".....Until Sensei comes back." Lug said into the trid. "Hamon's on his way because his lady's is goin on duty and da rest of us are here, but I still...."
"Listen, my diminutive friend," Doc's image on the screen responded, "while I would, in other circumstances, certainly defer to the wisdom of our peerless leader, his non-presence combined with the anxiousness of my researcher make it imperative that we develop a strategy to act in loco parentus......."
"English, Doc, speak English!" Owen cried in a passable imitation of the dwarf as he entered the room, leading in the other members of the team.
"Sensei! Great! We got a situation here....." Lug began when he saw the phys ad.
"Not so much a situation as a choice, oh master of the dramatic entrance," Doc said. "I see you have your facsimile. Excellent. My researcher feels that our friends from the streets have thrust upon us an item of antiquity and power beyond his understanding. He views the item as potentially a key to entire realms of magic." Ignoring the chorus of groans and mutters from the team, Doc continued, "He feels it is incumbent upon him to call in greater expertise to examine the item. I demurred based on our mythical client's supposed desire for privacy, and fallaciously claimed the need to contact our principal to secure permission. If the weasel has not used my temporary absence to override my reticence to involve others, I would be delightfully surprised, but I fear such optimism is unwarranted. The question therefore......"
"Is go along, dig in our heels or cut and run" Hamon said.
"Quite" Doc responded as he watched Owen's brow furrow at the problem.
"Your safety?" The phys ad asked as he addressed the screen.
"From Pietr?" Doc asked with incredulity, "Oh, I have no doubts that I could overcome all manner of his 'objections', magical and mundane, but I'm less sanguine about such a blanket claim regarding those he might contact."
"All right, tell him that you've contacted your principal who has requested that you return with the item immediately. It will probably be a struggle to get away from him, but we need to get some sense of what we are doing before we start fighting to keep something that nobody wants to touch. Mouse and I are going to see what we can come up with as far as strategy is concerned while I ask Lug and Hamon to see if they can find B&B. Maybe Briar can tell us something about the item. I'm going to ask Itami to set the base up so we can defend it or leave it depending on circumstances. Does that sound agreeable to everybody?"
"Yeah, except we gotta go back ta da fraggin sewers." Lug grumbled.
"Hey, at least dat damned spirit don't call you Eatme Handsoap." Itami replied.
As the lost boys valiantly suppressed their smiles at the rigger's sudden sensitivity, Doc said "Very well." and then with a deep accent he added "I'll be back". His grin, which had blossomed when Owen failed to respond to the line with anything more than a nod, turned to a look of frustration when the phys ad pointed at Mouse and exclaimed "Come with me if you want to live!". Adding insult to injury the phys ad turned and slowly wagged his finger at the screen, in effect saying 'I've seen all of the Terminator movies'.
Mouse, initially as delighted as he was surprised that Owen wanted to strategize with him rather than Hamon, immediately intuited the problem. "Boss, we're really gonna have ta run da shadows."
"What do you mean, Mickey?" Owen asked with some perplexity.
"Well, as Hamon said we gotta basically surrender the artifact or dig in our heels and fight, or else we gotta evade and escape."
"That sounds like the options available." Owen admitted.
"Ok. We can eliminate da 'surrender da artifact' option right off. I don't know much, but I've been with you guys long enough to know that avoiding responsibility and letting some dangerous item end up in some bad guy's hands just ain't da way we do things no matter how much nuyen is being offered." Owen nodded as the decker continued. "Since we already seen dat da foundation ain't too keen on us and last time they tried a snatch dey got stepped on, ya gotta figure dat dis time dey will be better prepared and even if dey don't come after us first, ya gotta figure they'll be in the hunt eventually. If dey got da bottomless pockets we think they do, fighting them will be just like trying to duke it out wit a corp. Dey will always be able to bring more and better resources to bear on our position, which will basically remain static. Dat means dat eventually dey wear us down far enough and dey win. So, eliminate da 'dig in our heels option'. Dat leaves cut and run."
