The Meet

The team of six-Downfall, Jolt, Silver Sullivan, Talon, and Vallie-all sat around the table with various drinks in front of them, waiting for the arrival of Mr. Johnson.

Jolt still looked uncomfortable being forced to be at the meet-he preferred to do them in cyberspace-but they all had to be in person. Still, he fiddled with his coffee-he didn't like to drink at meets-and tried to make conversation. “That new...group or whatnot that set up shop in the Barrens is doing pretty well.”

“The religious cult?” Downfall was unimpressed, as he tended toward agnostic at the best of times.

“Well, they are very friendly to metas,” Sullivan said. “When you're destitute and beaten down, a place that offers togetherness and a warm bed is mighty tempting."

Jolt scratched one of his datajacks, as he'd do when he didn't particularly want to meet with suits. “Something ain't right about the place. Creeps me out. Can't say why.”

Silver shrugged, pushing back some of her telltale hair and gently swirling the fine cognac in front of her. “I think I've only been around one center once, but I have to agree something was wrong with the aura. Still, it's none of my business. Maybe they're just weird.”

Talon had remained quiet at this time, as the topic had little interest to him. He occasionally had bouts of a very short attention span, thanks to the BTLs that were forced on him. “Doesn't matter. Not our job,” he finally said.

“Right,” It was Vallie who spoke up this time. She had left her drones back at her vehicle, much to the relief of the rest of the group-save her one tiny mini-drone which she seemed to keep as a pet, though this had no weapons capabilities. “Spanky had found this job. Did his digging. Seems to check out.”

“He always digs,” Sullivan replied. “Sometimes things can be hidden much, much deeper.”

Silver nodded somberly. Sullivan, Downfall and herself had been a part of the run that had cost Wind his life around a year before. They had managed to get back and tie off the ends that screwed them over, but Spanky had never forgiven himself for missing it. No one blamed him; the real dirt had been buried so deep it would have taken a miracle or Lofwyr himself to discover it.

Jolt knew it was a bit of a sensitive topic-in particular with Sullivan, who had been closer in age with the adept-but he decided to change the subject.

“So whose this supposed to be for?”

“Big, from what I understood.” Vallie tinkered with her pocket secretary.

“Like, AAA big?”

“Something like that.”

He exhaled. “Man, I dunno how much I'm...no, no I'll be good,” he re-assured himself in the same sentence.

Almost on cue, two people walked in. One was a fairly unexceptional looking human fellow; roughly of middle age if the salt and pepper in his hair was any indication. Wearing a rather fine suit and a watch that looked a little on the costly side, with a visible datajack on the side of his head and black sunglasses, he just sort of radiated 'corp'. Like many of his kind, he did not particularly stand out, though he was definitely well dressed an could have been any suit in a corporation. Which is exactly what he wanted. 

Standing with him was another man, only this one was a tall elf; probably about six and a half feet or so, maybe taller, though not too much bigger than average. He had brown hair that was staggeringly long and pulled back in a braid, and instead of a suit, wore an almost Chinese-styled outfit. He was slim, but looked muscular under it, and judging by the graceful way that moved, Sullivan, Downfall and Talon could all tell that he was well-trained in something. He looked perhaps in his mid-twenties, maybe thirty tops, with a clean shaven face and strange, bright violet colored eyes.

The two magically active people at the table wanted to attempt to read him to see what they found, but they had a feeling that he would notice. They took a stab that he was this man's bodyguard; he did not sit, but chose to stand off to the side, his hands behind his back.

“Ladies, gentlemen,” the man started after he sat down. He was brought a shot of some expensive looking alcohol to a nod of approval, but when they tried to offer his bodyguard some, he waved it away. “I'll get down to business since we don't want to waste each others time.”

Silver nodded. “Just tell us what you need.”

“It seems that Aztechnology has acquired, through means not agreed to by anyone, including himself, one of our prized workers. We would like you to get him back for us.”

