forum ENCOM OS-12 | OxO | Closed unless you're a fellow Program/User/ISO | Stalkers get a free Light Runner

Started March 25, 2021 by @murphysgirl

tune

Nora nodded. She hoped he was too. There was no time to waste: for all she knew, another shipment of empty-shell programs was being shipped to the docks right now. In fact, there probably was.

Cor wouldn't be surprised if that was the case but he wasn't thinking about that now. “Ah! Found it!” he cheered as he finally located the serial numbers. “They really buried it in there but, unfortunately for them, I don't give up easily.”

Nora nodded, more heartened than she would ever admit. "Good." She held out the data cube. "Could you send them to this? I will look up the shipments."

“Of course I can, sweet cubes.” Cor smirked, accepting the blank cube and transferring the numbers quickly. This felt like a big step in the right direction to stopping his “former” client from unleashing Clu’s army. “What next?” he asked as he handed the cube back to her.

Nora, begrudgingly deciding to let the "sweet cubes" comment go, hung the cube back on her hip. "I will take this up to the system and track the codes."

Cor nodded, almost pensively, at the information and straightened up from the wall. “Any chance of you telling me where that system is or at least letting me come with you?” he asked a little skeptical that she would.

Nora's lips pursed. She would prefer to do this alone, but his knowledge of code was vastly superior to hers.
"If you promise not to touch anything," she said thinly, hoping this would go well.

Cor smiled a little, genuinely surprised and glad that she would let him tag along. “You have my word.” he agreed with a nod. “Lead the way, ‘Roura.”

Nora nodded, called for Bit, spun on her heel, and marched towards the Silver Building. While the main tracking system was in Zuse's office, there was a smaller one in his private rooms, which was where she was taking him. Gliding past the bartender on the first floor, keeping a close eye on Bit, she reached the elevators.

Cor blinked as she led him to the Silver Building, a dozen questions immediately coming to mind as he joined her in the elevator. It made sense that Zuse would have something that could track shipments… But did that mean she knew Zuse or Castor? Or maybe Nora? He kinda hoped she didn't… and he really hoped she didn't know Astra or Skye. That would be uncomfortable.

Nora prodded the elevator button into life, and a few moments later, the doors slid open. A few chattering programs slid out, hardly taking second notice of Nora in her helmet. Bit bobbed ahead of them and hovered near the code-covered buttons to the private floors; Nora swiped her wrist across them, blocking the brief holographic ID that popped up. Zuse's rooms were one floor above hers, which at least meant she would have a short time getting home.

Cor slid his hands in his jacket pockets and kept his head down as he followed Aroura through the club. He knew no one would recognize him, but he wanted to attract as little attention as possible. However, he did keep an eye out for anyone familiar the whole time in the hope of avoiding them right now. Once they approached the code lock, Cor looked away for a moment to give Aroura privacy to access the room where this locator system was.

Nora pressed a few buttons and the elevator began to rise, stopping off shortly at Zuse's private rooms. The entire floor had been his home, an open floor plan with wall-to-wall windows. Nora could just make out an enormous TV, a kitchen the size of the Games arena, and a bed that looked more like a small light tank - but no office. She had been here less than ten times, and she had no idea where it was, and the darkness made everything suffocating.

(I’m watching Tron Uprising right now!)

Cor let out a soft breath when he saw the former program’s living quarters. He knew it would fancy and probably extravagant to some extent but it was different actually being here. “Zuse really knew how to live it up… Even when he wasn't working.” he said softly, but still impressed. “How do you have access to all this?” he asked before he could stop himself.

(We stan. Favourite character?)

"I have my ways," Nora said smoothly, still trying to eye the darkness for something that resembled an office. If she remembered correctly, it had been off to the left. Stepping cautiously, she made her way in that direction.

(I love Mara… But I can't forget about Beck and Paige. Zed's cool too though.)

“Fair enough.” Cor shrugged, a little embarrassed that the question had slipped out as he followed the soft glow of her light lines. He hummed softly and looked around for a place where a light pad would be. Zuse… Or “Castor”, whatever he wanted to call himself was gone and it seemed unlikely that someone else would come in. Though the thought of Nora and her two annoying coworkers popped into his head. If any of them caught them… “Here. Maybe this will help.” he offered, holding out a small handheld light.

Nora tentatively took the light, testing its brightness; if anyone saw lights coming from in here, suspicions would be raised, and she didn't want that. This light, fortunately, was perfect. Raising it, she found the desk and headed over to it, swiping her wrist across the top. A brief holograph of her face flicked across it, and she blocked it just in time, hoping desperately that he hadn't seen anything.
"Well, this is the system." She set down the data cube. "Do what you do."

Cor smiled a little when she took the light and continued to follow her to the office. He noticed the brief flash of a hologram but she moved too fast for him to see the image clearly. “No problem.” he smirked, cracking his knuckles as he sat down at the desk and transferred the data to the tracking system.

Nora watched, somewhat apprehensive. What if the serial numbers were dead ends? No, they couldn't be. Maybe she was just anxious because they were in here, in Zuse's old quarters, investigating a bunch of programs-turned-puppets. It would be fine. It would all be fine.

“So… On a semi unrelated topic, ” Cor spoke up, keeping his voice low enough that Aroura could still hear it. “I’m assuming you heard about that psycho breaking out.” he said, almost sounding like a question as he continued to work.

"Cyrus? Of course I did. It's all over the news. His face is on just about every screen on the Grid."

“Yeah. I figured as much. Just wanted to make sure you knew about it.” Cor admitted with a brief nod. Hopefully, neither of them would encounter Cyrus but he didn't want her to be caught off guard by him… If that creep even made his way to this sector. “Well, good news is that Castor kept this tracking system very simple. You probably could have used it without my help.” he smirked faintly as he moved aside so Aroura could see the result.

Nora scowled. While the system did indeed look easy to use, she felt more comfortable with someone who knew his way around it.
Oh, cubes. Comfortable? Was that really the word she had just used? What was wrong with her?

“But I’m glad you're letting me help you with this since it is technically my fault for taking that job in the first place.” he amended when he noticed her glare. “Besides, I like to stay informed when I can.” Cor hadn't been trying to flatter her or anything this time, though he certainly was capable. He had been just been stating an opinion.

Nora nodded, understanding. "Now get to it."