I get out of Burn, humming to myself as I look it over for any external issues. Nothing I can see, for now, at any rate. I finish the checkover, then walk outside for a good bit of fresh air... and standing right outside my front door is a huge mech I immediatly recognize as Nineball. I notice there's a rather large ding in his shoulder and a few holes about his body, but it doesn't seem to matter.

"Morning, Anthony." he says warmly. "I wouldn't suppose the shopkeep is in, is she? I'm here for a special order, possibly some maintenence if she's in the mood."
"Afraid she's fast asleep, big guy."
"A shame. So how are things?"
"Couldn't be better, really. Looking forward to a private match, had a nice night..."
"Mmnn. You're a lucky kid. Real popular, you know?"
I chuckle.
"Yeah, popular. Stick around if you're willing to wait a few, I was about to wake up sleeping beauty anyway."
"Thanks."
"Don't worry about it." I call back, waving over my shoulder. I've been trading emails with him over some time, discussing a few things here and there, shop talk, really. I make my way up to the room and find that Arima's already awake and dressed, fiddling with her phone a little with sleepy eyes.

>>201706
Give her a hug and a kiss, then wake Ashley.

>>201744
I slip close and pull her into a tight hug, and kiss her lips gently. She smiles. "I have to leave soon." she says. "After the game tonight... I'd like to have this be a regular thing." she pauses. "N-nothing serious, mind you, j-j-ust fun and... and stuff. You're such a good couple, I don't want to spoil it with a third wheel."

>>202169
"Sounds like a plan, but I'm not going to preclude the possibility.
How about we change the terms of the fight? If I win, then instead of giving me money you become our property for, say, a month? Then we see how we go from there~"

>>202171

That's remarkably creepy, even for you.

>>202171
i have to agree, that is pretty damn creepy. the first line is fine but that second one....

>>202195
>>202197
I would normally agree, but I found out some interesting information from Shot. You don't have to go along if you don't like, but...~

>>202205
((I never implied to or outright stated to agree with this action in any way.))

>>202171
What?! No! What the hell?!

"I understand. We'll work something out, okay?"
She nods quietly. I lean over and wake up Ashley with a kiss, and she starts about her morning routine.
"You're free to come back whenever, just call first so we can get ready, okay? Unless it's an emergency, of course."

She nods, and Ashley starts to head downstairs. We all fo-
"Okay, Nineball, that's just a touch creepy." I say to the 'face' of the mech that's presumably nearly prone in the street and looking in through the door window.

>>202206
Lyz!

>>202210
Not to mention awkward! Ask him to head to the garage so everybody can talk with privacy.
Also, so Amira can get back to her doombuggy.

>>202218
@Ashley: So, how was your first time with a woman? Not asking for details, just your thoughts and feelings on it. Also Amira.
Tony said she can visit with a call ahead, and she might be able to have another overnighter - possibly as early as tonight after the match - if you're interested.
Also? The second time will be more enjoyable, since most of the nervousness will be gone and you'll be more relaxed and comfortable with both it and each other.

wait, get in burns so you can talk 'eye-to-eye, hehehe.

>>202274
A smile spreads across my face as I consider it, but it'd hardly be better. To put things in perspective, Burns is only half the size of Nineball's mech. Or Nineball. It's hard to tell.
>>202218
"Would you mind heading around back?"
"Not at all!" he says, rising up and walking around back.
[A]It was... interesting. The girl was very quiet and didn't do much but... er, react, but it was fun and relaxing and she was kinda cute. I wouldn't mind seeing her again, but... I don't think this is relationship material."

"I gotta head out." Amira says. "See you later today, Tony." She gets in the vehicle, and speeds off. Ashley yawns and dresses herself more properlybefore going to see Nineball, citing customer privacy as to why I can't go.
Fine, I'll make breakfast then.

>>202608
We'll go hang with Ashley, then.
[Switch to Ashley]
Like I said, nerves got in the way. She'll be more active in the future... Assuming you'd like to make it an ongoing thing?~

Oh, also, what IS Nineball? We won't tell Tony, we're just driving ourselves nuts with rampant speculation.

>>202618
Oh, it'll be ongoing, certainly.

