It's been a busy few days since the morning that Tracy was awoken by terrorists from the Gloaming. Since then, they've dealt with various attempts on Tracy's life courtesy of Sasha and HECATE believing she was somehow instrumental to persuading her mother to release data. Jason was able to recover said data from Blake Forrester's Q-Core with Cadena's help and a ghost, believe it or not. Inari has arrived and kindled a new relationship with Jason while Akiko and Randall have flown cross-country to assist Mara in recovering from a missile attack launched by Mav's Mavericks, street gangers who may have been working with Irongrip Security.

Yesterday was especially busy-- on a trip to get a checkup for Cadena, they tripped across the BLACK's plan to subvert Avatars LLC with infiltrators from the virtual Empire of Stars, forcing it to attempt its Convergence early. They trekked through several different virtual realms and incidentally witnessed the awakening of ATLAS, an AD with extraordinary abilities to control portals and find locations, stopped the BLACK from its last-ditch effort to take over the network, and found out that HECATE was behind the attacks on Tracy, in the name of recovering the data to revive Margaret, Penny Arcadia's daughter.

With all that behind them, you'd think that our heroes would have earned a break! But no, Holly's voice wakens Tracy, Jason and Inari in their guest suites, and alerts Cadena where he is investigating the Q-Link room.

Once she's satisfied she has all their attention, she continues, "Dantech is launching a Non-Disclosure Attack on us. They're going to enter the premises and arrest anyone they suspect of being privy to information relevant to their 'proprietary' Q-Cores technology. Which is all of you. Those they catch will get a free brain scrubbing 'til they're satisfied that you don't retain any illegal memory of their 'trade secrets'. They won't care if they scrub out a little extra."

Holly says, "My husband has been fending them off as long as he can, but they're about to go the 'brainwash now, get government signoff later' route, so all of you need to evacuate immediately. Follow the security bot, he'll take you to the sewer access. Nose filters and two canid gas masks are in its storage bin."

"My bet is, they really just want to get all of you in their clutches, so you can't interfere in whatever it is they've got planned next. Give 'em one in the eye for me," Holly says.

'I'm sure the government would love to know Dantech is also violating the act regarding replicants by keeping the clone of me," Jason remarks rather dryly. "Anyway, where are we to go? Back to by bombed out home?"

Cadena replies on his link, where he's currently moving along with a security robot as directed. "Who is in danger of being mind-scrubbed? How about the intruder I arrived with earlier?"

Holly cautions, "They're sure to have at least one or two agents stationed anywhere that they think you're likely to go... HEL says they've got a satellite locked on North Bend so they're watching the entire area. So if you go above ground, you should limit your exposure."

"Well, we can't go back to my place," Tracy remarks, making sure she's got her taser and other important things (namely, her chip wallet). "We could could go to.. er.. Penny Arcadia? She might be able to protect us?"

"Sasha wasn't exposed to our 'violation of NDA' incident in the Q-Core lab, so she should be safe," Holly says.

"Since when do they have the right to kidnap people at whim?" Jason asks. "This is growing into the realm of absolute stupidity."

"Since we found out they've got cloned human brain tissue in their Q-Cores?" Tracy suggests.

"That still doesn't give them legal right to kidnap people. They aren't the police," Jason points out.

Holly sighs. "That, it turns out, is the real reason for their highly draconian NDAs and their insistance that their Q-Cores can only be serviced by their technicians. If the public knew about it, they'd be the target of massive backlash. But we can't expose it, without their Q-Cores, we're basically up the creek without a paddle."

Eddie, or a close cousin thereof, beeps as if to encourage them to come along while chatting with Holly through his built-in comm screen.

"Some of those technicians were Empire of Stars people though," Tracy notes, following the robot. "So.. isn't that a violation of Avatars NDA? Appropriation of copyrighted characters or something?"

"Ah and there comes the answer, it's all about money with a corporation," Jason remarks. "Frankly, I'm tired of running. Give me a gun and some ammo and I'll kill as many of them as I can. I'll save one bullet for myself. I'll be damned if anyone is messing around in my head again."

Mark Trudeau, Tracy's father, leans in from the side of Holly's camera pickup. "Hey, honey! I've got a legal AI doing the legwork on that, but I don't think it's going to pan out. The lawsuit motions and injunctions are flying pretty fast!" He pretends to duck. "Whoa, that was a close one!"

