6.3 - Help Me, Help You

I turned back to Lin. "All right, squirt. Spill it. Science Division."

"Hold on, hold on," Lin raised her hands as she adjusted herself on the couch. "One thing after another. First, tell me about yourself, Vec. I wanna know about you."

"What?"

"I wanna know about you," she repeated herself. "Are you, like, really a bad guy, or nah?"

"No?" I answered. "What does this have to do with what I'm asking you?"

Lin grinned. "A friend of mine overseas told me the Mages of old used to trade bits of knowledge for knowledge. Let's apply that idea to me and you."

"Do you, or this friend of yours, happen to know of any Mages in Ave Strata?"

"I do."

"Care to name names?"

"Tell me something about yourself first, Vector. Actually, let's start there! What's your real name?"

"I...uh..."

Lin sat up, excited. "Weeell? Veeector?"

"...My name's...Jacen Jacinto."

Lin's face brightened up with joy and she covered her mouth with her hands. "Holy Supreme Ones! It's Jacen Jacinto! Your name's...Jacen Jacinto! Oh man! I just...Sorry, this is a huge moment for me! I just...found out the name of my idol!"

"Idol?"

"Uh, y-yeah. Uh, anyway! So, yeah, I do know a Mage in Ave Strata. There's Elaina Yoshinaga, who happens to be your girlfriend."

"She isn't my girlfriend," I corrected her. "We're just friends."

At that, Lin perked up. "Reeeeally? Interesting."

I caught on to her. "Sorry, I don't date criminals--or people who pretend to be someone they're not."

"Oh, yeah? You like good, pure girls, huh?"

"Can we please stay on topic here? Tell me if you had a client from the Science Division!"

"I was contacted by someone who claimed to be a member of the Science Division. She didn't give me her name, only her initials: V V. She reached me through a weird email address--actually, it was sent to my personal email, which I...never disclosed to anyone, so I'm...I'm still a bit spooked by that, too, but, uh...Anyway, so V V contacts me, puts in an order on behalf of the Sci Div, then tells me to message you about that scrap you had the other night at the park."

"So, it was...you...?! You were the one who texted me those crazy messages?"

"Yeah, it was me. Made some good money off of 'em, too. But hey, for the record, I neither know nor do I care about the context behind them. The reward's what I was in for."

"And you swear that's all you know?"

"Yep!"

"V V...Could it really be that obvious? So, that was Vanessa, after all."

Lin raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you know V V personally?"

I shook my head. "No, not...exactly. Well, I...I guess we did go on a date together?"

YOU WHAT?! Elaina yelled at me telepathically. YOU--...WHY DID--...HOW COULD SHE--...HOW COULD YOU GO ON A—…Ugh! You idiot, Jace! You idiot!

W-We'll talk later, all right? Later! It's a long story, but I can explain!

Ohho, you betta!

Lin grinned. "I see, so you have another admirer then?"

"I guess so. But Lin, as for you, I can't just ignore what you're doing here, nor can I ignore the fact that you agreed to work for the Science Division."

She nodded. "Sure, sure. And what do you plan to do about that, Jacen?"

I pondered in silence.

Jace, do we turn her in to the cops?

Hmm...

I glanced at her monitors, then back to Lin.

"How about you work exclusively with me and Elaina from now on?"

HUUUUH?! Wait a minute, Jace! What are you thinki--

Let me cook, Ela. Trust me.

A-All right..?

Lin raised her eyebrows. "That's...an unexpected response. I-I was expecting you to be angry with me, or...at least pissed off so much that you'd, uh, I dunno…try to kill me?”

"I’d appreciate if you didn't assume things about me. Do you live by yourself?"

"I do."

I glanced back at her monitors. "Aren't you afraid the authorities will eventually find out you're both Hackathon and Heraldia?"

"I...can't say I haven't had anxiety about that. That’s what the gun’s for. If anyone ever came for me, then I’d rather put one in myself than surrender.”

"I see. So then, here's the deal, squirt. if you work with me and Ela, we can ensure your safety. In return, I'd like you to help us get all the info we need on the Science Division and Doctor Molecruel."

Lin was speechless for a few minutes. She just stared at me as I continued.

"Now, I don't make this offer lightly, mind you. As far as I'm concerned, you wield extraordinary digital power. So much so, that I now understand your Abnormal ability--let's call it: Technical Comprehension and Superhuman Computational Mastery. You are able to learn programming languages at extraordinary levels--far greater than any Normal can muster. That's why you took on the roles of a criminal and a vigilante. You used your powers to be a villain and a hero--all to make easy money."

Lin shifted her feet and lowered her head. "Uh, well…I actually don’t have any Abnormal abilities, like, at all." She chuckled to herself. "I’m just…a girl with far too much time on her hands."

