Chapter 21 – Battle Hymn
They had just finished buying a basic new Android phone for Jo from the electronics section of the Rocks Falls supermarket, or what tried to be one. Jo had to cut the SIM card to a smaller size using a cutter tool at the counter, at her own risk – the clerk would not take responsibility.
But it worked fine now when she tried calling Ian.
Almost just after this, his phone rang again. And Ian saw it was the number Eve had used last time.
As they were at the store, Ian could not put it on speaker. He would just need to relay the information to Jo afterwards.
"Eve here again. I analyzed the memory dump – the transmitter was just sending data to an SFTP site, with fixed IP address and credentials. That server is no longer up, so it's basically a dead end. But Sebastian has managed to be threatening in the meanwhile. So now we have full access logs for the Cyberpriest and AGENT pages at Metal Archives, and your member biographies. As well as for similar categories at AO3. There are edits at Metal Archives for early 2013 that came from the Innovativi3D company, now defunct. If I remember right that was a front for SCEPTRE. But now there are newer edits, that match the address many of the AO3 stories have been submitted from. It's a residential address. Using his unholy powers, Sebastian also got ISP access logs for the residence, and there's traffic to non-standard ports which might be darknet access. This looks like a solid lead. Now, Sebastian said that in theory this falls to MSA jurisdiction, as a follow-up to their internal security audit. As well as witness protection. MSA will cover our expenses if we want to examine that lead. It must just happen without any laws being broken."
Ian remembered the Innovativi3D lead well. As it had led to his infiltration mission in the first place, way back. Trevor Ashen driving a green Ford Ka and working on SCEPTRE's virtual world engine.
"Is he joining us in person?" Ian asked.
"At least initially, no. It depends on what we will find. But I suggest we start booking flights."
...
Two days later the five of them sat inside a large black Chevrolet SUV rented from the airfield. Kim was at the wheel, navigating the busy West Coast midday traffic under an almost painfully bright sun. They all had sunglasses, which had been bought mostly for the intimidation effect, but ended up also practical.
They were headed for the residential address in the suburbs. Eve sat in the front passenger seat, giving directions. Her short hair was purple now. Ian considered whether that was the sign of leveling up in hacking one more time.
In any case, it was a pleasure to see her again, after all the assistance she had given on the previous adventure. And it would repeat now. Ian was not sure how they would be able to repay her properly. But possibly she was doing this for the fun, or for a sense of justice. To see the darknet types burn, if it just was possible.
The single-story house was the home of Natalya Obarski, thirty-eight, and her teenage son Leon.
It was a little odd to think of. Why just those two? What was the nature of their involvement? It was likely the son who had made the Metal Archives edits, and written the stories.
What about the mother then? Ian tried to refresh his memory to the utmost. But he did not remember anyone by the name of Natalya.