Episode Eight: The Threshold Job - kaseido/NeoTokyo GitHub Wiki

9 Minsky

Carbide gets a call from his mentor, Iso, informing him that his squat/shop has been rigged with explosives, and there’s cameras all over the neighborhood. Dil’s owned them, of course, but it looks like somebody’s seriously after Carbide. They can get Carbide’s kit out and shipped to him but it’s probably best if he doesn’t come by right now. Carbide asks about Dil, and says he’ll make arrangements for his stuff. He tells Iso to call if there’s any problems getting the stuff out, and he’ll call back soon to arrange transport. One of the people he’s up against stuck a rocket launcher in a safe, so be careful.

Carbide texts the rest of the team to watch their asses and old squats – apparently people are going hunting.

Star is really high still the next morning. It’ll be till after 2 till she picks up her messages. She’s been pushing the edges of her physiology the past few days.

Vir calls to the house from outside, and Carbide answers, asking if they got his text. No, they’ve got their hands full at the moment. He tells her that somebody booby trapped his old squat, so they should be careful going back to places they’ve been. SOME previous targets may have decided to have fun. Dot hey need a hand?

Vir says, “We have houseguests if nobody minds,” and there’s an audible mew. Carbide’s a little grumpy from the news, so he just says to try not to let them into the machine shop while he’s working – if they got curious about the lathe, that’d be bad. Well, cybercats probably already know better. Vir tells them to stay on their floor unless invited elsewhere. Paragon says they’re invited down into the cellar- she has electric blankets. She’s in her hammock cuddled with Dino.

After getting Mango and her cyberkittens settled in, Vir goes to the orphans anyway, despite Carbide’s news. On the Metro they see three girls in some sort of sailor cosplay? One is carrying a spiked mace, one a sword, the third a rifle case. They chat excitedly about the "tea party" they're about to attend. Vir realizes they're discussing a raid on the rival Disney Princess posergang, in code, and texts the Team about the “tea party.”

It’s a pretty slow day at the day care center, but after a while a woman (Mica Khansa) comes in, badly beaten. Vir applies some butterfly bandages, wraps her sprained wrist, and gives her some mild painkillers. The woman is sobbing: her daughter, Jade, age 14, was taken. Not kidnaped, went with the goons voluntarily, and watched them beat her. Jade is in some kind of cult. Jade said had been selected to “open the gate,” whatever that means. She’s afraid she’s never going to see her again. She’ll offer to indenture herself to Vir for the rest of her life, if Vir can help. Vir follows Mica back to her squat, and discovers a plush Cthulhu and some cult pamphlets, along with Jade’s phone. They call Night to ask about deprogrammers and firepower, and take a picture of the plushie and send it to the team. They take the agent for Paragon and suggest Mica rests for a while. They decide to wait for Paragon and Star before doing anything further.

Carbide collects Paragon, and sends a series of annoyed texts Star’s way: she’s still not piciking up. On arrival, Carbide scopes out the local surveillance and gets good video of the goons with Jade, wiring his agent into the surveillance hard drive.

Paragon does not have trouble hacking into a teen girl’s phone. She finds hundreds of texts back and forth with another girl about her age, Amelie. Lots of gossip about older guys, clips from goth-band videos, Cthulhu theology. As you do. The thread ends with Amelie proclaiming envy that “Armitage” has chosen Jade over Amelie. Paragon tracks down the cult, the Church of the Outer Gods, and gets Armitage’s info off the website. Vir finds the events schedule: there’s a welcome event tonight on Level 8. Star finally wakes up, horrified by a premonition that her team is trying to talk to humans without her. The first message in her queue is from Tanzo at Odaiba Securities: they got surveillance images of Taliesin meeting with the head of security of BSP Pharmaceuticals – who’s worked with Star recently! His head of security talked with her: Taliesin wanted to pull BSP into his vendetta against Star, and they didn’t bite: they don’t have evidence linking her to her former associates’ robbery, and didn’t want to go to war with Odaiba. The second message is from Camden Zemke (“Marmorealist”) at the Cybernetic Research Lab. They can install your next-gen EMP shielding, and they’ll set up a meeting with Lina Bolovoi (“Borborygmi”) to talk about your digestive needs – Lina says it’ll take a while and it’ll cost, but that’s between the two of you. They’re glad to have a guinea pig – er, patron of the cutting edge medical arts. She puts that off: “As nice as it would be to eat chocolate, her team is talking to people, and terror is hell on the digestive system.”

