Chapter Four
Business Day
The Barrens
Redmond, Seattle
July 12, 2059
1:15 am
"That's all that's left?!" Nightsky blurted as the helicopter angled through the skyline.
Redmond is burning. Flight 1118 had carved a massive scar into the cold reaches of the barrens. A scar that bathed the dark barrens in a strange orange haze. It started in the small town of Monroe and ate it's way parallel to the Snoqualmie River. The wreckage spread covered two kilometers. Easily visible from the sky where the city was burning. The massive structure of the Seattle Metroplex Reformatory blazed brighter than anything.
"Looks like the suborbital hit hard. When it did it set off a bunch of secondary fires." Eve mused, her voice traveling over the helicopters internal speakers. "No one can survive this."
Eve was rigging the helicopter. Riggs was not with the group. The idea of flying along side the orkish rigger, and knowing her first hand, had put a damper on Riggs. He wanted no part of it. Instead the dwarf took the Bison out of downtown, working through a jam of traffic. Lenny was using him as backup. All Riggs had to do was get himself and the Bison to the rundown neighborhood of Purity. There was a small airfield there, long since abandoned. Once the rest of the team had David Hague's body they could land there and transfer it to the Bison.
Smiley stared blankly out the open side door. Wind rushed in, blowing the tail of his long coat. "Heh, the jail's burning." Smiley uttered as the Reformatory passed below. "I got bad memories of prisons. Good to see this prison's going to have bad memories too."
"Man, Redmond's burning down." Cinder afforded a snicker. "I doubt anyone will notice."
"This is a mess, Lenny." Shard pushed her way to the cockpit. "It's chaos down there."
"Yeah." Smiley sneered behind her shoulder. "You thinking maybe we can add to it?"
"Shaddup, Smiley." Cinder groaned.
"Pull it together!" Lenny warned Cinder and Smiley. The two of them were getting on each other's nerves even though they had more in common with each other than any one else. "We're here to do a job and we're going to do it even if hell is paying Redmond a visit."
"How do you plan on finding the suit in all this?" Nightsky questioned.
Lenny skulked at that. "We know David had a first class ticket. That would mean that he would be towards the front of the plane." Lenny reasoned. "Eve, take us in towards the front of the wreckage."
"Whatever you say, Lenny." The helicopter made a sudden drop in altitude. "There's rescue flights running around. Also some military patrols. I'm running a spoof for them over the frequencies."
"In other words if anyone asks we're from DocWagon." Cinder translated.
"Heh, yeah, DocWagon. Hope you payed you're dues." Smiley grinned.
Lenny checked his watch. "Get ready, team. We drop in five minutes."
"So, Nightsky, you ever done a grapple drop before?" Cinder grabbed his line and feed it through his harness.
"Not from a copter, no." Nightsky replied, running the nylon rope through his harness while slinging his HK227 over his shoulder. "But technically neither have you."
"Strike true."
"I have." Smiley leered. "It's like an express elevator to hell. One minute you're standing pretty. Then the ground is rushing up like a bitch. Feels like the ground's moving, not you. Hell I'd rather jump and save the rug burns. The updrafts and the fires are really going to make this extra fun, too. Like being to a barbeque and you're the meat."
"Smiley, has anyone ever told you that you can ruin someone's good mood?" Cinder wondered.
"Front half of the orbital is coming up." Eve interrupted. The helicopter passed over a raging inferno from the Reformatory. The heat is unbearable.
"Bring us in low, Eve." Lenny turned to Shard. "Shard, what do you think those elementals that were suppose to guard David will do if he dies?"
Shard passed a hand through her stiff hair. "Well, if he's really dead, his spirit has left his body, they should leave. But, Lenny, I'm saying this assuming that the elementals were commanded to keep Mr. Hague from harm. If they were told to watch over something he had, say a special pen or something he carries that links him to the spirits, they would do it even after his death."
"Right." Lenny keyed his commlink, double checking to make sure the frequency was set. "Listen up, people. We may still have trouble from the elementals. Cinder, those guys are your department. If they show up you handle them."
"I can handle a few spirits, no problem." Cinder said confidently.
"Nightsky, you cover Cinder's back if push comes to shove. He'll have his hands full with the elementals so you keep any other opposition off."
"You got it, Lenny."
"Smiley and Shard, you two are with me." Lenny got out of the copilot seat and clipped a line to his harness. "We're search and rescue."
"Awe, frag it." Smiley cursed, sounding disappointed. "I get to save people."
"Odds are he's already dead, Smiley." Shard reminded.
"That takes the fun out of it." Smiley sneered.
"Eve, keep it steady. You our eyes in the sky while we're down there." Lenny made his way back and opened the other side door. "Remember that it's going to be hot down there. Don't being any more ammunition that you want going off in your face."
"You chummers be careful down there." The orkish rigger blessed. "Good luck."
