Jan 30 11:14:54 109 PA - An Offer He Can't Refuse
From Chronicles
Jan 30 11:14:54 109 PA.
SMART OFFICE BLOCK
Coming into the 'Dregs during the day was still a split decision for Gabriel. Normal clothes to keep warm? Heavy armor? In the end, he went with his common snow gear and generally concealed weaponry. It is afternoon, after all. The envelope supplying his destination has long since been destroyed out of habit, and he arrives smartly at its location only a few minutes after three. His right hand is raised, and he raps three times in perfect tempo succession before pulling back to wait.
A moment passes before the door opens revealing the same secretary from Sweet Clean Sweep one floor down. She gives Gabriel a quick lookover then opens the door a bit wider to check that he's alone before admitting him in. And inside is a very different look. Gone are the sterile pastels of conventional office decorating. Replaced by deep reds and burgundy over thick carpet many would be tempted to rub their bare toes over. The furniture follows suit with dark lacquered woods and large leather sofas. All in a very open space that seems to take up most of the floor. The hallway of doors passed now looking like an illusion to the expansive setup. On one side is a very expansive multi-screened computer setup. On another the couches sit before a huge window overlooking much of the afternoon dregs. On the third side is a bar that looks better stocked than the public ones. It's all a lot to take in, but one could be fairly certain the top floor didn’t look capable of this from the outside.
Gabriel makes sure that as much snow and dirt is off of his boots as possible before entering, following the secretary without comment beyond a polite, "Thank you." Of course, her identity is noted in conjunction with the cleaning team, but he makes no issue of it. Rather than sticking his nose further into someone's business by examining the computers or the bar, he only migrates slightly toward the enormous window, waiting to see what can be seen, and peeling off his barely-there thin white cotton gloves as he goes. You don't mess around with organized crime unless you've got something on them, or to offer them - neither of which Gabriel has in great abundance with the Family, whether this is their place or not.
It would certainly fit the bill, except it's a bit sparsely populated at first glance. Especially avoiding the bar and computer, the window shows a normal view of the area south as if looked upon from the tallest building in the area. Definitely higher than the fifth floor. It's only after that look that anyone else besides the secretary is actually seen. Sitting in the couches, drinks in hand. Suave suits and slinky dresses. As if they were there all a long, but merely did not wish to be seen. Probably seven men and three women, plus the secretary. All eyes on Gabriel in appraising stares.
He's not too big a man to admit when he's surprised. But startling surprise isn't his mode, either. "Oh. Hello. I'm Gabriel Blaze, and I received an invitation? Looking for some very successful local entrepreneurs." No need to continue on babbling with additional information. He does however find the window view interesting enough to ask, "Surveillance setup with a current view from the top of the Knight's Hospital?"
"Something like that." A young male voice answers from the computer desk, a chair swivels to reveal a lanky 20 something in a black dress shirt and casual jeans. He seems to be the most causally attired person in attendance. The others keep quiet and watch for a minute, enjoying their drinks before a very tall man with wrought iron stature moves slightly to catch your notice. "You did get an invitation. A very rare privilege. To consider what you have to offer."
"Thank you," Gabriel provides, taking in all of the people appearing out of nowhere, stealth of some sort that he really doesn't bother to try to defeat by scanning the rest of the room with a sharp eye. Though he may give the couch people a brief look, trying to decide if they're some kind of lieutenants or simply the local crowd. Assuming that the barely-seen iron-statured fellow is security, he is sure to make no sudden movements as he approaches the younger man. Who could be his kid, not that it matters. "I do appreciate the invitation. I know that we both have some rather high stakes involved with the trouble at the Ivory Lady." There, it's been said.
"Yeah, the last quarterly profit on those bets was pretty good," the kid answers with a shrug. As he is addressed the others seem to go about their relaxing afternoon and sipped drink. Watching and glancing. One would think they would be talking, but there is none. They just remain in the background for the moment. "So, do you have an elegant solution to that? All the ones we have come up with have not been so elegant in one fashion or another."
