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06:48, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Intermission: Kenji Takanori.

Posted by K. TakanoriFor group 0
K. Takanori
player, 176 posts
Fri 9 Apr 2021
at 14:58
  • msg #1

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Kenji checks his messages, smiles at Cruz's offer of streamlined weapon performance. He'd been impressed with the Nomad's technical improvisations during the gig, figures Cruz's gunsmithing skills are just as sharp, probably sharper with a full toolkit. Kenji decides to call him back, but he has another contact to make first. He removes the slip of paper from his jacket pocket, studies the delicately formed Braille dots.  For a note created on the fly, the work shows a lot of care and precision. He scans the Braille with his agent, thumbs the call button when the translated digits appear as a ten-digit phone number. After the third ring, he's about end the call before it goes to voicemail; someone picks up.

"Hello?" the voice is feminine, but not entirely familiar.

"Teagan? Kentucky, from yesterday. You helped me find my missing friend..."

There's a pause, just long enough for doubt to creep in. He didn't ask for her number, but maybe Teagan passed him fake digits, and some poor rando's on the other end...

"Oh! Yes. Hi, Kentucky! It's good to hear from you! Is your friend alright?" she asks with disarmingly sincere enthusiasm.

"Um, yeah- she was in pretty rough shape when we found her, but she'll be OK. I just wanted to thank you again for your help. You have my number now, so if you ever need me to return the favor, don't hesitate to hit me up."

Another pause. Kenji hopes she doesn't think he's hitting on her, although, to be fair, if Teagan wasn't up to her pretty chin in cult bullshit, he just might make a move.

"I will, Kentucky.  Thank you for letting me know.  I'll keep her, and you, in my prayers."  The medic can hear the smile in her voice.  "Have a blessed day."

The agent disconnects the call leaving Kentucky with the odd sensation of actually having dealt with a reasonable human being inside Night City.  Except for all the cult stuff.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Fri 09 Apr 2021.
Data Source
GM, 219 posts
keys138
GM
Fri 9 Apr 2021
at 15:48
  • msg #2

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Home is where the heart is.
Night City
August 31st, 2045
2349 Hrs

Over a week later, coming home from REO Meatwagon and trying to shake off the desire for a post-shift beer/drug/braindance/fuck, Kenji's agent pulls him out of an unwanted reverie of the Thrill-Kill victims he been picking up in the street earlier today and back into reality.

It's a toss up of whether he's shocked or disgusted to see the number for the Trauma Team International office coming up.  His thumb hovers over the accept call button.
K. Takanori
player, 177 posts
Fri 9 Apr 2021
at 18:43
  • msg #3

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


To say Kenji's surprised to be receiving a call from TTI would be an understatement. He hadn't so much burned his bridges with the company as he'd nuked them. Their last official interaction had been through each party's respective legal counsels, a few days after the shamefaced and heavily self-medicated Japanese-American MedTech had been unceremoniously escorted from TTI HQ by armed security. That was nearly 6 months ago. Aside from a couple of vaguely threatening voice and text messages from a former co-worker, he'd heard nothing from anyone directly affiliated with TTI since. Curiosity gets the better of him. Kenji thumbs the accept call button, lifts the agent to his ear.

"What?" he says flatly.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Fri 09 Apr 2021.
Data Source
GM, 223 posts
keys138
GM
Sat 10 Apr 2021
at 21:24
  • msg #4

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori

"Kenji," a voice says on the other end of the line.  Equally flat.  Equally happy to be having this conversation.  Kentucky recognizes the voice.  Austin Bennet.  His old manager.  The guy who gleefully and rightfully fired his ass for getting a whole bunch of people killed.  One of more than a few people who threatened physical violence should they ever see Kenji Takanori in person ever again.

"I'm obligated to inform you," Bennet continues, "that the legal team is monitoring this call to make sure neither one of us violates the conditions of your termination.  Do you understand?"

