IC
[Aishta's Garage, Ga-Koro-Nui; morning]
Firen rolled his eyes good-naturedly at my comments, smirking as he picked up his book and stood. He readjusted his coat almost subconsciously as I watched him slip the volume he had been reading into the left breast of the garment. "I am a living, breathing GPS. I can find my way anywhere."
As if in response to that comment there was a muffled roar right outside as his motorcycle purred to life outside. Even at this distance I could marvel at it, the sounds of the engine music to my ears. To me a vehicle was more than a machine, every sound a tell-tale signal of what was going on inside... and that bike was a match for mine, I could hear it. Oh, how I would love to dissect that beautiful piece of metallic transportation!
"I left my number on the counter, next to the coffee machine. Yes, I know there are bound to be sarcastic remarks to that," The Toa of Data said, walking toward the door. "Give me a call if you need me."
"Uh-huh." I said, giving him a sly look as he brushed past me, my arms crossed. Just as he passed the threshold of the doorframe however there was a distinct smack as I whapped him on the backside of the head. He jerked forward slightly before turning around, a look of shock, confusion, and slight amusement on his face.
"And what was that for?"
I just raised a eyebrow. "For inviting yourself over in the middle of the night, interrupting my beauty sleep, and making my life a general pain as a cop. By the way, if you wanted a date, you should have just asked instead of leaving your number. I still would have said 'no'. Chow!"
With that I closed the door with a distinct slam.
Exhaling loudly, I realized just how much of a bullet I dodged there. And it wasn't due to the chase the other day. Yes, I figured they'd come for me eventually on that, and at the worst I would pay a fine, maybe a day in jail for recklessness. No, it was about the Head of Security's vehicle and the schematics I had been downloa-
Active downloading!?
I bolted down the stairs, realizing I might of just made the greatest mistake of my life. Firen was a Toa of Data, and if my computers had been on when he had been here-
My panic subsided however as I reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around. Yes, I they were all off, I remembered now, and the lack of sound and active lights proved it. In my half-asleep stupor I had still managed to shut everything down; there was nothing Firen could have gleaned from. I was still safe.
For now.
I leaned on the railing, eyes closed and breathing slowly, letting the adrenaline work through my system. Ok, sure, I stop playing vigilante for now, just to exchange sifting through and in essence stealing government secrets. Was that any better? Worse? Same?
Why?
Here I was, living a life of freedom, free from my old ways, from living in the streets, from fear and apprehension of the police and the powers that be. All I had to do was live a normal life, play by the rules, and I would be happy. Content. Safe. Free from fear and the uncertainty of life on the street and vagabond. That's all I had to do. But as I gazed at my equipment, I realized that was a lie.
I couldn't.
That only worked if you trusted those in charge. If the powers that be had your best interests in mind. But even when I got clean I saw that wasn't true, even when I was a law-abiding citizen it was assumed I was a mindless sheep, following every news feed, every announcement with glazed eyes, willing to take and accept every word they said. That life was good, we were safe, the government had it all under control.
They didn't. They were lying. And the more tech and knowledge I gleaned from them the more I realized just how much of a double-standard they held. Now add to the fact that old habits die hard. And I don't trust easily. Put it all together...
With determination I stood, and marched back upstairs and out the back door, to where the airship lay. Jumping into the pilot's seat I powered it up, hearing the delightful hum of a perfect engine purring to life, ready and waiting to be used. A minute later it was on the street outside my garage, and I was on my way back inside. I was determined to find out what was going on. Whatever was in that craft I had a copy of, and I was sure I had enough materials lying around to build a version of it, albeit significantly smaller one. I would find out what it did and how it worked. I would reveal this secret they had. Even if they branded me a criminal to do it.
But there was no fear when one was doing what was right.
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