Chapter Seven-a: The Market and after

[BackworldTraveller]

Nalani heads off to Casa Esperanca for her meeting. She has plenty of time so she can scout round for the red pillar and check out the area
Streetwise roll please

Red Pillar is a part of the lively market in "stuff". A rock pilar, painted red, is the centrepiece of the cavern. Two stories - lower with shops and stalls - and tables for refreshment; and a balcony with shop/store/residences. The area is clearly not high on the maintenance schedule and seems to have Los Cavalheiros' tags and anti-everything slogans at intervals.

Casa Esperanca - Red Pillar.jpg (98.7 KiB) Viewed 541 times

[The Bindoner]

Nālani, with an hour to spare before her 12:30 start, takes time to consult with Hoshiko about a change of clothes.

Choosing a nondescript ship's jumpsuit with her Diplo Vest beneath and plain hair she puts a couple of skirts, loose tops and scarves in a shoulder bag with a make-up kit and carries an empty bag for shopping.

In one pocket she has her “dead” comm, and her live burner is in another. Considering the situation she decides to take just her Stunner, leaving her lethal weapons in her safe.

Nālani takes a cab to a neighbouring area and walks to Casa Esperanca where she buys a hot tea and a cheap comm before wandering about shopping for new clothes. While in the market Nālani speaks in her Belter accent. Her intention is to walk the area looking over entrances, exits and points of observation. She also locates the nearest public conveniences and mass transit connections.

As she walks around procession of clothes stalls actually start to become a distraction from her real purpose, and she drifts into shopping mode until the vibration of the 10 minute-warning alarm on her active comm reminds her of the meeting.

Streetwise: [2d6] = 3 +2 skill, +2 Int = 7

[BackworldTraveller]

The market is busy - many people coming and going. If the police have been down here, they probably deploy on foot and in pairs! The city surveillance cameras seem to have attracted the attentions of spray-paint artists and vandals.

Finding the Red Pillar is not too hard, its not far from where Noor came after the previous shareholder's meeting!

When Nalani gets to the time of the meeting, she has found parts & accessories for several (eclectic) outfits and has managed to spend only a pittance.

There doesn't seem to be anywhere that you can actually get to the Red Pillar and are pondering what to do when you are surprised by the "clunk" of a drone falling from the ceiling just by your side - with the stricken machine being covered by a dustbin by a young man in street colours - Not a caballero but something.

Hi - If you have a cat called Horishko, follow me Yea - I know

He heads off, north across the square disappearing into a stair-well that heads up to the balcony.

[The Bindoner]

Horrorshow? Yes sometimes she is.

Nālani follows, her attention back on the reason she is here.

[BackworldTraveller]

The pair head up the stairs to the mid-floor landing where they meet a guy with what looks like an unholy cross between a parabolic mike and a shotgun.

The guy with the contraption opens a panel...In here please.

There is a long, long passageway with conduits and cables.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani hesitates briefly, her instinct telling her not to walk blindly into unknown confined spaces, before passing through into the service tunnel. There is a young woman who has put her trust in Nālani, she must put her trust in others if she is to help.

[BackworldTraveller]

The young man that hid the drone under the dustbin heads in first; Nalani is ushered in second and the "Gunner" follows up at the rear.

Sorry - we needed you out of sight before you got picked up by another of those drones...It'd been haunting you ever since you got here.

They shuffle down the corridor, shoulders nearly touching each side. You fear you jump-suit is going to be streaky with dust.

Down here

A ladder down a dark hole. The artificial gravity has fallen away and there is a weird feeling of being in a hole that's slowly rotating...at least it pushes you towards the ladder.

Heading down is as grubby as you fear. Another corridor - possibly back the way you came but with the gravity changes (and lack of Navigation skills doesn't help)

And you pass through a series of rooms - bouncing your way through until you come to a door. On opening, it is clearly a workshop.

Assana is there, sat at a table, fiddling with a phone. under a microscope. She looks up.

Thanks Guys...And she produces a Cr100 note.

They leave

Being in an adventure novel is not fun. It's scary and I've not really any idea of what I should do!

[The Bindoner]

The young man that hid the drone under the dustbin heads in first; Nalani is ushered in second and the "Gunner" follows up at the rear.

Sorry - we needed you out of sight before you got picked up by another of those drones...It'd been haunting you ever since you got here.

Thanks. Forgot to look up.

Any ID on that thing? Nice to know who's perving on me, yah?



As she works her way through the ducts Nālani thanks Hoshiko for her wisdom in sitting on the plain utility jumpsuit. It is designed for this.

Assana is there, sat at a table, fiddling with a phone. under a microscope. She looks up.

Being in an adventure novel is not fun. It's scary and I've not really any idea of what I should do!

Nālani walks over, smiling, to hug Assana.

