My name's Sage. I go in all fields.

Yesterday: Wendy, dropping into my lap from out of the gray, terrified that someone's trying to kill her. She tells me she's being followed, she says she's being framed. While we're talking a man with a gun shoots at us. I thought he was aiming at Wendy, but I'm not so sure anymore.

I take care of him and his friend before they can get Wendy outside. In his accomplice's pocket I find an encrypted disk. We head for BB's shop to lay low until I can get my bearings, but it doesn't happen that way. I break my rule. I don't keep it professional. I think I might start feeling something for her.

Then it all goes to hell.

The disk has instructions for a robot-human hybrid, a machine inside of organic skin. On Wendy's advice I go against my better judgement and put myself in front of Laudine, the human infobank. There's nothing she doesn't know, but what she tells me sends me reeling.

Wendy knew those men that shot at us, or so Laudine claims. Wendy had the disk before they did, but she couldn't get it open. That's what she came to me for. Why is Laudine telling me this? Is she double-crossing Wendy?

Laudine demands a copy of the disk as her price, but I blow out of there without paying my tab on account of the firefight between BB and some guns on bikes. That's when Wendy pulls my own gun on me and tries to hijack the disk. She can't bring herself to shoot me, even when she had me spot-on and helpless. I return the favor by curbing the bikers with BB's ride and leave Wendy on the lawn.

>>18629234
Oh, dear. Is it summer already?

>>18629234
counter bump for interest

>>18629234

BB and I head for cover in the middle of the blight. We need a place to lay low until we can figure out the next piece of the puzzle. One thing leads to another and I'm a microsecond away from having my brain splattered all over the street when I find out BB and these freegers go way back.

Once we've made our introductions BB tells me a story about the days after he went AWOL. About the streetdoc who popped his tracking chips out. I meet him, and he drops a bombshell. The hybrid project was his baby, before they scrapped it and opted to give him a permanent dismissal.

But someone brought it back. Brought it back and completed it with Wendy's help.

I take the thirty thousand Eastern Canada dollars Yuji paid up for the last job I did for him and invest them wisely in a set of hyperconductive neuromotor enhancers. I figure cranked-up reflexes might keep me alive a little longer than a fancy coffin.

I'm heading for the doorman to collect our guns and get back to the freegers when I check my calls. Yuji's been trying to get ahold of me for the past hour. I'm staring at my phone when it goes off.

It's Wendy.


What now?

>>18629465
Answer it, but keep the convo short in case she is trying to track us.

>>18629483
Yup, that. Just, you know, keep a hold of yourself. ahold isn't a word.
/grammarfaggotry

>>18629538
I was wondering why it was redlining me... eh, too full of pizza to be bothered with conventions!

>>18629483
This, also check your guns for tampering just in case!

The phone clicks on. Her voice through the speaker.

"Jack, I know what you must think of me but I didn't have any other choice."

It's my turn to stay quiet and listen.

"You can give it back to them and they'll leave you alone. They just want it back. Please, Jack, they'll pay you for it."

I listen to her breathing on the other end for a moment.


What now?

>>18629797
She tried to kill us. Why should we listen to her? At all?
>click

>>18629797
Hang up. Maybe call her something derogatory before doing so.

>>18629797
"You couldn't tell a wirejack from a Jack that doesn't want things plugged in it."
>click*

>>18629824
>>18629868

Sorry, Wendy. Not in the mood for small talk.

BB looks at me when I tell him who called. "What now?"

Good question. If ReGene is responsible for the hybrid, they're probably the one sending guns at us. Laudine already has a copy of the disk - by now she'll have blackmailed someone into putting their brain on the line to get around that Rem and getting the info out of it. Will they still care if everyone knows about it? I don't know how much of a stretch it is to assume Laudine might be siting on her copy until it's in her best interest do do otherwise.

One thing's for certain - until I settle all this I've got my hands full.


What now?

>>18629986
I think it's time we take the initiative. If ReGene is a suspect for who keeps sending these people at us, we should go somewhere to find out more about them. Maybe Yuji knows something, too. Make sure we take BB with us wherever we go. It looks like he's the only one we can mostly trust.
We have to find out some information.

>>18630043
Just going to step in and point out that as a former citizen of ReGene, Dr. Saldana might know some things about them.

>>18630069
We must return to the good doctor and put an end to this getting-shot-at bullcrap.

If I'm going to swim with ReGene I need to know things. The doc used to be a ReGene citizen, but I don't know how much he wants to get dragged into this. He's showing an awful lot of patience not sending us packing now that we don't have any more business for him.

Yuji's trying to call me again. He might know something. And if he doesn't, I can always get in the Net and snoop around directly...


Decisions, decisions! What to do?

>>18630273
Excuse yourself and answer the call from Yuji. The worst that can happen is he calls you, tracks your phone, appears here, kills the doctor, pisses off BB enough to betray you and slam you with a wrench, and then show up to kill BB and all the homeless people. I'm sure it's worth answering to see if he knows anything, then reference anything he tells you regarding...ReGene or anything else with BB and the good doctor here.

>>18630308

"This better be good."

"You must be out of your mind, Jack. You're radioactive. Everyone wants whatever it is you've got. All I'm hearing is stories about you and some slot."

Good old rumor mill. At least they got it part right.

"Listen, Yuji, what do you know about ReGene?"

The question stops him cold. "Why?"

My patience flatlines. "Just answer." Yuji sucks in some air between his teeth, that habit when he's about to tell you something he doesn't want to, or that you won't like.

"Well... they're not someone you mess around with, Jack. They aren't the biggest, but they supply all the big ones. They've got teeth, Jack. You know what I mean? Enough that they don't have much competition in what they do."


What now?

>>18630273
>1600x1200

Whoops!

>>18630390
More like glorious.

>>18630376
Can't anything be easy for a change?
We definitely don't want a war here. No supply line attacking, no raiding laboratories. We just want to not get shot at anymore and get some more money, right? We have a disk that people want. We don't exactly want this disk, but since we have it, people want to kill us. So...
He's probably not the man to know about this, but quietly ask Yuji if he knows anything about Dr. Saldana, and/or if ReGene has been sending other hitmen around.

