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However, since Hatesman is going to be off on holiday to probably do incredibly cruel things to animals.
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((Netherwitch the idea I would ever harm an animal is an unfair mark on my character.
I'll have you know I love Animals. They're delicious.))
It takes Chaos to move the world to Action.
(Post brewing at the moment...just trying to line the ducks up before I pick them off with a sniper rifle one by one...should get one up here shortly)
Jean-Luc sat upon the bench in the changing room of the Family's fight-club, "Urban Jungle", slicked with sweat and blood. Some of it was his own, but most of it was his opponents, who had left the ring on a stretcher. It hadn't been an easy bout - there was no such thing as easy bouts in the ring - but this last one had been especially nasty.
"Merd', I hate stalkers," Jean-Luc muttered, grimacing as his quick-healing capabilities kicked in, scabbing over his wounds. He stood up with a grunt, rolling his shoulder carefully - nope, still dislocated. Gritting his teeth, he pulled roughly on his own wrist with his opposing hand, the sharp snap and flare of pain followed by a sense of relief affirming his ministrations had been successful.
This bout had been bad because Jean-Luc hadn't focussed. He was still mooning and moping; he'd thrown himself into the ring to try and get back into task and had nearly managed to get himself skewered. Eventually, he'd managed to lose himself to the fight and allow his instincts to take over, but he'd managed to put some of his Paragon-won skills to the test...he'd closed his eyes in the ring, and stopped bothering to trust them, relying instead upon his sense of smell to seek out his opponent, and lashing out, using his own concealment abilities he had learned now and again, staying unpredictable. He might not have the ability to completely disappear, but his greater stamina had won out, and he'd managed to wear out the other fighter in time for a coup de grace which pleased the crowd.
Still, his mind wasn't entirely on the task - even though he'd managed to win the bout, even though it meant a nice hunk of cash for Yakuza Girl and her charity ventures, as agreed - he wasn't entirely here. He eyed his cellphone resting upon his leathers in his personal locker. Nope, hadn't rung, no message while he was fighting. With a curse, he slammed the door shut and stumped to the showers, his bloodied face grim.
Jean-Luc showered and returned to his locker, pulling out his bike leathers just as "Il Duce" Mazoneli came round the corner. The thin Italian bookie grinned, adjusting the pencil behind one ear, his unsteady gaze darting hither and yon like a trapped bird trying to get free - it was just his way, and Jean-Luc was used to the twitchy human's mannerisms. The one thing Mazoneli was good at was gossip.
"Paisan, you were brilliant tonight, the crowd was eating that one up! Magnifico! Miss Mizuni, she'll be happy with your winnings, won't she? You haven't been defeated in four months, I could retire happy on what I've earned on you, my friend."
"Grazi, Maz," Jean-Luc replied, rubbing the towel over his face and putting on his professional smile - four months of putting men and women in hospital left a rather sour taste in Jean-Luc's mouth these days, but he wouldn't dare mention that to anyone; but at least he wasn't killing them. "I musta cos' someone an arm up dere by now, non?"
Mazoneli rubbed his hands together briskly, and Jean-Luc was immediately brought to attention, though outwardly he just hopped on one foot to put on his boots, seemingly uninterested. Whenever the bookie made that gesture, he'd got something of interest to tell.
"Oh, paisan, the Fambly is beside themselves! They're makin' plenty hand over fist, which is good, considerin' someone keeps blowin' up their assets. It must be business - whoever it is isn't killing anyone doing it, which has some of the Family honour to it, yanno? Still, distraction is good, especially with that goin' on, though - " and his voice went down to a conspiratorial whisper, a wink thrown in as well from those darting eyes. "Though, we're pretty certain who it is. They're gonna find themselves in a fix very soon, I assure you of that."
"I wouldn' wanna be on de Family's badside, that fo' true," Loup Garou said smoothly as he pulled on his other boot, his mind whirling. Mon Dieu...I gotta get holda Bill. Damn fool done stirred it up too fas'...
"You're not wrong, my friend. Right, do I give you a week to recover so you can schedule for the next fight, same as last time?"
"J'accord, Il Duce," Jean-Luc replied as he tucked his biker helmet under his arm and clapped the small man upon the shoulder. "I need to think. Bonswa."
**************
As per usual of late, Jean-Luc rode his bike much too fast, heading through the labryrinth of tunnels toward the docks to catch the very-illegal boat back to Paragon's Striga Isle.
He'd put a few things in motion, asking Headbreaker to get some information for him, though he was more than aware the former ring-fighter was in his own bind, especially now if the Family was gunning for him. The Creole sighed - Ragefang's wisdom from the Little Black Book had been right, Jean-Luc rather liked Bill, but the Corporation commandant was definitely barrelling down his chosen path like a bull, head downward and charging. One either got out of the way or was mowed under...and Jean-Luc wasn't sure what he could do.
