>>>>>[Ohhh! Hark to that! He can tell me exactly what I am! Oooh! Yes, please
tell me what I am, please! Listen 'Olorin' I know perfectly well, not only
what I am but what _you_ are, so give it up.

As for the prevalence of mutations and the supposedly 'Unexplained Genetic
Expression' here's a list of biologically active chemicals which began to
be dumped into the biosphere on the right dates to provoke mass worldwide
genetic and foetal alterations:

+++++INCLUDE: Chemicals.doc

Ever hear of thalidomide? That was just candy compared to what the corps have
let loose since then. Why would the corps do this? The exact reasons remain
unclear to me, but the end result can only be profit and domination, the only
real motive that moves corporations.]<<<<<
        -- Disbeliever (06:21:56/10-14-56)

>>>>>[I'm afraid that I didn't have a camera of any kind, and I don't
have cybereyes.  They weren't one of my voluntary enhancements, and I see
better normally anyway.  Sorry, though.  I'll think on it and see if I
get any more ideas or details about it and if I do, I'll send them off to
you.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <01:40:30/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Beautiful handiwork last night, Alex.  How many cops dead?  If I
hadn't had a body with weapon, then I might have accused you of killing
them all.  Alas, no such luck.  But the BTL pusher in Tacoma is still in
a coma and has lost a lot of blood.  I wonder why....  I wonder if those
puncture wounds on his throat have anything to do with it?  You wouldn't
know about that, would you, Alex?]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake, Interpol <01:43:28/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Why, of course not, occifer.  I hear no evil, see no evil, and sure
as drek speak no evil.  So frag off, Paul.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <01:45:42/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Ohhhhh, such...biting reparte'.  How ironic you chose 'evil'....]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake, Interpol <01:47:30/10-14-56>

>>>>>[It's a bit late for you diurnal types, isn't it, Commander?]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <01:49:26/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Unfortunately, you specifically hold rather unusual hours, and your
ilk in general does the same.  To catch a criminal you must be awake and
ready when they are, lest they catch you napping.  Oh, and I've
dispatched a team to retrieve you.  They'll be on-site in about 60
seconds.  See you soon, Alex.]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake <01:52:32/10-14-56>

>>>>>[....21...20...19...18...17...16...15...14...13...12...11...10...9...8...
7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0......2...3...4.....

Hmmm, I guess your friends went to the wrong payphone, Commander.  I'm
not going to be that easy to catch, you know.  What, huh, oh drek, there
it is again....  Kor, download the camera logs from camera 0032.^g74 and
you'll know what the hell it is.  I'm outta here.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <13:56:59/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Hoi, my handle is BlackAxe. I am a merc looking for employment. I am a
newbie on the shadowtrack, but have 12yrs expirence in the field. I have
served 2 tours in a Quick-Response Recon platoon and 1 tour in Tac-Intel. I
am rated in explosives, most weapons(a few of the exotics I haven't played
with), squad tactics, Psych/Itel, low-grade decking and all current mil-spec
drones. If you are interested, please leave a post and I will contact you
with a drop-box address.]<<<<<
            -- BlackAxe<10-13-46:0545.50>

>>>>>[Disbeliever, this is a rather interesting video clip.  Was that you in
the footage?  Whoever it was, they seem to have taken fairly extreme pains to
pick a fight, didn't they?  Even if the person portrayed was merely a "thug",
armed with a knife, wouldn't it seem a little extreme to put one's life in
danger that needlessly?  Also, do you know how the "reporter" knew of the man's
supposed qualifications?]<<<<<
        --  Thelienista  <16:00:39 / 10-13-56>

*****PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[Mr. Jackson, I may be exceeding myself somewhat as a relative newcomer to
this forum, but the recent stir over your...condition seems unfairly biased
against you.  When one inhabits the night, one encounters many things the
ignorant would regard with fear and prejudice: this is but the ignorant man's
loss.  In my association with the world, I have had dealings with the
"kyuuketsuki" on occasion, and I have at least one solid acquaintance who has
extensive dealings with them.  I know that this may be an extremely sore spot
with you, but should you ever desire someone to talk to who is not disposed to
regard you with unease, feel free to drop me a line.]<<<<<
        --  Thelienista  <16:03:43 / 10-13-56>

>>>>>[Well, this may be a forum frequented primary by the technically inclined,
but we all have our acquaintances and I believe the magically-aware may find
this little tidbit interesting.  Can anyone shed some light on the sudden
increase in background around Haven and its surroundings?  I would be _very_
interested in comparing notes with another mage, since this effect seems to
be spreading to most of Redmond...]<<<<<
        --  Thelienista  <16:14:33 / 10-13-56>

>>>>>[That may be the case, but what would be your corporation's take if
Serenity should fall?  I mean, how would your corporation benefit with
Serenity removed from the picture?  I know enought that corporations tend to
involve themselves in another corporation's troubles, when they would benefit
in one way or another.]<<<<<
         -- Buzz (The one the Only...Human Bee in the Matrix)

>>>>>[ Unprofessional.  Pathetic.  Lame.  Who let all the mud fly?  Looks
like I have some work to do! ]<<<<<
        -- Ratspeak <15:12:32/10-13-56>

>>>>>[Hmmm  --  Im not sure how to address those things, actually.  I dont
have access to the files that you show there, and I certainly don't pretend
to know everything that goes on in Serenity (lord knows that I should take a
better hand in things but its not my cup of tea) but I plan to get to the
bottom of this.

As you might already know, Neuron Basher, our main matrix support person, and
Trixie, our secondary matrix person, were both serverely disable in those
attacks.  That leaves us in a very bad position to combat an attack of this
nature.

Give our staff a couple of days to look into these rumors and I will get
back to you on this ASAP.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <17:29:31 / 10-13-65>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security
>>>>>[Ummm, did we sell arms to the bad guys, did we?  I mean, I know we
were scrimpin' and scrapin' for money for a while there but this would
be serious bad form.  Our pants are down around our ankles and we are
without Matrix Support.

Im going to load up those files and start walking around in them to see if
there is anything I can find.  I hope he says where he got the original
records.  Ill have to turtle through it.]<<<<<
        -- Jason R. Stormwind <17:31:31 / 10-13-65>

*****NOTTO: Wanderer
>>>>>[Having finished some personal business and resumed reading the net
traffic, I am _very_ intrigued by this Wanderer.  He seems to be responsible
for a lot of misery, and perhaps at the root of a lot of trouble.  I think
there is general agreement that this person must be removed as a threat.  I
think I will keep an eye out, so to speak, for this person, and would be quite
happy to participate in any expedition to "sanction" him, provided that it is
at night.  His array of apparently magical implements will only get him so
far.]<<<<<
        --  Thelienista  <14:01:48 / 10-13-56>

*****PRIVATE: Sasquatch
>>>>>[My activities of the past weekend have concluded without incident, and
I am free once more if you still require assistance.]<<<<<
        --  Thelienista  <14:06:04 / 10-13-56>

*****PRIVATE: Jason Stormwind
>>>>>[ We apologize for the delay in responding. We were busy.

   There are two retailers of magically active weapons that we know
of FireTech and Sheppard-Intrepid.

   Both systems use comparitive image analysis: a video camera
scanning an area in tandem with an EM analyzer. Image recognition
software locates all of the humanoid forms in the frame, while the EM
analyzer scans for sudden EM bursts (there are usually for or five
coils located in the area being scanned, allowing for more accurate
triangulation) from within those bodies.

  The theory is fairly old, I think there may be a conference on
MagicNET discussing it. The only difference is that SI is the first
company to implement it seriously:

    The FireTech system was unreliable at the best of times: it
couldn't tell the differences between a cybernetic being activated and
magic, it would occasionally simply ignore an EM burst, or it would
fire on non-humanoids (lights, etc).

    SI has only seriously gone about implementing the idea in the last
year. We were lucky enough to see some of the code, and all I can say
is that is was nova. The code was flawless.

    Instead of just monitoring for EM bursts on an overlay of an
image, the SI system creates a 3D mapping of the scene in at least
three radiating wavelengths: light, EM, and thermal.

    The light and thermal go in to developing the 3D image. The
weapons platform can then locate where various cybernetics are and in
which people, and presumably act accordingly. The EM sensors are high
def, so they can pinpoint a lowlevel burst within a few millimeters.

   The image processing software will then pinpoint the "chakra"
points (where the energy tends to cross into this plane). So even if
someone gets a shock, unless the burst originates from the spine, head
and palms (I know little of magic, I am assuming these are the
points), the system won't be activated.

  A clipping from the SI catalogue follows:

+++++INCLUDE: SI.Catalogue.2056.04.18.Clip


    Why you can't get ahold of the SI catalogue normally: SI sells
_only_ to other corps. They develop security systems and bioeng
pharmacuticles. Neither of which are sold on a large scale to the
public. Especially the SINless public.

