[New Hire Encryption] Pay Dirt

[onequartershark]

Hello, rig crew. I have an update on the Dick Washburn situation. The guilt finally got to him, and he decided to make himself helpful.

[ She turns her comm's camera to scan over two small but extremely important objects in her other hand: a piece of paper with some complicated-looking sequences of numbers and mathematical symbols... ]

[ ...And Dickwash's shock collar control fob. ]

We have less than four hours before he misses a security check for the fob. Then they'll remotely detonate it, and we won't be able to block that signal. The paper... has to do with the activation frequencies for the nanochains? He stole the data from Boyle.

[ She turns the camera again. She's proud of what she's accomplished here, but not sure what this win is going to look like in motion. She is Not A Scientist. She's not a diplomat either. This is a wild day in the life of Carolina. ]

I can't stop anyone from making choices, but I told him to get out once it's clear we've started moving against the company. He wants to go hide his family from retaliation, and I don't think he'll be our problem ever again.

[ Carolina is not interested in punishing him any further. She saw the look on his face. He'll punish himself enough, she thinks. She's been there. ]

In the meantime...

[ A lot has happened. Time to remember who was doing what in the wake of Brainiac 5's murder, before she charged off on this gamble. ]

Cammie? You were trying to pick up Brainy's work on the collars, right?

Comments

[tr1xx]

Absolutely! We're in our bunk. Four doors in from the north end on your right. Oh, this'll make this shite so much easier.

[ She is practically vibrating. Look, she was more than willing to do this the hard way, but anything that helps solve this quicker is a godsend. ]

[onequartershark]

On my way.

[ In short order, there's a polite knuckle rap on the door frame as Carolina peers into Jaime and Cammie's room. ]

Special delivery.

[tr1xx]

[ If Cammie had a little less self-restraint, Carolina would be at serious risk of being spontaneously hugged by a very high-energy teenager who is running purely on the adrenaline of gotta help everyone now.

As it is she still almost throws herself fully up to her feet to greet Carolina more than simply stands. The empty tray from Jaime bringing her food ends up on the floor. ]

Seriously, you're a lifesaver. Literally.

[onequartershark]

[ She takes this as enough of an invitation to come in. Carolina pulls the precious cargo back out of her pocket to hand it off. ]

I'll wait until we're out of here to ask for a medal.

[ It's not much of a joke, but she knows that. ]

Washburn seemed to think having the fob will make a real difference, I hope it helps. Don't push the clock on it too much though, "less than four hours" isn't precise and I don't want anyone losing an eye.

[tr1xx]

No letting it blow up in our faces, got it.

[ The second she has it in her hands, Cammie's turning the fob around in her grip to look it over. She still can't quite believe they actually have one, just handed over no less. ]

Havin' the trigger may give me a better idea of the interaction between the system and the collars and how to interrupt or deactivate it. Maybe I should brave Brainy's hiding place for the collar, havin' access to both pieces as well as the files...

[ She trails off into some vague mumbling, head and ears both tilting various ways as she thinks. Jaime's been stuck listening to this on and off for a while.

She snaps out of it after a few seconds, this time. ]

Right. I can do this. Gimme like, two hours. Tops. Best case, I figure it out before they realise he handed this over and we'll have a window to try for the control tower.

[ ...however the fuck they're gonna do that. ]

[beetlebutt]

I can get the collar.

That way there's no risk they grab you.

[She's too important. She's the only one left that can probably figure this out.]

Just tell me where it is.

[tr1xx]

[ She looks hesitant for a second, but— he's right. She can't risk getting caught now. They'd all be screwed. ]

...alright, but you be careful, yeah? If anythin' makes it seem too risky, leave it, having it'll make it faster but it probably won't stop me figurin' it out if I don't.

[ She isolates the location from Brainy's data dump and elbows him lightly after passing it on. ]

I mean it. No gettin' yerself killed.

[onequartershark]

[ She tips her head toward Jaime. ]

Is this a thing you might need backup on?

[ Carolina knows the teenagers around here are wildly competent, so it's not an age thing. She's just already got her shoes on and left her key in the engine. ]

[beetlebutt]

[Jaime shakes his head as he looks at where Brainy left it.]

One person is less suspicious and I've already got backup.

...which is complicated.

... Iii'm just gonna go.

[And he does.]

[onequartershark]

[ Carolina doesn't stop him, but she does turn to Cammie. ]

I was way less mildly concerned about him five minutes ago.

[tr1xx]

[ Cammie covers her face with a hand and laughs for the first time since this mess started. ]

Smooth, Jaime. Real smooth.

He’s fine. He may’ve just made himself sound a little bit mental, but he’s fine. Not my place to explain, but I know what he’s talkin’ about.

[ She’s still going to be practically bouncing with anxious energy until he comes back in one piece, but that’s neither here nor there. She’s sure him and the Scarab have this covered. ]

[onequartershark]

[ Cammie has a lot of work to do in very little time, and whatever is up with Jaime is a less immediate problem than the possible end to their ongoing corporate nightmare. Carolina nods, and doesn't pursue. ]

I have some... things I'm going to check up on.

[ Those things are probably people. Maybe one in particular. ]

You need anything I can do, you let me know, okay?

[tr1xx]

[ Cammie gives a little mock salute. ]

Will do. Hopefully the next time I speak to any of ye it’ll be to say I’ve cracked it.

[ And then it becomes a matter of actually reaching the controls, but one stage at a time, here. Until Jaime gets back she’s going to look at the algorithms and the trigger; no slowing down now. ]