Chapter Seven
Sunrise
Cathcart, Snohomish
Seattle, UCAS
November 3, 2059
5:46 am
The night was slowly broke by the rising sun. it peaked out over the hills with its orange rays and lit up the small rows of vegetables and herbs. It was a beautiful site. Shard hadn't seen it in so long she nearly forgot what it was like so see the sun bless the day. The warmth from its light bathed her face. It was a welcomed changed from the night. Where the night was cold and harsh the morning was bright and hopeful. That's what Shard liked about times like this.
She sipped a cup of tea. Not the horrific tasting soy substitute, but real tea. It was one of the things the twins grew here. The twins were a pair of shamans who followed the totem of the Snake. Contrary to what most people think the snake is not an evil or mischievous spirit. The snake is wise and knows many secrets. The twins embraced the learning of these secrets in the crops they grew, the herbs they prepared, and the time left to themselves. However, big corporations that surrounded the twin's retreat in Snohomish were always trying to buy them out. Fortunately, Hector had stepped in. He provided support against the agricorps that let the twins stay in their pristine farmland. In return the twins used their talents at healing to help some less than wayward shadowrunners from time to time.
A year ago Shard had been involved on a run against one of the agricorps that wanted the land. That is how she met the twins for the first time. They really were twins. They were almost impossible to tell apart based on looks alone. Fortunately one, Sasha, wore a necklace of braided snake skin. Of course, the twins loved playing jokes on people by switching the necklace between the two of them.
Footsteps echoed across the wooden porch. They stopped just behind Shard. The elf mage did not turn around. She didn't need to because she knew who it was. Only a few people had footsteps that carried such heavy responsibilities as those did.
"A meeting has been arranged. It's going down in Everett after lunch." Lenny informed. His black cybereyes swallowed the light of the sun, leaving his eyes bathed in the endless abyss of darkness. "Hector will be receiving the final payment in the next hour."
Shard nodded. "Is that disappointment I sense in your voice?"
"No, just tired. How is Tart?"
"Awake. The last time I saw her she was playing with Fluffy."
Lenny chuckled. "Fluffy" was the twins' pet python.
"How's your ear?"
"It doesn't ring as much any more. I'll have Ramon take a look at it after this is over."
"Too bad its not flesh and blood. Magic could have mended it."
Lenny grinned. "Might have been cheaper too."
A second set of footsteps crossed the wooden porch.
"Nice sunrise." Nightsky mused as he approached the pair.
"Nightsky, how's the head?"
"Better now. Riggs and Smiley are back."
Lenny nodded. "We should get going."
"I'll get Tart." Nightsky turned and left.
"Something on your mind, Lenny?" Shard asked after the adept had left.
"Just thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
"It's strange. I feel like I'm overlooking something. Maybe I'm just getting paranoid like Riggs, but something feels off."
"What feels off?"
"I'm not sure."
Shard smiled. "Will you let me know when you find out?"
"Sure." Lenny smirked. "Come on. It's time to go."
Laubenstein Plaza Hotel
Downtown Seattle
10:40 am
A hot breakfast rested in front of Sergi Soyuze. There was nothing he liked better than fresh bacon and steaming hot eggs. Not just soy products either, but real eggs. Sergi had always said that the great maker intended man to eat eggs that came from the rear of a chicken instead of a mass produced protiens.
The waiter interrupted him before he could enjoy the first succulent bite.
"Mr. Soyuze?"
Sergi made a growling sound from deep within his throat. A pristine piece of egg waited patiently on his fork.
"Sorry to disturb you, sir, but your eleven o'clock breakfast companion is here."
Sergi glanced at a cheap gold watch on his wrist. "He's early." He mused, sipping his coffee. Not just soycaff, but real coffee from freshly ground beans. He cherished the rich taste almost as much as his eggs. Both were treasures he rarely enjoyed. "Let him in."
The waiter nodded and allowed a slender man into his private booth in the hotel's restaurant. The man carried a small trunk with him. His eyes shifted nervously around the room. The stubble on his face suggested that he had cared little for personal hygiene for at least a few days. Something Sergi found that interesting and filed it away. It also made him worry. He hoped the man didn't suspect anything.
