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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Thu Jun 6 20:40:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Well, as directed I've re-established a few connections here in the
sprawl. No-one seems to know anything much about any shadowy biolabs setting up shop
recently, or any relevant recent personnel "acquisitions" for that matter. Looks
like the Seattle shadow community aren't going to be very helpful in this matter - at
least, not the members thereof that I know.

What now? I assume the rest of the team are in town by now, shall I
rejoin them, or keep wandering around out here?]<<<<<
-- Ronin <18:37:46/06-06-63>
Message no. 2
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Fri Jun 7 20:40:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[The threat is real, we just found some nice vicious bugs they left
us to show they had a real threat.


We're doing the black-helicopter routine. Keep working the streets. In
particular, who the hell wants to kill all the humans but leave the
metatypes alive? That's not a populist cause, in fact usually the
opposite is true.

_I_'m safe from that, but I don't know if you're covered (what blood
group are you, and exactly *how* well do you know my daughter?)


I can't do street work except for a few trusted old friends now, thanks
to those Thunda bastards. I need you for that. You've got some
connections... but mostly, compared to me nobody knows who the hell you
are.

You need somewhere safe to run to... Doubletree Arlington, Suite 1201.
Or just use >>details of comms procedures<< and scream a gridref into
the mike. You might be working in isolation, but you are not alone and
we'll back you up just as surely as we might demand you be at Location X
at Time Y to help us neutralise Bad Guy Z.


Ain't life grand? Still... this is what I signed up for. DBF!]<<<<<
-- Lynch <01:37:43/06-08-63>
Message no. 3
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Sat Jun 8 02:30:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[The threat is real, eh? Well I suppose it's nice to know that I'm not
just chasing my tail... on the other hand, maybe not so nice.

As for my blood group and knowing your daughter... huh?

+++++Include file huh.pic
[Being a picture of something pointy flying over Ronin's head.]

All that aside, cool, I'll keep asking, but I'm running out of places
and people to do that with... I'll let you know if I find anything. You
got any extra info I might be able to use to shake something
loose?]<<<<<
-- Ronin <23:32:14/06-07-63>
Message no. 4
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Tue Jun 11 01:30:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[According to the briefing package, the victims that have been
recovered so far were all alone when they were taken, and seem to have been grabbed off
the street in a pretty random fashion, right? This is not a very rare modus operandi, so
it's not going to be much help in identifying anyone... and the kidnappers were probably
just hired meat anyway... lucky if _they_ didn't end up as test subjects.

That aside, I heard from a friend that someone's trying to sell footage
to LoneStar of such a kidnapping in progress. Minimal detail, but the
seller did say it was set at >>location<< on the 16th of April...
checking my briefing package, that's pretty much in the area of where
victim F was taken, and the time is right. It all depends how many
people were kidnapped that day, I guess.

The Star don't seem to be very interested in dealing with the sort of
scum that would film such an event, do nothing to help, and offer to
sell the footage later. Added to which, it's probably a hoax or dead end
in any case. Still, you never know your luck, so I've passed on a
message that I'm interested in buying it. I'll be in touch if and when
I've got it.

Oh, and you still haven't explained what the hell you were talking about
with blood groups and knowing your daughter... I know she's actually a
big awe-inpsiring cute ferocious furry menacing (possibly man-eating)
tiger, is that what you're asking?]<<<<<
-- Ronin <23:25:11/06-10-63>
Message no. 5
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Tue Jun 11 17:55:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[Blood groups and Stephanie... okay, get ready for Shapeshifter
Biology 101.


What isn't widely known is that shapeshifters seem to come in two
varieties. One sort is the less-uncommon, more widely-known version like
our friend Griffyn, which seems to be primarily magical in nature and is
one being that has two shapes, a tiger or a human (for Griff's example)
that they flick between very fast, and either "heal" or "die" when
hurt

The other variety is actually independent of magic (but a high mana
level seems to make them appear more often) and is a complicated genetic
hybrid of two species, with a 'natural' intermediate shape and able to
take any place from one extreme to the other. Lilith is the latter type,
and so is Stephanie. Thing is... genetic shapeshifter blood is sort of
holographic, at least as it was explained to me. Every cell holds an
image of the whole. And those blood cells are not just your wimpy little
non-nucleic biconcave haemocytes we're used to, every single cell of a
genetic shapeshifter's blood is a tooled-up attitude-laden leucocyte
with a haemoglobin payload and some blastocytic capabilities as well as
a vaguely viral ability to transfer RNA. What that means in English is
that whenever a shapeshifter is injured, every single cell of its blood
is able to destroy any infections or contamination, and then fix the
damage to make the shapeshifter back to its proper shape, and it tries
to convert any compatible cells it meets to The Cause.


This means that a wounded genetic shapeshifter burns a _lot_ of energy
and oxygen (you may have noticed how the first priority with a wounded
Lilith is to get her chilled down) but that wounds that would need days
to heal on a human, heal in seconds; wounds that should need weeks, heal
in minutes. (Still a lot less dramatic than your typical magical
shapeshifter, which can regenerate severed limbs in seconds... been
there, done that, go for the headshot!)

It also means that inhaled pathogens tend to go from the "breathe this
and die" bucket to the "asthma symptoms for a while" list because the
shapeshifter's blood _eats_ the viruses, although you still don't want
to be unmasked in a hot zone if you can help it. (Which reminds me - did
we get you your level-four hazard suit? If not, either pick it up, or
tell me where to deliver it. Hopefully you won't need it, but it's handy
insurance Just In Case.)

