Episode 506: Mortal/Coils, Part Three

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Not having any more intel to work on, the crew decide they may as well just send some people in. Joshua and Arden head to the Baron's House to scope it out. They get to the neighborhood, not a city street, more of a shady lane. There among the magnolias is a fading mansion. It is overgrown, and seen better days. It doesn't have any obvious signs if electronic security and the waist high stone wall surrounding the property is crumbling in many places. In front of the main entrance is a bouncer. The two approach cautiously. The bouncer assesses them professionally.

Bouncer: “Strangers? Well not for long. I don't know who is available tonight, but your welcome to come in. Five credits to get in”
Arden: “Many choices?”
Bouncer: “There are usually a few.”

They pay the high cover charge and the bouncer let them pass into the main lobby, entrance hall. There is a fancy staircase winding around one side of the oval hall which opens to the second floor and the domed copula above. Clearly once a living space, the small manse has been converted to a more lucrative purpose. The room is decorated in heavy velvets, there is erotic artwork and fancy chaises. On the far side of the entrance is a replica of a Wurlitzer Jukebox from which emanates appropriate music. There are quite a few people in this room and milling about the lower levels. Some are clearly men negotiating with the ladies of the establishment. But there are others just enjoying a drink, playing pool, or otherwise socializing. They pear to be mostly mid-level managerial types, and a couple of young men, trying to look cleaned up, having saved up a month's pay to come in.

Arden looks about for someone with whom to do business and catches the eyes of somewhat older woman. She approaches.

Matron: “Gentleman, welcome, it isn't often we have strangers. You are new to our establishment, the way we usually do this is that if you have particular interests we try to accommodate you. If not, you are free to spend some time down here, until one of the girls approaches you. You negotiate your desires with the girl. ”
Arden: “If one strikes our fancy, can we come to you to express our interest?”
Matron: “Our girls are pretty perceptive, they will know. And if they are open to it, they will let you know. And of course, you are not to bother any girls who are talking to someone else.”
Arden: “Of course not.”
Matron: “Your entrance fee includes one drink.”
Joshua: “Thank you ma'am”

Joshua and Arden split up and scope out the place. The notice the half dozen girls are all smiling and do not appeared abused. One interesting thing is that they each wear a silver collar around their necks, it is undecorated, but pretty. There is also one security man, walking around as well keeping an eye on things. Arden checks out the jukebox, hoping to maybe lure out Lanie with some music from Jiangyin, which he hopes is her home world. The songs listed don't have a genre listed with him, so he can't know where they are from.

An attractive red head in her late twenties, early thirties approaches Joshua.

Wanda: “You don't look familiar”
Joshua: “No ma'am, I'm from out of town”
Wanda: “Off Planet?”
Joshua: “Yes ma'am of world. If It's been so long in space, if I had a home planet I don't think I'd recognize it. My ship's my home.”
Wanda: “Must get lonely on a ship all the time”
Joshua: “You could say that”
Wanda: “Are you looking here, some something in particular darling? Maybe something I can help you with?
Joshua: “I don't know exactly. Just looking I guess”
Wanda: “My name is Wanda”
Joshua: “It looks like there are a lot of girls here, can you tell me anything about the other girls?”

Wanda frowns slightly, a bit put off by the rejection.

Wanda: “Is there something you are looking for in particular, something I don't have?” (She straightened up and poses briefly) "Most of the girls here are pretty.. open… to most activities."
Joshua: “No offense, but I tend to prefer brunettes, generally speaking.”
Wanda: “Well there are other gals here. 'll see who I can send your way, Josie over there is very nice, you have a good time now.”

Joshua thanks her and heads over to Josie, a younger girl dressed somewhat more modestly. She plays coy and pretends to be a shy, but it is clearly an act.

Joshua: “Hi my name is Joshua.”
Josie: “What are doing Joshua?”
Joshua: “Just got off my ship. It's been three weeks plus, out there in the black. Just looking to have some company have a good time. ”
Josie: “Well that is why we are here, so let me see if I can help you”
Joshua: “That would be nice”
Josie: “We could go upstairs.” Joshua nods meekly. "That's ten credits."

