The Unseen Servant forums

{GM}

“Can I?” Pandora says with a Cheshire cat grin. “Of course I can…”

Sobering somewhat, she says. “I don’t anticipate any trouble with this, but I will be skating some pretty thick IC. I don’t have a biomonitor with me. So, someone just keep an eye on these two lights…” Her fingers slide over a green and purple light side by side. They shine bright and steady. “If they start to blink, pay attention. If they turn red, pay closer attention. If either of them go solid red, start a timer. They will also beep with different tones. If either stays red for 60 seconds, jack me out. If both of them go red for over 30 seconds, jack me out. Do not jack me out before that - not a nanosecond. Got it?”

Skye

When no one dissuaded Skye from taking an astral look-see at the Needle, she orientated herself in the correct direction and she's there. Going places in astral form is fast.

Skye doesn't get too close to the structure of the Needle, at least not at first. Instead, she gives it a wide circle a healthy distance away, just looking to see if there are magical barriers or spirits around. She doesn't expect any mages or other awakened critters to be there, at least not this early. But one can't be too careful.

Tears in the Rain

I think we can stick to the original plan. If everyone’s still on board, that is.

Is fine with Headstone's 'plan A'.

{Revs}

Revs seems fascinated at how Pandora seems to simply pluck facts out of thin air.

He suddenly realises that Headstone asked a question "What? Oh, yeah, I'm still in. I guess I'll need to rent something. I just hope we have time to change before we go on stage, as it were. The charges for returning rentals damaged can be astronomical."

{GM}

Pandora doesn’t let the fact that no one answered her request that someone monitor the lights on her deck before she searched for more challenging information faze her. When has anyone ever watched my back when I went skating? The decker simply leans back, centers herself in her chair, closes her eyes, and starts typing.

{Headstone}

Headstone nods at Revs, but remains silent as he observes both runners currently investigating in realms he knows little to nothing about.
Waiting for their safe return.

Charybdis Richelle wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2024 4:08 pm {GM}

Pandora doesn’t let the fact that no one answered her request that someone monitor the lights on her deck before she searched for more challenging information faze her. When has anyone ever watched my back when I went skating? The decker simply leans back, centers herself in her chair, closes her eyes, and starts typing.

"Relax," says Baby Blue, slipping up next to her, eyes locked on the lights. She lifts her wrist, one finger hovering near a button on her wrist phone that will start a timer. "You know I'm watching. Oh, and Headstone, I'll need a dress."

Skye

After about 15 minutes or so, Skye's body inhales sharply and her eyes flutter open. "Sorry that took so long," she says as she indulges in a mighty cat-like stretch before standing up.

Slipping into professional mode, she reports what she found. "The Needle has watcher spirits guarding a perimeter around the entire structure. During the day they're instructed to summon their 'boss' if anything on the astral plane gets too close," she says, using finger-quotes for 'boss'. "Actually, now that I think about it they might be on the lookout for anything in the physical plane that gets too close as well, like drones. That I'm not sure about."

"In any case, the Boss is likely whatever magician summoned and bound them there. These didn't look like little temporary watchers, they seemed built to last. So the Boss will be pretty strong, likely much stronger than I could deal with. The Boss doesn't like to be disturbed at night though, so if anything crosses the perimeter after dark the watchers go fetch the Big Boys. I don't know what the Big Boys are, but they sound worse than the Boss. Night shift security magicians or bound elemental spirits would be my guess, but that's just speculation. I didn't get close enough to test the building for magical barriers, but I think it's safe to say magical security is at least as tight as mundane security."

Skye walks over to the kitchen pantry to grab her favorite snack to munch on: a bag of wasabi peas. "I don't think we have to worry about being watched by anything magical inside, but I'll keep an eye on things outside while the meet is going down to make sure nothing follows us home afterwards."

{Revs}

Revs raises and eyebrow at Skye's description.

"That sounds pretty comprehensive to me. I'm starting to think using the drones is too risky and won't get us much. We should focus on scoping out good spots for those of the group who will be keeping watch outside the restaurant, and understanding exit routes in case things go south."

{Headstone}

As Skye finishes her debrief, Headstone resists the urge to ask if she’s alright, recognizing her professionalism as she delivers a thorough report.
’’Despite appearances, it feels like a stronghold in disguise. If Pandora manages to come back with as much information as you did, I’m not sure how much more staking out will teach us, but it can’t hurt to cover all bases.’’ he says while appreciative of Skye’s detailed account of the astral security at the Needle.

