[WrongConcept]

[IC] Crash and Burn: Chapter I

Chapter I: Welcome to real life Omae

What makes you an adult? is it the ability to stand up by yourself? is it the ability to fight your own battles? the will to keep fighting? Its 2075 and its no to the first two and a yes to the last one... I can't stand on my own, i can't even crap withouth medical help... Im a vegetable, of course i can move my head and of course i can speak, but between been Quadra and the Cancer i have almost gave up on life, then i meet the trix, at first it was scary, then it became my only safe shore on a life of total dependance. Started studying and got pretty high scores, made my life around the trix, and earned enough to keep myself and even to start saving for the future, thing is i ain't able to let my past go, there has to be a meaning, there has to be a reason for all this suffering, so i meet the VU 93, and i meet a bunch of cool people, dangerous too but im used to feel powerless around them, and i get this awsome advice by some old timer by the nickname of The Wyrm Ouroboros, search for the truth... And im scared out of my mind! How in whatever deity you belive can i start searching for the truth with my disability?! its imposible... And then i go angry at myself, for some time i did wanted to die, i even asked several doctors to euthanize me, if im going to be afraid of dying, then im nothing more than a coward, i got a deck and well i decided it was mighty time to start searching for the truth, prepared my bank account and became ready to hire the shadows... With my will trembling i posted this message on the VU 93:

>>>>>[So... Everyone here knows by now that i aint a runner... And by the skills of most of you my SIN'er Past should be a well know issue by now, but hey not everyone is cut out to be a runner, specially me. Thing is i have some evidence that need to be investigated and i have some serious nuyen savings on my side, most of you can check it, the thing is im a cripple and i do need someone to do some errands for me, to shake up some heads... And maybe to deal with some A-holes of the Lone Star, this should be a milk run, and legal (unless you make people speak with a sledge hammer) the pay can be discussed and if you wish to discuss it then Log to the Seattle Max Mayhem Node, i will be administrating it this friday the whole day, ill encrypt a passcode for a VIP room i will set up specially for this ocasion. Hope to see someone there.]<<<<<
     -- WrongConcept (00:00:00/10-10-2075)
Download Attached File? Y/N

It was done, so it had begun.


Characters

• Awakened (Mage or Mystic Adept): Eye(farothel), High-Ball (cr4kp0t)
• Hacker (Hacker or Technomancer): Wagner(Xzylvador)
• Investigator (Anything Comes): Fang (MaxKojote)
• Free: Twisted (Hellion)
• Free: Concrete (Ren)

[10-11-2075|00:00:00|Max Mayhem Node|Seattle/Matrix]

Welcome to the MAX MAYHEM! the ultimate beat down war! Using our advanced system you can create any type of fighting avatar! Mage, Knight, Samurai, Infiltrator, Assasin, Sniper, Heavy Weapons Specialist, Martial Artist! and compete in a gigantic Continent in a Bloodfest! you can be ANYTHING and Anyone! BLASTING YOUR WAY TOWARDS LEGEND! Today! its one heck of a day! Today! everyone fights in a massive war to be able to obtain the coveted and first level 100 Massive Damage Skill! become the first one to be able to shatter entire cities with one fell swoop of your finger! ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE?!

The VR representation of the Continent contains high res common quality textures, enough to be on a competitive level not enough to be convincing, there is a brutal war ongoing in the place, all tipes of skills are shown in a radically diferent way on each participant, everything becoming a Chaos, the new people entering the node hovers on an "invisible" room over the continent being able to spectate, newcomers will be prompted to enter their login and password, espectate as a non user or enter VIP Room code. The theme on the interfaces VR and Agumented are ultra colourfull, trying so hard to be unique that it falls on the distatefull category.

