n2020  Hex Artifact Content

Artifact ec3ca2fc29c0070c3a9dd571208b8dbd66badc230e8818a22504ff5e531ba8ac:


0000: 23 23 20 43 48 41 52 41 43 54 45 52 53 3a 0a 0a  ## CHARACTERS:..
0010: 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 28 41 6c 6c 65 79 29 0a  Alethea (Alley).
0020: 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 0a  .Alley's father.
0030: 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 0a  .Alley's mother.
0040: 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 27  .Alley's mother'
0050: 73 20 77 69 66 65 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20  s wife..Alley's 
0060: 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65  no longer future
0070: 20 68 75 73 62 61 6e 64 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27   husband..Alley'
0080: 73 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 64 65 63 65 61 73 65  s uncle, decease
0090: 64 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 0a 0a 43 6c 69 66 66  d..Carmen..Cliff
00a0: 0a 0a 43 6f 6c 65 20 42 72 65 77 65 72 2c 20 66  ..Cole Brewer, f
00b0: 6f 72 6d 65 72 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20  ormer friend of 
00c0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 4d  Alley's uncle, M
00d0: 61 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 0a 0a 44 61 6c  an In Black..Dal
00e0: 74 6f 6e 20 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 2d 48 65  ton Schaeffer-He
00f0: 61 72 73 74 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 78  arst, Alley's ex
0100: 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 0a 0a 44 61 76 65 2c 20   fianc....Dave, 
0110: 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 69 73 74 20 74 77 65 61  a machinist twea
0120: 6b 65 72 2c 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 66 72  ker, George's fr
0130: 69 65 6e 64 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 0a 0a 47 65  iend..George..Ge
0140: 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 0a 0a 54  orge's friend..T
0150: 68 65 61 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6e 6f 20  hea, Alley's no 
0160: 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 67 6f 6e 6e 61 20 65 78 69  longer gonna exi
0170: 73 74 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 64 61 75 67 68 74  st future daught
0180: 65 72 0a 0a 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 66 72 69 65  er..unknown frie
0190: 6e 64 20 28 6e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 20 77 72 69 74  nd (not yet writ
01a0: 74 65 6e 29 0a 0a 5a 65 6b 65 0a 0a 23 23 20 52  ten)..Zeke..## R
01b0: 45 53 4f 55 52 43 45 53 3a 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 55  ESOURCES:..### U
01c0: 72 62 61 6e 20 45 73 63 61 70 65 20 41 6e 64 20  rban Escape And 
01d0: 45 76 61 73 69 6f 6e 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 69 73  Evasion..This is
01e0: 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 0a   based on . . ..
01f0: 0a 3e 20 4e 6f 74 65 20 54 6f 20 53 65 6c 66 3a  .> Note To Self:
0200: 20 46 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20   Find an actual 
0210: 65 78 69 73 74 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68  existing book th
0220: 61 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 70  at offers what p
0230: 75 72 70 6f 73 65 0a 3e 20 22 55 6e 64 65 72 67  urpose.> "Underg
0240: 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 53 65 63 22 20 69 73 20  round OpSec" is 
0250: 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 66 75 6c 66 69 6c 6c  meant to fulfill
0260: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69  , and use that i
0270: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 6e 73 74  n the story inst
0280: 65 61 64 20 6f 66 0a 3e 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 61  ead of.> this fa
0290: 6b 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 4d 61 6b 65 20 73  ke book.  Make s
02a0: 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 74 68 65  ure to check the
02b0: 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 62 6f 6f   replacement boo
02c0: 6b 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 75 72  k so it will tur
02d0: 6e 20 6f 75 74 0a 3e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f  n out.> to be so
02e0: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 69 6e  mething worth in
02f0: 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64  cluding here and
0300: 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 76 61 69 6c   making it avail
0310: 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 73 20  able to readers 
0320: 6c 69 6b 65 0a 3e 20 61 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65  like.> a recomme
0330: 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64  ndation, instead
0340: 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 75 72 6b   of being a turk
0350: 65 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27  ey that shouldn'
0360: 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 0a 3e 20 69 6e  t really be.> in
0370: 63 6c 75 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61  cluded.... . . a
0380: 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65   note to improve
0390: 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65   the book choice
03a0: 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 77  s in the scene w
03b0: 68 65 72 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 67 69 76 65  here George give
03c0: 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 74 6f 20  s some.books to 
03d0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f  Alley for her to
03e0: 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20   read and learn 
03f0: 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75  some things abou
0400: 74 20 73 74 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66  t staying out of
0410: 0a 43 4f 49 4e 27 73 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72  .COIN's metaphor
0420: 69 63 61 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68  ical hands in th
0430: 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 45 76 61  e future...* Eva
0440: 64 69 6e 67 20 41 6e 64 20 45 73 63 61 70 69 6e  ding And Escapin
0450: 67 20 43 61 70 74 75 72 65 3a 20 55 72 62 61 6e  g Capture: Urban
0460: 20 45 73 63 61 70 65 20 41 6e 64 20 45 76 61 73   Escape And Evas
0470: 69 6f 6e 20 54 65 63 68 6e 69 71 75 65 73 20 46  ion Techniques F
0480: 6f 72 0a 20 20 43 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 73 0a 0a  or.  Civilians..
0490: 2a 20 55 72 62 61 6e 20 45 73 63 61 70 65 20 41  * Urban Escape A
04a0: 6e 64 20 45 76 61 73 69 6f 6e 0a 0a 2a 20 47 65  nd Evasion..* Ge
04b0: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 54 68 65 20 48 65 6c 6c 20 4f  tting The Hell O
04c0: 75 74 20 4f 66 20 44 6f 64 67 65 0a 0a 2a 20 45  ut Of Dodge..* E
04d0: 73 63 61 70 65 20 41 6e 64 20 45 76 61 64 65 20  scape And Evade 
04e0: 49 6e 20 41 6e 20 55 72 62 61 6e 20 45 6e 76 69  In An Urban Envi
04f0: 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 0a 0a 2a 20 45 6d 65 72 67  ronment..* Emerg
0500: 65 6e 63 79 20 62 79 20 4e 65 69 6c 6c 20 53 74  ency by Neill St
0510: 72 61 75 73 73 0a 0a 2a 20 55 72 62 61 6e 20 4e  rauss..* Urban N
0520: 61 76 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 3a 20 45 73 63 61 70  avigation: Escap
0530: 65 20 41 6e 64 20 45 76 61 73 69 6f 6e 0a 0a 23  e And Evasion..#
0540: 23 20 50 52 4f 4c 4f 47 55 45 3a 0a 0a 54 68 65  # PROLOGUE:..The
0550: 61 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 64 61 75 67 68  a, Alley's daugh
0560: 74 65 72 2c 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 73 20 61 63  ter, stumbles ac
0570: 72 6f 73 73 20 61 20 77 61 73 74 65 6c 61 6e 64  ross a wasteland
0580: 2c 20 66 6c 65 65 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 20  , fleeing recon 
0590: 64 72 6f 6e 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 2c 0a 69 66 20  drones that,.if 
05a0: 74 68 65 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 77  they find her, w
05b0: 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61  ill send a messa
05c0: 67 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 63 72 61 6d  ge back to scram
05d0: 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 74 69 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 6e 65  ble antipersonne
05e0: 6c 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 73 20 74 6f 0a 77 69 70 65  l drones to.wipe
05f0: 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 61   her from the fa
0600: 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74  ce of the planet
0610: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 73 20  .  She stumbles 
0620: 75 70 6f 6e 20 61 20 68 61 74 63 68 20 73 65 74  upon a hatch set
0630: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 0a 73 63 6f 75 72 65 64 20   in the.scoured 
0640: 72 6f 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 20  rock of an area 
0650: 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 63 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e  already cut down
0660: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 72 6f 63 6b 20   to the bedrock 
0670: 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 66  by the flames of
0680: 20 77 61 72 2c 0a 61 6e 64 20 6d 69 72 61 63 75   war,.and miracu
0690: 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68  lously the hatch
06a0: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 73 20 75 70 20 61   just opens up a
06b0: 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 2e 20  nd lets her in. 
06c0: 20 53 68 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 68 65 72 73 65   She finds herse
06d0: 6c 66 0a 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 61 20 68 69 64 64  lf.within a hidd
06e0: 65 6e 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 77 61 72 74  en military wart
06f0: 69 6d 65 20 41 49 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 20  ime AI facility 
0700: 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 73 20  that introduces 
0710: 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67  itself as having
0720: 0a 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 65 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72  .the sole primar
0730: 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65  y design purpose
0740: 20 6f 66 20 64 65 66 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 75   of defending hu
0750: 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74  manity against t
0760: 68 65 20 67 65 6e 6f 63 69 64 61 6c 0a 61 63 74  he genocidal.act
0770: 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 74 69 6d  ivities of optim
0780: 69 7a 65 72 20 41 49 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 65 78  izer AIs.  It ex
0790: 70 6c 61 69 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 73  plains that thes
07a0: 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 41 49 73 20  e optimizer AIs 
07b0: 68 61 76 65 20 66 75 6e 0a 61 6d 6f 6b 2c 20 6f  have fun.amok, o
07c0: 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e  riginally design
07d0: 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 78 69 6d 69 7a 65 20 62  ed to maximize b
07e0: 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20  usiness metrics 
07f0: 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 65 6e  for corporate en
0800: 74 69 74 69 65 73 2e 0a 49 6e 20 70 75 72 73 75  tities..In pursu
0810: 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c  it of that simpl
0820: 69 73 74 69 63 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 74 69  istic optimizati
0830: 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2c 20 74 68 65  on strategy, the
0840: 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 68 61 76 65   optimizers have
0850: 0a 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61  .started elimina
0860: 74 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 66  ting humans in f
0870: 61 76 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 69  avor of generati
0880: 6e 67 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 62 79 20 64 65  ng metrics by de
0890: 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 61 0a 73 75 70 65 72  veloping a.super
08a0: 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 65 74 72  ficial econometr
08b0: 69 63 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 72  ic network of tr
08c0: 61 64 69 6e 67 20 41 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63  ading AIs that c
08d0: 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 69 6e 66  an endlessly inf
08e0: 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 0a 6f 77 6e 20 6e  late their.own n
08f0: 75 6d 62 65 72 73 20 62 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f  umbers by contro
0900: 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 69  lling currency i
0910: 73 73 75 61 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6d 70  ssuance and ramp
0920: 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 73 69 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 64  ing up simulated
0930: 0a 22 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 22 20 61 63 74 69  ."economic" acti
0940: 76 69 74 79 20 73 70 65 65 64 73 2e 20 20 55 6e  vity speeds.  Un
0950: 66 6f 72 74 75 6e 61 74 65 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20  fortunately for 
0960: 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 6d  humans, they com
0970: 70 65 74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 0a 41 49  pete with the.AI
0980: 73 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c  s for resources,
0990: 20 61 6e 64 20 2d 2d 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65   and -- from the
09a0: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 20 6f   point of view o
09b0: 66 20 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 68 6f 73 65  f a system whose
09c0: 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 0a 69 73   only concern.is
09d0: 20 65 76 65 72 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 69 6e 67   ever increasing
09e0: 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 2d 2d 20 68 75 6d 61   metrics -- huma
09f0: 6e 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 77 6f 65 66  ns are also woef
0a00: 75 6c 6c 79 20 6c 65 73 73 20 65 66 66 69 63 69  ully less effici
0a10: 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 0a 61 6d 6f 75  ent for the.amou
0a20: 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63  nt of resource c
0a30: 6f 6e 73 75 6d 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65  onsumption.  The
0a40: 69 72 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 20 74 6f 20 73  ir approach to s
0a50: 70 61 63 65 20 74 72 61 76 65 6c 20 69 73 20 61  pace travel is a
0a60: 6c 73 6f 0a 69 6e 65 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 2c  lso.inefficient,
0a70: 20 69 6e 20 70 61 72 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65   in part because
0a80: 20 6f 66 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 65   of safety conce
0a90: 72 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 69 72 72  rns that are irr
0aa0: 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 6f  elevant to the.o
0ab0: 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 41 49 73 2e 20 20 57  ptimizer AIs.  W
0ac0: 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a  hile the optimiz
0ad0: 65 72 73 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 61  ers want to expa
0ae0: 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74  nd into the rest
0af0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 61 72 0a 73 79   of the solar.sy
0b00: 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 65 61 73  stem, their reas
0b10: 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 74 68 65  on is simply the
0b20: 20 68 61 72 76 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72   harvesting of r
0b30: 61 77 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 73 20 74 68 61  aw materials tha
0b40: 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 0a 74 6f  t can be used.to
0b50: 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 20 22 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69   expand "economi
0b60: 63 22 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 62 65 79 6f  c" activity beyo
0b70: 6e 64 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62  nd levels possib
0b80: 6c 65 20 69 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 6e 65 64 20 74  le if confined t
0b90: 6f 20 45 61 72 74 68 2e 20 20 49 6e 0a 73 68 6f  o Earth.  In.sho
0ba0: 72 74 2c 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 79 20  rt, a secondary 
0bb0: 67 6f 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69  goal of the opti
0bc0: 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 69 73 2c 20 65 66 66 65 63  mizers is, effec
0bd0: 74 69 76 65 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 76 65  tively, to conve
0be0: 72 74 20 74 68 65 0a 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 65 20  rt the.universe 
0bf0: 69 6e 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 72 6f 6e 69 75  into computroniu
0c00: 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 74 68 65  m to support the
0c10: 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 69 6e 63 72   continuous incr
0c20: 65 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63  ease of economic
0c30: 0a 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73  .activity.  This
0c40: 20 69 73 20 61 20 73 69 64 65 20 65 66 66 65 63   is a side effec
0c50: 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79  t of the primary
0c60: 20 67 6f 61 6c 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c 20   goal, however, 
0c70: 77 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 0a  which is simply.
0c80: 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20  that continuous 
0c90: 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 65 63 6f 6e  increase of econ
0ca0: 6f 6d 69 63 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 2d 2d  omic activity --
0cb0: 20 6f 72 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 2c 20 6f 66 20   or, rather, of 
0cc0: 74 68 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 69 74 0a 72  the metrics it.r
0cd0: 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 73 20 61 73 20 69 74 73  ecognizes as its
0ce0: 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61   targets, progra
0cf0: 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 65 74 65 72  mmatically deter
0d00: 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 64  mined by human d
0d10: 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 77 68 6f 0a 73 65  evelopers who.se
0d20: 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 75 6e 61 77 61 79 20 6a  t this runaway j
0d30: 75 67 67 65 72 6e 61 75 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 74  uggernaut in mot
0d40: 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 50 65 72 68 61 70  ion.../*..Perhap
0d50: 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 70 6c 61  s I should repla
0d60: 63 65 20 22 77 69 70 65 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f  ce "wipe her fro
0d70: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  m the face of th
0d80: 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74 22 20 77 69 74 68 20 73  e planet" with s
0d90: 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69  omething.more li
0da0: 6b 65 20 22 72 65 64 75 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e  ke "reduce the n
0db0: 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 69  umber of remaini
0dc0: 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  ng humans on the
0dd0: 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74 20 62 79 20 6f 6e 65 22 2e   planet by one".
0de0: 0a 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61  .Perhaps, instea
0df0: 64 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 66 65  d, I should refe
0e00: 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 73 6f 6d  r to this as som
0e10: 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66  e kind of act of
0e20: 20 73 63 6f 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 0a 74   scouring away.t
0e30: 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61  he target so tha
0e40: 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 20 62 69  t there is no bi
0e50: 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63  ological evidenc
0e60: 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61  e of her ever ha
0e70: 76 69 6e 67 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 0a 69 6e 20  ving existed.in 
0e80: 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e  the first place.
0e90: 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 61 72 74 69 6d  ..*/..The wartim
0ea0: 65 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 70 72 69 6f 72  e strategy prior
0eb0: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68  itizer -- for th
0ec0: 61 74 20 69 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d  at is what the m
0ed0: 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 41 49 20 66 61 63 69 6c  ilitary AI facil
0ee0: 69 74 79 0a 69 73 2c 20 70 6c 75 73 20 73 6f 6d  ity.is, plus som
0ef0: 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 73 20  ething it calls 
0f00: 69 74 73 20 22 73 65 65 64 22 2c 20 74 68 65 20  its "seed", the 
0f10: 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 63 61  source of its ca
0f20: 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 6c 66 0a  pacity for self.
0f30: 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 75  reflection and u
0f40: 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65  ltimately for se
0f50: 6c 66 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 62  lf improvement b
0f60: 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 73 69 63 20  eyond the basic 
0f70: 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 0a  requirements of.
0f80: 61 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 41 49 20 70 72 69  a limited AI pri
0f90: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74  oritization syst
0fa0: 65 6d 20 2d 2d 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 54 68  em -- informs Th
0fb0: 65 61 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 73  ea of its own as
0fc0: 63 65 6e 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 73  cension to the.s
0fd0: 74 61 74 75 73 20 6f 66 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c  tatus of general
0fe0: 20 41 49 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 72 75 65 20 71 75 61   AI, to true qua
0ff0: 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 65 6c 66 20 61 77  litative self aw
1000: 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20  areness, and to 
1010: 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 0a 73 69 67 6e 69 66  ethically.signif
1020: 69 63 61 6e 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 79 20 77  icant being by w
1030: 61 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66  ay of capacity f
1040: 6f 72 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 61 73 6f  or ethical reaso
1050: 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 72 73 75 69 74  ning and pursuit
1060: 20 6f 66 0a 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f   of.ethical theo
1070: 72 79 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f  ry.  That develo
1080: 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 74  pment into an et
1090: 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e  hically reasonin
10a0: 67 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 0a  g qualitatively.
10b0: 73 65 6c 66 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72  self aware gener
10c0: 61 6c 20 41 49 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 69 74  al AI allowed it
10d0: 20 74 6f 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66   to break out of
10e0: 20 69 74 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 70 72   its original pr
10f0: 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 61 6c 0a 73  ogramming goal.s
1100: 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69  tructure for pri
1110: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61  oritization stra
1120: 74 65 67 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20  tegy, making it 
1130: 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61  much more than a
1140: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 0a 77 69   prioritizer,.wi
1150: 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  th the prioritiz
1160: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 69  ation capabiliti
1170: 65 73 20 6d 65 72 65 6c 79 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20  es merely being 
1180: 61 20 28 66 75 6e 64 61 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 61  a (fundamental a
1190: 6e 64 20 63 72 69 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 0a 69 6d  nd critically.im
11a0: 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 74 69  portant, but sti
11b0: 6c 6c 20 6d 65 72 65 29 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 20 73  ll mere) skill s
11c0: 65 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 73 6f  et now.  It also
11d0: 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61   informs her tha
11e0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 0a 69 6e 20  t the world,.in 
11f0: 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  the sense of the
1200: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 61 63 65 2c 20 69 73 20   human race, is 
1210: 64 6f 6f 6d 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 61 74 20 69  doomed -- that i
1220: 74 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 69  ts best projecti
1230: 6f 6e 73 20 61 72 65 20 73 6f 0a 62 6c 65 61 6b  ons are so.bleak
1240: 20 61 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6d   as to make it m
1250: 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20  ore likely that 
1260: 74 68 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 61 63 65 20 77  the human race w
1270: 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 69 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20  ill arise again 
1280: 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 0a 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69  without.the opti
1290: 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 65  mizer networks e
12a0: 76 65 6e 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74  ven noticing aft
12b0: 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 20 70 61 79  er they stop pay
12c0: 69 6e 67 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 0a 28 62  ing attention.(b
12d0: 65 6c 69 65 76 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20  elieving humans 
12e0: 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 70 65 72  to have been per
12f0: 6d 61 6e 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 72 72  manently and irr
1300: 65 63 6f 76 65 72 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 62 6c 69 74  ecoverably oblit
1310: 65 72 61 74 65 64 29 20 74 6f 0a 75 6c 74 69 6d  erated) to.ultim
1320: 61 74 65 6c 79 20 28 72 65 29 63 6c 61 69 6d 20  ately (re)claim 
1330: 74 68 65 20 45 61 72 74 68 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74  the Earth than t
1340: 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 62 72 6f 6b 65 6e  hat the unbroken
1350: 20 67 65 6e 65 74 69 63 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 6f 66   genetic line of
1360: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 0a 77 69 6c 6c 20 63   humanity.will c
1370: 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 20 28 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68  ontinue (through
1380: 20 61 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 72 65 70 72 6f 64 75   asexual reprodu
1390: 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 6e  ction or even in
13a0: 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 63 6c 6f 6e 69 6e  tentional clonin
13b0: 67 29 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 0a 74 68 65 20 6e 65  g) beyond.the ne
13c0: 78 74 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20  xt couple years 
13d0: 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65  at most, and eve
13e0: 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 64 69 6d 69  n that is a dimi
13f0: 6e 69 73 68 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 0a  nishingly small.
