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SL33PING L13SDistrict 43
File reconstructed from personal memory clusters.
Minor contamination detected from an external intruder.
Accuracy estimated at 87 percent, with peak clarity reaching 95 percent.
When I first moved here years ago, right after I went through the pleasant experience of coming to life, enjoyed the ride of the Express, and found myself holding tight the hand of another girl without knowing she was my sister, that house already felt like a place not really matching the Vaylen family.
Apparently ordinary, my father was a middle man and my mother a seamstress. They got that apartment through a long waiting list after being stuck in pending status for more than a year.
It was a good thing, having the chance of a three room apartment in a quiet zone, well connected and especially far away from the lower level, those slums as Mom often called them.
District 43 was packed, lives layered on top of one another like tiers on a wedding cake, but simply put, better than other shitty places.
I often heard my parents discussing things with neighbors and the troubles friends and family were having in 48, 41 and 47.
The district was designed to be efficient, simple to walk across and especially barricade free. A huge Main Street, 43 Avenue, dominated the school and the municipal district where the hospital also stood. The commercial area was small and packed with different places, but thanks to the big boulevards surrounding the area it seemed like a parade was always ready to start.
Sometimes groups of Kaichukan raided the street with imposing presence, intimidating most of the little scum around the area. Easy to do in this district. Strong presence in 43, low in 48 or 41.
That was something that always pissed me off about Mother K’s defenders. It was clear to me they were just being moved as pawns and obeying orders coming from way higher ranks, but showing off in this quiet district while hiding themselves in more dangerous districts, where people responded to provocations and it was not easy to settle, made me sick. But in the end we are all human beings, and they need to eat too.
“Stop mumbling in your head Nu, I can hear the sound popping out of your brain.”
Behind the curtain a voice exploded, snapping me back to the present. I was sitting in Ada’s, the café near 43 Avenue.
Liora, a small but muscular young girl of nineteen, wearing a fancy leather jacket and blue boots, moved the curtains aside and giggling jumped at her brother from behind. She strangled him affectionately and tapped his head lightly with a couple of gentle punches.
“Still thinking about yesterday’s Kaichukan incident? Or about you being beaten again by Korr at the resilience game?”
She smirked into her brother’s face.
“Thanks Liora. I had forgotten the incident, now it is in my mind again. I was just remembering when we arrived here.”
“The day when we moved here, when we did not remember much but were hanging tight to each other like our hands were glued. Do you remember that crazy punk lady? I hope I do not forget how you smashed her face when she was threatening me. Do you remember that? Or is it already gone?”
“What matters? We are in this place since years and it always sucked and will always suck.”
Liora concluded this sharply, avoiding the question. Sometimes the fear of telling the truth is worse than losing a nice old memory.
“Every excuse is good to re establish your supremacy eh Big Sis? Do not forget I still have the title of fastest accepted member of the Joint. Do not get cocky.”
Nu smiled.
“Yeah sure, because after we smashed the Gollard, Old Merrin removed that for gaining access. Who knows, maybe out there is a faster coder looking to take your record.”
“Oh I am really scared something like this could happen.”
Nu giggled, imitating a kid trembling in fear.
“Or maybe you will find that boy one day, doing things couples do, and…”
Hearing that, Liora’s face changed. She stomped her feet and screamed.
“Baka, what are you saying, you filthy little punk. I will never get that kind of life. I do not want to share with anybody else this Mother K shit. A brother is enough for this struggling journey. I hate people, you know that. You are all the same, thinking about smoochy smoochy kissy kissy, and at the end have to spend some more years losing those moments and find myself looking at a stranger sleeping in my bed, like Mom does with Dad. No way. Keep your mind shut and never say something like this again, damn brat.”
Nu pointed at the entire café staring at her. He smiled at his sister the way you smile at a crazy person. She looked around, then looked back at Nu and exploded in a loud laugh.
