[Jack_Spade]

'Un-fucking-belivable'
"Well, in that case: Cheerio and good luck with your career."

John turned to the waiting gaggle of Koreans:
"Yo, you Bozos can take a hike now. My contract's done - if you want to dance this will get really messy."
To underline this sentence, John extended the impressive looking climbing claws.

[adamu]

Wednesday, 20 November, 1443; outside Red Ribbon Productions, Downtown Seattle

The extension of John's claws was answered by the half-dozen snicks and hisses of spurs popping and blades exiting sharkskin scabbards as they all took a step closer to him, six facial expressions ranging from grim fatalism to maniacal eagerness.

But a voice outside the closing circle of men shouted, "Geumandwo dagchyeo!" and they all stopped moving. Except for their faces - lips twitched and one psycho's tongue flicked in and out of his mouth, ready to fight. They made a hole and another Korean man appeared, all in black leather and studs, hair cropped close to his head.

"My uncle wants to talk to you, asshole. He told me to ask you nicely. So here I am saying get the fuck in the car."

[Jack_Spade]

"Talk eh? Doesn't know how to use a commlink, does he? Tell you what, I'll come peacefully, if you are my hostage. You ride next to me and if any of your friends gets up to any funny business I'll cut your throat - sounds fair, doesn't it?
But I understand if you don't like it. In that case we can jump over the hostage part and I'll slit your throat right here to safe us some time. 

Otherwise I'll give you a commcode and he can meet me in the 'trix at his leisure."
John had retracted his claws and again smiled the unnerving lawyer smile, while he instructed his pilot to run a movement tracker on the guys commlink, so he would be able to anticipate any sudden movement of the man.

[spoiler]
In case he runs his Commlink silent:
Matrix Perception: 8d6t5 4 [8d6t5=3, 1, 5, 6, 4, 4, 6, 5]
Target Device (EW+LOG[Data Processing]): 11d6t5 2 [11d6t5=3, 1, 5, 3, 2, 2, 4, 6, 3, 2, 1]
vs. Firewall+Willpower
Probably not successfull
Try again: Target Device (EW+LOG[Data Processing]): 11d6t5 5 [11d6t5=2, 4, 6, 1, 2, 5, 5, 5, 4, 6, 1]

Rules: Rigger 5 p.31
"Pick a wireless-enabled device you've spotted on the matrix. You can target that device and feed targeting data to any pilot program or person with a sensor rating or smartlink that is slaved to your device. For the rest of the combat Turn. the slaved attackers receive a dice pool bonus equal to your net hits when targeting the device you're tracking for them. Your RCC's noise reduction rating is added as a dice pool bonus for this action."

[/spoiler]

[adamu]

The young man nodded almost appreciatively. "You've got balls, Maybe that's why uncle wants to talk to you. I'll be happy to sit next to you, and if you don't like how things go, you'll be welcome to try to cut my throat?"

He turned his back on the ghost drone and got into the car. John got in after him and a burly thug got in after him, leaving John riding bitch in the back seat.

The car started moving, heading northeast toward Capital Hill. Once they were underway, the men in the car ignored him, chattering away in boisterous Korean.

[Jack_Spade]

'This is getting expensive real quick.'
With a somewhat resigned click, John downloaded another autosoft - Korean language this time.
The taser was back in his smuggling compartment but he hadn't had time to reload it. Not ideal at all. At least they didn't bother with crap like a hood to obscure his vision. While he waited for the download to complete he sent a message to Kate with a recording of Cheryl refusing to come with him:
<<Sorry, your friend did not want to be rescued. Please find attached the video and my invoice.>>
Not that he expected to see one tired cred from her - but at least she would never bother him again for help this way.
To Nachthexe he sent the whole unedited feed. There was just enough sex and violence to make it interesting for her - maybe enough to grant him a discount for her services although John didn't expect it. This was after all an object lesson why white-knighting was generally a bad idea.

But even as he understood Korean he kept his simulated tongue - instead he listened to the chatter around him for any worthwhile information.

[adamu]

Wednesday, 20 November, 1511; Korean BBQ House, Capital Hill, Downtown Seattle

The ride was not long, but long enough to hear a lot. The gutter Korean they spoke was a challenge for the chip, but since it was this week's version, it had the latest slang, so John was able to get along. They put up a macho front, but they were all apparently concerned about a series of deadly magical attacks on their organization, and more concerned by the fact that they had no idea who their foe was.

Then the car pulled up outside the imaginatively named Korean BBQ House. The door was opened from the outside, and everyone got out. The thugs made no move to enter, but motioned for John to do so, where he was met by two more Koreans - these in suits instead of street gear - who ushered him just past the threshold and requested his taser. They had a somewhat confused look on their faces, but said nothing else. Once they had the taser, they led John through a series of lattice archways that partitioned sunken dining areas, and in the back was a fat Korean man grilling a sumptuous array of fresh meats.

"Please, sit, join me," he said around a mouthful of beef and kim chee.

[Jack_Spade]

John took the indicated seat but ignored the food - naturally.
"Thank you for your kindly offer, but I have to follow a strict diet.

So I gather your organisation is under attack by a spell slinger? Bad for business and moral I'd suspect. As far as I know you have staked out quite a bit of real estate around Seattle. Must be hard to keep an eye on such a diverse portfolio. Not to mention that showing weakness of any kind would encourage rival elements to go on the offense themselves.

An independent contractor would allow you to keep your regular security in place and wouldn't attract any more attention to the attacks than they already have.
You are an important man and your time is valuable, so I won't waste it with any unnecessary chit chat: Yes, I can help you. My rates are very reasonable and no, as long as I'm paid I don't mind employing terminal solutions.

