Part 66: Paid in Full

Part 66 - Paid in Full







Our biggest and most dangerous job is behind us and our payday is waiting ahead, one that should at long last see the completion of long-term goal of putting together ¥50,000 for Alice in exchange for her information on Vauclair's current whereabouts.

Karmic rewards have instant delivery though, and foiling the Azzies themselves nets us a full 12 points of scrumptious self-improvement.



We cash in what we have to furthen our already considerable BioTech knowledge from 5 to 7, together with the prerequisite Intelligence from 6 to 7. At this point our Medkits are pretty much strong enough to heal decapitations and cure cancer, and from here we're mostly going to focus on further improving our combat prowess.



We're also dragging around a sackful of optional objectives. We successfully completed the Lodge's little task, and the Schockwellenreiter are waiting for us to deliver the Bloodline project data, though before we'll even consider the latter we're first going to try and find someone who can tell us what the heck it actually is all about.



We'll wrap up our official business first and while at it check up on our crew's feelings about what we did and saw back in that facility, maybe see if some of them have hidden talent for translating ancient Mesoamerican languages. Otherwise our best is probably Aljernon and one shouldn't expose themselves to hazardous levels of smug radiation unless it's the only option.







Blitz is hanging out at his usual spot near the entrance with his two best listeners, the Japanese paper bumbershoot and the hindo-buddhist syncretist cult statue. We'll start from him.



Wonder if the guy's still bothered by that disappeared ex business. We adviced him to back off from his search after she sent a message asking for that exact thing, hopefully he's actually stuck to that.

Of course it was our advice that got him started on the chase again too, so maybe we're not as good at advicing as we like to imagine.

Any thoughts about that last run that you'd like to share?

I, uh... I never thought I'd set foot in an Aztechnology building. Looks different in meat-space than it does in the Matrix, I'll say that much. Truth be told, chief, I found the whole experience kind of nerve-wracking. I'm glad that we're out of there, and I'm even gladder that the building is a pile of smoldering rubble now.

That whole thing definitely felt like a nonstop series of close calls, too many jobs like that can't be good for your mental health. That said bullets are definitely even worse for your physical health, and we did manage to avoid those pretty well that time.

I need to find someone who can read this data that we lifted. Any thoughts?

No, chief... sorry. I'm new here, remember? My advice is to treat it like any other paydata. Just throw it up on Shadowland and go for a quick sale... that's what I'd do. We've got bigger things to worry about than hunting around for a linguist.

Cashing it in for some quick nuyen is probably what many runners would do, though even setting aside the moral aspect of releasing what's made out to be incredibly dangerous research, there's some professional pride on the line. Blowing up an Azzie corporate building is certainly a fine thing to do in itself, but an expensive fireworks show clearly wasn't what our client hired us for.



Big D's up next.


Whatcha need, boss?

Any thoughts about that last run that you'd like to share?

Y'know, boss... livin' in Berlin, I never thought I'd get the chance to go up against a blood mage. Guess it was my lucky day. Not sure how I feel about your freeing those clones. It might've been kinder to've put 'em out of their misery.

[He shrugs.]

It was your call, though.

Can't say we're super optimistic about their chances out on the streets either. Leaving them there would've felt akin to putting them down as if they were animals though, figured they at least deserved a shot at making something more of their lives, even if that shot is almost as long as these last couple of weeks have felt for us. Almost.

I need to find someone who can read this data that we lifted on the run. Any thoughts?

No idea, boss. But if you want my advice, I say that you should delete that information right away. You saw what those blood mages were capable of. Whatever they were workin' on... whatever Project Bloodline was... you should let it stay buried.

Maybe, but our clients always seem to love trying to keep us in the dark so there's something of a personal drive to foil their efforts and at least find out what we're risking our lives for, y'know?



Eiger didn't seem to have much to say while we were in there, but let's ask her too.


Rosa. What can I do for you?

Any thoughts about that last run?

That complex needed to be buried. What they were working on in there... it was an atrocity, Rosa. I'm glad that we were able to put a stop to it. And saving the clones was a bold move. It would've been easier to leave them where they were and consider them collateral damage.

[She nods.]

But it was the right choice, Rosa.

Well hey, glad someone seems to think so.

I need to find someone who can read this data that we lifted. Any thoughts?

You're on your own there, fearless leader. I have no idea. I don't even know why you took it in the first place. We brought down a building to bury this information. Flashing it around after the fact isn't the world's most professional move.

