Shadowrun: The Wages of Sin

[Josh]

"I know a couple of people I can give a shout-out to," he said. "Gotta unload the rest of Wraith's gear, see if he's got anything in the way of family he'd want his effects forwarded along to, and then I'll put out some feelers."

[B4UTRUST]

"So who we going to get this time? Another phys ad or a razorboy? And if there's any good SMGs in his stash I want one."

[Josh]

He nodded. "I'll check. And the guys I know are a couple of razorboys. One 'em's semi-retired, might not be interested. The other..." he shrugged. "Might be overseas. He likes to travel."

[B4UTRUST]

"Well, go check Wraith's stuff, I'll go over the vehicles and get them cleaned up. After that we can start making phone calls. We wanna get them sent here or we going to go make pickups?"

While the helo was refueling Chase went over to the MPUV and started giving it a once over on the exterior, gingerly brushing his fingertips over the scratches in the paint.

[B4UTRUST]

Chase finished going over the exterior and checked the interior, rolling down the windows to air out the smell of corpse. He'd have to have the entire thing detailed and cleaned as soon as this run was over. He made a mental note to have it done.

He plugged into the MPUV and started up a complete diagnostics. The alignment was a little off thanks to its offroad trip. The tread on the tires was still well above par, fuel tank needed to be filled. Ammunition was still at satisfactory levels for the moment, and made a note to talk to Gil about obtaining more for contingencies. Other then a few scratches and some blood on the interior the rig had made it through the last encounter ship shape. Not that he was pleased about the scratches but he'd live.

He shut down and jacked out again. He walked back over to the helo and got inside to check the fuel gauges. They were reading nearly full. He waited another minute or so and then shut off the fuel pumps and disconnected the bowser from the helo. He'd get Gil to help him move it out in a bit. In the meanwhile he wanted to see how much time they were planning to stay here. That way he could estimate what damages he could fully repair or which ones he'd have to tempfix until he could acuate more permanent repairs.

While he was thinking about it, he called up one of his fixers that he usually went through for his electronics.
"Speak."
"It's Chase."
"Chase who?"
"The Chase who you owe big for saving your hoop from some gangers, Omae."
"I see. Well then Chase, what can I do ya for?"
"I've got a circuit card I need ordered for an MCT-Nissan Rotodrone. Let me know when you're ready to copy the numbers."
"Hold one, got it. Go."
"NSN is 5826-01-433-1555."
"Got a part number just incase?"
"Yeah, hold a second."

Chase accessed his encephelon for the data, pulling up the data from the IPB of the drone.
"Yeah, the P/N is 622-8078-030"
"Alright. How many you want?"
"Just need one at the moment. Toss it on my account and I'll settle when I'm back in town. Keep it on the shelves for me till, wait... check that. Let me check how long we're hanging and then I'll give you a call with what to do with it. Just order it and hold it for me till I let you know. I may need you to overnight it to me. I'll of course cover all such expenses and toss in a little something extra for your trouble."
"Alright kid, just remember to make sure you settle your tab when you get back."
"Will do. I'll give you that call shortly."

The line disconnected and Chase went to go find Gil.
"Hey, you sorted through the Wrath's stuff yet? And how long we hanging here, I've got some parts on order and I need to know if I'll have time to get them overnighted here or if we're going moving out?"

[Agent Fisher]

Gil was digging through Wraith's stuff when he came across a letter adressed to the group.

Code: Select all

Hey, boyos.  I'm writing this on the flight.  If your reading this, I'm either dead or you guys are assholes and digging through my stuff.  If I'm dead, well, shit.  Hopefully for you guys, I died at the end of the run and now everything is done and everyone gets a bonus.  YAY!  If not, and you need another shooter, I've got a good recommendation for you.  His handle is Deacon.  He and I fought together and he's a damn good shooter.  I dont have any family so, all my guns you guys can keep.  Same with any of my gear back in that safe house.  Oh, and my house back in Seattle is at (Insert random adress).  Crusader, you can have anything in there that you want, same with the money I have there.  I dont need it.  Oh, and about Deacon, just tell him, I sent you and if he doesn't really sound interested at first just say something like, "Oh, Wraith said not to waste your time on a sissy."  Or something like that.  Well, have a nice day and good luck.

Later days,
Wraith.

