"Thanks. I'll try to remember to check my mail more often than once every few days."

And he strolls out.

He's already squared up on the bill for one hour, so nobody will stop him!

He's now on the street in the PZ. Smartly dressed delivery-people are unloading a box van nearby. Bright animated billboards flash over most buildings. There are distinctly no beggars, graffiti, or trash visible.

Yeah, he's going to go back to the general area where he first landed, maybe by way of the hospital if that makes geographic sense.

The hospital is on the way-ish. (The guy he met before can show him to a cavernous disused garage sublevel where dozens of trailers of medical supplies can mysteriously appear! He's still awake! For now!)

Yay, a cavernous disused garage! Cam fills it up.

And then he heads back to where the pothole guys were working. He wants to tip them and see if they know anybody. He likes their deal.

They're now doing street cleaning. Gathering the trash drifts and compacting them down with a fun-size compressor box, even as random passers-by just casually toss more trash down. A bunch of 'em are fussing with one of the busted light poles. A few minutes' observation picks out a pair of foreman types.

Cam heads over and hands them a couple of twenties. "I like what you guys are doing. Find a thing to do and do it, that's the only reason anything ever happens."

"Well, much obliged! There's always more work to do and everyone has their own worries, right? But that's the goal here. Local people doing local things, and giving some of the folk who need it most some work, too. Donations to that cause will always be well received. I haven't seen you around here before though, what's your name? I'm Iras, and that's Ben."

"I'm Cam, lovely to make your acquaintance. I was wondering if you know anybody who might want a security job, the last person I talked to about it didn't know the right kind of folks but I hope I'm right that anyone you recommend is the kind I'd want to work with."

They look at each other warily.

"That kind of thing sure depends a lot on the specifics, head. What kind of security?"

"Bodyguarding, cargo shipments."

Skeptical looks all around. "Oh yeah? Say a little more?"

"I'm starting a company in the commodities sector and have been advised that somebody's going to try to steal all my stuff if I just drive it places hoping to exchange it for money, or try to assassinate my lawyer, or something like that."

"Sounds about right."

"The problem is we can't vouch for you. I'm sure you could find someone willing to get behind a wheel, but it could be trouble, handing out names to out of towners we don't know, up to some kind of strange business."

"That is incredibly legit, I'm not local at all. How do people usually demonstrate their bona fides?"

"Hanging around for at least a few days and getting to know folks. Getting your name around, being known. Letting people see what kind of player you're going to be."

"Donating to the neighborhood watch... Two fifty is the standard if you want to go above and beyond. Or some free products could do."

"Get an information broker to vouch for you. Hire a crew for this and that, low commitment stuff, and treat them well."

"Sure, that sounds good. I wanted to sell off some fuel, that could be a one-off. What kinds of products do you folks most find yourselves short of?"

"Fuel ethanol, electrical-grade copper wire, fiber optic. Bricks, plascrete sheeting, insulation foam."

"Coffee, bits and bobs and gubbins for repairing our gear..."

"Could always use more nanite shots and first aid kits. Maybe some hard hats and hi-vis gear. You said commodities, though."

"Oh, I have lots of stuff, commodities are just the most fungible."

"Uh huh. As long as nobody's going to come looking for the stuff."

"Nobody is going to come looking for the stuff and be telling the truth about it, at any rate."

"And it's not like this is diamonds we're talking about. We certainly appreciate it. This association covers this block and the two to our south- We're based out of the old disco palace."

"Neat, is it worth my hitting up people there too or a neighboring similar org or nah?"

"You should head around and have a chat, yeah. Maybe visit Frank's Bar and get to know the block there too. Just... Generally get to know the place."

"Can you get me directions?"