Seeing that the lost boys' leader seemed to be agreeing with his reasoning, Mouse took a deep breath and continued. "Now, the problem wit running da shadows is dat here we got a rep. Dat means dat if we hang wit our friends or even if we don't, we're gonna put dem in danger." Owen's raised eyebrow caused the young ork to elaborate. "A single guy might be able to disappear, but not a team. If we were after a team for some reason, we'd look at who their friends and associates were. We'd use dat info to develop a profile, but we'd also try to watch those friends to try to get a line on our targets. If we weren't who we are, we might even lean on friends and stir up known enemies to flush out our targets. We gotta assume dat is exactly what da foundation will do if dey come callin an don't find us at home. Anyplace in da plex is gonna make us too easy ta find."
Since the phys ad seemed to be absorbing this information without objection, the decker pressed on: "So, if we assume dat we are a little too high profile to fade witout putting friends and associates in a bad position, and we can't win a fight and won't surrender, I think dat logically we gotta get outta town. We'd have ta make enough of da departure so dat it would be well known dat we ain't around anymore, but we'd have to hop around and split up so dat pursuit would get real frustrated lookin for us. Unfortunately dat means dat we're gonna leave a lot of wiz toys behind, even if we end up buyin less wiz toys someplace else."
"Your analysis is pretty tight," Owen admitted, "but what would the point of running be?"
"Well.........its the only option that has long term survivability" Mouse temporized after being stumped by the phys ad's question. "It will give us time to....uh....."
"To what, Mouse? To find out who is after the scourge? I have to admit, I don't really care. To find out what it does? If that involves using the thing, I don't think any of us want to play with an ancient artifact in order to discover it's power. To find out what it is worth and possibly find a buyer? I'm sure that would be much easier in an environment where we know the players, who can be trusted and who cannot......No, I understand that staying may be a bad long term strategy but initially......."
"Wait a second, boss." The decker interrupted. "Before you reject the option, let's look at what happens if we stay until the heat is on. If you had tremendously deep pockets and were pressuring a target in a city, wouldn't you anticipate that the target might cut and run? Wouldn't you be prepared to cut off escape routes? You'd expect that the target would try to rabbit and you'd be prepared. The only thing you wouldn't be prepared for would be if they weren't even in town when you came looking for them."
"We wanted to find out what the thing was so we could sell it, right?" Mouse continued, "Well, we already know that in one expert's opinion it's really old and very valuable. So much so that we are worried, right? Ok. If it isn't that valuable and Doc's expert is wrong, we might lose some nuyen running away with it, but that's the worst, isn't it? Now if Doc's expert is right and the Atlantean Foundation and possibly some other powerful parties come lookin for it, continuing the research here means that we potentially put our friends and contacts in a vulnerable position. I don't have much of a list of contacts, so it wouldn't crush me, but Itami, Doc, Lug, Hamon and even you have been around here long enough to have some associates who would be in harm's way. Like it or not, we have enough of a rep here that the streets are gonna buzz when the lost boys are layin low and the community is gonna recognize us wherever we hide, which means that staying in town just ain't a good choice."
"You guys have taught me a lot about being flexible enough to adapt to the situation. That the autocannon that stops a charging troll ain't the best tool for hunting devilrats in the sewer. Shouldn't we be flexible enough to get out of the way of the trouble that's about to hit, BEFORE we put a lot of friends in danger?"
"An I still wanna know why da frag Bardo can't have a fraggin comm like fraggin anybody else." Lug muttered as he started making his way through the the sewer. "Bad enough da fragger's gotta live in a fraggin sewer, but ta force us ta........"
*Hey, Hambone, how do you put up wit da little slot's bad temper?* the long eared Devil rat projected as it floated up to Hamon. *Personally, I'd be sick of da halfer's constant whining. I'm surprised ya haven't just told him "Don't BUG me" Get it? Bug, don't bug me?*
"Briar, my name is Hamon. My partner's name is Lug."
*Du-uh* Briar projected, unfazed by the samurai's tone. *Like I care, right? Listen, swordboy, that hardguy act might cut it with the street scum that you usually deal with, but it means absolute zero to me. Hambone. And what have you got to add, short, squat and ugly?*
Ignoring the spirits' provocation, Lug asked his partner "We got any silver bullets left?"