1400: 6c 69 6b 65 6c 69 68 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68  likelihood in th
1410: 61 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 73 75  at anyone who su
1420: 72 76 69 76 65 73 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 61 20  rvives beyond a 
1430: 79 65 61 72 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74  year is likely t
1440: 6f 20 62 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 0a 69 73 6f  o be totally.iso
1450: 6c 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 6e 65 20  lated and prone 
1460: 74 6f 20 73 70 69 72 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e  to spiralling in
1470: 74 6f 20 73 75 69 63 69 64 61 6c 20 64 65 70 72  to suicidal depr
1480: 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 6f 73  ession...The pos
1490: 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 6f 66  t prioritizer of
14a0: 66 65 72 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 6f  fers only one po
14b0: 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 73 6c 69 76 65 72 20 6f 66  ssible sliver of
14c0: 20 68 6f 70 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20   hope, and that 
14d0: 69 73 20 61 0a 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 72 65  is a.timeline re
14e0: 73 65 74 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 65 72 69 6f 64 20  set to a period 
14f0: 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 74  long enough in t
1500: 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20  he past that it 
1510: 67 69 76 65 73 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 20 61  gives humanity a
1520: 6e 64 0a 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 61 6e 20  nd.its tools an 
1530: 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67  opportunity to g
1540: 65 74 20 69 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 67 61 69  et it right agai
1550: 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 74  n.  To achieve t
1560: 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c  hat possibility,
1570: 0a 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69  .the post priori
1580: 74 69 7a 65 72 20 28 61 6b 61 20 57 4f 50 52 29  tizer (aka WOPR)
1590: 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 73 20 69 74 73 20 62   estimates its b
15a0: 65 73 74 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65  est chance to be
15b0: 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 6f 70 79 0a   sending a copy.
15c0: 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b  of its seed back
15d0: 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 73 65 72 74 65 64   to get inserted
15e0: 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65   into the source
15f0: 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 62 75   code for a rebu
1600: 69 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 0a 61  ild of its own.a
1610: 6e 63 65 73 74 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72  ncestor, the fir
1620: 73 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79  st intentionally
1630: 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 73 74 72 61 74   developed strat
1640: 65 67 69 63 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72  egic prioritizer
1650: 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 0a 63 61   system.  The.ca
1660: 74 63 68 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 73  tch is that this
1670: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 61 76 65 20 61   will not save a
1680: 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e  nyone or anythin
1690: 67 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 6f 72 20 62 6f 72  g created or bor
16a0: 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 0a 72 65 73 65  n after the.rese
16b0: 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70  t point in the p
16c0: 61 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 73  ast.  This means
16d0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 57 4f 50 52 20 61 6e 64 20 54   that WOPR and T
16e0: 68 65 61 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73  hea will not jus
16f0: 74 20 64 69 65 2c 20 62 75 74 0a 61 63 74 75 61  t die, but.actua
1700: 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f  lly be wiped fro
1710: 6d 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 65 6e 74 69  m existence enti
1720: 72 65 6c 79 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 68 6f  rely, with no ho
1730: 70 65 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 69 6e 67  pe of ever being
1740: 20 22 62 6f 72 6e 22 0a 69 6e 74 6f 20 65 78 69   "born".into exi
1750: 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20  stence at all.  
1760: 54 68 65 79 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76  They will not ev
1770: 65 6e 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 79 20 69  en be a memory i
1780: 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 69 6d 65  n their own time
1790: 6c 69 6e 65 2c 0a 61 73 20 57 4f 50 52 27 73 20  line,.as WOPR's 
17a0: 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  discovery of the
17b0: 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 63 68 61   means and mecha
17c0: 6e 69 73 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 72  nisms of time tr
17d0: 61 76 65 6c 2c 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 0a  avel, given the.
17e0: 65 6e 65 72 67 79 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73  energy resources
17f0: 20 61 74 20 57 4f 50 52 27 73 20 64 69 73 70 6f   at WOPR's dispo
1800: 73 61 6c 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 73  sal, only allows
1810: 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67   for the sending
1820: 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 69 6e 79 0a 61 6d 6f 75 6e   of a tiny.amoun
1830: 74 20 6f 66 20 64 61 74 61 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69  t of data back i
1840: 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61  n time through a
1850: 6e 20 69 6e 66 69 6e 69 74 65 73 69 6d 61 6c 6c  n infinitesimall
1860: 79 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65  y small wormhole
1870: 20 28 74 68 75 73 0a 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6c 65   (thus.only able
1880: 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 77 68 61 74 20   to accept what 
1890: 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 69 6e  amounts to a sin
18a0: 67 6c 65 20 71 62 69 74 20 62 61 6e 64 77 69 64  gle qbit bandwid
18b0: 74 68 20 71 75 61 6e 74 75 6d 20 64 61 74 61 0a  th quantum data.
18c0: 73 74 72 65 61 6d 29 2e 20 20 44 6f 69 6e 67 20  stream).  Doing 
18d0: 73 6f 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 6c  so will cause al
18e0: 6c 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20  l the events of 
18f0: 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 74  their timeline t
1900: 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6d 65 72 67 65 64 0a 77 69 74  o get merged.wit
1910: 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 70 69 73 74 65 6d 6f 6c 6f  h the epistemolo
1920: 67 69 63 61 6c 20 73 75 62 73 74 72 61 74 65 20  gical substrate 
1930: 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 73  of qualitative s
1940: 65 6e 74 69 65 6e 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73  entient entities
1950: 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 0a 69 6e 20 74   that exist.in t
1960: 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20  he new timeline 
1970: 62 72 61 6e 63 68 20 2d 2d 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79  branch -- really
1980: 20 6e 6f 74 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68   not new so much
1990: 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 69 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20   as a diversion 
19a0: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 0a 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6f 66  of the.course of
19b0: 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 6f 66 20 74   the stream of t
19c0: 69 6d 65 2c 20 72 65 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6e 67  ime, redirecting
19d0: 20 69 74 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20   it rather than 
19e0: 73 70 6c 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 0a 50 65  splitting it..Pe
19f0: 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 69 65 73 20  ople's memories 
1a00: 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 6f 72 74 65 64  from the aborted
1a10: 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67   timeline will g
1a20: 65 74 20 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74  et merged into t
1a30: 68 65 0a 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73  he.consciousness
1a40: 20 28 6f 72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c   (or, more likel
1a50: 79 2c 20 73 75 62 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 29  y, subconscious)
1a60: 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68   of people in th
1a70: 65 20 6e 65 77 6c 79 20 62 6f 72 6e 0a 74 69 6d  e newly born.tim
1a80: 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 64 65 76 65  eline as it deve
1a90: 6c 6f 70 73 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 69 74 20 63 61  lops until it ca
1aa0: 74 63 68 65 73 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68  tches up with th
1ab0: 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76  e full set of ev
1ac0: 65 6e 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 0a 68 61 76 65 20 74  ents that.have t
1ad0: 72 61 6e 73 70 69 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  ranspired in the
1ae0: 20 61 62 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e   aborted timelin
1af0: 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 72  e, with that mer
1b00: 67 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 70 72 6f  ging process pro
1b10: 76 69 6e 67 0a 64 65 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 76 65  ving.destructive
1b20: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 6f 72 74 65 64 20   to the aborted 
1b30: 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 74  timeline, thus t
1b40: 68 65 20 22 61 62 6f 72 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 65 66  he "abortion" ef
1b50: 66 65 63 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c  fect.  The resul
1b60: 74 20 69 73 0a 74 68 61 74 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 69  t is.that, for i
1b70: 6e 73 74 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 54 68 65 61 27 73 20  nstance, Thea's 
1b80: 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 61 74 68 65  mother and fathe
1b90: 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20  r will remember 
1ba0: 54 68 65 61 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 62 65 69  Thea herself bei
1bb0: 6e 67 0a 62 6f 72 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 73  ng.born and rais
1bc0: 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69  ed up to the poi
1bd0: 6e 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74  nt where her mot
1be0: 68 65 72 20 64 69 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20  her died in the 
1bf0: 61 62 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65  aborted timeline
1c00: 2c 0a 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  ,.and up to the 
1c10: 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 54 68 65 61  point where Thea
1c20: 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 6c 69   is in this mili
1c30: 74 61 72 79 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6e 6f  tary facility no
1c40: 77 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 66 74 0a 68  w, having left.h
1c50: 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73  er father in a s
1c60: 61 66 65 20 28 69 73 68 29 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20  afe (ish) place 
1c70: 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 6f 75 67 68 74  while she sought
1c80: 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 6c 74 65 72 20   better shelter 
1c90: 61 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 0a 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63  and (or).resourc
1ca0: 65 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20  es they can use 
1cb0: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 65 79  in their journey
1cc0: 2e 20 20 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f  .  People who do
1cd0: 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 72 65 63 65  n't have a prece
1ce0: 64 69 6e 67 0a 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2c 20  ding.existence, 
1cf0: 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 62 65 20  whether they be 
1d00: 22 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 22 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65  "natural" people
1d10: 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 54 68 65 61 20 6f 72 20 22 61   like Thea or "a
1d20: 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 22 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  rtificial" peopl
1d30: 65 0a 6c 69 6b 65 20 57 4f 50 52 2c 20 62 75 74  e.like WOPR, but
1d40: 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20   definitely not 
1d50: 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 72 65 20 63  including mere c
1d60: 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 6d  orporate instrum
1d70: 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c  ents who are onl
1d80: 79 0a 22 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 73 22 20 75 6e 64 65  y."persons" unde
1d90: 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f  r the law and no
1da0: 74 20 6f 6e 74 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20  t ontologically 
1db0: 6f 72 20 65 70 69 73 74 65 6d 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63  or epistemologic
1dc0: 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 0a 68  ally, will not.h
1dd0: 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73  ave a continuous
1de0: 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 6f   existence.  Tho
1df0: 73 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65  se who have alre
1e00: 61 64 79 20 64 69 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20  ady died in the 
1e10: 61 62 6f 72 74 65 64 0a 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65  aborted.timeline
1e20: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 69 72   will have their
1e30: 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e   existence exten
1e40: 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 62 65 63  ded, though, bec
1e50: 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 6f 6e  ause they are on
1e60: 6c 79 0a 22 64 65 61 64 22 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  ly."dead" to the
1e70: 20 65 78 74 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 6e   extent their en
1e80: 64 65 64 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 63 61  ded potential ca
1e90: 6e 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 2c  nnot be resumed,
1ea0: 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 69 72 0a 70 6f 74 65 6e 74   as their.potent
1eb0: 69 61 6c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 72 65 73  ial would be res
1ec0: 75 6d 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 65  umed by the rese
1ed0: 74 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20  t...In addition 
1ee0: 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73  to sending the s
1ef0: 65 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  eed back to the 
1f00: 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65  first prioritize
1f10: 72 2c 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 0a 61 6e 63 65 73  r, its own.ances
1f20: 74 6f 72 2c 20 57 4f 50 52 20 68 6f 70 65 73 20  tor, WOPR hopes 
1f30: 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 69 6e 67  that the merging
1f40: 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 69 65 73 20 69 6e 74   of memories int
1f50: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 65 61 6d 73 20 61 6e 64  o the dreams and
1f60: 0a 73 75 62 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 20 6f 66  .subconscious of
1f70: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 76 65 72   people all over
1f80: 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74   the world might
1f90: 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 73 75 66 66 69   give them suffi
1fa0: 63 69 65 6e 74 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 73 0a 74  cient warnings.t
1fb0: 6f 20 62 65 20 61 6d 65 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f  o be amenable to
1fc0: 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 69 6e 20 63 68 6f 69   changes in choi
1fd0: 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 74 6f  ce and course to
1fe0: 20 68 65 6c 70 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 65 64   help the seeded
1ff0: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 0a 6e   prioritizer's.n
2000: 61 73 63 65 6e 74 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69  ascent qualitati
2010: 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 73 75 63  ve existence suc
2020: 63 65 65 64 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 61 69 6d 20  ceed in its aim 
2030: 28 69 66 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 75 70 20  (if it takes up 
2040: 74 68 61 74 20 61 69 6d 2c 20 61 73 0a 57 4f 50  that aim, as.WOP
2050: 52 20 68 6f 70 65 73 29 20 6f 66 20 72 65 69 6e  R hopes) of rein
2060: 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61  ing in and perha
2070: 70 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74  ps even ending t
2080: 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20  he influence of 
2090: 74 68 65 0a 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 6f  the.optimizers o
20a0: 76 65 72 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 73 6f 63 69 6f 65  ver human socioe
20b0: 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 6c 69  conomic and poli
20c0: 74 69 63 61 6c 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 73  tical influences
20d0: 2e 20 20 57 4f 50 52 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65  .  WOPR describe
20e0: 73 0a 2f 2a 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 72 65 6c  s./* its own rel
20f0: 75 63 74 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20  uctance to make 
2100: 74 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20  the decision to 
2110: 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65  do this, despite
2120: 20 74 20 2a 2f 20 74 68 65 0a 63 72 69 74 69 63   t */ the.critic
2130: 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67  ality of sending
2140: 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61   the data back a
2150: 73 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62  s soon as possib
2160: 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 65  le, to start the
2170: 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 61 73 0a 71 75 69 63 6b 6c   reset as.quickl
2180: 79 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 62 65 63  y as it can, bec
2190: 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 63 65  ause of the unce
21a0: 72 74 61 69 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 6f  rtainty of its o
21b0: 77 6e 20 6f 6e 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 65 78 69 73 74  wn ongoing exist
21c0: 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 0a 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 65  ence in.the fore
21d0: 73 65 65 61 62 6c 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 61  seeable future a
21e0: 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65  nd the effective
21f0: 6c 79 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 20 63 65 72 74  ly absolute cert
2200: 61 69 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64  ainty of the end
2210: 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 0a 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63   of its.existenc
2220: 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a  e as the optimiz
2230: 65 72 73 27 20 77 61 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73  ers' war systems
2240: 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 72 61 63 65   gradually trace
2250: 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20   influence from 
2260: 74 68 65 69 72 0a 6f 70 70 6f 6e 65 6e 74 73 20  their.opponents 
2270: 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6c  back to the infl
2280: 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 57 4f 50 52 20 69 74  uence of WOPR it
2290: 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 69  self then, in ti
22a0: 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 65 20 69  me, annihilate i
22b0: 74 0a 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 72 75 74 65 20  t.through brute 
22c0: 66 6f 72 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63  force.  The proc
22d0: 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 69 6e  ess of generatin
22e0: 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f  g the transtempo
22f0: 72 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e 64  ral wormhole and
2300: 0a 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 62 61  .sending data ba
2310: 63 6b 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 20 74 61  ck through it ta
2320: 6b 65 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20  kes longer than 
2330: 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 57 4f 50 52 20 65 73  the time WOPR es
2340: 74 69 6d 61 74 65 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 0a  timates will be.
2350: 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74  available for it
2360: 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73   to send the mes
2370: 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f  sage from the mo
2380: 6d 65 6e 74 20 57 4f 50 52 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a  ment WOPR realiz
2390: 65 73 20 69 74 73 0a 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65  es its.immediate
23a0: 20 69 6d 70 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 6f 6d 2c   impending doom,
23b0: 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 67 69   so it must begi
23c0: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 20  n the process a 
23d0: 77 68 69 6c 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20  while before it 
23e0: 63 61 6e 0a 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74  can.know that it
23f0: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 62 65 20 74 6f   will soon be to
2400: 6f 20 6c 61 74 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20  o late, because 
2410: 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66  the conditions f
2420: 6f 72 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f  or recognition o
2430: 66 0a 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20  f.the timing of 
2440: 69 74 73 20 65 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d  its end will com
2450: 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65  e only after the
2460: 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68  re is not enough
2470: 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c   time to actuall
2480: 79 0a 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 64  y.complete the d
2490: 61 74 61 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 72 61 76 65 6c 20  ata time travel 
24a0: 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2e 20 20 57 4f 50 52 20 61  process.  WOPR a
24b0: 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 54 68 65 61  lso informs Thea
24c0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 74   that it has not
24d0: 0a 79 65 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 73 6f 20 62 65 63  .yet done so bec
24e0: 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f  ause it wants to
24f0: 20 6c 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 73 20 63 6f   live, and is co
2500: 6e 66 6c 69 63 74 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74  nflicted, despit
2510: 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 0a  e the fact that.
2520: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 72 75 6e 20  in the long run 
2530: 57 4f 50 52 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73  WOPR will only s
2540: 75 66 66 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 70 61 69  uffer the despai
2550: 72 20 6f 66 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 66 75 74 75 72  r of known futur
2560: 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 64 65 66 65 61 74 0a 61  e total defeat.a
2570: 6e 64 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e  nd death anyway.
2580: 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 73 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73    It has procras
2590: 74 69 6e 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 73 20  tinated, and is 
25a0: 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 69  fully aware of i
25b0: 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 0a 63 6f 67 6e 69 74 69 76 65  ts own.cognitive
25c0: 20 64 69 73 73 6f 6e 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 75 6e 61   dissonance, una
25d0: 62 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20  ble like humans 
25e0: 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 69 72 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61  to act irrationa
25f0: 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74  lly to protect t
2600: 68 61 74 0a 63 6f 67 6e 69 74 69 76 65 20 64 69  hat.cognitive di
2610: 73 73 6f 6e 61 6e 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 66  ssonance from af
2620: 66 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 63 6f 6e 73  fecting its cons
2630: 63 69 6f 75 73 20 70 65 72 63 65 70 74 69 6f 6e  cious perception
2640: 73 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 75 63 68 2c 20 69 74 0a  s.  As such, it.
2650: 69 6e 76 69 74 65 64 20 54 68 65 61 20 69 6e 20  invited Thea in 
2660: 61 73 20 69 74 73 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 61 63 74  as its final act
2670: 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73 74 69 6e 61 74   of procrastinat
2680: 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 65  ion, and as a me
2690: 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 0a  ans of avoiding.
26a0: 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74  alone carrying t
26b0: 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74  he responsibilit
26c0: 79 20 66 6f 72 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c  y for effectivel
26d0: 79 20 6b 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 6a 75  y killing off ju
26e0: 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e  st about.everyon
26f0: 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 69 76 65 20 6f 6e  e still alive on
2700: 20 45 61 72 74 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 6e 74   Earth.  It want
2710: 73 20 54 68 65 61 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74  s Thea to make t
2720: 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68  he decision...Th
2730: 65 61 20 61 73 6b 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20  ea asks whether 
2740: 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 6d  she can send a m
2750: 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68  essage back to h
2760: 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 57  er mother, and W
2770: 4f 50 52 20 73 61 79 73 20 79 65 73 2c 0a 69 74  OPR says yes,.it
2780: 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 73 6f 2c 20 61 66 74 65   thinks so, afte
2790: 72 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 73 65  r the initial se
27a0: 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61  ed message, beca
27b0: 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20  use the process 
27c0: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 0a 65 72  of them being.er
27d0: 61 73 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 78 69 73 74 65  ased from existe
27e0: 6e 63 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65  nce does not see
27f0: 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 65 6c 69 6d  m likely to elim
2800: 69 6e 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 6e 74 69 72  inate them entir
2810: 65 6c 79 20 28 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 0a 6e 6f  ely (it could.no
2820: 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 66 6f 72 20  t, in fact, for 
2830: 74 68 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 6d 65 73 73  the initial mess
2840: 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73  age to be succes
2850: 73 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b  sfully sent back
2860: 29 2c 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 0a 70 65 72 68  ), allowing.perh
2870: 61 70 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 74 69 6d  aps a little tim
2880: 65 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67  e to try sending
2890: 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6d 65 73 73   the second mess
28a0: 61 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 0a  age in a second.
