>>4324657
>Keep going through traffic, but FASTER

>>4324661

You press down ever harder on the accelerator, cars becoming blurs as you move in between them at an incredibly unsafe speed. Both bikes speed up as well, but one has an unfortunate accident of slamming into a hover car. The bike skids forward under it, the biker a red smear along the back end. That’s one down, one to go.

You’re good but this speed in congested traffic is unsustainable even for you. You’re beginning to feel the strain in your eyes and the start of a headache creeps in. You have to give the other guy props though. Not many can keep up with you. Traffic is getting lighter up ahead, if you can keep it up you might be able to lose him by gunning it down the road.

>Keep going FAST and then go even FASTER
>One hit a car, see if you can get the other one to
>Write in

>>4324694
>Keep going FAST and then go even FASTER

>>4324694
>Keep going FAST and then go even FASTER

Speed is life. You stop moving, you die.

>>4324708
>>4324735

You decide that speed is the way to go and let an ear to ear smile crawl along your face. Traffic is going to lighten up and the biker behind you has no chance of keeping up on his junk bike compared to your custom built beauty. Unfortunately he seems to be a little more nimble than you. He’s closing ground even with your maneuvers through traffic. Moving between cars you become one with the road. Maintaining your already incredible speed you drift along in traffic. You have a few close calls and the biker behind you loses some ground as he has even more and finds maintaining the pace to be a little more than his skill level allows.

Traffic lightens up and you press a special little button that you have for times like these. Delivering packages in New Light you learn to have a few tricks up your sleeve or you end up left in someone else's dust. You feel the boost hit your engine, the wind howls and claws at you. Trying to lift you off your bike, but you hunker down. No longer having to swerve through cars you can truly open up.

The other biker tries to keep up but simply can’t, soon becoming nothing behind you. You are speed. Everything you pass seems to almost be standing still. Ecstasy fills you as you become one with your bike and hall ass down the road.

You can take the direct route to the Dark Suns, after all a timely delivery is professional. Or, you could take a little more of a winding path, just in case anyone else is following you.

+1 to SPEED
+1 to MANEUVERS

>Take the direct route
>Take the indirect route
>Write in

>>4324746
>Take the direct route

We're too fast for anyone following us anyway

>>4324746
Take the direct route

>>4324751
>>4324757

The boost dies down and you’re back at above normal speed. Moving along traffic you feel fairly confident in being able to out speed them again. A few Cop-Mercs drive down the road in the opposite direction, no doubt in response to your wild chase through the loaded streets of downtown New Light. Too bad all they’ll find is the splat mark left by a single biker on the rear end of a hover car.

It’s a quiet ride to the east side of New Light. A famous Mercenary hub, it houses no less than 200 distinct Mercenary corporations. The Dark Suns being a middle sized group mainly dealing in law enforcement. You wouldn’t be surprised if a few of those Cop-Mercs you passed were with them.

Gliding into the parking lot of their personal offices you’re stopped by security long enough for them to scan your ID card and show that you’re expected. Two well dressed men meet you at the entrance and immediately one throws out a hand for the package. You give it to him and he heads into the building at a brisk pace after inspecting it. The other one holds up a hand to stop you from leaving.

“We at Dark Suns would like to thank you for delivering the package in a quick and efficient manner. You’ll find that you have a little bonus in your bank account.”

He smiles at you, a smile filled with stunningly bright teeth only Corporations can buy. Olive skin and hazel eyes look down at you from an impressive height. Of course, you aren’t that tall to begin with.

>”Any package, any where.”
>Say nothing
>Write in response

>>4324788
>Say nothing
>Drive off fast

>>4324795

You don’t say anything in response. Simply whipping your bike around and hitting the throttle you speed away into the night.

JOB COMPLETE!
+2 FUNDS
+1 REPUTATION

Arriving back at your apartment, you slip your bike into the garage and lock everything behind you. You take off your helmet and let your hair cascade down your back. You are Melanie Dread. Special Package Handler at Dawn Inc., you have a few things to do before you can relax for the night.

>Wipe down the bike and shower
>Call your handler
>Get some food
>Write in

>>4324837
>Call your handler

>>4324954

Taking a moment to breathe you feel the final dregs of adrenaline leave your body. But there’s still one thing to do before you start cleaning up your bike and yourself. Calling Dave, your handler at Dawn Inc. Plopping down on your single chair at the kitchen table you pull out your phone and give him a call.

“Hey, hey! How’s my favorite delivery girl doing? Did <callsign> go out there and kick some ass?”

“Yeah Dave, everything went pretty well. Had some tails when I picked up the package though, but they weren’t anything I couldn’t handle. The package was delivered and pretty fucking fast too.”

“Yeah that’s what I heard, the Dark Suns even kicked in a little extra for you so enjoy that! I got another job for you tomorrow so clear up your schedule. Keep on doing your job well and quick and you’ll be running for the big dogs soon enough!”

“Alright Dave, just give me a call with the instructions and I’ll take it from there.”

“That’s what I love about you <callsign>, quick and to the point. I gotta go, but be sure to get some rest girl. You’ll need it for this next one, you gotta go out to the outskirts of town. The fucking boonies. It’ll be a long haul. Talk to you later!”

Dave hangs up before you can ask for more information, looks like you’ll just have to wait for his call tomorrow. Dave isn’t your first handler but you don’t mind him as much as the previous ones. You’ve never met in the flesh and you doubt you ever will. Dawn Inc. likes to keep it’s drivers and corporate personnel separate. Hell, you’re pretty sure Dave isn’t his real name either. Still, it’s nice to have a contact that isn’t a giant piece of shit like your last one.

You unzip your pleather jacket, maybe you can afford real leather some day, and are hit by the smell of sweat instantly. Crinkling your nose you know it’ll be covered soon enough by the smell of oil and grease when you clean up your bike soon. Peeling it off you toss it onto your bed and try to find the energy to finish your night. You let out a big sigh and go to your garage which is actually just the other half of the living room and get to work.

>What is your callsign?

>Radiant
>Jager
>Raiden
>Write in

>Go to bed
>Tune the bike
>Look over some part magazines
>Write in

Pick a name and an action please. Going to call it a night here and pick it up again sometime tomorrow afternoon/evening!

>>4325018
>Radiant
>Look over some part magazines

>>4325018
>Cerberus
>Look over some part magazines

>>4325018
>>Radiant
>Look over some part magazines

>>4325023
>>4325371
>>4325395

A quick search on your data pad brings up some Motorcycle enthusiast websites and a few more reliable part sourcers. You recognize a few from ordering parts before and open them. Road Hog Parts and Lightning Metal are both above board sources to get some top of the line gear. The third website, Tunnel, is a great place for parts too. As well as a place to get some not so legal things that go bang.

Your stats are as of right now

3 SPEED
2 MANEUVERS
2 REP
1 BLOODTHIRST
4 FUNDS

You can’t improve speed anymore right now without buying a new frame for your bike which is way outside of your price range.

>Buy a MANEUVERS upgrade -3 FUNDS
>Repaint your bike, it is currently a gun metal grey -1 FUNDS
>Order a pistol that can be hidden on your body -1 FUNDS
>Write in

>>4325535
>>>Buy a MANEUVERS upgrade -3 FUNDS

>>>Buy a MANEUVERS upgrade -3 FUNDS

>>4325535
>Buy a MANEUVERS upgrade -3 FUNDS

>>4325558
>>4325613
>>4325651

Deciding to buy a MANEUVERS upgrade to make your bike more perfectly balanced makes sense. Even still you pause before spending so much of your FUNDS. But you place the order and feel a shiver run down your spine as you dream of how it’ll handle in the future. It won’t be here in time for your next delivery but your bike still handles pretty damn well. Calling it a night you slide into bed and are out like a light.

Waking up to your blaring ringtone as Dave calls you.

“Hey Radiant! Hope you’re ready to deal with some fucking country bumpkins cause we got a deliverly from Fury Point back to a lab in the west side of town.”

“Fury Point? That’s gang territory isn’t it? Some dumb assholes that go by Red Skulls right?”

“Blood Skulls but yeah, we’ve got you covered though. It’ll be you and partner on this one. Sunny will be riding with you, do me a favor and don’t leave him in the dust will you? He’s actually armed so he’ll provide any fire support you might need.”

“Can’t give any promises Dave, I am SPEED.”

“Yeah you are! Such confidence! But for real, keep an eye out. These Blood Skull assholes are fairly well equipped. They’ve stayed out there for years and have repelled several attempts to dislodge them from their home. I hear they hold some races every now and then so they must have some pretty nice rides as well.”

“Alright Dave, I promise I’ll be careful. So what am I hauling this time?”

“They want you to pick up a person. That’s all I got for you, they set up a meeting point and will hand them over there. Remember our motto kid, “Any package, any where.” Sending you the coordinates now. Happy trails!”
>Ask for more info? What do you ask?
>Tune up your bike and hit the road
>Call your old Mentor for advice
>Write in

>>4325699
>Tune up your bike and hit the road

Asking questions would take up time we're going there as fast as possible.

>>4325699
>>Tune up your bike and hit the road

>>4325699
>Tune up your bike and hit the road

>>4325708
>>4325767
>>4325778


Taking a few moments to check your gear and fine tune your bike. You hit the road. Traffic is bad as always but begins to lighten up once you get outside of the dramatic city sprawl. Heading towards the rendezvous point with Sunny you try to remember everything you can about him. You’ve never run with him before but you have heard of him. He likes to gun down everything in his way rather than MANEUVER. He’s pretty quick though for loading his bike down with weaponry. Hopefully he can keep up with you.

You pull into the little park area where you’re supposed to meet up with Sunny. You can see him waiting by a tree. He’s tall, at least 6’2”. Tan skin and blue eyes meet yours as you take off your helmet. Taking a look at his bike you can see 2 slightly hidden holes on his front end. You’ve seen those things before, machine guns that spit death in front of him.

“Well hey there pretty lady, I gotta say your callsign is pretty on point. A “Radiant” beauty!” he laughs. Throwing you a wink and a smile.

>Say nothing, just gun your bike
>Tell him to get his ass in gear
>Write in

>>4325854
>Say nothing, just gun your bike

>>4325854
>>>Say nothing, just gun your bike

>>4325854
>Write in
Small salute

>>4325857
>>4325859
>>4325887

You say nothing back to Sunny, instead simply putting your helmet back on and revving your bike. You throw him a small salute as you keep revving your engine. He laughs again and still smiling puts his helmet on and hops on his bike. Starting it up with a roar he pulls up alongside you. He taps his helmet and points at yours. You assume he wants you to open the Coms built into your helmet with his. It’d be annoying but also keeping in touch with your team is good practice, even if you don’t say much.

You get going on the road out towards Fury Point. Not a lot of traffic headed this way on account of the heavy gang presence and all. Soon the urban sprawl turns into suburbs and then gives way to desolate landscapes. Unless it’s a city maintained park, it’s pretty damn rare to see anything green and growing around New Light.

You and Sunny keep an eye out for anything too suspicious but so far the most suspicious thing on the road is yourself. Hoping it stays that way you continue on towards your pickup point.

>Open Coms with Sunny but don’t say anything
>Open Coms with Sunny and talk about something?
>Don’t open Coms
>Write in

>>4325906
>Open Coms with Sunny but don’t say anything

Just to be safe

>>4325906
>Open Coms with Sunny but don’t say anything

>>4325913
>>4325955

Opening up the Coms is an easy thing, a quick tap and you’re logged into Dawn Inc. own secure network in which you find Sunny’s ID and connect. Not saying anything you send a quick burst of static his way just to ensure he knows you connected and then continue on towards your destination. Sunny tries to get you to talk multiple times but after several failed attempts he just starts to blather away to himself. He’s always upbeat and talks in a happy tone. Must be why he’s called Sunny.

