Chapter 10, By C. J. Ruby

Gabi studies biology.  The boy's go to "virtual" Colorado on a caper._

(Tarots are drawn. Gabriela receives Death upside down.)

Gabriela's nightmares are still haunting her even during the full light of day.   She asks Ira to go out and purchase books on biology and some basic medical journals.  She is determined to make a study of Life and Medicine.   She spends time in meditation and song to establish another mind in which to imbue this information.   Then she goes about a ritual of Time and Mind to do some major cramming on the subjects.  She will speed-read and memorize as much as she is able.  The chapters on the "eyes" nearly cause her to freak out, but she manages to keep it together.   The boys:  Max, Macair, and Ike Black are going to be out on a caper.   Her orders to Ira are that she is not to be disturbed during her studies. 

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Macair and Ike ride in Max’s Delorian to a Super 8 in Bradington to meet with Leandra. (Leandra is blonde and slender.  She dresses oddly for FL, long sleeves and gloves.)   The place has internet hookups.  Leandra has a couple suitcases with VR gear.

She tells them they are in for an experience since they’ve never been in the matrix before.  She sets them up with their gear and assists them in dressing.  She teaches them to merge with the matrix.  Macair and Ike get the idea and do it easily. 

The landscape is strange.  It looks like Tampa was 400 years ago.  Pirate ships are in port and people are dressed anachronistically.  Max appears as a human shaped onyx.  Macair gambles a bit then buys a flintlock and a cutlass.  Then they take a boat trip across the bay.

When the get to the other side the scenery changes, it is strange and jumbled.  They wait at a bus stop on the Internet super-highway and head for Colorado.   On the way they see the Technocracy riding hover boards and wearing red and chrome armor.  Leandra ducks, Macair makes faces.

Exiting the bus Leandra leads them to a ski lift that takes them to their destination.  They head to the Alpine Bank of Colorado.  Macair easily kills the firewall program (a security guard).  They see a pattern spider on the roof of the building (then start noticing them in many places).  Accessing Kevin Costner’s account they conduct the transactions for the Cultists. They are very successful and it seems no one will know a thing, although Ike wants to leave an entry “for Blow”.  Leandra deletes that.

At the Mason Morris Real Estate Co. two ninjas fight our web warriors.  They are hurt but only slightly and win the day.  They successfully do the job there as well.  Then head back to Tampa.  5 to 6 hours pass in real time.

Leandra says they’ll watch a couple days to see if the Technocracy caught on before they’ll finish the gig.  Leandra sells Ike and Max the VR gear for two Quintessence points each.

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