Back to Contents
Previous Submission
She plunged herself into mainline, feeling the surge of the Net as it pumped into her spine and filled her senses. The bright colours and flow of information all about her were as familiar as the office her body was sat in, more so. She amused herself by flicking through the building security cameras and phone lines, passing the security lockout with a touch of her level A clearance pass. She could have hacked her way through just as easily, but she was only playing.
Now, to business. She slipped into the main Net concourse, sliding into the flow of information and probing the companies on her list: Nakamoto, Oztek, Kinkade, Medico. It amused her to put the image of the conference not ten paces away so she could see the faces of the men she was extracting the very lives of over the vast expanse of cyberspace.
It was almost too easy sliding under the security blanket into the confidential private files. All those dirty little secrets and bluffs they were hiding oh so inexpertly. All of her data was transmitted by a secure line to Mr Dalyn Steward's microwave uplink, that she envied him, that and the immense power, but hey, as long as she got her toys. He glanced up at her on the video monitor - a penetrating glare. She grinned and deleted all records of the subliminal message and thought of another way to get a raise.
Thanks to her special talents, Mr Nakamoto was going to be very, very sorry. Then there was the short, greasy chairwoman of Oztek, she wouldn't be complaining. At least not if she wanted to stop her little addiction becoming public. Those lesser targets eliminated, she turned her concentration to Medico.
The closed network around the Medico mainframe had live watchers so she moved with care, covering every action, as she slowly worked her way up the food chain to level A access. The main computer was active and transmitting.
"It appears Mr Dalyn Steward wasn't the only one with a shielded mobile uplink," she thought.
"How true."
She whirled, scanners drawing a blank. Only by her experience as a net-runner did she spot the slight outline in the web. Her first instinct was to jack out, but watchers didn't use datacloaks, and her curiosity made her stay.
The stranger dipped into the ether, drawing out a small white bird that she released. It flew straight at her; the pale shape collided with her as she stood paralysed, staring at it and the dissolving shadow behind it. A thought, or perhaps a memory, flashed through her mind of another dove she had seen flying in the Net.
Her world collapsed in on her, suffocating, close all around her, pressing down on her mind like a red hot vice. Through the bleary confusion of thoughts, instinct kept her actions in time and she tucked the Net leads back into her pouch. As the world began to clear and her thoughts swam lazily back into focus, she slowly rose from her chair and moved over to the drinking fountain across the office.
As her feet began to drag her across the plush, imported carpet the first drop of blood ran from her net sockets. It trickled dark and thick in a languid dance down her neck, soaking into her hair and tangling the pale strands into scarlet twine.
Her legs buckled beneath her and she collapsed with a slight gasp as the air was forced from her lungs. That was where they found her - sprawled in front of the Board Room door, blood leaking out of her neck into a sticky brown pool, eyes vacant and lips trembling.
Security had the body removed but there were some questioning glances over the stain, not least those directed at Dietrich.
Dave Watson, 22/10/00
Next Submission
Back to Contents
It's not too late to join in! Check out the author page for instructions!
The page is is copyright © 2000, Despot_in_Exile
E-mail: despot_in_exile@yahoo.co.uk
| What's new? | Setting | THE STORY | Characters | Author info | Editors | Front page |