After some time you begin to close in on the pick up location. Pulling up just short of it you and Sunny take a minute to survey the scene. It’s an old abandoned motel, the kind you see on old crime shows when the person is trying to hide from the cops. There’s an unmarked white hover van sitting in the parking lot with a lookout on the top floor of the motel. The lookout has a rifle in hand and is keeping a close eye on the surrounding area. In a minute you think he’ll spot you but not quite just yet.

“Well, we’re here Radiant. Do we just stroll on in and pick it up or do you want to take it a little slower and circle around the joint? We’ve got some time before the designated meet-up time.”

>Head on in, these must be the guys
>Circle around just to be safe
>Write in

>>4326042
>Circle around just to be safe
>Tell him to stay here in case the clients come early

>>4326045
wait the second thing i said doesn't make sense ignore that

>>4326042
>Circle around just to be safe

>>4326045
>>4326130

“Let’s circle around, check the area a little more.”

“First thing I’ve heard you say today Radiant and I couldn’t agree more.”

You both start your bikes and head backwards a little, taking some side roads to fully circle the place. A good thing too. You spot some Blood Skulls a ways off, it doesn’t look like they’re scoping out your meeting spot but they’re definitely headed that way. You need to get in there and pick up the package before they get there.

“Looks like a few bikes and a truck with a gun on the back. I could handle it with some help but you’re not exactly armed to the teeth huh? Maybe we could give them a distraction? I could pepper them real quick and then high tail it out of here, let you pick up the package. I don’t really want to mess with them if we can help it but it’s your call.” Sam muses.

It’s pretty clear he doesn’t want to distract them.

“Let’s hurry up and grab the package and just fucking book it yeah? I’ll be right with you in case we run into something up the road rather than start some shit behind us.”

>Send Sunny to distract them
>Hurry up and pick up the package with Sunny
>Write in

>>4326159
>Hurry up and pick up the package with Sunny

Let's just book it we're definitely faster than them don't know about Sunny though

>>4326159
>Hurry up and pick up the package with Sunny

Make sure we have the package

>>4326169
>>4326193

“Let’s just grab the package and go.”

Sunny lets out a happy grunt.

“Roger that!”

Spinning back on the bike you take care not to be seen by the Blood Skulls. You hurry up and roll into the meeting place. Slamming on your brakes you skid in and cover everything in dust for a short period of time. When it clears you see the lookout on the top floor pointing his rifle down at you and Sunny. The hover van’s driver door opens and out steps a dark suited woman armed with a SMG. She doesn’t point it at you but keeps it within quick reach.

“You the delivery people? Dawn Inc.?”

In response you just hold out your Dawn Inc. ID. Letting her give it a quick scan.

“Hurry up and give us the package. We spotted some Blood Skulls down the road and they’re headed this direction.”

The woman starts a little at that and whistles at the lookout. He starts climbing down and heads towards the van.

“Alright let's get this over with.”

She opens the back door and you see a bound woman straining against her restraints. That’ll make the delivery harder, a squirming package is no fun to handle. The dark suited woman picks her up over her shoulder and walks over to you and Sunny.

“Alright who gets the girl?”

Sunny just points at you. The woman shrugs a little and forces the woman onto your bike. You have some ties that you use to secure her to you and the bike. She’s making lots of noise but it’s all muffled by a gag.

“Alright there you go. Get the package to Sutherlund Industries lab over in the west side. Big medical facility, you can’t miss it. Use the back loading bay, not the front doors.”

With that said, she and the lookout hop into the van and take off leaving you and Sunny with a very unhappy squirming person strapped to your back.

“Alright, let's hit the road!”

You rev the engine and peel out of the motel with another dust cloud forming behind you.

>Your stomach flips flops a little, you’ve always hated delivering people
>You feel calm, she’s just another job, she’s just a package

Roll me a d20 please! Best of 3 with high rolls being good. Doubt we’ll get 3 rolls but that’s okay!

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4326258
>You feel calm, she’s just another job, she’s just a package

Crits count for anything?
I'm sure you will QM, quality attracts players

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4326258
>You feel calm, she’s just another job, she’s just a package

Enjoying the quest QM hopefully you get some more players!

>>4326268
>>4326274

Thank you! This is my first time QMing and really writing as a whole besides short stories and poetry. It means a lot that you are enjoying this!

Crits do count with 20s being crit success and 1s being crit fails.

>double 7s
lol, why don't one of you roll one more time and we'll take the best of 3

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>4326287

>>4326298
nice! Writing now

>>4326268
>>4326274
>>4326299

As you drive down the road you feel calm. The PACKAGE behind you is squirming and probably making noise but it’s all drowned out by the wind and roar of your bike. You’ve delivered people before, they're just another job like anything else.

+1 BLOODTHIRST

For the most part your journey is fairly calm. Dodging some more patrols you make it to the edge of Blood Skulls territory before you actually run into trouble. A mobile checkpoint has been put up on the road. There are some back roads you could take but there’s a good chance they have those patrolled as well if they’re out on the main road stopping people for “tolls”.

“Looks like trouble.” Sam’s voice comes over your Coms system.

“We can blast through or go around, your choice. I see some trucks and bikes. The trucks will be easy to lose but I see some really nice bikes out there. Might give you a run for your money.”

>Blast through
>Chance that a side road isn’t being patrolled
>Write in

>>4326327
>Blast through

>>4326331
+1

>>4326331
>>4326335

another roll my friends! d20s best of 3

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>4326343

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>4326343

I'm guessing we don't need to roll again lol

File: it'sbeautiful.gif (2.32 MB, 552x233)

2.32 MB GIF

>>4326349
>>4326353
lol nope! writing now

>>4326348
>>4326349

“We’re going through.”

That’s all the warning you give Sunny before clamping down on the accelerator and blasting down the road towards them. For his part, Sunny reacts quickly. Gunning it right beside you though he’s losing ground to your faster bike. Quickly swerving back and forth he lets off some shots into the crowd of Blood Skulls and gets lucky as hell. Hitting some of the munitions in the trucks that leads to a chain reaction blowing both trucks sky high. You both drive through flames and smoke as you roar through the checkpoint. By the time they know what hit them you’re a dot on the horizon.

“Hahahaha!” Sam laughs.

You have to admit, you enjoyed that quite a bit. You let a smile sneak onto your face. Having cleared gang territory you relax a little. Driving back into the shadows of New Light’s looming skyscrapers. You pick your route carefully, knowing which streets rarely get patrolled by Cop-Mercs. Getting pulled over for kidnapping isn’t something you would like to handle today. Finding Sutherlund Industries is fairly simple. You come to a stop at their back gate and let a security guard scan your ID. He watches your PACKAGE the entire time.

You’re met by a team of security guards at the back entrance. Your PACKAGE is easily sedated and taken off your bike. A stern looking man in a lab coat watches the whole thing and leads the security team back inside. They don’t even wave you off just leaving you all alone with Sunny.

“Well ain’t that some shit. Usually there’s at least a little corporate bullshit line about the delivery. Guess they had somewhere to be. So do I as a matter of fact, I’ll see you around Radiant. This run was a fun one!”

With that Sunny peels off into the night.

JOB COMPLETE!

+1 REP
+2 FUNDS

>Head back to your apartment
>Hit a bar to celebrate
>Write in

>>4326412
>Hit a bar to celebrate

>>4326414
+1

Also let's save up our funds for a bit to get a speed upgrade

>>4326414
>>4326419

You could use a good stiff drink after doing a good day's work. Deciding to hit a bar you go to one of your favorites. The Angry Dragon isn’t quite a dive bar but it’s certainly no club. You take your time to get there, enjoying the ride. As soon as you get there the bouncer lets you in no fuss, he already knows you.

“Hey Melanie! Haven’t seen you in for a while. What could be keeping you away from me huh?”

Don yells at you over the music. Being the bartender/owner of the place he knows his usuals fairly well. Having already pulled out your favorite brew and planting it in front of you when you take a seat. You tip the drink in his direction and take a thirst quenching pull from the bottle. Damn, Rioters Blade always hits the spot.

“How’s it been Don? I’ve been keeping busy out there on the job. Can’t come see you if I don’t have any money you know?”

“Hahaha I see! Got any good stories to tell? That first brews on me tonight!”

You start to tell Don about your latest run, leaving out exactly what the package is of course. You add a little more dramatic chases and explosions then there were but by the time you’re done you have a little group of people hanging onto your every word. Everybody loves a good runner story.

>Have a few more drinks and ask Don if he’s heard anything around town
>Call it a night

>>4326445
>Have a few more drinks and ask Don if he’s heard anything around town

>>4326450
+1

>>4326450
>>4326454


You have a few more drinks bullshitting with Don. He’s always a good time and a great listener, must be the bartender in him. He also always has an ear to the street and knows what little pieces of info to hold onto and what’s just gossip.

“So Don, got any news for me? I’ve been too busy doing the job to know what’s going on around town.”

“Well first of all, if that story of yours was true. I’d be keeping my head down for a hot minute cause I heard the Blood Skulls put out some reward money for anyone who can help identify who blew up a checkpoint of theirs.” He smiles and winks at you.

“Secondly, I heard about a little street race coming up soon. Supposedly, winning it qualifies you for a place in Hell’s Run and of course that would get you into the biggest race of the year, Beasts Rage. That’s about all I got for you though, not much else going on around town.”

“Thanks Don! I always appreciate a heads up and that race sounds pretty interesting. Maybe I’ll check it out.”

“Of course! If you are interested in that race just come back here, I’ll set you up with it. There’s an entrance fee of course but it shouldn’t be too much.”

With that you head out back to your apartment. Cleaning down your bike and taking a quick shower. The news about the Blood Skulls looking for you isn’t shocking, but still having a gang out for your blood is never good.

>Call Dave
>Go to bed
>Write in

>>4326479
>Call Dave

>>4326479
>Call Dave
I must sleep QM, but thanks for running.

>>4326489
>>4326484

I think I'll call it a night as well. It's been a good 8 hours of posting.

I work these next few days but might update here and there.

I have Wednesday off so if you have the time come on in and I'll be posting more consistently then.

Thanks for running with me!

Remember!

"Any package, any where."

>>4326489
>>4326484

Calling up Dave before you go to bed is important. Got to check in with home base after all.

“Hey there Radiant! Got the call that you and Sunny got the delivery done! Fantastic as always. I’ll put in a good word with the higher ups, maybe get you some better paying jobs and some discount on things. Definitely good things headed down the road for you!”

“Good to hear Dave, I’m always looking for better paying jobs.”

“Ha! Well, if you want to take on some side jobs that’s fine by us at Dawn Inc. Just know that we won’t bail you out on side jobs and that if we find it’s taking away time on the job from us we might penalize you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Well that’s about all I got to say to you Radiant, I don’t have another job lined up for a few days so why don’t you take some time off and relax? Do some yoga, maybe start a holo-garden? You know, the things the cool kids do these days.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’ll look into that.” You can’t help but let a little bit of sarcasm drip into your voice there.

“Talk at you later Radiant!” Dave hangs up quickly.

You have the next few days off. You can spend them looking for side jobs, working on your motorcycle, or taking an interest in the race Don told you about. Or however you want.

>Just relax (time skip forward to next Dawn Inc. mission)
>Look into a side delivery job. +? FUNDS
>Paint your bike 0 FUNDS (discount from Dawn Inc.)
>Enter the race Don mentioned -1 FUNDS
>Write in

>>4329222
>Enter the race Don mentioned -1 FUNDS

>>4329222
>Enter the race Don mentioned -1 FUNDS

>Enter the race Don mentioned -1 FUNDS

Apologies for not showing interest earlier, QM. It's been a good read so far, and encouraging me to take the courier job in my own game.

