Shadowrun: The Frame Job, Part 6: Retribution: Shadowrun Novella, #6

By Jason M. Hardy

THE THRILLING CONCLUSION OF THE FRAME JOB SERIES!

Double-crossed. Ambushed. One, and possibly two megacorps out for their heads...

Yu, Emu, Rude, Frostburn, and Zipfile have been through a lot in the last few days. Their backs are against the wall. And when that happens, there's only one thing left to do—come out swinging (or in Rude's case, shooting).

Their recon and data-gathering has all paid off. They know who to hit, where to hit them, and how. Now all they gotta do is infiltrate a heavily secure corp building in a busy business area of Seattle in broad daylight and bring it down…from the inside. And all that stands in their way is Mr. Johnson himself, corp security, and another hundred and one things that could go wrong…

And, assuming they can pull this mission off, there's still the matter of the second Johnson who hired them…and who might want to ensure there are no loose ends after this job. Will the Frame Job be the team's last one, or will they use everything they have to find a way to come out on top?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
• Release date: Jul 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393907480

Book preview

Shadowrun: The Frame Job

Also by Jason M. Hardy

BattleCorps Anthology

BattleTech: The Corps

BattleTech: Weapons Free

BattleTech: Fire for Effect

BattleTech: Counterattack

BattleTech Anthology

BattleTech: The Proliferation Cycle

BattleTech Legends

BattleTech Legends: The Scorpion Jar

BattleTech Legends: Principles of Desolation

BattleTech Legends: The Last Charge

BattleTech Novella

BattleTech: A Dish Served Cold (Proliferation Cycle #5)

Shadowrun

Shadowrun: Hell on Water

Shadowrun Anthology

Shadowrun: Spells & Chrome

Shadowrun: World of Shadows

Shadowrun: Drawing Destiny

Shadowrun Legends

Shadowrun Legends: Drops of Corruption

Shadowrun Novella

Shadowrun: The Frame Job, Part 6: Retribution

Standalone

Shadowrun: The Complete Frame Job

Shadowrun: Undershadows

Shadowrun: The Frame Job

Part 6: Retribution

Jason M. Hardy

Catalyst Game Labs

Contents

Part 6: Retribution

The Unwanted

The Frame Job Series

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Copyright

Part 6: Retribution

The Job

Yu

The elf at the bar was drinking gin and ignoring a half-dozen unfriendly glares. He stood instead of sat, with his back to the bartender, looking out at the sparse clientele with a neutral expression. He considered his tan jacket, black pants, brown shirt combo to be business casual, but in this setting it might as well have been a tux. The lighting was dim, the tables splintered, and the cleanliness of the glasses was questionable.

Finally, an ork in one of the darkest corners spoke. You’re not wanted here.

Yu smiled. I get that a lot.

The ork rose to his feet. His stance was unsteady. The table in front of him ground on the concrete floor as it edged forward. We know who you are. Your people killed Saroyan.

Yu shook his head ruefully. No. The target did that. Not us.

Your people were there.

And unaware of the hit. It caught them off guard. He sipped his gin. The target, though, was prepared.

The ork shoved the table out of his way. You think Saroyan was unprepared? Bad at her job?

To be completely honest, I don’t know enough about her to form any opinion.

The ork weaved closer. His jeans were ripped, and his Concrete Dreams t-shirt was frayed. The cloud of alcohol around him could have overwhelmed a barghest.

Yu, though, was built of sterner stuff. He refused to wilt.

The ork jabbed a thick finger at him. We’re mourning here, drekhead, and you’re playing like Mr. Smooth, Mr. Ice, or whatever. Get out.

Yu stood up straight and wiped any trace of irony of his face. Look, I know how this is. I’m one of you. We’re all out here together. We’ve all lost people. He leaned forward, barely. And we know what we need to do after we lose them.

I don’t need you telling me how to do anything, the ork growled. But he didn’t push Yu away, and he didn’t take a swing.

I’m not going to tell you how to do anything. I’m just going to help you do what you want to do.

Later that night, Yu was in another bar. Fortunately, he trusted the kitchen in this one more, because he couldn’t keep drinking on an empty stomach. The surfaces were light speckled stone, the accents were warm wood. This time he had a table, and he perched on a high stool nibbling pieces of a veggie platter. Didn’t make the fingers messy, didn’t have lettuce that could get stuck in the teeth, didn’t weigh him down with carbs. The stool was the biggest challenge—looking dignified without slouching over on one of those things was difficult.

Then his target returned from the bathroom. He smiled as the human woman walked by and tilted his glass toward her, and she smiled back. They’d exchanged a few light pleasantries and shared a laugh. The harder part was coming up.

Zipfile messaged.

he sent back.

The next move was easy. She was between him and the bar. He could plausibly walk by while getting another drink. So after waiting for a few minutes, that’s what he did. He planned the interaction carefully. If he was too playful, he’d seem flirty, and that was the wrong tone. So he focused where he needed the talk to go.

Remind me how many drinks before negotiation powers slip? Is it ten?

Sounds like you’re trying to negotiate with yourself, the woman said. And failing. You may have already hit your limit.

Then I might as well keep drinking, if it’s already a lost cause!

She smiled, and he continued on his way.

Zipfile reached out to him as he ordered his drink.

Yu was honestly not sure how to take that. So he just plunged ahead.

He enjoyed a sip of his next gin at the bar, letting it swirl around his mouth, soak into his tongue. He wasn’t sure if he liked the taste or just found it reassuring, but then he wasn’t sure if there was a difference between the two.

Then he heard the plane. The roar grew, and he started walking. It was loud as he passed the woman, so he had to raise his voice. 11:40 to L.A.

Really?

Absolutely. He tilted his head. Sounds like it’s carrying…commlinks. Lots of commlinks. And some Snohomish Farms cheese. Probably cheddar. No wait—Gouda.

You have an amazing ear for shipping, the woman said.

It’s my life’s work.

I’m so sorry.

He stopped in his tracks and pointed at her. "You’re in it, too. I heard it in your voice. You are