Episode 3 - Aside 2: Preparations, Reno and Skyelar

Thalia Bhandari, or Natalia Rodrigues according to her current ID, was at a cafe in a mid size town seemingly lost in her cortex pad as she sipped her coffee and transferred funds from various account to various account somehow managing to make it seemed lost to anyone who was not looking incredibly deeply. Her lips twitched into a smile and her fingers smoothed her long black fringe across her face as the final transfer was made.

Almost as soon as she had shut down the link her green eyes were scanning the patrons of the Cafe seeing if there was a suitable target. She did not even make it half way through the room when her pad dinged in that soft way that showed she had a message coming through. A few quick security procedures and the message came through. The use of her actual name narrowed it down to a few select individuals so she would have been easily able to identify the sender even without the security procedures and codes she had had put in place. One job recently done and it looked like another was about to begin because as luck would have it if she could get transport straight away she could be at the usual place relatively quickly. She could feel the slight thrill of the job taking place already and sent off a reply.

Of course the slideshow meant some ready made samples that would just need some imaging and coding adjustments, but to anyone managing to get into the message it would just look like she was bringing vacation photos.

Maria was in the process of writing down what kind of equipment she was going to need up front as well as the account information needed to transfer the advance payment into.

Her attention was pulled off task by her Corpad chiming, indicating a message.

"Awesome... She's available and in town too," Maria said. "She'll be here in about an hour."

Maria turned to Wick.

"Go start looking for these items," she said as she handed him the list. "We need them asap. Use whatever contacts you has as neccessary."

She turned to Reno and Skyelar.

"Let's eat. I'm hungry."

"Let's eat. I'm hungry."

"That makes two of us. I'm famished." replied Reno with a smile. He slapped Skyelar hard on the shoulder and asked, "What about you, Lars? Feel like getting a bite to eat courtesy of our friends here?"

Reno turned back to Maria and asked, "You are paying, right Maria?"

"That makes two of us. I'm famished." "What about you, Lars? Feel like getting a bite to eat courtesy of our friends here?"

Maria cocked an eyebrow at Reno and "Lars" and thought that the young man looked a little out of place, but then again, Reno was always a little out of the norm as well.

"You are paying, right Maria?"

Maria snorted.

"Hell no!" she retorted. "You are buying. After all you said money was no object. Just think of this as a motivator. A nice meal gets the blood pumping."

She watched as Wick left to start gathering the things she needed.

"I just hope Wick isn't upset that he doesn't get to stay. You should make sure that you at least get him one of those luscious desserts."

She started looking over the menu, which was funny because she ate there often enough and almost always got the same thing. But then again, she was usually footing the bill herself.

"The food here is really good," she told them. She though of her friend Lia, who as on her way. "Maybe even Lia will show up soon enough to join us."


OOC: Feel free to post. Skyelar will catch up soon.

"Hell no!" "You are buying. After all you said money was no object. Just think of this as a motivator. A nice meal gets the blood pumping."

"Better be nice." grumbled Reno under his breath as he picked up a menu.

"I just hope Wick isn't upset that he doesn't get to stay. You should make sure that you at least get him one of those luscious desserts."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to get him something." replied Reno, rolling his eyes a bit behind the cover provided by the menu. He then smiled and added, "Maybe I can get the waiter or waitress to spit in it."

He scanned the menu, reading the brief descriptions of each item and seeing how much they cost. Nothing looked cheap by a long shot. Not even a glass of water. If he was going to be paying for this, he might as well get something that he felt was worth the highway robbery.

"The food here is really good," "Maybe even Lia will show up soon enough to join us."

"Who's this 'Lia' you speak of?" asked Reno, casting a look towards Maria and cocking an eyebrow. "She a friend of yours'?"

Thalia had made it back to her apartment (one of the three 'permanent' places she had set up around the verse). She headed into the living room and lifted the Cortex screen from the wall revealing . . . a plain wall with the same wallpaper pattern as the rest of the room. Lia ran her finger down one of the lines of pattern until she felt the right spot. With a quick tap sequence a section of the wall opened revealing a wall safe which after entering the code revealed several discs and ID badges. She scooped out several and popped them into a hidden section of her bad.

She then went into her bedroom wondering if she should get changed. She did not know if they were actually meeting a client or not. She worried her bottom lip as she studied the reflection in front of her. After a few more moments of deliberation she decided to go as she was. It would save her the time changing and mean that she could suss out the situation before revealing any more truths then were necessary. Besides if it came down to it Natalia's identification was a prime example of what she could do.

