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Literature Text
It’s just after Noon on a Wednesday when our commlinks chirped.
Checking it, we see a matrix icon that resembles the traditional smiley-face image, only red and cocked to one side, with little jagged lines resembling tusks on the mouth of the icon. Answering the call, the icon is replaced by a grinning male ork. His face is lined with age; his hair and goatee is touched with grey and a pair of golden datajacks gleam along his left temple. Wire-frame glasses sit upon his nose, the kind that actually correct your vision, not tinted mirrorshades that make you look badass or even the more modern AR glasses or goggles, but honest-to-god reading glasses.
"Hoi chummers!" McCallister says with a cheerful grin. "I hear tell that you might be interested in a bit of biz. If you are interested, head on over to Underworld 93 tonight at 7. There’s a small concert going on. Let the doorman know you’re there to meet McCallister, and he’ll get you some good seats. After the show’s over, we’ll have a chat and I’ll tell you a bit more."
Underworld doesn’t really look like much from the outside: a simple ferrocrete building that looks like it should be warehousing machinery, not the location of a nightclub. The only distinguishing features of the club are a simple steel sign outside with the name, and an AR display that is far more impressive blazing the name of the club in bright neon lettering along with the club’s logo: Charon steering a speedboat across the River Styx.
At one time, this was the place to be for Seattle’s who’s who. The attraction for the place has long since faded for younger crowds who are always looking for the next big thing, but the place still retains its reputation as being the place to see some of the hottest music acts of yesterday and today. Jetblack, Shield Wall, CrimeTime, DarkVine, Blitzkrieg, the Psychedelic Phlegmm. All have graced that stage at one time or another, and tonight sounds like another big name.
There is a sizable crowd outside the building, with a line of people stretching around the building. A pair of intimidating troll bouncers wearing expensive tailored suits stand guard at the door, ignoring the majority of the crowd as if they simply didn’t exist, only occasionally letting people into the club after one of them consults an actual paper list on a clipboard. One way to make a guest list unhackable is to write it down. An ARO in front of the building explains the crowd. Maria Mercurial is doing an unannounced concert at Underworld 93 tonight at 7:30. So that's why it was so crowded!
The MC holds up his hands to quiet down the crowd. "Alright, you shower of brain damaged re-wired mutants! Here’s the reason you’ve been sweating all over our nice, clean floors all evening. Ladies and Gentlemen - if there are any of you out there - and the rest of you trash as well, I present to you the one and only, MARIA MERCURIAL!"
The crowd went wild as the lights dim, and then everything goes quiet as the first haunting synthesized notes of Mercurial’s hit song "Take It To Mister" swell up from the speakers. A spotlight comes on, illuminating a slender, lovely figure wearing a midnight-blue dress. All four of her cyberlimbs gleam with polished chrome. Her voice is as lovely as ever, and the first lines of the song washed over us.
Mercurial plays a two-hour show before wrapping up. Several up and coming bands go on after her, but it’s clear that most of the patrons consider the concert as good as over. A waitress comes up and offers to escort us into the backstage area, where MacCallister was waiting for us in a small meeting room.
The waitress led us into the backstage area, past a couple of large bodyguards who stood guard. Near the ceiling, we see a small Japanese boy, floating and translucent. I might not be Awakened, but even I can tell what a manifested spirit looks like. Security's tight, but that’s not surprising considering the superstar in attendance. Down the hall we see MacCallister talking with Mercurial! He smiles and nods to her, then heads toward us.
"Hoi chummers!" He calls out. "This way, please." He motions to a door to your right. Inside is a small room with a table and a handful of chairs around it. It’s a tight squeeze, but we manage to get all of us inside and sit down. Once the door is closed, the roar of the music and crowd cuts off thanks to soundproof walls.
McCallister said "Let's cut to the chase. I need you to find a missing woman for me."
Silvertongue then said "How do you know Maria Mercurial?
"We met way back in the day. Anyway, I want you find a girl for me. Her name is Fiona Craig, she’s an archaeologist who just arrived in Seattle last night on a flight from Greece, she doesn’t live in Seattle, and she vanished, missing a couple of meetings she was supposed to have today. His employer wants her found ASAP. I'm offering each of you ¥3,000 if you find her."
"I reckon that ¥5,000 each would be sufficient for a rush job like locating a missing person."
"I'd love to give you that much, but I've only got enough for ¥4,000 each."
"That will do just fine."
Silvertongue and McCallister shook hands, and the hunt was on!
