Found Arcana – chapter 3 IC
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Found Arcana – chapter 3 IC
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AS Bobby waited for the okay, AM sunk into hot SIM and tried to suppress the alarm. She looked for the icon and attempted to initiate diagnostics which would temporarily turn off the fire alarm.
Spoiler: -
AM’s investigation of the matrix of The Hostel had been a bit confusing. There was certainly a fair amount of wireless devices, but there were some missing — including the fire exit. Finally she concluded that some old hardwired connections had never been upgraded, while newer work had been put in place with wireless. It also looked like there was some wireless cleaning drones that she could potentially use to scout a clear route for Bobby, while the security drones in the main room on the ground floor were not visible.
Tracing the wireless activity she was able to figure out what host they were connected to, an obscure numbered one that didn’t advertise its purpose on its plain outside. If she wants to disable the alarm on the fire exit, it looks like she’d need to get into the host to access the hardwired alarm.
Bobby pauses at the door to the staircase to check about the alarm downstairs, and that is when he notices a light flashing from the door handle — a light he was pretty sure was not flashing the last time he went down this way.
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The host is sculpted to look like a Roman public square, surrounded by marble statues. Users roam around in togas, and patrol IC is visible in the form of a small pack of very large wolves. Quickly turning herself invisible she looks around for the alarms, keeping her cool even when the wolves draw near and sniff the air in a very disconcerting way.
Eventually finding her way to the temple of Janus, where one wall is full of slots for scrolls, with most of the slots being full — it seems like a lot of alarms for what she had seen of the building. As she edits the scroll to change the fire door’s alarm instructions she notices that five minutes earlier it had been edited to “Hostel security status: high.” After she edits it she scans the labels on the other scroll slots, and realizes that most of the internal doors are alarmed currently.
If Bobby heads down the stairs now he’ll set off an alarm at the top of the stairs, and when exiting them at the bottom. She can edit the others, but she then notices the wolves stepping into the temple and lifting their heads to sniff the air — and with them now is a gladiator.
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>>Mato, take off my headband if I ask you to… There are things here that can literally kill me.
She thinks at her watcher “Bobby, something is wrong, they are very alert.” The watcher reiterates the information to Bobby.
Brath normally AM – you can do so with magic and technology on your side. They can’t see you…
Spoiler:She tries to change the status of the top scroll as Bobby crosses the stairs, moments pass and the scroll remains unchanged. Another attempt and it works just as Bobby steps on the stairs.
“Bobby, only five steps before I give the okay”
She then makes her way on the next alarm, heart pounding as she notices the gladiator – a spider most likely. All this for magic artifacts or is there some bigger prize? No time to think, second alarm before she is wolf food, and WTF with the spider…
Spoiler:“Okay Bobby – second alarm off – make a run for it. They will discover my intrusion eventually, they are VERY alert.”
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Bobby didn’t waste any time to get going he took the bag between his teeth while he got rid of the bathrobe, sprinting naked towards the door. He slammed against the bar to open it. Just as it swung open, he used his power to transform into a large wolf, still with the loot sack between his teeth, and began sprinting towards the car
Spoiler: -
<<Roger>> Mato acknowledges.
It’s all very odd. Why is security so high? Is it related to the event tonight? Is this business as usual for The Hostel, or is Fazela a bit more important than they previously knew? They sure wouldn’t want to lose control of those turrets on the tracks if there was a VIP in the house.
He reaches over and hovers his hand over AM’s trodes. He keeps an eye on her, in case she starts tweaking and freaking. If so, he’ll yank the trodes without being told. He’s well aware that if something gets its fangs into her, she might not even be able to signal for help.
<<Let’s get you a biomonitor when this is all over so that it’s easier to run overwatch while you’re ‘away’.>>
He leans over the back seat and uses his other hand to open the back doors. Bobby will likely be coming at a run, and most likely in some unexpected form. Ape? Eagle? Demon rat? The mind boggles at all the possibilities. Once Bobby is in the car and Mato hits the gas pedal, the Americar’s acceleration will slam the doors shut.
Mato rolls a throwing knife across the knuckles of his left hand while his right hand hovers over AM.
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The wolf takes a long sniff of the matrix air, then turns and walks away from the temple.
Meanwhile in meatspace Bobby the wolf races out of the stairwell and towards the fire exit itself. His lupine senses notice the movement above his head and he sees one of those little tracked drones pivoting to target him. As he crashes the bar of the fire exit with his paws it fires its dart
Spoiler:However the machine is far to slow to track the fast moving wolf, and in a flash Bobby is out the door, and into the car.
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AM disengages with relief when the watcher notifies her that Bobby is out. She jacks out, to finds herself sweating from the effort. She returns the watcher to its canteen and takes a long sip from the water as she calms her body and mind.
