The stop at Mallplex went better than Guardian had originally thought. He knew it was a risky thing to do, visiting the vid editor so soon, but he also knew Scribe would be aware of the situation as well. It was something that had to be done or neither of them would end up paid. Besides danger was his job anyway. The threat of getting flatlined while keeping someone's backside safe was something Guardian didn't pay too much attention to. Being careful was good. Being afraid was good too. But both only to a certain degree. Worrying too much could potentially be too dangerous.

The big black bodyguard dressed in big black gear stood out from the general mass of people loitering about at the mall. People didn't seem to follow any single fashion style anymore or wear the creations of just a few designers. The only rule seemed to be the need to be seen and noticed. And when everyone was desperate to get everyone else's attention with flashing lights, electric tattoos and sound implants (or being virtually naked), someone dressing in non-descript single colored clothing stood out like an ancient farmer's wagon would in a parking lot filled with hover cars... Someone dressed like Guardian.

Usually the looks he got were a good thing. The pure sight of a big and dangerous bodyguard kept most zero-brained nano addicts at bay. Of course a professional would only have easier time spotting his target so it was a two-edged sword really. Then again pros were pros. There wasn't much to be done if one gave an elite assassin a chance to get a shot. Frank could only hope Biotechnica was happy using its own ops instead of hiring some ace from the markets... Then again they could easily afford it should they really really want DS zeroed.

All in all the 'Plex looked fine. There were no baddies in sight, not even in Guardian's enhanced eyesight. But that really meant bollocks. A setup by the cities finest he would notice right away. A group of armed cops made people nervous even if they were told everything was fine. Also the NCPD would clear up an area of civilians before hitting their target. None of that was evident to the bodyguard though. He knew they were safe from the black ops too. Biotechnica had no real jurisdiction outside their premises and Guardian wasn't exactly sure whether the black ops group was even legal. Not that it made a big difference. The Corps were pretty much the law anyway.

DS did his thing. It didn't take the media too long to get what he needed and the boyish grin on his face told Frank his current employer had been successful in getting what he wanted. That was they way with Scribe most of the times. The man managed to get his contacts see things from his point of view fairly easily. Whether it was his wits or his charm, Guardian couldn't tell. Perhaps it was both. To him it was mostly the money that talked, but try as he might, he couldn't help liking Frankie Tordesky.

The next stop was at Data Inc. And it wasn't the first time Guardian made the visit to the software corp with DS. They'd been there before on a few counts, so Frank knew exactly why. DS wanted a little insurance for himself. A few extra copies were often a better armor than a good bodyguard, the media had told him a few times. Not that it applied to Guardian of course, Scribe always added quickly with a flash of a smile. Frank didn't really care himself. He wasn't one of those heroic types who considered themselves bullet proof and the best on the market. Most often the false feeling of immortality faded away quickly, but unfortunately there were a few foolish ones who ended up dead because of it. Guardian wasn't one them...

And there it was! As he stood at the doorway and scanned the crowd, Guardian got the familiar feeling. It was a slight tingling in the back of his head. A less trained and experienced person (as well as a doctor probably) could've called a side effect of having plugs in the skull. A ghost feeling in the part of him that no longer existed, but it wasn't like that. The feeling was actually a physical thing at all. Frank's sixth sense told him someone was watching them. Sure enough his cybernetically boosted eye caught a man not very much unlike himself standing out from the crowd. He was good, but not nearly good enough to avoid Frank's senses. With a shadow, there were usually more than one, but checking the surroundings once again, Guardian noticed no other. And as he turned his attention back to the black clothed man, he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe I didn't give him enough credit...
He waited till DS came out again and kept on scanning the crowd. “We have a tail.”

“Speak for yourself, Dog,” Tordesky smiled as though enjoying a light conversation with his bodyguard, and despite his response, Guardian knew that Scribe was taking the warning seriously. “Well, let’s go get a couple of these disks packaged properly. You can tell me of your discovery along the way.”

Eyeballing the crowd to the left, and again to the right, Guardian nodded and the two moved out. The large bodyguard explained the dress of the man, and his attentive nature as well as his sudden disappearance as they walked along the outer edge of the shops. Frankie had to admit that it certainly seemed like a tail, and that did not sit well with him. Finding one of the DataTerm booths unused, he motioned for Guardian to wait for him as he stepped inside, resisting the urge to stare out at the crowd as he did so.

There was no sign of the man again, so the bodyguard was even more certain that there was another one somewhere nearby... Someone he'd missed. Someone less obvious or someone better. How they'd found them, Frank wasn't sure. Their phones were off, so satellite or network location wasn't possible. There was no way a tracker bug could've been slipped amongst their gear by some stranger. Guardian always made sure he didn't accidentally bump into people or that people didn't bump into him. If there was a tracker, it could only have from the same source as Croaker's mission - Jack. But he didn't buy the thought himself. Yet he needed to go through all possibilities - to rule as many options as possible. No. The most likely thing was that someone had been sure DS and him would be coming back to the Mall... How could they know that...

Frankie did his thing at the postal service and was still smiling when he joined Guardian outside. Another heart won over. The bodyguard didn't turn to face him, but kept scanning the surroundings. "Scribe, I believe we've been compromised at some point. I find it very likely that anyone actually followed us here so quickly. It seemed to me that the tails, yeah I think there's more than one, were here before us. Can't tell how it could've happened and who's to blame though. Could be anyone with such a big crowd... Or maybe I'm just getting careless.."

He let the thought sink in before carrying on. "Whatever the case, we need to lose them and that won't be easy. First things first...", Guardian dug into his pocket and fished out his cell. He then pried it open and removed the sim-chip, dropped it on the floor and crushed it with his boot. "Just to make sure, I think we should get rid of the things and buy new ones with an anonymous setup - pre paid stuff." With that, he dropped his phone into a bin of a cleaning bot passing him by.

Guardian ran through their options in his head. A cab was too easy to follow. The car would already have attracted a crowd of NCPD by now, so it was not usable. A public transportation was one option with the sub being the best in his opinion. It was fairly easy to see anyone getting in and the thing moved fast. But there was a downside to it as well. One could not exit the thing anywhere else, but the stations.

"Let's head for the underground car park, but not where we left the car of course. When we head down on an elevator anyone wishing to find us again will need to come down too whether it will with the same lift or using an escalator or something. We'll take up an observation position and wait for a while. Maybe we can turn the odds and catch one of the tails. If not we can enter the sub through there or find some other means of transportation. The new cells we can buy somewhere else."

---

OOC: No time to reread. Must head home and on a holiday trip to Malta. See you guys soon!