Sounds like we're roughly on the same page about this whole thing, but our thirst for forbidden knowledge must be sated.



Glory wasn't around for the run at all, and technically speaking no dialogue about it actually appears with her here, but we can bypass such minor details with a bit of LP magic.


Rosa. What do you need?

I need to find someone who can read this data that we lifted on the Aztechnology run. Any thoughts?

Yes. You should try the talismonger, Aljernon. I've had... dealings with him in the past. If anyone in the Kreuzbasar can read what we took, it'll be him.

We figured as much, just tried to see if we couldn't find any alternatives first is all. Odds are looking worse by the second though.

Any thoughts about that last run?

I don't like magic, Rosa. I've had some... unfortunate experiences with it in the past. What they were doing down there, in that lab... that was magic of the worst kind. You also took the time to save Aztechnology's test subjects. In your place, I might not have... I don't think I could've justified endangering the mission.

[She pauses for a moment, considering.]

Still, it worked out. And I suppose that's all that matters.

It definitely worked out for us, maybe less so for everyone else involved with that place. Not that we're exactly out of the woods in a broader sense just yet.



But if we are to find our way out of this damnable thicket, we're going to need the funds to hire a professional guide. And for that we need to get paid.



Seems like we've got a couple of messages to go through first. Let's see...



Damn, that has to be one of the most ominous subject lines imaginable. Opening up your messages and seeing one that's just titled "Blitz" is like the start of a horror story about a cursed e-mail where everyone who opens it gains immortality, but all their friends start dying in explosions from increasingly unlikely sources and all the money they touch gets automatically invested into the latest cryptocurrency schemes.


A lot less calamitous than expected, think "Lukas" will be happy to hear that we made the right call over on our side after all. Still though, Blitz as a romantic partner? He's undeniably a very skilled decker, but... Well, suppose Emilie knows him better than we do.

As for the other message...




It's our grand reward for helping out the Schockwellenreiter with enough of their tasks! Which is two out of three, also (spoilers) true for the Lodge requests. Our 'ware options are real limited since we kind of need all our Essence, but it's biotech which can come cost-free so it's something worth checking out in case we are able to make use of it.

But there's no money in reading mail, so let's move on the main course.










That's some solid filling for our wallet, and not only that, but finally...



...finally...



We have done it. We have put together Alice's fee in its entirety. Kind of hard to believe to be honest.



Lady's better come through after all this, or so help us.



Ah come on, Amselblocked right before the big climax! Pff. Well, let's handle our paydata and go see him afterwards.



We collect our pay for the OTK financial records we'd put up, and post the DNA "donor" list we picked up from our previous corporate visit.

We also have the option to put up the Bloodline project data for sale like Blitz suggested, though even if did want to do that, not actually knowing what it contains makes it a bit tough to figure out a proper price. So instead we check the BBS for relevant keywords, which gets us one hit this time.





Who can say? Guess this is just one of those mysteries that will pass on to legend without ever getting a satisfactory explanation.



Heya Paul, way to ruin the big moment.


Rosa. Greetings.

I need your password to transfer Alice's payment onto a credstick.



We once again have the option to be a dick to Paul if we wanted to, but that's so petty and mean for no good reason that we'll leave it for the Extras section.

Yes, it has... too long.

[He claps a hand on your shoulder.]

Well, my friend. The wait is over now.

[Amsel withdraws his hand and turns to open a file on his computer.]

All right. Before you go see Alice, there are a few things that you should know.

Firstly, this is a one-way operation. Once the funds have been transferred to the credstick, the only person who will be able to access them is Alice. As far as the team is concerned, the money will simply disappear.

Are you sure that we can trust Alice?

I am. Believe me, her reputation in the shadow community is worth far more to her than fifty thousand nuyen. She will deliver the information that she promised.

[He shrugs.]

Besides, what other choice do we have? We cannot run, and money will do us little good if we're dead.

Well you never know, maybe all those Egyptian pharaohs and such are really living it up somewhere right now.

I suppose that's true. Okay, keep going... what was the second thing?

Secondly, once you make your way to the Rabbit Hole with the funds, it's go time. I trust that you understand what I mean by that.

Go ahead and clarify it for me.

What I mean is that retrieving Alice's information will be your *only* priority. No more distractions, and no more side work. I will busy myself canceling your remaining jobs and smoothing any ruffled feathers.