Meanwhile Arden is browsing the rooms, not making eye contact with any of the girls, but trying to eavesdrop on conversations going on. After not hearing anything unusual or of interest, he heads back to the matron

Arden: “This might seem a little funny, but is it possible to have two women?”
Matron: “Oh that is possible, but you'll have to negotiate that with the ladies.”
Arden: “How would I do that? If one approaching me, how do I..?”
Matron: “Ask her, if she'd be open to a threesome.”
Arden: “I'm sorry I didn't catch your name, what is it again?”
Matron: “I'm Michelle”
Arden: “Michelle, thank you, I really appreciate that.”
Matron: “If you are interested in two, may I recommend Chen and Wu, they like to work together.”She points to one girl. "Wu is across the hall. It appears Chen may be busy, but you can certainly wait."
Joshua: Anything do to while I wait? Poker, anything?”
Matron: “There is a billiards table in the parlor”

Joshua pays Josie, who then hands the money to a bouncer, and heads upstairs with Joshua in tow. once they get to the room. She quickly and matter-of-factly begins to undress.

Joshua: “So, about the price? Is there a range?”
Josie: “You paid the ten, hon, that covers it, unless you want something… unusual.” Joshua shuffles awkwardly. "There is something odd about you Joshua. Is there something special you want? Because, I'll do things, but I don't want to get hurt."
Joshua: “No no no! Absolutely not. Um…”
Josie: “Some of you spacers have issues.”
Joshua: “Yeah, I guess that is true. Actually, I am looking for someone, somebody specific who might have been brought here five ten years ago. Bye the name Lanie.”
Josie: “I don't think Lanie's free tonight.”
Joshua: “Well… it's.. um. It's not something I want her for.., I want, um. sorry.”
Josie: “I understand. I don't know whether to be offended exactly. But..”
Joshua: “No no. it's not that.”
Josie: (Somewhat motherly) “It's okay, some men like that, still I'm not sure that I can. Wait we have some things… Look here, why don't you sit down here ” (Patted the big bed.) "Make yourself comfortable."

She goes to an armoire, opens it and reveals a bunch of equipment. She pulls out a strap on.

Josie: “Do you want me to use this?”
Joshua: “No. I ain't looking for Lanie for sex.”
Josie: “Now I am a little puzzled.”
Joshua: “Can you give me a second. I need a second to gather my thoughts after something like that.” (He points indirectly at the sex toy)"It kind of throws my sense off. Look, on the ship I am from, we found some notes from some really bad people. People who were taking young girls and selling them into… this life."
Josie: “You some sort of marshal or something”
Joshua: “It ain't that, it ain't about justice or revenge, it's about finding them, and doing the right thing.. ”
Josie: “Well, what is the right thing, because none of us can leave.”
Joshua: “I ain't gonna force anyone to leave. I just..”
Josie: “I think maybe you should leave. It's not safe for you to be hear. It's not safe talking about this kind of stuff, and especially talking about Lanie like that. ”
Joshua: “Is there anything you can tell me? Anything at all?”
Josie:(Sighing) “Lanie, is Bannon's favorite.”
Joshua: “Bannon is the Baron I'm assuming?”
Josie: “No. Bannon is the Mill Chief.”
Joshua: “Of course, it ain't easy, it ain't ever easy.”
Josie: “Looking to rescue her or something, it ain't possible. You are just going to get her killed. And more than likely beaten up first.” She looks away. "I don't know what it is about that girl, but they are all crazy for her."
Joshua: “What do you mean. She draws people's attention?”
Josie: “Well she's exotic, I'll say she has that going for her.”
Joshua: “What does she look like?”
Josie: “She's beautiful I guess, different that's for sure.”

Joshua looking into her mind to get an image of her. He gets an image of striking light skinned African woman, with a long neck and unusual features.

Joshua: “Thank you.”
Josie: “So, you don't want to.. do anything?”
Joshua: “No.”
Josie: “Great.” She immediately begins to button up, looking a little relieved.
Joshua: “Will you get in trouble if we leave too soon?”
Josie: “No, hell, some boys don't last this long.”

As they finishing dressing, she leads him to the door.

Josie: “Now don't get her killed.”
Joshua: “That's the last thing I want to happen.”
Josie: “And don't you fall in love with her.”
Joshua: “You don't have to worry about that either. I've got my own.”

Meanwhile downstairs. Arden heads into the Billiards room. As he watches a game, he notices that the level of activity among the servers and security increases slightly. It appears that they are preparing for something.He overhears one say "Go see if Lanie's ready." Arden approaches a guard.

Arden: “Is something going on, is there something I need to be aware of?”
Server: “Oh nothing to worry about.”
Arden: “You all look like you are getting ready for something.”
Server: “We're just doing our jobs, do you need a drink or something?”
Arden: “Yes please”

Arden wanders back to the billiard room, and looks for someone friendly looking with whom he can speak. Most people appear to be enjoying themselves, it is more than a brothel, it is also a social club of sorts, so spirits are high. He inquires casually about what might be the more exotic of fare at the establishment. They are somewhat hesitant to talk about it, but they eventually admit that the girl Lanie is something different and unusual. But, the caution, not on a Thursday night. She always has a date on Thursday nights with the Boss.

