Thread:Argali1/@comment-26084195-20160530062112/@comment-26084195-20160530203050

The members of Jackpoint stood reviewing the file they’ve created on information about the Matrix. Of course, it wasn’t a real file, and none of them were actually there, it was all virtual reality. They had finished writing up the mundane portions of the file, and were beginning to get into explaining the more mysterious side: Technomancers, and the Resonance that they control.

Fastjack, head of Jackpoint and the greatest hacker in the world, sat on his virtual chair with his fingers steepled. “Hmm. I’ve had a thought. We all know about Metahuman Technomancers, but are there any non-metahuman ones?”

“What, you mean like Paracritters or Shapeshifters?” Kat o’ Nine Tails asked. “Not as far as I’m aware.”

“I wouldn’t think that’s possible.” Inbus said.

“Oh, don’t be quite so sure.” Slamm-O! interjected. “I’ve heard some interesting whispers. Nothing substantial, just whispers mind you. But they’re an interesting sort of whisper, the kind that happens when somebody’s tried to cover something up. These whispers hold that there’s a Naga Technomancer in Ninho das Escamas Perdidas, or Nest of Shed Skins in Amazonia.”

“Silverscale’s joint?”

“Bingo, omae.”

Netcat, a Technomancer herself, was even more intrigued than the others. “Fastjack, I’d like to find out of these rumours are true, and if they are, invite him over. He could give us some fascinating insights on the Matrix. Being, y’know, a Naga.”

Fastjack thought for a moment. “If he’s an acquaintance of Silverscale, he’s probably a decent guy. Er, snake. Go ahead.”

A few days later, in the city of Metropole, Amazonia…

“Hello! Would you like to try our New! Iced! Mocha! with Genuine! Chocolate! flavoring?” The augmented reality waitstaff popped up as soon as I coiled up in the mall café’s chair, like the RFID tag in the plastic seat was just waiting for my long scaly body to connect with the cushion. I sent my order to the café: Soy-kaf, black, two sugars.

A couple of tables down, my mark settled in. The way his brown eyes were flicking around like ping-pong balls on crack, I could tell he was multi-tasking on his ‘link. He had something in his hand—another goddamned commlink. When’d he pick that up? Damn him for being smart enough to have a second ‘link, not to mention picking this busy mall to make his call. I’d hacked his normal ‘link earlier and found nothing. Now I knew why.

I bit my lip, trying to decide—hack or scan? Must be two hundred ‘links nearby. If I didn’t have some proof of his suspected infidelity by tonight, I’d lose this job. Rent was due on the first. I could always ask Silverscale for help, but frankly I’d rather not. That’d be a pretty shoddy way of repaying him for taking me in and teaching me.

A human waitress slammed my coffee on the table, moving off towards customers who looked like better tip prospects—like my mark, with his 4,000 nuyen suit and fancy haircut. Normally, it’s a bit of a shock to see a Naga, but not so much in Amazonia this close to the Nest of Shed Skins. I sighed and steeped myself in Resonance, the mysterious force that permeates the Matrix that only my kind can use. I began sorting through the wireless chatter. “Oh my God, did you see—” “No, I’m so not—” “Mooooommmm—” “Those shoes—” “Hot chick, ten o’clock—” Damn. The guy’s eyes had stopped their frantic motion. He was smiling into space. Got to go faster.

I flicked through the babble, desperate to catch his call before he finished. Ah, here’s one. Encrypted. Not your teeny-bopper mallrats. I focused, and unleashed my decryption Complex Form, counting the seconds as I took a sip of the overpriced soy-kaf. Watched as his handsome face—which cost more than I made in a year, no doubt—smirked. My program beeped as it broke the encryption. I began recording with my mind alone.

“Honey, you know I can’t. The witch is watching me 24-7. I think she’s hired someone …. Baby, just one more month and the prenup is over … ” His voice was smooth, cultured, dripping with sex appeal—the best modern technology could provide. “I promise, baby. The very second. ‘Til then, let’s just keep it virtual … .”

I had to admit he was slick. I’d spent a week watching him with no sign of a honey, not a single moment when I couldn’t account for his whereabouts. Now I knew why. Lucky for my client, divorce courts had ruled a couple years ago on online affairs. Looked like the bastard wouldn’t be making his prenup after all.

Suddenly, I received quite the shock. Some human girl sat down at my table and stared me deeply in the eyes. Her eyes were purple… that’s odd. She wasn't saying anything at all. I shut myself off from the Matrix.

“Umm, hi. Do I know you?” I asked.

She grinned at me. “Not yet. Would you like to?”

