"Looks like we're in the clear," Jackie reported over the commlink. "I'll continue to keep watch and let you know if there's any trouble."
"Understood. Good work, Jackie," Lothan replied. "Well, then," he said, turning to the rest of the team. "Now we await Mr. Johnson and our payment. G-Dogg, why don't you, Deacon and Orion keep a lookout for the arrival of our employer." Although phrased politely, it wasn't a request, and G-Dogg nodded, moving off to get the other two men and comply.
"Good job with that shaman," Liada said to Kellan as she tucked her gear into her ever-present shoulder bag.
"But not exactly according to plan," Lothan interjected, giving Kellan a disapproving glance. "You were supposed to stay with the decoy vehicle."
"And what, get shot?" Kellan said.
"Not if you stayed under cover."
"Lay off her, Lothan," Liada challenged the big troll. "She did a good job taking out that shaman. Saved us a lot of trouble."
Lothan bristled. "I would have dealt with her and her spirit soon enough."
"Of course," Liada sneered. "But not as fast as Kellan did. We could have overcome that shaman's defenses together, but thanks to her we didn't have to bother. One stun blast took the rest of those guards down like that"-she snapped her fingers-"and we were on our way."
"Success doesn't excuse excess," the troll shot back. He took a step toward Kellan. "In the future, if you can't stick to the plan, you will at least inform everyone else of your movements. Don't go off on your own, or you're liable to end up in the line of fire." Then he turned on his heel and stalked to the end of the truck, clambering down with the aid of his heavy, gnarled staff.
"Makkanagee," Liada muttered under her breath, watching him go. Then she turned toward Kellan. "Don't listen to him," she said. "You did good. Lothan just hates it when somebody comes up with a good idea that he can't take the credit for." Liada flashed Kellan a smile and touched her arm. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, realizing that Kellan's face had gone white as she holstered her pistol. Kellan's hands were starting to shake and she folded her arms across her chest, hugging them close to get them to stop.
"Yeah, yeah," she said. "Fine."
"It's just post-run shakes," Liada said sympathetically. "Coming down from the rush. You'll be okay."
"It's just, I never:" Kellan began, glancing up at Liada and then looking down again, embarrassed to say more to the more experienced shadowrunner.
"What? Shot anyone?"
"Not like that," Kellan replied quietly. "I mean, I shot at people when I was running in KC. Probably even hit some," she snorted mirthlessly. "But I never shot somebody that close before, right in front of me. It wasn't like this in Kansas City."
"Get used to it," Liada said, and a note in her voice made Kellan look up at her. The elf woman's face was sympathetic, but also cold. "She was working for a corp. She knew the risks. She won't be the last one, Kellan, not in this biz. If you're lucky, you'll at least get to be face-to-face with everyone you have to shoot. It's when you start shooting them in the back that you need to worry."
Liada laid a hand on her shoulder, and then left Kellan alone with her thoughts. The run kept playing in her head like a simsense loop; the moment when the shaman tried to cast that spell on her, the feel of the gun in her hand, the look on the shaman's face when the spell didn't work and Kellan's bullet caught her in the gut. Kellan wondered if she'd survived, or if she had died on the highway before help arrived. She wondered if that was how she was going to go one day.
She knew the risks. Liada's words came back to her. She knew that's the way it was in the shadows: kill or be killed, survival of the fittest. When you didn't have the advantages of wealth and privilege, or even the legal existence granted by a SIN, the other option was to be like those lost souls they passed in the Barrens on the way here: squatting in abandoned ruins, living like rats, victims of the corporate machine. Kellan knew she could never live like that.
Looking at the crate she was leaning against, she wondered what it was that they had gone to all this trouble to acquire. Crouching down, she read the shipping label. Most of the information consisted of barcodes for electronic readers to scan, but the words made Kellan frown. She checked the labels on some of the other crates and they were basically the same: Then she went to the front of the cargo area and found a pry bar she used to open one of the crates, popping the lid to look inside. It confirmed what the label on the outside said, meaning that the contents of the other crates were probably the same, not some sort of blind for contraband or hidden cargo. But then why would anyone-?
"What the frag do you think you're doing?"
