BD; Chapter 21(a)He was at it again.Through the unregistered camera outside the Equipment and Technician Supplies Facility, the AI observed the man who knelt at the door panel. Although the view was from behind, she recognised him as one of the younger agents who regularly used the facility and it’s equipment. It appeared that his current efforts were set on breaking in. She wasn’t so sure as to what reason he kept doing this. Someone mentioned there was some sort of ‘pool’ the other agents had going, set on whoever could break into his facility first without being caught. Utah said it was the guys trying to ‘piss him off’. Though this agent in particular was one of the more persistent. This would not normally have concerned her, since any human, even one as mechanically skilled as this one would be unable to enter without authorisation from Command or Utah. Except in this case he wasn’t alone. The Tech-shop AI and Utah had set up the system to be reasonably secured against most external influences. Even minds as sophisticated as the Project Intelligence, such as the tricksy one who was in earlier, would have difficulty passing through her defences. However, while that Intelligence unit wasn’t very smart, the one that accompanied this agent was very imaginative. But there was no need to worry, as her sensors detected another incoming presence, though the agent and his AI didn’t appear to notice Utah walk up behind him. It was one of these things Utah was strangely talented at. While seemingly not the subtlest of agents, he did have a knack for being…unnoticed when sneaking up on people. She observed as the older agent, still silent, stood behind the burglar for a moment, watching his fellow agent at work, before commenting, ‘You’ll want tae switch the yellow wire. That’s the yin that sets aff alarms.’ ‘Oh, thanks.’ The other replied, still absorbed in his efforts over the wiring. He then stopped, realising he had been caught. He threw up his hands, though she detected a slight casualness in his manner. He was probably smiling too. ‘Ok old man, you got me.’ Utah bent down and gruffly pushed him to the side and started to reset the wire placements, muttering, ‘Dammit Maine, why you have to make things difficult? The younger agent shrugged his shoulders. ‘I like a challenge, though I have a reason this time. Have you any shi-’ ‘One thing at a time sonny boy. It’s late and it’s past curfew’ After fitting back the front plate onto the wall, he reached over to a card swipe above it and delicately pulled down a strip of thin clear film, which he tore and threw away. He then took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the small keyboard clean, revealing dark green ink smudges on the cloth. ‘Who could have left all this there?’ He stated absent mindedly as he continued to reveal and disarm Maine’s code detection traps. ‘Can’t imagine.’ Eventually, Utah stood back and nodded. ‘Well that about covers it then.’ Satisfied that he had cleared the entrance, he tapped on the touch screen of his wrist device and brought up the access codes. Utah was about to wave his wrist panel past the screen when he smiled cannily, eyeing Maine’s innocent expression. ‘Oh, and out ye get Sig.’ ‘It’s a fair cop.’ There was a glow of purple light as the Freelancer AI moved out of the computer, hovering a little before entering Maine’s head. Ignoring the disappointed sighs from the two of them, Utah proceeded to open the door and enter it. A few moments later he returned carrying a small object. He passed it to him. ‘There. One shield modulator. Happy now?’ ‘Yeah thanks. Though I could do with a additional power pa-’ ‘Ach away! And dinnae let the guards find ye!’ Laughing, Maine loped down the hallway, disappearing into the shadows. Utah rolled his eyes as he went inside, sitting himself back at his workstation. After a while, the soft voice of the Tech-room AI interrupted him from his work. ~‘Do you think it wise to encourage him?’~ ‘He knows whit he’s doing right enough, but he’s nae match fer me in putting twa wires together.’ ~’No. I meant that my logical data sector states adversely to allowing him to bend the rules as he sees fit. Command regulations have strict protocols regarding after hours-’ ‘Which most of the time are really penalties for being clumsy enough tae get caught. It’s a general unspoken point which I suppose is an extension of survival training. And anyway, it would be...hypocrytical of me tae not gie him a chance.’ ~‘You mean you let him get as far as 45 percent in accessing this facility?’~ He smirked, placing down the components of his now ‘banned’ project. ‘Well...he is getting better...but call me fair, and leave it at that, awright?’ . |
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