Trial Run
OPEN ON: U-BAHN PLATFORM. The PLAYER, JANA, and JAMES are present.
JAMES: Mission accomplished. Fucking *finally.*
Call your handler and tell him that the job is done. And be quick about it—I need to be on the next train out of here.
JANA: For once, he and I are in agreement.
I can’t put this place behind me quickly enough. All I want to do is go home, hug my cat, and forget that tonight ever happened.
PLAYER: [Enter the comm code that Luca Duerr gave you.]
GM VOICE: [You punch Luca Duerr’s comm code into your PDA.
A few seconds later, you hear the telltale click of a successful connection. Duerr’s voice pours out of your PDA’s speakers.]
LUCA: (PLAYER). The job is done, I trust?
PLAYER: Yes. Everything has been completed to your specifications.
LUCA: Very good.
Now, if you please: give me a status update on the members of your team.
PLAYER: The elf from Tir Tairngire turned on us. We had to put him down. But Jana and James are both alive and well.
LUCA: [He clucks his tongue softly.]
Interesting.
LUCA: That the elf is dead was expected. He was a dangerous and unreasonable person… “disgruntled,” you might say, after years of service in our employ.
His betrayal of you was inevitable. Thankfully, with his death, we have gained valuable insight into your character.
LUCA: James’ continued survival, on the other hand, was not expected. You are a very patient woman, (PLAYER).
[Duerr smiles.]
This has been most informative.
GM VOICE: [James’ posture stiffens, but he says nothing.
You can see a dawning awareness behind his eyes, though. Slowly, the color begins to drain from his face.]
LUCA: Now, let us see how adequately you completed the task that I set before you.
Enter the following code into your PDA, if you please: 5256719.
PLAYER: [Punch the code into your PDA.]
GM VOICE: [You type in the code as instructed, and your PDA’s screen cuts to static.
A moment later, a familiar image materializes on the screen. The penthouse room that you bugged. It appears to be a live feed from the cameras that you planted.]
CUT TO: ALESHIRE’S PENTHOUSE. ALESHIRE and a BODYGUARD are present.
ALESHIRE: ...You’re sure that this room is secure? You’ve done a full sweep?
BODYGUARD: Absolutely, sir. We swept the suite with a full sensor package, then brought in a mage to look for signs of astral tampering.
It all checks out clean. You’re completely safe in here.
ALESHIRE: [He lets out a heavy sigh.]
Thank God.
Call downstairs and let my wife and kid know that it’s safe to come up.
BODYGUARD: Will do, sir. Is there anything else that I can do for you tonight?
ALESHIRE: No, thank you, that will be all. You have a goo—
GM TEXT: [Suddenly, the air in the room seems to ignite.
There is a blinding flash, and your PDA’s screen cuts to static.]
CUT TO: U-BAHN PLATFORM. The screen shakes violently before subsiding.
LUCA: ...And that takes care of that. Please return to the Kreuzbasar; the remainder of your post-run interview will conclude upon your arrival.
PLAYER: Hang on! What the hell was *that?*
LUCA: [He raises an eyebrow.]
What did it feel like?
An explosion, of course.
PLAYER: This run wasn’t a surveillance operation. It was an assassination.
LUCA: It was both. And both tasks were carried out admirably.
You should be pleased, (PLAYER). The run was a resounding success.
PLAYER: When you described this run to me, you left out the part where we planted a bomb. That’s a hell of an omission.
JANA: [Jana covers her mouth with her hand, a horrified expression on her face.]
Oh God. I killed someone. That man is dead because of me.
JAMES: From the sound of the explosion, I’d guess that you killed a fair number of someones. Aleshire and his bodyguard at the very least, and probably a good half dozen more.
[A morbid grin creases the mage’s thin-lipped mouth.]
That makes you a *mass* murderer, mouse. You’re moving up in the world.
JANA: [A sob wracks her chest. She begins to hyperventilate.]
I can never get away from this. This is going to follow me for the rest of my life.
I killed people. I’m a fucking *MURDERER!*
JAMES: Say it louder, why don’t you. I don’t think they heard you in France.
LUCA: I haven’t heard a response from you, (PLAYER).
Shall I make the preparations for your post-run interview? Are you ready to continue your test?
PLAYER: I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say about this, Duerr. I’ll see you soon.
LUCA: Very good.
I’ll be waiting.
CUT TO: MISSION END.
— “Trial Run,” Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut
