A Case of Chips.
© Tim Barker 2000
Swisho and Chips.
The ship docked with well-practised precision. Yet
another excursion to Delta Prime, the centre of the Universe. Literally. Omni
was on board, armed to the teeth with an impressive arsenal of neutron bombs,
lasers, viruses and nerve gas. This time he was smuggling a new software virus
to rendezvous with Ronny at 08:30 hours. The trip had been a pleasant one,
accelerating towards the speed of light just outside Gideon and sling-shooting
several suns along the way.
"Please show me your credentials", spoke the
custom official in a flat tone. He seemed somehow disinterested yet completely
alert at the same time. Omni reached into his pocket, pulled out his id-chip
and handed it to the official.
"OK, you check out OK. Have a nice stay on Delta
Prime"
"Thanks, I might just do that", replied Omni.
Omni stepped out of the customs building and entered a
busy, bustling city. He walked over to the nearest Taxi, stepped in and asked
for his hotel.
Ten minutes later he was standing in the lobby of a
post-futuristic nightmare. He'd taken something on the plane to make the
journey more interesting and now it was falling into an hallucinatory sort of
groove. Potted plants became monstrous constructions and peoples faces mutated
into those of animals. He tensed his grip on his luggage which was unfortunate
because the bell boy had decided to take that opportunity to relieve him of it.
A kind of struggle ensued which succeeded in attracting the attention of the
hotel manager. He promptly came over.
"Is there some sort of problem here ?"
"No, no problem. It's just this damn animal trying
to take my cases ", explained Omni.
"Oh, I see", the manager replied diplomatically.
He waved the bell boy off. His years in the business had developed his senses
to the extent that he recognised an explosive situation when he saw one. He let
Omni take his luggage and guided him over to the desk.
The rest of the booking-in process went without incident.
Omni kept seeing strange things in his periphery vision but he just ignored
them. He made it to his room and just collapsed on the bed. The vid-phone was
bleeping though so he couldn't get to sleep. That and the spiralling images he
saw when he closed his eyes. Eventually he stood up and hit the remote next to
the bed.
"Yo! Omni ! Glad to see you've made it in one piece
!". It was Ronny. She had red hair tied back with a green bandanna. She
appeared to be dressed in a boiler suit, same colour as the headband.
"Meet me at point A". This was the pre-arranged
meeting place, the time already decided.
The place turned out to be a swisho bar, handing out a
locally manufactured, completely legal stimulant. Taking one of these babies increased
neuronal activity by 30 % for about 20 minutes. They were getting real popular
with Free Zoners, virtual reality junkies. Ronny was there at the bar, leaning
over a Swisho.
"Want one ?", she asked, holding out her hand.
"No thanks", said Omni. "I don't do
drugs", he lied.
He held out his own hands and dropped the chip on the
bar.
"It's all in there. Check it out."
"I will", replied Ronny. She handed him a
credit chip. He plugged it into his portable reader. It read nearly 3 million.
"Fine", he said, "See you 'round."
And that was that. All of a sudden though both their P.E.N.s[1]
went off.
"Let's split", Omni said.
"Yeah" was all Ronny replied and headed for the
back door.
Once outside Ronny hailed a taxi by pressing a button on
her wristwatch. Soon enough, one screamed to a halt by her feet and she got in.
While they were driving back to the hotel Ronny kept looking over her shoulder.
No one seemed to be following her though.
As soon as she was in her room Ronny went over to her
briefcase computer. She plugged in the chip and reeled back instantly. The
screen was showing a bright green lattice of criss-crossed lines. They were
twisting in all 3 dimensions at great speed. Great intro' screen, Ronny thought.
But, as soon as it started the screen shut down and everything went dead. Ronny
picked up the computer, shook it then ran a diagnostics check. The hardware was
OK, it was a software problem. She ran a virus check. Clear. She loaded a
comm’s program and ran that. The interface popped up, nothing wrong there.
"Damn, it must be the new chip", Ronny said out
loud.
