Taisa alerted the ninja of what had happened and her current situation. She hoped to be back in the game real soon.
Infinite Jester Before Kenn could respond to Kidd he was gently dragged away by Padre. Igor silently followed behind. Padre had timed their approach where they'd catch Sanjay by himself. Before the wardriver knew what was happening he was being pinned in by a Tohaa, his servant, bodyguard, and the erotica section. The inquisitor made the introductions and remained as vague as possible about why this Tohaa "representative" wanted to speak to him. It wasn't clear if this was for a job or some sort of cultural exchange. "Wow, nice to meet you!" Sanjay said as his hand shot out with confidence for a handshake. "Name's Sanjay Brown but I think you already knew that." He winked at Padre. "I think I would be the last person to be singled out to exchange words with a representative of an alien species. Now if it involves a job, one that pays of course, then I think you made a wonderful choice." His mouth finally stopped moving at a mile a minute for a smile to appear. His teeth were an unnatural white that almost glowed.
So this was the hacker? Kenn though he didn't look the part of a nefarious person playing around with the Sunz security. But look are deceiving as the Tohaa himself learned growing up among his brethren. And Eddie's own tips & tales on Bakunin also came forth in his mind. Perhaps simply getting straight to the point was better than walking on eggshells. Especially to test if this hacker was seriously trying to be helpful. Kenn reached out his hand and returned the handshake of Sanjay. Then after introducing himself as Kenn he open fire so to speak... Kenn "I'm going to rip the bandage off, Why did you try hacking into the security measures my bodyguards set up? We know that you did some work connected to the FC, the Fifth Columnists. Do you know of any information concerning Loren Dixon? I would like to exchange some words with her and you could be of help in making that a reality." Ok that might have come across as a question salvo. Not a threatening one in any stretch of the mind. But hopefully Sanjay was cooperative in this endeavor. Kenn would like to have him as an ally or friend. Like that Chimera boutique lady he meet when he first entered Bakunin. That would certainly be a plus instead of Sanjay continuing at trying to poke at their security network.
Sanjay threw his hands up in surrender. His smile remained but it felt forced. "Well, shit, you got me." His eyes dart to the front entrance but return to Kenn. "I didn't really know who I was hacking. Sometimes you just don't ask when the money is really good. I will say your hacker is a damn good one. I didn't even know what hit me." His smile was gone now. "The FC you say? Yeah, I've worked for them. All kinds of people have. Not as bad as a group that you probably think they are. They do a lot of good work and shed light on a lot of bullshit going on around in the sphere." He was talking even more quickly then when they first met (which was already fast). [Kenn Psychology (Lie Detector): Sanjay is avoiding the topic of Loren Dixon. He thinks his quick talking method will make you think he already told you what he knows or you just forgot what he told you.]
Hearing the message from Taisa was reassuring and he thanked her for letting him know but deep down he was beating himself up. Damn it he thought to himself, he was right that something had happened but nothing as serious as he had thought. Now I've lost a lead AND the night's work, stuck on public transport and unable to do anything... Well legally anyway, to get back into the mission.
If the human thought that fast talking was going to throw Kenn off track, he had underestimated the tohaa. Psychology rolls: 5, 19, 1. One extra dice roll from the Lie Detector skill. Kenn's Psychology # being 13 leading to two success & thus passing the test. Kenn "You look like a smart man & considering your occupation you wouldn't take a job without fully knowing as many details about your contractors & their mission for you before taken the task on." As Kenn spoke his Chaksa Igor reached out and grabbed Sanjay. It was not a threatening grab but instead a gentle but firm one. A grip that Sanjay could not wiggle out of and with the help of the bookcase it further held the man in place. The command was given to the Chaksa subconsciously by Kenn through pheromones after seeing how the human had eyed the front doorway. He was not getting away and forcing the group to chase the man down after all the trouble the Sunz were putting themselves through reaching Sanjay & Miss Dixon. Kenn "Therefore you have to know more than what you are letting on. Now I don't wish nor want nor intend to hurt you in any fashion or way. So please tell us truthfully everything you know about Miss Dixon & the FC. Everything you have been privy to."
