Bloodbank doesn't pay much attention to the bar the group has settled in, instead just perusing a menu when it's put in front of him. He isn't exactly hungry right now, and tells the waitress as much when she asks for his order. Visions of Rya's tear-stained face is still fresh in his mind, making his gut feel like its a pit of lead. He should've done more to keep her alive, maybe even talked with her about his own experience as the "golden child" from High City.

But that didn't matter much when she had a bullet through her brain.

Flipping his menu closed, Bloodbank feels some of that lead turn to a stronger metal when he looks at Casino. "I've got a contact with the Hellhounds, a boostergang in the Undercity. They owe me. Reaching out to them could get us intel on where our friend is spending his days, or get us an entourage for when we go to pick him up." He spreads his hands placatingly. "It's a shot in the dark, but at least it's a shot."

Ghalan took in the scene at the bar.  Possible escape routes, areas that could be defended if necessary and anyone who looked to be more than just a patron.  There was no point in placing an order so he refrained.  Planning was not his particular area of expertise and he really has no clue who took their missing friend.  For the moment he simply watched in silence; ready to act if needed.

charlie takes a seat, reads a few messages, and waits for the group to lay things out with a plan. Charlie figured that blossom would do her thing and gathering info and then Charlie would attempt to assist in the negotiation. But maybe they had different plans so he waited.

Echo sat quietly, listening, waiting, hoping from something from the rest of the group and was saddened at the degree they all spoke up. She really could not blame them as she too was at a loss. Her only possible solution, getting help from her tribe Rolling State, had been taken out of the game by Starlight.

"I hate to admit it but my only idea would be to try and get help from my people at Rolling State. However with Ghlahn in the group, a known Cee-Metal, that would be tough if not impossible. I think the reverse for him would be the same, Cee-Metal not wanting to help a Rolling State. Whatever Starlight's thoughts behind putting two members of opposing tribes on the same run, it clearly shows she did not do her homework and was not as "professional" a fixer as she thinks she is"

Shaking her head...

"I'm sorry Casino, I got nothing"

"We could ask Blossom to work her magic first, then follow up on those lead which should fall to you as a scout. After you gather intel that would give everyone a bigger picture to what is going on, if we choose to talk to them that should fall to me, if not then I would say it fall to hunter-killer teams of two or maybe a surgical strike or whatever you solos choose, not my forte, not my lane".  Chiarle comments from typing and read his phone. "Now just why the ad-hoc mix and match, that is the life of a fixer, each sect has if unique abilities, assets and influence, that is why us fixers can create a "force multiplier force that is based not strictly from solo work. Everyone brings something to the team. Us fixer would say the same about most of all of you, everyone here is a pawn or worker bee. Feast or famine, that is why we have to work as one. Sure hire bunch of solos to work a job, but can most solos be a medic, a scou like yourself, stand watch over a target like our metal friend here... or maybe by pass an alarm, nope.. that a technical fixer's job.  Echo try to look at a bigger picture about asset, specialties that well all use every day. 

You... intel scouting, transportation 

Casino.. knocking head, threats and gunning

Blood bank.. Pay your doctor bills so they will patch you up, want a new arm.. talk to him. Want a new combat drug for "Friday fight nights?".. talk to the medic

Fixer ( Tech ).. it all about tech with those guys, you need a tune-up on your weapon, talk to him, you want to listen in on a phone call, talk to him. 

Metal cee  tech meets bio, the perfect soldier, no offence to you solo but he don't sleep, doesn't eat, perfect hearing, no hesitation to kill... even if its a mother or child. They are the APEX predator

and me... the mouth of the south, I talk, listen, launder monies, counterfeit things, negotiate lives, I'm the go-between when two parties can see eye to eye, you don't call the police, you call someone like me. Also if you want to buy something, I can usually but not always seem to find a better deal than most people, want to get a job?... Talk to someone like me, anyways. 

Blossom - Net runners.. like info bloodhounds, they find things that you don't want other people to find out about you or your life. 

That is why we are here, to be part of something bigger than all of us, but together.... we could be the next big panzer or A-4/7 crew that hires others to take our smaller jobs. 

But what makes us better than any other thieves...er..umm.. profiteers is the dynamic ability work as a closed knit unit, make that money and stop living on the street like the rest of the risk takers.