Gabriel doesn't comment on the issue of gambling. That's their business. He stops within arm's-reach of the desk, standing respectfully, but easily. "I don't know how 'elegant' a solution I have for you, but I guarantee that it's better than many people I've heard trying to save your interests by demolishing it." He allows a cool moment before continuing, "I have a lot of intelligence about the infestation, and in particular the person who apparently came and did a great deal of damage to your organization. Her minions, as well. I'd never say that it's all-encompassing, but likely in my head more accrued than anyone else in the city. I'd hope to say yes, a more elegant solution."
"Let's hear it then," calls a woman from the sofa, a look would reveal tightly curled brown hair over top an angelic lightly tanned face and body. Sporting a slinky black dress and holding a champagne glass. And indeed her motion seems to be carried, as many nod in agreement.
"Of course," Gabriel says in a cleaned-up drawl, nodding politely to the interested woman. "I'll ask for some of your men and women as foot soldiers, if you think this is a good plan. So I'll present it as if I have them." He clears his throat, then begins. "The problem is in your basement. One master vampire, three that protect her. Eleven beings that are likely animated undead, but not vampires. Slow movers. A few 'Borgs walking the perimeter during the day - and as this is the least populated time for the club, doing this during the day is the only time that makes sense." He motions with his eyes down toward the normal entry to the building. "I have a mage, a knight, a dedicated vampire-hunter and myself. The single perimeter 'Borg is eliminated, one way or another. With your cooperation, however your influence might do it, we then go in quietly with the cleaning crew rather than blowing down the door. Four of your men stay inside near the door on watch, the rest of us continue in." He stops and slowly looks around the room, waiting for questions rather than plowing ahead.
Most nod, offering no objections so far and silence reigns waiting for Gabriel to continue.
He quickly adds, "If my information is correct, the upper floor should be clear. All security but the 'Borgs leave at closing. The unfortunate waitresses who have been tapped for blood are kept in the basement as well. This presents the first problem. Getting past the door to the basement. I don't know if it's your design, but it's like a vault. Without some kind of 'elegant' way to pass, I'm afraid that breaking in is the best option. Hopefully your men might be able to supply proper cutting implements. If not?" Gabriel can only shrug. "We may have to use explosives. I'm afraid that I haven't found an 'elegant' solution about this one problem. If you have a suggestion, I'm more than happy to hear it." Truly, by his tone of voice, he's inviting help on this point.
"If need be we can take care of it. Go on," the lad asks, and everyone seems to be waiting for the conclusion like it will offer something different.
Gabriel pokes an eyebrow to the sky, getting the sense that his elegant solution isn't any better than theirs. However, he does continue with the briefing as asked. "The animated troops must be dealt with, obviously. But if the cutting is quiet enough not to wake the animated undead, then with my specialists and your soldiers, even their numbers should be negated. A key, however lies with the vampires. It's daytime, so they must slumber, even in the shadows. It's possible that they might awaken, but they'll be 'weak' if I can use that term. If we can simply lock their four individual sleeping areas quickly, they might wake up, but possibly keep them out of the fight until we're ready. As for the eleven undead, slow-moving troops, I'm afraid that I can't know what weakness or invulnerability they may have until we're down there. I realize that in many ways, it's blunt, but it's better than a nighttime battle to catch them in the open, when they could just mist out into the night." Again, he doesn't seem to be finished, but pauses for comment.
And no comments are made as of yet. It would appear that this is a group that assesses things as a whole.