[Spoiler=Recommended Actions]

• Investigate WrongConcept: Datasearch + Browse (2) (Will Give you SIN, each Net Hit will give you one Matrix related question about WrongConcept) Alternative: You can ask a contact to investigate it, it needs to be able to search the Trix.
• Investigate SIN: Illegal Action Hacking + Exploit (4) (Will Give you Acces to the Information of the SIN basic data, each net hit will allow you to ask one question about the SIN number) Alternative: You can ask a contact about him, Anyone with access to Law Enforcement, Mid Corporate Level And Healthcare should be able to investigate it.
• Investigate the Node Before Conecting: Data Search + Browse (1) (Each net hit gives you one question you can ask about the node)
• Investigating The Node While Conected to it: Computer + Analyze (2) (Each Net Hit gives you a deeper understanding about the node, and allows you to ask one more question about what is happening in that moment)

[/spoiler]

[Hellion]

If you met Quentin Moore (he doesn't know that's his real name he has no memory of what he used to do or who he was, he uses the name of Dwayne Johnson, both in real life and as a stage name) you would say hes the average elf, but on closer inspection you would note a cyber lower arm, his shaved head, brown eyes, his police officer like body language, and his ability to talk to just about anyone, but his most distinctive thing would be the way he seems to almost politely interrogates people to get every last detail. Well that's not really his only distinctive detail or mannerism but the other thing he is know for is his off color jokes that he tells at a little club (called Dead Endzzz) in downtown seattlle, he also occasionally performs via the matrix node the club runs, where his icon is that of a jester in full motley that is rainbow colored, but rather than having normal arms and legs they are twisted in a double helix, he liked the effect so much that he choose it as his name for the streets.

[spoiler]Recommended Action
Investigate WrongConcept via Yakuza Fixer
[/spoiler]

[farothel]

Rachel hated matrix meetings.  For one she couldn't assense the other particpants and secondly, she had to use those frakking trodes.  But matrix meetings were part of life, and at the moment a lack of money was threatening said life, so she had no choice.  She had tried to find something about this WrongConcept, but the search had yielded no results.  She did find some information about the game, enough to know it wasn't for her.

She went to her lodge to do this.  At least there she had a comfy set of cushions to lie on - for when she had to do astral searches - and a ward around her so at least astral visitors had to knock loud enough for her to notice.  In order to notice regular visitors, she set her select sound filter to flash a warning to her commlink (and therefore to her) if it detected the sound of breaking doors or glass.

With these preparations done, she logged in onto the node with her off the shelf female mage avatar with way to few clothes on.  She always thought about changing it, but never gotten around to actually do so that she was now used to it.  It was a representation of Samantha Delavine's character Sevelda from the 2071 blockbuster Dragons in the mist.  She always found it funny when people assumed she was an Ork too.  As soon as she entered the node she shook her head.
'Juvenile games,' she thought as she entered the code for the VIP room.  This was going to be a long evening.

[spoiler]
data search 1 + browse 4 =5 (5d6.hits(5) =0)
no glitch luckily.
[/spoiler]

[Xzylvador]

As the sound of the violins slowly faded, the brass increased in volume and intensity, filling Viktor's mind until there was nothing left in the world but the music and his own thoughts. He'd been thinking on this for a while now.
Take it or leave it, what do I do with this?
The person offering the job was an amateur, that much was obvious. That could be a good thing or a bad thing. With some luck, it meant this was a job for amateurs, too. Easy money. But it could just as well mean that this man had no idea what he was getting involved in, which made the employer -and by extent the entire job- unreliable.
Still, he needed the money. So many things he wanted to buy. Tools, oil, ammunition, toys for his girls... Oh, he might also need to eat something this month.
Viktor Vedel (Vik to his friends, Wagner on the matrix and in the Shadows) downloaded the attached file after a quick scan to verify it was clean.
He also composed a message to one of his friends, Jakub Polak. The man was an officer for Knight Errand. He mostly handled supplies and didn't really mind selling some of them for the right price if it helped him increase his pension funds. Maybe he could dig up some information about a guy who's had some trouble with Lone Star. Everyone keeps an eye on their competition.
Text Message @ Jakub Polak <<"Have files on person called WrongConcept? He had run in with Lone Star, very long ago.">>
The message sent, he decided to do some searching on his own, too.