Hot wind quickly filled the cabin and made the air stale. Below the burning wreckage is clearly visible. Flashing lights from emergency vehicles filled adjacent streets. Firemen fought to push back the wall of fire that surrounded the edges of the crash zone.
Nightsky suddenly remembered why he hated this kind of work with one look down.
"Nightsky, Cinder, Smiley off the right side." Lenny ordered. "Me and Shard off the left."
Each of the runners grabbed their line and tossed it over. The nylon rope stringed itself out just before it hit the ground. A second guess stepped into Nightsky's mind. He found himself frozen and unable to move. He pushed the thoughts aside with a silent curse. Hesitation had no place in the business. He placed his foot over the edge with authority. A moment later he was sliding to the ground below. Smiley was right for once. The ground looked like it was doing the moving as it rushed up. Only the rope sliding through his hands reminded Nightsky that it was him doing the falling.
Upon hitting the ground he immediately wished he had brought some heavier armor, but in a way he didn't. The heat is unbearable. The choking smoke is worse.
"Form up! Respirators on!" Lenny called through the commlink. "Nightsky, Cinder. You two bring up the rear. The rest of us are on point."
Eve's voice crackled over the link. "Lenny, I mark you twenty meters from the first class section. I've also got emergency crews coming in near the cockpit. Looks like a DocWagon crew has made it past the burning buildings. I figure the fire crews will be on top of you guys within three minutes."
Lenny held out his hand. A small clump of orange fire-retardant fell on his shoulder, sprayed by a firetruck from a nearby street. "Understood, Eve. The smoke is thick down here. The fires make thermographs useless."
"You're ten meters from the first class compartment. The front half is nearly completely destroyed, but it looks like part of the rest is intact." Eve informed. "Can you see it yet?"
"I don't see drek!" Smiley yelled at no one in particular just before stepping in something squishy. "I take that back. I see roasted people."
"Oh my spirits!" Shard breathed, thankful that her respirator kept her from smelling the charred bodies.
An explosion ripped through a chunk of fuselage, throwing Cinder to the ground. Small, floating wisps of fire landed on his armored jacket.
Cinder brushed of plasticrete out of his hair. He coughed heavily, inhaling foul-smelling smoke that held a the spice of cooking flesh. "This is a lot of fun!" Cinder fumbled to get his respirator back on.
Nightsky grabbed Cinder by the arm, hauling him up. "Keep it moving." Nightsky swung his HK227 into his grip. "And get your mask on. It stinks enough around here."
Cinder hacked up something. "I hear that." He manages to stumble to his feet.
"There it is." Lenny pointed at the wreckage of the first class compartment. Not much was left of it. More than half of the structure has disintegrated in the fires. Lenny grabbed a crumbled mass that was once a seat of seats. If it wasn't for the thick gloves his hand would have surely been burned. With a mighty heave he pulled the seat loose. Its now flimsy frame fell to pieces. A mauled corpse rested in the chair.
The sight was horrifying. The person had been decapitated in the crash. Most of the body was burned beyond recognition.
"Any sign of the elementals on the astral, Shard?"
"Not that I can tell. This is bad karma, Lenny." Shard stressed.
"Isn't it though." Lenny made a grab for another chunk of debris that blocked the way inside the hulk of the compartment, but he recoiled quickly. "Damn that's hot!"
Smiley laughed. "That's why it's called fire." Smiley grabbed the debris with a razored hand and gave it a sharp yank, pulling it free and sending a hail of twisted metal to the ground. The samurai didn't seem to notice that the hot metal scalded his hand. "Knock, knock." Smiley grinned. "Anyone home?"
If the elementals are still around they're going to be in here, Lenny thought to himself. "Cinder, Nightsky. You two are up. See if those elementals are hanging around."
"Great." Nightsky sighed. "Just want I need to be doing, playing with spirits."
"Not to burst you're bubble, drekhead, but the elementals are the ones who are going to be playing with me." Cinder clawed his way into the compartment.
Nightsky followed closely.
The remains of the first class section were a mess. Wires spat electrical sparks from overhead while people, still in their seats, started with horrifying expressions at their doom. Some of the bodies were motionless, melted right into their chairs. Others were so badly mangled they didn't look like people at all. The stench of cooking flesh was thick in the air. It mixed with the scent of burning wires and carpet. A thick smoke hovered near the ceiling like clouds on a rainy day. Taking steps down the aisle meant kicking all sorts of things out of the way. Everything from chunks of metal and luggage to appendages littered the cabin.
"I don't see anything." Cinder reported. "No big bad spirits looking to hurt me."
"Lenny," Nightsky clicked his comlink. "No sign of the elementals. Least not yet."
"Stand by, we're coming in." Lenny replied.
Cinder cursed to himself, the smell was getting to him despite his respirator. "I don't suppose we know what seat this David was in, eh?"
