Shadowrun 43 - Fallen Angels

by Stephen Kenson

  She and Orion kept their eyes peeled for any signs of trouble, but there were none in the stairway, or in the hall outside her apartment. A quick glance showed no signs of entry: the door and its sturdy maglock were both intact. Kellan keyed it open, noting that the lock hadn't been scrambled. She turned the handle softly and pushed the door open as she drew her gun. Orion did the same behind her.

  They went in high-low, covering the inside of the main room of the apartment. There was no one there, and everything looked exactly as Kellan had left it. She stepped inside quickly, and Orion followed, closing the door behind him. A quick check of the bathroom and bedroom revealed nothing, and Kellan allowed herself to breath a sigh of relief, holstering her gun.

  "Okay," Orion said. "Get what you need and let's

  go."

  "Go where?" Kellan asked.

  "Back to my place. You can crash there for the night."

  "I . . . thanks," Kellan said. She'd been going to object, then realized there was no good reason for her to refuse Orion's offer. Staying at her own place any longer than necessary when somebody was looking for her was foolish, and she didn't want to crash at Lothan's place again and further pique the troll's curiosity.

  It didn't take long for Kellan to gather up what she needed, stowing it in a carryall slung over her shoulder. As she reached for the doorknob, a loud bang made her jump and reach for her gun instead. Orion grabbed her arm to steady her.

  "It's okay!" he said. "It came from downstairs, probably just something thrown against the wall." They paused and listened and, sure enough, a fresh bout of yelling came from the apartment a floor below. Kellan dropped her hand to her side, letting out a sigh.

  "Sorry, I'm feeling kind of jumpy."

  "No wonder," the elf replied. "C'mon, let's get out of here."

  It was fully dark by the time they got back to Orion's place, having stopped off along the way to pick up some food. Soon they were sitting on the floor of the loft sharing Chinese food out of folded paper cartons and covered tins. Orion was very proficient with chopsticks, but Kellan used a plastic fork to spear another piece of soy-based "chicken" covered in orange sauce.

  "Not exactly what I figured life in Seattle would be like," Kellan said abruptly, her voice glum. Orion gave a short, humorless laugh.

  "Why, what did you think it would be like? Glamorous?"

  She shrugged, chewing before she answered. "I don't know. The shadow-biz in Kansas was strictly small-time, so I figured Seattle would be . . . it, you know? The big time."

  "You haven't done so bad," Orion said, scooping up a mouthful of lo mein. Kellan shrugged again, picking at her food.

  "Yeah, I guess. I just wish . . ."

  "What?" the elf asked, cocking his head in a way that reminded Kellan of a curious cat.

  "I just wish I had the kind of confidence Midnight has, or Lothan."

  "If you ask me, you pick the wrong role models," Orion said, wrangling another bite of noodles.

  Kellan gave him a hard look. "What do you mean?"

  "You know what I mean," Orion mumbled with his mouth full. He stabbed the chopsticks into the carton and put it down next to him, chewing and swallowing as he did so. "What Midnight and Lothan have isn't confidence, it's arrogance. They're so full of themselves they can hardly get out of their own way."

  There was a moment of silence as Kellan and Orion looked at each other across the short space separating them. Then Kellan burst out laughing. She leaned back against the side of the couch, holding her sides and laughing so hard tears started streaming down her cheeks. Orion looked at her with a puzzled expression.

  "What's so fraggin' funny?" he demanded.

  "Arrogant?" Kellan said, gasping for breath. "Midnight and Lothan are arrogant? Have you looked in a mirror lately, elf-boy?"

  "Wait," Orion said, eyes narrowing, "are you saying . . . ? I am not arrogant!" As he said it, Orion drew up to his full height, proudly raising his chin. It was too much for Kellan and she collapsed into a fresh gale of laughter.

  "Oh, oh, my God," she gasped, her sides starting to ache.

  "I'm not," Orion repeated, less forcefully. "I mean . . . it's not arrogance, when, well"—his scowl began to twitch and split into a smile—"not when you're as good as I am."