“No worries people, my sister is a bit loud but not dangerous. Nu’s word.”
The room relaxed.
“Sis, you are so funny when you lose your shit. Love that side of you.”
“Told you, you are all smoochy smoochy kissy kissy. Stop being so sweet, it makes me puke. Are you ready for tonight? The clan is set and we are going to blast those pills. We will reach the top.”
Nu looked at his sister’s excitement, though he could not hide a worrisome gaze.
“But do not exaggerate Sis. Last time the Kaichukans arrived late, but you saw yesterday, they are on a hunt. We cannot risk they discover Dekra’s hideout. That is too much at stake. Fun yes, but watch out.”
“I think all these condensed memories are frying your brain. You should be careful not to snap when you are close to the limit. We do not want a Bosu rampaging in 43.”
“What are you saying? You are always the one striking for more relentlessly, with no fear of consequences. If it was not for me you would already have summoned ten Bosu.”
Liora laughed hard, then clipped Nu’s cheeks and mimicked a kid’s voice.
“But I am glad I have my lil brother taking care of me. So sweet. Leaving now, need to meet Old Merrin and then working with Den for the condenser The Vein asked. News from Jin?”
Nu opened his mouth to answer but another voice cut in.
“My name in your sister’s mouth sounds so delicate Nu.”
Jin was sitting at a table a few meters away.
“Here are Jin’s news directly from the Daily Jin. Yes, I found it. I know where it is, I know how much it costs and how to pay for it, but…”
“But it is out of the city. You tried to reach the club and they did not answer until you stopped at Barradon’s stall and got yourself a test net pass?”
“How do you know that…”
Before Jin could finish, Liora pounded his head with a punch.
“Forgot my lil brother is a Kodaka? With a terminal he can find anything and change it.”
“Not that fast Sis. I cannot do everything, but most of the things. You leave now and fix the condenser. I will work with Jin on a solution for the transistor. Sit here Spikey, let us see what we can find.”
Nu opened a small pad. A virtual keyboard and panels rose from the screen. Jin sat beside him and took out a small box.
“This is the connection node data you requested.”
Nu took the box and slid it into the virtual keyboard to access its contents. While downloading it he scanned the node connections and IP addresses with his fast eyes.
“Bye kids, see you later at The Joint.”
“Sure thing Sis, say to Merrin I am close.”
“Bye Big Sis.” Jin said.
“I am not your sis kiddo, watch your mouth.”
The café door slammed.
“Oh Nu, I love your sister. Could you not put a nice word so she could consider me?”
Jin stared dreamily at the door.
“Jin, you do not get it eh? First, you are too young. Second, my Sis hates smoochy smoochy kissy kissy attitude. She plays with memories but she is terrified of losing them. You could only beat her at her own game. Maybe without summoning a freaking Bosu.”
Nu typed faster.
“We are close. I can track this guy down.”
“That pill shit, eh? I am evolving gradually so I do not explode. Learning is the key. Expand your brain so it can take more without warning. If only Liora could see the future I want…”
“Yeah, my Big Sis is a tank. Cannot reach her that deep. Only chance would be entering the tank and touching the core, but not sure how to open the tank.”
Jin smiled.
“And no Jin, there is no way you can expand that giant idiotic head of yo…”
Nu’s keyboard flickered. The screen trembled.
A cascade of windows and pop ups flooded the pod, glitching violently as if infected by a virus. Nu’s expression sharpened instantly.
“That is not possible. I am using a secure connection. Only if someone had my address could they pinpoint me. Fuck, do they know I am here? Damn, if they send the Kaichukan in I am fried.”
One name appeared on every window.
Dr4v3n.
The display glitched harder. A blue terminal cursor appeared.
“Shit. This is in real time. How is this even possible. I cannot track this down.”
The terminal began typing on its own.