Bennet waits.  "Kenji, you need to say 'yes' or 'no.'"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:45, Sun 11 Apr 2021.
K. Takanori
player, 181 posts
Sat 10 Apr 2021
at 22:06
  • msg #5

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Kenji takes a deep breath, exhales slowly. Bennet can wait a little longer. Feeling a bit calmer, Ken replies, "Yes." He almost adds, "But it sounds like you should be talking to my lawyer," but he's not interested in dragging this out (and Bennet probably knows that Kenji can no longer afford a decent attorney). Let his ex-boss say what he needs to say and then move on.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Sat 10 Apr 2021.
Data Source
GM, 231 posts
keys138
GM
Sun 11 Apr 2021
at 15:00
  • msg #6

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori

"It has come to TTI's attention that you were recently involved in the extraction of one of our clients, one Ms. Daphne Copeland." Bennet's voice is tight, flat, almost certainly reading from a script.  "Is this correct?"

"If you say so," Kenji says.

"We will stipulate that Mr. Takanori accepts this as true," a second voice says on the phone in pure legalese.

"Because TTI is committed to providing our clients with the most comprehensive care possible, we need to ascertain the exact causes of the injuries Ms. Copeland is suffering from.  TTI neither accuses you nor holds you responsible for the these injuries." Bennet pauses again.  Kenji can see in his mind's eye Bennet's jaw working back and forth as he swallows words and emotions.  "TTI requests that you visit our office at City Medical Center room number-"

"I know the room number, Bennet," Kenji says.

Bennet pauses.  Takes a deep breath.  "Room number A2133 at 0900 hrs tomorrow.  You will be paid a standard consultants fee of 100eb per hour for your work."

"The TTI legal team,"
the lawyer comes back through, "accepts this as within the limits of the restraining order pertaining to your former employment with TTI.  This is not the official TTI office complex, therefore you are within your legal rights to attend this meeting.  No legal action will be taken against you pertaining to any information you provide."

"Will you be there?" Bennet asks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Sun 11 Apr 2021.
K. Takanori
player, 183 posts
Sun 11 Apr 2021
at 18:51
  • msg #7

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Kenji frowns. As much as he wants to tell Bennet and TTI legal to go fuck themselves, he should probably find out what they want with him.

"You cover cab fair, round trip?" Kenji asks. He's not going to make it easy on them. There's a faint click on the line, followed by a pause, then legal answers, "TTI will disperse an additional 40* Eurodollars for Mr. Takanori's travel expenses."

"OK. I'll be there." Kenji hangs up, depriving Bennet of the satisfaction.

OOC: CPR rulebook lists cost of cab fair as 20eb.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Sun 11 Apr 2021.
Data Source
GM, 238 posts
keys138
GM
Mon 12 Apr 2021
at 19:41
  • msg #8

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Roughly 9 hours, two showers, six cups of coffee, and one cab ride later, Kenji sits in a conference room in side office A2133.  It may be TTI, but it's not an operations office.  This one is much more administrative.  Nice chairs and coffee instead of VTOLs and coffee.  Less noise, more secretaries.  More politically correct banter for sure.  Kenji hasn't heard anyone's sexual relations with their mother called into question in the ten minutes he's been here and that would be a record in one of the ops stations.

The conference room is basically a clone of the one where Kenji had his last meeting with TTI.  Even has some of the same characters present.  There's Bennet, scowling over his coffee and rubbing his buzzed gray hair repeatedly.  There's the faceless legal drone.  The only new addition is a pair of doctors, Klein and Carrol if their name tags are to be believed.  Heads turn to Bennet, it's his meeting to lead.

"TTI acknowledges that Kenji Takanori is here of his own volition, at TTI's request and at the previously agreed upon compensation." Bennet chews his cheek.  "Off the record, I'm here because I got promoted to head of Patient Care Coordination with City Medical.  Luckily for both of us our much desired plan to never set eyes on each other again has come to dust."

Legal coughs quietly.

