Ivy and Chrome PbP Forums

"Hi Mrs. Coulee." Dane responds in a happy voice. "I'm buying today. Whatever Meg and Kendal want is on me, and if stoneface there," Dane points to the bodyguard, "wants anything, that's on me, too."

After everyone else orders, he directs them to a nearby table away from anyone else. He sits where he can see the door. "I should probably give you both the short version so you know why I vanished this morning. The long version would take all day.

"We got to Smith Falls and found out their whole police database had been stolen and wiped. I dug into their server and found someone had physically planted a hidden Wi-FI...uh...wireless access device, then used it for a fast automated exfiltration. The user tag was ReconH, and the only thing I could recover from the wiped data was a file fragment about a Dustin. We pulled camera footage and caught a driverless armed Humvee at the station during the hack window. We found connections to possible gang activity in the area.

"Then we rebuilt most of the department records from paper files while a guy named Mosley and I kept digging. That led to a trafficking post targeting a girl named Violet. We followed that to a home repair shop, took down two suspects, recovered a kidnapped girl who was not our Vi, and found proof the suspects were hired to snatch the our Violet but grabbed the wrong girl by mistake. From there, we traced the post source to a network near the falls, where I was able to trace a signal to underneath a bridge, and found the same Humvee hidden under it.

"The Humvee is actually a super intelligent AI named Hummer and I was able to make contact with it. It says it is trying to find and protect Vi and Dusty, not hunt them, and that bigger groups are moving against them. Sheriff and Dad wanted to impound it, that turned into an argument, and we finally got a temporary compromise. Hummer came with us toward Fort Hammer instead of fighting, and I rode with it to keep communication open. Dad's probably not real happy with me about that, and the Sheriff is really not happy with either of us. I think he knows more than he's letting on."

"Hi Mrs. Coulee." Dane responds in a happy voice. "I'm buying today. Whatever Meg and Kendal want is on me, and if stoneface there," Dane points to the bodyguard, "wants anything, that's on me, too."

"The usual," both Kendal and Meg call out in unison, then both smile and shout, "Jinx!" also in unison. The bodyguard shakes his head.

After everyone else orders, he directs them to a nearby table away from anyone else. He sits where he can see the door. "I should probably give you both the short version so you know why I vanished this morning. The long version would take all day.

"We got to Smith Falls and found out their whole police database had been stolen and wiped. I dug into their server and found someone had physically planted a hidden Wi-FI...uh...wireless access device, then used it for a fast automated exfiltration. The user tag was ReconH, and the only thing I could recover from the wiped data was a file fragment about a Dustin. We pulled camera footage and caught a driverless armed Humvee at the station during the hack window. We found connections to possible gang activity in the area."

Meg seems glued as Kendal's expression mimics a deer, caught in a spotlight.

"Then we rebuilt most of the department records from paper files while a guy named Mosley and I kept digging. That led to a trafficking post targeting a girl named Violet. We followed that to a home repair shop, took down two suspects, recovered a kidnapped girl who was not our Vi, and found proof the suspects were hired to snatch the our Violet but grabbed the wrong girl by mistake. From there, we traced the post source to a network near the falls, where I was able to trace a signal to underneath a bridge, and found the same Humvee hidden under it."

Kendal's expression changes to more concern as Meg captivation continues...

"The Humvee is actually a super intelligent AI named Hummer and I was able to make contact with it. It says it is trying to find and protect Vi and Dusty, not hunt them, and that bigger groups are moving against them. Sheriff and Dad wanted to impound it, that turned into an argument, and we finally got a temporary compromise. Hummer came with us toward Fort Hammer instead of fighting, and I rode with it to keep communication open. Dad's probably not real happy with me about that, and the Sheriff is really not happy with either of us. I think he knows more than he's letting on."

"Hummer... right?" Kendal asks, revealing she knows more. Dane catches the bodyguard's posture squares up to them, as though listening in. Kendal notices and becomes quiet with, "Nevermind..."

"Well, enough about me," Dane says, obviously changing the subject. "What did you two do today?" He makes small talk with the two of them while they wait for food...and while he waits for the guard to lose interest in the conversation.

At the right moment, he says, "Hey, you two want to see something cool?" He carefully pulls out his tablet without making any sudden moves and powers it up. "I've got a cool picture I found...hold on, I gotta pull it up again." He tries to mimic the tone of teenager with something cool to share.

Almost without thinking, he already has the picture of Hummer up, but he also opens a small notepad at the bottom of the screen, just tall enough for a couple of lines of text. As if he's still looking for something, he quickly types: "I'm going to slip you my radio. Cntct us ltr when u r alone."

