<> <> <> <> <> * Demetreia , having been staying in the nearest alley to Kat's apartment, is there early. * Vera is there as soon as the place opens. She orders a scotch on the rocks and proceeds to ... oh, wait, Kat's apartment. In that case, she's just there whenever Ian gets there too, since he's her transportation and all. * Katherine is in her apartment, having buzzed any of you that come along up. She's wearing a dark blue t-shirt and leather pants, and has a shoulder holster on, holding one of her guns. She looks tired, and was apparently working on something at her pad that keeps her very distracted most of the time. * Rochelle is there already for some reason, sprawled out on the floor and watching the 'net as she paints her nails a deep blue. She hasn't said much of anything beyond a greeting to whoever else is there. * Fitzroy is one of the last to show up. * Vera is wearing her more normal clothes now. Frankly, it's not all that much different than what she had at the festival: She's got a brown duster in place of the white jacket, and a brown wider-brimmed hat. Her hair is tied into a single long pony tail at her neck with a loose blue ribbon. * Fitzroy has on more casual clothes. Black cargo type pants, t-shirt, and a lightweight jacket. * Ian and Vera show up just a bit before Fitzroy. He's wearing a forest green sweatshirt and blue jeans, and toting a large backpack. No penguin this time; sorry. * Leopoldo has just arrived and is waiting inside for others, assung Kat has let him in already. He's dressed in fairly casual clothing, a long sleve buttoned shirt and a pair of normal-fitting pants. His tail still portrudes out of the back. * Demetreia is wearing the same incredibly mismatched outfit as before, sans mask. * Rochelle dips the brush in polish and starts on her left thumb. She's wearing a beaten, old t-shirt, threadbare jeans, and old but servicable workboots. Nothing anywhere near as nice as she wore the last time you saw her. * Katherine blinks her eyes, puts her pad down, now that everyone's here, and rubs her temples. "Christ, that can wear on you after a while." She looks around. "Hey, everyone's 'round. Wasn't keeping track." * Leopoldo shrugs. "So, how should we work about this?" ( It can? She's rubbed her temples that much? :P ) * Leopoldo blinks. "Forgive my manners. Good day everyone." <> ( When you're designing cyberware in your head, you just might. ) Hello. Yeah, they all wandered in when you were busy. * Ian waves. "'afternoon." * Fitzroy waves as well and makes himself comfortable. * Katherine moans slightly in pain. "Well, that was the whole idea. So, like Leo said. What're we gonna do on trackin' down more of those artifacts?" Well, the last time I had to track down ancient artifacts... Go hunting randomly, talk with contacts, search the media...? * Rochelle looks at Vera. "Y'tracked artifacts before?" * Ian raises an eyebrow. * Leopoldo thinks of an old role playing game. "Talk to random people." I'm kidding. (...OR IS SHE) What do we ask them, though? (If you make us run an Antiques Roadshow, Cham, I swear I will destroy you.) 'Hi! Seen any ancient artifacts of a long dead race recently?' * Katherine eyes all the contributors, and rubs her temples again, leaning back in the chair. "We are not asking random people." * Leopoldo chuckles. I've talked to a few people already and one of them might have a lead, but it's not for certain. (.... *marks that one on the idea sheet*) He hasn't gotten back to me on it yet. * Rochelle goes back to painting. Hmm, that was quick. Glad to see you have done some work on this. Well, I can probably find the right people to ask, but it might take a while. * Ian nods. "I can certainly try." * Katherine shakes her head. "As for me, I don't have any contacts that would know about artifacts. Well, maybe I can ask Momo where she got it, unless any of you that went downstairs know." I think she said it was from a garage sale, actually. * Ian nods. "Unfortunately." Yeah, but whose garage? Hmm, that would be interesting to know... * Katherine stretches her arms out to her side. "Well, I guess that gives me somethin' helpful to do." (>.> <.