Chapter Six
"Let's go in; the fog is rising."
-Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Somewhere in Purity
Redmond, Seattle
July 12, 2059
1:53 am
The seats of the old '53 Americar were moist to the touch. Linna's plaid skirt didn't help her skin from sticking to the synthleather seats. A combination of dry summer heat and Ronald's thick scent turned the surface of the seats to a consistency similar to that of fly paper. The only light came from the car's stereo, illuminated numbers counting the track of a music chip. All else was darkness. Speakers pulsed with the slow beat of Julia Freehill's Awakening.
Linna grunted slightly, feeling Ronald's lips pressing against her own as his hands roamed free. With a frustrated sigh she pushed against his chest. His body refused to budge at her first touch. I quick poke from filed fingernails changed that.
"Ouch, Linna." Ronald rubbed his ribs. "What's wrong?"
"Ronnie, just slow down." Linna sighed, feeling more than a little bored with all of this. The date had not gone as well as she thought it would. It started out with dinner at the Lakewood Shezan restaurant in Tacoma, a quick movie at the Villa Plaza, and a hour or so of driving around Seattle's highways. All the time filling the void with chit-chat and flirting. Since the movie Ronald seemed to be slumming the rest of the night. He was brave enough to pass through some of Redmond's worst neighborhoods before coming to a stop.
"It's okay, baby. There's no one around." Ronald motioned. "This place use to be a airport. A little mom and pop corporation owned it back in the 40s, but it went under. My dad bought it up. He says he wants to turn it into a touring attraction for the Redmond. You know, flighted over the barrens and all that. There's no one here. My dad's barely got the paper work started. We've got it all to ourselves."
Linna sighed, her eyes wondering to the abandoned buildings. Many of the roofs had collapsed. In the dim light of the city nothing moved. All was quiet. It looked so peaceful out there. The night was clear too, revealing all of the stars in the sky. Sky? Linna thought with a smile. I can't see the sky in downtown Seattle. The stars are so pretty.
Linna's musing came to a jagged halt as Ronald locked lips with her. The movement caught her by surprise. She sank in her seat, inviting Ronald to move close in the process. His weight shifted more on her. Once again his hands roamed like lost puppies.
"Slow down, Ronnie." She blurted, breaking their embrace. "What if someone's watching."
Ronald cracked a smile. "Linna, relax. You're so timid. Believe me, there's no one around for kilometers."
"Well....." She hesitated, glancing out the windows. "....if you say so."
"I do, Linna. Now come here."
The two rose to meet each other. For the first time both looked to be mutually interested in each other. With inhibitions weakened and the idea of having someone to be with winning out. There lips almost touch, chills beginning on Linna's arms. Ronald's hand wrap around her waist, pulling her ever closer.
Suddenly brilliant white light and the thumping of rotor blades shatter the romantic moment in a hail of chaos. The frail Americar shudders as the hulking frame of the helicopter passes only feet over head. It hovers for a moment until headlights click on from a darkened alley across the airstrip.
Linna's eyes pop wide open. She shoves Ronald back on his side with enough force to give him a shock. "All alone are we? What's going on? Who are they?"
The helicopter circled as a Bison pulled out of the shadows of the alley. A moment later the copter settled onto the seldom used airstrip. There was no movement for a moment. Then someone hopped out. The tell-tail shape of a gun in their hand.
Ronald's palms break out in sweat. A sweat from fear. He hunkers underneath the wheel. "Shut-up! Keep you're head down! Maybe they won't see us."
2:00 am
Eve swung the helicopter in a short circle as the Bison emerged from between two hangers. With a nod from Lenny the massive machine settled onto the ancient airstrip, kicking up a cloud of dust in the process. As the copter touched the ground it gave a shudder, the spinning blades never slowing.
"Last stop, chummers." Eve breathed into commlinks. "Everybody off."
Cinder stood, stretching considerably before acknowledging her. "That was a fun trip. Think next time we can do it without the bumpy ride?"
"Let's unload the cargo and get paid, people." Lenny urged the group along. He was wide awake. His body adjusted to night hours a long time ago. Now he didn't get sleepy until the late morning hours. "Smiley, Shard." The two runners nodded in his direction. "Take look out while me and Nightsky move the body."
