//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: The Runners // by DungeonMiner //------------------------------// “Well done, Ladies,” Rarity was as she twirled her credstick around its keyring. “We managed to complete the job.” “Well, it’s not like it was that hard,” Wingmare said. “No, but it’s good to know that we still have what it takes, after all that downtime,” she said. “More importantly, we did well enough that I believe we need to go for a higher paying job.” “The bodyguard job?” Steel asked. “That’s the one,” the decker replied. “Carte managed to convince the stallion offering the job to give us a little more info. Apparently, a singer had a falling out with her manager, and she’s signing a new contract in three days' time to make the full switch between her old manager and her new one. During those few days, she will technically be a free agent, so some other runner teams might show up to recruit her, and a few might be sent by the old manager as well. “The jobs pretty straightforward from there. We have three days to keep the target safe, and keep any other runners off of her.” Steel furrowed her brow. “Ah don’t remember any singers havin’ an issue with their managers.” “Oh, I wasn’t aware you cared for pop culture, Steel?” Rarity asked. “I don’t,” Steel replied. “Least not about all the drama and whatnot. I have a friend in the business is all.” “Really?” Wingmare said with a smile. “Who knows, maybe we’ll meet him?” “Don’t hold yer breath.” “Well, if nothing else, it’s nice to know you have a contact,” Rarity said. “She ain’t a contact. She’s a friend, and I ain’t asking her no favors.” “Alright, alright, settle down dear,” Rarity said. “Nopony was implying anything.” Steel snorted. “Besides, the more important fact is that we have a job to get to.” An AR token hit all of their comms simultaneously, just as Rarity planned before she continued. “These are our entry tickets to the venue. Once inside, the token will get us access to the backstage, and our Ringo, who will give us the job proper.” “Alright,” Wingmare said with a smile. “Free party. So far so good. Where are we going?” <><><|><><> Deep City Rock, an inner-city club, whined with the wails of electric guitars and thumped to the beat of drums. The thundering rock and roll that squealed though the building nearly deafened the team as they stepped inside, if it were not for their various methods of cutting off their hearing, they most certainly would have been. The no-name opening act blasted on sub-par chords, all of which were played loudly to overcome the fact that they weren’t good. And they were very loud. Rarity felt her cybereyes rattle in her head and felt her teeth vibrate against each other. At the very least, they were getting to the end of their set as she and the rest of the team walked in, for which the unicorn was incredibly thankful. “I almost hope these are our VIPs,” Rarity sent to the others by text. “No one would spend money on a runner team for them.” “Thank you Canterlot!” the lead guitarist yelled into the mic to semi-enthusiastic applause. A few texts came back, generally agreeing, before they began to push their way forward, across the club’s floor, and navigating around the various dying mosh pits, to the door in the back of the room. “And that, Fillies and Gentlecolts, was Rock3!” the announcer roared, “But now, for the main event you all have been waiting for…” The crowd, mostly bored teens suddenly sat up as new life washed across the club. “That’s right, it’s the one, the only, the Silver Countess herself, Coloratura!” The whole team froze and glanced up at the stage. The pale blue mare strode forward, commanding the stage as the lights flickered off her perfect, chrome cybernetics. The mare oozed confidence and sex, and she rocked her synth-tar as she began to play her million-nubit song “Glitz and glam.” Meanwhile, everyone in the team thought two things, simultaneously. The first was “what is a household name like Countess Coloratura doing in a club like this?” which was quickly followed by “Oh, frag. She’s our VIP.” The song flew by, the team still too stunned to properly realize she was playing as they slowly began to process the fact that they were seeing none-other that Countess Coloratura, dancing in a run-down, no-name venue. Rarity recovered first and picked her jaw off the floor before turning to the others. They all stared with wide eyes as the Countess slipped into another song with the grace of a diving heron. Steel’s mouth was agape. A quick text from Rarity flashed across their collective vision, breaking them from their stupor. “Come on, ladies. We need to go.” Wingmare blinked, and looked her AR glasses, before nudging Steel. “What, you never saw Coloratura in person before? I thought you had connections, Steel?” Steel gave the Adept a look. “Sure, Wingmare, sure.” Coloratura continued to sing, her synth-tar’s notes playing the synthrock melody directly from her brain, ripping on chords, and