confusion by making such assets stand out in the physical marketplace."

So, waves have been made, Phoenix muses.  And it is possible that more publicly visible surfers might be able to use the smaller waves for competitions that are usually left to the lesser well-known competitors.

The Salaryman worked through what Phoenix said, then sent a reply.  A fellow surfer has arrived, black board in hand.  Should someone extend hospitality?

Extending hospitality is always a good thing, Phoenix replies.  Until it isn't.  Be cautious, we are ready to lend assistance if needed.

Having been apparently volunteered, the Salaryman began attempting to make her way towards a woman on a black motorcycle as naturally and subtlely as she could.  It was a task she was not adequately equipped for, but she hoped by walking down a bit and then crossing, and making her way back it might not alert the surfer to her intentions.

As you move inside a wave of nausea overcomes you. The Garbage Pail is aptly named. Basically a long room with a bar at one side. You see that the floor, if there is one, is covered in mounds of trash. Rumor has it that raw flesh has been found here in the past.

The music emanates from behind a bulletproof barrier located at the end of the room and the band, although loud, can hardly be seen behind the variety of substances plastered across the inches-deep plastic.

OOC:I require a Stun Save Vs Light wound. Failure means you add to the room the contents of your last meal....

---

The roar of the bike can be heard as it's kicked into gear as you approach and with a squeal of the tires the bike turns and heads down the street...

Lady Koi retches this afternoon's kibble onto the floor, the smell really beyond anything she ever wanted to deal with.  Even as she is retching she pulls her phone and calls Phoenix.  "He's here... blargh.  Or was *cough*.  Arab looking guy just blew his head off *cough*.  Gonna need back up," she says between coughing and spitting out bile.

She then moves towards the Arab-looking guy and what's left of Fargo drawing her weapon but keeping it low and pointed down.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:37, Thu 25 May 2023.

It is so loud in here, for those without cyberears with noise cancellation communication is impossible even through your phone. Just the blare of music is heard over bits and pieces of the conversation.


Moving through the crowd is no easy task but you make out the Arab popping back up and moving through the crowd some what towards you as he seeks to make his exit.

---

OOC: I edited your "phone conversation" striking out some of the random words. So unless you have noice cancellation (sound editing + dampener) you don't pick up the full conversation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:41, Thu 25 May 2023.

Phoenix knew there was a reason he invested in the Level Damper for his Cyber Audio.  Times like this would be it.  He gets up and heads for the doorway leading into the bar.
When he walks in, the smell and view hit him like a sledgehammer.  But, this would not be the first time ge has been hit with a metaphorical, or even a physical, sledgehammer.  The hold man manages to keep the contents of his stomach right where they belong, despite the rankness of the place.  He does immediately regret that Lady Koi had been the one to enter first.
Realizing that, with her appearance, the target's suspicions would be the last thing aroused, she had been the logical choice for first contact.  The target's now headless corpse, however, had completely ruined that angle of approach.
Now, it seems he must find Fargo, or an Arab.  Maybe ge should just find Lady Koi, then go from there.  He moves in further in to see if he can spot an Arab or Fargo, and intercept the one he sees first.

16:00, Today: Phoenix rolled 18 using 1d10+10, rerolling max with rolls of 8. A Brawling-Bump Into Arab or Fargo.

15:59, Today: Phoenix rolled 15 using 1d10+11, rerolling max with rolls of 4.  Awareness/Notice.  Spot Lady Koi, Fargo, or an Arab.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:34, Fri 26 May 2023.

The Salaryman rushed a bit as the motorcycle began to take off.  She had no designs on actually stopping the thing, but wanted to get as close of a look as she could before it got away, hoping to notice any details or other clues that might reveal more about the rider.


Once the bike was gone she paused to look around where it had been.  She didn't expect much, some sort of cameras would have been ideal but she didn't really expect such things in the CZ.

The SalaryMan rolled 23.  Awareness

Lady Koi hopes the others heard enough to come in and assist.  She also knows she cannot take on the Arab by herself.  So she moves to intercept him in a way that looks like she is heading somewhere else, like the bar, and in the corwd will bump/press up against him and pick his pocket.

Unfortunately, it seems she grabbed something else...

---

17:54, Today: Lady Koi rolled 12 using 1d10+11, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Pick Pocket.

The crowded room makes it hard for Phoenix to pick out Lady Koi, but you do spot her trying to head through the crowd. She seems intent on something but you can't make out who it is...

Lady Koi bumps into a couple of people as she moves through the crowd. Lady Koi slides her hands into a gentleman's pocket pulling out a wad of gum and an angry look at the man pulls a gun on her to fire point blank...

---

OOC: Roll on behalf of Koi to see if she truly fumbled:

16:44, Today: Mister Green, on behalf of Lady Koi, rolled 8 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 8.  Is it a fumble...

Wow did you ever blow it...

Lady Koi I'll need an Init roll from you.

Seeing the guy pull a gun and ready to shoot her Lady Koi decides to do unto others before they can do it to you.  She moves into him getting as close as she can, right up against his body as though the crowd were pushing them together.  Unfortunately, she moved too hastily, and the gun goes off before it was in position...

---

The dice roller is trying to kill her.  At least a "2" on the fumble is nothing bad.  But an 8 will miss even at PB range, unless he can be considered "immobile."
17:18, Today: Lady Koi rolled 2 using 1d10 with rolls of 2.  Fumble die.
17:18, Today: Lady Koi rolled 8 using 1d10+7, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Handgun Skill.

With apparently no clues left behind, and no other information to go on, the Salaryman turns back towards their original objective.

Not seeing Phoenix where he'd last been, she sent him and Lady Koi a message.

Fellow surfer got away.  Have you gone inside Phoenix?  If you have, I will wait near the front door unless needed.

While waiting for a response the Salaryman headed closer to the bar itself to continue to keep a lookout and render what assistance she could if requested.

Music's pumping, crowd's surging, and no one is noticing the gun fire. Lady Koi's shot fires into what ever mess is at everyone's feet, as the Arab pushing her to the side, firing two shots into Lady Koi, the first landing center torso, the next shot grazing her head as he continues to move through the crowd...

---

OOC:
Shot 1: Hit 20, for 9 Damage to Torso
Shot 2: Hit 18, for 8 Damage to the head. So lucky I rolled near minimal damage as head shots double the damage.


15:01, Today: Secret Roll: Mister Green rolled 3,1 using d10,d10 with rolls of 3,1.  Location, Location.

15:00, Today: Secret Roll: Mister Green rolled 9,4 using 3d6,3d6 with rolls of 3,1,5,1,1,2.  Arab Damage.

14:59, Today: Secret Roll: Mister Green rolled 18 using 1d10+12, rerolling max with rolls of 6.

14:59, Today: Secret Roll: Mister Green rolled 20 using 1d10+12, rerolling max with rolls of 8.  Arab shoots.

---

Phoenix you definitely see this happen. And can roll init. But he's moving towards the door fast. And getting a shot off in the crowd aint easy.

As noted prior voice communication in and out of the club is all but impossible unless you got 2 pieces of cyberaudio going in your favor.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:08, Fri 02 June 2023.