[Day 8 - Late Morning] Showtime (???)

[Boogiepop]

As the clone was led out from their 'cell', they were allowed to get a better idea of their surroundings. Wherever they were, it didn't look like some abandoned complex and there was a share of boxes and materials laying about. They were surrounded by a concrete interior, likely further encased with a hull to ensure the air never leaked out. The hallways were cramped and they would move past a few doors that made the area some sort of basement or utility level. The boxes and things about didn't exactly play and favours for the captors.

[OOC: Nadia can roll Perception (Cunning) at Average Difficulty with one Setback from lighting (negated by Cybereyes).]

They would be eventually lead to a room at the end of the hall that was a bit more spacious. On one side, there was a camera on a stand with a holographic backdrop. Behind the camera was a computer terminal with a few old-fashioned screens.



Sadie would make her way over to the chair in front of the terminal while her companion would gesture the clones to stand on the other side of the camera before standing in front of the doorway to keep everyone in. Adopting a sort of bouncer stance.


???

The masked figure was here too, it seemed, waiting for both the clones and their people to get into position. There was a momentarily head tilt as they inspected each clone in turn, from their appearance to their outfits. It didn't take long before they stopped at the oddity in the room that was Nadia.

"wHy iS ShE DrEsSeD LiKe tHaT?" The distorted voice to question with an obvious hint of disappointment through the changed voice.



The cyborg would shrug haplessly, finding nothing wrong with this. "I don't know. It's all we had for a woman. The outfit seems to fit just fine to me."

[Nadia Avaline]

Walking out into the room Nadia allowed her eyes to continue to wander. Keeping to the line with that close precision as to not draw any extra attention to herself. Taking to her precise position it was all reminiscent of the many times she'd accompanied Elizabeth to her various parties and functions. Standing in one spot for a long time while the 'humans' would do what they were inclined to. Though in this one she didn't have her PAD to hide away in, and she was one of the few at the center of attention.

In retrospect, she would have preferred being able to return to those moments. At least then she could escape into the net.

When the attention came more directly on her, she instinctually shied away a bit. Moving uncomfortably in the garment.

Day 8, LM | Showtime: Perception, Cybereyes vs Average, Lighting Setback: 2eP+2eD 3 successes, 1 threat

[Boogiepop]

Nadia managed to spot a few things as she was taken to this room. There was some attention taken in hiding the identity of the place but not much. Some of the boxes were turned away from their facing and there were a few old posters and placards, perhaps from a time when holographic posters weren't installed in some parts of Heinlein and they just had to rely on old-fashion signage. One of them did jut out of the many that she took notice of. This signage ironically went with a historic-theme design of deco, going with the design of speakeasy of the bygone era. Nadia could see "Find adventure at the Wyldside, where the Wyld things are".


???

"sHe lOoKs lIkE A DaMnEd wAiTrEsS AnD ShE ItS NoT A WaItReSs. WhY DiDn't yOu sAy aNyThInG?" The masked person would say, looking at Sadie with some clear disappointment in their tone as she should have known better than let things be.


Sadie

Sadie looked a bit embarrassed by the oversight but instead just kept her attention on the screen as she prepped further, trying to sweep it under the proverbial rug. The camera was turned on and the holographic backdrop would show a ballroom. Despite it looking life-like and convincing, it might be a touch too much to suspend belief over. "...Uhm, we're online. They're coming on."


???

The person sighed and walked over to a coat rack to take a black blazer from among the jackets and coats there. They would walk over to Nadia and order her. "tAkE OfF ThE VeSt aNd wEaR ThIs. Do iT NoW AnD JoIn tHe oThErS." They would gesture to the other side of the camera as the other clones fell in line after being ordered by the cyborg man.

[Nadia Avaline]

Nadia's movement was slow and purposeful as always, even now. Looking to the masked figure as if she could meet their eyes, focusing on the spot in the mask where they'd be looking out from. Nadia would slowly nod and take the blazer from them. Holding it for a a moment before she'd move to do just as she was asked.

Of course, still continuing with her methodical approach to it she'd even mindlessly fold the original garment and hold it. Taking the time to cautiously scan around and see if there was anyone else hiding in a spot she might not have noticed before. As she did so she returned to the line with the others.

[Boogiepop]

???

The helmeted person didn't seem to take much appreciation in Nadia folding the vest and merely snatched it from her reach. There might have been some grumbling that wasn't fully vocalized through the voice changer, something about being surrounded by amateurs. The person would march over to where Sadie was seated and go through some of the particulars on the Network.

