<> <> (...;_;) ( Need a dicebot? ) (Dunno.) (God damnit. Cham, I almost NEVER used the word 'dunno' before ATC. YOu know that?) <> (hee hee.) <> (And we will need the dicebot.>> * Threnody eyes the platter oddly. "Isn't replacing this sort of formality why we have such a mass of indecipherable gadgetry, nowadays?" He opens the card and reads. <> <> <> * Threnody eyes the card as if licking it was psychadelic. "...he must be joking. He absolutely must. Breaking, entering, falsification of records?" He throws the card onto the bed and frowns. "Perhaps I could knock over a restaurant and take a hostage? Set fire to something? Honestly." * Threnody frowns, tapping a finger against his thigh, then reaching for the phone. "If he has a good reason... where did I leave his room number...?" (I *think* Dorian gave it to me. I *think*.) (He did, IIRC.) (Yup. He did.) * Threnody digs through a small and surprisingly neat-while-unorganized pile of chips, readers, and an actual book on the nightstand and, discovering Anders' number, dials it. <> "Hello, Mr. Tsukitomi. My name is Isaiah. Please hold a moment while I hand the phone to Anders." <> "Threnody, a pleasure to hear from you." <> * Threnody blinks at the name Isaiah, which seems... atypical of Martian names. To his limited experience anyhow. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Anders. If you are truly as Mr. Grey described you, then... you might know why I am calling." "I do. Did Dorian explain to you the Concordat?" (Gray? Grey.) (Grey.) * Threnody shakes his head, despite being in another room on another floor, likely. "Not... particularly. He mentioned they're planning to use whatever you're looking for, for ill, but..." "They're a secret organization extending back to the time when the druids were prominent in England. They are old, and vast, and very good at what they do. Part of this is their ability to use the wealth of the higher members to further their cause." <> "They have purchased several members of the ATCops. They are causing me no end of trouble, and I wish to have them removed from my hair without harming them." "In addition, there are several recent incidents that I would prefer fade quickly, hence the deletion of records." * Threnody blinks, sitting down and looking out the window. "Aha." There's a weighty pause. "I'm not..." He pauses again. "To be honest, if you know anything about my mother, you must know that I've inherited, at least a little, her somewhat flexible morality in regards to a greater good." * Threnody bites his lip. "But if this is going to typify the type of tasks you'll ask of me, I have to express some apprehension." "This is most certainly an exception, though I might ask you to perform tasks like breaking and entering and larceny upon Concordat members from time to time. It is most important that I acquire those artifacts." * Threnody breathes out. "The proof will be in the doing, I suppose." * Threnody glances outside again. "I suppose if it's to be done, I should get started. Thank you for answering my questions." "Certainly." * Threnody hangs up, then bites his lip again and goes to get dressed. (I'm playing pretty princess dressup in my head. Trying to think of something appropriate.) * Threnody frowns, rifling through clothes and eventually deciding on grey pants that could only be called "leggings", a white shirt and a hunter green light jacket over it. "There. Not too conspicuous or likely to provoke comment." He eyes across the room to the bokken, then shakes his head. "Better to leave that here." * Threnody then leaves! Sorry. Should have said. <> <> * Threnody takes his time walking, mulling over how to pull this off in his mind and thus being fairly oblivious to most everything else. (It occurs to me I will need my character sheet.) <> * Threnody frowns, actually swatting at one like a fly. "Accursed things." <> * Threnody sighs and looks up at the sky as he walks, then idly skimming his mind around, getting a mental 'glance'. <> * Threnody nods, satisfied, and starts looking at where he's going. <> * Threnody sighs and breathes out, hoping his cover story is at least somewhat plausible, then actually walks in. <> * Threnody just goes to walk in. First rule is to look like you belong there, after all. <> * Threnody makes his way to the desk, but actually stops and chuckles at the ducks momentarily, like a little kid, laughing. <> "Hello sir! How might i help you?" * Threnody smiles, folding his hands behind his back. "Good morning! I'm looking for the personnel office. Could you direct me to it?" <> "Are you looking for employment, sir, or a specific person, or something more general?" * Threnody clears his throat. "I'm hoping to speak to someone. I'm checking a reference." (cats make typing hard.) (I'm so suspicious. "You're checking a reference... in person?") <> "I see. Well, It is highly irregular, but that will be personnel's problem." <> "Here is your clearance pass, sir. Please do not lose it in the building. Follow the holographic guide to personnel." <> * Threnody blinks as he takes the pin, and seems about to say something but shuts himself up, putting it on his jacket. "My thanks. Lead on, Mr. Hologuide." <> <> * Threnody frowns as he walks around, quickly losing track of where the hell he is. "Oh... drat." <> * Threnody blinks, murmuring to himself as he walks. "Do they do this on purpose?" <> * Threnody blinks again, then frowns, and