Kellan jumped and turned to see Orion gracefully pulling himself up onto the back of the truck, glaring at her.
"I'm just checking:." she began, but the elf strode forward, grabbing the pry bar from her hand.
"Nobody told you to check anything," he said in a low, harsh tone.
"Yeah, well, somebody should," Kellan shot back. "Why the frag is our Johnson paying for a shipment of electronic drek that he could buy at any mall in the plex?"
"What?" Orion said.
"See for yourself," Kellan replied, gesturing toward the open crate. "Simdecks, players, interface cables, blank chips-it's all Hong Kong-grade electronics, not even top-of-the-line Novatech or Mitsuhama stuff."
Orion gripped the edge of the open crate, peering inside with a look of disbelief visible even in the dim light. He cursed under his breath, then stalked off with deliberate purpose in his stride, jumping down from the back of the truck. Kellan quickly followed, in case he was going to Lothan to complain about her.
She saw G-Dogg escort "Mr. Johnson" inside. Their employer was alone, and dressed much the same as the first time Kellan saw him, in dark, nondescript clothing that shouted class and influence. He approached Lothan and the two of them began talking in low tones. Orion pulled up short when he saw the troll mage speaking with Mr. Johnson. There was a dark scowl on the elf's face. He folded his arms and waited as Lothan and the other man concluded their business.
Kellan went to stand with Liada and G-Dogg. Silver Max still sat in the cab of the truck. Kellan couldn't make out what Lothan and Mr. Johnson were saying to each other, but it seemed clear that the other man was happy with what he was hearing. Lothan gestured somewhat grandly toward the truck, but the Johnson waved a dismissal, making it clear that he felt no need to inspect their prize.
"Lothan's probably telling him how he pulled it off all by himself," Liada whispered.
"As long as the cred's good," G-Dogg replied.
Kellan looked away from Lothan when she saw movement in her peripheral vision. The Street Deacon entered the garage, walking toward the truck. The street samurai reached the cab and stopped dead in his tracks, staring at Lothan and their Mr. Johnson. Kellan swore that the man's face blanched as pale as the white skull tattoo he wore. His hands flexed as if grasping for something unseen.
"What's with the Deacon?" she asked quietly, and G-Dogg glanced in that direction. The Street Deacon quickly regained his composure and made his way slowly toward the back of the truck, his eyes on Mr. Johnson the whole time.
"Beats the frag out of me," the ork shrugged. "Who knows what's ever up with him?" He turned his attention back to Lothan and Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson took out a handful of credsticks and handed them to the troll, who inspected them and seemed satisfied. They shook hands, and Mr. Johnson walked away as Lothan came over to Kellan, G-Dogg and Liada.
"So?" the ork asked. Kellan noticed that Lothan seemed particularly pleased with himself.
"Payment, as agreed," he pronounced, flourishing the credsticks. "Plus a bonus. Mr. Johnson has said that he has no further need of the cargo, so long as Ares is deprived of it, so we are free to dispose of it as we see fit. That should net us a tidy little sum."
"What is it?" Liada asked.
"Electronics, entertainment centers, stuff like that," Kellan said before Lothan could reply, earning her a witheri
ng glare from the troll that asked how she knew this information. Kellan did her best to not quail in front of it.
"Not bad," G-Dogg said, ignoring the exchange of looks. "I know some people who'd be interested and would give us a decent price."
The mention of further profit distracted Lothan from glaring at Kellan. "Arrange it," he said to the ork. "We should be all right keeping the swag here for a while, but I want to make sure that we haven't scored a lure that will bring Ares security down on us." Then he headed over toward the cab of the truck to fill in the others.
"Well," G-Dogg said to Kellan and Liada. "I've got to make some calls, then I think a little celebration is in order. The night isn't over yet, we're still alive and, for the moment, we're flush with nuyen. What do you say to hitting Dante's Inferno or Penumbra?"
"Sounds good to me," Liada replied, glancing at Kellan.
"Wizard," she agreed, though she wasn't feeling as good as G-Dogg obviously was about the whole thing.