"But in your self-indulged vigilantism and hacker prowess, you never thought of whether the cops were on your tail or not. And, from my connections in the Ave Strata Police Force, they're already positing the idea that Hackathon and Heraldia are the same person."

That was a gamble, a lie, that I had to take. If I couldn't instill a sense of urgency into Lin, then her coding prowess would remain a potential threat to Elaina and me.

I couldn't let this chance slip away. Either she became our friend, or a liability.

I'd make it up to her, if she chose the latter...

Lin met my eyes, filled with fear, concern, and anxiety.

I spoke up again. "But if you're with Ela and me, we can keep you safe from them."

She looked away. "But aren't you guys, like...trying to fight the Science Division yourselves? You guys are crazy."

"The Science Division needs to be stopped. Their leader, guy by the name of Dr. Shevren Ambrigado, he's Doctor Molecruel, has tried numerous times to kill me and Elaina through proxies. We've been trying to put a stop to whatever he's up to behind the scenes."

"So? I'm basically putting myself in danger either way."

"But with us, you won't be alone. Ela and I...we've met other Abnormals, too. Do you know the Starlight Twins?"

Lin raised her eyebrows again. "A-Aren't they...the funny self-proclaimed 'heroes' from the Northeastern district? Those two beat up criminals and turn them in to the cops almost on the daily."

"Oh, you know of them already?"

"Mhm. I saw plenty security footage showing them in action. So, you guys are friends, huh?"

"Yes. And I'd very much like to be friends with you, too."

Lin took a deep breath and exhaled. "All right, Jacen. Fine. Fine! I've got plenty of cash. I'll just be a full-time Heraldia for your guys' sake then."

I grinned. "I mean, no one's telling you to stop calling yourself 'Hackathon.' In fact, I think Hackathon's better than Heraldia, anyway."

Lin smiled back. "Ok, Vector. You got me. I'm in."

Sweet! You did it, man!

Told ya!

"But I have one condition," Lin said.

"Ok? What's that?" I replied.

"Let me stay at your place."

HUUUUUUUUH?!?! Elaina must have been pulling her hair out when she heard that.

I felt myself suddenly become heated. "U-Um, now, why would you...make such a silly request like that?"

"Security reasons," Lin replied. "I mean, it makes sense, right? If I stay here, I'm vulnerable on my own. I'm no good in a physical fight. My arena's the digital space. But if I crash at your place, at least you're there to protect me."

I thought about it.

Elaina was quick to catch on to my thoughts. No, no, no! Ok, I'm stepping in this time!

Hold on, Ela! Wait!

Jace--

Just wait, Ela.

Ugh!

I answered Lin. "So, in the event the cops do discover you living at my house, what makes you think I wouldn't just allow them inside to take you away?"

For the first time, Lin spoke in a solemn tone. "Because that's not in your nature, Vec. I've seen you in action before and what it takes for you to get going. You don't have the heart to betray someone you trust. Just one reason why I admire you."

I couldn't argue with that. 

She had me psychologically pinned. Could this be another of her innate skills, or was she being real with me?

"If I agree to have you stay with me, I have one condition of my own."

"Sure, what's that?"

"From now on, you will respect Elaina in the same manner you respect me, understand? In addition, Elaina will be welcomed to stay at my place, too. If she wants, of course."

Lin folded her arms. "Hmph! Fine. Whatever."

"Then we're good."

"Sweet. I'll call up the building manager and arrange the paperwork."

"Wait, you're moving today?"

"Uh, duh!"

"And how are we supposed to get your stuff from here to my place?"

"Oh! That's an easy one!...ELAINA, come on back out!"

We heard the bathroom door close and shut. Then, Elaina faded into existence next to me.

"W-Whoa! What the--?!" Lin recoiled. "Y-You can turn invisible?!"

"Uh huh," Elaina replied, her hands at her waist.

Lin waved her arms frantically. "Wait a minute! Were you eavesdropping on us like that the whole time??"

"Who knows?" Elaina looked at me. "Are you seriously all right with this?"

"A deal's a deal," I answered her. "Lin will help us infiltrate the Science Division's systems so we can get the digital upper hand on them. It's about time we know what they're all about. Plus, she can provide us with any information we need to know on the fly. Having her on our side is essential in the long game. If our end of the bargain is to keep her safe, then I'd be happy to welcome her as a new friend."

Elaina sighed. "All right. I…I trust you on this." And...hey, thanks for saying, uh…n-never mind. I'll keep an eye on her.

I saw right through her thoughts. Ela, if you think I’m even remotely interested in her, you are dead wrong.

Elaina blushed and nodded silently.