Checking it, we see a matrix icon that resembles the traditional smiley-face image, only red and cocked to one side, with little jagged lines resembling tusks on the mouth of the icon. Answering the call, the icon is replaced by a grinning male ork. His face is lined with age; his hair and goatee is touched with grey and a pair of golden datajacks gleam along his left temple. Wire-frame glasses sit upon his nose, the kind that actually correct your vision, not tinted mirrorshades that make you look badass or even the more modern AR glasses or goggles, but honest-to-god reading glasses.
"Hoi chummers!" McCallister says with a cheerful grin. "I hear tell that you might be interested in a bit of biz. If you are interested, head on over to Underworld 93 tonight at 7. There’s a small concert going on. Let the doorman know you’re there to meet McCallister, and he’ll get you some good seats. After the show’s over, we’ll have a chat and I’ll tell you a bit more."
Underworld doesn’t really look like much from the outside: a simple ferrocrete building that looks like it should be warehousing machinery, not the location of a nightclub. The only distinguishing features of the club are a simple steel sign outside with the name, and an AR display that is far more impressive blazing the name of the club in bright neon lettering along with the club’s logo: Charon steering a speedboat across the River Styx.
At one time, this was the place to be for Seattle’s who’s who. The attraction for the place has long since faded for younger crowds who are always looking for the next big thing, but the place still retains its reputation as being the place to see some of the hottest music acts of yesterday and today. Jetblack, Shield Wall, CrimeTime, DarkVine, Blitzkrieg, the Psychedelic Phlegmm. All have graced that stage at one time or another, and tonight sounds like another big name.
There is a sizable crowd outside the building, with a line of people stretching around the building. A pair of intimidating troll bouncers wearing expensive tailored suits stand guard at the door, ignoring the majority of the crowd as if they simply didn’t exist, only occasionally letting people into the club after one of them consults an actual paper list on a clipboard. One way to make a guest list unhackable is to write it down. An ARO in front of the building explains the crowd. Maria Mercurial is doing an unannounced concert at Underworld 93 tonight at 7:30. So that's why it was so crowded!
The MC holds up his hands to quiet down the crowd. "Alright, you shower of brain damaged re-wired mutants! Here’s the reason you’ve been sweating all over our nice, clean floors all evening. Ladies and Gentlemen - if there are any of you out there - and the rest of you trash as well, I present to you the one and only, MARIA MERCURIAL!"
The crowd went wild as the lights dim, and then everything goes quiet as the first haunting synthesized notes of Mercurial’s hit song "Take It To Mister" swell up from the speakers. A spotlight comes on, illuminating a slender, lovely figure wearing a midnight-blue dress. All four of her cyberlimbs gleam with polished chrome. Her voice is as lovely as ever, and the first lines of the song washed over us.
Mercurial plays a two-hour show before wrapping up. Several up and coming bands go on after her, but it’s clear that most of the patrons consider the concert as good as over. A waitress comes up and offers to escort us into the backstage area, where MacCallister was waiting for us in a small meeting room.
The waitress led us into the backstage area, past a couple of large bodyguards who stood guard. Near the ceiling, we see a small Japanese boy, floating and translucent. I might not be Awakened, but even I can tell what a manifested spirit looks like. Security's tight, but that’s not surprising considering the superstar in attendance. Down the hall we see MacCallister talking with Mercurial! He smiles and nods to her, then heads toward us.
"Hoi chummers!" He calls out. "This way, please." He motions to a door to your right. Inside is a small room with a table and a handful of chairs around it. It’s a tight squeeze, but we manage to get all of us inside and sit down. Once the door is closed, the roar of the music and crowd cuts off thanks to soundproof walls.
McCallister said "Let's cut to the chase. I need you to find a missing woman for me."
Silvertongue then said "How do you know Maria Mercurial?
"We met way back in the day. Anyway, I want you find a girl for me. Her name is Fiona Craig, she’s an archaeologist who just arrived in Seattle last night on a flight from Greece, she doesn’t live in Seattle, and she vanished, missing a couple of meetings she was supposed to have today. His employer wants her found ASAP. I'm offering each of you ¥3,000 if you find her."
"I reckon that ¥5,000 each would be sufficient for a rush job like locating a missing person."
"I'd love to give you that much, but I've only got enough for ¥4,000 each."
"That will do just fine."
Silvertongue and McCallister shook hands, and the hunt was on!
The team have been hired to find a missing woman.
© 2013 - 2024 betterwatchit
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