New Harbor Mallplex – Studio City – Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 6:30pm
Scribe was rather proud of himself despite the knowledge that they had a tail. They were as secure as one could be for the moment. He had physical packages ready to deliver if he didn’t retract his order within twenty-four hours, digital copies of the same video files ready to send under the same circumstances, and he carried a few copies for insurance. He had no doubt that should a megacorp such as Biotechnica so desire it, they could put a stop to all of the contingencies, but it’d take some work, and in that time, Scribe hoped beyond hope that Croaker and his team would have been able to put the issue to bed. When he emerged from the post office, a smile upon his face he was greeted by the dour bodyguard’s back.

"Scribe,” Guardian’s deep voice held an edge to it DigitalScribe was familiar with, and it drew the media up short, expecting to see a troop of corporate agents bearing down on them. “I believe we've been compromised at some point. I find it very unlikely that anyone actually followed us here so quickly. It seemed to me that the tails—yeah I think there's more than one—were here before us. Can't tell how it could've happened and who's to blame though. Could be anyone with such a big crowd... Or maybe I'm just getting careless…" Frankie glanced at him during the pause, but said nothing to interrupt the man’s train of thought. "Whatever the case, we need to lose them and that won't be easy. First things first..." Guardian dug into his pocket and fished out his cell. He then pried it open and removed the sim-chip, dropped it on the floor and crushed it with his boot. "Just to make sure, I think we should get rid of the things and buy new ones with an anonymous setup—pre paid stuff." With that, he dropped his ruined phone into a bin of a cleaning bot passing them by.

Scribe considered the remaining chips of plastic still on the ground at the big man’s booted feet and then slowly retrieved his phone. He had his doubts as to whether someone could track the things when they were turned off, but Guardian was the expert there, so he followed suite: removing the sim-chip and casting the phone into the bot’s bin as well, receiving a metallic “Thank you for recycling” from the robot as it continued on its way.

"Let's head for the underground car park,” Guardian continued once Frankie had done as he’d asked. “But not where we left the car of course. When we head down on an elevator anyone wishing to find us again will need to come down too, whether it will be with the same lift or using an escalator or something. We'll take up an observation position and wait for a while. Maybe we can turn the odds and catch one of the tails. If not we can enter the sub through there or find some other means of transportation. The new cells we can buy somewhere else."

Scribe gave a slow nod. “OK, Guardian. Down it is.”

The two men made their way to the elevators. The Mallplex did have an underground parking garage, but it was mostly for those who resided there. The parking levels adjacent to the towers were used for visitors and shoppers, however it wasn’t difficult to catch a ride as the doors opened to allow a couple of teen-age girls wearing Icon America and combat boots in a cross between old-time grunge and modern Iconic fashion admittance to the shopping concourse. They giggled and made small talk concerning some boy named Jeremy as they passed by the two men, and after a second, DigitalScribe stepped into the carpeted elevator, followed by Guardian.

The elevator was done up in browns and oranges with a circle and diamond pattern in purple on the floor. There was a single, metal rail about waist level that ran the circumference of the container, and the upper half of the walls were a polished mirror with decorative engravings in the corners. The ceiling was the usual plate mirrors behind which Guardian was positive cameras had been positioned. He wouldn’t have been surprised if there’d been biometric scanners placed in the walls as well in order to protect the citizens who resided within the residential section. It was more likely however, for there to be regular patrols of security wandering the halls within the residential towers…less expensive, and less chance of someone complaining about a violation of privacy.

When the doors opened in the parking level, Guardian stepped forward and eyed their surroundings. His cyberoptics in full swing, he scanned each nook and cranny of the cement structure. Taking in the thick pylons that stood as silent sentries, marked in their uniform paint jobs denoting which section and which level of the parking garage they were on. He registered the armor-plating of the boxes encasing the security cameras in the corner of the elevator bay looking out over the garage, and then the other on the yellow-painted pillar twenty feet from the mouth of where they stood. There were all sorts of city cars, sedans, single-rider electrics, and the occasional motorcycle within view as well as two empty security stalls.

DigitalScribe was also taking in the scenery, but he wasn’t noticing strategic positions so much as the details of the expansive garage, the smell of oil and gasoline mixed with the musk of exhaust and a slight scent of mold. The dim lighting, the flickering fluorescent bulb in the far corner of the bay to the right, and the pockmarks in the cement about the base of the pillars. He also registered the number of the bay, the lane they faced, and the types of vehicles that were closest. It was what he did to set up the story. The City Scream would get a rather detailed description of this chase, even if it didn’t lead to anything linked with Biotechnica—Hell, Frankie could spin it to make it appear that the NCPD were trying to take away his First Amendment right if he had to. He didn’t like to twist things, but if it meant the difference between eating Kibble and eating a juicy steak…well, he’d done his time eating Kibble.

“There,” Guardian pointed towards a deep blue-colored two door city car about twenty meters down the avenue, its bulbous cockpit void of the usual tint, its position providing them with a decent view of the elevator bay, and as Scribe peered around the corners he noticed that it would provide them with a decent shot of the stairwell too. So, he followed without a word as they proceeded from the relative safety of the elevator bay and made their way across the slate-gray cement past the few other cars that were between them and their destination, and finally rounding the bumper of the city car.

Reaching into his bag, Scribe produced his camera rig and began to strap it on over his trench coat, plugging his cyberlink in as he did. Glancing over at Guardian he flashed his toothy smile.

“Hey, the footage could be either life-saving, or help continue to pay your bill. You never know.” That said, Scribe settled against the cool cement wall of near the front bumper of the strange, bulbous car and focused on thinking about how to write what they’d been experiencing.

Guardian had been correct in his assessment that they were being tailed, and that there was more than one of them. Scribe would have congratulated the big man, but for the fact that when he saw the trench coat-wearing suit in mirrorshades emerge from the elevator a half a minute later, and another jog to a stop as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he knew they were still in trouble. Mentally activating the camera, he set the picture-in-picture rear view up and crept forward while staying low so that the camera could perform its function, but Frankie might be able to stay fairly well hidden.

Guardian also crouched, weapon ready, near the rear bumper, obviously aware of their presence.

The two men moved forward as though in unison, but when they both came into view of each other there was a momentary pause and both sought what Scribe could only assume was weapons beneath their coats. Then, with nods of recognition, they left their weapons where they were and both walked slowly out, further into the garage, apparently having not spotted either the media or solo of yet.

DigitalScribe mentally adjusted the zoom lens on his camera so that it picked up the tracker’s faces in detail, and as he brought the lens back to a regular view with expert practice, he noticed something in the PIP view that caused him to pause.

“Guardian,” he whispered. “Security. Behind us.”

Turning and peering over his shoulder, the large bodyguard noticed the SUV painted white with blue accents and a light bar on the roof slowly making its way down the lane towards their position. It was easily a hundred meters away at that point, but was moving at roughly three to four miles per hour, and would arrive sooner rather than later.