Cadena lets long pauses go over his communication, as he hastens along to follow the security bot. At last, he says, "Oh yes - by the way, Vice President Trudeau, I'm glad to hear your voice again. Please pass along my well wishes to Vice President Burgundy. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to see him. And ... might Ms. Arcadia's hover car still be here, or did the auto-chauffeur already return it home? Perhaps we could arrange for a lift, if Dantech doesn't already have a reason to keep a watch out for it."

"Oh, you brought THIS for me?" Cadena says, forgetting to switch off the chat. "Thank you! Yes, this will come in handy. Say, next time Ms. Knightley is out of sedation, can you please let her know I'm still working on finding her lost cat? I'm afraid I've run into a bit of a distraction. I hope she'll understand."

Mark smiles. "I'll do that. He's still recovering in the infirmary. He's been muttering something about not wanting to be part of 'the machine' and calling for Monica." He shakes his head. "That's a legal mess, but we'll have to sort through it after the current NDA-fight. I wouldn't recommend trying to fight them off though-- that'll just add 'resisting arrest' and 'armed assault' to your charges."

"Not if I'm dead. Sorry, tired of running, not going anywhere," Jason says flatly.

Holly smirks at her husband. "I don't think that'll stop Jason. He'll just sign into the legal database and make the charges vanish... Or at least he'll try." She leans forward. "So what's your plan? Resist arrest? Go along with them? Or try to negotiate with them?"

"Jason, you know they won't wipe you - you're too valuable to them, especially if they've got Jason Zero working with them," Tracy notes. "And doubly so if he isn't working for them. What about Inari?"

The golden vixen follows, quiet until now. "I don't particularly like running," she admits. "But I don't think they'll hesitate to scrub my brain and turn me over to Voya to be their pop star icon. The money would be too good."

"How would they even know we were involved?" Tracy asks. "I mean.. I didn't look like myself, Jason was encased in armor.. Do they have spies here or something?"

"Whatever we choose, I cannot and will not condone the idea of Tracy remaining behind with this madness going on," Cadena says, huffing as he runs. "Her safety is my priority, and brain-scrubbing is counter to that. We can't take the risk."

"You all seem to be missing the part about I'm not going to be taken alive," Jason points out. "At this point my home is gone, my business is gone, and you're basically saying I can't even go above ground. What kind if life is that? And frankly, what real hope do we have at this point? On one side we have a Arcadia willing to kill anyone to save her daughter and on the other end we Dantech using spy satellites and paramilitary forces to silence people. Running even a simple analysis of a survival chance given those parameters and we're all dead anyway. It's just a matter of time; so I'm picking my time."

Holly shakes her head in the holo-projection that Eddie emits from his left ocular. "The writ specifically names Jason Edwards and Tracy Trudeau, plus 'accomplices thereof'. I'm pretty sure that it's not actually about violating the NDA... Though given how gossip travels, I imagine they'd have to scrub a large percentage of the company, which I'm not about to permit. They want you for other reasons."

"I think Ms. Arcadia will shelter us," Tracy says. "I don't care if they'll get us - as long as it isn't now. There's still stuff we can do, and a delay could see the whole thing turn around. And Arcadia is the only one we might possibly turn into an ally: we have what she wants more than anything else!"

Inari holds Jason's hand. "Jason... Whether you decide to stand and fight here or run, I'll be with you. I don't want to lose you to them."

"Ah, on the topic of the Arcadia family," Cadena asks, "Vice President Trudeau, did my message to Ms. Arcadia regarding our situation ever clear for sending? In the event of my sudden mysterious disappearance, it might be of interest to her."

Distractedly, the middle-aged Chinese woman nods to Cadena. "I forwarded it, though if you have to ask me, trying to recover Moonlight is a terrible idea. What is it now?" She waves at the empty air, bringing up threat displays.

"I should have rigged a dead man program a long time ago. On the event of my death and and all secrets I have cataloged and collected is blast-released onto the network, all news channels, all blog sites, all 'watchdog' sites, everything," Jason remarks as he walks, eyes narrowed. To Inari he notes, "Your name isn't listed in the 'warrant' or whatever it is they're calling it. You're safe from them. You still have a chance. You shouldn't waste it on someone like me."

The golden vixen shakes her head. She stops Jason briefly, putting both her hands on his shoulders. "Jason, I..." Her eyes gaze into his. "If it were possible for me to be an Avatar and us to be Linked... But I don't want you to abandon RIU. I just want you to know that you mean that much to me. I won't lose you." RIU puffs up, looking jealous, but knowing his master's feelings, the minidragon forbears from driving her off.

