<> <> (>:C) <> (SCIENCE! SCIENCE I SAY!) * Lexi saunters over to the woman in question and waves friendly-like. "Hey! I'm Lexi Calhoun. Thanks for meeting us." * Amadeus walks up with Lexi. "You're Ms. Pekles, correct?" <> "Hi! Yes, I am. You ... you guys look just like on TVNet." * Tomas follows beside Lexi. He's of course heard many less-than-good things about TC and happily believes them, so is obviously on guard, darting glances to the left, right, and over his shoulder, "Ms. Pickles." (Oh my god, so hard to not put every major term in [[]]s) * Kyle grins. "Yeah, I've heard that." "So... you're here to ask about where I work?" * Tomas continues watching everywhere at once, "Yes, ErichTech." (What would you say it is that you *do*?) "What did you want to know? I don't really work in the geology or nanotech departments, so..." (I'm actually trying to remember what it was we wanted to find out.) <> "... I, uh.. can't get you any trade secrets or anything." (I'm fairly certain your goal was "figure out whatever we can".) (Yeah, I'm rescanning the log now) * Tomas looks over his shoulder where she was looking, "Why're you guys still in a place like this?" Hey, we're not looking for trade secrets. * Amadeus nods. "More just general knowledge concerning your company. Until recently, we didn't know you existed." <> "What do you mean, you guys?" * Tomas returns his gaze to Ms Pekel, "Your employer, I suppose. This just doesn't seem the place for a business on the rise." "Twilight's getting better and better since the Brain Flu. I mean, people outside, not running from gangers? That's all new. So ErichTech didn't start here, but they moved here, because it's really easy to stand out in a place like this. Mr. Von Erich says that when they were in RNYC they were crowded in with a bunch of other nanotech companies." * Tomas raises an eyebrow, "Von Erich actually moved away from one of the most booming tech sectors on Mars?" (His first choice with that name was probably Castlevania. Twilight City was just the next best thing.) (We can't all live in Castlevania! <> "He says, 'Another word for 'booming' is 'cluttered'.' I don't think he thought he was getting the attention he deserved there. I mean, and he's right. I'm not the accountant, but I know they've gotten a lot more orders since moving." * Tomas chuckles, "Not in the geo or nanotech departments. Not in accounts. What is it you do?" <> "I'm a DBA." A valuable profession if I've ever heard of one. * Tomas goes a little slackjawed at the acronym and mouths it slowly. * Lexi shakes her head and waves Tomas away. "Don't mind him. So do you spend a lot of time around Mr. Von Erich?" * Tomas looks to Amadeus then nods, "Yes, very." * Amadeus eyes Tomas. Who doesn't know what a DBA is? * Kyle sighs. <> "The company only has thirty employees, and only three of us are IT, so he pretty much has to stop by whenever he needs something done to his machine." <> "Guy with two master's degrees, can't figure out how to install standard weekly upgrades on his own wallscreens." * Tomas scoffs in agreement, "Yeah." * Lexi chuckles. Small company. Most of it's R&D then? "Yeah, about ten each nanotech and geologists. Three of us in IT. One lawyer, one accountant..." <> "von Erich, and his four other executives. They're never around, though. I don't even know their names." The orders started rolling in after you moved, you said? "Yeah, maybe twice as many. Plus the stuff von Erich promised to TC." When was it you moved? That's a lot of executives for such a small company. (...you ever heard any of them quack?) "Oh man, two years ago? Was it that long ago already? I didn't work here then, which you kind of figure." <> "They're never around, so maybe they're just ... you know. Good Old Boys." * Amadeus nods. "Is ... that it? I don't feel like I was much of a help." You guys work much with the big corps? ("You weren't! :D") (I'm watching the DDD with Amato's. I don't think we tried any of the things featured.) (yes we did, you doof) (I ordered the homemade sausage) (They're talking about some greek sausage and then some breaded steak.) (And now blueberry pancakes with homemade ricotta? /drool) (That chicken