Double Bait (Stone Blade Book 2)

  DOUBLE BAIT

  by James "Matt" Cox

  The story presented here is fiction.

  Any similarity to any person living, dead or virtual is purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2013 by James M. Cox, Jr.

  Cover Art by: www.viladesign.net

  Books by James "Matt" Cox

  A Pattern of Details

  Books in the Stone Blade series:

  Stone Blade

  Double Bait

  This book is dedicated to Susie Ann Cox.

  My wife, my soulmate, the love of my life.

  Chapter 1. An Ordinary Day

  Author's Note: Because this story contains both technical and slang terms used by netburners and other computer professionals, noted League historian and archivist Dr. Ferdinand Kincaid has graciously provided a basic glossary (Chapter G) of common terms and slang pertaining to these areas.

  Robin Macy pursed her lips and entered a key sequence. Her terminal beeped happily and began merging the foreign data transactions into the office cache. Her company, Wrighten Shipping, had a tight contract with both of the companies whose data Robin just handled. Though not the largest nor smallest data reconciliation company on Echo Bend 414/2 Wrighten was one of the oldest. It had an outstanding reputation and Robin did a good job helping uphold it today.

  "Good job, Macy."

  Robin turned to see Ted LaGrange, her supervisor, standing in her cubicle doorway.

  "Thank you, sir."

  LaGrange checked his chrono. "Finish your dailies and take the rest of the afternoon off. I'll log it after you leave."

  Robin smiled. "Thank you, sir!"

  Even though she left work a bare hour early Robin felt good. LaGrange didn't give compliments easily, especially to junior data techs. She didn't know any particulars about the data she reformatted, just that the two companies were eighty-three percent incompatible. Anything over fifty warranted special treatment and seventy typically meant total reformatting. Most of the assignments LaGrange gave Robin fell in the seventy-five and up category and she worked hard to finish them quickly.

  The streets and sidewalks around Robin started to fill as evening commuters made their way home. Its city planners placed Primary on and around a group of rolling hills and today Robin had a perfect view of a spectacular sunset. She took a moment to admire it before boarding a linear for home.

  On leaving the transit station Robin took a moment of consideration. Her favorite restaurant, The Evening Breeze, lay almost on her way home and she deserved a treat!

  ***

  "Hey, darlin'. You're in early tonight."

  Of all the people at the Breeze only Marla May Willken had worked since before Robin started visiting.

  "My supervisor let me out early," smiled Robin.

  "Polarity! You must've pulled out a miracle, yes?"

  Robin shrugged and let Willken lead her to her favorite booth.

  "Usual, hon?"

  "Please."

  Willken headed for the kitchen and several other waiters and waitresses slid into the booth next to Robin. She waved at the ones she knew, then at Caleb, the evening manager. They all waved back.

  Before long the room began to fill. Most of the customers only wanted a quick drink or a meal to go but enough stayed to drive away the emptiness. Willken brought Robin her meal quickly but didn't speak. She had several tables with obnoxious customers.

  Robin finished her meal and made to leave but Willken slid into her booth.

  "You mind, hon? I need a break and I'd like to chat."

  "Please."

  Willken pulled an old jacket over her uniform and fished out a drugstick. A waiter Robin placed close to her age brought Willken a glass of tea and Robin a refill. When Robin smiled and thanked him he smiled back nicely.

  "That's Robert," said Willken, "His girlfriend dumped him not long ago. He's very nice and very available. Shall I introduce you?"

  "No," said Robin quickly, "Umm... No thank you."

  "Shy?" Willken took out her pad and wrote on it. "I'm going to a small get-together tonight after work. Nothing wild, just an evening with friends." She handed Robin the slip. "Here's my address and combo. Think you can make it?"

  "I... I don't think so," Robin tried to slide the paper back, "but thanks."

  Willken closed Robin's hand around the paper. "Keep it hon. We'll probably be up late if you change your mind." She grinned. "Besides, Robert will be there."

  Willken crushed out her 'stick, finished her tea and slid out of the booth.

  "You be sure to call if you change your mind, hon. We'd love to have you there."

  After Willken walked away Robin slid her card into the table's slot and coded a generous tip.

  Robin finished the walk to her apartment with turbulent thoughts. Part of her wanted to accept Willken's offer but the sensible part knew better. Still... No! Robin checked for deliveries absently, closed and locked the door and headed to the fresher. After a quick shower Robin reached into the very back of her linen drawer.