As there are again no comments, Gabriel smiles and turns - this time to address everyone, as it seems to be a group decision, or at the very least a group interest. "The spiral staircase will slow our descent and demand a narrowing of our front, but only in the short term. A few light grenades tossed down before us should be sufficient to at least distract the eleven zombies long enough to get the majority of our force downstairs. Now? Assuming that everything has gone as planned, the vampires should be the main problem. Again, if everything goes as planned, we can then just pop them out one by one. They'll be slow - still dangerous, but not as dangerous as normal. The worst that can happen is they wake up enough to try misting somewhere, only to discover that it's bright outside. Donna is eventually killed. I won't bother to go into specifics of how to kill vampires, as I'm bringing experts to do it." His palms are lightly pressed together at belt level. "With the information that I have gathered, this seems to me to be the most efficient plan. Least damaging to the structure. Least damaging in loss of life for your men and mine. Quick, before her psi-cola army can be brought to bear. There is of course never a guarantee that a plan will work, but I have not yet heard a better one. Or even much in the way of any other plan." He then does his best to make eye contact with everyone but the assumed-security. "That's my proposal."
Everyone nods and a few glances are exchanged but expressions are generally blank as if still waiting for the punch line. "And then what?" The same woman as before asks clearly of Gabriel.
Gabriel shrugs. "Well, personally I'd like to wait for a day or two for when the Federation's shifter pops in, strap a fusion block to his chest and send him home with the timer ticking." He follows up that wish by opening up his hands, displaying them palms up. "Then Donna's dead. Her hold over minds and the psi-cola trade is broken. Her blood trade falls apart by itself; faster if anyone chooses to completely and immediately dismantle it. You invest in a few light renovations, put out the good word that the Ivory Lady is once more a wholesome vampire-free zone and go back to making money doing whatever it is you do. The real only leftover tag I see is Stacy, from Hope for Humanity. You may or may not remember her." He glosses over the topic because of Mrs. Rickerd's dubious arrangement. "I'd like to find her and save her, if possible, but I don't know where she stays other than showing up at the club at night."
It's easy to watch that tide turn from neutral to largely negative with shaking heads and looks of frustration. It's the young lad that steps up with calming gestures though and tugs on Gabriel's shoulder for a bit of an aside. "We could do that ourselves Gabriel. You surely know this. We have a thousand thugs we could march down there to do just that. Why haven’t we? We wouldn’t make as much money. So you do it, we take over, not nearly as profitable as it was before. And how long before the rallies start again? How long before everyone notices that we are once again the biggest bully on the block? The cycle will start over in less than a year. Not very elegant is it?"
"Not elegant to your long-term in that scenario, no," Gabriel admits. The unnamed young man is given a slightly raised eyebrow, as the older man attempts a guess at what the problem may be. "I'm not sure that Stacy will ever be herself again, and the people who work for her organization do not do anything without being told. They really are one of the more sheep-like groups I've ever encountered. Given that they're the ones who brought up the rallies, as far as I know, it's their participation that's the problem. Hence, the participation of whomever is in charge, is the problem." He thinks to himself, 'Bet all these people are vampires,' but comments with two points of honesty. "Stacy's likely going to end up sitting quietly in a warm room under blanket for the rest of her life, or going back to wherever she's from. Even if she goes back to being herself, she's lost all credibility. If there were a person in charge who could keep people from bringing the rallies, that would be the solution." He smiles - very small - and taps his chest. "The only reason that I know our mutual acquaintance is because I'm trying to put myself in that lead position. Most people don't agree with me, but I do see that sometimes the good of the many is found by sacrificing sheep. Thus, I would keep their attention elsewhere - where it should be anyway." He chuckles lowly. "I may have either made myself popular, or highly unpopular."
The lad nods with a appreciative smile as Gabriel catches on to the gist of it. "Exactly, which is why after Donna is dealt with we want you to take over the Ivory Lady, with some minor stipulations.." He then adds with a slight smirk and waits to see the reaction on that. Indeed, everyone is waiting.
An eyebrow pops upward. "The club, not the group that's been causing problems for the club?" Gabriel is obviously not lost to the conversation, but he is obviously doing nothing to muffle surprise. He wasn't expecting any invitation, but if he had, it would have been to accept their support in putting him where he thought he'd be going.
