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[Fleainator]

The LSF officer replies quickly and explains the situation regarding the GIR construct, and suggests that it's of Borg origin.

"This is what we're worried about. We've been getting reports of the APOC criminal organization getting their hands on this code. Apparently they've constructed something called the GIR, which we think is an artificial intelligence which uses the modified Borg code to infiltrate station computers. All stations when scanned show at least 90% infestation with the code, and just a small security breach can tip it over into their control. We still haven't found a way to stop them."

Flea cocks an eyebrow, but nods. While not an expert in the field of programming, his work had forced him to work with ship operating systems and security programs, which had given him a basic knowledge of the science. What put the look of half-surprise and half-confusion on his face was the sudden recollection of something related to this "GIR". He pulls his datapad out of his pocket and manually disconnects it from the network. He lowers the screen's brightness and sets it to a polarity high enough to make anything displayed on-screen invisible when viewed from an angle. He then enters some sort of geometric password, moving shapes and lines into some sort of order, which then transforms into an animation of an ancient padlock unlocking.

He now spoke in a hushed voice. "I think I may know what you're talking about, there. I can't show you any reports I've received without clearance from Command, but I can show you some related data I collected on what may have been a more basic form of this AI you're talking about. During my last encounter with the Borg, I salvaged a set of 8 Nutation Harmonic beam emitters. When I first tried to mount them, some sort of program hijacked my ship. Luckily, I was in the cockpit, and was able to manually disable everything. I took the weapons to the WLB R&D specialists, and they did some testing with some old non-networked diagnostic computers. The computers were infected and had to be wiped after each test, even as they physically isolated scans and physical contact down to the basic components. Even the tracking motors' basic programming carried the infection."

Flea taps a minimized table on the screen screen and enlarges it. "Here's the data on the infection rates and extent here, and now I'll show you what the diagnostic computers displayed during the infection. Just look at how quickly the security programs fail! Anyway, when I decided to use most of those guns, I literally had to strip away every part that had any sort of computer components and replace them all at once in order to prevent reinfection. WLB Command ordered that that infectious construct be quarantined and studied."

The man then moves his eyes from the datapad to his drink, of which he then partakes. Flea pauses for a moment, allowing him to process what he's been shown and told. "Hmm, that does sound quite similar to our new problem. Do you have any other information on this that's not classified?" Flea looks down at his datapad and opens a simple chat log. His voice drops to a whisper. Rumors weren't technically classified, but there was wisdom in being discreet.

"Well, WLB R&D supposedly has something in the works called a D-RP, short for Database-Resilience Protocol. It's had some limited success in preventing file infection, but the infection's AI characteristics have drastically hampered the D-RP's development. Everything else on it is still classified, even to my eyes."

Having shown him all that he was authorized to, Flea reactivated the lock on those files and their folders, and returned the datapad to its default screen settings. "It does sound like this is a growing problem. Up until now, I'd thought that the infectious construct was limited to Borg ships and equipment, but it's also possible that Command felt the issue need not concern me further. In light of this new information, I'd like to suggest a meeting between the WLB's commanding administrators, the executive commanders of Sabre, and your LSF leadership. I think it goes without saying that it'd be best if the House governments aren't yet involved, since their intelligence departments are far more prone to leaks, and any information that gets out about countermeasure development could easily fall into the hands of whoever created this AI."

Flea leans back, pauses, blinks, and cocks an eyebrow. The look of realization on his face flashes to the surface for but a moment before it's replaced with a look of amusement. "...I probably should have waited to confirm your identity before sharing all of this, but having seen the other LSF officers in here and the way they reacted to your entrance, I think it was safe for me to assume that you were of a high-enough rank to be trusted with this stuff. That, and the fact that I think I've worked with you several times before - just not in person."

"So help me out here. I think I know your voice from some past ops in Liberty, but not your face or your name, mate."

[Shenzi Gryphon]

Shenzi slowly pokes her head into the door of the bar before clearing her throat and quickly moving in through the doorway. It'd been a while since she'd socialized and on a whole she didn't really know any of the crowd. A slight limp was in her step as she moved towards the bar, a mechanical whirring sounding out from her right leg.

On reaching the bar she caught sight of Zeta and waved over to him, smiling brightly at the familiar man "Zeta! over 'ere mate!" she calls out with a toothy grin, moving towards the bartender with open arms as if for a hug "'ows business? work? life? the lot of it?!"

[Zeta]

Zeta smiles as a familiar face walks in. He walks up to her and gives her a tight hug. "Everything is fine! How are you doing?" Zeta grabs a bottle of rum from the bar and leads her to a table off to the side, nodding at Krystal. For the first time in a while, he found himself not staring at that black dress she wore.

