Esperanza Ortega; Wanted for Murder, Theft.

[Pryce]

Winterberry Grove Residential Complex
Rexford, Los Angeles
0620 local time

Esperanza tended to hate any vehicle that drove exclusively by A.I.

Though generally, she was open to trying any tech if she thought it might give her an edge, that openess did not extend to the piloting of vehicles she was in. The lack of independence, of that personal control, never seemed to sit right with her.Even when she rode with a crew, someone else at the controls just irritated. She did suppose AI pilot had a place. There had been a certain building on New Tokyo, one of limitless others she guessed, that was periodically pockmarked with the last remnants of overconfident Kusari racers. Of course, she had made a goodly amount of credits from some of those races, so who was she to judge?



She paid the fare, then stepped from the sheltered passenger compartment of the taxi. Once she was clear, the taxi elevated and headed off to its next fare. An A.I., a somewhat worn looking humanoid model with a missing optical lens, noticed her and began to bob its way over to her. It eyed her with the single remaining lens, apparently having adapted to the damage, and spoke, its inhuman drone prehaps abit disjointed, as if it was having difficulty choosing words.



"Greetings and good..morning guest. Welcome to Winterberry Grove.How may I be....of service?"



Ortega cringed noticably at the name of the place, as she had when she'd found it in the listing. She replied; "I am here to visit my friend, Vanessa Donnovan. Can you tell me where I may find her?"



The A.I. paused, longer than it ought, as if it was trying to remember. It replied; "[font=Fixedsys]Certainly guest. The Kingston..Carban...Donnovan Residence,is located in... neighborhood three, number three one six. I can show you there, as you wish."



"I can find it on my own, thanks" Ortega started towards the lift. "Very...well.Have a pleasant day." The A.I matched her pace before turning off to where it had been waiting when she arrived. A crude expletive was etched across its back.



Arriving at the lift, she was greeted by another automated voice, projected from the panel beside the lift door; "Greetings, Welcome to Winterberry Grove. Please present your card."



Ortega complied and there was a brief tension as she hoped this gatekeeper wasn't tied into a law enforcement database. The ID she was using had been used three times before, and she used it here only because her stock of alternates was getting abnormally low. She would have to pay Casper a visit soon and correct that. Underland Raiders are Alpha 1 was laser-carved, roughly,into the wall next to the entryway.



"Welcome Ms Kelly Mason, this is your first visit; are you interested in applying for a lease? We presently have multiple opportunities available, with discounted rates for Ageira Technologies Employees, for students, for law enforcement professionals, and for those with no criminal convictions."



Nice neighborhood Ortega thought, although she had certainly lived in far worse. Far worse.



"No thank you, I'm only here to visit."



"Very well. Please be advised you will be scanned upon entering this structure. The possession of illegal drugs, of weapons,or of stolen property, shall result in a filed report to the Liberty Police. Maximum visit duration is for twenty four hours, commencing at zero six two three hundred hours. Violation of this duration shall result in eviction of tenant.." The door slid open. As she entered, a small blue vehicle pulled into the pad behind her.


After a few minutes Ortega located apartment 316, and keyed the chime. There was a long pause then the door opened.

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