Fortune's Hostage ~ Prologue and Ch. 1
Title: Fortune's Hostage
Author: Aislinn
Rating : R / Gen.
M7 set in the Shadowrun AU
Sci-fi / Action Adventure
Warnings : mention of rape, violence, language, kidnapped child , mention of child abuse
Summary :: Mary Travis's son Billy is kidnapped and she and Judge Orrin Travis hire a team of seven Shadowrunners to get him back.
Disclaimer.:: Not mine.
Fortune’s Hostage
By Aislinn
The Year is 2058
Magic has returned to the earth. The ancient races of Elves, Dwarfs, Orks and Trolls have re-emerged. Technology has also changed, allowing man to augment his body with artificial enhancements called cyberware. These enhancements can make one faster, stronger and smarter than before.
Mega-Corporations have become nations unto themselves while former national powers have reformed. The United States became the United Canadian-American States after the loss of much of the West to the Native American Nations and the South to the Confederate American States and Aztlan.
Technology and Magic co-exist in this Awakened World where awesome powers are kept in balance by those who run in the shadow world, those known as Shadowrunners.
The street samurai; with his smartguns and impossibly fast reflexes, the decker; who can plug his own brain into the worldwide computer network, slicing through computer security with programs as elegant and deadly as a stiletto, the rigger; who links his mind to his vehicle and takes hairpin turns at fantastic speeds, his machines an extension of his very body, Mages and Shamans; manipulate mana to bend the Awakened world and the astral plane to their will.
These Shadowrunners don’t just live in the shadows- they thrive there... for now.
Prologue:
“Those who love give a hostage to fortune.” ~ Street Proverb ~
Margaret Anne Sandoval stared with feral hunger at the small boy playing on the swings. “That one,” she indicated the child. “Bring that one to me.” She handed a cred stick to the unkempt man who leaned against her Westwind.
He hocked and spat. ”Where do ya want ‘em delivered? And what do ya what us to do with the babysitter?”
“There is a place on Paso Del Norte called the Four Corners Motel. Room 215. Meet me there and do not hurt him! As for the nanny, I don’t really care what you do with her,” she stated coldly. She started the car and pulled away leaving the man to carry out her instructions.
Spikes spat again and sneered at the departing woman. “Fragging slitch!” He looked down at the cred stick; at least her money was good. The banger crossed the street and joined the rest of his gang. They conferred for a couple of minutes then spread out and approached the park like a pack of rabid dogs.
M7M7M7
Matches kept a tight hold on the brat as he banged on the motel door. His shin ached where the kid had kicked him, and the scratches the nanny had left on his face stung like fire. He had taught the slitch a lesson though, and her death had been slow and painful. His groin tightened as he thought about her last moments, the light fading from her eyes as his hands tightened around her throat with each thrust.
Margaret paced back and forth in the small motel room, a worn picture clutched in her hand. “You were mine,” she muttered. “She stole you from me.” A slender finger tenderly brushed the image’s cheek. “We were meant for each other and she ruined it. He should have been our child, Stephen. Yours and mine, and soon he will be. I promise.” A banging at the door pulled her from her reverie. She threw it open and stared at the child hungrily. He stood watching her with a tear-streaked face, a split lip and a black eye. Her eyes grew wide. “Did I not make myself clear that he was to be unharmed?” she demanded.
Matches sneered. “Whatever. You got him now and he ain’t hurt bad. Take the brat and shut the fuck up before I give you what I gave his nanny.” He threw the boy at her and turned to leave.
Margaret shrieked with fury and drew her Predator. She aimed at the banger’s retreating back and pulled the trigger.
Chapter One:
"It is not about what you know, but who you know." ~ Street Proverb
Mary Travis entered the opulent library, her footsteps silent on the thick pile carpet. “I hope this will suffice, sir.” She approached the heavy mahogany desk, and handed her father-in-law a thick file.
The honorable Judge Orrin W. Travis gestured for her to take a seat, and opened the file.
She shook her head, declining the seat. “You do realize sir, that information on these men was sketchy at best. It’s as if someone has tried to erase them completely.”
He glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow at the outrage in her voice. “Well, my dear, they are Shadowrunners. Did you expect a resume with character references?”
“I am just not sure that this is the best way to go about this,” she paused in her pacing. “These men are…”
“Criminals?” he interrupted.
