From: kogutt@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (SCAVEN-CLAUS)
Subject: 501 BLUES: A LURK OF FAITH---CHATSUBO EDITION
Date: 8 Dec 92 22:36:54 GMT
Lines: 366

Hi,  My name is SCAVENGER.  I'd like to welcome y'all  to a project I consider
really neat, the first-really big, fully integrated, Legion of Net.Heroes/Chat-
subo  cross-over.

Some background on the LNH.  We are a group sprung off from Rec.arts.comics.
We hang out at Alt.comics.lnh.  We are a group of fictioneers, collabrative
writers, in a sort of super-hero/net genre.  The LNH  know that they  exist in
a world of computers.  They can travel to other news.groups, because to them,
they are just different worlds.

What you are about to read  (at least I hope you're gonna read  it :-) is
an excerpt from my current story line, A LURK OF FAITH.  This post contains
only the Chatsubo x-over.  I highly reconmend that you  travel to a.c.lnh or
r.a.c.m and read Chapter 1 part 1,  and the whole version of part 2.  While
you're there, check out the great stories by other LNHers (including some
brilliant stuff by A.C.C's own Hubert Bartles).

Thanx for making this possible go to uplink, Mark Friedman(both of whom are
LNHers), and especialy Jay Brandt.  They gave permission to use some of their
A.C.C. characters in this, to add that extra touch of authenticity.

Hope y'all enjoy it....

----SCAVENGER

-----------------------------aim smart gun here-------------------------------

               		THE 501 BLUES: A LURK OF FAITH
                        	by SCAVENGER

      CHAPTER 1: LURKING TO CONCLUSIONS---part 2--THE CHATSUBO EDITION


It was a typical night at the CHATSUBO.  The usual crowd of deckers, riggers
and street samurai were gathered for their various evening activities.  Deals
were being made, contracts were being signed and lives were being bought and
sold.

The doors to the Chat opened, elliciting a few looks from the clientel, but only
a few.  Two figures filled the doorway.  The first, standing about 6 feet, was
dressed in a a battle vest, a shirt with some kind of white, red, and blue
design, grey pants, and a grey soldier's cap.  The second was clad in a blazing
red jumpsuit, adorned with wicked-looking spikes.

Telpathically, the first thought to the one in red, >>Scout around, see what
you can find--try to look inconspicuous!<<

PLOT KING moved on around to the back of the bar, doing his best not to be
noticed (not an easy thing for someone who's around 7 feet tall, wearing a
blazing red jumpsuit adorned with wicked-looking spikes).

The grey-clad stranger headed over to the bar and ordered whatever would pass
for a beer in the place.  He was pleasantly surprised with what the bartender
brought him.  He turned around and scanned the dimly-lit room.  He noticed the
crowd, shrouded in shallow shadows.  Movement on the small stage caught his
attention, as a new performer walked on.  His instrument looked like some
type of portable keyboard, except it had strings.  The thing that caught the
stranger's notice, though, was that a cord ran from the instrument to a
plug-in the back of the musician's head!  The stranger considered that for a
moment, but then dismissed it as yet another of the genre differences between
this place and home.

The musician walked up to the mike.  In a laid-back, mellowish, voice he said,
"Howdy, folks, and welcome to the Chatsubo.  It's no-cover fun in the land of
Night City, so sit back, relax, and deal that biz. Oh, and feel free to dance
if you think you're up to some of KLONE CRIMSON's 7/4 funk, eh? But first:  that
new-age atmosphere thang ..."

The room filled with an eclectic mix of sounds.  The vocals were delivered in
some sort-of-but-not-quite-Medieval-chant-like style.  The performer, apparently
named Klone Crimson, seemed to know what he was doing, but the stranger found
the music a bit too...existential, for his tastes.  He sent out a thought,
>>Heh, give me the Radiators anyday.  Find anything?<<

>>NOT YET, BUT THERE ARE SOME FACINATING STORIES GOING ON HERE.  WELL CRAFTED,
LONG, CONTINUING...<<

>>That's great, Plot King. Really.  Keep your mind on business, will you?<<

>>YES, PRIME UNIT.<<

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

Plot King studied the room and determined it was a nexus for storylines.  So
different from home (although, admittedly, it was getting better there).  He
found this place ... refreshing.

He saw a table with an open chair. There was a man dressed all in black at the
table, but he seemed to be concetrating on his drink and a few of Lonny Zone's
working girls, who were attempting to dance to the music.  Plot King sat down.

Without looking up, the man in black said, "I don't recall asking for company."

Plot King replied, "OH. WELL, I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D MIND!"

"Well I do."

"HMM, THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANWHERE ELSE TO SIT..."

"I don't care," the man said, growing hostile. ""Leave, or I'll drop you where
you stand." The man in black seemed to be quite drunk.  He began to stand up.

Plot King also rose. "ARE YOU THREATRNING ME?!?"

