Night City Regional General Hospital, Exterior Parking Lot | Night City Integrate | Midcity | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 3:10 AM PST Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph winds from the NE.) | Midcity (Rain, 10mph winds from the NE.) | Undercity (Fog and Rain, no winds.)
Air Quality Index: High City = 25 | Midcity = 42 | Undercity = 75 (masks required)

Once away from any police sight he turns his calm walk into a more speedy movement just short of a run looking for a public agent station. Though he has two agents in his pocket, picked up from the corpses of those fools who had attacked him, both are locked and not accessible as of yet. If he can find a working public agent, he can get help.

Never stopping, he passes a number of public agent stations only to find them either without a screen or in such disrepair that Casino decides to avoid them altogether. Finally, when he is easily six blocks from the hospital, he finds one in workable condition. Stepping up to the booth, he frowns as the bars overhead that had contained an awning at one point do nothing to stop the deluge of cold rainwater drenching him and streaking the touchscreen of the twenty-five point four centimeter wide by twenty centimeter tall device. Fishing a five-spot Night City Dollar bill from his pant pocket, the imposing man feeds the wet chip-encoded paper into the payment box below the agent—a slick computer that takes the bill, waits for the allotted time to be used and then shreds the bill, but processes the information in the datachip for the appropriate currency transfer—and pauses before accepting the Terms of Use agreement and pulling up the phone interface.

Public agents are commonplace throughout the city, hooked up to city-provided, megacorp ran net services. They aren't secure and are generally easy to hack, but seeing how Casino is in a bit of a bind, it's his only option. Pain rolls through his arm and shoulder in an undertone of barely contained heat waves as red-tinted rainwater drips off his relaxed fingertips. He considers his options while attempting to forget his injuries.

There's Southern Belle, but she's not exactly keen on the monolithic solo since he and Vegas gave a lesson to a rockerboy she'd stepped out with. Besides, it's been years, If Raquel still lived she would be the one he would contact, hands down. Keith still harbors strong feelings for her. Even now, standing in the rain feeling a dull pain subdued by technology, he can practically taste her skin on his lips. But, as is always the case, the image of her body hanging in the apartment building hall, backlit to hide the bulging eyes and swollen tongue, chases the happy thoughts away. Suicide takes some of the best away far too soon.

His options are so slim; a direct consequence of his line of work. With his angry feelings towards Vegas still coursing through his veins, he's left with three choices: attempt to get in touch with Starlight and see if she has any direction or assistance for him, swallow his pride and reach out to Boss Blood in the hopes that her price won't be too high considering their history, or stow his anger at his partner until after the run and reach out to Vegas.

A blue field flashes impatiently on the grimy, wet public agent screen. The words of the usage agreement still flashing before him, his acceptance desired before continuing service. Five NCDs will grant him ten minutes of use. Change is issued when he logs out in the form of a public agent credit slip for any time he hasn't used. The five spot was his lowest denomination of bill. It's time to make a decision. Pressing the "ACCEPT" button, Casino engages the phone screen.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

West 43875 St. 52 High -- The Bartholomew School Grounds and Sewage/Runoff Drainage System | Night City Integrate | High City | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 4:06 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph winds from the NE.) | Midcity (Rain, 10mph winds from the NE.) | Undercity (Fog and Rain, no winds.)
Air Quality Index: High City = 25 | Midcity = 42 | Undercity = 75 (masks required)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ghlahn watches the sec teams search and it is obvious they have found something, but there is no way for him to know what it is that they found. After a quick sweep with their lights, the combined teams turn and head back towards the building. Without knowing whether or not the rest of his crew is safely inside, the sniper is once again faced with a familiar choice. He takes aim through his scope and watches the progress of the sec team. If they get too close to his companions he will have little choice but to eliminate them and he has a precious small window of opportunity to provide that overwatch protection before they vanish behind the protruding field building wall.

Relying upon Blossom and Fixer to utilize their abilities to gain access to the school records, Vegas stays vigilant as he takes a position as much out of the line of sight of unwanted observers as is humanly possible in these close quarters. His back is against brick wall, to his right extends the glass wall separating the hall from the administration office, and a few meters away is the locked door to that very office section.

Blossom crouches near Fixer, her glistening wet, black trench coat splayed out about her across the tiled floor, hanging from beneath her heavy smartbag like a cloak of shadow. Diminutive and mysterious, the Asian woman seems intent on the techie's actions but offers no assistance. Vegas can see one bare knee from his vantage and a shapely bit of thigh above it.