Running a brush through the natural hair wig and applying a bit more lipstick she stepped out of the apartment locked the door and headed to the downstairs garage. If she was going to appear as Natalia then what better way than on Natalia's favorite form of transportation. She put on the jacket and helmet that were kept with the vehicle and then turning the engine sped off to the restaurant on the hover bike. The bike would also mean she would save a bit of time on the transit and would most likely be at the meeting spot in another ten minutes.

With the showdown behind them and his liver catching up with the liquor he had consumed, a meal was sounding down-right medicinal.

Slapped on the shoulder he grinned a bit, the notion of a meal he didn't have to cook was novel and appealing. His eyes dashed at the assembling party and at Reno, "I've never been picky, so long's it iddn't still wriggling."

He had been a picky eater since he ran from home, but the in lieu of the relative luxury of familiarity he had been forced to eat strange things or survive, and was rapidly developing new favorites and a taste for novelty.

Naturally more comfortable with strong or dangerous women, as Wick was increasingly outnumbered by female confederates, his nerves were set more at ease. He eyed the menu and scanned excitedly. Making up his mind with a serious nod of the head.

He could tell he'd made Reno cross, and that his cover, if not blown entirely, was surely in ribbons, so he decided to wait until they were in private to request his pistol back from Reno.

"Better be nice."

Maria heard the grumbling that Reno said under her breath and smiled. It was nice being able to poke him back hard. After all, he deserved it.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to get him something." "Maybe I can get the waiter or waitress to spit in it."

That mention of someone spitting in Wick's treat almost made her choke when a burst of laughter came rumbling out while a swallow of her drink was going in.

"Make sure it is someone pretty," Maria said with a chuckle.

"Who's this 'Lia' you speak of?" "She a friend of yours'?"

"She is and I would treat her right nicely, Reno. She's about to become your very best friend if you want what you have laid out in this job. No one does better work than her."

She scanned the menu. She looked up as "Lars" spoke to Reno.

"I've never been picky, so long's it iddn't still wriggling."

She raised an eyebrow at the man. He was a strange duck indeed. Ordering food from the menu seemed almost like a new adventure to him.

"Let me guess... Your name ain't Lars, right?" she asked. "And you aren't the most worldly guy ever."

She looked him over.

"Don't worry. There's no need for the games anymore. We've already sorted things out. What is your name?"

For some reason, Maria hoped it really wasn't Lars. It was just so wrong for the young man.

"Make sure it is someone pretty,"

Reno grinned at the thought of sending Wick a luscious dessert with a side of beautiful spit. For a moment he got distracted and wondered if there was such a thing as pretty spit and if pretty spit tasted better.

He was brought back to the meeting when Maria talked of Lia.

"She is and I would treat her right nicely, Reno. She's about to become your very best friend if you want what you have laid out in this job. No one does better work than her."

"Don't you worry none. I only have the highest respect for anyone who can get done what I asked for. I know it is a formidable task, but we are short on time."

Then it was Skyelar's turn to distract Reno.

"I've never been picky, so long's it iddn't still wriggling."

Reno had another visual of a little cow or a worm wriggling around on the plate while you tried to stab it into submission.

Talk about strange, but Reno embodied strange.

"Let me guess... Your name ain't Lars, right?" "And you aren't the most worldly guy ever."

"Duh Maria..., are you slow?" he teased. He turned to Skyelar. "This is Skyelar. He's new to the crew."

She looked him over.

"Don't worry. There's no need for the games anymore. We've already sorted things out. What is your name?"

It was almost ten minutes on the dot that Thalia swerved into a spot at the 'usual spot'. She removed her helmet and gave a shake of her dark hair with blonde streaks trying to get rid of any hat hair. Securing the helmet and the bike she then entered the restaurant unzipping her jacket as she did so. She spotted Maria pretty quickly knowing what to look for just as the other woman would probably spot her pretty quickly to. However she did not take the direct route to the table instead taking the wide arc to scope out the group in her peripheral vision. She knew Maria was not one to pull something on her but you could never be too sure with strangers.

Finally making to the table she slipped into an empty seat acting if all of the people at the table were good friends. But addressed Maria first.

Oooh, I hope you ordered me the chefs special three. You know that's my favourite. Howdy boys.

Maria saw Lia come into the restaurant, prompt as ever. She didn't let on to the others. She knew that Lia would come over once she got the 'lay of the land.' It didn't take very long. Lia was an astute judge of situations.

Oooh, I hope you ordered me the chefs special three. You know that's my favourite. Howdy boys.

Maria smiled wide at the woman's speech. She never knew Lia to seem to take anything seriously, although she knew that she was actually ultra cautious. She wished she could maintain that level of aloofness.

"I didn't order you anything yet. I wasn't sure you wanted to upgrade or not," Maria told her. She motioned to Reno and Skyelar. "Seems like money is no object to these two. And they are buying."

