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Message no. 1
From: Mike Goldberg <m_goldberg@**.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject: Under the silence of night... (Part 1)
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 15:31:42 MST
>>>>>[ Hi everyone... I thought you might be interested in what happened at
the
meeting that FireWraith set up. I know I kept it fairly quiet, but that was
to try and prevent certain people from finding out where we were. It turns out
that was a moot point. Here is the video from security's point of view. It's
mostly through camera's set up so that Highlander could keep security going
through out. He also had the ability to talk in any of the rooms that he so
choosed to.

+++++ Start video.
As the screen flashes to black, there is a little intro message. "This video
started being shot at 21:49 on 6/8/55." The screen cycles through various
colors and then scans the surroundings. You see a picteresque little plantation
that is in the middle of nowhere. The view slowly pans up to the mansion. On
the porch is an middle-aged elf, with long wiry black hair. His face looks like
it has seen one too many years in the sun and is slightly wrinkled. He is
wearing leather pants, mocassins, and an open vest. He is also wearing a fair
share of necklaces and rings, and bracelets. He has no visible weapons on him.
In his lap he has a drum of some sort, and he is quietly playing away. The
rhythm he is playing, reminds you of something peaceful, like the little
rustling of leaves, or the sound of a waterfall. The music almost seems to
convey a sense of peace and relaxation. The screen suddenly identifies him as
DragonEyes.

A voice pipes into the background. You immediately recongize it as
Highlander's.

*Highlander* Sorry to interupt DragonEyes, but it seems the lad WHAT has
arrived in a car. Should be arriving to the manor in 2 minutes.
*DragonEyes* Don't be sorry my friend, after all, this is one of the things you
are getting paid for.

DragonEyes smiles, and continues drumming.

The image shifts to a battered old four door car. The car, probably a cheap
Ford or something, looks like it tried to compete in a Demolition Derby, and
somehow survived... barely. The driver, you can only know he is elf by the fact
that you have seen other pictures of him before, is smoking a nico-stick, and
seems to be very nervous. The beauty of the land he is driving through, while
calming him a little, doesn't seem to help that much. And you watch the car
wind through the various paths until it ends up in front of the porch. Then
What gets out of the car. You are still amazed at how short he is. He is
wearing a straw hat which mostly covers his short black hair. The straw hat,
you note, doesn't really match at all with the very broken in look of the grey
duster that he is also wearing. He gets out of the car, finishes his nico-stick
and starts another one, almost immediately. He then reaches into his car grabs
a shotgun (you guess a Remington ... maybe a 999), and slings a bag over his
left shoulder. He then shuts the car door, and walks calmly toward the porch.

DragonEyes apparently was watching all of this with quite some amusement, at
least that is the case judging by the smile on his face.

*DragonEyes* Welcome to "Leaden Ham Plantation". How's life been treating you,
What?
*WHAT* What was that name... Leaden Ham... how fitting. I'm doing fine.

He shakes hands with DragonEyes.

*What* How are ya?
*DragonEyes* I would be better if there were a little less amount of
uncertainties in my life right now. The meeting is taking place ... Let's see
up the main stairs, fourth door on the left. And on your way, you might want to
say hi to Highlander, who's listening in on all of this...
*Highlander* Och, hello lad. How was your trip here?

What is momentarily startled, but quickly recovers.
*What* Aside from the natives, being bloody fraggin' racists, it was fine. How
are you and the gals? (He smiles)
*Highlander* Och, don't be reminding me lad. I have a job that I still have to
do.
*What* (smiles warmily) By the way, how much is it worth to ya to make sure you
disappear if Heather proves to be too much?
*Highlander* Now lad, let's not get into that now. We have plenty of other
things to do today.

What smiles and enters the door.
*What* My you sure have a nice little pad here.
*DragonEyes* We have "rented" it for the week. Too bad it's in such a horrible
neighborhood.
*What* What neighborhood? There is nothing around here for miles?
*DragonEyes* I was thinking of all those racist snots in the nearest town.
*What* Oh yeah.

What slowly climbs the stairs. Taking all the time in the world to soak in the
sights of the mansion.

*DragonEyes* Highlander, remind What that this meeting is supossed to be
non-violent.
*Highlander* Consider it done.

As What is passing the first door on the left, Highlander pipes in (which makes
What jump a foot): "Lad, DragonEyes asked me to remind you that this was
supposed to be a peaceful meeting. Use your weapons only in self-defense.
DragonEyes doesn't really want to pay the owner for damages.

