[Sendaz]

Given how far along FJ was it may seem unlikely, plus it would kind of remove a lot of the 'punch' about being lost as a head case if someone so far gone could be recovered, albeit not easily.

However the SR world continues to make progress plus there may be bits and pieces of FJ on the Matrix, perhaps even somewhere in the Deep Resonance since it is suppose to be a repository for all things online so maybe there are even snippets of him in there that may be useful in rebuilding our own digital humpty dumpty.

[FastJack]

I hope so!

[witchdoctor]

I hope he makes it back personally, I liked the guy myself but I understand lore wise why bringing him back could be troublesome.

[SpellBinder]

I hope he makes it back personally, I liked the guy myself but I understand lore wise why bringing him back could be troublesome.

Especially when the character is in his late 70's at this point in time, even though human life expectancy is around 90 in first world he's getting up there in age.  No one lives forever, including the immortal elves.

[Magnaric]

I could see a fluff piece somewhere in the future, once they find a cure for CFD (assuming they do), that has an older man waking up from what seems like a coma, having no memory of the past X months. Something sentimental but also a bit melancholy, as the ramifications of fighting whatever was in his head means that Fastjack really can't deck like he used to, so it sort of forces him into a well-earned retirement (since I think nothing else will do it).

[firebug]

It'd be a bit of a cop-out, but they also could theoretically give him a new body via CFD--  If E-ghosts can do it, it's certainly possible.

That said, with Leonization and what not, he'd be able to live for a long while still.

I'm always for stories moving on from characters, it shows a maturity in the story and world as it doesn't try to be all "sitcom status quo".  That said, killing off characters to move on strikes me as just immature.  It'd be cool if FastJack, after all this, lives to finally retire--  Though it's worth noting, if he was gonna, he's had years of opportunity I'm sure.  He might be the "deck until I'm in the ground" type.  I don't know the character.

[Belker]

I'm actually in favor of the world moving on from FastJack. Not to diminish him, but rather from the same sentiment behind John Mellencamp's quote in the liner notes from Scarecrow: "There is nothing more sad or glorious than generations changing hands."

[Magnaric]

Oh, I agree that the world should move on from Fastjack, 100%. His passing/retiring/etc is definitely indicative of the end if an Era,  just like Captain Chaos before him. I just hope CFD doesn't "kill" him like Crash 2.0 and the Jormungand worm "killed" the Captain. Just seems a bit too close of a parallel for the thing responsible for both Matrix system changes to end up killing both of the top Deckers as well.

[Wakshaani]

Just remember, running hot through the Matrix is *inanely* dangerous. Deckers are crippled or killed by *line noise* on a regular basis. Any time you're on a phone and hear ststic? That's a decker who just lost the use of both legs.

It's *rough* in there unless you run cold or go as a tortoise.

[witchdoctor]

Just remember, running hot through the Matrix is *inanely* dangerous. Deckers are crippled or killed by *line noise* on a regular basis. Any time you're on a phone and hear ststic? That's a decker who just lost the use of both legs.

It's *rough* in there unless you run cold or go as a tortoise.

If you aren't willing to do what it takes to win the big Nuyen you're in the wrong business. You got risk big to win big.

[Mirikon]

Honestly? I don't see Fastjack returning. While I love the fact that he's the old man with all the crazy stories, being a professional criminal when you're pushing 80 is rough, unless you're a mob boss, politician, or CEO. When your job involves people taking potshots directly at your brain, then it is only a matter of time before age and wisdom loses out to someone younger and just a bit faster. Old deckers are like old gunslingers. Rare, hard to kill, but always in the crosshairs of someone young and hungry who wants to make their name. When you're the target everyone goes for, they only got to get lucky once.

I think the main reason 'Jack has lasted this long is because he is a legend, and when telling a story you really need a legendary tale to send a legend out on. CFD is this edition's Bug City, Big D's will, or Shutdown. I suspect we'll see Fastjack again before this plotline is through, both him and SEARCH. But as to him returning to the Jackpoint fold, or even surviving, I think not. Though I do admit to a certain nostalgia wanting the e-ghost of Fastjack to meet up with the e-ghost of Captain Chaos, and have them ride off into the sunset.

[Raven2049]

I'm assuming your talking about a recent book. But have yet to determine which one. Clue me in please.

[Sendaz]

Not too recent.

Go back to SR4 Storm Front page 177 where Clockwork has hacked Fastjack's own digital diary if you will and shares it with the Jackpoint.

From there you will want to see Stolen Souls for more on CFD and headcases.

[Mirikon]

Storm Front is where this comes to a head (though the hints had been there for over a year beforehand). Stolen Souls is where we learn more about CFD. Lockdown gives us more info on both the 'traditional' and 'dragon' types of CFD.

Basically, Fastjack's brain has been undergoing a process of being rewritten by an e-ghost or other type of AI. The mental changes and personality overwrites are, as far as we know, one way, unstoppable, and irreversible. There are some potential 'cures' that work for early stages of certain types of head cases, but to all evidence Fastjack is the wrong type and too far gone. It is likely that the only 'cure' he'll find will involve a craniotomy via shotgun. From everything I've seen, Fastjack is going down, for good. The only question is how the end comes.

[Red_Cap]

So here's my question, though.  Is FastJack does not come back, who takes over JackPoint?  Or will the in-universe "setting" of the sourcebooks switch to a different forum?