forces himself to knock. Take that, technology! <> * Threnody pauses a moment, then ahems. "I've come to check a reference. May I come in?" <> "WHAT???" <> * Threnody clears his throat, again, then simply opts for "MAY I? COME IN? AND DISCUSS? THIS FURTHER?" "GET IN HERE, I CAN'T HEAR A THING!" * Threnody glances at the hologuide, as if it could shrug and agree with him, then actually opens the door. "*Thank* you." <> * Threnody stops dead just inside the doorway, and is promptly hit by the door because he forgot to move. "Ow! Er... I'm sorry, I'm here to check a reference." <> "WHAT the FUCK 'dya wanna do that for?" * Threnody eyes the man for a moment, then smiles. "It relaxes me." <> "So what, exactly, are you checking?" (Oh god. I don't know!) * Threnody retrieves a datareader from his jacket and taps it. Inexpertly, but he taps it. "My m... aunt. On Earth, is a stockholder. She's considering hiring some current or former ATC security employees as personal bodyguards. She asked me to check up on them, as I'm visiting Mars on holiday." Earthese accent: Extra thick! <> "You goddamn Earthers." <> "Give me the names." (assume anders has provided them) * Threnody rattles them off. "Of course, if I could look at their files myself... I'm quite a researcher. It's a hobby." Cute smile. <> I would have only the highest respect for security protocols, of course. *beam* <> "There's the public access section of their ATCop records. You know all these guys are still on active duty, right?" Perhaps they're interested in a career change. "Whatever. Anything else?" * Threnody looks away distractedly. "Or are interested in the Tsukitomi Iai school." He looks back and smiles. "Yes, actually... is there a public or spare terminal I could use in here, somewhere? I'd like to send the data off as soon as possible." <> * Threnody mmms, setting his lips in an unhappy line. So much for the easy way. "Thank you." (I should ask to see the manager. The top brass. "I hear she's a woman named Ronnie, and is absolutely ADORABLE.") * Threnody takes the paper and heads back toward where he thinks the lobby is. "Didn't want to have to do it this way, but what must be done, must be done." (They'd prly laugh. IIRC, Rondure obscured herself like the Cube did.) (I know. I was just joking.) <> * Threnody blinks, not actually expecting that and either walking up to it or sitting down at it. "At least I've got numbers and names to start with..." <> * Threnody cracks his knuckles and eyes the terminal. And hopes the Minotaur is dining elsewhere, for now. "Well... might as well get started." Clickety! (OH god. Hacking? Labyrinth? Minotaur? EVil Otto!) (It's all of my bad, bad cyberspace images from Don't Make a Deal with a Dragon come to LIFE.) <> (Haw haw. You are, Samuel Verner. You won't even kill people!) * Threnody tilts his head at the card. *clickety* "Well, I suppose it won't get me the access I need, but maybe there's a backdoor of some form." Smile, clickety. "Or something like that. How do I even know that?" (* Chamelaeon decides ska as background GMing music makes him crazy.) (I am hacking alone, and thank god. Alia chirping "Can you hear me? Thren?" over and over at every critical point may well drive me insane.) * Threnody logs in! Or something. <> <> * Threnody grimaces. "Well... it's a start. Sometimes the best tool really is a crowbar." He sets about looking for some kind of records thing, and is rewarded by clicking on the Records Division icon. <> * Threnody headtilts. "My, my." He clicks on 'personnel'. <> * Threnody enters the badge number of the person on top of the actual paper stack, and sighs. "This isn't going to get me anywhere, though... everything in here's on these sheets of paper. I need some sort of back door..." And lo, he proceeded to look for one. <> ...right, then. * Threnody hits the search button. (You have to understand, *I* know less about hacking than my character does. c.c;) <> ( I learned everything I need to know about Hacking from Buffy and Hackers! ) (That's about all you need to know for this caliber of tech.) * Threnody just stares at the screen like a complete moron. (Whoooooosh! *flys through IBMspace*) ...there's no... it can't... *presses 'demote'* <> ...ah, I knew there was a catch. Damn, damn, damn... (Quick hacking lesson.) (There's two ways to get past a password.) (One - load a program to do it for you.) (Oh, good, because *I* was solving it with "Trick operator in other room into using it, read his mind", which is dubious) (Two - guess using the information you have at hand.) (That is also a very good idea.) (Todd: We call that, "Social Engineering, 24 style") * Threnody drums his fingers on the desk, then frowns and closes out the program, stacking the papers on the desk and standing up. "I wish it hadn't come to this... ah well." He walks back inside the office toward Watts the HRsmith. <> "What NOW?" * Threnody smiles endearingly again, mainly because he knows it's going to irritate him. "I'm terribly sorry, but I need a duplicate of..." he rifles through the papers and produces a topsheet "...this one, official copy. I'm really sorry." <> * Threnody beams adorably. "If it will get you the hell out of my office." <> * Threnody continues to beam adorably. And also read his thoughts. Lalala o/~ <> * Threnody stops the contact as quick as possible after that, since ATC is a tricky bunch, and struggles to maintain the totally innocent act