A Future Ally
Part 2
I was back at my house, several hours later. Opening my laptop computer, I signed into my instant messaging service. The sky was grey and cloudy, almost overcast, as I looked outside the window of my house. There was an email notification on my computer. It was signed "A friend". I thought to myself:
How cliché.
Hesitantly, I opened the email and read it. This is what it read:
Sweevo,
I wrote you this email so you can prepare while there's still time - and there's very little time. You need to patch into the Mishima Zaibatsu's database again and find out about a certain individual named Steve Fox. The name's been bothering me for some time. Find out as much as you can about Steve Fox - anything at all - and write back to me as soon as you can. I'm counting on you. Don't let me down.
Nina.
I raised my eyebrow slightly, but then decided to get to work. I went to the Mishima Zaibatsu's web site, and decided to take it from there. It was going to be a difficult task, but I knew it would be worth it, just to see the looks on their faces when they discovered they'd been fooled by a mere hacker. It took me about ten minutes to get into their database, looking through their files. I spent the next half-hour looking for this Steve Fox character. After numerous attempts at trying to make a direct search, I decided to try an alternative approach: I found files and records concerning Nina and her sister, Anna - and the cryosleep project which I had learned about some time ago. Just seeing her in that state of suspended animation brought my piss to a boil - I felt my blood seethe with anger, as I began to realise just how evil the Mishima Zaibatsu was. I found the information she wanted - and I copied and pasted it into a text file. I then exited the database, erasing all traces of my presence. I saved the text file, and proceeded to write back.
This is what I wrote:
Nina,
I've done what you've asked. I have enclosed a text file as an attachment with all the necessary information, as well as a picture. I hope it helps, and I await further orders.
Sweevo.
I sent off the email, relaxing in my chair. I thought about getting up and going outside, but what if I received another email? I decided to fire up a DOS game on my PC. I looked at the screen in front of me and thought:
Great - a text adventure with illustrations.
Remembering my past knowledge of text adventures, I was able to pass the game with ease, leaving me slightly bored in the process due to its monotonous nature and lack of challenge. I exited the game, and heard a knock on my front door. I thought to myself:
Who could it be?
I looked through the peephole, and saw a fair-haired figure in purple. Recognising it, I opened the door. I tried to remain calm and courteous. Nina entered my house and looked around, maintaining her professional, no-nonsense air. She turned sharply and spoke to me:
"I got your email. Thank you." She looked at me with those cold eyes. I nodded, no longer feeling threatened by her.
"The King of Iron Fist Tournament 4 begins tomorrow. I've signed up for it - are you going to join me?" She asked.
"I'm a computer hacker / lockpicker, not a fighter. I'll be coming with you, but as a supporting player. I'll be helping you from a distance."
"Good move." She smiled briefly.
"I'm also coming with you because..."
"...because of what?" She asked skeptically.
"I found your file... you and your sister in cryostasis... it angered me so much that I have sworn to make sure that it will never be possible to reoccur in the future." I looked at her. She said nothing.
The sun had gone down, set completely. It was dark. I turned to my partner.
"You might want to stay here for tonight - don't worry, I have a separate guest room for you." I quipped quickly, before Nina got the wrong impression of me.
She just laughed her callous laugh and retorted:
"You'd better have." I went into my room and picked up a nearby control pad, turning on a video game console. I was playing a fighting game based on the first tournament. My eyes widened slightly, as I realised what I was looking at. I turned it off and put the control pad down. I heard the lock in my bedroom door click, prompting me to get up. I pulled the doorknob, but nothing happened. This was a perfect opportunity to prove my lockpicking skills.
I picked up a metal wire from the table, and inserted it into the lock - and used a screwdriver to gradually open the lock until it clicked. The door swung open and hit me right in the nose, then closed again. I clutched my nose, wincing slightly - putting it back into shape with my hand. I walked back to my room, and heard Nina's voice from the doorway:
"Nice job." I turned around, facing her with a smug grin.
"Thank you. I'm going to go to sleep now. You might want to do the same." I held my hand out. Nina looked at it, then extended her own hand, slightly unsure. We shook hands, our partnership secure. She gave me a genuinely friendly smile, then left.
I closed the door, and then lay back on the bed, and slept.
Zzz...