Glancing up from the screen with minor annoyance, Aeryn would look over to their bodyguard.
"Takashi, see who it is, let them know that business hours are over for the night."

With a nod, the large fellow would plod over and open the view-slit, looking out with yellow eyes.
"Shop's closed, who are you, how'd you learn of our business, are you a cop?"
Straight to the point as he always was, his voice was gravelly and the last word was almost barked out.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 4):

The woman on the other side is tall enough to have to stoop her posture down to look the guard in the face through the view-slit. She is wearing sunglasses, despite the late hour. She has a well worn, black leather duster on, with studded leather gloves & bicker boots.

She pulls the sunglasses down at the accusation of being the police & glares into the guard’s yellow eyes with her own icy blue ones. The are terrifying azure orbs & they can send a frightful chill down any normal person's back. She flashes a ferocious snarl & spates out:

“Do I look like a fucking cop?”

“I have old business with the Doctor. I have his fucking money.” She slaps the view-slit with what looks like a fat stack of cash.

“Now open up before I kick this fucking door down on top of you.” She tests the door with a firm kick, shaking it's hinges.

(OOC: She has a monstrous, supernatural Presence, & I can roll to see how badly she can intimidate the guard, if you like.)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Sat 13 Feb 2021.

"Let the woman in, cops are legally obligated to say they are when asked last I checked."

Several locks would clatter open and the door would open to reveal a small waiting room that whilst poorly lit and sparsely furnished was sparkly clean and scented with cheap but pleasant incense. The raccoon-faced beastman would stay by the door, closing it after the visitor passed through, and a tuxedo-clad bonobo would approach arms outstretched.
"Your coat, madam?"

The proprietor would turn from the office computer and roll the chair over to the service window.
"I shall repeat a few of my subordinate's queries: Who are you, how did you find our business, what is your business? You mentioned money, but I have not seen your face and it doesn't seem like plastic surgery. Great care is taken to avoid certain difficulties, surely you must understand the merits of moderate paranoia, yes?"

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 6):

She looks at the assistant requesting her coat for a moment before removing the duster & handing it to him. There are two billy clubs hanging from her belt under the coat with a long sleeved white shirt. She approaches Aeryn and pauses while he speaks.

The woman raises an eyebrow before giving a small bow. ”Ah, yes. Where are my manners? I am Dr. Cale.” She takes a seat before Aeryn and folds her gloved hands neatly while crossing her legs..

”Recently I have inherited several assets, estates, and debts. Most of this comes from a former client of yours. The business women & entertainer known publicly as ‘K the Jester.’”

She removes her sunglasses & places them in a shirt pocket. She looks Aeryn in the eyes as she continues. ”I understand she owes you for... discreet medical treatment for injures she sustained at an undisclosed time. I wish to settle the debt before discussing other business matters.”

"Well, that certainly clears some things up; an individual of some capability you must be, to bear such a title and know such a being. Compensation may come in many forms, be it assets or favours, what be your offer?"

The doctor's gaze would meet Cale's, coldly calculating. They hadn't been told of such connections before, and this information could prove useful later.

"If I may be so intrusive, what was the nature of your connection to K? Comrade? Relative? Significant? Also, what, if you know it, is the current status of my former customer?"

The hope was that the former patient wasn't deceased, it was generally unpleasant for the doctor to learn of their patient's expiration.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 8):

“You flatter me.

“Do you have a preference of favor or currency? I am not opposed to either, or a mix of the two. I am not sure I fully recollect what K has promised. Knowing her, it might have been something grandiose. Perhaps something along the lines of ‘those who stand with me in at my darkest hours will receive first cut of my spoils at brightest.’ Or something of that matter.”

“As you asked, Perhaps I should backup & discuss the nature of my relationship with the woman in question. I am on paper as a partner in her corporation & it’s various subsidiaries.”

“She has been declared legally dead, & much to the chagrin of the vultures seeking to claim her remaining properties, I am listed as the last remaining benefactor.”

“The remaining corporation is not what it used to be, of course. I am sure you have heard of the fire that burned our headquarters not too far from here. The amusement park has grown dilapidated and some subsidiaries exists only on paper at this point.”

She leans in to look at Aeryn and adds in a firm, low tone: ”But this paper has much value.” She leans back in the chair.

”There are patents. Trademarks. Inventions. Royalties. Contracts with various options with other... larger companies.”

“In other words, there is nothing but room for growth in K Corp.”

“The only limitation is personnel. I seek people of talent & character to rebuild the K Corp family.”