"Alright shot caller, what is your move, what is your plan, mine is basically just that, have blossom run what leads we have, your seat cover (echo) scouts things out, gather your intel,  then pick and choose who and what from the team, let them do their job and rescue is complete. But are you ready to risk your life for your friend, would you be willing to cut off your arm?. Because some companies want a trophy and they may just want your head." Charlie shrugs " Its bad form to harm a fixer like me but... everyone else is fair game, only my role and etiquette saves my from your horror. so, if you're ready to get things started.

Charlie would turn to Blossom " It's your show baby girl.... show these people your magic and see what you can dig up for echo to bird dog for casino's honor ". 

As they found a bar a table and chairs, Casino sitting with his back to the wall, the waitress came to the table carrying menu’s and a smile.

”Welcome to the Marlin’s Ghost” She says with lilting accent “You want grill menu’s or just drinks? We got breakfast available but nothing fresh. With the Union strike there’s not been a shipment of Fresh in a couple of weeks”

“Nothing for me thanks” He replied. Though hungry he had spent the last of his credits buying the food and drinks for himself and the rest of the group at the motel, and now found himself for the moment broke.

“Ok idea’s anyone?”

As he listened to Echo, Nomad and Bloodbank reply to his question it was clear he was on his own in the planning stage, only Bloodbank had anything useful to add.

”I’ve got a contact with the Hellhounds, a boostergang in the Undercity. They owe me. Reaching out to them could get us intel on where our friend is spending his days, or get us an entourage for when we go to pick him up. It’s a shot in the dark, but at least it’s a shot”

Nodding to him in thanks Casino looked back to the rest of the group. However before Casino could tell the others of the thoughts in his head, Charlie’s arrogance once again pinched a nerve and started to piss the big solo off.

”It’s bad form to harm a fixer like me but… everyone else is fair game, only my role and etiquette saves me from your horror. So if you’re ready to get things started"?

Was he really serious? Did he think he could walk away from this scott free? If so he was dreaming and Casino would make sure with his dying breath he'd wipe Charlie's arrogance off his face. A few slow deep breath’s to calm himself down he finally spoke.

“Well as for your etiquette and form, Charlie, they sure as f*** did not help you negotiate a goddamn thing at the exchange, now did they. Also as for your thinking, that your high and mighty enough, to walk away from this endeavor without a scratch, pretty sure Sec-Man won’t give a s*** who you are or what you do, as he puts a bullet through your brain. After all he made it pretty clear he is after all of us as payment for his dead soldiers.”

Casino never being one good at hiding emotions on his face did not try to do so now, the disgust for Charlie clear on for the rest of the group to see. Casino knew he would never come to like the Fixer, but like the old saying went., keep your friends close, your enemies closer and though Charlie was not an enemy, he’d never be Casino’s friend.

“Ok here’s how I see it, the six of us seated here are not going to beat Sec-Man without help or better firepower. Yeah we could get lucky and he is small time security and easy to take out, but a small time guy would not be able to lose seven troopers and still vow pay back. So lets assume he has the numbers and the firepower and though we’d kill a lot of his guys we’d still end up dead if we go at him face to face, so a direct fire fight as we stand right now is out. So my plan is simple… We go to his bosses and get them to call him off and release Vegas. However to do that we’re gonna need the backing of someone or some Corp with more power then the sec company themselves. Right now he is looking for us or news of us and whither Vegas is alive or dead, he’s for sure still coming for us”

Looks over to Charlie once more “All of us….”

“Now I may have a way to secure that more powerful backer. I’m sure by now that you all know that the guy who killed those hostage takers at Night City Regional was me. Well the purpose of that take over was they wanted some old Asian guy dead and after they had killed his two very well dressed body guards their leader for some reason the leader decided he wanted me to pull the trigger on the old guy. Well giving me a gun with even one round was stupid as that helped gain me more guns and helped me get out of the hospital. Well before I hustled out of there I picked up both of the bodyguards phones, which I have since given to Blossom to decrypt and gain access to the contents. I’m hoping if I can find out more about the old man, the leader asked for him by the name Thomas Akagi, then maybe, just maybe, his family being Asian will feel honor bound to me for saving his life. However this all comes down to you Blossom, as Charlie said your our net running bloodhound so its all up to you what info we gain. I think it initially comes down to three things. First, find out who this sec company is. Second, find out whe Sec-man is, name, company postion and anything we can. Third, find out who Thomas Akagi is, and is it worth the risk to gain access to the two black phones. Once we have as much of that as you can get us Blossom, then we go from there.”

