Shadowrun

by Russell Zimmerman

  “And it was less dangerous.” SIMaeon adds. “But the shadows have a long memory.”

  “Reel2Real?” Simone’s gaze moves between Hey Jude and SIMaeon.

  It is Gunther who answers. “Yes. Reel2Real. He was the troll you killed. He’s—he was a rigger who ran with them. Never forgave them for leaving the shadows and leaving him behind. For a rigger, he liked the killing a little too much. Wanted to do wetwork, assassinations instead of smash-and-grabs. Neither Odder nor Portex were into the violence or the killing. They never wanted to hurt anyone.”

  “She saw him?”

  “No. I did. I warned everyone on the private comm.”

  Simone looks at Hey Jude, who shrugs. “Your show doesn’t need to know all our secrets.”

  “I guess not.”

  Gunther continues. “I saw him when I went after that second drone. I knew if we didn’t get the client to safety, Reel2Real was going to kill him. And he did what he thought would make sure that happened—he geeked the mage with all the healing spells first.”

  “But no one counted on a crazy-ass reporter coming outta nowhere and shooting like a marksman.” Hey Jude smiles at Simone. “Crazy, but brave.”

  Simone looks between SIMaeon and Hey Jude. “Wait. You think Reel2Real took on this job to take out Portex?”

  “I know so,” SIMaeon says. “Why?”

  “He loved Odder, too.”

  “Do you think he knew Odder would be in the HTR DocWagon team that would be called to rescue him?”

  “I think he counted on it. Why else was all the hacking and such going on? Why else make sure Knight Errant was distracted and the other two HTR teams were busy? He wanted her to see Portex die. And maybe to know that he did it.”

  Gunther’s voice comes over the Citymaster’s speakers, cutting off the conversation. “Overlake in thirty seconds.”

  Hey Jude steps away from her and sits down. Simone can see Portex, still unmoving. Takeshi is watching him. She shifts and looks around the Citymaster until she sees and recognizes a full body bag. The scene grows hazy with Simone’s renewed tears before it fades to black.

  The scene returned to the studio, where Simone blinked shimmering eyes at the camera. “The next few hours were taken up by hospital procedures that gave me a lot of time to think. By the time I was released, DocWagon 19 was unavailable, as they were in a postmortem session with their shift lead, Benjamin Novakowski, as required by the corporation. I was told I would be allowed to perform follow-up interviews after a full investigation into everything that happened that night.”

  Simone’s expression turned hard. “I thought that was an excellent idea. Stories with Hart isn’t just about finding the interesting story. It’s about finding the truth of the interesting story. Based on everything I knew, I decided to do my own investigation into that night with DocWagon 19. Starting with the very first rescue we did together.”

  Still images of the Chrome Holly rescue popped up and floated around Simone. An image of glamorous young woman moved forward, smiling as she blew a kiss to the camera.

  “Chrome Holly. Dilettante and trid reality star. She was poisoned while in a private meeting with Brian Gates the Third. Mr. Gates spoke to us after that evening about what he believed happened.”

  An image of the troll who attempted to stop Hey Jude replaced the image of Chrome Holly. “Mr. Trent, one of the security men, took the food order from the casino girl who brought it. While they spoke, Mr. Trent admitted that the lovely lady, named Corsica, flirted with him, getting close. Later, when Mr. Gates investigated, he found that Mr. Trent had had a small AR jammer in his pocket. As for Corsica…” Simone shook her head. “She doesn’t work for the Gates Casino. It’s clear she planted the jammer and delivered the drugged drink. Who is Corsica? It’s just the first of many linked mysteries from that evening leading up to a plot that left a valued DocWagon medic dead.”

  Simone raised her chin. “Also, while reviewing the recording of DocWagon 19 traversing the Gates Casino, two faces stood out.” Two images—one troll, one human—appeared next to Simone. “We saw both of these people later in the evening. The unidentified human was at Powerline, near the steps.” The image of the human morphed into a video capture of him standing off to the side, coat collar pulled up, but clearly the same person.

