Just over this Mountain

Koyle was literally seething at the being doublecrossed, and he wasn't going to mince away without a few parting shots. He'd have preferred they'd been launched with hot, deadly plasma, but circumstances figuring ten unfriendly blaster barrels dictated that he'd have to rely on verbal snipes for now. Fortunately, that was another Dix'xr specialty--the runt was going to make sure these hits told.

None of the phreaks spoke as he launched into his spiteful soliloquy, half of them probably afraid of what miracle Koyle was going to pull out of his knapsack next. His first crack was a goodie, with several of the younger ones bridling at the accusation of capitalist greed. His second trick, on the other hand, was just plain fun. Even with forewarning, the shock on Cryo's face as Koyle put the blaster to his head was priceless--truly a snap holo-moment.

The slicers' blasters raised an inch higher as Koyle continued to expound the arts of intimidation, but although pale and visibly disturbed, Shaggy managed to keep his charges on a short enough leash. Just as well since the little Verpine's punchline was a fairly blunt threat against the Komp Dun phreaks. Only when Koyle was well finished did Shaggy speak in response.

"I thought you'd take the blasters as a compliment," he said quietly. "And after all, we did learn it from you."

Slipping his own weapon back out of sight, the head slicer retrieved a small parcel from table. He tossed it to Koyle.

"For you. And like I said, you need something, you call. We're good for it, I promise."

Koyle was already halfway towards Court Dejene before he deigned to open the sleeve. A small note was included:

Quickly Koyle peered inside: His credits--and then some! For all its shadows, suddenly the day seemed a tad brighter...

CUTSCENE: THE RATH, FORTUNE'S BELT
Later that day...

Chaverus Greel hated his lofty Rath office. Serilee's hive-shaped political heart may have been plated in dazzling gold alloys, but it was still circular in shape. And that made every office on the Executive Floor a sixth part of that shape, a terrible, cramped wedge that was impossible to furnish.

'The architects should be lined up and shot,' he thought bitterly, reflecting that even the view couldn't match the spectacle from the penthouse at Morthex Head Office. Then his gaze trailed across the latest communiqués. 'Of course, when I am Chairman the view will be much better. And I can kill the architects.'

Dwelling on the files' import, he indulged in a small smile. A gaunt, severe figure in his mid-seventies, almost any show of teeth resembled the grimace of a predator ready to feed. A fitting comparison, many felt.

Greel's deskcomm buzzed, and he answered it promptly.

"Apologies, Director. But we have a priority transmission from the Regional Security Bureau."

"Oh, yes, put him through. Put him through immediately."

Chaverus straightened and composed himself while waiting for the holonet link to connect. Although he technically outranked all but the corporation's top executives, one always treated a member from the security division with blatant respect. Their operations were internal almost as often as external.

Suddenly the air before his desk wavered, and resolved into the phantasm of a ubiquitous RSB operative. Neat, proper, and straight, consumed with brisk purpose.

"Director Greel, Section Leader Forse reporting."

"Of course, Section Leader, please report."

"A Redirect-Decrypt Adaptor was used to access a secure datacache from Serilee earlier this day. Are you aware of this, Director?"

Greel shifted uneasily. "There are so many operatives passing through my system..."

The Section Leader lifted a brow, but remained otherwise dispassionate. "This was not authorised activity. The connection was broken before the trace was complete."

Greel nodded slowly, cautiously. "I see. What do you want me to do? Security is not in my jurisdiction, after all."

A tight smile. "Oh, entirely understood, Director. Rest assured, we have top agents investigating this breach." He paused infinitesimally. "I only wish to eliminate you from our inquiry."

Chaverus couldn't suppress a shudder. Even when totally uninvolved, the RSB had a way of torturing their interviewees with implied guilt.

"I wish I could help, Section Leader."

The hologram nodded a sharp bow, then disappeared from sight. Exhaling deeply, Chaverus turned to ponder the city but found the old irritations returning. Instead he sought comfort in rereading his agents' findings. Beside him, his news monitor refreshed with reports of unexplained account errors being detected across several of Serilee's major banks...

------------------------------