"I am guessing that in saying this you would allow for the possibility of a a partnership between 'K corp' and my own unnamed endeavour? There is much opportunity for mutual benefit in such an arrangement, lots of resources for experimentation, and plenty of ways to apply what is learned. What do you seek, regarding market niches? A PMC with elite soldiers? Cybernetics?"

Aeryn's eyes would continue to stare, now with a spark of interest.

"My own assets are not insigificant, but they are mostly tied up in offshore accounts, cryptocurrency, and stocks. Too much in use at once creates an enticing paper-trail that may distract authorities from certain donations. Mind you this, I will not work for someone, I have enjoyed autonomy and wish to keep it."

Leaning back, they would take a drink from a nearby water-bottle and ask one more question.

"How much did you know before hand, how much of this did you plan, how much is being thought up on the spot?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Thu 18 Feb 2021.

Dr. Cale raises an eyebrow & allows a small, wry smile to cross her face. ”If it amuses you, I would be quite interested in a partnership.”

Aeryn:

"What do you seek, regarding market niches? A PMC with elite soldiers? Cybernetics?"

<purple>”Yes & yes. And… a return to our original market of multimedia coverage. Especially news. The truth is a powerful thing, & I do not believe the people of Creation can advance without it being shepherd with a diligent passion. Why, the state of journalism has degraded to such an extent, I would much prefer to listen to a white hat hacker then any talking head on a network Chanel. And if we are to live in a world where excellence is to be rewarded then perhaps some of these unconventional individuals need to set the standards of a new convention.”

Dr. Cale glances at the two servants in the room. ”I would be very happy to discuss other details in private. Perhaps at our K Corp office headquarters?”



“I would like to claim an even spread, but let us be honest. Business is war. And war has two parts.”

“For individual battles,  few plans survive the beginning of the engagement. Anyone with any success must be quick of wit to draw order from that chaos.”

“But the broader war, that can be one with the right strategy. Even if one losses most of the battles, the strategy can win the war.”

“Which is why I seek to ally with people of integrity, talent, intelligence.”

“And to be clear, I want to dominate. I want K Corp family, & her allies & friends, to crush all competition & set the new standards. The new order. Nothing else will satisfy me.”

"The other individuals go where I do, they are loyal and I need to monitor Takashi's condition. There are two others as well, mostly normal, they assist with procedures."
"Regarding a 'white hat hacker', it is far from my specialty, more an insurance policy than a weapon. Now, Truth is fine and dandy, but it can often be inconvenient for certain objective oriented individuals, I will admit that having some influence over information would be useful."

The potential for future conflicts of interest was certainly there, but it would be best for them to be addressed when they became relevant, and a secret or two never hurt (at least until revealed). For now, the doctor was focused on creating a superior human, they would address the rest of the world after that, but a little multitasking wouldn't hurt.

"We could have a sort of partnership arranged, but I shall reserve every right to leave if I so choose, no small print, no offense but I've seen how most corpos operate."

Dr. Cale raises both eyebrows in quite interest in Aeryn's brief discussion of their staff/patients.



"I understand. Would you know others who might be interested for in such work?"



"Indeed. Within reason, of course. Individual privacy is sacrosanct, & one should never give too much information to potential enemies."



"I find these terms quite logical. And I would welcome measured, constructive criticism toward the corporate structure of K Corp. It is my desire to have the best business. Nothing else will appease me."

"The other hacker individual I do know no longer exists, I inherited their infrastructure, and I haven't yet tried to poke around and find others fiddling on the web."

"Now, I have experiments I'd like to conduct, what time frame do you have for laying operational foundations? My own facility can be packed up in a day, and what equipment that cannot be easily transported can be rapidly fabricated on-site. It isn't as well stocked as an above-board op, but it has been sufficient for most of my needs thus far."

They would begin to stack their papers and clear off the admittedly messy desk, still looking to Ms. Cale in the process.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 14):

"Ah. I see. I'm sure we can find someone with the required skills at some point."

"As for time frame, the sooner the better."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Mon 22 Feb 2021.

 It is at about this time that a rather loud pounding can be heard on the door. And even through the door a rather male voice can be heard yelling "Open this bloody door before I do it for you! My buddy is injured and he ain't going to the building down the road."

A look of irritation would flash across Aeryn's face as they stood up and made for the operating room, barking an order to their bodyguard.
"Let them in, I'm charging double though, godsdamn ruffians getting critically injured outside business hours."

The entrance would wing open and the beastman would glance at the visitors.
"Head inside, fee doubled due to being outside business hours and Doc's irritation."

  The beastman opens the door and he drops the guy he was hauling when he is past the beastman. "Well that was fun. I hate being undercover so much extra work to make a simple appointment."