fried steak sandwich looks awesome.) "Uh... I mean, they're most of our contracts. Dunno just ordered some colonies for Red Stockholm the other day.) (The "greek" sausage IS the homemade stuff, I think. Also I've tried the pancakes, they were good) (Someday we'll have the time and money to visit you guys in Omaha again.) (That day is not now) (RP, or I will visit and beat all I see with frozen fish) (You aren't making a good case, Cham.) "THAT shipment kept the nanotech guys busy for weeks growing the colonies. I have no idea where they find the time to come up with the new stuff they do." (I could use some frozen fish. but I will RP) * Lexi tilts her head. "Well... there is another thing that you could do for us." Do you think you could get us in to meet Von Erich? * Amadeus blinks at Lexi. That wasn't something he was expecting! * Kyle nods. "We do have a few questions we'd like to ask him too." <> "Maybe? I mean, you guys are kind of celebrities, it's not like he doesn't know who you are." "What would you want with a nanotech company, though? I mean, come to think of it, what DO you want with a nanotech company?" * Tomas flexes his cybernetic hand, "Always looking for that leg up in the chainjumping game, y'know?" "... by ... terraforming?" * Tomas ducks in close and says quietly, "Ever considered just growing a tree under a guy holding a pistol on you?" * Kyle raises an eyebrow at Tomas, then makes crazy motions behind him. <> "Gah!" * Tomas straightens up and pets his nose, "Now that wasn't necessary." <> "That's not nice to do to someone from TC, creep!" (ok. wtf is she talking about?) * Lexi rolls her eyes. "He's our cook. We don't let him out of the kitchen much. Anyway... It's just very important that we talk to him." (Dude, you quickly got real close to a woman who is used to the city being run by gangs of unruly 24s. Quick movements and violating personal space = bad.) (I missed that in my pamphlet on the DOs and DON'Ts of TC culture.) * Kyle ribs Tomas. "Quit scarin' the lady." (It's the giant blinking letters on the front.) * Tomas harumphs and crosses his arms, "I ain't scarin' nobody." <> "I guess I can try to ask him. From what I hear, you guys could probably afford a colony or two." * Tomas turns to Deus, "The lounge *could* use some greenery." <> "My break's almost over. He's in the office today, I think, I'll ask him. Do you guys have an address or cell phone he can call?" Only if you don't cook it, Tomas. * Kyle shrugs. "I'll take a call if he doesn't mind calling me." * Lexi shrugs. "Sure. Here." and she gives Ms. Pekles her number. <> "It'll probably be about a half hour."" <> "It was nice to meet most of you." <> <> * Lexi answers it! "Ms. Calhoun, it's a pleasure to speak with you." <> "This is Helmut von Erich. I heard you were interested in doing business with me?" * Lexi smiles. "Yes Mr. von Erich. At the very least I would love to meet with you and discuss prospects." (... wow, no, that was my fuckup! Teach me to type fast.) (Change Lexi's response. I was confused too) "Strange to be hearing from you and not your father, but I take it this is in regards to your most recent profession?" You could say that. Me and my associates are in Twilight City now, actually. And we have a lot of time on our hands. Do you have a window in your schedule? (Someone falls from the building. "You could say one has just ... opened up.") (:o) "Certainly. If you're in town, why not as soon as you can get here? I was in the middle of some paperwork anyhow." Sounds good. We'll be there in a few minutes. Looking forward to it. "As am I. *click*" * Lexi hangs up. "We have a meeting. Let's go." * Amadeus blinks. "That was quick." * Lexi shrugs. "He said he was just doing paperwork." She starts heading towards the Erichtech building. Sweet. * Kyle heads with her! * Amadeus shakes his head and gets moving. Paperwork, of course. I'm sure he'll be glad for the distraction. <> "Uh, um... you... ha ve an appointment?" * Tomas strides forward, "Mr Von Erich is expecting us." * Lexi nods. "Yes. I'm Lexi Calhoun. I'm here to see Mr. von Erich. I just spoke with him on the phone." * Tomas scowls as his line is ruined. (suck less, suckyface) <> * Kyle