Arden: “Judging by the activity, I am guessing he'll be here soon.”
Man: “Yeah he usually comes in, buys a few drinks, chats with the rank and file, throws some money around and then either goes upstairs, or more likely picks her up.”
Arden: “Okay”

Arden scans the room searching for a chatty but not necessarily very bright girl to go with upstairs. When he offers one ten credits, she seems very pleased at the unusually large sum. The two conduct the transaction and afterwards he tries to find out more about the collars.

Girl: “We're not supposed to talk about that. It is just what they wear to identify them as employees.”
Arden: “So you have to wear it when you go into town?”
Girl: “We don't go into town”
Arden: “Sound like you are always here. It must be boring.”
Girl: “Not always, every now and then, handsome strangers from outer space come in.

Arden attempts to get close to her again, kissing and caressing her in an attempt to get a better look at the collar. She is resistant to his getting at it. He does his best to check it out while positioning her so she can't tell what he is doing back there. Looking carefully, he suspects it is either finely made jewelry without mark or decoration, or some kind of newtech device. It might have electronic components, but there isn't any obvious buttons, clasps or the like. It definitely looks out of place in this Antebellum style mansion. It has a little bit of heft to it, as though it might have internal components. But as soon as it he touches it, she tenses up. He tries to make it seem like his touches are part of the normal activity, but she gets very nervous.

Girl: “If it breaks I'll get into a lot of trouble.”
After they finish up, Arden sheepishly negotiates a lower price for round two.

While Arden was upstairs. Joshua comes down, and sees some uniformed security people enter the building. Checking the security level, and putting on a bit of a show of their presence. After a moments, they give an okay signal, and in walks an singularly unimpressive man. He looks like a middle-aged low ranking bureaucrat. Although unimpressive personally, he seems fairly self confident. A drink is brought to him, and it is clear, he is a person of importance. A few moments later, a beautiful woman, strolls down the stairs. Joshua pulls his eyes from her to carefully watch the man, memorizing his mannerisms, his face, his gestures, for future use. He has a recognizable look on his face, hopeful, and nervous, excited and enamored. He looks like he might be in love. After they stare into each other's eyes for a moment, another figure enters the scene. A bearded man, casually, but impeccably dressed, probably in his sixties appears. This is clearly the Baron Duerte. He greets the bureaucrat warmly, and they chat for a bit. The bureaucrat, Bannon, takes Lanie's hand, and she seems pleasantly engaged. She doesn't have the skills of a companion to match her looks, but she seems able to look genuinely happy to see him. During their paling around the Baron slips a small object to Bannon, something about the size of cigarette lighter or case. This complete, they take a short tour of the establishment. Bannon jokes around briefly and awkwardly with his subordinates, and buys a round of drinks. It is clear, that he isn't' there to socialize though. His employees are all attentive to his words, but show visible relief when he moves on and away from them. Meeting the boss at a brothel is a little uncomfortable. Eventually, he and Lanie exit the building. As things settle down, Joshua notes the Baron looking at him with curiosity. He approaches Joshua.

Duerte: “I don't think I've seen you here before.”
Joshua: “No. My name is Joshua, we just got into town.”
Duerte: “You were on that shuttle that came in, from off-world?”
Joshua: “That's me. I just came in to have a good time in my off hours, while I am here.”
Duerte: “And have you had a good time?”
Joshua: “Yes, I really did.”
Duerte: “Have you been with any of our good ladies”
Joshua: “Yes. um Josie”
Duerte: “She's very talented.”
Joshua: She was very nice, and it's nice to be off ship.Just nice to be able to talk to people, you know?”
Duerte: “Yes, if you are looking for good conversation, my house is much better than some place like the sheriff's office.”
Joshua: Yes. I agree. Much more interesting.”
Duerte: “So, it seems you've had a good time, some good conversation, and I am sure you'll be wanting to get back to your ship soon.”
Joshua: “Yes, soon. My friend is taking advantage of the offerings of this establishment. He's been up there a while, so …” (looking nervous)
Duerte: “Good thing we don't charge by the hour.”
Joshua: “As soon as he is done, I am definitely going to leave.”
Duerte: “Don't feel rushed.” (His eyes tell a different message) "Enjoy your drink."
Joshua: “Thank you”

Duerte takes his leave, then he goes and speaks to the bouncer, directing his attention to Joshua, who stays seated quietly like a good little boy. Arden comes down eventually.

