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[scapheap]

If I still have time next level

[draco1234]

((Woo, I'm helpful! ))

Hmm, I think I'll save for the Thermo Zen.

Turn off Disk and continue to wait.

Edit: Out of curiosity, how far can a Degwalker spit?

[Silcugar]

She heads back carefully. Having earned his attention, if not his trust.

She speaks carefully from the safety of the doorway, assuming she's not invited inside.

"I'm not looking to cause any trouble for you-but...I need to know what you know. The Kid attracts lots of rumors and no facts. A smart merc does her homework. Especially on employers. What happened to you?"

"I'll tell you what you want to know, just come in before someone sees you." He lets you into his meager abode. As you might expect, his place is a mess. Garbage litters the floor, mostly take-out containers and crumpled papers. The only light comes from the old TV in the corner.

"What happened to me? The Kid happened to me, that's what. I'm gonna need a drink for this..." He disappears into the next room for a moment, but soon returns with a bottle in hand. "When I was one of his 'helpers' he cut off my ear 'cuz I wasn't paying attention close enough... And when I tried to escape he did much worse."

If I still have time next level

The next day you attempt simulation level two. This one's much harder than the last, requiring your full attention for hours and hours. You only take breaks to eat, drawing ever closer to defeating the simulation. It's only after you penetrate the third layer that you realize how late it is. Perhaps tomorrow you will be able to defeat the program, with fresh eyes.

The next morning you do some more research. You find some advanced commands and their descriptions, surely these will help. So you get to work. You are able to bypass the first four layers with relative ease, but the fifth seems impenetrable. After many hours, you make no progress. In fact, you can't even bypass layer four anymore... Perhaps it's time for a break?

((Woo, I'm helpful! ))

Hmm, I think I'll save for the Thermo Zen.

Turn off Disk and continue to wait.

Edit: Out of curiosity, how far can a Degwalker spit?

A degwalker can spit 15-20 feet with aid of their poison gland.

[scapheap]

All work and no play make Hawk a dull girl There got to be a park or something.

[Dwarmin]

She heads back carefully. Having earned his attention, if not his trust.

She speaks carefully from the safety of the doorway, assuming she's not invited inside.

"I'm not looking to cause any trouble for you-but...I need to know what you know. The Kid attracts lots of rumors and no facts. A smart merc does her homework. Especially on employers. What happened to you?"

"I'll tell you what you want to know, just come in before someone sees you." He lets you into his meager abode. As you might expect, his place is a mess. Garbage litters the floor, mostly take-out containers and crumpled papers. The only light comes from the old TV in the corner.

"What happened to me? The Kid happened to me, that's what. I'm gonna need a drink for this..." He disappears into the next room for a moment, but soon returns with a bottle in hand. "When I was one of his 'helpers' he cut off my ear 'cuz I wasn't paying attention close enough... And when I tried to escape he did much worse."

"So, he's just some sort of sadist, I guess...

What happened when you tried to escape? How did he catch you?"

[Silcugar]

All work and no play make Hawk a dull girl There got to be a park or something.

You make your way to the biggest park in the city: the Sugar POP Fun Time Nature Reserve. Unlike the rest of the city, this park is clean and natural. There are also many hired guns, patrolling the park to make sure there are no criminals or loiterers about. You go to the centre of the park, where a large fountain is placed. Children play in the large fountain, and parents look on in amusement. There is a small child's recreation area nearby, with jungle gyms, slides, and swings. A path leads into the nature preserve proper, a small forest of pine trees.

"So, he's just some sort of sadist, I guess...

What happened when you tried to escape? How did he catch you?"

"This was before he put... things into his lackey's brains. I ran the first chance I got, before he could do anything more to me. I made it as far as the airport. I saved up enough to by me a ticket out of this city. But that's just what he wanted me to do. He has eyes everywhere, especially in the airport. I was dragged off the plane, a 'threat' they called me. As soon as I was off the plane, his hirelings dragged me back to his vault. There... well, he punished me. Crippled me. That's when I figured out the only way to truly get away from him was to erase myself from history. I guess I wasn't thorough enough," he says, taking a long drink.

[scapheap]

Into the nature preserve

[Alexandria]

Wow so much random stuff going on.

[Dwarmin]

"This was before he put... things into his lackey's brains. I ran the first chance I got, before he could do anything more to me. I made it as far as the airport. I saved up enough to by me a ticket out of this city. But that's just what he wanted me to do. He has eyes everywhere, especially in the airport. I was dragged off the plane, a 'threat' they called me. As soon as I was off the plane, his hirelings dragged me back to his vault. There... well, he punished me. Crippled me. That's when I figured out the only way to truly get away from him was to erase myself from history. I guess I wasn't thorough enough," he says, taking a long drink.

