Part 1: Uninvited Guest

Motoko was laughing as she slipped out of full VR, back to using AR to guide the vehicle. "Great work, Tachikoma! Take a rest now, I'll call again soon enough, I think."

As the sprite handed control of the drones back to Motoko, and faded back to the realms where it came from, Motoko grinned at Molo. "See, didn't I tell you that my friends would handle it? I doubt very much whether they'll be bothering us again. Now, where'd you park your vehicle?"

Molo grunts and shrugs, putting the rifle's safety back on and storing it away. His response to Moko is pretty straight forward however as he works "It's back where we parked." with the rifle put away he'll move to take a better look at the Elf and try and see if the elf is stable or is slowly deterioating or something like that. Though it's difficult given his lack of medical knowledge. "I think pointy ears here is gonna live though."

As Mokoto shifts back from VR to her body she is aware of the crystal and datastick she'd taken from the elf pressing against her where they sat in her pocket. Leaving the destroyed van behind them, wheels still spinning and smoke bellowing, she sets course to go around the block and double back to Molo's car.

Kneeling down beside the elf, Molo scrutinises him for any signs that he's on deaths door. But the elf, while beaten, bruised, bloodied and insensible, was taking regular, if shallow, breaths; the breaths of one wrapped in the pain-free world of the unconscious, not of someone dying. Since you didn't see him take any direct damage to facilitate his current non-responsive state, you can only conjecture that maybe the side effect of the stim patch is what caused him to pass out. When Molo reached out with one of his calloused hands to touch the elf's skin, the unconscious man would flinch, but not awaken. His skin was sweaty and grimy, but still warm. Outside of that there wasn't much to tell.

It would only take a few minutes to get back to where Molo's car was parked. Then at almost the same time, the thought 'what then?' went through both Mokoto and Molo minds.

"Right, should be a while before they can get another van out this way, so we should have a couple minutes." With that, Motoko got out of the van, and began to quickly reattach her drones into the launch racks. It would only take her about three minutes to have them reset, and ready to go again, should they be needed. Looking over to Molo, she said, "You have a safehouse we can crash at until the elf wakes up? I have a feeling he's going to have something interesting to say to us." As she spoke, the van's coloring changed again, this time taking on the appearance of a delivery van.

Molo meanwhile checks on his car, though he keeps a wary look out just incase. He does however at least respond to Moko as he gets to work on retrieving his own car. "Null on that one Mokoto, I aint got drek at the moment. Though if you dont mind going into rough turff shouldnt be too hard to find a place to hold up for a day or two." he pauses after a moment's thought before he adds "Though maybe if we check the Elf's pockets or comlink he may have had some hidey hole set asside. Failing that we can try and wait till he's come to again, though I reckon he'll be out for a few hours."

"If they were trailing him, I doubt anyplace he's been living is safe. Lets go to that rough neighborhood you were talking about. I can slum it for a couple days, I guess. And I doubt anyone will bother me, with my friends around." There was some truth to that. No one usually bothered a person with a pair of combat drones armed with machine guns. Not even the crazies who'd had more of a high than they could handle.

And when she talked about slumming it, she didn't mean going to a rough part of town. She'd proven on more than one occasion she didn't mind a rough part of town. By slumming it, she meant staying in an area with non-Japanese.

As Mokoto tended to her drones and reset them in the bays Molo noticed that it was surprisingly quiet in the area. Well, maybe not surprisingly, since a local bar had just had a rather viscous gun battle inside and now was stained with the blood of dead men... but that was just it, the place was still in the silence that follows that kind of violence. Even in this neighbourhood where this kind of thing wasn't all together uncommon, the Star or some other security force should have responded by now. At the very least a DocWagon or two should be on the scene... but there was nothing... which you doubted was good...

Molo thought about places the two of them could go to lay low for a while. There were plenty of under cover car parks that could be used as temporary holding areas since all they were doing was waiting for the Elf to come to... all signs suggested that it shouldn't be long, maybe an hour, and then the Elf might be able to shed some light on things... thinking of the elf, and the scene inside the bar, you recall the crystal and the datachip Mokoto had taken, perhaps that might give some idea of what was going on... Another thought ran through Molo's thoughts, 'man I could do with a drink'

(( OOC: Molo needs to make a Willpower + Logic (1) test... if he fails he'll really want to go get himself a drink, but no other negative effects unless I specifically state them... if he succeeds he'll realise this isn't the best time...))

