Log Title: Visiting the Demon
Characters: Quan Chi, Gnawgahyde, Jataaka, Kia, Zarana
Date: September 08, 2022
Players: Bzero (Quan Chi, Gnawgahyde, Jataaka, Kia), Wedgekree (Zarana)
TP: Dark Kimber TP
Summary: Zarana makes a dangerous deal.
As logged by Quan Chi - Thursday, September 08, 2022, 9:39 PM
China - Asia[]
- To Westerners, East Asia has long been a region shrouded in mystery and exotic allure. Even to this day, this area of the world is better known by misconceptions and romantic notions than by facts and hard truths. Countries like China were civilized long before their European counterparts had worked out that bathing really was a good idea. From this region came gunpowder, noodles, and the Mongol hordes.
When Gnawgahyde picks Zarana up from her hotel in Cotai, Macau, she sees a side of him she's never seen before. For one thing, he SHOWERED. Secondly, he's wearing a SHIRT (albeit a leopard-print one). His jeans are clean, and... pressed? His boots are polished, and he's even somehow cleaned and fumigated his hat. His chin is freshly shaved, and his mustache and chops are combed and scented with some sort of strong beard oil. "You ready?" he asks, his voice cagier than usual.
This is a bit creepy. Zarana has taken the time to put on a wig that flattens down her hair to make it look reasonable and dark, tied down in a bun. She's taken the time to put on makeup and a business suit with dress. A set of chic glasses rest on her eyes and a purse is slung over her shoulder. An auto-pistol is at her side and she's wearing heavy boots as opposed to heels. But, impression. Professionalism.
Stealing things from Baroness' wardrobe.
A black taxicab picks them both up and takes them through congested traffic deeper into the city. Then, rising from the city like a golden fortress, the Wynn Palace luxury resort glimmers into view. Even though it is just after 10 in the morning, the casino hotel is already crowded, as the morning light glistens through the massive fountains fronting the large, glamourous structure. While the Dreadnoks' taxi queues behind many others waiting to disembark visitors, Gnawgahyde turns to Zarana.
"Now, I'm not one ta tah tell ya yah business, but I know aggression tends ta get ya a long way, nawrmally." Gnawgahyde looks her over. "I mean, it looks liyyke ya got the bloody memo, but just in case, let me make myself perfectly cleahr: This ain't Cobrah Commandah. This is someone with real powah."
Zarana would nod over, "All right." She makes a mental note to -not- mention what Gwaghy said to Cobra Commander. The man's doing her a favor. Not the time to get to blackmail. "So what sorta power we talkin' bout Willis? Heads on pikes? Dire Wraith servants? Large dragon sitting at his beck and call? CEO of Warner Brothers?" Nevermind, no one could be -that- evil.
"Just give me an idea of what to expect and I'll go into proper kissup mode. I've been watching videos of proper bootlickers to make sure I got the mannerisms right." Yay for all those times that Megatron beat up Starscream set to 'Yakkety Sax' on the internet.
Gnawgahyde takes the question seriously and thinks hard about it as the taxi inches closer to the resort. "Diah Wraith power, I'd say," he finally answers. "Like, real, fahkin' actual magic, 'n I get the bloody ideah he ayyn't really from China, if ya get my drift." He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. For once, Gnawgahyde looks unarmed - not even a knife. "But if anyone can break the bloody hol' woevah 'as on yah songbirds, it's him." His frown deepens. "I just hope we can affawrd the bloody cost," he says nervously, like maybe he's having last minute second thoughts.
Zarana would nod, "Got it. Makes sense. So long as he's not white." That makes it cultural apprporiation which she's seen a few too many people willing to kill over (okay, justifiably so). "I can afford it and I'll be the one paying it. You're in the clear if this happens." She goes to let out a sigh. "And breathe Gnawy. I'll get you that pet unicorn you always wanted when we finish."