Huh. Silverscale had warned me that there are people out there with some pretty weird tastes. “Who are you, lady?”

“I’m a Technomancer. I go by the name of Netcat. And you are the only Naga in the world who’s like me.”

Oh, shit. “Look, I don’t know what you think--”

“Oh please. I was riding the Matrix watching you. I saw you use a complex form to hack into that sleazebag’s call. Nice work, by the way. It was artful.”

Aww. “Thanks. I like to consider controlling Resonance to be like a dance.” Wait, why the hell am I bragging? I’m supposed to keep this a secret! “Umm, I have to go.”

“Wait! I talked to Silverscale. He told me about you. Fastjack sent me.”

No. Way. “Fastjack? The Fastjack? He’s the greatest hacker in the world! You know Fastjack?”

“Yep. And he wants to meet you.”

Oh my god! Oh my god oh my god oh my god! “Really? Me? Why?”

“Come on. You’re the only Naga Technomancer in the world. We’re compiling a file to help Shadowrunners understand the Matrix. He thinks you’d have lots of new insight that would be useful for this.”

This is a freaking dream come true. “You bet I’ll help! Come on, let’s go back to my place. It’s fully Matrix-connected, Resonance flows even easier there.”

“Alright, lead the way.”

I got off my chair and started leading her toward my place. Oh man, this is so cool! I’m leading a pretty human Technomancer to my apartment where she’ll introduce me to Fastjack! I could dance and sing if I didn’t know that that would offend the eyes and ears of everyone around me.

We reached my apartment, equipped with everything necessary to allow a guy like me, who has no fingers, to operate efficiently. I coiled myself up in a special Naga chair and Netcat sat down in a guest chair. We concentrated, immersing ourselves in the Matrix Resonance that flowed throughout the room. We were each surrounded in a whole new world, a world of flowing data and icons travelling from one node to the next. The information super-highway. Most people see only the surface. People like me and Netcat see far deeper, hidden realms that no one else can even guess at. Even we can’t understand it fully. Even me and Netcat, two Technomancers, don’t quite agree on what Resonance is. She’s something called a Cyberadept, who views it from a more technical standpoint. I’m a Datamancer, I think of it on a more spiritual level. I can’t help it, I’ve been to the Resonance Realms and encountered the Paragons that reside there.

She lead me through data pathways and nodes, until eventually we hit a tough firewall. It was some serious stuff, I don’t think I could crack it. But Netcat knew a way in. She searched along the virtual wall and located the door. She waved her hand at it, and it opened up. She beckoned me inside.

I found myself surrounded by a host of friendly icons, greeting me and welcoming me to Jackpoint. I’m in! It’s unbelievable!

Then another icon, the shape of a hammer, sent me a message.

>Welcome to Jackpoint. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Fastjack. As you probably know, this is a secret Matrix site devoted to helping Shadowrunners with information of all kinds.

I created this system to help disseminate knowledge through the runner community. Everyone here was invited because they have something valuable to share. Lurking is allowed but your rep will benefit more if you share.

I’ve only got a few rules. Break ‘em and you’re off the system. 1. Don’t hack JackPoint. 2. Don’t try to trace anyone from JackPoint. 3. Anyone loading malware onto JackPoint—intentionally or otherwise—will be tracked down and beaten.

If you’ve got a problem with someone, use the rep system. Don’t complain to me unless they’ve broken one of the above rules. I didn’t create this network to become a father to fifty-nine whining toddlers, so if you want to squabble, keep it off here. Ditto if you and someone hit it off ... but send an occasional recording for a lonely old man. ;) > FastJack

> Jack, you are such a letch. > Kat o’ Nine Tales

I like these guys already.

>I’m not so sure you’d like that, Fastjack. Although I’m quite certain I could summon a Data Sprite and find something for you. So, I was told I could contribute. I’m ready to help in any way I can. >Nybbles_n_Bytes

>Nice to see you’re eager. >Inbus

>I’ll take you to the file we’re compiling. Just think about any information on the Matrix and Resonance that you can. Even theories. >Netcat

>Do you guys know about Paragons? >Nybbles_n_Bytes

>Whats? >Slamm-O!