He then takes out his credstick, sliding it across the table to Baby Blue.
’’There should be about 1,200 nuyen left on it,’’ he says, giving her free rein over how much to use.

Turning to Revs, Headstone considers the practicality of their surveillance options.
’’You might be right about the drones being too risky to fly directly over it, but they could still be useful for scouting the surrounding area. We’ll need a secure location for those keeping watch outside, somewhere discreet yet strategic. Maybe you can find the best tactical spot? Also, this reminds me that we should consider investing in a van once we have the funds. If everyone chips in and we put it on your SIN, we’ll be set for future runs.’’ He glances around the room, gauging the team’s agreement on this future purchase.

{GM}

Pandora sits unmoving save for her fingers on the keyboard – at least to casual glance. Any watching closely can see her slow, rhythmic breathing and the twitching motion of her eyes like a dreamer in REM. She remains at work while Skye returns and reports back and while the group starts to discuss her information.

After a few minutes, the decker’s respiration rate picks up a bit. About five minutes in, the green and purple lights begin to blink, slowly at first and then picking up speed. About halfway through Skye’s report, first the green turns red; the purple soon follows. Two soft beeping tones of different pitch and cadence accompany the flashing of the lights. The once-green light stops blinking, causing it’s accompanying tone to become a little louder, but the formerly purple one continues to blink a rapid red. Sweat begins to bead on Pandora’s brow.

{Headstone}

’’Red is bad, she said, right?’’ Headstone suddenly notices the light switching to red.
’’Not hearing a beep yet, but ff that light doesn’t change in 10 seconds, I’m pulling her out’’ he adds ready to make his move.

Juramenta wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 10:04 pm {Headstone}

’’Red is bad, she said, right?’’ Headstone suddenly notices the light switching to red.
’’Not hearing a beep yet, but ff that light doesn’t change in 10 seconds, I’m pulling her out’’ he adds ready to make his move.

{Pacman}
Yeah, red is bad. Pacman puts down is mug and gets ready to assist Headstone if bad gets really bad.

Baby Blue

"'If they start to blink, pay attention. If they turn red, pay closer attention. If either of them go solid red, start a timer. They will also beep with different tones. If either stays red for 60 seconds, jack me out. If both of them go red for over 30 seconds, jack me out. Do not jack me out before that - not a nanosecond. Got it?'" recites Baby Blue, starting her timer as soon as the first red light stopped blinking and went solid.

{GM}

Just as the count of the first solid red button reaches nineteen seconds, the second goes solid as well. Perspiration runs down Pandora’s face in rivulets. Those sitting on either side of her can feel the heat radiating from her body. The pitch of both beeps rises dramatically.

Baby Blue
Baby Blue watches her timer, ready to jack Pandora out soon as the timer hits 49 seconds. "Clear away chairs. Headstone, fold shirt into pillow. May seize when pulled out."

Headstone has no time to be impressed how Baby Blue managed to remember her instruction by the exact word. Some things are better suited for calmer times. Right now he follows Baby Blue's instructions instantly without objection nor hesitation.

{GM}

At forty-seven seconds on the counter for the first light, both lights abruptly turn off. Pandora opens her eyes and yanks the datacord from her temple.

“Frag yeah!” she says. Her fingers quest out for her Stuffer Shack Extreme Cup. She grabs a hold of it and sets her lips to the straw, sucking up almost desperate gulps until the slurps at the bottom tell everyone in the room the cup is empty.

“Drek, skating Lone Star’s a slitch,” Pandora says, but a bright smile cuts across her face.

She wipes the sweat off her forehead onto the sleeve of her hoodie.

Baby Blue

Baby Blue lets out a sigh. She pats Pandora's shoulder. "You can put your shirt back on Headstone."

{GM}

Pandora wipes her face again – this time on the opposite sleeve. She’s still smiling from ear to ear.

Then she seems to process Baby Blue’s sigh and the comment about Headstone’s shirt.

“Oh,” the decker says, sobering a little. “You guys were worried about me? That’s sweet. But you didn’t need to be. I had – what? – two, three seconds left on the timer, neh?”