"Both so to speak, and through the resources of each do more than either could alone. If you are up to it. That would be the elegant solution after all. You are not one of our people, you will probably change the place drastically. We get credit for putting you there, casting us in very bright lights. You get to solve problems at the source." The lad continues to explain, stepping away before turning back to meet Gabriel's eye. "The one stipulation is your plans for the psi-cola market. That plan won't solve anything. It will just drive them to one of our agents and the cycle begins in a new place. So we have to insist you keep that product line. But you don’t have to be nearly as aggressive in your pitches as Donna was. Keep up with demand, lessen it if you can."
Gabriel listens, and thinks. He takes his time. "The problems at the source being, generally?" A hesitation is allowed to separate his question from his statement. "I have no problem with that stipulation. The psi-cola was being sold when I got here, and people knew the risks of the normal stuff, being marketed at a normal rate. As long as it's not intended for the same mass distribution that's been happening, I think that it falls back into the range of free will."
"Yours to define and deal with as you see fit. Really none of our business. Our issues with that area will be resolved with that and we can then focus on other people who have reneged on past arrangements." The iron like man answers in his deep voice of utter finality. Sounds like take it or leave it.
The older fellow looks at everyone in the room, including the iron man. His last gaze is for the young man. If he is correctly called a 'man.' "So, I would run the club, carte blanche, as long as I don't actually get in the middle of the psi-cola business. You look good for putting me in, and gain a lot of credibility. I.. may have a place to change a little part of the world?" Gabriel smiles, a true smile this time. "If that's correct, I'm more than happy to shake on a deal."
Everyone nods in agreement and a hand is offered for the shaking. After which the young lad relaxes a bit and folds his arm. "So how many thugs do you want to do this? Realize that the spiral staircase is going to make getting more than a half dozen people down there in time very cumbersome. But we could quite capably secure the area and deal with the 'Borgs."
Gabriel asks a very military question. "How much do you like your foot soldiers?"
"We like them as much as they are worth, and aren’t keen to let go of them without good return on the investment," is the perhaps predictable answer. Indeed everything seems to come down to the bottom line with these people.
"Okay, okay. I can understand that," Gabriel says, nodding his head to the side. He's silent for a while. "Four to take out the 'Borg and stand guard at the door. Six more to come with us to the basement. I'll think about how I want to distribute them, but six. Plus, someone with a good cutting torch to get through that vault." He says to the small man, and then to all in the room, "If everything goes right, you get your business back, et cetera."
A curt shake is given to signal a counter. "Seven total, use em where you want, one will have a torch." Is the very blunt reply from the iron man.
The soldier can't help but utter a small chuckle. "Seven it is then, one of them with a torch." Clearly only his name has been exchanged, and he doesn't ask of anyone else. It's a lot easier to honestly say that you don't know a criminal if you honestly don't know the criminal. "If you can give me a frequency, or some way to contact you about when the op will happen, I'd appreciate that. But there's one thing that I'd like to ask, even if I don't get an answer." Gabriel leans back somewhat so that he can look more distantly at the man whose hand he just shook. "If you could have done this yourself the whole time? Why didn't you find some dumb schmuck who you could put in to run the club and control it directly, too? Rather than - apparently - waiting for someone to come along with their own plan?"
"Would you trust such a thing to a dumb schmuck? Do you think anyone could fill in? We don't. No this was a riddle waiting to be solved, only a qualified person could have come this far. So here you are. And there you go," answers the woman this time with a shrug followed by a dismissive wave. The feeling is that permission has been given to leave. The young lad hands a card over with a frequency. "This will call up that area's patrol, they will be ready."
Gabriel smiles at the girl and what is in these days apparently the normal, common manner of saying goodbye. "Thanks, I'll call as soon as we're prepared. I assume we'll meet again after that." He pulls his gloves back on, stops and says to the room, "Thanks for the opportunity." As long as no one stops him, he'll be back out into the world with two pretty impressive secrets.