"Miss Shenzi, I have to apologize for that guy's ship the other day. I trust he made it back in one piece? Oh, and, uh, don't worry about those dents. I found a really good deal on getting them out. I just got to watch out for your driving next time." Zeta winks and smiles, pouring two glasses and sliding one to Shenzi.

[S31-Zero-Order]

I look around from the booth as the patrons scurry about. Zeta, who I'm guessing is the bartender or the owner of the place, is busy checking a datapad. Probably shipping manifests or something like that. Either way, when Tila and myself are ready to order, the waitress comes to our table. "Oh! It's you again!" she says as she takes our order. "Nice to see another, well, hopefully a friendly face. I saw you on the news not too long ago. The story's all over the Neural Net." "I know," I reply. "I'd appreciate it if you'd keep it quiet for me. I'd rather not have people bothering me about it. It was personal buisness that I accidentally stumbled into." "I'm sorry to hear that," the waitress says. "What can I getcha? You look like you could use a drink." She winks and I could feel Tila's grip on my arm tighten slightly. "Can I ditch the water this time?" I ask. "I'd much rather have a pitcher of the best stuff you've got on tap." "I'm not sure I can do that, but I'll talk to Zeta." "Thanks," I say. I lean my head back and close my eyes. "Think you'll be able to get us something?" Tila asks. "I'm not sure to be perfectly honest. If not, I'm sure we could have a little fun 'borrowing' it from a Clydesdale Train ship or something if need be," I quietly reply with a smile. "That'd be wonderful," she says with a slight giggle. "It's been a long time since I've used a gun. I think I could relearn it fairly quickly. You gonna destroy the whole thing?" "I'm not really in the mood for killing someone over alcohol. Seems like a pointless waste to me. We'll just break one of the external cargo crates and rake it in. Nothing much. I'll even ask first if ya want." I snicker and she leans her head against my shoulder again with a smile, the necklace clanking as the slugs collide across the metal line.

[Lord Akira]

Lord Akira walks into the bar with his personal Shogun body guards , he gently lifts his arm and the bodyguards leave. He walks slowly to the bar noticing a couple of pilots he has "rubbed" paint with smiles even so slowly, his tall figure which was hard to go unnoticed , wearing the Proud uniform of black . He moves to an end of the bar which was empty and takes a seat. Zeta seeing Akira sitting in the dimmly lit part of the bar nods to the waitress as she approach's Akira and say's " The usual sir?" Akira nods as the waitress hands him a dusty old bottle and a small glass. The bottle with its faint , worn lettering said " Yagermeister" . He opens the bottle and pours himself a glass and downs it ever so quickly , staring at himself in the mirror in front of him , his eye's as black as the deepest reachs of space , a side effect from the crue medical tests done to him by the nomads so many years ago.. He mumbles to himself " I must get them fixed someday." Suddenly Akira's personal com unit lites up like a old earth christmas tree , the voice on the other end says " Sir our new recruits have landed and are preped and waiting for training.." "Indeed" relies Akira as he gets up from the bar and proceed's to the doorway where his body guards were waiting. He turns to Zeta with a friendly smile and toss's him a 1 million credit peice and says " I see that hard earned credits i pay you are being put to good use , i'm impressed ...

[Zeta]

As Zeta is talking to Shenzi, he sees his boss from Domestic Disturbance walks in, leaving his guards outside. Zeta says, "Excuse me, miss Shenzi." Zeta gets up, winks at Shenzi, and goes up to the bar. He directs one of the waitresses to take care of Akira. Krystal, another waitress, walks up and points out the kid from before, Zero Order according to the news. Zeta nods, grabs a pitcher and two glasses, and fills it up with one of the taps. He tells the waitress, "It's fine. I think he's a tank-bred, so a 'birthday' of sorts isn't a relevant question. Look at that girls eyes, I think she may be another. I'll take this one." Zeta brings the glasses and pitcher to Zero. "Hey, bud. Here you go. Who's your friend?"

[S31-Zero-Order]

"Thanks Zeta," I reply to the bartender who'd broght over a pair of cleaned glasses. "This is Tila," I answer as I nudge my head in her direction. "Thanks for bringing the drinks. I appreciate not having to use my own stuff this time." I slight smile crosses my face as I ponder that thought. "Pleasure to meet you," Tila responds as she shakes his hand. As I begin to fill the glasses for Tila and myself, I look up and ask, "Is there anythng I can do for you?"

