shadowrun 40 The Burning Time by Stephen Kenson Page B

the logs onto chips that they slotted into Boom’s desktop computer. Unfortunately, the logs didn’t reveal much more than they already knew. By the time they were finished going through them, Boom’s desk vidphone beeped.
    "Maybe that’s Trouble," Talon said as Boom tapped the answer button. The voice that came over the desk’s speakers wasn’t Trouble’s, but it was familiar.
    "Chummers, it’s Ethan. I can’t talk long, but we’re a go. I’ve nearly got the information we need. It’ll be ready on schedule, so proceed as planned. Hunt out."
    There was a click as the caller hung up, and the line went dead. Boom shut off the phone with the touch of a button.
    "Man," Val said, "he’s even more far gone than I thought."
    "Yeah, the personafix program worked fast," Talon said. He turned to Boom. "Any chance he could be faking it? That the guy trailing him tipped him off?"
    Boom pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "No, you saw how Otabi reacted to getting that chip. Unless he’s the greatest fragging actor in world, there’s no way he’s faking it, even if he knew what the chip was for. The guy who sold me the program promised results, and he’s good. While slotting that chip, Otabi really believes he’s Ethan Hunt, corporate shadowbreaker, working undercover to expose a ring of corporate spies, get the girl, and save the day, all in a couple of hours plus commercials. According to Val’s fly-over, it doesn’t look like Otabi’s shadow actually talked to him, either."
    "So, it looks like we’re still a go then," Talon said. "So long as nothing happens to compromise Otabi between now and then. We’ll have to keep a close eye on things, but we’ll go ahead like we planned tomorrow night. With any kind of luck, maybe we can turn the fact that someone suspects Otabi to our advantage. We set for now?"
    Boom nodded.
    "I’ll see you all tomorrow," Talon said, walking to the door. "Boom, if Trouble calls, fill her in and ask her to track down what she can about our mystery man. I’d at least like to know his name and who he works for before this all goes down. And ask her to call me, okay?"

    Trouble rolled over and looked at the cool blue numerals glowing on the face of the clock with a sigh: 11:24 p.m. She really, really didn’t want to get up, but her sense of duty was greater than her desire to stay in bed. She picked up her cell phone to retrieve her messages, which scrolled across the tiny screen. As she read them, she sat up and thumbed the phone off.
    "Hmmm?" came a voice from the other side of the bed.
    "Ian, I have to go," she said softly. Suddenly he was completely awake. He sat up, the sheet falling from his bare chest. His sea blue eyes were filled with concern.
    "Go? Why? Is something wrong?"
    "No, just work," she said.
    "Can’t it wait for a while?" He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and playfully pulled her back against him.
    Trouble sighed. "I wish it could, but this job will be over soon." She leaned over to plant a lingering kiss on his lips. "When it’s done, I’ll have a lot more free time."
    "Then hurry up and get it done," he said with a smile. He kissed her again and started to get up himself.
    "You can stay if you want," Trouble said quickly. "I’m not kicking you out."
    "I should be going anyway. I’ve got some things to do, too."
    He didn’t say what, but Trouble knew he was talking about the terrorist Knights of the Red Branch. She picked her clothes out of the pile scattered on the floor, intermittently handing Ian the ones belonging to him. In short order, both were fully dressed. Trouble picked up the shoulder bag holding her deck and other essentials while Ian shrugged into the shoulder harness with the heavy Ares Predator pistol he favored. It was the type of gun he’d taught Trouble to use and that she still carried. He threw his long coat over it to conceal it.
    "I’ll walk you down," he said gallantly at the door. Trouble made sure the maglock engaged