  Robin powered up her terminal, lit a drugstick and started the chat module. She logged into MegNet as FoxBird and her notifies told her most of her friends were already there. Smiling, she made herself visible and joined her favorite channel.

  ***

  '[system]FoxBird is in +UptownCafe+'

  'Fox!' 'Birdie!' 'Foxy-Bird! Wot happ hot gal?'

  Robin grinned as Hotkey, TurboFan and BAKBLAST began their rounds of huggles and smoochies. She keyed her responses then passed her greetings to the other reggies in channel.

  'SSDD here,' she finally posted, 'No-work weekend ahead.'

  'Fortunate feline,' posted BAKBLAST, 'I have a double tomorrow. Reeksville central!'

  'Like you didn't ask for it,' posted RimFire, BAKBLAST's girlfriend, '{action}RimFire thinks BB doesn't love her any more. (Psst, Turbo. You busy tomorrow night?'

  'LOTF,' posted Robin, 'As if etc.'

  '[system]Visitor 3130 is in +UptownCafe+'

  'Help, please,' posted 3130, 'Just d'loaded. Got booted from HotCityAtSunset. Can help?'

  'Can help++,' posted rackrock, the current moderator, '{action}rackrock passes the torch to the Fox of Birds.'

  'K++,' posted Robin, '3130, I'm opening a private chat with you. Click "A" to accept, pls.'

  Robin marked her avatar as "Busy" and set about explaining chat operation and etiquette. Before long she finished the basics and Visitor3130 changed to FuzzyFeet, nickname registered and confirmed. As soon as she closed that chat one popped open from TurboFan.

  'Hey darling. You finished with FuzzyFeet for now?'

  'Yeps, babe. How'd you know?'

  '{action}TurboFan grinz. Cuz the last thing you teach is how to change nicks and register. [system]TurboFan:PRIVNAME:Thomas'

  '[system]FoxBird:PRIVNAME:Robin How was your day, sweetie?'

  'Wonderful! I finished a BIG JOB today. Hot security configs, commensurate bonus and main boss saw me in action. Was impressed!'

  'Polar++ {action}Robin is proud of you.'

  '*grinz* {action}Thomas is feeling frisky tonight!'

  Robin smiled at this. '{action}Robin changes into something comfortable.'

  '*smiling* Did you make a purchase?"

  'Of course! W1...'

  Robin hurried to retrieve a small bottle and glass.

  '... waiting 1... waiting 2...'

  'back. Got it.'

  'Coastland?'

  'In the blue bottle. Pouring now...'

  Robin's first sip of wine was strong, sweet and mild.

  'Is good?'

  'Is good!' Robin keyed in a command. 'I'm calling up a holo.'

  'Which one?' Then, 'It's the one I hate, isn'
t it.'

  '{action}Robin likes it!' She smiled at the small image Thomas sent her. The picture showed a dark-haired, youngish man seated in front of a terminal. 'It's... Honest. Someone I want to cuddle up with for a nice, long weekend.'

  '*s* K. Well... {action}Thomas makes a toast. To the hottest, wonderfullest, sweetest and most lust-inspiring lady on the whole net! *cheers*'

  Robin felt his cheeks heating up. 'Flatterer. You up for a dance or are you too hammered? *g*'

  'Alwayz up for u, babe. {action}Thomas puts his arms around you. [system]audio:slowdance.ssf.'

  After several seconds to transfer the song began playing.

  'Mmmmmm. Nice. {action}Robin cuddles you close. {whisper}Hold me, darling.'

  '{whisper}Feel my arms around you, darling. Dear, darling, wonderful Robin...'

  When the song faded Robin keyed it to repeat.

  ***

  Robin slept late the next morning. With nothing urgent pending she gathered her laundry, dumped it in the chute in the fresher and entered her cleaning instructions. The company that owned the building installed the automatics two years ago and Robin certainly made enough to cover the small charge for using them. After a leisurely small breakfast she upped the ventilation, retrieved her 'sticks and fired up her terminal.

  '[system]FoxBird is in +UptownCafe+'

  'Well hello, doll,' posted ViXxXen, 'You're up early for a weekend!'

  '*grinz* Slept late, actually. [sysc:play]audio:lazyday.ssf'

  'LOTF,' posted ViXxXen, 'You trying to put me to sleep already?'