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Perception tests
Mokoto: Intuition 4 - Defaulting 1 + Vision Enhancement 3 = 6d6 = 2 hits
Molo: Intuition 5 + Perception 3 + Vision Enhancement 1 = 9d6 = 2 hits
---

Just as Mokoto finished stashing her drones you both notice something unsettling; another van eerily similar to the one you'd just escaped from making it's way towards the bar. It's more sedate, but by no means slow, pace suggested that it was just hurrying to get there, not racing off to continue the pursuit. But if they spotted you that could quite easily change. If they didn't though, maybe you could find out some more information...

In any case Molo had a place in mind where they could hole up for a while, a 'car park' about 5 mins away...

Willpower test: 1 Hit (Pass)

As much as he would indeed like that drink, Molo shoves the thought off to back of his mind, mollifying the desire with the thought of having a large stiff drink when this whole mess with the elf was over and done with. In noting the new van approaching, not to mention noting the continued silence, he tossed a quick AR message to Moko. "THink it's best if we get the hell out of here ASAP. There's a place not far from here.." Molo fires off a quick map point indicator "We can meet up there, wait till elf boy comes around and hopefully get away from who ever the hell it is that's after him, cause I think their still here."

Motoko sighed as she got her babies back in their racks. With a thought, she changed the colors of the van again, this time taking the guise of a non-descript delivery company. Slipping behind the wheel of her van, Motoko grinned. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let the bad guys follow you to the meet. Gotcha. See ya in 10."

And with that, she drove off. She didn't peel out or anything, but she wasn't going slow, either. Delivery van going slow was always a bad sign, afterall.

Molo waits a few moments before driving his own car off the lot, though he tries to keep an eye on the slow moving delivery van after giving his own car a quick look over to make sure it's still fine. A slight sense of paranoia making him wish he had some sort of scanner to quickly sweep the car with while he was at it, though such things are hard to do without drawing a few currious looks even in this day and age.

Provided nothing terribly exciting happens Molo will drive off the lot and start making his way towards the meeting point, occasionally checking his rear view mirror for any signs of persuit.

---
Perception test to see what's happening out the front of the bar
Intuition 5 + Perception 3 + Visual Enhancement 1 = 9d6 = (500 error from invisible castle... manually rolling dice) 4,6,1,1,5,3,4,2,6 = 3 hits
---

Not much happens to start with, the van doesn't suddenly speed up to chase Mokoto in her van as it heads out of the parking lot, in fact the approaching van slows down as it nears the front of the bar and pulls to a stop. Out of the van hop a half dozen men wearing outfits you immediately recognise as similar to the men you'd encountered in the bar. As these men hop out you see one of those men you had encountered limp out of the bar, blood staining most of his outfit. Molo recognises the man as the one he'd shot, and the only one that had been conscious when they'd left the bar.

This man is making his way towards the van, supported by one of the men who'd come from the van, clearly relieved to be heading for what he sees as safety. However, you suddenly see him stop short and stand erect at something he sees in or coming out of the van... his expression, coupled with the fact that the man that had been aiding him has stopped to stand to attention beside him leaves only a few options in your mind, but unfortunately you can' make anything more out from this angle... others from the van had gone inside and now reappear with the unconscious/dead bodies of their colleagues.

The goon that Molo had shot was speaking quickly now, a scared expression all too visible on his face, then, after a short while you see the expression change to one of terror and he pulls both his hands up in front of his face. The next thing you see is a large red splotch on the front wall of the bar and the man's lifeless body falling to the ground. All of the men seem shocked into immobility for a moment before they all start and continue about their work.

It's then that Molo sees someone walk out from behind the van and knows exactly who had caused the scene he had just witnessed. In spite of the distance between them, Molo has no trouble making out the figure of a huge man, easily 2 meters tall and built like an Urban Brawl Heavy. He wears a long flowing white coat worn and stained at the hem, and this was worn over what was clearly military grade combat armour. The man's face was deeply tanned and drawn, numerous scars making a pattern over it's surface. One of his eyes is an unsettle pale white colour, looking for all the world like a blind eye (something that you just don't see these days with the exception of the poor).