And that blood is aggressive and expansionist. You share body fluids
with a shapeshifter who has the same blood group as you... and you get
colonised by those blood cells, which absent a violent antigen reaction
rework your blood into a poor imitation of themselves. You heal faster
and better than you used to, and most diseases just give you a headache
and a raised temperature.


It turns out that genetic-type shapeshifters may have - looking at the
specs, almost _must_ have - inspired nanite-based symbiotic healers. I
can see, and have evidence for, one route where that came from that
isn't too bad. I know how unpleasant the alternatives could be. (If you
consider shapeshifters to be sentient, which not everyone does)


So, knowing that you've worked with Stephanie, that she can be...
generous in her affections, and that while you're a major pain in the
butt you're also very skilled and professional and a very smart guy (all
things that seem to appeal to her), I was wondering (a) exactly how well
you know my daughter and (b) what the details of your blood type were.
(We _used_ to know, but when we cut you loose from jail, all your
records were trashed, and we were very honest about not keeping copies)

I'm not even doing the angry-father bit of "did you sleep with my
daughter?" (the correct response is "No, sir, whenever we were in bed
together we were too busy fucking each others' brains out to sleep!")
but wondering if she ever suggested any sort of blood-brothers ritual.
Especially if you had a bad bout of influenza-like symptoms afterwards.


If you've got a compatible blood type _and_ you've been on closely
intimate terms with my daughter (or another genetic-type shapeshifter)
then you may have an intrinsic but not absolute resistance to pathogens.
If you haven't... double- and triple-check the seals on your HAZMAT suit
when you're in a potential hot zone. Or do what I do and wear the damn
suit anyway. We're dealing with genetically-engineeted superbugs, I'd
rather not let them near me at all.



Does that answer the question? It's a complicated subject.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:53:31/06-11-63>
Message no. 6
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Wed Jun 12 04:25:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Yeah? Really? I'll be damned... one question though, how good are
your sources on that? It all sounds a bit far fetched, really... in any case, no sort of
intimate contact occured, except she licked my hand once, so I guess that makes me safe
from one thing, not so safe from the other. And no, I don't have a HAZMAT suit, but I can
get one.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <22:24:55/06-11-63>
Message no. 7
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Paul J. Adam)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Wed Jun 12 18:30:07 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[How good are my sources? Let me put it this way... Lilith and I
are both Group A, rhesus-negative, Pearson class 3. I'm one of the index
cases of what happens to a human who has intimate contact with a
genetic-type shapeshifter. The effect really does seem to be a
supercharged form of nanite healers. Not tactically useful, but very
handy when wounded and trying to get well enough to walk out of a
warzone-gone-bad.


As for the HAZMAT suit... got one ready for you, in your size (assuming
you haven't gained or lost too many inches recently). Pick it up from
>>location<< anytime.



I'm sort of surprised Stephanie didn't make _some_ moves on you... (and
I gave up doing the violent protective father routine years ago, it just
doesn't fit when your daughter is a hedonistic shapeshifter who commands
a tank company or a detached combat team) - except weren't you and she
working together along with Emma? Stephanie and Emma have a fairly major
relationship going, which (together with her and Griffyn being
male-tiger-female-tiger) might have crowded you out.

Stay safe and keep the good work coming.]<<<<<
-- Lynch <23:01:52/06-12-63>
Message no. 8
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Thu Jun 13 01:15:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Lynch
>>>>>[Okay, both A pos, fair enough... but what about the lewis system?
Duffy? Kidd? Kell? And all the other blood group systems. Don't get me started on the 7 or
8 HLA systems. And that's just your blood. Sounds like there must be something else going
on that's preventing a bad case of graft vs host disease. Does it help if the
were-creature in question likes you?

The HAZMAT suit... okay, my source on that sort of stuff got busted
while I was away, so I'll be needing to take you up on that offer. If
anything, I've lost weight since leaving Washington... all that sitting
around reviewing and analysing intel was giving me the beginnings of a
spare tire. Good to be out in the field again.

Stephanie... yeah, I worked with her and Emma, but either I had my head
in the sand, or everyone was too busy, 'cause I didn't really notice any
hanky panky between anyone.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <17:13:28/06-12-63>
Message no. 9
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Mon May 20 01:10:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Ronin
>>>>>[So the Crown's gone, why don't you go cry to your mother about it.
Damn it, some people have real problems. You wouldn't believe the drek I'm seeing out
here. Most of these mercs I'm with are pretty damn good at turning a blind eye to the
poverty of the places they work, but I can't seem to do it. The pay is okay, thanks for
asking, and for the most part the scum I'm working for are only part of the problem, but
they don't have much interest in solving it. Most of them are lining their pockets and I'm
fighting to defend that.

The shifters... hmmm... I'm kind of embarassed in front of those guys
now... unhappy memories. I wasn't exactly at my best. So none of them
were there any more? You kind of confused me there... who's using the
warehouse, and for what?]<<<<<
-- Faerie <17:06:29/05-19-63>
Message no. 10
From: shadowtk@*********.com (Chickenman)
Subject: Memory lane bites
Date: Tue May 21 01:25:01 2002
*****PRIVATE: Faerie
>>>>>[That was a little harsh... besides, I have no mother, remember? Only
a manufacturer :P

The warehouse... near as I can figure, no-one's using it for anything...
but I didn't really hang around to check for coming and going. The old
gang might still be there, just lurking, I guess.

Anyway, I have actual work to do... so I'll see you around.]<<<<<
-- Ronin <17:25:58/05-20-63>

Further Reading

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