"oKaY, gOoD, wE HaVe a fEw bUyErS ToDaY. wE ShOuLd bE AbLe tO ClEaR StOcK, aT LeAsT." They would say with some degree of satisfaction.

From Nadia could see, their captors were the only ones in the room with them. The cyborg still standing guard at the door with his armed crossed, looking a bit mildly bored as the proceedings. He put his attention at looking at the clones, who were admittedly the only pleasant thing to look at the moment.



All of the clones were standing in front of the camera, side by side to each other like it was a police lineup. There was a spot at the end of Nadia. Felix didn't seem to give much of a glance to Nadia, perhaps not trying to draw much attention from the cantankerous cyborg. The other clones were standing straight ahead, there was a bit of uncertainty in their expression but they remained in their place. There was a screen that showed that they were online and live.


???

Once things were in order, the helmeted one would give a few nods to Sadie. "oKaY, lEt'S STArt WItH tHe fIRst BUyeR."


Sadie

Sadie activated a few things on the console and brought up a video call with the first buyer on the list. It took a slight moment to secure an encrypted connection and there would be a face that appeared on the screen...



"All right, what do you have for me?"

[Nadia Avaline]

Seeing the screen come active, she took what time she needed to process who she was looking at but it wasn't ringing any bells as of yet. Following that up though she did pass a curious glance over toward their equipment. Though she half figured if this suited individual had a part to play out here they'd be prepared for anything Nadia might be able to do.

But there was the hope, a thought toward the chance that they'd slip up somewhere along the line and she'd catch a signal for something.

[Boogiepop]

The terminal was something that was fully operational and was connected to the Network. While Sadie did slip up on providing fashion advice for dressing up Nadia, she didn't slip up here. Or perhaps it was by function, it seemed the terminal was connected to a landline rather than wirelessly as Nadia couldn't sense any connection in the room to be paired with.


???

The helmeted person would address the man on the communication directly, feeding him a direct feed so that the clone 'wares' were visible to him. "yoU havE The fiRSt ChoiCE AmonG My OFFeringS TodaY, I HavE A mAlLOY..."



The man looked rather disappointed and upset, quickly stepping in to interrupt. "Don't waste my time. I said no service clones. I run an operation, not a business pandering to customers. What else do you have?"


???

The helmeted person seemed to be taken aback by this rebuke and took an awkward moment to recomposed themselves. They would overlook Felix entirely and more directly to the Tenma. "so, YeS. we AlSO HaVE A TeNma yOu caN ConsideR. HE Was slAtED fOr EArlY RetireMENT wHeN His caB coMpAnY ShUtTeReD. OnLy oNE yEaR oF seRVICE, shouLD be AS gOoD aS neW."



That managed to stir some interest in the man but he wasn't entirely pleased with the offerings just yet. "And?"


???

"...AlSO, I HAvE An avALIne. ThEY'rE nEW And hIghly ExpeNsIVe. tHIS ONe wAs RETurnEd aFTer a TriAL RUN, A TRIAl MoDel. We weRE abLe to picK tHiS onE UP BEfORe sHE wAS rECycLeD. ShE ShOuld Be AbLe tO Do eveRYTHinG AN AvALInE CAn, eVeN IF sHE'S A bIT LOSt and confuSED. mAY tAke a bIT Of STrAIGHtenInG OUT buT ShE WOrkS." She would say about Nadia, quickly conjuring a new origin story from thin air under the pressure of the sale. Clearly, a lie.

[Nadia Avaline]

Nadia's brow furrowed oddly at the new story, almost not realizing they were indeed talking about her at first. However, she made no move to otherwise correct it. Instead just focusing in on the man on the other side of the screen. Seeing as he was the only one with an expression she could study. The figure before her masked most of everything she might be able to use to learn about people. They were all certainly a different class of the usual she interacted with, in one way it was a goldmine of information.

Otherwise, Nadia simply stood steady and kept watching. While the eyes were on her she kept to that natural need to not be noticed as odd or different.

[Boogiepop]

Felix Cordova

While Nadia just stood there and maintained her new origin story by not saying anything, Felix did perhaps offer a side-long glance at her direction as he knew full well that wasn't exactly how she found herself here. He would glance back toward the camera, wondering if she knew this herself or just allow the human conversation to go over her.


???

Day 8, Late Morning: Telling a Lie: 2eP+1eA+2eD 2 successes, 1 Triumph


There was a long pause as the helmeted person wanted for the man's response and it seemed like they made a very convincing sales pitch. If anything, perhaps it encouraged him to take the product without needing to barter anymore. It would never even occur to the man that this clone and the missing woman that those Earthers were looking for were one and the same.