Cadena rushes into view, accompanied by a robot. He's still wearing an Avatars LLC lab coat, carrying a heavy bundle in his arms that appears to contain his first aid kit, bundled robes (recently laundered), and armor pieces, while his staff is slung over his back. He looks abashed at stumbling right into Inari's and Jason's private moment, and hastens to shuffle along and give them space.

"Unless the new intruders are Eagle Security come to protect us, we should head for the sewer," Tracy tells Cadena. "Dantech may hesitate to mess with Jason, but they'll wipe me and do who knows what to you."

"You don't play fair," is all Jason seems to manage to say to Inari after her plea to him. He also finds it's rather hard to keep looking her in the eyes after that, so he looks down at his feet. "Look. Running is pointless if we don't have a destination to run to. We need fortified ground. A secure place from everyone involved. I frankly don't trust the Arcadia family at this point, either and running to them now puts them in a position of power over us. That's strategically a very bad mode," he tells everyone. There he rubs his forehead for a bit, looking as if he's developing a headache. "And we have a place to go. God, I'm stupid."

Cadena, seeing that the group has come to a halt, casts about for somewhere.... "Closet!" he exclaims. "If you would please assist me in putting on my armor?" he asks to the security robot, as he dashes into the supply closet. Crashing and shuffling noises ensue. Superman, he is not.

Mark draws in breath. "Looks like Arcadia has joined the legal battle... They're calling for an injunction against Dantech on the grounds that their 'punitive and excessively aggressive protection of proprietary information would lead to the destruction of valuable information which Avatars LLC is obligated to provide to Arcadia Developments'... And they're claiming their lawsuit preempts Dantech's due to having been issued first!" He grins. "Talk about choosing between Scylla and Charybdis. Hang on, I'm getting an incoming call from Ms. Arcadia herself."

The ladybug security robot escorting Cadena cheerfully follows him into the closet. "Oh dear, oh dear," she says. "Would you like help with that?"

"Are you about to suggest we escape to.." Tracy starts to ask, then stops when her parents announce the message from Ms. Arcadia.

Inari kisses Jason's nose. "Fighting fair is for fools," she says. "Spit it out, what've you got?"

"Mav's Mercs bunker in the dregs," Jason says flatly. "It's in a part of town no one wants to go. It's hidden, and it can be fortified."

The golden vixen looks thoughtful. "I don't remember the place. So you want to hole up there until the heat dies down?"

Holly looks over her husband's shoulder, but the call is muted on this end, with sophisticated privacy filters making sure that Ms. Arcadia cannot hear them talking either.

"I want to rebuild a place of defense. It's where Randall was being held. It has power and it's in a nasty part of town. I don't want to dance to their tune, they should be dancing to ours. We hold data both side want to either suppress or want to get. IT's the only cards we have left we can play. So we have to play them to our best advantage. Playing them now when we're weak is not a good move."

Holly nods. "All right. Do you know how to get there? Don't tell me where it is-- we need to not be able to tell them where you guys went!"

The ladybug security robot with Cadena pings. "In answer to your previous question, Ms. Arcadia's car has been moved to long-term storage after half an hour of occupying the helipad, in accordance with standard vehicle parking policies."

"I don't suppose you've got any useful tools in there that would help me make a disguise, do you?" Cadena asks, voice muffled in the closet. "Oh, who am I fooling? Even if I had collie markings, I'm not going to blend into a crowd."

"I know how to get there, yes," Jason says, "And what is Ms. Arcadia calling directly about? Is it just the legal maneuvers?"

Holly summarizes, "She's anxious to recover the data you collected, she apologizes for the actions of her associate, whom it's clear to her is not entirely within her right mind and needs treatment, and makes clear her associate's policies do not represent Arcadia Development, and she would like to extend her protection to you and your companions and invites you to guest with her in the Arcadia Towers. In a word, 'gimme.'"

Tracy looks torn. "We still have to leave by the sewers," she points out. "If we send the aircar out, and let everyone think we're on it.. we can see if Dantech is willing to shoot it down. If they're not, then we know they aren't keen on going up against Arcadia. Meanwhile, we can get to the merc base while they sort things out."

"I'm not willing to accept that invitation until the legal mess is sorted out enough that we aren't going to be grabbed the moment we're spotted," Jason says. "The idea of sending the aircar to see if they shoot it down is also an interesting gambit."

The ladybug security robot advises Cadena, "I am not programmed to improvise disguises, I'm afraid. Would you like me to refer your query to an AD?"