>>18630512

That's the thing about information. You want it, you need to put it out there. You have to show your cards. Now Yuji knows this is something to do with ReGene.

"Saldana? Doesn't ring a bell. He some ReGene suit?"

"Never mind him then. You sounded a little surprised when I mentioned the corp, Yuji." I let it hang in the air just long enough to make sure he doesn't have a preloaded lie, then ask him flat-out. "What have you heard about them today?"

"Ahh-" he drags a sigh out, then the line is quiet for a moment. "I've heard some things. They're not doing anything directly, obviously, but you pick up things here and there, right? Some people get hired, you find out who they were talking to..."

"I heard you were talking to Laudine. She have anything to do with this?"

Never mind that.


What now?

>>18630666
Well, one thing we might get mileage out of right now would be... a corp that really, really hates ReGene and wants in on their market.

Maybe try setting up a deal with them - if such a group exists - for protection. Maybe even buy our way into the corp's workforce.

>>18630666
>filename
>666
Well crap we better hang up soon or DEVIL Communique Corp. is going to charge us.

>>18630762
I agree with this, mostly. I think we can be more bold, and outright go try to sell the disk for money and services. If ReGene only has a LITTLE competition, maybe we can find someone else who'd like to be a new competitor by making their own...what do we call them, now? Meatbots?
Just giving the disk to some backalley doctor corp that can't protect themselves from wired reflex-enhanced gunmen isn't the smartest move. I think it's time we exchanged this disk for something useful.

Didn't we add extra security to the disk, too?

>>18630762

Suddenly a spark goes off in my meatbrain.

"Jack? You there, buddy?"

I leave Yuji's voice in my hand for the time being and run the numbers. There aren't any real competitors for what ReGene does - that's what Yuji said. They don't have rivals, but they supply military cybernetics to all the big bad corps. If I can get something heated up maybe I can ride the explosion clear of this whole mess.


What now?

>>18630877
>making their own...what do we call them, now? Meatbots?
The proper term is 'hybrid'.

>>18630877
>Didn't we add extra security to the disk, too?
You put a snooper on Laudine's copy so you can (in theory) know what she does with it. You still have the original disk that has the Rem-equipped guardian bots on it as well as a clean copy and a copy of the version with the Rem (both those last ones are on your rig right now).

>>18630923
Right, right. Gotta think fast on this one... umm... one of ReGene's client corps. Big one, with cybernetics manufacturing capacity of their own. Finding someone with a more strained relationship with ReGene would be the best, but right now, I think we might just want to find the greediest. Two things I can imagine to happen if we pawn the disk over - first, our "client" will shoulder into ReGene's market with that. Or, they take ReGene's balls to a vice with the details of the stuff. There's gotta be some conventions against this kind of stuff, and as such, a good PR campaign could sink them.

Aaaand then there's the third unfortunate option, that they just wax us and hand the produce back to ReGene at a price. But hey, I guess it couldn't hurt? At least more than we're already hurting?

>>18631180
I'm listening. Anyone have anything else to add? Speak up!

We could do our best to stay on Laudine's good side. I'm sure she has pleanty of use for a specialist like us and not even regene deal with her resources.

It's not the most glamourous job, but I reckon it's our best bet at a "Career" we have left.

Or we could take a/some job(s) or sell the disk to Yuji then disapear forever.

>>18631259
>>18631180
Well, uh, yeah, that's what I was thinking! Let's go find some side client who WON'T just give the disk back to ReGene and incite some conflict, all in an effort to stop us from getting shot at.

>>18631318
I don't think she HAS a good side. She's like a diamond, where every facet looks just as brilliant no matter what side you look upon it, but all parts are equally indestructible and hard.

>>18631397
A diamond. A diamond made of assholes.

Now, of course, there's one more side to the whole rotten business. The side of folks like the Doctor and BB. The side of people who are going to suffer even more when these stupid murderbots start flooding the markets. You know what's on that disk. Soldiers that will never ask questions, or say no.

There has to be a way to turn this whole thing around and cornhole the corps, for what a little man's indignation is worth in this world.

Cast pic while everyone finalizes up the next part of the plan.

Wait if the disk is solid proof that ReGene is up to no good, then perhaps if a little spin on it could make it look a little more drastic, make it look like this is going to be the leading edge for them to make a big push into the big leagues, tripple A territory. Then take that info and feed it to people who have a vested interest in staying at the top, let them point guns at each other for a while. Might not take the heat off altogether, but if you're lucky, maybe it will make enough chaos to allow a little breathing room.

>>18631563
>>18631180

I will say that the idea of a fully-cybernetic being is not something that will play well with the public. As someone said last night, it's a gateway to immortality for one thing, but as people here have been pointing out it's also a probable start to having the world overrun with corp-owned murderbots.

However, the peds will probably not believe you if you just hack a news feed and broadcast the plans. They only listen to legitimate propaganda from approved sources.

>>18631639

Oh I didn't mean feed this to the news reels, I meant doctor the info so it looks like ReGene are the only ones who can control and order these thing, and then selling it as an augment package to the big boys for security upgrades. Something like that, we don't have to like the moral implications, we just need someone with guns and backing to start aiming at ReGene, so they stop aiming our way.

Heck, it doesn't even need to be remotly true, just have enough real information in there to make them, reconsider their positions with ReGene.

>>18631639
>They only listen to legitimate propaganda from approved sources.
...
What if we go to a datafeed media corp and sell them the story of the disk? If they play along, I imagine them running a story about ReGene's antics and no-good research. Then other media corps want to get in on that story.
...That's where this plan falls apart, though. We get MORE attention because people want that disk and they want more information. Then, simply pawning the disk off won't be enough, because we would have rustled some feathers and gotten some slander out about SOMEBODY, if not ReGene. We'd still be a wanted man.

Dang it, this isn't easy. What do we do?

"All right ladies, time to go." The doorman materializes and waves his gun at us.


Anything you want to ask Dr. Saldana before you leave?

