Part 29: XXIX - Dead Ex
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It's been a while, so let me do a recap of events. If you're reading this in the archive, please wait a month before continuing.
After we returned from the museum without the Ankaran Sarcophagus in hand, LaCroix sent us to Hollywood because the city's baron, Isaac Abrams, would know how to put us in contact with the Nosferatu primogen named Gary. According to LaCroix, Gary stole the sarcophagus, but because he operates in Hollywood -- anarch territory -- LaCroix doesn't know where Gary is located. That's obviously where Isaac comes in, but before he'll tell us where the Nosferatu lair is, we have to do him a favor. Namely, we have to head to the local internet cafe. Isaac has paid for a certain movie, yet the seller will no longer meet Isaac on his terms. He says that he'll send the location to pick up the movie at one of the terminals in the 'Ground Zero internet cafe'. Specifically, the terminal with the directory "Josef k", which is accessed with the password "Kafka". Why Isaac can't do this himself, or send one of his goons to do it, is a mystery. It's left up to us, and that's where we're headed now.
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Ground Zero isn't listed on the map, so we'll just have to search around to find it.
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On our way, we're approached by this woman.
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This isn't good. Whoever this is is a relic left over from Melissa's past life. Or maybe I should just say life. This is a masquerade violation if I've ever seen one.
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Samantha here hasn't noticed that Melissa is a lot paler, not breathing, has two very sharp fangs -- in other words, she hasn't noticed that Melissa is a vampire. But at the same time that these physical changes could give us away, they could prove to be a weapon we can use to our advantage. I'm not speaking about killing Samantha -- Melissa, with her high humanity, likely just doesn't have the heart to do that. I'm talking about convincing Samantha that we're someone else. We've already taken the first step by asking her name as if Melissa is unfamiliar with her. The next step requires a bit of skill.
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Note the gender neutral term.
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A question arises from this encounter. We just met Samantha in Hollywood, alone. Does that mean that she lives in Hollywood? Maybe. If so, where does that place Melissa? We don't know. She could've lived in Hollywood, but then the night of her embrace, she was in Downtown -- in LaCroix's domain. Ultimately there isn't enough information to know for sure. Did both Samantha and Melissa live in Hollywood? Maybe so, and they went downtown the night of Melissa's embrace. Maybe they live in different cities, etc. It ultimately doesn't matter.
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Just opposite the Red Spot, we find our destination. Internet cafes were a fad back in the mid 2000's. I never went inside of one because I'm not a loser.
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I can only imagine that this is how pathetic most internet cafes looked 10 years ago.
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Let's get started. There are a handful of computers we can interact with in the place -- not just the josephk terminal.
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The password for the email is Subarashi.
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1 posted:
<Subject> Hitomi Hello
<From> Ayako33@Jfone.ne.jp
Hi. I am Ayako. Let's English practice. Your homestay how it is? America must be so COOLEST. You are in Hollywood? Are you in a movie?
Love,
Ayako
2 posted:
<Subject> Re: Hitomi Hello
<From> Ayako33@Jfone.ne.jp
Present Kenta and I ate okonomiyaki of Yokohama. That extremeness was tasty. What is eaten in America? Does they wat the Japanese food? I must investigate.
Bye bye,
Ayako
3 posted:
<Subject> Re: Hitomi Hello
<From> Ayako33@Jfone.ne.jp
Are Americans have long legs? Are you date American boy? Is the image sent? It is happy.
Ayako
4 posted:
<Subject> Re: Hitomi Hello
<From> Ayako33@Jfone.ne.jp
This weekend I go to the hot spring where my family has been attached. I am excited very. When we are the child, is Yukie which is the friend to us remember? She is also inquire about thing in America. Is the pleasant time passed? Send many images due to me!
Ayako
I wonder who this 'Yukie' could be?
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Near one of terminals. we find this book.
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Clearly a reference to Neuromancer. You might have noticed that the epigraph to this entire LP is a quote from Neuromancer. It was one of the few good things I found in that book. That quote and the introduction of Simstim, but William Gibson didn't do much with that other than use it as a way to jump between characters. One of the stories in his earlier short story collection, Burning Chrome, is about simstim addiction. Go read that collection if you want to read William Gibson at his best (which honestly isn't that good).
