Shadowrun Read online

  Shadowrun: The Complete Frame Job

  Dylan Birtolo

  Brooke Chang

  Bryan CP Steele

  C Z Wright

  Jason Schmetzer

  Jason M. Hardy

  Edited by

  John Helfers

  Introduction

  Or Meet Your Editor, Mr. Johnson

  I’ve been editing fiction for Catalyst Game Labs for several years now, and I like to think I’m more than pretty decent at it. But even though I’ve commissioned dozens of stories and novels, some projects still require a bit more of a hands-on approach due to their unique nature. And along with that uniqueness often comes a deadline that is just as immovable as anything else in publishing.

  Just like the one for this introduction was. How was I supposed to write about overseeing the creation of six interlinked novellas set in the new backdrop of the next edition of Shadowrun, and featuring the new characters from the Beginner Box Set and take you through how that all came about?

  While I was staring at my computer screen, trying to get the words flowing, the core idea hit me: for all intents and purposes, a tie-in fiction editor is a lot like a Mr. Johnson in the Sixth World.

  Exactly like them, in fact.

  I receive my assignment from the corp: It all started when the CGL overlords (well, one of them) Randall Bills started a thread (or perhaps an e-mail) about how to tie our fiction line into the upcoming release of the next edition of the Shadowrun RPG. He came up with the idea to do five interwoven novellas, each centered around one of the new characters that make up the SR team. I assured him that this was a great idea (it was), but (because I’m apparently some kind of masochist) it really should be six interwoven novellas—five for the characters, and one more to tie up the actual run itself. And of course I could commission a six original (!) novellas, all featuring a team of runners out to score some kind of major run on a corp, and have the first one ready to publish in about 45 days from initial concept (!!), with the next five to follow in two-week intervals leading up to the launch of the new Shadowrun edition this August.

  When I realized what I had gotten myself into, I hyperventilated for a minute, then set to assembling my shadowrunning (shadow-writing?) team, pulling together the group of writers I would hire to handle this trickier-than-usual job. Commissioning six Shadowrun novellas is easy; commissioning six novellas whose plot paths cross over one another and weave in and out as the overall story progresses is a very different item. I needed to find writers I not only could trust were familiar with the Shadowrun universe, but who were also solid writers that would play well with the rest of the group. If we didn’t have cohesion as each writer turned in their separate plot for the others to tie their stories into, the whole project could fall apart.

  Fortunately, I’ve been editing this IP long enough that I know several excellent writers who can turn in wonderful stories on relatively short notice. I also had contacts on the sourcebook side of SR, and Line Developer Jason Hardy put me in touch with a couple writers who had been working hard on the core rulebook, were experienced in writing Shadowrun fiction, and who were also free (and willing) to tackle this project in the limited time frame it required.

  So, relatively quickly, I assembled my team: game designer and writer Dylan Birtolo; two Shadowrun, Sixth World writers, Brooke Chang and CZ Wright; professional game guy and Shadowrun enthusiast Bryan CP Steele; former BattleTech and BattleCorps editor, and current Shadowrun and BattleTech freelance writer Jason Schmetzer; and to wrap the whole thing up into a nice neat ending, the same Jason M. Hardy (because he didn’t have enough to do with overseeing the creation of the new edition in the first place) who gave me his author list in the first place. Once again, no good deed goes unpunished.

  I brought the team together on our online Basecamp project managing site, gave them their assignment, and turned them loose. I pretty much let them loose on figuring out the who, when, where, why, and how the overall plot would go down while I kept tabs on how things were progressing and weighed in on ideas and answered questions when needed. The authors all came together nicely, and soon the ideas were flowing fast and furious.

  I took the results of each section of the overall mission and made sure they work for the parameters I’d been assigned: The novella manuscripts started hitting my inbox, and that’s when I really got to work in editing and shaping each piece to make sure they fit our vision of what the overarching story was going to be. I’m pleased to say that everyone delivered stellar work, and each new incoming piece cleared the high bar of their predecessors.

  Okay, so there was no posturing for respect on the mean streets or last-minute double-crosses among the writers (good thing, too) or betrayals from the corp itself—the closest thing to any obstacles I encountered was that some of the authors needed a few more days to complete their stories (and one time cover art was delayed, necessitating a rescheduling of the publication of one novella). Frag, I even work on a computer for 99 percent of the time, so I don’t even get so much as a paper cut nowadays.

  The team I put together worked like a well-oiled machine that gave me the results I wanted, and the final product is a great introduction to the exciting world of Shadowrun, Sixth World. I completed my assignment, making my corp happy and allowing a very talented group of writers to show all the Shadowrun fans, both old and new, what they can do. In short, I executed like a true Mr. Johnson.

  But now, as I’m re-reading this, maybe editing tie-in work isn’t all that hazardous, and perhaps I’m stretching that editor-as-Mr. Johnson analogy a bit too far…

  Nah...

