The last book flies off the shelf and into Ed's bag. He then goes about deleteing the original copy by starting a small campfire in the center of the room and tossing the books into it.

"Looks like a highly encrypted SAN. can't be to sure though."
Turns to look a the titles that are on the fire, to see if anything shows it's self.

"Dont worry, data should be free, to me at least. I have a copy now. Think its got something to do with these files?" Ed un-shoulders the silver bag and a huge tome falls out, which he kicks into the fire. "Someone play taps, dats all she wrote. We can leave any time now."

In a flash, the files burn up in the fire and disappear.

Ed pulls a tome identical to the one he just tossed in the fire out of his bag and takes a closer look at it, checking to make sure its all there and what exaclty it is.

Ed's eye bulge as he notices the powerful encryption and the Dataworm swimming through the code.

its a Dataworm, rating 12, along with rating 12 encryption.

"Well don't know about you guys, But this" pointing to the picture of Mona Lisa " has got my attension."

"I'm goona try and take a look"

Standing there Mo dips her head slightly and close's her eyes, taking a deep virtual breath. A voice sounds in her head "The eyes are the windows to the soul"

Ok the eyes, she thinks to herself, not the mouth, the eyes. walking forwards she trys to keep looking at the eyes....

As Mo gazes at the picture (and doesn't get anything from it), a yellow hazard light pops out of the ceiling. You take a guess that the host just went into Passive Alert.

Ed gasps loudly before curling up into a ball "Oh dreck"

Ed fades slowly from the host, as he logs off and returns to his meat body.

Ed dives from the couch in a cold sweat and yanks the cord leading from his deck out of the wall, leaving the plug broken in the socket. It takes a few seconds for the real world to fall back into view. Ed takes a few seconds and lets his racing heart come back down out of his neck.

Looking up at the Yellow light, "Well guess that was me again, Well im gonna hang around till your all clear, I'll be able to handle myself, just wanting to make sure the rest of you are all safe."

At which point she moves to the center of the "room" clasps her hands behind her back and stands tall.

"If someone is wanting to hunt for paydata then i'll stay to cover as well"

Thor looks at Ed -- or rather where Ed most recently was, tips his helmet to Mo and also logs off to see what information Ed has gathered.

Thor logs off without any problems. Maelstom looks at Mo and gives her a nod, "Lets get out of here" and he is gone as well.

Looking around at the iconography Mo starts speaking "Thankyou for entertaining us, you've been a most graceious host, but my time here is up. Maybe we'll visit again" With that she tkes a step back and dissapears from the host.

Eds panic attack finally subsides about the time the others are comming back.
"Sorry, that file had a nasty worm, could have comprimised everything. As long Im offline its not a problem. But to kill it, and thus get at what it was exacly we trashed, Im gonna need some help decripting the file once I kill the worm. Which is going to happen as soon as I take a piss."
Ed pulls the plug from his head and shuffels his bunny slippered feet to the potty.

Resisting the erge to cough as she takes out her data jack Mo lies there for a moment wrapped in the warmness that is her blanket. Blinking as she starts to get up. Easier then i thought it would be unless they got us without us knowing

Right lets make sure everyone is really alright.......

Ed returns to see everyone else up and moving which does lighten his currently concerned mood. "So was it good for you?" Ed smirks at his own terrible attempt at a double entranda. "Sorry about having to run, but that file had a wicked worm attatched to it. Im gonna take a shot at killing it right now, but I may need some help decripting the file itself once I do, so if anyone cares to help..." Ed turns back and heads into the kitchen to make another pot of coffee.

Karl disconnects from the matrix and goes to see the others, "sorry I wasn't much help in there, I was just totally distracted thinking about the stuff I did for MacKay."

He looks at Ed, "I'll do the decryption for you, it's easy."

From the kitchen "Killer. Give me a few to de-worm my deck first"
Ed returns with another mug of cheap coffee. He trots upstairs and returns with a small low rez monitor and a tangle of wires. Finding the 2 ends that look the best he connects the display and plugs into his deck again.

The microcosm thats the guts of Betrix snap into harsh reality, the worm having made only a small mess, but it brings to Eds mind that picture he saw of a heart with heartworms once. Ed whistles, and grabs, seemingly from thin air, a bag of 'Ares Petrochemical Ultra Grub Ex' and gives the sack a hearty drop kick, creating a massive cloud of dust.

Ed watches with a great deal of glee as the worms turns a sickly brown and crumbles to dust.

Rickard comes walking in from upstairs sipping a soy-cola he must have had stashed in his room. "That wasn't so bad. What the hell was that thing the jester smacked you with, Ed?" Without waiting for Ed's response he continues, "So, did we get anything interesting? I'm tempted to go back in and check out that painting again later."

"Dammed if I know. Hurt like a mother buggering fragger though." Ed rubs his head for emphysis. "Im done with the worm though. Karl, ya wanna have a shot at it?"

"Jester? what's that about?" Saying Mo as she come down from her room. "That picture is very well encrypted, Doubt that i'll get through,
Still it was a lot cleaner then i thought it would be, Strange."

