The Time Has Come..

[Alexi]

ooc: wait for dungeon?

[Addison]

OOC: Nah, I'm picking it back up.

It was not long before Addison pulled up to the large domed building with a glass exterior. She parked her car in the same spot she had parked it for years and got out. After the beep of the alarm sounded she made her way into the building being greeted by a flustered and red faced, plump secretary.

Addison and her both got into a rather overly sized elevator before addressing the constant messaging.

"Fanny, my I must of gotten 13 messages in one hour..."

She said this sarcastically as she pressed the button to the 6th floor.

F: "Sorry Ma'am but theres been a bump in your current case and the Judge is witholding a court date."
"A bump....I'll be in my office. Get me Judge Hawthorn on my line immediatly."

Fanny nervoulsy made her way back to her desk once the doors opened and directly behind it Addison walked into her own, only after unlocking it. Being an attorney as well as leading a double life she found it to only benefit her more by keeping every aspect of her life behind a sold lock with one key.

There were 284 rungs in the rusted metal ladder leading up to the surface. A small voice in the back of Vangelis's mind kept count while his mind wandered to the doings on the surface. The attempted coup had been abortive-he did not hear armored vehicles of the Enforcers rumbling down the street, nor the orders of the citywide P.A. chasing everyone back into their homes. Maybe these would-be revolutionaries were simply biding their time. Or maybe the seed had already been planted...

Reaching the surface, the old man heaved himself up onto the concrete floor of the warehouse. Tearing a thin strip from the rags covering him, he tied it around his eyes to protect them from the sun and the smog. Pacing across the warehouse floor, he ran his hand along the wall until he found the small crack where the great bay doors had rusted shut. Emptying his lungs, Vangelis slipped through the crack and out into the southern reaches of the city.

Chaos did not reign. Even here, Veronica's synaptic fingers felt the pulse and the rhythm of the city. Chaos merely simmered, just beneath the surface, at a level where the computers and the bots wouldn't notice or care. Today the feel of the region was silghtly more entropic. Crowds of people hurried back to their homes and boxes, whispering about the day's commotion. The food vendors were unusually busy, and the smell of assorted meats wafted about like ghosts of dead animals. People were nervous. They were getting ready to hole up, to wait out the coming battle like they had waited out the previous one, when the machines took control. And some, undoubtedly, were stocking up to participate in whatever small way they could.

Vangelis heard the soft patter of little, cloth-clad feet scrabbling through the dust. He reached out a hand and grabbed a street urchin by the collar. A sharp intake of breath-this one obviously didn't know him.

"Take me to Salim." His voice was raspy, tired from lack of use, but it still worked. The boy tried to take off, but Vangelis kept his grasp firm on the boy's collar. They took a roundabout route, skirting the throngs of people, but eventually arrived at the sound of frying, and the smell of grease.

"Mr. Vangelis!" A large, meaty hand grasped the old blind man's. "S'good to see you on the surface for once!"

"Today seemed as good a day as any." Vangelis grinned. He felt the large man's hand pull away as he cringed from the sight of the teeth.

"Come on, you'll put people off their appetites." Vangelis closed his mouth, and snaked a hand into his rags. The hand emerged, holding the dead rat like it was a brand new meme-box.

"I'll give you half of this in return for your fine, fine cooking." He could hear the large man licking his lips.

"I don't know how far down you go in there, but you always bring me the biggest ones!" He grabbed the rat, then paused. "What else do you want."

"The same thing I always want." Vangelis smiled, closed lipped this time. "I want to see the world through your eyes-or at least, the eyes of your little spies."

The man with the beefy hand sighed. "Well, that's fair enough, though I can't imagine why. Come back in half an hour. I'll have your rat and your report."

Vangelis thanked him, and wandered off into the din.
*****
29 minutes later, Vangelis returned to Salim's stand. He had already learned much about the goings on of the day, though it was doubtful he could trust it all. According to some, the people had risen up and beaten down the bots. To others, the bots had simply fallen and let them have their way. There was one revolutionary-no, twenty. The enforcers had new tech-one had flown up into the air and chased the hackers away. Vangelis shook his head. Maybe all the people wanted was a good show.

He didn't have to push his way through the crowd surrounding Salim-his smell did the job. As he arrived, a stick was placed in his hand by one of the kids. Vangelis chewed it thoughtfully while Salim informed him in a hushed voice.

"There was a whole group on one of the buildings adjacent to the plaza. Their leader was wearing pink, of all things. She must'v wanted to be seen. On another building, one man, signalling the group with a light."

"Subtle." Vangelis whispered.

"He must'v been more than just a man, though-he leapt across the gap to reach the group and talk with them. He didn't leave with them, though."

"Where'd he go?"

"Dunno. At that point, the riot started. This one had to clear out." The sound of greasy hair being ruffled.