A short pause…...

“Also we head out from this bar in 45 minutes and go to another place so that if we are being tracked we are not staying in the same place too long I know 45 minutes is pushing it but we need to give Blossom time to work. So get something to eat, a drink to calm the nerves, or a snooze while you can.”……..

“Well as for your etiquette and form, Charlie, they sure as f*** did not help you negotiate a goddamn thing at the exchange, now did they. Also as for your thinking, that your high and mighty enough, to walk away from this endeavor without a scratch, pretty sure Sec-Man won’t give a s*** who you are or what you do, as he puts a bullet through your brain. After all he made it pretty clear he is after all of us as payment for his dead soldiers.”

" If you didn't interfere as you did, it would have gone better, but that is beside the point. If you don't want my help they why did me for my input. you do realize that other people have different opinions on things and just because you don't like the result doesn't mean that you should verbally strikeout. I understand that your frustrated but it wasn't myself that did this. I can and joined after the fact. 

OOC - company etiquette, turn to pg 30 in the Wildside Fixer ( Netogiations ) yes, its bad form to shoot the "go-between as they are called"

"Sounds like a plan, let's get it started then" Charlie says

"Does it matter whose fault it is now?" Bloodbank snapped. He felt the lead turning molten now, burning a hole in his stomach. "A woman's dead and her killers are going to get a fat paycheck for it. Whatever her decisions in starting all this sh*t, we're the ones who handed Rya over to them. The least we can do is not argue over who f*cked her over worse when her body isn't even cold yet."

He leveled a glare between Casino and Charlie, thoroughly over their pissing match. "Casino, blood debts go far, but these big names in the shadows aren't going to bend over backwards for us just because we are putting our hope in an assumption about someone's culture." The medic looked to the netrunner. "Blossom, is there any dirt you can find on those bodyguards' phones that we could use as leverage? I have a feeling we're going to need all the intel we can get with this endeavour."

Blossom rolls her eyes at the conflict emerging once again and huffs loudly. "Welp! It's apparent to me that you choombas can't get along even for a couple of hours, so I'm out. I'm not putting my life on the line—and especially my reputation—when you babies are willing to bicker over every little nitpicking thing."

Swiveling easily in her chair, the little netrunner quickly rises to her booted feet with a springy bounce. Turning back to the table, she leans over so she's facing Casino directly and pulls down her heart-shaped sunglasses providing a clear view of her beautiful eyes. 

"You need to be on some kinda medication. Honestly, I don't know how you're still alive with all your blistering anger and the shade you throw nearly everyone around you." Now turning to Charlie, she shakes her head. "And you... for a smooth-talker, you sure do like to puff out your chest a lot. It's a wonder you've got any business at all."

Straightening up, she pulls out the agents that Casino had confiscated from the dead bodyguards and sets them on the table, sliding them across to the solo. 

"Have a nice life, and don't call me if you ever need anything."

  Ghalan watched the events at the table unfold.  It seemed that emotions were runnning high between mebers of the group.  At least he thought they were as he never really felt them.  HIs assumptions were confirmed when Blossum said her piece.  She had a point, the group was fractured and would likely not survive if the infighting continued.  He was shocked when she actually threw the phones on the table and walked out.  Without her help the group would be running blind.  Ghalan stood and walked out the door after her without a word to anyone at the table.

     "Blossum, can I have a moment?  Are you sure you are done with this?  Without your help Vegas has no chance.  Those testosterone filled meatbags are gonna run off and get themselves and probably a few others killed trying to sort out the Alpha position while they are looking for Vegas.  I know you probably never thought I'd be the voice of reason or a peacemaker but right now we are at a crossroads.  We can try to save Vegas ourselves, walk away and go on to other things or turn around, defuse the testoserone bomb and get them pointed in the right direction. If you are out, then I am out as well. " 

It was all happening too fast for Echo. From entering the bar, to sitting down, to Charlie once again playing his “I’m too important to be touched” s*** and Casino once more letting his anger at the fixer get the best of him.

“Goddamn it stop this child like s***, this is getting us nowhere fast”

Slamming her hand down on the table hard. A quick glance around the room showed her they were starting to attract attention. Then things got worse. Without any hint that she had finally had enough Blossom stood up placed two black agents on the table in front of Casino and walked out.