Should I know anything else?"

[adamu]

Wednesday, 20 November, 1513; Korean BBQ House, Capital Hill, Downtown Seattle

A slow smile took shape across the big Seoulpa boss's face. "I am Kim Park. I am not American and do not like getting straight to the point. But you intrigue me. There is a mystery about you. I would like to know more about you. And since you have caused me damages, time, and reputation today, I hope you will not be coy."

[Jack_Spade]

"Well, I am called Revenant, I am American and I like getting straight to the point.
There is not much mystery about me other than that I am a professional runner and trouble shooter. What I did today was meant as a personal favor to a lady - and I am genuinely sorry to have done what I did. Mostly because it was a waste of time and resources - both for me and you. But I assure you, all in all I was very gentle to your employees and your property - besides the water there should be no permanent damage. On the whole I think that security guy learned a valuable lesson about safe distances and will from now on be much better in his job.
I can't tell you much more about my resume without divulging secrets of clients and associates - and I am sure a man like you knows the value of discreetness.
I can tell you that I received my training with the MET2000, North American branch and that I've worked all around the globe for them.

Do you want to know anything else?"
John gave his look of polite interest #2

[adamu]

Wednesday, 20 November, 1513; Korean BBQ House, Capital Hill, Downtown Seattle

The smile disappeared. "I asked you not to be coy. You have been coy." He put meat into his mouth and chewed for some time. He took a long drink of beer. "I have a job for you. It is very dangerous, but I think you might be able to succeed. If you will agree to do it, I will forgive you the troubles you have caused me today. The paths you have chosen have brought you to this crossroads. Tell me now what path you choose next."

[Jack_Spade]

"THAT depends very much on the pay. If you think you can get a freeby just because I set fire to your employee, you certainly should think again if it is wise to squeeze a man who sets people on fire.
Doing a dangerous job is no problem for me, but doing it for nil very much is. It sets a bad precedent and like you I have a reputation and a life to support.

So yes, I'll do the job, but my standard rates apply.

Oh and I am not coy - you just didn't ask me anything I can answer."
John had taken a small piece of meat and sniffed it with his olfactory sensors before putting it down again with the fork

[adamu]

Wednesday, 20 November, 1514; Korean BBQ House, Capital Hill, Downtown Seattle

Eyebrows rose. "And you would be mistaken in thinking that setting a washed-up security guard-come-pornographer aflame is something that would impress me. Were it not that my mages suggest there is a some special, momentarily useful quality to you, this conversation and your life would now be over, since you choose to follow injury with insult. But since you do appear to be...unique...I will entertain the idea of paying you for your services. But such can only take place on the basis of a clean slate. How is it you propose to make amends for damaging and embarrassing an establishment under my protection?"

John was seated at the edge of small pit which housed the gas grill upon which the fat man cooked his meat. The circular grill itself was surrounded by polished wood tabletop laden with plates of meat and vegetables. They were in a semi-private area, with ornate, thin wooden latticework on all four sides, two of which also had archways to allow entrance and exit. Previously unobtrusive, the Korean mobsters bodyguards were now quite conspicuous - two at each of the archways, and another two on the other side of the other latticework partitions - a pair behind John, and a pair behind their master.

[Jack_Spade]

"I don't think your reputation is in question here - after all, your men apprehended me in front of witnesses. If anything that strengthened your position. That leaves the costs for a new rug and a suit for that washed up security guard. You can forward me the invoice and I'll take care of it.

If you are looking for a symbolic gesture of contrition - well I could wash your car or wear a tutu for you.

But if you want my respect and full cooperation, you won't try to squeeze me. Business is business - that's the only reason I came here, make no mistake. I am aware that you can threaten me with death and torture, but that won't help you solve your other problems - the least of which are the feelings of a seedy little porn producer.

My unique quality as you call it - meaning that your mages couldn't detect my aura - means I'm impervious against direct mana based spells and also hard to spy on from the astral. I can become an expert with most weapons and skills in a very short amount of time and I have a lot of endurance.

My offer to you is this: I do this job for you and afterwards you pay me a fair price based upon what my service was worth to you minus the expenses I caused you. If I am satisfied by your payment, I'll consider doing more work for you. If not... ah, never mind, let's stay optimistic here and say we'll part as friends because we both know that having capable allies is much preferable to making capable enemies."

[adamu]

Wednesday, 20 November, 1514; Korean BBQ House, Capital Hill, Downtown Seattle

The man listened, and when John was finished speaking he chewed thoughtfully. "An insoluble quandary of the human condition, the distinction of courage from naivete, of conviction from bravado. Still, what good would you be if you folded at the first threat? I will correct you on one point, and add another to your terms. These two things are related."

He took a swig of beer.

"First, the correction. My mages did detect your aura. Otherwise, we would have written you off as a mere machine and rid ourselves of you summarily. But a machine with an aura, however faint...that is a great rarity indeed. And so my additional condition. I will agree to your terms, provided you will tell me what you are and how you came to be."

[Jack_Spade]

"Huh? That's news to me.
The short version is I am a rigger that lost his meat body.
The slightly longer one: I was a professional Anthro drone rigger for the MET2000, got hit with the mojo of a crazy technomancer, lost connection to my body and ended up in an UV-Host of an AAA corp. I escaped in this nice piece of hardware.

I am technically an immortal now - whether I am an AI or a digital soul I have no idea - and it really isn't important. When my body died I did not lose consciousness, so I am perfectly confident in the fact that I am identical to the person I was before + the experiences I made since then."