Most trid directors would go for digital editing and replicas in their film using the Studios in Studio City, but Ben Howard, also known as “Big Ben,” tries to bring authenticity to the recorded media. He believes that the real thing brings about a different emotional/mental response.
Slade has asked you to bring four large (two-meter-long) cases; each case contains what Slade describes as genuine 2057 Red Samurai armor, complete with the traditional forged katanas, to the Eye of the Needle. he even goes as far as to provide a Van and a driver for you.
As you arrive, you see that the base of the Space Needle has been cordoned off. Groups of fans and onlookers have gathered around the area. A small detail of security is waiting as you drive up. Fans scream at you, apparently thinking you guys are some sort of sim stars. Security guards in cleaner-than-normal uniforms
request your SIN and clearance. You give them the ID you received from Slade, and they direct you to a place to park.
You take the elevator up to the restaurant. After a few moments, the elevator dings and the doors open onto a busy scene. Several field technicians are cleaning, moving items around, and adjusting the lights for the cameras. Big Ben sits at the far end in a troll-sized director’s chair. He spins his traditional baseball cap in his fingers as he talks to some technician about where the cameras should be placed. Close to where Ben sits is none other than Pandora. Pandora is wearing Zoë’s fashionable red leather jacket and pants with brass buckles, thigh-high black boots, and mirrored shades. She is using her commlink. With her in the booth sits an elven gentleman with a blond ponytail, wearing a gray suit and green tie. He appears to be fielding questions directed at Pandora from various technicians and makeup artists. After a few moments, Ben sees you with the cases. He gets up from his director’s chair, followed by one of the technicians.
“All right! Are these the suits?” says Ben as he approaches. “Open one up. Let’s see if Slade lives up to his word.”
When you open one of the cases, a broad grin comes across Ben’s face. “Nice. Very nice,” he says as he caresses the red armor. “Even has some wear-and-tear dents. Thank Slade for me.” James, the techie following Ben, shows you a section of the room partitioned off with green walls, where you can put the cases.
James, the techie following Ben, shows you a section of the room sectioned off with green walls where you can put the cases. Behind the walls are the stuntmen who will be wearing the armor. He then shows you an AR-marked place behind Big Ben’s chair, where you can stand to be out of the way. As the stuntmen dress
up, Big Ben calls for everybody’s attention.
He lays out the scene:
“This is where Jenny Freelance—Pandora over there—meets up with Agent Johnson, who wants to hire her for a job. Suddenly, a unit of Red Samurai busts in to take ‘em out. Lots of cool martial arts in this scene—Jenny wipes out the Red Samurai and accepts the job.”
To you it sounds like a shadowrunner cliché, but hey, your job at this point is to watch Slade’s stuff, not critique the movie.
Almost an hour goes by as lighting and costume issues are dealt with before Ben shouts, “Quiet on the set!”
The scene starts. Jenny Freelance walks into a semi-quiet restaurant from the elevator. She looks out the window before sitting down with a nervous-looking man in a white-collared shirt.
“So,” she asks, “what’s the problem?”
He takes a drink. “We need your skills to retrieve an item in Africa. We can pay your standard fee, but we need you to move at utmost haste.”
“Sure. What’s the job, and why the rush?”
“There’s an important map that’s up for sale, called the Piri Reis map. We want you to retrieve it, either from the auction house, or from the buyer. The trouble is, others know of its importance as well.”
Jenny is about to say her line, when an elevator dings. Everyone turns to see the elevator doors open, and out comes a small mob of crazed fans, heading right for Pandora’s table. It’s not your job to round up the fans, but then you realize that you don’t see any of her security around to stop them.