“You are good. But I am better. I have always been. Better than most of you Kodakachans. Your people missed the point. Sustainable hacking. What a bullshit. I know you Nu4nc3, and I know what you are looking for. You, your Sis, your spiky headed friend there and Lady Vein. I know what you are trying to do. And I know where the transistor is, how to obtain it, and what they are looking for in exchange.”
Nu froze, staring as the letters appeared one after another. Someone was inside his system. Someone who knew him. Someone who felt dangerously close to his memories.
He typed.
“How do you know all this and why are you contacting me?”
The answer came immediately.
“I do not have much time. I am Dr4v3n and I am the best out there. You better warn your Kodaka friends. A storm is coming and it is going to be big. It is going to smash all your lives and there will be no return. I will watch it. Closely. Curious on how you will react. Watch out those pills Nu. Have you ever thought you have no idea what kind of memories are in there. How can you be sure they will not be harmful. Playing with people’s lives is fun, especially when those have no idea they are kicking a nuclear bomb. You will hear from me again soon. Or probably die tonight.”
The terminal flashed blue, then green, then red.
Multiple windows forced Nu out of the system.
The pod restarted itself.
“How is that possible. He shut me off my secured system. How did he know about the transistor. What is he scheming. Danger. I feel the danger. Like a bad omen.”
“That was creepy Nu. Who is this person?”
“No idea Jin. But he is dangerous. His knowledge is top level. Do not know if I could beat him.”
“If you cannot beat him, then it is really bad news.”
“Dr4v3n. Who are you. Why are you so interested in what we are doing. What is your plan. Jin, the connection is back. Let us find these club people and then figure out what they need. We might have a chance to get that transistor.”
“Itsuko. I am sure you will find a way. You are the best.”
“Apparently not anymore.”
Nu typed softly.
“Dr4v3n who are you.”
END_OF_TRANSMISSION // LOT 1.4.19
REFERENCE: FINAL_LIBRARY INDEX
Integrity 87 percent – Peak clarity 95 percent.
Minimal corruption detected. Restoration stable.
All Rigths Reserved
Copyright protected by Patamu nr 275261
File reconstructed from personal memory clusters.
Minor contamination detected from an external intruder.
Accuracy estimated at 87 percent, with peak clarity reaching 95 percent.
When I first moved here years ago, right after I went through the pleasant experience of coming to life, enjoyed the ride of the Express, and found myself holding tight the hand of another girl without knowing she was my sister, that house already felt like a place not really matching the Vaylen family.
Apparently ordinary, my father was a middle man and my mother a seamstress. They got that apartment through a long waiting list after being stuck in pending status for more than a year.
It was a good thing, having the chance of a three room apartment in a quiet zone, well connected and especially far away from the lower level, those slums as Mom often called them.
District 43 was packed, lives layered on top of one another like tiers on a wedding cake, but simply put, better than other shitty places.
I often heard my parents discussing things with neighbors and the troubles friends and family were having in 48, 41 and 47.
The district was designed to be efficient, simple to walk across and especially barricade free. A huge Main Street, 43 Avenue, dominated the school and the municipal district where the hospital also stood. The commercial area was small and packed with different places, but thanks to the big boulevards surrounding the area it seemed like a parade was always ready to start.
Sometimes groups of Kaichukan raided the street with imposing presence, intimidating most of the little scum around the area. Easy to do in this district. Strong presence in 43, low in 48 or 41.
That was something that always pissed me off about Mother K’s defenders. It was clear to me they were just being moved as pawns and obeying orders coming from way higher ranks, but showing off in this quiet district while hiding themselves in more dangerous districts, where people responded to provocations and it was not easy to settle, made me sick. But in the end we are all human beings, and they need to eat too.
“Stop mumbling in your head Nu, I can hear the sound popping out of your brain.”
Behind the curtain a voice exploded, snapping me back to the present. I was sitting in Ada’s, the café near 43 Avenue.
Liora, a small but muscular young girl of nineteen, wearing a fancy leather jacket and blue boots, moved the curtains aside and giggling jumped at her brother from behind. She strangled him affectionately and tapped his head lightly with a couple of gentle punches.
