Episode 1 [All] - Reach for the Sky

[Mysticsage]

Returning to his body not willing to push his luck by running into a spirit right at the wrong time. Returning to your body was like exhaling after deep diving in the ocean. He took an extra minute to catch his breath when the message from Joe played across his comm link.

>Zephyr: I'm still 10 minutes out. I'm not ideal for a fight but I can help clean up the dregs when it eventually goes sideways if you need to move now. I do have an update, however, I took the liberty of scouting out the ship and a possible place to jump on for anyone who needs hand to hand. Or if anyone is particularly good with a rifle they may be able to make a nest out of it.

I would suggest trying to find good places to set up unless you are looking to climb the sides. If you have already begun to hack the thing moving sooner is better then later.

Zephyr using photographic memory to detail the bridge and the ship along with all the information he gathered about the crew and their layout.

[Asta]

"Let's head on down and see what we've got" she said, starting to walk toward the river. Jing was right, without an accurate map of the area the only way to get a plan formed was to see the situation up close.

"Id prefer to drop in, if possible, but not from too high. Rather not break my legs and get bodied five seconds into a fight."

[Oath]

"I'm game. If we can get down there quickly it should be easy enough to find a low enough point to drop in. Lead the way and I'll be right behind you."

[Asta]

"If we have to do a little extra work to get on the boat, we might need a good distraction. I've got a guy for that, he comes cheap but I'm going to have to borrow some of your jazz to pay him if he's around" Valkyrie said, pulling out her commlink and thumbing down to the entry Crackhead Bob and rapidly typing out a message.

Valkyrie: Bobby-boy, are you in Troll Town tonight? Got some work for you if you need a fix.

Edge roll to see if Bob is around:

Rolled 3d6 : 5, 2, 1, total 8

[pringerbeam]

Joe and Valkyrie
     You enter Troll Town, passing through the dark and cramped alley and into a wider winding thoroughfare where out of sight of the high security downtown there exists a thriving market for the denizens of the slum.  Makeshift food stalls and bars sit at under half capacity, their patrons mostly gone to bed at this hour.  Passing one of these fine establishments Valkyrie hears a familiar energetically raspy voice.  "Hey!  Big Girl!  Hey!  I got yo message!"  It was none other than Bob, dressed in his finest rags, stumbling through the trash laden alleys towards you.  "You got work? I'll eat you out for some m-bleorgh!"  His poorly coordinated advance was interrupted by a bag of garbage which appears to have attacked his feet, causing him to roll and tumble with a thudding gong that you're pretty sure involved him hitting his head.  He bolts back up with a bizarre grace you wouldn't have guessed from his fall.  "I'm good!  I'm good!  I'm...  HEOUGH!"  His cochlea appear to have been unable to handle the tumble and he vomits at your feet.  His last meal, probably something krill based judging by the flaky consistency empties onto the scrap metal that makes up the surface of the avenue.  "Aw man..."  He mourns before coughing and spitting out the remnants in his mouth.  "Sorry 'bout that.  Want me to clean that up?  I can do that."  He looks at Joe.  "Aw man...  Big Girl, you brought your friend?  Well...  Okay...  But can you two go at me at the same time?  There's this guy that owes me 20 yen and I gotta find him so I can get some nova.... I mean a hot meal."

[Asta]

Valkyrie raises her ballistic mask and smiles at Joe, gesturing with a sweeping motion in Bob's direction. "Let me introduce you to my good pal Bob. Bob here can, and will do just about anything for a little chemical pick me up."

She claps a hand on Bob's shoulder, trying to steady the swaying junkie. "Bobby-boy, we're on a job tonight and I think we could use a little of your special brand of help to get things done. Naturally, in exchange we're gonna help you get well! What do you say to that chummer?"

