The bartender looks over and notices Nil's empty drink, "Hey this ain't your living room, you want to watch something else, then go home." The bartender returns to his serving duties at the latte machine. However, as he begins pouring the next drink, suddenly the coffee machine begins to rumble and spew out coffee uncontrollably. Nils gets up and walks out of the bar to the sounds of customers screaming at the bartender for staining their fine clothes. As he reaches the door, Nils' face relaxes and a small smile grows across his face. He heads back to his office at Global Technologies finding it easier to get back to work after relieving some of his stress.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nils flips open his cell phone as he sits in a cab. Traffic is heavier than normal. It appears that some metahuman activists are out in force today making a fuss about what happened in San Francisco. As the cab creeps along Nils calls up Monica. "Hey there omae, what's the drek?" Monica says as she answers her telephone. Nils notices that she throws in some street-talk that he's taught her.

"I need some help. You hear about what just went down in San Francisco?" Nils says.

"Yeah..." Monica's voice trails off as she gives him a concerned look.

He finishes, "I'm heading to the lodge right now. Could you wait there for me? I have some questions and may need some assistance."

"Sure, no problem." And with that they both hang-up. Of all the people in the lodge, Nils has bonded best with Monica. Their personalities click, but there may be a little more there too. As the cab drives through the streets Nils occasionally scans outside astrally looking for anything suspicious. Each time he catches sight of a city spirit sitting on top of the cab. Luckily, each time he sees the spirit that he summoned.

Things are business as usual at Sixth World Services, nothing out of the ordinary today. Nils finds Monica in her office. She's on the phone, but motions for him to sit down. As she's talking, Nils takes the time to admire the fine features of her face. Occasionally his glance makes it further down her body. When she hangs up the phone, Nils begins talking immediately, "The elf, on the news..." he says questioningly, "That's me. I was part of the team that pulled that 'terrorist' job. It was just another job. We were told...we thought, it was a Yakuza hide-out...we were wrong."

Monica's face scrunches up in concern, "What the hell Nils, you need to be more careful. This isn't the first time you've been double-crossed. I'd have thought with your track record you'd be more careful."

Ajax turns his face away, obviously embarrassed, "I know, I know...I don't think the team is going to make it through this. Hound is talking about backing out of running all together. He says he's gotten sick of the work or can't stomach it. I don't blame him. When stuff like this happens, it really questions if its worth it. The nuyen's good, but frag, the money doesn't keep my conscious clear."

"Well at least you still have a conscious." Monica says. "Look, you've done this long enough. You told me yourself that you got into it mostly to vent some of your anger after getting out of prison and pick up some extra nuyen. You don't owe anyone anything. Get out while you still can." Monica's voice has a little more concern in it than just a friend, almost as if she cares for Nils. "What happened down there anyway?"

Nils slouches down in his chair and begins to tell the story, "Well, we were all at Moon's having some drinks. Some guy walks up says he needs a team. He wants to pay us 20k a piece to wipe out some Yak hide out in San Francisco. Sounds easy enough. We figure we run down there, frag the place, come back home, null sheen. We find a sub-driver to give us a ride down there and Kuma's got some military connection in the city to get us supplies for the job. By the way, don't let anyone tell you that a Troll can fit in a sub. They fit, but it's not pretty."

"Anyway, we get down there and do a little recon. The place we're supposed to hit is a noodle shop. We figure we go in early morning. Scare out any innocent employees and then torch the place. Everything's going to plan. We bust in, scare off the dishwasher, knock around the barmaid. Kuma gets to setting the explosives to torch the place. Meanwhile, Piker heads down to the basement, to pop off a few grenades. Next thing we know, we're getting hammered by some Mage, and orks are blasting at us. It turns out the basement is housing a metahuman rights activist cell. It was all a setup. Those cameras caught us doing everything. They had to have been set there ahead of time."

"What about all that stuff on the news about a shoot out on the wharf?" Monica says.

Nils' faces contorts in disgust, "Yeah, that's some propaganda drek that the Japs are slinging. We were totally out numbered on the wharf. Somebody tipped those guys off. We were probably outnumbered four to one, or more! I got knocked around by some Mage and his elemental in astral space. We wound up killing a few of those guys, but it looked like the rest were alive when we ran out of there. We boosted a truck to get out of there and headed into the city. I went astral and took on the Mage Thanks to my new little toy," Nils lifts his new cane up and twirls it in one hand, "I was able to beat the guy and get him off our tail. It was a messed up mission."