“I didn’t realize the place was so secure… ” she was embarrassed despite herself, with a naked man in the car. So she looked out of the window, presumably to see if anyone was after them. “Did you get it all?”
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Bobby had just finished pulling up his trainers again and nodded: “Yep, the painting, its frame and the bayonette, everything right here in this bedsheet.”
Bobby untangled the makeshift sack and brought out the loot. That done, he finished dressing. -
She says “Well done! Best, I think that nobody would complain about theft, so we may be off the hook. We made these people look bad though, which may bite us in the future. We still don’t know why they need such strict security. Let’s study the items before we decide what to do with them, capitalize on our expertise to maximize our revenue.”
She then calls their Jhonson, and reports that the job is done. Finding it difficult to keep a straight face as she does. She feels like the weight of the world has lifted from her, and she even smiles – happiness is an emotion that AM does not risk too much. Happy people are the ones that fail to pay in time. Though she can afford a smile – breath a little lighter – hope that there is some way out of her debt.
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With The Wolf That’s Presumably Bobby in the car – because how often do wolves rush out of buildings and jump in your back seat (Not very often, Mato thinks to himself) – Mato hits the accelerator and launches the Americar into the road. The doors slam shut as he steers with his right hand. His throwing knife stays in the high ready in his left hand at the open driver’s side window, before he goes far enough to conclude that it isn’t necessary. With that, he rolls up the window.
Once that’s done, he checks out what’s in the back seat, besides Bobby. He wonders magical objects look any different, or radiate power that even a mundane gonk like Mato can detect. It turns out they do not, so he turns his attention back to driving and watching for pursuit.
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Coming to her senses she says “Let’s drive around Redmond to verify that we’re clean. Perhaps we should cool down at Jhonney for a few days? To see if anyone pokes at our home?”
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Mato nods slowly. “Bobby can check in periodically while disguised, and Jawsey and AM can use their spirit-whatsits.
“Let’s not go overboard though. First, we don’t want to lose any walk-up business. Second, a change in our patterns could be just as revealing.”
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AM shrugs “Just so you know, my watcher is a limited resource that can only exist for several hours. The canteen preserves it, in a dormant state and prevents deterioration. I am working on a more meaningful construction but did not have much time to dedicate to the matter. While Jawsey can summon for free, I find that too much security is revealing, I would not want a fire elemental circling our place in the astral.
Indeed, let’s get back to normal once we are sure that nobody comes right after us. If we get enough funds, we can invest in some cameras and a drone or two for securing our house more discreetly. “Spoiler: -
Bobby shrugged: “I volunteer for desk duty. If our office is assaulted I can run or fight with ease – and we don’t lose walk ins.
I’ve got to study up on a few things anyway. This whole episode showed me how much more I need to practice my assensing.
And I can use the overtime since I’ll need some time off soon for a vision quest anyway.” -
“You are the bestest Bobby… if only you could explain how you do your mojo. I’d be into shape-changing as well. I’ll go working on my spirit project. If we have time.”
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Jhonny was happy to hear the news. “The situation is already all wrapped up? Fast work, very commendable. I imagine that a KE detective is going to be wanting your statements tomorrow. Perhaps the day after you could come by the shop. I’d like to shake your hands … and since I promised you credit maybe show you some of the newest toys that have come in.”
Indeed the next day the team was contacted about making a statement. The detective seemed to already have the story, and mostly just asked for confirmation, essentially prompting the team to confirm the evidence of murder. It is easy to assume that he has already been paid off to come to that conclusion.
After that it is just a matter of picking up payment … and figuring out what to do with the bayonet and painting plus frame.
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“We’ll need Jawsey to find a buyer for that shit. Runningbird is no more, but since we took a look at his commlink, maybe we could try one of his contacts for selling this stuff?” Bobby said after the payout had happened. He had immediately vanished with his share to get in contact with his debtors. “I can’t tell you how very much I’m looking forward to being rid of my debt.”
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AM replies “I suggest we study the artifacts before selling them, so we know how much they are worth. I’ll try to figure out what did Ceaser bought them for though. At least a guesstimate. “ she said and repaid her stolen link a search, piecing the information together. When Jawsey will be back, she’ll help him study the artifact.
She hoped that Bobby would be on board but he seemed obsessed with his vision quest. “Perhaps the spirits are calling that one,” she thought, and wonder what it would feel to have such a strong connection with the great spirit. Bobby’s connection is perhaps as strong as her teacher’s, though it is not an exact science – AM can usually tell through assensing.
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“I agree with AM. Let’s have a better understanding of what we’re trying to sell so that we don’t get our pockets picked.
“Or do what about that Gau motherfragger? Five-Fingers. He and Jawsey are tight, aren’t they? He’d probably rip me off, but maybe not Jawsey.”
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