The Slicer & the Spy

“Die code! Die code!” Terabyte can be heard above the Warroom at her console as she works. It draws Vhalin’s attention as he logs out from his terminal. The sleepy Cathar is just ending his duty rotation monitoring active intelligence operations. Ixanissa, his replacement, faces him but is looking up toward the yelling. Vhalin exhales in seeming defeat, initiating the change in direction to check in on the manic slicer who’s been high on caff and stims for the last 36 hours attacking remnant code of the artificial intelligence called Parabellum hiding across the far reaches of the holonet.

“You’re waking up the Massassi in the village three clicks away.” The wry and perpetually aggreged Cathar ascends the stares to Terabyte’s server room. “I’m certain I could hear you yelling from orbit before I landed this morning…” Vhalin yawns.

The little slicer doesn’t even look up at the gray Cathar. “You were gone? No wonder I was so productive. I’ve got this organic code almost eradicated. Dug him out of the financial districts, burned him out of the dark net, and dropkicked him in the public entertainment sector. He’s retreated to a private Imperial server where he’s consolidating.”

Vhalin attempts to walk a line of profession and admonish. “Good, good. Can this be done without the savage synth pop dance music that wakes half of Yavin? Our ecologists report your music is affecting animal migration and mating patterns.”

“Not at the rate you’re paying me,” the slicer pauses to look up. “Double my rate and I’ll turn down the music to a dull roar.”

Licking his right front canine, Vhalin squints. “Lower the music or the supply of caff comes to an end. I doubt there’s enough kolto in the Galaxy for the impending migraine coming your way.”

“Whoa. Easy there Commander.” Terabyte holds up her hands as if in surrender. “Same side. No need to go apocalyptic on me. I have headphones.” She laughs and shakes her head, resuming her dance hacking with headphones on as the Cathar descends the stairs to head home for the night.