"You are early, Austin. I expected you to be punctual." Sergi waved then waiter to leave the them alone. At the same time his eye gave a casual glance at a nearby table where two men sat enjoying a early brunch.
"Yeah, well, I thought the sooner the better, you know." Austin settled timidly into the seat across from Sergi. His eyes shifted nervously. Almost like he was expecting something.
"You seem uneasy. Do not worry." Sergi sipped his rich coffee again. "I will honor our agreement."
Austin gave a slight nod, nervously glancing over his shoulder.
"I was sorry to hear about the rest of your companions. When you told me things had taken a difficult turn I was afraid that the assignment had been a failure." Sergi pointed at the small trunk Austin had placed on the table. "I see that my concern was misplaced."
Austin scooted it to Sergi rather quickly. "Take a look."
Sergi puzzled for a moment. The rigger seemed eager to get rid of his package. For a moment he thought something might be wrong, but his security people would have caught anything Austin tried to sneak in. With that in mind he pushed his plate aside and picked up the small trunk. He opened the top just enough to see inside. Clear blue light seeped from the opening.
Sergi smiled. At last he had it. "The Orb of Voices. I congratulate you, Austin. Despite all the trouble you went through you were still able to finish the assignment. If I ever have another need in the future I will be sure to look you up."
"Don't bother. I'm taking extended leave." Austin said in a shaky voice. "Can I have my money now?"
"Ah, of course." Sergi pulled a small wallet of credsticks from his inner pocket. The wallet contained four certified credsticks of untraceable funds. He placed them in front of Austin who eagerly accepted them. In fact, the rigger did not even bother to see if they had the correct balance. "I feel that I should pay you in full even though the rest of your team met with an ill fate. It should ease the suffering of their friends and family. Please send my condolences."
Austin flinched at that. His eyes transfixed on the window behind Sergi. Sergi turned around and looked, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, Austin's hand began to shake as he held the wallet. There was something about his expression that hinted at regret. Sergi brushed it off as grief for the loss of his team and considered saying some helpful words.
"Please, Austin, have some breakfast. Let us toast to old, happy memories and fond friends. It will do you some good."
"No, I can't." Austin put the wallet away. "Besides, the memories aren't that happy and the friends aren't fond of me." He left on those words.
Sergi watched him leave, seeing that his shoulders were full of bound up energy and he paretically jumped at his own shadow. He seemed like a very different person from the boastful rigger Sergi had met a week ago. That didn't matter right now. Sergi had the Ord of Voices. He had waited a long time to get it. It would do good to waste his good mood on a rigger's personal problems, but, like all things, time for the Orb would come later. For now there were eggs to be enjoyed. Sergi buried his fork and a thick bite and gulped it right down.
Meanwhile Austin anxiously road the elevator back up to his room. The man's forehead was wrinkled with concern. Hands shook with a fear that Austin tried desperately to conceal. Austin rubbed his bloodshot eyes. Sleep had been hard to come by over the past few days.
He opened his eyes to behold a phantom in the elevator's reflective doors.
"We're still waiting for you, Austin." Abbot's mangled face hissed.
"No!" Austin gasped, jumping a full foot form the door and banking his head against the wall. The impact send a wave of numbness through his mind. When he opened his eyes again the ghostly reflection was gone. Suspiciously Austin looked around the empty elevator. He was alone.
But he didn't feel alone.
A sane man would have chalked up the vision to lack of sleep. However, the ghostly voices and things he had seen form the corners of his eyes are what took Austin's sleep in the first place. The trip to Seattle had taken him twice as long as it should have. Every minute of it had been a living hell. That hell should be over now. Austin was glad to get that damned Orb out of his hands. The heavy credsticks in its place would bring him piece of mind. They should leave him alone now. He no longer had the Orb. There was no reason for them to hang around him anymore. If they would just leave now.
The elevator door opened. Abbot stood there leaking blood from his shattered skull.