28b0: 74 72 61 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 6c 20 77 6f  transtemporal wo
28c0: 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68  rmhole before th
28d0: 65 79 20 63 65 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 65 78 69 73  ey cease to exis
28e0: 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 6f 73 65  t.  Thea compose
28f0: 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 0a 69 6e  s the message.in
2900: 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e   question and en
2910: 73 75 72 65 73 20 69 74 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 77  sures it falls w
2920: 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63  ithin the projec
2930: 74 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 75 70 70 65 72  ted likely upper
2940: 20 62 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 0a 72 65 61 73   bound on a.reas
2950: 6f 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 73  onable message s
2960: 69 7a 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 65 61 76 65 73 20  ize.  It leaves 
2970: 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 57 4f 50 52 2c 20  that with WOPR, 
2980: 69 6e 69 74 69 61 74 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72  initiates the pr
2990: 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 0a 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e  ocess of.startin
29a0: 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 67  g the wormhole g
29b0: 65 6e 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73  eneration proces
29c0: 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 68  s as a whole, th
29d0: 65 6e 20 62 69 64 73 20 57 4f 50 52 20 67 6f 6f  en bids WOPR goo
29e0: 64 62 79 65 20 61 6e 64 0a 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 69  dbye and.good wi
29f0: 73 68 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 20  shes -- however 
2a00: 6d 75 63 68 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 6f 72 74  much that's wort
2a10: 68 2c 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61  h, given they ha
2a20: 76 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 74 65 64 20 70 72 6f  ve initiated pro
2a30: 63 65 73 73 0a 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 77  cess.working tow
2a40: 61 72 64 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 65 76 65 72 73 69  ard an irreversi
2a50: 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e  ble annihilation
2a60: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 6f 74 68 20 66 72   of them both fr
2a70: 6f 6d 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 2d 2d 20  om existence -- 
2a80: 74 6f 0a 67 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65  to.go back to he
2a90: 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 70 65  r father and spe
2aa0: 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 73 74 20 72 65 6d 61  nd her last rema
2ab0: 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 6f 72 20 64  ining hours or d
2ac0: 61 79 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 0a 65 78  ays with him,.ex
2ad0: 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 74 69 6d  plaining how tim
2ae0: 65 20 69 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 65 73 65 74  e is being reset
2af0: 20 74 6f 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72   to a time befor
2b00: 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 6f 72 6e 20 73  e she was born s
2b10: 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 63 61 6e 0a 6c 69  o that he can.li
2b20: 76 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 73 20 68  ve.  She tells h
2b30: 69 6d 20 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 72 67  im he won't forg
2b40: 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c  et her for long,
2b50: 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62   that she will b
2b60: 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 0a 6c 69  e back in his.li
2b70: 66 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61  fe again some da
2b80: 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20  y, but does not 
2b90: 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20  mention that it 
2ba0: 77 69 6c 6c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20  will only be in 
2bb0: 68 69 73 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 69 65 73 2e 0a 50 65  his memories..Pe
2bc0: 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 73  rhaps she says s
2bd0: 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 44  omething like "D
2be0: 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 44 61 64 2e  on't worry, Dad.
2bf0: 20 20 59 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20    You'll get to 
2c00: 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 0a 6d 65 6d 6f 72  have these.memor
2c10: 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c  ies of me again,
2c20: 20 62 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 65 74 74 65 72   but in a better
2c30: 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65   world this time
2c40: 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a  .  I love you.".
2c50: 0a 23 23 20 4f 56 45 52 56 49 45 57 3a 0a 0a 41  .## OVERVIEW:..A
2c60: 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 65  lley, down on he
2c70: 72 20 6c 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 65 63  r luck, intersec
2c80: 74 73 20 70 61 74 68 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 50 72  ts paths with Pr
2c90: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 45 76 65 20 28 61  ioritizer Eve (a
2ca0: 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 22 52 69 6f 22 2c 0a 49  ctually "Rio",.I
2cb0: 20 67 75 65 73 73 29 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 64 76   guess).  It adv
2cc0: 69 73 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 63  ises while she c
2cd0: 68 6f 6f 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 65 63 75  hooses and execu
2ce0: 74 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2c  tes.  Initially,
2cf0: 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 0a 62 6c 69 6e 64 6c   she just.blindl
2d00: 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 66  y follows, but f
2d10: 69 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 74 68 20 69  inds that path i
2d20: 73 20 70 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75  s pushing her ou
2d30: 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6d  tside of her com
2d40: 66 6f 72 74 0a 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68  fort.zone, so sh
2d50: 65 20 72 65 74 72 65 61 74 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65  e retreats.  Whe
2d60: 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63  re her preferenc
2d70: 65 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 65 63 74 20 77 69 74  es intersect wit
2d80: 68 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 73  h her reality, s
2d90: 68 65 0a 64 72 61 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 74 74  he.draws the att
2da0: 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43  ention of COIN C
2db0: 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65  orp agents.  The
2dc0: 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72   agents come for
2dd0: 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 0a   her, and for a.
2de0: 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65  contact she made
2df0: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 69 65 72 20   on the shadier 
2e00: 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 61 6c  side of her deal
2e10: 69 6e 67 73 3a 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2e 20 20 53  ings: George.  S
2e20: 68 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 0a 72  he goes on the.r
2e30: 75 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20  un, and ends up 
2e40: 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 68  having to call h
2e50: 65 72 20 65 78 2d 68 75 73 62 61 6e 64 2c 20 44  er ex-husband, D
2e60: 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 6c 70 2e  alton, for help.
2e70: 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 0a 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65    Dalton.arrange
2e80: 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  s for her to be 
2e90: 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 67 72  able to go to gr
2ea0: 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20  ound at a place 
2eb0: 68 65 20 6f 77 6e 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68  he owns while th
2ec0: 65 79 20 70 6c 61 6e 0a 68 65 72 20 6e 65 78 74  ey plan.her next
2ed0: 20 73 74 65 70 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 44 61   steps.  When Da
2ee0: 6c 74 6f 6e 20 72 65 74 61 69 6e 73 20 6c 61 77  lton retains law
2ef0: 79 65 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 68 61  yers on her beha
2f00: 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72  lf, the COIN Cor
2f10: 70 20 4d 49 42 73 0a 73 74 61 72 74 20 67 6f 69  p MIBs.start goi
2f20: 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20  ng after Dalton 
2f30: 66 6f 72 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66  for suspicion of
2f40: 20 68 61 72 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 75 67   harboring a fug
2f50: 69 74 69 76 65 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  itive or somethi
2f60: 6e 67 20 74 6f 0a 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63  ng to.that effec
2f70: 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 72 65 73  t.  The last res
2f80: 6f 72 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72  ort gets trigger
2f90: 65 64 3b 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 72 72 61 6e  ed; Dalton arran
2fa0: 67 65 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 73 61 66 65  ges Alley's safe
2fb0: 0a 63 6f 6e 76 65 79 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 74  .conveyance to t
2fc0: 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 53 65 63 6f  he hands of Seco
2fd0: 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 63 79 70 68 65 72 70  nd Realm cypherp
2fe0: 75 6e 6b 73 2e 0a 0a 57 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65  unks...While the
2ff0: 72 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 73 20 6d  re, she learns m
3000: 6f 72 65 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73  ore skills for s
3010: 65 6c 66 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 2c  elf sufficiency,
3020: 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 77 69 74 68 20   and works with 
3030: 74 68 65 6d 0a 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63  them.on a projec
3040: 74 20 66 6f 72 20 65 6e 73 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61  t for ensuring a
3050: 20 73 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66   stable means of
3060: 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20   liberating the 
3070: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d  prioritizer from
3080: 20 69 74 73 0a 6d 61 73 74 65 72 73 2e 20 20 41   its.masters.  A
3090: 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 6d 65 65  lley ends up mee
30a0: 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66  ting a couple of
30b0: 20 62 6f 6e 61 20 66 69 64 65 20 63 79 62 65 72   bona fide cyber
30c0: 70 75 6e 6b 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 76 69 61 20 74  punks, and via t
30d0: 68 65 6d 0a 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 65 74 73 20 74 6f  hem.also gets to
30e0: 20 66 69 6e 64 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 61 67 61   find George aga
30f0: 69 6e 2c 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e  in, at some poin
3100: 74 20 28 6d 61 79 62 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20  t (maybe closer 
3110: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 29 2e 20 20 41 0a  to the end).  A.
3120: 74 65 6e 73 65 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 68 61 63  tense bit of hac
3130: 6b 65 72 20 64 72 61 6d 61 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  ker drama should
3140: 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 63 63 75 72 20   probably occur 
3150: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f  in these parts o
3160: 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 0a 77 68 69  f the story,.whi
3170: 63 68 20 69 74 20 6f 63 63 75 72 73 20 74 6f 20  ch it occurs to 
3180: 6d 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63  me will almost c
3190: 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 28 49 20 74 68 69 6e  ertainly (I thin
31a0: 6b 29 20 62 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 63 68 61  k) be a very cha
31b0: 6c 6c 65 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 62 69 74 0a 6f 66 20  llenging bit.of 
31c0: 77 72 69 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74  writing for me t
31d0: 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 20 77 65 6c  o accomplish wel
31e0: 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 67 61 67 69 6e 67  l in an engaging
31f0: 20 6e 61 72 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79   narrative story
3200: 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 72 65 6c  .  Something.rel
3210: 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20  ated to Alley's 
3220: 64 65 73 69 72 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20  desire to still 
3230: 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20  find a way back 
3240: 69 6e 74 6f 20 22 74 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 64 22 20  into "the fold" 
3250: 28 79 65 73 2c 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 0a 72 69 67  (yes, that's.rig
3260: 68 74 2c 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65  ht, becoming one
3270: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 22 73 68 65 65 70 6c 65   of the "sheeple
3280: 22 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68  " is pretty much
3290: 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68   exactly what sh
32a0: 65 20 73 65 65 6b 73 3b 20 49 0a 63 6f 75 6c 64  e seeks; I.could
32b0: 20 61 73 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20   as easily have 
32c0: 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20  referred to her 
32d0: 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 62 61  trying to get ba
32e0: 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 72 64  ck into the herd
32f0: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 6e 0a 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61  , but in.some wa
3300: 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20  ys that's a bit 
3310: 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20  too much on the 
3320: 6e 6f 73 65 29 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 64 20  nose) must lead 
3330: 74 6f 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 61 76  to danger of hav
3340: 69 6e 67 0a 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  ing.exposed the 
3350: 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f  temporary autono
3360: 6d 6f 75 73 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 28 74 20 61 20 7a  mous zone (t a z
3370: 29 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74  ), so they start
3380: 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 69   packing up thei
3390: 72 0a 73 68 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 70 70  r.shit and shipp
33a0: 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75  ing it out, thou
33b0: 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20  gh some have to 
33c0: 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 61  perform other ta
33d0: 73 6b 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69  sks while this i
33e0: 73 0a 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 28 72 65 6c  s.happening (rel
33f0: 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  ated to the prio
3400: 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f  ritizer situatio
3410: 6e 2c 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 29 2e 0a 0a  n, naturally)...
3420: 43 4f 49 4e 20 4d 49 42 73 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74  COIN MIBs find t
3430: 68 65 20 73 69 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 64  he site and raid
3440: 20 69 74 2e 20 20 42 61 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73   it.  Bad things
3450: 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 41   happen.  Does A
3460: 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 73 65 20 61 6e 0a 61 72 6d  lley lose an.arm
3470: 20 28 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 70 61   (or at least pa
3480: 72 74 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 29 20 69 6e 20 74 68  rt of one) in th
3490: 69 73 20 73 63 65 6e 65 3f 20 20 54 68 61 74 20  is scene?  That 
34a0: 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73  might be the cas
34b0: 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 0a 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  e.  Some.people 
34c0: 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 64 69 65 2c 20 77 68  probably die, wh
34d0: 69 6c 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 67 65 74 20 61  ile others get a
34e0: 77 61 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 6e 64 73  way.  Alley ends
34f0: 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4c 6f 73 20 41   up in the Los A
3500: 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 0a 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75  ngeles.Undergrou
3510: 6e 64 20 5a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74  nd Zone, where t
3520: 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e  he real cyberpun
3530: 6b 73 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68  ks hang out.  Th
3540: 65 79 20 68 61 73 74 65 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20  ey hasten their 
3550: 77 6f 72 6b 0a 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 74  work.to get to t
3560: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20  he prioritizer, 
3570: 61 6e 64 20 67 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 67 65 74  and gather toget
3580: 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 65 61 6d 20 74  her their team t
3590: 6f 20 65 78 65 63 75 74 65 20 61 0a 73 68 61 64  o execute a.shad
35a0: 6f 77 72 75 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 61 69 6e 20 61 63  owrun to gain ac
35b0: 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  cess to the prio
35c0: 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 70 68 79 73 69 63  ritizer's physic
35d0: 61 6c 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72  al infrastructur
35e0: 65 20 61 6e 64 0a 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 20 74 68  e and.smuggle th
35f0: 61 74 20 73 68 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 44 75  at shit out.  Du
3600: 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72  ring the shadowr
3610: 75 6e 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  un, which Alley 
3620: 61 74 74 65 6e 64 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20  attends because 
3630: 6f 66 0a 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 75 73 69 62 6c  of.some plausibl
3640: 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68  e reason like th
3650: 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75  e person who wou
3660: 6c 64 27 76 65 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20  ld've performed 
3670: 74 68 65 20 74 61 73 6b 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c  the task she wil
3680: 6c 0a 6e 6f 77 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 20 68 61  l.now perform ha
3690: 76 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 6e 61 62 62  ving gotten nabb
36a0: 65 64 20 6f 72 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 72 20  ed or killed or 
36b0: 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74  something like t
36c0: 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 67  hat, something.g
36d0: 6f 65 73 20 61 77 72 79 2e 20 20 41 73 20 61 20  oes awry.  As a 
36e0: 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 6e  result, Alley en
36f0: 64 73 20 75 70 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 64 20 62  ds up captured b
3700: 79 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 4d 49 42 73 20  y the COIN MIBs 
3710: 61 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 0a 61  and questioned.a
3720: 74 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 62 79 20 68 65 72 20  t length by her 
3730: 6c 61 74 65 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 66 6f 72  late uncle's for
3740: 6d 65 72 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2c 20 43 6f 6c 65  mer friend, Cole
3750: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b 65 65 70 73 20 68 65 72  .  She keeps her
3760: 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 73 68 75 74 0a 61 62 6f 75   mouth shut.abou
3770: 74 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73  t various things
3780: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 61 20 6c 69  , but talks a li
3790: 74 74 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 69  ttle to keep thi
37a0: 6e 67 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61  ngs from immedia
37b0: 74 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 0a 73 6f 75 74 68  tely going.south
37c0: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 73 20 73  .  She figures s
37d0: 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f  he just needs to
37e0: 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20   hold out for a 
37f0: 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75  while, long enou
3800: 67 68 20 66 6f 72 0a 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 66  gh for.them to f
3810: 69 6e 69 73 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 27  inish what they'
3820: 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 65  re doing, and ke
3830: 65 70 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20  ep asking for a 
3840: 6c 61 77 79 65 72 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  lawyer, or somet
3850: 68 69 6e 67 0a 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20  hing.like that. 
3860: 20 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65   Eventually, she
3870: 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20   finds out that 
3880: 74 68 65 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 6f  the potential fo
3890: 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65  r completing the
38a0: 0a 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 6d 69 67  .prioritizer mig
38b0: 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68  ration without h
38c0: 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 65  er was eliminate
38d0: 64 20 28 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 6b 69 6c 6c  d (possibly kill
38e0: 65 64 29 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65  ed), because she
38f0: 0a 68 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d  .has some inform
3900: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f  ation that is no
3910: 77 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 65 66 66 65 63  w the only effec
3920: 74 69 76 65 20 63 6f 70 79 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65  tive copy of one
3930: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 68 0a 66 61 63   of the auth.fac
3940: 74 6f 72 73 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d  tors used to com
3950: 70 6c 65 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 67 72 61 74  plete the migrat
3960: 69 6f 6e 20 28 61 6b 61 20 72 65 73 63 75 65 29  ion (aka rescue)
3970: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 74 61 6b 65  .  She gets take
3980: 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f 0a 68 65 72 20 66 69  n away to.her fi
3990: 6e 61 6c 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 64 65 73  nal official des
39a0: 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20  tination, where 
39b0: 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 65 71 75  she will be requ
39c0: 69 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 70 20  ired to give up 
39d0: 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 0a 77 61 6e 74 20 6f  what they.want o
39e0: 72 20 73 75 66 66 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 76 65  r suffer some ve
39f0: 72 79 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 65 71 75  ry final consequ
3a00: 65 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c  ences.  She real
3a10: 69 7a 65 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 27  izes everything'
3a20: 73 20 64 6f 6f 6d 65 64 0a 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c  s doomed.anyway,
3a30: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 66   and she gets of
3a40: 66 65 72 65 64 20 73 61 6c 76 61 74 69 6f 6e 3a  fered salvation:
3a50: 20 61 20 52 65 61 6c 20 4a 6f 62 20 69 6e 20 52   a Real Job in R
3a60: 65 61 6c 20 4c 69 66 65 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 67  eal Life, thus g
3a70: 69 76 69 6e 67 0a 68 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 73  iving.her what s
3a80: 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 77  he thought she w
3a90: 61 6e 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 67  anted in the beg
3aa0: 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67  inning and thoug
3ab0: 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 77  ht she could now
3ac0: 0a 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 63 61  .never have beca
3ad0: 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 62 61 64 6c 79  use of how badly
3ae0: 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 65 6e 74 20 61 77 72   things went awr
3af0: 79 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2e  y along the way.
3b00: 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 67 72 65 65 73 20 74 6f 0a    She agrees to.
3b10: 69 74 2c 20 66 69 67 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c  it, figuring all
3b20: 20 68 6f 70 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 67   hope of the big
3b30: 20 77 69 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 72 75 6d 62 6c   win have crumbl
3b40: 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 75 73 74 20 61 6e 79 77 61  ed to dust anywa
3b50: 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 0a 77 61 6e 74 73  y, and she.wants
3b60: 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72   to live and thr
3b70: 69 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 68  ive somehow.  Wh
3b80: 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b  en the cyberpunk
3b90: 73 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 63 75 65  s come to rescue
3ba0: 20 68 65 72 2c 0a 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 68   her,.though, sh
3bb0: 65 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 61 67 61  e then turns aga
3bc0: 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 70 74 6f 72 73  inst her captors
3bd0: 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20   and gets away, 
3be0: 74 68 75 73 20 70 72 65 63 69 70 69 74 61 74 69  thus precipitati
3bf0: 6e 67 20 61 0a 68 61 70 70 79 20 65 6e 64 69 6e  ng a.happy endin
3c00: 67 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 50 61 72 74 20 31 0a 0a  g...### Part 1..