>>18631720
Well, assuming it worked how we wanted, we would doctor the information somewhat -- change the story and tell the news the story that we want. Basically we'd say that ReGene is working on making secret murderbots and that they could soon be entering production -- you couldn't tell if the guy next to you is organic or robotic. We'd try to incite fear, and hopefully the story would get out. But that has the opposite effect of getting people to leave us alone, I think.

>>18631639
We need to blow this thing wide open, but we don't know a direction.

Did we leave the street doc's place yet? He's probably been where we stand right now before. If we wanted this whole project to die forever, which way would he shoot it? And what's BB's take on this thing? As an ex corp soldier on the lam, he probably hates the idea of murderbots even more than the average man.

>>18631742

It would be nice if he knew a way of disrupting these murderbots, or at least detecting them, from a hypothetical point of view, but I doubt he would. Maybe he can give some insight into who has it in for ReGene if he used to be from there.

>>18631742
>Anything you want to ask Dr. Saldana before you leave?
Oh yes, just a quick question.
"Hey doctor, do you know how we could best tarnish ReGene's image?"

>>18631795

Seconding this. The Doctor doesn't like this project at all, so he's probably already made these same considerations while he still worked for ReGene

>>18631795
>>18631872
>>18631944

"Wait-"

I put up a hand and the doorman's gun is aimed dead-on at the center of my chest. One micromovement and I'm breathing through my shirt.

"We need to know about ReGene. About what it will take to fragment them long enough for us to duck out."


Roll a d12 and link to this post!

rolled 10 = 10

>>18632061
"And something that'll sink this shitty, idiotic program of theirs too, if there's any justice in the world left."

>>18632086
Nice.

rolled 2 = 2

>>18632061

We may have to die martyrs

>>18632086

Saldana nods at the doorman's glance and he relaxes his trigger finger but leaves the gun trained on me. "There is a woman, her last name is Julia Rose. She was the head of our clandestine department during our attempt to create the hybrid. After the project was terminated she remained with ReGene."

"And now?"

"Now she is the CEO."

I start to wonder how the doc considers this good news, but then he finishes collecting his thoughts and drops what I need to hear.

"She has always been... at odds... with the rest of the management structure. Not many knew about the project, of course, even many of our superiors. The few who did were largely against it. But Mrs. Rose was always skilled at evasion. If she revived the hybrid project, it is likely that she did so without the knowledge of her colleagues."


What now???

>>18632288
It's time we run the story to the media. I sincerely doubt we're going to get a clandestine meeting with one of ReGene's top personnel. If we could do that, great! If not, use the media and throw ReGene into rumor control mode like Bioware and homosexuals.

We leave Saldana and his doorman and head back into the blight, feeling like we haven't accomplished anything despite all that I've done in the last day.

"Where now?" BB asks. "Back to Clarence?"

I'm about to answer when I hear the sound of metal snapping on metal.

>>18632288
Oh goody I got back from work in time to do some Lego quest.

Anyway!

Sounds like it is time to take down a megacorp!

We must go into the net, and find one of these competitors/colleagues. Basically anyone worthwhile to info-dump on.

We need to start corp-war 2. It's the only way we aren't going to become footnotes in an CEO's agenda.

And while we are at it, find Wendy.

>>18632288
>>18632589
Well, the plot seems pretty clear. We get in touch with the ReGene chairman of board or some other competing big shot. Make the terms simple - either they do some house cleaning, or we mail this one to their client corporations, the underside of the web, the media, the Amnesty, the Church of Latter Day Saints and every movie director in existen-

>>18632601
-oh, balls. Better use those reflexes.

He lands from a thirty-foot drop with the ease of a cat jumping off a sofa. He stands up and puts himself into a pose I've only seen in vids.

"It's about time you turned up. We've been looking for you."

rolled 2 = 2

Suddenly he's in the air and his sword is whipping downward straight at me.


Roll a d12 for whatever you do! If it's wired-reflexes related I will take the better of the first two rolls!

rolled 12 = 12

>>18632783
Quickly, use the junk on the ground as chaff! Then regroup with BB for ranged pot-shots while the ninja is recovering.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18632783
Wired Reflexes
Dash forward and rea--
Wait, that guy above me rolled a twelve? Yeah, let's go with his thing then.

>>18632841
I would claim that ninjas are immune to chaff, but damn, I'm not going to argue with that roll.

Are you insane? Cyber ninjas eat poorly aimed bullets or breakfast! He'll seat away all of your rounds! You have tiger in close and blast him. That'll finish off that grayscale fox!

>>18632841

Quick as a cachedump I snatch up a rusting steel lid and fling it at the pajama-party reject. It catches him dead-on and hard enough to divert his trajectory away from us!

rolled 3 = 3

I barely have time to grab my rig and backpedal before he's on his feet and closing the gap between us!


ROLL A D12 FOR WHATEVR YOU DO!

rolled 3 = 3

>>18632986
Take a leaf outta BB's book. Dive back and shoot like you've never shot before.

>>18632962
Anyone told you you're good at this lego photography stuff?

rolled 1 = 1

>>18632986
Shooting him probobly wont stop him, but it will make him swing is sword at is.

Take a shot to make him swing the sword at us, but dodge at the last moment so the sword goes into the fence behind us. The fence is probobly electric or at least the sword will get stuck in the links buying us time for round three.

rolled 5 = 5

>>18632986
WIRED REFLEXES
Take aim at his legs and tell BB to blast his torso! He can't stop all of those bullets at once.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18633048
>>18633071

He knocks the gun out of my hand like a magic trick. Up into the dirty air it sails, clattering back down behind him. The bastard is laughing.


Roll a d12 for yourself and one for BB!!!!

>2
>3
>3
>worst cyberninja ever

>>18633146
Dat smiling smooth asshole motherfucker.

>>18633062
>Anyone told you you're good at this lego photography stuff?

Once in a while, but I still like to hear it! Thanks!

rolled 10, 2 = 12

Two dice?
Two fisted action!

