Audrey jabbed and punched the bag as Tobi sat back and watched.
"Still no leads?" Audrey asked in an exhausted voice, breathing through the punches.
"Nothing yet. He hasn't made any public appearances since our last run in." Tobi replied, lifting his hand up from his relaxed state.
"Augh!" Audrey grunted, punching the bag harder. She turned to look at Tobi.
"It's been a few days already. If I don't get that I.D. back, my life is gonna get harder." She said, turning around to face the bag again.
"More than it already is…" she said under her breath.
Tobi sat forward in his chair, taking a drink from the straw in his cup
"We're trying, Riven is doing what he can to get any leads." Tobi replied.
Audrey sighed as she sat down, leaning over with her arms resting on her legs as she looked down, tired, sweating.
"Look, I wanna say I trust you guys. But the fact of the matter is, I've only known you for like, four days." Audrey said, she sat up, turning her head to Tobi.
"I want to trust you, but I need that I.D. back." She added, looking worried.
"Yeah, I get it. I don't know if I'd trust me either." Tobi replied, standing up.
"Come on, the shower should be hot by now. Go take a break and we'll figure it out after" Tobi said.
"I Am not letting you shower with me!"" Audrey said, misunderstanding.
"I didn't say that!!" Tobi replied in an angry tone, blushing slightly.
Tobi walked into Rivens room as he typed away at his computer. Riven looked focused.
"Nothing yet?" Tobi asked, "Just bits and pieces, but nothing concrete." Riven responded.
He sat back as he looked tired.
"We have some Data Centers that may have his info. It's possible that they wouldn't think that some of that info can be used to track him." Riven explained.
"What do you mean?" Tobi asked.
"Well, they probably don't think anyone would get in. He's connected to the company and his info could give us some hint as to where he goes, where he sends this data from." Riven replied.
"That's possible?" Tobi asked, looking at the screen confused.
"If they didn't bother to scrub the metadata, yeah." Riven replied.
He started typing again, focused on the screen.
"If he submitted documents or any pictures for any reason, the metadata would show where that was taken." Riven said, Tobi looked at him.
"Huh" he said simply.
Riven turned to Tobi, handing him a small NFC chip and spider-drone.
"I need you to drop this little guy off outside one of the data centers. I'll hack in remotely and hopefully we won't have to get our hands too dirty" Riven said to him.
"Got it!" Tobi said, smiling.
Tobi walked the streets, an earpiece in his ear as he acted nonchalant.
"Do you actually like her?" Loretta asked through his earpiece.
"Audrey? Why?" Tobi asked.
"God, she takes so long to shower. I couldn't get in before we left. I swear to all that is holy, if she's using my expensive face wash…" Loretta said, venting.
Tobi looked around as he continued walking.
"Oh come on, she's not that bad. She probably hasn't been able to shower since she landed here." Tobi replied.
"Even worse! She's probably stinking up the couch she's using" Loretta said.
"Maybe that's why she's in the shower for so long?" Tobi asked.
"Or planting listening devices n' shit." Loretta said.
"Oh don't think that way" Tobi said, looking slightly upset.
"She shows up at a weird time, right after we infiltrated Jefferson's office, and she's innocent? Please." Loretta said, Tobi cut her off as he arrived in the alleyway of the Office.
"Oop, I'm here. Can't talk." Tobi said as he muted his ear piece to switch channels.
"Ugh, your shower drama bores me." Tobi said as he pulled out the spider-drone, planting the NFC sticker on it.
"You're up, lil guy." Tobi said as he set it next to a vent.
"Riven, you're up" Tobi said as he stood up, walking across the street.
Riven began typing on his computer, controlling the drone into the vent.
"You really think this will work? Don't you need stronger signals than an NFC?" Tobi asked as he leaned against the wall.
"Plant the NFC on the hard drive, use the spider-drone to hack in, download the info to my cloud storage, done." Riven replied as he controlled the drone into the Data room.
"Shit…" Riven said as he looked at the wall of the room.
