This is Cindy Robb, with the World News Service, and I'm live at the Grand Heritage International Hotel and business tower in Port City, where tragedy has struck on what should be the most festive of holidays. Instead of holiday cheer and good wishes, the hotel today was a scene of violence and bloodshed. [camera close-ups of bodies spread on the concrete floor] According to eyewitnesses, while hotel employees were decorating the grand ballroom in anticipation of the coming New Year's Eve celebrations, [security footage begins] a group of masked gunmen entered the building, killed several of the security staff, and [gunfire on the tape] brutally attacked the workers. Police are on the scene [pan of city vehicles at a distance] but there has been no statement by the city, we don't know if a group or individual has taken responsibility for the attacks, or if the police have leads to follow up on. The Grand Heritage will be the scene of Port City's annual charity host New Year's eve ball, where the cream of local business and community leaders have been invited to rub shoulders with the city's elite families. Tickets to the event are unavailable, and the guest list, which is by invitation only, may be planned several years in advance. [footage of famous guests from previous years] Hotel staff tell me there are no plans as of yet to cancel the New Year's event, despite the gruesome carnage, I am assured that the ballroom will be ready on time for the first arriving guests. [footage of bodies again] Stay with us for more details as they unfold... [pan of the ballroom] --------------------------------------------- The sparkling crystal constructs of the net speed past and give way to a maze of passages of metal, stone, wood, and paper. The traveller, a cartoon icon in a trenchcoat and hat picks his way among them, avoiding traps, pushing through walls when the doors won't open, until at last he finds his target. In the bowels of Port City's police database, records begin to vanish. ----------------------------------------------- Jack's phone rings. It's a familiar voice. "You up for a little job? You seen the news today?" ---------------------------- A deep, computer altered voice speaks to you, slowly and clearly. "Konnichi wa Echigoya-san. Good afternoon, Mr. Echigoya. Or is it still Tamasaki? No matter. I see you choose to remain in Port City. This is dangerous for you, ne? I have a proposal that will make it much less dangerous for you personally... " -------------------------- There is a soft electronic chuckle. "You have certain talents, Tamasaki, that I might make use of if you are not dead. If you do not wish to become dead, and wish instead employment with certain generous benefits, then we have items of mutual business interest to discuss. Otherwise I suspect you will voice your feelings on the matter by disconnecting this call." ----------------------------------- Within a few minutes pages of information begin to arrive. The data: --A picture of an attractive young(?) woman with a microphone headset --A picture of the same woman with a group of what appear to be news-media at an accident site --A picture of the woman and the crew of a WSN news van --A ground floor layout of the Grand Heritage Hotel, with the Ballroom highlighted in green ink --an address of a flower shop in the corporate zone, with the notation that deliveries are accepted until 10pm --a receipt for a coffin-room at the Kyoto Dragon, including a deposit record for an item left in the hotel safe --a picture of Akira being carried into the pool hall by Dick and Eshtan --------------------------- At the weapon check he drops a pair of 9mm Militech pistols, then pushes inside. Nate is middle aged, slightly stocky, with bland features and short hair. His heavy overcoat makes him seem almost fat. The kind of guy you'd expect to ignore at the mall or the arcade. Behind him Silke walks in and drifts over to the bar to order a ginger ale. Looking around for a moment, as if he is meeting someone, Nate waves down a waitress and asks for "a glass of the house red, please." ------------------------------- : "I got a client interested in that business at the Heritage, wants 'better documentation' than WNS is offering. Sounded like your thing." "what are they wanting? busting into the Heritage? shouldnt be a problem, except for the added security... when do they want it? you know... spill the beans" Jack grins even though he knows he can't see him... ---------------------------------- "What they want is complete copies of the security recordings during the "event". My guess would be either the security staff or the cops will have a copy of the master chip, but the client seems to think the hotel's file copy will have details that weren't shared with the police, so that's the version he wants. Says he needs it tomorrow. " ---------------------------------------- Akira regognises the kid, "Oh its you, the pizza girl,yeah Jana's just fine, if you have something for her you should probably drop by her place..but er.. let her know your coming so she can make sure the gangs who live nearby don't hassle you huh? Actually there's something you can do for me, i'm expecting a someone im supposed to meet to arrive soon but i don't know what they look like so if anyone comes in and asks for a glass of the house red then don't bother getting it, just let me know ok." He puts a ten on the counter and pushes it across with his index finger, "im gonna throw some water in my face, if he gets here while im gone just knock on the mens room door... ok?" He smiles briefly and gets up off his stool to go to the mens catching sight of ZZ just settling in the corner and glances across to the doorway to see if anyone was coming in with her. --------------------------------------- : "Hello, welcome to the Toxic Times. I'm Ampere, your server," Ampere says, limping over to Nate. : "A glass of the house red? Just a minute, I'll get it for you..." : She catches sight of Akira at the back of the room, and gives him a nod, and indicates the table, her hand hidden to everyone else by her poncho. : Akira notices Ampere's signal, and nods back to her... He slides into a stall watching Nate make himself comfortable and Silke tapping her long fingers on the bar as she sips her ginger ale. Once he's happy Akira rises and stands next to the table opposite Nate so he has Silke in full view. "Mr Hudgins?" ------------------------------- Looking up at Akira. Text scrolls over his cybereye view, a message from Silke That's him. "Mr Echgoya?" Slowly, from inside his coat, he pulls out a clear plastic case, the kind sometimes used by children to hold pens and office supplies. Inside are a number of credsticks. ------------------------------------- After taking care of business with Bobo, Jack grabs his bag of equipment from the trunk of the Lincoln and stashes it in the non-descript sedan. Thanking Bobo he drives off to the hotel where the blood bath took place. He scouts around for a nice place away from the crowds to get a good look at the front door, looking at the security there and further up, as well as delivery drivers