[center][b][h1][color=#44F03E]𝔽[/color][color=#42E93C]𝕦[/color][color=#40E33A]π•₯[/color][color=#3EDD39]π•š[/color][color=#3DD737]𝕝[/color][color=#3BD136]π•š[/color][color=#39CB34]π•₯[/color][color=#38C532]π•ͺ[/color][color=#36BF31]:[/color] [color=#32B32E]𝕋[/color][color=#31AD2C]𝕙[/color][color=#2FA62A]𝕖[/color] [color=#2C9A27]𝔾[/color][color=#2A9426]𝕣[/color][color=#288E24]𝕖[/color][color=#268823]𝕒[/color][color=#258221]t[/color] [color=#21761E]𝔾[/color][color=#20701C]𝕒[/color][color=#1E6A1B]π•ž[/color][color=#1C6419]𝕖[/color][/h1][/b][/center] [center][sub][@Opposition][@SandyGunfox][@Valor][@MagratheanWhale][@Atrophy][@DeadDrop][/sub][/center] [center][hider=A Great, Great π”Ύπ•’π•žπ•–][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u7KjNsAVFg[/youtube][/hider][/center] [color=mediumvioletred][b]So that’s just it, isn’t it? Any kami be damned to flames. All falls in favor of the [color=green]π”Ύπ•’π•žπ•–[/color].[/b][/color] [color=green]>>>π”Έπ•“π•’π•Ÿπ••π• π•Ÿ... >>>𝔸𝕝𝕝... >>>ℍ𝕠𝕑𝕖…[/color] [color=mediumvioletred][b]We, the people be the tools of entropy. [i]That’s it.[/i] We are the pawn pieces. It all came crashing into the damn E-Brain that day. He was the [color=green]β„π•’π•žπ•žπ•–π•£[/color]. I was the [color=green]π”Έπ•Ÿπ•§π•šπ•[/color].[/b][/color] [color=green]>>>𝔻𝕠... >>>ℕ𝕠π•₯... >>>𝔻𝕖𝕝𝕧𝕖... >>>π•Žπ•šπ•₯π•™π•šπ•Ÿβ€¦[/color] [color=mediumvioletred][b]Back then, I thought I was lucky to even see him strike. To enter it all and have a chance to be integral to the wavesβ€”that vast array of information. My eyes staring into the camera… He invaded like a parasitic thought, didn’t even have to open the door and face the old monoblade persuasion…[/b][/color] [color=green]>>>𝔼𝕀𝕔𝕒𝕑𝕖... >>>π•Žπ•™π•šπ•π•–... >>>𝕐𝕠𝕦... >>>β„‚π•’π•Ÿβ€¦[/color] [color=mediumvioletred][b]At least I got the information. Just a IV drip of intrigueβ€”of what was hidden. He was already a conduit, surfing the digital landscapes. He was a pest, really. Pragmatic parasite, thinking that information could save him. He was weak. Even before I ever saw him, I could see, just as he could see the weakness in me.[/b][/color] [color=green]>>>𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣π•ͺ... >>>ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒π•₯𝕦𝕣𝕖... >>>𝕄𝕖𝕖π•₯𝕀... >>>𝔸𝕀... >>>𝔼𝕒𝕦𝕒𝕝…[/color] [color=mediumvioletred][b]Partners… I never thought I’d have one, but in the face of something [color=green]𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕒π•₯[/color], there’s no choice but to huddle in hives or stand subject to Mother Fate. That was the beginning of something. A unity of lost souls against some esoteric β€˜Entropy’ entity that ran like live current through all of us. We were just tools, observers, seekers, naive, weak, baseless beasts intruding from a land of mediocrity. The [color=green]β„π•’π•žπ•žπ•–π•£[/color] and [color=green]π”Έπ•Ÿπ•§π•šπ•[/color], but we weren’t yet complete. We couldn’t compete. But all I needed was a glimpse.[/b][/color] [color=green]>>>π•Šπ•–π•– 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝔸𝕄𝔼... >>>𝕀π•₯'𝕀 𝕁𝕦𝕀π•₯ 𝔸 𝔾𝔸𝕄𝔼... >>>π•Šπ•₯𝕖𝕑 π•€π•Ÿπ•₯𝕠 𝕋𝕙𝕖 π”Έπ•£π•–π•Ÿπ•’... >>>ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕀π•₯𝕣𝕒π•₯𝕖 𝕋𝕙π•ͺ𝕀𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝔹𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝔸𝕄𝔼... >>>[s]𝔻𝕆 ℕ𝕆𝕋[/s] π”Όπ•Ÿπ•₯𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝔸𝕄𝔼.. >>>π”Όπ•Ÿπ•₯𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝔸𝕄𝔼… >>>π”Όπ•Ÿπ•₯𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝔸𝕄𝔼... >>>...[/color] [h3][color=gray]π•Šπ•¨π•’π•₯𝕙𝕖 π•Šπ•₯𝕣𝕖𝕖π•₯ β„‚π• π•žπ•žπ• π•Ÿπ•€[/color][/h3][color=008000][b]β„π•–π•”π•π•’π•šπ•ž β„€π• π•Ÿπ•–, π•Šπ• π•¦π•₯𝕙 β„‚π•šπ•₯π•ͺ π•Šπ•‘π•£π•’π•¨π•[/b] [b]π”Έπ•‘π•£π•šπ• πŸ™π•€π•₯, 𝟚𝟘𝟞𝟝 πŸ™πŸ :πŸ›πŸ˜[/b] [b] [β„‚π• π•žπ•–, π•Šπ•™π•’π••π• π•¨ β„‚π•’π•£π•’π•§π•’π•Ÿ] π•‹π•–π•£π•žπ•šπ•Ÿπ•’π•₯π•šπ•Ÿπ•˜...[/b][/color] Nobody really noticed the final flash of orange until he was out the door. The moment panic wove its way into the suites, the monk was on his way. Anyone who might have spotted him must have wondered what the straggler was doing after his procession had already gone off to do things that were certainly esoteric and probably a little creepy. Samsara had taken to kicking Delilah every few beats of the music that played regularly in his head. It was rock music. Super cool stuff. Behind those hi-tech corpo glasses, though, he was having one of those staring deathmatches with Faren. Some of the NLP roadies had already lost interest in the scene, though most were focused on the show, considering it was blocking their way to the drinks. Faren had started smoking inside. Ironic. Samsara held a dataslate in his hand. It went off, buzzing, though no one could really be sure if that wasn’t the effect of a well placed finger or an actual call. [color=lightslategray][b] β€œThe looming overlords call, D.”[/b][/color] He fished into his pocket, but the show had already taken off before he could wrangle it. Delilah had already started to drag herself up to her feet with handfuls of Samsara’s jacket when another one of the elite had infiltrated the domain of the bourgeoisie. She didn’t notice the β€˜doctor’ at first, focusing her eyes instead into the ether. All too often, shitposting in response to Citizen K took precedence over any job, any Councilman Washington, or any wild west gun standoff, but the doctor came straight for her. It was way too suspicious. [i]Medical emergency?