[Josh]

He stared at the letter for a long moment. There was something touchingly quaint about the nature of it. A man put pen to paper, in a mostly legible fashion, and wrote it out by hand.

It was just something that was rarely seen these days, outside of the low-tech areas of the NAN or the traditionalists of the Tir. In the Barrens, those who were dirt-poor enough to have only paper and pen were generally too illiterate to use them for such things.

He stared at it for a long time, his lips quirking. He'd lost wingmates on runs before, fellow contractors, and the sensation was entirely familiar. A guy might be an asshole while alive, but he was an asshole on the team, and only in retrospect did that really become evident.

He noted the numbers, committing them to his encephalon-assisted memory, then pulled a lighter out of Wraith's bag and set the letter on fire.

Last testament of his life or not, it was evidence that could compromise them and needed to be destroyed.

Once he finished that and inventoried Wraith's gear, he got up to catch up to Chase.

[B4UTRUST]

Chase confered for a few moments with Gil concerning plans for the near future. Once he got the ok that they'll be staying a little while he made his decision to call the part into him.

"Just let me know when you start making phone calls." Chase intoned as he walked off back to the helo. Pulling out his cellphone he called up his fixer again.
"Yeah?"
"It's Chase, forward the part to me."
Chase gave him the address and marking directions to make sure it got to where it was needed and didn't end up at the wrong hanger, or worse, with actual Pendemia personel. That would just be embarrasing.
"Alright, but remember, your tab when you're done and more. And you owe me."
"Yeah, I do. I'll contact you when I get back to settle up."

Chase hung up and glanced around. The SUV was taken care of for the moment, nothing much he could do here. He considered welding some metal to the bottom of the helo's frame to cover up the torn metal but wasn't sure how that would affect his RAM paint.

He glanced down and saw a beetle scurrying across the ground near his feet. He stamped his foot down on it, twisting as he went, grinding it into the cement with a malious joy. Fragging bugs.

He started looking around for Poly and Whisp.
"Hey Poly, got a question for you man. You got juice enough to do some permanent work? I was thinking about putting some wards on the rigs..."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Hey Poly, got a question for you man. You got juice enough to do some permanent work? I was thinking about putting some wards on the rigs..."

"It will take some preparation but I think I can get that done."

[B4UTRUST]

"Alright, see what you can do. I've got a phone call to make."

He pulled out his cellphone and pulled a number out of his encephelon. He dialed the number, waiting for it to ring.

----------
Elsewhere


He had been waiting for almost half an hour now, motionless, crouched in the darkness of cover. He heard the sound of a car engine coming towards him. Large, powerful, well tuned. The engine grew louder as it approached closer. His target was coming.

A black Toyota Elite turned the corner and pulled to a stop in front of the building across the street from his hiding spot. The driver and front passenger exited the car, looking around the area before the passenger opend up the back door, letting a third man out. His target. The front steel door on the building opened as the target stood up, adjusting his tailored jacket.

Hirohito's index finger tightened slightly on the trigger. He took aim at the target. He tensed, easing the trigger slowly back. Now or never. The shot was his, perfect. His pocket vibrated. His mind raced, what was happening slamming into his brain with the speed of a sub-orbital bird being launched.

*Ring*

'Drek,' he thought as he fired his shot, it going off target. The two bodyguards pulled pieces and moved to cover their boss. They moved quickly, efficently, definately wired. Their boss moved towards the door, ducking for cover behind the car.

He moved in an instant, firing two more shots at the bodyguards. They turned almost as one, bringing their own guns to bear. Gunshots rang out as the first rounds narrowly missed him.

*Ring*

He fired off the rest of his clip, keeping the trigger pulled, leaping and hitting the hood of the Elite, tucking into a roll. The first guard fell in a splash of blood, one of his bullets lodged in his head. He opened his hand, the gun falling from it as he rolled off the other side of the hood, landing and turning. As he spun he ducked as another spray of bullets shredded the air where his chest had been an instant before.

His katana appeared in his hand as he completed the spin. He rose again, blade flashing for a second before it slashed across the guards stomach, sparking off of the body armor hidden beneath the suit. He continued to rise and spun again, coming around and thrusting the sword blade into the guard's chest, burying it to the hilt. The guard clutched futilely at the sword. He fell, crimson rivers fanning out from his body.