>>4329222
>Enter the race Don mentioned -1 FUNDS
We will show them all we are SPEED.
Tempted to paint the bike too, but feel like we really need to do something special first so we can do it as a celebration. Alternatively, we just stick with the basic bare-bones gunmetal to show we are all business.

>>4329247
>>4329356
>>4329388
>>4329793

Rest and relaxation is the last thing on your mind as you get off the call with Dave. No, you want something quite the opposite. The ecstasy of SPEED. The thrill of pushing yourself to the edge. A competition of who can hold on the longest when everything becomes a blur and the road becomes no different from the sky. You want to race. But first you have something special to do. It looks like the package you ordered arrived while you were on the job. You lovingly caress it as you dream about how your bike will handle once it’s installed.

Spending a few hours of sweat and the occasional drop of blood you finally have it installed. God you love working on your bike. It’s your lifeblood, everything you hold dear. You could lose just about everything you own but god help whatever decides to try and take your bike.

You call up Don and tell him you’ll be entering the race, he just laughs and says that he already booked a spot for you. He just needs to be reimbursed for the money and you’re good to go. Quickly sending him the money you thank him and decide to spend the rest of the time before the race tuning and testing out how your newly upgraded bike handles.

Spending the days joyriding around town you finally have a deeper understanding of what your bike is capable of now. The day of the race is coming up fairly quick. Is there anything you want to do before the race?

>Skip to the race
>Write in

MANEUVERS is now at 3. MANEUVERS cannot be increased without a new bike frame capable of holding more upgrades.

Your stats going into the race will be

SPEED 3
MANEUVERS 3
BLOODTHIRST 2
REP 3

So I’m thinking Wednesday will be race day. I might post the opening of the race tomorrow but I think getting it done in one go will be more satisfying. If anyone has any questions or comments I’ll be happy to answer them!

>>4329793
I appreciate you reading no matter when you became interested! Thank you for reading!

>>4330701
>Skip to the race

>>4330701
>Skip to the race

File: feec85c19d39ef2215b1e9878(...).gif (314 KB, 960x640)

314 KB GIF

>>4330701
>>Skip to the race

>>4330701
>>>Skip to the race

File: 1492740175877.jpg (18 KB, 234x255)

18 KB JPG

>>4330704
>>4330783
>>4330806
>>4331920

The day of the race comes quickly. You’re sure it’d be a wonderful day if you could see through the ever present smog in New Light. But that’s just life in a growing megacity.

There’s a quiet energy in the air as you wake up and start your day. By the time you’ve finished your coffee and start to tune your bike you can barely stop from shaking with excitement. Running packages around is all fine and good, you do it as fast as you can to feel the SPEED. A race is all SPEED though, no worries about getting some dumbass their blowup doll. Just point A and point B. As fast as you can.

Hopping on top of your bike you can almost hear it’s bellows as it waits to be unchained. Placing a hand on it you hum along.

“Soon.”

You take it slow and easy as you head to the race. Getting there with more than ample time to spare, letting you take a moment to scope out the competition. There are 10 racers in all. You see a couple of brand new hover bikes, beautiful things but they haven’t been touched by their owners. Fresh off the line they’ll stand no chance against your own customized bike. The rest are old combustion bikes like your own. Varying degrees of modifications among them. There are two that stand out. An older model of your own bike sits waiting for its owner to return. It’s a wonderful thing, aging like a fine wine you can’t help but give it a few lingering looks. It’s also been modified just as heavily as your own. It’s definitely going to give you a run for your money. The second bike that stands out isn’t because of its beauty or its power, though it has both in spades. It stands out because it belongs to your old partner. Aki ‘Leopard’ Tanaka. You both ran together for years, a friendship that seemed like it would last forever. But twists of fates and a last terrible run that ended in quite a bit of bloodshed bluntly ended your partnership and friendship.

You see her sitting atop her bike. She’s staring right at you. Raven locks cascade around her heart shaped face. Almond eyes, violet in color, burn into yours. You can’t help but show your teeth, some might call it a smile but it’s what prey sees before the predator bites down. The smug satisfaction of knowing you have them right where you want them. Dead to rights. It sends a shiver down your spine that settles in your gut.

It’s going to be one hell of a day.

>Talk to other riders
>Wait around for the owner of the older version of your bike
>(BLOODTHIRST UNLOCKED) Talk to Aki
>Simply wait for the race to start

>>4332493
>Simply wait for the race to start no need to waste time
>Look over our bike, make sure it's at peak condition

We'll talk to the other riders once we show them our SPEED

>>4332493
>Look over our bike, make sure it's at peak condition
>Wait around for the owner of the older version of your bike

Might as well scope out the competition. We know one of the main rivals for this race, and ignoring her is highly amusing. Let's see who the owner of the old classic is. Even if the exchange is nothing more than mutual grunts of acknowledgement and revving of engines.

>>4332493
>>(BLOODTHIRST UNLOCKED) Talk to Aki

>>4332493
>(BLOODTHIRST UNLOCKED) Talk to Aki

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850 KB PNG

>>4332504
>>4332655
>>4332665
>>4332854

Normally you’d ignore everything and just focus on your bike, tuning until the race started to ensure the highest performance. You still will of course, but you can spare a few minutes to talk to an old friend right? As you start walking towards her you see a man exit one of the nearby food stalls. He walks over to the bike you were eyeing up earlier. Short cropped hair and a medium beard with a braid, the skin you can see heavily tattooed in runes. He looks like one of those vikings you learned about in an ancient history class. He looks back and sees you leave your bike, giving you a short nod in respect as he recognizes what exactly you’re riding. You give a nod in response and continue on to Aki.

Aki is still straddling her bike, legs tightly clinging to the powerful machine between her legs. They might have been shaking if they weren’t flesh against it. You remember that machine well, it managed to keep up with you after all. You stop a short distance away, having watched her face go from merely angry to downright hateful.

“Hey Aki, hows it been?”

You swear you can hear the leather of her gloves creak as she clamps down on her handlebars.

“Not going to say hi back? Not even to an old friend?”

Mouth set in a thin line she still refuses to say anything. But your mere presence is enough to work on her.

“Well I just wanted to stop in and wish you luck. Make sure to give the cameras a great big SMILE okay?”

Her eyes widen, mouth open in fury. You see a set of perfectly white teeth, nothing like the broken bloody mess you left them in years ago. If she wasn’t on her bike you think she’d have lunged at you. But she still remains silent. It’s impressive really.

“See you at the finish line!”

Walking away you think you hear the murmur of her silken voice but you can’t be sure. It doesn’t matter anyway. You’re pretty sure you’ve accomplished what you set out to do.

Aki is SHAKEN
-1 to MANEUVERS

Heading back to your bike you begin to look it over. A small tweak here and there, tightening a bolt and greasing some parts. You’re not sure if it's ever looked this good before. Before too long though, there’s really not any more you can do to it. You just sit back and enjoy watching other people work on their bikes.

>>4333166

Getting everything into place the race is about to begin. You’re placed in 4th place with the 2 hover bikes in front of you along with Aki. Directly behind you is the Viking, and the rest of the bikes. There’s a cacophony of noise as all the bikes are started. The hums of the electric hover bikes is drowned out by the explosive noise of regular combustion engines. You take smug satisfaction in hearing your beast roar above all the others. Giving it a moment longer to bellow, you rein it in and get into position to ride.

The race track is composed of 3 distinct parts, the first stretch is filled with twists and turns designed to keep competitors close to each other with tight MANEUVERS giving the edge there. The second part is a straightaway, nothing much else matters but SPEED here. The third part is a mix of both separating the wheat from the chaff.

What’s your general strategy?

>Aggressive
>Defensive
>Mix of both
>Write in

>>4333171
>Aggressive

>>4333171
>Aggressive
The sooner we can get out of the main herd of racers, the sooner we can truly unleash our SPEED. Once we have a more ideal position than 4th, we can go to a more conservative defensive style if that suits us in the long run, but we should try to place first before the racers get more spread out.

Question OP. This a gentlemen's race? Just the bike's performance and racer's skill? Or redline style, anything goes? Including armaments?

>>4333190

Technically anything goes, but it's highly frowned upon in the smaller races. The big leagues is where you start to see machine guns and small explosives being hurled around but that's because it's broadcasted to billions and not just a single city.

You didn't see any armaments on anyone though.

also
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAK24FQ7DrA

>>4333183
>>4333190

You give strategy a quick thought. Knowing in the end that you’ll ride how you always ride. Aggressively. It’s still a good idea to plan some things out though. You’ll try to get into a more dominant position before the straightaway.

The countdown begins to the delight of the fans gathered around the track. You begin to unlock the chains around your beast. It roars and strains against you. Begging to be unleashed upon the world. Just a few moments longer you whisper to it.

3.

The crowd roars.

2.

The ground itself vibrates from the noise of the bikes and crowd combined.

1.

Let’s go.

You clamp down on the accelerator and explode forward. Your beast exhilarated to move at long last. The opening moments are quick. Everybody moving as one body clumped together. The hover bikes are fast by themselves but eventually are overtaken by Aki, putting her in first. They play more defensively after losing their top spots and are trying their best to stop anyone from passing them. They’re pretty effective at it in these tight corners. You’re having a hard time getting past them, looks like they’re a team swerving and looping to cover each other's blind spots.

>Get physical
>Maintain distance
>Write in

Either way, roll me a d20 please! Best of 3 as always

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4333309
>Get physical
>Move bitch, get out of the way
If I'm guessing right, a hoverbike probably has rather good speed and acceleration stats compared to a traditional. Along with suffering less drag and probably having a good edge mobility wise. However, they are probably woefully lacking in terms of weight and traction. Compared to our beast that is weighted down with as many speed and manuvers kit as we could fit on it, we can probably bully them aside with little hassle.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>4333309
>>Maintain distance

>>4333345
>>4333354
gonna wait for a tie breaker, feel like I might have started too early on a week day. If it gets to be too long I'll just flip a coin

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4333309
>Get physical

>>4333386

fuck.

>>4333386
Now the question is if the crit fail overrides the previous roles or not.

File: butwhy.jpg (89 KB, 516x598)

89 KB JPG

>>4333386
Crits do override and can cancel each other out. I'm eatting right now so I'll start writing in a few minutes

>>4333386
>>4333354
>>4333345

Hover bikes are lightweight, they don’t stand a chance if you get right up in the grind with them. You close the distance quickly, moving back and forth trying to stay in their blind spot. But no matter what you do they always manage to keep an eye on you. Finally getting tired of the game as the straightaway comes closer and closer, you decide to force the issue. Roaring towards them you bump into the back end of one of the hover bikes. They lurch forward and begin to wobble in the air. Their friend steers well clear of this and leaves you two alone. Flooring it to try and get ahead. You’re stuck with the wobbling hover bike in front of you, no matter how hard you try they stay straight ahead and you’re beginning to worry about what happens when they fall. You spend so much time focused on them that you don’t even notice Aki giving up her first place position to come in and slam into your right side.

“Fuck!”

You almost lose control right then and there, Aki shunts you towards the wall and you feel the sparks as you grind into it, jerking your bike right, you again almost lose control as you over steer and come very close to the right wall. During the whole time that you’re trying to regain control you see the other racers dart pass at every opportunity. It’s only thanks to how finely tuned and balanced your bike is that you manage to stay in the race. Finally steadying out in dead last, you have quite a bit of ground to cover to have a chance at winning. Luckily the straightaway isn’t too far off and you can make up some time there.

You’ll have to keep an eye out for Aki next time.

