Shadowrun: See How She Runs: (A Shadowrun novella) by Jennifer Brozek

Author:Jennifer Brozek [Brozek, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2021-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

Seven

Gabriella was at the fountain as she motored up to it. Waving as Ridley turned off her scooter, the questions rained down. “What happened? Are you okay? Why didn’t you text us? Did you get the reward? Was it dangerous?”

Used to Gabriella’s style of communication, Ridley waited until her friend paused to take a breath and held up a placating hand. “I did the deal. I’m fine. I said I would text you when I got here…” She wasn’t completely sure that part was true, but continued on, “I did get a reward. Yes, it was dangerous. Lemme do a group message.”

She thought about the smart glasses in her bag as she spoke into her ancient, secondhand commlink, “I’m home safe and sound. Got paid. Everything’s fine. Ping back when you get this.”

As Gabriella answered, Ridley figured she’d have to rough the AR goggles up a little so they wouldn’t seem like what they actually were. If nothing else, to keep her parents from having a heart attack. And to camouflage their value. She had some DIY stuff for that. She’d have to be careful not to damage them, though.

“Why isn’t she responding?”

Ridley looked at her commlink screen. Her message was there, followed by Gabby’s. But nothing from Margaret. “Maybe she’s already home and doing something with her parents. You know how they are about her and her split attention.”

Gabby made a face. “No kidding. They get mad at me if I have my commlink open and they’re around. Even if I’m just looking something up.”

After checking her business email, Ridley shrugged. “No new business for the weekend. I should probably get home. Stuff’s happening.” She shook her head when her friend looked like she was going to launch into another round of questions. “Family stuff. Not good stuff.”

“But I want to know everything about the drop.”

“Later. Promise. Just let me know if you hear from Margaret.”

Gabby sobered and nodded. “Right. Talk to you soon.”

Wondering if her father would be home, but already knowing he wasn’t—he would still be in the hospital, Ridley hoped everyone else was all right. Still, she hurried until she was not-quite speed walking the block over to her apartment building.

Stopping just outside it, she looked up at the tall, dirty building. It had been pristine once. In a time before her. Now, it was grey with age and whatever color it had been was bleached by the sun. Surface cracks ran up the stone walls.

Someday, she would live in one of those beautiful metal and glass buildings.

Guilt at the thought forced her to see the beauty that was there: colorful curtains in the windows, the clean sidewalk and entryway into the building. The small garage was old but safe. Even the small lobby area was neat; its furniture was old and didn’t match, having been donated by families in the building, but it was clean and nice. They looked after each other here, and that was more than what some of those uptown people could say.

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