>>18633169
The sea of faces picture from last night? Wicked cool

>>18633173
I meant "two people roll". I'll take yours as a 10 for Jack!

rolled 9 = 9

>>18633196
how do i rolled dice

>>18633187
Yeah, this game has been a lot of fun to photograph.

rolled 90 = 90

>>18633196
BB is for Big Boss so he deserves a bossier die

rolled 5 = 5

>>18633173
That's not how "better of first two rolls" works.

"BB! SHOOT HIM NOOOW!"

>>18633224
>equivalent to less than 2 on a d12
welp

>>18633173
>>18633214

Once he does his trick with my gun he turns to BB, aiming to skewer him. Bad move, buddy. Who needs adrenomax?

KLUNG! I swing the dish as hard as I can into his skull, hard enough to knock him to the ground!

BLAM BLAM

BB unloads two shots into his chest and gore flies away, but not enough, not what there should be -

rolled 7 = 7

He flings himself backward, a piece of paper caught in a hurricane, too fast for BB's aim to track! The sword is a spinning helicopter rotor as he closes in again!

ROLL A D12 FOR WHATEVER YOU DO NEXT!

rolled 3 = 3

>>18633522
Run directly at him to go for the trip!
He will never expect it.

>>18633578
Good thing that's covered by the hyperconductive neuromotor enhancers.

rolled 11 = 11

>>18633522
Whip out another blank disk and chuck it in his general direction with a "just take it and go, fucker!" while we go for our gun, wherever it flew off to.

"You want this so bad? HERE!"

Neurons fire, amped from the hyperconductive implants past anything Mother God intended. Before he can stop me the gun is in my hand!


What now?!?

rolled 3 = 3

>>18633911
Right between those cheesy old-time goggles. Put him away for good.

>>18633840
>i can't believe this worked twice.jpg
The classics are classics for a reason, and Jack is old school. Fits his style.

Presumably if the ninja cares about the disk, he's either chasing it or has snatched it by now. If he's doing one of those, recover our stance but don't shoot yet. If he's doing anything else, shoot him again while saying "That will put you out of work if the project goes through, you know. They'll toss you aside like so much trash in favor of their new, improved model."

rolled 2 = 2

>>18633911
Let him eat lead. We are fresh out of cake.

>>18633935
>>18633983

Before BB and I can do anything about it he parkours up the pipe and vaults up onto the roof, out of sight.

That won't keep them away forever.


What now?

>>18634046
DOES HE HAVE THE DISK?!

>>18634046
Talk to BB. "Unless Clarence and friends can kill that guy and the next half-dozen like him, there's no going back to him. We'll have to move fast and forward. Can you get me somewhere they won't be able to immediately track? I need... on hour on the nets, and one way or another this shitstorm will hit the wind farm."

>>18634086
>DOES HE HAVE THE DISK?!

He has a fake blank disk, yeah.

>>18634198
Oh thank heavens

>>18634146

"A hiding spot..."


Roll a d12 and link to this post!

rolled 4 = 4

>>18634243
Hope you can pull a rabbit out of your goggles... hat... whatever

rolled 1 = 1

>>18634265
WELP I AM RETIRING FROM ROLLING

>>18634280
AND NOT A ROLL TOO SOON

>>18634265

BB's resources are tapped dry. I can't fault him for anything - in the last day he's given me his shop, his ride, his old friends and his doctor.

"Don't sweat it, man."

I'll think of something.


What now?!?

>>18634398
Wouldn't the homeless be ideal for finding hiding spots? Let's go ask them if they know anyone else in the city.

Or we could go to the nearest hotel and leech off their Net to go make more fake copies and have a place to sleep in comfort.

Or we could go back to That Woman and ask her about this cyberninja.

rolled 2 = 2

>>18634398
Fuck, thinking of things is a bitch and a half.

Do we have any favors left to call in? Now would be a fucking great time to have another old friend or two. Rolling for it.

If that fails... I guess we can call Wendy back. She's got some emotion stopping her from totally offing us, and enough ReGene connections to probably get us in touch with some people there- we might be able to make threats against this Julia Rose bint, get the project shut down by contacting someone above her, or... something. Maybe talk Wendy into helping us blow this shit open, if we make it clear that we're going to die for this one and aren't willing to knuckle under to the corps yet again.

>>18634476
>Wouldn't the homeless be ideal for finding hiding spots? Let's go ask them if they know anyone else in the city.
The freegers might know someplace you can get on the Net.

>Or we could go to the nearest hotel and leech off their Net to go make more fake copies and have a place to sleep in comfort.
Or that. More conspicuous, though.

>Or we could go back to That Woman and ask her about this cyberninja.
Laudine? Sure, you could do that too.

>>18634511
>Do we have any favors left to call in?
You could always call Yuji back and see what he can do.

>I guess we can call Wendy back.
That too.

>>18634543
Who exactly is Yuji? He gives us jobs, but who are his ties to? Is he just a generic infobroker/middleman type, or is he in with any specific corps?

>>18634514
If that assassin could find us so easily, then returning to the freegers could put their lives at risk, not to mention BB's shop. But, if the Net is what we need, then perhaps we should go talk to them. That Woman would be bad to talk to right now. Wendy tried to kill us, but...well, I don't see how she could help us now.

Freegers it is if you ask me. Remember, our main goal is to NOT die.

Just go give the ninja the real disk, fuck this shit, go out for drinks with BB, bet all our money on women's wrestling.

>>18634625

Yuji does his best to stay clear of corporate politics - he maintains a small group of bodyguard-legbreakers, but he isn't beholden to any corp or other entity.

>>18634659
Didn't we just give all that money to the Doctor for the reflex upgrade?

ACTION POSE while we come to a decision!

>>18634718
We're not really betting on money. I'm playing off the FUCK WOMEN FUCK AMBITIONS ending of Catherine

>>18634635
Clearly it is time to throw caution to the wind and attack. The path of the running roach is forcing us into traps of the web weavers. We must instead be like wasp, stabbing at the weavers in order to secure a future.

Firstly, we much find a contact, one of the enemies of this Julia Rose. From there we can gain wings and a stinger.

>>18634718
>Didn't we just give all that money to the Doctor for the reflex upgrade?

Yes you are flat broke.

