01 . text

[systemize]

[By the time Cadel posts, he has been here several days. He's scoured the network, disassembled and successfully reassembled his phone, contemplated stealing a computer and guiltily put that impulse aside. It's less his fear of garnering attention (though he is afraid of that) and far more his fear of disappointing the absent ghosts of Sonja, Saul and Fiona. If he needs them near him to act lawfully, has he really changed at all? He likes to think that he has.

So he'll do this the right way. Which to Cadel, means the safe way. His network tag reads simply Stormer and is untraceable. He uses text only. Net security has more than once been a matter of life or death for him.]

I'm looking for work. Computer security is my specialty. I can offer network anonymity and protection against hacking, and will take payment or pieces of tech in return. If there's something else you're looking to have done, I might be able to do that, too. I'm trying to save up to build my own computer and I haven't been here long.

[He could offer hacking itself, too, but he's unwilling to do that just for anyone who bids on his services. He's not Vee. But this is one of the few legal options he sees open to him, since he doesn't expect that the part time job he was assigned will get him money as fast as he wants it. He's also disinclined to say his age online-- that'll just discredit him to any potential customers-- but there is a question he needs answered.]

Does anyone here attend college that's underage? Is that allowed for imPorts? I was attending at home and I'd like to continue my studies.

And, sorry, another question. I've never had powers before. Are there classes for that, too?

Thanks,
Stormer

Comments

audio

[abduxel]

You can build computing machines? Guess you learned that at College. Gee, hope they let you bring your mansion with you.

Do people try to hack them up often? Is that a thing now?

[systemize]

I learned it on my own, but I don't have a mansion. Everyone has computers where I'm from. Are they scarce for you?

That's been a thing for as long as someone has wanted to know what someone else was doing, so, yeah.

[abduxel]

[Hesitation, and shuffling in the audio]

Yeah, well, I mean, if you're taking about computing machines, which somehow I think you are... so, um, those are common now, right? You don't mean you all have a computer - a person to compute for you.

So when you hack up a computing machine you can take the information from inside?

Text; comm tag is "Hiro"

[microbrobotics]

computers here are kinda slow. you're better off building your own anyway. fortunately I can help with that.

also dunno about the college thing. im the same way but ehhhh whatever it's never gonna live up to home so I just went straight to having a job. pays more too.

[systemize]

[This is the first person Cadel's seen aside from him who's altered their comm tag. He instantly gains a bit of respect for someone who sees the sense in being cautious, not to mention someone apparently his age group who went to college early. Cadel likes Hamish, his friend at home in the same boat, but Hamish can be grating. His interest doesn't mean he's going to take an offer to help at face value, however.]

Help how?

What were you doing in uni at home? I'd only been going for a few months so I didn't get very far. I don't care about the money except for building my rig. I hope they let me take a placement test. [It had been hell (and over a year of work) to get the police to let him attend, not to mention all the years of his childhood he'd been prevented from moving up in grades, so Cadel is pretty attached to going to college.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Always a good sign, huh? Hiro's loosened up since he got here, but he still prefers text when his limbs aren't broken. And sometimes even then. Like today. ]

building a computer. i didn't start out with much money either but there are definitely places in de chima where you can sweet talk yourself into a part or two. or be amazing and repair stuff in exchange for parts.

rig, huh? we talking computer or something bigger? because i was going there for advanced robotics. and there's totally more experience to be had than colleges in that field.

TEXT

[abadidea]

[Isaac realizes this is a shot in the dark, but he's going to take it anyway. He's a systems engineer specializing in BIG ships. He's not good at the delicate stuff.]

How are you at modifying HUDs in suits?

[It's not necessarily that he needs that done, but it'll gauge the guy's capabilities.]

And depending on what you can do, trial and error may be the best bet. I mean, I had to just...sort of figure them out, myself.

omg ISAAC CLARKE <3

[systemize]

What kind of suit? I've done nano scale DNA wiring before. It would take me some time to familiarize myself with your systems but I wouldn't mind that. It just wouldn't be quick.

[He'd relish the challenge, honestly, with how direly he needs something to take his mind off of, well, everything that's happening.]

Is there something specific you're trying to accomplish? By the way, if you want this conversation encrypted, let me know.

o hai ♥

[abadidea]

[You know, with the amount of people who didn't have RIGs around here, it was probably easier to show him than to try and explain. Besides, he wasn't a doctor or a software engineer. As far as the RIG goes, he knows that it works.]

EVA suit. The onboard computer captures information from the environment and integrates a few other tools for moving heavy equipment. It's an Engineering RIG.

Is any of this making sense to you?

text;

[earnedmystripes]

there are
power classes i mean
im the guy who does them, actually

yo

[systemize]

Hi. Where do you teach them? Does that mean you had powers at home?

[earnedmystripes]

have you heard of the xavier school for imports yet
emma frost runs it
im one of the teachers
well
not like a TEACHER teacher, more like a gym coach really
powers coach

and yeah i did

text

[heavyhitter]

boy are u in luck! dont listen to the dweeb above me, im the one u wanna go to for powers lessons. im GREAT.

[systemize]

[Cadel is instantly and thoroughly skeptical. He's suspicious like that.]

You run competing classes?

[heavyhitter]

no i do private lessons
and theyre better

text

[earnedmystripes]

didnt someone end up with a sword in them the last time you messed with powers

[HE REMEMBERS THAT POST, RAMIR.]

[heavyhitter]

um
no
where would u get that idea

permatext

[hypnotherapy]

Oh, more programmers? It's almost like being at home, at this rate. [ Magicman is going to be...completely unhelpful in regards to anything job-related because he figures other people who care more have that covered. ] What an interesting handle you have. [ Totally doesn't bother to cover up his own because why does that even matter. ]

[systemize]

I didn't think there were that many here.

Why does yours have .EXE at the end?

[hypnotherapy]

There are quite a few. I have acquainted myself with a few of them.

A very good question. The .EXE means I am an artificial intelligence. The term netnavi presumably means nothing to you. I'll skip it.

Does Stormer mean anything significant. I do wonder.

text;

[orangehoodie]

I don't know if there's anything provided by the government, but with so many people here there might be people teaching them.

But if it's powers it's usually a matter of practice, right?

[systemize]

Someone named Kotetsu teaches classes at the Xavier Institute. I was thinking of going.

I wasn't sure if it was safe to practice. The only person I know at home with an extra-human ability had a hard time learning to control it, and then someone here manifested a sword in their gut while trying to learn. Not that mine are anything like that! Or my file says they aren't.

[orangehoodie]

So there is a school? That's good, I guess. I hope it works out.

If you think it's dangerous, I think you can have someone with healing abilities to help you practice. That way, if something does go wrong, you'll have backup?

text;

[handwringing]

Is all that really so important?

[How do computers work what is hacking she doesn't get it still. Her ID reads "Elsa" and she makes no attempts to hide anything.]

There are many people here who are willing to help with abilities. What can you do, if you don't mind saying?

encrypted!

[systemize]

Net security? It's incredibly important. Well, maybe not if you don't store any information online, but there's records of everything you do. Video footage of everywhere you've been, receipts of everything you've purchased. If there's someone who has it out for you, it leaves you vulnerable to be unprotected.

[Cadel hesitates, uncertain, before finally just encrypting it.]

My file said I can do a few things, like type with my mind or sense impressions from electronics. I've been reluctant to try. The only person at home I knew with an ability had a hard time controlling it.

[He has one more ability, actually, but a disguise doesn't work so well if he goes around telling people about it.]