<) I am afraid I cannot help...I do not know many people. * Leopoldo shrugs. "I wish I could be of more help, but this area really is quite alien to me, even if I have been here a week or so." * Vera pulls out a cigarette. "Well, now that that's settled... Any other ideas, or shall we get this show on the road?" * Rochelle finishes and screws the cap back onto her bottle of nail polish. She sits up, holding her hands out to dry. "Sorry, but I don't got anything that'll help. Like that's a surprise." * Ian shrugs. "Contacts are about the only ideas I've got. We'll need to keep track of all the leads we get, but that shouldn't be too difficult." * Fitzroy nods "I've got a few more places I can ask" he starts up his comp. So do we do one at a time or check them all now? * Fitzroy connects to his comp through a TSM jack this time. * Katherine frowns, and stands. "Might as well gather 'em all up now. We should probably, before this gets much farther, exchange contact info too." * Ian nods. <> ( What about business chikins? ) * Katherine , to that end, grabs a small stack of said cheapie chips, and hands 'em out. "Enjoy, store, whatever." * Leopoldo takes a cheapie chip. "Hmmm..." * Demetreia takes one. * Rochelle doesn't. Nails drying! * Ian takes one. * Vera takes one and sticks it in her pocket. Now that I'm on a double-wide, either of 'em will work at pretty much anytime. I've pretty much always got the pad contact on me. (Which is how I'm referring to the 'cell phone' I have because Cham is also a doofball like Leo.) (Why are you calling Leo a doofball?) (He's a SPACE TRUCKER. He HAS to have some sort of shipping contacts.) (Well, he is. ) (He does?) (Um... so anyone else wanna tell anyone their contact info? ^_^;) * Fitzroy grabs a couple of chips and throws some contact info on there for the others. It's got an email and the addy of the motel he's staying at in RNY. (Hooray!) * Demetreia takes one of those as well. (And other info, like phone, for said motel) I am afraid I have no ready contact information. But I am currently residing in the alley outside that window *points*, so it should not take long to find me. * Leopoldo hands out a number of chips as well, containing contact info, as well as what ship he operates. * Fitzroy says, as he hands them out. "I think I actually have a good lead one another artifact." Do tell. * Katherine starts slotting chips into her pad, and then tossing them back in the pile as the data gets grabbed. * Ian takes one, and stores all three chips in his backpack. He gets out a small case, and hands out actual paper cards - with an odd but readable pseudo-Victorian font and all. There's supposedly one in Red Marion.. some dinky little town.. That's a start. Guess a dinky little town wouldn't take too long to look through. * Ian nods. "This should be interesting." It's being used as a thermocouple power generator... BUT. It's owned by ATC. * Vera nods. "At least, it's something to do." Ugh, ATC? Yeah, they're guarding the town. * Vera frowns. She finally lights that cigarette. "Makes things a bit more complicated." * Ian hmms. "That's bad news..." (Be right back, keep going.) * Katherine eyes Ian's card, and if this were an anime, a lightbulb would light up over her head. She eyes Ian, then blinks. "Well, that's not a big deal." That'd be difficult. Don't think they're gonna want to give the thing up. * Katherine frowns. "Wait, wait. The town, or the artifact is owned by ATC?" Does it matter? Yeah, it does. * Demetreia takes one of each of the contact thingy-doos. * Fitzroy hmms. If it's owned by ATC, than they're probably doin' research on it or somethin'. If it's just some random guy, it's a heck of a lot easier. * Katherine glances towards Ian again. Depends on if ATC knows what it is or not. Looks like the town actually owns the artifact, but ATC is guarding the reactor it's by. * Ian blinks at Katherine. "Something wrong?" Hmm...so if we don't cause trouble, we're fine? * Leopoldo takes one of the contacts from everyone who offers them, inputting the data into a pad of his own. "That's the way it would work." I think the artifact is just out in front of City Hall. * Katherine smirks. "That's how it always works." She turns back to Ian. "And it's just a matter of recognition. Ian Savolino. Really." * Rochelle hrms. "So it's not part of the reactor thing. You know 'im, Kat?" * Katherine nods. "Only by reputation. And a book or two." She thumbs towards the bookshelves, then shakes her head. "So, how far away is Marion?" * Ian grins. "It's always nice to meet someone who's read them, although it doesn't happen often. I know my author photos are a little silly." Now that I've met you, it fits perfectly. * Ian laughs. "True enough. Anyway, I can't say I've heard of the place..." Red Marion... It's somewhere east of Red Boston. Out in the plains. Looks like the Reactor there is it's only reason for existance. Good enough. Do we want to hit it now, or branch out and see if there's something closer to home, so ta speak? It's the only lead we have, I propose we take it. * Ian nods. "Might as well take it." * Vera nods. "Let's go for it." It seems like a satisfactory plan of action. ATC basicly owns the place. I doubt they'd let us just take 'public property'. We ought to be careful. * Fitzroy makes quote marks with his fingers as he says public property. There's