Starring:
Date: February 21, 2010
Summary:
Dee contacts Rebel with information about the Gamma Protocol.
"Rebel with a Cause"
CYBERSPACE!!!!!
Since leaving Africa, Dee's had a lot to do with her time. It mostly involves hiding, of course, since she is still - for reasons she now knows - a wanted criminal. In this case, she's hiding in Laurel's apartment. Sitting on the floor with a brand new laptop computer open next to her, she rubs the scarring on her leg. It doesn't hurt really. Not anymore. But it's a reminder of just why she has to be involved here. Her twin is dead; Jasmine is never coming back. For her memory, Dee has to bring this chapter of her own life to a conclusion, and fast.
She opens up Trillian. The man in Africa had only given her one lead… It was one he seemed quite adamant about, and so she can start with it. Really, it almost seems to easy.
She picks an amalgamation of letters that no one could possibly have as a screen name, and, just to be sure, she double checks the AIM site to see if anyone registered it. When she's certain the name belongs to no one, she types: 'I'm looking for Rebel.'
—-
As usual one particular technopath is searching the internet, watching for any information that may be useful. Micah had to purchase a new laptop with some of the Hallis-money much to his chagrin. He could've built a new one from various parts, but it would've taken too long. "Multiple protocols," he murmurs to himself. "Multiples… what are they doing?" He presses his lips together until something gets his attention.
Micah twitches. Someone is looking for Rebel. He pauses a moment with hesitation. Lots of people are looking for Rebel, most of which aren't good, yet Micah talks to them all. He swallows as he focuses on his computer, closing his eyes and connecting with the other machine.
A text document opens on Dee's computer. It stays blank for only a moment as words scroll across the top line:
« REBEL: WHO ARE YOU? AND WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ME? »
It's to the point. There's no reason to make small-talk.
—-
That was fast.
Dee isn't sure how 'Rebel' works. She can only guess that she was lucky and happened to catch him while he was at the computer. The text document opening on her desktop is a little weird, and she gives it a puzzled glance before closing her AIM window and …
'I know you have no reason to trust me,' she types. 'I need to know that this connection is secure. It's extremely important that someone gets this information.'
It doesn't say who she is… But that's because she's on the run. 'If this is tracable,' she goes on, 'I need to know now, so I can get the hell out of here.'
—-
Rebel's response comes at an unusually fast rate. « REBEL: NO ONE CAN TRACK THIS. I'M BLOCKING IT — THE CONNECTION IS COMPLETELY SECURE. YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS. » Micah shifts in his chair as he hmmms. The text document was for Micah's own security. It makes him feel like he has some measure of control in all of this.
« REBEL: WHAT INFORMATION? »
His eyebrows furrow. He's become increasingly suspicious of online friends, yet her connection to the net doesn't seem like it's governmental.
—-
A little tracking would show Micah exactly where she's at - a middle-class apartment in New York City.
'My name is Daphne Rousseau,' she sends. She'll have to trust Usutu and Rebel on this. 'I was a prisoner of the Alpha Protocol. The only reason I got away is because the killed my sister. She exploded.' Well… that's the way Dee wants to picture it anyway. 'I've been in Africa for the past few months.'
Next, she types out the entire story. In summary, she was hunting poachers. Her ability - speaking with animals. It made it easy to turn whole prides of lions on groups of men who wanted to hunt them. When she's done, she adds, 'I'm telling you this because if you check the Kikuto village in Botswana, they'll confirm it.
'I was almost killed. A man saved me. I can't say how I got this information, but I have a feeling he had the ability to help me get it. There's a man named Jason Graham. He is part of something called the Gamma Protocol. He is the only reason Evolved like me can't be turned into weapons and controlled. He's sabotaging the project. And he's under a lot of pressure to tell his boss Jensen that he has the formula to do it. If Graham gives in, we're screwed.'
—-
Micah twitches as his mouth gapes. So much information, so much to think about, and no time to process. Micah raises a hand to his forehead before he touches the computer again.
« REBEL: WE NEED TO SAVE JASON GRAHAM. »
Using Evolved as weapons. Controlling them. Hana said his parents were killed. Beta Protocol. He knows there's an Epislon Protocol that Wireless is controlling. And now there's Gamma Protocol.
« REBEL: IS THAT THE INTENTION OF THE PROJECT — THE ULTIMATE GOAL? ALPHA PROTOCOL = COLLECTION. EPSILON = TRACKING. GAMMA = CONTROLLING? TRANSFORMING ALL OF US INTO WEAPONS? DO YOU KNOW? I NEED TO KNOW. »
—-
There's a long pause as Dee tries to remember if there was anything else important in that email she read. No, she's sure she got it all. 'I have to imagine that would be the ultimate goal,' she says. 'But the information I had didn't say. All I know is that Graham has the stuff that'll turn us all into zombies.' Dee uses 'us' this time, since Rebel used it himself.
After a silence, she sends, 'I think I can reach him again. I don't know… I might be able to see where he's at. Rebel, we need to act fast. I don't know if there's much time left.'
—-
Micah nods at the screen.
« REBEL: I CAN FIND HIM IF YOU CAN'T. I'M SURE OF IT — IT MIGHT TAKE SOME TIME. AND WHILE THAT HAPPENS, WE NEED TO GET A TEAM TOGETHER. DO YOU HAVE CONTACTS HERE? I CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH A NUMBER OF MINE. THIS MUST STOP. WE NEED HIS RESEARCH AND HIS MIND. HE CAN'T BE PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF US, AND THEY CAN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAVE HIS RESEARCH. »
There's a moment's hesitation again before Micah types, « REBEL: WE CAN PLAN AN EASY EXTRACTION ONCE WE FIND HIM. BUT AFTER THAT WE NEED TO ORGANIZE A MEETING. THEY WILL FIND ANOTHER GRAHAM. IF THIS IS THEIR GOAL, THEY'LL FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN DO WHAT HE CAN. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. »
—-
Does she have contacts? A few. One excellent one in particular. 'My best friend Laurel is a shield generator. My boyfriend can summon insects. Imagine a swarm of angry hornets descending on the bad guys — I like to.'
Apparently, she has a little sense of humour. That's good, at least, right? 'I don't think we should meet yet, just in case one of us is compromised. I'll get you the information on his whereabouts as soon as possible. Can I contact you the same way?'
—-
Micah agrees. « REBEL: GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CONTACTS AND I'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH MINE. »
He smirks at the notion of angry hornets going after the baddies. It does paint a nice picture. And he is a fourteen year old kid. He grins at the screen before he sends his next message.
« REBEL: PLEASE DO CONTACT ME LIKE THIS. IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO KEEP OUR CONVERSATION PRIVATE. DAPHNE, I'M MICAH. THEY WON'T WIN. WE'LL HAVE JUSTICE. I PROMISE. »
Can Micah promise that? No, but he does anyways. Because if the bad guys win and they turn him into a weapon, no one could be a hero.
—-
Daphne's smile is grim, but satisfied. She's going to help end this, she knows it. 'You can call me Dee,' she sends. 'I'll be in touch.'
Exiting the text document, she closes the top of the computer with a light snap. They're going to have justice. Even if Micah's not sure of it, and Daphne has no clue where this is going, she feels god about the information she's acquired. Now? She just needs to get back in contact with Jason Graham's primate companion…