Confront her. Get to the bottom of this.

Check out the porch with your gun in front of you to persuade the guest to stay.

Btw, have you ever seen vertical eyes like that before in your adventures?

>>981944
>they won't hurt u
I don't believe it. But at least you have a sync gun. Get ready to use it.

>>981948
This

>>981944
May as well. You aren't the target, so go and find out what the hell's going on.

Hold up I got an idea.
Put Mike on speakerphone. He can talk to her immediately.

>>981958
While my vote is still against interacting with this intruder, if we do have to confront her,putting Mike on speaker might actually be a really good idea if we do decide to talk to the intruder.

part of the reason why I feel it isn't Mike on the messages is because in the other chapters, it felt like whoever had those vertical eyes, whether it be the animals, or Mint, may have been possessed, and there is a worry that Mike telling you to stop the intruder might be Mike being possessed or something, though I am probably being paranoid

>>981958
What if this person doesn't want to talk to Mike or to confront him? Don't you think there's a good reason Mike wants us to keep them here until he arrives?

In other words, I don't think putting Mike on holo is a good idea, and that it would only scare this person away (and possibly make them attack us in the process)

>>981944

Well, we could hold out AT the door, right? Easier to dash out that way, and we'll be between it and them.

If they're hostile, we're gone (and maybe sync them for good measure). If they're not, well ... we'll figure that out afterward.

My Brain: Welp, I'm out. Just don't kill it.

My Dick: YEAH! Engage combatant!

1/1 teegee 2020/11/25(Wed)02:55 No. 982053 ID: 3994a2
File 160630170794.png - (399.27KB , 1024x1024 , -1-020-1.png )

>Btw, have you ever seen vertical eyes like that before in your adventures?
Drawing a blank on that one. If I've seen them before, it didn't seem important at the time.

I swing around the corner and find the intruder on our porch, perched on the railing. I level the sync gun at them, sliding the door open. The figure doesn't give any visible reaction, remaining still.

"Who the hell are you," I demand. "Don't move a fucking muscle."

"A client," they reply. I recognize the stilted cadence of their speech -- they're using an autovox in place of their real voice. "To be more accurate, a representative thereof."

Since they're not moving you can lower your gun.

Ask them why they're here, if they're alone, and tell them that the next time they want to use the coffee machine they shouldn't break in unannounced.

Seeing as how the goal is to keep them there and engaged, ask if there's anything you can do to help them and if they want to come in and sit down.

“I don’t recall breaking into the apartments of business partners being typical business etiquette, but since you’re here though, come in. Might as well speak for a bit about why you’re here, and the person who normally handles this is on their way too.”

Keep the gun not pointed *directly* at them in case of a misfire, but ever-so-slightly to the side in such a way that you can trivially easy bring it back on target in an instant, before most people could try something tricky.

Keep in mind your next door neighbor is very very nosy. Try to get this "client" inside the apartment.

Invite them in for a beverage of something, or come up with some other pretense to get them indoors again. Tell them Mike is upset they're futzing around here.

Keep your guard up.

"Our system doesn't seem to have you down for an appointment, but you can take a seat and we'll look into it."

>>982053
Ask them to come down off the railing and wait until Mike gets here. Let's not talk about anything sensitive, the noise in the walls might've been some kind of monitoring equipment.

Well, seeing as they just broke into the apartment unannounced, you should let them know you have every right to just keep syncing them until Mike gets back, but since he wanted to talk with them, you'll settle for just waiting with them out here if they play nice.

I’ve seen this movie before; you’re gunna have better luck asking questions than getting this “representative” to follow any command they don’t already intend to follow. With any luck, you can buy time for mike to make a move before we see the intruder jump from the balcony, all dramatic-like, before vanishing. Shooting would be a bad idea, but interesting to watch.

>>982053

So they just ... what, break into your apartment and wait for you to show up? Have they never heard of leaving a message?

"So do you normally act like a bit character in a bad spy flick, or is this an off day? Christ, come in and get some water or something before you fall off my balcony."

what a ditz.

>>982119
Now THAT’ is something worth trying.

Let's assume that it is mike on the other line, not possessed or anything. Let's try and stall, ask why they couldn't have left a message or at least knocked??
If they start getting threatening, try and lure them off the balcony safety rail and then shoot them, and see about hot tieing them or fleeing.

>>982119
Do this. Call them a shithead for not just knocking on the front door like a normal person.