In other words "this is the point of no return so you'd better have done all missions you want to do", though there's a bit of extra leeway with the crew personal missions (aside from Dietrich's as his is tied to a main run). We've done it all and we've seen it all of course.

Isn't that a bit... premature? We don't even know what Alice has come up with.



All right, I guess that makes sense. Anything else?

Just that you need to be sure before committing to this. Time is important. A great dragon wants us dead, and that is not a thing to take lightly. But you shouldn't return to the Rabbit Hole until you are prepared to *act.* If you have any doubts, then I'd urge you to wait.

We have some minor business around town but nothing that should take very long. No sense in dawdling any further, far as we can see.

I understand. I'm ready to proceed.

[He breathes a sigh of relief.] Excellent. The password is "VOLKLINGEN." Once you are en route to the Rabbit Hole with the funds for Alice's payment, I will cancel the team's remaining obligations.

Understood.



Ah geez Paul, stop it, we're too emotionally repressed to start crying here now. We're all just trying our best to somehow keep things together in this enormous shitshow we all ended up getting swept in.

Now please, go fetch the information from Alice.

[He claps a hand on your shoulder again.]

We're one step closer to surviving this mess.

Yeah. Let's make it a firm one, we've been stumbling around in the dark for long enough. Oh but one more thing, just to make sure...

I pulled some paydata from the Aztechnology facility, but I can't read it. Any ideas?



I strongly suggest that you delete this, Rosa. From what Müller told us, this information is dangerous. But if you're determined to know what it says, you could try the talismonger, Aljernon. I have no doubt that he can translate it for you.

It was worth a shot, at least. Yeah yeah, we'll go see him.



But first we head back for our computer and enter the password which is no doubt meant to be "Völklingen" after the German town...





...and we finally hold the fruits of our labor in our hands. One hell of an expensive fruit basket too so let's uh, make sure not to drop this thing.



As a side note the extra ¥8,000 is deposited into our own account, so at this point we have enough money to buy pretty much whatever we want.



Now before we head out to town, we have some good news to deliver.


Hey again, chief. Something else I can do for you?

Nothing much, Lukas. Hey, I've got something for you.

Really? What is--

[He straightens, and his eyes go wide.]

Wait a second. How do you know that name?

I found a message waiting in my inbox. It was directed to you.

[He swallows. Hard.] Who... who was this message from?

Emilie.

[Blitz stares at you for a moment, uncomprehending.]

Wait. What? You got a message from Emilie?

For you.

[He blinks.] Well. Um. Let's hear it!

Maybe you should see for yourself. I copied it to my PDA.



Of course I was. I'm always right.

...Probably. Eventually.

[He smirks.] I'll do my best to remember that from now on.

You ready to leave this behind you and concentrate on your work? Here's a hint: the correct answer is "yes."

Yeah, boss. No more digging around, and no more fishing expeditions. When Emilie's ready to come back, she'll come back. I get that now.

Good.

And with that, we've officially reached the good ending to Blitz's personal questline! As you may have surmised that means there's also a bad ending, and we'll of course cover that as well.



Time to head out.







Our first order of business is visiting Ezkibel's clinic to check if that biotech reward is something we can make use of.



And the answer is, hell yeah we can. The Adrenal Contractor is for all practical purposes a 0 Essence cost version of Glory's Adrenal Pump with a negligible downside (though hers now lasts 4 rounds thanks to a perk) and that thing has always been just great. As with the Adrenal Pump it costs 1 AP to use which effectively means the benefit lasts for 2 rounds and the cooldown is a lengthy 6 turns, but a free AP boost is still a hugely powerful effect.

And for a Mage like us it truly is free in every sense of the word, as there's no other competition for the Body slot nor does it cost anything to install. Even for non-casters the only real competition is Wired Reflexes With Reflex Trigger which Eiger got from a perk of her own, but honestly the Contractor may well be the best choice even for them.

So thanks Schockwellenreiter, the slight unease about selling off that Formula 17 thing sure has faded a lot now.



Also after having run the numbers some, we now also opt to install the other 0-cost bioware which was amongst the ones made available after our journey into the Knight-King's realm. This brings our Willpower up to 9 which incidentally is the natural maximum for humans.



Next we'll report back to Luca that his message has been delivered.


Welcome back, runner.

Talked to that exec. He'll fall in line, after he gets his pants thoroughly dry-cleaned.