"When i first moved into that node, there was this totally unreasonable pain, like getting smacked by an oversized joybuzzer, and this runty icon looking like a court jester.

"Im guessing it was an otaku. Someone bailed me out, I think Rick, but I was on the floor for too long... nasty stuff"

"An Otaku you think?, how comes with our inquiring we knew nothing about it? Rick did this "jester" attack you?" Moving to the kitchen to find something to settle her stomach.

"I entered the node, looked around for what was bothing Ed, and noticed the jester under a table. He ran out, said I didn't belong here and then tried to "joybuzzer" me. I guess I shrugged it off, though, because he got all squinty-eyed and nasty looking. So, I bonked him. He dropped connection after that. My guess is he has a real-world headache right about now. So, I guess you could say that he was moving to attack me, but I beat him to the punch!" As Rick sniggers as his own pun, he takes a nother sip of his soy-cola hoping someone else will be amused ... seeing that no one is, he sighs.

Ed smirks. "So any of you wanna jump on those files and see if you can crack them? Cause I dont think Im gonna be able to... And now Im really wondering they are all about."

Karl jacks in and examines the encrypted file, his on-line form kneels down and begins to meditate, trying to discern the files true form behind the complex lies.

Slowly, the file opens under Karl's concentration. The lock opens, the encrypted chains fall away, and the file within is accessed...

It is a old wooden chest and when Karl opens it he finds a golden scroll. Picking up the scroll and unrolling it, he finds source code... lots and lots of source code.

Karl jacks back out, "It's loads and loads of source code, take a look guys n gals."

Karl and Ed go to work, trying to figure out what this code is all about. First thing they notice is that it is coded in a custom language that neither of you have seen before, which on its own freaks you out a bit. After three days of headaches, you both agree that it is some sort of wiz-tech IC or something. Intreged, you continue pooring over the code, when two days later, Ed's eyes light up, "Its not IC! Its a freakin' SK and a big one to boot! But this is only one peice of it.... oh man, this code is near the levels of what I'd guess an AI to be like..."

Almost on queue, the mysterious p-sec starts beeping, letting you know of an incomming message.

Ed going on 73 hours without sleep, when during a coffee run relizes hes looking at it all wrong. "Hey Karl, do something for me, turn the display upside down and check that dit out line again... I think I just figured it out." Ed drops the mug in his hurry, diving over the back of the couch that he had been living on since tuesday. Ed looks at the smallish text readout burried in a confusing note. "This isnt a program... this is a frame. Nonono... this isnt a frame... Its not IC! Its a freakin' SK and a big one to boot! But this is only one peice of it.... oh man, this code is near the levels of what I'd guess an AI to be like... This is nova wizz stuff!

Coming back into the room with Karl and Ed, Rick is holding the p-sec that sent them the message about Hosts-R-Us the last time, "Guys, looks like we got another job. And what's with the big smiles routine between you two? You get something out of that gobbledegook?"

Sticking his head back out into the common room, he calls to a younger member of the tribe, "Stan -- go get Mo. Tell her that the pocket secretary just called again."

Ed pats the computer "This baby is almost an AI. Huge Semiauto Knowbot. Wicked nice stuff. And whats our mysterious benefactor want now? No, dont tell me." Ed scoops up his deck and trots upstairs to copy the SK to the 'bitbasher' as to free up his main machine for use again. A couple of min. later he returns with both decks. " So whats up? More fun?"

Feeling the polite tap on the shoulder from Stan, Mo turns round and listerns to the little fella, Finnishing with the job of putting the clothes away for the young un's she heads back down the stairs pick up a plate and cup allong the way. "Erm guys, whats up? How excatly are you two still awake? Or should i just go and get more Soy-caf? that is why you've got me isn't it?" She says with a grin.

"Nah, this thing is acting up again. Thought you'd want in since things went so successfully last time." Rick says while waving the p-sec around.

As they hunker around each other to see the message, they're surprised to read .......

Go to the corner of 5th and 13th street. Walk through the red door and show the man inside that you hold this device. Your rewards are due. You need to be there before 17:00 today to collect. Be prepaired to stay for one full week.

"That wasn't at all what I expected. I'll go, anyone with me?"

"Me neither, I think i should ask Grave stone if we could have a couple of lads pop on us, so were safe. A full week, why would we need to stay that long?"

Strangely you get the indication that she isn't liking this part at all. Probley cos It's a physical world thing...

Ed blinks for a second. "They want me to go into the big room? Like outside? Sure this isnt a matrix or something? Does this mean I should shower or something?" Ed looks somewhere between confused and bemused.
"Ill go, but this had better be better then..." Ed pauses and takes note of present company "I dont know what it had better be better then.." he blushes a little at the end of this. "But staying for a week? I dont think I have that many clean pairs of socks left... or enough coffee...hell, I need to pack!"

Good work getting the files cleared before the Rouge could intercept. It was unforseen that you would have any resistance.