"Much obliged." Vangelis finished his rat, and slipped the wooden skewer into his rags. An enforcer, conversing with the firebrands? Or a turned bot? A useful asset, either way, but he didn't leave with them. Did he get caught?

Vangelis made his way deeper into the desolate reaches of the city. Maybe he'd be able to find a loose lipped hacker...

[Alexi]

Alexi reached the rooftop to find everyone gone.
Damn.
She looked around searching for hints of who might have been here. She reached down seeing a piece of cloth and lifted it. She turned it over in her hand noting the black material. She opened a compartment on her suit and put the piece of cloth in. A pad was below the compartment. She began to type. The scanner would pick up anything on the cloth including DNA. Not to mention it would give her the type. She sighed in exasperation at the lack of DNA. At least she knew what it was composed of that was a clue in itself.
"Enforcer number 101 reporting. Found location of where Rebels had stood. Only evidence a piece of cloth. no DNA or other substance found to lead to possible identification. Signing out and heading into office."
Alexi moved quickly and headed for her apartment. She'd need to change and shower before heading into the DA's office. It was imperative she maintain the appearance of a normal citizen. Enforcers were listed by numbers only. Only a few had access to obtain their names. They had normal jobs, led normal lives. Yet when called upon they were Veronica's army. She was one of the highest, one of the best. She wouldn't blow that now.

[Addison]

OOC: Just to clarify Addison did not lead the hackers and is in no way....in charge of them. It was just a group decision by some random hackers...and so I don't get IM'ed again, it was not a virus.


Once she had placed her things in their rightful spot she locked the door behind her and sat in her large leather desk chair. Fanny, of course flustered still, spoke over the speaker saying the judge was holding on line one.

"Hello, Judge, its been only 2 days since I last talked to you, and I hear...."

The judge cut her off abruptly.

J: "Your not getting the date Addison. DA's office has faultess evidence it was your guy."

"You have to be joking me. And tell me where did this evidence appear from, or did the DA pull it out of her ass again like she seems to do oh..every damn case."

Addison's voice was dripping with sarcasm as she teared into the DA. They had fought in court more then their fair share of times, and none could say who was better because there was something about her and the DA that was ruthless once they stepped into a courtroom.

J: "I won't hear it Addison. Call the DA and speak with her."

There was a short click as Addison looked at the phone realizing she had just been hung up on. She placed the phone back on the receiver and looked down at her calendar which had scribble all over it. One of which was a phone number to the DA's office.

[Alexi]

Alexi ran into the office right on time. She breathed a sigh of relief. Wearing black slacks, a pink silk undershirt, and a black business jacket she made quite an impression. Despite her short stature, the one inch high heeled black shoes she wore made her look taller. She stopped at her secretary's desk, picking up messages.
"Hello Carolyn. How are you today?"
C:"Fine Miss Alexandra."
"Good. How is Mike and the kids?"
C:"Ohhhh they're doing wonderful. Becca.....has a dance recital tonight."
"She does?"
C:"Yes ma'am."
"Then leave at 3:00. You can suprise her by picking her up at school and getting her ready."
C:"Thank you Miss."
Alexi smiled.
"Of course. Hold my calls for me while I go over some paperwork. Unless it's urgent."
She started walking into her office.
C:"Yes ma'am."

[Addison]

She looked at the number for what seemed like forever before she dialed it.

It rang a few times before she would hear a womans voice pick up informing her she had reached the DA's office. Addison had called more than once in her lifetime and by now knew the secretary just by the sound of her voice.

When she spoke is was sarcastic yet annoyed.
"Carolyn, a pleasure as always. Its been what a whole week,..I need to speak with your boss."

******
Meanwhile the group of hackers from earlier had all managed to get away. They were one of the smarter groups in town and had been friends of Addison for years; especially upon them finding out that she as against Veronica yet still held a prominent position in the city.

A week ago, a new hacker had surfaced within the area and although the clan was very suspicious they allowed him to accompany and shadow them...just to get the feel. A lone hacker was never good, to easy to get caught, a group can hide the footsteps...

This new hacker was named Steven and had gotten seperated from the others during the riot and now was walking down the street with a laptop in one hand a black backpack and a coffee in the other...

[Alexi]

Caroyln looked at her bosses door and chewed on her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry ma'am. She's not to be disturbed, Can I take a message?"

[Addison]

"Carolyn I think you and I both know I need to speak with her. A very important case is now in lock because of her and I have a right to know why. SO either let me speak with her or I'll be there in 10min....."

She still kept her voice calm however annoyed she was.

[Alexi]

C:"Hold please."
Carolyn placed her on hold and hit the speaker button.
C:"I know you didn't want to be disturbed. But Miss Rother is on the line. She says it's urgent, concerning a case. She either wants to talk to you or she'll be her in ten minutes."
"I'm in a meeting Carolyn. I'll call her back if it's not life or death."
Carolyn glanced warily at the phone. Then picked it back up.
C:"I'm sorry. She's in a meeting. Is it extremely urgent?"