Going in Circles

[Mr.Ling]

...hack.initiated...connecting.to.Newport.Station.Security...decryption.in.progress...
...Deceiver.Mr.Ling.recognized...beginning.playback...
...uploading.data...

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Ling watched the proceeding through the security system. Military? Bounty Hunters Guild was never a good sign, Core or not. Fox mask didn't inspire confidence, either. One would have to be incredibly unstable to walk around in one of those, maybe an intelligence agent?

Didn't matter, seemed one of them was going to cut him off at the hallway. He picked up the pace a little to make it there first, dropping a card at the door at the entrance to the hallway, and holding it open with his station security access. He had just barely managed to make it to the end of the hallway before Irelei had reached the entrance. Turning around with a smile befitting his smugness, Ling didn't say a word, instead holding up one of his playing cards before dropping it on the door frame. He tilted his sunglasses down to wink at her before pushing them back up and letting both sets of doors close.

The doors closed on the cards, which sparked with like a match being struck. The flame grew into a short, brilliant white glow as a small amount of thermite burned and welded the doors shut, and to the doorframe, sealing the hallway. Of course, until someone came to cut it open. Ling made sure the ventilation was online, though. Dead people tend to sour conversations.

Five minutes to the appointed meeting time, Mr. Ling opened the door to the private bar to find three women already there. Spinning an ace of spades in his hand, he asked: "Kept you waiting, huh?"

Stepping into the room and gesturing behind him with his thumb, he continued "I like your friend. Don't forget to unseal her, yeah? These talismans don't come off easily."

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...encryption.in.progress...disconnecting.from.network...hack.terminated...