>Paragons. They are believed to reside in the Resonance Realms, that exist beneath the epidermal Matrix layer. You know about Mentor Spirits, right? Well, Paragons are a bit like those, but for Technomancers. They influence us, give us certain benefits and drawbacks, and even modify our behaviour. They’re a bit like Matrix gods, only we don’t really worship them. When I first entered an area with any Matrix connection at all, I fell into a trance and was transported straight to the Resonance realm where I met a hulking knight that told me what I am and taught me how to manipulate Resonance. He’s the Intrusion Countermeasure, defender and guardian of the Matrix. >Nybbles_n_Bytes

>Well look at that. He’s contributing already. Let’s get to work. >Fastjack

Nearly a year later…

Recently given the name of Fruit Loops by my shadowrunner friends, I stood coiled up in the middle of a Matrix Club. These virtual reality clubs have certain advantages over real life ones. For starters, you can’t get drunk no matter how much alcohol you consume. Plus, it’s not governed by normal laws like gravity and physics.

I stood at the bar next to Netcat and Slamm-O!, my two closest Matrix friends, sipping an orange soda. Me and Netcat have to be careful here, because to us, all of this is real. We could get drunk.

We’re celebrating a recent victory, a successful run to halt some shady magics going on in Aztechnology. I really hate those guys.

Netcat turned to me. “Hey. You wanna dance?”

I suspected that she had actually had a drink or two. “No! Well yes, but I’m truly terrible. I never dance in public.”

Slamm-O! laughed. “Neither do any of them. Show ‘em what a Naga can do.”

“No no, you guys go. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Alright. Come on, Netcat. Let’s show fruity here what he’s missing.”

I smiled as my friends walked out onto the dance floor. I was so absorbed in watching them that I never noticed the bartender pull a lever. I suddenly found myself falling through the ground, until I came to a crashing stop in the middle of a featureless circular metal room. Standing around me were seven beings of equal shape and height. Only their silhouettes were visible, so they all looked identical.

“Ah! Who are you?”

“We are the Cooperative.”

“We are the hidden guardians of Technomancer kind.”

“We are the armour of the defenseless, and the sword of the wronged.”

“We are the hidden watchers in the data.”

“We are the glitch in the Matrix.”

“All enemies of the Technomancers come to fear us in their turn.”

“We have been watching you. And we have chosen you.”

They all sound exactly the same! This is some weird stuff. “Chosen me? Chosen me for what? Why?”

“We ask that you join the Cooperative.”

“You are unique.”

“You are intelligent.”

“You have a wide skillset.”

“You are powerful.”

“You follow the Intrusion Countermeasure. A noble being.”

“And you are a being of integrity, who has proven time and again that you will do what is right.”

Oh, if only they knew. “Guys, I’m not a being of integrity. When I was young, before I came to Amazonia, I--”

“We know.”

Oh.

“It was the right choice.”

“Even if it was a mistake, you have done much good.”

“Should you join us, you must maintain utmost secrecy.”

“No one can know of our existence.”

“Or your involvement.”

“You will be asked to pay a small monthly due.”

Well this just kept getting more interesting. “And what happens if I do?”

“You will become the eighth member of the Cooperative.”

“You will have access to restricted equipment, and any necessary foreign housing will be paid for.”

“You will have access to our hidden network, and may call upon us for aid.”

“You will have access to our collective knowledge about Technomancers.”

“You will occasionally be called upon to join a team of Shadowrunners, or even become a Mr. Johnson and hire a group of Shadowrunners, to defend a Technomancer or attack our enemies.”

“You may be asked to spy on someone or send a commlink marked with a red X to a Shadowrunner containing instructions.”

“And most importantly, you will attend all Cooperative meetings and aid in decision making.”

This sounds like something right up my alley. “But why do you even need another Technomancer?”

“Because you are unique. Furthermore, as you are well aware, each Technomancer follows a Stream, a belief that they follow that dictates how they view the Matrix and what kinds of Sprites they can compile. I am a Cyberadept.”

“I, a Dronomancer.”

“I, an E-scapist.”

“I, a Networker.”

“I, a Singulatarian.”

“I, a Sourcerer.”

“I, a Technoshaman.”

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place. “And I’m an Info Savant, though I prefer the term Datamancer.”

“Indeed. This allows you to compile a form of Sprite that we cannot, the Paladin Sprite.”

It has always been a drive of mine to protect the innocent and avenge those I cannot. It’s something the Intrusion Countermeasure taught me since day one, and Silverscale helped too. And maybe with the Cooperative’s resources, I can make a real impact on the world. Then maybe my father would realize that being a Technomancer isn’t such a bad thing after all. “I accept. And I swear absolute secrecy.”

“Good.”

“There will be a more formal initiation later.”

“In the meantime…”

I suddenly went shooting up through the ceiling and back into my stool at the bar, just as Slamm-O! and Netcat finished dancing and started making their way over. The voice whispered in my mind, “welcome to the Cooperative.”