all the way to the end. <> "Now geddout." (IF I were just a LITTLE ditzier. "Stage magic fan?") * Threnody takes the paper and bows. "My humblest apologies. Good day!" <> * Threnody leaves post-haste and heads back to the terminal. "Please forgive me, sir, but rest assured this is for the good of your continual avoidance of humanity." <> * Threnody sits at it and goes through the motions of going back to the records page and demoting Random Q. Badguy. <> * Threnody mutters. "I knew that was too easy." He backspaces and tries 'abra' for the hell of it. <> * Threnody blinks like a total idiot. "I don't believe that worked." * Threnody hopefully comes out of his shock quickly, then demotes the remaining people and logs out as soon as humanly possible. "Time to leave." <> (Appears so!) (The records to delete.) * Threnody blinks, hovering over the close program button, and mutters (but doesn't swear). "This is absolutely ridiculous." He sits back down. * Threnody proceeds to hopefully delete said records, as quickly but safely as possible. <> * Threnody headtilts. "How odd... then again, I certainly plan..." He stands and pushes in the chair, logging out. "...to get a full explanation when I deliver these." <> (What specialty? If any.) (None.) 2d6-1 * Atom rolls for Threnody (2d6-1) and gets 8. (...ha! Haha. Failed.) (By 1, but failed.) <> * Threnody hmms distractedly, then gets on his way posthaste. He's genetically paranoid. <> * Threnody smiles, genuinely grateful. "Many thanks, Mr. Hologuide." <> * Threnody sighs as he walks, slowing his pace to allay suspicion. "Why can't every piece of intrusive, brightly-colored holotechnology be as generally nonthreatening and normal as you, Mr. Hologuide?" <> * Threnody laughs. "I don't know either. You should demand a raise." <> * Threnody mmms faintly. "Familiar landscape. A good sign. I think I was right. They DID build this to make people feel lost." <> <> * Threnody laughs, amusing himself out loud in an attempt to keep from panicking. He flips the stack of papers in his arms print side inward. He waves with his other hand to the reception as he walks. "I think your hologuide's been drinking." (He acts. He acts again. He refuses to use commas. SORRY. @_@) (Those were three separate thoughts rammed into one pose.) <> * Threnody smiles back equally vacantly, for a moment, then gets the hell out of Dodge as quickly but unsuspiciously as possible. <> <> * Threnody breathes in, looking around. He pauses for a moment, then starts back toward the Red and Gold. "I don't want to even be holding onto these things another minute," he mutters. <> * Threnody walks into the hotel, secure in the knowledge that it has not suffered any major visible trauma, and heads directly for Anders' room. (Well, as directly as you can without KOing a bellhop, etc.) ("Carry your bags, si--OOF." "No time for servitude!") <> * Threnody smiles at the staff, seemingly genuinely happy to be back, and makes for the elevators, because the Tell-Tale HR Paperwork is thumpthumpthumping away. <> * Threnody blinks, fishing it out of a jacket pocket and eyeing it warily, then answering. "Yes?" "Threnody. Excellent work." <> There is something to be said for asking for a person's number before actually calling it, Mr. Anders. "I suppose. It's probably preferable that I called you as opposed to you sitting outside a vacant hotel room for hours." * Threnody frowns, stopping in the hallway. "...I have to say, Mr. Anders, that I hope the results of your aims become a little more obvious soon, as your methodology is leaving a lot to be desired. What do I DO with this... mass? Set it on fire?" "Slip it under my door. I'll need it later. And I would love to explain the whole process to you but I fear that would take ages." * Threnody continues walking. "As my mother might say: summarize." "Suffice it to say you just saved your unmet compatriots a lot of time and trouble." "They were involved in all these incidents, and the incidents needed to disappear. It is certainly best if they can work undisturbed." * Threnody sighs and slips the papers under the door of the hotel room. "I suppose the question that arises is: why me? You certainly must have more capable people in the art of intrusion than I." "Fate demanded it. In addition all of my other agents are busily working on other projects." ("I like ordering people around. It's exciting. Pardon me, I'm going to go do Jello Shots with Rondure now.") * Threnody frowns, walking back toward the elevator. "I am hoping that Mr. Grey related my opinion of fate." I am willing to trust you, but I will definitely and consistently require more justification than 'fate demanded it'. "You were nearby, you had the talents needed, you succeeded. What more justification could there be?" * Threnody rubs his temple with his free hand and presses the appropriate elevator direction button. "I am not arguing with that. It's a perfectly logical explanation. But that's quite different from 'Fate said so', if I can be blunt." "The two are equivalent, from my point of view." <> ...yes, I can see why you'd think that... which is in fact why I am taking the time to explain myself. "Then I will be sure to give you the details you need, next time." * Threnody smiles, mollified. "It is all I could ask for. Thank you." "I will talk to you later, Threnody." <> * Threnody sighs as he walks out of the elevator, stowing the phone. "I'm sure you will." <>