Ed waits untill there are a few agreements and heads upstairs to pack up a weeks worth of toys. Which for ed is just about everything. 20 min later Ed shuffels downstairs wearing sneakers for the first time any of you can remember. Ed has a silver bag slung over his shoulder that closly matches his icon, this time its carrying a cyberdeck and a small hand gun.

"Well if were going were gonna need someone to keep an eye on the little ones, I'm gonna go across the block and have a word, be back in a bit"

With that sh grabs her coat that would fit Samatha, puts it over her head and heads of out across the street. Getting to just outside the building the skin on her legs red and already starting to crack from the sun. Stops to ask if anyone is in. After getting the reply "i'll just see if their busy" she finds herself some shade and starts to hope she's got some cream left....

After a couple of minutes the lad comes back out. "You can go in now Mo, he's in the back"

Thanking the lad, she turns and heads in. Making her way through the dimly lit building with little difficultly (no climbing involved) She see's flayer, nods waiting for him to finnish.

"So Mo, whats this little visit for? not bad news i hope?"

Letting her coat fall open slightly "No, no bad news flayer, Trid, water all working good? Was hoping you could help me, most of the older ones will be out for a couple of days, a couple will be left, but i was wondering if you could keep an eye on them for me, we won't be far." Pausing for a second "Corner of 5th and 13th, send a message to me, keeping me upto date? When i get back i'll sort you out a few requests?" Her eyes narrow a little "Just don't send Necro to keep and eye on them, he scares Tori and Jojo. What say you?"



"Ok Mo, sounds fair."

turning Mo heads out, the smell of sweat and salt starting to get to her, pulling her jacket back up head quickly back her left leg dragging slightly.

Getting in she goes to find her cream before coming back down stairs to infrom the house of the things to happen, (while applying her cream) then time make sure we have everything. Heading back upstairs she goes through her meassly selection of clothes at which point she realise that in cleaning everyone else's clothes she forgot to do her own. Find the last of her clean stuff one pair of trainer socks and 2 undies, she stuff them into her jacket pocket alond with her puzzle game and mini stereo. And heads back down stairs, trying her best not to scratch her legs and starts to help get the other sorted.

Flayer just grins a bit. "Its all part of the deal, eh? You watch out backs, we watch yours. And don't you worry bout Necro, I'll have Mother go over and stay with em while yer away, cool?"

A few of the kids seem to be a little upset at you all being gone from the tribe for so long, but with a reasuring word they go back to their studies.

On somewhat of a whim Ed leaves a note on his door. "Take the week off, get some more sleep. Just ya'll wait till I get back." Ed notices a small tool box hidden under a pile of cables. He grabs the tool kit on his way back out.
"As long as I'm out" he says that like he has been in prison."I think I'm gonna take a drive" He adjusts the strap over his back again, and the toolkit. "If you give me a little I think I can get us a ride, make the walk a lot easier on ya" This last part addressing Mo.
He leaves and within a few min finds a rather abused looking '52 Ford sitting on the side of the road. The car used to be black, but has weathered into rust, but the heavy photoelectrical window tint seems to be working well. Ed non-chalently looks around for its proper owner. "Jackpot" he mutters. He tightens the strap for his deck and shuffles to the parked car, pulling the screwdriver from his pocket.
Ed pops the lock and dives in, the scrambler starting the car from the door. "Ooo and your loaded too" to the sadly beaten car. Ed pops the clutch and peals away from the curb, speeding to a friendly ally to pull the transponder chip out. Ed reaches under the dash and yanks a pair of wires away, disabling the transmitter. He spins off again, banging off a trashcan and turing a hapless devil rat into road waffle.
Eight minutes after leaving Ed pulls up in front of the misfit mansion and hits the sputtering horn.

"Thanks Ed, hope this doesn't belong to the Eaters" knowing he would be that stupid. At which point she covers herself up sun the sun isn't directly on her.

Ed replys in turn "Nope, I made sure I wasent on established turf... I think..." Ed waits untill seatbelts are buckled and mashes the gas to the floor, promptly flooding the engine. Ed slams his fist on the dashboard and the car turns over, and he drives off in the direction of 5th and 13th street.

The car runs like hell, but its better than walking! You're not even sure it'll make the trip of a few miles, but fate has been on your side lately. Rick and Mael jump in the back seat and you guys speed away, knocking over a few trashcans along the way.

The car skids to a halt at the corner and there it is... the red door. You guys greb your gear and step through the door and have to blink. The room inside is flooded with white floresent lights. The floor is white tiling and the celing and walls are also a stark white. In the center of the room is a metal table, lined with 6 metal chairs. At the far end of the room is another door, which proply opens as you all step inside. Before you stands a tall male human. He is wearing a white lab-coat and looks the part of a doctor, except maybe a mad one. His eyes look more like camera lenses than eyes and his body is completely void of hair. He gives you a plastic smile, "Hello, are you expected?"

After showing him the p-sec with the X on it, he grins a bit, "Ah yes! Someone must really have taken a liking to you kids. Come in, come in. I have been instructed to give you all an upgrade. Do any of you know what a Cerebral Booster is?"