shredding mechanical riffs. Meanwhile, the team pushed through the crowd until they finally got to the locked door. A swipe of Rarity’s comm against the key scanner opened it for her, and the six ponies quickly stepped inside before they were met by a massive unicorn. “Can I help you ladies?” he asked. “Yes,” Rarity said, stepping forward as her pheromone emitter activated. “We’re here to speak to Mr. Ringo.” The Bouncer narrowed his eyes before he put a hoof to his ear. “Boss. Do you know anything about any Runners?” A moment passed. “Six mares?” The bouncer shrugged. “Mr...Ringo will see you now. Good luck.” The six mares glanced at each other before they followed the bouncer inside. The first thing they saw of their Ringo was his curly, almost greasy, pale vermillion mane that peeked out over the couch. As they came around, they found him to be an earth pony in a cheap, knock-off suit staring at a large screen on the far wall, holding a glass of synthol champagne.”Ah, you must be the Runners!” The pony said. “Nice to meet you, I’m Mr. Rin—ah, who am I kidding, you know who I am. I’m Svengallop, one of the best in the business.” A shared look between the runners all said that none of them knew who he was. “So you’re the runners, right?” Svengallop asked as he poured them all a glass of his fake champagne. “You don’t look professional.” Rarity spoke up. “You mean we don’t look like the trids, and that’s a conscious choice. We don’t want to show our hooves prematurely.” “I suppose,” Sven said with a frown. “Well, let’s talk about payment. You already know the job, right?” “We take care of your client once her contract falls through, and she can sign a new one?” Rarity asked. “That’s it. I’m thinking 400 a day,” Sven said. “Four hundred for each of us is a little slim,” Rarity said, before sitting across from her Ringo, which gave her his name. “Especially since we’re working with Cou—” “Each? Are you kidding? 400 period.” Even Twilight turned her head at him. Rarity blinked. “You are paying the six of us 400. For a three day job. For protecting Countess Coloratura?” “Who told you it was the Countess?” Sven asked. “Who else would it be?” the decker asked in a deadpan. “No one would pay to save the last band. The Countess is the only one worth kidnapping, much less protecting.” Sven grumbled. “Fine. 400 each.” “5k per day, at least,” Rarity said. “Or we walk, and I let every Runner team I know that you have a high priority VIP without protection.” “Woah, woah, easy...easy…” Svengallop said. “There’s no need for that. Look, I can’t do 30k a day, alright? I might be able to do 10k for the six of you tops.” “15k,” Rarity said. “12k.” “If I may,” Steel said, approaching the agent. “I wanna strike a deal.” Rarity gave steel a sidelong glance. “And who are you to make a deal with me?” “T’ain’t no one in particular, but that ain’t the point. Look, you, us, and the Countess are going to be stuck together for a few days or so, and I can’t tell ya how invaluable it is to have a team that can stand each other. So look, I think that if the Countess and us get along then you should pay the premium 15K for us. If not, we’ll take the ten.” “And why would I do that?” Svengallop asked. “Because, I’m a gambling mare, and I like the chances that the high-and-mighty Countess might like some freedom with us Runners, and if I’m wrong, you get to pay us less.” “A gambling mare, huh?” Sven asked. Rarity raised an eyebrow. Steel most certainly was not a gambling mare. She was hiding something and doing a decent job of it too. “Alright, you have a deal, Runner,” Sven said with a smile, before shaking on it. “In the meantime, have some drinks, the bar’s open.” Slowly, the team crowded around the minibar that Sven offered to them before they realized it was all cheap synthol that was barely worth it, especially since they were duty now. After examining the bar, they quickly scattered again, taking up posts with the bouncer, the windows, and the other exits. Coloratura continued to rock another three songs before she bowed out and stepped backstage, and into the VIP room. “What’s up!” Coloratura said, kicking in the door as she rode her performing high. “Whadaya think of that, Sven?” “It’s great dear, but I’d like to do a venue that actually brings in the cash.” “Ah, lighten up!” Coloratura laughed, before grabbing her manager and giving him a noogie. “Coloratura, stop this!” “So you’re the Runners, right?” she asked, glancing around the room at the other mares while releasing her manager. “Yes,” Rarity said, stepping forward, suddenly noticing that Steel was up with the bouncer. “That’s us, we’re here to keep you safe.” “Sweet,” she said, before brushing her mane out of the way. “Tell ya what, let me get into something more comfortable, then we can talk business.” “Of course,” Rarity said before the mare slid back to a room with a star haphazardly stuck to the door. She turned back to Sven. “Well, I think we’ll get along just fine.” Sven smirked. “Hang