"That's fine, i'd love tolook after the little guy for a bit," comes Sophie's lilting tone over Autumn comm, "Anything i can help with on the favor? Phoenix is worth buttering up."

"Thanks, I'll drop him round in a few. I don't think so, he's not said anything, see you in a little while"

She rings off. "I'm dropping you off at Sophies' Brandon, so be good, ok?"

"Okay," says Brandon, he glances at his watch, "Will Sophie let me watching Mighty Magic Warrior Spirits?"

"You'll have to ask her hun"

"Shen, do you like Mighty Magic Warrior Spirits, I think it's the best show evar!"

"Is it the one where people hold up medallions and suddenly become dressed in ridiculously cheap costumes, and they fight monsters sent from the moon?"

"No, stoopid, thats Ninja Mana Force, Autumn, why do none of your runner friends know anything? Mighty Magic Warrior Spirits is all computer generated and the astral space almost looks like the real this. Jose is my favorite he's the spirit of water and... and ... and." Brandon seems to like the show and does go on about it, but at least he doesn't seem to notice when you're not actually listening to him, " Hey you're not listening to me, you should have said." Well maybe not...

The roads seem to improve as you approach Downtown Seattle. No sign of further pursuit which is good. About half an hour after you left the safe house, you arrive at a high tech looking apartment, in AR it appears like all of downtown to be made of green crystal, in reality it's a sparkling silver edifice that promises high class living for luxury prices. You pull into the car park with no obvious sign of any security, very swish.

Shen looks up at the tower with what he hopes to be only well-mannered interest. "So how do they fund themselves?"

The car park, an underground affair, is half full with high class cars, from four by fours that have never been off road to two seater sports cars. Autumn sees an ARO that guides her to where to park. A little way off from where you parked a lift door opens and a young woman walks out and starts to come over to the car.

"Same way you do"

"Orichalcum manufacturing? I do no shadowrunning of my own, and this is the first combat I have been in since my childhood."

"Apologies, I figured that you were somewhat of a Runner. Mostly it's funded by previous running"

"No need to apologize. I assume your running is quite lucrative?"

"Yes, very lucrative. There was one run where we got paid 8 million , between 5 of us. This was during the Corp Wars, when the Johnsons were offering and paying silly money.
"It's been a while since I've been paid that much though."

"'In times of famine, only the coffin maker is happy.'" Shen laughs a little laugh.

The woman reaches the car and stands rleaxing as if waiting for something, maybe it's the door opening...

Autumn opens the door and goes to greet Sophie.

"Thanks for this"

She opens the back door on the side for Brandon, and helps him out. She gives him a hug and leaves him with Sophie. She turns to start getting back in the car.

Sophie takes Brandon's hand and turns towards the lift, "Be careful sweety, come back and I'll sort you second dinner or wahtever when you're finished."

Shen says to Hannah, "As you may already know, I have been asked by Phoenix to counsel you. Is there anything you wish to tell me? You may tell me anything you wish, and you are under no obligation to listen to anything I say."

"Food after would be good, thanks"

Autumn gets back in the car, shuts the door and pulls away

"I don't know. Am I really pregnant? Oh gods how can I be pregnant by him?" she seems upset and still a little shocked.

"I myself couldn't know for sure, but it seems that Brandon may be better at assensing than I am. We will verify it at a hospital.

"Is there anything else that I should know about you?"

"I don't know, I'm a nobody. Just a street rat from London."

"Nobody is a "nobody;" all people have hopes, dreams, and desires, including you. What I need to know is what yours are."

"Knowing where the next meal is coming without being terrifid, that he'll pick you tonite."

"In other words, you haven't had time to think about what your desires are as opposed to your fears."

"Yeah, I suppose. But that's hardly new."

"Would you, however, agree, outside of the occasional attack by shadowrunners and drones, that most of those fears are behind you? That if there ever was a time to think of your needs and desires, it would be now?

"If you don't agree with me, then by all means tell me about your fears."

"You've never lived on the streets right? You're never free of fear, that's how life is."

"Did it make you feel powerless? And did you ever envision a better life for yourself?"

"I didn't make me feel powerless, it showed me how powerless I was. You only get out of it if you get powerful."

"If you were to get powerful, what would you do, besides do what you could to maintain said power?"

"i dunno, it's not like I'm much good at anything."

"Aptitude comes with practice; what we're here to find out is what you want."

"I want to live, that's all."

"You simply wish to survive? Are there any other stipulations? Anything else you wish for life to give you? Security, love, happiness? Anybody can survive, if they take enough trouble; I am sure that is not what you mean."

"Survival is the best I can hope for."

"What about when this is over, when Kratos is dead and your survival is taken care of?"

"You think that survival can be sorted out like," she snaps a finger, "and it's all sorted. Survival takes more than a magic fucking wand, Fu Man Chu."

"What do you think is necessary for survival? Food? Warmth? Safety from attackers? All of those can be provided for you, but I doubt that in time, they will be enough for you."

"At what cost? Everything has a price."

"Sometimes, others take on those costs. For example, Phoenix; has he asked anything of you? And if he decides to let you go, I would be more than willing to support you. I have already resolved to financially help Wing become an artist."

"You'll both want something eventually, it's how the world is."

"I want you to be happy, if that counts."

"Why, whats in it for you?"

"There are things people want that don't have to do with food, power, or hurting people. It is as simple as that.

"I have been without direction for a long time. It is good to be able to do something genuinely good."

"Bullshit, no one does anything for nothing."

"I am not doing this for nothing; I am doing this to feel more involved with a world that I have largely forsaken. Is that more abstract than power, or dominance? I think not."

Hannah looks at Shen with an expression of puzzlement she doesn't seem to understand what he is saying.

"In other words, people do things for reasons other than survival. Even Kratos; he did things for a feeling of dominance even though his needs were well provided for. He had an abstract need, the need for a feeling of power. I have another abstract need, the need to help. I am sure you also have abstract needs."