Loretta finally patched through to the radio frequency as Audrey walked into Rivens room. She yawned and stretched as she walked in.
"Mind if I watch?" Audrey asked.
"TOBI YOU ASSHOLE, DON'T YOU DARE DISCONNECT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!" Loretta screamed as Tobi and Riven cringed from the noise.
Audrey looked freaked out as she watched the screen.
"Yeah, yeah… enjoy the show…" Riven said as he looked up at Audrey.
"Augh, God, I'm sorry." Tobi said annoyed as he tried to get his ear to stop ringing.
"Guy's, we have a problem. Lava Lamps" Riven said.
"Lava Lamps?" Audrey asked, confused.
"Same tactics as us. Use a camera to track the blobs, run a program that translates them into numbers, and it creates a continuously changing encryption key." Riven explained.
"Meaning we can't get in?" Loretta asked, sighing.
"It might disrupt the download, but we can still try the NFC" Riven said as he controlled the drone to the Data Center
The drone climbed the side of the housing unit.
"Here goes nothing…" Riven said as he and Audrey watched the video feed.
|||||||___ 49%
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.
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Error
Unauthorized Access detected
"Damnit!" Riven said, the alarm started to go off in the Data Center as Riven tried to immediately get the drone out.
"Riven, what's going on? We can hear the alarms blaring out here!" Loretta asked as she watched the building from the rooftop across the way
Tobi joined up with Loretta as he watched along with her.
"Tell me you got your drone out!" Tobi asked as Riven focused on the screen.
"Might have to use the IED" Riven said
"IED?" Audrey asked.
"Whatever you do, do it fast. Folina just pulled up!" Tobi said as Riven started typing.
Folina burst through the door as she looked quickly for the drone.
"Will the explosion be big?" Audrey asked
"No, think of it as an implosion. No fire, it'll just fry the insides of the drone, making it impossible to track back to us." Riven replied.
Audrey looked skeptical.
"Won't she know you guys made it?" Audrey asked. Riven glanced at her, looking back without saying anything as the computer asked to confirm.
"We don't have much choice…" Riven said as he hit enter.
"Got you!" Folina said, reaching down to the drone. It started sparking and emitting smoke as the insides started to fry.
"The hell?" Folina asked as the drone caught fire.
"Tell me you got something…" Tobi asked as Riven sat back.
"We got a few files, but not much. We're gonna need to infiltrate to get those files." Riven replied.
"What? But it didn't work" Tobi said, "Just get back to HQ, I'll come up with something." Riven replied.
Tobi and Loretta looked at each other with looks of uncertainty.
Folina put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, reaching down to look at the drone.
She looked at it, the body covered in black soot. "I know it was you, Tobi…" she said to herself quietly as she walked out of the Data Center.
Tobi and Loretta walked in as Tobi sat down heavy on the couch, lifting his arms up to relax.
"Home sweet home" He said as Audrey and Riven walked out.
Loretta walked by, passing Audrey.
"You better have not used my shower stuff!" Loretta said as she walked off.
Audrey looked slightly weirded out.
Audrey sat across from Tobi
"Don't mind her, she's been complaining about the shower all day." Tobi said.
"I uh, I had my own shower stuff?" Audrey said.
"Man, girls are so territorial. It's like dogs hiking their legs for territory!" Tobi joked laughing hard as Audrey looked even more weirded out.
Loretta walked behind Tobi, hitting his head with a chopping hand gesture as she looked angry.
"Like you'd know, dickhead! No girl wants to be around you!" Loretta said as Tobi looked in serious pain.
"Augh! It was a joke!" Tobi cried.
"A sexist one!" Loretta said as she looked mad.
"I thought you were a self proclaimed feminist?" Riven said, looking a bit annoyed.
"There's really no winning when it comes to jokes anymore." Tobi said, crying.
Audrey continued watching, feeling out of her element.
"Say you're sorry!" Loretta yelled as she chopped his head again.
"I'm sorry!!" Tobi said, crying more.
