Author Topic: Shadowrun - Chapter FIve - Welcome to the Sprawl (Read 220252 times)

Micula · « **Reply #25 on:** »

Kahlia drew to a shuddering halt and dismounted by the agonised street punk. Carefully she undid her heavy gauntlet and reaching into an inner pocket, she removed a syringe.

"Shh! You'll be alright!" She slid the syringe home and waited for the drug to take effect. The drug would alleviate pain and give the user a feeling of euphoria that made it difficult to keep things hidden.

"Now then!" Her voice was pleasant, coaxing and friendly, coupled with the effect of the drug, it should draw a favourable response from the ganger.

"So tell me who did this to you?"

Wirejam nodded and tried to relax, feeling the weight of the memory crystal secure in one of the inner pockets of her jacket. She drew her own weapon and placed it within easy reach.

Maxx · « **Reply #26 on:** »

"It was some nigger," the punk answered, his eyes glazing over. "Big bastard in a truck. He said something about Cajun assholes and then he set fire to everything." He grabbed Kahlia with his good arm. "Everything went white. It was like he called out and the sun came out to play, but it was too bright to be the sun."

Not far away, the Queen's Champion was examining the gutter. He picked up the stub end of a cigar that was still smoldering. He took a quick puff. "He's a man with good taste in cigars," he said in a surprisingly soft voice. "Or wealthy friends who are generous with their stock."

Micula · « **Reply #27 on:** »

"Was that all?" Kahlia asked, her voice still soft yet her eyes were intent. "No one was with him?" She glanced over at her champion and shurugged casually, indicating that she wasn't convinced that this was random. Nothing really told her why she focused on this little bit of mayhem, it could be a random shooting, but something was troubling her about it and she rarely ignored her troubling thoughts. The reason Kahlia Bentwhistle was roused from her bed at stupid hours of the night was the fact that her hunches tended to pay off. She had followed the route of her little sneak thief and everything pointed to a foot escape yet foot escapes were slow and they hadn't caught up with anyone yet. This little party, however, would be right in the middle of the rough escape pattern of her quarry.

Maxx · « **Reply #28 on:** »

"He had some hooker with him," the punk answered, staring up into Kahlia's eyes. "We were gonna try to get a freebie but she got in the truck with him. Then he got out and blew us all away. I guess he was her pimp."

Micula · « **Reply #29 on:** »

"What a terrible way to do business!" The woman noted, a rough chuckle edging her voice. "He could have charged you guys triple for damages.. but thank you very much for your help." She reached forward and kissed the punk lightly on the lips, distracting him thoroughly from the movement of her hands. Expertly she guided the empty syringe back to his vein and depressed the plunger before the stoned guy knew what was happening. Stepping back, Kahlia did not wait to see the man convulse as the air bubbles hit his bloodstream, instead she pulled on her helmet and headed back to her bike.

"The hooker's our girl!" She said with confidence as she swung a leg over the black beast. "I doubt her pimp would waste business like that if she was legit. He was probably her contact. I'd say follow the truck..." She kicked the starter and switched to sub vocal.

"Any thoughts?"

Alyss watched as the sprawl became more familiar, the bars, dives and entertainment centres, the landmarks of her life. They were nearly at their destination, maybe ten, fifteen minutes tops. Then she could ditch the target she was carrying and blend into the crowds.

"We're making good time.. looks like you only get the basic cab fare." She joked as she kept her eyes fixed on the traffic surrounding them, looking out for anything out of the ordinary.

Maxx · « **Reply #30 on:** »

"Did you get a description of the truck?" The Queen's Champion asked, looking at the convulsion punk. "It isn't like we'll be able to find any operational traffic cameras in this area. They barely have the basics down here. The power grid is so overloaded they have scheduled blackouts to keep the whole thing from collapsing."

"Don't get too comfortable, sister," Bishop said. "Just because nobody shot at you yet doesn't mean that they aren't going to shoot at you in thirty seconds. In the Barrens, paranoia isn't a mental illness, it's a life skill."