Nonchalantly Father Beretta angled himself to cover the sight of Igor pressing on Sanjay "Personal Space Zone", just in a casual manner; doing so opened a little the Armoured Trench to show the impressive collection of Handguns stowed at the Belt and under the Armpit, with a slow, carefully calm and relaxed posture of the Cybernetic Arm. . . The expression did not became hostile or threatening, notwithstanding the Offensive Array exposed, but rather tried to smile in a friendly manner, to show off that they could be a serious danger to not underestimate, but also a resource that could help that wily, slightly viscid Hacker. . . "If You think that Miss Dixon, or Her other Associates, could do some reprisal if You disclose some. . . . . .Rather Sensitive Tactical Informations. . . . .then rest assured that We have ample capabilities to secure the welfare of our Helpers, in any manner that could be necessary. . . . ."
Sanjay stared at Igor and then at Padre's impressive arsenal strapped to his body. "Okay, okay, okay. I get it, guys. I get it." Sanjay said probably more to reassure himself rather then the people pressing him for information. "I do know who hired me. It was the FC. They wanted me to smash and grab any files I could my hands on from your tac-net. The louder the better was their exact wording. Actually, that was Loren Dixon saying those words." He squirmed under Igor's grip. "Loren is apart of the FC. I think she's been working for them for about a year now. She wasn't doing anything fancy to start. Just gathering intel for the FC... you know, about her parents and their associates. I have no clue why she's here though. All I know about that is she knows you guys are here looking for her." Sanjay's sheepish eyes grow more stern as he addresses Padre. "Thanks but I can take care of myself." [Kenn Psychology: Sanjay is telling the truth. Padre Police Career: Sanjay is being too open about this. He can't place the feeling but something is up about why they are being told the truth. From Sanjay's last response he might not seem as helpless as he's presenting himself here.]
Without letting the "Cocky Tunguskan Street Samurai" facade slip, then Father Beretta compile towards Kenn-Taal a quick Encrypted Resume of his gut feelings about this wily hacker, that faked to be a Low Level "Piratey Netrunner" and was probably more devious and crafty than previewed. . . If possible, after receiving the answer from the Tohaa on the spot, some more Tacticaally Useful Infos would be sent also to the rest of the Group; too much "Questionable Intel" around to continue acting blind in the dark. . . The idea of "Spoiled Brat Running From Home" was far less, and less, logical; something very fishy (and NOT because Varunan Helots were somehow involved. . .) was rotting in this enterprise. . .
Something in Kenn gut or instinct was telling him that Sanjay was speaking the truth. It was a start but the info was nothing new or nothing the Sunz did not already suspect. More pressing was likely needed to get any tidbits of data out of the hacker that could help give a new prospective on the situation & where to find Dixon on this giant ship. [Kenn's mental space] Edd "Incoming data transfer from the Padre. Scanning it now...hmm...Well that is interesting." The geist plastered the message and hunch of the PanOceanian across a corner of Kenn's visual feed. Not in a manner that blocked his sight. Edd "Seems Sanjay is not the lowly netrunner..." Kenn "Wha? Oh hacker..." Edd "...Yes. Padre B thinks the original story of Miss Dixon running away from home is starting to crumble under the discovery of new facts. And that Sanjay is downplaying his capabilities and role in this endevour. Perhaps more pressing is required to procreate the retrieval of facts." Kenn "I could have easily figured that out." Edd "Geists are made to relive their person's need to think or concentrate on certain matters in life. Freeing themselves up to multitask somewhere else. Like grilling this smiling man until he enlightens us further." [Back to the physical action] Kenn "Look Sanjay, I appreciate you being cooperative and open with us but we believe there is more than what you told us. I think you do know where Miss Dixon is and that you know more about what her and the FC are up too. As I stated you appear to be smart man and not one to take a job without knowing a good deal about what the task entails. We want to know where Dixon is and why she is in cahoots with FC & what their plans are." Kenn had Igor get ready to spring into action if the situation required it. Hopefully it would not come to that.