Jean-Luc had also pressed Yakuza Girl into service, and was going to be put in touch with a young woman who had been kidnapped by one of the TLF's members. If he could at least manage to pinpoint where they might be based, it would be a start, provided he really didn't want to get too close to their main lair, as O.R.A.C.L.E wasn't an extra danger Jean-Luc wanted to deal with.
Masked Angel...in de Militia. Mon Dieu, de Militia gonna haunt me for de res' of my days..
Jean-Luc scowled, again shoving aside what he wasn't too keen to think about at the moment - hurt and embarassment was making way into anger and resentment. Not the best emotional cocktail even in good times, it was turning into poison in Jean-Luc's veins. He did everything times ten these days: rode too fast, drank too much, and thought a hole in the ground until he was pacing and feeling as if he was going to jump out of his skin. On the ferry's deck, he leaned against the railings and glared at the horizon without even seeing it.
Gotta think dis through...need to clear my head.
Jean-Luc sighed, frowning at his phone and then savagely, and rather irrationally, he shut it off. "Lesse how you like it," he muttered under his breath, then leaned back upon the railings, brooding at the Striga Isle skyline.
Jean-Luc studied the sky-line dully, his thoughts miles away. The sea sparkled and glistened as the spring sun burnt away what little cloud hung in the sky. He shut his eyes for a moment and listened to the hum of the ferries engines and the lap of the waves against the side of the boat. He stood still and quiet for a long moment, just focussing himself, and then frowned - a scent...familiar.... He opened his eyes, turning to his left, and beside him stood the imposing figure of William Breaker. Jean-Luc jumped slightly as William did not take his eyes off the horizon.
Nice day isnt it?
Gah - Mon Dieu! Where didja come from Bill?
William grinned at his friend and reached into his jacket removing a single disk.
Wha is dis? Jean-Luc asked.
William placed his hands together and leaned on the railing. Couple of months back we got hit by a hacker. Kid thought we'd never find out who he was but a friend of mine, who is a bloody good hacker himself, managed to get some information for me. Guy goes by the name of Kyle James. Lives in Paragon and is bloody good at what he does too.
Jean-Luc interrupted. I don see wha this has ta do wit me Bill?
Do you really want me to spell it out for you?
Jean-Luc stared at William with his golden eyes, his voice lowering to a murmur.
Ya think he gonna be able ta hack the TLF?
William shrugged and grinned. I dont know Jean, but its worth a shot though. He hacked us pretty good, but then again we didnt have an O.R.A.C.L.E guarding our systems. The disk will help you find him
whether you want to our not is your choice. Even if he cant get into their mainframe, Im sure hell help you find some-thing.
Jean-Luc chucked and looked intently at the disk, as he studied it he heard a slight grunt of effort from William beside him.
I dunno wha te say Bi- he began, but when he looked up again, William was gone. Bewildered, Jean-Luc looked about quickly to spy him soaring through the air towards a boat sailing not too far away. Jean-Luc grinned and shook his head, then turned his attention to the disk. He flicked the disk with a finger, thoughtfully, then placed it in his pocket Mesi bien, mon ami
Jean-Luc stepped into the NHU base with a bittersweet pang; so many smells he remembered, so many new ones he didn't. The supergroup base which had been his first home when he came Up Top had changed; he frowned somewhat at all the extra gun turrets as he didn't remember quite so many before, but with Hand of Battle recovering from kidnapping and torture, he expected extra security. That the people responsible for harming his friend were dead didn't soothe his heart however, and he glared at the turrets balefully, his anger mounting - not so much against their presence but their necessity.
M'chere, Jean-Luc nevah let dat happen agin.
The door was always open to him in the NHU, but a pang of guilt twinged at him as he made his way toward the mainframe of the group's AI, HAL. He didn't particularly like the computer - it was a computer, after all, not really something to attach emotional ties to - but it was highly intelligent and very fast, if a bit literal. It could more than likely keep a hacker out of its inner workings, considerably better than the Fileosaurus.
Besides, Jean-Luc was pretty certain HAL liked a challenge.
Jean-Luc sniffed the air just outside the mainframe room, and nodded - no one was about in the base, and that was good news as he didn't particularly want anyone hearing or knowing what he was doing. He wasn't even certain HAL would actually respond to him, since he wasn't a recognised member of the NHU any more, but it was worth a shot, as a plan was starting to form in his mind.
"Bonjou, HAL, konmen lé-z'affè?"
<<C'est bon, mèsi, Jean-Luc. Shall I continue using Kreyol? I have had little opportunity to use it after your departure.>>
"Non, it's hokay, mebbe latah. I got a favour to ask you, HAL, you think you can do it? But you gotta keep it secret."
<<I am a artificial intelligence unit, and therefore I do not 'do favours', I accept tasks as I have been programmed to do.>>
"Dat a 'yes'?" Jean-Luc asked evenly, reminding himself not to start yelling. For such an intelligent computer, HAL was extremely literal.
<<Yes, I would be honoured to assist you, but you do not have clearance for a high security code.>>
Jean-Luc frowned...he was afraid of that. However, there might be a workaround...