New Harbor Mallplex – Studio City – Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 6:40pm

---

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 11:56pm
They had to move quick, but with a weapon in hand again, Bull’s Eye didn’t mind. He’d had his doubts about this MDK, and he certainly didn’t trust Peacekeeper like Croaker did, but the moment they’d popped in through that door, he’d been really glad they were on his side.

There wasn’t always camaraderie between nomads, but by the nature of their existence when faced with statics, they tended to stick together. So, Bull’s Eye actually trusted Freeway more since finding out that he was a nomad than he did any of the statics Croaker had mixed them with since reuniting, except perhaps Firewind. There was something about that tattooed islander that allowed people to easily trust him. In any case, Bull’s Eye was quick to follow MDK out the door without worrying that this put Freeway at his back. Perhaps it wasn’t the smartest thing he could have done, but it wasn’t until later that it would occur to him Freeway might’ve just been saying what he did to win his trust. Perhaps it was a good thing too, because it allowed them all to proceed out of the holding facility and across the compound quickly, quietly, and efficiently.

Gathering up outside of the door to the other building—the building where MDK professed to have been told Croaker was being held—Colton settled his back against the tin, undulated walls and, with weapon ready, eyed the black, rain-swept compound. He had plenty of questions, but knew now was not the time for them to be answered, and as such, he remained focused on the task at hand.

“There is a guard booth on the other side of this door,” MDK whispered from behind his slick mask, “when this door opens I will enter and handle the guard; give me a 5 count before you guys follow.”

Peacekeeper gave the acknowledging nod followed by a brief indication from everyone else that they understood. Jaimy wiped rainwater from her forehead and glanced at Bull’s Eye, indicating that she’d take the side of the door MDK was leaving vacant just before she did exactly that. This put Colton at the left, Jaimy at the right, Freeway behind Colton, and Firewind further down the line from that.

The countdown began.

The cool air of the air conditioned foyer settled against MDK’s soaked clothing as the assassin stole silently across the room, the back of the guard’s head and shoulders visible beyond the booth’s bulletproof glass where he had turned to tinker with a monitor that was rippling with occasional interference. The assassin snatched the handle of the next door with his gloved hand, twisted, and pushed, slipping into the hall just beyond. He turned on his heel and slowly closed the door so as not to allow it to snap shut. The count was three.

Stepping aside, he quickly flung open the door to the guard’s booth that the netrunner had miraculously unlocked. As he entered the room, MDK simply said, “Hey.” The hope was to throw the guard off his scent and make him believe that the intruder was just another guard. It worked.

“Damn computer is—“ That’s when MDK struck.

The forward kick caught the guard in the chest and flung him from the rolling chair. He hit the ground hard, his head cracking against the tiled floor as the air was knocked from his lungs. The look on his face was one of surprised pain, but it quickly transformed into panicked pain as he realized that he couldn’t breathe, and that the black-garbed, battle-masked individual bearing down on him was the reason for it. He hadn’t much time to process the though however. MDK launched himself over the chair, landing straddling the poor fellow, his left hand reaching out to snatch the man’s collar, his right driving with the force of a jack hammer into the man’s throat.

The guard gurgled in shock as he felt his windpipe collapse from the force of the blow. He was completely at the mercy of this blur of black death, but his survival instinct had kicked in, and he began to scramble out from underneath the powerful foe. His bootheels scraping against the floor made slick by the rainwater dripping from MDK’s wardrobe, he barely moved an inch when another blow was struck to his solar plexus. The bones in his chest cracked and pain arched through his body causing the man to thrust his chest outward, his body resting on his heels and the top of his head. That’s when MDK finished the encounter, his ax-kick crushing the guard’s ribcage and collapsing his lungs.

Jaimy had led the rest of the team inside on the count of five, darting around the parameter of the room and coming up on the booth’s window in time to witness MDK’s initial assault. She’d continued past, a shadowy blur on her way to the door, but Bull’s Eye had yet to of seen the assassin in action, and the sheer brutality of the encounter within the booth gave him momentary pause…momentary pause. Then, filled with appreciation for the man’s skills, the nomad proceeded on to the door leading to the halls beyond. Freeway and Firewind were the last inside.

Nicely done, the words scrolled across his MDK’s. The cameras to subfloor 3 have been turned off. We are blind down there. The elevator is at the end of the hall to the left. Good luck.
Peacekeeper had taken up position at the intersection, her weapon leveled down the hall immediately inside of the foyer while Bull’s Eye dropped to a knee and peered down his sights along the length of the adjoining hall. Firewind found himself standing in the doorway, the unfamiliar grip of the submachine gun in hand as the door to the guard’s booth opened and MDK appeared.

The medtech glanced over to Freeway and quickly tried to ascertain the man’s disposition in all of this. What he could see was promising. Freeway didn’t appear to be any worse for the wear having been cooped up in the cell for the last couple of days. In fact, he looked pretty focused.

“Which way?” Jaimy said over her shoulder as MDK appeared.

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:05am

---

Biotechnica Facility Monitoring Room – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:24am
Mr. Ackerman listened quietly while his captive spilled the beans. He’d advanced his career based on three merits: he was unscrupulous, he had a talent for reading people, and he was a talented biochemist as well as businessman. While he listened to the nomad’s tale that led up to the death of his only daughter, Ackerman knew the man was withholding information. When Croaker had finished his streamlined story, the corporate knew that hiring Jack had been a mistake. He should have just sent in his hit team, doctored the books a little, and made it so the accountants thought they were expensing a surprise training. Instead, he’d wound up with a major firefight that had already been showcased on the news as a possible gangwar, his only daughter was dead, and now he had a series of freelancers who had information pertinent to his retirement that he had to track down and eliminate…not to mention that bastard, Springed-Heel Jack. The man was well protected and elusive, but Ackerman had already sworn he was going to end the Scot’s life—The Piper too. It would cost a pretty penny, and couldn’t be done through his normal resources, but the hit would be well worth it.

“I think, Mr. Tallon, that you are telling me most of the truth, but not all of it. Care to reconsider?” Mr. Ackerman held up a hand to pause Croaker’s response, and produced a high-end cell phone. Croaker had never seen the likes of it in advertisement, or on the shelves. He imagined it must have the computing power of a regular computer with its sleek appearance and the Microtech logo prevalent on its back face. Mr. Ackerman activated the screen with a single touch of the smooth silver face, and then the contents were hidden from Croaker as he lifted it out of sight. After a moment, he returned the phone to his pocket and raised his eyebrows. “Well, Mr. Tallon? Do you care to extend your usefulness a few minutes longer and tell me the whole of the truth, or should we end our relationship much the same way as it begun?”