on, we’re not done just yet.” A few minutes later, and Coloratura stepped out, wearing an Eastern Unicornian Kimono, and with a look of absolute, almost apathetic peace on her face. “Hello everyone,” she said quietly. “Thank you for your help, I suppose.” “Um...you’re welcome,” Rarity said. “Will you be able to keep me safe?” she asked her tone of voice even and calm. “I’m terrified of possibly losing my life in a firefight.” “We don’t plan on letting you get shot,” Rarity assured her while trying to gauge where her sudden change in personality came from. “Good, because I’m terrified of guns. Oh, you have one, don’t you?” “I do?” she admitted, confused. “Oh, I don’t like that,” she said with a frown, and a tentative step back. Sven smiled. “Now Rara, how can ya say that I’m part gun myself these days,” Steel said from beside the bouncer. Again, her personality shifted widely, and the apathetic, uncaring earth pony transformed into a school girl. “Applejack!” she screamed, before tackling the street sam. Sven frowned. “Hey, Rara,” Applejack said as she hugged the earth pony back. “Long time no see.” “Long time?” she asked. “A long time? Applejack, the last I heard of you, your farm got bought out. I haven’t seen you in years!” “Yeah, well…” “Wait, you’re a Runner now. Is that because of the farm?!” “Well, there ain’t many opportunities out there for us honest folk.” “Why didn’t you tell me! I could have given you something.” Steel shook her head, before patting Coloratura’s head. “You needed it more than I did at the time.” “What? What are you talking about?” “That’ll come up later,” Steel said with a gentle smile. “In the meantime, here are the others, lemme introduce you.” “Oh, yes!” she said, her personality still bounding around wildly. “So these are Gem, Candy, Wingmare, Web, and the Rookie,” she said, pointing to each of the slack-jawed ponies as they all slowly began to realize that Steel knew the Countess Coloratura, “and Sven here has hired us all for Two thousand, five hundred nubits a day each.” “I didn’t—” Sven began. “Sven, how could you!” Coloratura said. “I didn’t—!” “I will not have my friends paid so little! Double that immediately!” Sven’s lips went tight. “Alright, Ms. Coloratura.” Rarity grinned. “Thanks, Rara, you’re a doll.” “Oh, it’s nothing, Applejack, just think of it as back payment from when you and your family were going through such a hard time.” “Steel, please,” “What?” “You should call me Steel.” “Oh! Right! You’re a Runner! When did that happen, by the way?” “Oh I’ll get to that, but when did you and Rogue Beat fall out?” Coloratura’s face twisted. “Oh, well…It’s a long story, and—” A knock sounded on the door, and all six ponies looked up at it. “Rara, stick close to Wingmare,” Steel whispered. The Bouncer stepped up to the door and opened a small window in it to see. “Hello?” The door blew open, killing the bouncer as splintered plexi-wood riddled his body. Wingmare dove at their VIP, dragging her to the ground as a burst of fire erupted from the charging ponies. Four earth ponies, each with glowing red eyes slammed into the room, before unloading their submachine guns into the space. The team all dove for cover, and pulling out guns or keeping the heads of their VIPs down, all the way up until the charging ponies had to reload. Wingmare was the first to leap up, unleashing both of her heavy pistols on the intruders, even as Rara lay at her hooves, whimpering with her hooves over her ears. Steel did the same, standing over the blubbering Sven as her cyberleg unleashed .44 magnum fury. A headshot from the street sam took one out, but the heavy-caliber bullets of Wingmare’s pistols tore through the bodies of the attacker, even if it did little else to slow them down. “Headshots! Headshots!” Web said, popping up before a bolt of acid slammed against an intruder’s head, eating away at the flesh and bone. “They’ve got magic in them, and that stuff’s nasty!” Twilight unleashed a fireball that exploded as it stopped between the three that were still standing, cooking a grenade to explode, and take out another two intruders before the last came stumbling forward, body burned, and face bubbling before he fell to the ground. “Oh, drek,” Wingmare said. “What?” Steel asked “These guys are Yakkuza.” “What?” “Yakkuza, they’ve been moving in on the Belgrade family businesses lately. We need to get out of here.” “Great, the yak mafia’s on us now…” Rarity said. “Candy get the van!” “Already here!” “Alright, everypony, we’re picking up our VIPs and moving. Escort formation, everyone! Escort formation!” Steel went first, shotgun out, followed by Candy, who began unpacking her folding grenade launcher. After her came the VIPs, with a magic user on either side, followed by Rarity and Wingmare. “Don’t worry,” Web whispered to the two civilians. “We’ll get you out of this alive. I promise.” “Let’s go! Go, go, go!” Steel rushed forward, shotgun pumped and ready as she burst onto the now abandoned dance floor. She