The Pawn
By Ada, Shaine, and Shatterclaw. Individual rating: PG-13.
The office was small but tastefully decorated; a large window overlooked the lab next door. The man behind the desk was handsome, but not too young. "Good afternoon, Miss Inho."
"Sir." Ada Inho's eyes flicked over to the woman sitting on the desk. She was of about average human height and weight, with blond hair. Her tight-fitting, gold cheongsam revealed a barcode tattoo on one thigh. She looked human, but from the pale skin and submissive posture Ada inferred Boomer.
"I believe I may have a job for you," Erik continued. "Your resume is...ah...most impressive." He studied her carefully, as did the female on the desk.
"Are you familiar with the vigilante group known as the Steel Ravens?"
"I have read about them, sir, but I have yet to see them in action." She glared at the woman, then softened her gaze and returned it to Erik.
He nodded. "Bunny, get the files, would you?"
Erik tapped a button on his laptop and the window turned opaque. A display popped up and images flowed across the screen. "We don't have much concrete information on them, either, and that's why I intend to hire you."
The diagrams on the screen were mostly of the outer armor, with some notes on weapons. "Yes, of course." Ada memorized them with lightning speed.
"These have been compiled from eyewitness accounts. We have no scanner records of them; one of the few hard facts is that they have a way to mask themselves from all known methods of surveillance. No known photos have ever been taken."
"Hmmm... That will make it - hrmp - difficult." She frowned. "Is there any way you know of to meet them, short of sending a Boomer to rampage mindlessly?"
He glared at her for a moment, then continued. "Weapons range from lasers to massive EMP guns."
Bunny returned with a HPCMCIA and handed it to Erik. He slid it into the laptop. "Some of our files on them date back to the late 1800's." There were footnotes about a Native American legend...Ada's eyes opened very slightly in surprise.
"No wonder you wish this thorn removed."
"Though of course," Bunny added coolly, "We doubt that those early files are related."
"More accurate reports date back to 2030, and the first 'confirmed' sighting was in 2039. A Raven symbol was found carved into a destroyed Genom Boomer. From there, reports and rogue Boomers began to pile up...losses to the corporation are staggering."
Ada nodded. "That would place them to slightly after the Knight Sabers' emergence. Could there be any relation to their technology?"
He frowned. "Unknown. They appear from nowhere, and then disappear... We're not even certain that the labs are secure where they're concerned."
"I can see why. What backup would I receive, assuming I need it?" He could tell from her tone of voice that she didn't expect to need it.
"We do have some next-generation combat Boomers which you could draw upon, but our supply is currently limited. Be assured that if you truly needed them you would have them."
"And have they encountered the Ravens before?"
"Some have, and the memory records have been shared among the group." Images of a Boomer's death flashed upon the screen.
Ada shook her head. "Then they are useless. Their weaknesses are already known."
"Admittedly...but the Ravens have not yet gone up against our latest revision. A Boomer so close to human that it can pass as one. Weapons are modular, and there are plenty of them." He seemed quite confident.
A ferocious glint appeared in her eyes. "Then perhaps I can do something for you, sir."
"Very good." He popped the disk. "I'll have the specs for the Nexus-6 combat units sent to you, and you can take this now."
Her purple eyes seemed to laugh. "Thank you. Now, one last question..."
"Yes?"
"How much are they worth to you?"
The same ferocious glint was now in his eyes. "All the world. I am offering eight hundred thousand for the full group, with the exception of one: if you can bring me the short female with the comsat antennae, alive...she is worth five million." I have to see her. I have to see what kind of monster could condone what was done to my Hase.
"But if she dies...only eighty thousand for the group."
"That much" Ada gave a low whistle. "I'm sure nothing will happen to her, sir." Her eyes laughed again.
"You'd better make sure it doesn't."
Ada extended her cyberarm to clench the deal, and he shook her hand. "The only catch is that there is no time limit for this. I must have as much time as I need."
"Agreed."
She grinned. "Progress reports are due in at regular intervals, I assume?"
"Of course. You'll be given a contact within my household."
The grin widened. "As you wish, sir."
