Starring:
Date: December 2, 2009
Summary:
Bert meets Rebel over the web.
"He Looks Like Gollum"
CYBERSPACE
Another day, another … uh… day of cruising the internet. Digging for data, staying on top of information that can be hacked. There's also the mining for intel through message boards, forums, blog sites. Any source that could provide intel on what's going on within the government, underground resistance attempts. After several cans of Red Bull, her eyes are a bit bloodshot and data seems to be blurring together.
Particularly since she's going over multiple screens at once, pecking apart sentences for specific references, as well as automated searches.
Back in Germany, Micah lays on his bed, laptop resting on his legs as he too mines for information. Unlike Bert this isn't hard on his eyes, his hands, or any body part other than his brain. He's been monitoring message boards, blogs, websites for information about people with abilities — this is how he'd found Robin. With a deepening frown, he notices something. Someone is doing the same thing.
Who could it be?! Government agents. Bad guys. That Danko person Tracy mentioned. With furrowed eyebrows he tries to open a text document on the searcher's computer. The text comes through insanely fast and in all caps: WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Bert lets out a squeak and nearly kicks over her fresh can of Red Bull at the all caps text. "What the.. frick," she mutters and rubs at her eyes, as if it were their fault. "Gene? Come here and see.. oh damn, he left, and I'm talking to myself." Another furious rub is made with the heel of her hand and yup, text is still there. "I don't have a chat program open.. I wonder.." Gene did tell her to look for people who could use electronics too as a power. "Hell with it," she mutters, then types.
My name is Bert. I'm looking for resistance against the Imperial Forces.
Micah's lips quirk involuntarily at the Star Wars reference. "Charlotte would kill me if she knew… but I can't talk to her every time I communicate with someone, can I?" he asks himself. "No, of course not." He frowns again as he tests the waters.
He types: HOW DO I KNOW YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THEM? THEY KNOW ABOUT ME.
Bert can't resist another Star Wars Reference as she types back: I am part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor.
Bert decides for the moment to keep detail about herself on the down low. She doesn't know who she's communicating with. So… she types: How do I know you aren't a government plant?
Micah's lips purse slightly as he clucks his tongue: I'M THE ONE KNOWN AS REBEL. I HELP PEOPLE WITH ABILITIES AVOID THE EMPIRE AT ALL COSTS. Even his own capture.
He hesitates for a moment before the type goes through again: I CREATED A VIDEO THAT CUT INTO REGULAR PROGRAMMING WITH A FRIEND OF MINE A FEW WEEKS BACK.
A fist is raised and punch in the air as Bert lets out what could be considered a war whoop as she reads the text. "YES. This is just the contact we needed!" Cracking her knuckles, she wriggles her fingers then types: Good for you! I was with the NSA, under the spell of, we suspect Senator Wynn. I've been working with friends on gathering information and exposing the Empire since the spell was broken.
Micah can't help but frown and then types: SENATOR WYNN IS ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS. HE LET ME AND MY FRIEND GO BECAUSE… The reason is left up to Bert's imagination. BUT WE NEED TO FIGHT THE EVIL REGIME. THAT MUCH IS TRUE. His lips twitch as he considers something, but then the Alpha Protocol already knows his name so there isn't really any harm.
Bert groans and nearly chucks her laptop across the room. A hand raises to tear at her hair. Now she's really wondering if this is a trap. A noise of frustration escapes before she starts typing again: Maybe he just uses this spell to take advantage of women. But I'm not bitter. My experience with him was bad. I'm using my inside knowledge and helping those with abilities who would be treated less than human by Alpha Protocol.
Micah blinks a few times as he wrinkles his nose. Of course, he knows nothing about Ivory's behaviour around women. He hmms to himself, but the conversation continues: I HAD A TUBE IN MY NOSE IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE ROOM WITH MY BROTHER AND AUNT. APPARENTLY THEY TOOK HER AWAY AND PUT HER WITH HEATING LAMPS. Micah frowns. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO HELP WHERE I CAN. BUT THEY HAVE STARTED BLOCKING INFORMATION FROM THEIR PERSONNEL FILES. DO YOU KNOW A MAN NAMED DANKO? HE'S LOOKING FOR ME.
Bert double-takes and stares at the screen. She reads it again, and a third time. "Holy Crows Feet. Coincidence much!?" Shaking her head, she types: I worked with your aunt. We ah, don't get along.
"That's an understatement," Bert utters under her breath before typing further: I don't know the name Danko. A friend back in AP sent me a photo but no name, advising that the new group does not play nice. We've been researching a Marilyn de Souza, but we're drawing a blank. Before I was fired, I was kept very much in the dark.