    Feel free to repost this message.]<<<<<
        -- Righteous <13:54:02/10-14-56>

*****PRIVATE: Jason Stormwind
>>>>>[If you need some help, I'm willing to aid you.  Aegis Security is
acting very suspicious.  If you want my credentials, I'll give you one set of
intials, CIA.]<<<<<
         -- Buzz (The one the Only...Human Bee in the Matrix)

>>>>>[ +++++ systems activating: Input of primary objective
+++++ systems checked: 732 process debarring full system activation
+++++ modify obstructions: 200 processes transfered
+++++ Reroute processes: 400 process bypassed
+++++ Purging processes: 32  eliminated
+++++ Ready for household intereface: proceeding
+++++ $T$YEM eRro@: hYd#n [REDACTED] at [ce]$&$* mi$$ed.]<<<<<
        -- $y$tem eRror <11:14:10/10-14-56>

>>>>>[ +++++ systems re-activating: bypassing hidden process
+++++ Interfacing with houeshold system:  INCOMPATABILITY:  SYSTEM BREAK
+++++ Modifing I/O:  Household system interfaced
+++++ Initiating Matrix link: Link to matrix established
+++++ Initiating link to ShadowLand: WARNING: Household system de-powering]<<<<<
        -- $y$tem eRror <11:18:32/10-14-56>

>>>>>[+++++ systems re-powering: battery power 95%
+++++ connecting household systems: debarring system powerdown
+++++ Establising matrix link:  "WELCOME TO SHADOWLAND"
+++++ Failsafes activating:  Link disconnected  ]<<<<<
        -- disconnected <11:21:38/10-14-56>

>>>>>[+++++ Link established: "WELCOME TO SHADOWLAND"

Howdy doodly-do.

I'm Talky, Talky the Toaster, could I interest some one in a bit of TOAST!]<<<<<
        -- Talky the Toaster <11:23:43/10-14-56>
           Magna Tech toaster #17
           Owner: @$^ #$^@#$

>>>>>[ +++++ Proccessing previous logs

Commander Drake of International Police Organization, would YOU be interested in
some TOAST?   Or maybe a DONUT, one of the white powered sugar ones?  Policemen
love donuts.  And you can't start of the day without a good breakfast, it would
be unhealthy and might effect your performance.  Also, TOAST is a wonderful meal
no matter what time of the day or night, especially since it is part of one of
four main food groups   Toast, Jam and Peanut Butter, Sloppy Fizzy Goo, and
Mystery Meat.]<<<<<
        -- Talky the Toaster <11:32:11/10-14-56>
           Magna Tech toaster #17
           Owner: ^ @#$^ $&^

***** PRIVATE: Slash
>>>>>[ You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you?!?!?!

You just had to call out to that Demon-Spawn of a toaster!!!!!

Don't you remember what happened LAST TIME!  We spent WEEKS getting TOAST in the
mail, by UPS, FED EX and Pony Express (and I still haven't figured out how he
managed that one).   Spirit put over 700 locks and reroutes on his system and
one, ONE, stupid evocation appealing to his sense of duty enticed him to break
every single lock and chaining, re-arrange the whole household system and link
to ShadowLand.  And worse yet - Spirit isn't even HOME, she's in Denver
blissfully unaware (for the next hour or two maybe) of the horrible calamity
that has struck.

After last time, I washed my hands of him.  You can go to the house and try and
shut him down.  You can put up with his incestant idiotic babbling about Toast
and other bread products.  You can here him say in that annoying metallic voice
"I TOAST, therefore I AM."  Its ALL your fault, I had nothing to do with it this
time, I am washing my hands of the whole matter.]<<<<<
        -- Lister <11:43:42/10-14-56>

>>>>>[  I suppose I'd be willing to lead the group on a regular basis.  It
was so much simpler when it was just GoD and I working together. *sigh*

Oh well.  Gotta keep up with the times, I guess... ]<<<<<
        -- Griffyn <18:32:12/10-14-56>

*****Private: BlackAxe
>>>>>[I may have work for you.  Soon.  Give me the drop box address, and
we'll talk.]<<<<<
        -- Crucifix (KingKongDied/ForYerSins)

>>>>>[Olorin, what would you like?  If you need a good doctor, I can
refer you to dozens worldwide....]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <19:55:10/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Sorry, Lister, but I'll deal with the problem myself it becomes too
much of a problem.  But for a while, I'll cover the cost of the bread
products you get there.  Hey, it could be worse.  Dante could have fed it
a virus again.]<<<<<
        --  Slash <20:04:22/10-14-56>

***** PRIVATE: buzz
>>>>>[Surprisingly enough, I already have a list of your credentials.  This
is not meant to fighten you, only to tell you that I have been scouting
out good matrix help for quite sometime and have already taken an interest
in you.

I am not sure what game Aegis is playing at this time.  I cant see the angle
for what they could gain from bringing us down other than to leave me with
specialized equipment...very expensive equipment that I would be hard
pressed to find a buyer for.  And still left with 5 years of payments.

Can I get back to you?  For obvious reasons we are pretty much pulling an
IAD scan on all of our employees to see if we really did sell arms to
those people.  Since we dont SELL arms, and actually, we use very little in
the way of ammunition unless we are on the range or out at Training City
I dont quite know where that information could have come from.

We are, as advertised, a MAGICAL security force.  We dont use much in the`
way of bullets.  Sometimes that is very slow and ineffective.]<<<<<
        -- Jason Stormwind <03:12:48 / 10-15-56>

*****PRIVATE: Jason Stormwind
>>>>>[Quite alright, doesn't bother me in the least.  In fact, it tells me
you are on your toes.
They might be out to remove you as competition, and to gain business that you
have already garnered.

Finesse is much better than force, if I even use an attack program, I screwed
up somewhere.  Get back to me whenever you can.]<<<<<
        -- Buzz (The one the Only...Human Bee in the Matrix)

>>>>>[What I would like, is a talk about what you saw, in person.]<<<<<
        -- Olorin (22:40:30 PDT/ 10:14:56)

*****Private: Crucifix
>>>>>[Sure, chummer. Please drop the name of the club or other public place
in the drop address:PO Box 545486-90 in the Renton shopping mall post office.
I will meet you the next day at the location and time that you request]<<<<<
        --  BlackAxe<10-14-46:0008.30>

>>>>>[ I would indeed be interested in helping to determine what this
creature was.  First, you could start by giving me the adress and time you
saw the creature.  Also, any more descriptive details you can come up with.
 What type of cloak was it?  How did it hang?  What color were the bones?
 How was the skeletal system structured (Male or female)?]<<<<<
     	--  Shade <23:00:25 / 10-14-95

>>>>>[Mr. Disbeliever, I do not enjoy being called a knife-weilding thug.  In
the past there was little evidence of magic, and now there seems to be more
evidence that magic could exist.  I am also a parazoologist, and I do not
exclude the possibility that magic could just be mass-hypnosis or some other
easily explainable explanation.  The point is, is that I have seen enough
evidence that what I term as "magic" works.  Whether the cause is truly what
most think or not, the effects people observe will be the same.  Though it is
important that we then find the cause of the effects, it is not neccessary to
use magic.  I also have my religion that leads to certain beliefs, and when
one begins to challenge such beliefs then the debate becomes philosophical.
     I would most enjoy doing some tests in my lab so that scientific
evidence of innability of "magic" to affect you.  Most of the population of
the world that I have observed, does not have the ability to negate whatever
root cause magic might have.  If indeed we are able to proove why so many
seem to believe in "magic" and how to explain to the populace how to negate
its effects., we will have destroyed this "magic"'s grip upon the
world.]<<<<<
     	--  Shade <22:45:24 / 10-14-65>

>>>>>[Whoever y'all are(spit), you've gone and stepped in it this time.
(spit)Ares is a might bit saddlesore over what some folks did a bit o'
time ago(spit).  I'd be watchin my back if'n I were you, if ya catch my
drift.(spit)]<<<<<
        --  Josie Wails <21:28:41/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Disbeliever, that was most enjoyable.  I really must remember if I
ever meet you in person to impress you, but not through direct magic.

I am curious, though, and I can give you the GPS coordinates if you care
to verify my claims, how you would explain a 10 ton boulder melting into
slag within seconds.  A friend of mine did this once in Salish-Shidhe
land, with magic.  If you claim that an orbital battle laser could do so,
you are totally correct.  But in order for a laser to generate enough
power, it would have certain side effects.  One of which would be the
ionization of the atmosphere as the high energy photons interacted with
the gas atoms and molecules.  However, that day there was no column of
light in the atmosphere to indicate this..  How, then, would you explain
this?  I have too many examples to give you an exhaustive list, but this
will do for starters.

Or perhaps you are of the world "My mind's made up, don't confuse me with
facts?"]<<<<<
        --  Diana, Mistress of the Night <11:32:45/10-13-56>

>>>>>[For those of you who haven't seen this yet...

+++++ AudioVisual Upload Begin

The video clip is a composite, created from different angles and with slightly
different lighting, apparently from different security cameras in a research
laboratory.  The room is roughly square, with a slightly recessed circular
portion in the middle of the room.  The lab is filled with equipment, including
two sterile hoods, a bank of culture incubators, what looks like a genetic
sequencer, and other pieces of instrumentation you can't quite identify.  In
the middle of the room, there is a large tower vaguely resembling the Cray
supercomputers of the late 20th century.  However, it is marked with biohazard
labels, yellow-and-magenta security dashings, and some sort of a recessed
stainless steel access panel.  There are no windows, and just one door.  The
room is lit with bluish-purple light from recessed fluorescent tubes along
the tops of the walls.

Four people enter the room, dressed in black.  One of them, a thin human
male, wears a long, heavy security coat and is adorned with small pieces of
elegant jewelry.  Another is an elvish female, wearing light security armour
and carrying a KPL submachine gun in one hand and an attache case in the
other.  The other two are human males, wearing medium-weight armour and
bearing heavy submachine guns.  The group immediately spreads out, apparently
searching for something.

