>>>>>[All right, getting screwed by a Johnson is part of the biz when you're new. And trust me, you're not past it until you're at the point where you are big enough that people know that screwing with you will bring down the wrath of legends like Kane or Fastjack upon them, or getting a leash put on you by Herr Brackhaus (the real one). Just remember that the second one comes with a rather draconian set of consequences if you fail. Best you can do is get a reputation for being the worst fragger to screw over in the history of the sprawl.
Now, where you screwed up was in letting the Johnson go without getting info on her you could use. Blood/hair samples, for ritual magic. Pictures, for finding her real name. Commlink, for draining whatever accounts she has access to. And so on. If she was good looking, you could always make her star in her very own porn trid (edit your faces out) and use it as blackmail. If she's not your type, there are always people looking for fresh bodies, such as bunraku parlors. That boat's sailed this time, however, but keep it in mind for the future.
Now, if you still have the goods (you should), then there's a small window where you can still get paid something. Find out what is in the case, and then find out who wants it. Bring it to your fixer, and they should be able to negotiate at least something for you. Don't forget the possibility of selling the package back to the corp you hit.
Still need money to make rent? There's always small jobs out there, you just have to know where to look. One of the things you learn as you get more experienced is to develop one or more sidelines, things you can fall back on when runs are slow. For me, it is the escort/bodyguard thing. For a hacker, there's any number of small jobs that need a bit of tech work. They pay like small jobs, but they'll probably take you a couple hours to do, and so on. For muscle, the bodyguard gig, or just playing security at a local watering hole, can be good. Drivers/riggers, look at courier jobs or driving a taxi. There's always people/things needing to get from A to B in a hurry, and people just don't trust the Matrix like they used to for sensitive documents (whether they ever should have in the first place is a matter of opinion).
That not enough? Then there's always the small cons and 'protection' rackets. If you're from a gang history, just fall back on all the things you used to do before 'graduating'. If you have the Talent, and the ability to cast healing magic, then that is pure platinum, especially with the corps cracking down on street docs. Xerena and I both volunteer at the local hospital in Tarislar when we're in town, and the local gangers/syndicates know they can come to me for some healing when I'm in town, though I'll charge them for it. I don't offer long term care, but if they're still breathing when they come in, I can usually keep them that way to the point where they won't be dying (at least not from those wounds). I deal mostly with the Ancients and the Leasa because I'm an elf nobleman from Tir Tairngir who hangs out in Tarislar, but do what works for you.]<<<<<
--Iceblade (14:25:21/08-07-75)