"Fuckin' Omni's burned me !"
Ronny plugged her modem into the vid phone socket and ran
a personal trace program. She traced Omni by his credit chip. He was in a bar
down Southside, spending lots already by the looks of it. She took the computer
out and called a taxi.
"Southside, Bar X", Ronny called to the driver.
"And step on it."
They arrived at the bar in little time. Ronny paid the
driver, including a tip for the breakneck speed they went at, then headed for
the door. Once inside she had a good look 'round. He wasn't at the bar so she
began to walk around the dark recesses. Then she noticed him, sitting right at
the back, surrounded by a collection of assorted degenerates. This was going to
be tricky. A quiet word in the ear was going to be out of the question. She
picked a video tablet out of her pocket and scrawled a message out with the
stylus. It read :
"Omni - you two timing
Bastard.
If you don't give me my
credits
back I'll blow your head
clean
off. That software was a
dud."
She walked over to Omni’s table and deposited the tablet
on his lap. He read it then laughed. Everyone around the table began to laugh
too. Suddenly someone made a move for something under the table. Ronny’s
reactions were finely tuned. She took out a laser and zapped the perpetrator
straight between the eyes. He slumped forward.
"OK, OK, less of that. Force is unnecessary !",
Omni cried out. He reached into a pocket and took out another chip.
"Here, take this. It's worth a lot you know. I've
spent most of your lousy credits already."
"What is it
?", Ronny asked.
"Don't ask, just plug it in and see".
"OK, but I'll be back for you if it's no good",
Ronny retorted. She turned and headed for the door. I must place an automatic
trace on that Bastard she reminded herself. As she stepped into a taxi outside
she just caught a glimpse of the police showing up. They would be after her
now. Must go somewhere safe.
At her hotel she went straight to her room and began
packing. She was just about to close her briefcase when she thought about the
new chip.
I'll just try this out, she thought, make sure he hasn't
burned me again. She plugged the chip into the computer and hit the on button.
The screen cleared and a million orange balls exploded
from the centre towards the edges. Then a big logo appeared on the screen -
P.L.T.[2]
It twisted and turned to the accompaniment of a synthesised voice.
P.L.T., this is heavy stuff, thought Ronny. "What
the hell is this", she said out loud. The screen cleared again and a menu
appeared:
|
State Security |
|
Espionage |
|
Military Personnel |
|
Government Contacts |
|
Satellite Communications |
|
System Administration |
|
End |
Ronny spoke the command : "System
administration".
Controls appeared on the screen to change the voice
timbre, alter help levels and configure peripherals. She spoke again,
"Exit". She was immediately returned to the main menu screen. This
time she spoke the command, "Military personnel". Instantly a list of
names appeared, generals, lieutenants, secret service, etc. She hesitated,
thinking about sending one of these top brass a virus but she relinquished. She
uttered the command, "Exit" and was back at the main menu again. This
time she spoke the command, "End", with which the screen went dead
and her computer switched off. Looks like some sort of high-powered spy kit,
she thought.
Remembering that the police were probably after her right
now she closed the lid on her computer and finished packing. She had to get out
of there before trouble arrived. No telling what might happen if she got caught
with that chip.
Omni had left the bar before the cops arrived. He didn't
need to get any hassle with his armoury of illegal weapons and assorted
hardware. He hailed a taxi back to his hotel and when he got there took
something to make him sleep. He was out like a light within 10 minutes.
The next thing he knew there was a knock at the door. He
felt drowsy from the sleeping pill and the knock had entered into his subconscious,
finally pulling him out of a dreamless slumber. He leaned over to the intercom.
"Who is it ?", he slurred into the microphone.
"It's me, Ronny. Please let me in. You've got to
help me."
He was in no state to argue. He pressed the button by his
bed and the door opened, revealing Ronny, complete with bags of assorted shapes
and sizes.