“Still thinking about yesterday’s Kaichukan incident? Or about you being beaten again by Korr at the resilience game?”
She smirked into her brother’s face.
“Thanks Liora. I had forgotten the incident, now it is in my mind again. I was just remembering when we arrived here.”
“The day when we moved here, when we did not remember much but were hanging tight to each other like our hands were glued. Do you remember that crazy punk lady? I hope I do not forget how you smashed her face when she was threatening me. Do you remember that? Or is it already gone?”
“What matters? We are in this place since years and it always sucked and will always suck.”
Liora concluded this sharply, avoiding the question. Sometimes the fear of telling the truth is worse than losing a nice old memory.
“Every excuse is good to re establish your supremacy eh Big Sis? Do not forget I still have the title of fastest accepted member of the Joint. Do not get cocky.”
Nu smiled.
“Yeah sure, because after we smashed the Gollard, Old Merrin removed that for gaining access. Who knows, maybe out there is a faster coder looking to take your record.”
“Oh I am really scared something like this could happen.”
Nu giggled, imitating a kid trembling in fear.
“Or maybe you will find that boy one day, doing things couples do, and…”
Hearing that, Liora’s face changed. She stomped her feet and screamed.
“Baka, what are you saying, you filthy little punk. I will never get that kind of life. I do not want to share with anybody else this Mother K shit. A brother is enough for this struggling journey. I hate people, you know that. You are all the same, thinking about smoochy smoochy kissy kissy, and at the end have to spend some more years losing those moments and find myself looking at a stranger sleeping in my bed, like Mom does with Dad. No way. Keep your mind shut and never say something like this again, damn brat.”
Nu pointed at the entire café staring at her. He smiled at his sister the way you smile at a crazy person. She looked around, then looked back at Nu and exploded in a loud laugh.
“No worries people, my sister is a bit loud but not dangerous. Nu’s word.”
The room relaxed.
“Sis, you are so funny when you lose your shit. Love that side of you.”
“Told you, you are all smoochy smoochy kissy kissy. Stop being so sweet, it makes me puke. Are you ready for tonight? The clan is set and we are going to blast those pills. We will reach the top.”
Nu looked at his sister’s excitement, though he could not hide a worrisome gaze.
“But do not exaggerate Sis. Last time the Kaichukans arrived late, but you saw yesterday, they are on a hunt. We cannot risk they discover Dekra’s hideout. That is too much at stake. Fun yes, but watch out.”
“I think all these condensed memories are frying your brain. You should be careful not to snap when you are close to the limit. We do not want a Bosu rampaging in 43.”
“What are you saying? You are always the one striking for more relentlessly, with no fear of consequences. If it was not for me you would already have summoned ten Bosu.”
Liora laughed hard, then clipped Nu’s cheeks and mimicked a kid’s voice.
“But I am glad I have my lil brother taking care of me. So sweet. Leaving now, need to meet Old Merrin and then working with Den for the condenser The Vein asked. News from Jin?”
Nu opened his mouth to answer but another voice cut in.
“My name in your sister’s mouth sounds so delicate Nu.”
Jin was sitting at a table a few meters away.
“Here are Jin’s news directly from the Daily Jin. Yes, I found it. I know where it is, I know how much it costs and how to pay for it, but…”
“But it is out of the city. You tried to reach the club and they did not answer until you stopped at Barradon’s stall and got yourself a test net pass?”
“How do you know that…”
Before Jin could finish, Liora pounded his head with a punch.
“Forgot my lil brother is a Kodaka? With a terminal he can find anything and change it.”
“Not that fast Sis. I cannot do everything, but most of the things. You leave now and fix the condenser. I will work with Jin on a solution for the transistor. Sit here Spikey, let us see what we can find.”
Nu opened a small pad. A virtual keyboard and panels rose from the screen. Jin sat beside him and took out a small box.
