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[Early Bird]

"I.. er, I guess you're right" said Ophelia. What she was most surprised at was that the Trix knew something about roots that didn't involve hair dye. "I suppose even the Old Man was originally what we believed him to be, a hero, saving the population by creating the dome. Yet now he'd do anything just to preserve whats left of his own miserable life and never mind what happens to anyone else" she said bitterly. "Maybe he's just been around too long, he should retire and find someone like he used to be to take over but I can't see him doing it if he's reached this point".

[Dehoffren]

That was it the world was going to end thought Fi as she listened to Ophelia. Things just couldn’t be right if the Trix and this tightly coiled woman were actually communication and agreeing “Perhaps that’s what happens” Fi shook her head “I can’t believe that me of all people is going to say this but once you start interfering with what nature gave you perhaps it undoes something inside.” Fi shuddered again at the thought “The Old Man has been so busy extending his life, swapping played out internal organs for new improved ones, perhaps with all that change he lost his” her brow knitted “Humanness, or whatever it’s called, you know the thing that makes us feeling and all that malarkey” Her features set solid again "All I know is that he does give a flying fig about you, me Jo-Girl or Sally"

[Early Bird]

"I reckon there's a big difference between improving on what nature gave you and replacing everything so often that you're not even the same person any more" said Ophelia. Fi seemed to actually be an ok person once you got past the shrillness and flouncing she thought. She didn't know why the trix seemed to have such a problem with her, she'd only turned down her offer back at Joe's because she wasn't in the mood. "Maybe that's it, he's not the same person now. I don't know how far organ replacements have advanced for people of his class, but I wonder if they can do brain replacements, download all the information somehow. The personality, memories and such and put it all into a new brain. If they tried that it seems to me they lost something or missed a bit".

[Synik]

The pod rolls smoothly along the overhead track, gliding without judders or squeals. The videoscreens mutter to themselves as the conversation draws to a natural lull.

The last comment about body replacement linger in your mind. Just how old is the Old Man now? Is he 'post-human' like the owners of the trans-national companies? With the right meds and enough money you can live for a very long time. Skin can be regrown, organs replaced, but even with all the wonders of science, no-one has managed to transfer memories to another body. One day it will come, but is this planet big enough for a race of immortals? Inwardly you sneer at the thought: even if it does, the technology won't reach you and yours.

You pass a floating hologram for Farren-Cates, the defence and ordinance manufacturer. They did well selling war machines and now the weaponry that keeps them away from the city. The logo shifts as you pass it, the light only shines one way. Clearly, it would never do for the worker's offices and apartments to be light by garish 24/7 holo-spill. Perhaps they should try an eye mask, everyone in the Stack has a pair.

The thought of war droids brings your thoughts around to Nae. If science says you cannot transfer your memories: who - or perhaps more accurately - what are Eve, Trent and Adam? Copies of the original, but people in their own right? Or are they modified clones that Nae has somehow downloaded his memories into? Nature versus nurture versus nanotechnology. Can you really duplicate the brain?

You look outside welcome for distraction for the rising ratchet of tension that's building in the almost silent cab. If Nae has cracked it, he's not sharing it. But what if the Number Syndrome wasn't just a simulation? What if it was a world created by sheer computing power? If you can emulate the physical senses, can you emulate what goes on in the human mind? The thought chills you. Maybe the Old Man will live forever.... unless you stop him.

The pod begins to slow down and it leaves the main track to take a side fork off to your stop. Campbell Street glides into view: a large atrium of warm light and luxurious stone floor. There are plinths, not taped off hazard zones or parking pits. The travel pod comes to a halt and rests against the wide dais. The door slides open and a set of well kept steps rises from the floor to greet you.

Other pods are coming in and are being settled. People in fine clothes step out: suits, conservative fashion or gym wear that would buy you food for a year. The walk unhurried away from the pod park and across the wide expanse of marble to a set of fine silver gates set in the far wall. There are no hawkers and Security are visible by there absence. No wonder the rich fight to keep what they've got.