"I'm sorry Omni. I've got no place to go. I used up
my credits buying that chip off you and the cops are after me and this chip
looks like hot stuff. I just don't know what to do !"
"Calm down !" Omni said, who was he to refuse a
pretty girl ?
"You can have the sofa, just dump your bags and get
some sleep”, he said reassuringly.
"Oh thanks Omni. I'll get sorted out tomorrow, I
promise."
"Yeah, yeah." That was the last thing he said
before falling into a deep sleep.
Body Bag.
Captain Trowsky was having a bad day. He'd woken up
that morning with a severe hangover from the night before, his wife had
prepared pickled amoeba again for his sandwiches and, to top it all, there was
a stiff waiting for him in a Swisho bar downtown.
He arrived within fifteen minutes of the call. The body
was still warm and assorted discarded bottles adorned the table that the corpse
had been sitting at.
"By the looks of it there was a real party going on
here." Observed Trowsky to one of his deputies.
"Yeah, the barmaid said there was a gang of
delinquents around the table", replied the deputy.
"Any descriptions ?" Enquired Trowsky.
"No, no one saw a thing, usual story." The
deputy replied.
"Shit, whatever happened to public duty ?"
Remarked Trowsky. He bent over and took a closer look at the body.
"Right between the eyes, close range", he
remarked to himself.
"Have all the taxis tracked down and check the
security cameras' film".
"Already checked the film, just interference.
Must've had some sort of jamming device", guessed the deputy.
"Damn that son of a bitch", remarked Trowsky,
"I can see we're dealing with professionals here. It may have been a hit.
Any id. on the victim ?"
"None that we could find apart from a tattoo of a
chip on his right shoulder".
"That's Free Zoners, ain't it ?", asked
Trowsky.
"Yeah, it's them all right. They're always hanging
around in Siwsho bars", the deputy pointed out.
"Well, get that body down to the morgue, perform an
autopsy and find where that tattoo was drawn. Check the pigment and look for
micro-initials of the artist."
"Right you are Sir."
With that two uniformed officers moved in with the body
bag. It wasn't the last time that Captain Trowsky would see that tattoo.
Making Plans.
Ronny
woke first, with a start. She wondered where she was then quickly remembered
the night before including the fact that the police were probably looking for
her right now. She dug around in one of her bags and found the green wig she'd
been looking for. She took out a fake animal skin jacket, a pair of sunglasses,
a short black skirt and a pair of green boots. After she changed she looked in
the mirror and congratulated herself on her new appearance.
Omni was still sleeping. Ronny went over to him and
gently shook him.
"Wake up Omni, it's time to get out of here",
she whispered in his ear.
"Ugh, what time is it ?" Omni muttered.
"08:30", she replied, "time we were making
plans".
"Not me Ronny", he said disdainfully.
"You're the one that's got the police after you, not me".
"If it wasn't for you burning me in the first place
I'd never be in this situation", she stated.
"Yeah, right, blame me for blowing a friends head
off", he replied.
"Come on, get up, you've got to help me !",
Ronny pleaded.
"OK, OK, hold on a minute".
After taking a shower and putting on a fresh suit Omni
joined Ronny in the living room intent on getting rid of her as soon as he
could.
"Right, where can you go on this lousy planet where
the police will never find you ?", enquired Omni.
"Well, there's the desert outside of the city. But
I'm not sure I'm cut out for that nomadic lifestyle, sand in my boots and
everything that goes with it."
"OK, we'll only consider that as a last resort
then", Omni said in comforting tones. "Anywhere else ?" He
enquired.
"Not that I know of. Can't I come with you ? Get off
this planet ?"
"No way, out of the question", he snapped.
"A man like me doesn't need a woman like you to hamper him. Besides you'd
get caught at customs before you even boarded a ship."
"Yeah, maybe you're right. Looks like I'm stuck here
then."
Thank God for that, thought Omni. Ronny began to weep.
"Here don't cry", Omni said handing Ronny a
carefully folded handkerchief. "I'm sure there's some kind of solution.