[spoiler]Data Search 3 + Browse 6 + PuSHeD 1 + Encephalon 1 (11d6.hits(5)=1)
If it was DataSearch + Computer instead, only 6 dice are used of that roll, same result.[/spoiler]

[Ren]

Physical description: Concrete is an over 2 meters tall, 140 kilograms ork. Short-cropped black hair and well-kept clothes suggest a military background but the lighted cigarette (or some other similar item) always in his mouth and the smile present most of the time gives him a casual outlook. His eyes rarely stop at one place for a long time, constantly keeping tabs of his surroundings seems a second nature. He usually wears well-made and enduring fatigues and a discreetly armored jacket, and rarely leaves home without at least a concealed taser.

General approach on things:Despite what his look suggest Concrete is not militant. He likes a certain order of things (otherwise drek hits the fan too frequently) but does not really push for that order. He likes to deal with situations without resorting to violence but knows that sometimes "might makes right" is the only possibility, and he feels sorry for those who try to contradict this fact of life (he also does not hide how he feels about them). He knows all the big and most of the small clubs in Seattle and if not at work when visiting, likes to enjoy the services provided.

Matrix icon: An ork in a suit, fully made of concrete.

[Ren]

10-11-2075|10:32|Concrete’s flat, somewhere in Renton

Concrete was bored and irritated. No jobs on the horizon, and the last one didn’t pay well. He was almost out of cigarettes – again – and he didn’t have the slightest inclination to go out into the rain to get a new carton, so he had to ration the remaining pack. Smoking one as slow as he could, he browsed the ‘trix absentmindedly. This was something he did rarely, and the last half hour didn’t convince him to change this habit in the near future. Always the same drek – some starlet did this, some politician said that, some journalist digged something ugly up on that celebrity, and so on. He had to keep up, though, if he wanted to keep his edge, clients always wanted to know which clubs their favorites go to, and surprisingly, sometimes they asked their bodyguards these questions – frag them, they could just look at the ‘trix.
Shadow sites were also worth to be checked time and again. Sometimes, they just posted the bare skeleton of details of a work, and you had to go after that. Sometimes it yielded the nujen he needed for the next rent, sometimes they just were some corpse kid fragging around with other people’s lives.

Suddenly, he sat up straighter. What’s this drek about an investigation? And legal? This one must be missing some cogs, if he posted this here, but it might be an interesting meeting. He was curious what kind of people would pop up for a thing like this. He decided it might be worth to check this out, so he downloaded the pass-code. But first things first: food, and another smoke. And maybe a question or two. He sent a text to Sixpack.
>>Yo, man, how’s it going? Is my next package ready? Hope you really got those real Cubans, if it’s like the last batch I’ll be very much satisfied. BTW I found this strange post on the Virtual Underground, heard anything of the omae posting that? He goes by the handle WrongConcept, and by his words, seems to be a sorry-ass guy. If you got anything on him, send it my way in an hour or two.<<

[MaxKojote]

10-10-2075|11:50|Fang's Den

Fang tapped a claw on the table as he read the post in AR. His partner  had already gone off to work and he was feeling a bit lonely. Nevertheless, this WrongConcept looked interesting. The changeling stretched and stood up, beginning to pace as he did so. Not in his 'runner outfit', his normal clothes revealed the lean, almost emaciated build covered in thick fur; brown over most of his body, black at the tip of his tail, around his hands and feet, and around his muzzle, and cream on his torso. Triangular ears stood on the top of his head, twitching in the direction of any sound he could hear. His tail trailed behind him as he walked almost like a flag. Eventually he stopped and sighed.