"Let's invite Max," G-Dogg said, and he and Liada followed Lothan toward the truck. Kellan looked around for Orion and saw that he had stopped Mr. Johnson by the side door of the garage. She wanted to catch the elf before he buzzed, so she decided to interrupt.
": promised us those weapons, Brickman," Orion was saying as Kellan approached. At a glance from Mr. Johnson, Orion broke off as Kellan got closer.
"Um: hey," she said, glancing from one man to the other. "We were going to go out, have a few," she said to Orion. "Just wanted to tell you that you're welcome to come with."
"My business here isn't finished," the elf said coldly, glaring at the other man.
"Oh, okay." Kellan backed away, then turned and walked toward the truck as quickly as possible without running. G-Dogg, Max and Liada were waiting for her next to the cab.
"What's with that?" G-Dogg asked her, nodding in the direction of Orion and the man he called Brickman. The two men continued to talk, then Brickman gestured politely toward the door and Orion walked out ahead of him, his back stiff with anger.
"Dunno," Kellan said slowly, watching them go.
"Well, the Deacon is going to take first shift watching our haul," Liada said, "and Lothan already took off. It's late for a guy his age," she continued with a vicious little smirk. "But he handed over our cut of the cred. Here's yours," and she handed Kellan a credstick.
Kellan took the nuyen with a surge of pride. It felt good to get a cut of the take in addition to the lessons from Lothan. She felt like she really had contributed to the success of the run, and getting paid made it official: she was a shadowrunner in the big time!
"Thanks," Kellan said. "You earned it," Liada replied with a smile. "So what are we waiting for?" G-Dogg asked the others with a grin. "Let's party!"
11
Dante's Inferno was not only one of the finest nightclubs in the entire Seattle Metroplex, but also the largest and most impressive nightclub Kellan had ever seen, dwarfing even the industrial splendor and glitz of Underworld 93. G-Dogg led Kellan, Liada and Silver Max up to the front of the usual long line of wannabes waiting to get in, ignoring the jeers of those who considered themselves better candidates for admission. Neolux signs proclaimed the club's name in ten-foot-high flaming letters, announcing nine circles of action! inside. A massive troll, looking dapper in a tailored black tux, guarded the door.
"Newt, my man," G-Dogg said to the troll, who stood behind the velvet rope across the entrance of the club. "Zappinin'?"
The troll smiled broadly, showing blunt lower tusks and one gold-capped tooth.
"Hey, G-Dogg," he rumbled in an improbably low bass. "Same ol' same ol', you know? How 'bout you?"
G-Dogg produced his credstick with a flourish and a wicked smile. "Score!" he said. "Business is good and I'm lookin' to share the wealth." The two meta-humans exchanged what appeared to be a stylized handshake, but the gesture actually allowed G-Dogg to unobtrusively slide his credstick into the reader Newt wore around his wrist, mostly hidden under his jacket. There was a barely perceptible beep, nearly drowned out by the music pounding inside the club, and the troll rubbed his hand across his chin, glancing briefly down at his wrist and then smiling broadly.
"Always a pleasure doin' business with you, Dogg," he said, reaching for the rope. Then he nodded at Kellan. "Who's the new kid?"
"Newt, this is Kellan. Kellan, this is Newt, the second-best bouncer in all of Seattle, right after me." G-Dogg winked at Kellan as he said it.
"Nice to meetcha," the troll said proffering a huge hand that entirely engulfed Kellan's as she shook it.
"Likewise," she said.
"You ever get tired of hangin' with this ugly trog and want to see where the real action in the plex is, you come talk to me, 'kay?"
"Thanks," Kellan said with a smile. "I'll do that."
"Have fun," Newt said, pulling aside the velvet rope for the shadowrunners to enter, ignoring the complaints of the people waiting in line.
"Pipe down!" Kellan heard the troll yell above the noise of the crowd as they passed by. "Don't make me get physical with the lot of ya!" Then they stepped through the doors and into the Inferno.