“An extraction, then.”

He nodded.

“Don't keep anything from us that we need.”

“Given this man is extraordinarily valuable to us, and he is likely not too happy in his new environment, we would not. In addition, I think you realize that it's serious if he tries to escape. We would like to prevent any ill befalling him.”

“I suppose you aren't going to tell us who you're with?”

“That isn't necessary, but suffice it to say we are able to compensate you admirably.”

“Can we ask two things,” Silver started, brushing back some of her hair. “He's not in the main building, correct?”

He shook his head. It was a fair question, as it would likely affect if they were to take the job or not.

“When does this need to be done by?”

“Within the week. The sooner the better, for everyone's sake involved.” Reading between the lines, he didn't particularly want to lose his investment.

“Ok. Mind if we talk it over?” There was no use stretching this out. Any information for a job of this caliber would be given after they accepted, and probably by secure, computerized means. 

“Of course. We'll excuse ourselves for now. Call us back over.” The man nodded, the tall elf following him, his hands not leaving his back as he followed him.

The five huddled around the table. For once they weren't at Goal, Spanky's pub; the Johnson wanted to meet at The Other Place, a rather expensive old restaurant in the downtown area. It was a good place, however, even if they didn't look like the usual clientele, and it was fairly well secure at the back.

“Azzies,” Jolt started. “Do we really want to frag with them?”

“If the price is right, I'd like to collect a few Az trophies,” Talon muttered.

“We need to be careful,” Sullivan replied. He had dealt with them before in the past. “If we're caught, this is likely not something we will escape easily.”

“Not in the main building, at least,” Downfall mentioned, fiddling with the rather nice glass of rum in front of him. His black nail polish stood out against the light gray tablecloth, and the glass looked absurdly small next to his hands. “Not that the other ones will be easy, but at least we don't have to break into the pyramid.”

“This one's going to take a lot of setup,” Silver said. “Need to find out where he is, what time-it'll have to be done at night if he's up.” She took a sip of her drink. “And even more.”

“I guess let's hear what he wants to offer us and bargain from there.”

“If necessary,” Sullivan said.

Breaking apart, they waved him back over; he came to sit, brushing his suit off. “I take it you want to hear the compensation first?”

Silver smiled, nodding.

“Prepared to offer four thousand per person up front. Five thousand per person on safe delivery. Our right to cut this down if he is damaged on the way out; of course, anything that may have already been done to him is not your fault and you will not be blamed.”

"I'm sure you have ways of finding out."

"Of course."

The five looked at each other. That was handsome; easily enough to pay for what they needed, and all in one run. Still, the looks on their faces probably told a bit more. Nine thousand each was well enough to cover most of their rent and have some left over; but this was Aztechnology as well. Azzies did not frag around, and a run vs. them could very easily go sour, costing way more than even that handsome sum. 

Silver looked at him, faking being in deep thought. The Johnson smiled. He knew how the game was played. He had, of course, deliberately lowballed, but given the urgency of the matter, he decided to jump right to the next price before Silver could start firing back. 

“Six thousand on return, though up front remains." 

Silver swirled her glass. "How about some potential up-front gear as well on top of this, within reason?"

Mr. Johnson chuckled. "Yes. We can do that." 

Looking at each other again, the moods seemed even happier. Paying rent for a decent place and then having more than a little left from one job seemed like a nice deal. The price was handsome enough that they felt they didn't need to dicker about it anymore. Ten grand per head. One run. 

That could kill them, of course, but they didn't expect to stay safe. 

“We'll take it,” she said. The addition of some reasonable gear was also a benefit, as they may not have to dig around quickly for better ammunition or some magical fetishes, though they would, of course, do a bit of their own shopping. 

“Wonderful,” he said, looking pleased. “My colleague here will make sure the funds are delivered discreetly of course. Here is the contact info you will need for possible equipment, and I will be leaving you all with the necessary information within the day about the setup and the extraction point. Try to have him out on time, for all of our sakes.”