  He almost managed to keep a straight face, but Kellan's laugh was infectious, and a guffaw escaped Orion's lips. Then his haughty composure cracked completely and he started laughing right along with her. He lunged forward on his knees, covering the distance between them, and brushed his fingers along Kellan's sides.

  "Arrogant, am I?" he said. "Who's the greatest swordsman you know?"

  "No!" Kellan shrieked as the elf tickled her sides, doubling over as she squirmed and tried to escape. She was still pressed against the couch, and there was no room to maneuver.

  "Say it!" Orion demanded. "Say, 'You are the greatest warrior in the world, Orion.' "

  "Frag you!" Kellan gasped defiantly, then she shrieked again with laughter as he renewed his onslaught. She tried to fight back, but she couldn't catch her breath.

  "Okay, okay!" she yelled. "You are—you're the greatest, most amazing warrior in the world." Orion let up on her and sat up with a triumphant grin.

  "See? Now was that so—oof." Kellan bowled the elf over as she surged up from the floor. In an instant, Orion was flat on his back, with Kellan sitting on top of him, straddling his hips to pin him down. She grinned maniacally.

  "The 'great warrior' should do a better job watching his back," she jibed. But Orion just lay there, looking up at her with an odd expression of surprise and wonder. Kellan's breath came in gasps after their struggle. He was suddenly aware of Kellan's closeness, her scent, the flattering flush the sudden exertion gave to her cheeks and lips.

  "You always told me to watch out for the unexpected," she said to him, leaning down into his face.

  "You're right," he replied quietly. "I did. You're a good student."

  "You're a pretty good teacher." She slid her hands off his shoulders and onto the floor next to his head, bringing her face even closer. He could feel her chest brush against his with every breath.

  "You're teaching me a few things yourself."

  Their lips touched gently, then Kellan's hand slid along his neck, fingers tangled in his long, silky hair. She felt Orion's strong hands sliding up her back, pressing her to him, and she sank to meet him in a fierce and passionate kiss.

  9

  The woods where Kellan wandered were dark, lit The woods where Kellan wandered were dark, lit

  solely by the waning moon and the few stars visible through the tattered clouds overhead. A mournful wind moaned among the trees, making them sway and whisper all around her. She was lost, with no idea where she was or how she got there.

  "Hello?" she called out, her voice swallowed up by the darkness. "Is anyone there? Anyone?" The wind was cold, and she hugged her jacket close, shivering. The cold of the wind was nothing compared to the chill that ran down her spine when a familiar voice howled out of the wilderness.

  "Kellaaaaaaaaan," came the bloodcurdling cry, carried on the wind.

  "Orion," she whispered. Then she bolted toward the source of the voice. Branches whipped her face in the darkness, and she threw one arm over her eyes as she clawed her way forward. She staggered up a slope, weaving in and around the dark trunks looming up all around.

  "Orion!" she called out, but there was no response, nothing but the cry of the wind.

  The trees thinned and Kellan could see a rocky crag looming ahead, deep shadows in the creases and cracks of the stone. Nestled at its base, in a narrow crack in the dark stone, came a fiery golden glow, like a false sunrise. Kellan put her head down and charged up the ridge toward the light. She paused for a moment at the entrance, resting a hand against the cold rock wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

  "Orion? Tam?" she called out again, but there was no answer. The glow within the cave flickered, like a dancing flame.

 
Kellan ducked her head and went inside, then bolted to the side of the figure lying on the dark stone floor of the narrow cave.

  "Tam!" she cried. Blood was pooling around him, glistening wet against the thirsty black stone. She felt it, hot and sticky on her hands, but ignored it as she tried to turn him over. He was still warm, but when she pressed a hand against his neck she felt no pulse, and his head lolled limp, his long hair matted with blood.

  "No . . ." Kellan whispered, "please, no. . . . Tam ..." She brushed aside some damp locks of hair, hoping for him to stir, for some sign of life. There was nothing. Light spilled out across the motionless face, relaxed, as if he were only asleep.

  "Kellan," a voice whispered, and she turned to see the light glowing brightly behind her, so bright she had to throw up a hand to shield her eyes. Squinting into the light, she thought she could almost see someone, or something, there.

