2.14 Get out of here stalker
Perhaps the best way to deal with him, would be to simply wait him out and see where he gets off. You try not to give away that you noticed him, he’s definitely keeping an eye on you. However he seems a bit nervous, he doesn’t want you noticing him observing you as much as you don’t want him to do so as well. Odds are you are you not his target, he didn’t expect your presence.
So who could he be? Not an automaton unless they can fake signs of being nervous that well. He doesn’t look like a Lemurian, at least not like any of those you ever saw. He’s wearing a rather baggy coat, possibly to hide an RGM or something else beneath it. Maybe a weapon. Who could he be?
Finally, you notice he tries to move out of your line of sight. But in a way that would appear inconspicuous. He fears that you will see where he gets off perhaps? It could be that. You tell Paul to try to track him with the scanner, very discretely of course.
He gets out of your sight but he’s still on the street car. You and Paul position yourselves near the door. Finally he gets off near the plebian quarter. It is time to follow him.
You try to keep your distance, he remains unaware of you for some time. But after a while, you think he noticed you. He leads you into a back alley, trying to lose you there no doubt. Or he’s trying ambush you. Cautiously you and Paul take a peek behind the corner.
It’s a dead end, but he’s nowhere in sight. Paul’s scanner doesn’t find a thing. You notice his coat is lying in the alley abandoned. Why would he leave his coat there like that and where did he go? Then you realize what has happened.
Quickly you turn around and notice a familiar optical distortion behind Paul, one caused by the quick movements of a person wearing optical camouflage. Movements which the adaptive metamaterial mesh has difficulty to catch up to when displaying the image of the background.
Paul jumps to the side as soon you yell at him to do so. Electricity arcs among the surface of the assailant’s charged stun rod. He attempts another strike but now has no element of surprise as you can clearly see the unsheathed stun rod. Paul dodges runs away while you grab your laspistol and fire in the cloaked man’s direction. The optical camouflage absorbs one shot, the affected surface glows for a brief moment, before shifting to display the image of the background once again.
He starts running, obviously while he has optical camo he lacks a ranged weapon which means a sneak attack was his only way to take you down. You can’t chase him as he is invisible, but you have a feeling he isn’t staying around. He did leave his coat behind.
Not much is left inside its pockets, only a few cut out articles from newspapers. Some are fairly recent, other years or decades old.
“Jupiter Power Company opens first power plant in Rome.”
“The Isaac Firearms Company builds a mechanical calculator, thousands of gears and sprockets allow a machine to calculate in mere moments what men would need hours for.”
“Man from Portus Dubris attempts to fly like a bird using mechanical wings, dies after jumping from a cliff and crashing into the sea.”
“The telephone, a way to talk over long distance using a wire has been patented by the Alexandria Telegraph company.”
“Link between microbes and disease found?”
Looks like your new friend is a high-rank pioneer or CTPCT agent. A mere ordinary pioneer wouldn’t have optical camo. Not unless the assignment would have required it. And he is definitely interesting in the scientific progress in this parallel. Odds are he’s not alone, he has to have a team or squad hiding somewhere. They definitely know about you know, laspistols aren’t exactly commonplace in this parallel. It is best to remain cautious.
*
It is Midnight, the Salvitto residence looks as abandoned as it was the last time you were there. The neighbors appear to be sleeping, unfortunately their bedrooms are outside of your scanner’s range.
You break into the house with ease, no mere mechanical lock can stop you after all. Using your RGM’s display as a flashlight, you attempt to avoid the furniture lying around. “What exactly are we looking for Heracles?” Paul asks. That is a very good question, you guess there may be some documents lying around. Maybe a journal or something. “Do you honestly think that Mr. Salvitto would write anything about who might want him gone?” It is a possibility, you guess.
There are some letters lying around on the table, one of them is not yet opened. “Dear Mr. Marcus Salvitto, we would like to remind you have not yet paid your first installment of the 120 solidii loan you took out. If you do not pay it back plus interest for delayed payment within 7 days, a debt collector will be dispatched to deal with your case. Sincerely, Gaius Labeo - Credito Augustia Bank Manager.”
You notice a few books lying around. “Dice for the devious.” “The master’s guide to card games.” “Heroic gambling.” It looks like Mr. Salvitto was into a gambling, a bit too much into gambling you guess. Perhaps you could find out where he played.
“Sumus Vigiles! Excedo villa!” By the gods, not the local law enforcement. Did one of the neighbors call them? Or were they patrolling the area. You can hear a gunshot being fired. “Excedo nunc!” This is bad.
You will…
1)…surrender peacefully. No need to piss off the armed natives further.
2)…try to run. No way in hell you’re letting them catch you.
3)…fight them. They want a firefight, they can have it. The gloves are off.
4)…hide in the villa. It’s dark as hell and the house is rather big, no way in hell they can find you.
Assuming you deal with the Vigiles, you will…
1)...get the container for Bucco. Transit to ββ-17 via αε-13.
2)...get the container for Bucco. Transit to ββ-17 via αδ-37.
3)...try to enter the "Parlor of Prestige". Meeting some of the local tycoons should prove prudent.
4)...visit the Coitus Maximus. Time to see if an expensive whore (or two) is worth the money.
5)...check out the Christian Society of Western Caesarea. Maybe the Christians know something.
6)...try to contact the head of the city's treasury. Ask him if he needs more slaves or knows anything that could be of use to you.
7)...contact the local governor and offering him technology.
8)…visit the Isaac’s Firearms factory and investigate Mr. Salvitto’s disappearance there.
9)…search the area where the pioneer/agent disappeared. He wanted to exit the streetcar there on his own, he had to have some business there.
10)…visit a local gambling hall, search for clues there. Surely Mr. Salvitto had to frequent one of them.
11)...visit the Credito Augustia Bank branch, try to find out something about Mr. Salvitto.
Vote now.
Consult the map and info on paralells for details if you need them.
All of the above will take place tomorrow. I think Venus Day is coming soon, so you’ll get the chance to see the native Gladiator Champion in action if you want to when that happens.
As always, if the latin appears to be badly butchered, it is because it got changed like that over one and a half millennia