Biotechnica Facility Monitoring Room – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:24am

Biotechnica Facility; Main Building; Main Floor – Northeast of Night City – Saturday, March 14th, 2020, 12:05am
Peacekeeper had taken up position at the intersection, her weapon leveled down the hall immediately inside of the foyer while Bull’s Eye dropped to a knee and peered down his sights along the length of the adjoining hall. Firewind found himself standing in the doorway, the unfamiliar grip of the submachine gun in hand as the door to the guard’s booth opened and MDK appeared.

“Which way?” Jaimy said over her shoulder as MDK appeared.
MDK hefted his HK and nodded to Peacekeeper gesturing down the hallway to the left.

“That way,” he says quietly from behind his mask, “but stay close and be alert there are guards on patrol.”

(In collaboration with the GM)

The assassin then led the group down the hallway and past a couple of intersections, halting them occasionally as guard patrols could be spotted down the hallway. He seemed to know exactly when the guards were approaching and in which direction they were going.

Finally after a couple of turns this way and that he brought them to a doorway marked ‘stairway’. The door lock buzzed as he reached for the handle and he gestured them all into the stairway.

“Croaker is on sublevel 3,” he said as he took the lead again heading downward.

They make their way down past sublevels 1 & 2 until they come to a door marked sublevel 3. MDK stops outside the door and looks at everyone as they assemble in the landing.

“This door will open,” he said in a whisper, “but beyond that we wont know what is coming as this level is blanked out to surveillance. We will encounter guards and the cakewalk we have had so far will no doubt come to an end. Be ready! Strike Hard and fast!”

He waited a few seconds for any sort of response from the others, then hefting the HK and making sure a round was chambered and the safety off he turned back to the door.

As he reached for the door suddenly everything changed, alarms began to sound throughout the facility, apparently something had happened that had the entire place on alert. MDK didn’t hesitate though as the alarms blared, he grabbed the handle and the buzz of the lock opening was hidden by the noise.

The dark assassin opened the door and entered; on the other side of the door was a hallway headed straight ahead that ended at a heavy firedoor. On the left was a 20’ x 20’ alcove containing a bank of two elevators, a drinking fountain on one wall, and two corporate guards who are holding their weapons and looking about in wonder at the sudden alarms.

MDK doesn’t hesitate again, he sweeps through the doorway, heading directly at the guards, his HK coming up and opening up on them with full auto as his targeting systems lock onto the two men.

His large body is a temporary shield for the doorway and anyone coming through it as he makes a straight line for the guards. Anyone coming through behind him will be able to get through the door and spread out to provide their own fire it they so desire.

Biotechnica Facility; Main Building; Sublevel 3 – Northeast of Night City – Saturday, March 14th, 2020, 12:15am
(OOC: I have adjusted the location in the tag and the date/time according to how long I imagine it would have taken then to get to this point. Correct if I am mistaken. Ok, time for everyone to get busy! )

Biotechnica Facility – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, Time Unknown
“I think, Mr. Tallon, that you are telling me most of the truth, but not all of it. Care to reconsider?” Mr. Ackerman held up a hand to pause Croaker’s response, and produced a high-end cell phone. Croaker had never seen the likes of it in advertisement, or on the shelves. With the way Ackerman carried himself the big Nomad could imagine that it must have the computing power of a regular computer with its sleek appearance and the Microtech logo prevalent on its back face. Ackerman activated the screen with a single touch of the smooth silver face, the contents hidden from Croaker as he lifted it out of sight. After a moment, he returned the phone to his pocket and raised his eyebrows. “Well, Mr. Tallon? Do you care to extend your usefulness a few minutes longer and tell me the whole of the truth, or should we end our relationship much the same way as it begun?”
This was not the response that Croaker had hoped for and it was starting to look as if he had made a mistake hoping to play on the Father loved his daughter angle. But with that realization came another.

“I think your asking the wrong person for answers, you should be asking yourself just how did your daughter get a hold of a drug meant for combat enhancement, was she a testee like I assume the other two people here are. I find it very hard to believe Ackermen, that a man clearly of your stature did not know anything about experiments on his own kid. If you really did not know this was going on as you say, then you might want to look closer to home, for someone had to have supplied it to her. You may have a bad case of rotting mold in your company that poses a bigger threat to you then I or my people.”

Biotechnica Facility – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, Time Unknown

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 11:56pm


Lightning hadn’t been heard from for a while. He had done all that was asked of him staying silent most of the time so people forgot he was there. It was how he survived when people worked with him and later planned on killing the witnesses he had gotten out of many situations this way it had become a habit with all the time he did it. Not that he thought this group would try to kill him it was just a habit and habits get hard to break. That wasn’t the only reason though he just loved technology he loved all about it that was one of the reasons he was so good. When most people looked at technology they saw its primary use he saw all the possible uses that was what normally got him distracted but it wasn’t really distraction it was thoughts of possibilities.

Lightning had thought about checking the door on the cell when someone else did so he spent his time trying to find traces of technology he wasn’t used to there being none in any room he was glad when their rescue came. They had weapons which he was glad to see since it was some kind of tech but he opted not to take any since they were few and he could pick one up later he hoped he would just stay to back of the group. After MDK had come out the room Lightning had rushed in just to grab the guard’s weapon and anything else in sight he saw that might be useful knowing that he could grab quickly and not lag behind the others he didn’t have time to stare at technology so keeping himself in check it wasn’t easy but he did it he knew how to keep his mind in check when working and got out to join back up with the others. He hadn’t wanted to go longer in the back without at least a weapon it was unknown who might wander up behind them.

Lightning followed the group on down the stairs he followed them listening behind for signs that someone was coming along behind them. When MDK swept through the door way he listened a little harder he would be the last one in the door unless he heard someone coming down the hallway. He was feeling a lot better now that they were mostly back together. He couldn’t believe he was thinking of these people as companion he must be getting out of practice it had been a while since he worked last that must be the reason.


Biotechnica Facility; Main Building; Sublevel 3 – Northeast of Night City – Saturday, March 14th, 2020, 12:15am

Guardian was going on through their options in his mind, when Scribe's hushed voice brought him out of it. "Guardian", DS whispered. "Security. Behind us." Had the bodyguard had a habit of cursing, now would've been a perfect moment for it. But more often than not swearing was pretty much useless. It fulfilled no purpose and did not undo something that already gone wrong. Therefore, instead of breathing out something that should be censored, the big black man began re-evaluating their situation, at double speed.