Reno caught sight of the woman as soon as she started towards their table. He cursed himself because he couldn't remember seeing her step into the restaurant, nor long she'd been there. For this to work, he was going to have to be sharper. More in tune with what was going on around him.

Oooh, I hope you ordered me the chefs special three. You know that's my favourite. Howdy boys.

He smiled. A chick with confidence. He liked that. A confident person believed in the quality of their work.

Or then again, it could just be pure cockiness. Cockiness could go either way.

"I didn't order you anything yet. I wasn't sure you wanted to upgrade or not," "Seems like money is no object to these two. And they are buying."

Reno rolled his eyes.

"Yes, payment isn't an issue, but your attitude about it is making me less than confident about your ability to deliver the product. Bragging about stuff doesn't actually make you good at what you do. It just makes you... smug."

He shifted in his chair.

"So are you actually that good, Lia? Or are you just a braggart looking to fleece me and mine from some coin?" he asked as his eyes narrowed as he looked over Lia. "Unlike the payment, time is something I don't have the luxury of. Dong ma?"

Skyelar smiled softly, now that the posturing was being dropped, something he was phenomenally bad at. He had dropped into character easily enough, but that soon began to break down.

When he was introduced he grinned and nodded "Skyelar, pleased to meet you." and he offered his hand brightly.



Reno spoke up again, though, "Yes, payment isn't an issue, but your attitude about it is making me less than confident about your ability to deliver the product. Bragging about stuff doesn't actually make you good at what you do. It just makes you... smug."
And shifting in his chair added,
"So are you actually that good, Lia? Or are you just a braggart looking to fleece me and mine from some coin?" he asked as his eyes narrowed as he looked over Lia. "Unlike the payment, time is something I don't have the luxury of. Dong ma?"

Skyelar grew quiet again, this kind of confrontation just wasn't in his nature, he feared it would make everybody jumpy again. He shifted in his chair too, hoping that speaking terms could be maintained.

Thalia raised an eyebrow about that and was about to answer that she'd stick with her favourite when the elder one spoke.

The tension that rose was almost palatable and Thalia noted the younger man looking uncomfortable. Her pause was quite brief however as she bit back the stinging retort that would get them all no where and continued on trying more diplomatic means. She looked over at Maria and grinned playfully.

"Gees Maria what did you do to this fella to rub him up the wrong way."

She turned back to the elder of the two men. Her smile was still friendly however a certain amount of steel had entered her eyes. "In relation to myself I don't believe I've offered any sort of account of the level of skills I posses. As to bragging well in my line of work that sort of thing is likely to either get you killed or behind bars, both of which would put a severe cramp in my lifestyle."

Some of the steel left her eyes and she again looked at Maria. "Maria here however is fully aware of my capabilities and she's not likely to send me on a wild goose chase."

Again she looked at the elder of the two men. "I understand you don't know me from Jack and have no reason to trust me, so I guess it comes down to whether you trust her." She looked between the two considering her last sentence and the amended, "Or whether you have the time to look around to find someone else to do what you need."

Reno watched intently as the young woman put a smile on her face and joked with Maria.

"Gees Maria what did you do to this fella to rub him up the wrong way."

If only she knew who rubbed who the wrong way... Reno found himself thinking before mentally slapping himself into focus.

"In relation to myself I don't believe I've offered any sort of account of the level of skills I posses. As to bragging well in my line of work that sort of thing is likely to either get you killed or behind bars, both of which would put a severe cramp in my lifestyle."

This behavior is something Reno liked. This woman was smart. She also had backbone. The bode very well. A slight smile creeped onto his face.

"Maria here however is fully aware of my capabilities and she's not likely to send me on a wild goose chase."

"This is certainly on the level. Me and mine have much to lose and I ain't in the mood to be chasing geese either."

"I understand you don't know me from Jack and have no reason to trust me, so I guess it comes down to whether you trust her."

"Or whether you have the time to look around to find someone else to do what you need

Reno got a wider smile on his face.

"I don't know you from Jack and Maria has reason to hang me up by my toes," he started.

"Not just one reason Reno," Maria said bitterly. "Don't you forget what you did."

Reno turned towards her.

"I said I was sorry, Maria," Reno shot back at her. Maria snorted at him and he wanted to shake the woman. She infuriated him so. But he turned back to Lia. "But I believe her when she said you could help us out. I don't have the time to look for someone who would be adequate at the task. I want the best and I have come to believe that person is you."

He slid a folder over to her.

"i am taking a huge leap of faith here by giving you this information. Don't make me regret it," he warned with a certain level of subtle malice. "Here's my crew: names, descriptions and pictures. The two at the end are where most of my concern is held. I basically need a top notch job yesterday. Can you do it?"