"You could see it that way."  Silver armor materialized around the man in
black.  The sensor packs built into the wings on his helmet began supplying him
with data about his opponent; data, which in his drunken state, he chose to
ignore.  "You don't know who you're messing with! I am SHADOW KNIGHT!! With my
ninja skills, I can eat chumps like you for breakfast!" His gauntlet glowed and
fired a blast at Plot King.

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

The stranger in grey watched his companion and sighed.  >>Could you *please* try
to avoid trouble!?!<< he thought as he ordered another beer.

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

>>SORRY, PRIME UNIT!!<< thought Plot King as he disipated the blast. "YOU WOULD
DO BETTER, FRIEND, IF YOU'D WAIT FOR YOUR ARMOR TO CHARGE.  NOW, WHY DON'T YOU
POWER DOWN AND LET ME BUY YOU A DRINK!?!"

The armor dematerialized as the Shadow Knight stopped to consider Plot King's
proposal.  "Yeah, that sounds good.  You, sir, are a noble warrior."

The pair sat down. "I TRY!  I AM PLOT KING, AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT
HAVE SOME INFORMATION..."

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

RATZ brought the stranger his beer.  "I am impressed. Usually, the Knight kills
at least one bystander."

"Heh, guess that can happen when cyber-types get a bit drunk."

Ratz nodded, as he wiped the bar with his artificial arm.

The stranger continued, "Uhh, I was, uh, wondering.  You know anything about
someone called NETLURKER?"

"Hmm," the bartender said, "He come by a few months back.  Didn't stay around
long, though.  You should talk to a decker, they might help."

"Where could I find ..." but Ratz had already moved to the other end of the bar.

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

Shadow Knight stood up.  "Sorry I could not help you, chummer.  If you will
excuse me now, combat always gives me certain urges, if you take my meaning."
Shadow Knight headed over to one of the dancing girls, flashed a credit stick,
and the two walked off.

>>Learn anything?<<

>>NOTHING, I'M AFRAID! SHADOW KIGHT IS NEW AROUND HERE.  HE DID NOT KNOW MUCH.
STRANGE, THOUGH, HE REMINDED ME OF OPINIONATED LAD.<<

>>G-d help us if there's two of 'em.  Well, the bartender really didn't help
either.  Keep looking around.  Maybe we'll get lucky.<<

>>CHECK!!!<<

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

The stranger continued to scan the bar.  One person caught his attention.  It
wasn't the Liefeld-esque porportions of his body.  The stranger had seen quite
a number of those steroid-mutated monstrosities lately.  Nor was it the large
gun hanging on his side or the swords strapped to his back.  Again, this was par
for the stranger.  No, it was that this man appeared to be bothering
the young lady sitting next to him.  The stranger moved closer, hoping to get a
better fix on the situation.

He heard the woman say, "I said, 'SLAG OFF, CREEP!!'"

"Aw, c'mon baybee!  Why don'cha c'm wit mee an' let ELBAC show ya wot a reel
man iz!"

The woman, about 6 feet tall with curly, brown hair, and a body that would
stop Net.York City traffic at rush hour, turned away from him, waiting for her
drinks to be ready, her silk outfit rustling as she moved.

Elbac continued. "Aw, Snugglebunee.  Don'cha turn away from Elbac. I don' like
it when a chick plays hard ta get!"

"Listen, chummer, go jack into a wall socket!"

"No bint talks to Elbac that way!"  Elbac brought his arm back to hit her.  It
was caught in mid-swing by a grey clad arm.

"The lady said 'No', punk."

"This ain't none of yo' bidness, puny!  Take off before Elbac squashes ya'."
Elbac pulled himself up to his full height.  He was nearly 8 feet tall!

Undaunted, the stranger said, "I'm making it my business. Leave the lady alone!"

"Make me, gnat!"

"Not here.  Step outside."

"Wuh...outside ?!?  Uh, why not...Your blood will show up betta there!"  He
walked past the stranger, on his way to the door.  The stranger turned and
followed.

The woman turned to her companion who was at a table near the bar and said,
"'Step Outside'?  What's he think this is, a vid? I gotta see this."

The man, who had a beard and long, brown hair, pulled into a tail, wore
on a leather jacket and replied, "Have fun, but be careful, eh?"

The woman headed for the door, "ARGUS, I'm always careful."

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

As the two men headed for the door, the stranger thought, >>LIST LAD, bio-scan
on this guy.<<

>>Hang tight...M-TM says to watch yourself.  His entire system is augmented:
strength, speed, endurance... He's got more testosterone and adrenalin running
through him than in a month's Image shipment.  Should I have M-TM prepare to
'mat you out?<<

>>No, I should be able to handle it.  Besides, I don't think it would do the
locals good to see me transmat out of here.  It's not in the genre.<<

>>Understood.  Good luck!<<

>>YES! GOOD LUCK, PRIME UNIT!!!<<

>>Will y'all get the hell out of my head ?!<<

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

The street outside the Chatsubo was lit by a single streetlight.  The rest
had burnt out, were broken, or had been shot.  The sign outside the bar threw
out colors in the shape of " HAT SUB " across the street.  As the two combatants
exited the bar, vermin, of both the four-legged and the two-legged varities,
scrambled for shelter.