[/i] she thought. [i]He definitely wasn’t the navy.[/i] [right][color=ed1c24]”𝕨𝕙𝕒π•₯ π•™π•’π•‘π•‘π•–π•Ÿπ•–π••?"[/color][color=8dc73f]<<<[/color] [color=ed1c24]”𝕦𝕣 π•—π•’π•§π• π•£π•šπ•₯𝕖 π•‘π•šπ•«π•«π•’ π•‘π• π•”π•œπ•–π•₯ 𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣 π•˜π•–π•₯ π•Ÿπ•šπ•©π•–π••?"[/color][color=8dc73f]<<<[/color] [color=8dc73f]...<<<[/color][/right] [color=green]>>> β€œ[/color][color=#035096]π”Έπ•π•žπ• π•€π•₯ π••π•šπ•• π•šπ•₯ π•’π•˜π•’π•šπ•Ÿβ€¦ π•Šπ•¦π•£π•§π•šπ•§π•–π••... 𝔹𝕦π•₯ π•Ÿπ• π•¨ π•₯𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕣𝕑𝕠𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 π•€π•¦π•£π•£π• π•¦π•Ÿπ••π•–π•• π•žπ•–...[/color][color=green]”[/color] [color=green]>>> β€œ[/color][color=#035096]𝕀'𝕝𝕝 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 π•₯𝕠 π•—π•šπ•˜π•™π•₯ π•₯π•™π•–π•ž 𝕠𝕗𝕗...[/color][color=green]”[/color] [color=green]>>> β€œ[/color][color=#035096]π•Žπ•šπ•₯𝕙 π•žπ•ͺ π•—π•šπ•€π•₯𝕀...[/color][color=green]”[/color] [color=green]>>> β€œ[/color][color=#035096]𝕆𝕣 π•žπ•’π•˜π•šπ•”...[/color][color=green]”[/color] [color=green]>>>...[/color] [center][color=#035096][i]Phase shift. Back to reality.[/i][/color][/center] Two completely conspicuous sorts approached Faren and his horde from either staircase that led further into the suites. You could tell they were with the NLP because of their hipster glasses and black turtlenecks. [color=lightgreen][b] β€œEverything we needed?”[/b][/color] The candidate asked. Both of his goons nodded, and a good portion of the NLP crowd started to disperse, finally intent on doing something useful besides warming up the room by standing together like a bunch of bees. Faren and a few others stayed, sizing up Samsara. [color=#035096][b] β€œMa’am?”[/b][/color] Delilah almost audibly scoffed, but opted for a sick hair-flip, devious-laugh combo instead. [i]He was definitely a cop.[/i] She pushed herself off of Samsara and adjusted her glasses, trying to decipher whether he was red or blue or what. [color=#035096][b] β€œAlright?”[/b][/color] Samsara shook his head. The moment his companion had finished using him as a support crutch, he stepped back, nudging Delilah with an elbow and pointing to his dataslate. [i]An infallible excuse.[/i][color=lightslategray][b] β€œOn to more important things.”[/b][/color] He extended his hand and between his two fingers was a nondescript drive of black plastic.[color=lightslategray][b] β€œLet me know when you get back to being useful.”[/b][/color] Delilah begrudgingly accepted the drive, but her eyes never left Howland. [color=#035096][b] β€œWhat’s with all these questions?”[/b][/color] Delilah leaned back, and tried to get a read on the guy. [color=#035096][b] β€œWhat’re you a cop? I’ll be asking the questions here.”[/b][/color] She was rather light on her feet with a bit of a sway to her step, but Delilah had always been a timebomb waiting to explode in motion… At least, if she had her snack that day. Glory had resolved to keep herself occupied by maintaining a perimeter while she waited for the medical team to arrive after picking up Lott’s left-behind phone and pocketing it. It was a part of the unit tactics that she had been trained in for use on deployments: If you weren’t relevant for the task at hand, you kept an eye out for the people who [i]were[/i] relevant. Fortunately, assistance arrived faster than Glory anticipated. It had only been a few moments when her ear perked up as she heard a voice begin speaking from within the crowd that had formed as people departed. Glory’s eyes flicked over to Howland as he arrived on scene. Dr. Parker Howland, member of the health oversight committee and quite possibly the best person to arrive on scene at that moment. Glory blinked, but nodded. Her first-aid training was superficial at best, but if needed she could at least reliably perform CPR. [color=#3374ff]”Yes sir. My training in first-aid is limited, but I will assist you to the best of my ability on request.”[/color] Due to her attention being on Howland’s arrival, Glory missed the black plastic drive that Samsara passed Delilah. Though if she had seen it, Glory wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Delilah was most likely going to be arrested and brought in for interrogation, but Glory couldn’t just declare everything she touched as evidence. As Howland began to assess Delilah, Glory placed herself nearby. She still needed to provide overwatch, but was ready to respond if Howland presented a request. Well, her airway and breathing were clear - and she was clearly intoxicated, too. Howland shook his head, gently placing two fingers on her neck. [color=C0C0C0]"I'm a doctor, ma'am. Did you say you suspected a heart attack?"[/color] [i]That man is more interested in the ridiculous glasses on his face than the woman in front of him,[/i] Howland observed. He consciously kept a sour expression from his face. Pulse elevated, but consistent. Pupils dilated - she was probably on drugs. As he spoke, he tried to guide her to a seat - sitting would be easier on her heart than standing. [i]A doctor[/i], Delilah thought. It was a clever disguise, but she was always prepared with a clever-er reaction. [i]Always stay strapped[/i]. That’s what the Crocodiles used to say. She jerked back a bit as his hand met her neck. Her left hand slipped up to grab his hand. [color=#035096][b] β€œHeart attack? I’ve seen Death, cop, and the flatline doesn’t scare me anymore. I’m too powerful.”