Chapter 11: The Shadow in Our Caves

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei lands at the designated meeting are, a heavy brief case at his side as he adjusts his shades. He stands in front of the loading bay of the cargo plane and waits patiently.

[Markus Dunstan]

Markus took the key and made his way to the apartment Lena bad bought for them. He slipped in his key, then stepped inside, pulling back his hood and observing the place carefully.

He stripped off the excess clothes, since he didn't like wearing anything over his suit. It made him feel bulky and slow. The quick access to the teleportation booth made it a more then acceptable local.

He felt a brief flicker of nostalgia at the idea of a home. He tilted his head to the side, then shook off the feeling.

[Bambi Engel]

Bambi smiled at the creditor's answer. There was something about Aubrey's attitude but made her feel refreshed. Musing, she figured it was because she had never met someone quite like the pink-haired fashion expert.

"Hey Aubrey, it's Bambi. I'm not sure how long ago you were created, but the Manalists hold a ball every year. Being a global bank employee, I am to attend. I was wondering if... Well, if you'd help me pick something else to wear than what I do every year."

As usual, she rambled on as she did when she was trying to explain her reasoning for something.

"You can show me that skirt I never got to see, too." She added for good measure. She wasn't sure what the answer would be, but she figured Aubrey wouldn't have a problem unless she was busy. Then again, Bambi supposed fashion was more important to this creditor than bad credit.

[Tristan Tuzanic]

After the concert, Tristan decides to see if maybe he can talk personally with Anya. He is a loyal Manalist after all, so he should be allowed some priveledges in life. After she is done performing, he tells security that he is there to investigate the musician on behalf of the Manalists and that her lyrics do not contain the proper amount of praise for Father Manala. He is allowed back to her changing room on the pretext that he is there to question her about the religious content of her music. He knocks on the door of her changing room and waits for her to answer...if she even bothers to.

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

"Normally I might be upset, Linnea dear, but you see, I have excellent news. I was at a meeting in Switzerland with the Economic Council and it was decided that this year the banquet of the Blessed will be held at my own mansion. There is so much to prepare, and, I will put you in charge of the preparations. You do such a good job at the office, I am sure you can plan this party for me. You don't have to thank me for this extra project, since I am sure you feel honored to be given such an important job." Keitoleinen says happily to Linnea. He is now at his office building. He parks his car and heads into an elevator in the parking garage to the level where his office is located. His mood is cheerful and employees seem happy to see him again after his hiatus from the office.

[Horacio Hatfield]

Eventually, Horacio heals from his encounter with Tyler and leaves London to return to the United States. This time, he moves to San Fransisco to take a new life and try once again to build an anarchist movement. He finds a job at a local Allmart and even finds a cheap apartment. The city only houses a few thousand people since few people want to live in the waste land that is the United States. However, he feels safe there and figures that the radiation and pollution can't mess him up any more than he already is.

After a long shift at Allmart, unloading shipments of products, he takes a little time to write a letter to some of his contacts.

My dear anarchist friends,
I am still alive and now living in hiding once again. I am feeling better after my strange incident in Florida and my wounds have healed almost completely. I am still hoping to start up this movement against the horrible Manalist religion, but, where do we start? Well, if anyone has any ideas please write or visit me. I regret that I am hard to find now, but will tell you that I am on the West Coast of the United States.
Good Luck!
-Horacio

[Momo Kurokawa]

Momo heads to her mailbox and in it she finds an invite to the banquet for the Blessed. She is quite excited about this, even though she doesn't usually like social events. But this year, Intelligent Design made more money than ever before, and she would like to show off a little.

"It looks like I am going to need a new dress and a date. I wonder where I will find a man for this event. I had better start looking." She said to herself. She wanted to bring someone attractive, even if he wasn't rich or powerful. She wanted to prove that her money could compensate for her face or her figure.

"He should be at least 10 years younger than me. I wonder who though. I don't want to have to pay someone to go with me."

She puts on her gray jacket and heads out the door, since finding a date will be a challenge.

[Aubrey 16]

"Oooh a ball!" Aubrey exclaimed, balancing her phone between her ear and shoulder as she clapped her hands. "Thats so fabulous!"

