Starring:
Date: December 20th, 2009
Summary:
Surprised by finding Rebel's broadcast on YouTube, Stephanie sets out making e-contact, and making allies.
Finding Allies
The intarwebz
Stephanie gets outside the store, running a short way down the street, and then, once she reaches a quiet place, she sits down on the bench at the side of the street. She types at her iPhone, sending another email. «Chat where? How? Name the method.»
Micah shifts on his bed and shakes his head.
«Rebel: EXACTLY HOW WE'RE TALKING NOW. THIS IS HOW I COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE. GOOD, BAD, OR UGLY, THIS IS WHAT I DO.»
She sighs in slightly exasperated frustration. «Great. Tell me about AP? Is it tied to the broadcast you did, with the girl?»
«Rebel: NOT HOW THIS WORKS. I DON'T JUST GIVE INFORMATION. I NEED TO TRUST YOU FIRST. AND, AS I'VE LEARNED: TRUST IS BUILT.»
A frustrated, exasperated sigh. «I have a list of AP personnel. Will that help? Can give it to you.»
«Rebel: NOT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. SEEN THE LIST. I WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THEY CAUGHT ME ONCE AND I DON'T INTEND TO LET THEM DO THAT AGAIN.»
The blonde gives another sigh. «Who caught you? Government? I'm a college student. With a special ability.»
«Rebel: THE ALPHA PROTOCOL. THEY CAUGHT ME. I'M A STUDENT TOO. THEY CAUGHT ME AND MY BROTHER AND PUT TUBES IN OUR NOSES TO SUPPRESS OUR SPECIAL ABILITIES. THE GOVERNMENT CAME AFTER US. WE GOT THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW AND WERE HELD WITHOUT TRIAL.»
There's a pause. «So they're after people with abilities.» She considers it a long while, then types back «Do you know anything about a company named Primatech?»
«Rebel: THE COMPANY? THE COMPANY IS GONE NOW. THE PROTOCOL TOOK THEM OUT. THEY DON'T EXIST ANYMORE. NOT REALLY. I DON'T TRUST THEM, BUT THEY'RE GONE RIGHT NOW.»
«Why, though? Doing the same thing. Competition? Or did they just change their name? One of the names on the list, Noah Bennet. Ex-Primatech.»
«Rebel: NOT COMPETITION. THE COMPANY WAS ABOUT NEUTRALIZING THREATS. THE AP IS ABOUT PUTTING US ALL IN PRISON AND TAKING AWAY ALL ABILITIES NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE DO. WE DON'T HURT PEOPLE AND THEY COME AFTER US. THE GIRL ON THE VIDEO — SHE WAS IN THEIR CUSTODY. THEY'RE TAGGING AND BAGGING EVERYONE.»
Which answers what she needed to know, really. «How can I help? If they're after all of us, they're too dangerous. Need to be stopped.»
«Rebel: I'M WORKING ON A REBELLION. I'LL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP. WHAT CAN YOU DO? I ONLY ASK SO I CAN SEE HOW YOU FIT. I MANIPULATE TECHNOLOGY OF ALL KINDS. HENCE THE VIDEO.»
There's more hesitation, but she answers «I can get into people's heads some. Projective, not receptive.»
«Rebel: I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE THAT. I HAVE A CONTACT IN NEW YORK THAT I'LL PASS YOUR INFO ON TO. HIS NAME IS PROMETHEUS. HE'S COORDINATING THINGS FROM THAT END AND CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL TO YOU, I THINK.»
«Prometheus. Got it. All right…keep me in the loop. I'll keep doing what I can.» She looks at her iPhone, before standing. Time to check some other angles here.
«Rebel: WILL DO. BE SAFE. HOLD TO HOPE AND BE CAREFUL WHO YOU TRUST.»