[/b][/color] Her other hand rose this time, she formed her gat once more, placing it just beneath his chin and tried to perform a dramatic pass-through to switch places with Howland, as if she were pushing him up against a wall. [color=#035096][b] β€œNow where were you on November 8th, 2064 at approximately 1900 hours?”[/b][/color] [color=C0C0C0]"At the dinner table with my wife, at my home,"[/color] Howland answered unexcitedly. He shifted his weight, using his greater size to absorb Delilah’s momentum as she pushed into him for some reason. He didn’t think this was a heart attack - this was most likely nothing more than the security guard overreacting to an even-greater idiot’s drunken rambling. All the same, this woman was wasted - she probably needed medical attention. His tone of voice didn’t change at all. [color=C0C0C0]"You [i]do[/i] seem quite powerful, ma’am. Please don’t shoot me."[/color] He glanced over to the security guard, catching her eye and throwing a meaningful look towards the intoxicated woman. Delilah’s flustered expression was evident the moment Howland resisted her slick moves, though it could have just been her body betraying her to the dehydration and heat exhaustion. The Shaman didn’t bother herself with worldly matters. [color=#035096][b] β€œLikely story… Everyone in the Reclaim was busy that day. I bet you don’t even have a wife, cop. What’s your wife’s maiden name?”[/b][/color] She was always quite adamant about her positional advantage, and Delilah knew not to give any [i]cop[/i] the upper hand. After a few steps, she planted her feet firmly, dropping her grip on Howlands wrist and exchanging it for [i]another gun[/i]. [color=#035096][b] β€œI’m very powerful. [i]Magic as fuck[/i], in fact, but don’t worry.”[/b][/color] She turned her wrist as if to show him her weapon. [color=#035096][b] β€œThe safety was on.”[/b][/color] [i]Until she clicked it off, the menace.[/i] Glory caught sight of Howland’s glance between her and Delilah and responded with a blink. The signal might’ve gone unnoticed, but it was indeed a signal. Most of the security team was aware of the idea that one blink was a confirmation, and two blinks was a denial. Moving subtly, Glory shifted a hand to one of her belt pouches. Popping it open, she retrieved one of the two pairs of handcuffs she kept on hand. Her motions would have to be swift. Glory’s primary concern was the β€œgun” that Delilah had pressed to Howland’s chin, so it would be the first thing she dealt with. Unlocking both ends of the handcuffs, Glory mentally planned out her actions for a moment, and then executed them swiftly. With a single step and one swift arm motion, Glory moved behind Delilah and attempted to slap one end of the now-open handcuffs around Delilah’s β€œgun” hand... One cop was bad enough. Two cops was a whole ordealβ€”the sort where the Shaman and her cronies began the [i]reeeaaall[/i] hustle. Delilah knew that much from her circuit in Neo Orleans with the Crocodiles. She lost all interest in Howland when the security officer clearly started approaching with silent intent. Everyone wanted to dance with her, it seemed. Things always seemed to work out that way. As Glory reached for Delilah’s main firearm, handcuffs already in hands, Delilah knew she was coming for some of that sweet heat. Her gun hand merely twisted, gripped the center of the handcuffs and Delilah spun into Glory so the two were face-to-face. Of course, she lost her suave Samsara coat in the process, but the expression on her face read stone-cold smooth. [color=#035096][b] β€œCareful what you’re doing there, miss,”[/b][/color] the Shaman said. [color=#035096][b] β€œS’venia always said it was dangerous to mess with a wizard.”[/b][/color] There was a clear click from behind her back of handcuffs clinching shut and Delilah jingled her wrist a bit before letting all of her weight slump backwards. If Glory wanted to maintain control of the β€˜criminal’ magician, she’d have to stumble with Delilah as she went to the ground or drop the cuffs. [color=#035096][b] β€œI’m the worst kind, too.”[/b][/color] Delilah winked shut her eye on the blue side, because she saw only red.[color=#035096][b] β€œAnd only I get to arrest me...”[/b][/color] Glory was genuinely caught by surprise as Delilah managed to twist her hand into position to grab at the oncoming cuff. [color=#3374ff][i]”Damn. For someone that genuinely looked to be on death’s door a few moments ago she sure does recover fast.”[/i][/color] flicked through Glory’s mind as Delilah spun into her. Glory glared angrily at Delilah as she spoke, though she happily retained her height advantage at this distance. As Glory heard the clicking of cuffs behind Delilah’s back her mind began to race with possibilities. [color=#3374ff][i]”Did she cuff herself? Did she just close them? Did she try to cuff me?”