At the very least, I should look this guy up. The more I know, the better. Then I'll grab lunch. With that thought in mind, he headed to the bedroom and made himself comfortable, scratching at his canine muzzle briefly as he walked. Silvery-green eyes, one of the few more subtle results of SURGE, closed as he slipped into the warmth of VR. His icon looked very similar to how he himself looked, albeit dressed in raver clothes he normally wouldn't wear in public. His matrix identity was very closely entwined with his meatspace identity. He waited for a few minutes, going over his plans, before beginning to zoom around the Matrix, looking for information on this WrongConcept person. He also decided to do a bit of research on the node, just in case.

[spoiler]Investigating WrongConcept: Data Search (4) + Browse (6) + Analytical Mind (2) + HotSim (2) (14d6.hits(5)=6)
Success: WrongConcept's SIN
Net hits - 1: Is this person known for betraying people?
2: Does this person have a known history of a successful and major hack?
3: Is this person trusted on the Matrix?
4: Does this person generally prepare IC for meetings?

-

Investigating SIN: Call Samantha (Connection 2: Loyalty 1) for information.

-

Investigating Max Mayhem Node: Data Search (4) + Browse (6) + Analytical Mind (2) + HotSim (2) (14d6.hits(5)=6)
Net Hits - 1: How well-protected is this node?
2: Who generally administrates this node?
3: How stable is this node?
4: How popular is the game on this node?
5: Is this node commonly used for 'runner meetings?[/spoiler]

[cr4kp0t]

[10-10-2075|21:37|High-Ball's Lair]

High-Ball 's lair, the small space of a forgotten basement of an old decrepit church was  rich with the dank musky odor of the moisture from the moldy walls clung in the air. His body laid prostrate in a worn leather office chair that vaguely resembled an old Chesterfield design scavenged from the euro-wars. The desk was cracked and brittle with what little was left of the lacquer bleached from years of overuse. A dappled light form the candles flickered strange shadows round the spartan space vaguely silhouetting the decaying corpse of his most recent victim. A now hollow shell curled up in horror in the corner.

As the post came through on his feed after a script had pulled it off the Underground an alert sounded from High-Ball's commlink sat on the desk. He slowly awakened from his slumber and stood up slowly stretching his aching body, before viewing the post...

I should really start to get my life sorted sleeping her is destroying me. At least there's a new job in i could do with some entertainment, plus the nice refreshing pay day always helps.

High-Ball reviewed the details and mulled the details silently walking round deciding what to do, running his hands through his silver hair catching a glimpse of his fair skin and pale grey eyes a faint wraithly resemblance haunting him in the mirror.

At least I don't have to go out tonight for the meet. Shame it's in such a low brow place though.

As he initiated the agent to try and find out more about the node before he joined later. Meanwhile while the agent did its work he called his fixer André La Fevré. They had been friends for years after going to boarding school together, he knew so many people everywhere a middle man for the high classes to get them what they need his primary business was vice and he was good at it form the basic BTL's to bunraku girl he knew where to get t all.

<< initiate text protocol v1.3a >>
-Hello good sir,
-Some stuff has come up and could do with a favor... or more accurately an answer to a question. What do you know about a guy called Wrong Concept?
-Job was posted on the underground i could do with the money but there something that doesn't sit right it's all too good.
-Have a good one and look forward to hearing back
-HR
<< complete action >>

Waiting for a response High-Ball started to work on a new avatar his default grey scale 17th century Viennese harlequin would be so very out of place.A warrior eh I've got just the thing I think he thought to himself as he input the new specifications. The dated look being a feel he just couldn't resist he designed a simple Elizabethan duelist with an open necked woolen top a worn beneath a silk waistcoat , raw-hide trousers and leather riding boots. An elaborate and delicate rapier design is sported in the scabbard hanging from his leather belt.. The face portrays a Spanish origin and has long flowing black hair that twists and flies as if facing a brisk mountain breeze.

