[gilga]

Present time - (no flashback) in response to Subaru:
========================================
>>Firefly, first of all relax, Yelena must have had too much of a good thing. She had a date tonight at the club and intended to take many drugs and from what I know about her, sex with more than one partner was also on her menu. If these people wanted her dead she would be dead already. She is drugged, unarmed and unarmored in a place with good security and even magical security. What keeps her alive is that nobody wants her dead right now, let’s not change that.  Reckless or overly protective behavior can place both of you at risk. You did not strike me as the party girl, but enjoy the party and do not worry. I know that first impressions are deceiving. Finish what you came there to do and go home. Try to get some sleep as there is nothing that can be done tonight. 

If Yelena will not show up by tomorrow morning we will come looking for her at the club. I’d love it if you accompany me in that case.  Just as backup in case talking is not going to be enough.  We will raise no suspicion tomorrow as many people fall asleep in these private rooms after indulging a bit too much. All night partying and sex can be exhausting believe it or not, this is why they let you stay in the room until morning. I am guessing that we will not be the only people that are looking for a friend who had too much fun the night before and that the employees there are used to these inqueries.

This is our best chance to get Yelena out of there. Also, if you can be kind and text me once you are home safely I’d appreciate it a lot.  In the meanwhile I will pray for both of you to get home safely. When the prayer is honest it helps a lot.”

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena looks at Marco without replying.  It is clear that he does not share her feelings, and perhaps never will.  He may even be partially right, especially about the power and the money.  But to Yelena there is much more.  She actually believes in the words inked in the scrolls on her arms, and there were many others who did as well.  These oaths gave people something to believe in, people that had nothing to believe in before.  Her eyes are hard as she says,  "Marco may be right.  Much money involved.  Yelena know Nikolai Fyodorovich not tell full truth.  Marco have much argument.  Make much sense.  But Yelena believe in words.  In oaths.  To Yelena it matters.  Honor and Family are everything.  Marco never change Yelena mind on this.  Other things we agree disagree."

"Yelena Bratva different.  Give family.  Give purpose.  Help others."  She smiles and shrugs.  "If Yelena come back.  Yelena draw here like nowhere else.  Oslo felt home only for sax man.  Barrens feel home much reasons.  Might need come back."

[gilga]

Marco simply say "Wherever you go I am there for you and whatever I can do to get you out alive I will do so. I do not care about good or evil, I just want you safe and while I prefer forgiveness over retribution I respect your wishes.

We can talk of what to do next once the deed is behind us."

[Mercy Merchant]

FLASHBACK.....

Nodding, Yelena smiles and leans back against the wall to finish her cigar.

NOW......

Yelena wakes from a sound sleep.  Gathering her wits, she waves her hand at the camera.

[Shaman_Yuri]

The response from Marco wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  Maybe Yelena-sensei isn't in immediate danger, but it only takes a moment to die.  I know that all too well.  And in any case they could find out everything about our team just by talking nice if she's drugged up enough.

Damn that man...

Should I call Arc-sensei?  I watch the feed.  Yelena's alone now.  Maybe Marco is right.

And he's certainly right that I'd better focus on my own hoop or else I might be the one needing rescuing.  The download is done and I've been in just over 15 minutes.  If I don't jack out soon, my chances of getting caught in here go through the roof.  And anyway, no telling what Matsuuri is doing out there with nothing to do but wait.

Oh Allah, that image...

Taking the keys to the back door of the security system and all the files I've copied from the security servers, I jack out to see just what had become of me in meatspace during my absence...

[ismilealot]

@ Marco  Blake answers you. "You'll need to be ready Tues. morning early. He gets on a plane with his wife and son at ten am for the Reindeer Games held in Toronto this year. You'll say you needed to drop by the office for your case notes. You forgot to upload the addnedums before you left. It'll give you ten-ish minutes to be in and out and give our decker the time he needs to hack into the system." He watches you trying to gauge your understanding and willingness to absorb the data. He's not handsy with his secretary or any of the other staff. He keeps a lover out of town. He's probably the most self-disciplined of the partners. But, he has been a little forgetful lately. Rumor mill has it that there are some health problems with his lover. ShadowSong has been able to confirm that. He's been seeing a cancer specialist where he lives and has a medullary neuroblastoma. I have a file of trid video's with his trademark moves. Speechs he's made so that you can copy voice patterns. A layout of his house and a few pics of the insides from a Christmas party and Easter party this past year. He hates parties but his wife is very active in several charities and the guest list is a who's who of chairpeople and major donors. And that's really just the beginning of the info that I have for you." He says watching you for your reactions. "You'll be spending all your free time studying until then, it's so much info."

