Session Start: Wed Jun 30 23:10:24 2004 [mini start] Splitting off from the group, Taki makes her way back towards the bank - there's something she just *has* to know. * LadyNightshade opens the front door and heads in. The bank actually looks abandoned now - nobody is behind the front counter, nobody is in sight at all... but there are still faint noises coming through the walls. * LadyNightshade heads straight for the back area where the boss was at last. Her way is barred by the first secure door - she didn't get the passcode, and the door looks pretty sturdy... * LadyNightshade is currently in her transformed state, having changed before heading back here and changing back into her outfit she was wearing when she first visited the bank. Oh great... The ruckus in the back suddenly increases - there's a deep tearing sound, like that of rebarred concrete giving way. That doesn't sound good. * LadyNightshade heads back out to the main entrance and checks behind the front desk for some kind of com system. The lobby is a long, narrow room at the very front of the building - the teller stations are recessed at the back edge, but not walled off from the front part of the office space. There is some outdated literature laying around, advertising interest rates that would have been a good deal a decade ago. A phone sits on the information desk, but it's dead. * LadyNightshade looks around the desk for hidden switches or something of the sort in the drawers or underneath the desk. There's no there there - except for a decade's worth of dustbunnies. Well they weren't very keen on housekeeping... * LadyNightshade moves the books around, seeing if they're hiding anything. Taki hears angry shouting wafting over the front counter. Now it's a woman shouting some coarse language. * LadyNightshade looks back to the phone, and sees if pushing any of the buttons does anything for her. The teller stations aren't even glassed in - not the most private of settings for transacting business - maybe that's why the bank failed. * LadyNightshade gives up and hops over the counter toward the back area, looking around. The second security door is still shut... but then there's this man-shaped hole in the armored wall to her right leading back into the private offices. ... Thank you Leena. * LadyNightshade moves toward the hole, carefully peeking her heard around the edge. As soon as she does, there's the ulcer-inducing sound of half a dozen pistols being cocked. When she turns her head to look, the surviving friendly Yakuza goons and the boss's personal assistant are pointing weapons at her. Uh... hello? * LadyNightshade puts her hands up in surrender. * Girl blinks as she recognizes Nightshade from just minutes before, but doesn't put down the gun. Oi, Boss! * LadyNightshade looks around. "Is... it okay to come in?" The boss emerges from one of the side offices, shutting a laptop as he does. "What"? ...is something the matter? Why did you come back? I need to talk to you about something... personal. ... Sir. * Boss waves his goons down, and they instantly holster their weapons. The girl bellows something unintelligible, and the goons blur into furious packing activity. Looks like this base will soon be vacated. * Boss snorts and smiles indulgently. This is not the best moment, and I am not your father, to help you with life's problems... And while we are allies, I do not know that we are even truly friends. But then again, you saved our lives, so I shall listen. I need your help to solve a problem which we both share. * LadyNightshade looks around again, and steps through the hole in the wall. Could we talk in private, please sir? * Boss glances over at his assistant. She grimaces and points at her watch, then at the front wall. ...not here, we can't. Would you like to go for a ride? That would be acceptable, sir. If you were anyone... anyTHING else, I would think you a foolish girl indeed. But... I realize that. I'm sorry to use my position like this... * Boss steps over some rubble to the security exit. "M, ten minutes. And call the doctor. And lay out my clothes for... the evening activities - you will need to attend me immediately on my arrival if I am to make it. The girl bows briskly then continues shoveling data tapes out of a fire safe. Follow me. * LadyNightshade lets the Boss take care of his business. Silently watching everyone work. * LadyNightshade follows the Boss. The older man exits through the real door, and heads back further into the building. There's one last security door, this one with a short code, and Taki finds herself in the garage. * LadyNightshade looks around at the cars and checking out the security of the place. The Boss climbs into a huge, boxy truck-thing. Apparently the well-heeled Yakuza gentleman drives an American SUV this year. Come on, gir- uh, Lady... * LadyNightshade tries not to show her amazement of the size of the SUV. Lady is fine. You are transformed, are you not? But not in costume. I did not know that was possible. * LadyNightshade steps into the seat of the vehicle. They're just clothes. We can change out of them if we choose. * Boss pulls gracefully out of the underground garage, and is soon on the open street. It's convenient sometimes... That's quite a sensible attitude. Especially if your enemies aren't mermaids and oversized crabs. Yes. Actually that's what I