and their content entering the building... using IR and enhanced audio to reach further into the building... he does this for about 2 hours... --------------------------------------- After a while you can separate the hotel into three sections. There's the media circus and police activity contained in the ballroom and the east parking lot. There's the main area of the hotel where guests are going about their normal business in a quiet stately manner, and there's the behind-the-scenes working section of the hotel. Hotel security seems to be concentrating on keeping the media and thrill seekers away from the rest of the building and the regular guests. You spot a number of discreetly armed suits mingling with the bellhops, gently steering "lost" media back to the area alotted them. There's electronics around, too. Hidden cameras in ceiling mounts, behind plants, disguised as clocks, and so on. Typical upscale hotel kind of stuff. Delivery is going to the back and side entrances marked as such. The staff seems to know who to expect, if you listen you catch a few comments and greetings that indicate the drivers are regulars on the route. Linens come in, some fresh foods for the restaurants, a couple of mail services drop off packages. ------------------------------------------- Jack logs into his portable computer and does a data search on the hotel, looking for publicity photos, floorplans, vent systems, sewer systems, wiring diagrams, businesses associated with the hotel, companies inside the complex, owners, employee list etc... --------------------------------------------- There's a long track on the hotel, starting in 1998 when it was built, through the refurb in 2019, with all the holidays, weddings, campaign speeches, plumbing problems, and restaurant reviews of two decades in between. There is a plethora of public imagery, of the lobby, of the rooms, of the restaurants, of some of the ballrooms. There's an article on the head chef from two years ago, with pics of the kitchen. There's an article on how interior designer Barbie Schaeffer redecorated the '14th Floor', an upscale businessman's bar on, yah, the 14th floor. The hotel operates a small complex of ballrooms, meeting rooms, and conference space. It does not have other businesses in the building, except the subcontract restaurants: Perrington's (chic, reservation only, known for the prime rib), Louie Blues (barbeque and live blues music on weekends) and the 14th Floor bar. Info on the electrical system, floor plans, and so forth seems to be lacking on the public net. --------------------------------------- : He takes a metal box out of his pocket and places it on the table top leaving his metal hand on it. : "Please open the box, Mr. Echgoya." Nate smiles. When Ampere arrives, "I'd like to change my order. Club soda with lemon, please. " Akira opens the box and places his hand on the table next to it, while he wiats he looks at Nate, checking him over for signs of cyberware or bioware work. ----------------------------------------- Opening the small plastic case, Nate lays out seven credchips for Ampere to examine, and places a paper folder on the table between himself and Akira. "The last fifty is cash, I hope you don't mind. I had a bit of trouble raising the funds on short notice. " Nate obviously has a datajack in the temple, but you have to look close to realize the designer Nakamichi cybereyes aren't real. Anything else is hidden by his clothing. ------------------------------ Ryu-sama one more item Akira's mobile phone begins to ring. ---------------------------------- Into the bar walks a hulk of a figure with some disturbingly familiar cyberware, something in the way the arms are fashioned reminds you of a tractor. He spots Akira immediately and the mechanical claws flex with anticipation. Behind him another crash, sounding like a door being thrown, and another cybergoon. "Akira Tamasaki!" he bellows, pointing at his target. ----------------------------------- Akira scoops up the credsticks and places them in a compartment which snaps open in his arm and then shuts with a click. He grabs the folder as he stands quickly pushing the chair back behind him and backs away from the door looking for other possible escape routes from the bar. Switching the folder to his meat hand he holds both hands up, "Hey, hey, Guys.. surely we can come to some kind of arrangement here?" --------------------------------------- Boris grins and clumps forward with more speed than you'd expect, sending chairs and patrons scattering. "Yah, a re-arrangement, take an arm off, or maybe thet pretty face..." He grabs for Akira. Otaslav stands his ground, taking a moment to start the chainsaw mounted where his right arm used to be. ---------------------------------------- : Akira walk backwards as Boris runs at him and pops open the submachine gun in his cyberarm, "Bad tractor" The room is filled with the staccato sound of automatic gunfire and the muzzle flash glows brightly. Akira continues to walk backwards away from his attackers. ---------------------------------------- Boris takes a step back from the impact as bullets ricochet off his armor. Shaking it off he lunges forward and clamps a metallic fist around Akira's cyberarm, squeezing it slightly and causing the weapon to jam. With a grin he hoists Akira by the arm and holds him just off his feet. "You should not hang around here, it is dangerous," he growls. --- Otaslav pauses, then replies with a wide metallic grin indicating intelligence somewhere above idiot level. Looking at the woman at his feet, the one with the irritating toys, he flicks his other wrist at her to eject a web of filmy, sticky goo that half covers her in a tangle of rubbery strands. The chemical smell of the mess is enough to make your eyes water. (You can get out of this but it will take a minute or two) Holding the chainsaw arm aloft, he waves it at Zig-zag, then indicates with his other hand that NightFlyer should back up into the office. ------------------------------------------ Blinded by the flash of the shotgun and the spray of shot Otaslav staggers backward from the blast, reaching out with the chainsaw arm to steady himself, and slicing into the end of the bar instead. Flailing, he slashes at random, swiping a shelf of glassware, chopping off a beer tap that causes a gyser of brew to reach 3 feet into the air, digging out a chunk of flooring and taking a piece of Zig-zag's leg with it... (don't worry, it's not fatal) With paladin's entrance and grenade attack the chainsaw goes flying, spinning under a nearby booth where it roars and hits the woodwork with a scream of gnashing blades. Otaslav falls to his knees, blinded and clutching the stump of his arm, bleeding and howling mere feet from where Zig-Zag is stuck to the floor. ------------------------------------------- In the vestibule, shots ring out as Paladin enters the bar. 