  “We saw both of them again at the Bellevue Pour House.” The image changed into several security footage stills. All of them showed the same unidentified people involved in the brawl between the Pour House patrons and the Hellhounds. “According to sources there, it was these two men, going by the obviously fake names of ‘Bob’ and ‘Steve,’ who started the brawl with the Hellhounds. Not the Hellhounds going after the bar patrons. Of course, once the fight started, it became a free-for-all.”

  The next image, an overhead shot of the Gaeatronics corporate campus, filled the screen, and then zoomed in on the building with the enemy on the rooftop. Two of the three people are highlighted. “Here we have ‘Bob’ and ‘Steve’ again. It was as SIMaeon said: DocWagon 19 was specifically targeted. Both of them died on the rooftop after DocWagon 19 retrieved their VIP client.”

  The scene focused on a close up image of the third person on the rooftop, a human. “The last member of the assassination squad, a SINless man identified as Tristan Aesir, is in Knight Errant’s custody. He will be brought to trial, and made to pay for his crimes.” Simone’s unsmiling face nodded to the camera. “Though at this time, Mr. Aesir doesn’t appear to have been involved in the crimes committed at the Gates Casino, the Powerline, or the Bellevue Pour House Tavern. Studio 15 and Stories with Hart have given law enforcement officials copies of all the video captured that night to aid in their ongoing investigation.”

  Simone’s face suddenly lit up in a smile. “We’re left with a number of mysteries with no answers. But fear not. On this special edition of Stories with Hart, we have a very special guest here in the studio to answer all our questions. When we return, Corsica, the ‘casino girl’ from Gates Casino, is here live with some startling revelations about who hired her, what Reel2Real’s involvement was, and who was behind the whole plot to kidnap or assassinate Portex to begin with. But first, a word from our sponsors.”

  Soothing Japanese music plays as pale green ork hands delicately clip and bind the branches of an exquisite bonsai tree. The scene watches the expert hands, so rough and brutal-looking, administer gentle pruning for a few more moments.

  The camera pulls back as a Japanese woman appears, walking among rows of carefully tended bonsai trees of all sizes—tiny to large. “Are you looking for that perfect gift for someone special in your life? Or perhaps, a present for your new in-laws? Or a thank you gift for your boss? Verdant Blue Bonsai is the answer.”

  The screen shifts back to the close up on a small bonsai tree with the pale green ork hands gently bending and binding tree branches as the Japanese woman’s voice is heard in voiceover. “Grown and tended in the Seattle metropolitan area, Verdant Blue Bonsai trees are a treat unto themselves. Bred for a blue-green color only found in the Pacific Northwest, a Verdant Blue Bonsai tree tells that special someone that you care to give them only the very best.”

  The screen fades into a scene of three completed bonsai trees in specific shapes: a “V,” a “W,” and a heart. The Japanese woman walks back on screen. “We can even grow and shape the Verdant Blue Bonsai trees into custom shapes, though there are limits. Inquire at the time of ordering, and we’ll create the custom bonsai you desire.

  “And for the next week, if you mention Odder during your purchase, you’ll receive a small memorial token for the DocWagon employee who recently lost her life in the line of duty.”

  The woman smiles at the camera. “You can never go wrong with a Verdant Blue Bonsai tree.”

  When Stories with Hart returns, Studio 15 is set up with two overstuffed chairs sitting at a sixty-degree angle from each other around a round table. Two logo-emblazoned mugs rest on the table.

  Simone
sits in the right hand chair, while the left-hand chair remains in darkness, though it’s clear someone is sitting across from the newscaster.

  Looking splendid in her cobalt dress suit, Simone smoothes her skirt, crosses her ankles, and smiles at the camera. “Welcome back to the live studio interview portion of our special edition of Stories with Hart. If you’ve been following tonight’s show, you know that High-Threat Response Team DocWagon 19 suffered the crushing blow of losing a dedicated member of their team at the hands of criminal Reel2Real, a shadowrunner. Throughout the show, we discussed the fact that DocWagon 19 had specifically been under siege by persons unknown. Four members of the enemy shadowrunner team are dead. The fifth is in Knight Errant’s custody.”

  Shaking her head, Simone continues, “However, the one person still unaccounted for is the mastermind behind the attacks on DocWagon 19 and the attempted kidnapping and assassination of Portex.”

