Written by Alexandre Boucher. August 1999

In these troubled times another world war has broken out… A war that may last forever… A war for power, and in theses times power means information. Each megaplex fighting for the control of the famous cyberspace which is flowing with that kind of power, using shadowrunners as their tools of war.

Shadowrunners as they like to call themselves are mercenaries who operate in the shadows, usually working for the giant corporations. They are paid to accomplish the dirty work that no one would dare to do themselves…

It was a cold and dark night of October. The moon was almost full but it could not have been seen because of the gray clouds that filled the sky. A thin rain was falling on Montreal. It wasn't a night to be outside unless if you where a shadowrunner of course…

The club Midnight was as usual, filled and energic. Tonight the 'screaming ants' were on the stage, giving their best, playing the song 'acid rain'. Alcohol and drugs were flowing harmoniously and a group of shady characters were talking in the darkest corner of the club. Two tall men dressed with dark long leather jackets and wearing sunglasses were standing in front of a short decker and his two huge bodyguards.

- "So, what do ya think?" Asked Marco.

- "I'm in for sure man!" How can we get a better offer anyway? Replied Tony.

- "Talk is cheap, hiring us isn't! You'll get what ya paid for! So let's cut the small talk and let's start the run!"

- "Okay then, let's hit it!" Shouted the decker, satisfied, leading the way, followed by the shadowrunners and his bodyguard.

- "I tell ya man, the story of this decker just doesn't make sense to me!" Explained Marco. "We are paid 15000 dollars by a corporate decker to frag another corporate decker! The payment is totally too good for a simple job like this. Something stink man! I don't like the look of this decker or the size of his bodyguards. This plugface is fucking loaded with cash and that's not normal for a simple geek like him."

- "Don't worry dude, what could go wrong anyway?" Said Tony.

- "Come on boys, were moving!" Shouted the decker.

Frank the decker, his two bodyguards and the two shadowrunners has been walking in the dark alleys of north-Montreal for a long time now. Finally, the walk was over as they spotted their target, a fat man whit a datajack on his head. They hid in the shadows for a moment, drawing their weapons and waiting for something to happen. They noticed that their prey was talking to a very slim man and that both were very nervously looking around them.

- "Here's the data Marcus, take good care of it and bring it to the corporation as fast as you can!" Said the fat decker.

In reply, the slim man nodded his head affirmatively. The decker was about to give a datadisc to the slim men when Frank rushed from the shadows followed by his bodyguards and the shadowrunners. Marcus and the fat decker jumped in terror and turned white as they saw four submachineguns flashed at them. They immediately froze.

- "This data isn't gonna reach Aneki Corporation, Marcus my friend!" Shouted Frank. "Kill them boys!"

Answering the order, Marco, Tony and the two bodyguards opened fire on the men without remorse or mercy. Ripped apart by the deadly bullets, the two unanimated corpses felled on the cold floor. Marcus and the fat decker were dead like stones. Frank began to laugh out loud whit a demoniac look in his eyes, taking the precious datadisc and admiring the bloody carnage with great pleasure.

- "The run's over guys!" Said the short decker to the two shadowrunners. "Here's your pay!"

With only a sign, Frank's huge bodyguards flashed their weapons toward Marco and Tony. The two shadowrunners grimaced has they drew their weapons to desperately defend themselves. Actually, tough Marco, today wasn't a good Shadowrunning day.