His words seemed to ring false as the sign for the Rusty Nail loomed into sight ahead of them. In less than five minutes, she would be home free.

Micula · « **Reply #31 on:** »

Inwardly Kahlia cursed, she hadn't got a full description, having not thought of the lack of camera coverage. She would die rather than admit a failing, so instead she reported.

"Not a full description no! He wasn't paying too much attention to it!" She kicked the stand clear and moved off. "But there aren't that many streets a truck could get down round here. He'll probably be on the main routes." She picked up the speed, the sleek bike careering around the corners like something live.

Moving into the main stream of traffic she weaved expertly within the traffic, looking past the jackrabbits and their ilk for a truck driven by a big black man with a female passenger.

The distant roar of a bike engine sounded in Alyss' enhanced ears and she turned her head, looking back in the traffic, watching as the sleek bike and its companion wove through the slow moving traffic.

"Hmm.. two bikes...." She looked back to the front and levelled the mirror so she could look discreetly at them.

"Good ones!" She announced, the hairs on the back of her neck raising slightly.

Maxx · « **Reply #32 on:** »

"Two bikes in this area usually means somebody is carrying something or chasing somebody," Bishop said. "How likely am I to get shot at?" He looked over at Alyss. "Realistically. Bullshit me now and we'll both be in deep shit if you do. If they're after you, I"ll deal but if they are and you don't tell me, they get to take the fist shot and I hate having to return fire, rather than initiating the engagement."

The Queen's Champion had to admit her logic was sound. Few vehicles traveled this area by choice. A truck down here would stick out like a sour thumb and make it far easier to pick up. He fell into position behind Kahlia and slightly to the side, so it would be harder to line them up for a single shot double take-out.

Micula · « **Reply #33 on:** »

"It's highly likely!" Alyss replied with brutal honesty. "I pulled something off a computer earlier on this evening. I expect that's their response." She glanced behind her briefly, focusing in on the black clad figures with her eyes.

"They look pro.." She glanced back, her eyes serious. "Hitting first would be a good idea."

"I see something!" Kahlia called over sub-vocal, her eyes picking out a shape in the far distance. "It's a decent candidate.." She tensed highly toned muscles and continued to ride easily, not wanting to spook her prey.

bad choice sweetheart. You should have climbed into a jackrabbit with a little old lady She weaved past a battered sedan, a leftover from the pre-awakened days and avoided the pothole.

"What do you say we ease any worry on their part. Go past them and set up further down?" Her voice slid down sub-vocal with a deep calm. "Are there any turn-offs they could take?"

Maxx · « **Reply #34 on:** »

"Official or unofficial," the orc asked. "This isn't exactly downtown, if you know what I mean. Back alleys, vacant lots, the whole deal. Hello! Looks like our boy has decided to play."

Bishop had ground his teeth down on the cigar and thrown the wheel over, doing a bootlegger 180 and heading straight for the two bikers. His right hand had a tight grip on the wheel and the other was out the window aiming the mini-grenade launcher at the bikers.

"Bullet proof glass, baby," he said with a grin. "Unless they're packing the same ordinance I've got, they're history."

Micula · « **Reply #35 on:** »

"If our boy wishes to play, then I'm happy to oblige!" A feral grin etched itself onto Kahlia's face beneath the face plate of the bike lid. She lived for this kind of thing, it set her blood pumping and gave her a rush that was sexual in its intensity and considering the interruption her her earlier amusements, it scratched an itch that had been bothering her since the call. Rolling the bike to an almost perpendicular angle, she swerved out of the line of fire. Linking her brain even further to the bike's mechanics, she reached down and pulled the weapon attached to the top of her tank.

"Holy fuck!" Alyss exclaimed as the lead bike swerved out of fire with a speed and grace that spoke of either excellent reflexes, cyberware or both.

