FastJack Lore Options

[CodeBreaker]

Right, so I understand that old 'Jack is one of the best the Decking world has to offer, and that he is damn powerful when it comes to the Shadows in general, but I was wondering what book/supplement would be best if I wanted to read up about his history a bit more?

For example I read somewhere that he really rose to prominance about 2051. Why is that? Is it done in one of the Novels or all through Shadowtalk? If its done in Shadowtalk what books is it done through?

[BishopMcQ]

You know, I really love the Search Feature when I know what I'm looking for. Keyword: FastJack, Sort by Poster: Ancient History. (Admittedly, it's other uses may not be as helpful)

It nets great things like this short story.. A fun story about FastJack as an old man, doing that thing he does, but more importantly it gives a feeling for who FastJack is. Beyond this and what the search pulls up, I would point you to the 6th World Wiki entry for FastJack. The Wiki also lists sourcebooks to limit how much you have to search.

Hope that helps!

Edit: Please understand that I'm punch-drunk tired, and am not being snarky.

[The Jake]

I'd like to know why Fastjack doesn't pay for Leonization. God knows he could afford it.

- J.

[Demonseed Elite]

I'd like to know why Fastjack doesn't pay for Leonization. God knows he could afford it.

- J.

Deckers don't need Leonization to be immortal.

[The Jake]

Deckers don't need Leonization to be immortal.

Please elaborate.

- J.

[GreyBrother]

May i take a guess?
A truly legendary Hacker does not need Leonisation because he will always be remembered by his peers.

[Demonseed Elite]

Exactly, to Fastjack, staying young probably isn't as important. After all, meat is meat, but he makes his livelihood in a world without physical age. SOTA is the real bitch in realm of deckers.

Besides, if Fastjack really wants to live forever, I bet he'd look into finding a way to become a Ghost in the Machine rather than Leonization.

[Hagga]

I suspect that one of the Freelancers will get absolutely s**tfaced and someone will not read a passage properly, and it'll be enshrined in a book that Fastjack died, but came back after imprinting his personality on Deus somehow despite Deus being dead.

[MJBurrage]

If the game world goes on long enough the rumors will start that Fastjack is no longer a living human, but rather a Ghost in the Machine AI. Some will claim that his now ancient body is still being kept alive somewhere as a biologic home-node for for his AI. The debate will become, not if he is still alive in any normal sense, but when did his body die.

^{Note, the above thoughts are based on one of my favorite hackers from Cyberpunk fiction; Trent the Uncatchable. (The appellation was given to him by others, not self-adopted) In Shadowrun terms he was a hacker with Genetic Heritage who's first agent became a full-fledged independent AI. He eventually merged with his second agent (a limited AI), becoming a Ghost in the Machine.}

[knasser]

I'm still convinced that FastJack is really Damian Knight. I can't remember where I first read that theory but I've always liked it.

As to why he doesn't spring for Leonisation. Out of setting, I'd guess that the writer(s) just like having an old character being old and carefully overlooked all the options for rejuventation. But Leonisation etc. isn't an eternal cure. You can't keep using it forever. In one piece of fiction, FastJack talks about being taken to see dinosaur skeletons at the museum as a kid, before everything went to virtual displays. He's old.

(But still the best). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[hobgoblin]

If the game world goes on long enough the rumors will start that Fastjack is no longer a living human, but rather a Ghost in the Machine AI. Some will claim that his now ancient body is still being kept alive somewhere as a biologic home-node for for his AI. The debate will become, not if he is still alive in any normal sense, but when did his body die.

^{Note, the above thoughts are based on one of my favorite hackers from Cyberpunk fiction; Trent the Uncatchable. (The appellation was given to him by others, not self-adopted) In Shadowrun terms he was a hacker with Genetic Heritage who's first agent became a full-fledged independent AI. He eventually merged with his second agent (a limited AI), becoming a Ghost in the Machine.}

Reminds me of rache bartmoss of cp2020 fame...

Ah, missed your note there. Trent is indeed somewhat interesting, tho the series seems to have gone a bit metaphysical (and slowed to a near crawl)...

[CodeBreaker]

Decided just to throw out a line and try and hook a good sourcebook from the depths of the internet. Went with Target: Matrix. I really would say that anyone who intends to roleplay a Hacker for 4th Edition grab this (and a few others, but I cant comment on them yet) simply because it contains the history of the Matrix and just how different the Internet of our world is compared to how it developed in Shadowruns. The two are completely different entities, hell the Dotcom era basically didnt even happen. Puts a lot of the things I have been reading in things like Unwired into perspective.

(Plus its given me some groundwork to play with when I design my "Stoneage" Matrix systems that I intend to use on a game I want to run. What happens when my Runners find themselves in an old UCAS military base that may or may not contain an AI Knowbot? Lets find out!)

