[Stuttrboy]

It's me Gabby, we had an appointment.  Am I too early?

[Mercy Merchant]

The door bangs open and the doctor is standing there.  She throws herself into your arms, almost sobbing.  "Oh God, Spokane.  Thank you for coming.  Quick, inside."  She does a quick once around in the hall and notices Steve there.  "Oh!  Hello.  Are you with......uh......please don't think...............er..............."  Steve follows you into the room and you both look around.  The room is pretty much exactly like what you would expect of a room that caters to rent by the hour.  Small bed, small table, one chair, washstand with sink, no windows.  A very X-rated trid is playing on what appears to be a trid player that is newer than any of the furniture in the room.  The Doc looks haggard as hell, almost like she has not slept in days.  She looks around at Steve and then back to you.  "I was hoping that you might have brought more friends than this."

[Stuttrboy]

Jesus Doc you look like shit,  He says quietly, after closing the door.

There are more, but we didn't want to draw too much attention.  You seemed like you were trying to be secretive.  What's going on?

[Mercy Merchant]

The Doc looks worried and glances at Steve as if asking you a question.  After you nod that she is cool, the Doc wearily makes her way to the bed and sits on it.  "God, Spokane.  I am in deep drek for sure.  I still an not really sure what happened.  It started when three gangers brought another one to the clinic to be patched up.  The guy was pretty bad off, shot all to frag, serious enough to be fatal if not taken care of.  The other guys did not give any names but had plenty of cash.  And you know me, I rarely turn anyone away anyway.  I should have this time.  Everything was going well when one of the healthy guys puts his hand to his ear as if getting a message on his 'link.  Suddenly he says something in a strange language, draws a gun, and shoots the wounded guy in the head three times then starts shooting up the clinic staff in the operating room.  I took one to the head that grazed me but caused a lot of bleeding and knocked me unconscious.  Probably out for only a few seconds and woke up to see my two nurses in pools of their blood and the shooters walking out of the room.  I played dead for several minutes then got up and ran.  Too soon.  At least one was still in the outer room and must have heard me.  I ran and he followed.  Fortunately, I know the alleys better than he did or I would not have made it here.  I called home but a strange man answered the call.  I need help, Spokane."

[Stuttrboy]

I keep telling you to get better security.  Who let's armed gunmen into...Sorry..sorry, not the time for recrimination.  What colors were they sporting?  gang symbols?  Tats?  What kind of cash?  Nuyen?  UCAS or corp scrip?  Strange language... so probably not local, but this is Seattle.  Outside muscle maybe posing as a gang.  Spokane brings up a selection of common languages to the area as well as some south american, philipino and middle eastern and plays selections for the doc to listen to and relays the info to the team.

Any of these sound like what they were speaking?  Give me your home address and we should get you some place further away from the clinic then go check it out.  Unless you feel totally safe here.  Have you contacted Kirenko or any of his people?  I know your tight with a few of the Vory bigwigs.  Then looks to Steve You got any anti snooping countermeasures?  I want to check out the clinic and her place but don't want a drone tailing us back afterwards.

He looks back at Tabitha.  This is important.  Is there anything you can tell us that might clue us in as to who they are or who they were working for?

[Mercy Merchant]

"So what am I supposed to do?  Refuse service and get a rep?  No, I cannot do that.  I try to keep it weapons free but you know how it is.  Now Dora and Clara are dead because of me.  None were ganger colors or symbols, but the leader has some sort of ink under his left eye.  A cross of some kind.  I have seen one like it before, but that was a few years ago.  He was Eastern European, so try that area for your languages.  He was the only one to speak when they came in, too.  His English was accented, but so is that of half of Seattle.  I should have been more careful.  Oh God!  My dad!  He must be worried and someone answered his 'link for him.  Oh, Spokane."

Steve moves forward and presses her drink into Tabitha's hands, forcing her to drink it down.  The doctor looks at her with gratitude.  "Anyway, I was hoping that you could take a spin to my house and see if my dad is OK?"

Steve shakes her head at your question about anti-snooping measures.  "Nope.  I can leave drones on watch, but if I can make them almost invisible, so can other people.  It might be best to not go there."

[Stuttrboy]

Doc you have valuable medical supplies on hand you should have armed security that disarm any guests.  The only rep you will get for that is being professional.  He says soothingly, rubbing her back  next to her on the bed.  From now on promise me you will do that, okay.  We'll do our best to take care of this problem, don't worry.

Spokane plays more clips of eastern block countries.  Any of these sound right?  What about the cross you said some kind of cross what is stylized in some special way or was just a basic cross?  corner of the eye or directly under it?