'Fucking wonderful,' he thinks opening his (in)famous bag of tricks and pulling out an equipment belt belt and what may have been an H&K MPK-11 in the distant past. Soundlessly he walks into the main bar and surveys the scene. Two hitters, likely Russsian judging by their cyberware, one holding Akira, the other taking fire from Flyer and some other random patron. Muzzle sweeping to the shoulder interface, Paladin lets a 25mm HEP round fly from the underslung grenade launcher and the now useless Russian tech falls to the floor with a metallic *thunk,* the hitter's stump smoking. Paladin begins moving arund through the bar to maintain clear lines of fire to both goons. --------------------- : : He tries to push the body again unsuccesfully : Covering Otaslav, Paladin calls over his shoulder, "What's the word, Flyer? How does this one leave?" The targeting laser from his smartlink refocuses into a visible dot on the side of Otaslav's throat. Still aiming the 10 guage at Otaslav, "he is leaving one way or another... the choice is his..." -------------------------------- With another display of intelligence Otaslav pushes to his feet and staggers toward the door, stopping for a few seconds to look over at his fallen partner. Purposely not looking at Paladin he walks over and collects the body, then walks out. -------------------------------------------- In Reply to: Re: Surveying the damage posted by ZigZag on July 22, 2000 at 12:08:23: : : Zig Zag comes limping out of the kitchen, "Sorry I messed up your kitchen a bit. Gotta get Sully to increase the gain on those EMP darts. That should have stopped the saw from working. Ordinarily I'd help in the cleanup efforts but..." she shrugs and sits down at the closest table (right near the edge of the bar counter, RE: floorplan) and props her injured leg on another chair. She looks over at Akira, "So, Akira is it? Before you get any fancy ideas, I was helping Flyer not get his place busted up again. What the hell were you doing brokering Jana's deal anyway?" : Akira finally gets to his feet and shakes his head rubbing an eye socket with the palm of his hand, : "I literally feel like i've been hit by a tractor" me murmurs, hearing Zigzag, "Um what? Akira? No actually its not, and its my deal not Jana's, wherever the hell she is.." : He looks briefly around for his hand and then remembers where he saw it last, shit.. well its not like i can't afford one.He snatches up the folder quickly remembering its contents. : A guy who just walked into the bar starts talking to Zigzag to Akira's relief as she was starting to look like she might go for him. : He turns away from her and walks to the wall to lean against it and inspect his cyberarm, the bend is about 45 degrees and pretty much irrepairable. The paint around the bend has cracked and flaked off, its chrome effect leaving glittering shards of paint on the floor. Akira mentally commands the hatch to open ....... : nothing happens, : with a mounting feeling of horror and anger inside he tries again...... : Nothing. : "FUCK!" : He slams the now handless arm into the wall again and again as if to break it apart but the arms remains locked shut. : "stinking goddammn streetdealer doublecrossing SCUM!" : He hits the wall one last time and then turns sliding down it panting and just stares into space cradeling his usless arm with his other hand. So much euro, so close and yet so far away. : Realising the situation he stands, his face red from anger and embarasment and emties the folder, stuffing the money inside his jumpsuit and throwing the container into the trashcan. He breazes past the weapons check, which eventually after a swift kick delivers his guns back to him, and out into the street. : : Times Square Activated, : Applications select, : List Application selected, : ------------------------------- : 1. Find new cyberarm. : 2. Find Ripperdoc. : 3. Find heavy duty tool shop. : 4. Find food. : 5. Find Kyoto Dragon. : 6. Find Cindy Robb. : ------------------------------- : Save list. Filename list1. : End program. : Akira walks to the nearest Data Term and runs searches for the listed catagories marking them on his stored map in various different colored blobs. He then starts walking towards the nearest Clinic, he takes 20 euro and stuffs it in a side pocket and keeps his eyes peeled for a fixer or the cops. Tucking the malorian inside the suit also he keeps the Dialung ready in his pocket, finger on the trigger. : And walks. ------------------------------------------------- Looking at the dataterm it occurs to you that being out in the open is a BAD idea just now. Call it intuition, maybe experience, but you feel watched. Turning away from the booth justfies your hunch. A bullet tears into your meat arm, you feel it hit just as the faint crack of a rifle reaches your ears. Had you not moved the target would have been your heart.... ------------------------------------------------------- : Akira grits his teeth against the pain and snaps his gaze upward to see a figure atop the roof opposite.. reloading. : Whipping the gun out of his pocket he fires a few shots at the figure, which glance of the stonework around, seeing that he ducks back Akira turns and runs around the corner of the street away from him activating his adrenalin as he breaks into a sprint, his arm numbs as the drug does its work. : Akira brings up the map again, : Next nearest place, gotta get off the street. : He identifies a clinic and heads for it realising that for the full 8 seconds thast this took his phone has been ringing .. no time just yet he concentrates on running sticking to the wall so he is out of the gunman's line of sight. ----------------------------------------------- In the shopping plaza ahead, wedged between the Happy-Quick Mart (Lottery Tickets!) and The Taxx Man (win 2 free airline tickets with completion of your IRS form) is the familiar glowing blue sign of a CyberMax Family Clinic. (Special: buy one cybereye, get the second at half price). Inside the plastic waiting room a pair of teenage girls are giggling and browsing through the selection of light tattoos. Behind the bulletproof glass counter a middle aged woman is on the phone. "No, ma'am, you need to bring proof of insurance to your appointment..." ---------------------------------------------- At the hotel, the lunch crowd is thinning out and a number of trucks are winding down the service alley to make deliveries. The media crews have stopped to snatch some food from a passing lunch truck, and are back to interviewing a local soap opera starlet who stayed at the hotel during filming of episodes last season. ---------------------------------------------- The doorman carries the bag to the registration desk. "Thank you sir, enjoy your stay." As you walk across the lobby he money and effort that makes the Grand Heritage popular becomes apparent. Marble tile floors, gilt mirrors, and furniture in an elegant style are arranged with plants to create semi-private seating areas. A few other well-dressed guests stroll through the lobby on their way in,out, or to other parts of the hotel. A short man in a dark suit hurries through, you hear him say "Right, I'm on my way," but see no sign of an external radio. A pretty brunette with a name tag that reads "Almira" greets you at the desk. "Good afternoon sir, welcome to the Grand Heritage. How may I