Gnawgahyde chuckles as the taxi stops and he gets out, holding the door open for Zarana. "Funny ya should say that..." he begins, and then is interrupted by a greeting from a politely dressed man from the hotel. "Mr. Hyde?" the man asks in barely accented English. Gnawgahyde rears his head back in surprise.
"You're expected," the hotel worker continues, nodding politely to Zarana as well. He makes a signal to the taxi driver, and the cab drives off without asking for payment.
Zarana would let out a sigh, "Thank you." Oh well, it can't be the first time she's seen a real dragon after all. This one might not try to eat her. She would go in, "Thank you for having us, and we great you and your empoyer with the greatest respect."
Looking about for a loud gong which would no doubt announce their arrival.
The hotel worker keeps a completely neutral, professional expression as he says, "This way, please." He leads the two into a crowded casino resort. Already day-drunk tourists are gambling, while families in bathing suits pad wetly through the expensive interior on the way back from one of the pools. One line of people queue to check in, while a faster line allows others to check out. The worker leads the Dreadnoks past all these people to a small, gilded lift recessed slightly out of sight.
Zarana would go to fold her hands over in front of her, walking briskly and politely over. OH yes, tourists. If this were a real vacation place she'd just race through here on her motorcycle and shootup the place, rob it, take some hostages, and attempt to capture some J-Pop bands. But she's here for business, not fun.
She walks along with her hansd folded together and as the duo would be lead along keep her head bowed. Her 'it's a public event and I am expected to smile and not kill everyone' persona.
The hotel worker fishes a golden key out of his pocket and slips it into the lock. He turns it and the lift opens. He motions the two inside. The lift is quaintly old fashioned and doesn't appear to have much security should the Dreadnoks wish to return later. The worker steps in and presses the button for the penthouse floor. The lift begins to rise in silence, aside from the squeaks of the mechanism itself.
Zarana would go to fold her arms over then as they would go up. Inside her head, she's humming 'Test Your Might' while making sure there's no tapping of her foot and bobbling of her head. She's not asking questions. Memorizing the layout of the place, how far up they're going in the elevator, how fast the elevator is going, the location of the building.. And where the giant red 'STOP' button is.
Gnawgahyde glances at Zarana nervously and brushes non-existent dust off his pressed outfit. He suddenly yanks off his hat, wiping sweat from his bald head. The lift is slow, allowing Zarana to memorise details before it suddenly bangs to an abrupt halt. The operator opens an inner door and then an outer door. A strong smell of cigars, incense, and money fills the lift as the hotel worker gestures for the Dreadnoks to disembark.
Zarana would muse over as she would close her eyes and hum the 'Dollah Bills' song over in her head while glancing about. Looking throughout the room and letting herself be lead along. Glancing at Gnashteeth. Going to speak over after a moment's inhaling. "Jasmine and Cherry Blossom. From the Emperor's Grove in Kyoto."
Gnawgahyde frowns. "Beautiful," he grumbles as he steps out into the semi-dark room. The hotel worker closes the lift and heads back down. The room is full, although not as crowded as the lobby. The shades are drawn against the morning sun, and various gambling tables are set about the room. Men and women from all over the world are betting staggering amounts over various games of chance.
Zarana would watch over at the various games of chance. Taking it in. Evaluating. Seeing which games were honest, which ones were weighted against the house. Which people were of good reputation. Which ones were of bad. Which ones were clearly out of their depths and being marks. Letting herself be lead along, glancing. Eyes tracing the quickest escape route, who would be armed, who would be the backups, what tables made for good shields.. Musing over. "Might I?" Her gesturing over at a man about to light a cigar. "Going into some business negotiations and wouldn't mind one quick."
The tables are honest, as far as Zarana can tell. However, at least one gambler isn't - as he tries to sneak an Ace from his sleeve, he is grabbed by the dealer and hauled over to special stainless-steel table set up just for this sort of situation. Before the gambler can scream, the dealer draws from beneath the table a nasty-looking cleaver... and chops the man's hand off. Before the wriggling appendage even settles in the attached sink, security emerging from the seeming walls grabs the man and drags him off, wrapping his wrist to keep from getting blood on the expensive carpet.