Shard collected her coat, shrugging it on with the dangling of jewels stitched into the cloth. Her graceful elfish hands picked gingerly at the jewels. Each sparkled with its own light. She caught a glimmer of her reflection in the window. Her hair was a mess. Stiff shards were now soaked with sweat and fire retardant. More tangles, she thought, I won't be going to the Inferno tonight.
Smiley, with shotgun slung over shoulder and Predator in hand, grinned evilly before stepping outside. "Yes, oh fearless leader."
Nightsky stood, stretching as well. He turned his neck from side to side, feeling the vertebra pop out their stiffness. The smell of burnt flesh wrinkled his nose. Then he noticed the stench was fused with his clothes. Great, he thought, there's a nice social grace to have. Donner family cookout. Nightsky paused for a moment to check his clip before slinging the HK227 over his shoulder and grabbing a fistful of the black body bag.
Lenny took hold as well. Between the two of them they hefted it into the open. The crisp breeze washed away the torched scent. A welcome change from the stuffiness of the cabin. The side door of the Bison slide open. Riggs stuck his over-sized nose at the group. "What the frag is that? Hey! You aren't bringing that inside are you? I can smell it from here and it stinks! I'll never get the smell out of the van! Sure I can always put in that plastic pine tree air fresher when Smiley gets in, but this!?"
"Frag you, Riggs." Smiley leered.
"Ah, stuff it."
"Ya' stupid halfer, ya' want stinky?" Smiley sneered, showing bleach-white teeth. "I'll go find a 250 kilo troll and shove you up his ass."
"Hey! I don't have to listen to this from a tin-plated nutcase. Right Lenny?" Riggs raved, being left in silence. "Lenny?"
"Move aside, Riggs." Lenny pushed the dwarf out of the way. The body bag got carried to the back against the rigger's wishes. The smell came right in with it.
"Awe, come on, guys." Riggs whined.
"Get over it, shorty." Cinder said as he climbed in. He looked tired, dragging his feet behind him. Though Cinder put on a flashy bravado it was clear that he hadn't been in this sort of business long. The late night hours still urged sleep into his mind.
"Doesn't anybody care about my opinion?" Riggs waved his arms wildly.
Smiley huffed. "When I want you're opinion I'll beat it out of you."
Shard smiled, somewhat entertained by the fiasco Riggs managed to put on. "Riggs, if it makes you feel better, I'll conjure an elemental to clean the air for you."
"Yeah, that would be nice." Riggs said, fingering his beard. He climed into his seat with a shrug, plugging in the jacks without a word. "Now you see, people? This is consideration for your fellow teammate. Shard cares about my feelings." Riggs babbled. "The rest of you slags? Nah. You just want to drag you're stinky butts into my van."
"Riggs?"
"Yes, bossman?"
"Be quiet."
"Sure, boss."
Lenny waved at Eve. The ork nodded as the helicopter lifted off. The running lights shut of immediately. Within a few moments it was nothing more than a speck against the skyline.
Smiley grinned happily. "I had fun tonight. How about you guys?"
"Fun?" Nightsky dropped into a bucket seat behind Riggs. "Oh, sure! Best time of my life. The reason why I got into the shadows in the first place. 'Cept for the elementals of course. Something about spirits that just never sets well. You know what I'm saying?"
Smiley hauled himself inside. "Yeah, Nightsky, I hear ya'. It's cause spirits have no sense of humor. That makes them real bitches."
"Imagine someday telling this story to you're kids, Smiley. You can tell them that you broke into a crash site to steal a half-baked body." Nightsky grinned, finding some light in make a joke of the whole thing. It helped him feel better. Even more so since there was a charred body in the back of the Bison.
Smiley shook his head. "Not going to happen. Fer' one I don't like kids. Fer two the body was fully baked."
