[Volker]

"The change is not something implanted. His very brain has been modified. How can you undo it? I guess, you can't. Maybe you know a damn good psychiatrist. But you can relax. The imprinting has been performed on only one person. Everyone else doesn't need to be extra-cautious. He might show small indications of aggressive behavior, but looking at you I don't think that'll bother you, will it?"

Manisha pauses, then demands. "Now, your second question before I reclaim my workmate and we end this ... unfortunate meeting."


It is easy to climb up the stairs. Without exposing yourself more than dozens of other people do, you can get a slightly elevated position, giving you a slightly better overlook.

[gilga]

"Sorry..." Said lucky "We won't be asking no more questions. "
Dramatically approaching her, look her straight in the eyes and coldly say.
 "I m not playing by your rules... your friend tried to kill us. Either you send a doctor of our choosing that will remove Bikki's chip. Or you better pray that your friend survives the night... you know how it is to be a street rat... we cannot guarantee that we will remain alive ourselves tomorrow. Let alone guarantee that your friend will...
The deed must be done within the next couple of hours.

Think about your alternative - there are so many armed angry people... some of them clearly with violent tendencies as you yourself suggested. Some of them are going to be very angry when they see our wounded and know that your friend is the one that gave the order. They'll also blame him for messing with Bikki's head... so pick compromise or street justice..."
   

That will put her in her place he thought, this facade have gone long enough and a few more lies they cannot confirm from people they do not trust are not going to give them anything concrete, there is only one thing that never lies - commitment to pay money.  Words are cheap - but money spins the world.

[Volker]

For the first time, a flicker in her eyes indicates that she's about to lose ground. Out takes some moments of almost frantic thinking, before she responds, her voice even chillier than before.

"Go, call some mediocre street butcher, you scum, and let go of Ravinder. This is one too big thinking for the likes of you and I suggest you don't mean too far out of the window."

[Jack_Spade]

"Everything's got a price. All we want is fair restitution. Hell, I bet that assassin costs more per day than what we actually need to bring Bikki back or at least remove that shit from his brain.
Swallow your fucking pride and pony up the cash. You don't want to deal with us and we not with you. Do it and we both won't have to waste any more time with that shit."

Riker felt again the warmth of anger rising. Why did everyone they dealt with have to be so stupid...

[luckace]

Damn, this is escalating!, Scipio thought. Screw the overlook. He wanted to intimidate her, not enough to make hthe people panic, but at least enough so that she knew who was in control of this. Although, if he ws completely honest, he wasn't sue if they were still in control of everything.  He approached Ravinder and whispered in his ear: "You tell her to do what we say, or I'll have to defile the temple with your blood. In a terrified voice, will ya? Shoudn't be difficult for you..."

He adressed the woman: "Think about that: What if we made faruke's scemes public? You think the Nepali will stand by as their children are brainwashed by foreigners?"

Fury rose up in him as her words echoed through his mind. She is the one behind faruke. She is the one who had Musaa perverted! She is the one to blame! Would be so easy to finish her off right now...
Still, he stayed calm. An angry mob is the last thing we need now, he thought, while trying to look as relaxed and "nothing's-wrong-here-like" as possible.

[spoiler]Negotiation (in case this is one): 9d6t5 1
Damn it...[/spoiler]

[Volker]

Manisha sighs audibily.

"Are you aware that exactly this kind of manners is what makes all the difference between the Pashupati people and you street scum? You simpletons can't even tell a yes from a no. I will tell you a last time in Battisputali maanche language: "I a-gree. Call a doc-tor. I will pay. Re-lease Ra-vinder. Then get the fuck out of here, before I change my mind." And don't you ever come close to our holy temple or spoil our work. Did you get it?"

[luckace]

Scipio growled. He suddenly got reminded of all the reasons he HATED the pashupati-people for. This arrogance, this way of acting superior, the business-suit and the overall nice appearance, this was a mixture that made hatred rise up in him like boiling water. Chill, he told himself, his hands clutched to fists. Now's not the time for pride.

"One more thing:" He shouted, the anger made his voice crack. "We know you have a boy named Som in the temple. Did he arrive within the last three months or so? If yes, we want to see him."

Scipio did NOT want to meet this Harka-doctor Ravinder was talking about. Maybe Pops would be of help, and if not, they would somehow find a doctor. I'd rather search every house in Thamel than have another meeting with anyone of this god-forsaken temple.

[gilga]

Lucky laughed... "I was almost certain that was a yes... You got yourself a deal. Despite communication problems we are reasonable people." He is happy, he got what he wanted, he could not trusted anything she tells them anyhow.  He look at the prisoner, " No hard feelings R... heh? looks like you are sleeping at home. My place is a little crowded anyhow - so do know that I envy you for having a shower and a warm bed to return to... You should really stop trying to kill street kids, drugs and pollution are killing most of us anyhow."