[/i][/color] All of these thoughts were pushed aside as Delilah pushed herself backwards and began to fall. Glory had a few scenarios play through her head. In scenario one, she released her grip on the handcuffs and allowed Delilah to fall before attempting to restrain her again. However, this presented the possibility of Delilah utilizing the same swiftness she had made use of to grab the handcuffs in the first place to scamper away, and losing a piece of kit as abusable as handcuffs would come with a sharp penalty. On the other hand, if Glory allowed herself to fall with Delilah, that allowed her to keep hold of the handcuffs and would most likely allow for her to prevent Delilah from scampering away. But it presented an uncomfortable amount of contact between the two of them and Della could try to pull some other trick. It would be incredibly bad if Delilah had a syringe filled with unknown chemicals at her disposal. However, Glory also reasoned that with Howland present and the coat she had been previously wearing discarded on the floor, anything she had on hand would’ve likely been inaccessible and would likely be easy to diagnose and fix. Glory mentally nodded as she made her decision, and deliberately allowed Delilah to pull her down with her. This deliberate motion allowed Glory to avoid falling harshly as she ended up largely on top of Delilah. Glory wasn’t happy being there, but it was needed to avoid her escaping. Glowering at Delilah, Glory used her free hand to push herself up and attempted to plant her left knee on the base of Delilah’s sternum as she shifted to the right to largely remove herself from being in contact with Delilah. Looking up at Howland, Glory motioned to the presumably now-pinned Delilah and spoke quickly. [color=#3374ff]”Doctor, if you’d like to continue your examination, she’ll probably not be able to do much else.”[/color] Delilah sputtered in the face of her captor as she fell. The metallic arm clasped within the cuff became visible only as she stifled her fall, but Delilah shunted her prosthesis beneath her deck soon after, the bulky console nearly covering Delilah’s entire torso. Netrunners were always a strange sort, and even the Shaman herself felt the taxing effects of her Amalga’s weight everywhere she went. That didn’t much matter. She was always fully strapped. [color=#035096][b] β€œOh, poor decision, miss.”[/b][/color] Delilah looked all too content in her prone position, and the numerous wires enwrapping her form were plugged so haphazardly it was hard to tell what equipment was running and what she was actively operating. [color=00a651]”Wow, I came for a drink now I got girl on girl?”[/color] Johnny said finally walking over, Manhattan in hand. His other hand gripped onto his phone as he pulled it from his jacket and started recording the two flailing about. Howland rubbed his forehead. He'd just wanted help holding the drunk still, and now all of… [i]this.[/i] [color=C0C0C0]"Ah, thank you, miss."[/color] He stepped back, opening his medical case and pulling out that most advanced of pharmacological wonders - a tablet of aspirin. [color=C0C0C0]"That's all we can do here - she should be examined at the hospital. Here, get her to chew this, please. Aspirin can protect the heart from further clotting."[/color] He thought a moment, then held the bottle out where Delilah could see it. There was nothing more to do than wait for an ambulance. Howland was pretty certain she didn't need it, but he rather wanted to see the drunken woman admitted anyway. A toxicology report would, he guessed, make for interesting reading… The Amalga Deck seemed almost to be a conduit for Delilah’s feelings, as much of a silly cyberjockey metaphor as that was. Nonetheless, the moment Howland stepped forward, the bulky gunmetal box whirred to life. While the Machine raged with life, however, Delilah appeared quite the opposite. She’d zoned out entirely, lost in the maze of cords and connections. [color=green]>>> π•ƒπ• π•’π••π•šπ•Ÿπ•˜β€¦[/color] [color=green]>>> π•Žπ•–π•π•”π• π•žπ•– π•“π•’π•”π•œ 𝔽𝕝𝕦𝕩 π•Šπ•™π•’π•žπ•’π•Ÿ! 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝π•ͺ π•—π•¦π•”π•œπ•–π•• π•₯𝕙𝕒π•₯ π• π•Ÿπ•– 𝕦𝕑...[/color] [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#9400D3]"ℍ𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕠 π•žπ•–,”[/color] [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#9400D3]"𝕐𝕠𝕦 π• π•œπ•’π•ͺ?”[/color] [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#9400D3]β€œπ•†π•£ 𝕀𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕀 𝕀π•₯𝕒𝕣π•₯ π•žπ•ͺ π•”π•£π•šπ•žπ•–-π•—π•šπ•˜π•™π•₯π•šπ•Ÿπ•˜ π•π•šπ•—π•– π•¨π•šπ•₯𝕙𝕠𝕦π•₯ π•ͺ𝕠𝕦? π•Šπ•™π•’π•π• 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕣π•ͺ π•ͺ𝕠𝕦 π•₯𝕠 π•₯𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕣 π• π•Ÿπ•”π•– π•žπ• π•£π•–?”[/color] [color=008000]>>>...[/color] [color=008000]>>>π•Šπ•–π•Ÿπ••π•šπ•Ÿπ•˜ π•„π•–π•€π•€π•’π•˜π•– π•₯𝕠 β„‚π• π•Ÿπ•₯𝕒𝕔π•₯𝕀: [color=FFDAB9] "𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕋𝕣𝕦π•₯𝕙"[/color] >>> ℙ𝕀ℕ𝔾 ℙ𝕀ℕ𝔾 ℙ𝕀ℕ𝔾...[/color] [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#035096]"𝕀 𝕄 π”ΉπŸ›π•šπ•Ÿπ•˜ 𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕖𝕀π•₯𝕖𝕕 𝕓π•ͺ 𝔾𝕒π•₯𝕔𝕙'𝕀 β„π•–π•Ÿπ•₯-𝕒-𝕔𝕠𝕑...”[/color] [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#035096]"β„™π•π•’π•Ÿπ•Ÿπ•šπ•Ÿπ•˜ π•žπ•ͺ 𝕦𝕝π•₯π•šπ•žπ•’π•₯𝕖 π•Šπ•™π•’π•žπ•’π•Ÿ π•žπ• π•§π•–π•€...”[/color] [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#035096]β€œπ•€ π•£π•–π•’π•¦π•šπ•£π•– π•₯𝕙𝕖 π•¦π•Ÿπ•“π•šπ•’π•€πŸ›π••, π•§π•šπ•£π•₯π•¦πŸ˜π•¦π•€ π•„πŸ›π”»πŸ™π”Έ!!!”[/color] [color=008000]>>>...[/color] Howland lowered the bottle as it became clear the woman was no longer paying attention. [color=C0C0C0]"...Ma’am?"