Shard stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. She sniffed the air. Riggs was right. It was going to start sinking in here pretty quick. She noticed Nightsky and Smiley engrossed in conversation. A little unusual considering Smiley. Shard's perceptions shifted. On the astral plane Smiley's black, poisoned aura hovered in the Bison. Occasionally rays of red and yellow light seeped out of the darkness, but the rest was dead. A sharp contrast to Nightsky's aura which was alive with color and magic. Thick, pulsing magic securely anchored to the body. The aura of an adept. In the back bench Cinder sat brooding, chewing on his fingernail. His aura danced with life, mana curling under his fingers as the secrets of sorcery filled his mind. Yet there was sadness to his thoughts. The aura showed it clearly. Cinder was thinking seriously about something. Perhaps Cinder worried?
Shard's meat ears pick up the sound of the passenger door closing. The faint sound draws her attention to the passenger seat where a lively form settles into place. Lenny pulls a phone from his coat. Astrally, Lenny looks as calm as ever. His aura is simple and constant. Aside from the dead patches where cyberware has been placed into his body.
Towards the back of the Bison an unusual glow pulsates.
"Shard?!"
Shard shakes her perception back to the physical plan. "Uhm..yes?"
"Ya' mind sitting down, Shard?" Riggs slurred. "Not that I'm sure you wouldn't, but you'd be a heck of a lot more comfortable and a lot less likely to fall over."
Shard nodded, smiling at herself. She had been standing crouched over just inside the door. "Sure, Riggs." She picked her way past Nightsky and Smiley. Cinder didn't seem to notice her as she curled into the bench beside him.
"Where to, bossman?" Riggs wondered, mentally bringing the Bison's powerplant to life.
"Anywhere, but here." Lenny said, hitting the quick dial on his phone. "I'm going to get a hold of Hector and find out where we need to drop the crispy critter back there."
"The sooner the better." Riggs rolled his window down and kicked on the air conditioner. "Man that guy's going to leave his mark in here."
With a small jolt the Bison slide into gear, pulling away from the abandoned airstrip.
2:05 am
Linna watched as the van pulled off and onto the dusty road. The taillights getting increasingly dimmer in the distance.
"All alone are we!?" She scorned, planting a open slap across Ronald's face hard enough to rattle what common sense he had left.
"Linna, how was I-"
"I don't care I don't want to know!" She scorned, anger and embarrassment turning her face a deep red. Her thoughts turned to her clothes. She quickly straightened and smoothed the ruffles out.
"Awe, Com'on, Leanna. You're not going to let a little something like this ruin you're mood?"
Linna shot him a cold stare.
"I guess that's a no?"
Linna frowned, casting a glance at the floorboard. "Take me home, Ronald. Take me home right now."
Everett, Seattle
3:14 am
A crisp breeze ruffles the fiery red hair of a young woman. Tight, synthleather pants cling close to her skin and reflect the glimmer of the streetlights. A bright yellow jacket made her stand out against the grim wall. Her name is Nails. Nails is on the hunt tonight. She's hunting for a fool.
"Hey, baby doll. What are you looking for tonight."
An older man, Nails guesses. A wedding ring on his finger. Shiny corporate shoes with a nice, somewhat wrinkled suit to match. The eyes of a man who has been staring at a computer screen all day. Unusual for something like this to be out so late, but Nails doesn't care. The reason he's here doesn't matter. What matters is the amount of cred in his pocket book.
"I'm on the look out for someone like you." Nails cracked a false smile. One that drew the man's eyes downward.
The man seemed nervous, almost frightened. There was a faint tingling sound. He was playing with keys in his pocket. His eyes still wondered. That was good for Nails. She wanted him so distracted that he wouldn't realize what was happening. He wouldn't notice the two figures coming down the sidewalk. They're so close now. So close.
"I'd say you've found me, hot pants."
The smile grew wider. "I've got something for you."
"What's that?"
An object came down on the man's head.
Thawack!
The man's eyes went blank. Blood trickled down his forehead. Fresh crimson splattered across the leather jacket. Nails frowned at that. The man made a few involuntary jerks before collapsing.
"Damnit, Spike, did you expect me to keep him occupied all night?" Nails tried to brush the stains off her jacket, but succeeded only in smearing the blood. "Look at this mess."
"Frag off, Nails. It's not like you care." Spike scorned, thumbing the nasty knife he had used to end the man's life. Blood rolled off the blade's tip, hitting the concrete with a hollow splash. Spike didn't seem to pay any attention to it. He turned to the shorter, yet wider human standing to his flank. "What the hell are you waiting for, Willis? Lone Star? Get the frag into the alley."
