And another bonus chapter (because it's Friday!) Tried to make this one a little lighter. Thanks for reading!
Tariq was alone in the Grid for the first time since he had arrived at Thames House. It had passed a decent hour at which to be working but the firewalls were playing up and Tariq was adamant to sort it before going home and wishful in hoping it wouldn't take all night to remedy.
Tariq spun round in his swivel chair and clicked a pen between his teeth. He didn't actually mind being alone – the endless software was suitable company – and besides, he wasn't exactly the best of friends with his new colleagues who more often than not didn't acknowledge his presence.
He was having particular problems with Ros who couldn't pass his station without a scathing look at his clothing choice or a sarky comment about how he was too young to even be here, but Tariq knew he was good at what he did and that Ros was just a bit cold. He didn't let other people's attitudes about him bother him - Tariq had always been the geek that people sometimes laughed at, but he found it laughable that they were more often than not ignorant to the wonders of technology.
Wonders of technology, coupled with severe downsides - Tariq swore under his breath as his screen started fading, replaced by stream of codes. His fingers flew across the keyboard and he chewed his lip, praying that this coding didn't have some sort of time limit.
Finally, the computer seemed to regain some consciousness and Tariq breathed, leaving it temporarily to stick a box of noodles with teriyaki sauce in the microwave. He had never really been one for food that you couldn't eat whilst at a computer and didn't envy the fact that his colleagues were probably enjoying a pub roast after a particularly gruelling week. The guy before him, Malcolm, had been something of a technical genius and Tariq had heard nothing but rave reviews about his predecessor. This made him more determined to work hard and if that meant sitting in front of computers all night then Tariq was happy to oblige, because he loved the opportunities he had at MI5 and he loved computers and actually making a difference, even when many people had told him he would never make it.
Technology was something that Tariq had just always been obsessed with. His friends thought he was weird. His parents thought it was a phase. When he told the careers advisor at school that he wanted to work with technology, she had kindly suggested opting for a modern foreign language instead and applying for uni.
Even though the heating had snapped off in the Grid at this hour and the computers were still playing up, Tariq knew there was no place he'd rather be.
Then he checked his calendar and realised he was working the early shift tomorrow, and suddenly the thought of being in the office this late was somewhat less appealing.