  She nods to the darkened chair opposite her. “Now we’ll have the answers you’ve been waiting for. With me, to answer your questions, is Corsica, the woman involved in the Chrome Holly poisoning.”

  As the second chair and the woman in it become visible, Simone adds, “Corsica has agreed to speak with us tonight after agreeing to assist Knight Errant with their investigation. Good evening, Corsica.”

  Corsica is a stunning Latino woman in her twenties. She is impeccably dressed in a hip-hugging orange dress that complements her dusky skin. She gives Simone a weak, nervous smile. “Uh, good evening.”

  “Welcome to Stories with Hart. We appreciate you being here to answer our questions. Todari, my producer, has sent me a number of questions from our live viewers. I’ll ask them until we run out of time.”

  Corsica, wide-eyed, nods. Simone launches right into it. “Our first question is, how did you get mixed up with the shadowrunners in the first place?”

  Corsica bites her lip. “I, uh…well…”

  Simone leans over and touches the other woman’s arm, soothing her. “Take your time. You’re safe here.”

  Corsica nods as she fidgets, crossing and uncrossing her arms. She focuses on Simone, trying not to look at the camera. “I needed the money. I answered a modeling ad.” She blushes. “It was a generic, ‘beautiful woman wanted for special, private job’ thing. I assumed someone wanted…naked pictures. But it wasn’t that at all.”

  “What was it?” Simone smiles, encouraging her guest.

  “I was told it was a practical joke on Mr. Trent.” Corsica shrugs and smiles, then bites her lip. “I was hired to pretend I was a casino girl and to slip the toy into his pocket. He was supposed to find it later. Then it was to activate and, you know, show me uh, dancing naked for him, singing ‘Happy Birthday.’ I recorded it earlier.”

  Simone nods, looking serious. “So you didn’t know it was an AR jammer?”

  “Oh, no.” Corsica shakes her head. “I’m not good with technology.”

  “It’s all right. The person who hired you clearly took advantage of you, your naiveté, and your beauty.” Simone takes a breath and smiles. “Now we get to the crux of the matter. Our viewers want to know who hired you. It wasn’t Reel2Real, was it?” “The troll?” She shook her head. “No. All the trolls did was watch. I thought they were the ones giving the gift. The person who seemed to be in charge was—”

  Before Corsica can finish her sentence, the side door slams open loud enough for everyone to hear. Simone leaps to her feet. Behind her, someone with a headset hurries toward the noise. Simone shakes her head, stamping a foot. “You can’t be in here! We are live on the air! Security!”

  Then Simone steps back, looking frightened as she bumps into the chair she was just sitting in. “Oh, God! Security!”

  Three masked figures in black run in front of the camera, shooting everyone they see in the studio, starting with what appears to be the camera man and a key grip. Corsica screams and tries to hide behind her chair as Simone continues yelling for security. As a security man comes running into the studio, he is shot.

  Then the center man shoots Corsica in the head. The pretty Latino woman crumples to the floor as Simone pulls her pistol from her inner jacket pocket. As she draws, the center man shoots her twice—once in the chest, once in the head.

  Instead of falling over, Simone starts to laugh. She smiles, even as blood drips down her face. “Gotcha.”

  From the left side of the screen, Hyperion, Medea’s partner, barrels into one of the masked men, taking him down with the sound of breaking furniture and bone. From the right side of the screen, Hey Jude tackles another one of the masked men, knocking him right through the image of Simone. The reporter’s image blurs and disappears as Takeshi flies into the screen from behind the camera, kicking the masked would-be assassin in the back of the head. As he doubles over in pain, Takeshi hits him with a flurry of blows that knocks him to the ground.

  Hyperion and Hey Jude have their men captive and unmasked, revealing two Japanese men.

  Simone walks in from the back of the studio, looking fit and fine, if a little out of breath. She waves to the camera.

  “It’s all right, everyone. I’m fine. Corsica is fine. I’ll explain everything in just a moment.”