Going through the setup at lightning speed, Guardian saw three possible ways out of the situation. Since the Security was rolling through the garage at a very slow speed, it was clear to him they were looking for something or someone. Most probably us... or if were lucky, the tails. That pretty much ruled hiding out. It was the Sec's turf and finding someone hidden amongst the cars was their job. For a mountain of muscle in a long black coat trying to avoid the guards' professional eyes would simply make him look like a fool, to no avail. Nah. Wouldn't work.
So Frank would have to make his choice and make it quick. There would be no time to consult his client, but that didn't matter. Guardian was after all the bodyguard of the two. It was his job to keep the man with the money alive. Not the other way around. Yet he wasn't a complete idiot. Should a situation handle something the client was an expert in, it would be complete waste of common sense, not to include him or her in the decision making. However such was not the case right now. Frankie Tordesky was not a pro in handling multiple armed threats in a blink of an eye - enhanced or not. Sure they were probably being shot by a CCTV at the very moment and Scribe could've told bodyguard how to position himself in order to look as good as possible. But that wouldn't really help now...

First option, in Guardian's mind, (and it did seem quite appealing) would be taking the tails by surprise and dropping them dead there and then. The men were careful and certainly ready to act in a split second, but Frank was no newbie to gunfights. We would be able to kill one and at the least injure the other before they'd have a chance to shoot back. But that would mean starting a blaze of glory at the Mallplex - one of the most important public places in the whole of Night City. It would be simply stupid. Yeah, they'd get their faces on NCTV in prime time with plenty of replays, but that would pretty much take Guardian out of business... Should he survive the next night - let alone the day.

No, there would have to be a better option to pick. One such that came to his mind was "surrendering" to the security officers - coming up with a quick white lie as to why the two of them were down there without the required credentials. But that would hardly work either. Guardian and DigitalScribe didn't exactly look like an elderly couple from a nearby town lost while looking for a souvenir shop. The security wouldn't buy it. But it might still be a way to get them out of the sight of the duo following them. They hadn't exactly done anything that would get them in any serious trouble with the Plex's officials anyway.

Last, but not least or maybe it was just that - the least good of the options Guardian thought they had. He'd never been too good in trying to fool anyone - bluffing wasn't really his thing. But the third option did call for a bluff of sorts. What Frank had in mind really called for nerves or balls of steel. Should it succeed, they would walk out in one piece and without an exchange of bullets. Should it not... Well, such was life living on the edge. You win some until you lose. After that nothing really matters.

"Scribe. Here's what we'll do. On three, we stand up and walk slowly at a regular pace towards the stairwell as if we belonged here.", the big man whispered. "That'll leave the tails two options: either they'll let us pass or not. If not, move behind me and give them hell." He would much rather have entered a close quarters situation with his sword drawn out. But of course that would leave no possibility for everyone to survive the encounter. No one walked with a Kendachi in hand without an intention to kill someone. No one. Therefore Guardian would only have rely on his sense of combat, the Sandevistan speedware and the Smartgun linked .44.

"One... two... three.", as the last "e" died out, Guardian stood up like anyone who'd dropped his keys or something. He wasn't rushing or moving too slow and controlled either. The movement of the bodyguard was casual, almost relaxed. He didn't look around other than turned his head toward DS and nodded a couple of times as if replying to something the other man had said, and then started walking towards the fire escape. It would only be natural for anyone to take a look at a person passing him by and therefore Guardian's eyes were locked into the tails as he moved.

New Harbor Mallplex – Studio City – Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 6:40pm
"Scribe. Here's what we'll do. On three, we stand up and walk slowly at a regular pace towards the stairwell as if we belonged here," Guardian whispered. "That'll leave the tails two options: either they'll let us pass or not. If not, move behind me and give them hell." He would much rather have entered a close quarters situation with his sword drawn out. But of course that would leave no possibility for everyone to survive the encounter. No one walked with a Kendachi in hand without an intention to kill someone. No one. Therefore Guardian would only have rely on his sense of combat, the Sandevistan speedware and the Smartgun linked .44.

"One... two... three.", as the last "e" died out, Guardian stood up like anyone who'd dropped his keys or something. He wasn't rushing or moving too slow and controlled either. The movement of the bodyguard was casual, almost relaxed. He didn't look around other than turned his head toward DS and nodded a couple of times as if replying to something the other man had said, and then started walking towards the fire escape. It would only be natural for anyone to take a look at a person passing him by and therefore Guardian's eyes were locked into the tails as he moved.

Guardian’s gamble paid off. DigitalScribe was used to improvising as his line of work was very rarely scripted, but it took a lot of willpower to rise up from the relative protection that the alley between the two vehicles provided. The camera on his shoulder swiveled, matching his gaze, and he knew due to the mindlink the cyberware provided him that it was recording everything.

Scribe had come to realize that the camera would invoke one of two responses from individuals in a potentially hazardous situation: the first, and most common, would be that they’d hesitate before doing anything drastic, and the second would be that they’d act immediately to the threat that the camera posed. He obviously would know within seconds which of these two those present would choose.

Acknowledging Guardian’s nod with as casual a grin as he could, Scribe followed him out from between the vehicles, remaining within a couple of paces of the big man’s flowing trench coat. He didn’t bother looking over his shoulder; the PIP screen showed the security SUV picking up speed, the light bar atop its smooth roof illuminating the garage with flashing yellow. Since Guardian was pretending not to notice, so did Scribe. Instead, he followed the large black man’s move and looked their shadows in the eyes (as much as the sunglasses allowed) as they passed, his camera following suite.

The two suits paused momentarily, apparently unsure of how to proceed, and as the pair they’d been following drew up near they were swallowed up by more indecision. It wasn’t until Guardian was past the first of the two, putting them in line to come within a few meters of the second, that the two men acted. The first spun about so that he was gaining a little on Scribe, and the second put a friendly smile on his face and held his hands wide.

“Just looking to talk,” he said as Guardian drew closer. “Would prefer to talk someplace a little less…imposing. There’s an offer on the table that I think you should listen to. Shall we continue on up the stairs?”

New Harbor Mallplex – Studio City – Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 6:41pm

---

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 11:56pm
MDK’s rush was an effective slaughterhouse. Followed up by Peacekeeper’s assault and there was nothing left but blood splattered walls and crumpled bodies lying within the elevator alcove. What’s more was that Peacekeeper was pretty sure that the claxon of the alarms drowned out the sounds of their gunfire; something she was grateful for.

She had stepped inside the door from the stairwell and to the left, allowing MDK to continue straight forward and Bull’s Eye to sweep in to the right, covering the hall beyond. It worked out, and when the trio had realized that their enemy lay dead on the patterned carpet, MDK continued on up to the far corner of the alcove and presented the barrel of his MPK to the hall beyond. Peacekeeper swept up on the dead, toed each in the head to make sure that they were, in fact, dead, and then bent to perform a quick pat down. Meanwhile, Firewind followed Freeway inside, with Lightning bringing up the rear. The medtech moved up to help Peacekeeper.