In addition to the traditional words, abandon every hope, all ye who enter here, written in flaming neolux above the main entrance off the foyer, Dante's Inferno clearly held to the motto "nothing succeeds like excess." Everything about the club was clearly designed to be as over-the-top and impressive as possible, and it spared no expense to make one man's vision of the perfect sinful playground a reality. Kellan did her level best not to gawk at sights designed to provoke exactly that reaction. None of the other shadowrunners acted like they even noticed anything unusual. They'd clearly been here before-many times, if G-Dogg was any indication. Kellan was impressed by their casual attitude and tried to compose her own face into a cool, jaded expression.
Past the foyer, the club was a giant cylinder, partitioned into nine levels. Kellan could see at least seven levels looming overhead. The floors were made of transparex, allowing you to look all the way up (or down) through them. Ramps wound along around the outside walls of the building's interior, and a massive spiral staircase speared up through the open shaft that ran through the center of each level. Engulfing the staircase was a holographic display of flames, apparently roaring up from deep beneath the nightclub, filled with ghostly images of mostly nude figures writhing in what looked far more like passion than torment.
Fantastic murals covered the walls of the level they were on, depicting green gardens spread over rolling hills, and trees filled with golden fruit. Kellan noticed many of the trees had snakes curled around the branches or peering out from between the leaves.
"Envy," Liada said into Kellan's ear.
"What?" she asked, startled and a little embarrassed to be caught rubbernecking.
Liada smiled. "Envy," she repeated, nodding toward the murals. "Each of the top seven levels of Dante's is themed on one of the seven deadly sins. There's Envy, Sloth, Greed, Pride, Gluttony, Wrath and, of course, Lust. The club is supposed to be modeled on the nine circles of Hell, but I guess our modern-day Dante didn't find as much to work with there as he wanted, so he mixed his metaphors a little. I think he made Envy the entrance level as a sort of joke on all the people waiting to get in. You can bet those poseurs out there envy us right now."
"There are two more levels below this one," G-Dogg chimed in, "which makes nine altogether, although there's actually ten."
"Which are:?" Kellan asked.
"Purgatory, Perdition and Hell," G-Dogg replied, counting them off on his fingers. "That's where the real biz gets done around here. But we're not here for business tonight. C'mon, let's party!"
Her companions clearly enjoyed introducing Kellan to the myriad pleasures of Dante's Inferno. Most of the upper levels of the club featured dancing to various sorts of music, ranging from the violent speed-thrash on Wrath to the slow and sensual sounds on Lust. There was unlimited food on Gluttony, including outrageously indulgent desserts
. There were also what Liada called "glamour snacks"-illusory food created with magic. The food had fantastic flavor and texture, but no actual substance. You could eat it forever and never feel full or absorb a single calorie. Kellan tried an amazing piece of cheesecake with "strawberries from the garden of Paradise," that was the best she'd ever had, even if it wasn't real.
There was a near-infinite variety of drinks, as well. The Inferno's bartenders knew their business, and could not only mix up whatever their customers wanted, but did it with flair. For the indecisive, they suggested concoctions Kellan considered to be the extreme of exotic. G-Dogg bought the first round for everyone on Envy, and they toasted the success of their run, and to more of the same in the future.
Though she was enjoying the company of her newfound friends and the pleasures of the Inferno, there was something at the back of Kellan's mind that prevented her from throwing herself wholeheartedly into the celebration. When they were drinking a round on Pride, Kellan finally decided to say what she was thinking.
"What I don't get," she said above the pulse of the music, "is why that Johnson paid good cred for us to lift a bunch of cheap electronics, only to turn around and give 'em to us. And what was the point of us working with Orion?"
"Frag if I know," G-Dogg said, taking a sip of his drink. Kellan had laughed when she saw that the big, frozen concoction was served in a coconut shell and decorated with a tiny umbrella. "Johnsons do some strange drek sometimes. It's all smoke and mirrors, corporate infighting and politics 'n' stuff."
"Doesn't really matter why," Silver Max chimed in. He was on his third imported ale, which he drank with considerable relish. He wiped his mouth with the back of one hand as he set down his empty mug.
"As long as the Johnson's cred is good, who cares why he wants it done?"
"Just seems weird to me, that's all," Kellan said.
"Get used to it," Liada replied. "Because you're going to see a lot of weirder things in this biz than an employer asking you to do stuff for no good reason."
Born to run (s-4) Page 10