wanted to talk about. (The boss deliberately used the English term there...) Please, talk. * Boss guns the engine, faking like he is about to speedbump the Honda Beat in front of him. The Beat beats it. You mentioned people being recruited. I was wondering if you knew where I could find them. The recruiters, I mean. If I could, there wouldn't be a problem, would there? * Boss says this lightly. No, I suppose not. But so far we've had no leads in finding them, and this chance meeting with you is the closest lead we've had. That's why I had to come back. I didn't know if I'd ever have the chance to speak with you again. They're being quite careful. It took me a while to see the pattern, but it's become obvious that the power subverting our men is singular. I was thinking that if I could find them... If I could get inside their organization, I could find out who's pulling the strings. The key evidence was we found sequential bills in the payoffs for several groups. Each of those groups were slaughtered - by the way, my congratulations to the team you have doing that now - and we recovered the money they were paid. * Boss snerks. * LadyNightshade nods, looking down a bit embarrassed by that. I'm sorry, Lady, but you're not Yakuza material. Even if you got tattooed... I can get you a discount at the major tattoo parlor chains, though, if you'd like? Whatever it takes... * LadyNightshade tries not to sound too excited about getting a real Yakuza tattoo. No, no, no... it just wouldn't work. Why not? I'm not afraid. * Boss stops, barely, at a stop light and looks over. It would be like me trying to infiltrate the Queen's Court. I just wouldn't fit, and people would wonder. I don't care how courageous you are - dead is dead, and people that don't fit in this world get dead fast. But... there has to be some way... I mean, they haven't been recruiting just Yakuza... Heh. Did you not understand me earlier? The others are from an old clan - an old *ninja* clan, girl, and I doubt you have connections there. ... * LadyNightshade looks down at her feet for a moment. I know where I could hire one or two for a short job, and I know the reputation of the old families... but we don't deal with them much. You've had dealings with them? ... I'm sorry, I shouldn't be asking about your business. Just subcontracting some stuff - they really are extraordinary, especially in non-urban environments where my boys stick out badly. But even that was handled through fixers and factors - they don't keep offices in town. I see... Well, could you give me what information you have about the recruitments and I'll see what I can do, please? ... Sir? * Boss drives silently for a half-minute. * LadyNightshade bites her lower lip, but doesn't say anything. Hoping for the best. ...I can not give you the details I have collected on my people. It is just not done, not even for allies. And there really isn't enough on the clan activity to offer you - what I know is anecdotal, and you have heard the gist of it now. I can hand over some technical information about the money trail, as far as we have been able to trace it. Anything you could offer would be helpful. And... rest assured, if we ever do find out who is recruiting, that will be passed along. In fact, I would prefer that you deal with it, and not my men. Thank you. *nods politely* No offense, but I would prefer it as well. *blushes a bit* * Boss pulls off to the side of the road and eyes Nightshade. It's not quite a leer, but it has that sort of edge to it for a few seconds. ... * LadyNightshade shifts uncomfortably in her seat. You really aren't a main-line Lady, are you? You are something else entirely, I think. And I'm not sure that I like that... but I suppose it is necessary. * LadyNightshade smiles a bit. "I think I'll take that as a compliment." * Boss looks down the road, his eyes unfocussed. The Queen always said she would need... ...right. Right, well, you may be the intelligence branch of the hierarchy, but I don't think you're quite cut out for it yet. Keep at it, though, gir- Lady. You'll figure it out. Thank you. Anyway, this is your stop. And indeed it is... kind-of. A kilometer down the road is the expansive mansion the Queen calls her palace. Um... lemme give you my number so you can contact me if you happen upon the information we talked about. * LadyNightshade looks around her coat for a pen. * Boss pulls out a PDA and takes Taki's number down. Now, git. I'm already running behind for the reception. * LadyNightshade nods after giving him her number. "Thank you for listening." Don't do anything stupid, girl. At least nothing I wouldn't do. I won't. * LadyNightshade adds awkwardly "If you need any... assistance with anything, don't be afraid to ask." * LadyNightshade smiles like she means it. * LadyNightshade opens the door of the SUV and hops down. ...don't promise me help. You don't mean that. I... Yeah, you're probably right. Thank you for the ride. I won't hold you to it. Not this time. Say hi to Her Majesty for me, wouldya? * LadyNightshade looks a bit sad as she waves goodbye. * Boss pulls the door shut and peels out. Will do. * LadyNightshade looks up at the mansion. "Hi, Queeny." * LadyNightshade takes a couple steps and looks up again. "Hi, Sakura. Miss you..." * LadyNightshade starts walking down the street towards the train station. [end session]