Silence commands attention here. Edgerunners' breathing and the small, barely audible digital ticking of Fixer's device are all that is heard. Bloodbank holds no delusions that they are safely past any danger, though. The medtech is far past that feeling of adrenaline that comes from working in the shadows and is now starting to feel the wear and tear of being on high alert for so long. Blinking away the desire to sleep, he peers out through his mask at his companions and wonders how they are doing.

As the team's medic, it is his duty to make sure they are all in full operational mode. From where he stands, just a little further into the hall than Vegas, he can see everyone's face except for Blossom and Fixer. Vegas looks stern, wary, and alert. Fatigue isn't an issue for the well-dressed solo yet. Echo is also wide-eyed and bushy tailed, if you can tell anything from just looking into her eyes, the only part of her features not covered by the balaclava. Maybe, he just needs something to kick up the adrenaline again and he'll be fine.

"I'm in," Fixer reports and Blossom grabs the door as she stands up, pulling it open only to have Echo stop her from bowling herself into the large reception area beyond.

The pretty nomad shakes her head and draws the netrunner back before looking towards the dapper soldier-of-fortune a few paces away. Something Bloodbank doesn't grasp passes between the two and the brown leather-clad woman steps carefully into the office reception space, submachine gun at ready near her cheek. Three steps in and Blossom strolls in with one hand on the white stem of a lollipop, the other tucked into the pocket of her coat.

Fixer is about to follow when the chair to the right of the door melts, the movement catching his eye. Within a second, the form of the chair is no more and the pool of what appears to be liquid metal is rising up from the carpeted floor taking a new shape. Somehow swallowing the immediate sensation of panic he feels at the sight, James Montgomery Mathis also manages to bite back the yell every fiber of his being is trying to force from him. Instead, he hisses to grab the nomad's attention and points.

It's enough.

Blossom is the first to react. Perhaps her speed of decision is born of a familiarity with constructs, or perhaps her nonchalant stroll was nothing but an act. Either way, she spins at her companion's hiss, heavy leather coat dramatically swirling about her bare legs and immediately spots the forming threat.

"It's a construct!" She explains through clenched teeth as she drops her bag and immediately works at unzipping it. "Don't let it touch you."

Her warning probably saves Echo from the thing's attack. Completely formed up, it appears as a giant sheet of metal with flashing red LED lights all about it's exterior. At approximately two point two meters tall, it has enough width to entirely encircle any one of the edgerunners it faces, and it's first target is the lithe woman in the lead wearing riding leathers. Slithering like a snake with amazing speed, the construct devours the carpeted floor between them and strikes while spreading itself wide like a cobra's hood.

Heart thudding in her chest, Elizabeth "Echo" Cooper barely manages to leap backward, the air in front of her masked face snapping like the end of a whip with the technological beast's assault. With her submachine gun in hand, the nomad has a choice now of how to respond.

Just past the copse of trees, the sec-teams split again. Whatever they've found by the trees has given them a new sense of urgency, and they are heading straight towards the direction Ghlahn's fellow edgerunners have gone. The decision must be made now, or the opportunity is forever lost. Will tonight be the night these men lose their lives?

With the time for waiting slipping away, Ghalan knew he had to choose. It was an easy decision really. The possibility of harm to his companions meant the sec team would not see tomorrow. Taking aim at the trail team member, he squeezed the trigger and sent death on its way.

Vegas remained ever vigilant as Blossom crouched near Fixer, but although his Combat Sense was focusing upon his immediate surroundings, the Dapper Solo could not help but notice the one bare knee and the shapely thigh above it, that invites his gaze against the backdrop of her glistening wet black trench coat that is splayed out about her on the tile floor.

In that moment he renews his commitment to protect the Asian beauty, knowing that she may be the only one capable of deciphering where the missing boy may be, once the school files are accessed and examined.

His bracers are at the ready to unleash their power against any opposition, as he thoughtfully adjusts his thigh bracers, making himself ready to 'Jump' into action if the need arises!

Vegas had just let his thoughts reach out to the possibilities of the the fate of his long time partner Casino, when Fixer called out that he had successfully gained entry to the door!

It almost seemed like slow motion as Blossom opened the door, only to be stopped by Echo from entering the large reception area, before a harmless-looking chair transformed into a hooded cobra molten monstrosity of death and destruction!

He hears Blossom call out: "It's a construct! Don't let it touch you."

Vegas springs into action as he positions himself to protect the lovely Asian beauty, who has smitten his heart, vowing to himself to protect her with his very life!