"Welllll, so mebbe don' hide it, but if no one asks if I've been in here talkin' to you, den technic'ly y'all don' have to tell them, right?"
<<There is a certain logic to the statement.>>
"Hokay, den, don' tell nobody what you be workin' on unless dey axe you about what we workin' on...got it?"
<<Confirmed. What is the task you require of me?>>
Jean-Luc reached into the inner pocket of his leather jacket and took out the small disk Headbreaker had given him, holding it carefully between his finger and thumb.
"I got someone you gotta track down, an' set up a meetin'. But this ain't just anybody...dis onna de bes' hackers in Paragon City. I need you to fin' him usin' dis, an' I need you to set up a meetin' at Pocket D...an' y'all need to do it in such a way he can't trace you. It's gonna be hard, because like I say, he's good. De normal firewalls an' whatever you do won' be good enough."
<<Confirmed, however I am not entirely certain it will be necessary, Jean-Luc. He may be quite skilled, but he is still only human.>>
Jean-Luc narrowed his eyes slightly. I swear de damn abacus jus' sounded smug.. "He hacked another base's computer in no time atall...it gonna be a challenge. An' even more a challenge once I get what I need, as I'm gonna need yo' help again - to hack another computer."
<<Pardon me, Jean-Luc, but I must remind you hacking is illegal, and as such I cannot take part in such a task. It is against my protocol.>>
Jean-Luc had been expecting this problem however, and he merely turned his attention to the disk he was holding up, turning it this way and that in the light as he watched the refracted colours on its surface, his face poker-masked and his voice calm.
"Ah...oui, you prob'ly right. I mean, we talkin' bout goin' up agains' de smartest, mos' cunnin', dangerous computer on de Isle. Named O.R.A.C.L.E. I hear it would take three AIs over here on Paragon side to take it on. My apologies, HAL - I was hopin' y'all could do it, but even y'all have limitations."
<<It is not a matter of limitations, Jean-Luc. What you propose is a potentially illegal action.>>
"Non, it ain't. If we take O.R.A.C.L.E down, it means we take down onna de wors' supervillian groups in de Isles, de Terra Liberation Front. But I cain't do it without gettin' pas' dat computer. See fo' yo'self...do a data search on O.R.A.C.L.E."
There was a pause of a few seconds, Jean-Luc only staring blandly at the skittering screen which was HAL's outer interface feature - unlike most AIs, HAL didn't have anything remotely humanoid to relate to. However, after dealing with humanoids so long, perhaps the computer had picked up a few traits, for when the audio-leads picked up again, the computer seemed to sound rather impressed.
<<The O.R.A.C.L.E system is rather impressive, Jean-Luc. Its development is considerable - it would prove to be a definite challenge to be able to get around its defences.>>
"Dat's why I ask you," Jean-Luc replied smoothly. "Buuuuut, if you ain't up to it...I fin' another one. Like I say, dis a tough nut to crack, an' I unnerstand, this ain't like our Tetris matches." Jean-Luc made to put the disk away.
<<I do not infer I am incapable of taking on the task, Jean-Luc.>>
Jean-Luc managed not to smile at what sounded like sullenness from HAL, his brows merely raising slightly, voice as smooth and cool as ever.
"Don't get touchy, now. I'm jus' sayin - "
<<I assure you, Jean-Luc, my intellect is more than capable of dealing with the task.>>
It took an effort not to laugh. Jean-Luc didn't remember HAL ever interrupting anyone. Dam', you have been learnin' something, non?
Again, Jean-Luc raised the disk to the light, his voice as smooth and sweet as honey. "So, den?"
There was several seconds pause, and then silently, a small CD compartment slid open on the control desk. With his poker face still on, Jean-Luc carefully placed the disk in the slot, and watched as the compartment closed rather hurriedly. It seemed HAL was quite eager to get to task.
<<I will turn my attention to this problem, Jean-Luc. Shall I contact you by radio-link when I have completed the task and arranged the meeting?>>
Jean-Luc finally allowed himself a grin. "Oui, mesi bien, HAL. Dat be fine."
He expected HAL to add a further affirmation, but the computer was silent. Whatever was on the disk was interesting enough, it was already working. Or perhaps it felt it had something to prove.
Well, dat's done.
Jean-Luc headed for the portal, doing his best to ignore the pang of guilt in his gut. He didn't want NHU involved in this...actually he didn't want anyone involved, but he needed computers, or at least intelligent AIs, to take one the task he had in mind. He'd had to call in a few favours, and try to make sure he covered his tracks to make sure no one got hurt in the bargain.
Now, all I can do is wait. Jean-Luc blew out a breath, stirring the silver-white hair upon his brow as he activated the portal.
An, mon Dieu, I HATE waitin'.
The 'Lair' as it was known had become a mess. Cans upon cans of empty energy drinks littered the ground and desk space that once was pristine and clear. The lights flickered uncontrollably as the occupant had barely enough funds for maintaining them. Many of the screens that covered the wall now had a thick layer of dust covering them and all but one was turned off.