[/color] Howland prompted. He did his best to ignore the camera and act professional. His job was first aid - let the security officer worry about the laws. As Della revealed the prosthetic arm, Glory raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Delilah had, in fact, cuffed herself. What was this mad-woman’s end goal? Glory was about to reply to Howland when someone spoke behind her. Taking a moment to look over her shoulder, Glory scowled at Johnny and gave him a curt reminder. [color=#3374ff]”All non-essential personnel are supposed to be out of this area. [i]This includes you.[/i] Please vacate the area promptly, thank you.”[/color] [color=00a651]”You’re mistaken miss, I’m essential as legal counsel. Thank you””[/color] Lovecraft said professionally as he continued to record her. Glory grumbled at Johnny’s answer, however she really couldn’t do anything as he was pretty much correct. At least in this scenario anyway. Turning her attention back to Delilah, Glory was surprised to see that she was totally zoned out, having apparently plugged herself into the cyberdeck that had whirred to life beneath her knee. Looking to Howland, Glory asked an important question. [color=#3374ff]”Doctor Howland, I’ve heard through word of mouth that pulling the plug out of someone that’s jacked into a cyberdeck can have some nasty biofeedback issues. Is that true? I ask because of the fact that every moment she’s plugged into that deck she’s potentially attacking some other electronic device and if I can put a stop to that possibility I’d like to.”[/color] [color=00a651]”As a security contractor you have no police powers or a Deck-warrant to stop her from decking even if she is blowing up the entire building. You need to call and report her to the police otherwise you would be violating her right to privacy on the net.””[/color] Johnny said almost quoting the law itself. Delilah smiled at the words of the lawman or whatever they called themselves these days. Her deck wasn’t quite the usual FuryTech hardware. Glory must have already been feeling the heat emanate from Delilah’s web of cables. [color=#035096][b]β€œOh, don’t want to mess with a Netrunner’s deck. This one especially. That’s the quickest way to get a curse cast upon you by a vile magician of the net.”[/b][/color] [color=C0C0C0]"And it can stress the heart - not a good idea if any cardiac symptoms are suspected."[/color] Howland shook his head - he was putting it mildly. The insidious connections an e-brain held could have serious effects if it were active enough. [color=C0C0C0]"Leave her be; the paramedics will have equipment for safely disconnecting without causing a feedback or power surge."[/color] S’venia’s smile faded as she read the message, a smile made late by her desire to track a story. S'venia had thoughts about leaving this alone. Delilah was capable enough in her mind. If Gatch had hired someone to protect him, then they must have been the lowest common denominator. At the same time this text was unlike anything Del had sent before. Curious. Delilah was much more durable than others gave her credit. From her wacky mannerisms to her off putting nature, she always had a way to rub the wrong persons the wrong way. S'venia once again had thoughts of leaving the matter to its eventuality. The Truth of the matter, a friend was in need, and this was new. She needed to be sure. [color=FFDAB9] ℙ𝕀ℕ𝔾 ℙ𝕀ℕ𝔾 ℙ𝕀ℕ𝔾...[/color] [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#035096]"𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕣 𝕦??"[/color] [right][color=#035096]β€œπ•€ π•’π•ž π•šπ•Ÿ π•₯𝕙𝕖 π••π•–π•Ÿ 𝕠𝕗 π•₯𝕙𝕖 π•π•šπ• π•Ÿπ•€. π”½π•£π• π•Ÿπ•₯ 𝕕𝕠𝕠𝕣 π•šπ•€ π•¦π•Ÿπ•˜π•¦π•’π•£π••π•–π••.”[/color][color=008000]<<<[/color] [color=008000]...<<<[/color][/right] [color=FFDAB9]β€œLions den Deli,”[/color] S’venia thought as she turned her head towards the doors of the hotel. What could have compelled her to go back into that horror show? Her eyes shifted as she unrolled her computer once more and tapped on two icons, one with the name R1 and the other R2. Soon her computer was alive with various bits of data. [color=FFDAB9]β€œAlright RR’s,”[/color] S’venia spoke as she began to type various commands into the screen, [color=FFDAB9]β€œtime to join the party,”[/color] she finished as she rolled her computer backup and started towards the front door. [color=FFDAB9]β€œLead me in,”[/color] she commanded. Glory nodded to Howland’s information. Unfortunately, that meant that she couldn’t stop Delilah from accessing her deck. However, that problem was rendered secondary by the problem of Johnny attempting to give her grief for doing her job. Glory was naturally less than pleased at his assertion that she was doing her job incorrectly, and thus her limit was finally reached as she looked over her shoulder once again to confront Johnny on his incessant disturbances. [color=#3374ff]β€œFirstly, deliberately hacking into security systems qualifies as a major cybercrime and a public offense. Secondly, a citizen has the capability to arrest if a public offense has been committed in his or her presence. Thirdly, I have authority to detain anyone in this building for questioning should circumstances arise that place them as a viable suspect in blackmail, cybercrime, bribery, espionage, or theft. I know what I am doing, and what I’m doing is in accordance with the authority I have been granted.”