>Focus on getting back in the race
>Focus on getting back at Aki

>>4333446
>Focus on getting back in the race

>>4333446
>Focus on getting back in the race

>>4333446
>> >Focus on getting back in the race

>>4333452
>>4333453
>>4333464

Aki can wait. You beat her into pulp once you can do it again later if it comes to that. You have to beat her in the race first though. Your beast roars it’s impatience as you finally come into the straight away. With your SPEED you easily make up lost time. Several bikers recognizing that they can’t possibly win by now try to jostle you as you come past. Thinking you’re easy pickings from what just happened. You prove them wrong however, easily MANEUVERING around them. By the time the straightaway ends you’re back in 5th. From what you can tell Viking has first place and isn’t giving it up to Aki. She must be kicking herself for giving it up just to fuck with you. The two other bikes aren’t going to be much trouble, you can pass them in the coming turns. But it’s getting close to Viking and Aki that’s going to be the problem.

>Use SPEED in the turns ahead (risky)
>Use MANEUVERS in the turns ahead (safe)
>Write in

>>4333470
>>Use MANEUVERS in the turns ahead (safe)

>>4333470
>Use SPEED in the turns ahead (risky)

We're never going to win unless we take some risks

>>4333470

>Use SPEED in the turns ahead (risky)

>>4333474
>>4333478
>>4333533

Roll some d20s please

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4333538

>>4333542
Good enough! I'm not touching this at risk of another 1. Take the good roll while we can.

>>4333544

I apologize for changing rules in the quest, but I do want 3 rolls. I really should have had another roll on the 20 earlier in the thread. Please give me 2 more rolls!

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>4333538

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>4333538
>>4333547
If thou insists. Praise be to RNG. Let the SPEED please it.

>>4333542
>>4333549
>>4333550

SPEED!

Writing now

>>4333474
>>4333478
>>4333533

While taking it safe through the upcoming corners would guarantee you at least 3rd place. You feel the need to take a risk and try to catch up to Viking and Aki in the corners instead of the few short straightaways coming up. Catching up now is the only way to have a chance at winning. You lean into your bike as you pick up speed going into the corners. Easily passing the remaining hover bike, you come up on another combustion bike doing their level best to stay in the race. Unfortunately for them, you are SPEED. Your bike handles beautifully through everything and you catch a glimpse of Aki and Viking as you turn and twist. Finally coming into the first of 2 straight aways you come down upon them. Aki takes a quick look behind her and spots you blazing like hell on her tail. You see her bike wobble just a little as she realizes you’re back in the race. She loses a bit of speed as she does and you come up neck and neck. This time you keep a close eye on her, you don’t want any repeats of last time.

Viking still reigns supreme even though he has to fend off two of you now. He’s showing you just what that classic bike can do and he’s doing it in style. Every move is purposeful, a quick calculation to stop both of you from advancing. You know you still have a chance though. You keep gaining on him now and then and know that you’re faster, you just need one chance to get around and you can take it all home.

>Wait for a chance
>Force a chance
>Wait for Aki to make a move and take advantage
>Slam Aki
>Write in

>>4333573
>>Force a chance

>>4333573
>Force a chance

>>4333573
>Force a chance

>>4333573
>Force a Chance
Let's go, viking bro!

>>4333578
>>4333583
>>4333585
>>4333596

The end of the race is coming up, you can’t just wait around for the small chance that Viking fucks up. You have to make that happen. You continue to peck away at the distance, he makes sure to stay in front but this time you don’t back off. Using how wonderfully balanced your bike is you get right up on his ass. It looks like you’re going to do the same thing as before when suddenly he jets away from you! He must have used his booster, luckily you have yours as well. Without a second's hesitation you thumb the switch and chase after him. You have no doubt Aki does so too.

All three of you boom down the road, giving everything you have to maintain control of the increasingly rampant beast beneath you. This is what you enjoy. The SPEED. Hanging on to a thread of control as you scream down the road. Unchaining the spirit of your motorcycle and becoming one with the machine. This is your chance, you’ve forced him to use his one trick to escape into the end.

Viking is in first. You are in second. Aki brings up the rear in third.


Roll some d20s please!

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>4333617

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>4333617

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>4333617

File: sGgY8wN.gif (859 KB, 500x280)

859 KB GIF

>>4333621
>>4333630
>>4333636

You come into the final straightaway. People crammed into the walkways just a blur as you speed down. The cheering is thunderous, almost drowning out your bikes. But the race isn’t over yet. You’ve managed to make everyone use their boosts. This is the final chance to power through.

Vikings boost ends half a second before yours does. This small amount of time is just enough for you to move to the side and pull up right beside him. Straining against the wind, arms heavy. You breathe in great heaves. This is it, the final approach. Your machine has nothing left to give, it’s maxed. Redlining. Pistons smash and whine as your press further down into your seat. Leaning in and trying to edge out just a fraction more SPEED. You’re neck and neck with Viking. Each of you vying for first but not gaining any amount of ground on each other. Roaring along with your steed, both of you cross the finish line.

Everything goes blank as the deafening boom of the crowd goes even wilder than before. You let off the accelerator and let your machine wind down. Then quickly coming into a sliding stop alongside Viking. You’re both breathing in gasps as you each rip off your helmets. It takes just a second for Aki to catch up and for a second you think she’s going to ram you. But she moves at the last second and continues driving off. Guess she’s not going to stay for the ceremony then.

Viking and you lock eyes and smile. This is what you both live for, you can feel it in him. You break your gaze to look up at the giant screen replaying the final moments of the race. Dozens of different angles play out before it plays one over and over in slow motion. Your breath catches in your throat. It shows you barely half an inch past Viking as you cross the finish line. You did it. You won!

The crowd starts chanting your call-sign.

“Radiant! Radiant! Radiant!” The sound bounces off everything and you see windows vibrate in their fittings.

You look at Viking again and he only smiles and tips his head towards you. Both of you rev up your bikes and head towards where the ceremony will take place. It all goes by in a blur. The medals being handed out with a noticeably absent spot where Aki should be. You do manage to get a quick word in with Viking before he disappears into the crowd, no doubt to enjoy the celebrations going on everywhere.

>What did you say to Viking?

A beautiful woman with perfect corporate teeth gives you a business card. It reads Sutherlund Industries. It leaves you wondering just what they could want from you. You get swept up into the crowd after and enjoy one hell of a night with people everywhere chanting your name.

>Enjoy a few days of relaxation
>Call Dave
>Follow up on Sutherlund Industries
>Write in

Congratulations on winning the race guys! That 14 was a tie but 15 pushed you past! I think I might call it here for a few hours. Maybe post once or twice again tonight but I have some chores I want to do around the house.

As always thanks for reading and participating! Hopefully we continue having fun! If anyone has any questions or comments I'm more than happy to take them.

Are we a asshole?

>>4333716
>Salute him and drive off fast
>Call Dave, ask him about Sutherlund industries too

>>4333735
Maybe just a little, you had good reason to do what you did to Aki but you're still kind of cold, calculated, and a bit of an ass.

It a a good play to win and i like winning but being bloodthirsty may bite us, plus building ours rep on never shotting anyone on the job show pure skills on ours part.

>>4333699
>>What did you say to Viking?
Probably some generic banter with honest respect. Guy drove great and has good taste in bikes. Ask him if he's going to be going for the next race.

>Call Dave, ask him about Sutherlund industries

>>4333735
Nah, Aki's clearly the bitch and problem here. Besides, we smoked her after coming back from last place, she can mope all she wants without our input.

Other than old beef with her, we've been pretty chill with most people it seems. Aloof and straight-to-business sure, but not overly hostile when better alternatives are present. And I agree, I like the idea of being a 'pacifist' biker. Let them die trying to fly as fast as us, but no need to resort to guns.

>>4333699
>>Follow up on Sutherlund Industries

>>4333736
>>4333782
>>4334774

You exchanged a few words with Viking. Enough to learn that his real call-sign is ‘Mistletoe’. You also exchanged info, to hang out or even be back up on a run if you need him.

You decide to call up Dave and ask him about Sutherlund Industries. They’re a mystery to you other than the job you just did for them. Which wasn’t exactly on the legal side.

“Hey hey! How’s my favorite new champion! I watched the whole thing on holo and gotta say, you really pulled yourself back up from that fuckup at the start! That’s why we like you so much Radiant. You get shit done even if there’s a major setback. Now what can I do for you?”

“Thanks Dave, I try real hard to keep you entertained. Now, I got a contact card from Sutherlund Industries. Can you tell me anything about them?”

Dave lets out a low whistle at that.

“Damn kid you really are hitting the big leagues. Yeah we have a little insight on them, besides the job we just pulled from them they’ve been contacting others to do just about the same. I know they are specialized in bio-mechanical engineering. Cyber enhancements in other words. They might want you to test out some of their stuff? I’d definitely check them out if they reached out to you. Their shit’s really top of the line.”

“Thanks Dave. I appreciate the info. Got anything else for me?”

“Yeah actually, winning that race isn’t exactly keeping your head down you know? I’d watch out for the Bloodskulls. Seems they watched the race too and might have put two and two together.”

“Alright, I’ll keep an eye out. Talk to you later Dave.”

“Sounds good Radiant! I’ll contact you the second we got another job for yah!”

Hanging up with Dave. You get back to wiping down your bike. A daily ritual you do even if you didn’t ride that day.

>Contact Mistletoe (for what?)
>Contact Sutherlund Industries
>Skip to the next job from Dawn Inc.
>Write in

>>4336794
>Contact Sutherlund Industries

>>4336794
>Contact Sutherlund Industries

>>4336794
>Contact Sutherlund Industries

Why does Aki hate us?

>>4336794
>Skip to the next job from Dawn Inc.
Kinda think we should wait for our handler to square us a proper job. Through the proper channels and everything. I know we're able to do side jobs, but this looks like a chance that could quickly spiral out into a conflict of interests. Though I guess we'll be able to judge that after we've heard what they want from us.

Plus I kind of want that backing and protection Dawn Inc gives us if we have to haul more lab rats.

>>4336858
>>4336881
>>4336906
>>4336969


Looks like Sutherlund wins! I'll be writing here in a short bit.

>>4336906
You had a job go very badly and you both blame each other. I do plan on fleshing this out.

Deciding to contact Sutherlund Industries you pull out the card and punch in their info. Looks like it’s a direct line instead of to a regular corporate call center. For that you’re pretty thankful.

“Melanie Dread. Or should I call you Radiant?”

It’s a smooth sultry female voice that answers.

“Thank you for contacting us so quickly. We have so many things to talk about and to show you. I’m sure we have much to gain from each other.”

“Well, you know me but I don’t know you. Who am I speaking to? Also, it’s Radiant.”

“Oh! Forgive me for that lapse. I’m the head of our science division of Sutherlund Industries. Felicia Fathoms.”

“Alright Ms. Fathoms. What exactly are you offering me?”

“Straight to the point then, I’ve heard that about you. As I’m sure you know, we at Sutherlund specialize in cybernetics. We’re interested in supplying some interesting pieces in exchange for working for us here and there. Don’t worry, we won’t keep you from your job at Dawn Inc., as tiny as they are. I’m sure they must have something you want. I do want to meet in person, and some of the things I want to offer should really be seen in person rather than talked about on a call. I’m more than willing to work around your schedule to meet. I do hope you give us a chance, it’s not everyday you’re contacted by one of the premiere corporations you know.”

She’s not wrong, Sutherlund Industries is quite large and well known. You know their main offices take up at least 3 of the mega skyscrapers. There are many more but to own 3 is quite something.