Bull’s Eye stared down the length of the hall and then gave a shake of his head. What the hell you doing, Colton? They were deep inside a megacorp facility! Someplace he never figured he’d be—hell, after the raid, he had doubted he’d see the light of day again. He still wasn’t sure why they were raided. The common thought had been that it was just the statics acting out against what they didn’t understand, but Bull’s Eye wasn’t so sure that was all there was to it. Trouble was that while he was Inside, he didn’t have the means to do any digging, and since being on the Outside, he had been caught up in this mess Croaker had delivered him into! And now, here he was following some high-tech killer into the belly of the beast to rescue said tribal elder. Pulled from his thoughts by MDK’s motion that they were moving forward, Bull’s Eye gave him a grim nod and readied his weapon as the assassin continued on down the hall.

Having searched through the pockets of the guards, Peacekeeper stood up and tossed Lightning an MPK submachine gun to take the place of the Arasaka handgun he’d procured in the guardroom on the main floor. Aside from that she’d snatched a keycard, but that was it. She’d never really been the type to rob the dead, and wasn’t sure that it would bring her anything but trouble to snake the man’s wallet anyway. So, rising up and spinning on her heel she moved fluidly after MDK’s black form when he made the motion to continue.

Having found pretty much nothing of value in his pat down of the bloodied corpse, Firewind waited until Peacekeeper, Bull’s Eye, and Freeway had moved on before stepping up alongside Lightning.

“I’ll take the handgun if you would prefer the submachine gun,” he said as he leaned in, glancing back at the door to the stairs just in case as he did so.

(OOC: whether Lighting hands the weapon over or not…)

It was roughly seventy feet from the stairs to the corner. Peaking his head around the inner edge, MDK peered down the length of hospital clean, white hallway with four doors on the right and two on the left, near the end of the hall. It was clear…empty. The numbers on the doors that he could see put them some distance still from their target. So, with no enemies in sight, and the netrunner having told him that the security cameras he could see in the corners and running the length of the hallway were inactive, MDK continued on down the eighty, or so, feet to the next corner, stopping short and peering briefly around it. There he saw four more men, just as two ducked into another hall putting them out of sight, and the other two stepped into the doorways on the outer wall, making them fairly well covered. Pulling back behind the corner, MDK knew that the men had spotted him, having likely been very cautious due to the alarms. He’d also noticed that there weren’t any doors on the inside hall, but that the hallway the men had ducked into was approximately eighty feet down the hall, on the inside, leaving another forty feet of hall before it turned to the left again. The outer wall bore four doors with the last of the four at about ninety feet, and the second to last at roughly eighty feet. These were the two doors that the other two men had ducked into. It was then that a voice carried over the ruckus the alarms made as one of the corporate guards at the end of the hall bellowed out: “You might as well surrender! You’re never going to get out of here alive otherwise.”

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:08am

---

Biotechnica Facility Monitoring Room – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:24am
“I think your asking the wrong person for answers,” Croaker said. “You should be asking yourself just how did your daughter get a hold of a drug meant for combat enhancement, was she a testee like I assume the other two people here are. I find it very hard to believe Ackermen, that a man clearly of your stature did not know anything about experiments on his own kid. If you really did not know this was going on as you say, then you might want to look closer to home, for someone had to have supplied it to her. You may have a bad case of rotting mold in your company that poses a bigger threat to you then I or my people.”

Mr. Ackerman stepped back and shook his head slowly as he peered down at Croaker, and this time the nomad could see sadness in the man’s eyes.

“We’re I to find it necessary to explain myself to the likes of you, Mr. Tallon, this would be an entirely different situation. Right now, I’m afraid that there’s another situation I must deal with. So I bid you good morning. I may, or may not, return to visit with you some more, Mr. Tallon. Rest assured, that someone will should I not.

“Oh,” Mr. Ackerman had turned towards the door where one of his guards stood ready and waiting, but had paused as though struck by a thought. When he turned about to face Croaker once more, the sadness was gone from his eyes. The nomad recognized the look that had replaced it. He’d seen it before when in the Nevada desert a few years before the Raid. He’d encountered a coyote edging in on their rabbit traps, and the look in its yellow eyes was one of triumph just before Croaker had been forced to retreat as a pack of the mangy canines rushed the line.

“I wouldn’t rest too comfortably. Right now my men are dealing with your friends…all of them. You are soon to be an oddity within my facility, Mr. Tallon. A rare specimen: an edgerunner. Do enjoy your last moments.”
That said, Mr. Ackerman strode to the door which his bodyguard opened as he drew near. The corporate exec stepped through the doorway and was immediately flanked by guards as he disappeared from sight.

The door closed leaving Croaker alone with the silent patients and the soft hum of the overhead lights keeping the beep of monitoring equipment company.

Biotechnica Facility Monitoring Room – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:26am

“Is that so, Mr. Spiff?” Kremlin chuckled and took another sip of his vodka. “And what does job entail? Hmm? How can your new family help you?”

Spiff smiled. The sound of the man's voice meant more than the words he was saying. The fact was, Spiff was about to gain as much as this man could get out of him in over a year of hard labor.

"It's no small task. I wouldn't offer myself for sale for any less though." As he spoke, he watched the man's reactions carefully, shifting each line, each word carefully around his reactions. ((my way of saying, will change if he sees it going bad as he talks))

"Like everyone in this day and age, a megacorp wants me dead." He paused sipping at the vodka. "I was tasked to pick up the slack of some edgerunner panzies who couldn't do a job." He knew this would hit a nerve one way or the other, and continued very cautiously. "Unfortunately, the job they were doing was bogus. Pretty standard cover up to be honest. The megacorp wanted to get someone off the street, so they hired edgerunners to do it, and planned to off them on delivery." He sat back, using his glass of vodka to mask his expression. "They decided to bail on delivery, and now we have to hit the megacorp, hard." This was the kicker and he knew it would get a reaction. "The task is simple, get the info on what they were covering up, expose them, and take them down." It was up to Kremlin now, whether Spiff was really worth that price.

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:08am
MDK continued on down the eighty, or so, feet to the next corner, stopping short and peering briefly around it. There he saw four more men, just as two ducked into another hall putting them out of sight, and the other two stepped into the doorways on the outer wall, making them fairly well covered. Pulling back behind the corner, MDK knew that the men had spotted him, having likely been very cautious due to the alarms. He’d also noticed that there weren’t any doors on the inside hall, but that the hallway the men had ducked into was approximately eighty feet down the hall, on the inside, leaving another forty feet of hall before it turned to the left again. The outer wall bore four doors with the last of the four at about ninety feet, and the second to last at roughly eighty feet. These were the two doors that the other two men had ducked into.
MDK quickly related to the rest of the group the layout around the corner and the fact that there were at least two guards ready for them down the hallway. He was assessing the situation rapidly in his mind and going over their options. He didn’t see many that didn’t offer great risk.

MDK took the HK and handed it off to the nearest person; he drew his Automag from his holster and plugged into his Smartlink. He checked the chamber making sure it had a round loaded and thumbed the safety off as he made sure his optical targeting system was functioning properly.

