Born to Run

by Stephen Kenson

  "A . . . but how?" Kellan stammered. "I mean, if I was, wouldn't I know it by now?"

  "Not necessarily. For some, the Talent emerges later in life. It may lie dormant until something activates it: stress, powerful emotion, even contact with other magic—something like that amulet of yours, for example."

  "What about it?" Kellan said.

  "It is most definitely enchanted," Lothan replied, furrowing his brow and stroking his chin, "although I have to admit that the exact nature of its enchantment eludes me. I've never seen anything exactly like it. Where did you get it?"

  "It used to belong to my mother," Kellan said, "but I don't know where she got it. I—I don't know much about her, actually. I was hoping to find out more here in Seattle."

  "Your mother, you say." Lothan replied. "Hmmm. Well, I certainly haven't seen the likes of this before. Perhaps it will yield some clues about her."

  "Do you think?" Kellan asked.

  "I make no promise, but it's possible."

  "Well, you've got great news, kid." G-Dogg said, patting Kellan on the back. "You're a spell-slinger! You shouldn't have any trouble getting biz."

  "She's not a trained magician, G-Dogg." Lothan interjected. "Just a raw talent with little else to back it up. She needs training. In fact . . ." Both Kellan and G-Dogg looked at the troll mage as he rolled his eyes in thought. Then he looked at Kellan.

  "You intrigue me, my dear." he said. "I haven't seen a newly Awakened talent around here in quite some time—not one that wasn't already influenced by some pirate street grimoire or, worse yet, some corporate thaumaturgy program. Too many bad habits for them to break, but you, you're the proverbial tabula rasa, a blank slate. Plus, there's that intriguing amulet of yours." He wagged a finger in Kellan's direction, touching it to his lips briefly as he collected his thoughts.

  "I'll tell you what." he said. "I would be willing to take you on as my apprentice, to train you in the arcane arts, teach you to harness and mold the potential that you have discovered, in exchange for certain considerations from you."

  "What kind of 'considerations'?" Kellan asked cautiously.

  "A percentage of your take, of course." Lothan said. "You would be working for me, in effect. If you're interested in shadow work, that is."

  Kellan resisted the urge to glance over at G-Dogg, to see what he thought of Lothan's offer. That was something an uncertain newbie would do, not a seasoned shadowrunner. If she wanted to make it in the Seattle shadows, she needed to start handling things like this on her own, making her own deals. She deliberately paused for a moment to think it over, not taking her eyes off of Lothan, doing her best to size up the old troll and his intentions. Lothan's face was as unreadable as craggy stone, but really, he did seem to know his stuff, and G-Dogg said so, too, so what did she have to lose?

  "Deal." Kellan said, extending a hand. Lothan grasped it in his own massive paw and shook it firmly.

  "Well, then," he said, "you can get started right away. I actually have a business meeting to attend this evening. G-Dogg, I'd like you to come along too, since this job might be something of interest to you. If all goes well, there are a few people I'd like you to call." The ork nodded in acknowledgment and Lothan slapped his knees as he levered himself up out of his chair and reached for a carved wooden staff resting against the nearest bookcase.

  "Let's do business, shall we?" he said.

  Chapter 4

  The place Lothan took them to was called Ebey's Bar. Lothan said that it was a pun when it came to doing business, but Kellan didn't get the joke. It sure as drek didn't look to her like the kind of place where shadowrunners cut deals. It was nothing compared to the glamour and glitz of Underworld 93 or some of the metroplex's other nightspots. It was just a run-down little hole-in-the-wall in Everett, wedged between two taller buildings. The inside was dim and smoky, decorated in dark-stained wood that created pools of shadow around the booths and small tables. The dull yellow lights over the bar barely succeeded in a feeble attempt at illuminating it.

  Ebey's boasted a smattering of patrons at the tables and booths, no more than a dozen or so all told. At first glance, Kellan thought that the man behind the bar was an ork. He was certainly tall and broad enough, and ugly enough, but he lacked the tusks and pointed ears. His shaved head shone in the lights as he poured foaming beer expertly into mugs and slid them across the bar to a couple of guys wearing synthdenim and street leathers. The bartender glanced up as Lothan, Kellan and G-Dogg entered the bar. He exchanged an almost imperceptible nod with Lothan, then glanced toward the back of the establishment.

