Loren paused his rummaging. He looked at the device, then at Green Mike. "What...how did you-" His facial expression of disbelief quickly turned into more positive surprise. "I just...wow, you're good." He laughed a little. "Took my stuff under my nose. That's impressive."
He looked at the device again. The blue paint was chipped to reveal silver glints, a measure of the abuse the Wave Communicator could take. The orange button on one of its faces was also tarnished in this way.
If that device was there, then...right, of course! The remainder in his left pocket was actually...
"Sure, then," Loren said, quickly taking back his personal communicator. "Let me explain real quickly."
He pulled out a more pristine looking Wave Communicator from his pocket, thin, bright blue and about the size of his (rather large) palm. "The device you pocketed from me was my own Wave Communicator. Here"--and here he pocketed his own device and held out the other one--"is yours. First, let me explain that when you turn this device on, anyone on the OKAY Network can see where you are across the globe. I have to mention that this does not have your name on it, nor will it ever have your name on it unless you go to the administration yourself and get it registered, which, I'm sure, you won't need."
Loren pressed the orange button on the device, allowing it to unfold. One half of the now-unfolded device had an empty LCD screen; the other half had a small keyboard installed into it, akin to those of mobile phones.
"There's an option in this thing somewhere to disable your GPS location, leaving your identity with this communicator as private as possible. You can still access the network and access the Franchise newsfeed for world news and other important stuff, and chat as an anonymous client with other Freelancers. If you're really worried that you don't trust us through the network, just turn off the power on the device through the keyboard. It's a foolproof way of not getting tracked, that much I can say."
Loren kept the device held out and continued, "Am I clear so far? I think it's necessary for me to get this out of the way first, before I get to the other stuff on this device worth checking out."
He looked at the device again. The blue paint was chipped to reveal silver glints, a measure of the abuse the Wave Communicator could take. The orange button on one of its faces was also tarnished in this way.
If that device was there, then...right, of course! The remainder in his left pocket was actually...
"Sure, then," Loren said, quickly taking back his personal communicator. "Let me explain real quickly."
He pulled out a more pristine looking Wave Communicator from his pocket, thin, bright blue and about the size of his (rather large) palm. "The device you pocketed from me was my own Wave Communicator. Here"--and here he pocketed his own device and held out the other one--"is yours. First, let me explain that when you turn this device on, anyone on the OKAY Network can see where you are across the globe. I have to mention that this does not have your name on it, nor will it ever have your name on it unless you go to the administration yourself and get it registered, which, I'm sure, you won't need."
Loren pressed the orange button on the device, allowing it to unfold. One half of the now-unfolded device had an empty LCD screen; the other half had a small keyboard installed into it, akin to those of mobile phones.
"There's an option in this thing somewhere to disable your GPS location, leaving your identity with this communicator as private as possible. You can still access the network and access the Franchise newsfeed for world news and other important stuff, and chat as an anonymous client with other Freelancers. If you're really worried that you don't trust us through the network, just turn off the power on the device through the keyboard. It's a foolproof way of not getting tracked, that much I can say."
Loren kept the device held out and continued, "Am I clear so far? I think it's necessary for me to get this out of the way first, before I get to the other stuff on this device worth checking out."
"Fantastic!" Mike said with an enthusiasm that was somehow both quiet and still earnest. He'd still have to inspect the device to be sure it worked as described, of course. Even if they did keep anything they might learn about him secret - which seemed far more unlikely if they'd lie in the first place - it would certainly be awkward if one of their employees or freelancers happened to be about when he was "working." "I appreciate you mentioning these features up front, Mr. Donlon. It'll certainly save me time."
Green Mike was uncertain as the whether or not he should take the newer device as it was held out, however, unsure if the man intended to show the mentioned "other stuff" himself or if he intended to guide Mike through it. He opted to reach out to touch it. If the man held on, the thief would merely stroke the device with a degree of admiration; but if the man released it, the thief could easily simply accept it.