They nodded. Talon gave Silver a look; it was one that most of them recognized, though the Johnson wouldn't have. She nodded.

“How much noise?” she asked.

“Subtle preferred. If things become damaged in the process, that happens, but use your judgment. The safe acquisition of the target is the most important thing. Whichever makes it easier, but knowing Aztechnology, I think we both know the answer to that. If anything goes missing there, though, we are not held accountable in any way, nor do we much care unless said thing could be of interest.”

In other words, they could tell that whatever they did there was of no concern to him; unless, perhaps, they tripped over some tasty 'data' accidentally, perhaps.

The tall elf stepped forward to supply the proper funds through certified cred, which was the more discreet way of handling payment. He stepped back as the man stood, looking at all of them from behind his eyeshades.

“I do hope this works out for both of us.” He nodded. The elf looked at the group for a moment and bowed, before turning to walk off with him.

“Well,” Jolt said, scratching his datajack and fumbling with his deck that he had in his bag now that he left. “This sounds...interesting to say the least.”

“Something was weird with that elf,” Downfall said. “I didn't want to read but...”

“He's like you, I know,” Silver said. “I barely had to read. He almost radiated it. If he's not initiated, I'll eat this glass.”

“So long as they aren't going to screw us.”

“Spanky digs even further now,” Sullivan spoke up. “Going after Aztechnology, they-and I think I knew who they are-quite want them back.”

“Who...” Jolt started. 

“Looking at his style of dress, Saeder-Krupp.” Sullivan had worked for them himself, after all, in the past. 

“So we're working for the dragon.” The young decker looked a bit ill. Vallie, having a rather checkered past with a corp, likewise looked a little nervous, though composed.

“Not quite. We're just working for this Johnson. AAA megacorps are big enough to be considered sovereign nations.”

“We took the job already, guys,” Silver chuckled.

“Yeah,” Talon said. “Let's quit worrying and get to it.”

“Spanky's place?”

Silver stood, going to get her nice jacket that was hanging up. “I'm going to see Mama. I have a few items she'll be able to procure I think.” Mama was their resident talismonger, dealing in magical goods, some of it rare. She also practiced Santeria and was all too familiar with the dark workings of the blood magic the Azzies liked to practice, and could definitely provide some insight if worse came to worst.

“Let's meet back in a day, then.”

The team stood, moving forth to begin what would likely be excessive legwork in what might be one of their bigger jobs yet. Holding the door open for everyone, Downfall scratched his chin and chuckled.

Well, possibly becoming human sacrifice isn't on the top of my list, but I suppose it'll keep us awake this week.

--

Just a little bit writing about how a meet might go; this one was nothing too crazy, but I thought it would be a fun introduction to how something like that works. (This story is not part of any particular timeline, though I could, perhaps, follow with a 'run' story too.)

Shadowrun has many 'AAA Megacorps', who basically have extraterritoriality, or being basically sovereign nations in their own areas(they obey their own laws, etc, in however big of 'ground' they cover, which varies. Many AA Megacorps have this aspect as well.) In the current 2050s timeline, the megacorporations(these have shifted over time, but this is the current timeline) are:

Saeder-Krupp, Ares Macrotechnology, Aztechnology, Fuchi, Shiawase, Renraku, Yamatetsu, Mitsuhama, Wuxing, and Cross Applied Technologies.

A few AA Megacorps include:

DocWagon, Federated-Boeing, Citigroup, Lockheed, Lone Star, Proteus AG, Universal Omnitech, Trans-Orbital, Telestrian Industries, Winter Systems, Yakashima Technologies, and many, many more(AA corporations are not uncommon at all, but here are a few names if they get name-dropped in stories.)

Given Shadowrunners basically 'run the shadows', or do shady jobs for pay, well, they do get tied up into these quite often.