[ismilealot]

@ Subaru  As she comes to Maatsuri isn't even in the booth. But, she re-enters just a moment later. Smiling she says, "I talked to the waitress and got her to bring us something special to take you back to my apartment and enjoy a few more things together." Sliding back into the booth she takes you into her arms and kisses you and very lightly strokes you. And then moving her lips to your ear barely whispers. "If you're back in meatspace princess I'm assuming you've got everything we need. Rub my back up and down for yes. Side to side for no." And feeling that light rub up and down she breaks off and sliding across the booth says. "I have more than a few toys back at my place to pleasure the both of us. Let's go." She reaches a hand to help you out and slides an arm possessively around you as you both walk out. But, something is bothering Subaru about the data. Something small. Something that's inconsistent with what she would have expected.

[ismilealot]

@ Yelena  Shaman Flying Squirrel appears at the door a few moments later and smiles at you. "I'm glad to see you're doing better. I'll escort you back up to the club. The little bit of space I have here is under the club proper so as not to take up any of the club floorspace. But, the door is close so that you're not inconvenienced to much." He leads you to the right and you see the doorway and a set of stairs leading up. As you look around you, you see that this is storage and supplies and some boxes stacked next to what looks like a set of cooler doors are clearly labeled with foodstuffs.

[Shaman_Yuri]

I have so much to go through.  There is more to that basement than meets the eye.  Hopefully some time examining the feeds and schematics will help me get to the bottom of it.

Matsuuri is such a good actor I can't tell just how much she's saying is real and how much is code for something else.  As I put back on my best "floaty" look and let her guide me back through the club, I ponder what I'll do if she really does presume to 'try out some toys' with me.  I've never been good at reading a con man/woman and Matsuuri is one of the better ones.  I'll just have to take it as it comes.

Fortunately she is good at it since I'd have been lost getting us out of her past all the people insisting on talking to us.  I just have to smile and occasionally gush about how wonderful I feel and look up with doe eyes at my date.  It seems to work since we make it out okay.

We keep up the act all the way to the car.  Matsuuri opens the passenger door for me and I settle into my seat.  Moments later the Yak lieutenant slips into her side and the doors close and lock.

"Did that go as well as I think it went?" I ask into the silence as my 'date' activates the car.

As I talk, I jack back into my Erika and start editing the material via AR so that what I hand the Yak will seamlessly NOT include footage from the room where Yelena was held for the trap door to the basement.  I also will not be sharing the meta data like schematics with the Yak.  The full, unedited stuff will go to Arc in the morning.

[ismilealot]

@ Subaru Matsuuri leaves the parking lot swiftly and smoothly. Subaru notices that the car is under her control and not an auto-drones. She doesn't even look at Subaru as she answers, "We're out alive and the car's security system hasn't been activated which is a good sign." And then giving you a hard look adds, "But as to whether or not that went well is completely up to the data you've got in that little deck of yours princess. You've been acting high and mighty since you got here. Telling everyone who'd listen you're the best of the best and can make good on 50,000 worth of deck and more debt than your organs are worth. But, whether you are, or whether you're just the pampered little rich girl everyone petted and praised remains to be seen. So, you tell me princess. Did that go well?"

[Shaman_Yuri]

Okay, that answers it.  She's still a bitch.

Matsuuri's mention of a 110,000 debt causes my pulse to quicken and my gut to wrench, a totally unpleasant experience considering I still feel like someone ran a blender in there, but I refuse to take the bait.  Either she's misinformed or she's trying to yank my chain now that we're out of danger.  Either way, I'll ignore it.  George is the only one who will matter when I hand over the instrument of my freedom, hopefully in the next few days.

Not soon enough...

"Yeah, I have more than you likely hoped for.  A month of footage throughout the facility and a back door into the surveillance server for whenever you want to peek inside again.  I'm summarizing it all for Saito now so he'll know how to use it without being noticed.  I take no responsibility if someone else gets themselves caught with their fingers in the cookie jar and kills the feed."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena nods and follows the shaman out of the room and up the stairs.  As he escorts me out I turn to him.  "Yelena still want make up club cost for damage.  And say sorry to guard man.  Please let others know.

