This is Rom from the Packrat Sprawl coming to you live and direct from the underground under the Broad Street subway station in the City. It is illegal for me to be in the City because I am not a citizen but that would not stop me from coming to you today. We have never had a Packrat Underground episode from the City before when I have been on a run alone. We are here today smuggling some data out of the City and back into the Echelons. I have 15 minutes before I have to be out on the street. A data messenger who hails from the City will be meeting me today shortly and I wanted you to be along for the ride. Come on lets go get to the meeting place.
Rom teleported out of the tunnel to the Broad street subway station. He arrived behind the ticket counter on the platform down where the trains arrive. There were a few people on the platform waiting for the train as Zone Police officers watched guard. Rom pulled the hood up over his head from his sweater which he was wearing under his dirty tan trench coat and walked forward. His meet with the data messenger was at the robo café in the station. Rom walked forward looking around him trying to ensure the Zone Police didn’t pick him up. If they did they would send him to the kedek mines for hard labour.
Rom caught the blue military styled coat of a data messenger out of the corner of his eye. He stopped for a moment and watched wanting to make sure this contact was good. The data messenger would wait until Rom engaged him to start the contact.
The data messenger went to the robo café and ordered a drink from the robotic bartender waiting. Rom watched the data messenger pay for the drink and go sit down at a table. Rom watched him for a moment then sauntered up and sat down at the table. The data messenger was suspicious then bowed his head slightly and made a gesture with his fingers. Rom would have to make the accompanying gesture or the data messenger would jet.
Rom put his hand up to his forehead and made the symbol of the god Thoth from the Parable of Thoth the religious text followed by psychic Prophets in the Echelons. The data messenger bowed his head acknowledging the gesture and took a sip of his ion supply drink as Rom went into his pocket.
“So, do you have it?” asked Rom.
“It is not a question of whether I have it. It is a question of whether you have what I want,” said the data messenger shooting a glance over in the corner to the Zone Police officer who walked over to the side of the café and looked at the patrons. Rom didn’t turn and just looked carefully at the data messenger. They sat silent for a moment until the Zone Police officer walked away and the data messenger was again ensured it was safe.
“I have the 56,000 credits. I am good for it,” said Rom.
The data messenger followed the Zone Police officer with his eyes carefully and then made a motion to Rom as he took a sip. Rom went into his pocket and pulled out the credit card and held it over the table.
“This data will get you into the SenseNet genetics lab remotely. It is a private key and all the encryption codes you will need to get right in there. There is also instructions how to remote in. You paid for that as well.”
“Where did you get this?” asked Rom.
“I will not tell you that,” said the data messenger.
“I paid for that information,” said Rom and then became wary.
There was another Packrat in the station watching Rom. Most Runners who smuggled psi inducer drugs from the City into the Echelons didn’t need a watcher but Rom was new at being a Runner. This was only one of his first runs. He would need looking after.
The data messenger didn’t see the watcher looking their way. Rom put out his credit card as did the data messenger.
“Let me see the good first,” said Rom.
The data messenger took the data card out of his back pocket and then put it down on the table leaving his fingers on top of it so that Rom could not inspect it. Rom thought that was a little suspicious. A Zone Police officer saw the data messenger make the signal and started moving in. Rom thought nothing of it and held out his credit card.
The watcher Packrat suddenly zoomed in and grabbed Rom’s arm and pulled him away running.
The data messenger stood up and blew a whistle from his pocket and two Zone Police officers set off running after the watcher holding onto Rom as they ran up the stairs in the station.
“You’ve been clocked. Get out of here. Go back to the Echelons,” screamed the watcher as they ran.
Rom got to the top of the stairs as the watcher disappeared. Rom kept running and a Zone Police officer came up to cut him off. Rom vanished. The watcher ran back into the station as the Zone Police officers ran up the stairs after Rom. The watcher cornered the data messenger and slammed him back into the wall. The watcher looked to the side as other Zone Police officers were looking at the data messenger. The watcher was quick about it and whacked the data messenger in the head.
“You don’t play games with us. Your license to work is cut off. You are done. Stay away from the Packrats. This will not be forgotten,” said the watcher as two Zone Police officers ran forward trying to intercept him. The data messenger held there against the pillar in the station as the watcher pushed on his throat and held him against the wall. The two Zone Police officers ran forward but the watcher disappeared the moment the Zone Police officers tried to grab him.
“Who was it?” called out the one Zone Police officer.
“It was a Packrat. How come you couldn’t get him? I gave you enough time.” asked the data messenger.
“You question the Zone Police? Do you want a one way trip to the kedek mines?” said the Zone Police officer.
“I have been working this contact for a month. You blew it,” said the data messenger. He took the data card out of his pocket and put it in the Zone Police officer’s hand and walked away.
Rom was out on the street running down the way. He took the corner and hid in an alleyway. A Zone Police officer ran past him. Rom doubled back and took a different street. The watcher who had saved him materialized in front of Rom and put his hand on his shoulder.
“Teleport back to the Packrat Sprawl. You need to get out of the City. Don’t take the subway. They will spot you.”
“How did you know that I was compromised?” asked Rom.
“The Trance Channeler Iin saw it. She sent me after you. You are blessed in the Packrats. Be swift and get thee back to safety,” said the watcher with his brown hair and stim implants on his cheek.
“What about you?” asked Rom.
“I will be fine. Don’t worry about me. Go now. Get out of here.”
Rom nodded and then took off running vanishing back to the Echelons and the Sprawl.
The watcher slowly walked down the street into another alley. He stopped and pulled off the wig and the prosthetic over his face, revealing the bright flaming red hair that was his signature. It was Faid Callen, the leader of the Packrat hackers having saved Rom.
“You are not yet ready Rom. You need to see so many more things before I send you out as a Runner. This was just a trial. You are safe for now. But you are not ready yet,” said Faid and vanished back to the Sprawl.
Rom appeared in the hallway in the Sprawl and went to Iin the Trance Channeler’s chamber. She was not in. Rom walked to the Prophet area. Iin was there communing with June the other Trance Channeler who was strung up in the controlling chamber.
Rom watched Iin communing at the chamber with her hand on it. Rom watched for another minute as Faid came up behind him having changed his clothes.
“How was your run into the City?” asked Faid.
“I was compromised. A watcher came to my assistance,” said Rom.
“Write up a report and to see Acolyte in the Forward Base. He will want to know what happened,” said Faid.
“Sure thing,” said Rom and walked off.
Rom walked down the hallway frowning. His first run alone into the City had been compromised. Anj the leader of the Runners would not be happy with him. The Packrats had needed that data and Rom had lost it.
Rom slammed his hand on the wall and stopped mid stride.
“I need more training. I should have seen that,” he said.
Rom walked off down the way to Acolyte in the Forward Base. He would have to answer to him.
“All Hail the Packrat Code,” spoke Rom when he got into the Acolyte Forward Base met by Acolyte.