*What* I understand.

What finally gets to the fourth door on the left. He opens the door, and walks
in. The room is a modest little meeting room. There is a white noise generator
nicely humming along. The meeting table is made from you hazard teak wood, and
the chairs are nice leather ones. There is a what looks like a fully stocked
bar in the back with a pot of coffee and tea going as well on a make-shift
stove that looks badly out of place. Also inside, you see a human, who has his
head shaved. He is wearing all black, and is playing a guitar. (The screen
labels him as Blitzkrieg). You can also see the faint glimmer of a silver
necklace on him.

Seeing What, Blitzkrieg stops playing and motions him to come in. He then gets
up and hugs him.

*Blitzkrieg* How are you?
*What* Been an interesting trip down here and all. And I've done a fair bit
since the last time we saw each other.
*Bltizkrieg* I bet. I've mostly read all the logs since I've been out of
action. The hardest one to read was the fact FireWraith is back. I still
haven't figured out about that one.

What looks somewhat shocked, but hides it fairly well in the act of lighting
yet another nico-stick.

Blitzkrieg, noticing his shock: "You didn't expect me to come into the meeting
totally unaware. I eventually got it out of DragonEyes himself, but he was
adamant in the fact that he wasn't going to let me see her until today. It
probably was for the best. Because I have finally had enough time to think
things through a little bit. But... I'll save that for later."

---
*DragonEyes* Highlander... Are your scanners picking up our newest guest. It
seems a watcher has caught a sighting of someone.
*Highlander* No. I'll scan some more.
*DragonEyes* I'm going to go astral briefly to see who it is.
*Highlander* Okay.

DragonEyes body slumps over. A few moments pass and it uprights itself and
continues drumming.

*Highlander* Still haven't found anything.
*DragonEyes* Check quardrant 5-c real good.
*Highlander* ... ... Ah yes. So he's really good. It's hard to make out who he
is. I take it by the fact that you have me looking for him, he isn't hostile?
*DragonEyes* (smiles) No, at least he isn't yet. It's Doomsday.
*Highlander* I'll make sure the rest don't get through that easily.
*DragonEyes* Call it a what you want but I think that we'll have a tougher time
spotting Shadowfox. He specializes in infiltrating places.
*Highlander* Och, then I'll just try harder to bring that lad back to the
ground.
*DragonEyes* (Grins) You do that... What's Doomsday's eta?
*Highlander* 1 minute. He's making good time. I just found where he hid his
vehicle. That's going to be real hard to find if someone else is looking for
it. The lad must be taking after Shadowfox.
*DragonEyes* Great. Another one. Just what the world needed.

Out of the woodwork comes Doomsday, not a small troll to say the least. He is
wearing decent armour and has an assault rifle and a nice huge sword of some
sort. He walks up to DragonEyes and bearhugs him.

*Doomsday* It's been too long. How have you been?
*DragonEyes* I've been taken on too much stuff. I really miss Johnathan's help.
*Doomsday* They don't make too many like him anymore. Hang in there.
*DragonEyes* Is that a claymore?
*Doomsday* Yeah. Picked up in Denver of all places. Had to replace the
monosword I dropped off a building rooftop last week.
*DragonEyes* Nice tan.
*Doomsday* (smiles) You got a decent one too, considering how much time you
used to spend in doors.
*DragonEyes* Since Monday I've been spending a lot of time outdoors. It's
really nice. Maybe after this I'll take a week vacation. I sure could use it.
*Doomsday* So could I. Anyway, instead of me chatting all day out here, where
is everybody else?
*DragonEyes* Before I tell you, why are you working with him?
*Doomsday* Him? Oh, I suppose you mean Herr Nightmare. Well... It's a very long
story. One that Shadowfox will probably have to repeat a few times. Let's just
say that it suited Shadowfox's needs, once we figured out that he was a loyal
pup. Until two weeks ago, I didn't fully trust him. I don't know if I do yet.
I know Shadowfox doesn't.
*DragonEyes* You hear about Steelwings?
*Doomsday* You mean the broad that was tracking him.... rumormill has it that
she almost caught them in London.
*DragonEyes* Newsnet has it that she died the same way Gutterrat did in New
York.
*Doomsday* I thought he ... hmmm... this will be an interesting day.
*DragonEyes* Indeed. I can't wait to hear your excuses for working with him.
*Doomsday* (sighs) I don't suppose it would be too much to ask for some
tolerance. We've all had to kill someone in a way we didn't want to. I used to
work with a person who had a nasty habit of raping them before he killed them.
Of course that one solved itself by the cops finally catching him.
*DragonEyes* (raises an eyebrow) You forgiven him for killing Gutterrat?
*Doomsday* I never tried to. I don't think I could.
*DragonEyes* Well, we can talk about it more inside when everybody gets here.
It's supposed to be peaceful meeting. Try and make sure that Nightmare doesn't
get shot on sight by WHAT. I'll try and make sure Bruce doesn't fry someone. No
garuntees on how FireWraith will react to any of us. The room in question is up
the main stairs... fourth door on the left.

