Mask or Menance IC Contact Post

[failureisntachoice]

[ An automated voice speaks because someone hasn't bothered to set up a proper voicemail. The only part in her voice is her name. ] You have reached Agent Texas. Leave a message at the tone.

Comments

[systemize]

[ Cadel's instant reaction is one of blind panic before he breathes through it and it clears. He can't afford panic. He forcibly reminds himself that tracking it back to this IP address doesn't matter, because he can pack up and leave this housing assignment if he wants and request another, or siphon funds into an account from a credit card company in a real emergency and get his own place. He can just go if she gets suspicious. (He knows this is a she because he found her ID by skimming the public network and picked victims from there, not wanting to waste time on inactive accounts.)

This is a stolen computer. He can ditch it. He's no attachment to it. He's fine.

Nonetheless he withdraws all of his probes and starts closing up shop on his end, slapping down protections as fast as he can, heart in his throat. In the middle of this he finally answers: ]

Looking. What are you?

[ Because the code he'd seen one glimpse of, and what's barraging him now, is not like anything he's ever seen. ]

[failureisntachoice]

[ At least whatever asshole that was trying to bother her is backing off. She keeps her defenses up anyway and sends off another irritable message: ]

What? Gee thanks. I'm an AI, so let's go with 'who' instead.

And you should be telling me your name first, you're the one that came stampeding to me.

[systemize]

[ Is she... not pursuing? Cadel's surprised. Then he's more surprised. The only thing that can effectively overcome his panic is sheer, unbridled intellectual curiosity, and now he has that in spades. His mind races trying to understand this. ]

Sorry. Obviously you have a personality. I'm Stormer. I didn't realize I was hacking a person instead of a computer. I'd never do that.

[ Never is a little strong, but barring extenuating circumstances making it necessary, Cadel would certainly think twice. That makes him feel all over itchy, like he needs to shower, imagining breaking into someone's mind. ]

[failureisntachoice]

Stormer?

[ That sounds like a kid name or alias. Though with the amount of 'super hero' types around here, it might just be another one of them running around. ]

What were you looking for?

[systemize]

[ She's not wrong, though Sonja had given him that name so Cadel is ridiculously attached to it, and it has nothing to do with superheroing. He'd stare incredulously at that word, much less applied to himself. ]

Information. I just got here.

[ Hopefully being new is enough explanation for intrusiveness. ]

[failureisntachoice]

[ New, she'll believe, and she's sticking with her theory that this might be a younger imPort. Or at least an immature one. ]

So your solution was to go invading virtual space? You know you could just ask on the network for information, right?

[systemize]

There's no guarantee it's right. And how am I supposed to believe anything they say unless I know who they are?

[ This seems obvious to him. ]

[failureisntachoice]

No one has any incentive to lie about basic information. Or are you looking for something else?

[systemize]

Of course they do. Any one of us could be on the government's payroll for more than registration. Or they could be preying on new arrivals as easy marks. Or they could just be misinformed. You can't take anything at face value.

[ This is the truth. He's just not answering her question. ]

[failureisntachoice]

Which category do you think I fall in?

[systemize]

None of them. That's why I wanted your information.

[ Duh. ]

[failureisntachoice]

So you wanted to hack me for it.

[ Because that's just her luck. She's not sure if hacking attempts would more or less likely to happen if she made it widely known what she was. At least this is the first one since she arrived. ]

Well you have my attention now, kid. What do you want to know?

[systemize]

[ Now she's going to answer his questions? Cadel is instantly suspicious, but his assessment of her based on public conversations is as someone no nonsense. Except-- ]

Why do you think I'm a kid?

[failureisntachoice]

Because I don't know any adults that would go by 'Stormer.' Or are those kinds of names common where you're from?

[systemize]

It's a nickname from a friend. But they're not that uncommon.

[failureisntachoice]

Fine, they're not uncommon. But was I wrong?

[systemize]

You said you'd answer my questions.

[failureisntachoice]

So you won't answer mine?

[ There's a small pause before the next message is sent through: ]

What questions did you have?

[systemize]

[ His own pause. ]

Is Xavier's the only place to get training in our powers?

[failureisntachoice]

Hell no. Depends on what powers you have anyway. You can find someone with a similar skill set and get them to help if you can't figure them out yourself.

[systemize]

So it's like an apprenticeship system?

[failureisntachoice]

Yeah, you're just not stuck with their job once it's over.

What powers do you have?

[systemize]

They're all computer based. [ That's a lie, but two out of three isn't bad. ]

What about you?

[failureisntachoice]

Combat tech based.

Got any plans for yours?

[systemize]

It'd be amazing if I could use them, but I don't know what could go wrong while I'm learning.