smirks. "Thank you." * Lexi heads towards that door. * Amadeus does as well. No doubt a trap awaits them. <> "Well well, Ms. Calhoun. It truly is a pleasure. I never expected to be doing business with the crew of the Fate Breaker." (I'm so glad I don't use mIRC anymore.) * Amadeus looks over this guy, then his office. * Lexi laughs. "Funny you should say that given that we've, apparantly, done plenty of business together." * Tomas stands behind Lexi with a stern look on his face and his arms crossed. "Well, I thought you were here as a member of the crew, not as a representative of CEC." * Lexi nods. "I am." And you've hired our services. I think that constitutes business. (They sent us to where again?) (Xenophobic Chickenland?) (Yes.) (Right.) "I'm afraid you have me at a loss for words, then. Care to elaborate?" * Lexi shrugs. "Well you put in a bid for our services and won and then you sent us out to a series of planets full of Xenophobic Chickensoldiers who tried to vaporize us and consequently caused an interplanetary incident that got us suspended from chainjumping." That is a pretty big deal. I'm sure you've seen it on TVnet, actually. They weren't very nice. <> "These are outrageous accusations! What cockamamie scheme are you trying to pull, Calhoun? We turn down your father's bid for buying us out, so now you accuse us ... of what? Attempted murder?" * Lexi shakes her head. "You clearly do not pay enough attention to TVNet if you think I care about my father's failed business ventures." (Alton Brown doing "The Chicken" rly?) "Then what manner of shenanigans *is* this?" During our little vacation we've done some investigating and your company came up as the bidder for the Duekti system. (How did we find out that they were bidder C again?) (SIG-ASP told you.) (The ATC guy, I beleive) We're trying to get the bottom of this. We do a little more investigation and find that both you and the Duekti are heavy into terraforming. Mild coincidence, natch. * Amadeus blinks, then removes his glasses, rubs at his eyes, and keeps watching Erich. <> "Care to show me just how you tracked the bidding to me? I mean, if I really sent you on a wild goose chase to a planet I had no idea was even there." Interesting. You didn't know? "There's nothing TO know! This company's small enough I can still keep track of all the finances. If we made a bid for your time - which I don't even have the slightest idea how to do, by the way - then the money came out of thin air." (Okay... how did we track them? I mean how did we track Bidder C? I know we got their name from ATC) (You had a name and a cellphone from bidder c, but you sidetracked that data and Kevin Corey just went "Yup, they did it!") (Ahaha this will be cute. They get a phone call next session. "Hay we just caught bidder D who sent us to our potential deaths, how's it going in TC?") (What was the name?) * Amadeus moves his glasses up to his face, frowns at them for a moment, and then just folds them and throws them at Erich's face. (And is that the name of the bidder or somehwere down the line?) * Kyle rubs his head. (When the bidder wins, Preston takes a name and a cell phone. That's it.) * Tomas raises an eyebrow at Amadeus. He's up to something. He ain't no Christmas goose. (so the contact?) <> "Hey now, what'd you do that for?" Just to prove to myself that you have no reflexes and so are probably not human. Can I have my glasses back? (HA.) * Tomas peers at von Erich, "What is he then?" * Lexi raises an eyebrow. "I think D has probably lost it." (I thought you were pulling a Vimes and trying to prove he was an assassin.) (Well, I could have proven that too!) ("How do you know?" "He didn't catch an orange.") "... no." (Now he must use them to kill you.) * Amadeus shrugs, then looks to the others. "I can't say exactly. He's not a machine - or if he is, one far too sophisticated for me to identify." (Neener, neener, indeed.) * Kyle looks at Erich, quirking his eye. <> Pretty sure he's not, well... A 'bot. "It's a genetic disorder." Is it that disorder where your DNA is more Duekti than human? Caused by both of your parents having a recessive all-their-genes-are-duekti gene? * Lexi