help you? Are you checking in? " ---------------------------------------------- : "hurm... what about? there isnt a convention or something going on is there?" "I'm not exactly certain, sir," she says in a practiced vague manner. Grand heritage employees seem to know how to keep guests uninvolved in the plebian circus outside their doors. : Jack follows the bellhop allowing him to pick up the same bag he allowed the doorman to carry. Jack makes mental notes, of cameras, sensors, security personel, security doors, directional signs and air vents There was a camera bubble behind the check-in desk, another on the front door of the hotel, one on the one side entrance you can see. There are emergency lights throughout the building, as well as fire alarms and a sprinkler system. A large brass engraved sign near the elevators directs guests to: the excercise room (2nd floor) pool and sauna (2nd floor) grand Ballroom conference rooms A-D conference rooms E-H Perrington's restaurant Louie Blues barbeque the 14th Floor bar You don't see any obvious security personnel. The bell captain station has a computer terminal, and it looks like the manager on duty is jacked into the hotel network at the moment. The bellhop next to you has some discreet headware peeking from under his cap. He opens the door to your room with his own passkey, places the bag on the luggage rack, and opens the balcony doors to the terrace and hot tub. "If you need anything else sir, please ask. Enjoy your stay." --------------------------------------------------------- "Please fill this out," she hands you an electronic clipboard with the text of a procedural waiver on it. "And slot your SIN at the top," she points to the chipreader. "Excuse me," she contorts in an effort to scratch her back. "I got this rash that just itches. I can't wait to get home," she confides, "but I have to work until six. Oh, this is driving me nuts." She starts to scratch at her hands. --------------------------------------------------- leaving a message Ryu-sama's clipped electronic voice repeats: "Please confirm this message within thirty minutes, or I must regrettably cancel the previous arrangement." ------------------------------------------------------ Akira fills the form out with the fictional details of a Mr Gordon before swiping the card and pushing the machine back to her. He smiles rolling his eyes, "Slavedrivers i tell you, all of em. You should ask one of the docs here to take a look at it." ------------------------------------------------- "Yeah, I got this cream," she tries scratching again. "S'posed to work for twelve hours but it gives up after four, you know. I might be allergic to something. Are you allergic to cats? My neighbor has a cat." Opening a desk drawer she pulls out a bottle of hand lotion and begins to slather it on exposed portions of her skin. With a greasy hand she gingerly takes the completed forms. "Have a seat, Mr.Gordon, I'll tell the doctor you're here." She closes the reception desk window and takes the forms through a door into the back of the clinic. On the wall of the clinic, next to a glossy picture of a model with Kendai(tm) cybereyes and large pouty lips, is a poster with the CyberMax Difference explained. Among other things it proclaims that all CyberMax clinicians undergo a rigorous three month training session and are tested before being graduated with the CyberMax School of Surgery diploma. In addition, franchises are available in your city! Call now for information. "Mr.... Godwin?" A tall, thin greyhaired man stands at the door to the waiting room with your clipboard in his hand. He looks you up and down thoroughly, studying the damaged cyberarm, before turning his questioning gaze to your face. -------------------------------------------------- This winter's hottest fashion is Pulse Bodywear from House of Thai. The heat sensitive clear latex bodysuit turns opaque colors after brief contact with body heat, rendering each outfit a unique fashion statement defined by the wearer. Designer Wing Richards is expected to be wearing one of these individually tailored trend-setting creations at this week's Charity Host Ball, on New Year's Eve. Also expected at this year's event is pop-rock starlet Aurora Kintera, who is in town this week promoting her newest album, 'Rain in my Heart'. A spokesman for the singer has denied that she is on the exclusive list, but other sources close to the band claim that the one-time girlfriend of sex-idol Johnny Silverhand is planning a big New Year's Eve and has been meeting in secret with fashion designers from across the globe in preparation for the big night. Another source reports that Aurora has merely been upset at the recent theft of her touring bus, which was stolen here in Port City two nights ago. Fashion reporter Moira Devens was on the scene at Atlanta's Christmas Eve bash .... ------------------------------------------------- Jack looks about the room, doing a bug sweep and camera scan. he surveys the outside window (balcony?) looking for a way to remove it. he syncs up the information that he aquired from the net, the news report and visual clues that he recieved in the lobby and the trip up to the room. After about 45 minutes of organization Jack puts on a micro camera and proceeds out of his room, making note of security in the halls, elevators, stair wells etc. he then goes in the general direction of the ballrooms, promptly appologizing and going another way if told an area is off limits... --------------------------------------- No bugs, no cameras. The room opens up onto a large (15x20) tiled balcony that overlooks the corp district. There is a whirlpool hot tub here and some nice patio furniture. The railing around the balcony is bulletproof glass about 4 feet high. A little residual snow remains in one shadowed corner. Out in the hotel: the locks all appear to be electronic, there are no cameras you can see above the 3rd floor (which is where the guest rooms all are). The stairwells all have signs that say "for emergency use only, alarm will sound" on the doors. You encounter minimal staff on most floors, a pair of maids finishing some rooms, another guest in the company of a bellhop on their way to a room... On the ground level there's a bit more traffic, guests and staff coming and going. The hallway leading to the ballrooms and conference center curves out of sight. Following it you come to another small lobby area, where several hallways divide off. One marked for the Grand Ballroom is blocked with a sign that says:
This Area is Closed for Maintenance Staff Only We Apologize for the Inconvenience.
To back it up a plainclothes house security guard is parked on a chair watching his Wearman, tuned to what sounds like last night's hockey scores. He ignores you if you don't linger. By looking you easily find the numerous discreet staff entrances to the kitchens, laundry, storerooms and delivery areas that make up the maze of the working hotel. There appear to be cameras on the inside of these doors, monitoring traffic from the public areas of the hotel. ------------------------------------------------------