Giggling, the devil rat touched the bottom of the sewer pipe and began morphing into a huge werewolf. "S-s-s-stupid-d-d D-d-dwarf," the were hissed. "S-s-s-silver only works if I look like this-s-s-s."
"Thanks for da tip, Bradley. Now, where's your boss?"
The man-wolf cocked it's head and snapped it's fang lined jaws at both the change of name and the deliberate demotion implied in asking a free spirit for it's 'boss'. Then suddenly it threw back it's head and laughed as it morphed into a embracer, clapping it's huge hands. * I forgot you got more balls than brains, little man. Follow me.*
"If it's all the same to you, Briar, or even if it's not, let's go directly to Bardo without getting wet." Hamon said.
*Killjoy.*
In spite of it's own concept of fun, Briar led the pair of sams direct to Bardo's current residence. The gator shaman, upon seeing the pair, immediately asked what the problem was. Lug told him.
"We got dis really old whip thing dat were trying to identify. Doc's taken it to an old school chummer a his who thinks it's really ancient and powerful. We wanna get a second opinion and was wonderin if you an Briar would come take a look at it."
"Well......."
*Hey, fats!* Briar interrupted *Can't ya tell they really want me for this job? They're just asking you along to be polite.*
Sighing the shaman replied, "Yes, Briar. I could tell. If I hadn't, it's what I would have suggested anyway. I certainly am not enough of a researcher or historical specialist to shed light on this issue. I suppose you want me to accompany you."
Whether this last question was directed at the spirit or the sams was unclear, but Briar responded * Sure. Get you some exercise, lard butt. Be good for you to see a part of the universe that ain't underground. Get your toys and lets go.*
When the shaman had gathered his weapons the quartet moved up to the surface.
"Bad news, I'm afraid, old chum." Doc announced as he re-entered Pietr's workroom. "I'm afraid my principal has become rather insistent that I return with the artifact immediately. As much as I would enjoy continuing our investigation, I fear....."
"WHAT?" Pietr exclaimed. "You surely aren't suggesting that the investigation is over! Doc, this is a significant, perhaps THE significant find of ........"
"My friend, my friend" Doc interrupted, "If you'd let me complete the thought, I was about to say that further investigation of the item itself would have to begin again on the morrow. I certainly never meant to suggest that we would cease to ferret out the secrets of the artifact, for our own curiosity as well as for the sake of the entire world, it's simply that it's owner is eccentric enough to desire that his property return to his sight periodically, and I, as his agent, am responsible for returning the item. Now, you are certainly free to continue researching the pictographs........"
"Yes, yes." Pietr said as though that had always been part of his plan."But are you sure that your principal......"
"I already have his assurance that discovering the artifact's secrets are a top priority and that you are the only expert who has been consulted on the issue. Your pronouncements have so impressed my employer that I am certain that no other scholar is needed. Now, if I could......" Doc said as he gestured at the item.
"I couldn't, uh.... prevail upon you to perhaps mislead your employer with a story of my refusal to release......"
"No, I'm afraid not." Doc responded without a smile.
"And if it was not simply a story......"
"It is an issue of personal honor, sir. I would object most strenuously to any refusal on your part and, though I doubt not that your defenses are extensive, I would point out that we are both within your protective circles." The threat implied in Doc's words and the look in his eyes was enough to cause the small figure in the fez to reconsider the strategy.
"Yes, well, uhm, if you are certain it must be moved....." Pietr allowed with some reluctance. "How early will you return tomorrow?"
"Look for me at 9:00 tomorrow morning, old chum." Doc said as he re-wrapped the item.
"Very well. But Doc," the small man said with great intensity, "it is of utmost importance that the artifact be back promptly at 9:00. I will spend the night researching and preparing for tomorrow's investigation, but we must not let a find of this magnitude slip through our fingers......"
"Rest assured, Pietr, we will not. Until tomorrow then." Doc said as he left.
