"Okay, so Google isn't the Internet,"
"Finally," Amber sighed, nodding. They had been going over a basic explanation of the Internet for the past hour, and Miss Pauling was only just beginning to gain a level of understanding about the... well, she could hardly call it a device, since the Internet was more something that connected everything together in the world.
"What about this Chrome?" Miss Pauling asked, "Is it the Internet, or-"
"It's a window through which you can look at the Internet," Antonia explained, "Like a telescope. You enter in your search, and that points it at the stars you want to look at. Then you can pick one of those "stars" - a website - and look at it more closely."
Miss Pauling pulled out the cellular phone Greene had bought for her - waving away her protests with a remark about how she'd pay him back eventually. "And phones are miniature computers?" She asked, staring at the device.
"Basically everything's a computer, these days," Amber nodded, "But everything also has that firewall, which stops you seeing everybody's personal information,"
"What if I wanted to see everybody's personal information?"
"You'd need a really good hacker," Amber replied, "And a good lawyer, in case you get caught."
Miss Pauling thought this over for a few moments, before pulling Amber's laptop towards herself. "So what if I searched up someone who disappeared in 1973?" She asked, hesitating, before typing in a name.
Sergeant-Barrister Jane Doe
The results were alarming. Miss Pauling scrolled through the page, reading various headlines that looked all too familiar from local newspapers she had seen. She'd tried so hard to keep evidence of the mercs hidden, but there were pictures, newspaper headlines, even a small online community that appeared to have led a discussion about him.
"A lot of old newspapers put their stories online, along with photos and stuff," Antonia explained, peering over Miss Pauling's shoulder. "Wow, is that the Soldier guy? The really loud one with the rocket launcher?"
"Yeah," Miss Pauling sighed, waving a hand at the screen, "How do we get rid of this? Any evidence of, well, any of us back then, it needs to be removed."
"You can't," Amber shrugged, "Once it's on the Internet, it's there for all of eternity."
"Or until the Internet dies," Antonia agreed, "I mean... you could probably get a hacker to scrub the information, but the good ones are all really expensive and probably not people you should be in contact with."
Miss Pauling sighed heavily. "Okay, well... what if I just keep the guys out of public view? Teufort is the nearest town to the compounds, but I doubt we'd be able to avoid attracting other agencies' attention."
"Oh, hell no," Antonia waved a hand, "The government has such a close eye on almost everything going on, and then there's the CIA and the FBI and State Troopers as well. They mostly leave us alone because Hood and now Greene have good relationships with them, but I doubt that levity would extend to your compounds."
"Great," Miss Pauling sighed, then frowned as the cell phone began to vibrate, buzzing against the table. She snatched it up as it began to play a musical tune, staring at the screen.
"You've got a call," Antonia explained, "Put your finger on the green icon and slide it up,"
Miss Pauling did so, then held the phone to her ear, confused. She'd had the phone for a little over an hour - who would have her number?
"Hello?"
"Ah, Miss Pauling," Spy's voice sounded clear and if she didn't know better, he sounded almost relieved. "When you did not return, we grew concerned."
"How did you-?"
"It would seem the Teufort Sheriff understands the danger a group of irate mercenaries pose to the peace of Teufort," Spy replied, adding to someone else, "You may release him."
"Spy, what is going on?" Miss Pauling demanded, keeping her voice low to avoid attracting attention.
"Hale has arrived, and his assistants and pilot, apparently. And one more person," Spy paused, "Scout's mother. The teleporter exploded immediately after she came through."
"Oh my god," Miss Pauling covered her mouth. Exploding teleporters could cause severe damage to nearby structures, and she hated to think of what kind of damage it could inflict on a human. "Is everyone okay?"
"A few minor burns and small cuts," Spy explained, "Scout insisted on taking her to Teufort for medical treatment, and his brothers are coming with him. We were unsure how to warn you of this, but then Sheriff Greene arrived and solved two of our problems."
"Wait, the Sheriff is there?"
"Yes. I am using his communications device,"
Miss Pauling groaned. Scout incoming, Greene held presumably hostage, and she wasn't able to get back to 2fort until her car was fixed. "Okay, the Sheriff is a friendly. Do not hurt him, Spy. Don't let the others hurt him, either. My car is getting fixed at the garage, so until Scout shows up, I have no way of getting back there. I need you to keep things under control. Tell me you can do that, Spy,"
"I presume it would help if we released the Sheriff,"
"Almost certainly."
"We will send him back. How long until the car is fixed?"
"Another few hours, apparently,"
"We will expect your return this evening, then."
Miss Pauling sighed in frustration as she pulled the phone away from her ear, looking at the screen. A tap of the red button ended the call.
"Sheriff Greene went out there himself?" Antonia asked, eyes wide, "But... what if they hurt him?"
"They won't," Miss Pauling reassured her, "Well, not now. They might have roughed him up a bit when he showed up. I just hope he doesn't hold it against us."
"I'm pretty sure he likes you, so you can get away with anything so long as nobody innocent gets hurt," Amber reassured her. Miss Pauling stared at her, and she shrugged. "He bought you a phone, Miss Pauling. People don't do that for random strangers they've just met, not even in Teufort."
Miss Pauling realised that she had more to learn than just internet and how valuable Australium really was. Apparently, social customs had also changed significantly in the last forty years.
"Oh, it's Jesse," Amber said excitedly as her phone buzzed. Checking the screen, she grinned. "He wants to go to the arcade. You think you'll be okay?" She asked, looking at Antonia and Miss Pauling. Antonia waved a hand.
"Go for it, enjoy your date."
