Beyond the Pale (Dragon Heart Saga, #3): Shadowrun Legends, #34 by Jak Koke

Author:Jak Koke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs

Chapter 23

Ryan walked the perimeter of the island, trying to think through the situation. He had passed the whole night in the metaplanes, fighting for his life. For Thayla’s life. After all that time out of his body, he felt disoriented. Out of synch with his physical existence.

Surf pounded the rocks below the wall, sending ocean spray shooting into the air. The noon sun shone through the water droplets, turning each one into a tiny prism. A rainbow hanging momentarily on the interface between water and atmosphere.

At another time, Ryan would have allowed himself to appreciate the beauty of this ancient place. But now…

Now he waited on Jane and Nadja and Foster.

Jane to find Burnout and Lethe. Nadja to contact Aina. Foster to retrieve Harlequin.

Ryan felt confidence return as he focused on his physical nature, the fountainhead of his magic. As he strode the wall, he made brief contact with Raven and Starfish, two of Cluster’s runners who guarded the perimeter. Raven was a samurai, a black human who merely nodded to Ryan as he walked past. Starfish was perhaps the opposite. She was the one who had challenged him—a hothead, itching for something to happen, not at all happy to report that there was no sign of activity.

Ryan had half a mind to kick her hoop just to regain his focus. Astral travel was the antithesis of what it meant to be a physical adept, to be in tune with the body. Physicality.

Ryan pushed the temptation from his mind. He couldn’t afford a sparring match now. And he didn’t want to disgrace anyone. Both Raven and Starfish held themselves with confidence, and they seemed to know how to handle themselves. According to Jane, Cluster and his team were top notch, consummate professionals.

His wristphone beeped as he rounded a corner of the sea wall. Ryan stopped a good distance from the others and punched the connect. “Go ahead.”

Jane’s huge smile filled the tiny screen. Her ruby lips pouting. “I was right,” she said. “They took Burnout to Aztlan. The helos only stopped in Atlanta to refuel.”

“Where did they go?”

“Your favorite place—Roxborough’s delta clinic in Panama.”

Ryan sighed. He did not have fond memories of that place. Thomas Roxborough was a vatcase megalomaniac who had developed a procedure for mapping his personality over someone else’s. Ryan had been one of his test subjects, had almost become Roxborough.

“I decked into Rox’s system,” Jane said, her voice resonant with pride. Ryan knew that was no small accomplishment. “Burnout was only there to be repaired. According to my scan, and the vid I’ve seen, he’s as good as new.”

“That shouldn’t concern us,” Ryan said. “As long as Lethe is still inside him.”

Jane’s blonde curls dipped forward. “The tech notes I saw explained that they moved him last night. There were some anomalies with the cybermantic magic, so they transported him to San Marcos, just south of the Aztlan-CAS border.”

Ryan shivered. “I’ve been there.”

“At least we know Lethe’s probably still inside,” Jane said.

“True,” Ryan said, feeling the cool salt breeze through his hair.

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