Night City Regional General Hospital, Emergency Room | Night City Integrate | Midcity | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 5:06 AM PST Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph winds from the NE.) | Midcity (Rain, 10mph winds from the NE.) | Undercity (Fog and Rain, no winds.)
Air Quality Index: High City = 25 | Midcity = 42 | Undercity = 75 (masks required)

Never stopping he passed a number of public agents only to find them either without a screen or in such disrepair that Casino decided to avoid them. Finally when he was easily 6 blocks from the hospital he found one in workable shape. Picking up the handle he ran his card through the credchip reader and started to dial a number from the heart but caught himself before wasting his money. The owner of said number, Raquel Dominguez, was dead now for almost eight years.

Shaking his head to try to shrug off his somewhat dazed state from all the blood loss he dialed another number from heart and was relieved when a male voice picked up and not a female one.

"Yesh who the hell is this?" A sleepy yet strong voice with the hint of a Swedish accent asked in a not so pleased tone.

"Its Keith, I need your help, can you meet me at the BBQ?" Quickly explaining as much as he could over a public com net he got confirmation from Granger that he would be met. As the phone was being hung up he could hear in the back ground a very angry sounding female voice asking.

"Is that Keith? Goddamn it, why do you put up with,,.."

Grimacing, Casino moved away from the phone and walked a few more blocks checking over his shoulder if he was being followed. ((Awareness/Notice)) Then once a good distance away from the public agent he hailed a taxi, gave directions and sat back for the twenty minute drive to the Hightower BBQ. Arriving a little after 5:30am he paid the cabby and moved to the rear of the building and it's back door. Seating himself to wait by the rear kitchen door he found himself slowly falling asleep. In what seemed like only seconds but was a good 15 minutes the door was opened.

The opening of the door bringing Casino back to a semi state of awareness he looked once again upon the only man the large solo truly trusted other then Vegas. However with Vegas's irrational actions at the night club, that trust was in doubt.

Granger Hightower was 65 years old, but you could not tell that, as his head and face were shaven clean. A scar along one cheek gave tell of a man quite familiar with the streets. A pair of arms made of solid muscle and toned like steel easily gave hint to a 6'1 body of the same. Knuckles, scarred and callused from hard work and running the streets on a hand that reached out to grab Casino's outstretched arm and easily hoist him up from the concrete street of the alley.

With Granger helping him the two men moved into the BBQ and to a pair of chairs in the employee break area.

"What the hell happened to you boy?" Granger asked as he helped remove the big solo's armored jacket and upper piece of Casino's armored shirt. It was here that both he and the large solo got their first real look at Casino's attempts to stop the bleeding, and it was not pretty. Though his use of the heated gun barrel of the MPK-11 had caused the bleeding to slow, he had not completely stopped it, and even now it was beginning to show signs of a possible restart of heavy bleeding.

"Jesus boy ain't I told you to dodge bullets, let me get some antibiotics and some bandages" As the powerful man giant like old man took off his coat and moved away, Casino got a quick glimpse under Granger's arm and saw the Federated Arms 454 heavy pistol holstered there. Casino had always known that Granger, who he thought of as his step dad, had a number of guns around the BBQ. The pistol sized Militech Crusher SSG shotgun in 20 gauge behind the cash counter. A Satsuka-Arasaka PMS Sub-machine gun, 2 Federated Arms light 15 assault rifles and a Kendachi monoblade hidden in the kitchen area behind a false wall. Even a Militech M31a1 A.I.C.W hidden in one of the freezers for god's sake, but this was the first time he had seen the old man actually wearing one, and like the rest of the gun's here a big bastard of one.

Called the "Super Chief' it had originally been created for handgun hunters in mind. A double action revolver finished in stainless steel and chambered for the heavy .454 Casull round, a cut down big game cartridge specially designed to bring down large animals. It had quickly become popular with Nomads and some mercenaries due to it's stopping power, ability to penetrate armor, and the massive damage it could do to humans, let alone a freaking bear or large lion sized cat.

As Casino waited, the sight of such a gun and his current fuzzy state of mind took him back to the rumors that had floated around about old man Granger as long as Casino had known him. Some had said he had connections to organized crime, that he had once run operations for them in a different part of MidCity and had set up his BBQ in this area thanks to those same connections. It was hard not to believe it considering that all the bangers, gangers, street scum, and peddlers all stirred clear of the area around his BBQ. Where other buildings in MidCity had graffiti and gang symbols, for at least 2 blocks around the BBQ all buildings were clear of any such trash. The BBQ was a big hit drawing in all types of folks from the normal day trippers to public figures and possible mob bosses with their bodyguards.