"That's quite all right," Cadena says to the robot. "I don't think we have the time. Thank you. That will have to do for now. Got to get running." He opens the door.

"Let's go then," Tracy says, getting the nose-filters and gas-masks from the robot.

"Heavy machinery ... in an elevator?" Cadena guesses, ears perking. "Or a whole bunch of robots. We'd best pick it up. Which way?"

The golden vixen noses toward the far end of the corridor. "I think Dantech's lawyer bots aren't going to be deterred by Ms. Arcadia's injunctions."

"Then it looks like the sewer it is. We'll get to the bunker and I'll get the Einhorn online. Yes, I kept it," Jason remarks as he grabs some nose plugs. "I thought it might prove useful."

"Mom, we can use a diversion!" Tracy says into the robot. "Can you make it sound like we've accepted Arcadia's offer and are leaving in her aircar, then launch it on autopilot?"

Eddie chimes. "Just a moment, sir!" He extends his micro-manipulator arms and unships part of the floor, revealing a crank, then uses his main arms to open it and reveal the maintenance passageway leading downward.

"Or.. at least that we're entertaining it and want to meet her in person or something like that that isn't legally binding in any way.." the teenager amends.

Holly nods. "On it! Mark, you handle Ms. Arcadia. GANGLOT! Front and center, we've got an escape to stage."

Jason also takes a moment to try and 'ping' Kimon, to see if it is still active or Dantech decided to steal his system too.

"If Irongrip security is out there and shoots it down.. uh, I don't know what that would signify, actually," Tracy says as she waits for the access hatch to open.

Eddie adds, "Just follow this corridor for fifty meters, then turn right, then you'll find a ladder leading downward. For security reasons, I will be shutting down my exterior sensors for five minutes."

"What's the plan, then?" Cadena asides to Tracy. "I'm perfectly willing to go along to Ms. Arcadia's estate to see if I can negotiate to get some assistance, and then meet up with you later, or we can just run for it."

Kimon pings back, along with a status report. It appears Holly was right, there are two hovercars that have been flying a patrol route around his house. The security guards that were watching the house have been rotated several times, and reconstruction is just about done on the front door area.

"Thank you Eddie," Tracy says, as she puts in the nose-plugs and hurries into the access tunnel. "The point of using the aircar on autopilot is to see if Dantech will shoot it down. So being in the aircar is not a good idea. When we're secure, we can see what's up.."

Cadena frowns, ears drooping at the prospect. "I sincerely hope they don't shoot it down. The auto-chauffeur is nice ... and that's Margaret's favorite hover car."

"We're going down into the land that makes you hate having a nose, then moving to an old bunker to set up defenses and once we're secure, we can see what's up, like Tracy says," Jason notes.

The fox-shaped household security adds, "Tesla coils have been recharged and the land-based defense system is ready. Presently Avatars LLC-authorized security are permitted to pass. You have 57 new messages. Eliminating spam. You have one new message, from Thomas Whaley of Irongrip Security."

The familiar gruff voice of Thomas Whaley plays in Jason's ear. "Um, listen, I'm in a jam here," he says. "I know I told you it would be a while before I had to have that sneaksuit, but now the boss wants a full inventory and all personnel on site and ready to roll out at a moment's notice. Is there's any chance you can have that sneaksuit in before 2 PM? I can stall them until then, but after that, my tail is toast! Get back to me when you can! Please!"

"Looks like the recall on your sneaksuit is in as well. That means Irongrip is likely planning a move too," Jason tells the others. "We had better get going now. Either that or commit ritual suicide."

"Did anyone bring a flashlight?" Tracy asks once they're in the tunnel. Then she remembers that her taser has a small light on it. "Wow, I knew that suit would come in handy!"

Holly says, "Good luck! And remember, we don't know where you went. As far as we know, you're still on the premises." She gives Tracy a meaningful look. "Be careful, sweetheart."

Eddie and his ladybug friend power down... Including the comm system that would relay Holly and Mark's words to them.

Inari drops into the tunnel after Tracy, carrying several headlamps. "These were in the robot storage bin," she says. "I can see in pretty low light conditions, but I don't think you can."

Biting her lower lip, Tracy hurries down the tunnel. "50 meters, then turn.." she mutters, and tries not to look too worried. "You know where the sewers intersect the old subway system, right Jason?"