"Her name is Cullyn, but you will 'know' her as Lorelei Kohl, my cousin. Contact her at any time if you should need anything."
The woman sitting on the desk shifted her weight, then glanced at him.
"As you wish." Ada's eyes scanned the room once again. "If they are worth that much, I don't foresee a problem."
"Very good. I look forward to hearing from you." He stood, and the woman moved to escort her from the room. She let herself be led outside, then checked to make sure she wasn't being followed.
Ada took a taxi back to her hotel room, making certain to check it for bugs, then started in on the disk. There was little on it which she might be able to use...just a listing of all suspected Raven activities with a few notes on the hardsuits and other equipment.
"Hmm..." Ada started taking notes as she scrolled down. Most were obviously Genom-related, but one more eclectic file was highlighted.
It was apparently nothing special...a mugging outside a hotel. Some of the details seemed rather farfetched: victim attacked at random by cyberjunkies outside one of the nicer hotels in the city, all stolen items returned immediately - along with a note of apology! And a Raven had allegedly saved the intended victim, a Miss Shaine Kohl.
"Ah, what's this? Some sort of superhero syndrome?"
There were no images of the thing which had saved her, not even a description, but another file yielded photos of two burned-out jets...or Foo Fighters...which were believed to belong to the Ravens.
"Exploitable, perhaps..." The phone rang. "Hmm. Air support was destroyed, so how are they getting about now?"
She picked it up on the third ring. Habit. "Hello, Miss Ido?"
"Uhh, Miss Inho, if you please."
"Do you know who this is?"
"No, I don't, Why?"
"We know who you are, Miss Inho. We'd like to meet you."
"Of course. Here. Any time." She activated the voice recognition subroutine in her cyberarm.
"Do you know where Shabona Park is, Miss Inho?"
"No. I just arrived in town today - but I'm sure the cab driver will. Umm...could I have a name, please?"
"S. R. Aven."
" 'S. R. Aven'...gotcha." She wrote it down, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Tonight at eight."
"What should I look for, or will you find me?"
"We will find you, but do dress warmly. It can get quite chilly outside. Good day, Miss Inho."
She grinned. "Of course, sir. Good day." She hung up.
///
Ada was at the park an hour early, with her gun, thirteen rounds of ammo, and one clip. She watched the people wander through the park, looking for anyone who might match the voice on the phone. There were only five of them and the park was huge: an indoor pool and three baseball fields, in addition to all of the open land.
She silently approached each of the people in turn, but none seemed a likely match: an old bag lady sleeping on a bench, two kids warming up, and a couple feeding the birds. Among the birds was an improbably huge crow or raven.
At about ten to eight, the park's lights went off and the people wandered off. Oh, well. Worth a try. A thick fog rolled in.
"Miss Inho."
"Yes, Mr. Aven?" She turned to see a tall figure with pale face and leather trenchcoat, sunglasses covering his eyes.
"Yes, but you may call me Steel. How are you tonight?"
"I'm well."
"It seems an old friend of mine has hired you." Either he's awfully pale or he's wearing some kind of makeup...there's something really off about him.
"Are you sure?" This guy is definitely bad news!
"Yes, a Mr. Kohl and a Ms. Kant."
"Oh, yes. I talked with him today."
"It seems they want you to find me."
"That sums it up."
"Here I am."
"Where are the rest of you?"
He smiled. "Oh...they're around." A large, black bird landed on his shoulder.
"Caw, caw!"
"Riight."
"Ah, my daughter. Say hello, my dear." It gave her a dirty look.
"I have a counteroffer. Erik wants you to find us..."
Ada glared back in cautious defense. "Yes?"
"You have found us, but there is no way you will be able to stop us or turn us over to him."
"I have no intention at the present to do either."
He grinned and produced a CD player. Her conversation with Erik played back. "As you can see, I have great doubts as to the truthfulness of that."
"You believe that? I don't know... What I say to a potential employer and what I do are sometimes entirely different. Still, I'm listening to your counteroffer."
"Simple. You'll take Erik's money; he has far too much to burn. And you hunt us. We'll make a game of it: if you beat us, we're yours to turn over to Erik. If not, you become ours. Sound fair?"