1/1 teegee 2020/11/28(Sat)02:11 No. 982311 ID: 3994a2
File 160655829151.png - (430.42KB , 1024x1024 , -1-021-1.png )

"Oh yeah? One of Mike's clients?"

"And one of yours."

I grip the sync gun harder, aiming it slightly to the side in case they piss me off enough to cause a misfire. "The only clients I have are people lookin' to get drunk."

All I get back is silence.

"I don't recall breaking into a business partner's apartment being part of professional etiquette, so I have to ask: why break into my fucking home instead of, oh, I don't know, going to Mike's office like a normal person?"

"I came to deliver something."

"Well great, you can discuss whatever it fucking is with Mike when he gets here. Should be any minute now."

They shake their head, causing the fabric of their hood to shift slightly, exposing the tip of their snout to a dim scattering of daylight. "There's nothing to discuss. Mr. Delaney left us with little choice, so I had to bring it here."

"Well, we've got plenty to discuss with you, and I'm the one with the gun, so I'm calling the shots." I gesture the sync gun downwards. "Now c'mon, quit acting like a bit character in a bad spy flick and come inside before you fall off the balcony."

The autovox hisses out that creepy wheezing noise those things make when you laugh into them. "Actually, I was just leaving." They start to rise to their feet.

Pop pop.

You weren't fucking bluffing. Sync now, explain it to the cops later.

Dont shoot her, that is probably what she is expecting you to do and might have some kind of counter measures to defend herself with. She does not seem at all intimidated by your threats after all, which means she has something up her sleeve.

Instead, shoot one of the posts of the porch rail below her feet. The vibration of the rail the gunshot cause could make her simply fall forward.

>>982311

Wait, is she (?) seriously going to just fucking jump?

... wait wait WAIT.

She said she had to deliver something, right? Which means it's somewhere IN our apartment already!

>>982327
Oh crap.
Call Mike at once, tell him "BOMB!" and to stay out of the flat. Get out immediately as well. Jump to the next balcony if necessary.

Don't do anything rash. You don't know what they brought here, and why they had to bypass Mike to do it.

"Wait! What is it that you brought? If it isn't for Mike then... it's for me? Is it a love letter? Is that why Mike didn't want you here? I don't know what to say, this is all so sudden! You know that I'm with Mike so, asking me to go out with you like this, ah, we're already outside. Is this what cheating feels like... nngh, anyway, if you're leaving, will I ever see you again?"

shoot. if they jump, go to the end of the balcony and fire off some chaser shots to make sure they're gone. then search the apartment for whatever they left you.

Yeah, as much as anyone like squeezing the trigger, the fact that she has already "delivered" something in the apartment does not inspire confidence. whatever you decide to do regarding the intruder, just be sure to make a quick exit out of the apartment until mike arives.

>>982311
Call it a fuggen lunatic and point the gun away from the "client representative", and ask why they gotta be so weird?

Shoot the leg muscles, make them fall back onto the balcony and tackle the shit out of them.

Bonus if you manage to rip your tanktop up to long rags and hogtie the bastard.

Drag them into the kitchen, if it's a bomb, they'll either defuse or suffer the same fate.

I fear what they delivered could be a bomb. Get out of there Penny! We can apologize to Mike later, if we make it out alive.

>>982328 >>982770 >>982801
>bomb
It's not a bomb. Mike said we're in no danger.

>>982805
Isn't that even more reason not to stick around in the apartment? sure, death could be off the table, but do we really expect anything good; considering this is a world where a picture on a piece of paper could put you in a coma?

>>982977
I see no reason not to trust Mike. Also, Vesper's autopilot turned out to be an exceptional thing, so it makes no sense to use that as an argument or to base our future (or past?) decisions on that event.

It's important to remember that we're looking at Penny's past, so no matter what we do here, Siobhan will eventually end up where Penny woke up, in which case it would be wise to use this opportunity and learn what we can, instead of hiding and acting all paranoid.

What this person delivered... I think there's a good chance that it's connected to Penny's supernatural powers.

Don't worry about the package. Just don't let her leave.

>>982977
That only happens to those zombie freaks, and last I checked that's not us.

>>982980
You really think she doesn't know about this stuff already? she works in "legally dubious" circles, so you'd think she'd hear a rumor or two. I think it would still be within reason to bring this up in the prequel since it is part of the lore.
>>983031
You could be right; it might be something to bring up in the discussions thread. As far as I know, that was designed for zombies, but there could be other symbols like it for normal people.