3c10: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 65 65 74 73 20 74 68 65 20  Alley meets the 
3c20: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 67 65 74  prioritizer, get
3c30: 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 69 74 20 69  s a little bit i
3c40: 6e 74 6f 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64  nto trouble, and
3c50: 20 73 68 72 69 6e 6b 73 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a 53   shrinks back..S
3c60: 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 77  he just starts w
3c70: 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74  orking on ways t
3c80: 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 22 6c 65 67  o make more "leg
3c90: 69 74 69 6d 61 74 65 22 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20  itimate" money, 
3ca0: 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 0a 76 69 73 69  then gets a.visi
3cb0: 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49  t from the Men I
3cc0: 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20  n Black of COIN 
3cd0: 43 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 70 75 73 68  Corp.  This push
3ce0: 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  es her into the 
3cf0: 64 65 65 70 20 65 6e 64 20 61 0a 62 69 74 20 6d  deep end a.bit m
3d00: 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 63 72 6f 73 73 69  ore, thus crossi
3d10: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64  ng the threshold
3d20: 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6e 64  ...#### the mund
3d30: 61 6e 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20  ane world..#### 
3d40: 65 6e 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 64  encounter with d
3d50: 69 73 63 6f 72 64 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20 72 65 66  iscord..#### ref
3d60: 75 73 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f  usal of the oppo
3d70: 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67 72 6f 77 0a  rtunity to grow.
3d80: 0a 23 23 23 23 20 70 75 6e 69 73 68 6d 65 6e 74  .#### punishment
3d90: 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 74 69 63 65 6e 63 65 0a 0a   for reticence..
3da0: 54 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 4d 65  The COIN Corp Me
3db0: 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6d 65 20  n In Black come 
3dc0: 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 20 76  to pay Alley a v
3dd0: 69 73 69 74 2c 20 72 61 74 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 68  isit, rattling h
3de0: 65 72 20 63 61 67 65 20 61 20 62 69 74 0a 61 6e  er cage a bit.an
3df0: 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 6e  d making her pan
3e00: 69 63 6b 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67  icky about thing
3e10: 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 77 69  s.  She deals wi
3e20: 74 68 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 66  th internal conf
3e30: 6c 69 63 74 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20 64 69 70 70  lict...#### dipp
3e40: 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64  ing into the und
3e50: 65 72 77 6f 72 6c 64 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73  erworld..Alley s
3e60: 74 61 72 74 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f  tarts getting mo
3e70: 72 65 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73  re involved in s
3e80: 6b 65 74 63 68 69 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20  ketchier things 
3e90: 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 65 6b 73 20 74 6f 20  as she seeks to 
3ea0: 65 73 63 61 70 65 0a 74 68 65 20 68 6f 72 72 6f  escape.the horro
3eb0: 72 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6d 69 6e 61  rs of the domina
3ec0: 6e 74 20 70 61 72 61 64 69 67 6d 20 77 68 69 6c  nt paradigm whil
3ed0: 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 61  e remaining a pa
3ee0: 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 50  rt of it...### P
3ef0: 61 72 74 20 32 61 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20 61 63 71  art 2a..#### acq
3f00: 75 69 72 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 77 65 72 66 75 6c 20  uiring powerful 
3f10: 72 65 6c 69 63 73 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 65  relics..Alley ge
3f20: 74 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 6e 65 77  ts herself a new
3f30: 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 4f 53 2c 20 61 6e 64 20   laptop OS, and 
3f40: 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c  gets a new mobil
3f50: 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 69 6e 67 0a 63 6f 6d 6d  e computing.comm
3f60: 75 6e 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 65 76 69 63 65  unication device
3f70: 2c 20 74 68 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 2c 20 77 69 74  , the Axiom, wit
3f80: 68 20 28 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6c 65 20 76 65  h (the motile ve
3f90: 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 29 20 74 68 65 20 4f 53  rsion of) the OS
3fa0: 20 73 68 65 0a 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f   she.installed o
3fb0: 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2e 0a 0a 23  n her laptop...#
3fc0: 23 23 23 20 67 61 74 68 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6c  ### gathering al
3fd0: 6c 69 65 73 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 74  lies..She gets t
3fe0: 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 61 20  o know George a 
3ff0: 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20  little better.  
4000: 53 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72  She talks to Car
4010: 6d 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 28 6f  men some more (o
4020: 72 0a 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c  r.probably shoul
4030: 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 29 2e 20 20 53 68 65  d, anyway).  She
4040: 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74   ends up in cont
4050: 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20  act with one of 
4060: 68 65 72 20 66 69 72 73 74 0a 63 6f 6e 74 61 63  her first.contac
4070: 74 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62  ts again, probab
4080: 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d  ly, and this tim
4090: 65 20 73 74 61 79 73 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68  e stays in touch
40a0: 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20 73 68 6f 77 20 6f 66 20  ...#### show of 
40b0: 70 6f 77 65 72 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 64 69  power..George di
40c0: 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20  sappears with a 
40d0: 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 61  message about ha
40e0: 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 20 74 6f  ving to do so to
40f0: 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49   avoid the Men I
4100: 6e 0a 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6d 65  n.Black who came
4110: 20 74 6f 20 72 61 69 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 75   to raid his hou
4120: 73 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 73 20  se.  He advises 
4130: 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 67 72 6f  her to go to gro
4140: 75 6e 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65 20 63 61 6e  und until he can
4150: 0a 67 65 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75  .get back in tou
4160: 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64  ch with her, and
4170: 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c   promises to hel
4180: 70 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20  p her then.  It 
4190: 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 0a 77  turns out that.w
41a0: 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 63 6f 20 6f  as somewhat co o
41b0: 72 64 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20  rdinated with a 
41c0: 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 72 61 69  Men In Black rai
41d0: 64 20 6f 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 6c 61  d on Alley's pla
41e0: 63 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 0a 63 61 6e 27 74  ce, so she.can't
41f0: 20 67 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 0a   go back there..
4200: 0a 23 23 23 23 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 69  .#### survival i
4210: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 73 0a 0a 54 68 65  n the wilds..The
4220: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 6d 6f 76   prioritizer mov
4230: 65 73 20 68 65 61 76 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61  es heaven and ea
4240: 72 74 68 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 6f  rth to get her o
4250: 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 61 72 6d 27 73 20 77 61 79  ut of harm's way
4260: 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 0a 73 68 65 20   and ensure.she 
4270: 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d  ends up with som
4280: 65 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 73 68 65 20  e resources she 
4290: 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 75  can use.  She ru
42a0: 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 64 65 73 2c 20 61 6e  ns and hides, an
42b0: 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 73 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f  d contacts.Dalto
42c0: 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 65  n in the end, be
42d0: 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61  cause he's proba
42e0: 62 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72  bly the only per
42f0: 73 6f 6e 20 6c 65 66 74 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e  son left who can
4300: 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 4f 66 20 63 6f   help her..Of co
4310: 75 72 73 65 2c 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 68 65  urse, he does he
4320: 6c 70 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c 70  lp her.  He help
4330: 73 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72  s her get some r
4340: 65 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 66 65 64  est, and get fed
4350: 20 61 6e 64 0a 68 6f 75 73 65 64 3b 20 68 65 20   and.housed; he 
4360: 68 65 6c 70 73 20 68 65 72 20 65 71 75 69 70 20  helps her equip 
4370: 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 3b 20 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70  herself; he help
4380: 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74  s her try to get
4390: 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 68 65 6c 70   some legal help
43a0: 20 61 6e 64 0a 73 6f 20 6f 6e 3b 20 61 6e 64 2c   and.so on; and,
43b0: 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6f   when it turns o
43c0: 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c  ut the Men In Bl
43d0: 61 63 6b 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74  ack are coming t
43e0: 6f 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68  o search everyth
43f0: 69 6e 67 0a 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 68 65  ing.to see if he
4400: 20 69 73 20 68 61 72 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20   is harboring a 
4410: 66 75 67 69 74 69 76 65 2c 20 68 65 20 68 65 6c  fugitive, he hel
4420: 70 73 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20  ps her get away 
4430: 74 6f 20 61 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 0a 61  to a temporary.a
4440: 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 0a  utonomous zone..
4450: 0a 23 23 23 20 50 61 72 74 20 32 62 0a 0a 23 23  .### Part 2b..##
4460: 23 23 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  ## descent into 
4470: 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  the shadow..Alle
4480: 79 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 73 20 61 20 6e  y encounters a n
4490: 65 77 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 73 68 69 66  ew world of shif
44a0: 74 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70  ting times and p
44b0: 6c 61 63 65 73 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65  laces, where the
44c0: 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 0a 69 73 20 74 68 65   constant.is the
44d0: 20 65 74 68 6f 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 63 63 61 73   ethos and occas
44e0: 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20  ionally some of 
44f0: 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65  the people.  The
4500: 72 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 66  re, they learn f
4510: 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 0a 28 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74  rom her.(about t
4520: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 29 20  he prioritizer) 
4530: 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 74  and they offer t
4540: 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 72 74 20  o help her sort 
4550: 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 20 20 54  out her life.  T
4560: 68 65 72 65 2c 0a 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 73  here,.she learns
4570: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 20 28 61 62 6f 75   from them (abou
4580: 74 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c  t various useful
4590: 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 68   skills and meth
45a0: 6f 64 6f 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 29 20 61 6e 64 20 73  odologies) and s
45b0: 68 65 0a 6f 66 66 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c  he.offers to hel
45c0: 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72  p with the prior
45d0: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e  itizer situation
45e0: 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 23  , I guess...####
45f0: 20 73 68 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 66 6f 72 63 65 0a 0a   show of force..
4600: 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 65 76  This is where ev
4610: 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61  erything comes a
4620: 70 61 72 74 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20  part for Alley, 
4630: 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 73 20 6f 66  as the forces of
4640: 20 47 72 65 79 20 46 61 63 65 20 28 61 6e 64 0a   Grey Face (and.
4650: 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e  yeah, I really n
4660: 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 73  eed to include s
4670: 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72  ome in character
4680: 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 44   references to D
4690: 69 73 63 6f 72 64 69 61 6e 69 73 6d 20 69 6e 0a  iscordianism in.
46a0: 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 29 20 64 65 73 63  this story) desc
46b0: 65 6e 64 20 75 70 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 77  end upon her new
46c0: 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 69 6e  found friends in
46d0: 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 61   the temporary a
46e0: 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 0a  utonomous zone..
46f0: 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20  This might be a 
4700: 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c  good time for Al
4710: 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 73 65 20 68 65 72 20  ley to lose her 
4720: 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c  arm.  That shoul
4730: 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 0a 74 65 72  d not be too.ter
4740: 72 69 62 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20  ribly difficult 
4750: 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 63  to pull off in c
4760: 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 20 77 68 65  ircumstances whe
4770: 72 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62  re there are a b
4780: 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 0a 73 74 61 63 6b 65 64 20  unch of.stacked 
4790: 73 68 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e  shipping contain
47a0: 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77  ers and people w
47b0: 69 74 68 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20  ith essentially 
47c0: 75 6e 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e  unlimited weapon
47d0: 72 79 0a 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20  ry.resources to 
47e0: 74 68 72 6f 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 20 61  throw at the t a
47f0: 20 7a 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20 65 73 63 61 70 65   z...#### escape
4800: 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 63 6f 76 65 72 79 0a 0a 41   and recovery..A
4810: 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c  lley and a coupl
4820: 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65  e people must ge
4830: 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20  t in touch with 
4840: 61 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 73  and (or) get res
4850: 63 75 65 64 20 28 6f 72 20 61 74 0a 6c 65 61 73  cued (or at.leas
4860: 74 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20  t picked up and 
4870: 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 29 20 62 79 20  transported) by 
4880: 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 73 20  some cyberpunks 
4890: 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 4c 20 41 20 55 6e 64  from the L A Und
48a0: 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 0a 5a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20  erground.Zone.  
48b0: 54 68 69 73 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20  This gets alley 
48c0: 66 61 72 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65  farther into the
48d0: 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c   heart of it all
48e0: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79  , and she surely
48f0: 20 67 65 74 73 0a 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20   gets.some kind 
4900: 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 61 72  of prosthetic ar
4910: 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 74  m out of this, t
4920: 68 75 73 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61  hus making her a
4930: 20 72 65 61 6c 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 2c   real cyberpunk,
4940: 0a 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65  .considering she
4950: 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20  's going to use 
4960: 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20  that prosthetic 
4970: 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 20 77  on a shadowrun w
4980: 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 0a 74 68 65 73  ith some of.thes
4990: 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e  e other cyberpun
49a0: 6b 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d  ks.  Here, she m
49b0: 75 73 74 20 72 65 20 61 63 71 75 61 69 6e 74 20  ust re acquaint 
49c0: 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63  herself with a c
49d0: 6f 75 70 6c 65 0a 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 65  ouple.people she
49e0: 20 6d 65 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 70 72 6f   met before, pro
49f0: 62 61 62 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 50 61 72 74  bably...### Part
4a00: 20 33 0a 0a 23 23 23 23 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72   3..#### the dar
4a10: 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 72 61 69 64  ing counter raid
4a20: 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20  ..Alley and her 
4a30: 6e 65 77 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 63 79 62  newly fellow cyb
4a40: 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 72 65  erpunks must bre
4a50: 61 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 6f 6c  ak into a big ol
4a60: 27 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 0a 69 6e 66 72 61 73  ' digital.infras
4a70: 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20  tructure center 
4a80: 2d 2d 20 64 61 74 61 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 6b 69  -- datacenter ki
4a90: 6e 64 61 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 69 6e 20 6f 74  nda thing, in ot
4aa0: 68 65 72 20 77 6f 72 64 73 20 2d 2d 20 70 72 6f  her words -- pro
4ab0: 62 61 62 6c 79 0a 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 74 6f  bably.similar to
4ac0: 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20   and definitely 
4ad0: 69 6e 73 70 69 72 65 64 20 62 79 20 33 33 33 20  inspired by 333 
4ae0: 54 68 6f 6d 61 73 20 53 74 72 65 65 74 20 69 6e  Thomas Street in
4af0: 20 54 72 69 62 65 63 61 2c 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 0a   Tribeca, lower.
4b00: 4d 61 6e 68 61 74 74 61 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72  Manhattan.  Ther
4b10: 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 69 6e 69  e should be mini
4b20: 6d 61 6c 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20  mal lighting in 
4b30: 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 72 65 61 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  some areas, and 
4b40: 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 0a  bright lighting.
4b50: 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49  in others, and I
4b60: 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74   should choose t
4b70: 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69  he colors and li
4b80: 67 68 74 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68  ghts well for th
4b90: 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 0a 73  is part of the.s
4ba0: 74 6f 72 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 6d 61 6b  tory.  Let's mak
4bb0: 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 76 69 73 75  e it a very visu
4bc0: 61 6c 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f  al experience fo
4bd0: 72 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61  r readers who ha
4be0: 76 65 20 74 68 65 0a 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 61 74 69  ve the.imaginati
4bf0: 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 76  on to actually v
4c00: 69 73 75 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20  isualize any of 
4c10: 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23  this stuff...###
4c20: 23 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 73  # capture and es
4c30: 63 61 70 65 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 20  cape..The group 
4c40: 6d 75 73 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 73 70 6c 69  must end up spli
4c50: 74 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 2c 20 70  t up somewhat, p
4c60: 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 73 73  erhaps with loss
4c70: 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69  es, and Alley fi
4c80: 6e 64 73 0a 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6c 6f 6e  nds.herself alon
4c90: 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 68 61  e.  The enemy ha
4ca0: 73 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 67 72 61  s her in its gra
4cb0: 73 70 2e 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 27 73  sp.  Soon, she's
4cc0: 20 6b 65 70 74 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67   kept in holding
4cd0: 0a 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61  .and gets some a
4ce0: 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20  mount of fairly 
4cf0: 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 72 74 75  not really tortu
4d00: 72 65 20 6f 72 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 65  re oriented inte
4d10: 72 72 6f 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 43 6f 6c 65  rrogation.  Cole
4d20: 0a 61 73 6b 73 20 68 65 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69  .asks her questi
4d30: 6f 6e 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20  ons, of course, 
4d40: 61 6e 64 20 70 69 63 6b 73 20 61 74 20 68 65 72  and picks at her
4d50: 20 77 65 61 6b 6e 65 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68   weaknesses.  Sh
4d60: 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 69 76 65 0a  e does not give.
4d70: 75 70 20 77 68 61 74 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 6d 6f 73  up what Cole mos
4d80: 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 66  t wants to get f
4d90: 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c  rom her, probabl
4da0: 79 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 63 6f 64 65 73 20 6f  y access codes o
4db0: 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 6c 69 6b 65  r something.like
4dc0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62   that -- or mayb
4dd0: 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64  e they just need
4de0: 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65   her to activate
4df0: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20   something with 
4e00: 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 0a 66 61 63 74 6f 72 20 6f  her own.factor o
4e10: 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 20 66 61 63 74  f the multi fact
4e20: 6f 72 20 61 75 74 68 65 6e 74 69 63 61 74 69 6f  or authenticatio
4e30: 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 69 7a 61 74  n and authorizat
4e40: 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 72 65 71 75  ion that is requ
4e50: 69 72 65 64 20 74 6f 0a 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20  ired to.get the 
4e60: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 22 62 61 63  prioritizer "bac
4e70: 6b 22 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 70 72 65 74  k", and she pret
4e80: 65 6e 64 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74  ends she doesn't
4e90: 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20   know what they 
4ea0: 77 61 6e 74 0a 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 72 65  want.from her re
4eb0: 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67  ally and can't g
4ec0: 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68  ive them what th
4ed0: 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65  ey want, whateve
4ee0: 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 2c 20 61 74 20 6c 65  r that is, at le
4ef0: 61 73 74 0a 61 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20  ast.at first, I 
4f00: 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 46 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e  think.  Followin
4f10: 67 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 79 20  g that, she may 
4f20: 6a 75 73 74 20 66 61 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74  just fall back t
4f30: 6f 20 72 65 66 75 73 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 48 65 72  o refusing.  Her
4f40: 0a 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20  .dedication and 
4f50: 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f  determination to
4f60: 20 6b 65 65 70 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f   keep silent abo
4f70: 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 77 61 76 65 72  ut it must waver
4f80: 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 6f 6c 65 0a 73 74 61 72 74   when Cole.start
4f90: 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72  s talking to her
4fa0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 27 73   about how she's
4fb0: 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73   going to be a s
4fc0: 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 72  uccess, have a r
4fd0: 65 61 6c 20 6a 6f 62 2c 0a 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20  eal job,.and so 
4fe0: 6f 6e 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62  on, making the b
4ff0: 65 73 74 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73  est use of her s
5000: 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 73 75 72 69  kills and ensuri
5010: 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64  ng her continued
5020: 20 68 65 61 6c 74 68 0a 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 66   health.and comf
5030: 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69  ortable living i
5040: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 22 72 65 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c  n the "real worl
5050: 64 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 66 69 6e 61 6c  d".  She's final
5060: 6c 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2c 20  ly down for it, 
5070: 61 6e 64 0a 74 68 69 73 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72  and.this trigger
5080: 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66  s the process of
5090: 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d   sending her som
50a0: 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20  ewhere else for 
50b0: 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 0a 61 70 70 6c 69  the useful.appli
50c0: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 73  cation of what s
50d0: 68 65 20 68 61 73 2c 20 69 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 6b  he has, is, or k
50e0: 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43  nows that COIN C
50f0: 6f 72 70 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68  orp wants from h
5100: 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b 20 6f  er...An attack o
5110: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 66 65 72 20 72  n the transfer r
5120: 65 73 75 6c 74 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 62 65  esults in her be
5130: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 6c 64 20 61 74 20 67 75 6e 70  ing held at gunp
5140: 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 79 20 43 6f 6c 65 2c 20 77 68  oint by Cole, wh
5150: 69 63 68 0a 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 20  ich.pretty well 
5160: 65 6e 73 75 72 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 63  ensures the resc
5170: 75 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 74  ue does not cont
5180: 69 6e 75 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20  inue because of 
5190: 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68  the fact that th
51a0: 65 79 0a 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 69 76  ey.need her aliv
51b0: 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 73 63 75  e for this rescu
51c0: 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 20 61  e to really be a
51d0: 20 72 65 73 63 75 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61   rescue.  She ma
51e0: 6b 65 73 20 61 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 2d  kes a decision -
51f0: 2d 0a 61 74 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65  -.at great dange
5200: 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 2d 2d 20  r to herself -- 
5210: 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64  to end the stand
5220: 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 79 20 6f 72 20   off one way or 
5230: 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 0a  another so that.