Cadena sighs and salutes Eddie and the ladybug robot, then rushes into the access tunnel after Tracy and the others. He accesses his VR collar and sets it to passive mode only. Wouldn't do to have it provide a way to track him, or for it to make noisy incoming-message alerts when he's trying to be stealthy.

"Kimon, send a reply that we're a little busy, but will see what can be done. Also, include a question on if he knows exactly what Irongrip is planning to do that he needs it," Jason relays to the computer as he heads down and into the tunnel. He snags one of the headlamps. "No, but I can probably look it up. Let me get Kimon to do a search for them in city hall under the auspices of building repair and knowing where to dig or not dig."

Inari waits for the others to drop down, handing them headlamps as they pass, then reaches up and dogs the hatch shut, turning the underside crank to seal it. "After you," she say to Jason. "I'll watch the rear."

The household AI responds, "Initiating search. Records found in archives. Streaming now."

"You rob me of the chance of a pleasant view in this dingy place," Jason tells Inari just before he sticks his tongue out at her. "And ... I have the maps needed now. So we should be able to find it."

Sewers of North Bend
In any typical virtual reality, the sewers would be dark, noisome places, canals with vile green liquid that bubbles and oozes, and there would be monsters-- giant rats, slimes, perhaps even gelatinous cubes that invisibly fill passages. But this is modern North Bend. While there is a definite reek, the waste fluids flow in pipes anchored to brackets, and yellow and red lights at monitoring stations track the estimated acidity of the liquids, the better to determine when a section of pipe will need replacing. The tunnels are dark save for the beams from miner's headlamps issued by Holly, and the floors are slightly warped vinyl. Glow-in-the-dark numbers mark sewer junctions.

Avatars LLC has its own branch of the sewers, controlled by an electronic gate, with cameras monitoring the area. As they approach the gate however, the door appears to be unlocked and the cameras powered down. As Holly explained, this gives Avatars LLC plausible deniability: they have no idea if Jason, Tracy, Cadena, and Inari have left their premises, officially. Time is ticking.

From here, they can trek up toward the Towers, where similar gates control access to the various corporate boroughs and the Towers themselves, meaning that Jason or Tracy will have to bypass their security and elude their defenses to remain undetected. They can also head outward toward the outskirts of North Bend; there, they should be able to get into the old subway network, and make their way toward where Mav's Mavericks were based.

Tracy hates having to breath through her mouth, but isn't about to remove the nose filters. "How far do we need to go?" she asks Jason.

Inari, wearing a gas mask, flicks her tail at Jason. "I don't hear anything from behind us," she says. "I think we lost the Dantech stormlawyers, for now. Of course if they anticipated us taking to the sewers, they may have a unit or two patrolling down below."

Cement bulkheads separate the sewer tunnel sections. In the event of a pipe rupture, a section could be closed off by sensor-triggered hatches. So far all seems quiet, and their footsteps cause echoes.

"Kimon, entertain me for a moment ... and see if there is any access to the sewer controls that handle Dantech corporate headquarters? I might decide to give them a backup later; valves fail after all. It's only fitting they have to clean up their own waste, after all," Jason relays to his office. "How far? Miles, unfortunately. There are also security points we'll have to over-ride along the way," he notes to Tracy. "I highly recommend we take a long and winding route. Less likelihood of running into any patrols that way ... and Inari's comment about them patrolling down here wouldn't surprise me."

"They'd need permission to use the gates though," Tracy says, sounding hopeful. "Can we see what gates are in use from any one of them? And can we use them to set up a false trail?"

"Remote access to all sewers points are controlled by protected computers," Kimon responds in Jason's head. "Operator assistance would be required."

"I guess public works did learn their lesson after the convention center was flooded a few years back during that lingerie expo," Jason mutters.

They make their way slowly through the tunnels, taking the long route. At one point, Cadena slips on an unexpected discarded soda box-- some maintenance person must have carelessly dropped his lunch refuse here-- but Tracy is there to catch him.

"Sorry, Tracy," Cadena whispers. "I was distracted. There are several people up ahead, in heavy armor, crossing our current path. It doesn't sound like they've noticed us, but if we keep going that way, we'll run into them for sure."

"We have two options. We can cut the detour shorter and bypass them, or take a longer route around. I recommend longer; it's less likely to be predicted as conventional strategy would be to take the shortest routes possible," Jason tells the others quietly. "So ... follow."

"I wish we knew which set of armored people it was," Tracy whispers as they detour.

Inari says, "I'll sweep up our trail after us." She eyes the tunnel ahead of them. "Think I should leave them a... surprise?"