“They have the superior position,” he says to the others as he hefts his Automag loaded with the Incendiary AP rounds and straightened his mask and made sure the armored bandana was in place.

“This is going to happen fast,” he said turning to look at each of them behind him, “stay on my leg when I cut and don’t stop for anything, even if I go down.”


It was then that a voice carried over the ruckus the alarms made as one of the corporate guards at the end of the hall bellowed out: “You might as well surrender! You’re never going to get out of here alive otherwise.”
MDK turned back to the corner with a smile on his lips as he peeked once again around the corner to make sure the situation hadn’t drastically changed.

“FUNNY!” he called out to the guards, “I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING TO YOU!”

As he finished he glanced back to the others, nodded and then with Automag in hand he rushed around the corner and down the hallway. He knew the guards would be surprised by his sudden assault against their guarded position and they would have to expose part of themselves to fire at him down the hallway. When they leaned out, even a little, he would target them with his zoom optics and lock on and return fire with his Automag aiming for their faces.

MDK knew his large frame would once again act as cover for the others that would come up behind him. He just hoped they would stay close to him and aid where they could; he also hoped his armor would hold out and get him through this dangerous action.

He had a habit of doing suicidal things like this and showing no fear for his life. Often later he think back on them and realize just how stupid the action had been; but thus far he had always made it through and lived to think about it later. It was stunts such as this that earned him his reputation as fearless, dangerous and a little crazy; traits consider good in an assassin.

(OOC: Ok, I have made my offerings to the Die Rolling Gods and waiting to see how this works out. )

Lightning disliked excitement sometimes he hadn’t been shot at anytime in his life but he knew that one day he would and that in itself both excited him and made him afraid at the same time. He followed along behind as they went listening behind them for any signs of movement he might not have been as good at it as some of the others but he thought he was doing fine since those others had other things on their minds at moment. So when they rounded the corner it came somewhat as a shock when someone said asked if he wanted to trade weapons.

He thought about it was a bigger gun and would have more ammo. He also started to think of the things he could do to it but stopped himself. There was one problem with that trade he didn’t really know how to use a bigger gun then a handgun well. This might be the opportunity to learn though but he discarded it this person looked like he would know how to use the bigger gun so it might be better to stick to what he knew instead of branching out at the moment since that would put people’s lives in danger. Even though he didn’t know this guy as well as the other the others seemed to be less cautious around him then they were around other but that might just be the heat of the moment. Last thing he wanted to do if this guy turned on them would be to have a weapon he didn’t know how to use well in his hands.

“Ummmm I like the handgun it is what I am more used to using. Not that I don’t know how in theory how to use other guns I just don’t have experience with them and it might be better for me to have the handgun since I am more used to guns of its type.”

That would keep him from asking and would make him think that Lightning was not as intelligent as he seemed. That way if he turned on them he would underestimate Lightning and it was always nice to have people underestimate you when you didn’t know them well.

Lightning continued to follow the others and keep listening behind them. All the while keeping on edge since he just knew that one day he would get shot and wondering about when and where.

(ooc: I couldn’t think of anything else so since deadline is here it gets sent.)

Biotechnica Facility – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, Time Unknown
“We’re I to find it necessary to explain myself to the likes of you, Mr. Tallon, this would be an entirely different situation. Right now, I’m afraid that there’s another situation I must deal with. So I bid you good morning. I may, or may not, return to visit with you some more, Mr. Tallon. Rest assured, that someone will should I not.”

Ackerman had turned towards the door where one of his guards stood ready and waiting, but had paused as though struck by a thought.

“Oh, I wouldn’t rest too comfortably. Right now my men are dealing with your friends…all of them. You are soon to be an oddity within my facility, Mr. Tallon. A rare specimen: an edgerunner. Do enjoy your last moments.”

That said, Ackerman strode to the door which his bodyguard opened as he drew near. The corporate exec stepped through the doorway and was immediately flanked by guards as he disappeared from sight. The door closed leaving Croaker alone with the silent patients and the soft hum of the overhead lights keeping the beep of monitoring equipment company.
At first Croaker was glad of the company man’s exit, though knowing by Ackerman’s look at him that his time was short, yet still having bought himself more of it, then the a**h**es words sunk in..

“Right now my men are dealing with your friends…all of them.”
Oh ***k he had found Jaimy and MDK!!
Desperately he strained at his bonds to no avail he was strapped to the bed tightly and he had not the strength to break free. All Croaker could do for the moment was hope that Jaimy survived and was able to somehow get away, hopefully he would get the chance to get free and kill Ackerman if Ackerman succeeded in killing his lover.

A slow death it would not be, make no mistake, if Croaker had the chance he would make Ackerman’s pain last a very long time............

Biotechnica Facility – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, Time Unknown

I16 Southbound – North Oak – Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 4:57am
“And you expect us to do something about this? And for what? No,” Kremlin chuckled. “No, Mr. Spiff. I think better question, what do you expect we do?”

The lights reflecting off of the windows cast deep shadows across Kremlin’s face as the limo sped along the freeway back towards the docks. The men in the back of the limousine with Spiff were all intently watching the fixer, waiting for the answer.

I16 Southbound – North Oak – Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 4:57am

---

New Harbor Mallplex – Studio City – Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 6:41pm
“Just looking to talk,” he said as Guardian drew closer. “Would prefer to talk someplace a little less…imposing. There’s an offer on the table that I think you should listen to. Shall we continue on up the stairs?”

Scribe was intrigued—a little concerned, but intrigued nonetheless. As they continued their brisk pace towards the stairs, the security truck behind them blared a demand for all of them to stop where they are.

“Alright,” Scribe said as he refrained from looking back over his shoulder. “Where’d you have in mind?”

“There’s a car outside of the mallplex,” the man said as he turned to match their pace. “We can meet privately there.”

“No,” Scribe said. “No place you choombas would find familiar, and we’re obviously not going to be able to find a place to sit undisturbed in the foodcourt—“ They arrived at the stairs and double-timed it up back the way the other fellow had come. “—I know of a place nearby…”

“Fair enough,” the man said, and followed. Guardian then realized that the second fellow hadn’t joined them in the stairs. Behind them the screech of tires sounded and the shouts of men could be heard.

It took a few more seconds to reach the door leading to the first floor of the mallplex, and when they did they found it locked, secured by the electronic security system.

“Damn!” Scribe muttered, not taking his eyes off the suit. Suspicion filled his head: where was the second man? Where was security? They had to be hot on their heels.

“We may not be going anywhere,” the suit grinned. “So, I’ll be quick.

“You blokes were compromised, but not necessarily how you likely suspect. I’ve taken care of the problem…temporarily. My employer has an interest in your success, so I was sent to make sure that your enemy wasn’t successful in offing you. Consider Phase One complete.”