Maybe the answer's in that chip I gave you.", Omni suggested.
When Ronny had composed herself Omni suggested loading
the chip again. Ronny reluctantly found her computer and plugged in the chip.
She clicked the on button and eventually the menu appeared again.
Loaders.
The
day after the Swisho bar murder Trowsky received the report he'd been waiting
for from the coroner. Cause of death : laser shot to the forehead, no surprises
there. As to the tattoo , the pigment was Chroamian ink, the artists initials
TJ. A quick check and Trowsky discovered that Chroamian ink was peculiar to
Drought St., the Chroamian quarter of the city.
Captain Trowsky got in his car and made his way to
Drought St. It was raining and his windscreen wipers beat rhythmically echoing
the beat of his heart.
After a few enquiries he managed to track down the tattoo
artist, one Teenus Jay. He entered Teenus Jays shop with one hand on his gun
and the other on his badge.
The shop was covered, wall to wall, with all kinds of
tattoos. Nobody was there so Trowsky pretended to look at the drawings whilst
he waited. Not too long after he entered a man appeared behind the counter.
Trowsky turned around.
"You Teenus Jay ?" he enquired.
"Depends who's asking", replied the man.
Trowsky held up his badge. A hologram of the police
shield sprang out as he opened it.
"Captain Trowsky, Delta City police."
"Oh, what can I do for you Captain, I'm Teenus
Jay."
"I'd like you to accompany me to the station to
answer a few routine questions. Follow me."
Teenus Jay could see that Trowsky had his other hand on
his gun so he complied, shutting the shop door as he left.
Back at the station Trowsky ushered Teenus Jay into an
interview room.
"Roll up your sleeve", ordered Trowsky. Again,
Teenus Jay complied. His arm was festooned with assorted tattoos. Trowsky
administered the Beta-Adrenochrome, a truth drug, with a single shot then
turned the recorder on and began the interrogation.
It transpired that Teenus Jay had tattooed the Free Zoner
only two weeks before. He remembered it clearly as all of his friends had come
and he had paid in hard currency. He knew where their hang-out was as he had
heard them mention it, a games arcade down on Hope Street. He also said that
they called themselves "Loaders".
Trowsky administered the antidote to the truth drug and sent Teenus Jay
on his way.
The arcade on Hope Street was crowded with all kinds of
low-life. It wouldn't be difficult to find the Loaders. He headed for the
Virtual Reality section. There they were, standing around Total Apocalypse, all
dressed the same as the dead guy. Trowsky approached the nearest Loader and
grabbed him by the collar, one hand, as always, on his gun.
"You a Loader boy ?", enquired Trowsky.
"Fuck off, man", replied the man.
"I want some information", demanded Trowsky.
"Fuck you."
"Come on now, I've got one of your buddies lying on
a slab at the morgue and you know something about it", insisted Trowsky.
"Not me", the Loader replied.
"I know something", said the man with the
Virtual Reality goggles on. He took them off and looked over at Trowsky.
"Name's Josh, how can I help you officer ?"
"I want a description of the man who killed your
friend at the Swisho bar."
"That was no man, er, what was your name ?"
"Captain Trowsky. It was a woman then ?" asked
the Captain.
"Yeah”, replied Josh, "pretty thing too. I'll
give you a description. She's no friend of ours."
Trowsky took the Loader back to the station and obtained
a description and a photo-fit. He was hot on the trail now.
Departures.
Omni
and Ronny selected "Government Contacts" from the menu screen and to
their surprise came across the name "Sly Stone".
"Isn't that the states arch enemy ?" Omni said
out loud.
"Yeah, strange. He's a number one arms
smuggler", replied Ronny.
"I know, I've come across him before. One mean
dude", admitted Omni. "Maybe we can use this ", he suggested,
"I mean we could blackmail the government into dropping the investigation
into your victim."
"Hmm...better than anything I can come up with,
let's try it".