*Doomsday* (nods) Okay see you in a bit. Is Gawk coming to this?
*DragonEyes* Couldn't reach him. I doubt he'll show up.

Doomsday nods and enters the house. "Nice place. Too bad it's in this part of
the country. I never truly liked the CAS. Too much bad history." With that he
heads up the stairs.
---
*Highlander* Laddie, if you don't mind me saying so, that didn't really solve
anything. Lighting a torch to remind him of Gutterrat, may have not been the
kindest thing you could have done to the poor lad.
*DragonEyes* As he said, it's going to be an interesting day. And I wanted him
to be thrown at him before FireWraith used it against him. He took it fairly
stoically. He's been around Shadowfox for too long. It's a shame.
*Highlander* Why's that?
*DragonEyes* He's hiding his feelings. It makes them harder to get them to
understand what everyone has gone through, and makes them a little less
metahuman. Of course anyone with a bunch of cyber and bioware is a little less
metahuman. (DragonEyes starts drumming again.)
---
*Doomsday* Knock knock...
*WHAT* Well a bloody hello to ya. It's been too long.
*Doomsday* Yeah it has... a damn shame that I missed the party on going for
Ganz. But I made the one for Gallean, and that was quite the blast.
*WHAT* So I've heard. Luckly you didn't lose your head.
*Doomsday* I've been told that for the past 7 years. Hello Blitzkrieg.

Blitzkrieg just stares at him.

*Doomsday* Is something wrong....? (mutters something) I showered this morning
so I shouldn't be that offensive.

Blitzkrieg continues to be silent. Doomsday seems very hurt, and just after
standing there, just sits down near the door.

*WHAT* (nervously) Shame about your sword...
*Doomsday* (halfheartedly) yeah.

And then there was silence, as Doomsday stares at the floor, What fidgets
around and continues to smoke, and Blitzkrieg turns and stares at a wall.
---
*Highlander* Incoming car. It's Bruce. I think.
*DragonEyes* Probably is. It's kind of hard to mistake the scars that Nightmare
left him.
*Highlander* Och, what are the chances of this going off with out any attempts
at violence.
*DragonEyes* (sighs sadly) Probably none. What will be contained by Doomsday
and maybe Shadowfox. Bruce and Blitzkrieg, it's kind of hard to say. And
FireWraith is a complete unknown. After all she tried to kill me once. (sighs)

A nice little pick-up truck pulls up. Out steps Bruce. It still is a bit of a
shock to see him. He has short sandy broun hair, stuble, and his face and hands
have a ugly black grid covering them. He is wearing a nice leather hat and has
a worn-in brown duster. He is wearing jeans and a decent button-down shirt. You
can also see a belt on that has a gun, probably a heavy pistol of some sort,
and a knife on it. He also has a torc covering his neck. He pulls out a shotgun
out of the pickup as well. And then calmly walks toward the porch.

*Bruce* Hello DragonEyes. Long time no see. Heard you've been busy though.
*DragonEyes* Yes. Diana sends a hello through Roxey as well. How are you? I've
been told that I have been negligent in watching over you. But then again, I
wasn't really expecting you to try and work yourself to death.
*Bruce* (sighs) Well, I had trouble, err, coming to terms with my scarring.
I used work as a focus. I guess I finally have a running name. Scarface.
*DragonEyes* Ouch. Not one I would want, but I bet it puts some fear into those
who would employ you.
*Bruce* I never thought about it that way.
*DragonEyes* Only three more guest to arrive after you. Go upstairs, and it is
the fourth door on the left. (DragonEyes grabs Bruce by the arm). And Bruce --
this meeting is supposed to be peaceful. Try and remember that. Only act in
self-defense for what happens here not for past actions. I told that to
FireWraith as well, but who knows how she'll act.
*Bruce* Why the warning?
*DragonEues* I'm starting to be paranoid and don't want to be shot as soon as I
walk into the room. (he shrugs) Just humor me, I'm getting strange in my old
age.
Bruce snorts: Old age... your only 8 months older than I am.