"Yeah, I get it," Bennet answers with a stab with of his eyes towards the drone. "Look, we need you to walk us through what happened with Daphne Copeland.  Where you found her, what kind of cyberware she has had installed, and what the abductors had her hooked up to.  How you disconnected it.  These docs here need the whole nine yards."

Kenji's ex-manager looks like he's about to choke on a poison pill.  "Kenji, you and I both know that you are a colossal fuckup, but your skill set is solid and you usually know what you're talking about.  So, assuming you weren't fucking high at the time, tell us what happened."

Legal coughs again.
K. Takanori
player, 185 posts
Tue 13 Apr 2021
at 01:13
  • msg #9

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Kenji wants to leap across the table and choke Bennet unconscious, but that wouldn't be a good optic with TTI legal watching from another room. Locking eyes with his ex-boss, Kenji asks, "From one fuckup to another, tell me, Bennet, did you literally lose a Platinum Package client before or after your big promotion?" He punctuates the question with a smirk, and a subtle, knowing glance towards the drone's camera eye.

"You motherfucking junkie son-of-a..."

"Mr. Bennet!" the lead attorney interjects sharply via the drone-mounted speaker.

This, Kenji opines, would be a good note upon which to make a grand exit, but something holds him back- something besides the 100eb-an-hour consulting fee.

"This is for Daphne, understood? You," he says, looking from Bennet to the drone cam and back, "I could give fuck about. We clear?"

Bennet seethes. Legal answers on the company's behalf, "Yes, Mr. Takanori. Please, go ahead."

"Miss Copeland was grabbed off the street by a Maelstrom splinter cell who calls itself, 'Listeners'. Don't know why they targeted her. Clearly, her biomon's TTI pinger wasn't hard to beat, but you knew that already. They were holding her in an underground parking garage beneath the abandoned pagoda in the Old Corporate Zone. When I found her, she was fully sedated, jacked into a machine of some sort. I didn't recognize the tech. There were a few other vic's there too, similar condition. It seemed like all of them were... networked, or something like that. Daphne's vitals were all within normal parameters, but her neural activity was off the chart- like she was braindancing to really some really fucked up shit on a continuous loop. They all were."

He pauses, pondering how to explain the improvised disconnection process without mentioning Cruz Control, Whisper, or the rest of the evacuees. I guess that's why they call us 'solos', right?

"It was obvious that her new cyberware was involuntarily installed. I was under attack, taking heavy fire, so I didn't exactly get a chance to take a good look at it. I had to unplug her and shoot my way out of there. After I got her off the machine, she was conscious but disoriented, said she kept hearing voices in her head. Kinda figured TTI could start doing its fucking job and take care of her after extraction. Guess I figured wrong."

-
This message was last edited by the player at 03:19, Tue 13 Apr 2021.
Data Source
GM, 239 posts
keys138
GM
Tue 13 Apr 2021
at 18:53
  • msg #10

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


"Perhaps I could bring us back on topic?" Dr. Carroll interjects.  "Mr. Takanori, you say there were other victims in place?"

"Yeah."

"Have we had any other reports of similar symptoms or cases?" Carroll asks his partner.

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Interesting."  Carrol adjusts his glasses.

For the next two hours, the two doctors sideline Bennet and grill Kenji on this in and outs of the experience.  The medic answers ECG questions, tech questions, treatment questions.  Then he gets to answer them again.  And again.  By the end of the meeting he's drawing half remembered brainwaves on a laser-light board.  It's not the easiest two hundred eddies he's ever made, but stepping out of the door of City Medical Center he's able to get a deep breath and let it go.