>Agree to meet
>Decline
>Write in

>>4337189
>Agree to meet

>>4337189

>Agree to meet

>>4337189
>Agree to meet
OP lemme just say your writing is on-point and please don't get eaten by the curse, it has something against cyberpunk settings

>>4337197
>>4337326
>>4337482

Thinking that meeting up and seeing what they’re offering is worthwhile you quickly set up a meeting with Ms. Fathoms. You still have a few days before you think Dave will have another job for you. You spend some time taking care of chores and other small necessities of life. Going out is always an experience now that you’ve won the race. Quite a few people ask for your autograph or have some kind of comment on the race. You aren’t sure how you feel about it.

>How DO you feel about it?

The meeting comes by fairly quickly. You ride out to Sutherlund Industries lab. The one you delivered the PACKAGE to. Parking your bike you head inside and are greeted by Ms. Fathoms and what looks to be her security team. Two asian women who happen to be heavily armed. You have a gut feeling that you don’t really want to fuck with them.

“How do you do Radiant? Hope your ride here was pleasant. We have so many things to see today, I hope you enjoy what you see and that we can come to some sort of deal.”

“Thank you for having me Ms. Fathoms. I’m looking forward to seeing just what you can offer me.”

Nodding at that, Ms. Fathoms beckons you over and leads the way deeper into the complex. You pass a few experiments here and there and Ms. Fathoms gives you some small talk on each one as you go. Nothing really catches your eye. It’s when she stops at a covered window that you start to pay full attention. She smiles at you and waves her hand for one of her bodyguards to pull the blinds. Revealing an operating table in the center of a circular room. There’s a man who you recognize as the one who picked up the PACKAGE, and on the table is the PACKAGE. She’s clearly under anesthesia or at least you hope she is as the man is grafting cybernetics to her.

“We focus on cybernetics.” Ms. Fathoms breaks the silence as you continue to watch the operation.

“To make you stronger, faster, smarter. Everything you could want and more. We’re offering that to you. In exchange, you put those skills of yours to use for us every now and then.”

“What would those jobs entail?”

“They could be just about anything. Just like your normal job of course, it could be running a letter or a person. Like what you did for us before.”

“You’re offering quite a bit for me to just do my normal job.”

“We see it as an investment. New Light is a growing mega-city Radiant. We’ll be in need of talent, you aren’t the only one we’ve reached out to.”

Silence falls over you both again as you take time to mull what she said over. Soon the operation is done and she leads the way to her office on the top floor. Sitting behind her desk she offers you a drink.

“200 year old whiskey.”

Taking a sip of her own drink she immediately pulls out a data pad and sends you the details on what exactly they’re offering.

Skeletal reinforcement. Will allow you to handle heavier, more advanced bike frames as well as generally giving you increased strength and a more durable body for any mishaps that may occur.

Cybernetic eyes. Greatly enhancing your vision this will stop any blurriness that happens on account of speed. (+1 MANEUVERS)

Hidden blade. A blade the length of your forearm is placed inside of your forearm. Allowing quick access to a melee weapon. You know that jobs for major corporations almost always involve violence at some point, might as well be prepared for it.

“You don’t have to pick right now, take your time.”


>Ask Ms. Fathoms a question? What?
>Accept her offer (pick one of the cyber options)
>Decline her offer
>Delay your choice
>Write in

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>>4337482

Thank you very much!

I'll try not to just disappear, I've been an avid reader of quests for years and know how it feels to have a QM suddenly stop showing up and a quest never being finished.

>>4337743
>How DO you feel about it? Mixed, it'll probably help us professionally and we can earn money in later races, but it makes doing jobs now harder and more dangerous. People like the bloodskulls could recognize us, and people could recognize while we're in the middle of a job.
>Cybernetic eyes. Greatly enhancing your vision this will stop any blurriness that happens on account of speed. (+1 MANEUVERS)

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1.03 MB JPG

>>4337739
Ms. Fathoms security team, forgot to attach it to the post

also one last thing jesus

you won 5 FUNDS from the race bringing you up to 7

You also received 3 REP bringing you up to 6

>>4337739
>How DO you feel about it?
Mixed. The professional bonuses, recognition, and opportunities it opens for us as far as jobs go, like this right here, is nice. But otherwise the attention, glory hounding, and fans are all rather bothersome. We just entered that race for the sake of the sport. For the SPEED. Not for the limelight.

>>4337743
>Ask Ms. Fathoms a question? What?
General questions about cybernetic/bionic enhancements. Their limitations, upkeep, dependency on their infrastructure to maintain, ect. See if their cybernetics are a self-contained and maintaining system or if they require periodic returns. At least in my mind, Radiant prefers a decent deal of autonomy, I'd like to make sure that we don't become dependent on Sutherland or a less than legal operation to keep our body tuned/updated.
Also ask about less-intrusive cybernetic/tech options, or perhaps a way to get a sensory uplink to the bike. Something to make us more aware of the bike systems and condition. Like a series of probes that fit on the inside of the helmet, or even just some basic HUDs for the helmet and windshield.
>Delay your choice
I'd also like to see how many jobs we'd have to do before we pay off our first augmentation. Get some sort of contract settled so we don't get roped into a corporate slave situation with Radiant at their beck and call.


If the majority of people go for accepting, then I'll cast my vote for the skeletal reinforcement. Seems the least likely to need constant/costly upkeep while also being less intrusive than nerve/sensory organ replacements.

>>4337743
>Skeletal reinforcement

>>4337858

“How often do I need to come in to maintain my cybernetics?”

Ms. Fathoms smiles at that.

“We pride ourselves on how efficiently our cybernetics run Radiant. You could theoretically never have to have a checkup done once installed. But, we do recommend having everything looked over once a year at least. Just to fine tune and update any software.”

“What about a series of sensors for my bike? Something to make me more aware of my bike’s condition?”

“Oh! Yes of course. That’s a fairly minor neural uplink that we can do. I’m offering you the big packages right now darling. Rest assured, once you’re in our hands we’ll take good care of you and your bike.”

“One last thing, how many jobs do I have to do for this?”

“While we would like to keep you in a more permanent sense of retainer. I’ve been told that you would have to, at the very least, complete three jobs for us before we would consider the contract being complete.”

>Ask more questions?


Looks like Skeletal Reinforcement is in the lead for now, gonna wait for a while till maybe this evening to get in more votes. It is the 4th of July after all.

>>4338297

Ask if they do other stuff as well, we don't have any weapons yet as far as I know.

>>4337743
>It's okay, as long as they don't get too touchy.
>Decline her offer
>Delay your choice
>Take FUNDS instead

If we're doing cybernetics we should get them from black market.

>>4338316

“What else does Sutherlund Industries do?”

“Not much else that I haven’t already offered. Unless you want a new holo projector, there really isn’t much else.”

The only real weaponry they offer is the hidden arm blades.


>>4338453
Not too sure what to make of your vote here anon. Declining her offer eliminates all your other choices.

>>4338548
Just add +1 to all options voted

>>4338297
>>4337743
Based on those answers, I think I'd be good jumping over to the "let's do it" side. An initial trial run of 3 jobs for the reinforced skeleton. See how we like working for them/the moral implications of the jobs entailed/occupational risks. Then we can hash things out further with them and Dawn inc.

>>4337755
>>4338070
>>4338597
For accepting the offer and taking a cybernetic upgrade. 1 for Cyber eyes and 2 for Skeleton

>>4338453
For Declining the offer.

Writing now

It takes some time and internal debate before you decide to do it.

“I accept your offer. The skeletal reinforcement for 3 jobs.”

Ms. Fathoms eyes light up and a genuine smile stretches across her face,

“Wonderful! I’ll set up the operation as soon as possible! I’m sure you’ll come to enjoy working for Suthurlund Industries. It has a few perks like REAL coffee, not that onions alternative and maybe we’ll look into putting you up in a penthouse? All free of charge of course.”

“We’ll see.”

You can’t help but get a little excited about the coffee. You’ve only had real coffee once and it was divine. The penthouse you’ll have to think about. It’d be nice to not live in a 2 room apartment where your living room is also your garage. But, moving into the penthouse would further connect you to Sutherlund Industries.

You make a quick call to Dave to fill him in on your operation. He congratulates you on your business deal and says he’ll put off any jobs until you recover. He also mentions he got a message from the manufacturer, Charlamagne Motorcycles, of your motorcycle. You really can’t help but get excited about that. They want you to come over to their plant and see their new bikes. They were really happy that you won riding one of their bikes.

>Skip to the operation and recovery
>Head over to Charlamagne Motorcycles
>Write in

>>4338644
>Head over to Charlamagne Motorcycles

>>4338644
>Head over to Charlamagne Motorcycles
They made a quality one with ours. Let's see if the newest batch can surpass our baby.

>>4338644
>>Head over to Charlamagne Motorcycles

>>4338665
>>4338695
>>4338708

Immediately after leaving Suthurlund Industries you head out to Charlamagne Motorcycles. Almost salivating at the thought of checking out their new gear and motorcycles. It takes a while to get there and by the time you are you almost bounce with every step once you’re off your bike. Walking up to the front desk you explain who you are and the message is passed on. After a short wait a well dressed man with honey eyes and caramel skin walks up to you.

“Well hey there Radiant! It’s so nice to meet the winner of the Snake Way race. Especially since you won on one of ours. In fact, you just missed the man who came in second. What a beauty he was riding huh? Anyway, I’m Emanuel and I’ll be showing you around today.”

After a few more pleasantries you get on to the show. He shows you new helmets with holo displays on the inside to give you up to date info on your bike in use and that can easily link into many different neural mods. A new racing suit designed to have less drag and still be resilient enough incase of a slide. Although at the speeds you’re used to, a slide usually means a very long wet trail of paste. Still, it could mitigate that alongside your upcoming upgrade. Then comes the main show. Emanuel takes you through a hallway lined with the company's past bikes. You both enthusiastically talk about each bike as it comes along. Stopping at your current model there isn’t anything left in the hall.

“And this is the beauty that won you the race! Of course you would know that wouldn’t you? But all of this isn’t why we asked you here. No, we want to show you some of our upcoming models, get your thoughts on things. Maybe even work out some kind of deal on a sponsorship or a discount on the bikes. You and Mistletoe putting not one, but two of our bikes on the winning podium has really brought a spike in our sales. We’d like to thank you for that.”

The door at the end of the hallway opens up and you’re let into the guts of the facility. Where all the real research is done. Coming up on new designed concept models you immediately start geeking out over the upgrades. There’s a sleek bike designed for agility, it has less power than yours does now but could MANEUVER around it all day every day. There’s a large bike that Emanuel finds quite amusing that you think you could handle it. But you have a secret up your sleeve and that bike could hold quite a few upgrades and modifications that your skilled hands could apply. Both of them are combustion engines. Then there’s the third bike. A hover bike that marks Charlemagne's first foray into hover technology. It’s sleek, it’s powerful, but it wouldn’t hold as many upgrades as the other bikes. Tinkering with it would be extra hard as many of the parts are just not replaceable.

“So, what do you think?”

>>4338781

You immediately start gushing about the pros and cons of each bike. It’s the most animated you’ve been in a while. Motorcycles always get you this way. Laughing, Emanuel tries to calm you down.

“Alright, alright. We still have one last thing to discuss and that’s the sponsorship. It would entail you wearing our branding as well as agreeing not to ride other bikes. We’d give you some FUNDS and a discount on all of our gear. But you’d have to agree to try and stay on the right side of the law. No running around illicit packages. We can’t have our brand associated with criminal activity. But just between you and me, even if the sponsorship doesn’t work out. I’d still like to give you a discount on our stuff. You’re a real gear head and I truly appreciate that about you.”

>Accept sponsorship
>Decline sponsorship


Looking over their gear you see some things you’d like.

>Helmet with heads up display. -1 FUNDS
>Anti-slide Jacket. -1 FUNDS

You also have the chance to put in an order for the new bikes.