  "This way." Lothan said quietly, taking the lead. The big troll made his way around the bar and between some of the tables toward the back, where two men waited at a table. Kellan noted there was no one else sitting near them, and the men sat where they had their backs toward the wall and a clear view of the front and rear entrances of the bar.

  Kellan gave the two a quick once-over. The first man was clearly the one they'd come to see. He was younger than Kellan expected, although age was always difficult to tell with cosmetic surgery, magic and gene-cleansing therapy available to people with the money to pay for it. He was human, his dark hair cut in a fairly severe, almost military style, wearing a nondescript pair of black jeans and a burgundy sweater that was bulky enough to conceal ballistic padding, maybe a weapon or two. He also wore black leather gloves, meaning that he was probably a SINner, someone with a System Identification Number. His fingerprints, genetic map and other data were on the Matrix in some government computer somewhere. That meant he had to be especially careful not to leave traces behind. Shadowrunners like Kellan and G-Dogg didn't have SINs—at least not the kind you got from a government computer. They were blanks, ghosts in the machine, which was why SINners hired them in the first place. Shadowrunners who knew their business were careful to stay out of the databases of the governments and the corporations, since it was their anonymity—and deniability—that made them so useful.

  Kellan wondered for a moment if the man was with the military. He certainly looked the part, and it wouldn't be the first time that the UCAS military (or those of other nations) had dealt with shadowrunners. He looked the three of them over with an appraising eye, but showed no signs that he was nervous, concerned or anything other than in complete control of the situation. Some of that confidence might have stemmed from the presence of the person sitting next to him.

  The other man was an elf. Looking at him, Kellan wondered briefly if all elves looked like fashion models fresh from an image shoot. He looked young, too, but then all elves did, even the ones born at the very start of the Awakening some fifty years ago. He was tall and slender, but Kellan could see that his T-shirt with its Celtic-knot design was stretched across a well-muscled chest. His hair was auburn and shoulder length, a popular style with elves. He wore it pulled back into a ponytail. His eyes were vividly green. The elf's outfit didn't match the slick and understated style of the other man. Instead, he wore a heavy black leather biker jacket with chrome zippers and buckles, close-fitting T-shirt, torn blue jeans and black, knee-high leather boots. Kellan also noticed his studded black gloves were fingerless, and that he wore a sword in a scabbard across his back, with the hilt protruding above his right shoulder so he could draw it overhand. It still surprised her when she saw someone carrying a sword, though she knew that some dangers in the Sixth World were best handled with man-powered steel rather than modern weaponry.

  “Mr. Johnson, I presume?" Lothan asked and the first man nodded, gesturing to the other chairs at the table. Lothan took the one directly opposite their contact, and Kellan and G-Dogg sat to either side of the troll mage, putting Kellan closest to the elf, who glared across the table at all of them.

  Lothan didn't offer introductions, nor did Mr. Johnson ask for any. That wasn't his real name, of course. Shadowrunners referred to their employers as "Mr. Johnson" (or "Ms. Johnson." as the case may be) because anonymity and discretion was of paramount import
ance to shadowrunners, and to those who hired them. Potential employers didn't want their real names known in case something went wrong. What the shadowrunners didn't know, they couldn't reveal to the authorities, nor could they use it to attempt blackmail. Shadowrunners used street names for much the same reason.

  "Let's get down to business, shall we?" Mr. Johnson said in a neutral, somewhat bored tone of voice.

  "By all means." Lothan replied.

  "Certain parties that I represent are interested in acquiring a particular shipment that is coming into the metroplex. I can provide information about the route the shipment will take into the plex. I need someone to acquire the shipment and deliver it to a location elsewhere in the metroplex that I will specify."

  "And to whom does this shipment belong?" Lothan asked. Mr. Johnson shook his head slightly.

  "I'm not prepared to discuss that until we have an agreement." he said. "The job pays forty thousand nuyen in certified credit upon completion and successful delivery of the goods."