"There," Gnawgahyde says quietly, indicating a very pale man sitting in the corner with a dangerous-looking woman seated on either side of him.
Zarana would watch, impressed. "That's a nice knife." The woman that knew a great many Australians would admit. Makin ga mental note to if she survived to try and buy one off him later. She would go to then approach towards the terrifying looking man that owned the room. Moving to gaze upon him and the woman, "That Kitana or Milena?" Wait, Zarana had a sense of humor?
Quan Chi
The man Gnawgahyde indicates is a very well-built man with what appears to be red eyes. His skin is completely white. He is also completely bald, devoid of any hair on his head or face. There is a Hindu tilak on his forehead. It's nearly impossible to tell how old he is, although he handles himself as one with wisdom and experience. Oddly enough, he wears a heavy green uniform with spike-studded black armor and a yin-yang emblem on it. He smiles calmly, although it's hard to tell if he's amused at Zarana's joke.
"Mr. Hyde. Miss Gibson. Please, have a seat," Quan Chi says in slightly British-accented English. The two women get up to make room for the Dreadnoks, but linger nearby, out of hearing range, and yet somehow still in melee range.
Zarana would go to fold her hands together and keep them in front of her. Palms entwined in a display of supplication. And also with them being twisted together meant that she couldn't snap them out open as fast to make a grab for a weapon. A sign of weakness and a display of subservience.
"A pleasure, thank you for seeing us on so short a time. Your benevolence is appreciated, Great One." She would speak this in flawless Tibetan.
Gnawgahyde sits immediately, nervously clutching his hat in his hands. He crinkles his brow at Quan Chi calling Zarana 'Miss Gibson' but assumes it's one of her many aliases. "Master Quan," Gnawgahyde says respectfully. "This is the sheila I tol' ya about," although it's obvious that Quan already knows full and well who Zarana is.
Nonetheless, the pale man smiles at Zarana and asks in Tibetan, "Of course. And how may I help you, Miss Gibson?"
Gnawgahyde frowns and quiets as the conversation moves to a language he doesn't speak.
Zarana would go to fold her hands together and bow her head, "Yes, thank you." Her mind curious on 'Gibson'. That wasn't one she had heard in so long. Her face finally breaking to a frown. "There's a.. Thing which is infecting the world. Borne from technology and corruption. I.. Have made it my goal to figure out what's going on and how it is done so. And those of the most knowing have recommended you, My Lord, as the one best suited to know such things and discover them." Having reviewed her phrasing ever so carefully.
Quan Chi smiles. "Yes," he says, still speaking in Tibetan. "The music virus. It's begun to spread even here, in Zhongguó." He frowns thoughtfully. "Of course, I could help you," he says seriously. "Although at some cost, depending on how much of my assistance is required. If you come here seeking knowledge, I can provide that information, but I would require something from you in return." He glances at Gnawgahyde, who gulps at attracting Quan Chi's attention.
Zarana would nod over, "OF course my Lord." She would glance at Ghagwhy, with an 'everything okay?' expression on her face to make sure that her minion was doing all right. "I have something of the.. Projector that made it in the first place. it's Cybertronian tech, the broadcast. I'm willing to provide it for analysis."
Quan Chi's smile returns. "That will be an excellent assistance to me. However, I will require something else, although not right away. Consider it more of a... long term project on my behalf." Quan Chi grins, his teeth as white as his face. "Find out for me the true name of your Cobra Commander. It shouldn't be too difficult, but I would consider it an act of loyalty," he chuckles wolfishly.
Gnawgahyde nods to Zarana to show he's fine, although sweat continues to run down his bald head, and the fact he doesn't wear deodorant becomes apparent, even in the smokey, incense-heavy room. He jumps as a crowd of gamblers cheer at a win - none seemed to even react to the maiming of the cheater.