A hand suddenly grabbed Nightsky's arm.
"Help me!" A voice croaked.
"Drek!" Nightsky whirled, spinning his arm free. The barrel of the submachine gun met with a severely burned face of a middle-aged man. He was in obvious pain as his the right side of his head looked to be charred to the bone.
"HELP!"
"Damn, a crispy critter." Cinder said, feeling sick at the site of the man's melting face.
The man's grimy hands, with fingers as sharp and boney as any ghouls, held onto Nightsky's long coat. "HELP ME YOU BASTARD! ARGHHH! HELP!"
"Frag!" Nightsky jumped back, but the man did not let go. His mangled body fell into the aisle. "I don't know what do to!?" Nightsky was halfway in between a need to find the man help and blowing his brains out to get away from him.
"HELP ME!"
"Just shoot him!" Cinder screamed.
"No! No, Nightsky, don't shoot!" Shard pushed the barrel of the gun away from the man's head. Her hand, so calming, rested on Nightsky shoulder. In the heat of the fires her hand felt like a welcomed cool breeze. "He's just scared, he doesn't know what he's doing."
Shard took the man's hands in her own, releasing Nightsky's coat. "It's okay." She cooed, motioning Nightsky and Cinder away. "Your going to be okay now." Shard's gaze met the man's eyes, sad and pleading for help. A warm glow flowed into his body. Mana crossed between the two people, pulling the man's mind out of the pain that he was enduring. The magic knitted the man's broken body back together, or at least some of it.
The man's eyes relaxed, seemingly numb from the fact that he no longer had skin over most of his flesh. "Why? Why did this happen to me?"
Shard let a frown cross her features. "I don't know, but it's okay. You rest now." Shrd pulled a patch from her pocket, ripping the adhesive off and placing it over the man's heart. "You'll be fine. I promise. Rest." The man's eyes slowly closed. A moment later he was unconscious. Shard cuddled the man's in her arms, holding him still. "It'll all be over soon."
"Feel better, Shard?" Lenny wondered, sounding somewhat sarcastic.
Shard nodded. "Better than I did a minute ago." She met his gaze. "Help me get him outside?"
"Cinder, you heard what she said. Give her a hand."
"Chum," Cinder huffed. "Why is it that I have to move this cadaver."
"Just help me, Cinder." Shard pleaded. "Take his arm, but be careful."
"Yeah, yeah." Cinder said, pulling the man's arm over his shoulder. Between the two of them they were able to move him outside.
"Nightsky, we're going to find David. Smiley's on watch."
"No offense, Lenny, but this is the messiest run I've seen in a while."
"I agree with you." Lenny nodded. "You check the left side, I'll check the right. He'll have a briefcase handcuffed to him."
Seeing became harder as a thick black smoke choked the cabin. Fortunately Nightsky's goggles kept the foul air from his eyes and a respirator kept it from poisoning his lungs. Lenny was without glasses, but he's eyes were not made of flesh. Steel does not release tears.
"Lenny! I can't see a flippin' thing! The crash probably tore him to pieces." Nightsky cursed, sparing only brief glances at the charred bodies. He was looking for a briefcase as the tell tale sign of David Hague. The odds were that his body had been burned beyond recognition.
Lenny pushed a stiff body aside, bring a horribly burned face into view. The sight did not seem to bother Lenny. It seemed almost routine to him.
"We find him or we don't leave, Nightsky." Lenny scorned.
A flash of gleaming metal caught the adept's eye. "Lenny, I've got a briefcase here." Nightsky pushed a collapse seat aside, a headless body feel onto his feet. "Yech!" The runner blurted, nudging the corpse with his foot.
"Is it Hague's?"
Nightsky hoped it was. Then he get out of this place. "Sorry, Lenny, but there's no handcuff on it." The briefcase was shoved by the wall. The body's arm, or what was left of it, had been flash-burned above it.
"That's not it. Keep looking."
"Not having this smoke would make it easier!"
Shard climbed her way back into the cabin. The choking fumes found a way past her respirator. A quick sniff was enough to make her nauseous. Shard did not have any eye protection. A moment after she crawled into the cabin the smoke made tears run down her cheeks. She gagged, holding the respirator's mask tighter against her mouth and nose.
Shard coughed, getting another smell of the sickening air. "This is too much." She breathed. The elf lifted her hand, palm up. A shimmering filled the air above her. "Spirit of the wind and sky." Shard's voice chanted. "Come forth from your rest and push this poison from our breath."
A gust of wind ran the length of the cabin, pushing the foul smoke out the open end. Flames at that end found a new life as the wind brushed against them. For a brief moment the cabin's air was clean and fresh, but it the lingering smell soon returned.
"That's better." Shard let a sigh of relief, wrinkling her nose. "A little."
"What did you do with the man, Shard?"