With his friendly lovely voice "Let me just get a recommendation from a friend on a good cyber-doctor and we'll be on our way." He texts Pops, the old Samurai never talks - just answer to texts. " >> Pops! Check out my temporary new commlink!  I need a good cyberdoctor that agrees to do a simple job and will come to gang territory... another option is someone that can treat our friend someplace where we can go without raising too many questions.   You missed all the action, there was a massive combat... I took down a troll with a taser... Our friend has a nail stuck within a slot - hopefully remove the nail without brain damage. We can pay... don't ask how.

He say to R: "I'll also return your commlink ... I am just borrowing it for a day or so. I am no killer and no thief."  Lucky felt that, he has a chance to gain some cred within the temple folks. He was a bit more domesticated and non violent and well... he hoped that they won't kill him on sight but rather treat him as a good kid that was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Volker]

Manisha's smile froze at the mention of Som's name. She hesitates, and when she continues you feel that she is less confident.
"You ... I'm sorry. I don't think it's possible I allow you to talk to Som. He does not want to meet outsiders any more."


Pops responds quickly, but - as usual - very monosyllabicly.
"Dr. Manzoo. Phone number and geodata attached. First appointment, then work. He's the man. Good luck!

[gilga]

Lucky quickly calls the doctor to schedule a meeting. He is friendly and happy with the voice and heaven negotiate slightly mentioning it is a referral from pops to get a good price. He however knows little about negotiations, but he seems to make an effort to not to pay more than is needed for the service despite the fact that somebody else is paying. He knows that money is difficult to come by for everybody and their relations with the temple are already very bad. Trust is difficult to establish.
When they settle on price, he looks at Mashina with caring eyes... "this is the best price I could get, I am sorry I don't usually have money to purchase stuff. We're quite poor around here."

[spoiler]Negotiation: 5d6t5 1[/spoiler]

[Volker]

You're not quite sure what to think of this Dr. Manzoo. When you ring, his camera appears not be switched off. Instead what you see is the image of a bizarre creature: human torso, goat head and legs, with tentacles instead of arms. This creature, however, doesn't have the looks of a mythical creature: One of the eyes is obviously a cyber-eye, the "tentacles" are made of chrome, and LEDs and light blink and beep on different parts of his body. It takes you a second - but no longer than this - to figure out that this is not Dr. Manzoo but his Matrix persona.
It takes you another second to analyze his name: Man zoo. Maybe a minotaur or something?

Despite his looks, Dr. Manzoo acted quite professional. He let you shortly describe the task ahead, gives you a number (a way too high number, you think, but Manisha accepts the sum without hesitation) and tells you to come there at 1 am. You swallow as the geodata confirm what you half feared: his lab is in Thamel. Where else would you get a good cyberdoc?

This leaves you a bit less than six hours until you have to arrive at the place.

[gilga]

Marco texted pops: << We have a meeting at 1:00. Thanks a lot!
pops had a tendency to show up when the troubles were really bad... Lucky knew that be don't just happen to be there when nasty stuff happens...  If pops knows where they are going - he might choose to hang around to see if his special talents are required. Otherwise - he can't just magically appear like a guardian spirit. From all the information that Lucky was giving Pops he seemed to only care where he is going and if troubles are on the menu... the stories, the drama and emotional content of the words - they all seemed to be alien to him.

"Looks like we are going to take an 11 years old to Thamel... what could possibly go wrong ?" Lucky said with a sarcastic smile, it was either that or crying.

[luckace]

Manisha's answer startled him. First, because he hadn't expected so much as an emotion from her, plus because the message was cryptic. "Listen, Missy…", he adressed her, still angry about her arrogant behaviour, but in a placative voice. Looks like she's doing her best to solve this mess. "He will want to meet us. We're his family!" But after having seen Bikki's change, he wasn't so sure about that anymore… "At least we once were."

"There gotta be a way to call him. Let's have a chat with him, and then we'll see if he is really our Som and if he really doesn't want to see us anymore."

The thought of Som, the strong, always calm boy he knew and loved being perverted into some brainless killer made him sick with anger and pain. We'll get you out of there, bhai, whatever the cost!

[Jack_Spade]

"Ok, I'll keep an eye on Ravinder until you've brought Bikki to this doc and the payment went through. Once that is done, I'll piss off and we hopefully won't have to see each other ever again."

Riker still was agitated but at least now it seemed as if the whole thing could end more or less peacefully. 'Until they nab the next one of our number...'

[Volker]

Manisha frowns again at Scipio's words. "Mind your place, boy. You got Bikki, and I'm willing to pay a price, but don't overestimate yourself. Now, if you don't mind, hand over your hostage. Our deal is sealed, the money is transferred. That is, the order has been placed to transfer as soon as you mark the deal done.
"Now, I did my part of the deal. Will you do yours, or do you have to have me do it the hard way?"

Manisha is losing her patience. This is good and bad: good, because she might say something rash. Bad, because she might do something rash...