While Molo was noticing the man, the man was surveying the carpark. When his eyes came across where Molo sat in his car, which by this point was cruising on it's way to car-park's exit, they stopped, seeming to lock onto Molo for a moment... for a very uncomfortable second, which felt decidedly longer, the man stared directly at you. Just as your nerves were starting to get the better of you, the man's gaze moved on to continue the survey of the area. Deciding he'd best be elsewhere, Molo drove out of the lot and made his way to the meeting point.

Mokoto was making her way towards the meeting point when she heard a groan come from the rear section of the van. It would seem that the elf was starting to regain consciousness. Outside of the occasional low moan from the back, the trip to the meeting point was uneventful. The car park was a large, 4-story concrete affair, huge pillars with low thick concrete walls on each level the only thing separating inside from out. It was worn down and had numerous cracks and holes in it, but was sturdy enough. There were a few homeless standing around drums of fire and the like on the bottom level, but those further up seemed to be conspicuous by their barrenness. Each floor seemed cleared of everything larger than brawl-ball sized chucks of fallen concrete. Things were still dusty and dirty, graffiti of all different types was all over the place, but other than that it seemed devoid of life. When she got to the point Molo had indicated she pulled the van into a park and waited, feeling somewhat exposed... Molo shouldn't be long...

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Street knowledge test
Intuition 4 - defaulting 1 = 3d6 = (500 error from invisible castle... manually rolling dice) 6,1,2 = 1 hit
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When she had a chance to look a little closer, some of the graffiti about the place looked vaguely familiar, you didn't go as long on the street without learning a few of the gang tags... and some of the marking about the place looked like they could be just that...

Molo doesnt just idly sit by in the car durring the scene, or at least.. not exactly. He'd never turned off the eye recorder he'd activated when this whole mess started, though he finally does so as he drives off towards the meeting point with Moko. As he drives along, taking a few extra turns and the like in the hopes of either spotting or loosing anyone that may be following him, he fires off a quick message to Moko. "Got some footage I think you ought to see... Got a face that may be worth spending some time trying to track down if your up to it. Seems elf boy has some really nasty big fish after him."

Eventually arriving at the car park he goes to try and find a spot near Moko's van, or hell ideally right next to it if there is a spot empty. He's still slightly paranoid that they may have been followed. While his own vehicle is not armored, some cover is better than none, besides it had all his big guns in the trunk.

Molo has no trouble finding a park next to Mokoto's van, in fact the car park is almost deserted of vehicles, and half the ones that are there are looking very run down and possibly even abandoned... it's not the same as the last time you were here...

Motoko sighed as she leaned back in her seat, taking the time to gear up, and get ready for action, since it seemed like action was certainly coming her way. Her sniper rifle and shotgun were both hanging from their slings at her back now, with spare ammo in her pack.

Looking down at the elf, she grinned when he finally came around. "Well, its about damn time. We'd love some answers on what in the hell's going on. But rest up a bit. My buddy will be here soon, and we're gonna have lots of questions for you, chummer."

When Molo finally pulled up next to her, Motoko was busy scanning the information in the chip the elf had given her.

With the car lot being far more deserted than he ever remembered it being, and with Moko already with her weapons out, Molo decides now would be a good time to grab his rifle from the trunk of his car, though he at least temporarily sets it down inside his car, leaving the door open so that he can quickly grab it if the need arises. "Cant stay here too long..." he cautions, though he's at abit of a loss of where else to go.

"Lets wait to see what the elf has to say, before we go anywhere. In the meantime, I'm taking a look at this chip he handed us." Motoko scanned through the chip's contents in her AR, trying to aborb what paydata had caused these people to go so postal.

Then Mokoto starts to talk to the elf directly his eyes flick open briefly and she sees just how glazed over they are. It's clearly too much effort for the elf to keep them open at this point, but he does inhale a long slow breath that hisses through his teeth as he grimaces in pain. After holding the breath for a moment he then lets the breath out slowly, saying something, in a fluid language do do not understand, under his breath. You see him make a valiant attempt at nodding before his face again contorts in pain and he just says, in slightly accented English, "Yes, the chip..." he has to pause to take another hissed breath. "Most of what you need to know should be on it."