Star texts Tanzo back a thanks, and will keep him posted. The next 40 or so messages are from Carbide  She calls him back, and she does not start with “what the fuck did you let them do?” “Vir found a job with a cult and they’re talking to people.” “I haven’t been this sober in – what day is it? Where are you people?” “I texted you.” “I dunno, maybe you moved since then.” He tells her about the explosives in his squat. He wants his stuff. She shares her news about Bai Jie and Taliesin. He says, “well, at least all that flirting prevented the immediate formation of the Injustice League.” Paragon says, “Please get here before I get bored enough to start catfishing the 14 year old girl!”

Vir asks Mica to ID Amalie from selfies on Jade’s phone. Nope. Nor Armitage.

Paragon ID’s the goons as Vasili Andreykov and Ezra Dewitt, cultists. As she’s reaching for the phone there’s a message from Star, “DON’T TALK TO ANYBODY! NO CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE! I CAN SEE YOU TRYING TO FIND A LOOPHOLE!”

Vir asks about “opening the gate,” and Paragon dredges up a ton of Cthulhu-cult theology. They’re super spooked, as this is exactly what they were warned about growing up in Gilead. Carbide says maybe it’s just a weird sex thing and not human sacrifice. In Gilead everything is s a weird sex thing, and see how that worked out! It’s easier to recover from weird sex things than death, but still.

Star shows up in last night’s club gear, and introduces herself to the mom, asks to borrow her daughter’s clothes, so people would be more likely to talk to her. “I want to hear directly, because, no offense, you guys suck at this. “ Paragon replies, “The determination as to whether offense has. been taken will be mailed to your agent in 4-6 business days.”

Star explains to Jade’s mom unironically that “This is the time in a teenage girl’s life when she tries to communicate with the outer gods.” She tells Mica to tell her friends she’s legit as she asks around the neighborhood. She doesn’t want to draw too much attention in case the people holding her daughter are keeping an eye on her. He daughter is with friends who care about her and didn’t hurt her when they left, hold onto that.

Star asks Paragon for Jade’s phone: “Oh I have her phone, it’s in Dino’s mouth.” She holds out Dino for Star to take the phone. Star finds that conversations with Amelie go back about 9 months. Most of the texts come from a residential neighborhood in Koto City. They tag to the recruiting event in the neighborhood.

Star wants to find an old friend of Jade’s, looking for changes before Amalie. Cammie Macheski is a fan of Star’s. She squees. Star tells her she’s looking for Jade – no, she knows where she lives. Mikayla (later Viridia Rackham) was senpai to Jade and encouraged her belief that there’s a lot more to the world than everybody believes or you can learn from the legit Net. When Mikayla disappeared, Jade started checking out conspiracy theories and religions, and drifted away from Cammie. Star asks to see her phone and signs the case. Star tells reassuring stories and thanks Cammie who gives her a really big hug. Star tells the others she doesn’t think Mikayla is directly responsible, that Jade’s just grieving kid made poor choices.

Night says she’s got a solo lined up for backup for the Team. Vir wants all the guns and armor, but they need to stay inconspicuous. Carbide says they can be inconspicuous – just in case they open up Level 7 and something nasty is there. Star says it sounds like the kind of demons her company made deals with. Vir is worried that “opening the gates” sounds like an advanced cult ritual, but the team’s going to a mixer. Everyone agrees, but Star explains that they need to make an impression, and get invited to the afterparty. Paragon’s search suggests that the ritual is likely to be conducted at midnight tonight.

Vir grabs star and says “Make me pretty, we have to get invited to the afterparty!” Star replies, “If I didn’t know you were only doing this for the job I’d be so proud! I’m proud anyway, let’s go shopping!” Vir demurs: “The green one’s going to have to do!” “But but but,” Star says “it’s a different kind of event!” “OK shopping it is!” Vir almost doesn’t hate what they get. Star says, “Paragon and Carbide, you are good as you are – Paragon looks like a homeless child, it’s good. Paragon is recruitment bait, with the cat ears and death grip on the stuffed dinosaur. And Star looks 16. She explains, “We’re not going to directly ask anyone about the evil ritual they’re holding tonight. Do we understand, Paragon?” Paragon asks a bunch of questions about what she can ask. No.

Star asks for a crash course in deeper levels of this shit, so she can pass for being into it back home. “My boyfriend summons elder gods all the time, you wouldn’t know him.” They decide to use the plot of an old videogame they’ve both played.

Vir preps sedatives. Paragon collects a blanket. Carbide has his gun sent over: grungy paranoids who show up at cult meetings, it’s not unusual for them to be armed.