[/color] Giving an exhausted sigh, Glory returned her attention to Delilah. The cords that her leg was partially resting on were getting quite warm, but that didn’t dissuade Glory from keeping her knee planted on the bottom of Delilah’s sternum. More than anything, Glory wanted no more tricks out of the woman with infinite surprises. [color=00a651]”You have no idea what she’s doing in their decking, you aren’t plugged in like a data-cop would so you can’t even touch her in the real. For all you know she could be playing pong in the Labyrinth. The worst she has done was molest that guy, if you do anything to her she’ll sue the socks off you or maybe cast a spell. ””[/color] Within a flash Johnny threw a business card on Del’s jacked in corpse. [color=00a651]”If you’re going to detain someone maybe you should follow the procedural rules of fed-law and inform her she’s being detained all you did was handcuff her and then touch her when she was jacked in. You could be sued civilly for violating her while she was jacked in, see Fairview Clearwater Sec vs. T. Thunderlane, 2034.””[/color] Johnny finished his Manhattan finally, tasted like Buka backwater. He tossed the plastic martini-weeny drink holder-gadget away towards the β€˜bar’ as it fell into obscurity. [color=00a651]”You’re young, beautiful but inexperienced miss. You’re doing too much, especially for a corpo party like this.””[/color] Delilah snapped her free hand up and caught the business card between her fingers, and pulled it in front of her glasses, reading through it a good few times in her prone and immobile condition. [color=#035096][b] β€œLovecraft the Lawyerman… Solid choice. You will be remembered in the ether, when my magic consumes the rest of them.”[/b][/color] She pocketed the card, stowing it in Samsara’s fallen coat. [color=#035096][b] β€œAnd it’s no party anymore, Lawyerman. Strictly business.”[/b][/color] [color=00a651]”Maybe you can buy me a drink at the Duat sometime and we’ll make it a party?””[/color] He said looking at his dwindling sad-boy stash of cigarettes, the carton was in a No-Americana language which reminded him of how long he had had such an awesome & stoic pack of cigs. S’venia had now found herself in the hallway adjacent to where the common areas used to be, guided by her reporter drone through the hallways and away from any crowded sections that remained. Her drone allowed her to see which way the cameras faced on her way to the area. The front door really was wide open. The place was practically a ghost town at this point without a hint of the campaigns present. She unrolled her computer, before raising her glasses upward, once again and looked over the streams of data, namely their locations, of her two other drones. Both were where they were supposed to be, hidden thick amid the actual reporter drones. Perfect. She typed a few more commands into her console, and soon, two separate video feeds appeared on the device. While the quality was not excellent, she was able to see what they saw. [color=FFDAB9]"Well you're in a pickle,"[/color] S'venia thought as she saw the goon on top of Delilah, and another off to the side. There was another figure, she couldn’t make out who they were but an educated guess meant he was there to help in some capacity. She used her hand to motion for her drone to come closer. Once it was in range, she smiled as she began to whisper. [color=FFDAB9]"Paparazzi mode, full video,"[/color] she paused as various cameras, cameras with flashes, and actual flash devices erupted outward. [color=FFDAB9]"Quarter second bursts, full flash,"[/color] she paused once again as she lowered her glasses. The video feed from the drone lit up her vision. She taped a few more commands into her computer, and the RR's now saw the two goons highlighted in red. [color=FFDAB9]"Targets identified, shift focus each burst."[/color] The drone shifted its front back towards the door. [color=FFDAB9]"On my command, execute."[/color] She then entered a command called "Fly-by" to the two drones outside, and tagged the command to the phrase "two". [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#035096]"𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕π•ͺ?"[/color] [right][color=#035096]β€œπ•‹π•™π•– π•Šπ•™π•’π•žπ•’π•Ÿ 𝕔𝕒𝕀π•₯𝕀 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕀𝕑𝕖𝕝𝕝!”[/color][color=008000]<<<[/color] [color=008000]...<<<[/color][/right] Glory thought about what the surprisingly well versed merc behind her had mentioned. The case he had specifically mentioned was indeed quite relevant. As were the other things that he had mentioned before. Now that her haze of justice and righteousness was broken, things were beginning to click into place. Why had she seized Lott’s phone? She didn’t know if it had actually been assaulted by the person pinned under her knee. She didn’t even know for sure if the person pinned under her knee was in fact responsible for the earlier cyberattack. What if she had been defending against it? What had even led to this course of events? Glory had called for medical assistance since she had mentioned a heart attack, and then Howland had asked for assistance when she was interrogating him, but was going for her handcuffs really the right idea? [color=#3374ff][i]”I screwed up. I screwed up. Oh shit. I screwed up. My first ever job where it’s not just