Zarana would nod over at Quan-Chi, "I'll see what I can do. I'll just note that whatever the name he had.. It will hold no power over him. He is no longer what he was, and whomever or whatever that individual was does not exist anymore and has not for a very long time. So the name.. Will not be of any particular use. It might as well have been an entirely unrelated person." She's prepped for this and these things.
Glancing over at Ghawgahyde. "And with your leave, my lord, might my partner here have some time to enjoy himself? He's not had the opportunity to appreciate a place as fine as this in some time if it is not a disturbance to your eminence." Presuming that Quan Chi goes to nod over at her, she would press some random gemstones over to Gwanghyde with a 'go get yourself loaded and a hooker or twelve' expression.
Quan Chi chuckles. "You'd be surprised at what kind of power can be held in a name, Zoe," he smiles. "Especially when it is only known to a few." He glances at Gnawgahyde and nods, and the Dreadnok practically flees the table. "Your friend will be rewarded as well if you do not betray me. You'll find I am *very* kind to my friends," he says in Tibetan, leaving unsaid what happens to his enemies.
Zarana would get the impression. "Jolly good then, I'm sure that we'll get along just fine." Her switching back to English now and her accent a bit thicker as she relaxes. Perhaps a smidge too much. "Appreciate it." She stops herself before calling him 'Mate'.
Quan Chi leans forward, his accent 'disappearing,' meaning he's exactly matching it to Zarana's true accent. "Your virus, as you may know," he replies in the Queen's - er, King's English. "...Was created by an artificial lifeform - one created by alien meddling," he adds with amusement. "She has no physical form, but her core programming is distributed across three hidden mainframes. Lock her from the Internet, destroy those mainframes, and the world will be freed."
Zarana would nod, "Ahh. So she's not up in the.. Cloud then? And how do we find where all of her mainframes are? IF you've already figured that out would be obliged." She would nod over at him thoughtfully. "And god save im." The King, she guesses. The woman lived a tough life. Even Zarana, twisted wretch that she was, could appreciate someone so tough with such nerves.
Quan Chi smiles, leaning back one more. He throws one strong arm casually over the back of the booth. "Bring me the alien technology, and I'll be able to use it to track down the mainframes. In the meantime, you should prepare a way to keep her from escaping into the Internet when her homes bases are destroyed... unless you require my assistance for that, too," he grins wickedly.
There would be a shake of her head, "No, I think I can manage that. I'll have the package be sent over shortly." She wasn't dumb enough to have brought it with her. she might be many things.. "And a question, unrelated to that if I might, my lord?"
"Of course," Quan Chi responds with a magnanimous gesture. "Anything," he grins, eyes glowing redly in the darkened room.
Zarana would smile, "Who is the very deadly lady at your side that looks like she's spent our encounter figuring out as many ways to kill me as efficiently as possible since I walked on in? I can appreciate a professional."
"Oh, forgive me," Quan Chi smiles, eyes glowing. "This is Jataaka," he says, indicating his white-haired companion. "And this is Kia," he says, indicating the other.
Jataaka looks bored, but Kia gives Zarana a tight smile. Both give off a disturbing aura, which is saying something when you're a Dreadnok.
"If you wish to test your mettle against them sometime, I would find the spectacle amusing," Quan admits.
Zarana would smile, "Yes, I would enjoy that. But only if you would find it amusing and the ladies would not find it a waste of their talents to practice against someone as inferior as I am. So perhaps on another trip here. I take it that I can have the cache be sent here or is there somewhere else I should have it couriered to?"
"Here is fine. And I may have to arrange a little exhibition bout sometime. I would find it... quite illuminating." With a smile and nod, Quan Chi dismisses the Dreadnoks, and the hotel employee reappears as if by magic to lead them back downstairs.
Zarana would grin, "Lovely. I'll make sure it's here on the morning then. And do stay in touch. I'll likely be heading back to the states shortly to.. Start to work on taking care of our problem." Wait, is she talking about actively trying to stop this?
Oh, yeah, gotta make sure no one else conquers the world before Cobra does.
Quan nods his head regally, and then turns to discuss quietly with his minions.