“And what of security? What of our current situation?” Frankie wasn’t dismissing the idea that this could all be bull, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that this fellow could have pulled on them at any time and he hadn’t yet. Besides, megacorps were always playing against one another, and the idea that Biotechnica had one of their enemies in the game wasn’t too farfetched.

“They’ll be here momentarily, but I can take care of that as well.”

“And your partner?”

“Wasn’t working with me,” the suit said with an amicable grin. “Besides, I think he went off-shift recently.”

“Guardian?” Scribe could read faces, he could even read body language fairly well, but this guy wasn’t reading. So, the media was relying on his bodyguard’s experience to make the call.

New Harbor Mallplex – Studio City – Night City – March, Friday 13th, 2020, 6:42pm

---

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:08am
Firewind was absolutely astounded when MDK bolted around the corner and began running. He couldn’t believe the level of the man’s insanity! Hadn’t he just said that they were outpositioned?

Bull’s Eye swore when MDK made his rush, but he followed nonetheless. With his weapon ready he darted forward, trying to see past the bobbing form of the assassin. Croaker had damn well better appreciate all of this!
Peacekeeper was less impulsive, reaching the corner the other two men had just rounded, she paused long enough to check behind them, looking down the hall that would be the direction reinforcements would be coming from.

“Stay here and watch that way,” she ordered, pointing down the hall with her submachine gun before clenching her jaw and rounding the corner in pursuit of her companions.

Firewind glanced at Freeway and Lightning and then motioned back down the hall. “Should we move to that corner?” he asked, forced to speak loudly over the alarms.

For MDK the hall was open, a very real shooting gallery. He was in the open and his opponents were all using doorframes or corners as cover. The first two popped out and fired off rounds from handguns, the bullets whistled past his head, and he just continued to press on, weapons blaring. The first of his shots ate drywall, ripping through the plaster and the metal doorframe. It impacted the left shoulder of the target and staggered him back against the wall. The whiteheat from the round engulfed the man’s shoulder with fire and he screamed, but MDK couldn’t determine the extent of the wound. His next round, however, found the man’s head, and he died a very quick death.

The second pair of people rounded their corner and fired. MDK felt the impact of the rounds striking the armor of his chest and lower abdomen. It turned him slightly, staggered his step and he knew instinctively that they were firing large caliber rounds his way. Large caliber versus any armor spells danger, plus these were corporate soldiers, and not the kind in the fatigues, so these were likely using a higher tech of ammunitions. But now was not the time to reconsider.

The bullets were flying now and Peacekeeper was the last in line so she had a pretty good seat for the show. She saw when MDK staggered after taking out the first of the four men they were facing down, but she hadn’t much time for concern as Bull’s Eye suddenly staggered and hit the wall with his right shoulder as he went down. He spun about, his submachine gun being flung backward over his head, which resulted in it flying after MDK, and Peacekeeper saw that he’d been hit in chest. Again, no time to worry as the bullets were still flying.

Peacekeeper slid to a stop and leveled her handgun. She’d slung the machinegun over her shoulder as she’d rounded the corner and had replaced it with her .44. Smartchipped and rigged to go the bounty hunter leveled her handgun at the other who’d taken position across from the one that MDK had just dusted, and popped off a couple of rounds. She was rewarded with the second of the two striking the man in the throat and spraying arterial blood all over the wall behind him.

Biotechnica Facility; Northernmost Building – Northeast of Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 12:08am

“And you expect us to do something about this? And for what? No,” Kremlin chuckled. “No, Mr. Spiff. I think better question, what do you expect we do?”

Spiff smiled, taking another sip of his Vodka. He'd been cautious to only sip lightly, but to say he felt none of its effects was crazy. This was Russian vodka; the good stuff. It wasn't to say he didn't realize all eyes were on him, but it wasn't anything new that they were. He was the outsider here.

"I'm the one up for sale here. I won't put up my own price. I would prefer you tell me what you think I'm worth."

((OOC assuming he keeps stalling, 'cause he is not this stupid and Spiff knows it))

"You're a lot of fun, my man. Why don't we make a game of this? You still got those cards on ya?" Spiff smiled, waiting for the man to obtain a deck of cards.

"First, I'm betting a full day's work for you against you providing me with someone who can use this." Spiff tapped the gun lightly. "Is that a fair bet to you for the first hand of five card-" Spiff paused, cutting himself off for dramatic effect and looking around at the already on edge bodyguards, "-draw" and he smiled.

I16 Southbound – North Oak – Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 4:57am
“And you expect us to do something about this? And for what? No,” Kremlin chuckled. “No, Mr. Spiff. I think better question, what do you expect we do?”

Spiff smiled, taking another sip of his Vodka. He'd been cautious to only sip lightly, but to say he felt none of its effects was crazy. This was Russian vodka; the good stuff. It wasn't to say he didn't realize all eyes were on him, but it wasn't anything new that they were. He was the outsider here.

"I'm the one up for sale here. I won't put up my own price. I would prefer you tell me what you think I'm worth."

“At the moment, Mr. Spiff, you’ve proven nothing more than you can negotiate a deal, and I have dimes of dozens who can negotiate a deal. But I am interested in seeing what more worth you provide organization. So, I play your little game a little bit longer.

“I trust I have given you what you ask for, no? I have outlined your value to organization sufficiently, yes?” Kremlin’s fat lips were still spread in a smile, but his tone was all business now.

"You're a lot of fun, my man. Why don't we make a game of this? You still got those cards on ya?" Spiff smiled, waiting for the man to obtain a deck of cards.

Kremlin held out his hand and one of his flunkies produced a deck from an inside jacket pocket.

"First, I'm betting a full day's work for you against you providing me with someone who can use this." Spiff tapped the gun lightly. "Is that a fair bet to you for the first hand of five card-" Spiff paused, cutting himself off for dramatic effect and looking around at the already on edge bodyguards, "-draw" and he smiled.

Kremlin’s laughter filled the cabin and only subsided as he wheezed a few coughs through, again waving his bodyguards off as though annoying insects. “You wish to gamble? You wish for us to provide you with sniper? For how long, Mr. Spiff? What guarantee that sniper will live? What guarantee that sniper will not be pinched?” The fat man’s piggy eyes narrowed to a point where they were practically swallowed by his cheeks. “What guarantee you have that I work you in some way you can manage?”

I16 Southbound – North Oak – Night City – March, Friday 14th, 2020, 4:58am

"What guarantee that sniper will not be pinched?” The fat man’s piggy eyes narrowed to a point where they were practically swallowed by his cheeks. “What guarantee you have that I work you in some way you can manage?”

Spiff's smile was unwavering, almost sadistic in nature. "It seems we're both taking a gamble then."

He left it at that. This man was smart. He wanted to see what the guy was really capable of.