*Ring*

The door slammed shut as the target reached it. He pulled on it for a second trying to gain entrance. Hirohito pulled his sword free from the corpse at his feet. The target turned and ran. The sword disappeared as quickly as it had come. He reached under his coat and slid out a pair of throwing knives and took aim. His hand moved in a blur as he launched the first knife and then the second in rapid succession. The first missed its mark, nicking the fabric of the target's pants. The second parted pants and skin alike, cutting into the muscle right above the knee.

The target stumbled as a searing pain ran up his leg. He limped still, trying to escape. Hirohito rushed his target. He caught up quickly, his arms and hands flashing as he struck with moves that was as instinctive to him as breathing. His target's body contorted in pain. He reached up and grabbed the target's head, twisting it sharply. The neck broke with a wet snapping sound.

*Ring*

The body slumped to the ground. Hirohito reached into his pocket as he walked back to the car where his gun lay. He pulled out his phone, giving it a look that could kill. He slid the phone open, connecting the call. He put the phone to his ear as he bent and picked up his gun, sliding it into a holster beneath his jacket.
"Hai? Mushi-mushi."
"Ronin?"
"Hai. Who's this?"
"The Follower. You busy?"

He heard sirens in the background. He moved back into the shadows from which he had emerged, moving away from the crime scene.
"Depends. I'm listening."
"We need a gun. It requires some travel. I'll tell you more if you're in."

Hirohito glanced over his shoulder as he jogged into the night, flashing lights reflecting in the background, the whining siren getting quieter as they got closer. Getting out of town for awhile might be a good thing.
"Alright, I'm in. Where do I need to go?"

The voice on the other end gave him his destination. A soft click came next as the call disconnected. He slid the phone closed and put it back in his pocket. He ran into the night, slipping away before the arm of the law came down upon him. He would make his travel arangements as soon as he got back to his safe house.

--------

Chase hung up his cellphone and slid it back into his pocket. He stretched his arms before turning around and heading to find Gil again. When he found him he informed him that they had another hired gun.

[Cynical Cat]

The black pinstriped suit was a marvel of Italian tailoring and fit Boris Marov perfectly. A platinum and diamond inlaid data jack glittered on his right temple and his raven black hair was swept back and a perfect match for her surgically modified features. He hummed as he waited for the elevator elevator to reach the eight floor. The doors slid open.

His lord had reserved this entire floor for his own use. There were no interior walls. Several islands of carpet were dotted around the open expanse, most of them containing a few items of furniture. The vast majority of the space was devoted to tiled floor. Computer systems were wired around the structural columns and several ceiling screens were deployed from the ceiling, showin a variety of news shows and several Matrix sites.

His lord was here, wearing a crisp white suit and talking with Constanza. She was sitting on a chair, siping from a glass of wine, and shamelessly flirting. Boris had to admit, the Italian woman was smoking hot and worthy of male attention. He just didn't think the boss would be interested.

"My lord," he said.

His lord turned his head and smiled. "Yes?"

"There are some developments that I think you need to see."

[Josh]

He punched up the number for Deacon, sitting out at the edge of the landing strip, watching the sun set across the hazy St. Louis skyline. Mosquitos buzzed about, inspiring him to slap absently at his arm as he waited for the call to go through.

[Agent Fisher]

Deacon started cursing. He was having a good sleep and some asshole had to give him a call. He stumbled out of bed, hit his shin on a really low table, kicked it, and continued onto the phone. He picked it up.

"Hello?"

[Josh]

"Wraith passed me this number as a reference for a good shooter," he said.

[Agent Fisher]

"Really? I haven't heard from that grisly old Elf in years. Hows he doing?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

After a fair bit of trying to think of ways to get such spells done Polynome went to find chase. Once he was found he tapped him on the shoulder.

"I cant get anything permanent done, it is... beyond my capabilities. However I can place wards as needed."

[B4UTRUST]

Chase frowned upon hearing the mage's words.
"Drek. Ah well, we'll figure something else out then. I'm done for the moment anyway. Lets get the boss man and find us a place to crash for the night. I've got some parts on the way and supposedly we've got some more personel en route as well."

Chase started looking for Gil. As soon as they could get some rest the better. Who knows when the next time they'd get to just rest would be.