   "Listen we don't have much time. A friend of mine said to come here and be polite. Guess that means not shooting you. Making contact with underground elements that are related distantly to my kind is never easy so if you don't mind this will go faster if you see me as I was born the second time." with that the rather nondescript man of Asian extraction melts away and a man that is merely handsome stands before you. "My name is Lucian MacGregor. My bosses within the Silver Pact call me Lone Ocelot. You can call me Mac or Lone at least until I know you better. I assume you have questions and I would be quick about it."

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 16):

"I don't know how you put up with all the rude people threatening your poor door."

"It must grow quite vexing." Dr. Cale steps to the side to allow Aeryn easy movement through the clinic.

---

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 18):

The Doctor straightens up at the sight of the man, & eyes him with increasing, intense suspicion after the interloper shape-shifts.

As this 'Mac' speaks to Aeryn, Dr. Cale marches over to the man he unceremoniously deposits at the door & checks their pulse & overall condition. She keeps giving a few side-glances to Mac as she does so.

[Private to Lucien MacGregor: Though this is their 1st meeting, the woman looks undeniably familiar to Lucien.

It is an unending déjà vu, like meeting a fraternal twin you've always known- for the 1st time.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:33, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

Eye beginning to twitch, Aeryn would snatch up their rifle and throw it to Bartholomew and begin waving for their two assistants to take cover.

"If you've brought the authorities or some other hostile force here so help me I will sue your ass for damages. As far as I knew I was in the green, not to mention there was an imminent relocation planned."

One unplanned post-closing visitor was annoying, but this was getting out of hand, now there were two of them plus a possible corpse lying on the floor.

"I'll cover the nerds."
With that, Takashi would thump over to the operating room, arming himself with a bone saw.

"This better not be a waste of time, Skinchanger. Is there an imminent threat that shall preclude the notion of simply packing up and leaving within a day?"

 "As of right now no plans in the works that would bring a raid right now. As for bringing the authorities down on you technically I am the authorities. Luck for you I don't like my bosses very much." he pauses for a moment and looks at them. "You have no idea do you? Typical she never tells anyone anything. Not very surprising now is it. Gonna have to explain to her what communication is again. Everything is always a joke with her. Quite funny."

"Out then! Out! I have things to pack, and I already paid the agreed upon bribes. If out you shan't go then help pack, and if out you shall go then first fill out a form for an appointment."

The thoroughly irate physician would then return to stacking papers and disassembling equipment, this time with additional vigour fueled by frustration.

The confused bodyguard would pipe up,
"So that's a no on combat then?"

[Private to Lucien MacGregor: What state is the man droped to the floor? Dead? Unconscious? ]

Dr. Cale raises an eyebrow toward Mac. "Well, you do know how to make an entrance, Mr. Lone-Mac-Lone. You have ruined my business introduction to the physician, here. A pity."

"Now, who is this woman you speak to, & what was she supposed to tell myself & the good doctor here?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 05:17, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

  "The Jester told me to meet her here. Since she isn't in fact here that poses a problem. One I am unsure how to fix off hand. She was supposed to be here. This is going to be interesting."

[Private to Doctor Cale: The face of the man is the Asian fellow Lucian just was. And the gaping chest wound should tell you that he is very much dead.]

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 24):

The mysterious woman of mystery knocks on the mysterious door of the mysterious Dr. Aeryn. She is cloaked in a dark cloak. Dark as the secrets in the air.

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 24):

"I see. Why did you kill this man?"

"LET THEM IN!" would be shouted from the storage room, the doctor had given up, what was the point of closing shop and winding down for the night when randos keep appearing.

"Doc ain't in a good mood, recommend stating yer business quicklike, if it's medical care, for yer sake I say to head elsewhere for now.", Takashi was rather confused by events, and he didn't know whether to keep the saw or not, so he simply stowed it on his belt for the time being.

The two assistants in the back were hurriedly packing things, and the Rifle-armed bonobo butler sat on the operating table staring at the visitors in the Thinker position.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 27):

Blue smoke rolls into the room from the open front door.

A deep voice echoes from all over the room.

”I am vengeance given form.”

“I am the blood stains on your party dress.”

“I am the traffic cop who spots the dead body in your back seat.

“I...! Am...!”

The (short) dark figure, with icy blue eyes, slowly emerges from the ominous smoke. She just stares for a long second at the chaotic scene behind the door, blinkes twice, then notices the bloody body at her feet as she takes two steeps in, almost tripping on it.

"Uh, what happened to this guy?" askes the voice of a woman legally dead.

[Private to GM:

OH! IDEA!

If a healthy heart (& other tissues/blood/etc.) were available for immediate transplant, could this fellow be revived with medical assistance from Aeryn???]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Thu 25 Feb 2021.