Posted by TT on 12/5/2007, 1:32 pm
86.135.46.154
Lestrade and Holmes picked their way back through the metal jungle, Lestrade flipping through the note pad as they walked.
“Well Lestrade, your thoughts.
“Another run of the mill virus Holmes, maybe someone trying to get even with the company. Most of these droids are on loan it wouldn’t take too much of a genius to slip a virus into one of the updates wired from the hire company.” Holmes gazed thoughtfully at the pair of dancing droids and tapped the giant’s leg.
“Not all that run of the mill Lestrade.”
“Fine but I still say…”
“BETH.” The shout came from near an up-link point on the wall. A group of Tec’s in white overalls and masks were leaning over small screens linked to the main system. One separated from the others and fought his way over to them through the metal. Beth groaned slightly.
“Hi Doyle, fancy seeing you here.” Doyle was slightly portly and seemed to have developed a sheen of sweat from standing at the heated terminal. He also wore a pair of dark bulbous lens over his eyes that resulted in most of his movements missing their mark by several inches.
“What! Miss the chance to examine a virus that got through a Mark 96 Firewall, practically every Tec in the force is on the consoles of this system six deep.”
“Who’s this?” He nodded at Holmes.
“Holmes, Doyle, Doyle, Holmes. It’s just Doyle Holmes ok, Just Doyle as in Justin. Holmes is a recently revived Detective…yes like the one in the old books. Holmes, Doyle is a computer…something.”
“Computer Recovery, Investigation, Detection and Restoration Technician 019-765-489 Series. The armchair Detective of the virtual world…” Beth grimaced slightly, she’d heard the speech before and raced to cut him off.
“Doyle why are you wearing the goggles out of the lab.” Doyle touched his face as if to confirm they were there.
“Most of the older Tecs wear them, the daylight hurts your eyes when you spend most of your waking hours in the labs staring at consoles. Plus they’re like bugs eyes, for most of the stuff we do you need to see more than one screen at once, and they look good to boot.” Doyle poised catalogue model style for a second before turning to face them again. One of the Tec’s whistled at him.
“D it’s just gone into Hark’s tri numero, you’re missing a split code over seven sectors of programme get over here.”
“Woah that is next level.” He began backing away. “Beth you’ve got to come down the lab once this is broken down…you too sir…this could be a new virus wave. We can talk over the droid your friend brought in too. Bring burgers…” Saying that he tripped backwards over a pipe rolled and scrambled to his feet, pounding back to the small screen. Beth shook her head.
“A friend of yours Lestrade?”
“An old tutor Holmes who walked a bunch of us through the basics of cyber theft crime scene detection. Brilliant but a complete Tec head, practically exists in the virtual world. He’s only ever heard of you because the Robot museum runs an online Sherlockian detective game.”
“I see. Nevertheless I suggest it would be to our benefit to take him up on his invitation to view this virus again, I very much fear he is right about a ‘virus wave’.”
They walked in silence until they were outside again. Holmes turned to face the building holding the head of his cane up along his sight line and smiled.
“Notice anything interesting about the building Lestrade.” Lestrade frowned.
“No.” Holmes sighed exasperated.
“Sometimes Lestrade I really do wonder why I try to teach you yardies anything. Didn’t you hear anything or more importantly see anything suspicious?”
“Okay Mister High and Mighty Detective, what did you spot this time?”
“Flattery will get you nowhere Lestrade…eyes and ears remember.” Holmes gestured to the building front with a dramatic sweep of his arms.
“Look over the entrance, it seems the arc welder has decimated a few of the letters but you can still just about deduce the company name.”
Lestrade looked up. The arc welder had been busy, most of the sign was blackened and as Holmes had pointed out a few of the letters were gone, and at least one had fallen onto the concrete below. But as she stared the remaining letters seemed to jump out at her, something clicked. Holmes smiled as understanding dawned on Beth’s face like a new day.
“I don’t believe it. Its Swifts taxi firm.”
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