<Snipped quote by Memory>

I curious of what the animals here look like.
*picks up the pace*

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Nods*
No doubt, one of the most difficult challenges mankind has faced. And that's part of our journey—uncovering the path to a utopia where death has lost its power.

<Snipped quote by Extra>

What do they look like where you're from?
*We run through a few fields growing plants that look like corn, with stalks taller than both of us*

<Snipped quote by Memory>

They have large amount of varying appearances. If you are interested, I could draw some from memory.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

Yes. Yes it is. The ascension of humanity by that power.

*I sigh, thinking.*

If I were to tell you that we have aligning goals, would you believe me? I think that we both value humanity, and we both have thoughts of what can be done to help them from their present sad state. If we were to cooperate, I think we could make something beautiful.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Raises my eyebrows with a smile*
I had hoped you would say something like that. What do you have in mind?

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

You see this pathetic, fucked-up little world here?

*I gesture to the city.*

I want to knock it down, burn it to the foundations and let something new grow in the ash. But first, I need to fetch something. There's some experimental data in an undersea Cooperative blacksite on the other side of the planet, just off the coast of Hong Kong. I'm not... able to enter it myself; I can't enter such a space without an invitation, and I suspect they aren't giving those out.

*I chuckle to myself.*

If need be, I can dispatch my employees to assist in lifting this data, but it is essential that I get it.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Perks up at the word dispatch*
Killing anyone is off limits. That's against everything we stand for.

<Snipped quote by Legend>

*Lifts a hand*
I'm certain we can find an amicable way of preventing interference without resorting to utter violence, yes.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

I know just the person who can assist in that. It's your job; I won't try to force you to act in any way you disagree with, so long as the job gets done. My own talent is, herself, a former intelligence officer; she, of all people, understands the value of discretion.

I can arrange for transport to Hong Kong, but reaching the blacksite and getting out afterward is up to you. I can have you safely smuggled back out of the city once you return, but exfiltrating you myself would require... showing my hand to the Cooperative, so to speak.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

So what kind of information do you want out of this, and how is it going to help us reach our goal?

<Snipped quote by Legend>

The blacksite's underwater in order to shield it from cosmic radiation and nuclear fallout. Well, that and the moral ramifications of what's being done there. What they're working on, well...

*I nod.*

Genetic data, cybernetic tests, even some work into psionic waves, brain waves. Some of it they gained from experiments that'd make Doctor Mengele blush, but it's good data nonetheless. If you want to make humanity more interconnected, that's your first place to start.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Taps my left-hand middle finger to my thumb a few times*
I think, my friend, that we have ourselves a deal.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

Excellent. I can have you and my associate on a suborbital flight in six hours, and in Hong Kong in eight. You'll need to be at the municipal spaceport in four. In the meantime...

*I reach into my pocket and retrieve a black and gold card.*

Enjoy yourselves. See the sights, live like kings. I'll pay the tab.

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

*Takes the card from you*
I assume we'll receive more logistic information from you shortly?

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

Ah. Yes, of course.

*Smiling, I procure what appears to be a tourist's map of Union from thin air and present it to Vector, pointing to a spot about three quarters of the way down, a few miles from the spaceport.*

We are here. There's free autocar service across the whole city; you flag them down like a taxi and program where you want to go. Failing that, the metro runs directly to the spaceport. At some point in the next four hours, you're going to want to visit Aunt Jane's Cafe on 300th and MLK and ask for Lucy. They'll have your ID papers ready; you won't get through the entrance checkpoints without them.

My associate's currently en-route to the spaceport; she'll be waiting for you past security. She'll take you from there.

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

Ah. Yes, of course.

*Smiling, I procure what appears to be a tourist's map of Union from thin air and present it to Vector, pointing to a spot about three quarters of the way down, a few miles from the spaceport.*

We are here. There's free autocar service across the whole city; you flag them down like a taxi and program where you want to go. Failing that, the metro runs directly to the spaceport. At some point in the next four hours, you're going to want to visit Aunt Jane's Cafe on 300th and MLK and ask for Lucy. They'll have your ID papers ready; you won't get through the entrance checkpoints without them.

My associate's currently en-route to the spaceport; she'll be waiting for you past security. She'll take you from there.

Try to be extra careful to not mutate any of these viruses. You remember how that turned out last time.

<Snipped quote by Dynamics>

*my ears perk up as I quickly turn to you*
You don't think I know that!

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

Are we to expect much resistance up to that point?

<Snipped quote by Tank O The Lake>

And if you know all these people, why aren't they already getting you this information you want?