And Bruce heads up the stairs.

*Highlander* Looks like Shadowfox and his "Companion" are going to be let.
*DragonEyes* That is surprising. It's not like him to be late for a meeting.
I'm sure he'll have a good excuse.
---
Bruce pops his head into the room.
*Bruce* Howdy! It's been a long time since I've seen you all. How's it going
Doomsday? (shakes hands with him)
*WHAT* Hiya --
*Doomsday* -- Hello Bruce. It's been an interesting life that I have lead since
we have last set eyes on each other.
*Blitzkrieg* (looking up from the floor) Hi Bruce.
*Bruce* I bet. How are you Blitzkrieg? I'm glad to see you're not drugged up.
*Bltizkrieg* (softly) I've been worse.
*Bruce* (nods sadly) And you What?
*What* I've been doing well for myself. How are you? And how is Diana (he grins
miscieviously)?
*Bruce* I guess I am doing well. It's been a long trip out here. People down
here don't like people who are different. I have had a lot of problems with my
looks and all. Don't want to think of what it has been like for you Doomsday.
*Doomsday* not to pleasant. Actually, I've managed to keep all contact down to
a dull roar by traveling by car. It only got hard when I needed more supplies
or wanted a shower.
What laughs a little bit to suddenly, like he is trying to cheer people up.
---
*Highlander* Och, It's ten o'clock. Thier late.
*Shadowfox* No we aren't.

The camera shifts suddenly and your treated to the view of two humans, very
similiar build, exept that one has a full beard and the other has a goutee.
You guess the darker one (they both have really good tans -- the one that is
Shadowfox, you can tell by the close cropped black hair (a crewcut of some
sort). The other one, you guess is Nightmare, has blond hair that is cut very short, but
not as short as
Shadowfox's.)

*DragonEyes* Sure -- give me a heart failure like that. How was your trip back?
*Shadowfox* Eventful. Allow me to introduce Nightmare. (DragonEyes and
Nightmare shake hands.)
*Nightmare* I have heard a lot of positive things about you from Shadowfox.
DragonEyes nods.
*DragonEyes* Unfortunately, I can't say the same about you.
*Nightmare* Hopefully, that will change soon. Shall we get this meeting on with
it?
*DragonEyes* Soon. But first, I want to mention that this is supposed to be a
peaceful meeting. Don't kill the people already here or FireWraith.
*Shadowfox* She isn't here yet.
*DragonEyes* No -- she -- wanted to be the last one here. Her choice. I just
set the damn thing up. Nightmare, is there a way to undo your spell on Bruce?
*Nightmare* I'm working on it, but I rather not test it out on him first, in
case it makes it worse instead of better.
*Shadowfox* (angerly) But you said you were also working on a version of the
net that didn't kill it's target.
*Nightfox* (sighs) If they have magic in them, it shouldn't. I guess I haven't
tweaked it enough for mundanes.
*DragonEyes* (coldly) So let me guess you have two versions, one that kills and
one that makes them wounded enough to keep them out of action for a month or
so.
*Nightmare* That was the general idea behind it. Mercs respect not killing when
you can and don't go seeking revenge. Shadowrunners, were a different breed
then I was expecting as far as the honour thing goes. But I'll explain more of
that when everybody is here.
*DragonEyes* How long have you been listening in to what's been going on here?
*Shadowfox* We've been in hearing range for the past 7 minutes.
*DragonEyes* (shakes his head and sighs) Then you know where the room is.
*Nightmare* Up the stairs and the 4th door on the left?
*DragonEyes* Correct, but hold on a second, I want to send a watcher to
FireWraith to tell her that everyone is here.

DragonEyes concentrates for a few seconds and then motions for them to follow.
The go up the stairs real quietly. DragonEyes first, then Shadowfox. Bringing
up the rear is Nightmare. When they got out side the room they and you hear
What scream, "Shadowfox - DragonEyes, look out behind you."
]<<<<<
-- DragonEyes <14:31:30/6-9-55>

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Under the silence of night... (Part 1), you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.