no chance of Anders just giving us the money to buy it off ATC, is there? Would ATC sell it? * Rochelle blows on her nails and waves them in the air. She still doesn't add anything to the conversation. They seem to be using it as a statue outside the city hall. They probably think theirs is worth more than Momo did. * Ian nods. "Ugh." Yeah, great. Still, Anders is the one who really wants it. Unless Fate is paying, or anyone knows a good way to grab a statue, I'm not seeing hot options. How about we contact him? Sure, worth a shot. If not, we'll just have to buckle down and get criminal records for Fate. * Katherine smirks at that. An option I'd rather avoid... This one's watermelon size, by the way. No matter. Should be able to carry it anyways. And it's a statue outside their town hall? Pretty pathetic statue. Hmm, that makes things easier... Maybe it's part of a statue. * Rochelle blinks. "But we're not gettin' anywhere right now. Maybe we can ask Anders on the way?" * Vera nods. "Sounds good to me." <> ( Yeah, all two of us. ) (Go us!) (Don't worry, the rest of them forgot it existed.) Sure. So - how are we going to get there, and out quickly if necessary? Any of you have a ride? Soon, I hope. This waiting is getting to me. I have a skimmer and a ship, though the skimmer can't hold more than four. Damn, you're set up well. I've got a car, myself. * Ian smiles slightly, and shrugs. "Well, I live in the ship, a lot of the time. My apartment's good for inducing claustrophobia." * Leopoldo chuckles. "Don't have a skimmer myself, although I should remedy that eventually. Taking these transports to the surface isn't convenient in the least." * Rochelle seems satisfied with her nails. "I'll hitch a ride with someone." I usually take public transportation. * Katherine nods. "Me too. Cars just ain't worth it for me." * Ian nods. <> <> I have no access to any form of private transportation. I prefer driving when I'm traveling, but that's just me. If your ship can hold all of us, Ian, that might be better. * Ian thinks, and counts up. "Only barely. It would probably be better to split into two groups...if ATC catches on and goes after the ship, it's slow and unshielded." (No Brick for you!) (Thank god.) Well, there's seven of us. How about four of us go in the skimmer, and three of us go in Roy's car. * Katherine nods. "Works for me. Should probably do the whole masks thing too. Ain't a proper burglary without them." She grabs her pad again and plugs in for a sec. That'll work. It will probably be crowded either way. * Vera frowns. "Don't like the whole thieving idea much." If we do have to steal it, I have an idea that may make it easier - and if we're lucky, they wouldn't catch on for a couple of days. * Katherine snorts, and unplugs. "Well, we're on our own." He's not helping? Yay. Nope. Go get it, he says, and that's it. Might be somethin' to that, but he can't say so. Ask him how badly he wants it, then. I'm willing to help out, but I don't plan to ruin my life for his sake. * Leopoldo nods. * Ian nods. * Katherine shakes her head. "Y'all seem pretty on this whole 'steal the artifact' game. Didn't we just break up one of those a few days ago?" She blinks at her pad. "Oh, and he thinks there'll be trouble, I'd say. Watch out for Concordat." I'd rather not do it, but if the Concordat might do it first...we're the lesser of two evils, I hope. Let's just go. We'll see what happens when we get there. Who will be traveling with whom? If we tip off ATC, that'll ruin any chance of us being able to get ahold of it legally at a reasonable price. Yeah, well, we could always wait for the Concordat to go for it and steal it from them on the way out. I'll go with Ian, I guess. * Leopoldo nods. "I'll ride with Roy." * Katherine shakes her head. "Then I'll go with Fitz. Deme and Roch should probably split up too." * Ian nods. "Before we go, Roy, I'd like to ask you for a couple of things, if the rest of you like my plan." * Rochelle gets to her feet and wanders off, returning with her beaten up jacket and a gun with holster, which she proceeds to put on. "Going with Roy." I shall travel with Ian, then. Ask away, I suppose. (That's four with Roy, BTW.) (And three with Ian.) * Ian nods. "My idea is that they'll hardly complain if a professor from the Red Boston Historical Society wants to borrow the statue, to take it to an expert for analysis." He looks around. "Lame idea, or...?" ( Four! Four people with Roy! Ah ah ah. ) What will they do when we do not give it back? By that time, the professor and his organization will be long gone. Oh. So they will not check the accuracy of this "professor's" claims? Well, that's where Roy would come in...we'd need the appropriate sources to verify it, at least for