“Have a nice life, and don’t call me if you need anything”

As she sat there in shock, Ghlahn not even a minute later jumped up without a word and followed her out of the bar. Looking over to Casino she could tell he too was in shock, looking down at the agents as if they were now evil things. Looking towards the bar’s doors the nomad runner knew things had gone from worse to unsurvivable in just five minutes. Quickly touching the solo’s hard face gently, she too stood.

“I’ll be back, promise”

Pushing back her chair she almost ran to catch up to Blossom and Ghlahn only to find both just outside the bar talking.

“Blossom, Ghlahn, please don’t go without you both the rest of us are dead. It’s not about Vegas anymore, it’s about the six of us. Casino’s right this guy who has Vegas is after all of us because Ghlahn killed his men. Even if we split up he’ll track us and kill us one by one. Charlie is an arrogant s*** who thinks he’s god‘s gift to fixers and Casino is full of anger and worry over a friend, possibly his only friend, he thinks is already dead, causing him to let his anger get the best of him over every little thing and Charlie sets him off weather he knows it or not by being a self important prick. You say Casino needs meds, I think your on point with that, however crazy as it may sound, I’m starting to think maybe Vegas was that medication. Look at the last few days up until Vegas was taken and Charlie arrived, Casino was a hard core pro. Vegas gets nabbed, Casino gets mad, and almost leaves but calms himself and stay’s to finish the run vowing to rescue Vegas and we all agree. Things get smoothed over the misread of Ghlahn’s kill’s of the sec guards and with run finished and we are here.

Pause...................

“Look both of them are acting like kids in a sand box fighting over the alpha spot, of that there is no doubt. However Blossom do you really want to walk away? No matter what, there is strength in numbers, even if the numbers are against us and some of those numbers are acting like naked monkey’s beating on thier chests."

At Blossom's outburst, Bloodbank just felt weary. This gig had been the longest one he'd been a part of since he became a medtech, and it had ended in the worst way imaginable. Now he was stuck with bickering EDI-hounds after watching a woman get shot, and their only chance at getting any intel was walking out the door. In all honesty, he wasn't sure he could take this much longer.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Bloodbank sighed deeply, shook his head, and regarded the remaining solos. "Look, we can all agree that we've done some sh*t to each other, intentional or not, but the basic run-down is we're either in this together or not. If Blossom's out, then we need someone new for our rescue op, and if Ghlahn is out, then we may as well kiss our *sses goodbye." He shuffled his way out of the seat. "So until we've got an agreement, you can find me at the bar." Bloodbank strode towards the counter, calling out his drink to the tender behind it.

Fixer sat at the table and ate his meal.  He was a techie.  He'd help them figure out how to do things once a plan had been settled on.  But now wasn't his time. 

And then they started fighting.  Charlie was as arogant as ever.  And Casino as . . . whatever the hell Casino always was.  Damn near dead is what he usually seemed to be.  And then Blossom . . . Fixer watched her start to storm out with his mouth hangin open.  What was wrong with this group of idiots?  One moment they were the best team he had ever been a part of - a good mix of talents that was able to find a teenaged needle in the middle of the haystack that was this city and the next they were about to kill each other.  He fealt like if he stayed with them he'd onluy get killed, but considering how Casino's earlier actions had put them all in danger he was likely to end up dead anyway if they couldn't find some way to solve this mess.  Dead ends everywhere you looked and all of it at the end of a path of macho stupidity. 

He started to rise to follow Blossom - to try and stop her from leaving.  They needed her.  But before he was half standing Ghlan was already following her and even Echo had moved to chase her down.  But he found himself standing at the table and staring at the others.  Damn!  Stupid, stupid, idiots! 

He shook he head and then he spoke quietly, there had been enough yelling and he didn't need the rest of the bar to listen in since they were already making a scene.  "Stupid.  All of us.  Not a team, but a bunch of stupid individuals who have probably managed to get each other killed.  But I'm not ready to give up and laydown in a coffin.  And Bank over here," nodding at Bloodbank, "doesn't deserve a box either.  And I don't want to leave Vegas in one.  So you two figure out what leadership means and start praying to whatever sort of god you pray to that either Ghlan or Echo can patch together the team you were supposed to be leading."  He glanced at where the other three had gone and added, "And for that god's sake, do your praying quietly for the first time in your life.  You need someone else to save your precious little asses now."