[Dehoffren]

Fi exhaled sharply, the thought crossing her mind whether they had to pay for the air here, certainly you wouldn’t find quality like this back at the Stack “Well, people we have arrived” she announced remembering Trent’s words “Isn’t it cool that we can swan around here like we belong” a pizzazz smile lit up her face “Now where is Floor 22, apartment 15?” Fi’s face screwed up “I know we look the part but we cant just walk in there, we have to come up with a plausible explanation to get inside…either that or we get all stealthy” she looked down at her clothes again and grimaced “Which we aren’t exactly dressed right for. Any ideas?”

[fury]

"Best idea, I think would be to pretend we are underlings of Hoptons here on urgent company business" Cass replied "Its all in the attitude, its a case of remembering you are 'superior' to the building staff and they shouldn't be prying"

[currymaniac]

"Either that or Hopton has made requested a take-away, or should I say a delivery? After all, I don't think he's exactly got the personality to bridge that emotional gap into a relationship," Hayden, suggested, though he had a feeling that the women were not going to take the suggestion well, but after all, if someone did stop and ask them they will need an excuse for being there.

[Early Bird]

"I can do stealthy if anyone has to, I've got my kit with me" said Ophelia. "I don't know if a direct approach is going to work, Hopton know who we all are remember, he's seen all of us".

[Dehoffren]

Fi nibbled on her bottom lip unconsciously “That’s one idea” she said slowly “But his security is going to be super tight, we only need to fool a member of his staff” she stopped abruptly “A guy like that he’d have staff wouldn’t he?” she shook her head “Well what I’m saying is that I’m assuming that he ain’t going to answer his own front door,” her rate of speech increased as the idea began to form “If we could convince the maid, or whoever that we are there to update something, or deliver some important material, then we’re inside we can do what’s necessary.” She met Ophelia’s eye momentarily and conceded earnestly “I have no doubt that you could get inside, but that means you’re on your own” she shrugged and her shrill voice quietened again “I just think we’re better off sticking together”

[Synik]

Cass's comments about owning the place seem to ring true. Of the people walking around, they stroll casually along without a care in the world. This world is there world, they have no worries of being jumped by a street crazy. Instead, the pause by shops or at cafes with their bags and credit-chips clearly on show. You feel that this is very much a playground for the rich, they have no cares. Security keeps those locked outside.

There are no clunky robots scrubbing at the floors here. Occasionally a waitress will collect the fine cups from the coffee house by the large archway. Your thoughts drift to how Hopton's life must be. What had Shift said about his house system? That was it, Hopton had a 'house butler'. An almost intelligent computer system that would manage the apartment's security and gadgetry.

OOC

One of you will be carrying the mobie that Shift gave you. I'll let you decide who that is

[Early Bird]

"And to think I thought I had it good" murmured Ophelia looking around. "This makes the place I had look like the Stack". An exaggeration of course, her former residence had been luxurious indeed but it served to illustrate the point. "Didn't Shift say that mobie he gave us would sort Hopton's security?" she continued. "I remember now he said he just had one of those robo butlers to handle everything, I guess the cheapskate doesn't want to pay for real workers or he doesn't want to risk unnecessary eyes seeing what he's up to. Who's got it?"

[currymaniac]

Hayden took the mobie out of his pocket and looked at it cautiously, "What do you reckon we have to do with it, just keep it on us? I suppose if Shift is this...technomancer or whatever it was he called himself as long as we have it on us we effectively have him here too, after all we saw what he did earlier, making that holo-projection out of one of these, so is it safe to assume that he'll be able to do something too the robobutler with it, or do you think we'll have to use it in some way?"

[Early Bird]

"I should think we'd have to call him and let him know where we're at" said Ophelia. "Maybe we should wait till we get to Hopton's place unless you want to be one of those people who like to call someone just to say "I'm on the pod" or "I'm at the station". Are there any numbers stored in it?"

[Synik]

OOC

If anyone checks the mobile computer, it's got a map of this area and one number. The number has the letters "XS" next to it.

[currymaniac]

"Just one," Hayden said, looking down at the handset, "The number has XS beside, so I take it that that stands for Shift-X."