They contacted a high-ranking member of state security
using the chip and arranged a meeting down by the spaceport. They had no
trouble in convincing the military that this was important so the meeting was
arranged for that afternoon.
Omni and Ronny hailed separate taxis and met at the
spaceport. Omni was leaving Delta Prime, his mission complete and, hopefully,
the trouble with Ronny sorted out. Their farewell gestures were clumsy, neither
of them being any good at goodbyes.
"So long then Ronny, take care."
"I will Omni, thanks for everything."
"No problem, just get everything sorted out, eh
?"
"Yeah."
With that Ronny leaned forward and gave Omni a kiss on
the cheek. He looked embarrassed, turned around then disappeared towards
customs.
Ronny left and didn't look back, she had more than enough
to think about. She headed for the V.I.P. lounge where she had arranged to meet
the military man. She arrived at the lounge to find it deserted apart from one
undistinguished looking man who she presumed was her mark. She took a deep
breath and strolled on up to him.
"You from the military ?", she enquired.
"Yes, I'm an agent working for the interested
party", he stated. No name.
"Well, let me see your id.", she demanded.
The man reached into his jacket pocket and produced a
chip. Ronny plugged it into her reader. It read : Military Agent# 1972305.
Again, no name.
"OK, guess you're sound", she said, rather
presumptuously.
"What's the deal ?" Asked the agent.
Straight to the point Ronny thought. I like that.
"I'll forget all about your deals with Sly Stone if
you drop the investigations concerned with a certain recent murder in a Swisho
bar", she stated flatly.
"That could be arranged", the agent said,
"but I want the chip you used to get the information."
"No can do", Ronny insisted, "that chip is
my guarantee that you'll keep your word."
"And will you keep yours ?" The agent asked
her.
"Sure, you can count on it", she answered.
"OK then, I'll see what I can arrange", the
agent said.
"Great, I'll see you 'round then", Ronny said
casually.
"Don't depend on it."
Ronny then left the V.I.P. lounge and headed for the
hotel. As she walked out of the lounge the agent spoke into a concealed
microphone.
"Follow her and get that chip. Exterminate all
traces." With that he too got up and left the lounge.
Ronny was feeling pleased with herself. She had just come
up against the big guns and, as far as she knew, had come out on top. All she
had to do was lie low for a few days until she was sure the investigation was
off then sell the chip to the highest bidder. She'd be made.
Back at the hotel room Ronny took a sleeping pill and
fell into a deep sleep. She never awoke. The government agents had followed her
to the hotel, waited a while then released a mycotoxin under her door. When
they were sure that she was dead they entered her room , found the chip still
in her computer and left with it.
Epilogue.
Captain
Trowsky was just finishing off another of his wife’s packed meals when the call
came through.
"Trowsky ? This is superintendent De Voe, come to my
office immediately."
"Yes Sir", replied Trowsky and made his way to
his superiors office. Once inside he was introduced to two strangers in
expensive looking black suits.
"These gentlemen are from the government
Trowsky", the superintendent pointed out.
"Gentlemen, how are you ?" Asked Trowsky. No
reply.
"Sit down Trowsky", insisted the
superintendent.
"Yes Sir", Trowsky complied.
One of the government men spoke.
"We have a small problem with your investigation
into the Swisho bar murder" the stranger said.
"We want you to drop all lines of enquiry as of
right now", the other stranger said, "it's a matter of state
security."
The superintendent piped up.
"This comes from the highest authority
Trowsky", he added. "Just drop everything. I want all of your data to
be sent to me immediately."
"Yes Sir", Trowsky said rather begrudgingly but
he knew it was pointless to argue with such political clout. He left the
superintendents office and returned to his own then began to transfer all of
his files to the superintendent.
Just then he got another 'phone call.
"Yes, what is it ?" he shouted into the 'phone.
"I think you should come and see this Captain",
the reporting officer said, "they've found a body of a girl in a hotel
room downtown that matches the description of your Swisho bar murderer."
Great, he thought. The case really is over now.