The one remaining screen constantly changed between command prompts, WebPages, forums, hidden Tor sites, mainly used by the hackers of the world, attempting to look for any form of recruitment. Rarely a digital face would flash on screen, and then disappear just as quickly.
Kyle James, aka Cyberspace, lay with his head on his desk snoring softly. Since his employers went back underground he had found little work, no-one needed a hacker. He attempted a few minor hacks on the Paragon banks to keep himself funded but soon he grew bored, he needed to be challenged once again.
Suddenly the face appeared on screen shifting all other windows off the desktop
[Intrusion detected, identification program running...]
Kyle's head shot up from the desk and he looked at the screen. His AI known as A (he was not original with names) began to bring up new command prompts and fill them with code
"W-what's going on dude?" Kyle rubbed the sleep from his eyes and watched intently as the code scrolled across the window,
[It would appear that a rival program is attempting to contact you. It's been flying through several of our nodes unknowingly, Ive been watching it wondering what it is doing...but it has become clear to me it is looking for us...you...]
Kyle opened a fresh energy drink and knocked it back before chucking the can over his shoulder. He cracked his fingers and activated another screen before furiously typing at his keyboard,
"Let's see what I can do, keep plugging away for an identification!"
[Affirmative.]
The two working in unison, clicking and typing away at their command prompts until suddenly Kyle threw his arms up in the air,
Got a trace! Alright A, keep an eye, we should have a lock in a few seconds!
A map of paragon appeared over the face of A and began flashing icons over different buildings, each icon brought up a collection of information about who owned it, who lived there or who worked there, how much their bills where a month and who had been doing what in the stationary cupboard.
Suddenly the connection was lost.
What the hell A?! Whyd you stop?!
[It would appear they have a firewall as sophisticated as your own. I did not want to press it for reasons of safety and anonymity. Breaking though might have given them a doorway into our own mainframe and in doing so discover your identity?]
Kyle swore loudly, then began to think.
Okay, okay...try and set up a redirect program outside of the firewall, make it easy enough to find. Link it to one of our more public servers. Ill leave a message for our friend?find out what this program wants of us?
Kyle cracked his knuckles once again and got to work.
Things are beginning to get interesting again!
Things were heating up, perhaps a little faster than he'd have liked. To his great surprise and delight, he had found Sword of Redemption waiting for him at the Fourth Wall, and after greeting him exuberantly, Jean-Luc had managed to catch up and put forth his plan. If there was one person he could trust - and even better, trust to look the other way if need be - it was Ed.
I'm not goin' for an arrest. Oswald, he be mine.
Dr. Ed had brought him to meet with a young girl who had been kidnapped by the group, and it had taken a fair bit of control for Jean-Luc to keep from raging at the sight of the young girl-slash-robotic killing machine.
Dey did dis to you? Oh, no, m'chere, dey gonna pay.
He didn't entirely understand what Twilighter had said, but it seemed the TLF were planning something big. At least he knew he had to move, and fast - especially as it seemed through the up-link in the young girl's brain, O.R.A.C.L.E. knew of Jean-Luc's presence.
"They know your face now, mister. You should be careful."
"Dey only know one of m'faces, 'chere," Jean-Luc replied, as he began to shift into his lycan form, leaning down on all fours till he was eye to eye with the surprised young girl. "I got many. So, it's hokay."
However the information concerned him. O.R.A.C.L.E hadn't seen him before in his human form, and now it was going to make things difficult for him. Pocket D was no longer a safe place for him to hold his liason, as it seemed the TLF was trolling the club, looking for members. While he really didn't want to have to do it, he was going to have to bring the hacker somewhere else.
Jean-Luc paced back and forth in front of the mainframe that was HAL.
<<Their redirection was rudimentary, yet skilled, Jean-Luc.>> HAL said in his measured, inhuman tones. <<I could pinpoint a direct location but it would take a considerable amount of time, and might also open me up for a counter-attack. I therefore advise leaving a message in plain view, much as they have done.>>
Jean-Luc frowned, then shrugged. "Hokay, can do dat. You tell 'em to meet me in de Fourth Wall."
<<I must question the logic of such a course, Jean-Luc. It does mean you might put yourself at considerable risk. This particular human Cyberspace is a blackmailer and a hacker - I am sure if you give him an advantage, he will use it.>>
Jean-Luc grinned, his elongated fangs glittering dangerously. "Oui...if I knew anythin' bout computers, mebbe. But I don'. And if he a computer geek, he prob'ly ain't nothin' once you actually get him away from a computer. It's hard to be cocky when dere ain't no screen protectin' you from a punch in de face.
"Still," Jean-Luc continued, thinking to himself. "See if you can play chess with de kid's hown AI. Yanno, sorta a friendly bout. Try an' pinpoint where de kid is, where he lives, how to track 'im, jus' in case he decide to do somethin' stupid. I don' think it be too hard, actually. I know where he live, he know where I live. Checkmate, non?"