"I'd love, love, love to help you!" She paused, and gasped excitedly. "It'd be totally Cinderella! Except, theres no evil step-sisters, and I'm dressed way better than that frumpy fairy godmother."

"I'm wearing that skirt now." She announced, grinning down at the black and white pleated skirt she'd bought after Bambi left. She'd also gone back to the shoe store and bought black thigh-high heeled, actually the heels looked more like spikes, boots, which she was also wearing. The only color besides black and white on Aubrey today was her pink hair.

"We can meet up whenever is convenient for you." She says, before shaking her head. "Actually, we should meet up as soon as possible. Right now would be amazing. Anything else you're doing today couldn't possibly be more important than this."

Really, Bambi probably had a million things that she could be doing, all of which would probably be more important than finding an outfit for the ball, but in Aubrey's eyes anything other than looking impeccable was trivial, and could be done away with.

[Annika 25]

To Aubrey
In her search for Akira, Annika stumbles upon Aubrey 16 who seems to be talking on the phone with someone (I am not sure exactly where you are in the game). Although the call may be important, Annika has a mission. Without hesitation she approaches the other Creditor and interupts the phone conversation.

"I am looking for Akira 69. I am told that he is no longer with us. Have you seen him?" Annika asks the fellow Creditor.

[Kizu Sensou & Hex]

Kizu smiles and takes a look at the menu. She herself orders something she never is allowed outside of the labs...a bloody mary. However to her dismay it has no real blood in it.

"I am a genetic engineer and work for genetech. Hex here is one of their prototypes. Extrodinary isn't he. He is my guard. I think he is a shining example of how far we have come with science."

At this Hex scoffs and turns his head ashamed at Kizu's boldness. Its times like this he wishes he were not mute. If he could speak in more than a whisper he would set her straight but he merely shakes his head. Kizu continues.

"We have done so much with our research i think we will be coming up with better ways of cloning soon and maybe just maybe there will be better applications for what we have discovered. Maybe even...something we could all use...but I babble."

She was thinking medicinal and was hoping one day to show the research to lady Violette. But she could hardly tell Hilja or Akira.

[Aubrey 16]

"Hold on a moment, Bambi." Aubrey says, lowering the phone from her ear, and looking at the other Creditor who'd approached her.

"Akira 69?" She pondered his name for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I saw him." She reports, thinking again.

"He was with a group. Three women and a man." Of course, a simple scan told her what their names were, but they were of little importance. "Two of the women had such bad fashion."

She shook her head. "It was dreadful."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"I saw an ad in the paper that Genetech is looking for women to donate eggs for a new breeding program. I am very interested in that since I could make some money to pay off debts. You don't happen to know anything about it, do you?" I ask Kizu hopefully. I find all of these sciency stuff to be interesting. "My friend Rose is studying genetics in college. I think she would like to be a scientist. Is it a hard field to get into?" I ask. I sip my own tea and order a scone, since I am pretty hungry. It is a cranberry scone, but expensive since cranberries are rare now.

[Annika 25]

"I was told that he no longer works for the Creditors and must be destroyed. What did the women look like?" Annika asks. She takes a small note book out of her vest pocket so she can jot down some notes about the situation. She has an excellent memory, so she does this more for effect or to look professional.

"He must be destroyed." She repeats after placing a well sharpened pencil upon the pad.

[Aubrey 16]

"Destroyed, hm, thats good. I didn't like him much." She states nonchalantly, flicking a piece of hair of her shoulder. Annika bored her a little, all work this, and destroy that. Blah, blah, blah.

"One was wearing an out-of-date dress and had dark hair." Out of date was putting it mildly in Aubrey's eyes. She didn't think anyone had worn something that hideous since the stone age! "The other was in some sort of awful uniform, she had dark hair to. The man was tall. And the third woman was dressed alright, she looked like she worked for some sort of business."

She thought for a moment and remembered something else. "They were all going to lunch."

[Annika 25]

"Very well, I will check the local eateries and hunt down this rogue Creditor." Annika states seriously. "You may join me if you like. Otherwise, I am leaving." Annika says as she starts walking away. If Aubrey wishes, she can follow, but Annika assumes that she probably has other important work to do. She tucks the notebook back into her pocket and walks briskly as she makes a mental list of cafes and restaurants that she knows.