  "How soon does the run need to take place?" Lothan asked.

  "Within the week."

  "That's not much time." the troll mused aloud.

  "Fifty thousand, with half up front and the remainder upon delivery."

  "Forty-five, with five thousand in advance for expenses, and the other forty when you deliver."

  Lothan paused for a moment. "Done."

  "One other thing." Mr. Johnson said. "I want Orion here on the team." he tilted his head in the direction of the elf.

  "I choose my own team." Lothan replied.

  "It's part of the deal. Either take it or leave it." the Johnson said flatly.

  "If we're taking him on, that's an additional expense." Lothan began.

  "I don't want your fraggin' money." Orion growled from the other side of the table. Mr. Johnson placed his gloved hand on the table in front of the elf, silencing him.

  "A separate arrangement has already been made." he told Lothan. "The payment for the job is for you and whomever you choose to hire. Orion doesn't need to be considered in your allocations." When Lothan studied the elf and then looked back at the Johnson, he continued. "That's the offer. Do we have a deal?"

  "Make it eight thousand up front and, yes, we have a deal."

  "Done." the Johnson replied. He reached slowly into a pocket on the sleeve of his sweater and removed a small palm computer. He tapped the screen a couple of times, then pulled a datastick out of the port and slid it across the table toward Lothan, lifting and withdrawing his gloved hand with deliberate slowness.

  “That contains your advance and the information on the shipment time and route." he said. “The shipment belongs to Ares Macrotechnology and is coming into the metroplex by truck in a few days. It also specifies where and when you're to deliver the goods."

  Lothan picked up the data stick and casually handed it to G-Dogg, who removed a similar pocket comp from his jacket and slotted the stick, glancing over the display and tapping the screen a couple of times. Then he looked up at Lothan and nodded.

  "And if we need to contact you?" Lothan asked Mr. Johnson.

  "Our only other contact will be at the prearranged meeting." he said. "You shouldn't need any contact with me beyond that. I trust you can handle this matter on your own."

  "Of course." Lothan replied briskly. "Well, then, I believe our business is concluded."

  The Johnson nodded and stood up from the table. "I'll be looking forward to our next meeting."

  "Pleasure doing business with you." Lothan said. Then the dark-clad man departed, leaving the shadowrunners sitting at the table. The elf, Orion, stayed where he was as their new employer left, watching the others with a wary eye.

  “You waiting for a tip, kid?" G-Dogg said to the elf.

  “No." he said in a haughty tone. "I'm waiting to get started."

  “Well, then, I suggest that you wait elsewhere." Lothan said. “We'll contact you when your services are needed."

  “Your employer said that I'm supposed to be involved in this run." Orion said, placing one hand flat on the table and leaning forward for emphasis. Kellan tensed, waiting for the elf to jump to his feet.

  “And you will be," Lothan replied, “but when and where I say. If you are going to be in on this, then the first thing you need to understand is that I call the shots. Now then, I assume that you have a means by which we can contact you?"

  The troll and the elf locked eyes across the table and Orion was silent for a long moment. Kellan could see the tension in the line of his jaw and across his shoulders. Then the elf pulled the front of his jacket open with one hand and reached slowly into the front pocket with the other. Kellan could see that he was wearing a gun in a shoulder rig underneath, although his hand stayed well away from it. He pulled out a compact phone and G-Dogg responded by setting his pocket comp on the table. Orion tapped a code into the phone and beamed something to the pocket comp, which chirped.

  “You have my number." he announced, pocketing the phone again. Then he rose from the table, turned on his heel, and swept out of the bar. Kellan noticed that G-Dogg turned to watch him go, but Lothan didn't, showing only his back to the elf's exit. A moment later they heard the roar of a motorcycle engine starting up and Kellan allowed herself to breathe again.

  "That guy's gonna be trouble." G-Dogg said to no one in particular.

  "I can deal with him." Lothan said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It won't be a problem."

  "I don't know." the ork replied. "Did you see the back of his jacket? The Ancients aren't people I want to tangle with."

  "You're welcome to opt out if you want."

  "Didn't say that. I just think that it could get messy if the Ancients are involved."