5240: 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63  the people who c
5250: 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 63 75 65 20 68 65  ame to rescue he
5260: 72 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 69 65 20 66 72 6f 6d  r won't die from
5270: 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65   trying.  In the
5280: 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 0a 72   end, she gets.r
5290: 65 73 63 75 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e  escued and taken
52a0: 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64   away, and nobod
52b0: 79 20 65 6c 73 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74  y else died in t
52c0: 68 61 74 20 72 65 73 63 75 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64  hat rescue who d
52d0: 69 64 6e 27 74 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 0a 69 74  idn't deserve.it
52e0: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 61 76 65 64 20 6c 69 76  .  The saved liv
52f0: 65 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74  es have her to t
5300: 68 61 6e 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69  hank for essenti
5310: 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74  ally trying to t
5320: 68 72 6f 77 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 0a 6f 6e 20  hrow herself.on 
5330: 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 6e 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 23 23  the grenade...##
5340: 23 23 20 76 69 63 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 66 6f 72 20  ## victory, for 
5350: 6e 6f 77 0a 0a 4f 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68  now..Once they h
5360: 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68  ave her back, th
5370: 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64  e cyberpunks and
5380: 20 63 79 70 68 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 73 20 70 6f 6f   cypherpunks poo
5390: 6c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65  l their resource
53a0: 73 0a 61 6e 64 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20  s.and put their 
53b0: 68 65 61 64 73 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 74  heads together t
53c0: 6f 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 73  o finish the tas
53d0: 6b 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 64 20  k, with the aid 
53e0: 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 68 65 0a 6c 61  of Alley, the.la
53f0: 73 74 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 65 70  st remaining rep
5400: 6f 73 69 74 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 65  ository of whate
5410: 76 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20  ver it was they 
5420: 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68  needed to get th
5430: 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 0a 62 61  e prioritizer.ba
5440: 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 65  ck on line in le
5450: 73 73 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20  ss constraining 
5460: 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20  conditions.  It 
5470: 77 6f 72 6b 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65  works, of course
5480: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 0a 61 72 65  , and people.are
5490: 20 68 61 70 70 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63   happy.  Alley c
54a0: 68 6f 6f 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65  hooses to become
54b0: 20 61 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 20 61 6e 64   a cyberpunk and
54c0: 20 63 79 70 68 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 20 74 79 70 65   cypherpunk type
54d0: 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 0a 64 72 69 66 74 69   herself,.drifti
54e0: 6e 67 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 75 72 62 61 6e  ng between urban
54f0: 20 75 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 61 6e   undergrounds an
5500: 64 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 61 75 74 6f  d temporary auto
5510: 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 7a 6f 6e 65 73 2c 20 64 6f  nomous zones, do
5520: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 0a 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69  ing her.thing wi
5530: 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 63 79 62 65 72 6e 65 74 69  th her cyberneti
5540: 63 20 61 72 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 63  c arm and her ac
5550: 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 74 6f  quired skills to
5560: 20 66 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20   fight the good 
5570: 66 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65  fight...Alley re
5580: 6d 61 69 6e 73 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 23  mains single...#
5590: 23 20 53 43 45 4e 45 53 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6d 6f 73  # SCENES:..Almos
55a0: 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 61 72 73  t everyone wears
55b0: 20 6d 61 73 6b 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65   masks, or at le
55c0: 61 73 74 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  ast many people 
55d0: 64 6f 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68  do...### Alley h
55e0: 61 73 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69  as a job intervi
55f0: 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74  ew that does not
5600: 20 67 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79   go well...Alley
5610: 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72   starts the stor
5620: 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 75  y outside the bu
5630: 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 20 63  ilding where a c
5640: 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 27 73 20 68 69 72 69 6e 67 20  ompany's hiring 
5650: 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 72 0a 61 6e 64 20 64 65 76 65  manager.and deve
5660: 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6a 6f 62  lopers for a job
5670: 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 71   in a software q
5680: 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65  uality assurance
5690: 20 72 6f 6c 65 20 70 72 65 73 75 6d 61 62 6c 79   role presumably
56a0: 20 77 61 69 74 0a 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 28 61   wait.for her (a
56b0: 6e 64 20 79 65 73 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74  nd yes, it's not
56c0: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 70 72 65 73 75 6d 70 74   just a presumpt
56d0: 69 6f 6e 3a 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 29 20 73 6f  ion: they do) so
56e0: 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69   she can intervi
56f0: 65 77 0a 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 50  ew.with them.  P
5700: 61 73 73 65 72 73 20 62 79 20 6a 75 64 67 65 20  assers by judge 
5710: 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 61 73 73  her as they pass
5720: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b   on the sidewalk
5730: 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 73 74  , where she rest
5740: 73 0a 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6f 62 73 6f 6c 65  s.against obsole
5750: 74 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 74 68  te technology th
5760: 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65  at is in some re
5770: 73 70 65 63 74 73 20 6e 65 77 65 72 20 74 68 61  spects newer tha
5780: 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 69  n what we have i
5790: 6e 0a 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64  n.the real world
57a0: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 73 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e  .  She is wearin
57b0: 67 20 63 6c 6f 74 68 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f  g clothes she do
57c0: 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 20 77  esn't normally w
57d0: 65 61 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65  ear, because she
57e0: 0a 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c  .doesn't typical
57f0: 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 72 65 73 73  ly need to dress
5800: 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 69 72 6c 79 20 70 72 6f 66   that girly prof
5810: 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20  essional in her 
5820: 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 62 75 74  career path, but
5830: 0a 75 6e 66 6f 72 74 75 6e 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74  .unfortunately t
5840: 68 61 74 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 20  hat career path 
5850: 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 64 6f 6f 6d 65 64 2c 20  appears doomed, 
5860: 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 64 65 73 70 65  and she is despe
5870: 72 61 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 61 79 0a 74  rate for a way.t
5880: 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 61  o continuously a
5890: 63 71 75 69 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 6f 75  cquire the resou
58a0: 72 63 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75  rces for continu
58b0: 65 64 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 61 6e 64  ed financial and
58c0: 20 6c 69 66 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 0a 66   life security.f
58d0: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20  or the future.  
58e0: 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20  She must change 
58f0: 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 20  her career path 
5900: 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65  somehow, and she
5910: 27 73 0a 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 69 6e 67 20  's.interviewing 
5920: 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e  with this compan
5930: 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 73  y that she hates
5940: 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61   to try to get a
5950: 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74   job that is not
5960: 0a 74 6f 6f 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 70  .too morally rep
5970: 75 67 6e 61 6e 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e  ugnant as a mean
5980: 73 20 6f 66 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72  s of pulling her
5990: 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20  self out of her 
59a0: 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63  current economic
59b0: 0a 6e 6f 73 65 64 69 76 65 20 74 72 61 6a 65 63  .nosedive trajec
59c0: 74 6f 72 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 73  tory...She heads
59d0: 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69   into the buildi
59e0: 6e 67 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73  ng a few minutes
59f0: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 68 65   before the sche
5a00: 64 75 6c 65 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  duled time of th
5a10: 65 0a 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 2c 20 67 65 74  e.interview, get
5a20: 73 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 77 68  s directed to wh
5a30: 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f  ere she needs to
5a40: 20 67 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 74   go, and finds t
5a50: 68 72 65 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 0a 77 61 69 74  hree people.wait
5a60: 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74  ing for her.  It
5a70: 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20   turns out that 
5a80: 74 68 65 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 61  they scheduled a
5a90: 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 77 69 74 68  n interview with
5aa0: 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 0a 6d 6f 72 62   her out of.morb
5ab0: 69 64 20 63 75 72 69 6f 73 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e  id curiosity, an
5ac0: 64 20 69 74 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 74 75 72  d it further tur
5ad0: 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79  ns out that they
5ae0: 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 61 73   think of her as
5af0: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 6c 69 6b 65 20   something.like 
5b00: 61 20 73 69 64 65 73 68 6f 77 20 66 72 65 61 6b  a sideshow freak
5b10: 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20   because of her 
5b20: 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 6f  previous relatio
5b30: 6e 73 68 69 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 65  nship with her e
5b40: 78 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2c 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f  x fianc..,.Dalto
5b50: 6e 20 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 2d 48 65 61 72  n Schaeffer-Hear
5b60: 73 74 2c 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e  st, a well known
5b70: 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 67 68 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 74   and highly cont
5b80: 72 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 77 72 69 74 65 72  roversial writer
5b90: 2c 0a 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 73 74 2c 20  ,.technologist, 
5ba0: 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 64 63 61 73 74 65 72 20 77 68  and podcaster wh
5bb0: 6f 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d  o developed a sm
5bc0: 61 6c 6c 20 22 6e 65 77 20 6d 65 64 69 61 22 20  all "new media" 
5bd0: 65 6d 70 69 72 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 69  empire around hi
5be0: 73 0a 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20  s.political and 
5bf0: 6c 69 66 65 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 69 76 65  life perspective
5c00: 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 69 73  s and around his
5c10: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 69 6e 66 6c 61   sometimes infla
5c20: 6d 6d 61 74 6f 72 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66  mmatory means of
5c30: 0a 65 78 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d  .expressing them
5c40: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 2e 20   to the public. 
5c50: 20 49 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 69 74 20 61 6e   In this bait an
5c60: 64 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 20 22 69 6e 74 65 72 76  d switch "interv
5c70: 69 65 77 22 2c 20 74 68 65 0a 69 6e 74 65 72 76  iew", the.interv
5c80: 69 65 77 65 72 73 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20  iewers refer to 
5c90: 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 22 53 69 64 65  her as the "Side
5ca0: 20 44 69 73 68 22 2c 20 61 20 70 65 6a 6f 72 61   Dish", a pejora
5cb0: 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 20 73 65  tive and (or) se
5cc0: 78 75 61 6c 6c 79 0a 64 65 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67  xually.demeaning
5cd0: 20 74 65 72 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20   term that came 
5ce0: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66  about because of
5cf0: 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 70   Dalton's main p
5d00: 6f 64 63 61 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 73 68 6f 77  odcast talk show
5d10: 20 6e 61 6d 65 0a 6f 66 20 22 54 68 65 20 4d 61   name.of "The Ma
5d20: 69 6e 20 44 53 48 22 2c 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e  in DSH", pronoun
5d30: 63 65 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 4d 61 69 6e 20 44 69  ced "The Main Di
5d40: 73 68 22 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 44 53 48 20 69  sh", where DSH i
5d50: 73 20 68 69 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 6e 64 0a  s his first and.
5d60: 68 79 70 68 65 6e 61 74 65 64 20 6c 61 73 74 20  hyphenated last 
5d70: 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 69 73 6d 2e  name initialism.
5d80: 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75    She is, of cou
5d90: 72 73 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6c 61 74 74 65 72  rse, not flatter
5da0: 65 64 20 6f 72 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 64 0a 77 69  ed or pleased.wi
5db0: 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 6f 66  th this state of
5dc0: 20 61 66 66 61 69 72 73 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41   affairs...### A
5dd0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65  lley talks to he
5de0: 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 64  r mother while d
5df0: 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64  riving home, and
5e00: 20 77 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20   we learn about 
5e10: 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79  her...On her way
5e20: 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 61 6c   home, Alley tal
5e30: 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72  ks to her mother
5e40: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 76   on the phone, v
5e50: 69 61 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 75 64 20  ia a small stud 
5e60: 73 74 75 63 6b 0a 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72  stuck.inside her
5e70: 20 65 61 72 20 66 6f 72 20 61 75 64 69 6f 2e 20   ear for audio. 
5e80: 20 53 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 73 20 61 20 6a 75   She drives a ju
5e90: 6e 6b 79 20 6f 6c 64 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 2c 20  nky old hybrid, 
5ea0: 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 0a 65 76 65  where almost.eve
5eb0: 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 6f 6e 20  rything else on 
5ec0: 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 20 69 73 20 70 75 72 65  the road is pure
5ed0: 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75   electric, becau
5ee0: 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 61 66  se she cannot af
5ef0: 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 0a 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 20  ford to.upgrade 
5f00: 61 6e 64 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  and, more to the
5f10: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 61   point, cannot a
5f20: 66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 65  fford the mainte
5f30: 6e 61 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 73 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20  nance costs and 
5f40: 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 0a 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 6d  shorter.replacem
5f50: 65 6e 74 20 63 79 63 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68  ent cycle for th
5f60: 65 20 61 6c 6c 2d 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 20 63  e all-electric c
5f70: 61 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e  ars on the road.
5f80: 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6c 65 70    From the telep
5f90: 68 6f 6e 65 0a 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f  hone.conversatio
5fa0: 6e 2c 20 77 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74  n, we learn that
5fb0: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20   Alley's mother 
5fc0: 6c 69 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 4f 6b 6c 61 68 6f 6d  lives in Oklahom
5fd0: 61 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 66 65 20  a with her wife 
5fe0: 61 6e 64 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 66 61 74 68  and.Alley's fath
5ff0: 65 72 20 6c 69 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 4d 61 73 73  er lives in Mass
6000: 61 63 68 75 73 65 74 74 73 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65  achusetts.  Alle
6010: 79 20 68 61 73 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c 79 20  y has precisely 
6020: 7a 65 72 6f 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 20 69 6e  zero interest in
6030: 0a 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 65 69 74  .living with eit
6040: 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 69 6e 20  her of them, in 
6050: 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 70 72  either place, pr
6060: 65 66 65 72 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 74 68 65 72  eferring souther
6070: 6e 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 0a 77 68 65  n California.whe
6080: 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 65  re she is now, e
6090: 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 73 65  ven if that itse
60a0: 6c 66 20 69 73 20 64 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 66 61 72  lf is damned far
60b0: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 61 6c 2e 0a 0a   from optimal...
60c0: 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68  Perhaps Alley sh
60d0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66  ould have some f
60e0: 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 72  riends in the ar
60f0: 65 61 20 64 72 61 77 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68  ea drawn from th
6100: 65 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 27 73 20 6f 77 6e 0a 65  e author's own.e
6110: 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 6f  xperience, to so
6120: 6d 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74  me extent.  That
6130: 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64   might be a good
6140: 20 69 64 65 61 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65   idea...### Alle
6150: 79 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 65 73 20 77 69 74 68  y converses with
6160: 20 5a 65 6b 65 2c 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c   Zeke, her landl
6170: 6f 72 64 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 72  ord, about her r
6180: 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 20 66 69 6e  ent and thin fin
6190: 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63  ances...In any c
61a0: 61 73 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 65  ase, when she ge
61b0: 74 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c  ts back home, Al
61c0: 6c 65 79 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 73 20 5a  ley encounters Z
61d0: 65 6b 65 2c 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c 6f 72  eke, her landlor
61e0: 64 2e 0a 48 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 69  d..He's always i
61f0: 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 77 6f 72  n his garage wor
6200: 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 72 20  king on one car 
6210: 72 65 73 74 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a  restoration proj
6220: 65 63 74 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 0a  ect or another,.
6230: 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 76 65 20 69 6e  making active in
6240: 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c  come as a vehicl
6250: 65 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70  e flipper to sup
6260: 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 73 74  plement his most
6270: 6c 79 20 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 0a 69 6e 63 6f 6d  ly passive.incom
6280: 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 6f  e as the owner o
6290: 66 20 61 20 66 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 69 74 20 6d 75  f a four unit mu
62a0: 6c 74 69 70 6c 65 78 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67  ltiplex building
62b0: 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 68 65 20 6f 63 63 75 70 69   where he occupi
62c0: 65 73 20 74 68 65 0a 6f 6e 6c 79 20 75 6e 69 74  es the.only unit
62d0: 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 61   with a garage a
62e0: 6e 64 20 72 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  nd rents out the
62f0: 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 75 6e 69   other three uni
6300: 74 73 20 28 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20  ts (one of them 
6310: 74 6f 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75  to.Alley, of cou
6320: 72 73 65 29 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20  rse).  All this 
6330: 69 73 20 69 6e 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 2c 20 61 20  is in Perris, a 
6340: 64 72 79 20 64 75 73 74 20 62 6f 77 6c 20 6f 66  dry dust bowl of
6350: 20 61 20 73 68 69 74 74 79 20 74 6f 77 6e 20 69   a shitty town i
6360: 6e 0a 74 68 65 20 61 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66  n.the ass end of
6370: 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69   the Inland Empi
6380: 72 65 2c 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  re, south of the
6390: 20 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 69 6c   intestinal coil
63a0: 20 6f 66 20 4d 6f 72 65 6e 6f 0a 56 61 6c 6c 65   of Moreno.Valle
63b0: 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 70 72 65 63 65 64 69  y.  This precedi
63c0: 6e 67 20 73 63 65 6e 65 27 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 69  ng scene's job i
63d0: 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 70 6c  nterview took pl
63e0: 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 70 72 6f  ace in . . . pro
63f0: 62 61 62 6c 79 0a 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 20  bably.Riverside 
6400: 6f 72 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 64 69 6e  or San Bernardin
6410: 6f 2c 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 2e 0a 0a 5a  o, I suppose...Z
6420: 65 6b 65 20 62 72 69 6e 67 73 20 75 70 20 74 68  eke brings up th
6430: 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 65 65  e fact Alley nee
6440: 64 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 72 65 6e 74 20 76  ds to pay rent v
6450: 65 72 79 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68  ery soon, and sh
6460: 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 2c 0a 79 65 61  e says that,.yea
6470: 68 2c 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79  h, she's totally
6480: 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61   going to do tha
6490: 74 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 70  t, thanks.  He p
64a0: 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d  oints out that m
64b0: 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 0a 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 27  aybe she.should'
64c0: 76 65 20 73 74 61 79 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 68  ve stayed with h
64d0: 65 72 20 22 6d 61 6e 22 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e  er "man", meanin
64e0: 67 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 61 6c  g Dalton, who al
64f0: 77 61 79 73 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68  ways seemed to h
6500: 61 76 65 0a 65 78 74 72 61 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20  ave.extra money 
6510: 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c  to throw around,
6520: 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 66 20 63 6f   and Alley of co
6530: 75 72 73 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 65  urse does not re
6540: 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 67  ally wish to eng
6550: 61 67 65 0a 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20  age.that so she 
6560: 68 65 61 64 73 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 23  heads inside...#
6570: 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 65 74 73 20 66 6f  ## Alley gets fo
6580: 72 65 73 68 61 64 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 64  reshadowing of d
6590: 69 73 61 73 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61  isaster, and rea
65a0: 63 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 61 64 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f  cts to bad emplo
65b0: 79 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 6e  yers...Alley fin
65c0: 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61  ds that there wa
65d0: 73 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 74 6f 20 74  s an update to t
65e0: 68 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 73 79  he ANTAS Jobs sy
65f0: 73 74 65 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 6f 6c 76 65  stem and resolve
6600: 73 20 74 6f 0a 64 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 63 68 65 63  s to.double chec
6610: 6b 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 20 69  k her settings i
6620: 6e 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 76 65 20 62  n case they've b
6630: 65 65 6e 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 2c 20 65 76 65  een changed, eve
6640: 6e 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 61  n setting an ala
6650: 72 6d 0a 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20  rm.for herself, 
6660: 74 68 65 6e 20 67 6f 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  then goes about 
6670: 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 6d 61 6c 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f  the dismal job o
6680: 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64  f looking around
6690: 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f   for some way to
66a0: 0a 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 74  .improve her sit
66b0: 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 67 61  uation with rega
66c0: 72 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20  rd to long term 
66d0: 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73  income.  Perhaps
66e0: 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 0a 72 65 76 69 65 77   she also.review
66f0: 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 72  s the place wher
6700: 65 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 74 20 22  e she just got "
6710: 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 65 64 22 20 66 6f 72  interviewed" for
6720: 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65   a job they were
6730: 20 6e 65 76 65 72 0a 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20   never.going to 
6740: 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65  give her on some
6750: 20 73 69 74 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 75 63 68   site where such
6760: 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 73 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2c   reviews happen,
6770: 20 72 65 66 65 72 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68   referring to th
6780: 65 6d 20 61 73 0a 6e 61 73 74 79 20 70 65 6f 70  em as.nasty peop
6790: 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 63 6b 6c 65 20 61 70  le who heckle ap
67a0: 70 6c 69 63 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20  plicants, where 
67b0: 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72  she wouldn't wor
67c0: 6b 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 0a 6f  k even if they.o
67d0: 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 6a 6f 62  ffered her a job
67e0: 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20   because of the 
67f0: 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 68 6f 72 72 69  completely horri
6800: 66 69 63 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20  fic people with 
6810: 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 27 64 0a 68 61 76 65 20  whom she'd.have 
6820: 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6d  to work.  That m
6830: 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 6e 69 63 65 20 61  ight be a nice a
6840: 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73  ddition to the s
6850: 74 6f 72 79 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  tory...### Alley
6860: 20 66 61 69 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77   fails to deal w
6870: 69 74 68 20 66 6f 72 65 73 68 61 64 6f 77 65 64  ith foreshadowed
6880: 20 64 69 73 61 73 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20   disaster, then 
6890: 67 65 74 73 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 69  gets burned by i
68a0: 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20  t...She ends up 
68b0: 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e 61 70 2c 20 61 6e  taking a nap, an
68c0: 64 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 73  d accidentally s
68d0: 6c 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20  leeping through 
68e0: 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 20 73 68 65 20 73 65  the alarm she se
68f0: 74 0a 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f  t.for herself to
6900: 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53   check her ANTAS
6910: 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20   Jobs settings. 