"In time, each in their own turn. One a night from here on out."
"Seeing as how I have no love for Genom, agreed." She extended her cyberhand.
"Ahhh, we shall see." He shook hands, and his flesh was cold. There was a small spark of static electricity.
"And for good faith, I will let you meet someone tonight. Heel, Jade, heel!"
A female figure descended from the sky, its figure vaguely human but its frame covered by ebony black fur. Her eyes were a golden yellow.
"Pleased to meet you...Jade, isn't it?"
She growled. "It is a pleasssssure... You work for Erik?"
"Jade is our guard cat; she likes to eat trespassers."
"Really? Well, then, I'll just watch my step." Her smartgun began targeting. "It isn't often that I meet such...unusual people in one night. Temporarily, perhaps."
"She has many weaponssss," Jade said insistently. "The oil is on her handssssss..."
"Down, girl!"
"I wouldn't have expected any less from a group of high-tech vigilantes."
"Yes, well, Genom brings it upon themselves. They are their own worst enemies. If I may ask...what brought you here to them?" The cat disappeared from sight.
"Money, mostly. My cyberarm needs repair after my last job. See, right here there's a damaged servo that..." She blinked. "That sticks when I most need it." Ada raised her gun arm.
"Minor repairs. Are you really willing to sell your soul to Genom for that?"
"What do you mean?"
He placed his hand over the barrel. "This could be fixed anywhere for far less, yet you go to Genom? Of course, the hidden gun is a nice touch."
"It's gotten me out of many a scrape. You seem like one who enjoys heavy weapons."
"There is much you do not know. Try not to fill it in with assumptions."
"Of course."
"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I must finish walking Jade before she eats someone."
"Indeed. Um...one last question..."
"Yes?"
"What do you mean, minor repairs? This will cost $15,000! Do you know where I could get it fixed decently for cheaper?"
"Yes, I do."
"Ahh, but will you tell me is the real question."
He laughed. "Yes, that is the real question. Maybe tomorrow night?"
"Okay. 'Til then?"
" 'Til then..." He walked away into the fog, which then disappeared.
"Creepy...but nice touch..." It became a perfect, clear spring night.
"Well, 'We have met the enemy, and they are ours.' 'Twas fun, but he didn't leave his card."
A raven flapped by, dropping a business card into her hand:
"Of course."
///
Ada received another call from Mr. Aven the next night. "Good evening, Miss Inho. Would you like to meet with us tonight?"
"Very well."
"Same place, same time. 'Til then, Miss Inho, have a good evening."
"Very well. See you then." The phone went dead. She heard a funny little click, then the normal dial tone. "Hmm..." She checked for bugs, but there didn't seem to be any.
The day went by rather quickly; she cleaned her gun to pass the time and loaded it with fifteen rounds, hiding a clip in her cyberarm. She then phone room service for a cup of coffee and went down to the park.
It was near empty, save for a few black birds in the trees, and seemed far larger than the night before. She sat down on a bench near the birds, For good luck, I guess.
At about 7:57, the fog rolled in again. She took a sip of her coffee. "Ahh, that's better. Who or what am I meeting now?"
A set of heavy footsteps approached from within the fog. She stood and drained her cup.
"You're meeting another one of my children," The voice was right behind her, literally in her ear.
"Ah, hello, Mr. Steel."
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Inho."
"Are you well, Mr. Steel?"
"Yes, quite well; thank you. I bring before you one of my favorite children: Morgan."
"Salutations, Morgan." She was a twentysomething, short woman, Goth, with black hair dyed blood red. She wore a leather top and leopard print skirt, and there was a snake or perhaps a dragon tattooed around her arm just above the elbow.
'Morgan' nodded and Ada raised an eyebrow.
"Morgan is our combat and dark arts person," Aven added.
" 'Dark Arts'...?" Morgan just smiled.
"I'll leave the two of you alone to get acquainted." Aven faded back into the mists.
"Well, Morgan, it seems as if Genom has a price on your head."
"Play it cool," Crimson warned on the comms. "She's just trying to psych you out. We're here if you need us."
"Yeah, yeah," Shaine replied. "Really, Miss Inho?"
