"That's weird," Nadia says George to after the room clears but before the elevator opens. "I think I liked it better crowed."

As she finished talking the elevator dinged and revealed the worn-looking man. Nadia lowers her voice so that it does not carry past her companion's ears. "I don't like the looks of that guy."

Focusing her magical powers she asked the newcomer a "loaded" question, "Who are you?"

George's left hand went up to his collar, were he clicked the transmit button of his micro transceiver. He whispered in his throat mic.

"One here. We have suspect movement in the lobby. Stay sharp."

The doors to the elevator begin to close again, the odd looking little man rapidly disappearing from view, He shouts back at Nadia, something that sounds like "Jay Thompson," and than is gone just as soon as he appeared.

Almost as soon as he'd appeared, "Jay Thompson" was gone, leaving George and Nadia wondering whether they'd successfully deterred an attack, or if possible they'd just been seeing things.

Inside the conference room, a long series of datapads were being passed back and forth, with digital signatures being provided by the various corporate entities, their representatives, and their lawyers. It took approximately thirty mintues to finish all the final wrapping up processes, but little was said during that period by anyone involved. Finally as Hobbes used his stylus to put his signature on the last document, he stood up, shaking the cramps out of his hand, as he turned to Fabian,

"Are we done?" The skinny weasel lawyer nodded.

"Alright then. Gentlemen, a pleasure doing business with you," said Phil Hobbes, Owner and CEO of Phiber Electronic Technologies. He turned to his security compliment. "Shall we go?"

It was now 1:15, a quarter of an hour after the supposed kill clock, was to end.

With one big finger, George pressed his ear piece in as he spoke.

"One here. The lobby looks clear. The time limit for the bounty has now expired, but we shouldn't let our guards down nevertheless. Keep sharp and lets bring the cat home."

"Three here. The meeting has been concluded successfully, as have our duties. Let's get him back to the room - and let's keep an eye out for any desperate last-minute attempts, before we settle up with our employer."

Caitlin feels the satisfaction of a job well done, but she still stays alert as she and Markus exit with Hobbes, joined by George and Nadia. The pay may not have been that great - although the possible bonus might change that - but this job should help her out immensely in building up her fledgeling reputation in the shadows.

"I still don't know about that guy in the elevator," Nadia says to George. "But I'll be glad to just get this whole thing over with."

As they reach the elevator, Markus turns to Hobbes, he offered his hand. "I believe this is where we part company, the deal has been completed and you are safe for now."

Turning to the others, "It has been good however short it was, I wish you the best, I'm sure we shall see eachother again sometime, I just hope its from the same side."

With that he pressed the down arrow on the elevator and awaited its arrival.

Hobbes nods, "My limo is waiting at the front door, if you'd be so kind as to walk me there?"

Markus nodded, "Sure I'm heading that way." He entered the elevator as it opened holding the door open for the others before hitting the button for the ground floor.

"Of course," Caitlin replies to Hobbes. She still seems to be alert, as if she won't fully relax until he is actually at that front door. She smiles at the others.

"It has been good working with all of you. For a team thrown together like we were, we meshed surprisingly well. Maybe we'll work together again some time."

With a reassuring "bing" the elevator doors open, and the party enters. Swiftly, and without problems, the elevator makes its way uninterrupted to the lobby. The team disembarks to find the lobby crowded with people, perhaps because it is lunch time. Folks are flowing to and fro headed towards and away from the lobby's bar and restaurant. But for the team of shadowrunners, the goal was the doorway, a black limo, and than home, for some well earned rest.

The unloading area of the hotel is much as the team remembers it when they arrived what seems like forever ago. The Limo is parked to the side, the familiar chauaffer stands there looking at them expenctantly from perhaps 30 meters away. On the team's left are two doormen in close proximity to the double doors, to their right maybe 10 meters, a line of folks awaiting taxis.

George and Nadia Only



Markus and Caitlin Only



Everyone's eyes are on the man in the cab line already, even before he steps forward, tugging a large ugly looking revolver from his pocket.

"HOBBES!" He shouts in a scratchy voice, as he takes aim.