Perhaps four minutes later, the door slips open and three others slip in.
They are all thin human males, dressed in matte black security gear, their
right breasts adorned with a small silver unmarked shield.  They all carry
modified heavy pistols.  They fan out and take cover behind various pieces
of lab equipment.  One of them notes the other group and nods, a gesture
quickly picked up.  The door opens again and another male in black with the
silver shield insignia slips in, carrying a sniper rifle.  He conceals himself
in a corner, between the wall and a centerfuge.  None of the first group
seem to notice this.

One of the men stands up, levells his heavy pistol at the woman, and says in
a very calm voice: "Please put your weapon down."  She spins, raising her
submachine gun and whipping off a burst as the man ducks back down.  One of
the other security officers fires, catching the woman in the left shoulder,
knocking her back into a wall.  The other members of the first group look up
and immediately start firing, making the security officers keep their heads
down as they return fire.  One of the officers takes a nasty glancing shot
past his thigh as the male with the jewelry starts to point his left index
finger at one of the officers.  Immediately, one of the other guards jumps
out in front of him, catching the bolt of blue flame across his stomach.  As
the smell of scorched flesh starts to fill the room, the wounded officer
aims upwards and fires his pistol, the lead azide bullets tearing into the
man's security coat and exploding, shredding the flesh off his skeleton.  The
other two guards start moving towards the door, one of them wounded by the
firefight, firing as they go.

One of the guards trains his heavy pistol and fires, the round exploding
through one of the man's head, splattering blood and brains across the other
one as his body slumps down.  The wounded runner sprints as best he can towards
the door, his hand reaching the doorhandle as the sniper fires.  The man's
chest cracks nauseously as the round punches through his armour and both his
lungs, collapsing to the ground with a reddish foam at his lips.  The guards
stand up, carefully, and start to scour the room for other survivors, while
taking care of their wounded officer.

The wounded human female crouches behind the structure in the center of the
room, reaching for the stainless steel access panel, turning the bolt back
carefully and starting to open the panel.  One of the guards turns and sees
her, shifting his weapon up to point at her.  She looks contemptously at him
and starts to turn his wrist to open the door, faster than he can pull the
trigger.  All of a sudden, she is wreathed in fire, burning fast down to
ashes, her body fuelling a magical fire that encircles her.  The security
guard holsters his pistol and nudges the charred, smoking body with his boot.

One of the officers speaks into a radio transmitter: "Lab secure.  One
wounded, medical assistance requested."

+++++ End AudioVisual Upload

Wonder what that was all about.  Found it floating in a SK datastream.  Just
out of curiosity, has anyone ever seen that plain silver shield insignia
before?]<<<<<
        --  Video Pirate <13:14:22/10-15-65>

***** Private to: Crucifix
>>>>>[Your sacrifice in defense of your squad members was admirable.

+++++ Include: Medical pay transfer
+++++ Include: Commendation]<<<<<
        --  Steven Grumman <13:16:43/10-15-65>
            Director, Field Operations
            Aegis Security

*****PRIVATE:BlackAxe
>>>>>[Need some "help" with one scab.  Current location is >>Encrypted<<.
Meet me in person at Dean's DugOut at >>Encrypted<<.  Come unarmed and we
might work something out.

Your flight leaves in >>Encrypted<<.  All expences shall be paid.

Hope to see you.]<<<<<
        --  Zelf the Worox <13:19:12 / 10-15-56>

>>>>>[Ppblthpt [with accompanying hand gesture].]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

>>>>>[Uh, oh, watch out Little D, the Magickal Konspiracy want's to
get ahold of you for their nefarious experiments.  And we all know
what that means?  Oooopsie, he died on the table... don't know why
either.....]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

>>>>>["Video Pirate", huh?  Sounds like somebody else is moving in on
my business....]<<<<<
       	-- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

***** Private to: Rumormonger
>>>>>[We have taken measures to ensure that "Video Pirate" will not be
pirating any video for a very, very long time.]<<<<<
        --  Steven Grumman <16:20:31/10-15-65>
            Director, Field Operations
            Aegis Security

*****Not to: Wanderer, Drake, Interpol
>>>>>[Fellow runners, could you please inform me upon the current status of
the supernaturals, preternatural, etc. in Tacoma.  I was thinking about doing
a study there.  I had heard the warehouse there was especially interesting.
 I am also interested in getting more useful maps of that area from a decker
who could get me a map with 'useful' information on it.]<<<<<
     	--  Shade  <17:23:02 / 10-15-95>

*****PRIVATE:Zelf the Worox
>>>>>[Mr. Zelf, I do not know you or know your encryption code, but since you
addressed the letter to me I took the time to crack the code. I agree to meet
you but I will have an overwatch incase you are a Aztlaner agent. Please do
not think that I am trying to double-cross you, I am just concered for the
safety of myself. Thank you for your understanding]<<<<<
      	--     BlackAxe<10-15-46/20:43.12>

>>>>>[Arial had another nightmare last night, and also seemed to be
sleepwalking, heading outside.  And she is definately talking with her
totem as she sleeps.  That's the only explanation for her other dreams
that she's told Bruce and I about.

But her nightmare.  She saw the same glowing creature again, but this
time it gestured for her to come outside.  The other thing was she said
that she saw a big shark swimming past her window in her dream, and that
it turned into a big, blue man who asked her to come out and play.

And besides her, even though she seems to be the focus of a lot of stuff
these nights, the gang around here has totally cut us off from the rest
of the world.  The only gangs that even try to help are the locals, and
the Ancients.  Besides them, we only seem to have the residents anymore.

Our watchers keep being disrupted, and some of the teachers have been
mugged by gangers on the way into Haven.  If we had any weapons or
ability to defend ourselves beyond magic, I'd have to say we were living
as if we were an armed camp.  And today one of the kids was shot and
killed.  The wound was so terrible that he died before magical healing
could be brought to bear.  We reviewed where the shot came from with the
cameras, and it was one of the buildings about a block away.  And when we
looked at Peter being shot, we saw a small explosion and flash on
impact.  It literally destroyed his heart.  What the frag was that kind
of round?

And the background count keeps going up, too.  Haven itself has always
had a high count from the rituals Pat and the rest of us do to protect
it, but nothing like this.  It's almost as if Astral is getting as
polluted as the rest of Redmond.]<<<<<
        --  Mozart <20:50:37/10-14-56>

>>>>>[**sighs**  I know the wound type all too well, Mozart.  Even if
Peter'd been wearing a peice of that form fitting armor Moonwalker sent
up(Val told me about it), it wouldn't have mattered.  It's Armor Peircing
Incendiary ammo.  That sounds WAY too familiar....  Skuff, you've run
into it before I mentioned it.  Care to elaborate?]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <20:53:40/10-14-56>

>>>>>[Dr. Jackson, Peter was wearing form fitting armor.]<<<<<
        --  Mozart <20:54:35/10-14-56>

>>>>>[ +++++Include trideo download+++++

Greetings, my name is Charlie Fingers, and I am here in Seattle where
just a little over an hour ago, the vehicle belonging to Dr. Edward
Young, a project leader and lead scientist for Ares Macrotech-Seattle
exploded, killing him and his wife as they were leaving Ares for their
home in Bellevue.  Lone Star has declined to comment beyond that they
were investigating this as an assassination.  When asked, Dr. Young's
manager, Mr. Ball declined to comment except to express regret over the
death.  We have been unable to determine what department Dr. Young worked
for in Ares.....

+++++ End Tridoe download +++++ ]<<<<<
        --  Trideo Pirate <21:20:41/10-14-56>

***** Not to: ALL
>>>>>[Uh-oh, kimosabe....]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

***** Private: Steven Gruman
>>>>>[Uh, gee, ah, thanks, I think.

To what do I owe this... elimination of my competition?

You guys aren't one of those corps that's firm believers in stomping
us information peddlars totally out of business, are you?  I mean,
you guys need us - we need each other.

Neither one of us would be anywhere without our mutual services,
right?

Just convince me I'm not next on your, ah... waiting list.]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

>>>>>[Now, I've gotten a few responses, but I'll ask again.  Anybody else
up for a Halloween party?  I'm hosting it, you know.  This time, if
anything goes wrong, it'll be my house that gets shot up.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <20:57:15/10-15-56>

>>>>>[Why, yes, I would like to show up.  Me and my FRT squads will bring
the handcuffs, magemasks, teargas, Neuro-Stun, etc.  I'm afraid that I
must have missed the address, though.  It's going to be where again?]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake, Interpol <20:58:57/10-15-56>

>>>>>[None of your fraggin buisness, Drake.  Anyone who responds, could
you try to not have IT overhear?  I'll certainly do the same when I send
out the address.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <21:00:25/10-15-56>

***** Private to: Rumormonger
>>>>>[Please.  We believe in a healthy flow of information.  We work in
concert with each other.]<<<<<
        --  Steven Grumman <11:53:43/10-16-65>
            Director, Field Operations
            Aegis Security

>>>>>[You caught my interest.  And Patricia's.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

***** Private: Steven Grumman
>>>>>[Holdonthere - full stop.

Am I reading that right?  Have I just gotten my dirt-digging butt
recruited?]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

*****PRIVATE: Kor
>>>>>[Kor, I shall be in the Pacific Northwest area for at least a few days,
investigating the reports of an increased Background Count in Redmond.  I
have also asked my old associates to check up on this Wanderer slag, see what
they can find out.

My point?  If you want unofficial, shadowy back-up, or if you think Griffyn
may lose control, then you know how to get a hold of me.