"Okay, Spike, jeez." Willis grabbed the dead man's arms and dragged him out of the street.
Nails grinned fiendishly, using a black fingernail to pick at her teeth. "Was it good for you too, Spike? You want to do it again?"
Spike wrapped a hand roughly around the small of her back. "You're the only thing I want to do again." He licked her cheek with a pierced tongue, urging her into the alley.
Nails went for the man's credstick, freeing it from an inside pocket. The smile on her face quickly disappeared when she discovered the credstick was personal, not certified. It held locking codes that kept anyone except the owner from using. "Damnit! Is this all he has?! We can't use this." She smashed the stick against the ground. The codes kept the nuyen out of her reach. Unfortunately Nails didn't know how to get past the protection nor did she know of anyone who could. "Doesn't he have anything else."
Willis rummaged through the man's pockets. He found only a handful of bills, totaling to less than twenty nuyen. Pocket change. Nails had more money than that. The man's watch looked valuable. Willis figured that it was worth a few hundred at least. The wedding band around the man's finger was hard to remove, but Spike made it easier by chopping off the finger.
"That's it? Twenty 'yen, a watch, and a crummy ring? That's all?" Nails scoffed. "This isn't a pay off! It's a waste of time! I can make more than this working at McHughs."
"I'm sorry, but this is all I could find."
"Shut-up, Willis!" Nails thrust her boot heel into the boy's chubby gut. "A suit dressed like that got to have more than this. This is junk! It's dirt! It's scabs on knuckles."
"Hard, isn't it?" A voice crackled from the shadows. "How you can be so willing to murder and steal, but the victim isn't thoughtful enough to have something worthwhile?"
Spike glanced around the darkened alley nervously. A jagged knife appeared in his hand. The blade was still stained red.
"Who's there?!" Nails scorned, pulling a makeshift pistol from the small of her back. "You better come out now! What have you seen?!"
A figure melted out of the alley wall. It was a woman. She is tall, easily standing over two meters. Her hair, while long and thick, was bound into a tight style. Her clothes were somewhat out of place. Tres Chic from the hottest downtown stores.
Nails pointed her pistol at the woman. "Who are you? You're in the wrong part of town, fluff."
"I don't think I am. I'm right where I want to be." The woman smiled, walking towards the body. She seemed unconcerned about Spike and Nails. Even though they were both armed. Willis hunkered behind the two in fear. "Twenty nuyen and a cheap watch?" The woman nudged the body with her foot. "Not exactly a prize despite your talent in execution. It's a waste." The woman glared at them, her eyes seemed to look right through to their souls. "My name is Imira. I think I might be able to offer you three a job that is more worthy of your.......talents."
"What're you talking about, lady?" Spike spat.
"I'm saying that I am willing to hire you for some.......business."
Willis chewed his lower lip. "You mine like shadowrunners?"
"Something like that." Imira grinned, hinting at the intentions behind her offer. "I'm sure it will be more rewarding than this."
Auburn, Seattle
7:15 am
The Bison lurched to a stop. Heavy tires squeaked slightly against the freshly poured plasticrete. The parking garage had just been completed. It was suppose to support to half dozen or so apartment complexes that surrounded the structure. However, it was not due to open until next week. It was completely deserted for now. Except for the third level.
"Looks like Hector brought his friends." Riggs snorted. "I don't like the smell of this."
"Since when have you ever like the smell of a meet, Riggs?" Lenny glanced at the welcoming party.
Two limousines stood waiting. One Lenny didn't worry about because it belonged to Hector. Lenny trusted the old fixer more than he trusted the Johnson. He was more than happy to have him here. A quick glance showed that Hector had brought some bodyguards. Two of them Lenny didn't know, but the third was a hulking monstrosity of meat and muscle. It was hard to miss Guido de Troll. He stood out like a swore thumb in his ever simple state of mind. Though he was holding an LMG like it was a paperweight. Lenny didn't recognize the other car. It looked like some kind of BMW model, long and black with heavily tinted windows. As the Bison came to a stop the passenger door opened. A ork in fine clothing stepped out first. Lenny betted that those fine clothes were securetech's finest. Another suit followed the ork. This one was a tall human whose clothes were a bit more relaxed than the ork's. His collar was undone and his jacket was slightly wrinkled.