a day or two. Ah. * Fitzroy nods "That could be done" Hmm... Resourceful. And decidedly less risky than trying to steal it from under their noses. * Ian smiles. "Well, thanks. That's if we can pull it off." * Katherine smirks. "Well, you can pull off the professor thing, if nobody reads your books." I think I can set that up on the way. Who's going with me again? I've got a dusty old suit in the closet. No half-moon spectacles, though - sorry. <> ( Yesdoodles. ) (Yup.) (Let's goooo!) (Is someone going to go with Ian instead of me?) ( Is four too many? ) (Vera and Demetreia, I think.) (It's not the nicest/roomiest of cars ^_~) (I guess it could be considered a standard "5" seater) ( So by "standard," d'you mean "full of junk"? ^^ ) (Ha.) I should probably stay out of sight. I'm somewhat recogonizable and registered as a 24 if they decided to look into their files. Yeah, well, I think the whole group in the car is gonna want to stay out of sight. Just a guess, though. * Katherine smirks. "Well, maybe I can be the doctor's lovely assistant. Unless you want the job, Vera." * Ian nods. "Agreed. One or two assistants wouldn't seem amiss, but..." I'd rather stay out of sight as well, frankly. We can just be around if there's trouble. Then maybe we should switch, and Deme and I can play assistants. * Katherine eyes Deme. "You can play assistant, right?" (Respond so we can go? ^_^;) Fine by me. Well, I suppose. ( Sorry, bathroom break. ) * Katherine nods. "Alright, then. Just let me get my geek clothes, and we can go." She pauses for a second, then says, "Somehow, though, I don't think the random clothing thing will help our cred, though." She stands and walks to the back closet. Eh. Grad students these days, you know? (Youngest Grad Student I've ever seen, Ian. >.>) * Demetreia tilts her head to the side a bit. "Is my attire inappropriate?" * Katherine is in the back closet, and so can't respond unless you're yelling at her. ( 'm just asking in general. ) I'm afraid it's really not in character... Oh. * Rochelle eyes Dem. "Yeah." I am afraid you will have to give me a few guidelines on what to do. I am not accustomed to this..."acting." (How old is Ian, again?) * Ian ponders. "Well, in this case, if you just stay quiet and act disoriented, it's going to be fairly believable." (34.) Ah. I may be able to do that. (80something. ;P) * Katherine comes back out of the closet with some clothes on hangers, and a pair of shoes. "Okay, I'm ready." She looks at Deme. "Well, at worst, you can just be his kid. You look that part. Heck, with the clothes, it's like you're family already." * Ian nods. "If they ask why you're so confused, or anything like that, just apologize and say you're working on a research paper for history." All right. Let's go, eh? * Katherine nods. "Yeah. I'll just have to change on the way." She walks over and grabs her purse somewhat unsteadily. Go carrying too much stuff." I'll just need to stop by my place and grab the suit...otherwise, all set here. Do you require assistance? <> (Quite.) (So gogogogogogogogogogogogogo.) (Oh,.. 4 including me would be fine. ^_~ Before I was thinking 5 total.) (BRB, keep going. ^_^) (Back.) <> <> * Fitzroy 's car is a DunnoCorp Lumbago, faded/pale orange in color. It's a small sedan-type car and fairly old. * Ian is rubbing a little powder into his hair, and carefully practicing a slight Red Boston accent. It seems he's a multi-tasking pilot. ( Quite an accomplished "deliverer of goods," I see. ) (Note to self: this is not the penguin costume. Professors do not say "wak!") (...much, anyway.) ( You should say that right before we leave them. ) * Katherine changed at Ian's apartment, because Skimmers aren't for changing. Now her braid's folded up on her head, and she's wearing a more business-like set of clothes. Some plain browns, with a nice white blouse and kakhi slacks, and simple black pumps. She's also got a pair of glasses on. She eyes Demeteria. "So, what's your story, anyway?" Story? Er...I am to be Ian's...I mean, the professor's assistant. Or daughter. Is that correct? * Katherine nods, and pushes her fake glasses up on her nose. "Pick one. Heck, you could be both. An inspired teenager." Assistant probably works better. * Demetreia nods at Ian. "All right, then." * Katherine nods too, and checks her purse, making absolutely sure the gun is not visible. (since skimmer people seem to be talking in here.... would the car people like a seperate channel?) (Vera? Roch? Talk?) (Are you nuts?) ( I guess so, sure ) ( Ha ha ha? ) (*giggles* Sure, sure.) (Who's where again? @_@;) (CAR!) * Ian brought along a floppy old briefcase, with a compartment for concealing his gun. His hair's slightly graying, now - not overly, since he doesn't look that old