As soon as Aurora hit the stage a flurry of questions is thrown at her:

"How long will you be in Port City?"

"What made you want to donate time to the children's center?"

"Has your tour bus been found?"

"Will you be re-uniting with Silverhand on his next album?"

"Who are you seeing now that Silverhand is out of your life?"

"Will there be other performances in Port City while you're here?"

"Who's the little girl?"

A particularly agressive reporter with a camera eye throws himself on the stage and snakes out his telephoto to get a few good shots of Ampere before he is dragged back to the floor.

Howling, the press now latches onto their new target, cameras flashing and video rolling.

"Who is she?"

"Is this your daughter?"

"Is your daughter going to perform with you?"

"Is Silverhand her father?"

"What's your name, honey?"

"How long did you think you could keep the love-child a secret, and does Silverhand know she tours with you?"

"Where does she go to school?" ------------------------------------- "Jonesy, have I got a story for you. Yeah, check these out, " he slots a chip into the side of the vidphone. "Tomorrow's headline, 'Silverhand Love Child'... look at this shot," he selects an image of a wide-eyed Ampere clutching Aurora's hand.... "Looks like she's about, I dunno, twelve, yeah... remember that piece I did last month on cloning and biovat organlegging? They can grow kids to look twelve in about two weeks.... So what? What's she gonna do, have me beat up? I got Sal on retainer after last time. " He highlights some more images. "Do a whole center spread. I'll get Linda to dig up the story on their split, she's real good at the details. We'll angle it on Kintera taking a DNA sample during their last fling... in, where was it?... Singapore? I can get a lab down there to say they did it.... Yeah?.... Love ya, Jonesy. " He hangs up the call and dials again. "Linda? Take a look at these shots.... Yeah, me too... I was thinking biovat growth.... Great.... see ya tonight, babe." Humming, he heads for his car. ----------------------------------------- Akira looks around, seeing noone else stand he rises trying to hide the pain in his arm and goes over to the doc, "Thats, Gordon. As you can see doctor im in need of your services [he indicates the arm] and would like to talk to you in private if thats ok." ---------------------------------------- He nods and points with the clipboard. "Have a seat in room #2." He follows you in, looks over the damaged arm without comment, then leans against one of the counters. "Mr. Gordon, I don't have anything in stock here that'll come near the features of this model, either for repair or replacement. I can offer you our top of the line model, which is a very good piece, if you like, and have you prepped for the surgery in about an hour." --------------------------------------------- :[camera close-ups of bodies spread on the concrete floor] There are five bodies, four male, one female, they looks to be dressed in hotel uniforms. :[security footage begins] a group of masked gunmen entered the building, killed several of the security staff, and [gunfire on the tape] brutally attacked the workers. Overhead shot shows a team of six running through a hallway, look to be wearing dark clothing (B&W tape), gloves, ski masks, carrying AKR-20s and some other small gear. (knives, spray cans, belt packs) They've apparently taken some care to conceal distinguishing features and cyber, though you'd guess two, maybe three are female. Gunfire does sync up with another brief overhead shot of two of the team kicking in a door and bringing the rifles up to fire into the ballroom. : [pan of the ballroom] Shows a very large classically elegant room with carpet, a dance floor at one side, overhead crystal chandeliers, a couple service entrances. Some round tables have been set up, a couple of rolling carts with chairs stacked are on one side, there are boxes piled on one side. The bodies are on the dance floor, there are two large stepladders nearby, one turned over on the floor, and some half-hung streamers from a ceiling mounted rack which may have some lights on it too. :does the gunfire sinc up? does the gunfire match the type of gun being fired? are there any other noises? Yes, yes, and you hear nothing from the assault team in the hall except the gunfire, after which there is some screaming. The tapes are short, maybe 3 seconds each. -------------------------------------- "Well to tell you the truth what i get here will just be a temp untill i can get something with all the options i require. So i don't really need top of the range. Before we start though i need you to take a look at this, he reveals the gunshot wound to his arm, i know its not the sort of thing you usually take care of here but i've got the euro to cover any additional expenses you may have." He pulls his hand off disconecting it from the arm and places it on the table. "I need to keep this .. and the contents of this compartment" He indcates the panel on his arm that to the trained professional marks the hidden compartment. ----------------------------------- He peers at the wound, looks back at you in a sort of disapproving way, and says "I believe I can sew this up for you." He sprays a little liquid on the wound, which stings at first but then begins to numb the area. Stepping back he opens a drawer and pulls out a pamphlet. "Have a look at this, it details the features of our various models, I think you might find the Executive Series to your liking, Mr Gordon." "I'll be right back," he says, leaving the room. The Executive I: smooth poly finish in matte sand, natural, taupe or sandalwood with either chrome or goldtone trim. Features: -- personal storage compartment (2x6") with security lock -- Executive toolhand fingertips: uniball micropen, identi-chip -- Microware miniature mobile phone (requires service activation sold separately) The Executive II: smooth faux finish in your choice of dark walnut, washed oak, or golden oak, with trim in goldtone or chrome. Features: As above, plus: -- Daytimer calendar interface with 8 functions and 3 memory 'hot buttons' The VP: Sleek brushed steel engraved with your corporate logo and your choice of gold or chrome detailing. Features: As above, plus: -- built in Watchman screen with datalink for instant stock market quotes -- Daytimer calendar interface with 10 functions and 5 memory 'hot buttons' The CEO: Your choice of 18 poly leather colors or chrome silver finish with real wood grain in dark walnut, oak, or orbital Crystal. Features: -- Daytimer calendar interface with 15 functions and 10 memory 'hot buttons' -- personal storage compartment (2x6") with security lock -- Executive toolhand fingertips: laser pointer, uniball micropen, security alarm, identi-chip -- Microware miniature mobile phone (requires service activation sold separately) -- built in Watchman screen with datalink for instant stock market quotes, and access to the Net ----------------------------------------------- Jack moves one of the bugs up to where the camera that did the filming took place, aiming it in the same direction (or if he can attach it to the camer itself), one by the front door, one by the back door, and one towards the center, under a table (if available). Jack then looks at the network jack in the room. hooks his compute back up and releases a "hunter" who main purpose is to locate the security outlets in the building. ---------------------------------------------------- It's hard to tell with the limited view of the hallway, but you figure the tape was made in one of two side service entrances to the ballroom. It takes a while, but you can get bugs manoevered into place as you like. The network jack in the hotel room is hooked up to the public Net, but not to the hotel's private internal network or security stations. Meanwhile, it's getting late. Dinnertime, probably. You hear the occasional thumping and bumping of guests checking in around you. Outside your window the city lights up for the evening. ----------------------------------------------------- The doctor comes back into the room wheeling a tray with some tools arranged on it. He asks Akira to remove his shirt, and looks at the gunshot wound again. Just as he gets ready to clean it out there is a buzz from a small speaker over the door. The doc looks up, startled, and with a quiet "Excuse me," leaves the room. The door doesn't close all the way and you can hear some conversation from the front. "That's him!" the receptionist says excitedly. There's a deep tone of a male voice you can't make out, and the doctor adds "Kristi, you can go back to your desk now. Yeah, he was in here, about fifteen minutes ago..." ---------------------------------------------- The rest of the conversation