[pringerbeam]

Joe and Valkyrie
     "Oh that all?  Sure, I guess I'm down.  Your loss."  He replies as an ork walking out of the slum wrinkles his nose from the acrid puddle of puke and mutters a "fucking junkie" in passing to which Bob replies, shouting into their back: "Yeah well your mom seems to like it!  He turns back to your conversation as if nothing had just happened.  "So what do you have?  Kamikaze?  Betameth?  Zen?"  He inquires, rubbing his hands together in eager anticipation.

[Asta]

"My chum here," Valkyrie says pointing back to Joe with her thumb "Is willing to part with a little Jazz if you'll do us our favor, and I'm more than happy to give you enough nuyen for your next hot meal if everything goes to plan."

She knew Jazz was on the lighter end of the spectrum as far as highs went, so the offer of a free hit of whatever he liked would hopefully sweeten the pot.

[pringerbeam]

Joe and Valkyrie
     "Jazz?  You packin'?"  He looks to Joe.  "Got one for the road too?  I mean, it's be the courteous thing right chummer?  'Sides, got to be able to get it up when I celebrate afterwards."  Bob has the look of wide-eyed admiration as he probes at Joe with his eyes.  "Big time runner like you has got to have plenty to share."

[Oath]

"I've heard a lot about you Bob. Looking forward to seeing your work in person. How about I give you a jazz and then some cash for whatever you'd like?" Jing hasn't brought much but Bob seemed the sort of fellow that would enjoy some flexibility and variety in the toxins he pumped his body full of.

[pringerbeam]

Joe and Valkyrie
     "Got yourselves a deal."  He says, holding out a pair of grubby hands.  "Come to daddy."  He continues, getting more and more psyched up on anticipation as he awaited the promised goods.

[Oath]

Jing dug into his bag and pulled out a dose of Jazz. He dangled it from his fingers in front of Bob. "Oh Bob while we are at it, do you know a good spot in Troll town to jump into the middle of the river? he dropped the Jazz into the hands of  the expectant crackhead.

[pringerbeam]

Joe and Valkyrie
     Bob looks at the inhaler like a dog starting a hot steak.  "What?  Yeah sure, just go to where all the buildings end.  You can probably find something if you're looking for a swim."  He then takes the popper and inhales deeply, taking in the narcotic.  "WOOOOOO!"  He yells in a chemical filled roar before running off down one of the alleys.  Easily hurdling over the garbage he seemed to have been confounded by earlier.

[Asta]

"Probably should have told him what I wanted him to do..." Valkyrie said as she watched the junkie bolt down the alley like a gazelle. She pulled out her commlink and send a quick message.

Valkyrie: If you're not too spazzed out to read this there's gonna be a boat coming up the river in a few minutes, got some cargo containers on it. If you can, just get on the boat and cause a ruckus. Try not to get geeked.

She pocketed her commlink and slipped her mask back over her face. "He'll either get on the boat and cause a distraction, or he won't. Doesn't change the plan much either way, lets get down there and get ready to jump."

She continued down toward the river at a brisk pace.

[pringerbeam]

Joe and Valkyrie
     It takes a few minutes to make your way through the dense maze and come out to the point where scrap construction gives way to reveal the river underneath.  Various metal walkways and makeshift shanty porches line the waterfront which is well into the river.  You find yourselves on a walkway 3 meters above the water with another level down just above the waterline and several above you, each projecting further out over the water as it gets higher.  A lone ork sits on a stool a few meters down the walkway with a beer in one hand and an old fishing pole in the other, his occasional slurp the only sound other than the soft gurgling of water.  The ork's electric lantern is the only direct light source providing illumination.  Otherwise, only dim light radiates from the slum and through the end of the gigantic tunnel-like superstructure of the Crossing District above.   Bob never responded to the message sent to him during your trek and he is nowhere to be found.

There are 5 height levels you can choose from.  Each is 3 meters in height and connected by ladders and stairs (you can also traverse from one to the other by jumping out climbing if you wish). The 3rd level (6 meters above the water) overhangs the water by 2 meters and each level above it overhangs the level below it by an additional 2 meters. The walkways provide ample waist height cover.

Lighting level is dim (-3 modifier)

15 minutes remain until the arrival of the boat.