β€˜stand here and look tough’ and I screwed up. Fuck, fuck fuck fuck fu-”[/i][/color] Glory’s mental fortress began to collapse as the chain of realizations hit her as to how badly she had overreacted. Her eyes glazed over as she felt a massive wave of anxiety roll over her as her mind went back to the same desperate state that had landed her this job in the first place. Delilah would probably notice that the pressure being applied to the base of her sternum was rapidly decreasing at this point. Glory gave a small yet visible shudder as her self confidence shattered like a pane of glass. Her eyes darted about the room, first to Delilah, then to Howland, then to the crowd. Her mind raced as she struggled to think of a way out of this situation. Glory’s head began to spin. Details began to blur together as she felt a strong rushing sensation overtake her as her anxiety reached critical levels. Moments before she went limp, Glory managed to utter one word. [color=#3374ff]”No…”[/color] After that, Glory went limp and collapsed harshly onto where Delilah’s legs would be. Out cold. [color=00a651]”Wow, what the drig did I just witness.””[/color] He said taking out an ancient 427 Lucky cigarette and dropping it on Glory’s body for future smoking or sentimental value. Seeing that the big goon was down and a future client has his number he turned to walk out of the suites. [color=00a651]”Call me if you want to take me out for drinks Wire Girl.”[/color] He said putting a Red Devil cigarette in his mouth, he lit it with a match from The Departed. Exhaling smoke he walked towards the exit, maybe to find Lott for once. S’venia counted down. [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#035096]"π•†π•Ÿ π•žπ•ͺ π•žπ•’π•£π•œ, π•₯𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖... π•₯𝕨𝕠.."[/color] [right][color=#035096]β€œπ”½π•π•šπ•₯π•₯π•–π•£π•šπ•Ÿπ•˜ 𝔽𝕝𝕦𝕩 π”½π•’π•šπ•£π•ͺ π”½π• π•£π•žπ•€ ℍ𝕖𝕣 π”½π•’π•Ÿπ•₯𝕒𝕀π•₯π•šπ•”π•’π• π”½π•šπ•˜π•žπ•–π•Ÿπ•₯𝕀 π•’π•Ÿπ•• β„™π•™π•’π•Ÿπ•₯π•’π•€π•žπ•€!”[/color][color=008000]<<<[/color] [color=#035096]β€œ[[[𝕋𝕙𝕒π•₯'𝕀 π•₯𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕕𝕖 π•‘π•™π•£πŸœπ•€π•–]]]...”[/color][color=008000]<<<[/color] [color=008000]...<<<[/color][/right] As she said the command the two drones reacted. In an instant fury, they flew themselves towards the windows of the lobby. Accelerating at a pace allowed by their repulsorlifts, they found themselves closer, and closer, and even closer still to crashing through the windows of the lobby. Suddenly, and as soon as they reached the predetermined metrics of their command, they flipped. Instead of crashing through the windows they floored their engines in an attempt to reverse their chosen path. The increased powerload from their engines roared against the glass of the lobby, causing the glass to react violently. The noise was loud. Those in the lobby would hear the sound of a machine of war reacting violently to a stress it was not designed to endure. [color=008000]>>>[/color] [color=#035096]"π•†π•Ÿπ•–."[/color] S’venia made one fast motion with her hand, the sign of a gun, and her drone went through the door. [right][color=#035096]β€œπ”½π•π•šπ•₯π•₯π•–π•£π•šπ•Ÿπ•˜ 𝔽𝕝𝕦𝕩 π”½π•’π•šπ•£π•ͺ 𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽𝔽—...”[/color][color=008000]<<<[/color] [color=008000]...<<<[/color][/right] Delilah, taking note of the slack of Glory’s hold and whatever chaos The Truth was busy stirring, threw all of her weight to the side to roll from the security guard’s pin. Her deck input was momentarily ignored, leading her[i] β€˜code phrase’[/i] to turn instead into the interconnected cyberdeck equivalent of a pressed-down key.. Delilah started to press herself up to her knees, taking the deck in both hands. Anyone who managed to keep their eyes on the wild shaman would have noticed the handcuff merely fall off of her hand, [i]as though by magic[/i].[color=#035096][b] β€œAnarchy!”[/b][/color] the vile shaman yelled as her battlecry. Howland had only just started to react to the security guard’s sudden collapse when noise and light flooded the refreshments area. He reeled back in surprise as Delilah shot upwards, shouting for some reason. He reflexively threw out his hands as a loud noise emanated from the windows. He was unarmed, and whatever this drunken hacker had just done, he wanted no part of it! S'venia watched through her glasses as her drone entered the room. [color=FFDAB9]"Shit,"[/color] she thought as she turned her head as one of the goons had gone missing. Her drone, however, still executed her command. The drone began to send bright lights toward goon #1 and the man with his hands up. S'venia took a second to realize the situation, [color=FFDAB9]"freeze,"[/color] she commanded, and her drone obeyed. She rotated her hand, and her drone shifted its focus towards Delilah. With a raise, and then soon followed by a lowering of her hand, her drone responded. It went up, then down as it caught the sight of the anarchy. [color=FFDAB9]"Where did goon two go,"[/color] she asked as she shifted her attention down the hallway. Delilah stumbled. Despite her miraculous handcuff escape, the cords of her Amalga rigging was a trap in and of itself. She flinched as she rose to her feet, grabbing the handle-side of her deck in one hand and bringing her gun-hand back level with the cop doctor. The nausea was already starting to take hold, but the flashing lights only made it worse. [color=#035096]β€œCome in, ally. I’ve neutralized the situation and the cops are on the backfoot.”