"Very interesting dynamics…" Audrey said, drinking her tea.
"Anyways, what about this plan you talked about?" Audrey asked Riven.
"Right. Well luckily I was able to activate the IED in time, but we didn't get nearly enough data to track Jefferson." Riven said.
"We're going to have to infiltrate the Data Center, but that means we need disguises." Riven said.
"What about getting the data? There's way too much to just put on a little USB" Tobi replied.
"Well, that's why I'm making a Data Pad that will bypass the issues with the NFC" Riven explained.
"It'll be stronger than the NFC chip, and it will bypass the data encryption. So no need to worry about using a live feed." Riven added.
Tobi looked worried
"But doesn't that mean…" Tobi started asking
"Yeah, someone will have to sneak in and stick around till the data can be transferred." Riven said. "We can worry about who later. For now we have to actually get that Data Pad working." Riven said, standing up.
"We'll meet back once I get the Data Pad" Riven said as he walked out of the room.
The room fell silent as Tobi looked at Audrey and Loretta.
"Board games?" Tobi asked, smiling awkwardly.
Folina walked into the office of Officer Desmond, head of the police force.
"Folina. What brings you in?" He asked with his hands behind his back.
Folina tossed the destroyed drone on his desk, looking upset.
"This was found at the LMC Data Center in Town Center. It had to be them… Him again." She said.
Desmond turned around, frowning.
"And you're sure?" He asked, walking closer to his desk.
"Not by the condition of this drone, but this was just a week after his party was crashed by the Obake Gang. Who else could it be?" Folina asked.
Desmond lifted the drone up, inspecting it.
"We still have a warrant out for them, this is the push we need to get a lead on their whereabouts." Folina said as Desmond put the drone down.
"Get it to forensics, see if they can track who made this thing." Desmond said.
Desmond sat in his chair as Folina nodded, walking out of the room.
A moment passed as he continued to think.
Suddenly, there was a light knock at his office door.
"Open." Desmond said. Jefferson Barkley walked in.
"You sure know how to pick your officers" Jefferson said with a sly smile.
Desmond sighed at his tasteless comment.
"What is it, Jefferson?" Desmond asked.
"I take it Folina already told you about the attempted data breach?" Jefferson asked.
"Yes, she's currently getting the evidence to forensics as we speak. I take it there's more to the situation?" Desmond asked.
Jefferson set an envelope on the desk, Desmond sat up, looking down with a hint of superiority.
"I received another offer from an interested buyer." Jefferson said, "Who isn't interested in the Obake Gang?" Desmond scoffed.
"This isn't about them." Jefferson said as Desmond looked confused.
Desmond reached into his pocket, setting Audrey's I.D. on the desk.
"Who is this?" Desmond asked, "Some emo chick who ran into me, stole my wallet." Jefferson said.
"Anyways, later that same day, I get a call from someone who says they've been looking for info on this chick." Jefferson explained, smiling.
"Seems she isn't supposed to be here." Jefferson said.
Desmond stared at Audrey's photo, frowning.
"I see." He said simply.
"I know people've got you in their pockets. I say we use this as an opportunity to make some extra change on the side." Jefferson said.
Desmond exhaled. "How so?" he asked.
"These investigators are already looking for her. I say we take this money, give em a convincing body, a burn victim or something where they won't be able to match it. Then we take the money from em." Jefferson said, smiling.
Desmond thought about the proposition long and hard.
"I'll see what we can do. I'd like to see any footage on security cams around your building so we can get more info on our little criminals." Desmond said as Jefferson nodded.
The sound of seagulls outside the gang's HQ sang their songs as Audrey sat in the living room area.
"I give up!" Tobi said, tossing his cards.
"You aren't even playing the same game as me, we're playing Mancala. Why do you have cards?" Audrey asked.
"Alright, Let's see if this works!" Riven said, walking in the room.
"Aud's you got a phone?" Riven asked, "I got a flip phone." Audrey said.
"A flip phone?! Jeesh, granny over here missed the turn of the millennium!" Tobi said, laying on his back.