I wonder, if we were to show her that tattoo tag thing under your ear, would that convince her to stay?

Oh yeah. Before they leave, ask them where can you get those eyes.

1/3 teegee 2021/01/04(Mon)20:24 No. 984913 ID: 3994a2
File 160982067712.png - (675.33KB , 1024x1024 , -1-022-1.png )

I snap the sync gun in their direction and fire. I wasn't fucking bluffing.

Just as the distortion wave reaches its target, the intruder throws a handful of powder into the air, blocking my sight with a big cloud of the stuff!

2/3 teegee 2021/01/04(Mon)20:24 No. 984914 ID: 3994a2
File 160982069321.png - (716.15KB , 1024x1024 , -1-022-2.png )

As the air clears, they've disappeared from sight -- they must have jumped!

3/3 teegee 2021/01/04(Mon)20:25 No. 984915 ID: 3994a2
File 160982070842.png - (338.15KB , 1024x1024 , -1-022-3.png )

I rush to the edge of the balcony, ready to fire some chasing shots at them... but I don't see them anywhere.

This is getting more fucked up by the moment. Just what did they "deliver" to the apartment, against Mike's wishes?

Do a quick look over of the apartment

Tell mike the intruder escaped and left something in the apartment. You're going to go take a look.

I... wonder if your next door neighbor heard that and is being nosey again... glance at the porch next door real quick.

>>984915
did that fucker just turn into a bird? the fuck

Glance to neighbouring balconies, warn Mark, then try to figure out if you want to risk searching the place or assume it's a bomb and skidaddle.

>>984937
OH MY GOD SHE DID

shoot birb!

They're gone, nothing to be done. Call Mike and check the apartment. Be careful, no telling what they left.

Collect some of the powder and snort it. Then go and check the kitchen.

>>984915

Maybe it's not so much the delivery, as their leaving that Mike didn't want, as he'd implied?

Damn, though. Those were some incredible reflexes, but ... is it really possible to disperse a shot like that?

That said, yeah, better let Mike now she (?) got away, AND left something in the apartment.

Hrm. If she's acrobatic enough, she could've done anything with that moment of blindness. Jumped to another balcony, gone into another apartment. Climbed up, instead of down.

Misdirection. Tricks. Prestidigitation. Who was she?

Look up, just in case.

Either way, hide the gun, go inside, check on whatever the hell this mystery woman left behind.

Message Mike.

What a lunatic. Wouldn't give you a straight answer like a normal person. But uuuuuuuuuuuuh couldn't you get in trouble for firing that illegal weapon outside, ya know where a camera could see it or someone could see or hear it? Might be a good idea to dispose of it. Also whoever that looney works for, they know where you live. Get some place they won't know about, unless ya wanna wait for Mike.

And what kinda powder just blocks a quasi-torture gun anyways?

1/4 teegee 2021/01/09(Sat)22:03 No. 985327 ID: 3994a2
File 161025858307.png - (573.69KB , 1024x1024 , -1-023-1.png )

I glance up, left, right, everywhere they could've gone besides down. Nothing. Not seeing any activity on any of the nearby balconies, either.

>did that fucker just turn into a bird? the fuck
Don't be silly. It's a fucking bird.

First things first. I shoot mike a message.

>im ok
>some tall skinny bitch broke in
>had weird eye holotats
>trapped em on the balcony, tried to shoot em but they disappeared
>they said some shit about delivering something here cuz you didnt wana take it

I get a bit of the powder between my fingers, examining it closely. Kinda reminds me of the shit zombies cough up after drinking taffa... except this stuff's grey. Dunno what the hell it is.

>And what kinda powder just blocks a quasi-torture gun anyways?
Beats the ever-loving shit outta me.

2/4 teegee 2021/01/09(Sat)22:04 No. 985330 ID: 3994a2
File 161025867190.png - (387.69KB , 1024x1024 , -1-023-2.png )

>But uuuuuuuuuuuuh couldn't you get in trouble for firing that illegal weapon outside, ya know where a camera could see it or someone could see or hear it? Might be a good idea to dispose of it.
If this was topside or the interior, yeah, that might be an issue. Down here where they think pink makes for good daylight? Shit, no one cares.

But still, I'm not dumb. I'll stow the gun in the usual spot once I've made sure the apartment's clear.