  John Helfers

  Contents

  I. Yu

  II. Emu

  III. Rude

  IV. Frostburn

  V. Zipfile

  VI. Retribution

  Shadowrun Preview: Shadow Dance

  Looking for More Shadowrun Fiction?

  SR Sixth World Ed./Sprawl Ops Ad

  Copyright

  Part One

  Yu

  Dylan Birtolo

  The crowd at The Sports Bar let out a communal cheer as the Sonics sank a basket that all but sealed the win. The display at the bottom of the screens updated to show the home team leading by four points with only twelve seconds left. Nothing short of a miracle—or magical interference—would let the Kings come back.

  “Eish, I can’t believe you’re gonna win this one.” The dwarf woman shook her head, her mohawk swaying with the motion and causing the lights of the bar to make her face tattoos shimmer. Her nose wrinkled, but a smile at the corners of her mouth betrayed her true feelings over the loss.

  “Come on Z, you should know better than to bet against the home team.” Yu flashed a charming grin that had convinced more than one woman to abandon her better judgment and accompany the elf to his private room. He’d learned to cultivate and appreciate his talents—not that he’d ever consider using them on a member of his team. They were family. He reached up to brush imaginary dust from the sleeve of his suit jacket. One never knew when it would be important to look good.

  “One would also think you’d learn by now not to put all your eggs in one basket.” He emphasized the last word, eliciting a groan and a heavy eyeroll from his companion as she pushed herself up from the table and walked to the bar. Yu laughed at his own joke, leaning back until the front two legs of the chair lifted from the ground. He rested his weight on the tips of his toes, trying to balance the chair as he waited for Zipfile to return.

  As he hovered around that edge, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a burned-out BTL chip. Tappi
ng the useless piece of tech with his thumb, he scanned the bar, taking in the diverse crowd both in terms of metatype and social standing. Sports had a way of bringing folks together, even when they supported bitter rivals.

  His gaze drifted over the chip in his hand and he froze, as if noticing it for the first time. What had been wayward spinning turned into slow shifting to catch the changes in light coming from the multitude of screens. His arm ached, and he reached up to rub his shoulder, even though his logical mind knew the wound—and the flesh it had damaged—had been removed long ago. That injury had resulted in his brand new cyberarm, which in most cases functioned better than his original one. But this one came with aches he knew he’d never be rid of.

  “Nice chip you got there. Shame it’s burned out. Wishing you could go back to fabricated bliss?”

  The whisper came from behind his right shoulder, and only Yu’s years of training allowed him to keep his composure. Nonetheless, he snapped his arm down, tucking the BTL chip away and out of sight. It was not something meant for others to see under any circumstances. And on the practical level, it was highly illegal, not that anyone in this establishment would consider pulling in Knight Errant.

  Keeping his face pointed away from the speaker, Yu tried to glance at the newcomer out of the corner of his eye. The man was human, dressed in clothes that had been nice once, but were spoiled from too many nights exposed to the elements, their wrinkles giving them away as slept in. His hair was short and scraggly, and while he tried to maintain a calm demeanor, after a couple of seconds his eyes flicked to the side, jumping at some motion or shadow. His talents as a salesman were street worthy at best.

  “What are you proposing?” Yu asked, keeping his voice low and tucking his chin to direct his voice at the stranger.

  “I saw what you had. If you want some fresh ones, take a trip of your wildest dreams, I can make that happen. Fresh stuff, straight off the boats, not like anything you’d’ve seen. Well, you might, since it’s, like, from your homeland.”

  Yu resisted the warring urges to roll his eyes and strike the man in the throat. The muscles across his shoulders tightened, but that served as the only indicator of his true feelings.

  “Meet me outside in five, around the north side of the bar,” he replied.

  Without another word, the man wandered off, weaving toward the exit. He kept his hands in his pockets and his head pointed down at the floor, but Yu made out the subtle shifts as the unsolicited dealer veered away from anyone who got too close. He recognized the motions and reactions, falling back into old habits of judging the man to gauge whether or not he’d be useful. This one would not meet the standards of his Triad back home. He’d be considered a threat, a vulnerability.

  Not that it mattered anymore, but old habits died hard. Of course, not being back home meant he could deal with the BTL dealer as he saw fit. If there was an opportunity to find out more information about this shipment, he might be able to do some real damage to the industry. He wasn’t naïve enough to think he could make much of a wave, but any ripples were victories.

  His thoughts captivated him so much, he didn’t notice Zipfile coming back to the table until she placed a heavy mug in front of him. Shaking his head, he plastered a smile on his face with practiced ease.

  “What’s in your head?” she asked, lifting her own mug and taking a big swallow.

  “Nothing. Just distracted.” He saluted her with the beer and took a swallow, not even tasting the cold liquid as it slid down his throat. His mind was too focused on other matters, like watching the clock to see how many minutes had passed. If the dealer went to the meeting location right away, he’d be expecting Yu to show up in three more minutes. If Yu waited too long, the man might get nervous and leave, or at least have his guard up. It would be better to get the drop on him earlier than later.