Monica makes a little smile as Nils continues to play with his new toy, "Well, it sounds like things worked out. I was wondering how long it would take you to use that thing." She motions to the cane.

"Yeah, it came in handy going astral. Makes me a little more comfortable out there. When you see a spirit or elemental, sometimes spells just aren't enough, and you can't always out run those guys." Nils smiles and grips the cane firmly in his hand.

"Well, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Monica asks.

"Hound is going to talk to Kane about doing full time work. He has a gun that can fight the Horrors. He's magically linked to it and he's talking about his path and walking the path...I don't know." Nils goes silent. Nothing is said for a few minutes.

"I think I'm getting out too. Ever since those Horrors showed up, I've wanted to know more about them. In a way, that other world I've seen is more appealing than this one. Maybe its simpler there, I don't know what the feeling is, but I think I need to help. I keep remembering what Gargoyle said to me the last time I quested. I need to learn more about these things and help to fight against them. If I get out though, I'm getting out completely and that's where I need you." Nils stares at Monica with a serious look.

Monica's face looks serious, and she leans back in her chair. "What are you getting at?"

"I mean that I want out of Shadowrunning and I want out of Global Tech. There's no point in me staying there. I'm just there so my father can save face. I've stayed on now for a year. If I quit it won't be as bad for him, especially if I have another option. A small smile appears in the corner of Nils' mouth. There has to be a place for a Shaman with my talents...well, my experience, here at Sixth World? Something legit, that I can say I do when I'm not working for Kane. Something to keep me in the lifestyle to which I am accustomed. Think about it, we'd be one of the first lodges to know about the Horrors and find out more about this other world. It'll give me a chance to focus more on my magic and contribute to the lodge. I haven't been to see Gargoyle in a while and I think its time I focused myself on something."

Monica smiles, obviously pleased, and gets up from her desk, "Come on. Let's go and find out what the other's think, particularly Thomas. Ultimately, he'll make the final decision." With that Nils and Monica stand up and head out of her office...

--- End Warstory

24FEB2059 In spite of a full waiting room, Thomas sees the pair immediately. They settle into overstuffed leather chairs. The smell of the real stuff seems much more complex and muted than the synth leather that clothes the bones of most furniture in corporate Seattle and tends to smell more like leather than seems natural. The desk behind which Thomas sits is a mixture of mahogany with a dark black finish and white marble. Where the wood leaves off with an abundance of French curves, the marble top picks up with rectangular, chiseled austerity of design. Crystal Gargoyles sit at the front corners of the desk, emitting a soft glow from luminescent balls floating in their bellies. Nils is reminded of his Astral encounter momentarily as he sits down. Thomas immediately notices the walking stick but says nothing, Nils recalls a brief explanation he gave Thomas immediately after his quest.

Nils, supported by Monica, explains his intentions. Thomas listens intently. His piercing gaze often unsettling. Nils is not accustomed to people that can stare him in the eye indefinitely. It's a strange sensation, perhaps this is how the average person feels when dealing with Nils?

Thomas sits motionless, staring at, or perhaps into Nils as the monologue continues. Nils does not remember Thomas blinking. When silence graces the room once again, there is a pause. Nils starts to notice his own breathing and he feels a twinge of anxiety as he worries that Thomas is preparing to shut him down, lay him off, or worse, laugh him out of the office.

"Agreed. I think it's a fine idea. You're too important to be in the back alleys playing gangster with common thugs. You're Awakened, Nils, and you're part of our lodge. It's about damn time you started acting like it. I'm glad you finally had this epiphany without my intervention. Your membership might have come into question."

"But that's behind us now. Now you are not just Awakened, you're also awake."

"I have explained that we have had past associations with Dr. Kane. In fact, it is very likely that this cover identity and lifestyle you desire would be readily provided by him. He has more than one corporate campus with excellent security, fitness rooms, and even rudimentary libraries."

"Gargoyle sees all. We should strive to be so aware. We cannot prepare for the coming troubles without knowing the face of our enemy. This path suits you far better than the last one."

Thomas' expression becomes grim, "And you'll live longer. Gargoyle has shown me your death. At the time, I was confused by the visions. He showed you at various locations, some with your "team" and some without. In all of them, you were dying. The only words he gave me were repeated over and over - This world holds only death for him in the time of the comet. Now I understand. You may yet cheat fate by exploiting the remarkable trick you discovered for transporting yourself to the land of dreams. He also made some cryptic reference to the Bearer, the Monster, the Vizier, and the Black Man, but I have not had time to puzzle over that one. Gargoyle shows me so much and I am but a simple mortal."