otherwise. (#Lumbago!) (... Winnebago!) (Winnebago!) (Winnebago!) (Winnebago!) * Katherine hmphs. "So, Ian, what's the name? I can be... Tabitha Mariko, reliable, although slightly flighty, assistant. You?" (Better yet, a Winnebago in...THE FUTURE!) (*starts it on XMMS*) Hmm, let's see here... * Ian shrugs. "Arch Holdridge?" ("Slab Bulkhead!") ("Mooky McMookface") Arch Holdridge, right. ( Sum Gai ) * Demetreia repeats softly to herself. "Arch Holdridge. Tabitha Mariko." (Venerable Professor Sum Gai.) * Demetreia looks up. "Wait, will I have to receive a new designation as well?" * Ian nods. "It would be a good idea." Can't hurt. Although Ian has a better reason than most to try out a new name. * Demetreia furrows her brow, thinking furiously, then twitching a little. "Deianeira....Nikolai..." No...Nikodemos... * Demetreia snaps out of it. "Er, would that be an appropriate alternate designation?" * Katherine frowns. "Deianeira Nikodemos? Sure. They'd have a hard enough time just spelling it to figure out who you were." * Ian nods. * Demetreia looks proud of herself. "All right." * Ian gets out his datapad and enters in a quick message to Roy. As soon as I get the data back from Roy, we should be ready to go in. * Katherine nods, and turns to Deme. "Ready, Deia?" <> (i.e. I'm really too out to run the actual town bit tonight, sorry.) (No problem. ^_^) * Demetreia starts a bit before nodding. "Right. Yes." (For normal people this might be a good spot to converse.) (Yeah, well, normal people aren't Deme the Computer.) ( <.< >.> Who's Deme the Computer? My designation is Deianeira Nikodemos, an assistant. ) * Katherine leans back in her chair. "So, Deia. What's your interest in history? In case someone corners you and asks." * Ian picks up his beeping datapad, and runs a batch of chips, then hands out some to Kat and Dem. "These are our credentials." Ummm...oh, thank you...er... The history of...of...cybernetic research? * Katherine chuckles. "Sure. Me, I think I'll go with recent history." She chuckles. "And Ian, of course, does late 20th century." * Ian smiles. "Of course." * Katherine slots her credentials, and examines them idly. * Katherine hrms, and grins slyly. "So, Deme. You know about Cybernetics like Deianeira does?" I have slight background in the subject. I think. * Katherine taps her pad on her lap. "Really? Me too. Any actual cyber, or just interested?" (Kat does small talk, la-dee-dah.) Well, I do recall some details on advanced implementation of manufactured sentience in a progressive environment. * Katherine hrms. "Really? What's the application, or isn't there one yet?" ( Pause while I frantically try to think up some improvisational technobabble) ( -_^ ) (Heh.) (And I don't have to. *laughpoint*) ( NYAH ) Well, it depends on whether you're working with typal systems and general-corporeal forms or modal input networks. ( I am quite aware that not one word of that sentence should be used in that manner. ) ( I fully and heartily apologize to the English language. *seppuku* ) (... Yeah, but is that Deme's fault, or just technobable's fault?) ( Well, point. ) * Ian starts reading up on Red Boston University trivia. "I'm...not going to be too conversant here. Sorry." (It makes a difference. ^_~) ( I almost went to Red Boston University! Only that was less red. And, y'know, in the 21st century. ) ( +early ) (We're still in the 21st century. ^_^;) ( Yeah, 's why I tacked "early" on. ) * Katherine hrms. "What's it for if they're modal input? Are we talking interface or automated control?" (All sound and fury, signifying nothing. or something.) (Sadly, Modal Input actually means something in the real world.) Interface. Which could be either automated control or autonomous operation. ( Uni is KILLING MY ENGLISH. I don't know why. ) * Katherine chuckles, and shakes her head. "Sheesh. All this tech stuff. You'd think I was actually at work." ( I have a vague idea of what modal input actually means. But not enough to, like, know anything about it. ) Where do you work? ( And why is the transfer to Ian taking so long? Or are we already on our way and I missed it? ) (Uh? We've been on our way for a while.) (It's just 'taking us time to get there'.) ( Oh! Okay then. ^^ ) ( Dem: I know why. You're becoming Korean! :P ) ( Missed it. ) ( Argh! ) ChromeMental Research. It's a cyber and TSM place in NYC. Oh. ( Brett: I will destroy you. ) Ah, interesting... (Ian is lagging because he just got an offer to do a *third* part-time consulting thing, despite the fact that he's going off to law school in ten months. c_c;;;) ( x.x ) (Money good! But eep.) (Jesus.) * Katherine shrugs. "It works. Means I know all sorts of things about cyber. Useful knowledge all around." * Ian nods. * Demetreia nods. "Indeed." <> <> <>