"While I would like to, it would unfortunately give them a tip we did go this way," Jason admits. "So ... hold off on that."

Cadena nods in agreement with Jason, and tries to take a little more care in where he steps this time.

As they take the longer way around, passing beneath a sign that reads 'WASTE FLUID RECLAMATION PLANT', Jason narrowly avoids a puddle of some odious looking green liquid that has collected from a leak in the smaller pipes. Inari looks behind them and reports, "All clear. I don't think they've picked up our trail."

Trudging through the sewers is really starting to annoy Jason. "Kimon, can you locate Andrei's address? I've half a mind to sign him up for every porn subscription in the world, plus the fruitcake of the month club," Jason thinks.

They're about two thirds of the way to the abandoned subway network now, and the floors have changed from warped vinyl to hard-packed dirt. Waste water sloshes in giant steel pipes mounted to the concrete walls by brackets; the toxic chemicals have been removed but what's left is still decidedly unsafe to drink, and is thus being used to irrigate the farmlands around North Bend.

Inari points out, "Sniffers would get a real noseful around here. I'm more worried about them tracking us by dust, but I'm covering our tracks."

Kimon responds, "Andrei Romanov's address is unlisted. Operator assistance will be required to obtain it from Dantech private employee registries."

"Here, Inari," Cadena says quietly, "I can take over for that if you'd like. I think I've got the gist of it, and your skills are likely essential to help us keep watch out for what's up ahead."

"Jason, is Kimon monitoring the news?" Tracy whispers. "If the aircar was attacked, there'd be something about it, right?"

The golden vixen nods. "All right, but we're entering the outskirts now. I'm more worried we'll run into thugs using the sewers as their base."

"Haven't asked her to, but I can," Jason notes and relays that request to Kimon. Namely, any news of the aircar.

"Thugs," Tracy grumbles. "Think another group has noticed the fall of the Mavericks and will be moving in?"

"One problem at a time. If we try to consider everything we'll do nothing," Jason remarks.

Kimon accesses news channels. "Six news channels including CNN Worldwide are covering the standoff of Dantech versus Avatars including the addition of Arcadia legal forces, as the latest chapter in the second major breakdown of the Avatars VR game in four years." In split-vision, Jason can see the live newsfeed camera watching three humanoid forms departing the office in cloaks. They are just now embarking into a wide-bubble hovercar.

As they complete the final part of their loop, Inari moves ghostlike through the debris that accompanies parts of the sewer system where portions of the roof have fallen in. The white dog-humanoid stubs his toes painfully on some of the debris... But manages to keep from howling.

The sewer passes beneath an abandoned subway station-- logically, the toilets from the station still connect to the pipes here, even though the rust on the pipes suggests they haven't even been used in years.

Above is a maintenance hatch that should lead to the station proper. Graffiti has been spraypainted over the North Bend Transport Authority logo on the wall, but it's dry and old, fading.

Cadena perks his ears. "I ... don't hear anything unusual," he whispers to Tracy. "Perhaps I should go first to check it out?"

Jason pauses and hmms. "Did anyone else hear something? I could swear I heard movement..."

"I don't think anyone is out there," Tracy whispers.. but still isn't about to holster her taser.

"From which direction?" Tracy whispers to Jason, sticking close to him while the others scout.

Cadena nods, following Inari's lead, and returning his staff to the sling so he has his hands free to climb.

The golden vixen slides the maintenance hatch to the side and then eels up into the station, her black jumpsuit fading into the shadows.

Just to be thorough, Tracy shines her lamp into the cobwebs. There might be a hidden security camera or motion detector up there, she reasons.

The light catches the cobwebs, turning them briefly into white veils draped from the rafters. Tiny spiders scuttle into hiding.

The dog-humanoid pokes his head back down through the shaft. "All clear," he reports. "It looks and smells like there were squatters here, but I'd guess it's been a year or so since anyone's been here for any length of time."

"Fine by me. The sewer trolls can grab you for their next sacrifice," Jason quips to Tracy just before shimmying up the ladder after the other two.

Cadena stays by the hatch opening, to help Jason up and out, pointing out a few patches of grease(?) to avoid.

Cadena quietly flicks a couple of white spiders off of Tracy's hair while she's otherwise occupied.

It seems unlikely that Dantech would have units patrolling this far out, in the abandoned sewer network. Instead, most of their forces have been gathered at Avatars LLC, in what looks like a weird game of mecha sumo wrestling, as their forces push and pull at Arcadia and Avatars security, trying to englobe the aircar and prevent it from reaching open airspace. And then it happens-- just as the aircar's about to break through, one of the Dantech robots opens fire on it.