[The Jake]

Given how skilled 'Jack is, I am little doubt the guy is sitting on piles of cash.

Even maintaining SOTA, running JackPoint, the guy would be skilled enough to have anything he could want. I've seen hackers in our games with admin backdoors on Lone Star and key nodes within several megas (requiring a lot of upkeep to maintain but maintaining them all the same). This is at the upper end obviously.

Given the hosts he has acknowledged having compromised in the various books over the years, its safe to assume he would have to be one of the richest runners - with perhaps the notable exception being the Chromed Accountant.

Finally, if he does consciously choose to never pay for Leonization, then it would be best for him to die and acknowledge his passing. Using the Ghost In The Shell schtick is far too cliched (Captain Chaos anyone?).

- J.

[The Jake]

I suspect that one of the Freelancers will get absolutely s**tfaced and someone will not read a passage properly, and it'll be enshrined in a book that Fastjack died, but came back after imprinting his personality on Deus somehow despite Deus being dead.

Only because a) its already been done in Shadowrun and b) in general fiction, the whole concept has been overused.

For an old timer like Fastjack, I'd like to see him given due honors. Transferring his consciousness to an AI would be a tragic, ignominious end to such a great character.

- J.

[Ancient History]

That particular short story was directly inspired by Solstice by James Patrick Kelly - I had just gotten a copy of Mirrorshades in paperback - and was originally written on the back of a set of Yahoo! Map directions on a three-day drive from Florida to upstate New York. We were going up to see my brother off to his first tour in Iraq (he got back safe and sound). The character Perri, of course, comes from the Denver: City of Shadows boxed set, which arguably is when FastJack made the transition from a memorable decker to a legendary one.

[The Jake]

That particular short story was directly inspired by Solstice by James Patrick Kelly - I had just gotten a copy of Mirrorshades in paperback - and was originally written on the back of a set of Yahoo! Map directions on a three-day drive from Florida to upstate New York. We were going up to see my brother off to his first tour in Iraq (he got back safe and sound). The character Perri, of course, comes from the Denver: City of Shadows boxed set, which arguably is when FastJack made the transition from a memorable decker to a legendary one.

It's a good story. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

AH, since we got you here, please promise us that Fastjack will never go the route of an e-Ghost. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

- J.

[Ancient History]

I promise I will never make FastJack an e-ghost.

[The Jake]

Thankyou. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll push my luck with another random question - what does Fastjack do in his spare time?

- J.

[hobgoblin]

play p&p rpgs with his old high school buds, ryan and ethan (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

btw, its never been confirmed that chaos have gone ghost...

[CodeBreaker]

Maybe not, but it is heavily hinted. He got hit by JackBNimble, and he gets quite a few mentions in some Shadowtalk.

Something I noticed the other day, after remembering a thread discussing which if any JackPoint user the books are written from the perspective of (I.E who the JackPoint user is) and I saw something at the beginning of Unwired.

ComStar Firewall Alert
Your commlink defenses have been
breached by an unknown intruder.
Offensive Countermeasures Initiated.
Trace Initiated.
Jackhammer Loaded.
Do You Wish to Engage? Y/N

Now, if I know my basic lore stuff, JackHammer is the Attack program FastJack uses isnt it? Whats the chances of him handing that out? I wouldnt imagine very high. Is it possible that the JackPoint user is written from 'Jacks perspective? Explains why the Anti-Virus program being run is called Jack-in-the-Box as well.

[TKDNinjaInBlack]

Now, if I know my basic lore stuff, JackHammer is the Attack program FastJack uses isnt it? Whats the chances of him handing that out? I wouldnt imagine very high. Is it possible that the JackPoint user is written from 'Jacks perspective? Explains why the Anti-Virus program being run is called Jack-in-the-Box as well.

Interesting and intuitive theory...

[hobgoblin]

nah, i think a im/mail in one book have the "narrator" forward a hacker request to someone as he was not one himself...

[CodeBreaker]

nah, i think a im/mail in one book have the "narrator" forward a hacker request to someone as he was not one himself...

I find it weird that a non-hacker not only runs about with one of 'Jacks old Attack programs, but also;

Do You Wish to Engage? Y/N

Trace Initiated
... Proxy Server Identified. [Details]
... Initiating Proxy Server Traffic Analysis

Has a script for engaging in Cybercombat and can run a decent Trace (IMG:style_emoticons/default/talker.gif)

[Method]

So maybe I'm completely wrong but isn't there some mention somewhere of FastJack being a spike baby?

[Cadmus]

Well maybe he's a hacker, Not a decker, after all we all know shadowrun hackers are just script kiddies (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


damn kids