"Shard?"
Shard switched her perceptions back to the physical plane. "The ork has some metal in him, Lenny. Quite a bit at that."
"Bodyguard." Lenny breathed. "Okay people, we do it by the numbers. This is nothing new."
"Yeah." Smiley sneered. "Let's get our money and lose Mr. Crispy back here."
"Nightsky, Smiley." Lenny addressed. "You two are with me. Riggs and Cinder are on backup. Shard, do you feel like levitating the body bag?"
"No problem, Lenny."
"Okay." Lenny paused to lit a cigarette and double check his firearm. "Let's go." He added after wrapping his hand around the metal briefcase the team had recovered from the crash site.
The side door slid open with a mental command from Riggs. Three shadowrunners stepped out. Lenny, with case in hand, was in the middle. Nightsky and Smiley were at his flanks. Both of the two were visible armed. Nightsky's monosword was quite obvious as was Smiley's large, automatic pistol. The pistol's bulky smartgun link made it stand out. Cinder moved into the passenger's seat. One thing about mages, they needed only to see something to caste a spell at it. Shard waited quietly at the edge of the door. Occasionally sparing glances at the body bag.
"Ah!" Hector greeted. "Lenny! Good to see that you made it back in one piece." He offered a handshake which Lenny happily accepted. Hector caught a wisp of scent from Lenny's clothes. To his credit he didn't say anything. "And Smiley and Nightsky. Always good to see the two of you."
Nightsky merely nodded. Smiley gave a creepy grin.
"This is Mr. Johnson, I presume." Lenny nodded to the man.
The Johnson motioned at the ork before approaching the group. "Please, Lenny. Johnson is so daft. Call me Cliff. " He said. "Did you make the recovery?"
Lenny tilted his head slightly, motioning at the briefcase in his hand. "Yes. We were successful. This is the briefcase. The late David Hague is in our vehicle. He's somewhat raw. I'd rather not bring him out in public until we've made our transaction."
"Mr. Hector was right, Lenny. You are good."
Hector afford a slight grin before pulling a wallet full of credsticks from his pocket. "Here's the money, Lenny. Minus my cut of course. The extra percent is gravy."
Lenny handed the briefcase to Cliff and took the wallet from Hector. He spared a moment to check the sticks over before motioning towards Shard in the Bison. With a slight nod Shard wrapped a spell around the body bag. It levitated into the air and slowly floated to Cliff's vehicle.
"Where would you like the late Mr. Hague?" Lenny asked.
"In the trunk, if you please." Cliff motioned at the ork who opened the limo's trunk. The body bag floated harmlessly inside.
"I suppose you're wondering who you have been working for, Lenny." Cliff said as the ork closed the trunk.
Lenny shrugged. "I'm not paid to know that."
Cliff produced a business card and handed it to Lenny. "The Draco Foundation has been more than happy with you're work tonight. Specially since the accident. I can assure you that we had nothing to do with the crash. We needed David alive."
"I'm sure you did."
"At any rate, I would like to contact you for work in the future."
"That's not a problem, Cliff. Hector knows where we are."
Hector nodded.
"Now, if you'll excuse us, its been a long night. My team is exhausted and we'd like to get some sleep."
"Very good, Lenny." Cliff turned for his car. The ork opened the door for him. A moment later the limo pulled off, disappearing into the sprawl.
"Friendly fellow, isn't he?" Hector mused.
"Little too friendly. He's been watching too many kid's shows." Smiley sneered.
Lenny thumbed the business card. "Draco Foundation, huh?"
"Yes, I was a little surprised." Hector admitted. "He chose this meet location. The Foundation owns it. Nice, quite place if you ask me. I checked it out before we arrived. It's clean."
Lenny stretched, creaking his neck. "It's been real, Hector, but I'm done."
Hector nodded. "Me too."
Lenny turned for the Bison.
"Oh, one more thing."
"What's that?"
"Take a bath, you guys. You smell like a bunch of squatters."
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