We got back home from the station around lunchtime. I was sitting in my room mulling over everything that had happened, and I wasn't any less pissed off either.
‘What the hell is going on around here? I had no idea we had crooked cops, but I had also never run into that detective before, or the other officer either”.
My Dad tried to console me on the way back, saying it would all work out, but the nagging feeling that something was seriously wrong kept coming back, and why wasn’t he concerned about Derek? He just took it all at face value, knowing damn well Derek's father would never hit him.
I was getting pretty damn tired of being jerked around, everything from the fire to my body basically being replaced by a machine, to Clare supposedly being an alien and taking off to who knows the fuck where.
‘She didn’t even send a text or anything before she took off. Of course, I guess you wouldn't if you're in fuckin space!’
‘.....’
‘Fuck it.’
‘Hey ANNA, can you hack into the police station cameras?’
^If the facility is connected to a public network, it should pose no problem. Please hold the data cable again so I may connect to the internet.^
Once again, sliding into the old computer chair in my room, with a slight glow of light coming from my hand, the HUD lights up in my eyes.
^Please wait a moment while I search for an entry point.^
Only a few minutes go by when I hear ANNA again.
^I have found the server that contains relevant video footage on the interior and exterior of the police station. What precisely would you like to see?^
‘And we are completely undetected, right?’
^That is correct, Alex. My operating system works outside of this world's current understanding. You cannot defend against what you do not understand or know exists.^
‘Ha! Amazing, can you show me Derek’s cell?’
Immediately, I see two simultaneous views of the hallway that contains the cells and a peek of Derek as he sat with his head down on a cot inside the cell.
‘Well, at least nothing is happening to him right now. Can you find any past recordings?’
ANNA made quick work of finding exactly what I was looking for. The problem was that I could obviously tell that Officer Barnes and the detective visited Derek’s cell twice from the videos, but I couldn't exactly see what they were doing from the angle of the camera.
‘Damn, this shows nothing, but I'm pretty darn sure I know what they are doing in there.’
^Alex, I did manage to find a deleted video file with audio from over a week ago that seems to contain information about Derek. While the data is somewhat degraded, would you like to review them?^
‘A week ago….? Yeah, lemme see them.’
A video that looks heavily pixelated comes into view. I can tell it is the detective and that officer in the video from their body shape, but even so, it’s still extremely blurry and grainy. But that didn’t matter when I heard their somewhat static-laden voices come through.
Officer Barnes- ”The Pattersons told me they got word some dumbass kid named Derek is going to throw a party on their property next weekend.”
Det. Clide- ”Damn fool doesn't even know what that means around here. What are they going to do about it?”
Officer Barnes- “They said they're going to make an example of him to keep trespassers away, and they could use the extra money to pay for another shipment. Said be ready.”
Det. Clide- “Sick fucks. So what do they want then?”
Officer Barnes- “Just the usual, max sentences, anyone and everyone we can get involved.”
The video continued for a bit longer but was mostly talking shit about the women in town playing hard to get and when they’d go golfing next.
‘?!?!?!...’
‘What? The Pattersons? A week ago, they knew about the party…and they…’
‘No way, they wanted to make an example of Derek somehow? But how? Why did he call them sick?’
^Based on your memories of events, and the content of the deleted video, I deduct that the Pattersons were involved in the fire somehow, presumably to frame your friend to conduct insurance fraud.^
‘Holy shit, we need to turn this video over to the pol….’
‘Nevermind, I guess that won't help.’
‘Well damn, what am I supposed to do?’
^You need to gather substantial evidence incriminating the Patterson family so a judge can dismiss the case, according to Doogle.^
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‘Can you access the Pattersons' house and see if they have cameras or computers?’
^Please wait a moment.^
A few minutes go by when ANNA relays the bad news.
^Apologies Alex, It appears there are no public network accesses into or around the Patterson family location. It will require a physical investigation.^
‘Dammnit, I'm not a fucking ninja or something. It's not like I can make myself invisible…..right?’
^Currently no. But you do have several abilities that will assist you during covert operations, such as Multi-Spectrum vision and enhanced hearing, in addition to your current physical strength. However, I suggest appropriate clothing before such operations.^
‘What is Multi-Spectrum vision?’
^All things emit waves in the form of light and energy. In a limited capacity, you are able to see it in a modified format for your brain to understand.^
‘Uh, ok so I can see in the night?’
^....That is correct Alex.^
‘What's with the pause there.’
^Your deductive capabilities continue to surprise me, that is all.^
‘Kinda feels like a jab.’
^I don't have hands or arms Alex.^
‘Just…whatever. By the way! You mentioned something about Combat Mode this morning. What is that?’
^Combat Mode optimizes your HUD by highlighting perceived combatants in an outline color of your choosing. This allows for quick identification and their estimated health. It also unlocks certain limiters on your physical output. However, you will burn Universal Energy at a much faster rate. I recommend not engaging it for a prolonged amount of time.^
‘Well, that's cool, but hopefully, I won't have to use it any time soon.’