is lost in the rumble of a passing truck. Then there's a ding as the door opens and closes, and after a few more moments the doctor returns to his patient. "Mr. Gordon?" he says, looking around the empty room. With a quiet sigh he begins to pick up his equipment. "Kristi," he calls out to the front. "I think we can close up early tonight." --------------------------------------------- > Jack places each bug on its own digital recorder, trying to capture any info that may be leaked while people are in the ballroom. The media types seem to have been pushed out to the parkinglot. In the ballroom the detectives finish their examination, and the coroner's office loads up the victims and takes them out. You catch a couple of comments like "messy business" "no motivation for killing a janitor and two maintenance workers" , and "one for the boys in the lab". > occasionally stopping looking for motion detector or IR devices that might slow his progress. There are motion detectors along part of the building, at the 2nd floor, near where part of the roof of the first floor *might* be accessible from the ground. they're aimed down, and you can get around them from above. > He works his way around to the office area of the building and works his way down to the top of the glass on the first floor. ... while outside he runs a security scan of the room.if clear he slides into the room using the\ \ cable as a guide and escape route. once in the room he looks for a computer terminal. > This looks to be an administrative office of some sort. The lights are off. Security scan shows a motion detector on each end of the room, set to catch unauthorized entrances from both the door and the window. That little white box next to the right side motion sensor looks like a glass-break detector. You know that they work by detecting not broken glass, but sudden changes in room presure -- which includes opening a window.... ------------------------ Very, very much later in the night a battered van pulls up to the Greenbriar Apartments, circling slowly as if looking for a parking space, then pulling to the curb across the road. Lights off it sits for a minute, then the passenger door opens in front and two women get out and cross the street to the building, choosing an unlit entrance. Pushing the door open Jana goes in first, with a quick look back and a signal to the van, Kara follows. ---------------------------------------- Down the street, in an alley, a pair of punks curse their fate and the world in general. Fear of their leader, Mac, keeps them outside though. Hearing the van, they peek out. "Can't see nuthin'" the taller one complains. "Looks like two babes," the othe says, flicking his cybereye into IR mode. "Might be the one that the bossman's hunting." "I'll give him a call, 'kay? He can decide what to do..." ------------------------------------------ After just a few minutes an apartment light on the third floor comes on, shortly after that the van starts up, without headlights, and moves in a quick u-turn to the entrance of the apartment. Three minutes pass and the van drives off into traffic. Fifteen minutes later the van returns and parks in the lot near one of the other entrances. Within a minute a gold Lexus 3000NX sedan pulls into the lot, close to the side entrance. A man gets out of the front passenger seat, an uzi close by his side, and goes to open the apartment door. As he does, a crowd of people file out. A few Chinese punks, Jana, Kara, another punk, and finally an older Chinese gentleman in an expensive suit. -------------------------------------------------- Posted by Akira on August 07, 2000 at 23:49:18: Akira stumbles down the alleyway behind the clinic. Through windblown newspapers and sodden cardboard boxes, stepping over an overturned trash can he takes a right down a red brick space between two buildings, squeezing though where drainpipes make the space even smaller, reaching a junction he takes the left this time favouring the alley which widens out a little, tripping on some unseen obstruction under the layers of news paper he reaches out with his cyber arm to steady his fall absent fingers touch nothing as the stub of a wrist slides off the wall and he plummets to the papery bed below. shit Lying for a moment realising how dark it is and that his optics had automatically compensated without him realising, Akira pondered the futility of it all. He should just get out of town rather than try to get out of trouble. Although he still owed Jana her money, but then what did she do, where was she now that he was hurt and needed her. He blinked at the stars coming out. He needed her. He sat up and pulled the medical equipment he had scooped from the doc's tray out of his top pocket, even with his limited medical knowledge he knew that the wound needed to be cleaned. Swabing it with alcohol he applied a bandage wound tightly around the bicep and tied. that should hold it, but i think its gonna need stitches Putting what was left back in his pocket he struggled back to his feet and started moving again, remembering his phone he pulled it out to check who had called... one new message. Checking the message akira dialed the number and checked his watch. shit, when did he call? --------------------------------------------- : Within a minute a gold Lexus 3000NX sedan pulls into the lot, close to the side entrance. A man gets out of the front passenger seat, an uzi close by his side, and goes to open the apartment door. As he does, a crowd of people file out. A few Chinese punks, Jana, Kara, another punk, and finally an older Chinese gentleman in an expensive suit. A minute later, the roar of motorcycles is heard, as a pack of cyclists approach the apartment also. Out in front, Mac rides another Thundergod. Seeing the crowd in front of the building, Mac stops and looks, his low-light cyberoptic option easily picking out Jana. With a few orders, he leaves his gang circling in the street, while he rides his bike towards the group. Stopping a few meters away, Mac waits for the group to put forward a spokesman. His sharkgrin sparkles in the streetlight, and his cyberoptic glow a deep red. ------------------------------------------ The girls are getting into the car when Mac approaches, and Jana stops to look at the light, then, recognizing the source, ducks quickly into the vehicle. One of the young men standing around looks over at Mac, noticing only that he is blocking the car, and waves at him to move out of the way. ----------------------------------------- According to the timestamp, the call is over an hour old. Dialling the number given... #RING# "Thank you for using Northern Conglomerated Data Services. Here at Northern Conglomerated, "Your Business is Our Business".... We're sorry, but the number you have dialed is no longer in service..." --------------------------------------- Mac shakes his head in negation, and bellows, "Ah want a bit o' face time with that babe there," his finger points to Jana hiding in the car, "Or Ah might get a tad upset, if'n ya get mah drift." He remains in the way, and his gang behind him rev their engines louder... ------------------------------------------ Mac's shouting has caught the attention of the man in the suit, he looks at Mac for a moment, then has a quiet word with the nearest gunman. Bending slightly to look into the car the suit says something to Jana, then turns to the gunman again and shakes his head in the negative. He gets into the car and the gunman closes the door behind him. --------------------------------------- Not happy with the reception he's getting, Mac restarts his bike, and the roar of the engine brings the rest of the pack around. Mac points his cyberarm at the gunman as a final warning, as the rest of the gang sweeps nearer... ------------------------------------------ The handful of Wing-Kong around the car melt away, taking cover in the building or behind other vehicles. The Lexus turns its lights on high, the driver punches the gas, and the car heads straight at Mac... ---------------------------------------- Mac laughs as the car moves froward. The micro missile launcher in his cyberarm pops up, firing a pair of missiles into the driver's side of the front window. With contemptuous ease, he manuvers the bike out of the way of the car. Meanwhile, the gang opens fire on the Wing-Kong. A few throw molotovs at the other vehicles. The swirling mass of go-gangers sweep between the Wing-Kong and Mac... --------------------------------------------- Flame and thunder shake the car, but fade to greasy smoke when met with the armor plating under the fancy gold paint. From under either side of the wheel well pop a pair of Militech light assault rifles which sparkle and flash in the darkness as they clear a path in front of