[WrongConcept]

Moore commlink starting sounding with a subtle and quiet ringtone, one he could recognize anywhere, the song was from a pre matrix origin, pure instrumental by a singer called Huang Pinyan, not that he would know that, he knew however that the caller id was Subtle Disonance his Yakuza informant, he grabbed his comlink imediatly and answered, the man in front of him was shrouded in shadows, a very old matrix simple effect but he seemed to like it, and Moore knew better than to question his theatrics, the man spoke with a soft voice trying to sound as cryptic and misterious as he could.

>> Ahh DaChang (Obtain Prosperity), the prodigal child, its been far too long since you contacted us, we were afraid you might have forgotten us, your family, the ones that hold the key to your past... And your future. Its sad to not hear from you, but we are forgiving, and we are by your side, you are the prodigal Child after all. We as always come bringin you the gift of wisdon, and knowledge. First the Wisdon, you would do well to honour your family... And the gift of knowledge is on your mail.

The call was ended by Subtle Disonance withouth awaiting for an answer from him, the name DaChang was how they called him, a name that was strange to him but of course all his past was strange to him, they feed him little details, he would know more when he finished paying.

[spoiler=Attached File]
SIN: 05625482ALPHAFOXTROT784GANMA3OMEGA78DELTA426PHI
Name: James Sullyvan
Nationality: UCAS
Location: Seattle
Residence: Evergreen Health Medical Center (High Class Medical Facility)
Metatype: Homo Sapiens Sapiens (Human)
Gender: Male
Blood Type: O+
Handle: WrongConcept
Known Info: Born and Raised in Chicago, accident left him Quadriplegic, moved to Seattle, expert in Matrix Security Graduated in Seattle U, Working as a Freelancer in simple computer programs for small corporations and charity organizations at competitive costs.
Criminal Record: One Charge at Attempt to Injure a Lone Star Officer, droped by the judge with an annex to the file: "He is on a Mechanichal Wheelchair that has to be moved by someone!"[/spoiler]

Of course on the file there is a bill attached with the astonishing cost of 500 Nuyen, the info was good but they would charge him even the air he breathed if they could.

The Owl protested, not with words, he rarely spoke to her, but with a simple flap of the wings and the feeling that he was not pleased, and she knew why, she was going blind, and thats when things get tricky. However once she connected to the digital realm the Owl presence was quieted and muffled completely, once inside the node the few seconds she was in the main wait room she was spammed by a thousand and rising invitations and different types of text messages that vary wildly in nature but most of them are propositions 18+.

Once the Encrypted Key is inserted the waiting room simply dissapears and a new room forms around her avatar, this room is nothing like the she has seen until now, its very simple and Ultra Realistic Glass Square, that allos a very dramatic and strategic view of the battle Mayhem ocurring down bellow. In the middle of the room there is an avatar, as the room the avatar uses ultra realistic textures, the avatar is a of a tall human 1.94 meters, with a perfect  slim musculature, no fat, an impressive tan and a simple Afro hairstyle. The most impressive feature of this avatar is the fact that it has been programmed to breathe and by the small pearls of sweat to transpire, withouth the odor effects thanks good. Its wearing very small red and white shorts, simple red running shoes, a pair of wrist sweat bands and simple paste shades of bright pink.

The avatar seems very ocuppied hes gesticulating and several effects appearing on the world below, mainly enviromental effects, and amist those effect She could hear a femenine childish voice coming from everywhere.

>> Sayonara Cheater! Another victory for the Great WrongConcept-Sama!

The avatar smiled and posed proudly as he spoke

>> Fear not law abiding citizens of Max Mayhem! i WrongConcept will protect you all with my mighthy muscles of JUSTICE!

As he ended his pose he noted something displaying on his feed and suddenly turned to see Rachel's Avatar, and WrongConcept's avatar face turned red, stopping imediatly all his dance of victory, however the other voice said.

>> Gambare! WrongConcept-Sama keep this up and i will reward you la...

WrongConcept interrupted a bit to late for his sake.

>> Silence Agent Sakura.