Still holding onto the cable, I decided to look up where the Pattersons actually live. I always thought the compound was just a business, but some quick searching yielded nothing else.
‘Hey ANNA, this is the place you tried to get into, right?’
^Yes that's right Alex. There are no connections in that area. Additionally, there seemed to be a jamming effect when I tried to probe for cellular phones.^
The words jamming stuck with me for a moment only because you only hear of such things relating to one type of group…..
‘Could the government be involved in this? But then the dirty cop thing wouldn’t make sense ..or does it? I think I'm just going to have to sneak in there and see. I can always run and jump away if necessary since that’s all I’ve learned up til now.’
Later that night.
After rummaging through my closet, I was able to find an old black hoodie that was a bit too small, black pants, and some Halloween makeup from years ago, luckily, with the black and green colors still having some left inside. I made the plan to burn everything afterward, in case I’m seen by anyone.
With a somewhat crude plan on how this was going to go down, I don my outfit and paint my face as much as I can cram onto my skin, making sure not one sliver of normal skin is showing, making only the whites of my eyes show through.
‘Ok ANNA, I'm assuming to change my eyes it is the same intent stuff?’
^That is correct.^
‘Let’s go.’
Flash forward to just after 1 AM, and I found myself unexpectedly having way more fun than one would think they’d have in this kind of situation.
“Yeeeehawwww!”
^Alex, shouting outwardly is inadvisable during this mission.^
‘Yeah, but it's so damn fun! I can barely contain myself.’
I didn't have a car right now, plus that would have woken my parents up anyways. So what was my only other mode of transportation? Myself, of course!
I was currently sprinting under the moonlit sky, perfectly seeing my surroundings in the dark, albeit with a slight haze when looking too far away.
I wasn’t really sure how long it would take for me to get there. I estimated about 20 minutes at the speed I was going. I could go faster, but I didn’t want to mistakenly crash into anything this soon.
Soon in the distance, I could see the lights from the compound, and the fun I was previously experiencing turned into nervousness. I knew that nothing in there could stop me, or so I hoped. But just the notion of breaking and entering to help my friend and the recent discovery that these assholes are trying to set him up got my blood boiling.
Approaching the compound’s brick wall, I wait a moment, listening for anyone on the other side.
‘I can hear something but It seems far away, I'm not sure. Should be fine.’
ANNA calculates the jump for me, and I'm quickly on the other side. Crouching low, I look around. ANNA suggests I change my vision to see Infrared, and as soon as I do, my worldview is altered.
‘Whoa! I can see the security cameras! and…I don't know…stuff!’
Like an old video game, I can see where the cameras are panning left to right.
‘Ok ANNA, now what? I need to find a cable, right?’
^Yes, Alex, while avoiding cameras and sensors, look for a mass of cables coming together into a large upright box, Likely atop a concrete pad.^
I search the compound, avoiding a security guard and the dozen cameras or so. There are several houses and a few storage buildings, but nothing out of the ordinary. Eventually, I find what I'm looking for.
The box has a simple lock. With a simple twist, it’s off.
*clink*
‘Ok, so which cable?’
^It does not matter. Place your hand into the center.^
I do so, and to my shock, I see tendrils of thread spread from my hand with a low red glow. ANNA then tells me there is a safe with a bioprint lock in the basement of the large house in the center.
‘Well shit, I hope they are heavy sleepers.’
^I have already disabled security and overridden the safe for the residence.^
‘This is way too fun……and dangerous.’
As I walk straight to the front door, ANNA tells me the camera has been disabled and sets it to run on a loop in case anyone sees it.
Slowly twisting the knob, I hear a small clink as the lock mechanism breaks. I quickly tiptoe myself to where I think a basement door would be and find what I'm looking for, a large door next to a pantry.
Opening it, I see a long deep staircase that veers to the left at the bottom. Before I head down, I stop to listen one more time.
‘I hear breathing from whoever is upstairs, but I also keep hearing something that sounds like…crying? I don't know, maybe a TV?’
Making my way down into the basement, I'm greeted by a very large Vault and an area with tunnels that extend left and right; large enough to drive a truck through.
‘What in the fuck? ANNA, I thought you said it was a safe, like a small thing. This is a damn bank vault...with a road?’
^Apologies Alex, I cannot see the actual structure, I merely know the manufacturer primarily makes small home safes, based on the small amount of code coming from the internal electronics.^
‘Well, anyways, so I can open it?’
^Yes, all alarms, cameras, and locks have been disengaged or turned off.^
Grabbing the huge handles on the rotating mechanical lock I turn them and pull. Suddenly, loud crying came pouring out of the opening. The noise I had been hearing then began to flood through the halls. However, as I opened the door all the way, the crying seemed to instantly stop. I was startled by the noise that was previously blocked, almost entirely, by this massive steel door. I peer inside after calming my nerves.
I then learned it was a mistake to come here.
These were the last moments before the rest of my life was changed forever…again.