[/color] S’venia, upon hearing the all clear, issued a new command to her drone. [color=FFDAB9]β€œCover me.”[/color] As her drone slid back towards the door S’venia made her way towards it. A few steps later she turned the corner, entered the room, with most of her face more or less blocked by the drone. While it hid the full frame, it still left enough to be seen. Her head still shifted from the sudden transition, eventually it settled on the backside of the drone. Howland backed away, keeping an eye on the drone and blinking to clear spots from his vision. [color=C0C0C0]"Excuse me..."[/color] he started, keeping his voice even and unexcited. He wasn’t sure who this woman was or why she had burst onto the scene - clearly the drunk woman had backup of some kind. [color=C0C0C0]"I’m a doctor. I’m trying to bring this woman to medical attention."[/color] β€œYou’re excused,” S’venia paused for a brief second, head shifting out of position ever so, β€œhi Delilah.” She gave a small half wave as she returned her focus back to the rear of the drone. [color=FFDAB9]β€œMade a friend,”[/color] S’venia asked as she took another step into the room. [color=FFDAB9]β€œA doctor even? Look at you, trading up,”[/color] she finished as she stared down the β€˜Doctor’ through her glasses. [color=C0C0C0]"...Yes, quite."[/color] Howland lowered his hands. What more was there to say? [color=C0C0C0]"Although with her level of activity, I don’t think the cardiac problem I was summoned here for is a pressing issue, I still think she should be checked out in an emergency department."[/color] [color=#035096]β€œDon’t listen to him, S’venia. He’s undercoverβ€”a doctor, but also a cop. A Cop-Doctor. I think he might even have been the assassin that killed Dex. He’s got no alibi.”[/color] Delilah squared off with Howland, weapons at the ready as she closed the distance between herself and The Truth. [color=#035096]β€œHospitals are a scam anyways. Use black clinics, you cop.”[/color] With the drunk woman moving away, Howland slowly walked over and knelt next to the fallen security guard. The woman seemed intent on pointing her fingers at him, for some reason, but he wasn’t about to let a drunken attempt at a threat come before his duty as a medical professional. [color=C0C0C0]"I’m also not sure why this woman fainted - I’m just going to check and see that she’s alright."[/color] With practiced ease, Howland checked her vitals. Pulse steady. Airway unobstructed. She was breathing. [color=C0C0C0]"My name is Dr. Parker Howland - I work with the Twin Cities Health Department."[/color] Between that, a private practice, and his [i]other[/i] activism, he didn’t exactly have time for a career in law enforcement anyway. Perhaps this newcomer could talk some sense into the woman. S’venia smile faded for a brief second before it resumed in full. The mention of the assassin had forced her hand up to adjust her glasses in a quick fashion. She took a few seconds and waited with baited breath as she examined the face of the cop-doctor. [color=FFDAB9]β€œOh he’s,”[/color] she paused for a second as a quick chuckle came out, [color=FFDAB9]β€œhe’s not the assassin, Delilah.”[/color] She shifted her head towards the Shaman, noticing her moving towards her. [color=FFDAB9]β€œHis eyes are all wrong.”[/color] She took a step backwards and soon found herself leaning her back against the door frame, her drone still following her movements. [color=FFDAB9]β€œI doubt our new friend knows much about that creature, do ya mister...”[/color] she paused as she let the question hang in the air. Howland’s voice remained flat. [color=C0C0C0]"I’m afraid no assassins rank among my professional contacts."[/color] He gently rolled the unconscious security guard on her back. [color=FFDAB9]β€œAs expected,”[/color] S’venia responded as she shifted along the frame until she was almost out the door. [color=FFDAB9]β€œIn that case it’s been a pleasure to meet you Dr. Parker Howland.”[/color] After a short pause, his name started to tingle in the back of her mind. She knew it somehow but at the same time did not know from where. A curiosity. She had met an enigma earlier and now she has met a curiosity. S’venia wanted to probe further but the thought of the second goon was still on her mind. [color=FFDAB9]β€œDelilah,”[/color] S’venia spoke as she motioned towards the door. The netrunner steadied her lopsided deck, still dangerously close to hanging herself in the cords. [color=#035096]β€œSecurity neutralized,”[/color] she said, stepping around Howland and his newfound patient. [color=#035096]β€œI would say they’d need more for the debate, but I’m sure Gatch has plenty of plans.”[/color] As Delilah reached the door, she glanced back to the cop-doctor. The Reclaim was full of odd sorts, but it was their place. In the midst of the frying pan, the burning lunatics did well to survive together, even if that survival was wrought with chaos and deception. Delilah didn’t appreciate the sort who didn’t know the status-quo, but then again, she wasn’t a Reclaim-native either. She stepped through the door. Maybe they were all outsiders. Maybe that was the point. [color=#035096]β€œI’ve found something, S’venia. About the debate. About art...”[/color]