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A.J. followed up with a static-mount diff-sensor. The rookie unclipped the stabilisers and set the unit on the floor. He punched in the coordinates and it emitted a sheet of red light. | A.J. followed up with a static-mount diff-sensor. The rookie unclipped the stabilisers and set the unit on the floor. He punched in the coordinates and it emitted a sheet of red light. | ||
''Okay, everyone hold still now.'' | ''Okay, everyone hold still, now.'' | ||
The diff-sensor swept for [[Semantic structure|semantic]] content. A.J. watched the display. The hourglass flipped. It flipped again. After a few moments it rendered: ''zeroes across the board''. | The diff-sensor swept for [[Semantic structure|semantic]] content. A.J. watched the display. The hourglass flipped. It flipped again. After a few moments it rendered: ''zeroes across the board''. | ||
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The squad masked up ''toute de suite''. | The squad masked up ''toute de suite''. | ||
A.J. | A.J. yammered, “What is it?” | ||
Boone held out a flat-palm that said “quiet ops”. He unholstered his Z10 commlink and jacked up a secure connection back to | Boone held out a flat-palm that said “quiet ops”. He unholstered his Z10 commlink and jacked up a secure connection back to control. | ||
“Yeah, Aggie: Do you copy?” | “Yeah, Aggie: Do you copy?” | ||
A static-crackled Roger said she did. | A static-crackled ''Roger'' said she did. | ||
“We’re gonna need a wall thrown up around this unit pronto.” | “We’re gonna need a wall thrown up around this unit pronto.” | ||
“On it, Boone. Have your unit affirm confidentiality. OneNDA Protocol. You all okay?” | “On it, Boone. Have your unit affirm confidentiality. [[OneNDA]] Protocol. You all okay?” | ||
“OneNDA terms affirmed. Yeah, s fine. Precautionary measure only at this time, Aggie. Di-Alpha head gabbling. Most likely stale or public side but some risk of MNPI infection | “OneNDA terms affirmed. Yeah, s fine. Precautionary measure only at this time, Aggie. Di-Alpha-head gabbling with a draft [[Offering circular|OM]]. Most likely stale or public-side but some risk of [[MNPI]] infection.” | ||
Aggie said, | Aggie said, “[[Unpublished price-sensitive information|Oopsie]].” | ||
Boone yukked. The squad yukked. | Boone yukked. The squad yukked. | ||
“That's solid A grade material, Agster. Love your work.” | |||
[[A.J.]] nudged the squid kid with his boot. All the signs. Tell-tale blue/red track-change marks running up his arm. Tossed-out [[rider]]s and [[mark-up]] littered the splintered cubicle. A half-done [[CBT]] module cycled lazily on his screen. | |||
The kid hacked out a wet splutter, shook his head and staggered up. Chalk motes lifted off his suit. | |||
A.J. cocked and aimed. “Hold it right there, tiger.” | A.J. cocked and aimed. “Hold it right there, tiger.” | ||
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Kid regarded [A.J.]]’s up-close muzzle and ''gurned''. “Oh, no, I’m clean, man. I’m straight. I'm Wickerman, through and through.” | Kid regarded [A.J.]]’s up-close muzzle and ''gurned''. “Oh, no, I’m clean, man. I’m straight. I'm Wickerman, through and through.” | ||
The suit ''was'' sharp: Wickliffe grade, sans doubte. | The suit ''was'' sharp: [[Wickliffe]] grade, ''sans doubte''. | ||
“Relax: I’m a [[Red herring ninja|ninja]], too. ''Look''.” | |||
Kid tossed a deck on the floor. It spun. It landed face down. A.J. checked the back. | Kid tossed a deck on the floor. It spun. It landed face down. A.J. checked the back. The draft was annotated in tight black cursive. | ||
“Football Team checks out, sir.” | “Football Team checks out, sir.” | ||
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“London. Acting by and on behalf of, not through through. Punctuation correct.” | “London. Acting by and on behalf of, not through through. Punctuation correct.” | ||
“I ''told'' you, man. I’m on the level.” The kid shifted awkwardly and | “I ''told'' you, man. I’m on the level.” The kid shifted awkwardly and groped at a nearby keyboard. | ||
“Freeze!” | Punchface freaked. “Freeze!” | ||
“Chill, man. I'm late on [[CBT]]. If I don’t finish on time they will know something’s wrong.” | “Chill, man. I'm late on [[CBT]]. If I don’t finish on time they will know something’s wrong.” | ||
Boone said, “Stand down, Roly.” He looked at the kid. “''Who'' will?” | |||
“Wickliffe Compliance goons. They monitor by the keystroke.” | “Wickliffe Compliance goons. They monitor by the keystroke. I’m on their shit-list already. I missed the [[occupational safety and health|OSH]] module.” | ||
Boone did not want a Wickliffe compliance detail sweeping the building right now. | Boone did not want a Wickliffe compliance detail sweeping the building right now. | ||
“Gimme a look at that.” | |||
Kid twisted the screen up to Boone’s eyeline. | Kid twisted the screen up to Boone’s eyeline. It was an Wang terminal fitted with a diffuser. A smorgasbord of [[character user interface|CUI]] courier orange swam into view. | ||
Boone alt-tabbed for Leisure Suit Larry. No dice. The kid’s story checked out. He tabbed back and scanned the screen. A corner-mounted timer counted down. Four minutes and counting. | |||
“What's that?” | |||
That's the goddamn deadline. | That's the goddamn deadline counter. These dudes are serious. I’ve been pulling all nighters on this goddam [[CDO]] so I’m late again. I gotta get this done or my ass I'd toast. | ||
“Okay. It’s D.” | “Okay. It’s D.” |