"By the way, if I may ask, Mr. Donlon..." Though Green Mike's face remained tilted down toward the device, his eyes lifted to his interviewer. "At what point did you decide I'd be a good hire?"
Green Mike was uncertain as the whether or not he should take the newer device as it was held out, however, unsure if the man intended to show the mentioned "other stuff" himself or if he intended to guide Mike through it. He opted to reach out to touch it. If the man held on, the thief would merely stroke the device with a degree of admiration; but if the man released it, the thief could easily simply accept it.
"By the way, if I may ask, Mr. Donlon..." Though Green Mike's face remained tilted down toward the device, his eyes lifted to his interviewer. "At what point did you decide I'd be a good hire?"
"A number of factors, actually." Loren kept the device held out, his own eyes shifting upwards in thought. "Interviewer protocol says that we can't do physical challenges and exams as means of proving one's skill, so I had to judge for myself whether or not you could be trusted." He turned his eyes towards Mike again. "I had to take your word for your skill, and your charisma; basically, kinda like any other interview that requires talking and convincing. Taking my device kinda helped. Whether or not we get to actually get to see you in action is a whole other matter. I trust you won't turn on us or anything like that; you seem nice enough not to do that. Whatever honesty you displayed in your motives did it for me."
None of Loren's fingers were curled around the device, signifying that the thief was free to take it or leave it. "You asked how we all get around. Well, check this out."
He pushed one of the larger buttons on the keyboard with his other hand; the LCD screen revealed a corresponding display of baby blue wires strung all over a flat map of the world. "This is how we get around. Transport chutes. Every official transport chute entryway is on this map, and every possible route of transport is marked." He smiled. "I hope you don't get too many ideas from this, Mike."
None of Loren's fingers were curled around the device, signifying that the thief was free to take it or leave it. "You asked how we all get around. Well, check this out."
He pushed one of the larger buttons on the keyboard with his other hand; the LCD screen revealed a corresponding display of baby blue wires strung all over a flat map of the world. "This is how we get around. Transport chutes. Every official transport chute entryway is on this map, and every possible route of transport is marked." He smiled. "I hope you don't get too many ideas from this, Mike."
Oh, so plain and generic. Oh well. The man still seemed pleasant enough, overall.
It wasn't until the little map appeared on the screen that Mike actually took the device, examining the lines with interest. The mentioned "transport chutes" might just explain some of the odd things he'd come across during his heists. With a sly grin, he said only, "Not too many, no."
After all, he'd need to inspect them properly first - and even then, if they really were the nice folks they seemed to be, he didn't really want to get any fingers pointed incorrectly at them. Although he didn't appreciate some of the accusations the media placed on him, he still liked to take credit for his efforts.
"I will admit it might be good to make me aware of anything that could cause some sort of catastrophic failure if it were... misplaced, though. I assure you that I would never use such information against you, of course. Not unless you truly seemed to deserve it, at least, but I find myself doubting that such a thing would be an issue."
It wasn't until the little map appeared on the screen that Mike actually took the device, examining the lines with interest. The mentioned "transport chutes" might just explain some of the odd things he'd come across during his heists. With a sly grin, he said only, "Not too many, no."
After all, he'd need to inspect them properly first - and even then, if they really were the nice folks they seemed to be, he didn't really want to get any fingers pointed incorrectly at them. Although he didn't appreciate some of the accusations the media placed on him, he still liked to take credit for his efforts.
"I will admit it might be good to make me aware of anything that could cause some sort of catastrophic failure if it were... misplaced, though. I assure you that I would never use such information against you, of course. Not unless you truly seemed to deserve it, at least, but I find myself doubting that such a thing would be an issue."
