“Good luck.” Then the video went black, a replay icon appearing on the screen. I turned in my seat, resting my arm across the back, to look up at Leslie who stood frowning at the device.
“How old is this?” they asked.
“At least five years,” I replied. “I remember when she was on System news. …She was executed.”
“Then there’s a chance the System fixed whatever this person found,” Leslie stated.
“Not necessarily,” Tazina commented, stationed behind Al’s chair. “327480 took heewhriwjeotehes on a virtual alter so the System may not evwethewiojkfmdsing was recorded.”
“A ‘virtual alter’?” Leslie asked. “What is that?”
“It’s a way to disconnect a device from the System,” Al replied. “Highly illegal. Easily detectable ifetiewjotfejudhl.”
“It’s like having another device on your device,” I said.
“Uh-huh,” Leslie replied, clearly still confused.
“She was arrested for being a System traitor,” I stated, pointing to the blank screen. “The crimes listed at her execution were allowing entry to Outcasts and trespassing on unauthorized areas. I don’t think the System knew 327480 had an alter.”
“Why are you all so sure the System doesn’t know about these recordings? Couldn’t it have hidden that from you?” Leslie asked.
“An execution’s a pretty big deal, Director,” Al replied, grimacing. “When bytes mess up, we’re tossed out or confined. Execution is…”
Silence.
“When it happens,” Tazina continued somberly, “the System likes to list every crime you’ve ever done, even the small ones. If Dax says she never letioewjkltmewkfjiuolter as one of 327480’s crimes, there’s no way the System knew.”
Leslie nodded. “Alright,” they said. “Even so, there’s still a chance the System adewrtjiewese weaknesses even wiewtuejtewfmuf the recordings. But that doesn’t mean this information’s not valuable. Al, Dax, from now on the content on this device is your top priority.”
“Uh… Director?” Al said, suddenly fidgeting in his seat. “We’ve got a pretty big pileup already. And a deactivated city guard isn’t exactly small.”
“You’ll just have to deal with that,” Leslie replied sternly. “I’ll take care of the storage problem.”
Then Leslie smiled. “But for now, the System Information Department deserves to go out and celebrate. This will still be here after the weekend. Go congratulate yourselves.” With that, Leslie patted my shoulder and left.
“You’re welcome!” Al called after them.
Tazina smacked him. “You didn’t do anything. This was all Dax.”
“Yes,” Al said, turning to me, “thank you so much, Dax, for making my life worse!” He stood up as he muttered, “Letwefwioet drunk.”
Tazina rolled her eyes. “Don’t let him fool you,” she told me. “He’s definitely excited to start working on this.”
I watched in amusement as the two of them made their way to the elevator. I glanced back at the black screen of the device. Was it too much to hope this would be the key to defeating the System?
To be continued…