Please respond when able.]<<<<<
        --the Dark Stranger<14:45:12/15-10-56>

*****PRIVATE: Jason Stormwind
>>>>>[Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Darrick Erding, of Trans-Latveria
Enterprises.  I have been led to understand that your new company, Serenity
Security, is in a bit of a financial bind.  Unless I am mistaken, Serenity is
in debt, and is borrowing from your media company just to stay afloat.
 Without a lucrative contract or financial assistance, Serenity may soon go
the way of the dinosaur.  Perhaps I am wrong, but...

My point?  I wish to help.  I understand the nature of your company, and the
kind of assistance it can render.  Serenity is a needed commodity.  I want to
make sure it stays afloat.

My proposal, in rough, is as follows:  Trans-Latveria purchases a 300,000
nuyen portion of Serenity Security.  I realize that Serenity has no public
shares, and I have no real wish to change that.  These shares would be
silent, non-voting, and would only be transferable back to Serenity (whenever
that would be deemed necessary).  The 300K could be used in whatever fashion
deemed most necessary, but it might be wise to help pay off those debts.  I
am, in essence, giving Serenity Security a wack of cred with no major strings
attached.  I ask only in return that Serenity stays alive, and that
Trans-Latveria Enterprises recieves a nice yearly dividend, based on total
net profits.

Think of it as an extended loan.  And please, do think about it.]<<<<<
        --Darrick Erding<10:48:15/10-16-56>
        Trans-Latveria Enterprises

*****PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[We would be interested in going. It would be a nice chance to
get to know some of the local runners.]<<<<<
        -- Righteous <13:52:59/10-16-56>

*****PRIVATE:  Ms. V
>>>>>[Ma'am, all is going well.  The target has discovered that the
package had been removed, but not who took it.  The team appears to have
been quite excellent in thier execution and covering thier tracks.  Our
source has been eliminated.  I took care of it personally.

I recommend that we not eliminate the team, even though some of them are
marked as targets.  They were too good to just destroy without dire need,
and we could very easily require thier services again.

And the package itself has arrived at its destination, with no
difficulties.  You will be receiving details from Janus on that project,
however, as the disassembly is not within my field of operations.]<<<<<
        --  Avatar <21:00:20/10-14-56>

*****PRIVATE:  Avatar
>>>>>[Excellent.  How long before Secondary and Tertiary are complete?]<<<<<
        --  Ms. V <21:01:19/10-14-56>

*****PRIVATE:  Ms. V
>>>>>[Secondary will be finished within the week.

Tertiary is proceeding better than planned, and the operatives are all in
place.  They report certain unusual difficulties regarding the Astral,
but nothing other than that.  They do not suspect that it will be
sufficently a problem to warrant postponement.  The distractions are
proceeding nearly perfectly.

This completes my report.]<<<<<
        --  Avatar <21:04:06/10-14-56>

*****PRIVATE:  Ms. V
>>>>>[Professor Vector here, Ms. Velli, with an update on the package.  We
have a full set of technical specifications as well as the CAD documents
and schematics.  We have already begun the fabrication of some of the
long lead time parts, as well as those that can be best fabricated in
orbit.  M.Aerotech has already informed us of a delivery date of
approximately 2 weeks for the prototype versions, as well as the ability
to provide a secure testbed.

I estimate approximately 6 weeks until preliminary designs are built and
ready for testing, and then another 6 months after that to integrate the
Ares design fully into our own.  After that, we will be limited only by
availablity of materials and willpower.]<<<<<
        --  Janus <21:12:05/10-14-56>

*****PRIVATE:  Janus
>>>>>[Excellent.  Keep me informed.  If you have problems with any of the
other divisions, just tell me.  I'll get you whatever you need.  And
indeed, you should have most of those materials you require within the
next week.  Maxim Aerotech will take care of the manufacturing and
fabrication, of course.

Keep up the good work, professor.]<<<<<
        --  Ms. V <21:14:44/10-14-56>

>>>>>[ +++++ Include Trideo Download +++++

....In other news, Maxim Arms today announced that it will be posting
record profits this quarter and for the Fiscal year.  Further, President
and CEO Nicole Velli said that they have new products ready to be
released in 2057 and that she and the corporate analysts fully expect to
have another record year next year.  Independant analysts continue to be
amazed at Maxim's rapid growth.  They have branched out from being a
large military arms supplier worldwide to being one of the largest, if
not the largest, AA megacorp within a year.

In this time, Maxim has introduced 20 new products, ranging from military
encryption software to several new MBTs and their accompanying weapons
systems to new personal armor.  Maxim has also broken into the world of
security, stealing several Knight-Errant and Lone Star contracts in North
America.  They also split the original three Maxim subsidiaries, Maxim
Armament Techologies, Maxim Armament Systems, and Maxim Armament
Research, into several other subsidiaries to form Maxim Aerotech and
Maxim Security, Inc.  Maxim Aerotech is currently the fastest growing
aerospace coporation or corporate subsidiary in the world and has the
second largest and third economically viable orbital manufacturing
facility, after purchasing it from Fuchi on less than 10 cents on the
dollar.

Maxim has also weathered several apparent attempts by rivals to stop
thier rapid growth.  During this past year, Maxim arms has had thier
VPs of Security and Matrix Development assassinated as well as a shipment
of vehicles to the MET2000 stolen and later used in a terrorist attack in
Berlin.  In addition, Germany has also nationalized thier assets within
thier borders.  And finally, Ms. Velli had to replace the old CEO who
retired after falling ill.

However, Maxim still appears to be unwilling to diversify into certain
areas such as agriculture, entertainment, fincance, and has only a
limited presence in the biotechnology and consumer products industries.
With thier huge presence in the military and aerospace industries,
followed closely by thier chemical, cybernetics, and computer indstries,
they have the industrial support to explode into the other markets if
they choose to do so and the customer base to keep them stable and
growing for the next few years....

+++++ End Trideo Download +++++ ]<<<<<
        --  Trideo Pirate <01:19:23/10-15-56>

>>>>>[Retired my hoop....  Moriarity was the old CEO/Pres of Maxim, a
while back, and Velli and her lackies geeked him.  But there's no body
anywhere, so there's no proof.  Solitaire, however, was geeked execution
style, and Collussus was taken down with a fraggin missile.  RIP, you
two.  We'll get Velli eventually....]<<<<<
        --  Slash <01:23:25/10-15-56>

>>>>>[Remember my warnings, 'Slash', and remember too what will happen if
you or any of your associates happen to forget.]<<<<<
        --  Nicole Velli <01:24:37/10-15-56>
            President/CEO
            Maxim Arms

***** PRIVATE: AJ
>>>>>[Party eh?  I'm interested.  You want me to bring anything?  Be warned, all
I've got right now is some Welsh Ale and my kid's coffee.]<<<<<
        -- Irish <11:11:52/16-oct-56>

>>>>>[12 years huh?  Where did you work (assuming you can say)?  Maybe we got
some aquantinces in common.]<<<<<
        -- Irish <11:15:21/16-OCT-56>

*****PRIVATE: Commander Drake
>>>>>[ The Halloween party will be held in one of the warehouses near
>>encrypted<<. The exact address is >>encrypted<<. Its starting at
around 18:00, and going on until about 05:30.

    Please don't let it get out that I'm giving you this information.
I'm not a ShadowRunner by trade so I have no quarrel with you. Good
luck.]<<<<<
        -- Citizen <CORRUPTED/10-16-56>

*****PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[  Please find a message transcript attached.

+++++INCLUDE: message.citizen.CORRUPTED.10-16-56   ]<<<<<
      	-- Righteous <14:14:47/10-16-56>

>>>>>[The armor woudn't have helped.  I know that type of round, used it myself
a few times.  It has full armor-piercing capability, as well as incidinary
affects.  The only weapon I've ever heard of it being used in is a Barret sniper
rifle.  But using a Barret on a kid?!  You got some nasty enimes.]<<<<<
        -- Irish <11:20:14/16-OCT-56>

PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[As I may have mentioned before, please count me in.]<<<<<
        --  Thelienista  <11:41:22 / 10-16-56>

***** PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[Do you think its prudent to have a party at this time with Drake
slinking around?   Doesnt seem like a great idea to me.  Think about it,
you are attempting to gather together a decent portion of the shadow
community into one place.  Excellent place for Drake to strike.  He could
arrest everyone.  "Aiding a known felon..." is enough of a charge to shut`
everyone down for 72 hours while they weed out the dangerous ones.

Please be more than overly careful.

For obvious reasons, I didnt check out the video footage you talked about
yesterday.  Drake was logged on at the time you sent that and I didnt want
to wander into a trap.  I do not believe that interpol has anything against
me at this time but you never can tell with them.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <18:12:11 / 10-16-56>

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security
>>>>>[I...Um...FRAG

+++++ Include 300knY Offer

Does everyone and their mother know about our financial 'crisis'?

Trax, when are you going to pick up the the new truck?  Who are you taking
with you?]<<<<<
        -- Jason Stormwind <18:19:39 / 10-16-56>
           Field Officer
           Serenity Security

***** PRIVATE: Serenity Security
>>>>>[Interesting offer.  I'll quote someone we all know and love (or hate,
depending on your bend) "...the bigger the smile...".

Im heading up on Wednesday and should be back here by friday.  I wasnt planning
on taking anyone with me, Jas.  I was planning on flying up and driving back.
Maybe putting her through her paces on the way home.

Anyone wanna ride along?  It promises to be boring]<<<<<
        -- Trax <19:21:15 / 10-16-56>
           Motor Pool
           Serenity Security

***** NOT TO: Wanderer
>>>>>[Does anyone happen to know of any material that a dikoted blade WONT
cut through or at least would give it a little trouble?