The event is in an abandoned grocery store, no front window, checkout stations gone, some tipped-over shelving units. Star recognizes the guards at the door as the two who took Jade, and texts to the internal agents of those who have them. Kenji, whom they crossed paths with when the club they first met at was hit by a fashy gang, is playing the role of Star’s bodyguard. Star introduces herself around.

Paragon grabs food: Amalie is making the rounds with a tray of fried seafood. She wanders around staring randomly at people, surreptitiously looking for access points. She eats the popcorn shrimp from her hand.

Carbide is wandering the crowd scoping things out (Star put on some guyliner and a printed scarf, so he’s fine), quietly using his tech scanner, which feeds to his chiron. He eats the calamari. He finds the PA system and cameras taking ID photos – really basic stuff. He’s keeping an eye on Vir, knowing this might be a thing for them.

Armitage is there, playing host. Vir thinks he doesn’t look that approachable, but is keeping an eye on him. Paragon says hide behind a pillar and peek out, Star says never take advice from Paragon.

Star passes on the food. Amalie takes her in hand. Star explains that way back, her boss’s boss’s bosses got into that sort of thing. She’d had a taste, and really wants to return. Amalie takes her over to Armitage. She was really into it… she doesn’t persuade him to fast-track her into the cult, but gives him a credit chip, and lets him smooch. He invites her to the “afterparty.”

The event starts: Armitage gives the pitch: starts light and joking, segues into how shitty life is, then offers a road to power through service to the Ancient Ones- just talk to an acolyte to sign up for a power-level workshop!

Paragon and Carbide succumb to the drug in the food. The Outer Gods can totally give them control over their lives and circumstances! Amalie hits them up for membership and the weekend workshop. They pay their deposits up front, NB100. Paragon pays 200 – the other entry is for Dino: “He needs to submit to my authority, the little bitch.” Amalie takes it in stride: it’s cash.

Star approaches Armitage again after the event. He wants to make an all-nighter of it  “Anything you say…” She tells Carbide he’s going to be real disappointed when he finds that was her Starbucks card with NB50 on it!

Carbide asks, “Are we sure this girl didn’t just find the cosmic truth?” “You ate the calamari, didn’t you?” Paragon adds,“ They’re going to help me get control of Dino, I’m going to rule my cellar again!” “Always expect to be roofied.”

Star sluts up her outfit a little. Carbide: “Gotta give the guy his NB50 worth?” “When you’re playing the innocent Lolita, you gotta go all in.” “I dunno, this guy is really onto something.”

The address is on the docks.

Vir notes that Jade wasn’t at the party. Is there any way to get to her before the afterparty?

Star’s keeping her plus one, Kenji the Solo, because she’s a celebrity deserving her protection. The others should get there earlier and do some recon. Carbide is worried about how long he’ll remain suggestible: Vir doesn’t know. Star tells them it’s important the world not get eaten by an elder god before they learn the inner truths.

They walk from the metro stop to the address. Vir’s whining about Star’s choice in shoes.

The building is basically a concrete cube. Steel door on street side, major entrance on the waterfront side. First rule of entering a hostile location is don’t use the door they’re using. Carbide disables the alarm system, and they go around to the dockside entrance. No handle, etc. on that side: looks like the fish don’t let themselves in. They scope out the warehouse next door and take the fire escape to the roof of that one. Carbide finds the access door, nobody on the roof. Camera pointed at the door. They jump over to the roof – Carbide is injured in the fall, but he didn’t attract attention, and tries again, successfully. He loops the camera and picks the lock on the rooftop door. He’s in.

Vir’s confident they can jump, but wonders about Paragon. Carbide says it’s roof or nothing. Vir misses their jump. Paragon makes it, trying to use Dino as a grappling hook with his plushy claws.

Carbide enters, setting his agent at a dim light setting as a flashlight. He heads down to the landing, and over to the office on the landing level. Carbide offers Vir to either try again or to play lookout from the other roof. They’ll stay. He tells them to let Paragon know when they see somebody, as Paragon has the internal agent. He and Paragon go to the office space.

Vir’s looking out over the water and imagining creepy tentacles.

Paragon owns the cameras, the intercom system, and a turret in the ceiling. She puts a virus in to maintain control in case she has to jack out. She’s staying logged in. They’re both going to stay, and lock the office door. There is a couch, filing cabinet, and gear locker. Paragon wants to hide in the couch. There is a sea of couch cushions atop Paragon. Carbide totally believes she’s hidden.

Vir spots two SUVs pulling up. four and four people disembarking.

Star and Kenji arrive: the guards try to make Kenji stay outside. She persuades them otherwise, and sends a message to the team, she’s in, two guards on the door. Paragon sends back she has the cameras and the sound and a lot of bullets and she’s in the couch. Star: “you’re so high!”

