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

Cor bit his lip at her expression and gave a brief shrug. “That’s fair. I don't think anyone should be on a lightcycle in this.” he agreed, nodding. “Alright. Let's check on Achilles and the other medics.”

Nora shut the truck door behind her, curling her fingers into Cor's. Bit stayed in the truck. The arena doors were still open; a ghostly bluish light shone down on the empty space.

Cor gave her hand a gentle squeeze as their fingers were entwined and walked with her towards the group of medics, doing his best not to look back at the arena.

Nora scowled as the wind blew her hair into her face again; shoving it obstinately out of the way, she walked up to Achilles. "Are you guys done?"
"Yeah, we've got all of 'em in," Achilles said, motioning to the other medics to join them. "Me and Serena here can take one truck back, Claude and Cipher can take the other if you guys grab the third one."
"That sounds good," Nora said. "I just wanted to make sure. We need to get back to the Grid soon before the storm hits."
Achilles nodded and glanced up at the clouds nervously. "I'd hate to drive a lightcycle in this. Let's go."

Cor almost laughed again at Nora’s stubborn expression but didn't interfere. With her or her hair. Though he did try to make a mental note of all the medic’s names as Achilles agreed with their plan.
“Yeah, it's way too risky.” he nodded.

"Let's head back," Nora said, reluctantly letting go of Cor's hand and going to the arena doors, using the palm scanner and shutting them. Achilles and the other medics started heading for the trucks.

Cor watched the other programs get into the trucks as Nora closed the arena back up, glad they all had worked out a plan to get away from here but admittedly still a little worried about the storm. Hopefully everyone would make it back safely.

Nora came back to Cor and took his hand, starting to walk towards the truck. "You can drive."

Cor raised a brow, unsure if she was teasing or not as he held her hand again. “Ok… but how is Eddison going to get his truck back if we take it back to my place?”

(So my brother found this at RC Willey today)

"He'll send someone to get them," Nora said, but the truth was, she wasn't entirely sure. The trucks were most likely from one of Edison's outposts in the main city, so if she was the one being forced to return them, she probably wouldn't have to see him. Either way, she didn't have to deal with him directly. Hopefully.

(That has to be the coolest arcade game and cabinet I've ever seen!!!!)

Cor nodded slightly, accepting the answer though he was still a bit confused. Edison probably has a tracker on each of these trucks anyway. he assumed brushing away the rest of those thoughts as they approached their truck. “Let’s get out of this weather.”

"He'll know where they are," Nora assured him as she clambered into the truck. "He has a tracker on all of them, and eyes everywhere. I don't think Achilles and the other medics should worry about it either… actually, I should tell them that…"
Rolling down the window, she shouted to Achilles, who was talking with the other medics, "Can you leave the trucks at End of Line?"
Achilles nodded and yelled something back, but a sudden gust of wind tossed his voice away. Nora retreated back into the safety of the cabin, rolling the window back up.

“That doesn't surprise me.” Cor admitted as he climbed into the driver's side of the cab. He managed to get the truck running and let out a slow breath. Of all the vehicles he's driven, a truck was not actually on the list… But he didn't think it would be too hard.

Nora looked at him as she started rearranging her bun. "Have you ever driven one of these before?"

Cor felt a blush rise to his face as he was caught. “Uhhh… Honestly, no.” he admitted, shyly. “I did drive a lightrunner before… How different can it be?” he shrugged. “Other than the height and length, I mean.”

"You could always put it on autopilot," Nora mused, giving her bun a final tug. "I think you have to tell it which sector you're going to. Or I could drive it."

Cor laughed softly and nodded. “Autopilot sounds like a good idea.” he smiled before looking for the button and giving the truck his address.

Nora smiled softly at him as she pulled on her seatbelt. The truck began to move, by itself, back towards the city. Nora could just see the bright spire of the Silver Tower sticking up above the other buildings. How was she going to explain End of Line's sudden closure?

Cor sighed a little and leaned back in his seat, trying to relax despite the many thoughts and questions he had buzzing around his head. Did Cyrus only target End of Line? If so, why? How did he even manage to corrupt the energy? That stuff wasn't code. It was supposed to be pure… Even after filtration. He sighed again and looked over at Nora. “You ok?” he asked softly.

"I'm thinking about End of Line," Nora said. "Zuse bought some of the best security systems on the Grid. Unless Cyrus is a much better hacker than we give him credit for, he had to have had a partner to get in. Someone who works at End of Line. And I don't know when we'll be able to open again…"

Cor furrowed his brow slightly and nodded. “I… I wouldn't be too surprised if he was.” he admitted. “I’m honestly still trying to wrap my head around how he managed to do that much damage just by having programs drink energy. It shouldn't be possible to manipulate energy at all. … At least, not for us.” he added, even though he doubted that Flynn would even if he could.

"I don't know," Nora admitted. The words were strange and sour in her mouth. "I just don't know. Stars…"
She started rubbing the light strip on her chest, a nervous tic. The wave of emotion and anxiety that had been pushing at her since this whole thing started was starting to get to her.
Lightning flashed far away, throwing Nora's face into sharp relief for the briefest of moments. She caught Cor's face in the light, too, and took a moment to admire his features. It would be all right. She had Cor.

Cor nodded and looked over, sighing a little. “I know… I wasn't expecting anyone to, except him. I was just venting my thoughts.” he told her.
He almost chuckled when he noticed her little nervous habit. “Hey, it's ok Nora. We're fine. The other programs are safe and… I’m sure there's a way to help them.” he assured, smiling softly. Though his breath caught at the effect the lighting had on her face.

Nora looked at him, her nerves calming a little. They were back in the city now, the truck rumbling past programmes and bars and shops.
"There's got to be a way to help them," she echoed.

Cor gave another assuring nod, his smile growing, at her words. “Yeah.” he agreed softly. Though he wasn't sure how to help yet. They would either need the very best medic on the Grid or an expert hacker, though that option had a bit more risk.