Micah shifts in his bed as he glances towards the door and then continues with their conversation. TRACY MESSAGED ME AND DANKO WANTED HER TO TELL ME TO TURN MYSELF IN. There's a pause. SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER EVER MEETING ME OR THE EVENTS SURROUNDING OUR MEETING. I THINK THEY DID SOMETHING TO HER. He frowns a bit and then purses his lips, ALL I KNOW IS DE SOUZA IS ON THE AP LIST. THAT'S ALL. I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON HER EITHER.
DON'T DO IT.. Now Bert's moved to call caps as she types furiously: DO NOT TURN YOURSELF IN. I saw security feed from the train incident. After that, I broke through my security clearance to look at camera feeds of the detainees. I was fired after helping Tracy out, she used me as a hostage. I think she's under the same spell I was under. I don't know how else to describe it.
Almost leaving it at that, Bert then types: How can I send you an image file? It's encrypted.
SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO TURN MYSELF IN. SHE ADVISED ME AGAINST IT. BUT I NEED TO TALK TO THIS DANKO GUY. MAYBE I'LL TRY TEXTING HIM OR SOMETHING. IT'S UNTRACEABLE. Micah smirks as he sits up in bed. I DON'T KNOW WHY TRACY CAN'T REMEMBER OUR MEETING. SHE TURNED ME AND MY BROTHER IN UNTIL SHE KNEW IT WAS US… OH YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT MOC.LIAMG|LEBER.DATREBIL#MOC.LIAMG|LEBER.DATREBIL. THEN I CAN OPEN THE IMAGE. He pauses before he types, I HELPED FREE PEOPLE FROM THE TRAINS. I TAPPED INTO THE SECURITY FEED AND SATELLITE IMAGES, KILLED THE GUARD'S RADIOS, AND HELPED ORGANIZE SOME OF THE EVOLVED THAT WERE PART OF THE RESCUE MISSION.
"Well… shitballs." Bert says, staring at the screen in some disbelief. Pulling up gmail, she uses her dummy email address to fire off the picture she was given by Nicholas. It's of Danko, but she lacks a name to go with the face. She types back:
Incoming email from moc.liamg|adafitnileber#moc.liamg|adafitnileber Oh HO. So YOU'RE why I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on with our equipment that night. I was up for days trying to figure it out. Good job! Your aunt probably can't remember because there may be someone with a power to erase minds. I wouldn't know. I didn't know about powers until shortly before I got sacked.
SORRY I GAVE YOU EXTRA WORK, Micah types with a smirk. DID WHAT I HAD TO IN ORDER TO HELP. WAS SICK FOR DAYS AFTER THAT. PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF WHAT I'D SEEN. With a sigh he opens the photo which causes him to smirk. HIS PHOTO REMINDS ME OF GOLLUM. HE'D BE SCARY IF HE DIDN'T SEEM SO GOLLUM-LIKE. His lips purse. SO YOU ONLY RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT ABILITIES?
Bert can't help but laugh at the beginning of Rebel's reply before she responds: No worries. It was for a good cause. Sometimes I wish I didn't know about any of this, but I'm glad to be helping. HA. That's about what I thought too on the photo. Do you recognize that person? Like I said, I was given a job in the NSA, but kept in the dark on just what exactly was going on. Yeah. I'm a proud geek and am embarrassed that I've lived my whole life to this point without knowing that super powers actually existed.
SERIOUSLY. GOLLUM-MAN = DANKO. Micah chuckles slightly at the thought of Gollum wanting him to turn himself in. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE WHOLE NOT KNOWING POWERS EXISTED THING. I CONTROL TECHNOLOGY IN CASE YOU CAN'T TELL. And now, down to business. BERT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE DOING TO TAKE DOWN THIS GOVERNMENT? I INTERRUPTED THE TELEVISION TO AIR A FRIEND TURNING INTO WATER ON THE TELEVISION… THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO DO MUCH OTHER THAN MAKE DANKO GO AFTER ME.
"Great," huffs Bert as she chugs down some Red Bull, since she remembers now that the can is still there. "Got a name with that face," she mutters and starts to make up a file to go with the image. She swirls the contents of her drink in the can as she ponders how to answer. First however, she decides to type: That's got to be one of the sweetest abilities to have. A friend works with electronics too. He's a bit of a god that way. He should be back shortly. I'll confer with him. I don't want to say or do anything contrary to the plans. Deviation without consultation could go badly. Damn Rebel, you are amazing. I saw that video feed. Anyway, I can email once there's been a conference here.
Micah nods at the screen as he hears activity in the hallway down from his room. ALRIGHT. STAY IN TOUCH BERT. There's a pause and he knows the risk is small considering the Alpha Protocol knows that Rebel = him. And so he types one last thing. YOU CAN CALL ME MICAH. BE SAFE, FRIEND. AND HOLD ONTO HOPE. That said, the one called Rebel snaps his laptop shut and stows it under his bed, ready to take on the madness that is the orphanage.