"I told you what I already know. I do not know where she is and what she is doing with the FC." Sanjay's happy go lucky demeanor was starting to fade away. "You guys are the PIs. I'm sure you can put the clues together or better yet, try and get in contact with the FC." There was some motion behind Kenn and Padre. Then there was water being spritzed onto them. It was Sergeant Kidd and in his waldo was a spray bottle. "You might need a bigger spray bottle for these knuckleheads, Kidd." Sanjay said breathing a sight of relief. Kidd didn't respond. The remote stood there waiting for them to comply.
"And what should means this Water Spritzing. . .?? Isn't H2O supposedly a precious resource on ALL the Motherships. . . . .???" "Or in Bakunin there is so much largesse and money around that Cospicuous Consumption is acceptable as a show-off status symbol. . .??" ". . . . ." "We arrive from Tunguska, where the REAL Money of the Nomad-Nations is done, and a similar wasteful idiosincracy would be considered extremely gauche; as We are speaking Money let's cut to the chase, as the Circus of Vaudeville is REALLY starting to grating on My nerves. . . . ." "HOW MUCH, Mr. Sanjay, to spill ALL the beans about our Runaway-Bachelorette Psycho-Mistressmind. . .?? Name Your Price, and name the price for ALL the Truth, without half-lies and omissions. . .!!" "We and our Backers have DEEP Pockets, but also DEEP Ledgers-Of-Grudges; maybe You could Con us two with some Blabbermouthed Half-Truths, but sooner or later We will discover the fact and then will come to exact a Proportioned Comeuppance. . .!!" "We are far, Far, FAR Better as FRIENDS rather than ENEMIES, believe Me Mr. Sanjay. . .!! Whatever Social-Rep hypothethically You will accrue to Troll-The-Gullible-Tourists with Your Circle is NOT worth the hassle. . . . .!!" ". . . . ." "And You, Mr. Drone, aren't You supposed to HELP Customers and Shop-Bystanders rather than harass them. . .?? Or are Your Engrams so decayed that a potential buyer is to be considered an Enemy until tagged with RFID and FOF Algorythms. . . . .???" "Are You converned with us not doing a buy, Mr. Drone. . .?? Then what about You locate something about Book, Pamphlets, Essays of the Martial Capabilities of the Varunan Alien Natives, the so-called Helots. . .?? Do You have something WORTHWHILE to sell us about the Paramilitary Assetts of the Libertos Freedom Liberation Front. . . . .???" . . . . . Father Beretta was suspicious that this was just ANOTHER Layer of Deception, another Deception Mirage to Slow and Stall the pursuers of that damned Panoceanian Heritage Princess; trying to throw a curve ball in the narrative maybe would take those by surprise. . . This was totally absurd; the nagging sensation that this WHOLE "Varunan Carmen Sandiego Hunt" was some sort of Hexahedron False Flag or Matrioska-Chinese Boxes Delay was always at the back of the mind. . . All those Layers of weirdness were rather strange, if not outright sinister. . . . .
While it was not the...exact words that Kenn would have used, the Padre's move to push & press the heart of the matter into the open. Besides Kenn was feeling tired of this game of ring-around-the-rosie(?) or whatever it was called. He wanted to get the job over with and if this action was going to bring the Sunz within grasp of grabbing Miss Dixson then he was willing to try. The want or need to know exactly the real true reasons behind Miss Dixson and her parents goals was growing as time went on.
Saito was still on the trolley back to the hotel. He tapped his foot on the floor, restless. I am such a fool he thinks to himself, I always do this, mess it up when I overthink. The sole reason he abandoned his objective was the fear of losing another comrade, only to find out it was all a minor inconvenience, absolutely terrible of him. Still, he asks his giest, how long until he reaches his destination?