"What I could." Shard replied, picking her way towards him. "Cinder and I took him away from the fires and gave him a trauma patch."
"Lenny?" Eve's voiced crackled over the commlink. "Can you read me?"
Lenny cupped a hand over his ear. "I can hear you, but just barely. What's wrong?"
"DocWagon is breaking through the fires. They've got the section forty meters behind your position under control. Rescue teams are moving in."
"Copy." Lenny said, turning to the others. "Move people! We're running short of time." Lenny paused, keying his commlink into Cinder and Smiley's channels. "Where are you two?"
"Watching the fucking fireflies." Smiley responded. "Oh, the spellworm's here too."
"Spread out around the first class cabin. See if David's body was thrown free."
Smiley let a groan. "Yes, fearless leader."
An explosion ripped through the air, sending a concussion through the barely intact cabin. A chunk of the ceiling collapse, burying half a dozen corpses. A new fire raged where the cockpit should have been. A firey form, resembling a volvo, hammered into the ground a handful of paces away.
"Lenny! This is Eve. A gas station just went ballistic! There's an inferno at your twelve o'clock."
"Hey!" Smiley came over the commlink. "A fucking Volkswagen almost landed on my fucking head out here!"
A sharp pain stung Nightsky's wrist. He jerked, shaking his hand violently. "This heat's murder." The datacord, which ran from an opening in the cuff of Nightsky's coat to his goggles, had started to lose its coating.
"This doesn't look good." Lenny muttered, mainly to himself. "Double time! Check the bodies and be quick about it!" Lenny moved down the aisle, checking its personage. Often pushing the bodies and kicking them aside in a frantic search for David Hague. He didn't know if anyone was still alive. He doubted they were.
Another explosion tore a chunk from the fuselage. It force Lenny onto the floor, his face landing on what was once someone's foot.
"This place is coming apart." Nightsky screamed into Lenny's ear as he tried to haul him to his feet.
Lenny held his side. "That's obvious, but not a hell of a lot I can do about that, Night."
"Lenny! Over here." Shard called from behind the two.
"What is it?" Lenny questioned, managing to limp his way to her.
Shard pointed at something on the ground. A hand stuck out from beneath an overturned seat. The skin was dark, burnt with the heat. An expensive looking ring had been fused to the bone. More important than that, a silver piece of plasteel was wrapped around the wrist with a chain running underneath the seat.
"Call me crazy, but that ring looks like it has a Fuchi logo engraved on it." Shard noted, though the logo was very distorted.
Lenny took one look at it, idly hoping to find a seat number, but that had long since been torched. "It has to be him. I can't believe we missed this." Lenny grabbed the overturned seat and pulled with all his might, but it didn't budge. "Nightsky, give me a hand."
Nightsky wrapped his fingers around the seat. Even through his gloves he could feel the heat on the metal frame. "It's not budging!"
Lenny cursed into his commlink. "Smiley, get in here. Cinder, watch us outside. We've found David, but need a second to get him out."
"Do I have a sign that says 'Lenny's Slave' on me?" Cinder complained.
"Shaddup, wizworm." Smiley sneered as he clawed his way into the cabin. "What's the fucking hold up in here?"
"Smiley, put your back into moving this chair. David's underneath."
"Alright already, fearless leader." Smiley wrapped his hands around the frame, oblivious to the scalding heat.
Between the three shadowrunners and all the vat grown muscle the chair toppled over, crushing a hapless soul on the other side. The body beneath the chair didn't even look like it was once human. The torso was crushed and deformed to the point that it resemble an animal. One of the arms was burnt to an unrecognizable heap. The other, mostly intact, was stretched into the aisle like it was trying to crawl for help. The plasteel handcuffs lead to a fireproof briefcase. Both legs were missing, either burned to ashes or severed in the crash. The head is severely mangled. Eyes and skin long since melted away. The back of the skull was caved in under the weight of the first class seat.
Lenny pulled his Predator II and blew the handle, and the cuff, off the briefcase. He handled clumsily, the metal being very hot to the touch. The briefcase found its way into Nightsky's hands.
"Nightsky, get this outside." Lenny said.
Nightsky didn't like holding the briefcase as there was a smelly, sticky substance on the outside and it was like carrying a hot potato, but he did as he was told. No sooner had the words left Lenny's mouth than Nightsky was on his way outside.
"What we going to do with short, dark, and crispy?" Smiley kicked the body with his boot.
Lenny produced a body bag from his coat. "Gift wrap him."
Just as Lenny and Smiley shoved the crumbling remains into the bag another explosion rocked the cabin. The forward half collapsed under the punishment, spewing flames into the air.
Flames burst into life inches from the briefcase, letting out a vicious, ragged howl of defiance. A shape scorched into place. Eyes, mouth, and searing breath.
"Elemental!" Shard screamed.
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