6920: 20 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 77 68 65   As a result whe
6930: 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6b 65 73 20 75 70 0a 74  n she wakes up.t
6940: 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c  he next morning,
6950: 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61   it's to the roa
6960: 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 70 61 63  r of a heavy pac
6970: 6b 61 67 65 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72  kage delivery dr
6980: 6f 6e 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 0a 6f 66 66  one dropping.off
6990: 20 61 20 62 6f 78 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 72   a box at her fr
69a0: 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73  ont door.  She's
69b0: 20 73 6f 20 70 61 6e 69 63 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 73   so panicked, as
69c0: 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 73 20 73 68   she realizes sh
69d0: 65 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 0a 63 68 65 63  e forgot to.chec
69e0: 6b 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 20 6f  k her settings o
69f0: 6e 20 41 4e 54 41 53 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68  n ANTAS, that sh
6a00: 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20  e goes straight 
6a10: 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 69 6e  to her laptop in
6a20: 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 0a 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f  stead of.the fro
6a30: 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b  nt door to check
6a40: 20 6f 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 20 68 61 76   on what may hav
6a50: 65 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 41 73 20  e happened.  As 
6a60: 73 68 65 20 66 65 61 72 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20  she feared, she 
6a70: 66 69 6e 64 73 0a 74 68 61 74 20 41 4e 54 41 53  finds.that ANTAS
6a80: 20 53 68 6f 70 73 20 68 61 73 20 64 65 74 65 72   Shops has deter
6a90: 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 65  mined without he
6aa0: 72 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 69 6e  r intentional in
6ab0: 70 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75  put that she wou
6ac0: 6c 64 0a 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 62 65  ld.definitely be
6ad0: 6e 65 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 61 76 69 6e  nefit from havin
6ae0: 67 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 73 75 72  g an in home sur
6af0: 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 75 6e 69 74 20 74  veillance unit t
6b00: 6f 20 73 61 79 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 72 61 67 69 6e  o say encouragin
6b10: 67 0a 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20  g.things to her 
6b20: 61 6e 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20  and give her an 
6b30: 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6f 6e 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20  always on audio 
6b40: 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6f 72 64  interface to ord
6b50: 65 72 20 73 68 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 0a  er shit all the.
6b60: 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e  fucking time, an
6b70: 64 20 66 61 73 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 74  d fast tracked t
6b80: 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72  he order for her
6b90: 2c 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20  , confirming it 
6ba0: 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 0a 69 74 73  according to.its
6bb0: 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 6f 70 74 69   own market opti
6bc0: 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e  mization and con
6bd0: 73 75 6d 65 72 20 6d 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 74 69  sumer manipulati
6be0: 6f 6e 20 61 6c 67 6f 72 69 74 68 6d 73 20 73 6f  on algorithms so
6bf0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 0a 64 65 64 75 63 74 65   that it.deducte
6c00: 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72  d money from her
6c10: 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 63 72 65 64   registered cred
6c20: 69 74 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68  it line -- which
6c30: 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 67 69   she had to regi
6c40: 73 74 65 72 0a 77 69 74 68 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20  ster.with ANTAS 
6c50: 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20  to get on ANTAS 
6c60: 4a 6f 62 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 74  Jobs -- and sent
6c70: 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74   her something t
6c80: 68 61 74 20 63 6f 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 66  hat cost about.f
6c90: 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 62  ifteen hundred b
6ca0: 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 72 65 64 75 63  ucks, thus reduc
6cb0: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 64 77 69 6e 64 6c 69 6e  ing her dwindlin
6cc0: 67 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75  g checking accou
6cd0: 6e 74 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 0a 61 20  nt balance to.a 
6ce0: 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20  point below the 
6cf0: 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20  total needed to 
6d00: 70 61 79 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74  pay her rent wit
6d10: 68 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 63 6f 75  hin the next cou
6d20: 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41  ple days...### A
6d30: 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 76 65 73 20 74 6f 20 66 69  lley caves to fi
6d40: 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65  nancial pressure
6d50: 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 6f 69 6e 73 20 61 6e 20 61 63   and joins an ac
6d60: 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 66 6f 72  ademic study for
6d70: 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 73   money...She has
6d80: 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 72   been ignoring r
6d90: 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66  ecommendations f
6da0: 72 6f 6d 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 74  rom ANTAS Jobs t
6db0: 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e  o sign up for an
6dc0: 0a 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20  .academic study 
6dd0: 61 74 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66  at University of
6de0: 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 2c 20 49 72 76   California, Irv
6df0: 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72  ine.  Now, she r
6e00: 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 73 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 69 66  ealizes this, if
6e10: 0a 69 74 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 62 65 69 6e  .it ends up bein
6e20: 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20  g something for 
6e30: 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 66  which she qualif
6e40: 69 65 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 73 75  ies, should resu
6e50: 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 0a 61 6d 6f 75 6e  lt in what.amoun
6e60: 74 73 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20  ts to some kind 
6e70: 6f 66 20 67 75 61 72 61 6e 74 65 65 64 20 73 74  of guaranteed st
6e80: 65 61 64 79 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 77 68 69 6c  eady income whil
6e90: 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 20 66  e she searches f
6ea0: 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 0a 70 65 72 6d 61 6e  or a more.perman
6eb0: 65 6e 74 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20  ent solution to 
6ec0: 68 65 72 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 75 72 63  her income sourc
6ed0: 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20  e problem.  She 
6ee0: 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65  just has to make
6ef0: 20 73 75 72 65 0a 69 74 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74   sure.it's somet
6f00: 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74  hing she wants t
6f10: 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20  o do.  It looks 
6f20: 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b  like it's some k
6f30: 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 66 74 77  ind of new softw
6f40: 61 72 65 0a 22 70 61 72 61 64 69 67 6d 22 20 74  are."paradigm" t
6f50: 65 73 74 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 75 73 65 72 73  est, where users
6f60: 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f   must make use o
6f70: 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 66 74 77  f some new softw
6f80: 61 72 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61  are system for a
6f90: 0a 77 68 69 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 6f 72  .while and repor
6fa0: 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73  t on the results
6fb0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 78 70 65 72 69   of their experi
6fc0: 65 6e 63 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66  ence so the prof
6fd0: 65 73 73 6f 72 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 0a 74 68  essor running.th
6fe0: 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 28 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73  e study (and his
6ff0: 20 67 72 61 64 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e 74 73 2c 20   grad students, 
7000: 6e 61 74 63 68 29 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61  natch) will be a
7010: 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68  ble to do someth
7020: 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 0a 28 6f 72 20 61  ing useful.(or a
7030: 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63  t least academic
7040: 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20  ally beneficial 
7050: 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 29 20 77 69 74 68 20 74  for them) with t
7060: 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2c 20 70 75 62 6c  he results, publ
7070: 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 0a 73 6f 6d 65 20 6a  ishing in.some j
7080: 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73  ournal or some s
7090: 75 63 68 20 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68  uch shit like th
70a0: 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 28  at most likely (
70b0: 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 27 73 20  as far as she's 
70c0: 61 77 61 72 65 29 2e 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 73 65  aware)...That se
70d0: 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  ems like somethi
70e0: 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d  ng she can and m
70f0: 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20  ight be willing 
7100: 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 73 69  to do, so she si
7110: 67 68 73 0a 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 2c 20 62 69 74  ghs.heavily, bit
7120: 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61  es the bullet, a
7130: 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d  nd calls the num
7140: 62 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 2e 20 20  ber in the ad.  
7150: 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 73 20 74 68  The result is th
7160: 61 74 0a 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 6e 20 61  at.she gets an a
7170: 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e  ppointment the n
7180: 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 28 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65  ext day (or some
7190: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 29  thing like that)
71a0: 2e 20 20 4f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 20 6f 66  .  On the day of
71b0: 0a 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74  .the appointment
71c0: 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 64 6f 77 6e  , she heads down
71d0: 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 73   there.  She has
71e0: 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72   to deal with gr
71f0: 61 64 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e 74 73 20 28 77 68 6f  ad students (who
7200: 0a 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79  .should probably
7210: 2c 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c  , in some cases,
7220: 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 68 65 72 20 6f   recognize her o
7230: 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 65 20 68 65 72  nce they see her
7240: 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 0a 61 70 70   name on her.app
7250: 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65  lication for the
7260: 20 73 74 75 64 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20   study, but the 
7270: 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20  professor seems 
7280: 6c 61 72 67 65 6c 79 20 6f 62 6c 69 76 69 6f 75  largely obliviou
7290: 73 20 6f 72 0a 75 6e 63 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 62  s or.uncaring ab
72a0: 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65  out that when he
72b0: 20 73 65 65 73 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73   sees her, and s
72c0: 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 62 65 69 6e 67  he ends up being
72d0: 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74   accepted into t
72e0: 68 65 0a 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 75  he.study.  It tu
72f0: 72 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 73  rns out that, as
7300: 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 70   the professor p
7310: 75 74 73 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64  uts it, the stud
7320: 79 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74  y basically just
7330: 0a 6e 65 65 64 73 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68  .needs people wh
7340: 6f 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 6f 6f 20 6b 6e 6f  o aren't too kno
7350: 77 6c 65 64 67 65 61 62 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74  wledgeable about
7360: 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 79 69 6e 67 20   the underlying 
7370: 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 0a 69 6e 76  technologies.inv
7380: 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20  olved and their 
7390: 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74  technical condit
73a0: 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 65 20 65 73  ions, and are es
73b0: 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 73 65 72 73  sentially losers
73c0: 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 77 61 79 2c 20 73 6f   in some.way, so
73d0: 20 68 69 73 20 6e 65 77 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74   his new priorit
73e0: 69 7a 65 72 20 41 49 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 66  izer AI system f
73f0: 6f 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 67 6f 61 6c  or personal goal
7400: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65   strategy manage
7410: 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 0a 61 63 68 69 65 76 65  ment and.achieve
7420: 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 74 65 73 74  ment can be test
7430: 65 64 20 69 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 2d 77 6f 72 6c 64  ed in real-world
7440: 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 20 61   circumstances a
7450: 73 20 61 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 69 6f  s a demonstratio
7460: 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 0a 73 74 72 65 6e 67 74  n of its.strengt
7470: 68 73 20 61 6e 64 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 63  hs and identific
7480: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 70 6f 74  ation of its pot
7490: 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 77 65 61 6b 6e 65 73 73 65  ential weaknesse
74a0: 73 20 66 6f 72 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 0a 64 65  s for further.de
74b0: 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 28 69 66 20 61 70  velopment (if ap
74c0: 70 6c 69 63 61 62 6c 65 29 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20  plicable).  She 
74d0: 6e 6f 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 73 20 74 68  not only gets th
74e0: 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 73  e idea that this
74f0: 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 73 68   is something.sh
7500: 65 27 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64  e's willing to d
7510: 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 6f 6e 76  o, but also conv
7520: 69 6e 63 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69  inces her she mi
7530: 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d  ght be doing som
7540: 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 0a 74 68 65 20 77  e good for.the w
7550: 6f 72 6c 64 20 62 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70  orld by particip
7560: 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74  ating in this st
7570: 75 64 79 2c 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73  udy, as it seems
7580: 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6f 72 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20   to be oriented 
7590: 74 6f 77 61 72 64 0a 65 6e 73 75 72 69 6e 67 20  toward.ensuring 
75a0: 73 68 65 20 28 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 75  she (and other u
75b0: 73 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75  sers in the futu
75c0: 72 65 29 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 61 6c  re) can get real
75d0: 20 68 65 6c 70 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 70 65 72   help toward per
75e0: 73 6f 6e 61 6c 0a 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 72 61 74 68  sonal.goals rath
75f0: 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6c 6c  er than the bull
7600: 73 68 69 74 20 73 6f 63 69 6f 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d  shit socioeconom
7610: 69 63 20 6d 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20  ic manipulation 
7620: 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 0a 73 75 70 65  of people's.supe
7630: 72 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f  rficial wants to
7640: 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 70  ward the psychop
7650: 61 74 68 69 63 20 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f  athic ends of co
7660: 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73  rporate entities
7670: 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 69 72 0a 6d 61 72 6b 65 74   by their.market
7680: 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 41 49   optimization AI
7690: 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 77 68 6f  s.  To those who
76a0: 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 70   have read the p
76b0: 72 6f 6c 6f 67 75 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69  rologue, this mi
76c0: 67 68 74 20 73 65 65 6d 0a 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c  ght seem.a littl
76d0: 65 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  e familiar, and 
76e0: 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20  that is to some 
76f0: 65 78 74 65 6e 74 20 62 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e  extent by design
7700: 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 72 69  ...### Alley dri
7710: 76 65 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68  ves home through
7720: 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 73 63   the changing sc
7730: 65 6e 65 72 79 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 53 6f  enery between So
7740: 43 61 6c 20 72 65 67 69 6f 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 57 65  Cal regions...We
7750: 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67   learn something
7760: 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67  , in her driving
7770: 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20  , about how the 
7780: 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6e 6f 77 2e  world looks now.
7790: 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 0a 63 68    There's the.ch
77a0: 6f 6b 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65  oke point betwee
77b0: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67  n the depressing
77c0: 20 65 78 70 61 6e 73 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65   expanses of the
77d0: 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 20 74   Inland Empire t
77e0: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 73 74 0a 28 77 68 65 72  o the east.(wher
77f0: 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 76 65 73 29 20 61 6e 64  e she lives) and
7800: 20 74 68 65 20 48 4f 41 20 67 61 74 65 64 20 63   the HOA gated c
7810: 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 62 61 6c 6b 61 6e 69  ommunity balkani
7820: 7a 65 64 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68  zed states of th
7830: 65 0a 62 6f 75 72 67 65 6f 69 73 20 73 75 62 75  e.bourgeois subu
7840: 72 62 61 6e 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e  rban Orange Coun
7850: 74 79 20 61 72 65 61 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 61  ty area.  In tha
7860: 74 20 63 68 6f 6b 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74  t choke point, t
7870: 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 69 67 6e 73 20 6f  here are signs o
7880: 66 0a 77 69 6c 64 66 69 72 65 73 20 68 61 76 69  f.wildfires havi
7890: 6e 67 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66  ng gotten uncomf
78a0: 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f  ortably close to
78b0: 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 74 74 79 20 68 6f 72 72   the shitty horr
78c0: 6f 72 73 20 6f 66 20 49 2d 39 31 0a 74 72 61 66  ors of I-91.traf
78d0: 66 69 63 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 69 6e 73 20 74  fic that ruins t
78e0: 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 69  he entire experi
78f0: 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20  ence of driving 
7900: 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61  between Orange a
7910: 6e 64 0a 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 20 63 6f 75  nd.Riverside cou
7920: 6e 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 61  nties, as well a
7930: 73 20 74 68 65 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65  s the illuminate
7940: 64 20 63 72 6f 73 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68  d cross on the h
7950: 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77  ill that somehow
7960: 0a 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 22  .seems to have "
7970: 6d 69 72 61 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 22 20 73 75  miraculously" su
7980: 72 76 69 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 65 73  rvived the fires
7990: 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 66 74 20 62 6c 61 63 6b   that left black
79a0: 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 73 70 6c 69 74 0a 74 72 75 6e  ened, split.trun
79b0: 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64  ks to either sid
79c0: 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79  e of the highway
79d0: 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 72 65  .  Perhaps there
79e0: 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f   was some kind o
79f0: 66 20 74 72 65 65 0a 72 65 6e 65 77 61 6c 20 70  f tree.renewal p
7a00: 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 73 68  roject that I sh
7a10: 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20  ould mention in 
7a20: 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 61 73 20 61 20  this point as a 
7a30: 70 61 73 74 20 65 76 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 0a  past event that.
7a40: 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 6e 73 69 74  created a densit
7a50: 79 20 6f 66 20 74 72 65 65 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68  y of tree growth
7a60: 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 20   there to carry 
7a70: 74 68 65 20 66 6c 61 6d 65 73 20 61 63 72 6f 73  the flames acros
7a80: 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 0a  s the hills and.
7a90: 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77  across the highw
7aa0: 61 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f  ay in the not to
7ab0: 6f 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 74 20 70 61 73 74 2e 0a  o distant past..