Maxx · « **Reply #36 on:** »

"Rigger," Bishop said, annoyed that the lead biker had deked across his line of fire to a point where he had to lean out to get a bead on her. It was a game he wasn't willing to play. The maneuverability of the bikes was their best defense and his greatest weakness but that advantage came at a high price. The bikes were fragile and ran hot and those were things he could use to his advantage.

"Reach into the back seat and grab the rocket launcher with the red stripe," he said. "It's a heat seeker and I can guarantee those bikes are running hot."

Ahead of him, the Queen's Champion didn't alter course. He was riding an expensive machine, heavy and fast. Only the cops rode better. He didn't give much to his chances in a head on collision but it was a game he was familiar with. He lowered his head and cranked the throttle until the bike's motor was screaming.

Micula · « **Reply #37 on:** »

"Right!" Alyss dove across the back seat as the weapon that Kahlia had drawn discharged and sprayed several high velocity rounds against the bulletproof glass.

"Our boy's got armour!" Kahlia noted drily as the bullets sang as they bounced off the windshield. "Time to get in close I think!"

She brought the bike in closer, heading for the truck at high speed as Alyss seized the weapon and cranked down the rear window. Leaning out into the smoggy night air, she aimed for the bike that was streaking back towards the truck and squeezed the trigger.

Kahlia saw the muzzle flare and leant over so far she nearly dropped the bike, the missile sped past her as she brought the expensive bit of kit upright.

making me work... hmm this may be a fun evening after all

Maxx · « **Reply #38 on:** »

It was a calculated risk. The missile would loop back towards the highest heat source in the area and Bishop was hoping it wasn't going to be his truck's engine. If it was, they were in for a very unpleasant ride. The truck was armoured but not that armoured.

The lead biker was back upright, her light bike easy to drop and pick up. The second rider was still on a full blown collision course. Bishop swore. The impact was going to do further damage to his already cantankerous radiator. "Brace yourself," he said. "That boy in front of us is playing chicken and he thinks I'm going to blink, rather than have him come through the windshield. I'll take him, you concentrate on the other one."

He stuck his arm back out the window and pulled the trigger. The grenade exploded twenty feet behind the Queen's Champion. Bishop swore again. With the speed of both vehicles, he was going to need a lucky shot even to come close and he had less then ten seconds before the two vehicles would meet head on.

Micula · « **Reply #39 on:** »

Alyss braced herself as she dropped the launcher, one free roaming heat seeker was enough hassle. In one swift movement she drew her aries predator and aimed through the half open window at the bike. Not for the first time, she wished she had smartlinks which would help in this kind of problem. She fired, several shots going wide as the bike swerved easily from side to side as it came closer.

"Come on!" She hissed as she fired again, the bullet hitting the bike's wheel doing little in the way of damage. "Well at least we know how much the bike'll be worth if we manage to drop its rider."

Kahlia chuckled as the bullets pinged off the front tyre, Look's like you're out of luck darling she thought as she moved in, turning the bike so that she would be on parallel course to the truck and she pressed the throttle.

Alyss watched her manoeuvre easily across the road with concern, this was beginning to turn into the most expensive taxi ride she'd ever had. Behind the lead bike, the heat seeker turned and followed, catching up with Kahlia as she weaved and dodged.

"Holy shit!" Kahlia glanced in her side mirror and swore, she hadn't realised the rocket's capabilities and it was far too close, with split second decisions she realised that there was no way she could evade it forever and that her best chance was to hit the truck with it. She glanced at the armoured vehicle and came to a decision.

what the hell

There was no gurantee that the rocket would hit the truck if she managed to get close enough, but it was worth the risk. She gunned the motor and moved in even closer.

Maxx · « **Reply #40 on:** »

"Crap."

There were two bikes bearing down on him now and one had a missile following it. There wasn't just going to be a head on collision, there was going to be two collisions, followed by an explosion followed by an even bigger explosion, if all the munitions in the truck went up.