Assuming he still has the legs necessary to wear pants on.

[He smiles broadly.] Excellent work. Perhaps you do have a future in this town. Here is your pay.



Not too shabby for what was basically not even real work. We still consider you an enormous dickbag though, let's be clear about that.



We're out of excuses to postpone our visit to the smugzone, so it's time to see if the local magic man can help us decipher the true nature of Bloodline.


I have a question for you, if you don't mind. I came by some data on a job, it's written in a foreign language... maybe you could take a look?

Yes. Of course. Hand it to me, if you will.

[Aljernon sweeps his eyes over the information on your PDA. His mouth curls into a frown, then a grimace of disgust.]

This... is an abomination. You would do well to delete it.

I thought you said that you didn't discriminate when it came to magical traditions.

[He meets your eyes.] This is a special case. What you have shown me... this should not exist.

[He sighs.]

But you are looking for specifics, and you will continue asking until you have them. The impetuousness of youth. Very well, then. I will attempt to provide the clarity that you seek.

Please do. Hard to imagine as it is, you're apparently our best source of clarity when it comes to these kinds of things.

There is great power in blood, Rosa. It can be used as a focus, a battery, or a bridge. The blood mages of Tenochtitlan are widely feared for their proficiency in abusing this power. This project... this "Bloodline"... seeks to abuse the power of blood in a novel - and horrifying - way.



Do you see the ramifications of this, Rosa? Do you understand what this means? Were the project completed... were the techniques described within to be perfected... nobody would be safe.

And "nobody" especially includes people who might have connections to say, blowing up Aztechnology buildings, huh. Hell we've probably pissed off an aunt or two enough for them to volunteer themselves to this thing purely out of spite.

You could run and hide, you could go to ground, you could bury yourself in a mile of concrete. It would not matter. As long as Aztechnology can find a blood connection to their prey, they could target them. And it would be fatal.



Damn. Yeah, that does sound bad enough that we probably can't hand this over to the Schokkies, though we kind of did figure as much based on our unofficial tour of those labs. Ah well, we got their main reward already and we're not especially strapped for cash.



We'll just get rid of it. For that we need to take a quick trip back to our computer because the technology to open up a choice menu without interacting with something external hasn't been invented yet.



Gotta make sure we don't just throw it in the recycle bin, wouldn't that be embarassing.





Handing it over to Schockwellenreiter would've been worth 2 Karma and 500 nuyen and selling it as paydata 1125 nuyen, but we do at least get one consolation Karma point for potentially preventing a new world order based on blood and terror, so there is that.



And that's all our business finished. Time to head down the rabbit hole, one last time.



We probably don't need to bring our teammates, they already tried the whole metro ambush thing and everyone knows villains never use the same ploy twice. Everything'll no doubt work out just fine and we'll be back home safe and sound with the precious information in hand, next time.









First off, crew comments if the clones were not rescued (Blitz doesn't comment on the matter either way):


Secondly, if we had done the power-off path in the Aztechnology run, we would've received a message from Heimerich with the contents depending on whether or not we saved them from getting tracked down by deleting the logs.

If we had, the message would've been titled RE: FIREWORKS:


If we had not, the title would've been RE: ROT IN HELL:


Also a little surprisingly there's no BBS thread or anything if the Bloodline data had been released like there was for Formula 17.

Next, being a dick to Paul. I mentioned this a whole bunch of updates ago but the game actually tracks Paul's opinion of you and he doesn't appreciate rudeness, like:



If his opinion is negative enough, his comment about us being a worthy successor to Monika is somewhat less warm:


What else... oh right, the bad ending to Blitz's personal questline which would've happened had we encouraged him to go after Emilie after getting the message from her to stay away.

If memory serves I got this conclusion on my first playthrough because I'd been conditioned by past RPGs to assume that telling him to stop would've just ended the storyline prematurely. And they clearly knew it too, as there's a lot more to this ending than the other one.


Another way to wrap it up:



And last but not least, one more check-in with the Becks before we've caught up to the present with them.

I actually made a small mistake here as the conversation in the previous update was supposed to come after this one, but it's not a big deal. We already know the truth behind the incidents discussed - Laine was assaulted by someone who thought he was planning to join a pro-trog policlub, and Kim by a rival drug dealer of Zaak's who had been barred entry to the Kreuzbasar by Monika and wanted to take back his "turf".