Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and I don't even own a playstation. As always please don't flame.
Chapter 18: Game Fox
Shuichi frowned as he tracked the source back, catching the isp, then losing the hacker. 'Hmm. . . This isn't good. They are determined.'
The hacker tried again using a different isp but the signature was similar. Shuichi chuckled and executed his own little worm back at the hacker.
The hacker seemed determined to reach for the personal files of Mr. Wayne and several key executives. As he double checked his findings, Shuichi noted the target areas and frowned. This wasn't good.
o0o0o0o0o
The hacker was back. The worm failed. That had impressed Yoko, it was one of their best programs. Yoko liked working out on codes and combinations. The internet fascinated him. So many possibilities and things to get into.
Then it hit. The hacker pulled out a big gun.
/This guy won't stop until he gets what he wants. /
Shuichi sighed as he countered. Grabbing up the phone, he first called his step father, but he was busy with a client. He then called his step father's supervisor but he was out of town. He made several more attempts to get someone to listen to him, but to no avail.
Well, guess he had no choice but to called his Mr. Wayne's secretary to see if he could get in. She informed him that Mr. Wayne was in an important meeting and couldn't be disturbed.
/Bureaucracy. Don't you just love it? No one's interested or too busy. /
o0o0o0o0o
People everywhere in Wayne Enterprises got a notice that the mainframe will be crashing in three minutes and to save their work. It was signed by 'The Silver Fox.' Some people thought it was a joke and kept working, some saved and a few panic.
Shuichi chuckled softly as he typed in his special commands. He had been bored one day and wrote a special program, then tested it. It worked like a charm. The crash had only lasted 5 minutes. Not many noticed. This time, they would.
/Too easy, Red. /
He crashed and locked the system. It was in complete meltdown and only he could bring it back up again. He knew what he did was highly illegal and could get him fired if anyone found out. Picking up the phone, he made one more phone call.
"Hello, Barbara?"
o0o0o0o0o
Barbara stepped into the lobby of Wayne Enterprise and total heated chaos. Shuichi was waiting for her with his usual polite smile and a book bag slung over his shoulder.
"Thanks for coming, Barbara. Do you think you can help me?" Shuichi looked worried. "We don't have much time."
"What's up? You seemed so mysterious," she asked, looking puzzled as she lead him to the executive elevator to take it to the Bruce's office. "At least the elevators are still working. Alfred said the whole building was shut down."
Bruce's office was in worse chaos. Men and women talking loudly about when will the system be up and running again. Who's the Silver Fox? How did he or she get past all the security? Who's working on the problem?
Shuichi saw his father in the group as he and Barbara skirted around them, looking for Mr. Wayne. Getting his attention, Barbara asked if she could see him alone.
"Now's not a good time, Barbara," he started to say, noticing that Shuichi was standing behind her.
"Make time Bruce," she said, quietly, "This won't take long. I promise you will find it interesting."
o0o0o0o0o
Shuichi dropped his book bag into a plush chair as he moved to look out and down the window by Bruce's desk as the other two made themselves comfortable.
I crashed the system, I am Silver Fox" he said without turning around. Hands in pocket, he continued. "There is a hacker after all the personal confidential files of your's, Mr. Wayne, three top CO's and all the share holder information. He's also after high level security files. I've managed a partial track. I'm pretty positive that the isp he used was bogus. All my usual warnings didn't work. I had no choice. I crashed the system."
Bruce narrowed his eyes. He had been trying to get someone down there to get the boy, but everyone was convinced it was an outside hacker. "That I did figure out. Why didn't you take it through channels or called me?"
Shuichi turned slightly, "I tried. No one would talk to me."
o0o0o0o0o
Bruce wasn't happy. Wayne Enterprises had checks and balances in place to keep this type of thing from happening. It wasn't the boy's fault. He was doing his job. He tried to report it but couldn't get anyone to listen. He could fire the boy. But what purpose would it serve? He was only trying to protect him. Then Bruce realized something. Only protecting his family. So the boy considers him part of his family and under his protection. Loyalty like that should be rewarded and not punished.
"How long will the system be down?" he asked.
"Until I say, I'm afraid," came the answer. "The hacker is very persistent. My system at home won't be enough to deal with this. I would need a mainframe server. I can't use the one here as someone is trying to compromise it. I think I can trace it all back, but it'll take time. I'm sorry it'll cost you, Mr. Wayne."
Bruce narrowed his eyes and nodded. At least the boy is honest. "And you are sure you can track the hacker down?"
"Yes."
o0o0o0o0o
Kurama found himself in the Cave in front of a massive computer system. Barbara typed in the security codes and handed over the keyboard.
"There you go. Can I get you anything?"
"No. I'll be fine."
Yoko was beside himself with glee. /The game's afoot. /
Kurama rubbed his forehead, trying to calm Yoko as he started booting up the information he had gathered and got to work.
o0o0o0o0o
"How's it going?" Bruce asked when he entered the Cave, two hours later. Dick and Barbara were watching Kurama who was sitting with an elbow on the console, his chin resting in his palm. His fingers curled against his lips as if he was biting his nails. The red head was in deep thought as his right hand was busy clicking the mouse.
"It's amazing, Bruce, watching him," Barbara whispered. "His hands just flying over the keyboard, then he would just sit and stare like he's doing now."
"I wonder what's his score on playstation?" Dick quipped.
Bruce shook his head. He had finally calmed shattered nerves and made several promises about finding whoever shut down the mainframe to everyone on the board. His best system operators were clueless on how to get back in or how it did was done.
Kurama sighed and leaned back into his chair, waiting for the printer to print. "This person is good but I'm better. Playstation isn't much of a challenge."
o0o0o0o0o
So have you figured it out who yet? I did get one person to figure it out.
Kara: That question has never really come up. I'm just tickled that people are actually reading it and not flaming. But I will say 3000 hits and only 35 reviews is a bit off balance, don't you think so?
Until next time. --GF