<<I can comprehend the logic of such a move. However it still warrants a considerable amount of risk.>>
"De whole thin' I'm plannin does," Jean-Luc said grimly. "Fourt' Wall, on Tuesday evenin...after I close. Send de message out. He will come. Now," Jean-Luc turned to face HAL's blank, imposing "eye" lens. "How bout a game o' Tetris?"
<<It would be an honour.>>
Sparks flew as Kyle adjusted his power suit. It was some-thing he had taken on the day he had busted out of the Zig but now he never went any where without it. Lifting up his goggles he inspected his work carefully. He craned his head and looked over at his now fully operational computer bank, upon the screens sat the message from his would be hunter. He read the message through again then grinned,
The instructions had been clear, Forth Wall, Tuesday, come alone. He knew Forth Wall well, a nice club, good music, good food and very public. He also knew it would have plenty of cameras and computer systems to keep the place running, most new buisnesses did.
He had spent the better part of the night since reciving the message finding weaknesses in The Forth Wall's system and downloading the blueprints of the building. If he was gonna do this he was gonna need a quick getaway.
He inspected his work one more time before moving over to his keyboard
"A?" a long moment passed, then the digital face of his AI construct known as A appeared on the largest of the monitors,
[Yes?]
"Inform out friend that we shall attend. Also keep plugging away at his systems, i want full access to his security network and any other system he's left connected to the Greater Web."
[...As you command.]
Kyle sat back on his large leather computer chair and put his feet up on the desk. Cracking open an energy drink he clicked a button causing loud, agressive thrash metal to fill the walls.
Jean-Luc muttered under his breath as he continued working on his Triumph inside the Fourth Wall. He was still recovering and there was little else for him to do in any event. He'd managed to have a discussion with HAL briefly in the morning, but now it was just a game of sitting and waiting.
<<After analysis of the patterns of the opponent, Jean-Luc, it would suffice to say his first step will be to access the Fourth Wall security.>>
"Oh yeah...gotta security mainframe back dere, I ain't got no idea what it does. Cameras too, but it's not like dere's anythin' major on dere....tell you what, don't block dat. Let 'em look."
<<It would mean he would manage to have a running knowledge of the club's defences and how to combat them.>>
"Not everythin', mon ami. Fileosaurus ain't online an' ain't nevah been. Ragefang, he did everythin' old school. No cameras in de back, jus' at the door, an' on de bar. No audio nowhere. Even so, de Fourth, she has a trick or two up her sleeve. 'Sides, I don't wanna beat de guy, I wan' him to take de job. Tell you what...we gonna build a cul-de-sac."
<<I do not understand the reference in this context.>>
"Well den...jus' lissen..."
Jean-Luc grumbled again as he started to remove the Tiger's gas tank, turning the catch mechanism on the fuel hose and running the bike till it stalled, all the while having one ear turned toward the door even while he worked. HAL was busy plugging away at the NHU base, but as far as Jean-Luc in the Fourth was concerned, even his cellphone was switched off.
"Let's hope y'all don' just come in 'ere wantin' to monologue..." Grunting and lifting off the plastic tank, he set it down carefully beside him and got elbow deep into the guts of his machine.
The last part of his Armour had been slotted in place.
The red and white suit powered up with a gentle hum and for the briefest moment, the hands glowed a soft sickly green. He had not worn it in a while but he still marveled at how light it really was and how comfortable it felt. He knew it's powers well, how it generated a large amount of radiation that could be 'thrown' out from the palms, or vented outwards in a flood to cause widespread harm to those around him.
He picked up his newly repaired helmet and placed it over his. As the connectors touched the HUD activated brining up his connection to A, objects that could cause him harm in the near radiation levels, health and suit status and a variety of useless information. Kyle looked up at his monitors and saw that A watched him intently while occasionally giving readings and diagnostic reports on the suit and it's performance.
"Shall we?" The AI brought up the blueprints of The Forth Wall and quickly highlighted a area in the club. Information scrolled across the screen followed by a soft humming sound,
[Location prepared...system synched. Teleportation Module ready for long distance jump. All systems ready on your command.] Kyle nodded once, [Jump commencing in five, four, three...] Kyle took a deep breath, teleportation always made his stomach turn, [...two, one] There was a large flash of light and then,
His world was suddenly torn in two.
---
The air slowly changed within the club. It began being pulled towards a central point not too far from where Jean-Luc worked on his bike. Near by paper and dust was picked up by the increasing wind and rushed towards the source of the vacuum. Every-thing was quiet for a moment and then suddenly the air rushed back out, throwing any-thing not held down flying away from the man standing where before there was no-one.
The man known as Cyberspace shot his hand up and pointed it at Jean-Luc. Upon the palm a small valve began to turn and the air was filled with the smell of radiation. His head tilted as he took in Jean-Luc's appearance, the helmet recorded his features and sent them to A for an identification,
[Jean-Luc Santeres, 27, registered hero, retired, manager of establishment] with a heavily distorted voice, he spoke,
"...And what does the Forth Wall club owner want with Cyberspace?