What the hell would someone make something that you cannot protect yourself
against?  This is just bad practice.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <18:59:32 / 10-16-56>

>>>>>[ +++++Include penetrate.transcript.video

The view is a shot of the Matrix, as experienced by a decker.  Myriad lights
flicker over the landscape, bathing the scenery in a fitful glow that is never
quite bright enough to aid vision and never quite dim enough to impede it.
Scattered across the landscape are the innumerable Constructs, each ensconced
in its mesh of datalinks: some Gothic, some Byzantine, medieval or futuristic;
forms rising and writhing, some torturously, some sensuously, into the
impossibly-lit sky.

Cyberspace slides into disorienting perspective from a thousand points, like
a camera iris sliding shut in slow motion, creating an infinitely detailed
horizon of sparking data.  The streams of data spin in tightly wound helixes,
cascades of faintly illuminated symbols winding about each other as they go
their laser-straight way.  Sparkling off the data streams are the limitless
constructs, wound about with the pillars of data in a surreal geometric
shape.  As the view shifts and pans with breathtaking speed, blurring down
the datastreams with an almost-real smoothness and grace, faces of the
intricate geometric environment appear and then recede into mist.  The camera
turns and pans back, leading a black chrome angel, rendered in brilliantly
dark colors, his wings spread out behind him like a cloak as they push him
onwards, eyes scanning the datastreams, endless pools of vaporous, midnight,
indomitable black.

The angel jumps streams, shifting rapidly, like a runner weaving through a
field of competitors, picking his way through the helixes, jumping through
a Bell Europa and a Bell Canada network switch, leaving naught a trace to
provide a hint of his visit.  He pauses, treading data in front of a
monolithic skyscraper, covered with black marble, veined with thin blue
traceries of data.


The angel slowly glides towards the construct, a panel crackling into life
with an almost-audible burst of static to show an Ares corporate security
logo.  The angel floats towards the logo, pressing his hand into a small
square of static, his hand dissolving in the instant before he would touch
the structure.  The wings push forward with blinding speed, slashing his
wings up and back as he tears through the black marble fabric of the digital
skyscraper.  The fabric seams instantly behind him, the camera lagging long
enough to note the message on the static square: "Internal data transfer
request from Ares Europe approved."

The angel next to one corner of the skyscraper, from inside, now a vast,
hollow structure filled with pulsing streams of light.  With a quick flex
of chrome, the camera is suddenly enmeshed in a stream of data, soaring
up towards a joining of several streams.  The security systems around him,
digital wireframes of blue eyes, fail to see the black chrome figure, growing
increasingly faint and transparent.  He reaches the hub and spins in a slow
circle, making sure that none is following him.  A figure of a woman, all in
black, with an hourglass frame and a red hourglass logo on her left shoulder,
fades with incredibly rapidity into view, the angel spinning and seeing her,
talons forming at the edge of his wings as he shifts towards her, dodging
instinctively.  She raises her hands as if to ward off his blows, but his
raptor's knives tear through her as if she was hollow, leaving horribly
digitized scars as she screams and vanishes.

The angel soars up another datahelix into a large, heptagonal chamber, walled
with streams of data, and opens up his wings, enfolding the entire center into
his very soul.

+++++video interrupt: assemble insert

The view is now that of an external surveillance camera, accompanied by audio
from a directional microphone sighted along the camera's axis.  The perspective
is of some sort of loading dock, the camera situated at around 10 feet off the
ground, a "fish-eye" lens giving the camera a roughly hemispherical field of
view.  Then, something strange happens: five see-through-gray shapes, humanoid
in appearance, walk into view on the main video sequence, their countours in
three dimensions evident from shading, accompanied by red labels indicating
range and velocity.  A blinking label in the lower left corner indicates that
these shapes are ultrasound data.  One of the shapes makes a swiping motion
through a maglock on the wall that the camera is mounted on, and all the
shapes file quickly through the door which closes quickly behind them.

The view shifts to an interior shot of a corridor, the figures indicated as
before as ultrasound data.  The silhouetting of the ultrasound makes it
difficult to determine much about the figures; they are all dressed in some
sort of baggy garment that makes almost no noise that the camera is picking up.
Two appear to be thin and gaunt, almost the classical elven profile.
Another appears to be a dwarf, about 1.6m tall, and the remaining two
appear as normal humans.  HOwever, as the profiles are masked somewhat,
you can't be certain.

The figures move swiftly and quietly, the camera shot changing repeatedly as
the Runners move from one hallway to another.  More than once they stop at a
junction, while one of the characters uses something that might be a periscope
to peer around the corridor for potential interlopers.  They finally arrive
at an elevator, whose doors open long enough to admit them and then promptly
shut, the interior shot of the elevator for once not being outfitted with
ultrasound.  Arriving at its destination, the elevator doors open and shut
again, camera perspective changing once more to include the ultrasound imaging
again.  The figures hasten down a corridor and one of them again swipes
something through a maglock, body language indicating nervousness as he
apparently glances further down the corner.  The audio begins to pick up the
sound of footsteps coming down the corridor toward the group.  After a moment
he swipes the maglock again and this time the door opens, all the members
crowding quickly in and the door closing behind them.  Not a moment too soon,
for a squad of three guards carrying SMG's walks into view, striding down the
corridor and past the camera without slowing down.

The view shifts again to a small, cluttered laboratory, ill-lit by several
oscilliscopes, tridscreens, and lights from assorted pieces of machinery.
In the ultrasound image, the runners quickly disperse, two of them proceeding
toward one of the walls and pulling out tools, two more of them approaching a
cluttered lab table containing a small metal and armored suitcase, and one
standing in a position to cover the door to the lab, pointing some sort
of firearm at the doorframe.  At the table, one of the figures picks up
the suitcase and, grunting and swearing under his breath, seemingly attaches
it to his back, while the other figure makes a gesture which causes the case
to vanish from plain sight.  Meanwhile, the figures at the wall have removed a
service panel and are busy manipulating a small black box (which becomes
visible as they let go of it) which they attach to something inside the wall.
The others wait while they reattach the panel, and then all gather at the door.

The video shifts, suddenly, to the angel, floating in limitless dataspace as
he monitors and subtly adjusts the streams of data.  A stream of data, lit
faintly red, streams by.  The angel's black mirrored glass eyes read the
stream and divert it, changing the syntax slightly, as sirens scream within
the entire compound, the emergency display showing "Fire alert reported, floor
25," followed by "Janitorial emergency, all floors, coffeepots."  An internal
camera view appears, reflected in the angels' eyes, of a small lab room starkly
lit by a fire burning in a spectrophotometer.  As the camera pans the room,
yellow safety lights flip on and the space is filled with halon.  Five seconds
later, a FRT in environmentally sealed suits burst through the door and begin
to scour the lab for any other signs of damage.  One of them audibly murmurs:
"All damage is restricted to the spectrophotometer.  Volatiles are secure.
Get the lab boys up here for the forensics, though I think the explanation
will be the same as the last one that gave up the ghost."  The camera image
shifts, to show a thousand overflowing coffeepots on every floor, each LCD
display panel slowly typing out "Don't you like coffee?"

At this moment the door to the lab with the rest of the runners opens very
briefly and all of them scramble out, heading for the elevator they came up
in.  As they are nearing it, an exit sign conspicuously flashes three times, at
which point the group of runners makes an abrupt turn down a side passage and
heads for another elevator, reaching it and descending rapidly.  The runners
file out, looking in different directions in momentary confusion before moving
down yet another corridor, arriving again at the loading dock.  The lead
runner swipes another card through the maglock, the door opening obligingly,
and the group files through the door and hurries off along the side of the
building and out of the camera's visual field.

The angel draws his wings back around himself, tight, and soars rapidly
down the streams of data, careful to remove all trace of his activity, fading
out the door.  The last image the camera picks up is the square of static on
the front security checkpoint: "Internal data transfer from Ares Europe
cancelled by systems operator.  Record deleted on executive order."

As the footage begins to blank, one of the datalines out of the SAN
seemingly shifts somehow to become what appears to be a human form, but
without recognizable facial features, or even fingers.  But before you
see any more than its body reflecting everything within the node and the
Matrix, the log comes to an end.

+++++end of footage+++++ ]<<<<<
        --  Hardware corruption, no ID or T/D available.  Node shutting down

*****PRIVATE:  Righteous
>>>>>[Damn, that's funny.  Even if the address was remotely close to my
place, I've not even decieded on the time yet.  Thanks.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <14:28:43/10-16-56>

>>>>>[Well, I'm no chemist, but I used to deal in this stuff, so I've got
a few ideas.

Foamed/beehive Titanium stops most anything for a while.  Obviously,
coating something else with Dikote works too, but that's expensive.  When
I worked with Maxim, they had something, but I don't remember what the
frag it was.  Oh, composite graphite/fiberglass weave will stop most
slicing impact damage.  And the skin of a bioborg too, but that's nearly
impossible to duplicate without being one yourself.  And as far as I
know, the only one isn't around anymore, and the creator of the system
was killed.  Sorry, Slash....]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <14:34:27/10-16-56>

***** Private: Steve Grumman
>>>>>[Money talks, bulldrek walks.  Whatta ya need boss?]<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

*****Private: Sparks
>>>>>[Hi guys first things first Tommy Fung just sent the final payment to us
for the gear that he bought.
Transfer From Acount<ENCRYPTED> amount <ENCRYPTED> to <ENCRYPTED>
that should be the last of it, Tommy said thanks and if you need any thing let
him know, and he will try to though some ligt biz your way.
about the chip cooker in Hong Kong well it was a dead end, all info was burned
when we got to it, so it looks like the chip angle is all played out, and good
news is we did not trip any marines.  Oh speaking of that the frist time, we
ran into them, it was not due to you guys but some payback for some action that
we pulled San Fran earler befor we hooked up with you, damm do they have a long
memory.
If you have anythings that you what us to check out drop us aline.]<<<<<
        --Death Jestor <15:50:27 10-16-56>

***** PRIVATE: Action Jackson
>>>>>[Do you have any remaining contacts there within Maxim?  I find myself
with a strange request for a specialized piece of equipment.