>Sleek MANEUVER bike
>Heavy upgradable bike
>Hover bike

All bikes are -6 FUNDS with the discount applied. You have 7 FUNDS

The MANEUVER bike starts off with slower speed but can be upgraded to where you are now.

The Heavy bike will take some more funds to truly unlock it’s potential but can host more modifications than the others.

The Hover bike starts off with more SPEED and MANEUVER but is expensive and hard to upgrade.

>>4338784
Can we accept the sponsorship but not use their stuff when doing illegal things? If not then
>Decline sponsorship

>Heavy upgradable bike

We can still use our original bike while we upgrade it right?

Hoverbikes BTFO

>>4338784
>Heavy upgradable bike
>Decline sponsorship

>>4338817
You would be breaking two conditions but as long as you didn't get caught you could. But right now you only own one bike which is one of theirs, and you are super identifiable right now.

You can use your current bike while upgrading the heavy one. It starts at 2 SPEED and 2 MANEUVER so it's only 1 behind on both of your stats.

>>4338784
>Decline sponsorship
Thank him for the tour and the opportunity, but turn it down graciously.

>Heavy upgradable bike
I'm tempted to hoard cash for other things, but getting a brand new bike with tons of customization and getting it before anyone else sounds like a real fun time. Sign me up.

I'm guessing we can't strip mods off of our old bike and slap them on the new ones? The old bike can be our normal go-to for now, and suddenly bust out the new one if the job calls for a little something extra.

>>4338864
Correct, you can't strip the mods they just aren't compatible.

>>4338817
>>4338825
>>4338864

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t accept the sponsorship. I have too much on my plate as it is right now.”

“I’m sorry to hear that Radiant, but it’s understandable. You just became a champion, everyone must want a piece of you.” He laughs.

The whole time you’re talking to Emanuel and negotiating prices, you just can’t take your eyes off the heavy bike. It calls to you. You know the potential there and how heavy it’s chains are right now. But with the right amount of care, a tender caress here and there. You can free it from bondage. Finally coming to a price that still almost bankrupts you, you leave Charlemagne's Motorcycles with a new motorcycle to be delivered to your home. You start shaking with excitement and almost get into an accident or two with your mind focused on everything you want to do to it.

With talking to Suthurlund Industries and Charlemagne's Motorcycles. You’ve had quite a busy day. Finally being able to relax at home, you make some space for your new bike. Eagerly waiting for it’s delivery. Taking a long bath you relax and think about everything you’ve done today. Making a deal with a major corporation for them to modify your skeleton in exchange for three jobs. You shiver a little at thinking about the coming operation. Thinking back to how you saw that woman flayed open and being operated on. Moving on to more pleasant thoughts you think about the new bike that’s coming. Just the mere thought of it excites you and sends a warmth all over your body that has nothing to do with the heat from the bath. Then you let yourself go blank and relax further into the bath.

>Skip to operation and recovery
>Reminiscence about Aki
>Write in

>>4338937
>Reminiscence about Aki

>4338937
>Reminiscence about Aki

>>4338937
>Skip to operation and recovery
Let's get the show on the road! Forgo the past and forge a path onto the future!

>Captcha was bikes this time.
Fitting.

>>4338942
>>4338947
For

>>4338975
Against

You think back to the race. How you saw and reacted to Aki. You used to be so close. Even sharing this same space you live in now. Now she can barely stand the sight of you and just seeing her gets your blood running hot. Sinking further into the tub you think even further back. To the run that ruined your friendship.

It’s just a normal run to you. Even if you aren’t using your bikes right now. You and Aki are jamming out to the truck's radio and just enjoying the drive. You picked up the trailer that some corporation wants delivered to some site out in the fucking boonies. Aki asked what was inside and got a nonanswer, you don’t really care one way or another. It’s just a job to you, you’ve taken on more of the extralegal jobs than Aki and know that asking questions is a good way to wind up in a gutter somewhere.

After a few stops for snacks and bathroom breaks you finally make it to your destination with time to spare before the rendezvous with the pick up team. It’s almost midnight when you park the truck and begin unhitching the trailer. When suddenly you hear thumps and cries coming from inside. If only Aki hadn’t heard them too. Things might be different now. This isn’t your first time hauling people. But it is Aki’s, and she's freaked out. Pacing back and forth you can tell her conscience is fighting her. You try to calm her down several times. But she keeps working herself up into a frenzy.

“Look Aki, I’ve done this before.” She shoots you a wounded and worried look.

“They’re just PACKAGES Aki, something to be delivered and forgotten. Nothing else.”

“They’re fucking people! Not packages Melanie! How can you even fucking say that. I don’t know who you are anymore.”

She goes to break open the trailer doors with a crowbar she grabbed from the truck and you step in the way.

“Delivery instructions were clear on not opening the trailer Aki.”

“I don’t fucking care about the deliverely anymore! I’m going to let those people out!”

She tries to go around you, but you keep stepping in her way.

“Just calm down Aki, let’s talk about this.”

But she has that look in her eyes, you’ve seen it a million times. She’s made up her mind and isn’t going to stop until she gets what she wants.

“Move Melanie, or I’ll move you.” The last part comes out in a whisper.

>>4339055

You can’t help but laugh at that, you’ve always been the stronger one and have half a foot of height on her. But you stop laughing when she slams the crowbar into your leg. FUCK! You scream and go down. You stay there clutching your leg and swearing.

“Just stay down Melanie, I’m going to let them go and then we’ll get back in the truck and go home. Then it’ll all be okay.”

You manage to get to your feet with her back to you as she struggles to open the trailer. With a cry you slam into her with a tackle, making her drop the crowbar in the process. You both scuffle for a minute until she gets a lucky shot in and you roll off her panting. But the crowbar is right next to you. Grabbing it and hoping to your feet you look around for her. You see her digging in the passenger side door and stop for a moment. Your blood runs cold. There’s a gun in there, Aki always keeps one just in case of emergencies. She couldn’t possibly be going for that could she? But your fears are confirmed when she whirls around with it in her hands. You’re within striking distance but she has a gun.

“Just let me do this Melanie! I can’t let people be trafficked like fucking animals. It isn’t right!”

“Woah Aki, just put the gun down okay? We’ll work this ou-” The gun barks.

“Did you just shoot at me? Did you just fucking shoot at me?!”

Your vision goes red, Aki looks stunned. Not paying attention to you but merely looking stupefied at the gun. It leaves her wide open to the huge swing you take at her ribs. You can tell you broke one or two of them as she screams. You take a step forward and wanting to silence those screams, take another shot at her head. Making an utter mess of her jaw. It takes all you can to not just keep hitting her over and over. But she’s been your friend for years. You can’t believe it’s ended up like this. It’s only after all this that you feel an intense burning in your arm. The adrenaline having left your system you actually feel the spot you’ve been shot. It’s a graze but tore a strip of flesh out of you. Jesus Christ.

In a daze you unhook the trailer, pick up Aki and throw her in the truck. Leaving the trailer behind you find the nearest clinic and unceremonsily dump Aki on their doorstep then leave. It’s the least you can do after years of friendship.

Having this all come back to you, you let your head sink under the water too. Staying here for as long as you can hold your breath you emerge gasping. You feel the gouge in your arm and try to shake away the memory. It’s put you into a melancholy mood. Wishing things had been different. You dry off and head to bed. Thinking of only your future now.

Gonna call it a night here guys. I work the next few days so updates will be sparse. We'll pick back up with the recovery from surgery! I hope you are all enjoying the quest and continue to have fun with me! As always, if you have any comments or questions I'm happy to answer them.

>>4339061
Thanks for running.

So we’re the bad guy huh? Makes sense.

Are we going to be at a disadvantage if we stay combustion bike purists? Or will
We be able to stay competitive with them?

>>4339072
Yeah, sorry if that's a deal breaker for anybody. But we established that Radiant is okay with trafficking people and Aki obviously isn't. Which caused the major split. If you hadn't been okay with it Aki would have been a friendly rival like Mistletoe having moved out to spread her wings on her own.

So my setting is kind of like the beginning of a cyberpunk setting? We're many years off from Hover Tech surpassing centuries of combustion research and I think I want the quest to end before we hit years in game time lol. So yes you'll be competitive as long as you keep dumping money into your bikes.

>>4339082
No problem for me. This is cyberpunk after all. Gotta look out for number one above all else. Besides, her handler should've vetted her if she was okay with body trafficking or not.
Kinda surprised and nice to see you stick to your guns on her characterization though. Thought it'd be a case where if we weren't okay with it, the situations would've been reversed, and she'd be the callous one.

Is there anything stopping us from slapping some hovertech, super gyros, onto it though? To accomplish some of the extra useful feats those bleeding edge bikes can pull off; like sick jumps and airtime? What about ceramic, double-rotor, two-wheel disk drives, or a soviet nuke linked up to a dead man's trigger in our head? Granted, that's starting to go into shadow runner levels, and that's a very dangerous slope to go down.

File: hansbrackhaus.png (98 KB, 212x278)

98 KB PNG

>>4339235
Never deal with a dragon.

There isn't really anything to stop you from adding stuff like that. Feel free to suggest things like that and explain exactly what you want that part to do. I'm not too solid on motorcycle parts myself so any help would be appreciated. I'm all for sick jumps and massive airtime.

You will probably never need the dead man nuke, but who knows where the corporate jobs will take you :)

The day of the operation comes and goes. It takes two weeks before you finally feel good enough to ride your bike again. Honestly, it wasn’t the intense pain or the fact that almost your entire body was black and blue for those two weeks. But not being able to ride was the real torture.

You have to spend quite a bit of time getting used to your own strength again. Having accidentally torn off some cabinet doors and crushing a remote or two. It takes time but you do get used to it. It does mean you had to spend even more time to relearn how to handle your bikes. Your increased strength and weight thanks to the skeletal reinforcement has really messed up your balance on them. But by the time the third week comes you’re back in peak condition, riding even better than you used to.

During your down time you received several calls asking for interviews.

>Did you do an interview?

You also received several messages from Don and Mistletoe. Both of them are asking to meet up at some point in the future. As well as a message from an anonymous account that just reads.

“I’m sorry.”

You aren’t quite sure what to make of that.

>Meet up with Don
>Meet up with Mistletoe
>Call Dave
>Write in

>>4342606
>Did you do an interview?
Just one, picked at random of the offers

>Meet up with Don

Good to see you back. May I suggest shilling yourself in QTG?

>>4342724
eh, just getting in a quick post to start things before I go to work. Maybe the next time I do a solid day of running I will

>>4342606
>Call Dave

>>4342606
>Did you do an interview?
Nah.

>Meet up with Don
>Meet up with Mistletoe

>>4342606
>>Did you do an interview?
No
>Call Dave

>>4342724
>>4342960
>>4342974
>>4344375

You decide to call Dave to start off your day.

“Hey hey Radiant! How’s my favorite runner doing? Feeling better I hope, cause I got a job for yah.”

“Yeah I’m feeling better thanks Dave. What’s the job?”

“Some rich kid wants to be seen with the local champ! She’s shelling out big bucks for you to drive her around while she hits some clubs and shit. You’re not her bodyguard so don’t worry about that, she’ll have a full escort as those CEO kids tend to have. You’re just there to add some glam to her night. I know it’s not what you usually do, but you’re gonna have to get used to that now that you have a big name in the game.”

“Sounds like shit Dave.”

“Yeah, I’d say have some drinks but you gotta ferry that kid around and you don’t want ANYTHING to happen to her on your bike. So just grin and bear it I guess. Anyway I got other shit to do, hope you’re feeling fully recovered! “Any package, any where””.

With that Dave hangs up on you. You’re really not looking forward to this job. Babysitting isn’t what you usually sign up for. That’s usually something Sunny or other armed runners do. But you’ll just have to deal with it.