"I have my reasons." Audrey said, looking away in shame.
"Ugh, use mine. Just don't fuck my stuff up." Loretta said, handing Riven the phone.
"Just gotta enter the right code… aaaand" Riven said as the device beeped.
The screen showed a loading bar before it turned off.
"No, No no no!" Riven said in a frustrated tone. "The batteries are charged, you shouldn't be doing this!" He said as he shook the device.
"Goddamnit!" He yelled, throwing the device down on the ground as he covered his eyes.
Audrey and Tobi looked at each other worried.
Tobi walked over to Riven, patting his back. "Hey bud! It's okay. We'll figure this out, okay?" Tobi said, trying to cheer him up.
"This was supposed to work!" Riven said as his eyes filled with tears.
"Hey, come on. Let's go take a break, yeah?" Loretta said softly to Riven as she walked him out of the room.
Audrey walked up to Tobi, watching the two exit the room as she scratched her neck.
"Is he okay?" Audrey asked, worried. "Yeah, he just needs time. He's just stressed is all." Tobi said as he picked up the device.
"What's his story?" Audrey asked.
"He struggles with things sometimes. He swears he's on the spectrum. I've suggested he get tested but he was always afraid." Tobi responded.
Audrey looked a bit doubtful.
"You think he's autistic just because of that?" Audrey asked, Tobi shook his head.
"No, there's more to it. He's always struggled with social settings, hyper fixations, and hard to accept change. Hell of a smart kid, too. Once he gets into a subject he likes, he'll talk your ear off like he invented the damn thing." Tobi responded, smiling.
Tobi looked at Audrey, "We don't know for sure, we just assume. Can't really say one way or another anymore considering we're basically nobodies, Obake." Tobi said.
Audrey thought about what he said, feeling like a nobody as well.
Loretta walked back in the room as she sighed.
"Look, I really didn't want him to get involved with our shit, but I think you should take that to Xander, he might be able to fix it up and get it working." Loretta said as she looked worried.
"I think Riven needs a break for tonight. It's been a long week, and I don't think he can take the pressure for now." She continued.
"Right, hopefully he's back in Southside." Tobi responded.
"Xander?" Audrey asked, "Yeah. He's mine, so don't think about it." Loretta said as she looked Audrey in the eyes with a piercing stare.
Audrey looked confused and weirded out.
"Oh… Kay?" Audrey said.
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. We'll get this to him and ask him for help." Tobi said, slightly annoyed.
Tobi started to walk past Loretta as she grabbed his arm tightly.
"Don't you dare let your sights off her. I don't trust her, especially around him." Loretta said quietly, angry as she looked at Tobi.
Tobi looked back, slightly offended. "Yeah, I got it…" Tobi responded, upset.
Loretta walked by, staring Audrey down as she walked past.
The room was silent for a moment as they waited for Loretta to walk out.
"Okay, seriously. What the hell is her problem?!" Audrey asked, offended.
"She doesn't trust you. Thinks you showed up out of nowhere, that you're undercover or something." Tobi said, upset.
"What?" Audrey asked, "No, you clearly saw that I lost my I.D. why would I be undercover?" Audrey asked.
Tobi shook his head, "Let's just forget about it for now, yeah?" Tobi said.
Audrey looked down, slightly hurt.
"Yeah…" She replied as the two walked out.
Tobi and Audrey sat across from each other on the train as the sun started getting low.
Audrey looked tired, depressed. The two stayed quiet.
Tobi looked across at her, he looked worried as he looked back down at the floor.
"The train for JR station will be approaching, doors will open on the right side of the car." The announcement said as the two approached their stop.
"We'll have to trek here on foot." Tobi said as the two stepped off the train.
"I don't remember ever visiting Southside." Audrey said as the two walked out the station.
"It wasn't very popular. It was run down, abandoned by the mayor after his empty promises." Tobi responded.
The city streets became less busy as the two walked towards the abandoned side of town, only the occasional sound of traffic passing by.