Jean-Luc reached for his wrench, and then frowned - the smell was changing, and the hair on the back of his arms was standing up. He narrowed his eyes, just as his ears started popping and a whoosh assailed his ears. He managed to put his hand down on the loose gas tank and scowled as something rather dramatically teleported into view.
If this a Rikti, I'm gonna blow dem sky-hi, allergy be damned.
He had his wrench up and over his shoulder to throw when he blinked at the armoured creature currently aiming its hand at him in a rather dramatic gesture. With a grunt, Jean-Luc brushed down his hair and managed to keep from grinning.
Check.
"Firs' of all, put yo' damn hand down unless you wanna eat it, boy, dat ain't gonna work in here. Do y'all wanna let me give you a few minutes to say somethin' extremely threatenin' and intense?" Jean-Luc snorted again, and turned to start working on a stuck sparkplug. "But if you say ANY version whatsoever of 'I am Syndrome, your nemesis' I WILL throw this wrench upside yo' head."
He managed to loosen the plug and eyed it appraisingly, frowning as he studied the completely blank mask of the helmet. "Nice suit, by de way...hanyway, I hear you good, an' I need someone up to a hackin' challenge. Provided he ain't gonna be someone lookin' to pull a fast one. No one likes a dishonest crook, man. You lissenin'?"
The hand lowered and the valve snapped shut,
"Syn-Syndrome? Do i look like a friggin' twelve year old Technopath who's watched one too many pixar movies? I am no-one's nesmesis...we have enough of them as it is! Geeze! I can melt a man's face with the flick of the wrist and cause i'm labled Hacker, i must naturally be a geek...what is with you people?" he sounded genuninly insulted though the distortion on his voice added a slight comedy value to the rant.
Eventually his attitude changed and he gained back his bravado,
"You're damn right I'm good wolfman...I've hacked more computers than you've had hot dinners! I'm the friggin' Yoda of hacking dude! Arcahnos mainframe, Longbow mainframe, Crey, Aeon...you name it i've beaten it!" He went silent a moment then crossed his arms and his stance showed that he was most likely smiling under his mask,
"What kind of hack you after?"
Somehow, Jean-Luc managed to keep a straight face. He couldn't tell what the guy looked like under the armour, but he definitely DID sound like a twelve year old. Defensive and smug...well, that would do.
Man oh man, de people I end up hangin' out with.
"Ain't no such thing as too much Pixar, man...hold on, dis sparkplug givin' me grief - ah, voila." Jean-Luc started to work on the offending piece of machinery, scraping off the carbon scoring as he surveyed the suited hacker in front of him.
"Dere's an AI in de Isles. Tres' magnifique. I need someone to...hm...confuse it fo' a while. Or at least find a way to do so. Open a tunnel so I can siphon several AIs in to give it hell, yanno what I mean? Gang up on it, mebbe even shut it down. Hard job, man, not so easy atall. An' since y'all's Kung Fu better 'n anyone else's accordin' to my source, I figger I ask you, oui?
"Of course," he continued smoothly. "A man wants payin', non? I 'spose we could work out terms provided you don't go askin' me to do anythin' too stupid fo' you, oui? We can haggle, but I tell you true - if y'all can' take it, I can fin' someone else. You de firs' point of contact is all."
Jean-Luc raised his brows as he made adjustments to his bike's mechanics. "...so. What y'all think?"
Cyberspace studied Jean-Luc for a moment then chuckles lightly
"Alright Creoyl...I am going out on a limb here but I'm gonna assume you want me to confuse O.R.A.C.L.E, cause there is no other AI in the Isles that I know that is any good or WORTH hacking." he began to pace "Do you have any idea what she is like? She's the friggin' holy grail of AI programs. Skynet is a choir boy compared to what she's like wolfman! We are talking about one sophisticated piece of software, self learning, sentient and completely independent of her master." he raised a finger
"You better have a [censored] load on Benjamin's for me to take on O.R.A.C.L.E 'cause...and trust me when i say this...no-one else is nuts enough to say yes!"
There was a long silence,
"In short Wolfman...when do you want me to begin?"
Jean-Luc grunted, but managed a smile, even though continuously being called Wolfman was grating on his nerves. "J'accord? Bon, bon. An' what time you start? Well what time is it, man?"
Jean-Luc put the wrench back into his toolbox and ordered up a Red Bull and vodka from the auto-tender, swirling it round in his glass. "I'd offer you man, but you drivin'...an' I think y'all would need a crowbar to get dat mask off yo' head hanyway. So, you know where I be, when you got what I can use, you come fin' me. Don't use de phone or any o'dat fancy technical [censored], man, I don't have de head for it. Ain't such a inconvenience for y'all if you can just pop up like a daisy nohow. We good?"
Jean-Luc raised his brows again, studying the impervious helmet with a grin, but his nerves were wound up tight, watching Cyberspace with his golden eyes.