>>18634733
Do they even sell lego guns any more? It seems like one of those things that would be NO FUN ALLOWED

Jacky's face looks like a smile there, instead of the usual blankness. I like it.

>>18634757
>Do they even sell lego guns any more?

Those pistols and this one came from a set that was released in 2011. The ones in the Batman sets are even more realistic.

>>18634666
Then he sounds like our best bet. Call him back and let's see where we can take this.

"I need to get in contact with heavies at ReGene. Board members, if you can swing it. You said I'm radioactive- black projects getting loose tend to do that. Ten to one you can finagle your way into some serious pay from them in gratitude for helping uncover a bit of internal corruption- if we can talk to the right person, and the next goddamn corporate ninja doesn't take my head off. Are you in or out?"

"Back to Clarence?"

It seems like the only option so far, as much as I hate putting the freegers in the way of more trouble. Either them or Yuji should be able to give me a place to get on the Net long enough to find someone we can use as a weapon against Julia Rose or whoever else is in on this.


Let's hear it - where are Jack and BB headed, the freegers, Yuji's, or somewhere else? Decide now - first choice to get two votes calls it.

Lego Quest I want you to realize that twice in this thread you've gotten >666

Yuri the Shark, he is also a fisherman. He knows the ways of trapping small prey well. But like all small fish in a big pond, he knows all too well the bigger fish. His contacts are questionable, but with such questions come knots for our enemies webs.

Wendy, the secret giver. She doubtlessly knows more secrets. What weaver trapped her? She would not have had the disk without a whom to give it to. Her contacts are dangerous, but assured.

Laudine, the inhuman beauty. She is danger herself. Her leads will come, but will they be foes instead? Perhaps the thread we wove for her will tug and we wont need to directly confront her again.

Many ways to walk, any one could be our salvation.

>>18634862
Call Yuji. We can't go to Clarence; they're BB's pals and friends don't get friends killed.

>>18634862
Freegers.

>>18634862
We should ring Wendy up.

>>18634862

Yuji, no sense putting any heat on the freegers.

>>18634869

What are you saying, Anon?

>>18634962
WHAT A TWEEST

>>18634962
Reminds me of that one movie...

I vote asking Yuji for help

AAAAHH that scared me! Screw you Lego Quest, screw you with a megablock.
I really am gonna have heart failure. Freakin' leaning forward and sneering, scary as hell in the thumbnail.

"Yuji... I need a favor."

"Sure, Jack, I'm all ears." Yuji's voice is business-casual but I can picture his grin on the other end of the signal as I lay out what I need.

"Not a problem. You coming over now?"

BB snaps in two fresh rounds.

"Yeah. We'll be there soon."


Anything you want to do on the way to Yuji's? You'll be driving there (or BB will be driving there).

>>18635028
Stop for some soba on the way?

>>18634962
ALL OF MY NOPE

>>18635028
Make sure out own gun is reloaded, and take something with us to throw. Like a...coffee cup or something. We seem to be the expert at throwing things.
Call Wendy and, if she answers, tell her we'll forgive her if she can stop being a backstabbing [expletive], then hang up.

BB can't accel out of the blight fast enough for me. No offense to the people - those freegers weren't so bad after they stopped trying to bash my skull in.

Without really thinking about it I click my phone on.

Her voice, frantic, ecstatic. "Jack?"

"I would have helped you, you know. If you could keep a gun out of my face for a few minutes I might still help you."

"Jack, you need-"

My enhancers click it off before I have time to process what she was saying. BB glances over and sees me staring at the dead phone.

"Problems?"

No more than we had before.


Anything else?

rolled 2 = 2

Say something witty.

>>18635190
Lets get ready for a net dive.

"Jack, buddy!"

Yuji doesn't get up to greet me as we step in past the guards in the alcove. They know we have guns but it's all right. Yuji's left-hand man has corp-level hyperexpansive reflexes and a machine pistol - he'd cut both of us down in a second if we tried anything stupid.

"So, Jack. I hear you have a story."

"But I'm thinking 'What's in it for me?' Yuji leans back, exposing his underside. Untouchable in that chair and he knows it.


What now?

>>18635367
"You know the one about Odysseus? How he started a war and then got sent for the trip of a lifetime?

Well we are doing that a bit backwards."

We tell he we need to get into the net so we can sell something big.

rolled 5 = 5

>>18635388
A man like you always knows how to make a profit. Especially when he knows that a company like ReGene is about to collapse.

rolled 6 = 6

Threats won't work on Yuji. We have to negotiate...
>>18635388
"If you give me access to the Net, I'll give you the disk. I'm sure you can find a use for it."
Secretly intend to give him a fake, if we can get away with it. If not, why didn't we think to make a blank copy that had the two ROM security measures copied onto it?!

>>18635416
>>18635404
>>18635429

"Yeah, you and ReGene." Yuji leans forward and fishes a pack of cigarettes out of his top drawer.

"All right, Jack," he says, exhaling a cloud of blue smoke. "You can dive from here. We do good work together, you and me. I'll get you a chair." He looks at BB. "You want a chair too, big guy?"

"I will stand."

Everyone watches as I assemble my rig.

My eyes glance up at BB on their own. I hope he can stay out of lizard-brain mode for an hour.

"Those things will kill you, Yuji."

Here we go.

That plunge like you got pushed off a roof into the ocean. For the first microsecond you can't get your bearings, your meatbrain rebels against what's being forced into it.

Then you get it together and realize you can breathe underwater.

No time to lose - I grab the first access menu I can find and co-opt it, dumping a scour program into the unlucky catering shop that pays a subscription. They'll sort it out at the end of the month.

The scour works on an ever-expanding algorithm of my own creation. It makes my job a lot easier, but it's still dicey.


Roll a d12 and link to this post!

rolled 8 = 8

>>18635653
TIME TO BROWSE 4CHAN WHILE WE'RE HERE. LOAD UP THOSE REACTION IMAGES

rolled 7 = 7

>>18635653
>>18635653
To the winds.

I spend a few megacycles checking the feeds while my scour does its job. It tops itself off and reports back, and it gives me lead - someone wants to talk to me anonymously.

Did we ever figure out what Laudine did with her copy of the disk?