"Last time I talked to David about his affairs, he mentioned that a new Water Mage had made great progress in the area of magical polarity. Next time you make your trip, it might not be quite so crippling to you. Go and make your arrangements. Throw off the shackles of your wage slavemaster life. No one will question this choice. You are a Shaman, after all, it only makes sense to put your skills to work for you."

Thomas' intercom gives off a pleasant tone, announcing his next appointment. "Now, I have to wrap up some things. Let me know if you need anything else from me, but unless it's important, I've got to get back to putting the orichalcum on the table." With that he smiles and stands up, signaling that it is time for the pair to leave.

His Grandfather hears him return before he sees him. Stepping out of the house, he says, "Hello, Daniel. Did you forget something?"

"Yes. I forgot that you are the wisest man I know, and that I owe you my life many times over. I forgot to pay you the respect that you are due. And I forgot to tell you where I'm going and why."

"I see. Well, come back inside. Your dinner is getting cold..."

Hound follows the old man inside, and doesn't ask why there are already two plates set on the table.

---

After dinner, they sit by the fireplace. The smell of burning wood fills the room, and Daniel feels at home, relaxed. He sinks into a comfortable chair, and begins his tale.

"You know that I have walked many paths, some wiser than others, and most less wise than more. I have spent time most recently in pursuit of many goals, and yet not truly devoted to any of them. If I had one overriding pursuit, I guess it would have to be that of money, although I only just realized that. I have sold my mind and my body to others for nothing more than money and creature comforts, just as surely as a 100 nuyen whore at Madame Li's. But those days are over. If nothing else, my last run has shown me that I can no longer follow that path. Maybe it will help if I tell you what happened."

"My teammates and I were at our usual gathering on Friday night, drinking and listening to music at Moon's. It seemed that things were finally going well for most of us. I had just successfully undergone the training to rise in the ranks of my lodge, and before that I had been given the gift of this marvelous weapon." At that, Hound takes out the gun, and shows it to his Grandfather. The reflected firelight flickers along the barrel, and the gun looks almost alive. "This weapon and I will stand against a tide of evil, and perhaps we will stem it. But I'll get to that later."

"So, we were all just sitting there when a man came up with a job offer. He wanted to pay us a lot of money to go clear out a den of criminals in San Francisco. It sounded so reasonable, that none of us really questioned it much. We just took the advance and headed out. Hopped onto a sub and the next thing we knew we were in the Free States, checking out a noodle house that was supposed to be a Yakuza front. The next morning, before any customers had arrived, we went in to burn the place down."

"I should have known something was wrong as soon as I saw the Troll working in the kitchen. The Yakuza are bigots; they wouldn't use Troll labor, and they wouldn't hire the Ork we killed in the basement either. True, he was shooting at us, but Piker was lobbing grenades, so he was probably justified in his actions. I'm sorry, Grandfather, I shouldn't be sarcastic with you. I'll just finish the story."

"We ended up burning the place down. There was an invisible Mage who gave us some trouble, but Ajax handled him eventually. We just set fire to the restaurant and went off to meet our ride home. That's when things got bad. When we got back to the docks where the sub was waiting, there were two Coast Guard ships and a bunch of troopers headed up the dock. We tried to hide, but they knew where we were. I wanted to run, but Kuma opened fire, so I stayed and helped for a while. After a brief firefight, we took better cover and then ran away, but not before we had killed some of them. When they were shooting at us, they kept calling us criminals. It's funny; we had come to California to fight criminals, but we turned out to be the real criminals."

"Afterwards, I saw on the news that the 'Yakuza' we had hit were actually metahuman rights activists. The whole thing had been a setup by the Japanese Occupation Force. They were filming the entire time, and they just wanted to manufacture some meta-on-meta violence for their propaganda trids Of course, they made it out to be even worse than it was. Claimed we killed all the Coast Guard troopers and sank the ships. Hell, for all I know they really did have them all killed and sink the ships, just for the sake of realism. I wouldn't put it past them. But it didn't matter. They hired us to do a job, and I took the money. In the end, it didn't really even matter that the job was a setup. I mean, sure, if they had told me up front that the group was a meta-rights group, I wouldn't have taken the job. But that's just because it's a cause I believed in. But in the end, they're criminals too. They kill for their ideals, and don't often care who gets hurt in the process. They're criminals; we're criminals. We just kill each other for money, and the big criminals pay us little criminals to do it. I didn't come this far in life just to kill for money. So I told my teammates that I was done. No more 'runs' for me. But I'm not exactly hanging up my guns."