  Robin smiled. Vix worked evenings as a dancer and registered escort.

  'Just trying to keep you honest.'

  'Heh. Like I need that!'

  Robin took a moment to exchange huggles with a few reggies who finally noticed her. Then a private chat from Vix opened.

  'Hey, doll,' posted Vix, 'You in for a while?'

  'Sure. Tired?'

  'Plus-plus and a half. Long night, lots of customers and most wanted escort more than dance.'

  '{action}FoxBird sighs in sympathy.'

  'Not why I opened, though. Rimmie said you and Turbo got quiet last night.'

  Robin blushed at this. 'Yes. We... did.'

  '*grin* You try what I told you with the fingertips?'

  'Yes.' Robin blushed hard at that memory. 'It worked. I mean it *really* worked!'

  '*chuckling* Told you so. You try it IRL and that boy will be yours forever!'

  'IDTS! Not yet. Not for a while. Not for a long while!'

  '{action}ViXxXen shakes her head sadly. {action}ViXxXen thinks you two would make a *fine* pair IRL.'

  Before Robin could respond the activity in channel rose.

  'Flames,' posted Vix, 'Hon, I'm about to crack my face yawning. You feel up to the room?'

  'Of course!' Robin switched back to the main channel.

  '[system]ViXxXen sets +moderator FoxBird'

  'Got it,' posted Robin, '{modchat} Good night, Vix. Pleasant dreams.'

  '{modchat}ViXxXen You too, hon. Slurrrrr should be here b4 long.'

  '[system][email protected] has left +UptownCafe+'

  Robin put out her 'stick and turned her attention to the channel. Though not listed as an official help room +UptownCafe+ served that purpose well and reggies from several other channels directed newts to it frequently. Now the weekend-morning flow of them started and Robin set about helping them.

  Not long before lunch Jewels and Gemsparkle joined. Robin had a pic set to open automatically when they entered. They said they weren't identical twins but Robin couldn't tell them apart. Next year they'd graduate into college and both wanted careers in computer and data technology.

  'Hey JnG,' posted Robin after the usual huggles, 'how are you and you?'

  'Not good,' replied Gem, 'In trouble. Parental units are gone which is why we're on.'

  'Wot happ'd galz,' asked LizardLizard, someone Robin knew only distantly.

  '{action}Jewelz glares at Gemsparkle. SOMEone got us caught D&S last night. Brews were NOT ours but PUs didn't believe us. Grounded and off'd for a whole profanity month.'

  Robin lit a 'stick with no guilt whatsoever.

  'Sympathy++,' she posted, 'But what about your classwork?'

  '{action}Gemsparkle shrugs. Monitored access. Weak dogz, tho!'

  '[system]Slurrrr is in +UptownCafe+'

  'Slurrrrrrr!' 'Slurrr baby!'

  Robin chuckled at the twins' antics toward Slurrrr. They'd designed new autopops for him and wanted to try them. Several bordered on risqué but none crossed into it. All three were registered moderators so they kept things reasonably clean. After the pops settled down Robin promoted all three and demoted herself.

  'Lunchies here,' she posted, 'Laundry b4 long. {action}FoxBird is relaxing and resting her weary fingers.'

  The laundry delivery beeped after Robin finished lunch. She quickly folded or hung her clothes and sat back at her terminal. She pondered a moment whether to do her grocery shopping now, later or tomorrow. She could order most of what she needed through the net but a few items required her to visit a store. She ordered what she could and decided to leave the rest for tomorrow. Plenty of time!

  '[system]FoxBird is in +UptownCafe+'

  Gemsparkle, Jewelz and Slurrrr posted quick greetings but didn't promote her. Understandable since the channel was packed. Robin began helping and answering questions.

  '[system]FuzzyFeet is in +UptownCafe+'

  'Hi FF! {action}FoxBird gives FuzzyFeet a BIG BIRDY HUG!'

  'Wow,' replied FuzzyFeet, 'Umm... Hello. {action}FuzzyFeet gives Fox Bird a hug.'

  'LOTF,' posted Jewelz, 'Newt, Foxy, or are you trying to make TF jealous?'

  'Yes,' replied Robin. Then, opening a private chat to FuzzyFeet 'Hi there! Back for a while?'

  'Yeah. Last night was fun. I read the docs after I logged out.'

  '*g* This is addictive. You ready for another lesson?'

  'If you don't mind. You seem busy atm.'