"Who is this?" Nothing, then

"Are you the one looking for the hybrid?"

"Tell me who you are."

Info vacuum. The hypothetical isn't going to out himself just yet.

A signature like a land mine drifts by tumbleweed-style. Probably some kind of stray bot left over from a meatbod war that spilled onto the Net. Open areas like this aren't what I'd prefer to spend much time in. Too vulnerable. "Is there someplace we can talk?"

I think they've given up, but maybe they're just weighing their options. They give me the code for a private grid. This could be what I'm looking for, or it could be a trap.


What now?

>>18635749
>Did we ever figure out what Laudine did with her copy of the disk?

Not yet, but now that you're back in the Net you could check it out!

>>18635751
If we walk away we get sucked back into another hour long hell where we all can't decide what to do. I vote we at least talk to this faggot.

What sort of danger are we in right now? If we deckjackhackjumpnethophackfreak over to this private interwebs?

>>18635760
I highly doubt we can simply Hypergoogle "Laudine disk" and figure it out. And, frankly, I'm not too sure I want to try to snoop on the PROFESSIONAL SNOOP. We're in enough trouble already.

>>18635751
Not like we have any other options. Let's go to his room.

>>18635785
Knowing what Laudine did with the disk is important. It pertains to our bargaining position if we have to talk this nonsense out.

>>18635773
You said hack twice

>>18635785
We put a tracer program in it way back when.
>>18635760
Let's check it out!

I check my dropbox and see what my snoop has to say, but it's quiet. Either Laudine found it and got rid of it or she hasn't done anything with the copy I gave her.

Out past the public grids now. Into the wild. You lose all sense of time out here, your brain starts demanding more input.

Something materializes into being around me, and I catch the sound of waves somewhere.

A pocket beach translates into being at my feet, waves appearing out of nowhere and lapping against it. The sand feels real under my feet, and somewhere an insect buzzes by.

Splashing behind me. I turn, and -

Wow. That's a signature.

"You're the one with the disk."

She says it so matter-of-factly, the words tumbling out of her mouth like surf from the invisible ocean around us.

"How do you know about that?"

She goes vapid, looks past me. "I can't say."

"Can't, or won't?"

She's looking back at me now, and behind those smooth features I actually catch a hint of some other feeling from her signature - regret?


What now?

>>18635903
Should signatures have such crappy poker faces?

I doubt shooting her would do any good so let's try getting her talking. She has something to say or we wouldn't be here. Time to dig.

>>18635917
>Should signatures have such crappy poker faces?

No.

>>18635919
Which means we're dealing with someone who is either a total moron, thinks we're a total moron, or just doesn't into this internets thing.

A moron wouldn't know about the disk. Someone who thinks we're a moron might try to convince us that they're the good girl but probably would just throw a wad of cash at the table. More likely the mermaid is... intriguing. Can't hurt to hear the story.

Unless the mermaid is about to hack our internets and kill us, but, hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

>>18635941
>Unless the mermaid is about to hack our internets and kill us
Oh, we're not so easily FINished

>>18635919
This will be interesting to say the least

>>18635903
Interface with the daughter of Phorcys. She has called us out here to foretell our disaster, but she may yet be our cure.

>>18635945
I don't think you quite grasp the scale of the danger we're in

>>18635941
I bet she is a hybrid. We should hack into her.

"If you won't tell me your name, at least tell me what you know about ReGene." Gorgeous signature or not, I'm on the clock here.

"You have to stop Rose."

"Julia Rose? The CEO?"

"Yes. She's the one driving all this. She's operating on her own now. The plans were destroyed. The only copy they had was on the disk. She needs it back or she won't be able to-"

"To what?"

The mermaid looks at me. "I don't know. My memory doesn't go any farther than that."

"What do you mean 'your memory'? Are you a bot?"

"Please, we don't have much time. They're already on their way."

"Who?"

"The ones she sent."


What now?!?

>>18636003
We should ask her who can dethorn the Rose.

It is probobly the last question we are going to get out of her.

>>18636019

"She can't be tamed. It isn't in her nature."

"What about kicking her out of her corner office, at least?"

"If she leaves ReGene she'll still want you dead. She kills anyone who gets in her way, even if they don't matter."

Good to know. "What about taking her out?"

"She has two servants above all. Not full hybrids, but partly so."

Yeah, I think I might have already made intros with one of them. "So we take them out and she squeaks? Not a pro-"

"No." Her voice booms like waves. "She is more dangerous than either of her servants."

"OK... why are you telling me all this? What's in it for you?"

The mermaid looks away, into the green nothing where the ocean calls.

"Vengeance."


What now??

>>18636088
I want to ask "why vengeance?"

But I think to ask "Well, what can take out Rose if she is a super-cyborg warrior?"

>>18636088
we really gonna pick a fight with Rose on the word of some mermaid? We've shut out just about every other potential friend we have.

>>18636210

"I think you might be overestimating what I can handle. I've been pretty lucky so far, but flatlining isn't something I'm anxious to get over. And killer cyborgs - probably out of my league."

"She will help you. It's her life they took."

"Who? Wendy?"

That expression again.

"It's already started. They think you've got an extra copy locked up somewhere they can't reach. You should be safe for now."

"Safe? What?" She's talking gigo again.

"Good luck, Jack."

What the fuck-

"No. No no no."

My phone rings.

"Who is this?"

"We have your friend. Are you listening, Jack?"

rolled 57 = 57

That mermaid gave me the weirdest boner... I need to stop going on 4chan.

>>18636293
WELL FUCK

>Descartes.jpg
Give her the disk

LQ. You are truly a special Quest DM thing. I've enjoyed Blockout (and the other quests! (pic related)) very much and just want to thank you for creating it.

Your friend, Anonymous.

>>18636340
Thanks, anon! I had high hopes for finishing this game up tonight, but it looks like Jack's story has at least one more chapter! If anyone else is up for an afternoon game I might try to finish this off in about twelve hours. But for now... GOODNIGHT LEGONAUTS!

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=lego%20quest


Aaaand all LQ episodes are archived here for your convenience. Be sure to downvote that shit!