“Exactly!” she shot back. She spun around to face him. “I don’t understand how you can even consider this Orrin. You’re a judge for God’s sake, you know what men like this are like! We should tell Lonestar that Billy was with Elizabeth!”
“Lonestar?” He snorted sardonically. “Lonestar couldn’t find their collective asses with both hands, a G.P.S., and a detailed instruction manual!” He sat back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. “Mary, the one who took Billy was ruthless. Lonestar can handle the investigation into Elizabeth’s murder, but trust me on this, if we are going to have any hope of getting him back we need to hire men equal to the task.”
She opened her mouth to resume the argument but stopped at the look of conviction in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “Fine! From what little I could dig up, this team is the best there is.” She frowned skeptically. “If we end up hiring them I just hope to God they live up to their reputation!”
“Tell me what you’ve found out about them,” he ordered.
Mary drew a deep breath and seated herself in the chair. She paused for a moment to gather her composure and get her battered emotions under control. Billy needed her to be calm, not arguing with his grandfather. “Yes, sir.” She leaned forward and indicated a holo of a black-clad street samurai.
His blond hair was spiked on top and just brushed his collar in the back, but it was his eyes that caught the judge’s attention. There was something about that steely-eyed gaze that commanded trust, which let one know this was a man who could be counted on.
“That is the team leader,” Mary continued. “He goes by the name Lobo. Human street samurai, former UCAS Army Delta Force. He’s augmented, of course, wired reflexes and smart gun link. Possible data jack but I’m not sure about that. He has run the Seventh for five years,” she paused and took a sip of her drink. “The team sniper is an elf named Falcon. No augmentation. Rumor says he’s a physical adept. He’s from Aztlan, near San Antonio.” The sniper’s holo showed a man with long golden-brown hair, the delicately pointed ears of an elf, and piercing blue eyes. “They have two spell slingers. The first: an elven fox shaman by the name of Ace. He’s from the CAS, Atlanta or maybe New Orleans. Nobody seemed to know for sure other than the fact he’s from the Deep South. The other is a dwarven hermetic mage named Prophet, from the California Free State, San Francisco to be exact.” She tapped the holos of each in succession. The first an elf, auburn haired and green eyed, had dimples and a wry smile. The second, a powerfully built dwarf with ice blue eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. She frowned suddenly. “Where did they get these names? Did their parents hate them or something?”
Orrin snorted. “They’re street names, Mary. I’m sure the names on their birth certificates are normal enough. But go on.”
“Team decker is a human named Ferret, he’s from the Boston sprawl. “He has the typical augmentation you would expect from a decker, plus a few extras: he has a smart gun link and wired reflexes, and he’s also a rigger.” She passed Orrin the picture of a very young looking man with long, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. A single silver jack shone on his temple, and another was set just behind his right ear. “Why two data jacks?” she wondered.
He shook his head. “One data jack, one rigger jack, I would assume. Any more?”
Mary nodded. “Yes, sir. They also have a combat medic who goes by the name of Duck Tape, of all things, although my contact said they call him DT; and another street samurai named Stud, both of whom were in the Deltas with Lobo. These two are heavily augmented - smart gun links, wired reflexes, data jacks, enhanced hearing and sight, the works.” She laid the rest of the holos down on the desk. DT, the medic, was a tall black man with a tattoo on his forearm of a winged staff entwined by snakes. Superimposed over the bottom of the staff was the number seven. The other samurai was also tall and had dark blue eyes, dark hair and a mustache, and a mischievous grin. The glint in his eyes gave Mary the feeling that this man would be trouble with a capital ‘T’. “Stud grew up here in Denver, in a brothel of all places. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t able to find out where DT and Lobo are from.”
Orrin didn’t answer. He stared at the holos long enough for Mary to start fidgeting in her seat. Reputation or not she was just not ready to entrust the life of her son to these men. She fought another panic attack down by sheer force of will, forcing herself to breathe deeply. Whatever happened, deep down she trusted the judge. Maybe he was right and this was the only option left to them. She knew he loved Billy as much as she did and would not take chances with her son’s life. She sighed, which drew the judge’s attention back from wherever he had withdrawn to. “Can you get in touch with Lobo?” he asked.