  'I'm not. Not really. I only have four other chats going. That's not, btw, many for me.'

  Robin began instructing FuzzyFeet on autopops and actionscripts. They just finished a complex one when FuzzyFeet stopped responding. Robin checked her other chats and found nothing requiring attention.

  'Hey Fuzz. You here?'

  'yeah,' he finally posted, 'I just got this: [system]xfer:JewelGem.sgtf. It's asking if I accept or decline.'

  'Accept,' said Robin, 'It's a pic of the twins. If it doesn't open automatically just click it like any standard file. If you don't have an SGTF viewer I can show you where to get a good one free.'

  'K++.' Then, after a few seconds, 'Wow! They're pretty.'

  'Tell them. Have they opened a chat with you yet?'

  'yes. {action}FuzzyFeet puzzled. How did you know?'

  'They've been reggies almost as long as me. WilDCaT registered them as moderators at the same time he did me.'

  'Polar. Umm... Can I... Do you have one too?'

  'Sure. W1...' Robin selected one of the not-few pics she had and hit the transfer button.

  'Wow squared,' said FuzzyFeet after a long pause, 'You're beautiful!!!'

  'Thanks,' grinned Robin, 'You have one for me?'

  'Ahh... no. I don't do much with pix.'

  'It's easy.' Robin hit an autopop. 'Go to "net.dload.freewarehouse.uap724461.comp.net" Find vidrip20b or later, download it and install it.'

  Robin answered several questions and FuzzyFeet didn't respond.

  'Fuzzy? You here? Did you get it installed?'

  'I'm here. Yeah, it's installed.'

  'Cryo. Open it, pick File/Rip/Image/LiveCap and smile at your camera. It'll give you zoom and preview options. Once you get one you like hit the Capture button.'

  Again FuzzyFeet stayed quiet longer than necessary to capture a pic. When Robin checked the main channel she found him quiet there too. Puzzled, she opened a chat to Gemsparkle.

  'Hey G. You busy-busy?'
>
  'Nak. Problem?'

  'Dunno. Are you and J in chat with Fuzzy?'

  'Plus-plus. Well, we were. He's been pretty quiet since we sent pix. U kno Y?'

  'Was going to ask you,' said Robin, '*puzzled*'

  '*shrug*'

  Robin switched chats.

  'Fuzzy? U here, babe?'

  'yes,' after a pause.

  "Got me a pic?'

  Again a long pause.

  'yes. do i have to send it?'

  'Please? I'd *really* like to see you.'

  '[system]xfer:StillCap_004.sgtf'

  Robin renamed the pic before she opened it. When she did she saw a boy in his late teens with a strained smile on his face.

  'Nice,' she posted, 'Very handsome.'

  'Thanks. Umm... You can close the chat now. If you want.'

  '?! Why would I want that?'

  '*shrug* i'll understand if you don't want to talk any more.'

  Robin examined the picture more closely.

  'Fuzz, I still don't get it. {action}FoxBird is *enjoying* talking to you!!'

  Robin noticed Gemsparkle's chat flashing.

  '?T Gem'

  'Did Fuzzy send you a pic?'

  'Ya,' replied Robin, 'Why?'

  'I just got it. Was like burning the CA to get it, too! What's the issue?'

  '*shrug*'

  'I mean he looks kinda doof but he's sharp++ and in good with his PUs.'

  'Double shrug. I think he's cute.'

  'Nak!! Dibziez!!'

  'Not OTM, hon,' said Robin with a grin, 'Turbo's enough for me.'

  FuzzyFeet's chat started flashing. Robin switched to it.

  'U back, Fuzzy?'

  'Umm... Yes. Gemsparkle is requesting a DCHAT. What is that?'

  'A very private private chat. Accept it! {action}FoxBird gives you a BIG BIRDY HUG! CUL8r Fuzz. And I'll *still* feel like talking!'

  'K... bye.'

  Robin closed that chat and switched to Gemsparkle's.

  'Gem... Last word here.'

  '?'

  '*evilgrin* Be gentle with him.'

  '*gasp* You PERV!! *slygrin* L8rz'

  Robin closed Gem's chat and turned her attention to the main channel.

  ***

  By the time the channel slowed for dinner Robin was ready for it. Turbo still hadn't shown, unusual for him on a weekend, but she still had plenty to keep her busy. A slow net meant fewer crowds in the stores so she decided to do her in-person shopping.