[Zeta]

"No, thank you. I have a pretty lady of my own waiting for me." Zeta winks. "Nice to meet you Tila, keep this guy out of trouble, will ya?" Zeta smiles as he walks his way back to the table with Shenzi.

[S31-Zero-Order]

Tila laughs at that last bit. She puts her arms around my neck, causing the slugs to clack together, and mumbles, "I don't know. I think I might encourage it." I put my arms around her and say, "I'll bet I can finish a few drinks before you can," with a smile. "You're on!" she exclaims as she and I both go for our drinks.

[S31-Zero-Order]

After I finish downing my final glass (#5 I believe) of beer, I look over at Tila as she's keeping close behind me. "Done!" I call out as I set my glass back on the table. "You cheated!" she replies as she finishes her last glass. We had emptied the pitcher together, downing every last drop it once held. I was much calmer in my seat next to Tila. She wrapped her arms around my neck again and stared into my eyes. I could tell I was a bit drunk when she did so - I was no longer nervous around her. "Time to pay up," she said with a giggle. She obviously didn't care who saw when she leaned in and kissed me. We just sat and enjoyed each other's company, even if we were both drunk. Kissing. This was the first time I'd ever felt that way about someone. I had been raised to fight, kill, survive, and defy the rules of the universe. I was bred to stop the Nomads and defend Serius against them. I always focused on the needs of the whole never myself. The thought of doing things for myself seemed alien, foreign, uncomfortable. It was territory that I had never ventured within. I was engineered for combat and victory - a tool to be used and discarded after it was no longer needed, essentially. This single moment felt like no other. Even if I was heavily influenced by the beer, it was something that I wanted that I'd never before obtained.

[Zeta]

Zeta looks over his shoulder to see the couple now kissing, and punches a command into his data pad to play some soft music, and set up some soft lighting above the dance floor. Zeta smiles and goes back to his drink.

[ALPHA_WOLF]

Alpha Wolf walks into the bar and checks in his weapons and scans the room in hopes that he would see Spirit but all he see's is potential targets (for the right money of course). Alpha finds a table in a dim part of the bar and yells at the bar tender WHISKY NOW as the goofy looking bartender brings the bottle Alpha looks at him and states out of all the dumps I have been in this one is on top. He looks around the room one more time and notices Akira his old boss from along time past. And he thinks HMM why would he be here he normally is never seen unless you are the target. But then as fast he thinks it he says to himself oh well I have my own contracts and kills to perform, With that Alpha gets up and leaves thinking this would have been a good night had Spirit been here.

[Fleainator]

Flea was aghast. What had just happened was too much. Between realizing that he was speaking with the leader of the LSF and this sudden chain of events, he felt overwhelmed. He'd come to the Tavern for a break after a bad day of work. He'd come to relax. Now this was happening. APOC, APOC, APOC!!! He hated them! They'd killed so many of his friends and comrades, and now they were going even further, compromising vital networks, and stealing data to develop new, lethal tools!

His pad lit up, and he instinctively glanced down. Already, WLB Command had wiped their servers, changed the access codes, and restored data from their backups.

At least I don't have to worry about my own clan. His datapad remained safe, since his access code was based on a geometric puzzle, and the code changed, based on the date. The GIR had only been able to get in once. This relief helped to cool the anger burning inside of him, but only enough for him to think clearly.

"Looks like we need to find ourselves a killer, and soon, Admiral."

He impulsively looked around the Tavern. There were all sorts of people in here. There was bound to be an APOC, or someone who wasn't on KOS terms with them, someone with information. He then saw the young man's face. It was the face of a former mercenary, with quite the kill record. His history had been mostly that of a "bad" mercenary. One who wouldn't always answer the call of the highest bidder, instead preferring to take on unlawfuls, and usually making less because of it. He'd been an ally on numerous occasions. Flea knew his face, and knew that he'd abandoned his former life for that of a black-hearted killer.

Flea might have found it amusing if he had been in a good mood, because the young man was slowly dancing, drunk, with a young woman who was clearly fond of him, judging by the way she was looking at him. Right now, it only pissed him off. Both were red in the face. Both were smiling. At least one was a killer, and seeing a killer in person had never improved Flea's mood; Especially not a smiling one. In the ensuing moments, his reason all but left him. If only I had my blade. He turned to the Admiral.

"I've always wanted to make one of them birds sing."

He hopped up from the bar and started off towards the young man, silently.




ooc: Too much?