Dr. Carrol walks him out, shuffling him past Bennet with an easy hand on his shoulder.  "Look, Mr. Takanori, I know there are things you can't go into with this, but should you come across more information, we'd sure like to have it. Anything that can help us with Daphne would be appreciated."  Kenji's agent pings with the arrival of new contact information.
Data Source
GM, 490 posts
keys138
GM
Sun 10 Jul 2022
at 15:00
  • msg #11

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori

————-Intermission 2—————


Soundtrack:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cjHg_vysMBU


“You will see Mr. Takanori that she really has come a very long way in a very short time.” ChrisAlice leads Kenji through their house.  At least the bottom floor.  Or at least through the gate, into a small receiving room, and down some halls that seem to be headed towards a sun filled garden.

Therapy must pay well.

The protean therapist smiles over their shoulder, eyes shimmering, pupil changing shape, iris changing colors some sort of algorithm designed to either hypnotize or simply just be exotic.  Kenji swears the tones mimic dragonfly designs he saw on nature programs back when he was a wee lad.  Must have been on the TV.  Nobody’s seen a dragonfly around here in years.

“You brought her to me damaged.  She is, of course, not yet whole.  How could she be?” ChrisAlice stops at a window and waits for Kenji to join them.  A sunken courtyard waits outside the glass, sunlight pouring down on succulent vegetation.  In the center on a stone bench, Teagan sits face tilted to the sun, a slightly sad smile on her face.  It’s impossible to tell if her eyes are open or closed, a simple red ribbon has been tied around her head, covering her eyes.  The color plays nice with her blond hair.  “But she has an inner strength that would surprise her.  Perhaps surprise us all.”

ChrisAlice turns their head, watching Kenji now instead of Teagan.

“Would you like to talk to her?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:38, Sun 10 July 2022.
K. Takanori
player, 307 posts
Mon 11 Jul 2022
at 21:25
  • msg #12

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


He does and he doesn't. This internal tug-of-war precludes a quick answer.

"Would that mess with her therapy?" he finally asks.

"Quite the contrary. Conversing with a familiar face would be part of it. I wouldn't be giving you the option if I thought that it would harm her."

There's another pregnant pause. If Ken's being honest with himself, he's afraid to face the young woman whose de facto family- regardless of how dysfunctional it was- he's partly responsible for wiping out. It'd be easier to wash his hands of her, walk away.

"Okay, yeah," he answers.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Mon 11 July 2022.
Data Source
GM, 496 posts
keys138
GM
Wed 13 Jul 2022
at 16:59
  • msg #13

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori

ChrisAlice doesn’t speak, merely gestures Kenji to follow them to a glass door that opens with the slightest of touches.  With grace, the therapist holds a hand out, motioning the medic through.

His boots crunch softly on the loose pebble walkway.  Ahead, Teagan cocks her head the tiniest amount, her ears noting Kenji’s presence.  “Kentucky,” she says without turning around.  The lightness that used to sit in her voice isn’t there.  The calm remains, but fragile, like a glued together thing.  “You came to see me.” Relief in her voice at that, at least. A relief of loneliness maybe.

She pats the bench next to her and scoots over, making room for the medic to sit.  As he closes the distance, Kenji can see the tell tale swelling of flesh just behindTeagan’s ear that indicates fresh cyberware installation.  Audio processing if he had to guess.  Maybe a neural processor.

Sightless eyes covered with a red ribbon turn to Kenji’s face as he sits on the sun warmed bench..  She smiles again. It falters.  It comes back with a twist of uncertainty or apology.  “I keep feeling like I’m supposed to say something like ‘His blessings be upon you,’ or ‘in His light,’ or something. Even though ChrisAlice tells me I don’t have to. But all I can come up with right now is ‘hi.’”
K. Takanori
player, 308 posts
Wed 13 Jul 2022
at 17:36
  • msg #14

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


"'Hi' is good," Kenji answers. His hand moves slowly towards her upper arm; he pulls it back.

"It's good to see you," he says, winces internally at his poor choice of words. "Good" again, and "see". Jesus. He hasn't been this awkward around a girl since junior high.

She laughs, "It's OK. I'm used to it."

Kenji's been wrestling with what he'd say to Teagan since he took ChrisAlice's call. Trying to do it quietly, he inhales deeply, exhales slowly.