"...Yeah, I think I'm seeing a bit of information here about the Avaline now." He said as he looked at the screen, his attention seemingly divided as he glance at another window as Sadie might have sent him the general sell sheet produced by Jinteki. "We might actually have a need for a sysop ourselves...I'll take her, and the Tenma. I'll send you the payment for the asking price. Send them over to me as soon as possible."


???

The person gave a very satisfied nod, especially as there was a notice that appeared on one of the streets that a transfer from one of the parties had been authorized. "vERY goOd, SoLD TO YOU, miSTEr WALler. i kNew tHat i WoulD FiND SomEthING That yoU WoULd waNT EVenTuaLLY. i'll haVe SomEonE tranSPOrt THem TO The ShOP."

They would draw out their synap pistol, recalling how difficult it was to get Nadia earlier. Using the pistol, they would gesture both clones to step forward and get out of the camera shot. "You TWO, stEp fOrWard. yOU'Re Not NEeDED thErE ANY loNgEr. you HAVE a neW OWneR NoW."

[Nadia Avaline]

As she was ordered to move, Nadia would breifly glance over toward Felix. However, as he'd already been looking at the camera by the time the look didn't linger as she would nod, and then comply stepping out from underneath the view of the camera. It was far more comfortable here, but she'd do what she could manage to keep an eye on the screen at least to make a note of anyone else that came across it. Waiting, silently taking note of all that she witnessed as she's done surely thousands of times before.

Blank almost emotionless expression learned from watching Elizabeth helped a bit as she slowly pieced together something of a plan of her own.

[Boogiepop]

???

"a PlEAsURe dOINg BUsinESs WIth yOU." They would tell the man before the transmission would end with another one cued up to take its place. Two sales on the first call, it seemed like a pretty good night already, especially if they could get rid of the stock as soon as possible.


Sadie

Sadie had four other calls on hold as they waited for their turn fo negotiate directly, there seemed to be some numbers tossed back and forth between the parties. Something that might have been done with Nadia and the Tenma clone previously, unless this person got a preferred rate. The names of the people involved seemed shrouded on the screen, only going by either the number of their contact or account. She would look over to the helmeted person to see if they were ready to take the next call.


???

The person didn't seem much of a reason for Nadia and the Tenma to linger any further, especially when they already had an owner waiting for them. They would pull out a PAD from the pocket, looking over a feed of messages that were scrolling by, before swiftly putting it away. "iT seEmS thErE's A lot of NOiSE oN tHe STREeTS. somE weYlanD GOONs ArE ROaMIng AROUNd aND Causing troublE. TRanSpOrT theM Over tO WallEr aND tAKe ThE utIlIty tUnnELs. it sHoulD BE FaStEr."



"...Yeah, got it." The cyborg at the door would say before uncrossing his arms, pulling out some snap-locks from his pocket that he seemed intent to use to tie the clone's wrist. "You two come with me, we'll getting out of here. Wrists out, now."

[Nadia Avaline]

Up until this point, Nadia had been rather willfully compliant. However, there was a change in circumstance which drew her attention and focus. When it seemed they were going to be moved on she stood still where she was. She wasn't of the mind to resist their intentions, but she wasn't aiding the effort any longer as her mind wandered. Looking toward Felix her wandering mind considers all the possibilities of what comes next. Overall, she was rather self-confident in her manner that she'd manage out of the encroaching situation but Felix was a different story. Nadia only had time to consider a few outcomes, but of all the possible ones all the ones her mind immediately jumped to were inherently negative.

Far as the cyborg was concerned, Nadia stood still with her arms to her side and merely looked toward the clones still stood in front of the camera.

[Boogiepop]

The Malloy stood there, looking a bit confused at what was going on around here. The uniform she was ordered to put on gave her some impression that she was going to be working but this was very unlike any Mother Malloy restaurant that they prepped her for. Maybe it was a new sort of chain where the customers were part of an active play?


Felix Cordova

Felix might have given up on Nadia at this point but he did offer a glance when it looked like they were ready to go. From one owner to another. It had ended up in some afterlife when he was spared recycling, it seemed like a strange sort of purgatory when to be put into work once more. He would give a glance down at his feet with a small sigh before looking at her once more, knowing full well this was likely the last time they would see each other. If there was going to be some attempt of escape after this, they wouldn't be able to count on each other in any plan.



Veeep! The cyborg would easily bound the Tenma's wrists together as he was fully cooperative in the command. Next, the cyborg would walk over to Nadia, standing so close to her that he was practically blowing at her hair with his assertive breaths. "Hey! I said, wrists out. NOW!"