Kimon reports, "Ms. Arcadia has gone on the air to condemn Dantech's callous disregard for human life and suffering and protest their use of armed force to prosecute a legal offense."

"Yep, they shot down the air car," Jason summarizes for everyone once he's up and away from the questionable pools of liquid. "Which means they don't care about being prosecuted for murder."

The abandoned subway station is apparently clear. Loose gravel crunches underneath as they make their way outside. It will be something of a hike but so far there's no signs of any intruders in these tunnels.

"Really?" Cadena sounds shocked. "I guess that means they weren't intent upon taking any of us alive, either."

Inari points out, "Or they want us dead or alive... But not in someone else's hands."

"I doubt it was about the NDA then, and more about the recovered Zeus data," Tracy guesses.

"Anyway, lots more walking to do, so we best do it. I also have to figure out how to get the sneaksuit out of my office along with any weaponry I can salvage, without being detected. May as well hand over the suit to the poor guy at Iron grip and at least spare him the position we're in," Jason notes as he resumes walking.

"You didn't get a chance to bug it though," Tracy laments. "I don't suppose you can launch your armor via remote control?"

The hacked Einhorn is right where Jason left it, about a block's walking distance up the tunnel from the abandoned Mav's Maverick base. Police caution tape covers the tunnel outside the base, warning that this is a crime scene under investigation, but there are no police and the security camera covering the entrance is powered down.

"I'm going to walk the Einhorn back to the base," Jason tells the others, "If you want to scout it out and make sure it is secure, please feel free." So, he heads in the direction of the mammoth crowd-control bot.

As Tracy approaches the base, the loud 'THUNK!' of the Einhorn coming to life makes her jump, thinking that there are defenders hidden in the base, about to spring out. A second later, her senses belatedly realize that the sound came from behind.

"It's all right, Onee-sama!" Cadena assures Tracy, gesturing to the powering-up robot. "I think it's on our side." He walks over and gives it a pat. "It's good to see you're still in working order."

Inari gives Cadena an odd look as he says 'onee-sama', then smirks as she follows.

"Not today, sorry," Jason tells the little dragon as he takes control of the basic motor functions to steer the behemoth into a defensive position in the base (as well have a chance to work on it).

"Maybe there's some way to bypass it?" Cadena asks of Tracy. "Perhaps I could scrounge for some supplies you can use." He starts to hunt around, keeping well clear of the security tape.

"I've got my pick-kit, hold on," Tracy says, following the tape to find the communications relay.

There are still a large number of bullet holes in the far wall, where the train car lifting system hangs over the tracks. The garage door has been shut, and caution tape festoons it and the smaller double doors of the abandoned station lobby gaudily.

With a bit of tweaking, Tracy gets a signal loop going to fool the alarm. She smiles proudly towards Jason - who of course is busy with the big robot. So she does a RIU-pout as well.

"I'm sorry, Onee-sama," Cadena says to Tracy, as he comes back. "I haven't found - oh. Say, that's very impressive work there. Have you done this sort of thing before?"

"Jason taught me how," Tracy says. Then adds, "Just in case I ever got kidnapped and locked up somewhere, not so I could break in to places or anything!"

"Very handy," Cadena observes. He sniffs around, still keeping wary of the security tape, just in case.

Kimon updates Jason on the developing status. "Security Vice President Holly Trudeau is mourning the death of her daughter and condemning Dantech for its bloodthirsty attack. Head of Legal Mark Trudeau has demanded Dantech answer for its crimes in an international court. For the moment the Dantech NDA assault has stepped down in severity. Avatars LLC is recovering the aircar debris, and Arcadia Developments has requested access to the black box recording."

"Inari, check this stuff out," Tracy calls, once she's inside the storehouse. "Armor!"

Inari comes back from doing a recon of the station. "It looks clear," she reports, meeting up with Tracy. "Going for the SWAT look?"

"Okay, now ... first thing is to get set up is a million point communication relay so you two can contact the Arcadia family and discuss the situation," Jason says as he clambers off the bot. "Then I have to figure out a way to get Kimon to dump stuff down a sewer line for us to go pick up. We'll need the sneaksuit and any of my tesla-weaponry that can be moved. I only have four hours to get that suit back to Iron grip, so that's going to be my priority right after the comm link work is done." So ... it's off to find radio and communication equipment in here for him.