As he considered the young ork's argument, Owen found himself nodding. The kid's got an excellent point. If we know the drek is about to hit the fan, and we do, then getting out with our hoops intact does make a lot of sense. I have to admit, Mouse has come an awfully long way. "All right, Mickey. We'll have to talk it over with the others before we move but, let's assume they go with it. I'll set up a contingency plan to let some key people know we've skipped town. You get decking and see if you can get flights set up. Probably want to get us out starting late tonight and early tomorrow. Let's say everybody gone by mid morning and word to get out about noon. That ought to keep our friends from being found and pressured. Let's do it."
Initially surprised at the ease with which his plan was accepted, Mouse bent to his task with a will.
Itami was running his third check on neverland's automated defense system when he got Doc's call.
"Hang on, Doc. Da Boss and Mouse are in a skull session but I'll get him......."
"Wait, brother Hanzo", the elf interrupted."I have greater need of your assistance than of theirs. The scanner in the Saab is showing several tracers, meaning that one of my college chum's minions kept busy while I was dealing with his master. Although I did not meet any riggers, I do believe my researcher may have also supplemented the watcher spirit he sent after me with some sort of surveillance drone. I really believe he does not wish to let the artifact out of his sight. The car can blister the tracers and I can chase the pesky watcher, but I do not know how to evade the possible drone. Any suggestions?"
After a moment's thought Itami sprang up. As he grabbed his jacket he said "Head towards the harbor tunnel, Doc. I'll wait the other side of the toll plaza. When you get to it, click your comm and I'll start pulling out. Make sure you are right behind my truck in the tunnel. We'll try a moving pickup. Be sure to fry the tracers as soon as you are inside the tunnel. See you in 10."
Moving pickup? In the harbor tunnel??Doc thought. "Itami! Itami, wait! Hello? Oh, crap!"
*Well, your digs are certainly nicer than ours.* Briar broadcast generously. *Of course, we do live in a sewer, so that's not really saying much* It continued when it detected some pride from the sams.
Bardo made no comment as Hamon and Lug guided he and his spirit associate through the warehouse headquarters.
After some liquid refreshment and several attempts (by Briar) to instigate a fight, Owen joined the foursome, and eventually Mouse came in as the phys ad outlined the team's situation.
Before too much more conversation, Itami drove the truck into the warehouse and he and Doc unloaded the SAAB from the cargo box. Throughout this process, Doc explained, loudly and in great detail exactly what kind of a maniac he thought the rigger was and how he would never ever again make the mistake of calling on the "mad, plug-headed orc maniac" for any sort of aid, regardless of the situation.
Itami, for his part, maintained a steady counterpoint about "head-in-the-clouds wiz-worms who couldn't manage to keep constant speed and drive in a straight line if their lives depended on it." Briar, of course found the exchange vastly entertaining and did what he could to prolong and expand the verbal joust. This ended rather suddenly when Doc opened the wrappings that contained the scourge.
Briar became very quiet as he and Bardo studied the artifact. After a few minutes the gator shaman said "I can sense the mild compulsion spell to pick the thing up and it has the feel of great antiquity, but beyond that, and the fact that it is quite dirty, I can't tell much about it. What about you Briar?"
The wise cracking spirit said nothing as it stared at the scourge. It turned to Owen and very formally asked, *What would you with this?*
Taken aback by the sudden shift in mood and the serious tone from the wise cracking spirit, Owen said, "Sell it"
*To any?*
After a moment's consideration, Owen said "No. We need to know what it is and what it is for because we wouldn't sell it to be used for evil."
*I am prevented from saying what I know. Seek the council of princes. There is balance in their number. They may see the danger.*
As the hair went up on the back of everyone's neck, Owen was about to thank the spirit when it spoke again. Very softly it said *Pain and Rule. Punishment and Command. Tools of the ancient.* Then with an audible pop, Briar disappeared.
The Shadorat and shapcano. Together again for the first time! This serial continues at Winterhawk's Virtual Magespace. To read Chapter 10 click here.