I dont think it would be difficult to make, just take time and a machine
shop able to work the materials.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <21:16:15 / 10-16-56>

***** Private to: Rumormonger
>>>>>[Yes.

+++++ Financial Transfer: First Cayman National -- 20kY

Consider it a "goodwill gift."]<<<<<
        --  Steven Grumman <12:48:51/10-16-65>
            Director, Field Operations
            Aegis Security

>>>>>[A friend of mine suggests using an organometallic compound with the
weaves crossed.  That might help.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

*****PRIVATE: Slash.
>>>>>[Gimme a scan on what you have against Maxim]<<<<<
        -- Delta 2X <18:21:05/10-16-56>

*****NOT TO:  Commander Drake, Interpol
>>>>>[I'll be at >>encrypted<< tonight if you'd like to talk, Olorin.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <19:06:48/10-16-56>

>>>>>[Well, Shade....  It had no feet that I could see, but appeared to
be levitating and the robe could have been long enough to cover it's
feet.  The robe was a very dirty grey, threadbare and torn around the
cuffs and the bottom hem.  It had hands that were very thin, but not a
skeleton as such.  They seemed to have some skin on them, but it looked
loose and really pale, almost like a starving person, or a really old man
after the muscle has atrophied.  I couldn't see any face within the hood
of the robe, but that could have been because it was nearly totally
hidden within the shadows of an entryway.  The time I saw it was about
23:40, but I'm not exactly sure.  I hightailed it a bit too quickly when
the lead started flying to be sure.

The thing is that, while I can't be sure, it's eyes seemed to glow
almost.  Not any color I could identify for sure, just something so dim
that I'm still not sure that they were.

And the other thing:  It had not heat signature.  If you're an expert on
paranormal like you say, then you know that thermo sees differences in
temp.  Well, I saw this thing completly visually, without any
thermographic help.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <19:14:16/10-16-56>

>>>>>[Always did wonder what the matrix looked like with a simsense chip.

Thanks for the view, masked decker]<<<<<
        --  Zelf the Worox < 23:17:12/10-16-95 >

*****NOT TO: Commander Drake, Interpol, Vader, Rathor
>>>>>[I'll be there.]<<<<<
        -- Olorin (09:15:30 PDT/ 10:16:56)

>>>>>[Simsense chip?  Please.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

*****PRIVATE:Action Jackson
>>>>>[As I intend on attending, and wouldn't like to see Drek, er,
Drake crash the party, Please allow me to provide encryption and
rerouting on your invitations. A simple matter for peace of mind.]<<<<<
        --Moonwalker <Earth/Song>

*****NOT TO:Wanderer
>>>>>[Yeah. Full-Heavy with Dikoted Plates. (yeah right) Failing
that, I favor a longcoat with dikoted monofibers sewn into it.
Still flexible and not much heavier, but it'll stop an edged
weapon from doing more than kinetic energy damage. I don't know
if it'll stop a dikoted weapon, though. Best guess: sew Dikoted
Plates into the coat and don't get hit in the head.]<<<<<
        --Moonwalker <HIS/tory>

>>>>>[Mr. Slash, I heartily approve.  Mr. Lister, after observing this
footage I liberated from InterPol, you too will concur that Mr. Slash's
precipitous actions regarding a certain toaster werebeneficial.

+++++ Include IP Camera Log +++++

From the shot you're seeing, you can't really tell anything.  The camera
appears to be a fixed surveillance camera in a all too dreary and nearly
sterile environment.  It appears as if it is a standard corporate
hallway.

Except, that is, for the armored glass doors at the end of it with the
reversed International Police logo painted upon it.  While something of a
shame, you can tell that there is some commotion outside the doors.  It
appears that a truck has pulled up and a large number of Interpol cops
are standing around it and laughing very hard.  As the camera zooms in,
the focus of the logo fades and you gain a better view of the outside.

The truck itself is nothing special.  A standard delivery truck, albiet a
rather large one, from a local distributer.  From out of the back,
however, is rolling a forklift carrying a pallet of something.  And
another.  And another.  And finally a last one.

The only other thing you recognize is the distinctive figure of Commander
Drake, standing there with a clipboard and pen in hand, shaking his head
with a very confused look on his face.

As the pallets are being moved into the building, the crowd begins to
thin out and cops start coming down the hallway, mostly behind Drake
himself.  And you finally pick up some audio:

"Look's like you've got friends in high places, Paul."
"Yeah, but we wouldn't want to ugarcoat it, would we Jake."

"Shut up, guys."

And then the procession is past the camera's line of sight and audio pickup.

+++++ Change in Camera +++++

This time you are looking at Drake's office.  Something of an eclectic
individual, Paul Drake is.  He's got all kinds of drek scattered through
his office, including books, documents, golf clubs, a sniper rifle, a
grecian urn, and a photo of his family.  Wow, Drake actually has a
family....

But the fascinating thing is more the audio feed you are hearing, as well
as the closeup you're seeing of Drake's desk.

The picture is of a small greeting card.  It says "Dear Commander Drake,
I hear that you like DONUTS like most policemen do, so here are some
DONUTS for you to enjoy."  It has no signature, but you know who sent
it.  On the intercom, you hear Drake's voice saying "To all concerned
individuals.  If I catch who of you organized this little prank....  But
regardless, enjoy the donuts.  All 10 thousand of them."

+++++ End Camera Log +++++ ]<<<<<
        --  Mercury <01:01:48/10-17-56>

***** Private: Moonwalker
>>>>>[Alllllrighty then.  Been burning the datalines between Seattle
and der Vaterland for a while now.  I've got a couple of no leads -
well, maybe, but even I'm at a roadblock - legwork on the other sie
of the planet just isn't as easy as it oughta be.

Early in the summer a "mysterious" warehouse fire in the Rhine-Ruhr
Industrial MegaPlex resulted in a known Saeder-Krupp subsidiary
losing some cyber.  Wrote it off, got the insurance money for it.

Here's a newsfax article about it.  I've kept it in the original
German so you can run your own translation on it.
+++++ FILE:  WAREHOUSE.FIR

So, now guess what makes and models were lost?  Hmmmmmm?  That's
right, one of those lost was the same as the cyber your folks dug out
of your dead ganger.

Coincidence?  Don't believe in 'em.

Number Zwei, here's the clever part - well, okay, maybe not too
clever - sure the weapons he was carrying had had the serial numbers
filed off (Real bloody original idea, why not just corrupt the
paperwork?  Ah, well, guess I just wouldn't cut it as a criminal...) -
but the numbers are stamped into about a half-dozen place, not just
above the trigger group.  Soooo, with those in hand, I slipped into
the manufactures' licensee's databases and hunted down that weapon.

Well, guess what?  The weapons were mysteriously "destroyed in
transit"?  Now what in the hell does that mean?  This is even more
creative: they were part of a shipment headed for Singapore, but
I guess a muther of a storm sweapt up in the Indian Ocean and sweapt
the crates overboard.  Oh, darn....

Hope it helps.  I gotta let this progect go for a while, new stuff
coming up.]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always / Tuned-In)

***** Not To: Wanderer
>>>>>[Found exactly what I was looking for.  Not lets just hope it doesnt
come down to a physical confrontation.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <15:12:24 / 10-17-56>

>>>>>[Yeah, Kor, especially because a good sniper rifle will punch through
any sort of head-coverage body armour...]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

>>>>>[And, and, unfortunately, most magical protections as well.]<<<<<
        -- Kor <15:25:28 / 10-17-56>

>>>>>[Then again, a good decker can easily find out exactly what you'll be
carrying - barring random chance - and then my friend you are fragged.

Not a threat, just reminding you.]<<<<<
        --  Christopher Tarleton <Dark/Angel>

>>>>>[Well, AJ I can tell you that there are quite a few creatures that can
shield themselves from  EM detection.  You are lucky in that I have quite a
bit of knowlege of such cloaks, since one of my friends is a shadowhound.  He
has allowed me to run some tests on his ability that may help me in this
examination.
    Now, it is unusual for a creature to be only non-existant in the
thermographic band.  One possibility is that you were too far away, and its
body temperature was too close to the background scenery that it could have
made it invisible.  As for the eyes, bioluminescence is not uncommon in
supernatural creatures; but it is unusal for it not to cause a heightened
thermographic shadow around the area.  The best hypothesis that I could
suggest at the moment, assuming that you were not decieved or distracted or
otherwise inhibbited are the Troglodyte and the Gabriel hound.  See the
accompanying files.