LEGO QUEST, OUT!

Didn't see that one coming. Great quest! I'll try to actually participate next time!

>>18636790
Didn't see that one coming.

Neither did I, to be honest. I've been making everything up since the first day. So far I've been able to stay one step ahead of the players. Having a confusing cyber-noir story where everyone is backstabbing everyone else makes it a little easier.

Hopefully the final chapter can start in about 5 hours.

Lego Quest, I'm jealous that your ideas are so cool and interesting.

>>18638578
Hah. Thanks! It's easier because people like Legos.

Aaaand I just remembered that I have to be somewhere tonight, so I am going to try and run the last chapter of this in about... two hours.

>Holy cow was the shootout at Laudine's really three chapters ago...

I loev Lego Quest.

"Yeah, I'm listening."

"Good." The voice is artificially bland. No clues there. "You have something we want, Jack. If you're a good boy we'll let you walk away from this. Are you going to play nice?"

"I always do."

"The ReGene building. Top floor. Midnight. Bring the disk. And don't try that switch-up again."

My mouth grins involuntarily. Two for two, assholes.

"What about BB?"

"Midnight."

The phone goes dead in my hand.

Before I dove in I loaded the disk into my rig in a deadman loop - if anyone but me tried to eject it my rig would fry it along with the backup copies. Looks like they didn't even try. The mermaid was right about that, at least.

They didn't touch my case. Gun's still where I left it. Good.

No telling how much of this blood is BB's. Or Yuji's. Yuji, you son of a bitch. I hope they didn't rough you up too badly. Wish I could have been there to watch it.

BB. You watched out for me, kept me safe. How long did it take? When they came in and you were between them and my meatbod, how long did you hold out before they put you down?


What now?

By the way, I put BLOCKOUT up on the LQ wiki:

http://legoquest.wikia.com/wiki/BLOCKOUT

It's more or less up to date as of the last chapter. I guess I'll tweak it a little and hope some Legonauts show up in the meantime.

>>18640038
Now we go rescue our bro.

>>18640244

Hours to go before sundown. The last time I slept was at BB's shop.

I need a plan.


Anything you want to do before it gets dark?

rolled 2 = 2

>>18640343
Well, a nap sounds good. Hide ourselves well, and/or set up a trap to wake us (and potentially delay any intruders).

Call Wendy. We need some help and an escape plan. Do we know anyone with a helicopter or something?

I can't stick around at Yuji's - sooner or later one of his crew will show up, and I doubt they'll believe some guy they find sleeping in the middle of a bloodbath. Daylight stabs my eyes. Head pounds, I can't risk using the autopilot to take me home.

Home sweet home. Rent-controlled, in the sense that the building system has this space listed as occupied by a backup generator. Not like I need much - a soy processor, a tap, a place to charge my rig.

I set the case down, lay the gun next to the mat. If I had some more adrenomax I could fight it, but I'm done for now.

Maybe if I'm extra lucky someone will come along and flatline me in my sleep.

Rolling for knowledge about flying vehicles in the setting (and on how to procure and pilot one).

rolled 9 = 9

>>18640866
Forgot to actually roll.

Five hours later my eyes pop back open. Without thinking about what I'm doing I sit up and grab my phone.

"Jack?"

"We've had some bad transfer between us, Wendy. I'm willing to put that behind me if you are."

Silence for a moment, then she breathes out. "You didn't have to call me." That's not what the mermaid said.

"A friend recommended I call you up. Try to play nice. Are you in?"

"If I say yes, will you give me a copy of it? A real copy I can use?" Again with the fucking disk. I know why ReGene wants it. Why Julia Rose wants it. What's Wendy's stake in all this?


What now?

>>18640918
Promise the give her a copy of the disk AFTER you rescued BB and made sure that ReGene will never bother you again.

>>18640950
And I suppose we could try to save Yuji as well... If he didn't stab us in the back in the first place...

>>18640950
>>18640974
We should also ask her WHY she wants the disk so bad.

>>18640950

I tell her how it's going to be. Another long silence.

"That's the best deal I'm going to get from you, isn't it?"

"It is. Take it or leave it."

"All right, Jack." Her voice is calm, that suicidal resignation I've heard before. This is the endgame. She knows it. "Do you want me to bring anything?"

"A parachute."

"What?"

"Never mind." I'm grinning again. BB, I hope you weren't lying about that ultralight you used to brag about.


Anything else you want her to bring with?

>>18641060
She needs to bring that slick gun she took from us. If its better than what we're using right now, we could definitely use it.

Damn, I can't stay for the rest of the quest. Now I'll miss the inevitable daring rooftop escape.

Twenty minutes later there's a knock on the panel that doubles as my front door.

She makes small-talk out of necessity. "Same old place."

"It gets me by. Did you bring that gun?"

"Yeah." She pulls it out, a corp-made machine pistol that puts BB's revolver to shame. "So what's your plan?"

I put her back in the loop, tell her about what happened at Yuji's, about the freegers before that.

"Wendy."

"Yeah?"

"There's something I want to know. Why do you care about this disk so much?"

"Jack-"

She looks away, down at the scuffed plastyrene floor. "Don't ask me about that."

Four hours to midnight. BB's shop is thirty minutes from here. If that ultralight really flies we should have plenty of time.

I'm counting on it.


What now?

>>18641349
We should check onBB's shop. If I was a mastermind and I'd just kidnapped someone, if I knew where they lived I'd probably rig their stuff. We need to figure out an escape route too somehow, I doubt they'll just let us waltz outta there if we give up the data or not. That parachute isn't sounding like such a bad idea now...

>>18641349
STEAL HER SKIN AND WEAR IT WHILE ASKING IF PEOPLE WOULD FUCK YOU

>>18641349
Can we roll to woo the answers out of her? We obvious care about her and her about us.

>>18641513
>Can we roll to woo the answers out of her? We obvious care about her and her about us.

Let's see it.

She did it didn't she? She finished the research the doctor couldn't. He said someone would need in depth knowledge of our interface thing and that's what she specialises in. The kid she killed was probably linked to some kind of test.