He composed himself and cleared his trhoat which was utterly pointles in the Matrix, he looked at the avatar and spoke trying to regain his dignity.

>> Welcome... I... Sorry for that, im not unprofessional just acustomed to be alone while working, sorry. You are here for the job yes? Of course you are thats the encripted key that i left on the VU, So... Sorry my manners im WrongConcept, hopefully your employer.

His ultra realistic avatar left every emotion go trough, or thats what he wanted her to belive, but at the time the avatar looked like he wished that one of the explosions down below destroyed him.

An hour later Viktor's search had become pretty empty handed, most information was about rumors and him being a pussy for not going full Chrome. After reading such comments, the beeping of his comm announcing the arrival of a Text Message from Jakub Polak was almost a blessing.

Text Message @Viktor Vedel <<Vik! people can say hello you know?! either way i got you his SIN, tried to investigate it, he is in the system but Lone Star is cock blocking me, be carefull id hate to lose a good client. And by good i mean you ow me 200 nuyens!>>

[spoiler=Attached File, Download? Y/N]
SIN: 05625482ALPHAFOXTROT784GANMA3OMEGA78DELTA426PHI
Extra Info: He recently bragged about buying a Deck.
[/spoiler]

It wasn't much info but it was something to start with.

Concrete Ate, and was finishing his smoke when his commlink beeped and the text displayed on his Comm a bit of bad news and gorgeous good news.

Text Message @Concrete <<Hey Chummer, no luck on the Handle but you know that ain't my stuff, if he would have needed something then maybe, but then again im just another fish in the pond. Speaking of fishes, im going to make you very very happy, i got an offshore deal with some gaudy boys and gals, and heck i got you a box of cuban cygars one hundred units baby and for the mere price of 150 nuyen! This is top quality, they even come with seals of warranty! And nothing of that nicotine concentrate this is the real stuff tobacco leaves, cygars prepared on the tights of beautifull caribean womens!>>

The only problem was that he was still going in blind, if he decided to go to the meeting... But then again he did downloaded the Key...

Maxwell was born to do this, literally, the matrix holded many secrets, to him not so many, and he was on a rol, Data just appeared on his natural feed coming from everywhere, searching for WrongConcept on the Matrix was straightforward, and yielded great results.

[spoiler=Info on WrongConcept]
SIN: 05625482ALPHAFOXTROT784GANMA3OMEGA78DELTA426PHI
Is this person known for betraying people?: No data about this, however the investigation yields some reference of works to small companies and charity organizations and not backing down even when the organization or company could not pay.
Does this person have a known history of a successful and major hack?: No major Hack however his programs has been know to be good non lethal and pretty competitive IC.
Is this person trusted on the Matrix?: Mostly, he hasn't been capture lying but some people call him poser because of him having a SIN and for that not being a real Hacker, or simply because he admits he is some kind of low level spider.
Does this person generally prepare IC for meetings?: This should be his first meeting ever, but he works as spider so a polite guess would be to think he would specially if he is working.
[/spoiler]

He sended the SIN to Samantha hoping she could give him something on him and before he could put himself to work on the Node he received a Text.

Text Message @Fang <<Not now!>>

He couldn't know what was happening but the answer was lightning fast, a bit to fast... He dismissed the posibility of her being a Tech, and continued searching the trix, the node part had to be a joke, there is lot of info on the Matrix and every node has its own fans, and just as he tough it was a piece of cake, like the one he was eating.

[spoiler=Info on the Node]
Basic Info: The node has been passed from hand to hand, most been low level corps and now is not different, the corp owner is Sunlight Games, is a good ideas gamers formed company.
How well-protected is this node: The node has a two layered security the external handling the game server and game programation is basic, and the internal wich seems pretty up to date and seems to protect paydata and accounts.
Who generally administrates this node? Generally administrated by one of the Corp executives, the two main go by the handles Nexus and SirPounceALot.
How stable is this node? Seven crashes in his history and two of them where the BIG Matrix crashes, so its pretty stable and functional but old.
How popular is the game on this node? The game its quite popular on Seatle and on Japan, but worldwide it dosen't surpass the 2 million players.
Is this node commonly used for 'runner meetings? No history of that at least recently.
[/spoiler]

By the end of the cake he was a bit closer to the truth, he only lacked the info on the SIN, but this should be enough for now.