As Mokoto taps into the chip she is bewildered by the huge amount of technical information that is present on it. There are schematics for weapons, armours, vehicles, devices, drones, structures, an astounding variety and range. There are also personnel files, names, times, dates, GPS locations... it seems to be the raw data from a massive database of some description, the only problem is that it's not sorted in any logical system, while all the files may be present none of the formatting or folder structure they might have been in remains...

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Matrix perception test (i know this isn't technically the most appropriate skill to use, but go with me here)
Intuition 4 - defaulting 1 + hot sim 2 + technomancer 2 = 7d6 = 3 hits
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Mokoto's senses are suddenly drawn to a certain files and she browses it to open up the schematics for something that looks remarkably like the van that she'd escaped from earlier, and that Molo had seen a twin of.

Essentially it's a massive database, huge amounts of information that would take an age to sort through completely... but you might be able to search it for specific things, if you knoew what you wanted to know...

Something else draws your attention, there is one section that seems to be separated from the rest of the files, a small section that seems to contain only a few small files. One is a message, it says

I did my best to grab the goods, but they got some serious IC, stuff even the military would be envious of, I didn't get it all, but there was a small bit about the crystal. The file then links to a schematic on the chip, and it pops up showing some small device the size of a briefcase, It's a reader... the crystal is just a storage media for something even more classified than the files I've grabbed. It was tucked away under the heading "Project Caitir" it seemed to be filed along with a number of other projects, all of which seemed to target our kind. I'm not sure what's on that crystal, but I've got a feeling it's something very bad indeed, and it needs to be seen by Lyra, if anyone will know what it's about, it'll be her.

That files seems to stop there, but beside it there's another, one that looks like it's been damaged somehow, but all it says it If anyone finds this chip, and there is a crystal nearby, get them to Lyra at, but only if you know the way. At this point a little prompt asks you for a password...

Meanwhile Molo notices a vehicle heading towards the entrance of the car lot, just a standard, relatively beat up sedan... but he sees another one not too far down the road behind it that seems to be coming in the same direction... this was a car park... but for some reason it made Molo feel nervous... man he could use a drink...

Motoko cursed under her breath as she saw the vast amount of paydata there was here. She could spend months going over all these files! And there was a crystal with even more data out there?

Looking back to the elf, she asked, "What's the password? And where's the crystal?" Turning to look at Molo, she said, "There's a ton of paydata here. I'm going to need time to go through it all. We need to get back somewhere safe, where I can spend a few hours in VR. Fortunately, I know someone who can get us a place, if you don't mind Yakuza."

Even as she's speaking, an AR window pops up in front of her, as she sends a message quickly to one of her most trusted contacts.

Isao-kun! I need a safe place for me and two others, plus vehicles to stay, quick. Got a line on some heavy paydata, and there's people wanting it back.

((ooc: I'm pretty sure Mokoto picked up the crystal when she picked up the datachip))

At Mokotos first question the elf looked somewhat confused, but when she asked about the crystal his eyes went wide. "NO! Please tell me you still have the crystal!" There was an agony in his voice that had nothing to do with his physical injuries. "The rest of my team died to get that crystal out of there, please tell me you still have it."

Unsurprisingly, in spite of his many responsibilities, Mokoto's child-hood friend gets back to her almost at once.

Message from Isao (Japanese): Jane-chan, so good to hear from you. A few of out facilities are free at the moment, here is the address of a safe-house in you location. The pass phrase you'll need to get through the door will be 'Neo-Tokyo kids', be sure that you're the one who says it. Did you want some security there as well?

I have one quick favour to ask of you in return; have you heard anything about the recent increase of chiphead assaults that have been going on in the city recently?

The message ends and the question lingers. Aside from recent news articles you haven't heard anything, though from memory most of the attacks were against meta-humans... the address he gave you is only 5 or so minutes drive from where you are right now...

(OOC: Lol. Completely forgot I pocketed the crystal.)

Reaching into her pocket, as though she just remembered something, Motoko pulled out the crystal she found with the chip. "This thing? Forgot I picked it up. You sure its got paydata like this chip says on it? Now what's that password?"

As she was speaking, a reply went out to Isao. Thanks, Isao-kun! And if you could spare a small detail to 'discourage' any interested parties from knocking on the door, we would be very appreciative. And what's this about the chip-heads? You talking about those attacks on meta-humans in the news lately?