“This is the connection node data you requested.”
Nu took the box and slid it into the virtual keyboard to access its contents. While downloading it he scanned the node connections and IP addresses with his fast eyes.
“Bye kids, see you later at The Joint.”
“Sure thing Sis, say to Merrin I am close.”
“Bye Big Sis.” Jin said.
“I am not your sis kiddo, watch your mouth.”
The café door slammed.
“Oh Nu, I love your sister. Could you not put a nice word so she could consider me?”
Jin stared dreamily at the door.
“Jin, you do not get it eh? First, you are too young. Second, my Sis hates smoochy smoochy kissy kissy attitude. She plays with memories but she is terrified of losing them. You could only beat her at her own game. Maybe without summoning a freaking Bosu.”
Nu typed faster.
“We are close. I can track this guy down.”
“That pill shit, eh? I am evolving gradually so I do not explode. Learning is the key. Expand your brain so it can take more without warning. If only Liora could see the future I want…”
“Yeah, my Big Sis is a tank. Cannot reach her that deep. Only chance would be entering the tank and touching the core, but not sure how to open the tank.”
Jin smiled.
“And no Jin, there is no way you can expand that giant idiotic head of yo…”
Nu’s keyboard flickered. The screen trembled.
A cascade of windows and pop ups flooded the pod, glitching violently as if infected by a virus. Nu’s expression sharpened instantly.
“That is not possible. I am using a secure connection. Only if someone had my address could they pinpoint me. Fuck, do they know I am here? Damn, if they send the Kaichukan in I am fried.”
One name appeared on every window.
Dr4v3n.
The display glitched harder. A blue terminal cursor appeared.
“Shit. This is in real time. How is this even possible. I cannot track this down.”
The terminal began typing on its own.
“You are good. But I am better. I have always been. Better than most of you Kodakachans. Your people missed the point. Sustainable hacking. What a bullshit. I know you Nu4nc3, and I know what you are looking for. You, your Sis, your spiky headed friend there and Lady Vein. I know what you are trying to do. And I know where the transistor is, how to obtain it, and what they are looking for in exchange.”
Nu froze, staring as the letters appeared one after another. Someone was inside his system. Someone who knew him. Someone who felt dangerously close to his memories.
He typed.
“How do you know all this and why are you contacting me?”
The answer came immediately.
“I do not have much time. I am Dr4v3n and I am the best out there. You better warn your Kodaka friends. A storm is coming and it is going to be big. It is going to smash all your lives and there will be no return. I will watch it. Closely. Curious on how you will react. Watch out those pills Nu. Have you ever thought you have no idea what kind of memories are in there. How can you be sure they will not be harmful. Playing with people’s lives is fun, especially when those have no idea they are kicking a nuclear bomb. You will hear from me again soon. Or probably die tonight.”
The terminal flashed blue, then green, then red.
Multiple windows forced Nu out of the system.
The pod restarted itself.
“How is that possible. He shut me off my secured system. How did he know about the transistor. What is he scheming. Danger. I feel the danger. Like a bad omen.”
“That was creepy Nu. Who is this person?”
“No idea Jin. But he is dangerous. His knowledge is top level. Do not know if I could beat him.”
“If you cannot beat him, then it is really bad news.”
“Dr4v3n. Who are you. Why are you so interested in what we are doing. What is your plan. Jin, the connection is back. Let us find these club people and then figure out what they need. We might have a chance to get that transistor.”
“Itsuko. I am sure you will find a way. You are the best.”
“Apparently not anymore.”
Nu typed softly.
“Dr4v3n who are you.”
END_OF_TRANSMISSION // LOT 1.4.19
REFERENCE: FINAL_LIBRARY INDEX
Integrity 87 percent – Peak clarity 95 percent.
Minimal corruption detected. Restoration stable.
All Rigths Reserved
Copyright protected by Patamu nr 275261
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