Casino did not know if the mob connected rumors were true, he knew the old man as a serious businessman who seemed to like everyone, valued honor and had for some reason taking a liking to him, over Sally, Granger's wife's protests. He did know the old steel eyed man had to have some type of pull with city officials and was not one to cross when angry.

As Granger came back and started to clean and try and stop the bleeding he gave the large solo a triplet of pills. Slowly as Casino recapped everything that had happened from the start of this run and watched Granger work, he felt himself falling asleep until all was just darkness and dreams......

Once again, he was relegated to the center of the group. He knows he is neither capable enough to lead up the front or to be the rear guard. He supposed the center suits him to only be brought out when they required his skill sets. Truly, he did not care so long as they got the job finished, he got paid, and became that much closer to taking out that traitorous bitch.

"Okay, Chica," Echo whispers to Blossom,"now it's your show. What do you need from us besides an escort to the security room?"

"It'd be nice if the map extended to inside the building, but we'll have to make due," Blossom responds as she adjusts her sunglasses. "You've been a prep school girl before, right? Where would the security office be?"

As the now nomad gave a quick run down of where of where the office would be, Fixer could only wander at why one would give up such a life. To have one's every need met without lifting a finger. He had to admit to himself if nobody else the envy that swelled within him. The people that attended these academies wanted for nothing; did not have to struggle from day to day. They did not have to worry about a stray bullet taking themselves or somebody they cared for. And in the end, they left here groomed for a life of success in an environment of luxury.

"That way, then," Bloodbank points down the hallway towards the t-section.

The group moved out with Echo in the lead and Vegas in the rear. The five runners stuck close to the walls, not wanting to draw attention to themselves. At the t-section, Echo took a moment to glance in each direction before taking the right. Fixer could hear the squeaking of wet footwear on the smooth tile, the creaking of leathers, and even the jingling of buckles. With his enhanced hearing not picking up any other noises at the moment - the admin building eerily quiet - he doubted that anybody else was present.

The main office jumped out at the group as they rounded a corner. The hall leading up to it is about twenty meters long and eight meters wide. It is encased in glass with wood chair rails as accents. There are holo emitters for a marquee above the office. Twin oak doors lead to what Fixer supposes is the outside, About six meters high and two abreast. Windows over the doors let in a soft spill of exterior light from the parking lot and roundabout drive illumination, but the interior of the of the office appears dark and empty.

Bloodbank's whispers reach his ears, "There's bound to be people on duty in the security office."

"Well," Blossom spoke up," here we are, now what's the plan."

"Fixer is well able to unlock those doors to the admin ofice," Vegas put him in the spotlight once more. Without even seeing the device, he had no way to know if he was capable of it. It was not that he was inconfident in his abilities, but that he was thinking of it in a realistic manner. "My question is who can disable those security cameras?" The Frank Sinatra lookalike paused momentarily before continuing his input the the huddled group, "Any security cameras are probably wired to detect abnormal traffic in the hallways, whether it is lit up or shrouded in darkness."

Blossom revealed her wrist keyboard and began typing. A moment passed before the netrunner looked up and rolled the sucker stem to the opposite side of her mouth. "Give me ten seconds..... and there we go," she punched another command into her keyboard and then rectracted it into her bracer. "It's on a loop. We should be covered."

Creeping into the main hall, the party advanced on the glass doors to the administrative office. Bloodbank moved to the back as everyone else crowded around the door to leave Fixer and Blossom nearest to the entrance. To their left, the monstrous oak doors leading out the front of the admin building to the semi-circular drive arch ominously overhead and the blinking green light on the bottom of the camera flashes down over their heads.

"Aight, let's see what we've got here," Fixer spoke to himself. The tech approached the lock preventing his group from entering the admin office. (*note: falling asleep at monitor, will finish later)

"It's a construct!" Blossom warns, immediately digging into her bag. "Don't let it touch you."

Echo jumps back just in time, the freaky metal demon almost catching her. Her sub-machine gun already pointing its direction, she reacted purely by instinct learned from so much time with the clan. Her heart pounding in her ears, her blood on fire, she was determined to protect her newly found , friends? Yes, that's what she would call them now. Not quite family, but much more than compatriots. A stream of street obscenities pouring from her mouth, she fired upon the construct practically emptying the magazine while putting herself between Blossom and the beast.

(OOC - if that holds it back or destroys it, she will advance on it. If not, she'll try to shoo the others out of the office to put the door between them.)