  "Who are the Ancients?" Kellan asked, and the two turned toward her like they'd forgotten she was there. Kellan took note of the incredulous look on Lothan's face.

  "They're a gang." G-Dogg said. "An elven gang, one of the biggest in the plex. The Ancients have chapters all over the UCAS, but there are a lot of them in Seattle because it's so close to Tir Tairngire. I would have said they were the toughest gang in the plex before the Spikes started moving in on their territory—now it's probably a toss-up. Not getting along with the Spikes is something you and our new chummer there have in common." he told Kellan with a grin.

  "So that was the gang's symbol?" Kellan referred to the circled "A" in acid-green paint emblazoned on the back of Orion's jacket.

  "Yup." G-Dogg said.

  "Why would the Johnson want us to work with a member of a gang?"

  "It's of no importance." Lothan interrupted tersely before G-Dogg could reply. "So long as Mr. Johnson's credit is good, it's none of our concern. He wants the elf involved with the run, so he will be, and this is not the place to be discussing it at any rate." He gave Kellan a meaningful look and she clammed up, stung by the implication about her lack of professionalism. Then the troll mage stood, putting an end to the conversation.

  Kellan felt a hot flush of embarrassment and stood up quickly to follow Lothan and G-Dogg out of the bar. Stupid, she thought, asking questions like some dumb kid! She noticed how quickly Lothan and G-Dogg had frozen out Orion. Was that how they looked at her? Some kid that they were saddled with whether they liked it or not? Lothan had invited her along to the meeting, even if he didn't say two words to her about it, and G-Dogg didn't seem to think her questions were out of line, but . . .

  But nothing, Kellan thought as she settled into her seat in the car. I’m going to show them that I can do the job. This is the chance I wanted. I'm not going to frag it up.

  They went back to Lothan's place, where the, troll mage excused himself for a moment to make a few calls, leaving G-Dogg and Kellan waiting in his cluttered study. When Lothan returned, he seemed satisfied with the results of his inquiries.

  “G-Dogg, I'll want you to get in touch with a few people. I'll let you know the particulars soon."

  "Okay." the ork said, getting to his feet
. Seeing this, Kellan did the same.

  "As for you," the troll said to Kellan, "we can start your instruction soon, provided that you're still interested. . . ."

  Kellan nodded. "Yeah, count me in."

  "Excellent." Lothan said with a nod. "Well, then, if you'll excuse me, I'm not as suited for these late-night rendezvous as I used to be, and there're still things to be done. G-Dogg, I'll contact you soon. You can show yourselves out."

  "A'right, Lothan. See you later." the ork said. He paused for Kellan to precede him out the door, following close behind.

  They didn't speak until they were in G-Dogg's car, on their way back toward Lake Washington.

  "Hey, I just wanted to say thanks." Kellan said quietly.

  "For what?" the ork replied.

  "Well, for everything. Helping me out back at the club, getting me set up with Lothan—everything."

  The ork chuckled. "Don't thank me yet, kid. You haven't started lessons with the 'master of the arts arcane,' yet." G-Dogg did an uncanny imitation of Lothan's lofty and educated tone of voice. "Don't get me wrong." he said, catching a look of concern on Kellan's face. "Lothan's a great mage—maybe even as great as he thinks he is. He really knows his stuff but . . . well, let's just say that he's not a real people person."

  "Not like you." Kellan said.

  "Nope." G-Dogg replied. "Sometimes I think it's because Lothan wasn't born a trog." Kellan was surprised, both by the information and G-Dogg's casual use of a racial slur usually hurled at orks and trolls by Humanis Policlub supremacists.

  "He wasn't?" she asked.

  "Nope. Lothan was born before the Awakening, kid. He's older than you and me put together. He's been around the block more than a few times, and he's still here to talk about it."

  "So he wasn't always a mage, either?" Kellan said.

  "Well, just about." the ork replied, shifting gears and changing lanes to dodge around some slower-moving traffic. "Ol' Lothan was like eleven or twelve when the Awakening hit, so he was just a kid. I dunno whether his Talent woke up then or if it was when he goblinized."