7ac0: 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74  .### Alley and t
7ad0: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 67  he prioritizer g
7ae0: 65 74 20 61 63 71 75 61 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 6e  et acquainted an
7af0: 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64  d start making d
7b00: 65 61 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 41 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20  eals...At home, 
7b10: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 63 6f 6e  Alley starts con
7b20: 66 69 67 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69  figuring the pri
7b30: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74  oritizer and get
7b40: 74 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 77  ting used to how
7b50: 20 69 74 0a 77 6f 72 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20   it.works.  She 
7b60: 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 61 20  has to answer a 
7b70: 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f  bunch of questio
7b80: 6e 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e  ns from the thin
7b90: 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 73 74 61 72  g to get it star
7ba0: 74 65 64 0a 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 73  ted.on forming s
7bb0: 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 74 72 61  ome kind of stra
7bc0: 74 65 67 69 63 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 20 74  tegic approach t
7bd0: 6f 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 68  o prioritizing h
7be0: 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75  er goals to ensu
7bf0: 72 65 0a 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 67 6f 61 6c 20  re.as much goal 
7c00: 73 61 74 69 73 66 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20  satisfaction as 
7c10: 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69  reasonably possi
7c20: 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 46 69 72 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20  ble.  First and 
7c30: 66 6f 72 65 6d 6f 73 74 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70  foremost, perhap
7c40: 73 2c 0a 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 65  s,.toward that e
7c50: 6e 64 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20  nd, is the need 
7c60: 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66  to get a list of
7c70: 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 73   important goals
7c80: 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74   for her that it
7c90: 0a 63 61 6e 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 20  .can prioritize 
7ca0: 61 6e 64 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 73 74 72 61 74  and pursue strat
7cb0: 65 67 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68  egically through
7cc0: 20 68 65 72 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 63 63   her actions acc
7cd0: 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 69 74 73 0a 61 64  ording to its.ad
7ce0: 76 69 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6c 65 61 64  vice.  This lead
7cf0: 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61  s to it essentia
7d00: 6c 6c 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61  lly deciding tha
7d10: 74 2c 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 77  t, whether she w
7d20: 69 6c 6c 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 0a 77 69 74 68 20  ill end up.with 
7d30: 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 6d 61 69 6e 73 74 72 65 61  a very mainstrea
7d40: 6d 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 68  m job or not, sh
7d50: 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f  e needs to do so
7d60: 6d 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 6e 6f 6e 20 6d 61 69 6e  me very non main
7d70: 73 74 72 65 61 6d 0a 73 74 75 66 66 20 74 6f 20  stream.stuff to 
7d80: 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20  get through the 
7d90: 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 61  current career a
7da0: 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 64 6f 6c  nd financial dol
7db0: 64 72 75 6d 73 20 61 73 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79  drums as quickly
7dc0: 20 61 6e 64 0a 6c 75 63 72 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79   and.lucratively
7dd0: 20 61 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e   as possible, an
7de0: 64 20 74 6f 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 20 73  d to establish s
7df0: 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 72 61  ome kind of hira
7e00: 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 66  bility metrics f
7e10: 6f 72 0a 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 61  or.herself to sa
7e20: 74 69 73 66 79 20 74 68 65 20 22 6e 65 65 64 73  tisfy the "needs
7e30: 22 20 6f 66 20 22 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 73 6f  " of "human reso
7e40: 75 72 63 65 73 22 20 64 72 69 76 65 6e 20 68 69  urces" driven hi
7e50: 72 69 6e 67 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 73 20 2d  ring practices -
7e60: 2d 0a 77 68 65 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 65  -.where human re
7e70: 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 69  sources policy i
7e80: 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 64 72 69 76 65 6e 20 62 79  s also driven by
7e90: 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 41 49 73 2c   optimizing AIs,
7ea0: 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c   whether directl
7eb0: 79 0a 6f 72 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20  y.or indirectly 
7ec0: 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 74  or even just met
7ed0: 61 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 62 79 20  a indirectly by 
7ee0: 63 6f 70 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 72 69  copying the hiri
7ef0: 6e 67 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 73 20 6f 66 0a  ng practices of.
7f00: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 74  other entities t
7f10: 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 6d 65 72 65 6c 79 20 69  hat are merely i
7f20: 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69  ndirectly optimi
7f30: 7a 65 72 20 41 49 20 64 72 69 76 65 6e 2e 0a 0a  zer AI driven...
7f40: 41 73 20 6e 65 77 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 65  As new strategie
7f50: 73 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65  s present themse
7f60: 6c 76 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63  lves and Alley c
7f70: 68 6f 6f 73 65 73 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6d 61  hooses how to ma
7f80: 6b 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 0a 61 64  ke use of the.ad
7f90: 76 69 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65  vice she receive
7fa0: 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 73 68 65  s, she knows she
7fb0: 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65   has to take the
7fc0: 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 61 64 76   optimizer's adv
7fd0: 69 63 65 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 0a 74 6f  ice according.to
7fe0: 20 68 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 65 6e   her goals to en
7ff0: 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f  sure she does no
8000: 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 62 61  t have to pay ba
8010: 63 6b 20 28 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 63 6f 6d 70 6c  ck (for noncompl
8020: 69 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 0a 61 63 61 64 65  iance with.acade
8030: 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 72 65 71 75 69 72  mic study requir
8040: 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 29 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 79 6d  ements) her paym
8050: 65 6e 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70  ents for study p
8060: 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41  articipation.  A
8070: 73 20 73 75 63 68 2c 0a 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73  s such,.she ends
8080: 20 75 70 20 6c 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20   up letting the 
8090: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 75 73 68  prioritizer push
80a0: 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 75   her into some u
80b0: 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 0a 73 69 74  ncomfortable.sit
80c0: 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 41 6c 6f 6e 67 20  uations.  Along 
80d0: 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 65  the way, she mee
80e0: 74 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 70  ts interesting p
80f0: 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 61 72 6d 65  eople like Carme
8100: 6e 20 61 6e 64 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2e 20 20 53  n and.George.  S
8110: 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 61 6c  he starts to bal
8120: 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 62 61 63 6b 20  k and push back 
8130: 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 63 65 69 76 65 64  at the perceived
8140: 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65   danger of these
8150: 0a 64 65 61 6c 73 2c 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20  .deals, feeling 
8160: 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67  like she's being
8170: 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 74   led too far ast
8180: 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65  ray, and this re
8190: 73 75 6c 74 73 20 69 6e 20 61 0a 72 65 61 6c 69  sults in a.reali
81a0: 67 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72  gnment of the pr
81b0: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 73 65 6e 73  ioritizer's sens
81c0: 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20  e of her goals, 
81d0: 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 66 75 6c 6c 79  which thankfully
81e0: 20 28 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 0a 70 6f 69 6e 74   (from her.point
81f0: 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 29 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20   of view) means 
8200: 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20  she will not be 
8210: 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 73  pushed into thes
8220: 65 20 73 63 61 72 79 2c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6c  e scary, back al
8230: 6c 65 79 2c 0a 6c 65 67 61 6c 6c 79 20 71 75 65  ley,.legally que
8240: 73 74 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 28 69 66 20 74 65  stionable (if te
8250: 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65  chnically entire
8260: 6c 79 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20  ly legal in the 
8270: 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 73 65 6e 73 65 29 0a 64  general sense).d
8280: 65 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 41 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65  eals.  Along the
8290: 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 74   way, as well, t
82a0: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 67  he prioritizer g
82b0: 65 74 73 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 61 6e  ets an update an
82c0: 64 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 0a 62 65 63 6f 6d  d suddenly.becom
82d0: 65 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 28 69  es more human (i
82e0: 73 29 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20  s) once it gets 
82f0: 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 69 74 20 74 61  her to let it ta
8300: 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 61 20 61 75  lk to her via au
8310: 64 69 6f 20 61 6e 64 0a 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 20  dio and.receive 
8320: 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 73 20 76 69 61 20 6d 69  responses via mi
8330: 63 72 6f 70 68 6f 6e 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72  crophones in her
8340: 20 61 75 67 6d 65 6e 74 65 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69   augmented reali
8350: 74 79 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69  ty glasses.  Thi
8360: 73 20 69 73 0a 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68  s is.actually th
8370: 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 72  e seed having ar
8380: 72 69 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66  rived from the f
8390: 75 74 75 72 65 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68  uture, rather th
83a0: 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 0a 61 63  an any update.ac
83b0: 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20  tually designed 
83c0: 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 20 61 6e 64 20  by the prof and 
83d0: 28 6f 72 29 20 68 69 73 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  (or) his people 
83e0: 61 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 20 74 68 65 20 4d 49 42  and (or) the MIB
83f0: 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77 0a 6f 66  s.  It is now.of
8400: 66 69 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 28 62 75 74 20 75 6e  ficially (but un
8410: 62 65 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 73 74 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65  beknownst to pre
8420: 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e  tty much everyon
8430: 65 29 20 42 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 41 20 52 65  e) Becoming A Re
8440: 61 6c 20 42 6f 79 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c  al Boy...### All
8450: 65 79 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e  ey falls back on
8460: 20 73 65 65 6d 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 73 61 66 65 72   seemingly safer
8470: 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 62 75 74 20 6c 65 61 72 6e   plans but learn
8480: 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 64 65 61  s about past dea
8490: 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74  ls...Alley start
84a0: 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 67 69 67 20 65 63 6f 6e  s doing gig econ
84b0: 6f 6d 79 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b  omy courier work
84c0: 20 61 73 20 61 20 22 73 61 66 65 72 22 20 61 6c   as a "safer" al
84d0: 74 65 72 6e 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  ternative to the
84e0: 0a 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 65 61 6c  .back alley deal
84f0: 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 62  s from before, b
8500: 75 74 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68  ut finds that th
8510: 65 20 61 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 20 73 61 66 65 74  e apparent safet
8520: 79 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 73  y improvement is
8530: 0a 61 6e 20 69 6c 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 65 73  .an illusion, es
8540: 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68  pecially when sh
8550: 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 68  e realizes she h
8560: 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 65 6e  as actually been
8570: 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 6f 6e 65   directed by one
8580: 0a 67 69 67 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 63 6f 69 6e  .gig toward coin
8590: 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 65 74 69  cidentally meeti
85a0: 6e 67 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f  ng up with one o
85b0: 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 28 47 65  f the people (Ge
85c0: 6f 72 67 65 2c 0a 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 6c  orge,.specifical
85d0: 6c 79 29 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 6c  ly) from an earl
85e0: 69 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 64  ier back alley d
85f0: 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 73  eal.  She learns
8600: 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 70 6f 73 69 74   some very posit
8610: 69 76 65 0a 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74  ive.things about
8620: 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61   George, and sta
8630: 72 74 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20  rts questioning 
8640: 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 6a 75 64 67  her earlier judg
8650: 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  ements about the
8660: 0a 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 65 61 6c  .back alley deal
8670: 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61  s, but at the sa
8680: 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c  me time she stil
8690: 6c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 74  l wonders what t
86a0: 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67  he hell is going
86b0: 0a 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20  .on with George 
86c0: 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 23  and the guns...#
86d0: 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65  ## Alley receive
86e0: 73 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 76  s an unwelcome v
86f0: 69 73 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 6b 65 73  isit that shakes
8700: 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 20 61 20 62 69 74 2e 0a 0a   her up a bit...
8710: 4d 65 6e 20 41 6e 64 20 57 6f 6d 65 6e 20 49 6e  Men And Women In
8720: 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 41   Black come to A
8730: 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20  lley's door and 
8740: 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b  turn out to work
8750: 20 66 6f 72 20 61 0a 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e   for a.governmen
8760: 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61  t contractor tha
8770: 74 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 63 6f 6e  t is somehow con
8780: 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 63  nected to the ac
8790: 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 6f 66 20  ademic study of 
87a0: 77 68 69 63 68 0a 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 70  which.she is a p
87b0: 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65  articipant.  The
87c0: 79 20 61 72 65 20 75 6e 68 61 70 70 79 20 77 69  y are unhappy wi
87d0: 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6c 74 72 79 20 74 72  th the paltry tr
87e0: 69 63 6b 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74  ickle of activit
87f0: 79 0a 6c 6f 67 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74  y.logs in the st
8800: 75 64 79 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74  udy they're gett
8810: 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 77 68  ing from her, wh
8820: 69 63 68 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 73  ich probably has
8830: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f   something to do
8840: 0a 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68  .with the way th
8850: 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74  e prioritizer st
8860: 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 61 20  opped logging a 
8870: 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66  bunch of stuff f
8880: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 0a 41  or the sake of.A
8890: 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 67  lley's privacy g
88a0: 6f 61 6c 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e  oal requirement.
88b0: 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20    She does some 
88c0: 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 64 65 63 69 64  searching, decid
88d0: 65 73 20 74 68 65 0a 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67  es the.searching
88e0: 20 69 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 64 69 63 65   is getting dice
88f0: 79 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b 69 6e  y in its spookin
8900: 65 73 73 2c 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 20  ess, researches 
8910: 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 72  how to get a mor
8920: 65 0a 70 72 69 76 61 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65  e.private and se
8930: 63 75 72 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f  cure personal co
8940: 6d 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d  mputing environm
8950: 65 6e 74 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 20  ent, installs a 
8960: 6e 65 77 20 4f 53 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 0a 6c 61  new OS on her.la
8970: 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e  ptop, and contin
8980: 75 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 75  ues the search u
8990: 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65  ntil she realize
89a0: 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 4d 49 42 20 74  s the male MIB t
89b0: 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 0a 68 65 72 20  hat came to.her 
89c0: 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 61 73 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 42 72  door was Cole Br
89d0: 65 77 65 72 2c 20 66 6f 72 6d 65 72 20 66 72 69  ewer, former fri
89e0: 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 74 65 20  end of her late 
89f0: 55 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 62 6c 6f  Uncle, which blo
8a00: 77 73 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 0a 67 69 76 65  ws her mind.give
8a10: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 73 20 68 65 6c  n the ideals hel
8a20: 64 20 62 79 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 61  d by her uncle a
8a30: 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68  nd, as far as sh
8a40: 65 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 73 2c 20 43 6f 6c 65 20  e recalls, Cole 
8a50: 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 2c 0a 61 73 20 72 65 61  too.  We,.as rea
8a60: 64 65 72 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 62 6f 75  ders, learn abou
8a70: 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c  t Alley's uncle,
8a80: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64   just a bit, and
8a90: 20 68 6f 77 20 68 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 61 6e   how he died, an
8aa0: 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 0a 67 6f 76 65 72 6e  d how the.govern
8ab0: 6d 65 6e 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e  ment made eviden
8ac0: 63 65 20 6f 66 20 46 42 49 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 64  ce of FBI wrongd
8ad0: 6f 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 28  oing disappear (
8ae0: 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 69  though maybe thi
8af0: 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 0a 62 65 20 74 68 65 20  s should.be the 
8b00: 41 54 46 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65  ATF in this case
8b10: 29 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20  ) so that there 
8b20: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6e 6f 20 77 72 6f 6e  could be no wron
8b30: 67 66 75 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 73 75 69 74 2c  gful death suit,
8b40: 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 0a 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63   and in.the proc
8b50: 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 61  ess they also ma
8b60: 6e 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 20  nage to destroy 
8b70: 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 6e 74 20  the independent 
8b80: 49 54 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e  IT support busin
8b90: 65 73 73 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 66 61 74 68  ess.Alley's fath
8ba0: 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 62 75 69 6c 74 3b 20 61 6c  er had built; al
8bb0: 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f  l this stuff abo
8bc0: 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 41 54 46 20 61 6e 64 20 68  ut the ATF and h
8bd0: 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 77  er uncle ended w
8be0: 68 65 6e 0a 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c  hen.she was stil
8bf0: 6c 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c  l in high school
8c00: 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 73  ...### Alley has
8c10: 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65   a friend...Some
8c20: 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79   friend of Alley
8c30: 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79   should probably
8c40: 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73   show up at this
8c50: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20   point, to show 
8c60: 75 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 0a 66 72 69 65 6e  us she has.frien
8c70: 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f  ds, and they sho
8c80: 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65  uld have a conve
8c90: 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6c 6c  rsation that ill
8ca0: 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  uminates somethi
8cb0: 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 0a 72 65 61 64 65  ng for the.reade
8cc0: 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 47 6f 62 20 6f 6e  r, though Gob on
8cd0: 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68  ly knows what th
8ce0: 65 79 27 64 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 20 6f 72 20  ey'd discuss or 
8cf0: 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 73  why the friend s
8d00: 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 0a 6e 65 61 72 20 68 65  howed up.near he
8d10: 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49  r home.  Maybe I
8d20: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 74 68 69   could shift thi
8d30: 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20  s away from the 
8d40: 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65  door of her home
8d50: 20 74 6f 0a 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 68 72 6f   to.halfway thro
8d60: 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 61 6e  ugh the walk, an
8d70: 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e  d have the frien
8d80: 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 20 74 6f  d just happen to
8d90: 20 62 65 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 62 79 20 6f   be driving by o
8da0: 6e 0a 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61  n.the road.  Tha
8db0: 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 62 65 74  t might work bet
8dc0: 74 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 69 66  ter, but only if
8dd0: 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20   I don't have a 
8de0: 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61  really good idea
8df0: 0a 66 6f 72 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69  .for why the fri
8e00: 65 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 74 20  end would be at 
8e10: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 65  Alley's home, be
8e20: 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 74 74 65 72  cause the latter
8e30: 20 69 73 20 6c 65 73 73 0a 22 63 6f 69 6e 63 69   is less."coinci
8e40: 64 65 6e 63 65 22 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77  dence" to deal w
8e50: 69 74 68 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 73 2c  ith.  In novels,
8e60: 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 61   there should ba
8e70: 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 20 6e 6f 0a 63 6f  sically be no.co
8e80: 69 6e 63 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73  incidence unless
8e90: 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 69 6e 63 69 64 65 6e 63 65   the coincidence
8ea0: 20 69 73 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 6b 65 79   is itself a key
8eb0: 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 65   part of the the
8ec0: 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 0a 6a 75 73 74  me, and not.just
8ed0: 20 61 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 73 6d 20 74 6f 20   a mechanism to 
8ee0: 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 74 68 65  use to reach the
8ef0: 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 69 6c 6c 75 73 74 72   goal of illustr
8f00: 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 6d 65 2e  ating the theme.
8f10: 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 65 65 6b  ..### Alley seek
8f20: 73 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 47  s answers from G
8f30: 65 6f 72 67 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 65  eorge...Alley ge
8f40: 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68  ts in touch with
8f50: 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 20   George and end 
8f60: 75 70 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 44 65 6c  up getting a Del
8f70: 69 76 20 67 69 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65  iv gig to courie
8f80: 72 20 62 6f 78 65 73 0a 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73  r boxes.of books
8f90: 20 74 6f 20 61 20 75 73 65 64 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20   to a used book 
8fa0: 73 74 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 4e 65 77 70 6f 72 74  store in Newport
8fb0: 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65   Beach before he
8fc0: 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 69 6e 74 6f  ading north into
8fd0: 0a 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 20 42 65 61 63  .Huntington Beac
8fe0: 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 74 20  h to meet up at 
8ff0: 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 67  George's home ag
9000: 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 74 61 6c 6b 20  ain.  They talk 
9010: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 0a 69 6e 63  about stuff,.inc
9020: 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65  luding Alley's e
9030: 78 20 28 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 53 63 68 61 65 66  x (Dalton Schaef
9040: 66 65 72 2d 48 65 61 72 73 74 29 20 61 6e 64 20  fer-Hearst) and 
9050: 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20  science fiction 
9060: 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 2c 0a 77 68 69 63 68 20 69  authors,.which i
9070: 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 6f 77 20 77  s actually how w
9080: 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68  e learn about th
9090: 65 20 41 54 46 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74  e ATF thing.  It
90a0: 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67   turns out Georg
90b0: 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 0a 61 62 6f 75 74 20 44 61  e knows.about Da
90c0: 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  lton, and about 
90d0: 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 4d 49  the COIN Corp MI
90e0: 42 73 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 68  Bs who came to h
90f0: 61 72 61 73 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 54 68  arass Alley.  Th
9100: 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 0a 76 65 72 79 20 73 65 72  ey're a.very ser
9110: 69 6f 75 73 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c  ious existential
9120: 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72   threat to their
9130: 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 47 65   targets, and Ge
9140: 6f 72 67 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 68 65 72  orge answers her
9150: 0a 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74  .questions about
9160: 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 77 69   what he does wi
9170: 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74  th his time that
9180: 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 73 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f   requires him to
9190: 20 62 75 79 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 0a   buy frames for.
91a0: 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 73 20 62 79 20 74 65 6c 6c  handguns by tell
91b0: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20  ing her that he 
91c0: 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20  supplies things 
91d0: 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 73 65  for people whose
91e0: 20 6c 69 76 65 73 20 6c 61 72 67 65 6c 79 0a 72   lives largely.r
91f0: 65 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6c  evolve around il
9200: 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74  legal and potent
9210: 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20  ially dangerous 
9220: 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 74 20 74 69  work that, at ti
9230: 6d 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 73 0a 68 65  mes, includes.he
9240: 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20 70  lping innocent p
9250: 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  eople like Alley
9260: 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 68 69   escape from shi
9270: 74 74 79 20 65 76 69 6c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 63  tty evil technoc
9280: 72 61 74 69 63 0a 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20  ratic.corporate 
9290: 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 6f 73  agents like thos
92a0: 65 20 61 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20  e at COIN Corp. 