Following up on Don’s message you decide to head on down to his bar. It’s a quiet drive there, you still haven’t taken out your new bike on a real job yet. You need to decide when to break her in. Plus there’s an additional factor of anonymity while on it. People are recognizing your old bike as yours. With the new one you will pass as someone else unless you slip up or let people know. Something to think about later you suppose.

“Hey Don! How’s it going?”

“Hey Melanie! I’m doin well! You? Bar’s been busier lately cause the CHAMP hangs here hahaha! I appreciate the business boost girl!”

“Don’t mention it Don, just lending a helping hand. So what’s going on? You sent me a message?”

Don quiets down with that, getting more serious.

“Yeah, got some good news and some pretty bad news. I’ll start with the good. You’ve been officially invited to Hell’s Run, the next big race coming down the tracks. This one has a certain deadly vibe to it. Anything goes, just like before really. But this is where the literal guns start coming out so make sure you either arm up or put some kind of armor on. Wouldn’t want my favorite customer sprouting some new holes. Also, speaking of that, I’ve got some bad news about the Bloodskulls. Looks like they’ve finally figured it out and put out a hit on you. A bounty as well as their own squads. Like I said, might be time to invest in some kind of defense or offense. Troubles coming down the road for you kid.”

“Thanks Don, it means a lot that you keep your ear out for me. I’ll take all that into consideration. Anything else?”

>>4344504

Don shakes his head. A few hours later and you head on home. Declining to do any interviews you’ve made yourself a mysterious figure which only adds to your allure. You do see Mistletoe do an interview, he’s sporting Charlemagne gear all over. Looks like he took the sponsorship. Good for him.

>Meet up with Mistletoe
>Skip to the job
>Write in

another quick post before I work today. Looks like the next time I'll have serious time to run is on Thursday. So count on that unless I say otherwise.

>>4344505
>Send a quick message/call to mistletoe, congratulating him on the slick gig.
>Check out prices on armored suits, bike armor, shield projectors(?), Or maybe a stungun

See if anything is within our very narrow budget before
>Skip to the job

Taking the heavy bike might be good to keep the gang war from affecting the kid. But it will completely ruin the anon powers it would give us after this one job.

>>4344541
+1

>>4344541
+1

>>4344507
You were asking about fancy bike upgrades earlier. I know next to nothing about bikes, but I can think of some random neat mods that could be fun/useful.

Besides some basic engine upgrades to make it go FASTER, I've been thinking of gyroscope stablizers to allow tighter turns, some scaled down hovertech that allows for tighter turns and some air time, Speed racer style piston jacks to get a sudden jump, and a neruo-net interface to allow better control of the systems.
If we want to go real crazy (though probably not likely on our current bike, since its likely not fueled with jet fuel), if it was closer to a plane engine we could include a War Emergency Power throttle to pump water with the mixture to allow the engine to go hotter and stronger for a bit. Similar to a 'noss, but with less chance of explosions.

Friend suggested a few more ideas, more in line with a decker/hacker build than a speedster build. Traffic signal hacker to give you signal pre-emption, jammers to counter red lights or surveillance cameras, and an drone to allow for surveillance or as an outflier.

>>4344541
>>4344560
>>4344773

Taking Don’s words to heart you spend some time looking up ways to defend yourself. Most of it is outside of your price range right now. Especially the bike armor, god damn. But you do come up with some options after some major deal searching.

>Taser knife
>Small pistol
>Bullet resistant jacket

All items cost 1 FUNDS, you have 1 FUNDS currently. Any item you order will be received in time for this next mission.

It’s the best you can do with your available FUNDS. Maybe you should ask Don about finding an armoured suit? Maybe your corporate connections could come up with something like that as well. Options to be considered down the road.

The kid wants to be picked up from her penthouse and taken around town hitting all the top clubs and other nightlife spots. You sigh and prepare yourself to deal with a pampered brat for the rest of the night. You left early enough that you at least get to enjoy your ride and take it easy on the way there. Taking in the sights and sounds of the night in New Light city. You pull up to the building and look skyward, not being able to see where it ends before it disappears into the smog. Parking and heading inside you punch in the codes they gave you and are soon hurtling towards the very top of the building. Once you arrive the doors open up revealing several armed guards watching you. They quickly verify who you are and search you, then point you down the hall. You find your way quickly and come into what must be half the floors worth of space in the apartment. You can’t help but be jealous.

“Like the place?”

A quiet voice asks from your side, startling you.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

A small girl who must be freshly 18 moves in front of you. Large hazel-grey eyes meet yours, peeking out from locks of red hair. A small button nose and pursed lips, she gives the impression of a very shy mouse.

“It’s okay, I just didn’t hear you come in.”

“I’m a very quiet person, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay, sorry.” She mumbles and looks down.

Oh god, you prepared yourself for the exact opposite of this. You were expecting a high volume spoiled to hell and back party girl. Not a quiet demure mouse of a girl. Just what has Dave got you into tonight.

“My name’s Aleksandra Red. I’m sorry if you got pressed into this. My father wants me to get out more and thought that this would be good for me.”

That would explain why a girl like this is about to hit all the major night spots in New Light. This poor girl.

>Ask a question
>Get on with it

>>4345485
Forgot to add something

>Which Bike did you take?

>>4345485
>Get on with it

No questions means we get here there faster!

>>4345042
I like the sounds of those! I'll try and remember to give you some of them as options for when you upgrade.

>>4345485
>>Bullet resistant jacket
>Get on with it
>Which Bike did you take?
Old one

>>4345485
>Bullet resistant jacket

>Old one

>>4345485
>>Bullet resistant jacket
Pairs well with our skeleton and lets us be the shield while guards are the sword.

>Get on with it
If she wants to talk, she can talk on the way. Make sure we remember what gforces a normie can handle.

>What bike
I'm honestly leaning towards the new one. It might ruin its ability for us to go stealthy in it later, BUT hear me out.
If we do this well, and don't unnessessarily risk her life, we can get paid mad amounts of cash. Pros of working a high value escort mission for a day cat. Probably enough to pay for the speed and manuvers upgrades for the new bike to make it on par with our old one. And ideally then some. Once we get our new bike up to par with, and beyond, our old one it will be our typical go to machine.
Then again, the old bike has a status we can leverage/the fat cat wants his daughter to be associated with. And SPEED to get the fuck out of dodge.

Also I wonder what are the prices to get a bit job on the enemy gang? Murder the guys who put a hit on us to keep them from being able to go after us themselves.

>>4346040
>Day cat and bit job
Fat cat And hit job*
Thanks auto correct.

>>4345489
>>4345507
>>4345727
>>4346040

You tug your new bullet resistant jacket a little tighter. If she wants to talk to you, she can talk to you on the way there or at the myriad of stops you’re going to make tonight. You lead her down to your bike, followed by her security team. They explain that you'll be driving in the middle of a motorcade. Two vehicles in front of you and two behind, you can sense the amount of frustration coming off him that Aleksandra will be out in the open on a motorcycle rather than in one of his armoured cars. But his and your orders are clear, she needs to be seen with you on your bike. She’s also wearing bullet proof clothing, much more expensive and better at protecting her than your cheap bullet resistant jacket. Hell, you think even her purse could stop bullets.

You brought your older bike with you, thinking that it is the Champions bike and the more upgraded of the two. Giving Aleksandra some tips and rules about riding motorcycles you hop on and help her on with you. She tentatively puts her arms around you. You have to grab her arms and pull her tight up flesh against you.

“You need to hold on TIGHT. We won’t be going too fast but you have to be safe.”

All you get is a mumbled sorry in reply. Her tightest grip barely registered against your body. You’ll have to take this slow, otherwise you’d have to strap her in like you do with PACKAGES. It isn’t long before you get on the way. Drawing eyes here and there, you see the flash of an occasional camera. The armed escort draws plenty of attention and once people spot you and Aleksandra they get excited. By the time you hit your first stop you have an entourage of hangers on hoping to get a word with you or your charge. The bodyguards do a good job of making sure none get to you two as you both enter the club, Siren.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhclOjt7d2U

It’s actually rather chill compared to what you were expecting. The music is loud of course, but there’s a rather more relaxed atmosphere here than at other clubs you’ve been to. You and Aleksandra are escorted to the VIP room which looks over the entire dance floor. Packed to the brim, you see a few people look up from there and recognize you two. Most of whom immediately pull out their data pads and probably update their social media. You’re sure this night is only going to get more and more fun as it goes on.

>>4346255


“It’s a pretty place.”

Aleksandra gestures to the neon lights that are synced to the music.

“It’s almost like a painting.”

She fumbles with her first drink of the night, making a small face when she tastes it. Heh, you remember the first few times you drank.

“I like to paint, do you? Do you have any hobbies?”

She continues to try and open you up. Maybe you should? She doesn’t seem harmful, just inexperienced and naive. Plus, even though you don’t know exactly what her father’s corporation does. It wouldn’t hurt to make more contacts in the corporate world, and a CEO’s daughter is a damn good friend to have.

>Do you have hobbies?
>Talk to Aleksandra
>Ignore Aleksandra and just watch the crowd

>>4346256
>Do you have hobbies?
We play the e-sax in a CyberJazz band

>Talk to Aleksandra
Doesn't seem like a bad girl.

>>4346256
>>4346259
>We play the e-sax in a CyberJazz band
The mental image alone is far too amusing to say no to. Super-stoic speed-demon Radiant is also a band geek.

>Talk to Alessandra
Putting the shrinking violet and the stoic professional together is surely a recipe for riveting dialog.

>>4346256
>>Talk to Aleksandra

>>4346259
>>4346308
>>4346326


“I play the E-Sax in a Cyberjazz band.”

Aleksandra gives you a wide eyed look before laughing.

“I didn’t expect you to joke around!”

Of course. You were just joking. You laugh a little along with her as a bead of sweat rolls down your face. The world must never know.

This miscommunication opens Aleksandra up.

“I really enjoy painting and I sing a little too. But mostly paint. Father doesn’t let me out much so I have a lot of time in between my studies.”

She pulls out her data pad and the two of you spend some time going over her paintings. You have no drawing talent at all but you think they’re pretty good. You especially like the ones with motorcycles, and she’s pretty good at drawing people. Though you do notice most of the people are nude. Bringing this up she blushes a little.

“It’s important! You learn a lot of how to draw a person by studying their muscles and how they move without clothes. I swear that’s all!”

Though her blush only deepens. You laugh and take a sip of your drink, non-alcoholic for the designated driver of course.

“Studying their “Muscles” of course, don’t worry. Your secrets are safe with me.”

She stammers out a feeble attempt at disagreement but eventually just buries her head in her drink.

>Move on to the next place
>Try to dance
>Write in

roll me some d20s please, best of 3

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>4346390
>Move on to the next place
No dancing
Unless she begs

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>4346390
>> >Move on to the next place

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>4346390
>Move onto the next place

File: godofwar.png (376 KB, 600x400)

376 KB PNG

>>4346405
>>4346439
>>4346442


Aleksandra has an eye on the dance floor, but you shut that down fairly quick by suggesting you head to the next place. Downing the rest of your drinks you and her gather the security team and head on out.

>12

You have a feeling someone is watching you and have a few goosebumps but shake it off as there are quite a few people actually watching you seeing as how you’re parading around with a CEO’s daughter.

Helping Aleksandra back on your bike you head on towards the next place. A small well to do hangout known as Olympus. The drive there is just like the last one. Lots of cameras. But it all thins out as you get closer to the rich districts and finally arrive at Olympus.