the vehicle. The Wing-Kong seem to have vanished into the darkness, knowing their neighborhood well. If Mac is paying attention he will hear the patter of small army-green cannisters hitting the pavement all around him. ---------------------------------------------------- Mac speeds away from the area, as exposions rip the air behind him. His armored jacket keeps most of the shrapnel off him, and he ignores the few cuts on his exposed skin. Howling with rage, he pulls his handcannon and starts on a rampage... His gang follow his lead, destroying cars and property in the area. As his rage begins to cool, Mac notices the van, still sitting undamaged in the molotov fires that surround it. With a snarl, he launches a micro-missile into it, watching as the van emerges form the explosion undamaged. Calling his gang to him, Mac launches the last missile into the apartment for spite before riding off... -------------------------------------------------- The gold Lexus rides out of the lot at a sedate pace, the guns folding back into their concealed positions as it hits the street. And takes off down the street in pursuit of the Lexus and Jana. ----------------------------------------------- Jack sits patiently for a minute. when all is clear he pulls a stick of gum out of his pocket and starts chewing. he then pulls a drill with a glass bit out and proceeds to drill a hole big enough for the nano rewiring bot to pass into the room. once the hole is drilled Jack pluus the drill out slowly catching the escaping air with the wad of gum he was chewing on. Jack then pulls out the bot, peeling the gum away when the heater kicks on. he then places the bot into the hole and reseals it with the gum. with remote in hand Jack manuevers the insect sized bot through the room and up the wall to the motion detector, disarming it, then moving over to the presure sensor and disabling that one as well. ------------------------------------------------- Time passes, it seems, as slowly as the pace of a beetle. The sensors disabled, no alarm raised or responded to, Jack is free to enter the building again and begin his computer search, as soon as his hands recover from the freezing cold outside. ------------------------------------------------ : "Thank you for using Northern Conglomerated Data Services. Here at Northern Conglomerated, "Your Business is Our Business".... We're sorry, but the number you have dialed is no longer in service..." Akira hangs up the phone. "Damn". He stops and thinks. \plain\f3\fs20\cf0\i No chance of this other deal bailing me out now, which means the city is a death trap. I gotta get out. I gotta find Jana and give her her money and get out. I gotta get my arm mended, find Jana, give her her money and get out. Right. \plain\f2\fs20 He rubs his eyes, \plain\f3\fs20\cf0\i damn .. tired\plain\f2\fs20 .\plain\f2\fs20\i Well, i could go back and see if those guys have gone, maybe get the doc to sort me out. \plain\f2\fs20 He yawns. \plain\f2\fs20\i yeah, i'll do that\plain\f2\fs20 . He walks back the way he came with his Malorian pointed straight infront of him in case the punks picked up his trail. Getting back to the clinic he notes that the window he crawled out of has been closed, seeing a light on he pushes his gun out of sight and taps on the window ------------------------------------------------------- Who can it be now, knocking at my door? The alley remains dark, but from the door you hear a soft buzz, as if an electronic lock has been opened for you. Inside the clinic the hallway is also dark, light spills into it from one room. From his desk, Doc. MacKenzie looks up at you as you enter. He seems to have expected you. "Ah, Mr. Gordon. I was just going over your chart. Are you still interested in the limb replacement? Or was there something else I could assist you with tonight?" -------------------------------------- after the bot successfully disarmed the motion and pressure sensors, jack moves to open the window as before, sliding in through the top, down to the floor. Once inside, Jack sends the bot over to the motion detector monitoring the door and disarms it as well (better safe than sorry). Jack then moves over to a terminal in the office, breaks in and looks for memos reguarding employee conduct in relation to the aforementioned event, as well as looking for ways to access the security nodes within the internal net of the hotel... -------------------------------------- After a bit of poking around Jack finds the electronic version of the employee handbook, which covers "situations" in the hotel. There are references to contacting "the appropriate hotel managers", not alarming the guests, and avoiding contact with the media. An email circulated to all staff shortly after the incident reminds them not to talk to the media, and advises against circulating rumors among friends and aquaintances. Examination of the terminal and its connections seems to indicate you are in the hotel intranet, but without full privileges to the security nodes. From this terminal you can do all kinds of interesting things to the employee benefits records, however.... You locate mention of three other offices you think might get you better access to the security network. One is in the office area behind the front desk, one is in a room off the employee lounge, and one is in the hotel owner's executive office suite on the 15th floor. --------------------------------------------- Akira shuffles into the room obviously suffering a little for the injury to his arm. "Yeah, ah, i'll take the replacement", he slowely lays down the medical equipment he swiped on the table and looks at the docs face, "Thanks.... i er, i'd like the orbital crystal one, obviously your gonna want extra compensation for this, which i can do." He reaches inside his jacket and takes a handfull of the money and places it on the table. "Do you have a car i can buy? I need one quick and can cover your inconvenience." ---------------------------------------------- "Mr. Gordon," the doc smiles and gives you all the warm feeling of a used car salesman. "The orbital crystal is an excellent choice, very stylish and durable." He puts his pen down on the desk and leans back in his chair. "As you know the model unit you're wearing now is incompatible with other models on the market. I cannot merely change out the limb. You'll need surgery to have the new one installed, grafted properly to your muscle and bone. I expect that to be a fairly simple procedure, about 4 hours in surgery. " "Your recovery will require at least a full day of bed rest and I highly suggest a week of rest after that, but I understand that men in, ah, your position, do not always have the luxury." In the shadowy light he grins and all you can see are glowing teeth reflected from the lamp. "I can offer you a reasonably safe place to recouperate for two days after the surgery, for extra compensation, of course. If you need a vehicle after that, I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement." He picks up the cash and scans it quickly. "This will be an acceptable downpayment on your account." "Would you like to begin tonight, or wait until morning?" -------------------------------------------------------- "Hey, its Akira, i've got your money, just geting my arm replaced and a few wounds dealt with, long story, im at the CyberMaxx clinic on 5th, you know, near the toxic. Can you get here? an' why are you whispering?" -------------------------------------------------------------- "Akira?" She whispers it so quietly you're not sure she said it. "Oh, hell. This is really bad timing. No, no, don't tell me..." Jana is interrupted by some loud yelling, and before she can say anything else you hear the unmistakeable sound of flesh being hit hard, and a loud crash as the phone hits the floor. A bit more yelling, then a long pause as someone picks up the phone. A man's voice, in English says "We will find you, and you will regret ever crossing the path of the Wing Kong." ----------------------------------------------------------- Oh shit "Look I'M the one who finds people, i don't get found. You come looking for me you better be waving a white flag nice and high, or you'll realise you shouldn't make idle threats to people your scared of." He hangs up and looks at the phone in silence. Damn, that 'to do' list is getting longer by the minute, better actually get some of it out of the way. "Ok doc i'm ready, i'll take your advice and go with the general anasthetic. Just so as you know, don't chuck the old arm i need to run an analysis of the damage when im back at the lab, see if there are any bits of the agressors limb in the damaged section that i could use to trace. I need it just as is so if you could also be carefull not to clean it or anything that