Maya I: Blood and Lipstick

January 2, 2076
Thursday, Makati City

You received a message after hearing the news about the fire in Tondo last night, it was from one of your contacts who has a contact with the wealthiest faction in Metro Manila. Everyone knows Maya from the ads that play everywhere but runners like you haven't really met her. Is this a chance you'll get to meet her? You couldn't say. Right now, your contact asked you to meet with a client, 10 AM at Sakura Hotel in Makati City, the corporate center of eastern Metro Manila, Renraku's territory.

Corporate Makati City is relatively cleaner than most corporate centers in Metro Manila. It has the best living condition if you can even afford a place here.

Sakura Hotel is just one of the many hotels Renraku owns in this area. Hard to miss, among the solid box like buildings in Makati, Sakura is like a traditional Japanese castle. Your contact says you just have to mention that you have an appointment with someone named Akira at the concierge.

You might've worked under Maya's group a couple of times before but this is the first time runners like you will meet with the Mr. Johnson in a luxury hotel.

Sakura's lounge area is like a Japanese inner garden with artificial cherry blossoms, an artificial sky, and in here it is perpetually spring. There was no one checking in or out at this hour. Other than the concierge, there's a group playing a relaxing traditional Japanese music.

---

Lorelei

"Hold on a minute."

The elven lady on the concierge expected your arrival but still gave you a discriminating look. She typed something in her computer then a few moments later someone in black suit arrived. A young orc in sunglasses, one of Akira's security personnel perhaps.

"Right this way Miss Lorelei." He gestured for you to follow him.

---

Baby

Baby arrived later than Lorelei. She did see a man in suit escort a woman to an elevator.

"What can I help you with?" The concierge smiles before going back to work.

Baby tried to chat with the concierge, an elven lady who was quite a beauty herself. However she's busy handling calls and doing her job on her computer. She did hear that a Miss Lorelei is on her way to meet Akira.

"You're Mr. Akira's guest?" The concierge looked at Baby as she type on her computer. She smiled when she looked at your face.

"I'll send someone to escort you to Akira-san."

A few moments later, a young man (20-ish) in black suit arrived. "Right this way..." He paused a bit, thinking how he should address you. "Baby." The man gestured for you to follow him.

Small talk went... ok. The man did not respond much to Baby's attempts for a conversation. He nodded a few times and agreed that the weather was nice. Other than that, he just lead Baby.

Lorelei couldn't gather much about 'the look', the troll with her kept silent as she did as they walk.

---

You were lead to an elevator and went up to the fifth floor. Then you passed a few doors along the corridor before you arrived in front of a larger door. Your escorts opened the door for you and asked you to wait inside.

Inside was a living room with expensive looking furniture. You see a large painting of horses on the wall. The center piece on the table was a bonsai plant. The room's cozy and smelled like jasmine tea.

Lorelei got in first then a few moments later Baby came. You were asked to sit and wait for Mr. Akira.

The security cameras are not discretely hidden. There are two cameras in the ceiling and you're pretty sure those two cameras cover the whole room even if they're stationary. There are no hidden weapons as far as you can tell and the paintings are signed by Kanagawa. There are life style and business magazines, and literature books by famous Japanese authors.

You have time to chat seeing as Akira is running late. The sofa's comfortable, you can probably assess that your asses are sitting in a luxury designer furniture's worth at least a hundred thousand Nuyen.

As you all chat, the door opens and a man and his guards in black suits enters in the room. The man looked like he's around 50-60 years old, average height and build, Japanese. You notice he's wearing designer business clothes.

"Good morning ladies, I apologize for my tardiness." He says in Japanese while bowing slightly before approaching the group. His stride and posture are that of every successful businessman: confident.

"I am Akira, and I have called you three here for a job." He says before taking a seat in one of the empty lounge chairs.

"Not wasting time I see. That's good since I don't want to waste my time either." Akira laughs as he turn on the TV screen in front of you with a remote.

On the screen you see a photo of a young man (human, early 20s, black hair, asian) wearing suit and tie and on his background is a luxury vehicle.

"This is Earnest Wong, son of the billionaire politician, Senator Richard Wong." He says. A guard approaches and offers Akira a glass of wine. Akira took the glass then the guard leaves his side.

"The client wants protection for Earnest on the billionaire's son's first run." Akira pauses, he takes a sip from the glass of wine.

Nero notices that the guards have commlinks and handguns. They're eyes and ears must've gone through some modifications too.

"You're gonna babysit Richie's son on his mission." Akira replies.

---

Baby tries to recall more information.

"You don't talk much, I like that." Akira commented on Baby's silence before taking another sip of wine.

---

"Richie's son wanted to test out his new toys,and you're just gonna tag along to make sure he's safe." Akira replied to Lorelei.

"Oh no dear, Earnest is quite a talented marksman and whoever said your client's Richie." Akira laughs.

"You're helping Earnest test out his toys, in Tondo. Teach that clown Jasper a lesson." Akira stood up and clicked the remote. He points at the screen where the image changed into that of what looks like Novacoke, and a map of Tondo, Manila.

"The clown's got a new client and Earnest's gonna play all vigilante hero to disrupt their operation while he tests his new toys. You'll get paid whether or not Richie's boy finishes the job. But we'd really like it if he succeeds." Akira empties his wine glass and gave it to one of the guards.

"You know my boss is very generous, so just send us a bill." Akira says to Nero.

"Don't know your price? And I thought you are pros." Akira sneers as he walk away from the group.

"If you're in this business dearie, expect that not all your questions will be answered." Akira winks at Baby.

"Tsk." Akira clicks his tongue upon hearing the price Baby was asking for. He left immediately before he could answer Nero's question. The guards followed as well.

Thankfully, one of the guards approached them and give the group a time and address for the 'meet up'.

'4F Cornelia Bldg., Gil Puyat. 7 PM Friday'

The bodyguard immediately left after giving the card where the address and time was written.

Around Gil Puyat, your group can be sure that it is somewhere like a 'bad block' where the establishments are owned not by ordinary businesses but mostly by big crime syndicates.

Baby might recognize a few of those but she's not familiar who owns Cornelia bldg.

Nero might recall what it is, it's an old building that's 'perpetually under construction'. For as long as you can remember that building's sketchy as it never opened to the public. There are always scaffolding, tarps, and sometimes a few construction workers working on it. He knows this because sometimes a van parks behind that old building to selling black market decks.

Lorelei knows that Aztechnology tried to acquire that building once to turn it into a research facility but despite the high offers the owners refuse to sell it.

The meet-up location is far from your mission destination, the location's inside Makati but your mission's in Manila City.

Baby is surprised that Akira accepted the 120K bid without a counter offer or any haggling. She has niggling concerns that there will be fall out in the future, but these worries are overshadowed by the opportunity to party tonight and the knowledge that the unexpected bonus will help the family tremendously.

I am leaving the game, the intervals between action are just too long.