This story is copyright of the author. Shadowrun is a Registered Trademark of FASA Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Used without permission. Any use of FASA Corporation's copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks.
"Listen, my diminutive friend," Doc's image on the screen responded, "while I would, in other circumstances, certainly defer to the wisdom of our peerless leader, his non-presence combined with the anxiousness of my researcher make it imperative that we develop a strategy to act in loco parentus......."
"English, Doc, speak English!" Owen cried in a passable imitation of the dwarf as he entered the room, leading in the other members of the team.
"Sensei! Great! We got a situation here....." Lug began when he saw the phys ad.
"Not so much a situation as a choice, oh master of the dramatic entrance," Doc said. "I see you have your facsimile. Excellent. My researcher feels that our friends from the streets have thrust upon us an item of antiquity and power beyond his understanding. He views the item as potentially a key to entire realms of magic." Ignoring the chorus of groans and mutters from the team, Doc continued, "He feels it is incumbent upon him to call in greater expertise to examine the item. I demurred based on our mythical client's supposed desire for privacy, and fallaciously claimed the need to contact our principal to secure permission. If the weasel has not used my temporary absence to override my reticence to involve others, I would be delightfully surprised, but I fear such optimism is unwarranted. The question therefore......"
"Is go along, dig in our heels or cut and run" Hamon said.
"Quite" Doc responded as he watched Owen's brow furrow at the problem.
"Your safety?" The phys ad asked as he addressed the screen.
"From Pietr?" Doc asked with incredulity, "Oh, I have no doubts that I could overcome all manner of his 'objections', magical and mundane, but I'm less sanguine about such a blanket claim regarding those he might contact."
"All right, tell him that you've contacted your principal who has requested that you return with the item immediately. It will probably be a struggle to get away from him, but we need to get some sense of what we are doing before we start fighting to keep something that nobody wants to touch. Mouse and I are going to see what we can come up with as far as strategy is concerned while I ask Lug and Hamon to see if they can find B&B. Maybe Briar can tell us something about the item. I'm going to ask Itami to set the base up so we can defend it or leave it depending on circumstances. Does that sound agreeable to everybody?"
"Yeah, except we gotta go back ta da fraggin sewers." Lug grumbled.
"Hey, at least dat damned spirit don't call you Eatme Handsoap." Itami replied.
As the lost boys valiantly suppressed their smiles at the rigger's sudden sensitivity, Doc said "Very well." and then with a deep accent he added "I'll be back". His grin, which had blossomed when Owen failed to respond to the line with anything more than a nod, turned to a look of frustration when the phys ad pointed at Mouse and exclaimed "Come with me if you want to live!". Adding insult to injury the phys ad turned and slowly wagged his finger at the screen, in effect saying 'I've seen all of the Terminator movies'.
Mouse, initially as delighted as he was surprised that Owen wanted to strategize with him rather than Hamon, immediately intuited the problem. "Boss, we're really gonna have ta run da shadows."
"What do you mean, Mickey?" Owen asked with some perplexity.
"Well, as Hamon said we gotta basically surrender the artifact or dig in our heels and fight, or else we gotta evade and escape."
"That sounds like the options available." Owen admitted.
"Ok. We can eliminate da 'surrender da artifact' option right off. I don't know much, but I've been with you guys long enough to know that avoiding responsibility and letting some dangerous item end up in some bad guy's hands just ain't da way we do things no matter how much nuyen is being offered." Owen nodded as the decker continued. "Since we already seen dat da foundation ain't too keen on us and last time they tried a snatch dey got stepped on, ya gotta figure dat dis time dey will be better prepared and even if dey don't come after us first, ya gotta figure they'll be in the hunt eventually. If dey got da bottomless pockets we think they do, fighting them will be just like trying to duke it out wit a corp. Dey will always be able to bring more and better resources to bear on our position, which will basically remain static. Dat means dat eventually dey wear us down far enough and dey win. So, eliminate da 'dig in our heels option'. Dat leaves cut and run."