He stood for a second longer then looked down at the device on his wrist and sat down.   He sent Blossom a quick message.  "Please.  More than 2 lives at risk.  We need you.  We are all on the hook here."

“Also we head out from this bar in 45 minutes and go to another place so that if we are being tracked we are not staying in the same place too long I know 45 minutes is pushing it but we need to give Blossom time to work. So get something to eat, a drink to calm the nerves, or a snooze while you can.”……..

His idea put forth Casino waited for responses from the rest of the group. However he did not in any way expect the response the group got from Blossom. Standing she called Charlie arrogant and that he himself needed to be on drugs. Well the big solo could not blame her, as times during this run he was sure he had seemed as such.

However when she pulled the two black agents out of her bag and slide them across to him all he could hear was her last words and watch as the two agents were pushed to right in front of him. Looking up Casino watched in stunned silence as she walked out of the bar, quickly followed by Ghlahn. He did not feel Echo’s caress or really hear her words, as she too followed them only seconds later. Looking back down to the agents he sat paralyzed and unable to move. As Bloodbank moved to the bar and Fixer stood to say his piece.

“Stupid All of us Not a team but a bunch of stupid individuals who proably managed to get each other killed. But I’m not ready to give up and lay down in a coffin, and Bank over there doesn’t deserve a box either. And I don’t want to leave Vegas in one. So you two figure out what leadership means and start praying to whatever sort of god you pray to that either Ghlahn or Echo can patch together the team you were supposed to be leading. And for God’s sake, do your praying quietly for the first time in your life. You need someone to save your precious little asses now."

Casino looked up at Fixer then looked over at Charlie talking in, with help from the noise of the rest of the bar, what sounded as if a whisper.

“I never wanted this, Vegas captured, me leading this group of people, seemingly at odds with you and some of the others, at every turn. I was happy to be the hired gun, the street muscle, the stay in the back and say nothing guy that could be counted on to bring the wrath of god as needed and let Vegas be face-man for the both of us” ~A sigh~ well that's no longer an option huh.”

The solo’s eyes drifted to the doors where three of the group had gone through, including Echo.

“Now thanks to my, up to this point, inability to work with you, a total lack of my leadership skill and an overabundance of anger, we may just have lost our two best hopes for this party to have a chance to rescue him. And except for the idea I just put forth I don’t know if we can, or even if we should try to get him back. Nine out of ten say’s he’s dead and all this is a waste of time. You’ve said it yourself Charlie, we may have move on from here and give up on getting him back and somewhere in the future take revenge, but I can’t do that.”

A pause to catch his breath and drink some water and he continued, his gaze never having left the bar’s front door.

“I first met Vegas when I was nineteen and he and I started edge-running a year after that. When I was twenty-two while Vegas and I were working corp security at Gentonics, I got accused of rape. Corporate ladder climber wanted a quick way to the top so she spread rumors that I had raped her and used the gained attention and sympathy to give her a jump start. Well an investigation was started and a year later I was put away. It was Vegas that found out she was the niece of a standing politician and though there was no evidence, the grandfather had paid off the corp sec involved to get me put away. Took him seven months to get me out. Then just a few years ago big gunfight with Yakuza shooters during a bounty run, I took a round in the head as I lay there dying, Vegas giving up on the bounty, got me to a med center and I lived. Took six months in a bed to recover. So yeah I just can’t walk away from trying to help him and confirm if he is dead or alive."

A slight pause to catch his breath and a slump of his shoulders told a tale in itself of how tired Casino really was. His gaze moved finally back to meet Charlie’s

“Honestly Charlie your time with us is technically over as Starlight sent you to make sure this run got finished. There is nothing stopping you from saying adios because of my unprofessional behavior and walking out that door like Ghlahn and Blossom just did, and maybe Echo. Yet it’s clear you want to help and I thank you, and respect you for that. I have had very little of that for fixers since Theresa Davis threw me to the curb, jealousy on my part the cause. You might know her as Boss Blood in your circles. Well now she hates me and more then likely is another person who wants me dead. I think subconsciously that might be partially to blame for the problems between us. Maybe I’m just too close to this to lead right now without getting everyone killed, it’s clear the rest of them feel this way.”

Looking down once more he fell silent the room around him feeling closed in…….