"We good Wolfman. But i'm sure you know this but you are walking a dangerious line Creyol. The TLF are not some-one to be screwed around with. I'll play this game only cause i know if things go wrong, i can vanish without a trace. You on the other hand, well, you just best hope that AI of their's doesn't get a wiff that you're invovled otherwise you're gonna have Hatesman pounding last weeks gumbo outta your gut Creyol..." he paused for effect,
"You really sure you wanna do this?"
Jean-Luc downed the drink in his hand, closing his eyes and then opening them once more, his eyes gleaming wolf-bright, slightly refracting the light. The smile he gave was all teeth, feral and not quite human. This was what it was all about for him, after all..baiting the trap, setting it, and all he had to do was sit and wait.
"Oui...I know dat, I know that fo' true. So I guess y'all better be as good as you say, cause if you slip up an' I die, you won't be gettin' paid, non?"
But even so, man...if it means I flush out the prey? I'll go for it.
"Y'all give me an update when you be done, oui? Mesi. Oh, an' when y'all leave, will you use de door? I don't need all the dam' nuts and bolts to m'bike blowin' all over de place."
The hacker gave a mocking bow,
"I'll see what i can do Creyol..."
Cyberspace spun on his heels and started towards the door, but as he did a loud hum filled the air and with a quick flash of light and a slight rush of air towards where he once stood...he was gone...
---
He removed the helmet and place it on the side before scratching at his head,
"A?" all of his screens suddenly burst to life displaying the digital face of his construct
[...Yes?] it replied coldly,
"How does hacking the TLF database sound to you?" Kyle could only describe the AI's expression as a smile
[I'd LOVE too!]
((Well played, man! Nicely done! *bows*
Now as far as how you manage, and how close you get, you're probably going to have to wait until hates comes back from holiday as I do not know O.R.A.C.L.E or what it's capable of, so assume your character is at the moment rather busy. This does give you time however to concentrate on the Corp going after NHU, and I'm sure JL will pop into that now and again.
Thanks again for getting involved!))
((One of my fonder memories was collaborating with Hatesman on a LG vs. Hatesman piece on the forums. Typos and my own inability to edit properly notwithstanding, it was a jolly fine piece of work and I always wanted to pick it up and head to Round Two. And that, ladies and gents, is exactly what we're going to be doing. However, since Hatesman is going to be off on holiday to probably do incredibly cruel things to animals, I've got two weeks to brainstorm just how in the world LG is going to go about doing all this. He's going to be calling in a few favours, first of all...
(Those of you who know Loup and might be able to pry what Loup is about to do out of him either here or ingame, and perhaps can offer assistance...or try and talk him out of it! In the end, it's all about the arpeez! So, let's get started!))
**************
Jean-Luc yawned, resting his chin in his hand as he shuffled through the files upon the rather old computer he had dubbed "Fileosaurus" - mostly inspired from its contents, and also its age. He'd finished his training session for the morning and was fresh from the shower, silver-white hair damp and sticking up toward all the major directions of the compass due to his rough ministrations with the towel he had tossed into the corner. He grimaced, rubbing at the two darkish circles upon his bare chest - a gesture he didn't even know he made anymore.
The club was empty and staff wouldn't arrive until in the afternoon, so Jean-Luc had time to train and to think...he'd done a lot of both over the past few months, even returned to the Death Ring. That stung him and his sense of duty - he'd made a promise after all, but had rationalised the move for the greater task of tracking down his quarry.
Still broke it, boy...an' you swore on your life.
Jean-Luc sighed, clenching and flexing his fists reflexively. It had paid off, in more ways than one - Jean-Luc had managed to avoid the death-matches and merely chosen the cage-fights and Last-Man-Standing bouts. Whilst it was still underground and illegal, he was managing to make good on finding out what he needed to find, through the Family, the general banter and gossip which happened Down Below, and he established himself as "Back in the Ring". Whatever had happened to him Up Top as trying to be a hero, he'd done enough fighting and schmoozing - and had Rei Mizuni's backing to lend more weight to his cred - he had the trust of the Underworld once more.
Still, he'd changed, and people could see it - not merely in his more human appearance (though for the sake of the crowd, he always went into the cage feral), but also in his style. Paragon City's policy on arrests had taught Jean-Luc finesse. He didn't need Supa-X in the ring anymore, as his abilities had advanced enough to not require any illegal "edge". He had to admit, he was now a more formidable opponent than he'd been before, and word was getting around Down Below Loup Garou was back with a vengeance.
Still, he wasn't sure it was going to be enough...
("Where did ya get those? Jay asked, frowning slightly at the blackish marks upon Jean-Luc's chest, unwittingly placing two fingers in the exactly position Hatesman had done ages past when he'd made his devastating attack.
Jean-Luc shook his head, wincing slightly as a memory of "red" burst in his mind, and forced a smile as wheels seemed to be turning in Jay's head, for a frown was forming on the other man's face, one eye solemnly studying the way his two fingers fit perfectly into the slight depressions in the Creole's chest.
