Section 3: Ace’s Wild

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Shaking his head, Ace shrugs. “Maybe, but I doubt it,” he says. “More than likely he just wants to make it clear to me just how slotted off all of Nuevo Refugio is and how badly I’ve disappointed him. Management 3 probably just wants to collect their fees… and to lay down the law as to where we are and are not permitted to go. Given that they sent 3, that is probably not many places.”

[archolewa]

{Baby Blue}

Baby Blue nods, and sits down in the seat next to her gear.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Ace nods. With a chuckle, he adds, “Why I assume this?” He pauses just a second. “If El Brigadier wanted to force this issue, he’d have brought 30 or 40 soldiers to cover 10 potential hostiles, not merely 3, leaving them outnumbered more than 3-to-1 since he would likely be including me in that number. He'd want the balance to be the other way around."

[Gremlin]

{Skye}

Since Headstone seems to be the only other person concerned with basically letting Ace freely walk out into territory that's friendly to him, Skye shrugs and shifts her perception into the astral plane, then looks out the window to see if there's anything magical going on.

[Tay-Dor]

[El Cid]

"He gave his word. A man is nothing if he can't or won't keep his word." El Cid says plainly. "I trust him with my life. I will go with him."

El Cid divests himself of his wrist phone and other electronics and his weapon, leaving them on the seat. "Seeing as I speak Spanish better than you old man, you may need me to help translate." El Cid tells Ace with a slight chuckle. "Especially if they're pissed enough at you to suddenly decide to 'no comprendo de engleesh'."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Ace returns the chuckle. “That’s hardly a challenge. I think a developmentally-delayed toddler can speak Español better than I do,” he admits. “I’m slowly getting a better handle on vocabulary and grammar… at least as long as I stay in present tense, but I think my pronunciation may be forever hopeless. I’d blame it on interference from my Japanese and Sperethiel, but I’m told my pronunciation in both of those languages is just as atrocious.” He shrugs. “I’d claim I have no ear for languages, but my German is fragging near fluent.”

Laughing again, he adds, “Oh, the residents of Nuevo Refugio have been doing that to me since I was close to your age, Cid. Even those that I heard speaking perfectly fluent English right in front of me not 2 minutes earlier where they had to know I had heard them. When I protested, they told me to stop being a spoiled American and learn another language like the rest of the word. When I pointed out that I already spoke 3 other languages, 4 of you count standard edited UCAS English because that’s not my native language either, though it is closely related, they just said to consider it immersion learning. Most refuse to even slow down.” He shrugs. “Good thing my listening comprehension is better than my speaking, neh?”

Ace slides out of the seat since no one refilled it after El Cid moved back to the seating comfortable for trolls when Basil announced their descent. He moves slowly, watching to be sure no one intends to clobber him for doing so.

“So, Headstone, what would you like me to bring you back?” he says while his eyes are on the ork adept.

[Gremlin]

{Skye}

Skye stands up and leaves her gun and pocket secretary on her seat. "There's some big spirits in the hanger. I'm assuming they're there in case trouble breaks out. Some watchers, too. From the ones I could see, there's both a hearth spirit and water elemental so that means at least one shaman and one mage are part of the security here," Skye informs the others.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Ace nods. “And at least two free spirits that I’m aware of – refugees like most here at Nuevo Refugio, escapees from one of the Az-Dicks' magical labs,” Ace says. “I did warn you that if you had any summoned spirits, you should leave them on the plane and that you should leave or disable any magical gear. I’m not playing games or just trying to disarm you, no matter what you or the team may think. I gave you my word.”

[Gremlin]

{Skye}

Skye gives Ace a puzzled look. "Yes, and? Was I disputing anything you told us?"

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

''I'm not picky'' he mumbles back to him, clearly distracted as he is staring at the crew. Wondering if the hold Ace has over them is so powerful, they aren't even able to reply anymore. Let alone be willing to grant him this minor request.

[shaidar]

{Revs}

Revs looks at Headstone "I heard the conversation between Ace and El Brigadier. It wasn't exactly hostile, but not exactly friendly either. He was pissed that Ace was bringing us here, and he asked Ace to pay the fees and Ace owes him big time for letting us in, and I mean BIG TIME. If Ace doesn't go out there then El Brigadier is going to get suspicious. If we all go, show our respects to El Brigadier, that's going to cause far less ripples than Ace not showing up."

[Tay-Dor]

[El Cid]

El Cid nods. "I heard it as well and can confirm."

"Look, you think I'm touchy about being disrespected? We're in the land of my linguistic and semi-cultural kin. Pretty sure they are going to be just as touchy if not more so." El Cid explains.

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

Headstone types out a message instead of verbally replying and sends it to the crew so he doesn't need to say it out loud.
-It's not this location I am worried about. It is the firepower he can bring to the location we are going if he gets to communicate.
Just remember my words, even if you think this man won't exploit every loophole there is. He even keeps telling us what the exact loophole is. Combine that with what he says he is expecting to happen and there you go. That allows him to stick to his word and still screw us over. But enjoy dinner. Hope it will be worth it- he sighs after sending it, shaking his head as he walks to the open door, holding out his hand, ready to collect the gear of anyone wishing to hand it over for safekeeping.

[archolewa]

{Baby Blue}

Baby Blue frowns. "Headstone, if you're trying to send us a message, it won't work. I turned off your secretary's network connection. And even if it did, none of us would receive it, because we all either turned off or removed our phones. And sending a message to us counts as sending a message outside because of how networks work. Its why I wrote a note and showed it to everyone instead of sending a message."

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

Headstone chuckles at his own mistake.
''Absolute bane of my existence these wretched things. This is what I wanted to send them'' he says handing over the secretary to BB, so she can read it directly.

[archolewa]

{Baby Blue}

Baby Blue reads the message. She shakes her head. "You and Skye both act like we can do anything if he tries. What, exactly, should we do to stop him if he decides to just walk up to El Brigadier and start telling him about the day he's having? Tackle him? Cover his hand with our mouth? Give him a dirty look? Start an impromptu Gumberoo performance? As Skye so correctly pointed out, we're trapped underwater in an arcology full of his allies. If he wants to tell them, he will tell them. If they want him, they will take him. The only things we control are: do we do stupid things ourselves that tip them off, and, if they do decide to take him back, do we hand him over or die in a blaze of pointless violence. We just gotta roll with it. Fighting's only gonna make things worse."

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

''Remain seated would have come to mind, because then you could...'' he shakes his head. ''But we are past that point now. No use explaining why it would be a better tactical decision. Drek happens'' he says defeated, not finding the energy to even bother anymore.
In a slightly louder voice:
''Alright crew, time for you all to head out. Enjoy yourselves out there. Anything you want to leave behind, I can safeguard for you. I you prefer outsiders to keep your gear safe, hand it over to their security. Either way, enjoy the food and the hotel. Sleep with one eye open and we'll see you all tomorrow.''

[shaidar]

{Revs}

"I left my stuff on the seat, and you'll be seeing at least me again, Mr food delivery, before the night is over. Not that I'll be staying."

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

''Thanks chummer'' he nods in appreciation.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Skye}

Skye gives Ace a puzzled look. "Yes, and? Was I disputing anything you told us?"

{GM}

Ace shrugs. “From what I’ve seen, things bear repeating with this crew,” he says. “They seem to get lost the first few times, neh?”