Ada grinned. "Yes, It seems that a Mr. Kohl has a distinct...problem with your organization."
She noticeably stiffened. "I...see."
The grin got wider. "I believe it was...$800,000 for the group, and $5,000,000 for the one with antennae on her head."
"Shoot, for me?" Belladonna said over the comms. "I didn't know he cared."
"Bell!" the others howled.
"Not you, you dumbass," Shaine muttered over the comms.
"Sorrrryyy..."
Ada's teeth were exposed, her grin was so wide.
"Did he tell you why so much for that one?" If he knows...
The grin faded slightly. "He said it was important to him of her survival."
"Great, she's worth more than all of us combined," Lark mourned.
"Cut the chatter! Shaine, see if you can find out more about his plans."
"I feel so unwanted..."
"Me too," Sprocket said. "Let's steal her helmets!"
"Oh," Shaine replied faintly after a long pause. "I can assure you she has no such concern for him."
"Such concern is usually not mutual."
"And what do you know about it?" Shaine snapped.
"Oh, nothing, really. I'm just the person sent to collect."
A bit of a smile. "Ah. So what has he told you about us?"
The grin expanded to 'ear to ear' classification. "All he could."
She chuckled. "All of a five minute presentation, I imagine."
"Indeed."
"Which is mostly false, and all hearsay. But enjoyable...funny, how we know more about him than he knows about us." Crim added. One of the ravens flew to a new tree.
"This is a nice city you have. Genom must hate that."
"I'm sure."
"So, why does Genom see you people as such a threat?"
"You'd have to ask them. We only clean up after their messes."
"Kohl wasn't too verbal about it."
"He isn't too verbal about anything when he's using someone."
The grin faded a little again. "Hmmm?"
"He fancies himself the Cancer Man to our Lone Gunmen. Drop a few clues here and there...never the full story, not to anyone who is...beneath him."
"I'm not familiar with the reference, but I get the picture."
It was Shaine's turn to smile. "I can see why he chose you. You look so like one of his Boomers...he really goes for the short ones, you know. But, then, I hear he doesn't like humans as much."
The grin faded more. "This arm wasn't my choice."
"Ah, too bad."
"Pardon."
She shook her head. "Just thinking that with your mercenary attitude you might last to see another spring. Most of his toys don't last more than six months."
"Hmmm..."
"But if you're not interested, that makes things...well, interesting..." She fought the urge to laugh.
"...Interested?"
A wide grin. "Oh, I suppose I should let him tell you that himself..." And to think I learned to lie from him...
"What?"
"Well, it's just..."
"...Yes?"
She bowed her head a little and chuckled. "He likes short women. That's why the five million."
Ada shuddered. "Ugh."
"Of course, with you around he gets two for the price of one."
"Hentai...bastard..."
"Yes. And a few other things, but Japanese isn't my language and I'm guessing German isn't yours."
"You would be right."
"So how long have you and Erik been seeing each other...?"
"Hm...so soon for a new play toy...well," Shaine smiled absentmindedly. "She must hot have been very good in bed."
Ada growled almost imperceptibly. "I wouldn't know."
Shaine smiled as a raven fluttered down next to her, utterly calm and relaxed. "Caw!"
"Caw, awa caw..." It bobbed its head up and down, giving Ada the evil eye. She glared back at it and it picked at its feathers.
Shaine smiled more. "Oh, don't worry...she's a good girl. Doesn't bite."
"You, anyway..."
"But she doesn't like you."
"Well. That's a surprise."
"I don't like you either...much." Shaine whistled a tune to the raven. I got a fear of flying on a plane/Cause we got no say in how it ends up/Well, in my mind, love's the very same way...
"Caw?!"
"I wasn't expecting a warm welcome." The raven flew off, doing a few tricks in midair and finally landing on Ada's shoulder.
She watched it very carefully, not making any sudden moves. "What's it doing?"
"Caw!"
"Just saying hello."
"Awa, caw!" It sounded like it was laughing at her, and its head bobbed up and down.
"What's so funny, bird?" It moved up her shoulder, drawing closer to her head."
