This is a sequel to "Not Knowing". The team are starting to form relationships while the everyday business of saving the world goes on as usual. A fish out of water.
"How's the computer training going ?" Keri asked Dan.
Dan sighed. "Well, let's just hope there are no emergencies in the next few days," said Dan.
"Oh, that's so going to happen !" said Keri, laughing.
"So, you doing anything tonight ?" asked Keri, twisting on her heels and looking at the ground.
"Oh, you would not believe it. I'm not even half way through Frank's computer training programme," groaned Dan. "I'm going to have to spend all evening on it," he explained. He stared at Keri longingly, and when she finally looked up, she caught his gaze.
"Okay, well I guess I can't argue with that," she said hesitantly.
"Keri, you and Tom are going to be relying on me and I can't get it wrong !" said Dan, sounding really worried.
"Hey, it's Okay. I understand," said Keri, giving him a hug. "And don't worry. You'll be great. Just do your best," she said with an encouraging smile.
Dan could barely muster a smile back. He had a feeling his best wasn't anywhere near good enough.
Dan worked on the computer training before his dinner and all evening afterwards. His Mum knocked on the door with a hot chocolate late in the evening. "Are you still working ?" she asked. "Is it a big assignment ?" she asked sympathetically.
"Oh, thanks Mum. Well, I've got to get the hang of this before tomorrow," said Dan, not wanting to go into details. "It's really important," he added.
"Well don't go on too late. Sleep is really important too," pointed out Dan's mother.
An hour later, Dan wasn't getting anywhere. His head was throbbing and he was nearly crying with frustration. How did Tom make this stuff look so easy ? Tom ! Why hadn't he thought of that before ? Dan called Tom on his mobile.
"Wha' ?" came a muffled response eventually.
"Tom ! Mate ! I need help," explained Dan. "Tom ? You there ?" he asked when there was no response.
"What ? Dan ? I was asleep," complained Tom's voice.
"Really ? I thought you were always up playing Bladequest at this time," said Dan in surprise.
"Yeah, well normally I would be, but I was so shattered after Frank's training today, I just crashed," explained Tom. "What do you want ?" he asked rather grumpily.
"Well, I'm trying to run this firewall cracking software and I can't get it to work," explained Dan. "I just don't get it !" he complained, resting his head on his hand.
"What's it called ?" asked Tom with a sigh.
"Erm, Dynamo Data Beetle," said Dan.
"Huh. Bit old that one !" grunted Tom. "Look, you run it as an App and point it at the firewall network address as input data, got it ?" he asked.
"Erm, didn't understand a word of that mate," said Dan truthfully.
Tom sighed dramatically. "I'll show you tomorrow alright ?" he said tiredly and closed the call.
Dan looked at his phone glumly. He wondered if tomorrow might be too late.
The next day, the team assembled in registration as usual. Tom was walking strangely. "What's up with you ?" asked Dan curiously.
"I think I pulled something in my groin," moaned Tom. "I can't even lift my arms in the air ! My neck's so stiff, I can't turn it," he said, falling into his seat like a wooden puppet whose strings had just been cut. "Did you get that firewall thing working last night ?" he asked Dan.
"Nope," said Dan, rubbing his eyes. He was so tired ! "I kept trying for about another hour and a half and then I woke up on the desk, so I went to bed," he told Tom.
"I don't know if I can stand another day running facial recognition software on random criminals !" complained Aneisha. "My eyes still won't focus."
Keri looked at them all cheerily. "Well, my evening was just dandy !" she said happily. "Would you like me to tell you about it ?" she asked.
"No," the others all replied flatly.
By lunchtime all of the team apart from Keri were getting tired and grumpy. When their communicators started to flash there was a group groan before they all hauled themselves down to the Janitor's cupboard. Aneisha worked the access switch with her thumb print and they all lined up in the lift before plummeting to their base.
"Ah, team. We've got an assignment," announced Frank, looking apprehensive. "How are the preparations going ?" he asked them tentatively.
They looked at one another dubiously. "Well, everything's just fine with me !" said Keri hopefully.
"Tom ?" asked Frank.
"I can still walk," said Tom. Frank looked at Aneisha pleadingly.
"I haven't gone blind yet," Aneisha reported. With his face falling Frank turned to Dan.
"Just don't ask," said Dan, before dropping into Tom's usual chair.
"Well, the country is depending on you," said Frank faintly.
"Oh God !" muttered Tom, gently banging his head against a concrete pillar. "Did you have to say that ?" he asked.
"Well, I'm ready !" declared Keri, wishing that people would look a bit more pleased. "Does anybody care ?" she asked.
Dan looked up at Keri tiredly and smiled. "Of course we do Keri, but you're going to be relying on me on the computer, Aneisha working the software systems and Tom's combat and running skills," Dan explained. "I hope you're feeling pretty damn good, because you're going to need to be," he said desperately.
"Right then. Excellent," said Frank unconvincingly. "Let's get started !" he said, nervously clapping his hands together. Tom took a step towards the computer chair and then stopped when he saw Dan sitting there. "Ah, Dan, could you pull up the mission video please ?" asked Frank.
Dan stared at the computer and frowned. He turned to Tom. "It's on external drive D," said Tom. Dan turned back to the computer and stared at the screen hoping to find something with the label Tom had mentioned. With a sigh of relief he found a tab and clicked on it. A video started to play on his screen.
"Erm, the big screen please Tom, er, Dan !" said Frank hastily.
"Function F3," Tom hissed in Dan's ear. Dan did as he was told and the video started playing on the big screen. They all turned to watch.