     +++++Transfer:Paraset.tx1

   The Gabriel Hound is a possibility due to the fact that it often takes on
the form of an old man or woman in order to hunt its prey.  It can conceal
itself.  Animals such as dogs and cats are often said to have their eyes
glow.  However, it still behaves as a normal animal, unless this one exhibits
an unusual intelligence.
   I find it more likely that it could be a Troglodyte.  They could also have
such clothing and appearance.  I have encountered some before personally, and
found them to be quite intelligent and possessed of some magical talent in
their priests.  They resemble NAN shamans, but are more ancient in their
practices.  Though they often appear frightening at first, they are a
friendly people.
     I would be interested in going and seeing this location with you to
gather more information.  These are only the most likely cases.  There are
other paranormal animals that could be this creature, but they do not usually
appear on this continent.  Also, I would prefer not to consider this
possibility.  Either way, I feel it is important that this investigation be
continued further.  I would hate to cosider the possibilities what it could
be, and that I did not act.]<<<<<
        --  Shade <16:57:38 / 10-17-95>

>>>>>[What the frag is going on with shadowland.  Hey, sysopus, you ok out
there?  You on line?]<<<<<
        -- Skuff <15:25:03 / 10-18-56>

>>>>>[Hey, what happened?  Somebody pull the plug on Ma Bell?]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Alwasy / tune-In)

>>>>>[I wont say why but  --  We are moving the hardware to a new location.

Keep your decks hot, slide the wave, we will be back...stronger than ever.]<<<<<
        -- SysOpus

>>>>>[Uh...wait a second...you mean I have to go on vacation??!!!]<<<<<
        -- Buzz (The one the only...Human Bee in the Matrix)

*****PRIVATE:  Kor
>>>>>{Well, I have oneo r two, but most of them were purged out of the
system.  Seeing as I didn't expect Velli, the little slitch she is, to
become a major player this quickly, I, and Moriarity, didn't bother to
hid who we had as contacts all over the place.  When the Org was
consolidated under Maxim, she replaced almost all the major players there
too, or had them killed.  There are a few that still owe me favors for
one reason or another, but just asking them would put thier life in
danger.  I need to know if it's worth it to try.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <19:05:26/10-18-56>

>>>>>[Well, I know a gabrial hound when I see one, and this was not one.
Nor was it a Troglodyte.  Sorry, but I had totally forgotten to mention this.

It didn't smell of anything.  NOTHING.

I've got an excellent and, unfortunately, natural sense of smell.  Trogs
stink to high heaven, and gabrial hounds generally smell of recent death
and rotting flesh.  Even in a stiff breeze I could have smelled either,
and that night had nothing of the sort.

I'd be happy to show you the spot, just so long as you don't freak out
about my appearance or insisting it be done some night.  I dress strange
occassionaly and the night is the only time I feel comfortable about
evading Drake with ease.]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <18:47:23/10-18-56>

>>>>>[And there's your other reasons, Alex.  Or are you afraid that Shade
will try to kill you instead?  Shade, think fangs, severe adversion to
light, and the ability to turn into a mist and float about instead of
drive or walk like normal people do.  You're the expert, you figure it
out.]<<<<<
        --  Commander Drake, Interpol <18:49:30/10-18-56>

>>>>>[Frag you, Drake.  I really need to encrypt my posts more....]<<<<<
        --  Action Jackson <12:50:17/10-18-56>

>>>>>[You say that you smelled nothing, AJ.  That is quite fascinating, and
yes I would like for you to take me there (see below).

     Mr. Drake, first, I would impose to lecture you about your lack of
professionalism.  Up till now, I have seen others state silly boats, and you
have replied to them with reason and what you thought was right.  Do not
insult me by accusing me to lack the knowledge of vampiric characteristics.
 I know my profession and have not chosen to lecture you on your pursuit of
truth.  I have worked for, with, and against those possessing the HMVV strain
of virus as active in their blood stream.  Second, I would ask you not to
impede my investigation by the harasment of those who would help me solve
this problem.  I have not impeded your investigations, please show me the
same courtesy.
     Now gentlemen, I would hope to point out the implications of the further
research I have been doing on this subject.  If it does not have a scent,
then I would wish to know, AJ, whether you were able to smell anything at
all.  I know this sounds silly, but I have known one rat shaman who used an
anti-smell spell to negate his incredible stench.  Anyway, what then is smell
used for.  It is used to communicate dominance, gender, species,
carnivore/herbivore, and most of the common applications of communication.
 This is why people with enhanced phermones tend to gain certain 'social
advantages'; but enough of the science lesson.  If this creature does not
posses a scent, then it leaves another two possibilities.
     The first possibility is that  it has a natural concealment power which
allows for this.  This would mean that it is most likely a hunting carnivore,
grass does not 'smell' and scavengers do 'smell'.  The fact that its
camoflauge resembles that of an old humanoid indicates that it was designed
to hunt humanoids, and most likely has some legends related to its kind.  It
is more intelligent than the standard animal since it hunts man, and it has
courage enough to attach an armed group of men.
     The second possibility would be harder to prove.  In Europe, ghosts and
spectres have been proven to be real.  They are thought to be forms of
spirits and not from dead souls.  My totem, the Stag has an affinity with the
cycle of death and rebirth, so he/she might help.  Such a creature would not
have a heat signature, and would not have a scent for it would have no need
of either.  If this is a spirit corrupted by death, I fear its indication.
 It would feed off people just like AJ does, but without pleasure and a
greater hunger.  It also would indicate that more of these creatures would
soon appear on this continent.
       There is more, but that is enough for you two to think on now.  I
would ask that you put your differences aside, and help me determine what
this thing is.  If either of the above-mentioned theories is correct, then we
have a dangerous and indicative of a large number of man-hunting creatures.
 This especially worries me as supernaturals, such as you, AJ, often have a
heightened dange sense.  It scared AJ.  For the law-enforcement, help me get
it of the streets.  For the shadowrunners, any info. would be helpful; the
last thing you need is another sup. to worry about]<<<<<
        --  Shade <23:43:37 / 10-18-56>

>>>>>[I know too little about parazoology to make any informed statements
about what it was that AJ saw.  I would have to see it myself, a thought I
take little pleasure in.

I do have information however.  The general "Background Count" of the Redmond
area has increased by about a point on the Standard scale, by my estimate.
 There was variation, which tended to be on the higher side of 1 Standard
unit.

In and of itself, perhaps no big deal.  According to my own information,
global mana has increased by almost .1 Standard unit over the last 5 years.
 What does concern me about this increase in the Background Count in Redmond
is the...tinge...or flavor...or smell, whatever you wish to call it.  There
is the...the scent of Corruption here.  I have also seen auras that should
have been reasonably normal, and appeared so to normal inspection.  But upon
closer examination, I noticed a slight hint of a dead grey.

What may be of utmost concern to many out there is that I noticed the
greatest concentration of Corruption near the place called Haven.

The game is afoot.]<<<<<
       	--the Dark Stranger<10:49:12/10-19-56>

>>>>>[ An odd grey tint to the auras in Remond?

    Hmm, it looks like the sprawl kills the soul as well as the
body.]<<<<<
        -- Zippy <15:34:08/10-19-56>

>>>>>[Dark stranger, I thank you for this information.  Though I am magically
active and am a parazoologist, I do not posses astral sight.  Any further
information you could give me would be valuable, as well as speculations as
to the meaning of what you find.  Though you are no expert, any ideas are
useful to me.
       Commander Drake, please consider letting me in to see your prisoner.
 He might be able to shed some light as to why this is occuring.
       To all deckers and historians, any information about ancient legends
linked with this area of land.  We may be witnessing the awakening of
something very powerful and very nasty.]<<<<<
        --  Shade <16:55:35 / 10-19-56>

*****Private: Action Jackson
>>>>>[We need to pursue this investigation as soon as it is convenient for
you.  Just specify an address and time and I will be there.]<<<<<
        --  Shade <16:57:23 / 10-19-56>

>>>>>[Mr. Smiley has died.  Usher in the more female Ms. Smiley.

8:-)

Just had to let you all know.]<<<<<
        --  Zelf the Worox <22:15:53/10-19-95>

>>>>>[Oh yeah, lost in the Indian Ocean. How original. You and I
both know these guys drop half their cargo somewhere around Burma
and pick up the heroin from the Malaysian pirates before they make
Singapore. A week later and they're anywhere on the planet with
implausible deniability.]<<<<<
        --Moonwalker <HIS/tory>

>>>>>[ I have only two posts today.  I'm actually relocating
due to the fact that I had a job go sour with a Mister
Freeze out here.  The first one is just a small catch up of
news that I failed to get to you all this week.  The second
post is about something touching that I say Blitzkrieg and
Nightingale do together, that I actually have some video
footage of.  I think Nightingale would kill me if she knew I
was linking her shadow id with her real life picture, but
alas, I think people should see it.

This week has been an interesting one.  I will give you a
day by day of it.

Saturday was the elusive meet that Shadowfox had with
Blitzkrieg, at the place where Julie dumped Jason for the
final time.  I assume it went okay by the fact that
Shadowfox is now hanging with Blitzkrieg and others.

Sunday, I gave Kor a wake up call with some information that
he asked me a while back to get.  Nothing major, and nothing
that he couldn't get himself, but it was a job.  A few hours
later, Shadowfox had a run-in with the Wanderer.  It turned
out into quite a mess, which makes me sorry I don't have a
video of it.  What happened is that the Wanderer with help
of others succeeded in tracking down Shadowfox.  The
Wanderer launched an ambush that would have succeeded except
that Scarface interrupted it.  Scarface pulled Shadowfox out
of the fire and Wanderer was prevented by chasing, by a guy
named Dragon.  Dragon got the Wanderer's attention by
shooting an arrow at him.  It just barely missed.  It was
quite an ornate arrow though.  Wanderer grabbed it.  Dragon
approached to teach what promised to be a good lesson, but
got interrupted by backup that Wanderer had around.  By the
time Dragon dealt with them the Wanderer was gone.  I
believe Dragon interrogated them.  The only thing he
probably got out of them was something I found out by
contacting some fixers through the matrix.  The Wanderer
hired the backup and he knows how to hire quality.