"Catastrophic failures?" Loren repeated. "Well, yes, we're very concerned about having info falling into the wrong hands. And to be honest, we're still trying to figure out the best failsafe. I mean, yeah, losing your phone is annoying; this is no different. I don't wanna get too into it, but at this point I'd recommend just keeping it close to you, probably tied on your person. There's been only two cases I know of where Wave Communicators fell into the wrong hands and were used for illicit things, and they were pretty bad enough that we had to create network cutoff measures to deny access to rogues using the Communicators. We don't have internal data on any Communicator at all, only a unique 64-digit string as a serial number of sorts. Again, no internal data, just on and off tracking, and swift-response network administration."
Was that all? Loren inhaled, exhaled, curled his lip, quickly glanced out the window, at Mike, at the door, at the kitchen. He covered everything, supposedly. The privacy policy, the reason for hiring him. Well, then-
"And that's it, really." Loren half-shrugged. "I don't think I've got much else. I'd say you're qualified." The device was still held out for the thief to take, but now Loren closed it shut with his fingers. "You take this device, you come and go as you please, no questions asked, no obligations, only voluntary commitment. Or if you want, you can leave without it, and I won't hold anything against you. Or you could take this device, turn it off, go your business, and I won't hold anything against you either."
Loren's eyes, if one could read them correctly, reflected confidence...in the thief, or at least his privacy.
Was that all? Loren inhaled, exhaled, curled his lip, quickly glanced out the window, at Mike, at the door, at the kitchen. He covered everything, supposedly. The privacy policy, the reason for hiring him. Well, then-
"And that's it, really." Loren half-shrugged. "I don't think I've got much else. I'd say you're qualified." The device was still held out for the thief to take, but now Loren closed it shut with his fingers. "You take this device, you come and go as you please, no questions asked, no obligations, only voluntary commitment. Or if you want, you can leave without it, and I won't hold anything against you. Or you could take this device, turn it off, go your business, and I won't hold anything against you either."
Loren's eyes, if one could read them correctly, reflected confidence...in the thief, or at least his privacy.
Green Mike chuckled, but took the device, switching it off before slipping it into a pocket. "No no, I meant in any of your offices or bases or... whatever it is you have. Just to be sure all continues to run well."
He didn't wait for answer though, but stood, drew out a pen, and scribbled an address onto a scrap of paper. The location itself was abandoned, but it was one of the places he occasionally used for various things. "Here, send a list to this address. Even better if you include pictures." He slid the scrap over and grinned. "I will wait with bated breath."
Mike drew the long coat up from the chair and slipped it on, tucking the pricetag back away once he noticed it hanging out. "I assume our interview is done, then. I will explore what jobs are available."
He tucked his hair up, sat the second hat back over his own, and slipped on the large sunglasses. With everything in its place once more, he walked for the door, undid the latches, and before walking out he turned to give a slight bow, hand on his hat. He'd have done the full motion properly, but he just didn't feel like stuffing her hair away once again. "Au revoir, Mr. Donlon."
Whenever Loren decided to grab the pen and pad he'd brought along, he'd no doubt notice that the pen had been replaced by a fork.
He didn't wait for answer though, but stood, drew out a pen, and scribbled an address onto a scrap of paper. The location itself was abandoned, but it was one of the places he occasionally used for various things. "Here, send a list to this address. Even better if you include pictures." He slid the scrap over and grinned. "I will wait with bated breath."
Mike drew the long coat up from the chair and slipped it on, tucking the pricetag back away once he noticed it hanging out. "I assume our interview is done, then. I will explore what jobs are available."
He tucked his hair up, sat the second hat back over his own, and slipped on the large sunglasses. With everything in its place once more, he walked for the door, undid the latches, and before walking out he turned to give a slight bow, hand on his hat. He'd have done the full motion properly, but he just didn't feel like stuffing her hair away once again. "Au revoir, Mr. Donlon."
Whenever Loren decided to grab the pen and pad he'd brought along, he'd no doubt notice that the pen had been replaced by a fork.
Moderators: OKAY Employees (played by mk_97) Richard Ruiz (played by mk_97)