West 43875 St. 52 High -- The Bartholomew School Grounds and Sewage/Runoff Drainage System | Night City Integrate | High City | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 4:06 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph winds from the NE.) | Midcity (Rain, 10mph winds from the NE.) | Undercity (Fog and Rain, no winds.)
Air Quality Index: High City = 25 | Midcity = 42 | Undercity = 75 (masks required)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rain drizzles from the towering city overhead sometimes swept to the side with a particularly strong gust of wind. Rivulets of water cascade across the mouth of the tunnel housing the sniper. With the time for waiting slipping away, Ghlan knows he has to make a choice. It is an easy decision, really. The possibility of harm to his companions means the sec team will not see tomorrow. Taking aim at the trailing team member, he squeezes the trigger and sends death on its way.

The report from the first shot echoes alarmingly throughout the cement cavern behind M'harú Ghlahn. Bringing up the rear, the security team member caught in the red-headed gunman's sights turns at a really inopportune time resulting in the first bullet tearing through the man's left shoulder and spinning him forward. Adjusting his sights, Alex quickly squeezes off a second shot. Even with his enhanced vision, M'harú Ghlahn can barely recognize the explosion of blood from his target's neck against the stormy backdrop. The sniper is already moving his crosshairs to the next team member before his original target has even fallen to the sopping wet ground.

Vegas remains ever vigilant as Blossom crouches near Fixer, although his Combat Sense is focusing upon his immediate surroundings, the Dapper Solo cannot help but notice the one bare knee and the shapely thigh above it that invites his gaze against the backdrop of her glistening wet black trench coat splayed out about her on the tile floor. In that moment he renews his commitment to protect the Asian beauty, knowing that she may be the only one capable of deciphering where the missing boy may be once the school files are accessed and examined.

His bracers are at the ready to unleash their power against any opposition as he thoughtfully adjusts his thigh bracers making himself ready to 'Jump' into action if the need arises. Vegas allows his thoughts to reach out to the possibilities of the the fate of his long time partner, Casino, when Fixer whispers that he has successfully gained entry to the door. It almost seems like slow motion as Blossom opens the door only to be stopped by Echo from entering the large reception area before a harmless-looking chair transformed into a hooded cobra molten monstrosity of death and destruction!

He hears Blossom hiss: "It's a construct! Don't let it touch you."

Vegas springs into action positioning himself to protect the lovely Asian beauty who has smitten his heart mentally reestablishing his vow to protect her with his very life!

Echo jumps back just in time, the freaky metal demon almost catching her. Her submachine gun already pointing its direction, she reacted purely by instinct learned from so much time with the clan. Her heart pounding in her ears, her blood on fire, she was determined to protect her newly found, friends? Yes, that's what she would call them now. Not quite family, but much more than compatriots. A stream of street obscenities pouring from her mouth, she fired upon the construct practically emptying the magazine while putting herself between Blossom and the beast.

Kicking in her hand, the adaptive nano-charged weapon spews forth her surprised rage in the form of a barrage of burning hot lead that tears into the construct's metal flesh and sprays the wall beyond.

Quickly pulling the pre-portioned bag of nanodust from her bag, Blossom tosses it to the tiled floor while desperately trying to ignore the sudden scream of gunfire near her head. Shoving her hand back into her bag, the young Asian woman feels a small orb in the palm of her left hand and extracts it in a fluid motion, tossing it towards the fine technological dust she'd produced a moment before. Mentally activating the command code, the netrunner feels a momentary surge of satisfaction as the single green light within the orb ignites seemingly drawing the nanodust from the bag in a swirling mass towards it.

Snaking around the technological cloud, the attacking construct strikes out at Echo once again. Snapping the air like a whip where the leather clad nomad had been a half second before, the defensive tech is met with disappointment once again.

Now positioned near the secretary's desk, Echo depresses the trigger again and empties the remainder of her magazine towards the security construct. More bullets riddle the surging nanodust body of the construct and slam into the wall beyond kicking up drywall dust and making an awful ruckus. Still a threat, the metal gollum looks more like a ragged sheet than the snake-like danger that had first attacked. Holes from the submachine gun fire show through the thin foil in rapid-fire spreads and yet it still presses towards the target of its attention.

Now in position, Vegas levels his Mark II and pulls the trigger three times in quick succession. The first shot shatters the lamp, the second and third strike the creature center mass. One of the rounds strikes the mindcore holding the attacking form together and shatters it into pieces that fly backward a full meter from the dust falling to the tile floor.

"Is anyone hurt?" Bloodbank demands, no longer keeping a low voice. He stands near the doorway weapon in hand his face unreadable behind the cracked skull visage of his combat mask.

Now standing over the fallen dust of the security construct is a chrome samurai with glowing green eyes peering through its grimacing mempo, katana in hand. Blossom folds her bag and slings it over her shoulder as she rises from her crouch. "I'm fine," she says in a somewhat disappointed tone. "But we've made a lot of noise and I don't imagine we'll be sitting in calm waters for long."