Carefully, I head inside. Doesn't look like anyone else is here... so I check the kitchen. The intruder wasn't lying, they left something on the counter. I slowly approach it, trying to figure out what it is.

3/4 teegee 2021/01/09(Sat)22:04 No. 985331 ID: 3994a2
File 161025869710.png - (436.23KB , 1024x1024 , -1-023-3.png )

Wait. Is... is this..?

4/4 teegee 2021/01/09(Sat)22:05 No. 985332 ID: 3994a2
File 161025871297.png - (497.60KB , 1024x1024 , -1-023-4.png )

Mother. Fucker.

>>985332
What is it???
Tell Mike what it is.

That the same vials that Penny finds?

But what's up, Siobhan? You know what this 'evidence' is?

Who's the motherfucker? Mike? Or that weirdo that fle-jumped off the balcony?

oh no what is it????

Is this... dead people?

>>985332

Dust samples. Fuck.

Question is whose, and why are they HERE after Mike apparently didn't want the damned things?

Based on your reaction, I'm assuming that these must be the dust samples that you stole from Taunton a year ago. You know what that means, don't you?

Say, these look somewhat reddish. I thought you said there used to be black powder in them?

Is there anything else the intruder left here?

Might want to lock the doors.

Also let's not forget about the neighbor. Maybe the things in the walls are to spy on what's going on inside?

1/1 teegee 2021/01/11(Mon)20:37 No. 985444 ID: 3994a2
File 161042626967.png - (413.68KB , 1024x1024 , -1-024-1.png )

>But what's up, Siobhan? You know what this 'evidence' is?
It's the dust samples I collected in those ruins a year ago.

The same fucking samples that that got us into this whole mess. And now, after my life's finally gotten back to some kind of normalcy, here they are, in my fucking kitchen.

>Say, these look somewhat reddish. I thought you said there used to be black powder in them?
Assuming it's the same dust I took samples of, then yeah, it's black. The shitty excuse for daylight we get down here just makes everything look red.

>Who's the motherfucker? Mike? Or that weirdo that fle-jumped off the balcony?
Whatever motherfucker decided to push the samples back on us, whoever the hell it was.

>why are they HERE after Mike apparently didn't want the damned things?
Good fucking question. I think Mike owes me a god-damned explanation.

--

Before long, Mike shows up. He shouts for me, and I tell him I'm in the kitchen.

He walks in, and I hold up the samples, raising an eyebrow. "Your friend left us a present."

He looks at it and immediately gets a pained look on his face. "For fuck's sake," he growls.

"It's really something, ain't it?" I clench my fist, trying to keep my anger under control. "You mind tellin' me what the hell's going on?"

He stares at me for a second, then grabs the samples and sync gun, stowing both in his jacket. "C'mon, I'll give ya a ride ta work." He turns an about-face and leaves the kitchen.

I stand there, dumbfounded; I don't have work for at least a few more hours. "Mike, what the fuck."

"Don't wanna make ya late. We can talk about last night on the way," he shouts.

I've got half a mind to tell him I'm not going anywhere 'til I get some answers.

>>985444
He's definitely watching what he says in case someone (your neighbor) is eavesdropping. So go on, talk in the car.

Kinda sounds like he's trying to get you out of the apartment and away from any prying ears. I suspect you two will taking the scenic route to discuss things

>"C'mon, I'll give ya a ride ta work."
>"Don't wanna make ya late.

>I don't have work for at least a few more hours

I dont think he means your work, rather, i think he meant his work... (or maybe he means your old job when you were scrapping, but that is unlikely)

Yeah, just go with him, if it means it will make him feel most comfortable to get a straight answer. Just be sure to look for any recording devices in the vehicle that someone may have placed. Bring a coat.

I think he's making excuses for you both to not be here in the immediate future. Ask him if there's anything you should bring. Uh, like, circumspectly, maybe. Aside your neighbor, that home invader of yours could have left listening bugs or something. Like, say you've lost track of what you were supposed to be doing and ask if he remembers what you were supposed to need 'for work' today.

I didn't catch it at first, but yeah, I agree he's trying to play it cool for ears that might hear. Pretend this is normal, he can fill you in in the car.

>>985444
oh shit this is bad, he's being SUBTLE! play along!

>>985460
Play along for now. You sure as hell don’t have to be happy about it though.

Get dressed for work and go with Mike.

>>985444

Stalk over and whisper at him that if he doesn't want someone hearing what already got said out on the balcony, fine, he can at least SAY that.