She nodded once, her expression leery. “I can put a call in to a fixer that they use,” she said slowly.
The judge gazed down at the blond man’s holo, searching those eyes. Making a decision he prayed would pay off, he took a deep breath and looked back up at her. “Do it.”
Go To Chapter Two
Fortune’s Hostage
By Aislinn
The Year is 2058
Magic has returned to the earth. The ancient races of Elves, Dwarfs, Orks and Trolls have re-emerged. Technology has also changed, allowing man to augment his body with artificial enhancements called cyberware. These enhancements can make one faster, stronger and smarter than before.
Mega-Corporations have become nations unto themselves while former national powers have reformed. The United States became the United Canadian-American States after the loss of much of the West to the Native American Nations and the South to the Confederate American States and Aztlan.
Technology and Magic co-exist in this Awakened World where awesome powers are kept in balance by those who run in the shadow world, those known as Shadowrunners.
The street samurai; with his smartguns and impossibly fast reflexes, the decker; who can plug his own brain into the worldwide computer network, slicing through computer security with programs as elegant and deadly as a stiletto, the rigger; who links his mind to his vehicle and takes hairpin turns at fantastic speeds, his machines an extension of his very body, Mages and Shamans; manipulate mana to bend the Awakened world and the astral plane to their will.
These Shadowrunners don’t just live in the shadows- they thrive there... for now.
Prologue:
“Those who love give a hostage to fortune.” ~ Street Proverb ~
Margaret Anne Sandoval stared with feral hunger at the small boy playing on the swings. “That one,” she indicated the child. “Bring that one to me.” She handed a cred stick to the unkempt man who leaned against her Westwind.
He hocked and spat. ”Where do ya want ‘em delivered? And what do ya what us to do with the babysitter?”
“There is a place on Paso Del Norte called the Four Corners Motel. Room 215. Meet me there and do not hurt him! As for the nanny, I don’t really care what you do with her,” she stated coldly. She started the car and pulled away leaving the man to carry out her instructions.
Spikes spat again and sneered at the departing woman. “Fragging slitch!” He looked down at the cred stick; at least her money was good. The banger crossed the street and joined the rest of his gang. They conferred for a couple of minutes then spread out and approached the park like a pack of rabid dogs.
M7M7M7
Matches kept a tight hold on the brat as he banged on the motel door. His shin ached where the kid had kicked him, and the scratches the nanny had left on his face stung like fire. He had taught the slitch a lesson though, and her death had been slow and painful. His groin tightened as he thought about her last moments, the light fading from her eyes as his hands tightened around her throat with each thrust.
Margaret paced back and forth in the small motel room, a worn picture clutched in her hand. “You were mine,” she muttered. “She stole you from me.” A slender finger tenderly brushed the image’s cheek. “We were meant for each other and she ruined it. He should have been our child, Stephen. Yours and mine, and soon he will be. I promise.” A banging at the door pulled her from her reverie. She threw it open and stared at the child hungrily. He stood watching her with a tear-streaked face, a split lip and a black eye. Her eyes grew wide. “Did I not make myself clear that he was to be unharmed?” she demanded.
Matches sneered. “Whatever. You got him now and he ain’t hurt bad. Take the brat and shut the fuck up before I give you what I gave his nanny.” He threw the boy at her and turned to leave.
Margaret shrieked with fury and drew her Predator. She aimed at the banger’s retreating back and pulled the trigger.
Chapter One:
"It is not about what you know, but who you know." ~ Street Proverb
Mary Travis entered the opulent library, her footsteps silent on the thick pile carpet. “I hope this will suffice, sir.” She approached the heavy mahogany desk, and handed her father-in-law a thick file.
The honorable Judge Orrin W. Travis gestured for her to take a seat, and opened the file.
She shook her head, declining the seat. “You do realize sir, that information on these men was sketchy at best. It’s as if someone has tried to erase them completely.”
He glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow at the outrage in her voice. “Well, my dear, they are Shadowrunners. Did you expect a resume with character references?”
“I am just not sure that this is the best way to go about this,” she paused in her pacing. “These men are…”
“Criminals?” he interrupted.
“Exactly!” she shot back. She spun around to face him. “I don’t understand how you can even consider this Orrin. You’re a judge for God’s sake, you know what men like this are like! We should tell Lonestar that Billy was with Elizabeth!”
