Nadine

"Well maybe they met over the internet. Computer, take me to Nadine McClaren's apartment."

The HUD lights up the flight path. Doc pulls back on the stick. The Python jumps into the air with a sudden jolt.

"Careful! I almost spilled my beer!" Thunderhorse shouts from behind him. He's holding one of Doc's tallboys.

"Hey! That's my beer!"

"Then you should want less to spill it," Thunderhorse retorts. He continues chugging.

Doc rolls his eyes as he eases the throttle forward. He notices a light asking him if he wishes to engage the autopilot. He cancels it, figuring now is a good time to practice flying. Now it tells him to increase speed. He does so.

The flight path leads a very quick jump through the skylanes to the south side of the city. They fly from the highest buildings down towards the mid levels, cruising between the towers just over the fog that obscures the street levels.

Only two minutes later, the Python's computer is instructing Doc to land on the roof of an apartment building. This rooftop parking lot is another stripmall island in the clouds. There's a small grocery store, a chinese caryout, and a pharmacy.

Doc lands the Python with a heavy thump. A few warning alarms scream at him briefly. Doc gets the hatch open. He and Thunderhorse climb out, leaving Mark behind.

They cross the busy parking lot. People cast sidelong glances at the strange pair. Doc himself is rather inconspicuous, but the leather clad giant next to him is a strange sight. Doc makes a mental note: find Thunderhorse something more appropriate to wear in public. They must think he's a masochist and Thunderhorse is his gimp.

In the small arcade between the caryout and the pharmacy is an elevator. Nadine's apartment is on the 15th floor, nine stories down. Unfortunately, the elevator doors won't open without a key.

There's a small video intercom on the wall next to the elevator. Doc hits the button. "Nadine McClaren?" he asks the device. He tells Thunderhorse to stand aside, away from the intercom's small camera.

The video tells him that it's trying to call her. After a couple cycles, it tells him she's activated the intercom, one way viewing. "Who are you?" a woman's voice comes over the com.