  "Kellan," the voice called again, stronger this time, like someone welcoming a long-lost friend or loved one.

  "Who is it?" she asked. "Who's there? I need help, he's hurt!"

  "He's dead, Kellan, you can't help him."

  "No!"

  "You can't help him, Kellan. Let go . . ,"

  The light grew brighter and Kellan bowed her head over Orion, holding his body close.

  "Kellan . . . Kellaaaaan," the voice called. A hand reached out to her, glowing like the sun. "Kellan!"

  She started awake with a gasp, shaking off the hand on her shoulder and fumbling for the gun that should be holstered under her arm.

  "Easy, easy!" Orion said quietly. "It's frosty. You were just having a dream."

  Kellan took a deep breath, looking up into Orion's deep green eyes, wide with concern, his brow furrowed.

  "Oh, God, just a dream . . ." she breathed. "What time is it?"

  "Almost time to get going," Orion replied.

  The abandoned car dealership was full of shadows and the smell of dust, ash and old grease. The windows were long since covered with panels of wood and plastic, the cracked glass alternately taped up or left hanging, with fragments of glass scattered and crushed on the floor. Since the building was dry inside and structurally sound, it likely had served as shelter for others before them, but it was empty when the shadowrunners arrived.

  Kellan brushed dirt off her fatigue pants and shook out her jacket before pulling it on, trying to get rid of the dust it had picked up when she'd used it as a pillow in an effort to catch a little sleep on the floor. There was no knowing when they would get the chance to sleep again, and she hadn't felt well-rested since the run on the clinic. She nodded gratefully as Orion handed her a self-heating meal pack. Steam rose from it as she unzipped the metalized plastic. She snapped off the spoon and scooped out a mouthful of the flavored soy. It was fairly bland, but at least it was hot. As she ate, she glanced around the room.

  "Where's Midnight?" she asked.

  "Said she needed to get things ready," Orion said with a shrug. He was sitting on a discarded barrel, one booted foot raised, the other dangling near the floor, idly stirring his food. It was the first time they'd been alone since the previous night. Midnight had arrived at Orion's place early to make preparations for their departure, and they'd been working hard all day.

  "Hey," he said hesitantly, "about last night . . ."

  "It's fine," Kellan said quickly. "I mean . . . it's fine."

  "I didn't mean—" he began again, but Kellan cut him off.

  "Don't worry about it. It's no big deal. You're not looking for anything serious, and gods know I'm not looking for anything serious. I mean, look at how we live," she nodded to the dingy surroundings, sighing and stabbing her spoon into the meal pack. "What happened, happened, but it doesn't have to be a thing. It doesn't have to affect our professional relationship, right?"

  Orion's eyes came up to meet hers, then he slowly drew in a breath and nodded.

  "Yeah, of course," he said. "It's frosty."

  "Great," Kellan said. "Good." She took another bite of food, but she'd lost her appetite and the processed soy protein tasted even more bland than before.

  "Yeah," Orion replied, settling back to eat in silence. He hadn't taken more than a few bites when the side door of the building opened quietly. Both of them set down the meal packs and rested their hands on their weapons. As the slim form of Midnight appeared, shadowed in the doorway, they relaxed.

  "We're all set," Midnight announced. She was dressed in her working clothes of close-fitting synth-leather, including a vest with numerous pockets for tools and other gadgets, under which she wore a holster rig. Another gun was strapped to her thigh, and her long hair was pulled back and coiled at the nape of her neck to keep it out of the way. "You almost ready to go?" she asked them, jerking her chin in their direction.

  "Yeah," Orion said, picking up his food. They ate quickly, gathered their gear, and hit the road.

  Midnight had picked up a midsized van, which was parked outside. They'd stashed their bikes in a safe location nearby, from which they could reclaim them when they got back to Seattle. At least Kellan hoped they'd remain undiscovered, since she really didn't want to have to replace her ride with part of the profits from this run. The van was nondescript and in good shape, though probably at least five or six years old; the height of anonymity. They loaded their gear in the back, and Midnight slid into the driver's seat.