“Lonestar?” He snorted sardonically. “Lonestar couldn’t find their collective asses with both hands, a G.P.S., and a detailed instruction manual!” He sat back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. “Mary, the one who took Billy was ruthless. Lonestar can handle the investigation into Elizabeth’s murder, but trust me on this, if we are going to have any hope of getting him back we need to hire men equal to the task.”
She opened her mouth to resume the argument but stopped at the look of conviction in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “Fine! From what little I could dig up, this team is the best there is.” She frowned skeptically. “If we end up hiring them I just hope to God they live up to their reputation!”
“Tell me what you’ve found out about them,” he ordered.
Mary drew a deep breath and seated herself in the chair. She paused for a moment to gather her composure and get her battered emotions under control. Billy needed her to be calm, not arguing with his grandfather. “Yes, sir.” She leaned forward and indicated a holo of a black-clad street samurai.
His blond hair was spiked on top and just brushed his collar in the back, but it was his eyes that caught the judge’s attention. There was something about that steely-eyed gaze that commanded trust, which let one know this was a man who could be counted on.
“That is the team leader,” Mary continued. “He goes by the name Lobo. Human street samurai, former UCAS Army Delta Force. He’s augmented, of course, wired reflexes and smart gun link. Possible data jack but I’m not sure about that. He has run the Seventh for five years,” she paused and took a sip of her drink. “The team sniper is an elf named Falcon. No augmentation. Rumor says he’s a physical adept. He’s from Aztlan, near San Antonio.” The sniper’s holo showed a man with long golden-brown hair, the delicately pointed ears of an elf, and piercing blue eyes. “They have two spell slingers. The first: an elven fox shaman by the name of Ace. He’s from the CAS, Atlanta or maybe New Orleans. Nobody seemed to know for sure other than the fact he’s from the Deep South. The other is a dwarven hermetic mage named Prophet, from the California Free State, San Francisco to be exact.” She tapped the holos of each in succession. The first an elf, auburn haired and green eyed, had dimples and a wry smile. The second, a powerfully built dwarf with ice blue eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. She frowned suddenly. “Where did they get these names? Did their parents hate them or something?”
Orrin snorted. “They’re street names, Mary. I’m sure the names on their birth certificates are normal enough. But go on.”
“Team decker is a human named Ferret, he’s from the Boston sprawl. “He has the typical augmentation you would expect from a decker, plus a few extras: he has a smart gun link and wired reflexes, and he’s also a rigger.” She passed Orrin the picture of a very young looking man with long, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. A single silver jack shone on his temple, and another was set just behind his right ear. “Why two data jacks?” she wondered.
He shook his head. “One data jack, one rigger jack, I would assume. Any more?”
Mary nodded. “Yes, sir. They also have a combat medic who goes by the name of Duck Tape, of all things, although my contact said they call him DT; and another street samurai named Stud, both of whom were in the Deltas with Lobo. These two are heavily augmented - smart gun links, wired reflexes, data jacks, enhanced hearing and sight, the works.” She laid the rest of the holos down on the desk. DT, the medic, was a tall black man with a tattoo on his forearm of a winged staff entwined by snakes. Superimposed over the bottom of the staff was the number seven. The other samurai was also tall and had dark blue eyes, dark hair and a mustache, and a mischievous grin. The glint in his eyes gave Mary the feeling that this man would be trouble with a capital ‘T’. “Stud grew up here in Denver, in a brothel of all places. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t able to find out where DT and Lobo are from.”
Orrin didn’t answer. He stared at the holos long enough for Mary to start fidgeting in her seat. Reputation or not she was just not ready to entrust the life of her son to these men. She fought another panic attack down by sheer force of will, forcing herself to breathe deeply. Whatever happened, deep down she trusted the judge. Maybe he was right and this was the only option left to them. She knew he loved Billy as much as she did and would not take chances with her son’s life. She sighed, which drew the judge’s attention back from wherever he had withdrawn to. “Can you get in touch with Lobo?” he asked.
She nodded once, her expression leery. “I can put a call in to a fixer that they use,” she said slowly.
The judge gazed down at the blond man’s holo, searching those eyes. Making a decision he prayed would pay off, he took a deep breath and looked back up at her. “Do it.”
Go To Chapter Two