"Chummer, You's gonna be in a bunch of pain!"

"Listen, pal, I've been beat on by the best.  You don't even rate an audition!"

"WHY YOU!" Elbac was enraged.  Not as much at what the stranger said, but by the
fact that he didn't understand what the stranger said.

The behemoth charged the stranger.  When he got there, though, his target ducked
and moved to the side.  Elbac smashed into a wall.  Turning around, he snarled,
"You gonna pay for that!" He reached for his gun, but before he could even pull
it out of its holster, the stranger pulled a bolo made of multi-colored beads
out of a belt pouch and hurled it at Elbac.  The bolo encircled the giants arms,
pinning them to his body.  The stranger then grabbed a bunch of purple, green,
and gold discs form another pouch and tossed them at his prisoner.  The discs
struck, giving off little sparks.  Elbac fell to the floor.

The stranger turned back to the bar and saw the woman for whose honor he had
just been fighting. He said, "Uh, hi."

She replied to that brilliant opening, "That was impressive.  So, my rescuer,
do you have a handle?  I'm Shado..." The woman suddenly executed a complex flip
through the air, landing behind the stranger.  She pulled twin katannas, which
the stranger had suddenly noticed, and proceeded to slice them through Elbac,
who had been about to do the same to the stranger.  She said,"Guess your stun
disks couldn't fully deal with his cyber-systems.  Well, he's vulture food now.
Anyhow as I was saying, I'm SHADOWCAT.  And you are..."

Shadowcat? Shadow Knight? Klone Crimson? What is it about these people and
names? thought the stranger.  Then again, who am I to talk.  He said, "I am
REBEL YELL!"

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

"'Step Outside'? What possesed you to do that?" asked the man named Argus.
Rebel Yell and Shadowcat had gone back into the bar and sat down at the table.

"That's just the way things are done where I'm from.  You don't wreck a place
when you're trying to find out information from it."

"Oh," asked Shadowcat, "Where are you from?"

"The South."

Argus commented, "Not a bad part of town, if you got the right security.  What
kind of information are you looking for?"

Yell answered, "Well, I'm trying to find out anything I can about a man named
Netlurker.  Specifically, what happened to him when he came here."

"Netlurker, hmm?  I think I remember him.... Yeah, he hung out here about 4
months ago.  Only saw him once or twice though.  He was the type you tend to
remember."

"Well, the bartender said that I should ask a decker to help me out.  You know
where I can find one?"

Shadowcat chimed in, "Why we're both deckers. I'm sort of just learning the
ropes. But Argus here is the best.  I bet he could probably find you what you
need."

Argus began, "'Cat..."

"Oh Argus, he _did_ save my "virtue" ."

Argus sighed. "Ok, I'll see what I can find.  The Archive probably has the
records.  They're public domain, so it shouldn't take too long.  Hold on."
He pulled out a compact cyberdeck and plugged it in to a jack beneath his hair.
A glazed look appeared on his face.

Shadowcat turned to the Southern Knight and said, "This probably won't take too
long."

Yell replied, "I appreciate this.  But it was obvious the way you handled those
swords that you didn't need my help.  Judging from what I saw, I'd say you
studied ninjitsu ... and have a...blackbelt in it?"

"I'm impressed. Not many people can differintiate between different Martial Arts
styles, but you were able to tell all of that from one flip."

"I have a...friend, who is sorta like the greatest ninja warrior ever in the
known worlds.  You kinda get used to the style after a while.  You two would
probably hit it off real well."

"Is he as cute as you?"

"No, but he has some neat swords."

Argus blinked back into realtime. "Heck, that was easier than I thought.  It was
like someone put it out just so that it would be easy to find."  Argus popped a
disk out of the deck and handed it to the net.hero.

Putting the disk in one of his pouches, Yell thought to himself, someone
probably did.  "I really want to thank y'all for this.  Hopefully with this
information, I'll be able to end a game that has been played far too long."

The two deckers looked at him, nodded as if they understood, and went on.
Shadowcat said, "Oh, it was no problem.  Please look us up again if you need
anything."

"Thanks, I will." Yell stood up and headed to the door.  He was joined by Plot
King.  >>List Lad, 'mat us out as soon as we're clear of the locals.<<

The two left the bar and vanished into the night.

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*


END of excerpt....for the rest Check out alt.comics.lnh or rec.arts.comics.misc


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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Klone Crimson (and  his dialogue) (c) Mark Friedman and appears with permission
Shadow Knight (c) uplink and appears with permission
Shadowcat and Argus (c) Jay Brandt and , of course, appears with permission
Ratz and the Chatsubo are Gibson's
All LNHERs belong to the group as a whole, cause we don't do that silly (c)
stuff yet.



--
Alt.comics.lnh -the most fun you can have with  |  kogutt@ucsu.colorado.edu
    your .net on!                               |      (Internet/Usenet)
You don't have to be crazy to be in the LNH,    |  "Oh Bite Me!  It's fun"
    But it helps!!!                             |         -Crow T. Robot (MST3K)