The Usual Suspects

Posted on Mon Dec 2nd, 2019 @ 2:04am by Skyplex Administration Scarlett Wilson & Plexie Zane Ryan

Mission: Opening Shop
Location: Deck 2: Emerald Starcade
Timeline: 11:00

Scarlett held her bulky Cortex unit up trying to hear above the blarring music coming out form the Starcade. A cluster of young people clogged the entrance to the entertainment establishment. Scarlett kept her eyes peeled to the goings on in and around the shop.

"Moira, I need you to de-atuhorize my IDent Card and get a new one issued for me. Yeah, some kid knicked it from me at the Czar. Just get it re-issued. I'll get your donuts... Just gotta go talk to some kids."

She dropped her cortex back into its pouch on her belt and secured the latch on its cover. The plexies would be stupid to grab something else off her today, but... kids. Scarlett walked into the group of green hoodie clad teenagers. Her eyes scanned the rows of games and holoplayers. Kids were playing, talking and eating concessions. Heads began to nod and eyes shifted towards her. She had once been at home here, now she was an obvious outsider. Worse yet, they knew who she was.

"Jian Pantu." she heard slurred out as she made her way around the arcade. She let the insults slide. She knew most of their parents. She also knew what it meant for a former Plexie to be in charge of the whole station. She was a sell-out, a traitor.

She put it out of her mind and just gave dismissive looks to the the kids as she passed them.

She finally found what she was looking for, a young girl with a disproportionate number of snacks and a large group of 'friends' partaking in her abundance. A slight smile crossed over Scarlett's face. Now she needed information. Glancing around a bit, her eyes narrowed on a boy, blue hair wearing the standard green hoodie. Zane Ryan. He would do.

She slid up leaning against the machine next to Zane. "How's your mom Zane?" The kid looked up with a flare of annoyance that quickly tempered itself with recognition. "Who the hel...um... She's good Ma'am." he replied awkwardly.
Scarlett smiled. The boy was smart. You dont mess with folks that know your parents. "Who's the Meimei rockin the spoils?" She led with her chin towards the girl.
Zane rolled his eyes a little. "Don't know her."
"You sure about that? Everyone sporting the green knows their own."
Zane took a deep breath. "Goes by Valeria. She's a noob."
"Looks like she landed a good score." Scarlett observed.
"Beginner's luck." Zane said with a slight touch of envy.
"Good for her. Go tell her we need to talk." Scarlett demanded.
Zane flashed her an 'are you serious' look.
"Go." she said waving him off. "I've got an Amoeba pass for you if she doesn't run."

Fifty-fifty chance on this one. But kids loved music. Scarlett stayed just out of direct sight leaning on the game machine. After a couple minutes Zane returned with the girl, her hood up covering as much of her face as she could.

"You wanted to see me?" a self-conscious voice whispered out.
Scarlett bent her knees getting closer to the girl's facial level where she could make out all the details of her face. "Hello Valeria. We need to talk."
"We talkin." Valeria softly responded.
"Relax. I aint gonna to pinch you. I just need to know somethings."
"I don't know what you are talkin' bout." the girl replied again.
Scarlett smiled and looked the girl straight in the eyes. "Impressive wirework you did back there. Who paid you?"
"I don't.." the girl started again.
"I know you dont know nothing. You might remember a bit more if I ask your parents where you got the creds to pop out three Large pizzas, drinks and candy for all your buds back there. It sure aint from your allowance. Rule one if you pull a job, dont spend it all right away. Its a total tee off to the cops. I got an Alliance Marshal you pulled your stunt in front of and he is none too pleased. So let's let you get back to your friends by you tellin me who hired you to nick my IDent card. Sure wasn't worth the two credits I had otherwise."
"So I tell you and I can go?" Valeria slowly asked.
"Free as a bird. I'll even comp your pizzas for you." Scarlett said with a smile.
"I dont know his name. He asked if I want to make some money. Told him to gunkai, but he said all I had to do is grab your wallet and bring it to him. He set the rig for me." she confessed.
"What did he look like? Accent?" Scarlett asked digging for details.
"Big fellah. Beard. Scar on his right cheek. Not from the Plex, ain't never seen him before. Talks like he's got learnin." Valeria stated.
Scarlett nodded. "Good. Would you know him if you saw him again?"
"Aint no narc."
"No narcing. Just need to know where the guy is. If he aint from the plex you aint narin' anyways." Scarlett assured her.
"Yeah, I'd know him."
"Good. If you see him tell Zane. Zane will tell me." Scarlett said giving Zane a stare.
"I don't work for you!" Zane called back.
"If I give you cash, you work for me." Scarlett told him matter of factly.
"Hunzhang. You aint paid me nothin." Zane declared.
Scarlett flipped a plexcred card at him, which he caught. "Now I have. Get me what I want, and there's more. That goes for both of you."
"Can we go?" Valeria interjected.
"Sure. Get out of her." Scarlett said satisfied with the outcome.

She turned and started out of the Starcade, stopping by the concession booth. "Put three pizzas for Valeria on the Plex tab. Make her real popular today."