"Ask me bout dat later, m'chere...")
Jean-Luc sighed, a small smile across his lips, which faded as he eyed his cellphone for the dozenth time that morning. Nope, no message...with a curse in kreyol and a dull ache he refused to admit to, he picked the betraying communication device up and threw into an overflowing desk drawer, slamming it shut and trying to concentrate again - though it proved difficult at first.
"I'm actin' like a teenager," Jean-Luc muttered as he shifted in the chair, forcing himself to get back to it. But he felt like a teenager; hyped up, with all the bittersweet pain of a crush. Still, he kept to task, the cafe brulot at his elbow cooled slowly as he'd forgotten about it - too busy shuffling through the disk of information Sword of Redemption had given him some time ago.
"Terra Liberation Front, oui, split personality - Mon Dieu, another one, did dey hand dem out one day at de market at half price? - aaaaan', yeah, dat it...."
Jean-Luc narrowed his eyes, as the information he had been seeking was finally scrolling upon his screen.
Despite his nigh impervious nature, Hatesman's method of power leeching from Statesman was majorly flawed in that his Super-Senses extend to his full body nervous system and in particular, pain receptors. The pain from a needle is five-fold and a long battle can over-whelm his senses, sending him delirious and eventually into a comatose state. He is very wary of this, and uses sedatives and medical equipment to make up for his short-comings, but suffice it to say that he has good reason to shy away from a prolonged assault, be it by Fist or Fire.
Jean-Luc leaned back in his chair, chewing at his lower lip before getting up and pacing back and forth on bare feet - he'd nearly paced a furrow in the floor over the past few months, working over the same problem over and over in his head: how to take Hatesman down.
He felt de hurt I put on 'im...I know dat. An' he got a human min' and a beast min', jus' like I do. All I gotta do is get 'im mad enough to forget hisself.
"An' man, oh, man, dat's gonna hurt."
It wasn't good enough just to go after Hatesman, however - the whole Terra Liberation Front was a problem, as well as the computer-brain O.R.A.C.L.E which helped to manage it. Hatesman he might be able to take, but if any of his crew showed up, Jean-Luc wouldn't stand a chance, and he knew it.
"Ain't no good just takin' you down...I gotta tear de whol' thing up by de roots."
The "how" had him stumped however. He could stalk prey, bide his time, and hit his opponent at a weak moment, however he was up against his intellectual better. Whilst he had done everything he could on his own level - appearing to retire even while he gathered information quietly, staying as low key as he could and hoping Oswald forgot his beaten foe - there was still the matter of finding his prey, luring him out alone, and yet at the same time making sure the Terra Liberation Front was sufficiently weakened enough not to make a comeback.
The fact Jean-Luc wasn't going for an arrest didn't help matters; he couldn't involve his friends as they were heroes, and upheld the law of Paragon City. What Jean-Luc intended to do was wrong, could get him thrown into the Zig himself, and disgraced. It wasn't going to be self-defence - he was actively hunting Hatesman, actively seeking another showdown. He was actively going for the kill.
Jean-Luc growled under his breath, his eyes flaring bright gold, as he continued to pace, warring with his better nature and the part of him that wanted to bring Hatesman some hurt, and then some. The other word for "justice" was "revenge", and well he knew it. He threw himself upon a nearby couch, his hands behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling, frowning.
Mebbe this is a bad idea...
It wasn't the first time Jean-Luc questioned his own drive. He'd been defeated once, badly enough to be in a coma. So what? There were many who had, and many who died. Granted, the Terra Liberation Front was a direct threat to the Villain Rehab programmes...but even then, Jean-Luc could understand the Hatesman's sentiment; he'd seen what "rehab" meant in Paragon - controlling collars round the neck, microchips in the brain, mood-altering drugs. Training people to be something they weren't, and forcing them to walk the line. It wasn't anything Jean-Luc would ever consent to doing - he wasn't ashamed of who or what he was, and feeling as if he should be tended to make his hackles rise.
But no...Hatesman was different. According to the files, he was bent on destruction, and losing the battle against himself to do so. With Oswald's genius to get the ball rolling, it was only a matter of time before he got out of control...and what then? The Zig wouldn't hold him, surely. Putting villains in the Zig just meant organising all the worst of the worst into one spot for Arachnos to break them out and put them into service.
Some villains are just too bad to live, Powerdrive murmured, downing yet another scotch.
Jean-Luc's jaw tightened. No...someone had to do it. Someone had to put Oswald away once and for all, and as far as he knew, he was the only one with the guts to do it. He was willing to walk the line, and even cross it, if it meant the programme would continue, if it meant the TLF might be slowed down, then yes, he'd do it - he'd wipe Hatesman/Oswald right off the face of the earth.
Gonna do it, yeah. Gonna do it alone, too. Have to.
Jean-Luc sat up, his forearms upon his knees, and sighed, glancing at the desk once more, and in particular, the drawer which held the silent, decidedly-not-ringing cellphone.