Reaching down, he would attempt to take one of Nadia's wrists into his hands as he got the impression that this was going to be something he might have to do on his own.

[Nadia Avaline]

Despite the heat coming down both literally and figuratively, Nadia wasn't responsive. Continuing to stare off at the others, Felix, until the cyborg would reach down and take her wrist. Taking her wrist, without thought, Nadia's other hand came up and swung with a shoddily formed fist. While it might have connected there was no real power in it, she was hardly a woman who knew well how to throw a punch let alone throwing one off complete instinct. Instead she was stood there with knuckles ineffectually resting against his shoulder blinking as she started to process and catch up with what was happening.

Day 8, LM | Showtime: Brawl, Story Point vs Average: 1eP+1eA+2eD 1 failure

[Boogiepop]

The cyborg gave an abrupt blink at the resistance from the Clone, almost not knowing exactly what transpired or what she attempted. His gaze would slowly lower down at the knuckles that were placed against his body. Did a Clone actually try to attack him? Was such a thing even possible? However, he soon became more bewildered than find answers for these questions and would strike Nadia back by acting on his own instinct with a quick backhand.

Day 8, Late Morning: Punch back!: 2eP+2eA+2eD 2 successes, 4 advantage


Nadia takes 6 damage!


Felix Cordova

Felix quickly stepped forward when he caught sight of the assault that was happening. "HEY!" He would call out in protest, almost about to make his way past the camera until...


???

"nO, stoP. Get back, nOW." The helmeted one would saw as they raised their pistol at Felix before he could proceed further, sensing a breakdown in order from how the clones were defying them. This might have been considered a shock in implication but they were just trying to get through with their operation.

They would address the cyborg directly, not too pleased by the excess use of force here. "dON't DaMAgE THE pROduCts. tIE Her up nOW. We'RE goING tO NEed tO dO the same FOR THe otHErs TOO NOW."

[Nadia Avaline]

First time being stunned, first time being hit, Nadia wasn't prepared for how the shock of it might physically impact her and she moved with the momentum. In the span of a blink she found herself facing the other way on her knees. Having in the motion full turn pivoted with the hit, stumbled a step, and then crashed down onto her knees from a sudden weak and weariness of her legs she didn't have her wits about her enough to process. Raising her hand she lightly places it against the stinging of her cheek, quickly moving it back away as it only intensified the pain.

A bit dazed, a little confused, Nadia was still processing and catching up with herself given all the new information. Surely it'd seem a simple task as before given she was knelt down facing away, but she'd suddenly gained some will to make things more difficult resisting any attempts to bind her.

[Boogiepop]

???

The helmeted one maintained the hold of their pistol at Felix. Despite having some relative control in the situation, the posture might indicate that they were considering shooting Felix anyway. These unruly clones were beginning to be a bigger problem than they thought.

Day 8, Late Morning: Initiative with Cool: 3eP+2eA 3 successes, 5 advantage



Felix Cordova

Felix had perhaps sensed this in his captor. His gaze would look to Nadia's fallen form. Was this a sign? Either way, it seemed like they weren't going to get another opportunity, it was going to be now or never...

Day 8, Late Morning: Initiative with Cool: 1eP+3eA 0 successes, 4 advantage


[OOC: Other initiatives forthcoming later. Currently at work. Initiative with Cool!]

[Nadia Avaline]

Cold floor in front of her. A room filled with unfamiliar people, with just a few familiar faces. Knees throbbing from the fall to the ground, cheek stinging. What was she doing here?

Day 8, LM | Showtime: Initiative: 2eA 1 success, 2 advantage

[Boogiepop]

Day 8, Late Morning: Initiative with Cool: 2eA 0 successes


It seemed that Sadie might have been too preoccupied with managing the lines of communication with their buyers.



Day 8, Late Morning: Initiative with Cool (Right person...): 1eA 1 success


The cyborg was ready for something.

[Boogiepop]

Initiative
NPC
PC
NPC
PC
NPC

??? and Sadie is Short from both Nadia and Felix
Cyborg is Engaged with Nadia and Short from Felix


???

Enough hesitation, if they were going to put some order in these clones then an example needed to be made of. While she could dump the clones into someone else's hands and become their problem, that didn't exactly make for good repeat customers, right? They would pull the trigger and fire a shot at point-blank range into Felix...

Day 8, Late Morning: Shooting at Short!: 2eA+1eD 0 successes, 2 advantage


Using Advantage to Setback on next check from Felix.

And the shot would miss, striking the concrete wall right behind him. This sent the Malloy clone dropping down on the ground and cowering in fear. The same could be said about the Tenma, ducking to the floor for cover.