The gunman has a crazed look in his bloodshot eyes, as he steps forward, the enormous revolver looks too large for his hand, as he brings it to shoulder height, and takes aim, a tiny red dot appearing on Hobbe's chest. But whatever drugs fuel the mad assassin's assault are no match for the electrons speeding through Markus' neural system. The company man's submachine gun spits a burst, and all three rounds land square in the would be killer's chest. With a look of shock he drops his handgun. The small object in his left hand drops to the ground, and turns out to be a grenade, already activated... It drops, and bounces once, twice, three times, away from shadowrunners.

The explosion is deafening though, and while the heavily armored shadowrunners are well out of range, the small crowd awaiting taxis is not, and the screams of the wounded can be heard.

Hilton Security is rushing the scene to help the wounded... and 'Star sirens can already be heard.

blood is already beginning to drip off the curb, and onto the asphalt road service.

Hobbes picks himself off the ground, a look of horror on his face.

Markus dives for cover as he sees the grenade from from the Assassins hand. After the shockwave from the explosion passes over him he scrambles to his feet. Pulling the door to the limo open he grabs ahold of Hobbes and bundles him in.

Taking an opportunity to hopfully escape any further attacks, Nadia jumps into the limo along with her employer.

A bit shell-shocked from the explosion and its aftermath, Caitlin looks at the carnage unleashed by the errant grenade with an expression of horror. She mentally shakes herself, though, and makes herself get into the limo.

Leaving the wounded people for others to care for is a difficult, and bitter, decision for her, but she doesn't want to be there when LoneStar arrives. Being a SINless person at a crime scene is always a bad idea.

Everything around George slowed down.
Seconds ticked by like minutes.
He had the drop on him. He had the drop on them.
This was it.

Time stood still as the man brandished his weapon in their direction. Even with his juiced up nervous system, the ork was simply too slow this time around.

Shots echoed in the busy street as things sped back up. Before George even knew what had happened, he was on the move. Next to him, Nadia and Markus were already shoving Hobbes into the limo. His large hand went under his coat, wrapping itself on the handle of his weapon.... but George decided not to draw. There was already enough panic.... and the hotel's security response would probably arrive soon. After all, someone had just detonated a fragging grenade on their doorstep.

George stood between the downed gunman and the rest of the team until he took a few of his giant strides toward the man. His heavy boot came down on the man's weapon as he slid it on the asphalt, far away from him.

Satisfied the man was now harmless, the ork continued to distance himself from the scene.

"One to all. Get Prime on the move. Fan out and regroup at a safe location."

Nobody had to be told twice, those who jumped into the limo were sped off by the anxious driver, the same elderly black gentleman who'd they'd used before. George's bike was parked in the valet parking lot, but nobody complained when He went and got his own vehicle. Apparently everyone was too distracted.

They met up at the same University bookstore where the run had started. No one was really in the mood for being chatty. seeing a good handful of civilians devestated by shrapnel has that effect on folks.

Hobbes manages a weak smile as he hands out a second certified credstick to each member of the team. "I've given everyone a thousand nuyen bonus. I appreciate your hardwork today. Let me say upfront that there will always be work for you at Phiber Electronics."

With that Hobbes disappears back into the Nightsky limo and disappears.

As the bulky human looking ork stood in the coffee shop, still wearing his long coat covered with the dust kicked up from the previous explosion, he sighed heavily. The job was over.

In less than 48 hours, George had probably killed 2 men, and had taken a few shots himself. He could still feel the bullets stuck in his armored jacket pressing uncomfortably against his chest. He'd probably have a few good bruises once he got home.

With a thick finger, he pulled on the cord of his ear piece, tucking it behind the collar of his coat.

"Well" he said in his usual deep voice "looks like this is the moment where we each go our way."

After giving a solid handshake, and a telecom number, to each runner, the ork slowly turned around and walked out of the bookstore.

Seconds later, the roar of his chopper echoed outside and he was gone.

"Hey baby.... I know.... Yes, I'm coming home."

Caitlin is still feeling slightly somber, but forces a slight smile as she says goodbye to her employer. Things could have gone wrong so many times, but they didn't, and the group came out looking tough and competent. She has a small chai that she ordered to help calm her nerves, but she only half-heartedly sips at it.