Back in the real world, Motoko looked over to Molo, and transmitted the coordinates for the safehouse. "Let's move. I called in a favor with the local Yakuza. They'll put us up for a while. Follow close." Looking back to the Elf, she said, "All right, while we drive, you best tell me more about what you've landed us in." And with that, she got back into the van, holding the door open for the elf.

As the cars begin to move in towards the car park, with one already there and another apparently on the way Molo fires off a quick message to Moko to make sure she's aware of what's going on, worried that they may have some how been followed or traced after all. Heads up, looks like we have more company. A quick glance over towards the elf that got them into this mess in the first place and he asks "You wouldn't happen to know who it is that's after you eh chummer? Cause I'm starting to think they got a tracer beacon on one of us." The only thing he feels happy about at this point is the fact that at least this time around he's got his assault rifle ready incase there's more trouble, but he doesn't particularly want more at this point really. Doubly so when he's not even getting paid for this whole mess so far.

His attention turns back to the two cars he noticed, and should the other car start coming into the parking lot as well, he'll shift closer towards his own car, not far from his rifle. Just in case.

The elf looks at Mokoto, somewhat confused, (English) "Password? What do you mean?..." Then a look of recognition flashes through his still pained expression. "What did he say just before the prompt came up?" From his tone you presume he's familiar with the scenario you just experienced, but not this specific question. The elf reassures his position on the floor of the van, now sitting gingerly in what, to you, seems an uncomfortable cross-legged position. At Molo's question he looks up, "Yes, I know exactly who is after this crystal... or rather who I thought it was... but that crystal seems to be far more important than we'd counted on..." His expression changes briefly to one of loss, then, realising he still hadn't answered your question he added, "We were raiding a safehouse from which we suspected some attacks against local meta-humans were being launched. The security was tight, and we thought we might find something interesting... I don't know what my team stumbled onto, but it cost all three of them their lives." Then looking from Mokoto to Molo he adds, "and would have cost me mine had you not assisted me."

Turning to face Mokoto he says, "We can go to this place of yours, but we need to get that crystal to Lyra. Travis was our only contact with her, but he must have left some details on that chip as to how we can get it to her..." A look of worry mingles with the constant look of discomfort, "if not I don't know how we're to find her."

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Perception tests
Mokoto: Intuition 4 - Defaulting 1 + Visual Enhancement 3 = 6d6 = 3 hits
Molo: Intuition 5 + Perception 3 + Visual Enhancement 1 = 9d6 = 2 hits
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You can hear the cars that just entered the car park coming up the ramp to the level you're on, their headlights sending shadows dancing against the wall. When the first car appears, a rugged looking sedan, it slows, but doesn't stop when it sees you. You can just make out the driver saying something with a slightly quizzical expression on his face. You are somewhat relieved when you note he isn't wearing anything resembling the uniforms you've seen so far today. At first you think he's going to continue on up the ramp to the level above, but instead he slows right down and pulls up at the far end of the park from where you are now. Just at that moment the next car, a much more expensive sedan, comes up the ramp, but this one stops at the top, blocking the way down.

Almost as one the doors on the cars open and people come into sight. From the first car several dirty looking men in heavy jackets and with SMGs slung over their shoulders get out, leaving only the driver in the vehicle. From the one at the top of the ramp only two large men in tailored (but you presume armoured) suit, a noticeable bulge under his left armpits emerge. Mokoto also notices that in the middle back seat of the second sedan sits a well attired business-woman who seems totally unperturbed by the events around her. One of the men from the first car, a middle aged man with a thick beard and weathered skin shouts, (English) "What you doing here? This is our turf!"

Molotov is given pause at the confrontation he finds himself in now. At first he thought it was just yet -more- thugs they would have to some how deal with. Suffice it to say with numbers against him, even with his ware he wasn't looking forward to another firefight breaking out, better armed now or not.

For now he keeps his hands away from his rifle, though he doesnt move away from the door to his car where he can easily reach it where it is, laying on his seat. "Came in to get out of the rain." he responds lightly. "Didn't think there'd be anything but a few squatters and gangers in a place like this." the last part letting out some earnest supprise at finding something that clearly was anything but. "However, since this seems to not be the case, if you'd kindly shift your vehicle.." he nods towards the sedan "Then we'll gladly pick up our drek and move on, cause we ain't here looking for trouble. How's that sound Chummer?"

jo-chan wrote:

I did my best to grab the goods, but they got some serious IC, stuff even the military would be envious of, I didn't get it all, but there was a small bit about the crystal. The file then links to a schematic on the chip, and it pops up showing some small device the size of a briefcase, It's a reader... the crystal is just a storage media for something even more classified than the files I've grabbed. It was tucked away under the heading "Project Caitir" it seemed to be filed along with a number of other projects, all of which seemed to target our kind. I'm not sure what's on that crystal, but I've got a feeling it's something very bad indeed, and it needs to be seen by Lyra, if anyone will know what it's about, it'll be her.