  “Want to bet on the next game? Should be starting in about a half-hour, and it’s not like I’ve got anywhere to be.”

  “I have something I need to take care of.”

  “AR drone race, then? Want to check it out? Starts down near the Needle at ten, and lasts until the Knights show up.” Zipfile leaned forward, betraying her excitement for the upcoming event.

  “Another time.” Yu brought his mug up and chugged the last half of the glass, setting it onto the table as he stood up. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Zipfile reached out and placed her hand on top of Yu’s arm before he could step away. She tilted her head to look up at him with a questioning glance. “What’s going on?”

  Yu appreciated that she didn’t bother to question whether or not something was wrong. She knew him better than that, but this was something he didn’t want her to get involved in. Not if he could help it.

  “I’m fine.” He reached out and eased her hand off, putting it back on the table between them and pressing down in a subtle gesture to leave him be. “I’m just not feeling well, and want to get home.”

  The lie tumbled with ease from his lips, and he doubted she believed it, but time was running out. He needed to get in position soon if he wanted to get the drop on the dealer before the fool’s guard went up. He should’ve given himself more time.

  Yu stepped away, turning his shoulder so he didn’t have to look at the dwarf if she offered a rebuttal. She didn’t, and he turned his full attention to the upcoming task. He navigated easily through the crowd, sliding through like a rivulet of water always finds a trail downhill, and took the back exit, a fire door with the alarm long-since disabled. Regular patrons frequented this entrance, especially on busy championship nights.

  The night air had a refreshing chill compared to the room behind him. There was a hint of moisture too, a welcome change from the sweat and booze permeating every atom inside The Sports Bar. As soon as the door closed behind him, the raucous conversation and celebration faded into a dull hum. Around the corner, passing cars splashed through puddles from the morning’s rainfall.

  For the moment, Yu had the small street to himself. He didn’t count the raccoons sniffing around the piled trash bags as intruders on his solitude. Walking to his left, he approached the corner leading to the north side of the building. When he reached the edge, he hugged the wall, peeking around the edge to scout out the area. He might not be the best thief in town, but his skills still ranked higher than most at not being seen.

  The BTL dealer stood against the wall, facing the main street and the corner leading to the front of the building. His weight shifted from one foot to the other in jumpy, jittery movements rather than the subtle swaying of someone who had one too many drinks. After a few seconds, his head whipped around, but he didn’t appear to see Yu staring at him from the shadows. The dealer looked at his hand, then back toward the front entrance.

  Sliding out from around the corner, Yu slipped forward, his feet gliding over the cement as he moved with almost unnatural grace. He navigated around a couple of puddles, making sure not to splash and alert his prey to his arrival until it was too late.

  The man never turned until Yu reached out and grabbed his shoulder. He tugged hard, yanking the man backward and making him stumble back in an attempt to regain his balance. In response, Yu swept out the dealer’s rear foot right before it touched the ground, making him fall onto his back with a yelp of surprise. Yu followed him down, dropping his knee so it pressed against the side of the man’s throat and turned his face away.

  “Please! Don’t hurt me! You can have ’em!” The dealer reached toward his jacket pocket with a shaking hand.

  Yu didn’t let him get that far. Experience taught him not to let anyone, especially terrified targets, grab something unseen. He reached out and smacked the man’s wrist with the back of his hand while leaning forward and putting more weight on his knee. The target got his meaning well enough and froze, not even trying to look up through the corner of his vision to look at his assailant.

  “You said you dealt in BTL’s, that you had a fresh collection off the boat
s?”

  The dealer tried to nod as best as he could with the elf’s knee wedged up against his jaw.

  “Do you know where the shipment is?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Listen, cat tau, right now I’m the one you should be afraid of. I’m the one who literally has your face pressed up against the stones. I’m the one who could break every bone in your hand one by one if I wanted to.”

  To accentuate his threat, Yu reached down and grabbed one of the dealer’s fingers, bending it back as far as it would go without snapping. His victim cried out, but silenced when Yu pressed harder with his knee. The tortured scream faded into a whimper. Yu released the man’s finger, but kept his hand nearby as a reminder.

  “It was being loaded into a warehouse down in West Seattle. It’s probably still there. Takes a few days to move it out to distribution. They’re just sitting in boxes off the boat. But you can’t get in. They’ve got guards and drek, take you out if you don’t got proper business there. I can get you in. Say you’re there for a deal. You could buy as much as you want.”

  Reaching down, Yu patted the man’s clothes, searching for his commlink. When he found it, he fished it out and tossed it to the ground near his prisoner’s hand. “Show me.”

  The captive man did as instructed, pulling up a map without moving the rest of his arm. A green dot marked the warehouse, and the map offered directions from their current location.

  Yu squinted and pulled up the warehouse on his own commlink, using his DNI to keep his hands free to deal with the criminal if necessary.

  “Want me to take you there? I’ll show you the best trips ever, stuff you can’t even imagine. A trip out of this world.”