Joshua: “So Arden, you ready to go? Like Now?”
Arden: “I could be.”
Joshua: “When I gave you the money I didn't say you had to use it all.”
Arden: “That wasn't what I was thinking, but if you are in a hurry to get out of here, let's get going.”
Joshua: “What are you thinking?”
Arden: “I've got a little bit of interesting things to tell you about”
Joshua: “Does I need to hear it here?”
Arden: “No. But it will probably require us coming back.”
Joshua: “They have they eyes on us already, so I don't know.”
Arden: “Let's head out, we can always say we had such a good time we came back.”
Joshua: “I'm not sure they will buy it.”
Arden: “Why?”
Joshua: “Cause, he knows we were asking around the town.”

They return to the shuttle. The gals are a little stir crazy being couped up in the shuttle.

Joshua: “Do you want to know what we found out?”
Arden: “Or do you want to go back to hoarding chocolate?”
Nika: “They aren't mutually exclusive.”
Joshua: “Okay, here's what we know. The girls are basically slaves…”
Arden: “They have devices on their necks that keep them from leaving or moving about freely.”
Rina: “How's that work?”
Arden: “It looks like some kind of newtech device. It could inject a drug, or there could be an electric shock.”
Joshua: “I think that there is a controller.To segue from that, the girl we are looking for, she's exotic looking and the favorite of the head of the Mill. ”
Rina: “Is she the right age?”
Joshua: “We don't what her age should be.”
Kiera: “She exists, though”
Joshua: “She exists. It's almost certainly her.”
Kiera: “Was she wearing a collar?”
Joshua: “Yeah, and I'm guessing, but I think I am right, the Mill Chief, Bannon, is not well liked by anybody. At least as near as I can tell. Feared, by most of his employees, those we saw anyway. ”
Arden: “The employees of the house were very anxious to please him”
Joshua: “The Baron showed up as well. And, by the way, he knows were asking around.”
Nika: “You never know when the law enforcement is probably hired on by the Mill.”
Joshua: “The point is, the Baron and Bannon meet, have a little conversation, and the Baron slips something to Bannon, a device about yeah big.” (Holding his fingers apart) "Silver, I'm guessing, but if I had to take a stab at it, I'd guess it was a controller for the device."
Kiera: “So he'd be able to leave with her then? ”
Joshua: “He did leave with her, yeah”
Nika: “They departed the premises.”
Joshua: “They left, I don't know where, but they did leave.” he pauses to think. "Thursday nights, Thursday nights are date nights. A standing date night, and they left the premises"
Kiera: “So are we going to rescue her, or all of them?”
Arden: “This is why I really hate that list.”
Kiera: “Sounds like there is an individual master controller. I don't know if itcontrols all them, or each one separately ”
Rina: “Do you think we could hijack the signal? Or at least trace it to its source? If it is a broadcasting device.”
Joshua: “I'm not sure exactly what it is, but evidence suggests that it is. They are real sensitive about the collars. ”
Arden: “Yes she got real nervous when I wanted to even look at it.”
Kiera: “So it causes them some pain?”
Arden: “I don't know if it causes them pain, or just conditioned to not let people touch them.”
Kiera: “It is hard to condition someone unless there is pleasure or pain Arden”
Arden: “I don't know if the device causes pain or if she was just afraid, in any case, she didn't want me touching it.”
Rina: “Which taken out of context is a little odd for a girl in such an establishment.”
Joshua: “I don't know what the next step should be.”
Nika: “Nothing like a woman whose never been to a brothel…”
Arden: “Who?”
Nika: “Nevermind”
Joshua: “My point is that I don't know what to do. This situation they are in is not conscionable. But there are a lot of mill guards, a head of town who is aware we're here, and aware we are looking. ”
Nika: “To play devil's advocate to you, should we go in for all of the, as you seem to be saying, we are talking about shutting down the most lucrative business in town.”
Rina: “Making a lot of people mad”
Nika: “A lot of people mad. In addition, you're invading someone's home, and we could potentially be looking at a situation where some of the girls may not really want to leave, or may be brainwashed into believing that they don't want to leave. Which in turn, means they in turn could be problematic.”
Joshua: “You don't need to convince me, I really am not sure what to do… I'm… not there yet, I'm not to launch a full scale rescue.”
Nika: “Oh I am already there. The question is whether we are going in after Lanie, or leaving her to that life. Because, if we are going in, we are taking it all down.”
Rina: “We don't know if she is the right Lanie we are looking for.”
Kiera: “Or if she wants to leave. She might enjoy the life, it sounds like she is being treated like a queen.”
Joshua: “I don't think so, she's the favorite, but I sensed she wasn't feeling good about it all, she put on a good face, but she wasn't there.”
Nika: “There has to be some reason she is the favorite.”
Joshua: “She's exotic. She'd be the favorite wherever she goes.”
Kiera: “There are only so many places to go in this town. Does he take her to his place?”
Arden: “They are not allowed out of the brothel.”
Joshua: “This one was.”
Arden: “Well, out without the control device.”
Kiera: “That's what I am saying. At least we can go watch them.”
NIka: “Who many guards did they have with them when they left?”
Joshua: “Two”
Kiera: “So either they went to his place, or one of these town places.”