  Two Knight Errant officers burst into the studio with their weapons drawn, followed by several official-looking men in suits. Simone smiles at them. “We have this under control. Before you take these men away…”

  Simone walks over to the masked man still on the floor. She leans over and pulls his mask off, revealing a third Japanese man. “This is the mastermind behind the assault on DocWagon 19.” She stands and tilts her head in a listening pose. “His name is…Botan Sato. He is an employee of the Marketing Information and Forecasting Department for Shiawase Atomics, a direct rival to Gaeatronics.”

  While she speaks, two more Knight Errant Officers arrive, and all three intruders are taken away. Simone walks to the other part of the studio where her usual desk is and takes her place behind it. Studio interns and other personnel scurry through the frame to clean up and replace the broken furniture. In the background, the security man who had just been shot is clearly seen. He even gives a shy smile and waves to the camera.

  “First, I must apologize to Knight Errant for not letting them in on the ruse of this very special edition of Stories with Hart,” Simone begins. “Knight Errant officers work very hard, and I didn’t want to alarm them unnecessarily. Nor did I want to plan a trap that didn’t go off. And, as you all saw, we were quite ready for most anything.”

  Simone’s smile grows as she glances over to the other part of the studio before returning her attention to the camera.

  “Corsica is in the studio with us, and is under the protection of Knight Errant. However, the woman you saw—” an image of the beautiful Latino woman appears next to Simone, “—was not Corsica. She is actress Mercedes Malone, and looks nothing like Corsica. Corsica’s image is being protected for the time being. I interviewed Corsica earlier this evening. We had Mercedes deliver the answers Corsica supplied. The rest of that interview is currently reserved for the Seattle Metroplex DA office. After the trial, I will run the interview exclusively on the Stories with Hart website.”

  Simone rises from behind her desk and walks back over to the sitting area of the studio. There is a new couch along with two larger chairs behind it across from Simone’s chair. The table is nowhere to be seen. Seated on the couch are Medea, Takeshi, and Gunther. Behind them in appropriately-sized chairs are Hyperion and Hey Jude. “At this point you might be wondering what actually happened here tonight.”

  Simone takes her seat and nods to the camera. “DocWagon 19 and DocWagon 17 are here to tell us all exactly that.”

  She turns to her guests. “Good evening.” There’s a smattering of greetings all around before Simone smiles. “Well, where should we start?”

  Takeshi glances around and, by silent consensus, speaks for them. “First, we are all now DocWagon 19. After a careful review of everything that ha
ppened, personnel records, and such, Mr. Novakowski determined that Medea and Hyperion were well suited to be part of our team. We’re pleased to have them aboard.” Medea and Hyperion nod as Takeshi speaks.

  “Congratulations. That’s wonderful to hear. And we already know you will all make an excellent team.”

  “On and off duty.” Takeshi gestures to his casual clothing. “We are here off duty. DocWagon isn’t responsible for any of this, ah, ruse.”

  Simone beams. “Of course not, but I’m glad you were here. So, let’s explain what we did.”

  “In short? We couldn’t let what happened that night go. Odder had been killed, and we decided to get the man behind the plot.” Takeshi glances at the camera. “SIMaeon continued to dig. He felt he had to, for Miyuzaki.”

  An AR image of SIMaeon’s teenager persona appears briefly on the screen. Grinning like a madman, he waves, and then disappears in a small burst of flame. By the lack of reaction from Simone and the DocWagon 19 team, they didn’t know he was there.

  “He found traces of the attacking hacker that led back to the Shiawase Seattle office. He didn’t know who had done what, but he told me about it.”

  “One thing led to another,” Gunther adds. “My drone had gotten a serial number off one of the enemy drones, and I did my own research to find out who made it, who sold it, and who it was sold to.”

  Simone looks solemn, professional. “And it also linked back to the Shiawase Seattle office?”

  Gunther nods. “Yep.”

  “It was about then that you contacted me.” Takeshi gestures to Simone. “About finding Corsica, and that she was scared.”

  Simone turns to the camera. “Finding Corsica was the keystone to breaking open the mystery. Mr. Sato treated her as nothing more than a pretty face. She, on the other hand, had seen and heard enough to realize who he worked for, and that she might not be safe once the story of what had happened at the Gates Casino made the news.”