"Here, come around so you can see." Once the two are looking over his shoulder, he holds the tablet up and says, "Look, you can zoom in and stuff." He makes sure Kendal sees the writing as he pretends to zoom the picture, then hands the tablet to her. "Here, you try."

oO(Fingers crossed that she understands.)Oo

"Well, enough about me," Dane says, obviously changing the subject. "What did you two do today?" He makes small talk with the two of them while they wait for food... and while he waits for the guard to lose interest in the conversation.

Yet, he never seems to. He always seems to glance in their direction, then briefly scan the room, exits and the bar staff.

Meg laughs, "I was working and Kendal showed up. I guess we never really talked much before today, so it was refreshing." Meg grins mischievously at Dane, "You never told me that you two had a close relationship."

Dane notices Kendal blush, avoiding eye contact. The bodyguard, once again, intently gazing, like he's using his field of vision like a super power to burn everything. Eventually, Felix and Angie begin hauling out appetizers and hamburgers and fries along with complimentary drinks. The guard shifts his attention to them.

At the right moment, he says, "Hey, you two want to see something cool?" He carefully pulls out his tablet without making any sudden moves and powers it up. "I've got a cool picture I found...hold on, I gotta pull it up again." He tries to mimic the tone of teenager with something cool to share. Bodyguard, finally leaning against the wall, begins watching again... staring mostly at Dane, more interested than threatening.

Almost without thinking, he already has the picture of Hummer up, but he also opens a small notepad at the bottom of the screen, just tall enough for a couple of lines of text. As if he's still looking for something, he quickly types: "I'm going to slip you my radio. Cntct us ltr when u r alone."

Kendal nods as Meg shoots Dane a suspicious expression.

"Here, come around so you can see." Once the two are looking over his shoulder, he holds the tablet up and says, "Look, you can zoom in and stuff." He makes sure Kendal sees the writing as he pretends to zoom the picture, then hands the tablet to her. "Here, you try."

oO(Fingers crossed that she understands.)Oo

Kendal pretends to also zoom in as Meg stands to look as well, looking confused. 'Undrstood. I have to hide it. Put it in my purse." She hands the tablet back as she sets her purse in an empty chair near Dane.

They circle back around the table and sit across from Dane again as Frank's parents set the food around the table for them. The bodyguard seems suspicious as he pushes away from the wall and begins strolling over.

"I'm starving. Let's eat," he says as he shuts down the apps and powers down the tablet. He slips the tablet back into the satchel and, in the same motion, palms the radio, making sure the movement stays hidden below the edge of the table and looks natural. He keeps the radio tucked between his legs while he waits for the guard's attention to drift again, watching for the perfect moment to drop it into Kendal's purse without being spotted.

He gives Meg a smile and a look that says, Trust me. I know what I'm doing. oO(At least I hope I know what I'm doing.)Oo The unbidden thought intrudes.

After a few bites in silence, he takes a drink and says, "So, Meg, you were asking about Kendal and me... umm... being friends." He can feel the heat rising in his face, but he needs something to chat about so they look like just a bunch of friends talking. oO(Nothing to see here, Mr. Bodyguard, or whatever you are.)Oo

"I mean, yeah, we've always kinda been friends... you know... growing up in a small town and all." He pauses for another drink and can feel a trickle of sweat run down his back. "We had a really good time the morning of the festival before I came to find you, and then... well... everything went to hell. After that, I started spending most of my time at the library again. More than usual, because I've had even more reason to," He smiles at Meg, since she's the reason, "and I guess I was so wrapped up in my own happiness I didn't really... I didn't really think about other things much."

His voice trails off as a thought crosses his mind: maybe he let people down. Maybe he let friends like Kendal down because he was so wrapped up in Meg. He is not sure how to feel about that, or how to make an emotional connection to it.

He glances over at the guard to see if he has lost interest and watches for an opening to slip the radio into Kendal's purse without being noticed.

"I'm starving. Let's eat," he says as he shuts down the apps and powers down the tablet. He slips the tablet back into the satchel and, in the same motion, palms the radio, making sure the movement stays hidden below the edge of the table and looks natural. The bodyguard loses interest, turning his back as he walks back to the wall, near the door. Dane quickly drops the radio into her purse and hands it back to her in plain sight. She casually take it, thanking him.

He gives Meg a smile and a look that says, Trust me. I know what I'm doing. oO(At least I hope I know what I'm doing.)Oo The unbidden thought intrudes.

After a few bites in silence, he takes a drink and says, "So, Meg, you were asking about Kendal and me... umm... being friends." He can feel the heat rising in his face, but he needs something to chat about so they look like just a bunch of friends talking. oO(Nothing to see here, Mr. Bodyguard, or whatever you are.)Oo

"Uh huh..." He can tell that she notices his discomfort, almost amused by it.