Sanjay worked hard to suppress a smile as Padre launched into his rant. "I think I just a bingo on my private investigator card with the bribes and threats." He waves Kidd away. The remote gives Padre one last spray. It then retreated behind a bookshelf but its curious sensors were watching between some books. "I get the idea that I don't want to make you guys my enemy. Same goes for the Fifth Columnists. I live here and you don't so when you go back to Tunguska you're safe while I get to deal with the shit you drop in my lap. I've been there and done that before and I'm not doing it again. So here's my proposal to you. I can get you some details on some FC guys. Names, locations, all that good stuff. Do whatever you want with them but leave my name out of it. Oh, and yeah, you're going to pay me for that." He sent over his price and it was actually reasonable. It was something the team could cover with their own assets. [The price is easily covered by the team. No one loses any cashflow or assets.] "As far as the truth and nothing but the truth... I've told you the truth. If there's something more to it then I don't know about it. About this time any of Padre's exposed skin started to itch something fierce. It wasn't painful but it was highly annoying. That wasn't just water in that spray bottle. Kenn didn't notice anything. It must only effect humans.
Kenn "Look Sanjay, we are through playing ring around the rosie(?), or whatever the Human idiom is. We give you the additional funds you asked for. But we require all the details necessary to get to Miss Nixon. You want be named dropped by us. We are professionals & discrete about those who help us."
Everything moved along quickly after Sanjay saw the funds enter his account. They exited the Infinite Jester and returned to Napster Park where Sanjay grabbed a bite to eat from a food vendor and parked himself on a park bench. As the wardriver took his victory lap Kenn sent Igor to a nearby pharmacy to pick up up a topical steroid for Padre. The irritation had intensified and it took a good amount of willpower on the inquisitors part to not break down and take his frustrations out on Sanjay or even Sergeant Kidd back at the bookstore. Sanjay sent over the info he promised as he watched with bemusement as the Chaksa rubbed skin cream onto Padre. At least 6 members of the FC were meeting with some of the crew from the pirate ship Buzzkill tomorrow afternoon. The location was deck 110 in a far off little corner known as the bolt hole. It wasn't an official establishment but the name of a general area where the dregs of Bakunin society would coalesce. It was far away from the hustle and bustle of everything else so a good meeting spot for nefarious purposes. The chance of Loren being there would be high. She was after all looking for an unofficial way off Bakunin and the Buzzkill was one of the ships that Taisa had come across that could do that job.
Kenn did not take kindly to the emotion that Sanjay was displaying. It rubbed him the wrong way as per the human slang. If the current situation was different perhaps the Tohaa would give the wardriver a peice of his mind. It seemed that for the first time light could been seen. The end of the tunnel or in this case the ordeal of Loren Dixson, could be considered close at hand. Though anything could still happen to push that goalpost further away but Kenn was hopeful that the Sunz bizarre Bakunin adventure could be filed under successful completed cases.
Figuring he should be a good teammate, Kenn sent the info that Sanjay had "graciously" given him & Padre Bernie. Kenn "Hopefully this means we are close to catching up to her. I'll be glad to leave this place behind. Bakunin does not agree with me. Though there was that nice bio-graphing lady at the beginning of this case that I would like to visit once..." He added in a note in the forward message to the team. Not realizing he was still reverberating his thoughts into the note. But the Tohaa's new Viser geist Edd was there to prevent the gaff from continuing. Edd "Be more careful next time. We will have to see of the possibility of seeing her again after all of this is over."
Finally stopping at his destination after what felt like an eternity, Saito glumly walks along the platform towards the exit and a Taisa that doesn't need help. Sighing outwardly his frustrations when he gets a ping from the tacnet as well as a data packet gifted by Edd. Furrowing his brow, remembering that this is kenn's giest, and quickly followed by Kenn's message. Suddenly, Saito jumps into action and has Shadow help him parse the information while he walks towards the hotel. Having read through the info by the time he gets into his room, Saito puts out the call and asks Taisa to set up a VR conference room for everyone to "meet up" despite the distance between everyone. One by one, everyone logs into what Taisa could only call a "conference room" in a stretch. "Alright everyone, we have a target, now we need to formulate a plan of action." Digitally moving his avatar, a featureless, non descript man in a sharp dressed business suit with fancy black sunglasses, Saito moves around the room giving out suggestions and asking the other teammates their opinions as well.