From his position within the sewage drain, Ghlahn repositions his scope crosshairs on the lead sec-team member. The other team is not of his concern for the moment. He must eliminate the remaining member of this one before he can worry about the next. His first two shots have alerted the team lead and the sniper trains his weapon on the man just as he finishes spinning and dropping to a knee, the Minami Submachine Gun he holds brought up and held at ready. His path already set, M'harú Ghlahn breathes out and fires again, immediately adjusting for the recoil to line up his crosshairs again.

Whether due to adjusting for the target's new position, or in a rush to line up, but the shot takes the soldier through the upper left arm twisting the man's body slightly with the impact. The momentum flings the arm backward. Ghlahn can see his target's head swivel, casting about for some sign of his attacker. Reflexively, the killer pulls the trigger again and feels the kick of his Nomad .44 but the man throws himself to the right and the round strike him in the same arm. A reckless look past the scope reveals that the man is still alive and conscious, struggling to rise to his feet while kicking towards the perceived safety of the buildings. At the same time, Ghlahn can see that the other two in the second team have apparently determined the general direction of the attack. Their dog is rushing towards him barking madly. A guess by the experienced killer has the dog converging on his hideout in a little over four seconds.

Ghlahn cursed the rain and the sec teams luck. Somehow he had managed to injure but not kill most of the first team. His experience told him that nothing good came of leaving breathing enemies. He needed to finish the job but now he had a greater concern. The second team had unleashed it's dog. Shifting his focus, Ghlahn took aim on the dog. He felt no regret killing the sec team but he hated being forced to kill the dog. Once more death sought a dance partner.

The blood rushed through Vegas' veins as he sprang into action to protect the shapely Asian who had caught his fancy during the early stages of this twisted caper!

Now she was in danger as the mysterious metal construct sought to consume the intruders!

His Mach II blazing as he leapt into the fray, the Dapper Solo would not be denied the opportunity of rescuing the Asian who had had smitten his heart in a few short hours!

Now in position, Vegas levels his Mark II and pulls the trigger three times in quick succession. The first shot shatters the lamp, the second and third strike the creature center mass. One of the rounds strikes the mindcore holding the attacking form together and shatters it into pieces that fly backward a full meter from the dust falling to the tile floor.

"Is anyone hurt?" Bloodbank demands, no longer keeping a low voice. He stands near the doorway weapon in hand his face unreadable behind the cracked skull visage of his combat mask.

Now standing over the fallen dust of the security construct is a chrome samurai with glowing green eyes peering through its grimacing mempo, katana in hand. Blossom folds her bag and slings it over her shoulder as she rises from her crouch. "I'm fine," she says in a somewhat disappointed tone. "But we've made a lot of noise and I don't imagine we'll be sitting in calm waters for long."

Vegas tipped his fedora towards the Asian beauty, then barked orders to the rest of the group:

"Time to Shine!" exclaimed the Frank Sinatra look-alike. "Blossom will do her thing to get the info we need to complete this mission! Time for us all to do what we do best and earn our coin! Fan out and stay alert for any thing or any one who may try to stop Blossom from gaining access!"

Vegas quickly took point to shoot any and all who would be marching down the hall to stop the unwanted invasion of the school records!

Then blowing a kiss to Blossom, the Dapper Solo added, "Go for Broke!"

~~~Now standing over the fallen dust of the security construct is a chrome samurai with glowing green eyes peering through its grimacing mempo, katana in hand. Blossom folds her bag and slings it over her shoulder as she rises from her crouch. "I'm fine," she says in a somewhat disappointed tone. "But we've made a lot of noise and I don't imagine we'll be sitting in calm waters for long."~~~

Echo lowers her weapon and catches her breath, staring at the samurai Blossom created to finish the construct. Feeling embarrased at her knee-jerk reaction that stemmed from surprise mixed with a healthy dose of fear, she turns to the little Asian.
"I wish I had known you could do that," she said to Blossom in a joking tone. "Then I wouldn't have tried so hard to make it Swiss cheese."
Straightening up and taking a long, steadying breath, Echo agreed with the netrunner, sheepishly apologizing. "Yeah, sorry about the noise, but it startled me, and I reacted with my gut. At least it ain't gonna attack anyone else."

~~~"Time to Shine!" exclaimed the Frank Sinatra look-alike. "Blossom will do her thing to get the info we need to complete this mission! Time for us all to do what we do best and earn our coin! Fan out and stay alert for any thing or any one who may try to stop Blossom from gaining access!"