RIU curls up around Jason's shoulders snugly. It has faith in its master! Even if its master won't let it drive the big robot.

Cadena looks to Jason. "I take it that means we aren't going to be holing up here after all?"

"Oh there is no way I'm going. I'll drop it off at some location and just have them pick it up," Jason notes.

"If it covers us up and lets us mingle with security forces, I'll dress up as a pink tap-dancing beaver," Tracy notes, as she digs out anything useful.

The golden vixen smiles. "Ah, and then we can keep an eye on them and see if they were going to try to ambush you?"

Cadena blinks a few times, trying to make sense of the pink tap-dancing beaver reference. He shrugs and gives up.

"I didn't say that," Jason notes to Cadena. "There are still things that need to be dealt with and this is going to be our center of operations for now. I have no desire to be the cause of death for some poor guy who can't say no to his daughter and borrowed company property to make her happy, is all."

"Huh? I'm not going.. I just want to not look like a vulnerable fugitive," Tracy says.

"Well, I wonder if there's any way to get this security system working again, to work in our favor?" Cadena asks no one in particular. "I'm concerned that we might need a heads-up, in case the police come back by to resume their investigation anytime soon."

"And ... oh, right. There is that old maintenance passage under my home that connects to the sewers. It's there for private goods transport. Gang problems at all. Nothing at all to do with buying illegal equipment," Jason comments. "Let me get Kimon in collecting what we can reasonably transport and dropping it down there. Then I'll see to the security system"

"I wonder if the comm system in my apartment is still turned on," Tracy muses, as she tries various bits of armor over her jumpsuit. "What would make a good final link in a communications chain, wouldn't it?"

"Only if you don't mind your apartment being raided and ransacked," Jason notes to Tracy.

"I wish we knew some.. media.. types," Tracy says, then looks at Inari. "I assume it already has been," she tells Jason. "Say, think we could get Voya to broadcast all of Dantech's dirty secrets?"

"Breakfast is ready!" Cadena calls out from the mini-kitchen in the employee break room, as smells drift through the base. "I found food stores. And, yes, cooking is much easier with opposable thumbs."

"They might be able to block traditional news outlets, but why would they be monitoring your stuff, Inari?" Tracy reasons. "You could reappear, and tell the whole world what happened."

"Anyway, there are thousands of anonymous relayers in the world. I just have to get into that network. Give me a bit and I'll get have something hooked up that should be extremely difficult to trace. I can even use the old metal sewer pipes as transmission lines; I just have to account for the signal attenuation," Jason says as he starts grabbing bits, tools, and other odd junk to go about assembling a hackers comm system. "And no, we are not turning Inari over to those vultures."

The golden vixen sniffs at the air. Are those... Sausages? With real meat? "I could, and I don't particularly care about whether Dantech has to shut down their Q-Cores business, but a lot of companies might be very unhappy," she says as she beelines for the breakroom.

"Dibs on the bacon," Tracy claims next, and heads for the kitchen. "Not even a press release from hiding?" she calls back.

"What? That she's run off to be with someone that makes her happy?" Jason yells as he wobbles around, trying to manage carrying the odd collection of junk he's gathered. What he intends to do with that colander ... who knows.

"For that matter, I wonder what's happening on the game forums," Tracy notes, as she sees what Cadena has cooked up.

"Ms. Arcadia taught me to cook," Cadena claims, as he serves out portions, making a small plate of "pancake balls" to set aside for RIU, with little stylized "lightning strikes" he's glazed them with with a blueberry gel-topping packet he found. "Well, it was really for Margaret's benefit, but I picked up fairly well by example."

The mini-dragon pauses in ferrying Jason's tools to give Cadena an enthusiastic Nintendo-style victory tune by way of appreciation... But it doesn't actually eat the pancake balls.

Cadena's ears blush. He hastens to pick up the plate he prepared for Jason, and carries it out to the garage.

"You should be able to contact Ms. Arcadia now without it being traced. You just have to wear that on your head when you call," Jason explains to Cadena and gestures to the colander.

"Ah," Cadena notes, regarding the device curiously. He clears out a space to set Jason's plate and drink down, and then goes over to find a spot to sit and try on the colander-helmet.

Jason rubs his forehead, then laughs. "I didn't think you would actually try it on," he admits, "I was just joking about that part. I ... nevermind. You don't need it. Just sit down in front of the camera. I've got it superimposing a randomizing background in behind you so no one can see where we are."