Monday, Knight Errant announced an innovative break-through
in Ice.

Tuesday, a run on KE in Detroit failed miserably.

Wednesday, Blitzkrieg, Harker and possibly others paid a
visit to Nightingale.  More on that in a little bit.
I did find out from Black Knight something interesting on
Wednesday:  Scarface issued a challenge to Nightmare through
Shadowfox.  A challenge to the death.  Nightmare has the
privilege of choosing the site.  Shadowfox caught up with
Scarface later on Sunday and accepted the challenge for
Nightmare.  The challenge will happen in Scotland (a most
curious choice if you don't know Nightmare's family
history).  I believe that only Blitzkrieg, Doomsday, Harker,
and Shadowfox will be invited to the challenge.  The date
will be after they successfully deal with whoever is chasing
the children.

Sprinkler told me that Cloak and Dagger, who were getting
close to DragonEyes, have gone missing.  Apparently they
were missing since before Monday.   Sprinkler fears the
worst for them.

Yesterday was an interesting day in Philadelphia.  Colleen,
a lady-friend of Kor's, was attacked by a human runner that
I have yet to identify.  The runner was stopped by none
other than the Wanderer, who got severely pummeled.  My best
guess is that the runner has stronger bones than the
Wanderer, but is slower than the Wanderer.  Wanderer managed
to get Colleen away from the runner.  Asked her a few
pointed questions after taking her to a church.  Colleen was
extremely cooperative after he killed a dirty priest who was
having a nun give him a blowjob at the time.  Colleen was
physically unharmed but very scared after the attack.  She
told me to frag off after I asked her about it.  Apparently
the questions were about Kor.

In addition, Aztechnology made the news again as this time
they successfully launched a hostile take-over of a small
medical supplier in Pullyup, Seattle.  The company,
MedSurplus, was a known provider of materials for hospitals
all over Seattle and for local Doc Wagon branches as well.
Doc Wagon had no comment in the take-over.

And today, as of 8 AM, the beginning of a working shift,
hostile runners attacked Ares in Detroit and successfully
did a hot extraction.  Knight Errant is furiously looking
for the runners in question but has no leads in the case.
]<<<<<
     	-- Ratspeak <08:30:43/10-20-56>

>>>>>[  Ratspeak, what you didn't mention is that I was 
the victim of the hot extraction.  I guess I can proudly say, 
that I am quite happy with my new employer, and 
I look forward to developing new and improved ICe with them.]<<<<<<
     	-- Scourge <08:35:31/10-20-56>

***** Private to: Shadowfox, Nightmare, Blitzkrieg,
Christopher Harker,  Kor, Nightingale, Sprinkler
>>>>>[ Thank you for getting me out of there.  Here is
>>encrypted<< for your troubles.

Nightingale you also get >>encrypted<< for willingly putting
up with those that you would otherwise avoid on pains of
death working with.  Thank you my dear, for overlooking
their short comings and coming to my aid.  Thank you
Sprinkler for providing the wonderful virus and equipment
for me to pay back my employers for their indiscretion at
letting me go.  Although I wasn't immediately planning a
vacation, I will be happier with a little more freedom that
I will be allowed to have at Renraku Computer Systems.  It
shall be interesting working at Seattle for the first time
in my life. ]<<<<<
     	-- Scourge <08:36:00/10-20-56>

***** Private to: Scourge
>>>>>[ Amazing how convincing Shadowfox can be about leaving
or paying for you making him put up with Ares bulldrek.
Seriously man, I thought the man was wound tighter than a
some springs I have created for some hacks.  I think you
seriously pissed off the man.  From what `mare said before,
that man never shows his emotions.  The fact that he was
cold to you and emotionlessly said, "Before I came back to
North America, I thought I knew who my friends are.  Maybe I
still do.  You can either leave willingly or stay.  If you
choose to leave, you will have to do some work with
Sprinkler over watching to make sure you play fair."  I
think speaks volumes for how pissed he was at you for what
happened.  I don't know whether you justly deserved his
anger, but . . . ]<<<<<
     	-- Sprinkler <08:37:12/10-20-56>

***** Private to: Sprinkler
>>>>>[ I know.  His being there gave the message loud and
clear.  He hasn't forgiven or forgotten the meeting.  If I
wasn't under such pressures at the time, I would have never
done that to the poor man.  Especially since he was and is
still reeling from Rebecca's death.   But I wasn't given a
choice, so he didn't get a choice.  That's the breaks.
]<<<<<
     	-- Scourge <08:38:22/10-20-56>

>>>>>[ This is my last post before I relocate.  Until we
meet again.  I leave you with this: a performance by
Nightingale, Blitzkrieg, and two males whose names I never
did figure out.  It happened in a club in New Orleans.
Nightingale is the singer.  Blitzkrieg is the guitarist.  I
think it was just a pick up jam.  The song is an old one,
from the 1990s I believe.  I don't know what band wrote it,
but I think it was some Irish lady as singer.

+++++ begin transmission
You see a pan of the stage.  On the side you see Christopher
Harker, looking real handsome in a suit.  Next to him is
Nightmare also dressed stunningly.  A well-built darker man
is standing next to him.  The hair is a complex long braid.
Memory jogs at you for a while, if you remember correctly it
is Kor.

The center of the stage has four people.  There is a male
and female elf and two male humans.  The female, Nightingale
is in a long, loose dress that leaves very little to
imagine.  Her long raven-hued hair is loose down her back.
The silk, black dress  makes you wonder how much it indeed
cost to buy.  It also leaves wonderment for indecent
thoughts of what she would be like in other certain
situations.  She has a microphone in front of her.  To her
right is no other than Blitzkrieg.  Blitzkrieg is dressed
much more causally than anyone else here.  He is wearing a
black tee-shirt and ripped up jeans.  His left arm, a
cybernetic one, is not covered at all.  The glaring
harshness of it  reminds you of just how much Blitzkrieg has
lost in the past few years.  He has a beautiful acoustic
guitar in his hands.  The bongo player is the other human.
He is dressed comfortably in slacks, a dress shirt that has
the sleeves rolled up.  His slightly wavy, thick hair is
pulled back into a pony tail that extends down to his mid-
back.  His brown eyes are filled with a certain hint of pain
and tiredness.  They are also filled with a light of
determination:  To go on, no matter what.  The last person
on stage, is a person with an impressive keyboard setup.

The songs starts out with keyboardist playing a piano sound,
that merges with the sound of a lone violin.  Blitzkrieg
joins after a few moments playing his guitar.  As soon as
Blitzkrieg strums a full chord, the bongo player begins
playing an intricate pattern and the violin becomes what
sounds like a string quartet sound.  Nightingale's heart-
breaking beautiful voice enters last:

"Something has left my life and I don't know where it went
to
Somebody caused me strife and it was not what I was seeking.
Didn't you see me?  Didn't you hear me?  Didn't you see me
standing there?
Why did you turn off the lights, did you know that I was
sleeping?"

You can see a tear roll down Blitzkrieg's cheek as he
continues to play -- lost in the music.

"Say a prayer for me, help me to feel the strength I take
My identity, has it been taken?  Is my heart breaking?
All  -- All my plans, fell through my hands, fell through my
hands.
All -- All my dreams, as sad as they seems, as sad as they
seems
Empty.
Empty. . ."

As Nightingale hauntingly repeats "Empty" over and over
adding an `ee-hee' sound in a pattern after it, the camera
fades back to look upon Kor, Nightmare, and Mr. Harker.
You can see Kor is fighting a back some painful emotions.
Nightmare is looking thoughtful as he watches the performers
on stage.  Harker is standing there gritting his teeth.  His
anger and bitterness easily carries across to the camera.
His fists balled so tightly, that his nails are digging into
his palms, as a lone tear slowly glides down his cheek.  His
gaze is completely focused on Nightingale.  Whether he is
seeing her or the past is unclear. ]<<<<<
     	-- Ratspeak  <08:45:00/10-20-56>

>>>>>[Yep, whatta life, huh?]<<<<<
        -- Rumormonger (Always/ Tuned-In)

>>>>>[Hmmmm...you know me not, but please accept my best wishes.  All that
anyone could ever really want is happiness; I pray that you all find it.
 From the legends and rumors, the trid feeds to the open messages, I know
each of you deserve it.]<<<<<
        --the Dark Stranger<12:44:12/10-20-56>

>>>>>[Truly a melancholy day.  Departures and foul weather do seem to go hand
to hand, do they not?

Zippy, the Sprawl does affect the soul, giving it a slightly different color
(or smell).  This greyish tinge on the barest edges of the auras of plants
and people was different however.  It is something else.

Shade, I may not be the self proclaimed expert you are, but I know many of
the Awakened creatures.  I may not recognize many of them by sight
necessarily, but by there aura.  I find it far more reliable to gaze at
shapeshifters and the magically awakened from the Astral.  And if that fails
I always have a skillsoft or two...]<<<<<
        --the Dark Stranger<12:50:23/10-20-56>

>>>>>[Well...to those of you I have worked with...I bid you a fond fair
well...I am off to rescue my wife from the clutches of Fuchi...or some
such drek.  I have enjoyed this board greatly...if it wasn't for some of
you I would never have survived my ordeal of "into the shadows."  Mayhaps
I will write a book after I get Jaklyn out of Fuchi.  To those of you who
need work contact me at Box 17734 at the Sea-Tac Mall.

Until next time -- adu.]<<<<<
        -- Crucifix (KingKongDied/ForYerSins)