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Back to more emails. The password is shizzle.
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1 posted:
<Subject> 2mack3d D0wn
<From> Sethiroph@SOL.vtm
Dud3, my Prussians totally rushed your Francs last night in Eurocraft. Playing tonight? Also, that girl that sits next to me in science talked to me today! She totally wants me to do her.
On October 3rd, she asked him what day it was.
2 posted:
<Subject> RE: Your Mom
<From> Sethiroph@SOL.vtm
No, dud3, your mom!
3 posted:
<Subject> RE: Your Mom
<From> Sethiroph@SOL.vtm
YOUR MOM!
4 posted:
<Subject> Hot Pron
<From> Sethiroph@SOL.vtm
PSYCHE! Your mom.
4 posted:
<Subject> WTF?
<From> Thrillho@SOL.vtm
What are you doing to me, 2Pacula? I said cover me, not die like a little bitch. One more fubar and you're out of the clan!
5 posted:
<Subject> GOODS
<From> Sethiroph@SOL.vtm
I just straight snatched the new Troika game. If you haxxor the code you can unlock clan Chocula!
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There are two terminals left. This isn't the one we need, but does give us some information on possible power players in Hollywood.
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We'll go through alphabetical order.
alonzo, alfredo posted:
Hunky action star of syndicated TV detective show "Beef Bartlow". Now serves up sandwiches named after his character at Jeremy's Famous Deli in nearby Beverly Hills.
amore, sapphy posted:
A former dancer at the local Vesuvius club, Sapphy is one of the few active adult film stars who also occasionally appears in mainstream media. Known to drop in from time to time at the club where she made her name.
blingo posted:
Rap superstar and entrepreneur best known for his platinum albums, "I69 - Blingo!" and "Weed Metaphor", Blingo owns several sweat shops in the area that turn out urban wear for his clothing line "All Up On Ya".
captain bananas posted:
Known as the Olivier of chimp actors, Captain Bananas began his career as Trent Taylor's sidekick in the "C.I.Ape" film series. Now stars in the popular TV drama "Ape Detective". Part-owner in Hollywood hotspot "Fling".
These next two might be important:
golden, gary posted:
"Gorgeous" Gary Golden was the star of such 30's classics as "Tap Hotel" and "Singing Honeymooners". He later became a popular dramatic character actor in films such as "Skies of Nevada". Shortly after his last film in 1960, Golden disappeared and was legally declared dead in 1965.
imalia posted:
Model famous for her racy covers and high lifestyle, Imalia claimed residence in Hollywood for several years. Tragically, her career was cut short in its prime. Her car was found wrecked at the base of the Hollywood Hills, her remains burned beyond recognition.
jerkass, johnny posted:
Johnny Jerkass, host of popular prank show "Psyche!" films most of his show on the streets of Hollywood. Famous pranks filmed on this very street were the "wife hit by bus", the "stripper is really a dude", and "that's not really beer".
Those prank shows like "Punk'd" used to be pretty popular.
kross, natalia posted:
Superstar of the late 50s to late 60s, known for her class and natural beauty. In 1968, Kross was brutally murdered at her house in the Hollywood Hills. She is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
lungfish, zed posted:
The Lungfish, infamous for his onstage debauchery during his concerts, owns and operates the Crematorium here in Hollywood.
nivbed posted:
If you want to spot this artist, try West Hollywood, but approach with caution - he's easily provoked to dangerous levels of sass.
openheimer, jason posted:
Producer of such films as "Guy Fawkes Day", "Explosion Every Sixty Seconds", and "Boston Harbor". Gets his hair done at local salon "Jump Cuts" and has been spotted buying music at local record store "Sappy Ballads".
revolta, jim posted:
Removed from database at request of Church of Solicitology.