Once outside, Yelena leans against the wall of the club and lights up a cigar.  Getting her thoughts in order she sends a group message to her team then one to Bella and her husband.  >>Arc.  Marco.  Firefly.  Is Yelena.  Am safe.  Still working off much drugs.  Is 0830.  Walking a bit.  Snow and cold help.  Yelena get home and sleep.  Let others know when home.<<

>>Bella.  Is Yelena.  Yelena sorry about party.  Had bad drug mix.  Yelena lose control.  Very embarrassed.  Please accept Yelena sorry.  Call Yelena.  Please?<<

After sending the messages, Yelena begins walking away from the club, very angry at herself for failing to remain in control of herself.  **Fragging drugs.  Fragging weakness.  All drek now.**  After a few blocks, Yelena hails a cab and takes it as far as she can before walking the rest of the way to the garage.  Her internal chrono tells her that it is nearly 1030 in the morning as she carefully enters the building and looks about to make sure that no one is about.  Yelena half expects Nikolai at some point, but hopes that she will get some additional sleep.  She heads to the living area and her bed.

[ismilealot]

@ Yelena Shaman Flying Squirrel smiles and says, "I'll tell him. I'm sure he'll appreciate it, but really there's no need to apologize. It was a bad reaction, no more. And as far as damages there were none as far as I know. And believe me the cost of those private rooms for the night covers for a little bit of damage." He shows you through the door. And you note that it's a physical lock, and heavy duty at that. The door is also very heavy. It couldn't stop a bomb, but is more than adequate to greatly slow an angry troll.

[ismilealot]

@ Subaru  Matsuuri drives Subaru home to her motel apartment in silence after that, not even bothering to wait for her to take more than a step away from the car before she drives off. When she gets up to her apartment after having been good-naturedly propositioned by two guys and very persistently propositioned by one older woman Subaru finds Jenna wrapped around her bear only her jack and half a bottle of water indicating her activity.

[SmilinIrish]

Jed glanced back and forth from his main AR view and a small window to the side in which he was taking notes.  Adding the last bit of info that he gleaned from various sources, he finally had the info Marco had asked for.  Pulling up a window to message Marco, he forwards the notes.  Marco, your friend's new employer seems legit.  After scouring through social media, Chummerbook, his JakdIn work profile and connections, it looks like he only hires legit people with skills.  It seems that he only hires attractive ones, but from what I can tell from comments made by people who had short careers with him, if they don't live up to his expectations, he boots them.  It looks like his turnover is about 50%.  The majority of his hires are female, but some are male also.  Hope this helps.  To get any more than that is going to require a hacker.  I'm good at searching out info available from public sources, but I can't dig up anything on the other side of a password.  I have the source for that if you need it, but there will be a cost associated. 

The last few days had been mentally and emotionally draining.  Fulfilling, but draining.  Jed wasn't accustomed to interacting with another person 24/7.  Since their talk, Joshua had shown a will be be considerate.  Due to the trauma of what happened however, his emotions were like raw open wounds.  Sometimes he seemed to look to Jed for everything, and other times he seemed to lash out a bit as if he resented someone seeing him so vulnerable.  Jed had been patient.  He imagined that this must be what having a teenager was like.  All in all however, there was a relationship growing.  He couldn't help but feel in his gut that when it came time to take the club down, Joshua would be a key to sealing the deal when the dust started to settle.  Not to mention the little caveat that his continued existence depended on this.  Thinking about how this "bodyguard job" had been so demanding, he was starting to have second thoughts about even providing astral support to Y while she was in Europe. @ Yelena Milaya, I've had an exhausting couple of days.  I'm having second thoughts about trying to cover you on the astral while you are in Europe.  This new job is more demanding than I expected.   Its making me remember when I promised another individual that I could handle whatever we needed without being physically present.  I'd rather have you make other plans than fail you like I did her.  Be safe.  My gut says that I need to keep careful watch over the club.  I'll be pulling surveillance there as often as I can spare the time.  I'd like to tell you about this protection job I'm on, but it can wait till you get back, or maybe even wait until we pull down the club.  Be safe.  Please don't think that this has anything to do with Mike's warnings about you.  I can see you with eyes than most can't see through, and I know what I see.  We all have our own darkness.  When you get back we'll have some vodka and jazz together.  Do svidanya

Dropping a group message Jed tries to be brief I'm pretty tied up with a protection job, don't feel that I'm reliable enough to be counted on.  You can't afford that.  I'm going to keep tabs on the club. I'm still good for digging up information.  Let me know if you need anything along those lines.  Stay safe. 

Time to spend some more time with Joshua on the garden.  He had already doubled the size.  And everything was so green...