Chapter Text
Sam was hunched on his cheap motel bed, the neon sign outside flickering through the blinds like a faulty heartbeat. Thirteen years old, hoodie swallowed around him, fingers flying across a battered laptop. Behind the adjoining door, Jones was sweet talking a lady he had picked up.
Sam kept one ear tuned for footsteps.
On the dark net server, the chat room blinked as a new player arrived.
:: SW2000: hey, fancy seeing u on?
:: QTips: always. Who are you? Not seen you before?
Sam frowned he didn’t like chatting to newbies.
:: SW2000: Pipsqueak suggested chatting to you. got a problematic. line of code that won’t behave. And a tricky employer smoking up my ass.
Sam preened, his reputation was building up.
:: QTips: lol I know that feeling. show me then
:: SW2000: u sure? it’s messy
:: QTips: lol u seen my stuff? nothing scares me
A long block of dense encryption code appeared. A lot of numbers and complicated algorithms with occasionally weird glyphs.
Sam’s eyes widened, this wasn’t basic script. This was elegant. Beautiful. He cast another glance at the adjoining door. Satisfied he wouldn’t be disturbed, he focused on what was a work of art. Oh this would be a pleasure.
He cracked it in minutes.
:: QTips: fixed
:: SW2000: …that
:: SW2000: is impressive. You live up to your rep.
Sam glowed.
:: QTips: guess u met a genius
:: SW2000: cocky
Sam grinned despite himself.
He glanced at the door to Jones’s room, guilt prickling his spine. If Jones knew he was talking to random hackers…he’d get hit hard.
He hesitated, then sent his own code snippet.
:: QTips: btw im working on this
:: QTips: a little side project
:: SW2000: insanity. who even ARE you?
Sam hesitated for a heartbeat, pride swelling.
:: QTips: name’s Cypher
:: SW2000: Ah I have heard of you. It would be good to work together some time. I have a few interesting projects I am working on pay is exceptional.
:: SW2000: it’s very tricky, I could use your help.
Sam heart swooped. He never been asked to collab before. Epic. They he frowned, Ray has been pushing him to finish this job. Who knows how much time he would have to spare afterwards.
:: QTips: no pay needed, call this pro bono from one hacker to another.
:: SW2000: a professional. It will be good to work with you.
They talked for another thirty minutes until Sams’s eyes started drooping.
:: QTips: gtg. big job tmrw
:: SW2000: ok. talk tomorrow
:: QTips: Bye
He shut the laptop fast, heart pounding.
From the other room, the rhythmic thumping came to a crescendo as Jones shouted out obscenities.
Sam flinched.
O|O
The Next Morning Sam left early with Jones, shoulders hunched under the man’s grip.
There was a shiny black pick up truck in the lot and Sam slowed without thinking, admiration shining in his eyes.
Jones shoved him hard. “Get your arse moving. This better work this time, boy. I’m sick of this place.”
Sam stumbled. “S…sorry, sir.”
All the way to the Starbucks, Jones berated him, Sam thought he would have been in a better mood after having his lady friend over. But he was in an awful temper and was determined to make Sam pay for it.
“Someone got out the wrong side of the bed.” stupidly he mouthed off, just under his breath.
Jones heard. His grip tightened painfully until Sam’s eyes watered, yeah that would leave bruises. Then Jones grinned unpleasantly, his hand patting Sam’s shoulder hard, a father saying good bye to a son.
“I’ll deal with you when you finish up. Call me when your done.”
Inside the familiar coffee house, Sam finally let himself relax as he ordered his usual Chocolate shake and a muffin. Then made his way to the ideal spot where he could sit alone with his laptop and survey everyone discreetly. His mission was simple: wait for the mark and initiate free Starbucks WiFi mission. In the meantime he could se if his new friend was up, damn he should have checked what time zone he was in.
But thirty minutes passed and no mark. Just a group of unfamiliar business men entering and then a few more. The coffee house a bit busier than normal.
His nerves prickled.
Then the door chimed again.
A man walked in, tall, black hair pulled into a neat man bun, dressed in flowing dark robes that looked out of place in daylight. He caught Sam staring and as his gaze landed on Sam, a sphinx like half-smile curling his mouth.
Heat rushed to Sam’s cheeks. He looked away.
The man approached and dropped a folded note on Sam’s table.
Sam opened it, heart lurching.
#Sam you have been made. Follow me to safety.#
His breath caught.
What…the police? Autobots? Here for him?
Sam grabbed his backpack and shoved his laptop away, almost knocking over his chair, as he scurried after the man.
Outside, the robed man placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder. A faint static nip raced under Sam’s skin. Carefully he urged Sam forward.
Sam nodded, dazzled. “Sir? Is it the autobots, have they found us?” He whispered. Eyes darting around, his heart hammering like a drum.
“Do not worry, Sam,” the man murmured, his eyes widening slightly before softening. “You are safe. I will not allow any harm to come to you. Understand?”
Sam nodded. His eyes still darting around. He felt the man take the rucksack of his shoulder. “Here let me take this Sam, they maybe tracking your devices.”
And to Sam’s absolute horror, he placed it carefully in a doorway as they rounded the corner. In front of them ablack man with locs leaned casually against a posh silver car, arms folded and a warm easy grin.
“Hey, Sam.”
Sam froze, confused, his eyes darting up to the sphinx man. Instinctively moving closer.
“This is my friend…Jay. And you may call me Sounders”
Sam swallowed. “Did Ray send you Sir? Am I…am I in trouble?” Sam’s voice wavered. The thought of being dragged back made his stomach twist.
“No, Sam. You’re not in trouble,” the loc’d man said quietly. “But you do need to come with us and yes in a manner of speaking, I am now acquainted with your minder Jones. We have sent him by a different route.” Jay’s mouth sneered slightly at Jones name. Strangely it made Sam like him better, he didn’t like Jones either.
Sam hesitated, unsure what to do, what to say. “Are you my new handlers?” He blurted out, then cursed his stupidity, holding himself rigid awaiting the inevitable slap down.
There was a small silence.
“All is well,” Sounders said warmly. “But Sam you need to come with us. To safety.” He opened the door. Sam obediently climbed in, startled by how impossibly spacious the backseat felt and how soft and squishy.
“Oh wow…is this an Aston Martin. Are you guys like super special agents. Your mission budgets must be huge?”
The man with locs slid into the front seat, turning his hand on his heart. “Sam, Sam my man. You wound me this here is a Pontiac Solstice. Faster, and so much better than the Aston Martin.”
Sam blushed.