"You remember I told you about some really nasty spirits we were fighting, kind of like bugs, but different? Well, they're from another age, and maybe another world. My companions and I have been to that other place, mostly in dreams, but they were also somehow real. Our two worlds are separate, but connections exist, and these spirits, these Horrors, are trying to come across. If they succeed, they'll pour into our world, and destroy everything we know. And fighting them here is a losing battle. So we're taking the fight to them, stopping them at the source. I've been working with a very powerful man who has devoted himself to stopping these Horrors at any cost. I finally went to him and told him I was ready to join the cause full time. And that's why I told you I was going away on a trip, and might not come back."

Hound takes out the gun again, and continues. "This weapon is more than just a simple gun. It has a mind, and a personality, and it is designed to combat menaces like these Horrors. Together, we're going over to the other world, to try to stop them before they get here. It's likely I won't come back. The path is incredibly dangerous. But even if I didn't go, there's no guarantee that I wouldn't be killed in the next run I took, gunned down by a criminal protecting himself from another criminal. Hell, we were even told by this odd guy that he had a vision of all of us dying in about a dozen places in the city over the next year. So if I'm going to die anyway, and let's face it, we're all going to die anyway, I want to do something good and noble with what life I have left. I want to make a difference. And I'm going to."

With that, Hound relaxes back into the chair. He hadn't realized how tense his muscles had become during the telling of the tale, but now that he was done, he felt his body collapse and his lungs exhale deeply. "So, that's my story, Grandfather. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. You deserve to know the truth."

--- End Warstory

Grandfather looks intently at Hound throughout the telling of the story. When Hound finishes, Grandfather remains motionless for a few minutes, seemingly lost in thought. He takes a deep breath as if to punctuate the end of some internal discussion.

"That is a lot to think about, but Wolf and Spider have hinted at this coming to pass when I asked them about you. It sounds as if you have found a better path. Your way was that of the hunter and you strayed down the path of butcher. When Wolf does that, Man slaughters him, but perhaps that is because Man does not want competition on that path. Spider has almost given up on you and Wolf was starting to have his doubts as well." He stands, collects the plates from dinner and sets them in the sink.

"Our world is a dark place. Man has crafted tools that aid his hand and mind, but speed the loss of his Spirit...and all of this in a time when Spirit has once again awakened. Such a grim humor, it almost seems the work of Coyote, but even he has more respect for Man than this. I believe this world's salvation lies in the restoration of Spirit. The creatures you describe, your Horrors, seem to be a threat to this. Man is already enough of a parasite for this world but if nothing else he has demonstrated the capacity to be taught to live in harmony with the world. We simply need to remind how to do so."

"But that is not your path. That is the path of those whose moccasins have already worn thin on the path of the Hunter. Such as me." He looks more haggard and tired than usual, as if giving Daniel a glimpse of his years.

Grandfather perks up and claps his hands once as if vying for the attention of the room. "You should explore this new path and follow it where it leads. If that is to this other time and place you speak of, then so be it. Be wary. One that possesses a tool for great good can only be certain of one thing, that he will face much evil." Grandfather pauses as if to let the message sink in.

Grandfather walks to the front door and opens it, "But enough talking. You need to move to your new home and prepare for your journey. I look forward to hearing your tales when you return. I hope that Wolf and Spider will be able to guide you in this other place."

Piker invited Angus to dinner at his favorite steak house; something she has never done before. When Angus arrived at the restaurant, Piker was already there. She had requested a private table, away from prying eyes and ears, and placed a white noise generator to ensure their privacy. She was dressed nicely, for Piker, and in front of her were two glasses and a bottle of good scotch, da real stuff. Angus had a slight look of bewilderment on his face.

Angus took a seat and half jokingly pointed to her black dress, "Did someone die lass?"

Piker gives him a slight smile and says, "Maybe me, or maybe I'm just now gonna start livin."

Angus replies, "now I know hell froze over 'cus your starting to philosophize." They both laugh slightly and sit in silence for a couple of minutes.

Piker speaks again, " I'm tired of dis life dad. I kill people and destroy tings, den I get paid, den I spend DA money to buy more stuff so I can kill people and destroy more tings. What's DA point?" She looks down at her glass and grimaces as she swigs down the scotch, realizing that she can't down this stuff as easily as she does with beer, then continues, "and I'm really tired of seeing myself on DA six o'clock news, wheder naked and shot up on a bike, or wearing a ski mask running trough DA docks."