Because right now you just had some crazy break into your goddamned house and leave you what you thought you'd never have to see again, and it's pretty fucking hard to feel calm about the whole affair when half the reason you're stuck working a goddamned bar gig is because of "gifts" like that.

(You know, without actually saying what you both now)

So yeah, he owes you some answers, and if a ride to "work" is how he wants to handle it, fine, but the least he can do is SAY that.

Clamp your jaw, get dressed for work and join him.

"We in any danger now?" should perhaps be the most relevant query.

>>985484
the whole point here is NOT to say that

we were JUST insulting someone for acting like a bad spy thriller extra, lets not play the part of conveniently loose-lipped bit character.

Waitwaitwait!!
Thinking some steps ahead: Before you both head out, take some containers from the kitchen, or bowls, or cups... at least 12 of them...

I have a feeling that the person who might be listening in (probably the next door neighbor) was not with that weirdo that dropped this evidence off here and wants to steal them from your apartment.

If they deduce you and Mike has them, and start chasing you down, you might need to secretly transfer those dust samples from their vials and into the containers you got from the kitchen, and use the empty vials in the evidence pack as a decoy, a distraction.

1/4 teegee 2021/01/14(Thu)21:38 No. 985690 ID: 3994a2
File 161068911287.png - (523.68KB , 1024x1024 , -1-025-1.png )

I start to open my mouth, but he shoots me a weird, severe look.

Well, then. Guess I'll play along for now.

"Fine," I say. "Just lemme change for work."

I throw on something a little flashy, grabbing a windbreaker on for good measure. I think to stuff some containers in the bag in case we need to ditch the sample vials as a decoy, but... nah, that's probably way too conspicuous.

"Alright, let's get a move on," he says, and I follow him out the front door.

2/4 teegee 2021/01/14(Thu)21:38 No. 985691 ID: 3994a2
File 161068912529.png - (412.44KB , 1024x1024 , -1-025-2.png )

Neither of us says a word 'til we get down to the dock.

3/4 teegee 2021/01/14(Thu)21:39 No. 985692 ID: 3994a2
File 161068914467.png - (551.50KB , 1024x1024 , -1-025-3.png )

"You use this?" He asks, flashing the sync gun at me from inside his jacket.

I nod, and he drops it on the dock, kicking it off and into the skies below as he boards the hop.

4/4 teegee 2021/01/14(Thu)21:39 No. 985693 ID: 3994a2
File 161068915884.png - (560.42KB , 1024x1024 , -1-025-4.png )

I climb in the passenger's side, and soon the hop takes off, diving below the shelf.

"You owe some fucking answers, Mike."

He nods. "Whatcha wanna know?"

"Fucking everything, what do you --" I stop myself and cool off for a second. "Tell me everything. No secrets."

"Alright." He glances at me. "Where should I start?"

>>985693
Who was that lady with the holographic eyes?

Why haven't you thrown this case to the beat cops? 'Trespassing to deliver volatile goods' is enough to get an APB on anyone.

What the fuck is even going on, to start

>>985694
Yeah. What the hell, man. Neighbor man starts acting creepy, buncha noises next door and then boom, here comes a weird weird visitor just handing back something you practically threw away your life over.

Lets start from the beginning, last night. Mike said something about a "problem client". Ask about that client, what they hired Mike to do & if they are connected to this incident.

Immediate things first. Where are we going and what are we running from?

He can start by telling you if he knows what his cum tastes like. Because the next time he comes into you, you're returning it - down his mouth. Just like how these samples came back to you.

Anyway, if we're talking about beginnings, then he could start with how he first met the client over a year ago. Ok, that might be a bit too early and it would take too long heh. But some other important questions that he could answer right now would be:
- Who is the client? It's a bit late for the client confidentiality excuse now~
- Why did they return the samples? Don't they know about your "no backsies" policy?
- Is his place still safe?
- Why were you kept in the dark about this? It doesn't seem like it helped you sleep easier at night or anything.
- What are his plans now?
- Does he realize that he's sleeping on the couch tonight?

As he is explaining himself, keep your eyes on your surroundings for anyone or anything suspicious, like vehicles following you and Mike outside for example, or anything that might be tampered with inside the vehicle. Right now, you're too angry to be looking at Mike anyway for keeping you in the dark, so you might as well just survey your surroundings as you listen to Mike.

Who was that freak with the eye holotats?