[S31-Zero-Order]

As the soft music begins to play, we stop, noticing that the dance floor has now lit up. "I can see why you like this place," Tila says, her face red with either embarassment or the effects of alcohol. I couldn't tell. Didn't matter to me that particular moment. As we were about to get up to dance together, I notice a man quietly, silently, making his way to our table. Flea. Hunter. He and I had worked together in the past. I would hunt the unlawfuls, letting my name ring all across Serius as the most dangerous and experienced pilot. I attracted the attention of many clans, APOC included, with whom I'd signed billion-credit contracts. The WLB was one that avoided my wrath unless there was a contract. There was no reason to irritate the law of Serius. I needed money at the time. "Tila, wait right here," I command. The worried look on my face must have convinced her to stay, as she didn't question my intention. I approach Flea and we meet in the middle of the Tavern. He and I stare at the other silently. I could tell he had a certain... distaste... for me. It might have been because it was WLB beer that I was drinking. Or the ungodly mass of laws I'd broken as soon as I left the Mercenary life behind. "What do you want, Flea? I came here to enjoy myself, not have something else blow up or die around me. I would think that of all people, you'd be happy that I'm here instead of out there," I explain, shifting my thumb toward the entrance. The GIR virus hadn't affected this security system from what I could see and detect with my hacking implant. All the fields were still up. The active scanners were still going. That meant that I couldn't draw my pistol, or use my wrist blades. Couldn't defibrilate him either. I hadn't committed any aggressive action while I was here. That saved my suit's main power and passive abilities. It also seemed that my medical implant was drawing the alcohol from my bloodstream pretty quickly. Might have to fix that with another pitcher after this...

[Shenzi Gryphon]

Shenzi leans back in her seat and gives up on answering the tenders question as he quickly busies himself with other things. Pulling out a datapad she glances down and scans through her planned events for the week, only stopping on seeing Zeta coming back over. She smiles and nods in greeting "Nice of you to finaly rejoin me, how's business with the DD anyway? its been 5 years... good to see some old faces still keeping it running."

[Zeta]

Zeta looks at Shenzi's face, "I havn't been with DD for that long now, but it's been going as far as I can tell." A waitress walks up and whispers in Zeta's ear. "Thank you. Take care of Alpha, I'll take care of them should action be needed." Zeta turns back to Shenzi as the waitress walks off. "Sorry about that, Miss Shenzi, my work never stops sometimes." Zeta looks over at the possible confrontation between Zero, and Flea and the LSF Admiral. Zeta double checked his datapad, only to notice that the strange code file was now inactive, and the security system had reset. Not knowing why this was, he just said, "Good job, Beta." Zeta says to Shenzi while pointing at Tila, sitting and looking nervous, "So much for the dancing mood music."

[Fleainator]

The young man had noticed him and met him alone in the center of the bar. Mere feet from each other, a stare-down ensued. It lasted long enough for Flea to notice other eyes on them both, and long enough for Flea's blood to cool, if only a little. Zero would be the one to break the silence.

"What do you want, Flea? I came here to enjoy myself, not have something else blow up."

Zero. The young man was barely more than a child, but in his time, he'd amassed more documented kills than any other pilot alive, with the possible exception of the legendary Edison Trent. He'd been a fine hero in his time, but it couldn't outweigh his crimes. Flea's mind gradually returned to a more calculating state, but one still tempered with the anger he felt. This was no time for fighting.

Flea spoke in a hushed voice. "Heh, I'm not here to kill you, though the thought may have crossed my mind. There are answers floating around between your ears, and I have questions floating between mine. I'm not here to arrest you, or to fight you. Trust me, I'd like nothing more than to crack your skull and dig for the answers I'm looking for, but I am a man of the law, and am not above it, not even when dealing with you."

A slight buzz still lingered in his head, and it helped to keep his head level. He knew that Zero wasn't a blind, glory-seeking demon. He was more dangerous than that. He was cold and calculating, and such men knew how to turn brute against itself. His movements and decisions, however, were still just as evil, such as the part he had played in the planetary bombardment of a former LSF base of operations.

"You or one of your brothers have just compromised the security of every network and database in all of Sirius. While this creates a particularly large hole for you and all unlawfuls to exploit, I'm also concerned with the opening this could create for... outside forces."

Flea glanced back over his shoulder. Admiral Vesko remained at the bar, wearing a perfect poker face. He felt his own face flush. Cripes, this WAS a rash decision... Still, I wasn't about to just let him have his dance and leave without a word. Flea turned back to face Zero.

"Well?"