"Well, if he wanted to kill you, I suppose he would have by now.

What are these...things, you're talking about? That he amped up his lackies heads with...?"

[draco1234]

Try to do some more research into magic.  If possible, see if I can feel any spells around me.

[Dansmithers]

Buy equipment, search my PDA for ballistics software.

[Alexandria]

Hope the assassin target decides to leave his house today because I'm bored of sitting doing nothing.

[Silcugar]

Into the nature preserve

You walk down the path leading into the preserve. Surrounded by conifer and the fresh pine scent, you feel relaxed. You pass by a couple who giggle and kiss as you pass. Younger folk without a worry in the world.

Soon you come upon a campsite nestled into the forest. A few guards laze about, talking amongst themselves. One of them is playing an acoustic guitar, an archaic but popular instrument. To your surprise, one of them waves you over.

"Hey, lomaner, why don't you come over here and keep me warm?" One of his allies laughs, while the others pay no mind to his drunken antics. "What do you charge? I got $40. Or do you only take credits?"

"Well, if he wanted to kill you, I suppose he would have by now.

What are these...things, you're talking about? That he amped up his lackies heads with...?"

"In their heads? I dunno what exactly. Cybernetics. All I know is it changes them. Makes them fearless, more submissive. Most of them take the implants willingly, too, is the scary part."

Try to do some more research into magic.  If possible, see if I can feel any spells around me.

You've cast a few spells in your time. None of them came when you thought they would, but they always came when you needed some help. You attempt to reach out and touch the flux. Since you are more finely attuned than most, you can 'hear' the spells melding in and out of the flux into the material realm. But none of them come to you.

Doing some research, you find various articles describing magic and the mana flux. Most of them are written by hedge wizards who claim to know a few spells. The information in these articles varies from somewhat ridiculous to totally unreliable.

The few articles that look legitimate are written by real warlocks who have an arsenal of spells at their command. These articles, though, are nigh impenetrable, written like research papers with terms and vocabulary you can't even begin to understand. If you wish to find something you can understand, you'll have to narrow your search.

Buy equipment, search my PDA for ballistics software.

If you mean software like targeting systems, there's none of that currently installed. Your disk tells you that combat software is available for sale, though.

Hope the assassin target decides to leave his house today because I'm bored of sitting doing nothing.

((You can still do stuff like research your target, train, etc. if you wish.))

[Dwarmin]

"In their heads? I dunno what exactly. Cybernetics. All I know is it changes them. Makes them fearless, more submissive. Most of them take the implants willingly, too, is the scary part."

She nods, fingers kneading her temple.

"Great..."

Flit knew about these-what were sometimes called 'brainjacks' where she came from-they were the living nightmares her daughter told her about-the ones that kept them both up at night. Even criminals told stories about when they were drunk, or stoned enough. Augmentations that stripped a persons free will, or altered their personality. She didn't think they were widely used, though, because they were so expensive and difficult to make...jacking someones brain without them dying of embolism, or going berserk required a fair amount of expertise. By the mans words, the Kid had perfected that-enough to augment his inner core of soldiers. Perhaps he even had a way to make someone submit beforehand...drugs, maybe, or contractual obligation...psionics...

Nightmare images skittered through her waking mind, of all the horrible things he could do with that technology.

There was a feeling that death would be a mercy, compared to failure, with her new employer...a feeling the Kid no doubt he encouraged in his employees. In fact, she was sure this was why the man in front of her was still alive.

He was a warning. This is what happens if you mess up...or don't play by the rules.

She turned back to him from her own thoughts.

"Well, thanks for the help. It's good to know what this person is capable of.

I need to go now. If what you tell me is true-the surveillance hasn't started yet, and it will soon.

Hmm. If the Kid is watching me, you might want to lay low for a bit, but that's up you...and I'll give you my number. My private number. No one should be able to trace this. I might need help from you again...and you might need mine."

Looking at this broken person, Flit felt a twinge of guarded sympathy. There was no helping him, no fixing him, not avenging what he had perhaps brought upon himself. But she got the feeling avoiding his circumstance would be revenge enough. She wouldn't let the Kid play her for a fool...and if came down to it...

Action: Ready to mission now!

[draco1234]

Hmm..

Focus magical research on the art of locating and using magic, and also how to best keep spells once you have used them.