She settles up with George for her comm gear. It cuts a sizeable chunk out of her pay, but as she keeps reminding herself, it is something that will be necessary for her budding career in the shadows. She enters George's number onto her cell phone's memory almost as soon as she gets it, and gives him (and the other runners) a contact number for her.

After George leaves, she turns to Nadia with a rueful smile. "Poor guy. At least we can go home and crash; he's probably got hours before that long haul wears off." Caitlin still looks as immaculate as ever, but the shadows under her eyes give away her fatigue.

Markus dodged through the massing crowd and ducked around the nearest corner. Calling a cab as soon as he was clear.

Once he was at a secure location he put the call through to the office. "Job complete, funds can be deposited into the usual account. Thanks."

Markus unbuckled his gun harness and drapped it over the chair. He floped down onto the bed fully clothed, he knew he would not sleep well but he was too tired to worry about that.

Caitlin staggers home after saying her goodbyes, almost collapsing onto her futon. But a good night of sleep does much to restore her.

She treats Spindler to drinks at Matchstick's as a way of thanks. He seems pleased with how the job went down - the client was happy, and a team that was thrown together apparently clicked enough to work professionally. She mentally crosses her fingers, hoping that this could mean she will be considered more for other jobs. After talking about getting some form-fitting body armor with him, though, it becomes apparent that the good stuff is still out of her price range.

"Oh yeah, Cait, that stuff runs pretty steep." Spindler thoughtfully rubs his chin. "Honestly, you're better off waiting until you can really afford it, and getting it with some good mods - fire or shock resistant, something. I mean, you have to get it custom-fitted anyways, might as well do it right."

Caitlin nods unhappily. Looks like the armor will have to wait. But her armored jacket is good for the heavy stuff, and her vest is subtle but still offers decent protection. They will have to be enough for now.

She has more luck with Oscar. The oily, repellent little man nods happily, and says he should be able to get her an improved medkit within a few days. He happens to also have something even better, a Savior medkit with cutting-edge nano, but unfortunately it is, like the armor, still a bit out of her price range.

She sits down with coffee with Larry a day or so later, watching with amused tolerance as he flirts outrageously with the pretty barista. He leans back to consider her question, with his hands confortably folded on his belly. "I'll check around for those two spell formulae. Both fairly common spells, even if you want a personal variant for that second spell - now, you still want it if I can only get the normal version? I don't know about any hermetic libraries that operate strictly on certified cred, though - I'm sure they're out there."


Her dad is happy for her - probably disappointed that she will be continuing her dangerous line of work, but he doesn't say anything. She learns that her grandfather is in the hospital, but it turns out to be a relatively minor complaint, and the old man is as lively - and crotchety - as ever when she visits him.

She catches up with Becky, but she seems distracted by a project that she is working on.

Brad, on the other hand, is distracting. She has to bail him out when another one of his schemes falls apart. Fortunately the Cutters blame Brad's business partner for most of it, and merely vandalize Brad's sports car (and Caitlin studiously avoids asking how Brad got such an expensive set of wheels to begin with). She sends Brad's business partner Mel's way after the Cutters give both of his arms and legs a good stomping. Mel shakes his head sorrowfully and talks about how he will probably need to amputate two of the limbs, while his patient's eyes bug out with terror. Caitlin smiles - she forgot how much she missed Mel's black sense of humor.

Wilder just gives her a blank look when she asks if he knows any online hermetic libraries, but he waxes enthusiastic about a new matrix tac ops game - he suggests that it would be a good one for a team of runners to play, to work on teamwork and tactics.

She downloads a bestselling book on the Templars, but is disgusted by it inaccuracies. However, she runs into Andante a few days later, and when he starts gushing about the book, she pummels him with a list of the book's logical and historical inaccuracies. She is humming as she leaves. It was almost worth wading through that wretched novel, just for that alone. She has even better luck avoiding Skunk, although she glimpses his distinctive striped mohawk across the street once.


After two weeks, she is a bit restless, and her agitation grows afterwards. The wolf may be away from her door - for now - but she really wants to do another job soon.