Echo watched Vegas quickly take point, and then tip his hat to the netrunner and blowing her a kiss, saying, "Go for broke!"~~~

Echo followed the lovestruck crooner into the hallway, standing vigilant and ready to make more noise if need be, but silently hoping her failure to keep calm wouldn't cost them.

As he gets the door unlocked it almost seems like slow motion as Blossom opens the door only to be stopped by Echo from entering the large reception area before a harmless-looking chair transformed into a hooded cobra molten monstrosity of death and destruction! As Fixer leaps back he hears Blossom hiss: "It's a construct! Don't let it touch you."

Doing the only thing he knows he jumps back from the door and pulls out the mini-uzi and points it at the creature. As Echo and Vegas move in front of him they pour bullet after bullet at this metal creature. Not having a clear shot the Tech runner can only provide back-up as needed if needed. However he need not have been afraid as the three others easily took care if it. Standing he moved his gun back and followed the others.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

West 43875 St. 52 High -- The Bartholomew School Grounds and Sewage/Runoff Drainage System | Night City Integrate | High City | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 4:06 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph winds from the NE.) | Midcity (Rain, 10mph winds from the NE.) | Undercity (Fog and Rain, no winds.)
Air Quality Index: High City = 25 | Midcity = 42 | Undercity = 75 (masks required)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ghlahn curses the rain and the sec-team's luck. Somehow he has managed to injure, but not kill, most of the first team. His experience tells him that nothing good comes of leaving breathing enemies. He needs to finish the job but now he has a greater concern. The second team has unleashed its dog. Shifting his focus, Ghlahn takes aim on the beast. He feels no regret killing the sec-team but he hates being forced to kill the dog. Once more, death seeks a dance partner as he depresses the trigger and feels the surge of killing power course into his shoulder.

Through his sight, the sniper watches the animal fold, twist, and tumble while spraying up a small wave of muddy water. His shot has taken the creature through the forehead, ending its life swiftly and painlessly.

* * * * *

"Is anyone hurt?" Bloodbank demands, no longer keeping a low voice. The medtech stands near the doorway weapon in hand his face unreadable behind the cracked skull visage of his combat mask.

Standing over the fallen dust of the security construct is a chrome samurai with glowing green eyes peering through its grimacing mempo, katana in hand. Blossom folds her bag and slings it over her shoulder as she rises from her crouch. "I'm fine," she says in a somewhat disappointed tone. "But we've made a lot of noise and I don't imagine we'll be sitting in calm waters for long."

Echo lowers her weapon and catches her breath, staring at the samurai Blossom created to finish the construct. Feeling embarrassed at her knee-jerk reaction that stemmed from surprise mixed with a healthy dose of fear, she turns to the little Asian.

"I wish I had known you could do that," she says to Blossom in a joking tone. "Then I wouldn't have tried so hard to make it Swiss cheese."

Straightening up and taking a long, steadying breath, Echo agrees with the netrunner, sheepishly apologizing. "Yeah, sorry about the noise, but it startled me, and I reacted with my gut. At least it ain't gonna attack anyone else."

Vegas tips his fedora towards the Asian beauty, then barks orders to the rest of the group.

"Time to Shine!" exclaims the Frank Sinatra look-alike. "Blossom will do her thing to get the info we need to complete this mission! Time for us all to do what we do best and earn our coin! Fan out and stay alert for anything or anyone who may try to stop Blossom from gaining access!"

Vegas quickly takes point where he can shoot any and all who would be marching down the hall to stop the unwanted invasion of the school records. Then, blowing a kiss to Blossom, the Dapper Solo adds, "Go for Broke!"

Echo moves to follow the lovestruck crooner into the hallway, standing vigilant and ready to make more noise if need be, but silently hoping her failure to keep calm wouldn't cost them.

"Uh," Blossom sticks her hip out and throws a thumb down the hall that runs behind and to the right of the receptionist's desk. "I kinda need to get into the security office in order to do my thing. Isn't it kinda thatta way?"

"We're too open here, anyway," Bloodbank observes motioning at all of the glass of the fishbowl admin office they've found themselves in.

Imagining the alarms blaring across every sec-team's comms, Blossom turns and starts running down the indicated hall, the rest of the team hot on her booted heels. Water droplets fly from her long, synth-leather armored coat, bright eyes flash from one door plate to another from behind heart-shaped sunglasses as she sprints past the assistant principal's office, then a counselor's, and another counselor's.

Sliding to a stop just past another door, the wardriver looks back at the group who had followed her down the hall and points at the door, mouthing, "This is it," silently in case there's a team waiting for them just inside.