It’s an old style Victorian bar. With a live Cyber-Jazz band playing on a stage. A fact that Aleksandra points out and laughs at. You laugh with her again. Ha. Ha. She orders another drink and so do you. You wonder to yourself just how many drinks this girl can handle. Heading towards the VIP section, Aleksandra keeps her eyes glued to the dance floor.

>Enjoy the Cyber-Jazz for a while
>Talk to Aleksandra some more
>Give in and dance

this will be my last post before heading out for work.

Also we should really name our bikes instead of of "Old one" and "New one" so feel free to suggest some names for them!

>>4346460
>>Give in and dance

>>4346460
>Give in and dance

>>4346460
>Give in and dance
>Make sure to ask her how she's doing and get some pretzels or something from the bar. Don't drink on an empty stomach.

>>4346468
>>4346532
>>4346622

You take a minute to listen to the music that’s being played. Tapping your foot to the beat you see Aleksandra swaying to it as well. She keeps looking back and forth from you to the dance floor. Finally she catches your eye and you give in when she starts pouting. It’s not like you don’t like dancing anyway.

Grabbing her hand you lead her to the dance floor, she’s almost skipping alongside you. It takes a second but soon you find the beat and let loose to the high tempo beat. Twirling her around and bringing her close, you surprise her with surprisingly intense steps. Leading her around the floor, most others give way to your dancing path. You never let go of her and maintain constant control. High enough intensity to get the heart racing, but slow enough that an inexperienced dancer like her can keep up. It’s nice to dance again, you haven’t been to a place with a dance floor in a while and it’s nice to get the body moving. Also you just fucking love Cyber-Jazz. Once the music slows down to a slow dance, you try to leave but Aleksandra holds onto you. Bringing herself flesh against you, you can feel her heart hammering away as she tries to catch her breath. She finally does and looks up to you, all twinkling eyes and bright smiles.

“I didn’t know you could dance like that!”

“Not many people do.”

She laughs and you two leave the dance floor. She orders another drink and you raise an eyebrow.

“You should pace yourself, we still have a few more stops ahead.”

“I’m fine! I feel fantastic!”

You look her over, she isn’t slurring or stumbling. But she is quite flushed, though you’re not sure if that’s because of the dancing or the alcohol. She catches you watching her and quickly looks away turning even redder. You order a quick meal of bar food and force her to split it with you. That should soak up some of the booze in her and keep her going for a while. You’d hate to have to clean vomit off your bike.

>Move on to the next stop
>Write in

Roll me some more d20s! best of 3 as always

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4347301
>Move on to the next stop

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4347301
>Move onto the next stop
Do a little at each stop, it's been pretty nice. Surely nothing bad will happen.

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>4347301
>>Move on to the next stop

>>4347346
>>4347437
>>4347440

You were expecting a hellish night of babysitting, so it’s a pleasant surprise that you’ve been enjoying yourself. Getting up, you and Aleksandra head outside and hop on your bike. You have three more stops tonight, which just seems a little much to you to be honest. But if that’s what they’re paying for that’s what they’ll get. While you get situated on your bike you notice a couple across the street. A man and a woman who are not even trying to hide the fact that they’re staring right at you. Normally this wouldn’t bother you, except they both have red stripes diagonally across their face. A calling card of the Bloodskulls. They don’t do anything, but they’re definitely staring you down. A cold tingle moves down your spine. They’ve found you and they want you to know they’ve found you.

Keying in your helmets headset to the head of security, you let him know what you saw and everything it entails. You hear some swearing but ultimately get reassured that they can handle some simple gangers. You’re still nervous. The Bloodskulls are major turf holders even if that turf is outside of the city. They’ve been around for years and have a certain reputation towards using extreme methods of violence. Still, there’s nothing to do but wait for the attack. If there is one tonight.

You make it to your next stop unmolested. Another club, this one you don’t get the name of. You’re too busy watching your back for more Bloodskulls, and sure enough before heading in you spot some across the street. Boring holes into your head. You wonder how they found you and realize that they’d only have to check any form of social media, you’re sure that you’re trending on most of them.

Aleksandra notices your change in behavior immediately. Asking you what’s wrong you explain that you got on the wrong side of a gang and that they’ve found you. She goes quiet and pales at the thought of violence.

“You’ll protect me right?”

She huddles closer to you in your booth seats. Leaning against your side. Protecting her isn’t part of your job, that’s what her security escort is for. You’d still feel bad if anything happened to her though. She’s grown on you.

>”I’ll protect you”
>Something non-committal
>Write in

>>4347703
>I'll try, but that's your security guards' job. Best I'll be able to do is get you out fast if any trouble starts.
I also keep forgetting the skeleton is more than just durability. We could probably crush the limbs of non-augmented people, couldn't we?

Should probably check
>Remember if it was brought up/ask the security team if there is a predesignated rally point to take her in case everything goes tits up. Whether that be back at where we picked her up or otherwise.
>Check if she does have at least some protection. Make sure those clothes and purse are bullet proof or not.

>>4347720
+1

>>4347703
>"I'm too fast for them"

>>4347703
>"I'm too fast for them"

>>4347824
Nvm changing to this +1

>>4347720
>>4347781
>>4347824

You smile at her.

“I’m too fast for them.”

She makes an odd face and continues to lean against you. You don’t think you managed to put her at ease. But she does have her security team in case things get hairy. As well as her designer bulletproof clothing. She is far more protected than you are. With the mood soured she orders a drink to steady her nerves and remains silent for the rest of your time there. It’s a shame the night has gone this way, you were just beginning to enjoy yourself. You have two more stops to go and you plan on living to see tomorrow.

Leaving the club you get set up in the middle of the motorcade again. You move faster and in tighter formation. The team keeps an eye out for the Bloodskulls just like you. Every now and then you spot one. It’s unnerving to keep seeing them and have them do nothing. Occasionally you’ll hear the roar of bikes down the street. Intimidation tactics. Hoping to unnerve you. But you maintain formation and stay centered. Aleksandra’s hold on you getting tighter and tighter.

You ask the head of security if there’s a place to meet up should you get separated. He just gives you a number and says get her somewhere safe and call it. They’ll have an evac chopper sent out to retrieve here wherever you are.

You’re about halfway to the next club when they hit you. You were expecting something but it’s still shocking when it happens. You hear an explosion and the street is suddenly blocked as a flaming bus rolls onto its side. You hear the security team yelling to throw everything into reverse when the car in the back is riddled with bullets. The cars are bulletproof but nothing short of slabs of armor can withstand the amount of fire power being thrown at them. The car gives in and you know no one is going to make it out of it. Aleksandra is screaming through it all.

You are in the middle of the street. Two cars of the motorcade in front of you and one remaining at your rear. You need to get out of here. You have little protection and no offensive abilities at all.

>Try to go around the bus ahead
>Try to go back
>Write in

>>4347942
Ah shit.
They set up a killbox, and tried to take out one of the guys in the back to better lock us in. So likely they have gunners specifically in the back to keep us hemmed in, with some already in place or actively moving to the sides to finish us off. Thinking the latter just because we haven't been railed yet. So a few moments to move.

On the one hand, that makes me more optimistic about going past the bus, as they likely wouldn't put troops on the side where they just sit and watch something burn. On the other hand, that is a slightly risky manuver to completely go askew of the cars and out into the open to maneuver around the bus. They might also have some interceptor bikes ready to try and give chase the moment we break and run, as that is our obvious course of action. That will also hopefully take the heat off of the security team as the hit is on us and not them.

>Write in
Let us ask the security if they have some quick deploy smoke or chaff or strobes (note to self, consider a smoke bomb deployable for future purchases.) Or just get them to apply surpressing fire. Get as much cover as possible so people can't see us as we gun it for going around the bus ahead.

>>4347942
>> >Try to go around the bus ahead

>>4347942
>Try to go around the bus ahead

>>4348053
+1

>>4347996
>>4348053
>>4348089
>>4348092

Roll some d20s lads!

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4348104

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4348104

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>4348104
Well we are fucked!

>>4348113
>>4348127
>>4348129

Fickle are the dice gods. Writing now

>>4348113
>>4348127
>>4348129

You call out to the security team, asking if they have any kind of smoke bombs. In response the cars all around you explode into smoke, covering the area in dense dark smoke. Now everything is dark and the rattle of automatic weapons is distorted. But still continues. You hear the bullets strike nearer and nearer as the Bloodskulls fire into the smoke. You feel a few heavy thuds in your back and feel Aleksandra slump against you. Oh. Shit. Turning around you see that her dress protected her but she’s been knocked unconscious. You have to take a few extra seconds to tether her to the bike. All of this in a hail of gunfire. Seconds are precious commodities.

You rev your bike and explode forward having wasted enough time. Still the gunfire follows after you, they must have some kind of device that lets them see through the smoke as their shots are terrifyingly accurate. Sparks fly off your motorcycle as more than a few find their mark. God you have to get out of here! Clamping down on the accelerator you surge forward even faster, but you’re flying blind. The smoke is now doing more damage to you than to the Bloodskulls. Still, you manage to make your way to the bus in a short time only to find that the only way through is guarded by two men. They raise their weapons at you and fire. You feel a thump or two before stinging searing pain in one of your arms. Your bullet resistant jacket not being resistant enough. But you manage to get through them and explode out the otherside. Free from the kill box, you try to SPEED your way out of there.

You’re barely halfway down the street when the roar of other bikes reaches your ears. Coming up fast behind you is a group of three bikes. Two junkers but in the middle is an absolutely massive beast of a bike. Ridden by an even more beastly rider. All of them open fire on you as you all fly down the road.

You’ve made it out of the kill box but you are now being chased by three heavily armed Bloodskull bikers. Your charge has been hit and knocked unconscious, you have also been hit and are actively bleeding down your right arm.

>Try to SPEED your way out of this
>Take evasive MANEUVERS
>Write in

File: Bloodskullrider.jpg (91 KB, 802x1024)

91 KB JPG

Going to go out and grab some food while you all vote. Be back in like 40 or an hour

>>4348173
>Try to SPEED your way out of this

>>4348173
>> >Try to SPEED your way out of this

>>4348173
If I remember correctly, our current bike is equal balance of speed and manuvers, right?

>Try to SPEED your way out of this
Losing the two junkers, especially weighed down by ammo and guns, should be easy enough. The beast might pose a problem if it's got the engines to make up for the armarments. But it'll be easier to manage when alone and probably suffers in the manuvers.

>>4348173
>Try to SPEED your way out of this

>>4348188
>>4348189
>>4348198
>>4348251

Back, eating and writing now.

Yes you're bike is 3 SPEED and 3 MANEUVERS

>>4348188
>>4348189
>>4348198
>>4348251

You decide to try and outrun them for now. Letting your beast roar, you SPEED down the road. The Bloodskulls continue to blast away even as the two junkers fall behind. You’re worried about the behemoth though. He doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Bullets ping off of the concrete and cars around you. Chewing through both alike. You’re lucky so far that nothing has damaged your bike beyond cosmetics.

You hear the wail of sirens off in the distance. Must be heading towards the kill box. Hopefully there’s something left of the security team to save.

Aleksandra is still passed out behind you. You don’t envy her, the bruises she’s going to have when she wakes up are going to be quite nasty. But then, you’ve been hit too. The blood running down your arm makes gripping the handle bars a little harder than normal. You need to get away and fast, before you start to lose too much blood.

Looking behind you, you’ve lost the two junkers. But the behemoth is still right on your tail.

>More SPEED
>Try to lose him in alley ways (MANEUVERS)
>Head towards the sirens
>Write in

>>4348366
>Try to lose him in alley ways (MANEUVERS)

>>4348366
>Try to lose him in alley ways (MANEUVERS)

If we can think of a place where we can hide out, let's start trying to make our way there.
While we still have the blood to think.

>>4348366
>Try to lose him in alley ways (MANEUVERS)