"BAIL OUT!" he cried. It was likely too late to save his passenger's life but it was worth a shot.

Micula · « **Reply #41 on:** »

Alyss seized as much of the ordinances as she could before throwing open the rear door and throwing herself out into the street, trying to keep her head tucked in. She hit the pitted road with some force and screamed as she felt her shoulder dislocate. The small pile of munitions that she had managed to salvage went in every direction as she began to roll. Luckily the impact armour absorbed much of the friction as she slid down the road, her arms wrapped about her head in an effort to prevent damage.

Forty feet from the vehicle, Kahlia saw the girl bail out, at thirty five feet her boots left the pedals and she crouched on the bike's back. At twenty five feet she hit the brakes and sent the bike to the deck, throwing herself off the back with a skill that an olympic gymnast would kill for. She hit the ground hard and rolled to minimise damage while she waited for the bang.

The heat seeker followed the bike's progress and slammed into it's tailpipe sending the bike up into an explosion that lit up the streets. Debris and hot metal showered down while the shuddering force slammed into the truck.

Maxx · « **Reply #42 on:** »

The Queen's Champion hit the truck head on, allowing himself to be catapulted over the top of it. He would loose skin when he hit the road again, but skin could mend. The bike and the truck were going to be out of commission permanently. The engine of the truck disintegrated, spewing hot pieces of metal all over the surrounding area.

Bishop, his face a bloody mask of broken glass was swearing as he kicked at the door. He was surrounded by flames but he was far from out of the fight. When the door finally let go, he slithered from the wreckage, the long shadow of an assault cannon clutched in his hands.

"Bitch! You blew up my fucking truck!"

Micula · « **Reply #43 on:** »

Alyss pulled herself upright in some pain as the world exploded. Through the smoke and flying glass, she watched as Kahlia catapulted across the road using some impressive acrobatics, the expensive armour and helmet successfully preventing skin loss where she hit the tarmac.

bugger she glanced across at Bishop, gratified to see that he hadn't died and felt a brief stab of guilt at the destruction of his truck. Her right arm hung dead at her side as she dragged herself along the street, wishing that she could have handled the bail out better.

Kahlia glanced over to see Alyss move slowly away from the scene and then up to glance at the oncoming figure of Bishop. She heard his challenge and said nothing, mourning her loss of the bike that had carried her faithfully for many missions.

She headed for the girl, her champion would take care of the big guy. Alyss turned as the figure came closer and she attacked. A high turning kick to Kahlia's head which would have been more impressive if she wasn't half dead. Kahila saw the kick coming and she blocked it, retaliating with a punch. Kahlia felt the familiar rush of pleasure as she launched herself into the fight, she loved a good fight almost as much as she loved a fuck and this was proving to be quite an interesting evening. As she threw punches and kicks at the other girl, she was hit with the realisation that her target was quite delectable, a fact which made her grin beneath the helmet and begin to enjoy herself.

such a shame I'll have to kill her She thought as she moved in punching and kicking. Even injured Alyss was keeping pace and Kahlia was thrilled to discover that in hand to hand, her opponent could almost be her equal. Alyss on the other hand was struggling, her dislocated shoulder screaming in pain as she tried to block and return punches and kicks. The woman she fought was lithe and fast and her injuries didn't allow for any mistakes. She slammed a fist towards Kahlia's body, knowing that the amour would dampen most of the impact.

Christ why couldn't she have fallen over when her bike did?

OOC You know what's a bugger. I really like both characters.. it's a bitch to decide who wins..

Maxx · « **Reply #44 on:** »

OOC: Ditto. But in my case, the answer is more obvious...

BIC: Bishop popped a shot from the assault cannon off towards Kahlia to keep her honest as he moved towards the closer opponent. The Queen's Champion, his designer suit in shreds was climbing to his feet. His pistol came free of its shoulder holster.

"Let's dance," he said, a lethal spur springing from the concealed sheath in his arm. He wanted the fight to be hand to hand. Bishop's weapon gave him too much of an advantage in ranged combat.