Angus looks up as though suddenly awoken and said, "So, it was your team that scorched the Orc underground hide-out."

Piker looks ashamed then pissed, "we were lied to, again," Piker takes a sip from her drink and continues, "Some guy came to our table at Moon's and wanted to hire us to wipe out a Yak hideout in Cali. Kuma jumped at DA chance to give DA yaks a piece o' his mind, and DA rest of us hadn't worked in a while and were itching for a job. So we took DA job."

Piker pauses as the waiter brings their food out, and then continues after he leaves, "So I spent hours with my face in my crotch in DA sub dat took us to DA coast. We got to DA place and scoped it out. Ajax told us dat dere was a warded basement, so we figure dat's where DA Yaks hid. So we waited till DA next day, and hit DA place early mornin'. We came from DA back and told DA worker inside to leave, and he left. Den Kuma went in and started sett'in up DA fireworks. I started down DA basement and started tossing some grenades, den an Orc tried to shoot me, and just when I tought I was real wiz, I got whacked by a mage. I was down for DA rest of DA fight. But we got out of dere and torched DA place, den we headed to DA docks to meet our sub."

Angus looks at Piker and asks, "So, did you kill all those Coast Guards?"

Piker gets red in the face and tries to control her rage, "I dunno what DA frag dose Japs on DA vid were talking about. It's all a bunch of drek! Dere were a couple a dozen of 'em and two boats with cannons, dere was no way we'd get out of dat fire fight alive. We downed a couple of 'em and snagged a truck and got our asses outta dare. Ajax took care of our magic tail and we met up with DA sub and headed back home."

Piker notices a slight look of relief on Angus' face, Piker finishes the last bite from her steak, pushes the plate aside, and puts her arms on the table, "I don't wanna be like my parents, I've been burned twice by bogus runs, and I wasn't raised to be a fool," she looks at Angus and smiles, "I 'm not gonna go back for a third time, 'cuz next time I'll be face down in a gutta, and for what? A fist full of Nuyen, what's it done for me so far, nothing."

Angus seems more curious than normal, but Piker finds it hard to read his feelings. She continues, "I've trained a lot and meditated a lot, and I wanna do something where I don' hate myself at DA end of DA day. After a lot of tinking, I figure out why I liked Running. It ain't CUs I wanna hurt tings; of course, when a punk tinks he's real wiz 'cuz he can shoot a gun, I like explaining to him dat he's wrong, over and over."

Piker smirks and continues, "Anyway, what I like about Running is working with my team. I know dem, I trust dem, and dey saved my ugly ass many times. Dey're not just my team, dey're my friends. After this last job, Hound won't Run any more, and it looks like Ajax might do DA same. I don't wanna lose my friends, and I don't wanna die for no good reason. I tink dey're gonna go work for a guy that fights dose life-sucking beasties I told you about, and if I 'm gonna die, I'd rader go down taking dese beasties out dan by a stray bullet from a punk in a back of an alley."

Angus looks concerned and asks, "Why do you keep talking about death?"

Piker breathes deeply and answers, "I can't give you any details, but I know for sure dat if I stay in dis city, I 'm going to die in DA next year. I need to leave and join my team, maybe I'll live longer than a year and maybe I'll actually do some good, for a change." She stops and waits for Angus to respond.

--- End warstory

Angus adopts an expression of endearment, "I understand, love. I spent most of my life in the shadows, working for governments. When I stepped back into the light, there was nothing left for me. I tried Shadowrunning, but the moral ambiguity was too much for me. Some other former magical black ops folks hooked up with me and we started the Kamibudo Lodge. We gave each other purpose." Angus smiles, a distant look of nostalgia on his face.

With the Lodge completed, we had to start paying the bills again. This time, we had the resources to run the shadows on our terms. Most of the people in the lodge are my friends, not yours. Someday they might be, but for now, that's not the case. If your team truly are your friends, then you had damn well better be proactive about it. Friends are damn rare in this world.

"And they take work too, lass. That grim little nipper Kuma is sliding down a dark slope. One more wire in his body and he's gonna need a Rigger to drive him around. Left to his own devices and he's just gonna turn into one more dangerous animal in the shadows that needs to be put down. And the mighty wheels of the megacorps won't pause as he is crushed underfoot. You're gonna have one less friend pretty soon unless you take some action."

"Anyway, you take care on your secret mission, or whatever it is. I'm not gonna pressure you to tell me more than you're comfortable with, I never have. You're a spoiled brat for it, but at least no one's gonna tell you that to your face."

"Before you go, I should tell you more of your birth..."