Armitage introduces her around: Vicar-General Asenath, Brother Tempest, Deacon Hepzibah, Archimandrite Ambrosio. Star asks Armitage if they know the Rackhams (No). The sacrifice may even know Viridia! Star’s still holding the spritzer from the party. Star talks him into introducing her to Jade and backing off.

Fangirl Jade is in Star’s power, but has no idea what Star’s planning for her. Star gets her unbound without being noticed, and puts the drink into her “bound” hand. She laughs and says “for luck” loudly. She transmitted the whole thing through her internal agent. But the stoned people need specific instructions: “Be ready to shoot the white one (Asenath) in the head.”

As the chanting begins, Star feeds a mixtape up to Paragon, vintage Happy Aura. She overrides Paragon’s music selections – her hologram isn’t programmed to dance to those. Paragon asks about the turret. Star tells her the girl in the middle will be able to get free. Be ready with the turret but don’t bring it down because it’s going to make noise.

Carbide prepares to come out onto the catwalk once the mayhem breaks loose.

Amelie heads towards Jade. The mixtape starts, Star’s hologram projects, “Cease this immediately! This is blasphemy!”

The turret comes down.

Jade toasts Star and tosses the glass down, completely not getting that Star wanted her to use the broken glass in self-defense.

Kenji shoots at the Archimandrite and misses, Carbide hits him. Star calls out, “Blood has been spilled, the ritual has failed, stand down and bow before your god”

Asenath drops her weapons and bows down flat.

Paragon rolls “Zeleta” in the audio around the room from speaker to speaker.

Star shoves Amelie back “I said kneel!” She kneels. “Will you continue to defy you goddess?” All kneel.

Vir confronts the guards. “Hey boys wanna party?” She takes one out with a hypo.

Star tells Jade, “head outside, we will discuss this shortly.” Her hologram calls out, “For too long you have been paying at power without understanding. I will allow you to live tonight, but I expect to see you back in one month’s time to see what comes next. Do not try to flee, I will find you!” She blinks out the hologram and Paragon cuts the chanting. She cuts the light on her hair, dips her head like she’s coming out of a trance.

The last guard runs in, right into Kenji, who takes him out with his wrench.

Paragon doesn’t want to let go with her partial godhood from the god’s special effects. “OMG how am I going to explain this to the cats?!” She notes they’ll want to hook the lights into the net architecture and change the colors for next month. And customize the couch for stashing the netrunner.

Jade leaves and meets Vir. Jade’s getting therapy from a specialist that Night has found.

The team has two SUVs now.

Star keeps Jade with her and explains that there’s a lot of power in the universe and not all of it comes from creepy cultists who want to sleep with 15 year old girls. Mostly it’s money that’s how you get where you want to go. She’ll explain more later. She does explain that her mom and Cammie are worried about her. Also there’s a lot more going on in the world than those guys, all they had is a guy who was good at talking. Vir adds, “and drugged crab puffs.” Carbide’s just kinda grabbing at nothing.

They drop Jade at home. Tomorrow Star will bring someone to talk to her. Jade bows. Mom makes her soup and says she’s Vir’s indentured servant for the rest of her life. Vir tells her she’ll appreciate housework, because they’re all inept and just got a house. Carbide says that tomorrow they’ll need to do a background check anyway, because of the Rackham connection, though it wasn’t a false flag. They need to do due diligence. “I signed up for a cult newsletter and gave them money and halfway started to worship Star…” He needs a couple of days to recover from falling off the roof.

Paragon thinks it was 200NB well spent because Dino is obeying her now and has stopped being an asshole.

The team plans to reach out to Shift to create lore books for Star’s new cult, and to redesign the space as a holodeck. Paragon can control it with her brain! Star wants to rent it out for events. Night needs to investigate who technically owns it: Carbide wants title.

Friction can design the new robes, since they all look like people who showed up in a warehouse. They deserved to have their cult broken up! Not even a sacrifice robe! The chat was in English! No candles! Their geometry was not eldritch at all – it was straight up Euclidean.

This is not how Vir saw this going down…

Star and Carbide brainstorm eldritch theology: just put something in the new scripture about money being the lifeblood of society and the most powerful sacrifice is blood of the society not the individual. So you need to give Starscream all your money. Paragon adds that money is the blood of corporations, so sacrifice corporate money to Starscream! And then funnel it to 4I, so the corporations will be paying for their own overthrow. And religion is the opiate of the masses!

Star concludes that this is going to make an awesome concept album down the road.