"It thinks it's funny that Erik would send you!" Belladonna called out, and Shaine repeated her. "And it hopes to feast on your eyes...after we're done, of course."
Ada moved her head away slightly. "Why?"
"And it hopes to peck out your eyes," Shaine said idly. "After we're done with you, of course."
"Caw, caw!"
"Be good, little one."
"She's got to be freaking!" Bell said. "Come on and crack!"
"Pleasant thought, that. Remind me to send it to the Hacker's Digest BBS."
"Oh, you hack?" Shaine's eyes lit up.
"When it's needed for a job, yes. I've even hacked Genom before." The raven eyed its master, and then Ada.
"Mmm."
"Caw, caw, caw!" It flapped its wings.
"I was bored; what can I say?"
"Genom, Majestic 13, FBI, CIA, IRS, INS...and a few other TLA's," Shaine catalogued. The raven flew to her shoulder, still irate. "It's all right, dear. I know you don't like that word..."
"Hmm...have you ever killed someone online?"
Ada chuckled. "I fried a jockey Genom had working for them by accident. The fool had brainjacked in."
"Higgins." Crimson said. "Damn. Good kid, could've matched your class one day."
"He wasn't the first, either. Seems more and more BIC have decided to wire their techies to their computers."
"One day she should be so lucky, she can try hacking R-A-V-E-N," Bell pouted. "See how cocky she'd be after that."
Crimson smiled slowly. "Upload, satlink Nest 1A."
"Not the good ones," Shaine muttered.
Ada winked. "I know. I think the 'I' stands for idiot."
"Raven, hack her profile. Wargame RA-1. Give her something to think about. ...And RA-2 and 5."
"Ah," Shiane muttered over comms. "I always thought it was Bucolic Imbeciles Clusterfuck..."
"Oh, and add a back door for Freefall, voice activation only. ...Not too far from the truth, Shaine; I'll check on the spelling for you."
"Awa, caw?" The bird nuzzled its master.
Footsteps sounded behind them. "Hmmm...company?"
"Having a good time, my pretties?" Aven asked.
"Of course."
Ada thought she could see huge wings fold down into his coat. "Ah, good, good. We must learn to play nicely..." Shaine pursed her lips. "I'm sorry, but Morgan and I are needed elsewhere."
"And fairly," Ada added, "Else no one has any fun. ...Boomer?"
"No, dinner. But I'm sure Erik will send a Boomer to play with us soon. There are so few on the streets anymore."
"Ah, the age-old battlecry of the stomach. I think Napoleon was right."
"Yes...an army does march on it." He tossed a Boomer's head at her feet. It was freshly ripped from a rogue body, from what Ada could tell, with a smashed core.
A cold glint appeared in her eyes. "Thanks for the trophy."
"You're very welcome. Perhaps Erik would like for you to see such a thing firsthand, in preparation? His pet Hase is about to go rogue. She'll do nicely for a demo."
"Mmm...I don't think I've met her?"
"He might have called her Bunny," Shaine said.
"Or Moon Child," Crimson added.
"Tall, blond hair, skin too pale to be natural...barcode tattoo on one leg."
"Oh, her. I didn't like the way she looked at me."
This brought a perverse grin to Aven's face. "Yes, she's been known to take part of a human or two. Likes them raw, with a light dipping sauce."
Shaine chuckled softly. "Just a bit hungry, are we?"
"We really must go. Mother Raven hates when dinner goes cold."
"Oh. See you tomorrow?"
"Yes, you will." The fog thickened and they were gone.
"That's a nice trick."
She thought she saw a bird the size of a jet flap overhead - and thunder...or was it a thundering caw?
///
"Impressions, Freefall?"
Shaine sat back and exhaled sharply. "I think I got to her. I hope I did..."
"Oh, I'm sure you hit home."
"But what was that about the dipping sauce?"
"But is she wondering how far the rabbit hole goes? She seemed calm at the end."
"Yeah."
"She's as nuts as Harris!" Bell exclaimed. "Man, I'd freak at the wings, and Psycho Bird over there...and the eye thing...mannnnn... I wanted my mommy, and I had my helmet on!"
Morrigan stared at her. "Caaw!"