"I mean, yeah, we've always kinda been friends... you know... growing up in a small town and all." He pauses for another drink and can feel a trickle of sweat run down his back. "We had a really good time the morning of the festival before I came to find you, and then... well... everything went to hell. After that, I started spending most of my time at the library again. More than usual, because I've had even more reason to," He smiles at Meg, since she's the reason, "and I guess I was so wrapped up in my own happiness I didn't really... I didn't really think about other things much." His voice trails off as a thought crosses his mind: maybe he let people down. Maybe he let friends like Kendal down because he was so wrapped up in Meg. He is not sure how to feel about that, or how to make an emotional connection to it.

"No need to get so defensive!" she laughs, "And I don't think it went to hell. I think it went exactly how it was supposed to! Except for Vi and Teddy... that was bad."

Kendal just stares at the table. Dane remembers her blaming herself. She seems to shake the thought and brings herself back to the present, "I'm glad work is going okay with you. Besides the show I've been working on, I might star in an actual movie!" She smiles, tears in her eyes. Dane's unsure why.

"I've checked the show out. 'Eagle Rock Spuds' right?" Meg asks.

Kendal nods, "The new show is an action show. I guess a big actor from out east is coming to be my co-star. I'm also writing a script for a new show. I was going to use my experiences in Fort Hammer as my basis."

"Not much happens here..." Meg adds.

"There's nonstop drama and then there was the festival..." she glances at Dane again, thin lipped, eyes still glistening with tears.

"Hey," Dane says softly, waiting until Kendal meets his gaze. "I think that would be an awesome project. I want to be one of the first people to see it." He gives her a small, reassuring smile, keeping his tone easy and conversational. "If you want, I'd love to read the script when you're ready."

He takes a drink, then adds with a grin, "Big actor from out east, huh? That's huge. You're gonna crush it."

"Hey," Dane says softly, waiting until Kendal meets his gaze. "I think that would be an awesome project. I want to be one of the first people to see it." He gives her a small, reassuring smile, keeping his tone easy and conversational. "If you want, I'd love to read the script when you're ready." He takes a drink, then adds with a grin, "Big actor from out east, huh? That's huge. You're gonna crush it."

"Well, I'd have to have you sign some legal papers that prevent you from talking about it." she smiles, trying to blink away her tears.

"Yeah, I'd love to see it too!" Meg adds, "Maybe even tickets to the premiere?"

Kendal nods while taking in Dane and Megan together, "You two look wonderful together! Glad you two found each other."

Dane catches a hint of sadness in her voice as Megan replies with, "Hey! I have a feeling that Teddy will come back. Not like Violet's going to come back anytime soon. So he has no hope with her."

"How'd things get so complicated?"

"Teddy is one complicated guy." Megan sighs.

Kendal keeps admiring them, "You two... don't ever change. I miss this."

If Dane didn't know any better, there's more to Kendal that she isn't talking about.

Dane can feel himself blushing at the compliment before mumbling, "Thanks," as Meg continues talking about Teddy. At the mention of Violet, he glances over at the security guard to see if the name gets any reaction.

oO(Must be getting paranoid. No way he has anything to do with that.)Oo

His embarrassment at being complimented fades as his mind snaps back to the problem he’s been trying to solve: where are Violet and Megana, and are they okay?

"This is nice, Kendal. We haven’t had a chance to just sit and catch up like this in a long time. What else is new? Why so serious?" He tries to get her to open up, but he's afraid she won't be able to say anything until she's alone.

If Dane didn't know any better, there's more to Kendal that she isn't talking about. Dane can feel himself blushing at the compliment before mumbling, "Thanks," as Meg continues talking about Teddy. At the mention of Violet, he glances over at the security guard, noticing that the man is giving him a quick side-glance.

oO(Must be getting paranoid. No way he has anything to do with that.)Oo

His embarrassment at being complimented fades as his mind snaps back to the problem he’s been trying to solve: where are Violet and Megana, and are they okay? "This is nice, Kendal. We haven’t had a chance to just sit and catch up like this in a long time. What else is new? Why so serious?" He tries to get her to open up, but he's afraid she won't be able to say anything until she's alone.

"Oh, I guess I thought acting and modeling would be easy. Just stand there and do what they say, but it's a lot harder than it looks. Have to be very patient and even smile at the perverts." She shrugs, "I haven't had time for much else. And now..." she let's out an exasperated sigh, "They're talking about sending me to some place called Chi-Town, for more acting jobs."

"Oh!" Megan jeers, "That sounds exciting! Maybe Dane and I can take a vacation and come with you?"

Kendal smiles, "That'd be nice. Especially if they allow you to."

The bodyguard glances down at his wrist, "Ma'am. You have less than an hour."

Kendal's smile fades... Megan notices but stays silent.

Suddenly, Felix arrives with three root beer floats, "ON the house for my son's best friends! Good to see you guys together, even if we aren't all here!"