  Night had settled fully over the metroplex. In the distance to the north, Kellan could see the glittering lights and corporate towers of downtown. The Barrens neighborhood around them was lit only by a few scattered and sputtering lights, and a fire burning in a barrel a few blocks away. They watched carefully for any signs they were being followed and saw none, and

  Kellan hoped that meant Akimura would lose their trail once they left the metroplex. If they stayed out of sight for a while, perhaps his attention would shift elsewhere.

  They drove south out of the metroplex and into Salish-Shidhe Council territory. The border guards at the checkpoint took little interest in their passing, and, despite Kellan's worries, didn't check their identification too closely—probably a direct result of Midnight setting up her credstick to pass the guards a little something as soon as they slotted it. Soon they were on the road through Council territory, headed for the border of Tir Tairngire. Traffic was relatively light, and they made good time. After a couple of hours, they found themselves on a deserted stretch of road. Midnight abruptly pulled the van off the highway, killing the headlights but continuing to drive.

  They drove for ten minutes, then Midnight put the van into park and consulted a portable GPS unit to determine their position, leaning back over the seat to show Orion.

  "From here we go off-road," she said. "We don't want to go through the checkpoints required to enter Tir Tairngire officially, and this route"—she pointed to the map display—"will still take us to the border. You're certain about your contacts?" she asked Orion, who nodded.

  "Somebody will meet us on the north side of the river and help get us across."

  Midnight nodded, but Kellan could see a hint of doubt in her face. Quite frankly, Kellan was surprised to learn that Midnight had relied on Orion's connections in Tir Tairngire for help. He still knew some people from his days with the Ancients, an elf gang with ties to the elven homeland, and those must be the contacts he used to set up this arrangement. Kellan assumed Midnight must have contacts of her own in the Tir, but she apparently chose not to use them, despite her general dislike and distrust of Orion. Kellan was curious, but as long as Midnight didn't volunteer any information, she wasn't going to ask.

  They continued off-road with the headlights off. The moon shed very little light on their path, but Midnight maneuvered the van deftly, her elven eyes piercing the pitch-blackness to pick out a safe route. Still, their progress was much slower than it had been on the highway. It took them longer to cover the remaining distance to the border than it had taken to drive the previous leg, which was most of the total distance of th
e trip. It was nearly midnight by the time the van came to a stop. Kellan collected her gear as they climbed out, and Midnight locked the van.

  "Okay, it shouldn't be far," she said, again studying the GPS. "Let's go, and keep an eye out."

  They hiked the rest of the way to the river, which ran north and west of the city. Kellan tried to watch for any signs of trouble as they went, but she had a hard time even seeing where she was going, and generally found the wilderness unnerving. She was a child of the urban environment, and the Awakened wilderness made her jumpy—a feeling reinforced by her last trip out of Seattle, when several things had tried to kill her. On that last trip, she'd had the magical safety net of a skilled and experienced shaman to rely on for help in dealing with the scary things that went bump in the Awakened night. This time, she was the only magician on the team, the only one with the skills to deal with hostile spirits or other Awakened creatures, aside from the magic of Orion's blade.

  Kellan's hand strayed repeatedly to the amulet around her neck, her fingers brushing its warm surface for reassurance. Night birds and insects sang in the forest as they made their way toward the river and the city lying on the far side of it. Their progress was almost painfully slow, and they maintained silence as they walked.

  After a while, Kellan's thoughts began to drift. She'd assured Orion that last night was no big deal to her, but was that really true? Kellan considered herself to be experienced; she'd had to grow up quickly on the streets, and she'd had her share of fun, but never a serious boyfriend, and certainly not a relationship. She felt there wasn't much room for that in the life she'd chosen. Listen to me, she thought. Like one night makes this a relationship. The whole idea was ridiculous, to even—

  "Down!" Midnight hissed, snapping Kellan's attention suddenly back to the present. She and the others dropped into a crouch near the trunk of a huge tree. "Don't move!"

  Suddenly, Kellan heard a thumping sound. It took her a moment to figure out it was coming from above them, and she was shocked when she identified it as the sound of heavy leather wings beating the air. Her breath caught in her throat and she froze, like a mouse suddenly trapped in the open as a dark shadow passes overhead.