Pay attention to this next one:
rivers, ash posted:
After his breakout performance in the film "Negative Zero", Rivers garnered huge critical and commercial success in three more films before a shocking early retirement. Rivers spends most of his time these days managing his club, the Asp Hole, found right here in the heart of Hollywood.
sammy, frankie posted:
Wisecracking star of 70s TV show "What's the Word?", Sammy was found bludgeoned to death at the local Luckee Star two years after his popular show was cancelled.
These next two are the last of importance:
sessions, tawni posted:
Ubermodel Tawni Sessions has an apartment right here in Hollywood, and can often be found window-shopping in Beverly Hills.
swan, ginger posted:
Swan, a name synonymous with beauty and glamour to this day, was a great celebrity of the late forties and early fifties. Her credits included such movies as "Gilded Hummingbirds" and "When No Means Yes". After her passing in 1954, she was interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery mausoleum.
tang, margaret posted:
The most in-demand voice director in town. Margaret is known for coaxing brilliant performances (and sometimes tears) out of her actors. She is currently working in Hollywood on several A-list titles, including "The Animated Adventures of Fowl Mouth the Friggin' Chicken" and "Frankenstein: Breadlust".
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Phew, that was a lot of reading. Thankfully, this is the last terminal.
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As Isaac mentioned, the password to the email is Kafka. There are two emails. The first:
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Gives us our next objective in this Kafkaesque(?) quest. The next email isn't very important.
2 posted:
<Subject> VIRUS ALERT: read me!
<From> snifq@mail.vtm
MAV has detected a virus in the attachment of this message. The virus has been quarantined and a notice sent to snifq@mail.vtm.
The apps section on the terminal isn't important. Our next stop is near the Fast Buck.
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Our contact is behind the buidling...
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...looking suitably scary, black hood and all.
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He's really shaken. Something must be up with the tape.
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Being sympathetic might get more info out of him.
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He runs around the corner...
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...out of sight, the sound of a manhole opening, a gasp...
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...and he's nowhere to be found as we turn the corner. Something's clearly wrong with this tape. Why would Isaac want it? What would the purpose be?
Furthermore, what is a Ginger Swan? Maybe Isaac knows.
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We know who Ginger Swan is. Remember the internet cafe:
swan, ginger posted:
Swan, a name synonymous with beauty and glamour to this day, was a great celebrity of the late forties and early fifties. Her credits included such movies as "Gilded Hummingbirds" and "When No Means Yes". After her passing in 1954, she was interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery mausoleum.
Our next stop, then, is the cemetery.
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The problem is getting in. The gate's locked, so we have to go through the hole in the brick wall. moving pieces of wood and barrels out of our way in the process.
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We know that Ginger Swan's remains are in the mausoleum, but we don't know where that is. There's a house on the left, there. Maybe we can ask whoever's inside for directions.
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Only Zombies could do that, clearly.
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An obvious reference to
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Romero just admitted that he's Isaac's ghoul. We've already run into zombies in downtown LA. There we were investigating a supernatural cult. But that's not happening here...as far as we know...so what could be the cause of the Hollywood zombies?
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Let's just ignore that mention of Vampires and move on.
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'Handle some business' must mean....yeah.
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Just keep this guy shooting zombies, he's a psycho.
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There are two ways to handle this quest. The first way is obvious: fight zombies as Romero leaves to go jerk off or whatever. The other way is more interesting.
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Predictably:
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Now we're presented with a problem. Who do we know who would sleep with a zombie-killing psycho? Well...nobody offhand, but there are some people we've seen walking the streets who do this shit for a living.
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It's time to exploit a prostitute.
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This is going nowhere. Let's get to the point.
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So we bring her back to Romero...
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A stat boost is clearly more valuable than money.
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Our firearms skill is bumped up by one.
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Now, this mausoleum is located at the back of the cemetery. Romero wasn't much help, but it's easy enough to find.
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Unsurprisingly, there are a ton of spots that Ginger Swan's remains could be.
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This is the only time the Inspection skill comes in handy, yet we have zero dots in it. Troika knew that it would be a pain in the ass to check all of these spots, so they pointed the right one out to the player.
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There it is. We'll bring this back to Isaac next time.