Based on what the crew has seen, it seems unlikely he took her to one of the fine establishments in town.

Kiera: “So probably to his place.”
Nika: “I'm saying, that if they go out everything Thursday night, and have only two guards. Next Thursday we can drive up and pluck's off the street. ”
Kiera: “Along with the controller.”
Arden: “What about the rest of them?”
Kiera: “That's y'all's call. I already grabbed my harem, that's how y'all met me. I'm not agin it at all. Grab one set of girls, I'll ran another one. ”
Nika: “I'm of the opinion, that if we're going to take one at, we may as well to take'em all. Or at least give them the chance to go on their own.”
Joshua: “I'm not against that.”
Nika: “Then we have one week to plan our our strategy. If we are going to take her right out off the street. When it is least likely to be dangerous to her and us.”
Kiera: “But, that leaves the other ones.”
Nika: “But once we start the Tian fuhn di fu* in the street, there's going to be chaos.”
Kiera: “So we need to start some Tian fuhn di fu outside the Baron's house then. I wouldn't do it in town, if you are going to cause trouble, you don't want a long way to run. Keep all covenant like.”
Nika: “I was thinking to do it right outside the club. Question is, do we wait until Thursday to do this?”
Rina: “He does need to take her back tonight.”
Nika: “We could try to get her tonight, it's a little tight.”
Kiera: “They did make it clear, that they don't want us hanging around.”
Nika: “We could always sneak back, but the other thing is, are we more likely to get the other girls out, if w hit early in the morning, when everyone is at the Mill working, and not near the brothel?”
Nika: “My thought is to fly Langiappe back to Resurrection, that the Equinox back here, and land it just outside of view where no one is likely to hear us or see us land. Bring Langiappe back here, have Equinox ready to lift off once we are on the way.”
Kiera: “Or just keep it in a low orbit.”
Nika: “We could keep it hovering in sub-orbit just out of sight.
Arden: “Are we going to try to do this tonight? I am taking it, No, because we just don't have the preparations ready.”
Nika: “We're not armed, but it is only an hour or so to Resurrection and back, or we could have Beggar bring launch and meet us in orbit.”
Arden: “The reason I ask is that if we were going to a week, we could fancy up some work order to get me into the Mill. Maybe I could fid some information about the employees, the guards, the Mill chief.”
Nika: “Why?”
Arden: “So we have more information”
Rina: “Is it information we can use?”
Nika: “Is it relevant”
Arden: “I don't know, is it?”
Nika: “It doesn't sound relevant to me, it might be, but what are we looking for.”
Arden: “Okay.”
Rina: “The only danger I can see is that if we don't get the controller with the girls, something bad might happen.”
Joshua: “Good point”
Nika: “That would make hitting him today a problem or an opportunity, since the man we'd be fighting has the controller.”
Kiera: “Any chance the Brothel might need a doctor?”

Of course, Arden has already been there. Kiera hasn't, but it might seem suspicious. Having two doctors show up overing their services.

Rina: “I say we go in tonight, smash and grab?”
Kiera: “Smash and grab eight girls”
Arden: “Fourteen girls”
Rina: “I thought we were just getting the one, and the controller.”
Kiera: “Captain?”
Arden: “Captain?”
Nika: “I'll leave that up to the four of you.”

The assembled crew grumbles and rejects her rejection of command.

Nika: “Well I don't think it's right to leave. If it were another planet with some guy running a whore house where the girls had to work, but weren't trapped there, that would be one thing. But its another thing, with them unable to leave like slaves. It ain't right.”
Arden: “None of this is right!”
Nika: “Can we figure out how to jam the broadcasts?”
Arden: “Is there some kind of antenna?”

Not knowing how the collars work, it will be hard to know how to broadcast them. It could be designed so when it loses the signal it sets off the collar. Or it might be that the signal is used to activate the collars. We don't know. It could be that jamming the signal is one thing that they don't want to do. Flying them out of range might also have the same effect. It would be an effective trap, absolute freedom to move, but take one too many steps away and blam!





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