Virtual Revolution Page #5

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between Rue des Deux Freres

and Rue Montaubard shows you,

a few hours after a

certain cybertronic attack

I'm sure you're aware of.

A few other people are

also to be seen though.

So, at that time, you

were just one among others.

A face in the crowd.

But more recently, I happened

to lose a lead, under a bridge.

And what do I see when I

check the satellite image?

A few minutes before that,

a guy who really looks like you,

going under the same bridge,

and never reappearing from it.

Whoever disappeared our lead

must have had access to our intel.

So, all I had to do

was to draft a note

about some fake meeting with an informant

and then wait and see who'd pay us a visit.

Now, there is one thing I

don't understand about you.

First, you're seen near the place

from where Leonard Lorenz

launched his cybertronic attack.

Sometime later, we find him dead,

along with three other corpses.

No proof,

but enough substantial evidence to conclude

you're likely to have murdered them.

Now, I've had your bank accounts checked.

Your money always comes from

the same source, Synternis.

So, basically, you're easy to profile.

You're one of their shadow agents.

But then,

and here comes the part that puzzles me,

why help a terrorist to escape?

Undercover work of some kind?

I'm guessing this fantastic,

incredibly long-winded

monologue has a point.

You are conducting unauthorized

actions for Synternis,

and by doing so,

you are interfering with my investigation.

So, what does that mean?

Am I under arrest?

Hmm, not necessarily, no.

As for now,

I haven't written anything

concerning you on my files.

The Agency doesn't know

about your involvement in this case.

Nor do they know

about Synternis'

involvement, for that matter.

Why not?

Ah.

You want to negotiate something.

That is so very astute of you, Mr. Trenton.

Yes, indeed.

What do you want?

Straight to the point.

Well, I want you to continue

working for Synternis,

as you already do.

But at the same time,

I want you to work for us, from now on.

Everything they learn, we learn it first.

And before any drastic action,

you must ask for our authorization.

Okay.

I'll see what I can...

Nash? You're still alive?

Barely.

How did you know?

We wanted to keep an eye on you.

Just to be sure.

When you left your friend's place,

one of my men called me.

I came to check.

And when we saw these cops

with their guns aimed at you,

we figured you needed some help.

Thanks.

I think we lost an opportunity.

Which one?

Having your two enemies,

Synternis and Interpol,

fighting each other.

It's no longer an option.

Anyway, it doesn't change much now.

Our plan is almost ready.

Well, thanks to you, I think

I'm off the radar again.

You know,

it wouldn't be such a bad idea

to include me in your plan.

Okay.

Let's move first.

Then I'll tell you.

I told you.

We want to free the Connected.

And we've finally found a way.

We're going to launch a

virus that Fahim created.

This program will progressively shut down

every console, until the

verses themselves disappear.

People will be forced offline.

They'll get their lives back.

They'll go out into the streets again.

And live.

We're talking about a worldwide revolution.

Worldwide?

Yes.

There's just one problem.

Imagine that.

In order to be able to

replicate and spread,

we need the virus to be

launched from within the matrix

of one of the main verses.

Which means?

Which means

we need it to be launched

from inside Synternis headquarters.

That's where you come in.

No, no, no.

I'm not a programmer.

I don't have the first

damn clue about hacking.

You don't need to.

Just take this device with

you the next time you go there.

All you need to do

is stay near a high clearance

computer long enough.

From there, our hackers

will blow the protections.

Then, the virus will be launched.

It'll attack progressively.

By the time the shutdown really begins,

you won't even be in the building anymore.

Nothing will connect you to the attack.

Get some rest.

Our team needs to prepare.

In a few hours, we'll be ready.

Let us know when you're going

to Synternis headquarters.

This is an important moment.

Tomorrow, the world will be very different.

All of the verses will

have ceased to exist.

All of them?

All the major ones, yes.

Let's get ready.

I am no hero.

Never was. Never will be.

That just isn't me.

Many centuries of evolution

to end up like vegetables

wired to machines.

I don't know if a God exists,

or if there is a purpose

to our existence.

But if there is,

you can bet it's not to

become such derelicts.

Then again,

no one was forcing anyone

to spend their life online.

That was the people's choice.

Is it possible to force

people into freedom?

And if it is,

should it be done?

Are you okay?

You really seem elsewhere.

How would you describe our relationship?

Love?

Why give names?

That was good for the old world.

Now, online, we don't need this.

I am well with you.

You're well with me.

It's all that matters.

What the hell?

Who are those guys?

They want to shut everything down?

They're crazy!

We have to stop them.

Wait, look.

Some players from the Falchion

Guild have located them.

They're in Neo Paris.

Here is their address.

Players from the whole verse

are sending messages about it.

They're calling everyone

in Neo Paris to intervene.

This freedom you're offering.

Is that what they really want?

Everyone wants freedom.

Are you sure?

'Cause I don't know anymore.

Do you know what happened?

I was online.

I followed it from there.

The Necromancers tried to free

the gamers against their will.

It's ironic, isn't it?

In order to free them,

they had to force them to do

the very thing they didn't want to do.

Which is quite the opposite

of being free, isn't it?

I see your point.

Anyway, the cell has been destroyed.

We found the bodies and the computers.

And the identity of the remaining members.

Most importantly, we have crushed them.

They were given the proof

that the people will not follow them.

All this to say that your mission is over.

You will get paid the rest of your money

for the four Necromancers

you've eliminated within the week.

Oh, Nash...

Our programmers have conclusive evidence

that the virus that was launched

could only have succeeded

via a relay inside our headquarters.

I take it as a coincidence

that you happened to have been there

right before the attack.

Wrong place, wrong time.

Story of my life.

You do know if I was to

start an investigation,

and it was to prove

that you had anything

to do with this attack,

the most probable outcome

would be the death penalty?

I do.

I won't, though.

This case is closed.

I have enjoyed working with you.

But our collaboration is over.

You are not to be allowed

in these offices again.

And it's best that we never hear from you.

Do we have an understanding?

I believe we do, yes.

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