Austin froze, covering his face. "Get away from me!"
"Excuse me?" The voice wasn't Abbot's.
Austin took a fearful peak. A middle aged woman in a jacket suit stood there. "Uhm, Sorry."
The woman looked at him questionably.
"I thought you were someone else."
Austin brushed passed her heading for his room. He found his door with some difficulty. The "Do not Disturb" sign was still on the knob where he had left it. Stubbornly he fumbled his keycard to open the lock. Once inside he locked it back, even putting the bolt over the door. Perhaps thinking that would keep them out. As he turns to pack he passes a mirror. Only then does he notice how prominent his stubble has grown over the past few days. He rubs his hand over the rough hairs.
"Shave." He says to himself and goes to the bathroom, turning on the facet so it can work up a nice steam. He spends a few minutes packing his clothes and equipment. There's no sense in staying here anymore. He has a prepaid ticket to Hawai'i.
With bags packed and waiting on the bed, Austin returns to the bathroom for his much needed shave. The water is nice and hot. Steam has fogged over the mirror. Austin hesitates in wiping the fog away. Then clears off a section with one smooth wipe of the hand. His own reflection stares back at him. Nothing else. Austin gives a sigh of relief. He turned to each for his razor.
And came face to face with Abbot's mutilated head.
"You left us to die! You left us to die!"
"Holy frag!" Austin leaped right out of his skin, tripped over the commode, and fell to his feet. "Leave me alone!"
"You left us to die!"
"NO!" Austin scrambled out of the bathroom. "It's the money isn't it? I was too greedy for you? What do you want me to do? Throw it away! I won't! I can't! I'm already going to hell! I might as well get something out of it."
Austin pulled the wallet of credsticks from his pocket. "You want these, do you? You think I sacrificed you for these? I did! I did I admit it!" He crumpled to the floor, discarding the wallet like a disease. "Why won't you just leave me alone?"
Another sound came from the bathroom. This one was different. It sounded like bath water running. Funny, Austin didn't remember turning it on. Curosity got the better of him. He scooted the bathroom door open. Abbot wasn't there anymore, but the sound of a running facet could clearly be heard. It was coming from the tub.
Austin yanked the shower curtain back.
Perch sat in the tub. It was slowly filling with water. The shaman seemed to be playing in it like a little child. There was a wide smile on her face. Almost like she was having the time of her life.
Life?
"See the waters, Austin?" She smiled at him. "The waters are still here."
Austin shook with fright. "You're not here."
"Yes I am." Perch grinned. "I'm here in the waters. They keep me warm and safe. They provide for me."
"No, I'm not seeing this."
"Yes you are. I am here. I am in the waters now. Oh you look so sad. You're not at peace."
"I'm not?"
"No. You feel broken inside. Your waters are polluted. You can't breath."
"You hate me too, don't you? For my greed?"
"Silly man." Perch smiled, lifting a handful of the clear bath water. "I don't hate you. I want to help you."
Austin knelt next to the tub. "How can you help me?"
"I can show you the waters." Perch cupped her hands and scooped up a handful of the water. She let it fall gently on Austin's head. It dampened the man's hair, matting it to his features. "See? The waters are strong here. Can you feel it?"
Austin hesitated.
"You don't have to be afraid. Come into the waters with me. I'll show you how good it can feel. It will wash everything away."
"No." Austin shook his head. "This is wrong. It can't be real."
"Give me your hand."
Austin gave his hand without thinking twice. The little shaman took it and dipped it into the bath water. It felt for warm and relaxing. It washed away the dirt and soot on his skin. It was so comforting to have it washed away. It felt like a great weight had been lifted.
"Do you see? The waters can change you. They will take you to a place where you won't have to worry about anything. Isn't that what you want?"
"Yes." That was what he wanted. He wanted it all to go away. He was tired of worrying. It would be nice if everything would just end.
"Come into the water, Austin." Perch urged.
He did. Austin climbed into the tub. The water wrapped around him. He closed his eyes.
And it all went away.