Seeing that the lost boys' leader seemed to be agreeing with his reasoning, Mouse took a deep breath and continued. "Now, the problem wit running da shadows is dat here we got a rep. Dat means dat if we hang wit our friends or even if we don't, we're gonna put dem in danger." Owen's raised eyebrow caused the young ork to elaborate. "A single guy might be able to disappear, but not a team. If we were after a team for some reason, we'd look at who their friends and associates were. We'd use dat info to develop a profile, but we'd also try to watch those friends to try to get a line on our targets. If we weren't who we are, we might even lean on friends and stir up known enemies to flush out our targets. We gotta assume dat is exactly what da foundation will do if dey come callin an don't find us at home. Anyplace in da plex is gonna make us too easy ta find."
Since the phys ad seemed to be absorbing this information without objection, the decker pressed on: "So, if we assume dat we are a little too high profile to fade witout putting friends and associates in a bad position, and we can't win a fight and won't surrender, I think dat logically we gotta get outta town. We'd have ta make enough of da departure so dat it would be well known dat we ain't around anymore, but we'd have to hop around and split up so dat pursuit would get real frustrated lookin for us. Unfortunately dat means dat we're gonna leave a lot of wiz toys behind, even if we end up buyin less wiz toys someplace else."
"Your analysis is pretty tight," Owen admitted, "but what would the point of running be?"
"Well.........its the only option that has long term survivability" Mouse temporized after being stumped by the phys ad's question. "It will give us time to....uh....."
"To what, Mouse? To find out who is after the scourge? I have to admit, I don't really care. To find out what it does? If that involves using the thing, I don't think any of us want to play with an ancient artifact in order to discover it's power. To find out what it is worth and possibly find a buyer? I'm sure that would be much easier in an environment where we know the players, who can be trusted and who cannot......No, I understand that staying may be a bad long term strategy but initially......."
"Wait a second, boss." The decker interrupted. "Before you reject the option, let's look at what happens if we stay until the heat is on. If you had tremendously deep pockets and were pressuring a target in a city, wouldn't you anticipate that the target might cut and run? Wouldn't you be prepared to cut off escape routes? You'd expect that the target would try to rabbit and you'd be prepared. The only thing you wouldn't be prepared for would be if they weren't even in town when you came looking for them."
"We wanted to find out what the thing was so we could sell it, right?" Mouse continued, "Well, we already know that in one expert's opinion it's really old and very valuable. So much so that we are worried, right? Ok. If it isn't that valuable and Doc's expert is wrong, we might lose some nuyen running away with it, but that's the worst, isn't it? Now if Doc's expert is right and the Atlantean Foundation and possibly some other powerful parties come lookin for it, continuing the research here means that we potentially put our friends and contacts in a vulnerable position. I don't have much of a list of contacts, so it wouldn't crush me, but Itami, Doc, Lug, Hamon and even you have been around here long enough to have some associates who would be in harm's way. Like it or not, we have enough of a rep here that the streets are gonna buzz when the lost boys are layin low and the community is gonna recognize us wherever we hide, which means that staying in town just ain't a good choice."
"You guys have taught me a lot about being flexible enough to adapt to the situation. That the autocannon that stops a charging troll ain't the best tool for hunting devilrats in the sewer. Shouldn't we be flexible enough to get out of the way of the trouble that's about to hit, BEFORE we put a lot of friends in danger?"
"An I still wanna know why da frag Bardo can't have a fraggin comm like fraggin anybody else." Lug muttered as he started making his way through the the sewer. "Bad enough da fragger's gotta live in a fraggin sewer, but ta force us ta........"
*Hey, Hambone, how do you put up wit da little slot's bad temper?* the long eared Devil rat projected as it floated up to Hamon. *Personally, I'd be sick of da halfer's constant whining. I'm surprised ya haven't just told him "Don't BUG me" Get it? Bug, don't bug me?*
"Briar, my name is Hamon. My partner's name is Lug."
*Du-uh* Briar projected, unfazed by the samurai's tone. *Like I care, right? Listen, swordboy, that hardguy act might cut it with the street scum that you usually deal with, but it means absolute zero to me. Hambone. And what have you got to add, short, squat and ugly?*
Ignoring the spirits' provocation, Lug asked his partner "We got any silver bullets left?"