[S31-Zero-Order]

Flea was always the enigmatic one in the WLB. He never kept his intentions public. Well, except for telling me that he wanted to break my skull open. That's not really a huge surprise to me... He turned to the admiral sitting at the table, whether to give him a signal, a silent message, or just a simple look I do not know. He turned back toward me and I witnessed his face flush. Nerves maybe? Fear? It was impossible to tell. I could only assume that the odds were on my side.

"You know," I begin, "I think I did hear something about a virus. However, as to how it was released, when, where, and by whom, is classified. I'm no tech. Even if I understood how it worked, I wouldn't be one to deploy it. You should know by now how I operate. After all, we had worked together for so long. Also, I might ask you to dig deep and recall a slight bit of information from our past conflicts together. I always had a back-up plan should something go wrong with my current state. In this case, I could have multiple shipping transports secretly rigged with explosives set to detonate at a single thought-command, or I might not. I could have people in hiding all over Liberty, waiting to sabotage the various militaries or corporations, awaiting my signal. Then again, I might not. You never know. The same goes with the information you're after. I might know and I might not. Bottom line remains that the answers are out of your reach. I find it best that I don't know every detail. It saves me the heartache of people coming to me for answers, just as you are right now. In addition, if I'm ever captured, there's no information that I can give to any pertinant issues at hand. Makes sense. Keeps me focused and incapable of forgetting whatever important minute detail that I was supposed to know. As for the exploitation, I haven't quite tested the full extent that it could have possibly have reached. I've never needed a loophole to accomplish an objective."

I smile and pat him on the shoulder as his face distorts into various emotions. Too many for me to read. Curiosity? Anger? Irritation? I don't much care at this point. The alcohol's nearly drained from my system, which means that I want to get back to what I was doing. "Zeta!" I call out. "Can I have another pitcher at my table, please sir?"

I turn to return to my table. "Oh, and Flea?" I stop to say. I then turn slightly in his direction. "If you're refering to the Nomads returning, you can guarantee that I'll be there to stop them once again. You and I are not so different as much as you'd hate to admit. I simply make my own rules. I still value the overall safety of Serius, but until the need arises, I will continue to live my life the way I wish, with or without your approval."

I return to my table with Tila quizzing me on what had happened. I respond in part, saying, "Tila, you understand what it is that I do. You've seen the things that I've done. You know that I put myself in harm's way every waking moment of every day." "Yes. I understand," she replies. "What is this about?" "I want to know if you're still with me, knowing that I could perish at any day in a trap or a firefight," I respond. "I'm with you to the end, Zero," she answers. "I will always care about you. I'd watched you for so long, unable to so much as speak to you, let alone see you in person. When you were wounded on Tchatcha, I knew that this was my chance. I knew that this was possibly the only chance I would have to know you. I want to make every moment count. Even to the end if I go down with you." "I didn't quite think that you would go that far," I say. "Any other would have left at that idea. Friends, war-era comrades, anybody would have jumped off at that idea. Nobody wants to suffer the pain of loss. It's a pain that I can understand and relate to. I lost a lot of good friends out there in the Omicrons during the Nomad War campaign."

As the conversation ended, Tila curled up against my side again. I hold on to her in return and wait for someone to bring us the next round.

[Shenzi Gryphon]

Shenzi raises a brow slowly and says quietly "Beta? ...thats creative and inconspicuous" she says with a roll of her eyes, clearly being sarcastic. She looked over towards where Zeta had looked and glanced over Zero and Flea for a moment, crossing her legs and putting her boots up on a spare seat "Looks like you've got your fair share of shady characters too. I don't mind helping you out around the bar in my spare time though... when im not kicking serious butt that is." she grins and winks "I've been training to get back on my toes after that darn coma. Guess you could say im lucky to be here at all though"

She tips back on her chair a bit, brushing back her pink hair and smirking "It's good to be back... im sure you'll agree." quickly the woman retracts her feet from the other chair and swings forwards to whisper to Zeta "As you've already seen im a fair asset to have around and a bad enemy. I'll work with the DD on occasions just because i'm fond of you all, you're what remains of my past. but it'd be best to just keep it under wraps until people find out for themselves hm? ....anyway that shady nutter over there wants somethin'" she nods towards Zero "come back after. it'd be nice to have a decent....chat with you"

[Zeta]

Zeta smiles, "heh, you heard that Beta thing... Don't worry about that." Zeta looks up and says to the passing waitress. "Krystal, can you bring a pitcher to Zero and Tila. They are the two at table 12." Krystal looks at zero and gives Zeta a questioning look. "Don't worry about it Krystal, it's fine." Krystal nods and gets the tap. Zeta turns to Shenzi, "So what is it you want to chat about? I have a little bit of a break, being that I run this place."