quickly crossed the room, followed by others in quick succession as they ran. A second later, Steel burst from the club’s front door and unloaded a slug into the gut of another Yakkuza agent. The side door of the van slid open, and they all slipped inside. Candy quickly took the wheel, while the rest quickly climbed into their seats. Rarity quickly pulled up a safe house address she was saving. “Candy, take us to this address.” “You got it!” “Wingmare, watch the back if anyone follows us let me know.” “Ya got it.” “Steel, keep that door secured!” Steel checked the breach of her shotgun and smiled. “Like to see them try anything.” “We're getting you to safety,” Rarity said, smiling at Coloratura. “Okay, just stop shooting, please.” She nodded. “One final thing, Steel.” “You know the Countess Coloratura?!” <><><|><><> The van pulled up to an apartment complex out in the sprawl, and the eight ponies all quickly made their way in, as Candy ordered her van to go park itself. They rushed upstairs, with Rarity stopping only a second to pass a hundred nubit credstick to the landlord with the instructions that they were never here. Finally they burst through the door of the safe room, closed it, and locked it behind them. “Alright, everypony, here are the rules, no calls in or out, do not call your fixers, your family, or your friends until we're out of here. We are not here, and the only way we're going to get the world to think that, is by not accessing the Matrix without my supervision. Am I clear?” “Yes, Ma'am,” Rara said with a nod. “Hang on, now,” Sven said, “I've got ponies I need to talk to and—” “No calls!” Rarity said. “In fact, hand over your comms, both of you.” “What, you don't trust me?” Sven asked, even as Rara handed over her comm. “If my Grandmother invited me over for cookies, I still wouldn't go without doing the legwork first,” Rarity said, straight-faced. Sven blinked a moment before rolling his eyes and dropping a comm into her waiting hoof. “Fine.” “Thank you for your cooperation,” Rarity said. “Alright, there’s not a lot of room for us, but you will have some privacy. Privacy, however, is not a good thing. Beyond having to use the facilities, stick together, don’t split up. The better we can see each other, the better we can react.” “Right.” “Good, glad to see we’re all clear,” Rarity said. “Steel can I talk to in the other room, please?” “Oh, uh...sure, I guess,” Steel said, looking up from her perch by the window, and slipped into the side room, which was barely big enough for either of them to stand side by side. As Rarity closed the door, she sent a text that flashed across Steel’s cybereyes. “What’s the situation with the Countess? What are we walking into?” “I barely know more than you on the why, but I don’t think we need to worry about the old manager,” Steel texted back. “Why not?” “Because the guy’s probably more heartbroken than anything,” Steel answered, mentally typing as fast as she could. “Rara and Rogue Beat were close, and have been for years. He always liked Rara, and he was the one who got her out of therapy to get back on her hooves after the...well, look. I was sure that those two were going to get hitched before too long.” “So why break up now?” “That’s what I want to know.” “Alright, but again what’s the matter with her? I’ve never met a pony that bounces through so many highs and lows so fast, what happened to her?” Steel grimaced. “Alright...look, I’m thinking about telling you cause I know you just want to us through out onto the other side, alright? But I need you to swear not to tell anyone. Don’t sell this to anypony, don’t type this to anypony, don’t breathe this to anypony,” she wrote, complete with italics. “Can you do that for me?” “I mean…” Rarity texted back. “I don’t normally lock out sources of revenue, but I suppose I can accomodate for you.” “Rara used to be a Dreamer,” Steel texted. Rarity blinked, staring at the last six words that crossed her vision. “She…” she typed. “She used Dreamchips?” Steel shook her head. “It was bad. She barely knew who I was anymore when I dragged her out of a gutter. We contacted her parents. Got her set up in rehab, and then she disappeared.” “Disappeared?” Steel nodded. “She showed up three years later in a different rehab center with the chrome, and barely remembered who she was. That’s where Rouge found her, learned of her singing talent, and nursed her back to the point where she remembered her parents and me.” “Wow, I...I never knew…” “Yeah, and Rogue paid a lot of money to make sure no one would find out.” “Well that explains the personality shifts,” Rarity wrote. “Wait, then he could ruin her, couldn’t he?” “In a heartbeat.” “Then why not try and get her to stay? He could do that fairly easily, or at least make sure that she never works again.” “I’d say Rogue is better than that, but the thought did occur to me.” “I don’t like this,” Rarity texted. “Something’s going on, but I just can’t see it.” “For once, Gem, I wholeheartedly agree.”