2011
5:36am |
It was cold out, and the streetlights lit the little droplets of fog in the air. Before work, before the libraries opened, I drove around and found a cafe with a big "Internet" sign out front.
Tinkerbell was angry or embarrassed. She didn't answer my calls after I took the drive thing from her purse, but I didn't know how to read it.
Lucky for me, I know a network of people who live their lives dealing only with computer problems, but they couldn't come get the drive, and I couldn't drop it off at one of their houses during a delivery because I don't do that anymore. Acid even told me not to contact them from my work computer, so I had to make time outside the office.
I got out of the car, tired and really hung over. Every movement felt like it took all the strength in my body. I would have given up, forgotten the whole thing and gone straight to work if it weren't for my training as a punk, when my life had no future to save my strength for.
I have hella responsibility now, and work is just a fact of life. Hans the computer program nags me if I'm even a little late, no matter what excuses I use. Plus, I need the money, and the nerds have to eat. There's no way out of it, so I get out of bed butt-crack early and make it happen. I hope that bastard Hans is happy.
That day, I was out even butt-crack earlier, and I did something I never thought I would stoop to -- I got some coffee. Then I sat at one of the cafe's white iMac computers, where I was pretty sure Sarah and the system couldn't watch me.
I unfolded the paper from my pocket, the secret instructions to log into Acid Burn's underground network. It took a couple minutes. When I got into the chat room, I saw there was a message posted just a few minutes before I got there.
eManual_Goldstein: Fellow intranauts, I had the most epic raid last night. Saw damage points flying off monsters in my dreams, just like the good old days. Up to try out the loot. Anyone else desked yet?
I knew him. eManual_Goldstein was the secret screen name of the programmer called Lanning, the human named John. In the underground, we pick our own code names. He saw me in the chat room.
eManual_Goldstein: Hi, Oscar. Don't see you in here much. notwinston: found a tiny hard drive. can you read it thru this/ eManual_Goldstein: I don't know. Can you mount it?
9 min later
eManual_Goldstein: Okay, I see it. Give me a minute.
I drank more coffee, but I didn't like it. Why would anyone want a drink that made them more conscious?
I watched the screen, but nothing seemed to be happening. Sarah would be suspicious if I showed up late. How long was this going to take? John stayed off the radar, looking like he was working while using his gaming computer for this stuff, but I couldn't be at the cafe and my office at the same time.
Someone else logged into the chat room, Natalie, AKA Acid Burn. There she was "MutantRights." I started typing her a greeting.
MutantRights: Wots up? eManual_Goldstein: This drive is encrypted weird. MutantRights: Let me C Where this come from? eManual_Goldstein: Oscar. notwinston: hi natalie
It took several lines of their conversation for me to type a greeting to her. Then I watched the two of them sort the data together.
MutantRights: Got it eManual_Goldstein: It's blank. MutantRights: Files deleted But look eManual_Goldstein: Look at all that. Should we divide these up? MutantRights: Divide and conquer!!1
I didn't know what was going on, but they didn't type anything for a while. I looked around, afraid of getting too focused on the screen like at the library. A handful of people stood in line for coffee. Nobody talked.
I wiped the sleep from my eyes and drank more coffee. I didn't like the taste. I didn't used to need that shit. I delivered it to other people.
MutantRights: These are some of our program files Where did U get this? eManual_Goldstein: Oscar. MutantRights: Hey Fuckbud, you know some1 called Tink? eManual_Goldstein: Who?
Acid Burn posted a picture of Tinkerbell wearing big round sunglasses that covered part but not all of her scar. The makeup looked the same, but she seemed even younger. The background looked like Acid Burn's bedroom.
notwinston: yes MutantRights: How far did she let U get? Careful, shes a spy.
I was amazed how much Acid already knew. I thought she might be jealous, but I couldn't hear the tone of her voice.
eManual_Goldstein: Wow. MutantRights: IK notwinston: u know tink/ MutantRights: She came after me 4 info on project Offered $$$$ Gave up when I turned it down Wanted her 2 ceduse me but she didn't realize it
Acid posted the idea of Tink seducing her, which sent erotic images jumping through my head.
eManual_Goldstein: Why can't a girl like that ever try to steal my secrets?
They were both into her too. That was a new reason to go after her. If I slept with Tink, I could be a hero to these two, a hero of the resistance. I had to know more.
notwinston: who she work for/ MutantRights: Never found out eManual_Goldstein: FB. MutantRights: How U know?
I tried to keep up with the conversation.
notwinston: who/ eManual_Goldstein: Recognize names in some of these emails. Knew people there. MutantRights: Makes sense notwinston: who/ MutantRights: She's with Facebook They want our research We want theirs Welcome to corporate espionage eManual_Goldstein: Except I never saw it look like that. MutantRights: Tink isn't normal eManual_Goldstein: Lucky bastard. MutantRights: See if she wants the drive back eManual_Goldstein: Say you couldn't break the encryption. MutantRights: No Say U have information eManual_Goldstein: What's with the scar? MutantRights: Don't ask notwinston: do i have info/ eManual_Goldstein: No. MutantRights: No
They wanted me to contact Tink, but I had no new information, as usual.
I stretched. I stood up and remembered how much my body ached. Then I checked the clock and realized the computer pulled me in again. I was late for work.
eManual_Goldstein: Fap break.
I didn't have time to ask about what John posted next. I logged out and took the drive.
37 min later |
HANS:
You're 1337 sec late.
"I know. I was getting coffee." I put the phone on my desk and searched for Lanning in the Sarah file.
1AC7CD09 - #Lanning !fapfapfap $backtowork in 11A
I guess he got the break he wanted.