By the time he finished editing his new Avatar the Commlink of High-Ball beeped and a text message appeared, bland and simple, with a data package anexed to it.

Text Message @High-Ball <<Mon ami! its good to hear from you, i must say im a bit dissapointed at how little i got for you, so for one of my favorite customers this one is for free. I got a new herd coming my way, some japanese beautys, if you wish some please call, im always willing to see what you will ask of me.>>

[spoiler=Attached Data, Download? Y/N]
SIN: 05625482ALPHAFOXTROT784GANMA3OMEGA78DELTA426PHI
Whoever this kid is i can tell you that he is not liked by the Lone Star, the contacts i asked about his SIN number will need some gifts... Before they can be of use again, but thats the way things go, be carefull mon ami, also i got you his Matrix Adress and his commlink number from one of my beautifull dolls.
Matrix Adress: (Raw Data)
Commlink Number: 859-5268-8745896201254102
[/spoiler]

Just when the message arrived, the figure of a Butler entered his commlink and with a pre programed polite tone he said:

>> Sir. Your query has been  completed, The node has been selled and buyed multiple times, most owners have been low level corporations, the corp owner is Sunlight Games, is an unrated corporation. At this present moment the Node is on high alert, most probably because of so called "Cheaters" that attempt to win the ongoin event.

The Butler dissapeared but he was there awaiting for the orders of his master.

[Xzylvador]

Wagner spend a couple of minutes searching for what on earth 'cock blocking' was supposed to mean. Who his contact was trying to have sex with, why Lone Star wanted to stop him from having it and what it had to do with Wagner's question remained unclear to him but he didn't see much use in digging any deeper.
Text message @ Jakub Polak <<Many thanks, will send money. Sorry to be cause of trouble and ruin intercourse.>>
With less money than he did before and no answers to show for it, he was even more desperate for income than he was before. He had few options but to take a closer look at the job and be thankful that nothing showing up meant there wasn't anything bad he found out either.

Before connecting to the node, he checked it out for anything threatening and finding nothing, Wagner connected.
It took all of 718 milliseconds for his comm to render the node's visuals and Wagner cursed at so many resourced wasted on something as pointless as graphics. His icon, a 30-year old icon of a robot from a kids show that was popular in Poland when he was a kid, had seriously outdated graphics and barely any animation. It stuck out like a sore thumb but he didn't care one bit.
After changing some settings, the most important setting 90% opacity on the idiotic game that was going on so it wouldn't distract him too much from what actually mattered, the dwarf punched in the code to the VIP room and ran another scan, trying to find anything that stood out.

[spoiler]Data Search + Browse (+ ware) before connecting to node -- Computer + Analyze (+ware) after connecting to node (11d6.hits(5)=5, 11d6.hits(5)=4)
Will use results you gave to MaxKoyote for the first check.
Analyze 2 nethits, trying to find out who's logged on but not focused on the war and what kind of security this place has.[/spoiler]

[Hellion]

[10-10-2075|21:40|Backstage at Dead Endzzzz]

Twisted reads all the data he was given by the Honored One who had spoken to him and decided that the information while not shedding a whole lot of light on this WrongConcept gentleman, he need money soon otherwise he would be back where he started, his gear needed to be maintained, he need his rent and of course he still need to payback the Honored Ones for all the money they had lent him.......

Without much further ado he decide he would take the job and logged on and went to meet WrongConcept

[farothel]

>> You can call me Eye, she said to him, >> I must say this is an unusual place for a meet.  Am I the only one?"
While saying that, she selected all the messages she had received before logging in here and deleted them all.  Maybe she should change her avatar.  She made a mental note to look for a giant eye or something.  That might be cool.