"Screw you," Bishop said.

Both men fired at the same time, from a range of less than ten feet. Bishop's assault cannon went off with a boom and the Queen's Champion's pistol letting go a jet of flame as it cycled three rounds through the chamber in less than a second.

Micula · « **Reply #45 on:** »

Alyss' wrist was caught in a strong grip as Kahlia seized hold and twisted. "I'd stop fighting now if I were you!" Kahlia spoke for the first time, her voice muffled through the helmet.

"What so you can kill me easier? No thanks!" Alyss' voice was strained with pain as she kicked out, her foot connecting solidly with Kahlia's knee and forcing her to let go.

"Your funeral!" Kahlia responded with a grunt of pain as she attacked again, forcing the girl against the rubble that lined the street. She brought her foot up in an axe kick and slammed the injured girl to the floor. In a flash Kahlia was astride her, pressing her knee into her chest as she brought out a weapon and pointed it straight at Alyss' face.

"I said you should give up!" Kahlia said through laboured breaths, looking down at the girl with the feral grin still on her lips. Now she had the leisure, she allowed her gaze to drift over the girl's body with some appreciation. "You're good... its a shame to kill someone so....." Her eyes slid slowly over Alyss' rising breasts beneath the armour. "skilled. You got in so easily... perhaps you can tell us how you did that, once you've handed over your prize!"

Alyss felt like a prize specimen, the other girl's gaze was hot in a face that angels could have designed. Dark eyes smouldered beneath strands of chestnut hair and they were sliding over her body with such frank appraisal that she almost blushed. In a flash of understanding, she picked up on the woman's desires and suppressing the shudder of distaste, she smiled up at the other girl.

"You're not too bad yourself!" Her voice was an almost purr as she spoke, sliding into sensual tones as easily as someone else changed their socks. "I'm sure we could come to an agreement!"

"Oh indeed we could!" Kahlia purred in a simlar tone. "Only for you to stab me in the kidneys. I'm not an idiot!" She reached down and pressed her hand against Alyss' throat. "Now beautiful you're going to hand that doohickey over, real quiet."

Maxx · « **Reply #46 on:** »

"And you're going to take your hand off her throat or I'm going to blow it off at the shoulder." There were three round shiny spots in the centre of Bishop's chest where three bullets had flattened themselves against ceramic body armour. Beneath the armour, a bruise the size of a grapefruit was already forming but he was still on his feet. The Queen's Champion hadn't faired anywhere near so well and lay still in an expanding pool of his own blood.

"Make your mind up quick. There is somewhere close to half a tonne of explosives in that truck and they tend to get a little cranky when exposed to thinks like open flames."

Micula · « **Reply #47 on:** »

Kahlia glanced from her bodyguard to Bishop and back again, before slowly releasing Alyss and moving back, leaving her captive to cough hoarsely on the floor.

"Nicely done!" She congratulated in a calm voice as she looked at the bulky form before her. "Not many could take out my champion!"

Alyss stood and moved to stand next to Bishop. "Thanks!" She said in a hoarse croak as she gulped in gasps of air.

Maxx · « **Reply #48 on:** »

"Assault cannon versus handgun. No contest," Bishop said, keeping the weapon aimed at Kahlia as he circled away from the burning truck. "It's why I refuse to use small arms. Not enough kill potential. Girl, I hope what you're carrying is worth it, because you owe me a truck and a whole shitload of ordinance."

Micula · « **Reply #49 on:** »

"I'll have enough to pay you!" Alyss replied in a hoarse tone as she moved further away from the burning truck. "Don't worry about that!" She looked over at Kahlia, stood still and calm in her black leathers.

"What do we do about her?" She asked, her eyes wandering over the black clad figure with some apprehension.

Kahlia watched the duo carefully, she knew when she was beaten. She'd lost her guard and her ride, returning to the company empty handed would probably cost her more than that.