Oh, sorry I totally forgot, uh Doc this is Steve, my new girlfriend,  Steve this is Dr.  Tabitha Sturges.  I've mentioned her before but not by name I guess.

What's involved in making them invisible.  if they are broadcasting a feed to someones link like you do to mine there must be a detectable wireless connection right?  would they have to be just watching and recording or what?

[Mercy Merchant]

Tabitha nods.  "Yes.  I will keep a security guard if I ever reopen.  If you have some paper and pen or a pad I can draw a sketch of the tat.  It was on the cheek just below the eye.  Oh, wait, that one.  Yes that is the language, or one very close."  The language she has indicated is Serbian. 

Steve shakes Tabitha's hand then looks at you.  "Invisible is going silent.  Most things broadcast their ARO all the time, but are nearly invisible when going silent.  They don't go away so there is a way to find them, but it takes a special effort."

[Stuttrboy]

So if they aren't broadcasting then their owner can't see either, but they can review collected footage afterwards?  Once they start broadcasting again though do you have a way to detect them?

Spokane changes to AR view and tries to get the trideo to show images from his comm link, he asks Steve for help as he fiddles with it and flips through images of serbian crosses.

Sorry no pen and paper.  how about this, any of these look right?

Okay looks like we are looking for serbian or serbian-eque groups operating in seattle,   Please put out feelers with any information brokers or friends to get any information.  Steve we will need you to do some matrix research and see what you can find.

Spokane pings Feather Hoi Feather.  Need info and need a rush on this.  You got ears on any serbian or serbian-esque groups operating in Seattle right now?  Got a unique tat on one of the perps, stylized cross under the eye.  Thanks man.

[Mercy Merchant]

It is easy enough to get the images on the trid player but Steve pulls you aside as you have Tabitha go through the crosses.  "Spokane, I think you are under the impression that I am a hacker, but I am really a rigger.  Big difference.  I can do some matrix things, but I am certainly not a for real trix wizard.  I will do what I can to help, but some of what you are asking is pretty much beyond my skill set.  Now, asking for information is easy and I can do that, just don't ask for lots of detailed matrix searches.  Sorry if I am a disappointment."  She looks pretty dejected.

Tabitha exclaims as she points to one of the cross images.  "That's the one, Spokane.  Just like that.  It was right under the eye."

Feather is more helpful.  >>Back at ya and on it.  Hope to have something soon."

[Stuttrboy]

Spokane wraps up Steve in an embrace and lifts her face up with a finger under her chin.  Hey, don't look so down.  It'd be wiz if you were some drek hot hacker but you are what we have, do what you can.  Besides, he says with a wink.  I'm totally into your body not your brain. He laughs and gives her a tickle.

Got an ID on the cross, I'm sending you the image, Feather He also shares it with the group.

Spokane sends a link to Sasha You got a safe house I can rent for a few days?  I need to stash some assets.

[Mercy Merchant]

>>What are you proposing to pay me with?  I do not run charities.  I can provide secure place with guards, but will cost something.  What offer?<<

The answer from Feather comes on the heels of you sending the message.  >>Damn, Spokane.  What are you into.  I was looking into the Serbian thing and you toss that cross at me.  Although I probably should do some more digging, I can at least give you something.  That cross is definitely a mark of a Serbian organized crime cartel.  They are usually pretty quiet, but lately a few have turned up as mercenaries for some outfit with ties to Eastern Europe.  I would give this guy some room if you see him.<<

[Stuttrboy]

How about nuyen?  I don't know if I need guards and I don't know how much you typically charge, my flat costs me a grand a month I assume you are going to want more than that.  How about a grand for a week?

You got a name for this outfit, Feather?  Let me know what you find.

[Mercy Merchant]

>>OK.  1000 a week and no guards.  Let me know when are you thinking of moving in and I will get it cleaned up for you.<<

>>Don't have that yet.  Like I said, I was just starting in on them.  Back at ya in a bit.<<

[Stuttrboy]

Ok I will need it in about an hour.  Out of curiosity how much extra for the guards?  I might just splurge.

Ok doc ive got you a place to stay.  You've got a rep with the Vory and I dont want to put that heat on the Amazons, though thats probably a better place to be.  Now I hate to ask this, but I have limited resources and my friends are going to want to be paid for their time so we need to pool our resources.  You got any savings or other ways to reimburse these folks? 

After talking with the doc a bit more we head to the safe house.

okay folks heres the address we are meeting at.  Phil and Al should headnout now.  Dog and the rest of us will leave in about half an hour and make sure we aren't being tailed.