It's been mere seconds since the construct attack. Seconds that the school's security could have been using to fortify their positions, including locking down the office. The chances of one or more security officers being present within the room is high, but there's no way to see inside. Meanwhile, outside Ghlahn has a choice to make in whether to go after the still healthy sec-team whose dog he's just eliminated, or the wounded team member dragging himself towards the building, and just how long is it until reinforcements arrive from IntCop and what will that look like?

From the rain soaked campus, the red-headed sniper can faintly hear the cries for help laced with pain from the man he's left alive but severely injured. Cries that so far haven't done anything to help him.

"Uh," Blossom sticks her hip out and throws a thumb down the hall that runs behind and to the right of the receptionist's desk. "I kinda need to get into the security office in order to do my thing. Isn't it kinda thatta way?"

"We're too open here, anyway," Bloodbank observes motioning at all of the glass of the fishbowl admin office they've found themselves in.

Imagining the alarms blaring across every sec-team's comms, Blossom turns and starts running down the indicated hall, the rest of the team hot on her booted heels. Water droplets fly from her long, synth-leather armored coat, bright eyes flash from one door plate to another from behind heart-shaped sunglasses as she sprints past the assistant principal's office, then a counselor's, and another counselor's.

Sliding to a stop just past another door, the wardriver looks back at the group who had followed her down the hall and points at the door, mouthing, "This is it," silently in case there's a team waiting for them just inside.

It's been mere seconds since the construct attack. Seconds that the school's security could have been using to fortify their positions, including locking down the office. The chances of one or more security officers being present within the room is high, but there's no way to see inside.

Vegas was more focused on getting the advantage in an unexpected firefight with the private school security forces, than he was in being aware of which office that Blossom needed to access and especially where such an office would be located.

So, the Frank Sinatra look-alike held back to defending a rear position, while Blossom led the charge to the security office. He did not lag too far behind the group, but he held a position to protect their rear, in case any security forces came charging down the hall behind them with guns blazing.

He took note when Blossom slid past a particular door and pointed to it, silently mouthing the words, "This is it."

Vegas cautiously approached Echo, being very aware of their surroundings, making sure that no security forces were approaching, before whispering to Echo, "Guard Blossom when Fixer gains access to this office! I will stand guard out here and cover your backs!"

The Chairman of the Board had realized that Echo had an interest in protecting Blossom, maybe not a romantic interest, but an interest that revealed that Echo at least considered Blossom to be a friend.

Friends are important in this business. Vegas thought momentarily about his friend Casino. They had pulled each other out of the fire numerous times.

The Crooner had a momentary regret that the present circumstances had separated the two partners, but in the heat of the moment, with guns blazing and bullets flying, one does not always have the opportunity to make the choices that one would prefer to make in hind sight.

Vegas refocused on the task at hand, dismissing any regrets or second guesses from being separated from his partner Casino, as he searched for the best location in the hallway near the security office door to provide cover fire for the others in the group.

The Dapper Solo would use everything in his arsenal to protect Blossom and ensure that she and the others would have the best odds of making it out of this predicament with the info they needed to locate the missing boy!

Vegas would not sacrifice his life needlessly, but he would do what was necessary to protect Blossom and give them all the best chance of making it out of this school alive and free!

He searched for any security cameras and did his best to avoid being seen, then settled in to wait for Blossom to do her thing, so they could get the info and 'Get Out of Dodge' as quickly as possible!

Ghlahn felt a moment of remorse as the dog fell dead. But he had no time to dwell on it. The remaining sec team member from the first team yelled for help while trying to reach the safety of the building. Meanwhile the second sec team seemed content to assess the situation. "That yelling had got to stop." The snipers scope stopped on the wounded man's heart and milliseconds later a bullet flew towards the wounded man. Ghlahn hoped the others were near their objective as it was becoming quite a party out here in the courtyard and Ghlahn did not like parties.

As everyone stepped aside to let him through, Fixer unslung a small backpack he had been carrying and started rummaging through it, humming softly to himself.
He extracted a small cellphone like device with a card reader attached to some wires.
Pushing a button marked READ, he patiently waited for the device to do its thing, as murmurs of "come on" and "hurry up" came from the others.
A few seconds later, a message lit up the screen INSERT BLANK. Pulling a blank card from a pocket in the rear of the device Fixer put it in the appropriate slot and pushed the CREATE button on the device.
It took about 90 seconds and then the DONE button lit up.
Fixer removed the card and handed it to Blossom. "This will get you in." then faded back into the shadows.