Giggling, the devil rat touched the bottom of the sewer pipe and began morphing into a huge werewolf. "S-s-s-stupid-d-d D-d-dwarf," the were hissed. "S-s-s-silver only works if I look like this-s-s-s."
"Thanks for da tip, Bradley. Now, where's your boss?"
The man-wolf cocked it's head and snapped it's fang lined jaws at both the change of name and the deliberate demotion implied in asking a free spirit for it's 'boss'. Then suddenly it threw back it's head and laughed as it morphed into a embracer, clapping it's huge hands. * I forgot you got more balls than brains, little man. Follow me.*
"If it's all the same to you, Briar, or even if it's not, let's go directly to Bardo without getting wet." Hamon said.
*Killjoy.*
In spite of it's own concept of fun, Briar led the pair of sams direct to Bardo's current residence. The gator shaman, upon seeing the pair, immediately asked what the problem was. Lug told him.
"We got dis really old whip thing dat were trying to identify. Doc's taken it to an old school chummer a his who thinks it's really ancient and powerful. We wanna get a second opinion and was wonderin if you an Briar would come take a look at it."
"Well......."
*Hey, fats!* Briar interrupted *Can't ya tell they really want me for this job? They're just asking you along to be polite.*
Sighing the shaman replied, "Yes, Briar. I could tell. If I hadn't, it's what I would have suggested anyway. I certainly am not enough of a researcher or historical specialist to shed light on this issue. I suppose you want me to accompany you."
Whether this last question was directed at the spirit or the sams was unclear, but Briar responded * Sure. Get you some exercise, lard butt. Be good for you to see a part of the universe that ain't underground. Get your toys and lets go.*
When the shaman had gathered his weapons the quartet moved up to the surface.
"Bad news, I'm afraid, old chum." Doc announced as he re-entered Pietr's workroom. "I'm afraid my principal has become rather insistent that I return with the artifact immediately. As much as I would enjoy continuing our investigation, I fear....."
"WHAT?" Pietr exclaimed. "You surely aren't suggesting that the investigation is over! Doc, this is a significant, perhaps THE significant find of ........"
"My friend, my friend" Doc interrupted, "If you'd let me complete the thought, I was about to say that further investigation of the item itself would have to begin again on the morrow. I certainly never meant to suggest that we would cease to ferret out the secrets of the artifact, for our own curiosity as well as for the sake of the entire world, it's simply that it's owner is eccentric enough to desire that his property return to his sight periodically, and I, as his agent, am responsible for returning the item. Now, you are certainly free to continue researching the pictographs........"
"Yes, yes." Pietr said as though that had always been part of his plan."But are you sure that your principal......"
"I already have his assurance that discovering the artifact's secrets are a top priority and that you are the only expert who has been consulted on the issue. Your pronouncements have so impressed my employer that I am certain that no other scholar is needed. Now, if I could......" Doc said as he gestured at the item.
"I couldn't, uh.... prevail upon you to perhaps mislead your employer with a story of my refusal to release......"
"No, I'm afraid not." Doc responded without a smile.
"And if it was not simply a story......"
"It is an issue of personal honor, sir. I would object most strenuously to any refusal on your part and, though I doubt not that your defenses are extensive, I would point out that we are both within your protective circles." The threat implied in Doc's words and the look in his eyes was enough to cause the small figure in the fez to reconsider the strategy.
"Yes, well, uhm, if you are certain it must be moved....." Pietr allowed with some reluctance. "How early will you return tomorrow?"
"Look for me at 9:00 tomorrow morning, old chum." Doc said as he re-wrapped the item.
"Very well. But Doc," the small man said with great intensity, "it is of utmost importance that the artifact be back promptly at 9:00. I will spend the night researching and preparing for tomorrow's investigation, but we must not let a find of this magnitude slip through our fingers......"
"Rest assured, Pietr, we will not. Until tomorrow then." Doc said as he left.