I lean down and pull the switch. "It was some trouble to fix the stabilizer after all the crap you put it through, Nineball. Be more careful! This is somewhat sensitive equipment, don't strip the casing next time!"
"I needed the speed." he replies.

It just won't be a relationship. We're friends, that's all.

"Right, and you're certain you aren't going to flub it this time? This is dangerous, okay? Tell me this isn't going to be used on civilians."
"Of course not, my lady. Terrorists these days rarely nest in such places."

Wait, what?

"Oh?"

"Belligerent as hell this time around, though, tell you what. Managed to take down two or three before the rest got away." he looks over the long rifle, sighting it.

As to your question, no one is altogether certain. He maintains that it shouldn't matter either way. He reaches back and the gun snaps into place on his back.
"As for payment, I'll relay it to you within the next hour, if not now... ah, there it goes! A pleasure, Ashley."

"A pleasure."

He walks away and I frown. Something's not... or rather, something is adding up here.

>>202623
Sounds like fun, and if something more grows from that then all the better.

Ah, sorry, when they harvested us from the dead they decided to be so cruel as to leave our instincts and urges intact, so we keep catching ourselves trying to live vicariously through others.

Anyway, what it sounds like is that he was the one who attacked the Raven's Nest people when they grabbed your cabin.

Before he leaves, tell him "Where do they nest? Little cabins in the middle of nowhere?"

>>202627
He freezes.
"You'd best stay outta my business, Ashley. It's scary stuff. Both sides. Don't want you getting hurt." he then continues away.

So it was him. And it was that gun.

...

I need a soak, or a drink.

>>202631
Next time he drops by you should mention who Tony's sister is, that you've been held captive by three different factions already, and that you keep finding bugs to swat. Maybe follow that up with "I don't want to be part of this crap, but I'm not getting a choice."

*sigh* can't just trust people these days, just when you think you know a guy.

i think it would be better to just tell him how winning that fight would of made you die a slow death and let him stew on what that could mean.

anyway, yeah just take a dip and just... let this all out.

>>202665
You know... I don't think he's a bad person, Nineball. He's just... doing his job. Sure, he might have killed me had he succeeded, but he didn't know that.

I make my way upstairs and into the tub after undressing, relaxing. There's still a peice missing though. Who was the informant?

>>202673
Those are reasons why you need to talk to him about this.
He needs to be aware that RN has their hands on your medical supplies. He'll take that as them trying to leverage you into working for them, and will be less enthusiastic about destroying facilities. Don't ask about the informant; instead ask Jack to look into it for you.

Later today you should head to a library and use a public terminal to research actions that RN was behind, but keep the accused and admitted ones separate. We need to know how much terror is in their ist, and the best way to do that is to ask for their account of those events. Then ask Nineball what they did that made it so personal for him.

>>202673
The informant?

Well, before we talk about this you had better get out of that tub. We don't want you to faint and drown.

>Then ask Nineball what they did that made it so personal for him.

Made it personal? What makes you think it's personal?

>Don't ask about the informant; instead ask Jack to look into it for you.
Good idea,


>Later today you should head to a library and use a public terminal to research actions that RN was behind, but keep the accused and admitted ones separate.

Alrighty~

>>202866
Hey, that's not very nice.

>>202894
He's hunting down people and killing them, and if RN isn't noteworthy enough for you to know what they've done then it's almost certain they hit him close to home.

>>202894
Sorry, I suppose I phrased that a little harshly. I'm just worried about you. We do have some... rather shocking information to reveal.

>>202898
In case you forgot, Nineball is a Military man. He's also proffesional.

>>202900
Fine, fine. I get out of the tub, put on a robe, and sit down.
What is it?

>>202908
Delarosa is working for the GILB. He's keeping an eye on Anthony as a "person of interest".

Jack is from the Office of Technology Control. In his words, he is a bit rank-and-file, but has some autonomy. He does seem to be working with Delarosa.

Anthony still trusts Jack to a degree but I'm not sure if we can trust either of them for any reason. We need to restrict the information we give to them from now on.

>>202908
Military do not do solo ops. Professionals don't either.
Working alone means these are rouge actions

>>202926
This isn't news to me. I was there when he and Jack spoke to each other.