That files seems to stop there, but beside it there's another, one that looks like it's been damaged somehow, but all it says it If anyone finds this chip, and there is a crystal nearby, get them to Lyra at, but only if you know the way. At this point a little prompt asks you for a password...

Motoko plays back the clip of the message for the elf, in the van where she was safe from SMG bullets. "I could try and hack the chip, but I'd rather not find out whatever kind of IC your hacker may have loaded up on here if I have a choice. Like to save my brain to get fried over the big things, you know?"

When the leader of the other group spoke up, demanding to know their business, Motoko quietly started her van, and slipped into the back seat, where she could get to one of the gunports, if she could get the vehicle turned properly. But there were other things she could do while she waited. Going into AR, she reached out, trying to find the nodes for the two vehicles.

--
Threading a Scan form. 3 Software + 5 Resonance + 2 Hot Sim = 10d6 = 4 hits
Gives me a Rating 3 Scan form.

Resist Fading 4. 3 Willpower + 5 Resonance = 8d6 = 4 hits
No damage.

Scanning for the vehicle nodes. Electronic Warfare 3 + Scan 3 + 2 Hot Sim = 8d6 = 3 hits
--

The elf listened closely to the message that was played back to him, skipping it to right at he end. At the last line you hear him scoff slightly and says in a soft, sad tone, (English) "You must have been in a rush my friend..." Then looking up at Mokoto he says, "We're members of a group called 'Gaia's way'... so I presume Gaia would be the password..." But at this point the elf's attention becomes diverted by the scene unfolding outside. Sitting up where he was so he could see out of one of the gunports, the elf surveyed the scene.

The 3 thugs pull up a short way in front of their car and glare at you. Molo knew he wasn't much of a negotiator and just hoped these guys were in a reasonable mood.

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Etiquette roll
Charisma 2 - Defaulting 1 = 1d6 = 1 hit
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Molo managed to ask about as nicely as he could think to, and was pleased to see the thugs relax, the lead guy turning towards the other car as if for some kind of guidance or signal. Apparently receiving none the man turns back to you, still glaring and says, "Shove off. This here's our turf, next time we see you here we'll fill you full of holes and strain your insides." This was apparently a witty comment, at least from the chuckles it brought forth from the two men flanking him. One of them says something in a soft, yet excited voice to their boss, "Yeah, just like that orc the other night, he squealed good he did."

While all this is happening Mokoto is reaching out with her unique senses to try and locate the nodes of the cars she can see in front of her. The first car that came up is actually relatively easy to find, the fools haven't even got it running in hidden mode, but the other car is an entirely different matter. You manage to find nodes claiming to be that of the car alright, but you find dozens, each of them in hidden mode... it would seem that the car is making use of some kind of spoofing chip, making it almost uncomfortable to look at with your senses, like it's been blurred or refracted all around.

The car on the ramp starts up again and rolls away from the top of the ramp, the man in the suit walking along slowly, but alertly beside it, clearing the way for you to go down. "Get moving," the leader says again, waving his sub-machine gun at you, "me and the lady here have some business to attend to." You notice the man in the suit's mouth move, as if saying something, and you strain your ears to hear.

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Perception (3) test to hear whisper
Mokoto: Intuition 4 - Defaulting 1 - Object not near 2 - Other sounds 2 - Distracted (using AR) 2 = waived, no chance of success
Molo: Intuition 5 + Perception 3 + Audio Enhancement 3 - Object not near 2 - Other sounds 2 = 7d6 = 2 hits
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Molo almost catches what the man was saying, but one of the thugs kicks a can across the floor just at the wrong time and he looses the thread of the words. The elf inside however, his pointed ears almost seeming to twitch as he listens whispers to you, "something about 'chips'?" But in any case it would seem that the way out has been made clear for you, if you wanted to use it...