Contract #1: Big Man, Japan!

[Drew Buddy]

Doc nods gravely at Max's words.

"Yeah, definitely."

He palms the detonator in his pocket.

"Let's get clear of entrance before we start our little seismic event."

[John]

The team trudges to the mouth of the tunnel with their stolen gear in tow, ready to blow the munitions cache and get back to the armory.

[Elliott]

Tyros watches as the team carries out munitions crates but isn't satisfied. Lifting us hands up (centering) the two auto turrets, the mystical statue and a large number of crates of weapons and ammo all gently lift off the ground (levitate, f6, which should lift about 2,500 pounds). Tyros trudges out the tunnel after the rest of the team, a veritable train of equipment floating along in tow.

While walking, Tyros levitates the statue in front of him so he can examine it (roll magical theory).

[GM Nick]

(( Need some clarification... what exactly are you blowing up if you guys are taking all the ammo? ))

[John]

(( I don't think we're taking all the munitions. ))

[Elliott]

((I was under the impression there was a lot left behind even if i'm levitating 2,500 pounds of it away...that said, I don't actually think we need to blow it up because it will look like the gangers stole what they could and fled.))

[Drew Buddy]

(( I'm okay with bringing back some of this stuff, but let's not forget: Most of it is crap. Beaten up AK-97s and standard ammunition. We can bring back a handful boxes for the sake of putting some stuff in the armory, but let's leave the larger bulk of it behind, because we're not really going to be using much -- if any -- of this. We were hired to level this place. ))

[John]

(( I'm with Doc Buddy. Most of these guns we'll never use, but will just have so that when we hire some employees we'll be able to outfit them with some baseline ordinance. ))

[Drew Buddy]

The team steps out into orange haze of the Seattle sunlight. The clouds crawl in Doc's vision, and form impossible shapes.

He closes his eyes, and re-grounds himself. He looks around at the team, checking and re-checking that everyone is clear.

He pulls the detonator out of his pocket, and flips up the protective covering over the trigger.

"Everyone clear?" He asks, thumb hovering over the button. The signal light on the base of the unit slowly blinks in anticipation.

[John]

Max does a quick demon head count and confirms,

"We're all out. Let's blow this fragger and get back to the armory."

[Drew Buddy]

Doc gives his best mad scientist grin.

"Drek, I've been waiting all day for this."

He presses his thumb down on the trigger, following it through it's full travel until he feels the *click* of metal on metal contact.

[GM Nick]

The sound is reminiscent of the earth splitting. There's an initial shock-wave that staggers the runners on their feet, followed by a exploding fire hydrant several blocks away. Finally, a cloud of toxic gas and debris rolls out of the subway opening.

[John]

Max holds his breath and hurries Val and the guns over to the rover, jumping in hastily.

[Drew Buddy]

Doc follows Max's blurry contrail over to the rover.

He idly wonders if the unconscious Yakuza survived. He comes to the conclusion that the man will probably be better off if he hasn't.

Slipping into the driver's seat, he starts programming Firestarter's headquarters into the vehicle's computer. The figures on the screen seem to quiver and shimmer in place.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to let the rover drive us back. If you need me, I'll be right here, quietly tripping balls."

[GM Nick]

Kato is examining his fingers with some interest.

"You guys are really crazy--too much! As soon as my hands are not snakes, I will call Shiawase."

[GM Nick]

[ Firestarter HQ ]

Kato taps his comm-link. The former-Yakuza is in high spirits as the passing of the afternoon saw his return to his eccentric, non-hallucinating self.

"Okay, great victory! Shiawase is happy and they release the cipher to credstick, my main guys!"

[John]

Max nods confidently and says,

"Glad we were able to pull it off. What are you gonna do now, Kato?"

[GM Nick]

Kato's grin is hopeful and ear-to-ear.

"Hey, maybe you got a job for Kato, eh? I'll do whatever, boss. Hey, I serve a mean sake--eh, PARTY TIME?!"

[John]

Max gives an incredulous and tremendously amused look to Kato before glancing about the teammates, then says,

"I'm sure we could find something for you to do..."

[Drew Buddy]

Doc leans back in the folding char, nursing a mild hangover from the cocktail of chemicals working their way out of his system.

"Drek, we're going to be living here, right? This place could stand to have a bar. Might be we could even loosen some of our clients up when they come calling."

[John]

Max glances from Doc as he speaks to Kato, who sits fiddling with some indiscernible doo-dad he's pulled from his pocket in a fairly childlike way and with an amusement which borders on retardation. Turning back to Doc, Max says,

"Well, he certainly does tend to lighten the mood of the room. I'm game."

Taking the temperature of the room, Max sees no objection written on the faces of the owners and employees of FRSR. Each of them looks a combination of weary and satisfied in varying proportions, but Max's study of Tyros's face is more cursory than that of the others. Tyros has remained something of an outside figure but somehow still within Max's now miniscule inner-sanctum. He trusts the troll behind him during a mission, but at no other time does he feel comfortable turning his back on the large troll.

And today their tempers had gotten at one another.

But nobody seemed intent on resolving that now. The matter at hand was that the mission had gone off essentially without a hitch. The team had fumbled in the dark at some points and Max had caught some lead in addition to Val getting darted and the whole team getting poisoned, but who's counting that drek? What are a few combat injuries between chummers?

The new meat had proven itself fresh-- Grade A and ready for the fray. Indeed, Max was really quite impressed with both Sinjin and Val's performances. He would never let on the degree to which he was initially please with their inclusion, but it was a relief to have a real decker on board. And who doesn't want a ninja on their side? He plays it cool, though. New men always have to be put through their paces and taken to task.

Max turns from the weary faces of his comrades back to Kato. With only a trace of a smile stretching across his lips, he says,

"Welcome aboard."

With the exception of Kato's excited clapping and bouncing about, the room is both still and quiet.

[Conway]

Laying across two folded chairs, feet on one, head and shoulders on another with his back unsupported between, Sinjin's arm lifts from across his face and he winces at the sudden intrusion of light into his migraine incensed eyes. The combination of hard drugs and a hard punch to the face have left their calling cards in spades; a swollen lip protruding slightly from around his tusk like-tooth and a brain that feels freshly stuffed with steel wool.

"We need a fraggin' couch in this place. Hey Kato, you dont happen to cook, do you? I could seriously kill some noodles right now."

[Elliott]

Tyros nods absently in approval of Kato's hiring. The little Japanese fellow already earned them major bucks in their first contract, so hiring him on is a no brainer. His mind is more focused on the magical statue he deposited in his corner of the empty room he put his bedroll down in. Socializing with Max in the room today holds little interest given their recent spats, even with the euphoric feeling of success and survival that follows a tough mission. "Good work everyone, particularly you new guys, Val and Sinjin, very good work indeed. I think i'll head to bed now, see you in the morning."

Tyros grabs a six pack of beer and retires to his room, spending more hours of the night examining the statue and consulting mystical texts than asleep.

((Still need that magical theory roll for the statue and its properties, and I'll take whatever modifiers I can get by spending some hours studying it))