No adventure is fun when you are in it, things are just confusing and sometimes dangerous. Nobody really knows what to do, we just do our best to solve the problems we can see. The fun is making up the story of how you did it later.



You are doing well though. You are free, you have the comm, and you have already learned the most important thing of all in life. Knowing useful people you can trust. Like the people who brought me to you. Very useful. You must introduce us, I am sure I will need them to help me in future.

Nālani pauses, thinking how to say what she must. Directly. And now.

Assana, I have bad news. Your mother has been arrested, at the meeting. The charges are serious, but I do not believe the Archana I know can be guilty of them. I think the police are trying to pressure her to give evidence against someone else.

[BackworldTraveller]

Assana

It isn't the police. Two men came to dad's bedside and argued with the police. They all argued, so I walked out and took Jinga's phone when I went. Look...

She removes a phone from a bag by her feet, and a mesh bag. Placing the phone in the bag, she turns it on. Arn says that phones can be tracked by their signal - this blocks it

She fiddles for a moment

See here. Dad sent me a message says he was going away, and a few moments later Jinga's phone beeped. I guessed that he was telling Jinga. Look what it says.

Jinga. Heard what happened. Guessed who and why. We are going on the float. I promised that I'd look after Assana, so I've left something for her at the Old Lockup - Number 38. Code 5479-5235. Keep her safe.

I went to the lockup (I'd gone as a child) and looked.

She picks up the bag

Opens it

and pulls out a Wad of Cash - Cr500 bills - about 100 of them in a bank wrapper.

and this

She pulls out a high-power power-pack

and this

a laser pistol

and this

a credit chip.

I don't trust those two. Arn said I shouldn't. They were paid. But they don't know about the cash, or the gun. Arn only knows I'm in trouble.

She look almost ready to cry...

I think my Dad was a crook and Jinga knew.

...she gulps...

The chip's ID is fake.

Gathering herself she says

There was some other stuff. I've moved it. This rock has a lot of cameras and they are really hard to fox.

Anyway, then I went to Arns and then I called you.

The guys who were arguing with the police at the hospital will be after me. And they are watching you too. Arn sent a watcher out and looked at your ship. The cameras at the dock are all double-feeding. Same at the Hotel. And where Jinga works. And near my house and school. They can't watch Arns without setting new ones 'cause those around here are all dead. The Cavalheiros don't like being watched.

I read the news. Noors attacker was Cavalheiros. I mean the one here. And she's tied in with the ship too.


She looks at her watch, shuts down Jinga's phone and packs her bag.

We should move. Those two will be telling their friends about their easy money any minute.

She looks at you...

Where should we go?

[The Bindoner]

Nālani softens a little and soothingly tells Assana, in her natural Belter accent:

Sweet girl, we're all “crooks”, it's how we survive out here. Doesn't mean we're bad people. Your Dad wanted to look after you, and he has. Decent man, whatever else he may be.

She opens her bags and, taking out a selection of items, tells Assana: We need to give ourselves new looks before we leave. I think some of these will fit you. You need to cover your hair too.


Nālani picks a brimmed hat for herself, and some clothes that are not her usual style. It would be better to change after going through the service tunnels if we can. Is there a different way out to the way I came in? The panel I came through on the balcony may be watched.

Now, we go, before anyone comes looking.

As they travel Nālani talks: This Arn, he is a good friend. That mesh bag is perfect.

Now, where to go? I think you should treat yourself to a night in the best hotel you can think of, spend some of Dad's money. We can use that chip, it will not be traced to either of us. That gives me time to find somewhere safer. I need to think of a way to tell your mother you are safe without flagging us up too.

You said there were other things in the lockup? What sort of things? There may be something more useful than the pistol. Why did you take that? Can you use it?

[BackworldTraveller]

You are right - some of the stuff is quite useful. And I took that because it makes the point that I am quite serious. Sadly, the powerpack is dead as dead. But you weren't to know that.

I can get you out another way. But hang on...

She ducks through the door clutching two notes.

Arn wouldn't remember seeing me, but he's been really useful and hasn't poked his nose in so he hasn't seen you. Lets go.

She leads you back into the corridor, walks to the end, clutches the ladder and drops down the hole, feet either side of the rails and vanishes. You peer down and you can no longer see her at all!

It's easy echoes up from below.

You can climb with no penalty or slide with an agility roll! (Anything but a 2)

[The Bindoner]

Nālani likes to gamble, and she doesn't intend to lose face to Assana. She may not have seen how far down it is, but she heard how long it took. Copying Assana's stance Nālani follows.

[2d6] = 5

[BackworldTraveller]

Not bad

Come on

And she scoots along a narrow channel until it opens onto a large switch room for HT power...