>>202928
Says you. When many terrorists don't even have mechs, it's efficient to send someone like Nineball.

>>204108
He's been going up against RN repeatedly, who have mechs. That argument is invalid.

Anyway, my suggestion still stands. Have Jack find-out who 9ball's informant is.

>>204124
Hmph. Yeah, I'll have Tony call him soon.

Nineball just doesn't have grudges. He's a professional. He just sorta... gets into it in combat. It's why they usually only send him on missions where the only objective is elimination... at least, that's what he tells me his specialty is.

...oh, I guess I overlooked the fact that Anthony brought you with him when he went into the garage. Anyway I thought it was fairly obvious that Delarosa was the informant. RN contacted him to set up a meeting before the cabin was destroyed, leading me to believe that he realized RN was closing in on your father's research and reported it to his superiors, who set up a trap for them there. He seems to be the most direct link between RN, you two, and GILB.

Sorry for making you get out of your bath for no reason. I guess if you want to confirm it you can confront him about the fact that he didn't set up that meeting between you and RN like they asked.

>>204328
Knowing he is an informant, possibly THE informant, is better than outing him and getting a new one we know nothing about. Right now, I might be best to handle this with great care... in fact, we may be able to turn this to our advantage.

Isn't that right, Number Seven?

>>205305
Naturally. Although I'd hold off on that for awhile. Strategic disinformation is a very tricky business.

>>205308
I see. So how should we handle our Doctor-Turned-Spy?

I make my way downstairs and tell Anthony to call our investigator friend later, and he nods.
"Hows it feel?" he asks. "The..."
"It's fine." I reply. In truth, I feel... complete, now. "I've never felt better."
"Good, good. Have you looked into ordering the parts for... that, yet?"
"Yes. It seems some of them will be a bit hard to come by due to a strike in some mines that supply it to the company I buy from, but I was able to secure them nonetheless. I've called my fabber and he says he'll be happy to do the job once the materials come in."
"All that's left is installation, then. We already have the thermite rods, right?"
"Yep. And I've worked out the long-range detonation setup."
"Excellent." Anthony say, sliding my meal from the pan onto my plate.

>>205868
Inform RN that you might be able to slip 9Ball's informant some information.

double check the phone line isn't tapped before hand but yeah.

>>205871
>>206465
I discreetly check the phone line, then call Jack.

"You've reached the office of James Lancaster,"
"It's me, A-"
"I'm out at the moment, if you'd like me to reach you later, leave a name and number and I'll be right on that."
There's a beep.

>>206479
He's a reporter, right? Ask him about when he wants to 'do that interview with Tony'.

>>206479

>Whoops, Slip-up there. Meant
>The office of Darian Sylvus

>>206492
I leave a message about an interveiw, then hang up.
All this mystery and subterfuge and lies... Ugh. It makes my blood cold.

>>209279
Yea, we know what you mean.
Anyway, you've got plenty of time before the match and we've been micromanaging you something fierce. We'll just go into a torpor until you need us or the match is about to start, ok?

>>209307
Alright. It'll be nice to have some time alone.

-------------------
@#$@%^&*()*
-------------------

....And turning on! There we go. You guys got me?

I'm prepping Burn now. The match is in an hour. Any last-minute ideas?

>>209390
Don't get kidnapped before the end of the match.

>>209390
I forgot to ask. Uh, did you speak to Arima about the risks of her being in such a small mech? How will you disable it without killing her?

>>209432
The Tiny Dancer?

I've watched one of her matches before. I saw her actually get hit by a cannon similar in caliber to my own: She flew through two whole buildings, and continued fighting. It's some sort of crazy hi-tech armor she can afford simply because she doesn't need much.

This also allows her to use her own mech as a sort of projectile. Her main assets are speed and durability. I don't even think she has an actual weapon.

The only requirment to win is to stop the other mech from moving. So... I'm sure there's a way.

>>209495
Sure there is. Flip her over and sit on her.

Or catch it and rip off its arms.

>>210264
>>209521
>>209532
I'll keep that in mind.

Ah, there's the ten minute warning!

I'll call on you guys soon!

[end of thread]