"So why would Xander be here? If it's abandoned, why stay?" Audrey asked.
"Same reason we live in an abandoned warehouse" Tobi smiled slyly.
"Touche…" Audrey responded with a smirk.
"Anyways, he figured he'd be able to stay out of the limelight here. Off the grid technically, and still close enough to do some serious work." Tobi said as the two climbed over a broken fence.
Audrey jumped down into a puddle as Tobi held her hand, helping her up.
"He mostly explores abandoned buildings and whatnot to get parts or medicine for people who need 'em." Tobi continued.
"So how do you all know him?" Audrey asked, "got into a scuffle over some parts, held me at gunpoint. Realized I wasn't willing to kill him and just laughed it off." Tobi said as they climbed an old ladder up to the roof.
The step broke as Tobi grabbed Audreys arm.
"Got you!" Tobi smiled as he helped her up.
"T-thanks" Audrey said, blushing lightly.
"Dude started inviting me out for explorations into abandoned buildings. Ended up helping a lot of people with that medicine and those parts. He eventually helped us make devices we needed" Tobi said.
Audrey looked confused a moment
"Wait, I thought Riven was your tech guy?" Audrey asked.
"Well, sorta. Riven is more of our guy in the chair. He did start trying to learn to make stuff after Xander got involved. That's what that whole thing back there was." Tobi explained.
"I see…" Audrey said.
The two jumped down as they looked out at an old beach town.
"Almost there. Dude really got lucky when he got pick of HQ locations" Tobi chuckled.
Audrey followed behind.
The two walked through the rundown building as water dripped lightly onto the ground.
The sound of broken glass as the two stepped through the building with flashlights.
"You think he's actually here? It doesn't look like anyone has been here in ages." Audrey asked, worried.
"He has a workshop through the backdoors of this place. Kinda like a secret entrance." Tobi responded.
"So why are we sneaking?" Audrey asked, "Well, just in case someone else that isn't supposed to be here is." Tobi responded.
The two continued to walk as they reached a blocked off path.
"You stay here, I'll look for a way around." Tobi said.
"But you just said…" Audrey was about to say.
"Yeah, yeah. But it's empty. You'll be okay." Tobi replied as Audrey looked skeptical.
"Be back soon, stay put!" Tobi said as he walked off.
Audrey looked slightly annoyed
"Ugh, Can't believe he's just leaving me here…" Audrey said to herself as she shined a light on the walls.
The light shined on a framed nameplate on the door.
"Xander? Isn't that obvious?" She asked herself as she heard the sound of glass crack.
She turned around, shining her light into the hall.
"Tobi?" She called quietly. "Tobi, Is that you? I swear to God if you're playing a trick on me…" Audrey said she walked slowly towards the doorway Tobi went through.
She picked up a pipe as she continued to walk through the hall slowly.
"Ugh, I've seen Dino movies like this… Dude's arm was the only thing left and it freaked the chick out… I don't like that scenario here…" Audrey said to herself as she held the pipe up, ready to strike.
She heard the sound of glass being stepped on from behind her again as she turned around.
She looked shocked as the barrel of a gun was pointed at her.
"What are you doing here?" The man asked as Audrey stayed silent, looking steady and not scared.
The man stared at her as he kept the gun held at her.
She held the pipe with both hands, ready to strike.
"I said…" He used his thumb to take the gun out of safety, "What are you doing here?" He asked again.
Audrey stared him down.
"I'm not afraid to die." She said as he stared into her eyes.
"Oh?" He asked, aiming his gun up, shooting. Audrey closed her eyes a second, still steady.
He pointed the gun at her again.
"I guess you aren't… But maybe you should be?" He asked.
Audrey stared at him, she noticed something…
He continued staring, sweat lightly falling from his face.
Audrey smiled, chuckling lightly.
"Go ahead and shoot me if you can't have a civilized talk." Audrey said, smiling.
The man just stared as the water dripped onto the floor lightly. Almost like a clock ticking.
Drip
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Drip
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Drip