Amber bade them a hurried goodbye, almost running out of the library as Antonia sighed, looking at Miss Pauling.
"Okay, so do you think you'll be okay with computers?" She asked, "Because if so, you really need to know about this Australium stuff. My sister's study group should be around soon, too, so they can help."
Miss Pauling nodded, looking from her phone to Antonia's laptop. "I think I can learn as I go with the technology. We really need to get to the Medical Centre - someone was hurt at 2fort and is being brought here,"
Miss Pauling had quickly learned that every important building was focused around the centre of town, with the library, medical centre, town hall (including the police station) and high school all on each of the four roads that fed into the square. A variety of stores and food places lined the remaining space, with a large green in the very centre of town and a fountain in the centre of the green.
"There used to be a statue," Miss Pauling remarked as they crossed the square, but Antonia waved a hand.
"Made of lead, yeah. Hood got rid of it, but a replica was made with stone and it's in one of the parks now."
The motel Miss Pauling was staying in was next to the medical centre, with the garage on the other side of the square. As they crossed the road in front of the centre, a familiar-looking car pulled into the emergency bay, two men jumping out before the car had even fully stopped. Miss Pauling broken into a run as Scout climbed out if the car, one of his older brothers carrying his mother.
"Scout - is she okay?" Miss Pauling called out as she reached the bay. Two of the brothers had already raced inside as a police car pulled up behind them. Scout turned to look at Miss Pauling as his third brother raced after the others, tossing the car keys to Scout.
"Huh? Oh-"
"There he is!"
Miss Pauling pulled Antonia back as the two deputies sprinted for Scout, catching him in a tackle and pinning him to the ground while one of them snapped handcuffs over his wrist. Scout was yelling painfully as the one pinning him down held his head against the ground, struggling to throw the two men off.
"What's going on?" Miss Ailing demanded, starting forward as the deputies dragged Scout to his knees.
"Ma'am, stay back!" One of them warned, holding up a hand to prevent Miss Pauling and Antonia from approaching, "This man is a dangerous, violent criminal."
"What?" Miss Pauling glanced at Antonia, who was keeping her distance, before she started forwards again. "Officer, I know this man. He's not dangerous or violent! I'm his employer!"
Scout was being dragged to his feet and shoved none too gently towards the car, while one of the officers turned to Miss Pauling.
"Wait, you know that guy?" He asked, jabbing a thumb in Scout's direction, "Ma'am, he crashed through the town gates after refusing to provide identification or stand for a photo,"
"He wasntweven driving," Miss Pauling told the deputy, who was dressed in plain clothes with a badge similar to Greene's hanging around his neck. "His brother was driving, gave him the keys before going inside. They had a medical emergency, officer," she added, thinking fast. The other deputy was beside the car, forcing Scout into the back seat, and she doubted theyd be willing to let him go even if he wasnt the driver.
"She's right, Mr Thompson" Antonia spoke up, "He wasn't the one driving - the real guy threw him the keys and ran inside."
The officer, Deputy Thompson, glanced back at his colleague. Miss Pauling was relieved to see Scout hadn't put up too much of a fight while being arrested, ans hoped he wouldn't say or do anything to mess things up.
"You saw them come in, Antonia?" Thompson asked, and Antonia nodded.
"I... actually already met him," she gestured to Scout, "This is Miss Pauling. That man is a contractor from a security firm hired ro clear out those old compounds to the south. Miss Pauling is their supervisor."
"Is that true?" Thompson asked Miss Pauling, who was quietly relieved for Antonia's quick response.
"I was only just made aware," she admitted, "There was an equipment malfunction and the other supervisor on duty was injured. Scout and the boys brought her here as fast as they could."
Thompson turned back to look at his partner, who gave him a barely perceptible shake of the head. With a sinking feeling, Miss Pauling realised what he was about to tell her before he even said anything, and the expression he gave her as he turned back to face her only confirmed this.
"Sorry to say, Ma'am, but we still need to detain the young man for questioning, as he was witness and possibly accessory to wilful destruction of public property."
"We'll also need your other guys to give atatements as well," the other officer stated, giving her a shrug, "I know itsi a pain but we take public safety very importantly in these parts."
"That's interesting," Miss Pauling stated, "Considerig we caught four of your local students trespassing on private property last night - private property with warning signs indicating that they should have kept out, legally TF Industries is now in a position where it can take out a lawsuit against the parents who so irresponsibly allow their kids to hang around such a place."
The deputies both looked clearly uncomfortable at this, and Miss Pauling felt a surge of pride. The threat was up-front enough to be obvious, yet subtle enough that it hadn't exacrly sounded like a threat. She caught sight of Antonia giving her an impressed look, but kept her focus on the situation at hand.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but our hands are tied," the other deputy told her, "If youdylike to meet us at the station, we can further discuss this, but only the Sheriff is allowed to release anyone from custody."
Miss Pauling could have sworn, but he officer looked genuinely apologetic about the situation, so she bit her tongue. "All right," she sighed, "I need to check on my colleague first, and I can ring the driver in with me immediately after that. Do you mind if I have a few words with Scout, first?"
Thompson and the other deputy, whose badge read SUAREZ, exchanged glances .Suarez shrugged.
"We'll let you, but make it quick,"
Miss Pauling crossed to the car and pulled the door beside Scout open.
"Heya Miss Pauling!"
He was always happy to see her, but Miss Pauling had never really been able to follow up on that weird half-promise of a date they'd agreed to a few years ago, and she felt awkward about it most of the time since he clearly was still interested in her. Whether she was still interested in him or not was a question to ponder another day.
"Hey Scout," she crouched down, glancing at the deputies, "I need to ask you to do something for me..."