Shadowrunning (Dropped)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Out on the Farm

 

BEEP BEEP BEEP

The notification instantly woke Firefly out of a deep sleep. It was the particular tone she’d set for calls from her fixer and only set at one volume. Loud. She fumbled for the lights and then for her commlink. Barely registering the tag as coming from a satellite link up or the 3 am time stamp, she found the answer button and tapped it.

“What’s up?”

“A job if you want it.”

“What kind of job?” She could faintly hear the other team members on the call as well but this was her contact so they listened instead of talking.

“I have a Johnny who needs some scouting done out in the barrens. You’re to meet up with the Crimson Crusher gang at the Crusher 495 bar and ride out with a convoy of theirs. Don’t use your own vehicles.”

“And how much are we going to get paid?”

“4000 ¥. Per runner.”

That’s pretty low. Firefly tried to speak, but Bobby beat her to it.

“4000 ¥? Is that the best offer? It is dangerous out there in the barrens.” He was clearly angling for a pay raise.

I added my wheedling to his. “Surely your Johnson can give us a little more for insurance purposes.”

A pause, then the fixer spoke. “Alright. 4,200 ¥. Take it or leave it.”

It wasn’t the best but, “We’ll take it,” I said.

“So, here is what you have to do. You have three objectives. One, keep the Johnny alive. Two, transport supplies to his location which will be provided. Three, investigate the bodies that have appeared out in the barrens. Roger that?”

We agreed.

“You’ll meet the convoy at 5 am. Crusher 495, remember. Good luck.” He signed off, leaving only us in on the call.

“It sounds like we have had all the sleep we will have for the night,” Bobby remarked. “Who’s going?”

“I am.” Firefly stood up to stretch.

“Tree is going.”

Then silence.

“I guess we’ll have no rigger along this time. But it doesn’t sound like he’ll be necessary,” Bobby said. “See you there, then.”

Firefly grunted her agreement and terminated her connection. He was right. There was no time for more sleep, just for packing. However, she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Quickly she connected to the Matrix and looked up the location of the meeting point. It sat on the edge of the city and barrens. Though it was owned by the Crimson Crush gang, if they were expected there wouldn’t be any problem.

 

* * * * *

 

The sun wasn’t up yet by the time the team reached the bar, but the predawn light reflected off the snow providing a decent amount of light. Just outside the bar Firefly could detect the heat shapes of a small crowd of people. The rust colored vans and trucks contrasted with the white of the fresh snow. When they closed the distance, Firefly could count the people. Their welcoming crowd of twenty was made up of a variety of meta-humans and humans. A female troll leaned up against one of the nearer vehicles with an AK47 slung casually over her shoulder.

Firefly thought she heard a deep gasp come from the direction of Tree. Next second he jogged forward towards her. There was no stopping him.

“That idiot.” Bobby shook his head.