[Ren]

[10-11-2075|11:02|Concrete’s flat, somewhere in Renton]

Concrete sent a quick reply to Sixpack. >>Thanks, Chummer, I will pick the package up later today, or maybe tomorrow. Find you at the usual place, and next beer is on me.<<  He then sighed, finished his ChocoBar, and pondered for a few minutes about what he should do. Boredom got the better of him, he decided to use the code he downloaded.

It wasn’t long before his icon appeared in the node. He snorted disgustedly at people playing at war while others shed real blood at some place of the planet. How these people would not be so thrilled if it was real blood that flowed following their swings and shots and make-believe mojo. He didn’t stare for long before applying the encrypted key. The sudden change of scenery didn’t surprise him. Seeing he wasn’t alone, he grunted some greeting and waited for those present to make their case.

[MaxKojote]

10-10-2075|23:37|Fang's Den

Fang had ended up having an enjoyable dinner and nap a bit before the meeting so he wouldn't be tired. When Axel, his boyfriend, came home, he informed the other changeling that he had a trix meeting tonight. Not really necessary, but Axel worried sometimes. At Samantha's response he had immediately shot off a response. If she was able to respond immediately then chances are she couldn't possible be that busy. Nevertheless, he marked the message as only 'mildly urgent'.

Text Message @Samantha <<I don't need it ASAP, but sometime tomorrowish would be nice. Will it be more tempting if I buy you that thing you've been going on about?>>

The node seemed simple enough. He logged in, his highly-realistic icon taking form in the Max Mayhem node. His Resonance abilities alongside his own 'creativity' (advice from his boyfriend) had enabled him  to create  a persona extremely  similar to his meatspace identity, down to the thick fur strands that moved appropriately as he did, or as virtual winds moved around him. It breathed, the ears twitched at sounds, the tail moved appropriately to his emotions. Maybe it was a HotSim thing, or a result of his own mind, but everything respond as his meatspace body did. It had downsides, like around large crowds. He cringed as he noted the node's iconography and ran a brief analysis, looking over it with a Resonant eye before heading over to the VIP room and entering the encryption key.

The game looked alright he supposed, but did it have to be so blinding? He preferred puzzle games anyway.

As his icon took form within the room, he noded the other  hyperrealistic icon. It was on a level similar to his own. He personally felt his was better, but others might not necessarily agree. Unconsciously, he sniffed at the air, an action his icon also performed with high-res animation. Getting scents in VR was misleading, but it was a habit ingrained into him from meatspace. And to a technomancer, the line between VR and AR tended to blur.

[spoiler] Analysis inside node: Computer (4) + Analyze (6) + Technomancer (2) + HotSim (2) (14d6.hits(5)=6)
Net hits 1 and 2 - Same questions as Wagner
3 - What is the Firewall rating of this node?
4 - What programs is this node running?[/spoiler]

[cr4kp0t]

[10-10-2075|21:42|High-Ball's Lair]

High-Ball got the message form André and though to himself Hmmm André can't find anything? this really does sounds dodgy. Better watch my back on this one. before sending a response.


<< initiate text protocol v1.3a >>
-No worries my friend, cheers for looking anyway.
-I'm all set for the moment besides Jap... not my thing.
-But i'll call you sometime next week  as I could with a new shipment.
<< complete action >>

Once the message sent he sat back in his chair looking over his dismal hovel. One day he'd do something with this place to make it more livable than the bolt hole it was currently. Opening a draw in his desk he sated his unusual appetite with one of the few bags of blood he had left. A cut glass goblet provided a touch of class to an otherwise dismal activity.


[10-11-2075|00:05|NODE: Max Mayhem!]

High-Ball logged on with the avatar he prepared earlier. As soon as he logged on the bombardment of the hyper colorful display appalls him, as he wastes no time in entering the VIP code, and to the meet...