"What is it, Kentucky?" Teagan asks. The gentleness, concern in her tone makes the next few seconds even harder.

"Teagan, if you're angry at me, I totally understand. I just want you to know that when I offered to help you, I had no idea things were gonna play out the way they did. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I'm sorry for hurting you."

-
Data Source
GM, 500 posts
keys138
GM
Fri 15 Jul 2022
at 14:58
  • msg #15

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori

Teagan goes quiet for a moment.  “You couldn’t have known, Kentucky.  You really couldn’t have.” She doesn’t quite accept his apology, but she does acknowledge it. “I’m being told, being shown, that the Faith wanted me for it’s reasons, not for mine.  I don’t know if that’s true exactly, but it feels kind of right.  I’m glad that you are the kind of person that would jump, not stand aside and let something bad happen.  To me.”

The girl doesn’t say anything for a moment.  Just turns her head back to the sky, letting the sun warm her skin.  Making it glow.

“I’m glad I’m alive, even if I don’t know what to do.”
Teagan smiles slightly, slyly, like she’s holding on to a secret.  “You can touch my arm if you want to.”
K. Takanori
player, 309 posts
Wed 20 Jul 2022
at 18:03
  • msg #16

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Kenji feels his face flush. The heart wants what it wants. The head, though...

"Um... I gotta go. I'll come back, OK? ChrisAlice has my number."

Kenji needs some time to think.

-
Data Source
GM, 506 posts
keys138
GM
Wed 27 Jul 2022
at 14:08
  • msg #17

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori

“Okay,” Teagan says.  Her face falls for a second then recovers back to a near Zen state.  “I look forward,” she says to Kenji’s fleeing back.  “To seeing you again,” she finishes to no one.

Hitting the door to the garden, Kenji is 100% not surprised to find ChrisAlice waiting for him.  The therapist holds their hands neatly, eyes watching everything.  Their face withholds judgement.

“You ran away,” they say evenly “That may have been wise…or it might not have,” ChrisAlice continues.  “Teagan has grown attached to you.  It remains to be seen if she’s attached to you or to the idea of you.  Either way, you have proven to be an anchor for her to the world outside of the New Inquisition.”

ChrisAlice begins to lead Kenji back towards the entrance to their home/office/compound.  “You will of course have to deal with your own feeling for her.  Should you need help, I am, of course, willing to meet with you.  Confidentially.  Though first…” The speaker to the souls of Edgerunners pauses.  “I do not mean to be indelicate given the trauma the girl has undergone, and I am quite willing to be reasonable, but there is the matter of the cost of Teagan’s treatment.  I will cover my time pro bono, but the materials themselves require resources.”

Kenji waits for the other shoe to drop. He knows when he’s being groomed for cash.

“Starting next week, if you would like her treatment to continue, I will request a payment of 500eb per week.” It’s a hell of a discount, 75% or so.  But it’s still a lot.  “That covers food, treatment, and the security to keep the NI at bay. I estimate Teagan needs to be here another month.”
This message was last updated by the GM at 14:08, Wed 27 July 2022.
K. Takanori
player, 311 posts
Wed 27 Jul 2022
at 19:55
  • msg #18

Intermission:  Kenji Takanori


Fuck, Kenji nearly whispers. That's almost half his current bank account balance- more than half, after he covers rent for the month. The money didn't come easy, but it sure seems to go that way. But how can he say no? He's already killed one lover. Teagan's not that- not yet, at least. Maybe never. But he can't condemn this sweet, lovely girl to a life un-whole, unmoored, physically vulnerable. That'd be the same as killing her.

"Yeah, OK. I'll cover it," Kenji says, trying not to sound like an asshole.

As he leaves the head-shrinker's home-office, Kenji pulls out his agent, hopes to see a ping from one of his favored fixers. He's gonna need to get busy earning.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Wed 27 July 2022.
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