As he considered the young ork's argument, Owen found himself nodding. The kid's got an excellent point. If we know the drek is about to hit the fan, and we do, then getting out with our hoops intact does make a lot of sense. I have to admit, Mouse has come an awfully long way. "All right, Mickey. We'll have to talk it over with the others before we move but, let's assume they go with it. I'll set up a contingency plan to let some key people know we've skipped town. You get decking and see if you can get flights set up. Probably want to get us out starting late tonight and early tomorrow. Let's say everybody gone by mid morning and word to get out about noon. That ought to keep our friends from being found and pressured. Let's do it."
Initially surprised at the ease with which his plan was accepted, Mouse bent to his task with a will.
Itami was running his third check on neverland's automated defense system when he got Doc's call.
"Hang on, Doc. Da Boss and Mouse are in a skull session but I'll get him......."
"Wait, brother Hanzo", the elf interrupted."I have greater need of your assistance than of theirs. The scanner in the Saab is showing several tracers, meaning that one of my college chum's minions kept busy while I was dealing with his master. Although I did not meet any riggers, I do believe my researcher may have also supplemented the watcher spirit he sent after me with some sort of surveillance drone. I really believe he does not wish to let the artifact out of his sight. The car can blister the tracers and I can chase the pesky watcher, but I do not know how to evade the possible drone. Any suggestions?"
After a moment's thought Itami sprang up. As he grabbed his jacket he said "Head towards the harbor tunnel, Doc. I'll wait the other side of the toll plaza. When you get to it, click your comm and I'll start pulling out. Make sure you are right behind my truck in the tunnel. We'll try a moving pickup. Be sure to fry the tracers as soon as you are inside the tunnel. See you in 10."
Moving pickup? In the harbor tunnel??Doc thought. "Itami! Itami, wait! Hello? Oh, crap!"
*Well, your digs are certainly nicer than ours.* Briar broadcast generously. *Of course, we do live in a sewer, so that's not really saying much* It continued when it detected some pride from the sams.
Bardo made no comment as Hamon and Lug guided he and his spirit associate through the warehouse headquarters.
After some liquid refreshment and several attempts (by Briar) to instigate a fight, Owen joined the foursome, and eventually Mouse came in as the phys ad outlined the team's situation.
Before too much more conversation, Itami drove the truck into the warehouse and he and Doc unloaded the SAAB from the cargo box. Throughout this process, Doc explained, loudly and in great detail exactly what kind of a maniac he thought the rigger was and how he would never ever again make the mistake of calling on the "mad, plug-headed orc maniac" for any sort of aid, regardless of the situation.
Itami, for his part, maintained a steady counterpoint about "head-in-the-clouds wiz-worms who couldn't manage to keep constant speed and drive in a straight line if their lives depended on it." Briar, of course found the exchange vastly entertaining and did what he could to prolong and expand the verbal joust. This ended rather suddenly when Doc opened the wrappings that contained the scourge.
Briar became very quiet as he and Bardo studied the artifact. After a few minutes the gator shaman said "I can sense the mild compulsion spell to pick the thing up and it has the feel of great antiquity, but beyond that, and the fact that it is quite dirty, I can't tell much about it. What about you Briar?"
The wise cracking spirit said nothing as it stared at the scourge. It turned to Owen and very formally asked, *What would you with this?*
Taken aback by the sudden shift in mood and the serious tone from the wise cracking spirit, Owen said, "Sell it"
*To any?*
After a moment's consideration, Owen said "No. We need to know what it is and what it is for because we wouldn't sell it to be used for evil."
*I am prevented from saying what I know. Seek the council of princes. There is balance in their number. They may see the danger.*
As the hair went up on the back of everyone's neck, Owen was about to thank the spirit when it spoke again. Very softly it said *Pain and Rule. Punishment and Command. Tools of the ancient.* Then with an audible pop, Briar disappeared.
The Shadorat and shapcano. Together again for the first time! This serial continues at Winterhawk's Virtual Magespace. To read Chapter 10 click here.
This story is copyright of the author. Shadowrun is a Registered Trademark of FASA Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Used without permission. Any use of FASA Corporation's copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks.
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