Mind the power lines

Finally, she emerges at from a door marked: "No Entry, Danger of Death" about 200m from the red pillar. The camera opposite the door is hanging from its mounting and pointing towards the opposite wall.

So - How about the Sparks Diamond? That posh enough for you?

[The Bindoner]

Wherever nobody will expect you is good, and the best hotel will have the best security. Important people do not stay in places where gangsters can wander the corridors.

I am sure I would love it, but this is for you, not me. I must return to Hoshiko and may be followed back to you.

We should book two rooms though, and I will ask a friend to stay in the second.

Now, let me see. Nālani stands her still and looks her over, checking that she is disguised adequately. Very well, it will do. Let us find a cab.

When they get out of the area and Nālani thinks there is a chance she will use her anonymous cheap comm to text Indrani: "Captain, the station cameras around the Queen have an extra feed to unknown elements linked to the Jusu murder, and the police are compromised. Assume you are watched. Nālani"

[joertexas]

Wherever nobody will expect you is good, and the best hotel will have the best security. Important people do not stay in places where gangsters can wander the corridors.

I am sure I would love it, but this is for you, not me. I must return to Hoshiko and may be followed back to you.

We should book two rooms though, and I will ask a friend to stay in the second.

Now, let me see. Nālani stands her still and looks her over, checking that she is disguised adequately. Very well, it will do. Let us find a cab.

When they get out of the area and Nālani thinks there is a chance she will use her anonymous cheap comm to text Indrani: "Captain, the station cameras around the Queen have an extra feed to unknown elements linked to the Jusu murder, and the police are compromised. Assume you are watched. Nālani"

Indrani swears under her breath. "Pranit, can you meet me on the bridge, please?" She makes her way to the Queen's bridge. "Hun, initiate emissions security protocol for the bridge. No emissions, in or out for the next fifteen minutes, or until I leave the bridge."

[BackworldTraveller]

As the cab pulls off...
Nalani. Do you think you could find my dad? Or rather could you persuade the Captain to? Because I'd like to know who is trying to muck my family about. I'd like to ask Jinga, but then I'd be a bit stuck trying to explain why I vanished - and anyway as I'm only 14 (nearly 15) that would open a whole box of fireworks. I looked - I could avoid that if we could get one parent to designate someone as "responsible" but as things currently stand you are right - you can't stay. If they found me you'd be probably be accused of kidnapping and corrupting a minor.

I could put up Cr40K anytime you ask - you've seen it.

[The Bindoner]

As the cab pulls off...
Nalani. Do you think you could find my dad? Or rather could you persuade the Captain to? Because I'd like to know who is trying to muck my family about. I'd like to ask Jinga, but then I'd be a bit stuck trying to explain why I vanished - and anyway as I'm only 14 (nearly 15) that would open a whole box of fireworks. I looked - I could avoid that if we could get one parent to designate someone as "responsible" but as things currently stand you are right - you can't stay. If they found me you'd be probably be accused of kidnapping and corrupting a minor.

Of course I will look for Raoul. I have questions to ask him myself.

I would consider it an honour to be “responsible” for you. Someone has to be, since both Jinja and Archana are... unavailable. We must think of a way to contact them without being traced. Through the lawyers, perhaps. If I am made ward we cannot meet again though. Not on this station, that is.

I could put up Cr40K anytime you ask - you've seen it.

Nālani becomes serious, almost angry: No. Never do that again. You do not offer to pay for help. If a person will not help because it is the right thing to do but you need them anyway, ask what they want. They will bid as high as they think you can afford, offer less. If you have to offer money, start low, they will always ask more. Even when you have to pay, never pay in advance. And never, ever, tell people how much you have. Never. You just offered me nearly all you have, and as you say I knew it. I could easily have taken your money, and asked more. Do not tempt me again.

Softening a little: Remember, I told you, we are all crooks out here.

Smiling, leaning in for a hug: You are part of the Queen Assana, you are family. You do not pay for passage, or help. What you have you keep. If our new Captain wants money I will pay.

To herself she adds "somehow".

second version - first one lost when I auto logged out. The one time I write in forum instead of on a separate document

[BackworldTraveller]

Assana

I'm not offering to pay. But ships need money to run and crews need food. That 40K will help offset those costs. Take it. I've enough for here.

She looks at the hotel entrance

Somehow, I think I won't be winding up the hotel security with the locals. Is being grown up always like this? If so, it really sucks.

She pays the cab fare.

I've got numbers for You and the Captain. I've set a net-page up where you can leave messages (Called:HoshikoTheCat - Password:ArchanaMum)

[BackworldTraveller]

Looking at the brochure for the hotel, you get the idea that it is quite plush.
Sparks Diamond Hotel

[Stirling]

Tiberius O'Hare

Arranges to meet with Charlie Maputo.