I'm hoping she wants that disk back to make sure the information doesn't get out. I'm hoping she just finished off some parts with out the bigger picture and when she found out it was for hybrids she horrified. But maybe not.

rolled 10 = 10

>>18641575
Rollan for guy

>>18641513
>>18641601

"Hey." I take her hand in mine. "I need to know what happened so we can take care of it."

"Jack, you don't -"

"Whatever it is, I'm a part of it now. You made me a part of it." I look at her and don't let her look away. "You owe me this info, Wendy."

"All right." She leaves her hand in mine.

"Five months ago I was arrested in Barcelona for selling a rig to a yousee. It cost me more than I had. They were going to flatline me, or flatline my mind. You know what I'm talking about." Yeah, I knew. I knew what they did to pretty girls who couldn't keep up. Who needs conversation when she's not programmed to say no?

"I was in a holding cell for a week. No food, just pills and water. They made me take them. I thought I was in hell. Then one day a man came in and offered me a deal. They were looking for someone like me, they'd take me back to the city and pay me. I went with them, I met her. Julia Rose."

"I guess you already know what the hybrid project is. I didn't know about all the failures, they kept that info from me. The stuff they had was turbo, I could barely keep up with their hardware designs, but they had been made by peds who lived in their labs, you know? People like us, Jack, we're out in the field fine-tuning our hardware every second."

"When it got to the end, we got to the point where everything functioned, I couldn't take it. I had learned too much. I dumped their hardware full of Rem and erased what I could after I copied it onto that disk. I thought I could sell it somewhere, get some cred back and disappear. I had the only copy, but the info was too locked-down for me to get at. That's why I needed you."

"I'm sorry, Jack." She looks away, I let her.

"I'm sorry."


...What now?

We forgive her for now, we need her on our side to get BB back. Taking her in with us will probably get her shot, they'll probably after her as much as they're after us.
Ask her if she could prepare some serious interference to make our job/escape easier. Can she make something that will screw over their security or fry jumped up super enhanced soldiers like old Swordy McNinja from earlier.

>>18641951
>Can she make something that will screw over their security or fry jumped up super enhanced soldiers like old Swordy McNinja from earlier

Roll a d12 and link to this post!

rolled 3 = 3

>>18641983
Rollan for guy. Also try to give her a hug. Bitches love hugs.

rolled 2 = 2

>>18642005
Reroll so we don't end up stabbing ourselves on a pencil?

>>18642005

Whelp, time to think up something else. She can fly BB's plane right?

BB's shop is still locked up when we get there. He might be lotek but there was a maglock installed when he moved in, lucky for us. I check its backlog and it's clean since we left. If they went through the trouble of picking up after themselves we're fucked anyway, so I put it aside.

We were here yesterday but it feels like a hundred years since then.

"I can give you a basic scrambler, it'll be enough to get us close without getting pinged as anything more than a drifting ad-sat. Either that or an EMP gun. I don't think we have time for anything else, and there's only so much I can do with BB's equipment."

"Speaking of approach, how are you planning on getting us there? Are you going to charter a blimp or something?"

"Not exactly."

BB, you magnificent bastard.

"This is - you're going to fly this?"

"That's the plan." I don't tell her that it might not even fly.

"OK, you've impressed me. Now what?"


Good question! Are you going to have her make a radar screen, an EMP gun, or something else? And what are you doing while she works?

Scrambler, We've still got a couple of good ol' fashion guns and they'll have to do, maybe surprise can give us an edge.

While Wendy is busy lets quickly check in with the snoop bot and see it Laudine was up to anything while we were passed out on the floor. Also check for any chatter on Yuji or ReGene.

>>18642481

Wendy heads for the welding bench to get started. I climb into the cockpit and settle in against the seat. It's cold and stiff from sitting in the garage but it loosens up from my body heat.

BB used to talk about this ultralight. Some kind of deal he was involved in - the ultralight came to him in pieces, Greater Arizona markings half-stripped. They used them to snipe refugees trying to poach water lines.

I whistle up my snoop again but it comes back empty. More and more I hope Laudine is sitting on her copy whether or not she found the snoop. Back in again, I ask around anonymously and find out Yuji's people are as blanked as anyone over this. Looks like they found the mess we left in his office. Noodle around the Net for a few more minutes and check the feeds. Nothing.

The feeds being completely dead is a little scary, something should be floating about. Makes me think we'll head in there and not even be a rumor after we're dropped dead in a ditch. Maybe we should come up with a crazier plan to get everyone's attention like releasing half the info on the disk into the net and crashing the ultralight into the ReGen HQ, do something to get people talking just in case we get disappeared.

That might be crazy talk though.

One hour to midnight. I stretch my legs and stare into the darkness, booting up for what's coming. Footsteps on the concrete behind me. "All right."

I look it over - professional work considering what she had on hand.

The ultralight seats one, no discussion. We put Wendy in a harness and cinch it up tight. It won't be a fun trip but it's all we can do. She tugs on the harness, nods, points up at the rotors. "Are you sure this will even start?"

In the pilot's seat now. "Let's find out."

I close my eyes and press the starter. Something thumps under my seat and the fuselage begins to shudder. The rotors whine and turn slowly, hitch, spin once.

"Come on, come on -"

Then something catches. The whine rises, then drops away, replaced with the deep WHUPWHUPWHUP that feels like my ears are being popped over and over. I realize I'm laughing.

We're coming, you bastards. We're coming for you.

Unfortunately real life is cutting into my Lego time, so we're going to have to call it early today. The good news is that means more Lego Quest later on!

I have to run out for a little while but then I will be back for a bit. A big thank-you for the people who stuck it out last night and into today!

>>18642995

I probably won't be about if you run the final part tonight. So i'll take the opportunity now to say a massive thank you for running this! It's been great to read and follow even if I've only been able to post a couple of suggestions along the way.

To all the legonaughts taking part in the next chapter, Good Luck! I hope you tear ReGene a new one.

>>18643136
Definitely not tonight. POSSIBLY tomorrow during the American daytime hours, but I don't know.

I guess it's good that we stopped here - that means next game will be ACTION SCENE all the way through!