looks over and Tomas like he's crazy. "Did you all take the crazy pills today? Why didn't you give ME some?" She floats Amadeus' glasses over to him as she asks this. (And he's a witch! Witch!) (BURN HIM) * Amadeus ignores Lexi for the moment and then tells Erich, seriously, "With all due respect to your no doubt trying childhood, I find the likelihood of your story highly unlikely, given that sort of disorder would essentially prevent you from being able to survive your infancy." Natural selection. Hey, I remembered that. <> "Lousy luck. Biologist and excellent vision." So what's the deal? * Lexi turns back to Erich and shakes her head as the glasses float in front of Amadeus' face. She rubs her eyes. "So can you just tell us the truth? It will make this faster." * Amadeus plucks them out of the air with a "thanks". He cleans his glasses with his shirt and then puts them back on. "So what if we did hire you? You were supposed to get the genetic samples, not go mucking about in ruined ziggurats." * Kyle eyes Erich. "I don't think you realize what our profession really is." (We're main characters.) (MAIN CHARACTER!) (THE ORIGINAL!) * Lexi shakes her head. "It is difficult to avoid disturbing violent races of aliens when they greet you as soon as you land on a planet..." * Tomas peers harder at Helmut "Who's we?" (Sorry, sudden afk) "The PLANETS are what's interesting, forget the Duekti! Haven't you people learned anything about proper genetic analysis yet? Have you even looked at the samples since you've been back?" The Duekti wanted to kill us. ALL of us. "No, they didn't. They just wanted you to leave." * Amadeus says, annoyed, "Of course we've been looking at them, and yes, they're completely fascinating." But my question is how did you even know about them? "They're part of a vast cosmic puzzle that SOMEbody left behind millenia ago. Eons ago." <> "You saw the data, didn't you? That's it, that's one piece of a puzzle species have been trying to solve since before you upstarts even climbed down from the trees." * Amadeus nods, not particularly offended by that upstart comment. "Then why give this piece to us?" "Because we couldn't get it without you getting it as well." * Lexi narrows her eyes. "So... were you the ones who leaked the information to the media and got us blamed for all this?" "No. Didn't you figure that one out yet either? That was your father." * Lexi shakes her head. "How would he even know about the Duekti?" * Amadeus looks at Lexi like she's crazy, then says, "Because Preston told him... regardless." He turns his attention back to Erich. "What are you, exactly?" <> "I am a meat puppet. I think question and answer time is over; it was time to be moving on anyhow." <> * Amadeus starts, then moves over to get a better look at the guy. "Shit." ( /me hauls Erich over his shoulder and heads to the shuttle to start dressing the carcass.) (P-p-passenger Lexi, your physiognamy and body somatotype are p-p-pleasing to me.) * Tomas cocks his head to the side and frowns, "I hope Patricia doesn't lose her job over this." (Haha) * Amadeus checks vitals. He's dead, isn't he? Of course he's dead. Well fuck. <> (What all was in this room again?) * Lexi shrugs. "That seems unlikely. She just asked him to call us. It was his own decision to do so." <> (so not file cabinets or safes hidden behind wall hangings?) (Is 911 still 911?) (I..what?) <> (oh, in-universe) * Lexi shakes her head as she looks at the not-quite-dead-yet guy. "So what does he mean 'meat puppet?'is there another Erich in some tower somewhere controlling this thing?" Yeah, some alien I bet. * Amadeus runs out of the office even as he dials whatever the martian equivalent of 911 is and yells, "Help! Erich just dropped over!" There're his executive buddies still to pursue. Just like in Attack of the Megas from Thai Ceti XXI 4. They make people that blend into society, but they're meat puppets! Puppets made of meat!.. actually, that movie really sucked. <> (Right.) (Yeah, even I know when people will think I'm TOO crazy.) <> (So unless anyone has anything else to do, we can call it.) (I need to clean off my shoe. I seem to have stepped in some plot.) (Nothing here.) <>