might destroy evidence it would be appreciated, just keep your contact with it to minimum, do you have anything like a sterilised bag you could put it straight into?" ------------------------------------------------------- Across the hall a brightly lit blue and white operating room waits for you, the neon blue CyberMax logo casting a soft glow on the equipment. In the hall the doc is chatting with a tall fellow in a long coat. "Another midnight special, eh?" he says, moving toward you with a limp. In the reflected light you can see that the left side of his face is gone, covered with a metal plate, the eye replaced with cyber, under his duster it looks as if his left arm and leg are metal, too. Smoke from a cigar circles his face, he takes a drag and lets it out slowly as he studies Akira. "Sure, whatever," he sucks on the cigar again, taking a long moment to examine the stub while Akira talks. "When you're ready, Finn," he calls over his shoulder, half-stomping, half-limping into the surgery and preparing his equipment. The doctor has Akira sit down while he takes a blood sample and slots it into the analyzer, checks Akira's eyes and heart, and generally pokes him a number of uncomfortable places with small cold, sharp metal objects. He hooks up the biomonitor and the medicomp that will disable Akira's current cyber and implants, and places a breather over Akira's mouth and nose. The sharp smell of disinfectant fills your nose. "Count backwards from a hundred," the doc says, and the world gets very fuzzy before fading to black. ------------------------------------------------ Just as you thought it was going alright The white ceiling comes into focus. A flash of light. Dark. Light. The roar of a .50cal machinegun as it spits flame out the back of the van and sprays you with plastic casings. "Aw, shit, they're closing!" "Hang on!" The van lurches hard to one side, something falls on you from above. Looking down at your arm you see only the stub of the limb and pink scar tissue where the old arm was removed. "Eat hot lead, assholes!" the gunner screams, and the roar of automatic fire fills your ears until the darkness comes again. ------------------------------------------------ its called Thats All and it is off the Album - GENESIS! (1983) That's All (Banks/Collins/Rutherford) ****************************************** Just as I thought it was going alright I find out I'm wrong, when I thought I was right s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all I could say day, and you'd say night tell it's black when I know that it's white always the same, it's just a shame, that's all I could leave but I won't go though my heart might tell me so I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes but why does it always seem to be me looking at you, you looking at me it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all Turning me on, turning me off, making me feel like I want too much living with you's just putting me through it all of the time running around, staying out all night taking it all instead of taking one bite living with you's just putting me through it all of the time I could leave but I won't go well it'd be easier I know I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes why does it always seem to be me looking at you, you looking at me it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all Truth is I love you more than I wanted to there's no point in trying to pretend there's been no-one who makes me feel like you do say we'll be together till the end I could leave but I won't go it'd be easier I know I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes so why does it always seem to be me looking at you, you looking at me it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all But I love you more than I wanted to there's no point in trying to pretend there's been no-one who makes me feel like you do say we'll be together till the end But just as I thought it was going alright I find out I'm wrong when I thought I was right it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all Well I could say day, and you'd say night tell me it's black when I know that it's white it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all That's all ------------------------------------------------------ The City Enquirer: Because you really do want to know! Early morning screamsheet headlines: "Elvis Died From Eating Bananas", Claims Tina Turner. -- Photo Exclusive. In Jealous Rage, Air Traffic Controller Maims Seventy-Nine, Self. "Silverhand is the Father Of My Baby", Says Vegetarian Rock Star Aurora Kintera. Tomatoes Have Spiritual Powers, Insist Cuban Priests. -- Photographic Evidence Offers Proof. -------------------------------------------- so why does it always seem to be me looking at you, you looking at me David looks at his watch as he pulls his gold Lexus into the parking lot of the Times. Another dive. And almost closing. He scans the small group talking in the alley before going inside. Not there... In the bar he looks over the drunken faces, taking a quick round of the tables and pulling one passed-out bum off the beer stained table to get a better look at his face. Wiping his hands on his coat he heads back out the door. The family honor will be satisfied. ------------------------------------------------- Riding the streets after burning out a small chinese store, Mac reflects on the evening so far. Almost caught dat babe.. 'til dat pimp daddy in his gold pimp-mobile stole her... Ah should'da burned down that whole friggin' apartment building... still, if Ah find his sorry ass, Ah'm gonna burn him... Cruising past the Toxic Times, he decides to stop in for a drink... An maybe that Paladin guy dat da Boys in Black want is dere too... Then his eyes spot the dinged up gold Lexus... and the man walking towards it. "Rev up boys!" Mac yells, pulling out his gun and firing off a shot to empasize his words, "Ah want dis gook's head!" ------------------------------------------------ it's always the same David mutters something about fatherless sons of whores and sprints for his car... when the gunfire starts he dives behind the nearest vehicle for cover. Reaching into his coat for his ever-present Uzi miniauto (hey, I import these by the case) and checking the load, he considers his options. Run or fight? ----------------------------------------------- The bikergang spreads out as they move toward the parking lot, firing their weapons at the hiding man, at the gold Lexus, at any vehicle in the lot, and anyone who sticks their head outside... Inside the bar, it sounds as if a hailstorm is busy pelting the front of the building... A molotov arcs through the air to land beside the Lexus. Although i's armor protects the car from any damage, the flame block the approach on the exposed side of the car. ------------------------------------------------- Echoing through the night, from all around, comes the sound of murmuring voices and the clacking of sticks and Chinese drums. The go-gangers can see figures in the shadows, writhing, twisting, almost inhuman in form. Overhead lightning begins to crackle... ----------------------------------------------------------- hanging from his self made perch just outside the office on the 15th floor, Jack runs a preliminary scan of the room, now knowing a little bit what the security below was like. "Damn its cold out here" Jack thinks to himself..."Lets get this over with so I can get me a drink, and get into a warm bed" -------------------------------------------------- Scanners indicate an alien life form.... sorry, wrong episode... Scanners indicate the same security as below: motion sensors, glass-break detectors. In addition, if you probe with nanites, you'll find extra levels of security on the computer, wiring and electronics leads into the room. ----------------------------------------------------- Action! Nine Newsbreak Tonight on Action Nine news, mayhem in the Port City arena as the Chieftans lose to the City Slashers, coach Robinson says "it was a good game, our 7 to 4 body count was a good indication of that..." Cleanup at the Grand Heritage Hotel continues after this morning's incident. Police have said so far they have no leads on the multiple deaths of hotel employees. Hotel spokesmen have said they will replace lost staff before the New Year's Eve gala, and will be interviewing tomorrow morning. Action Nine newsteam member Cindy Robb, covering the events at the Grand Heritage earlier today was assaulted and robbed on her way back to the station this evening. Station managers are offering a reward for information leading to the capture or death of the assailant, and the return of videochips and equipment that were taken. And we'll have more weather news tonight at twelve.

Happy Birthday!