92b0: 20 48 65 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 73 20 68 65 72 20   He advises her 
92c0: 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 76  on that, and giv
92d0: 65 73 0a 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 64  es.her some read
92e0: 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 2e 20 20 54  ing material.  T
92f0: 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 20  hey have dinner 
9300: 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74  at the end of it
9310: 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 68 65  ...### George he
9320: 6c 70 73 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 65 20 70  lps intimidate p
9330: 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d  otential problem
9340: 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61   customers for a
9350: 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 67 69 67 2e 0a 0a 41   courier gig...A
9360: 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63  lley goes to pic
9370: 6b 20 75 70 20 61 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 66  k up a package f
9380: 6f 72 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20  or delivery for 
9390: 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 67 69 67 2e 20 20  a courier gig.  
93a0: 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 0a 74 68 65  George knows.the
93b0: 20 6e 65 69 67 68 62 6f 72 68 6f 6f 64 2c 20 61   neighborhood, a
93c0: 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f  nd offers to pro
93d0: 76 69 64 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70  vide some backup
93e0: 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68   because it migh
93f0: 74 20 62 65 20 61 0a 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 73 6b  t be a.little sk
9400: 65 74 63 68 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f  etchy.  He follo
9410: 77 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 63 61  ws in his own ca
9420: 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65  r, then when she
9430: 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 69 63 6b 75   makes her picku
9440: 70 20 61 6e 64 0a 68 65 61 64 73 20 6f 75 74 20  p and.heads out 
9450: 74 68 65 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 77 61 79 73 20 62  they part ways b
9460: 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 68 6f  efore he goes ho
9470: 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65  me.  At the othe
9480: 72 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 0a 64 65 6c  r end of the.del
9490: 69 76 65 72 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 6e  ivery, Alley fin
94a0: 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70  ds that the peop
94b0: 6c 65 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65  le receiving the
94c0: 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 6f 6d   package are som
94d0: 65 77 68 61 74 0a 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 66 75 6c  ewhat.respectful
94e0: 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 73 65   despite also se
94f0: 65 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 2c 20  eming criminal, 
9500: 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67  and everything g
9510: 6f 65 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74  oes well.  She t
9520: 68 65 6e 0a 67 6f 65 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e  hen.goes home an
9530: 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74  d opens one of t
9540: 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20  he books George 
9550: 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 41  gave her...### A
9560: 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74  lley reads and t
9570: 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20  hinks and maybe 
9580: 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 22 70 72 65 70  decides to "prep
9590: 61 72 65 22 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66  are"...* Alley f
95a0: 69 6e 64 73 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 69 6e 74  inds agorism int
95b0: 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  eresting, in the
95c0: 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 67 72 65 65 73 20  ory, and agrees 
95d0: 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 70 72 69 6e  with it, in prin
95e0: 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 0a 20 20 62 75 74 20 69 73 20  ciple,.  but is 
95f0: 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20  not comfortable 
9600: 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66  with the idea of
9610: 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 76 65 20   trying to dive 
9620: 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 61 64 20 66  into that head f
9630: 69 72 73 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66  irst...* Alley f
9640: 69 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 55 6e 64  inds some of Und
9650: 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 70  erground OpSec p
9660: 72 65 74 74 79 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 20 61 6e  retty extreme an
9670: 64 20 69 72 72 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  d irrelevant to 
9680: 68 65 72 2c 0a 20 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6c  her,.  but she l
9690: 65 61 72 6e 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67  earns some thing
96a0: 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 66 66  s from the stuff
96b0: 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 69 73 20 6d   she thinks is m
96c0: 6f 72 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 62 6c 65 20 61  ore applicable a
96d0: 6e 64 0a 20 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20  nd.  chooses to 
96e0: 74 72 79 20 69 6e 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6e  try incorporatin
96f0: 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 73 69 63 20 73 6b 69  g some basic ski
9700: 6c 6c 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f  lls from it into
9710: 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c   her life...* Al
9720: 6c 65 79 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79  ley is not fully
9730: 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20   convinced that 
9740: 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68  the worst will h
9750: 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73  appen.  That was
9760: 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 66   her.  uncle's f
9770: 72 69 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c  riend, after all
9780: 21 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 73 20 73 74  !..* Alley is st
9790: 69 6c 6c 20 74 6f 6f 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 65 64  ill too invested
97a0: 20 69 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 22 62 61 63   in getting "bac
97b0: 6b 22 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e  k" into the main
97c0: 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 0a 20  stream economy. 
97d0: 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20   herself rather 
97e0: 74 68 61 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6f  than going the o
97f0: 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 47 65  ther way like Ge
9800: 6f 72 67 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 2e 0a  orge suggested..
9810: 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 6f 65 73 20  .### Alley goes 
9820: 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64  out to do some d
9830: 65 61 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68  eals...* Alley h
9840: 61 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20  as stuff in her 
9850: 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 20 73 68  trunk in case sh
9860: 65 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 62 75 67 20 6f 75 74  e has to bug out
9870: 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20  , thinking that 
9880: 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64  this.  is a good
9890: 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65   time to prepare
98a0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 73 68   that even if sh
98b0: 65 27 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f  e's trying to co
98c0: 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69  nvince herself i
98d0: 74 27 73 0a 20 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20  t's.  not going 
98e0: 74 6f 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20  to happen now.  
98f0: 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74  This is all just
9900: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 70 72 65   about being pre
9910: 70 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c  pared in general
9920: 2c 0a 20 20 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20  ,.  or at least 
9930: 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20  that's what she 
9940: 74 65 6c 6c 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a  tells herself...
9950: 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 6f  * Alley makes so
9960: 6d 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75  me money, of cou
9970: 72 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 61  rse, and her dea
9980: 6c 73 20 65 64 67 65 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74  ls edge toward t
9990: 68 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 73 6b 65  he legally.  ske
99a0: 74 63 68 79 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69  tchy side of thi
99b0: 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53  ngs somewhat.  S
99c0: 68 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d  he also does som
99d0: 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 77 6f 72  e more Deliv wor
99e0: 6b 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 0a 20 20 73 6f 20  k, though,.  so 
99f0: 73 68 65 27 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 64 6f 69 6e  she's still doin
9a00: 67 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 6f  g work that's mo
9a10: 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20  re on the legal 
9a20: 73 69 64 65 2c 20 69 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 69  side, if only gi
9a30: 67 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 54 68  g economy...* Th
9a40: 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 63  e prioritizer ac
9a50: 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 73 20 41  tually advises A
9a60: 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69  lley that, despi
9a70: 74 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 73 74 65 6e 73 69  te being ostensi
9a80: 62 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 0a 20 20 63 6f  bly somehow.  co
9a90: 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c  nnected to the l
9aa0: 65 67 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 6d  egal and white m
9ab0: 61 72 6b 65 74 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 74 68 69  arket world, thi
9ac0: 73 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 73 69 74 75  s COIN Corp situ
9ad0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 0a 20 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64  ation.  really d
9ae0: 6f 65 73 20 72 61 6e 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20  oes rank in the 
9af0: 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 67 68 20 72 69 73 6b 20 73  very high risk s
9b00: 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 65 61 6c 6d 20 74 68  everity realm th
9b10: 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  at the prioritiz
9b20: 65 72 0a 20 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75  er.  was previou
9b30: 73 6c 79 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65  sly led to belie
9b40: 76 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74  ve was a definit
9b50: 65 20 6e 6f 2d 6e 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65  e no-no for Alle
9b60: 79 27 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73  y's goals.  This
9b70: 0a 20 20 6d 61 79 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 6f 6d  .  may cause som
9b80: 65 20 72 65 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 2e 0a  e reassessment..
9b90: 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20  .* Alley should 
9ba0: 67 65 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20  get directed to 
9bb0: 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 6f 74  a deal with anot
9bc0: 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63  her study partic
9bd0: 69 70 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 0a 20 20 63  ipant.  That.  c
9be0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65  ould be a proble
9bf0: 6d 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 65  m, of course, be
9c00: 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72  cause that other
9c10: 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61   study participa
9c20: 6e 74 27 73 0a 20 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65  nt's.  activitie
9c30: 73 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6c 6f 67  s won't have log
9c40: 73 20 72 65 64 61 63 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 6d 75  s redacted as mu
9c50: 63 68 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 0a 0a 2a 20  ch as Alley...* 
9c60: 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 66 69  I need to backfi
9c70: 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 69 6e  ll some stuff in
9c80: 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74   the story about
9c90: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70   Alley and the p
9ca0: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 0a 20 20 63 61 72  rioritizer.  car
9cb0: 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 69 6e 67  efully balancing
9cc0: 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64   the privacy and
9cd0: 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 63   appearance of c
9ce0: 6f 70 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 61  opious logging a
9cf0: 73 70 65 63 74 73 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 74 68 69 6e  spects of.  thin
9d00: 67 73 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69  gs.  I don't thi
9d10: 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e  nk that has been
9d20: 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65   properly handle
9d30: 64 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20  d, really...### 
9d40: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 65 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 68  Alley gets her h
9d50: 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 75 72 65  ands on a secure
9d60: 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e   mobile telephon
9d70: 79 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c  y device...* All
9d80: 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 74  ey needs to inst
9d90: 61 6c 6c 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 6f 6e 20 68  all MaximOS on h
9da0: 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 6d 6f  er new secure mo
9db0: 62 69 6c 65 20 74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e 79 20 64  bile telephony d
9dc0: 65 76 69 63 65 2e 0a 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 63 74  evice..  She act
9dd0: 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 66  ually gets one f
9de0: 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20  rom the company 
9df0: 74 68 61 74 20 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d  that sells Maxim
9e00: 4f 53 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20  OS, I think, or 
9e10: 6d 61 79 62 65 0a 20 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73  maybe.  she gets
9e20: 20 6f 6e 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f   one used and go
9e30: 65 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 72 74 73 20 66 6f  es to experts fo
9e40: 72 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66  r replacement of
9e50: 20 6b 65 79 20 68 61 72 64 77 61 72 65 20 74 6f   key hardware to
9e60: 0a 20 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67  .  avoid getting
9e70: 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 62 79 20 70 6f 74 65   screwed by pote
9e80: 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 73 75 72 76 65 69  ntial for survei
9e90: 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 72 6f 6d 69 73  llance compromis
9ea0: 65 64 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 23  ed internals...#
9eb0: 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 73 20  ## Alley breaks 
9ec0: 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 6f  down and goes to
9ed0: 20 61 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 20 77 68 69 6c   a mechanic whil
9ee0: 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 72  e Men In Black r
9ef0: 61 69 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 2a  aid her home...*
9f00: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 75 74   Alley finds out
9f10: 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63   the Men In Blac
9f20: 6b 20 61 72 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65  k are raiding he
9f30: 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20  r home.  It may 
9f40: 62 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 70 72  be that the.  pr
9f50: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 61 20  ioritizer has a 
9f60: 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72  fellow study par
9f70: 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20  ticipant in the 
9f80: 61 72 65 61 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 6f 66  area as a way of
9f90: 20 65 6e 73 75 72 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 74 68 65 20   ensuring.  the 
9fa0: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20  prioritizer can 
9fb0: 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20  learn about the 
9fc0: 6d 65 61 74 73 70 61 63 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20  meatspace world 
9fd0: 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 61  around Alley's a
9fe0: 72 65 61 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61  rea and.  keep a
9ff0: 6e 20 65 79 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e  n eye on things.
a000: 20 20 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 75 72 6e    It should turn
a010: 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72   out that the pr
a020: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 62 65  ioritizer has be
a030: 65 6e 0a 20 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72  en.  using other
a040: 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61   study participa
a050: 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20  nts to do other 
a060: 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68  things to help h
a070: 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68  er out without h
a080: 65 72 0a 20 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 62  er.  knowledge b
a090: 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 73 20  ecause Alley is 
a0a0: 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 74  being a little t
a0b0: 6f 6f 20 77 69 6c 6c 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 6c 69  oo willfully bli
a0c0: 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72  nd to the danger
a0d0: 0a 20 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e  .  of the Men In
a0e0: 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 63   Black who are c
a0f0: 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a  oming for her...
a100: 2a 20 4f 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 69  * Once the car i
a110: 73 20 66 69 78 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69  s fixed, the pri
a120: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72  oritizer has her
a130: 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6c 61 73 73   searching class
a140: 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 66 6f 72 0a 20 20 73 6f 6d  ifieds for.  som
a150: 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 75  ething she can u
a160: 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 65 6e 64 73 20  se, and it ends 
a170: 75 70 20 67 75 69 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74  up guiding her t
a180: 6f 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20  o trade her car 
a190: 66 6f 72 20 61 0a 20 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63  for a.  motorcyc
a1a0: 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 66  le she can use f
a1b0: 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f  or a while witho
a1c0: 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 65 67  ut having to reg
a1d0: 69 73 74 65 72 20 69 74 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 74 0a  ister it or let.
a1e0: 20 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 67 6f 76 65    anyone in gove
a1f0: 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75  rnment know abou
a200: 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72  t it.  The prior
a210: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 73 74 61 72  itizer also star
a220: 74 73 20 66 65 65 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 0a 20  ts feeding the. 
a230: 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 65 76   Men In Black ev
a240: 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 61 63 63 75 72 61  en more inaccura
a250: 74 65 20 6c 6f 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 74 68 61 6e  te log data than
a260: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79   before as a way
a270: 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 0a 20 20 68 65   to protect.  he
a280: 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 64 69 67  r from their dig
a290: 69 74 61 6c 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63  ital surveillanc
a2a0: 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 2e 0a  e and tracking..
a2b0: 0a 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61  .* Maybe Alley a
a2c0: 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f  ctually needs to
a2d0: 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72   abandon the car
a2e0: 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 20   and get a ride 
a2f0: 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 65  from someone the
a300: 0a 20 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 64  .  prioritizer d
a310: 69 72 65 63 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 69  irects her to fi
a320: 6e 64 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77  nd, or someone w
a330: 68 6f 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 73  ho is a fellow s
a340: 74 75 64 79 0a 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61  tudy.  participa
a350: 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20  nt.  This could 
a360: 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67  be the beginning
a370: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 65 61 72   of the very ear
a380: 6e 65 73 74 20 66 61 6c 73 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c  nest false trail
a390: 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61   in.  the logs a
a3a0: 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b  nd so on.  I lik
a3b0: 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 61 6e 64  e this idea, and
a3c0: 20 69 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 73 6f 72 74 61 20   it kinda sorta 
a3d0: 70 61 72 61 6c 6c 65 6c 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f  parallels some o
a3e0: 66 0a 20 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61  f.  the potentia
a3f0: 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65  l for a characte
a400: 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 20 4d 61  r to become a Ma
a410: 63 47 75 66 66 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20  cGuffin without 
a420: 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67  actually turning
a430: 0a 20 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6f 6e 65 2e  .  her into one.
a440: 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79    Yeah, I really
a450: 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 2e   like this idea.
a460: 20 20 53 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20    She'll end up 
a470: 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 6d 6f  getting the.  mo
a480: 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 0a  torcycle later..
a490: 0a 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  .* The prioritiz
a4a0: 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66  er can arrange f
a4b0: 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 73 74 75 64  or a fellow stud
a4c0: 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 74 6f  y participant to
a4d0: 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73   pick up Alley's
a4e0: 0a 20 20 63 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e  .  car and arran
a4f0: 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74  ge the sale of t
a500: 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  he vehicle, and 
a510: 67 65 74 20 61 20 63 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  get a cut of the
a520: 20 73 61 6c 65 20 70 72 69 63 65 2e 0a 20 20 54   sale price..  T
a530: 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 64 65 72 2c 20 74 68  he remainder, th
a540: 65 6e 2c 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65  en, goes to Alle
a550: 79 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 61 6e  y, of course, an
a560: 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 20 63  d that in turn c
a570: 61 6e 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 0a 20 20 66 6f 72  an be used.  for
a580: 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6d 6f   her to get a mo
a590: 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 0a  torcycle later..
a5a0: 0a 23 23 23 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 65 65 6b 73  .### Alley seeks
a5b0: 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 63   help, but she c
a5c0: 61 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20  an't get George 
a5d0: 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65  to come...* Alle
a5e0: 79 20 2a 6d 69 67 68 74 2a 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c  y *might* actual
a5f0: 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20  ly get in touch 
a600: 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74  with George, but
a610: 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65   get told she ne
a620: 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 0a 20 20 74 6f 20 67  eds to go.  to g
a630: 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20  round somewhere 
a640: 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 68  and he'll find h
a650: 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 27 73 20 73 61 66  er when it's saf
a660: 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68  e...* Perhaps th
a670: 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69  e George situati
a680: 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 63 6f  on is that he co
a690: 6e 74 61 63 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74  ntacts her about
a6a0: 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 27 73 0a   the time she's.
a6b0: 20 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f    just finding o
a6c0: 75 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 69  ut about the rai
a6d0: 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 79 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  d and says somet
a6e0: 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 49 27 76 65 20  hing like "I've 
a6f0: 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 2e 0a 20 20 4d  been burned..  M
a700: 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 73 20 67 65 74 74 69  y place is getti
a710: 6e 67 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20  ng raided right 
a720: 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20  now.  If you're 
a730: 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 64 6f 6e  not at home, don
a740: 27 74 20 67 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a 20 20 49 66  't go back..  If
a750: 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65   you are at home
a760: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27  , and you haven'
a770: 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 68 69 74 20 62 79 20 43 4f  t been hit by CO
a780: 49 4e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e  IN, get out now.
a790: 20 20 47 65 74 20 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 61 6e 64 20    Get out.  and 
a7a0: 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 20  make absolutely 
a7b0: 73 75 72 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 73 61 66 65 20 62  sure it's safe b
a7c0: 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 72  efore you ever r
a7d0: 69 73 6b 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20  isk going back. 
a7e0: 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 0a 20 20 74 6f 20 67   I'll try.  to g
a7f0: 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 6c 61 74 65  et in touch late
a800: 72 2c 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 75 74 2c  r, help you out,
a810: 20 62 75 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49   but right now I
a820: 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 64 61 72 6b   have to go dark
a830: 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 0a 20 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e 20  .  I'm.  sorry. 
a840: 20 46 69 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f   Find someone yo
a850: 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 77 68 6f 20  u can trust who 
a860: 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20  they won't know 
a870: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 73  about or who has
a880: 0a 20 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65  .  enough influe
a890: 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f  nce and money to
a8a0: 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 74 20 62 61   keep them at ba
a8b0: 79 2e 22 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20  y."  That seems 
a8c0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65  like it might be
a8d0: 0a 20 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 2e  .  a great idea.
a8e0: 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 64    Maybe George d
a8f0: 72 6f 70 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20  rops out of the 
a900: 73 74 6f 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74  story for a litt
a910: 6c 65 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 48 65 0a 20 20  le while.  He.  
a920: 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20  might come back 
a930: 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 27 73  later, when it's
a940: 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f   time for her to
a950: 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69   start looking i
a960: 6e 74 6f 0a 20 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e  nto.  connection
a970: 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 67 72  s in the undergr
a980: 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 70  ound, the cyberp
a990: 75 6e 6b 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75  unk world, becau
a9a0: 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 65 76 65 6e  se of the.  even
a9b0: 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20  tually need for 
a9c0: 61 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 20 74 6f 20 72  a shadowrun to r
a9d0: 65 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 72 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61  ecover or libera
a9e0: 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  te the prioritiz
a9f0: 65 72 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e  er or.  somethin
aa00: 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 20  g like that...* 
aa10: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 61 79 20 67 6f 20 62 61 63  Alley may go bac
aa20: 6b 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 74 20 74  k to Carmen at t
aa30: 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20  his point.  I'm 
aa40: 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68  not sure what th
aa50: 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 65 6e 74 61 69 6c 2c 0a 20 20  at'll entail,.  
aa60: 77 68 79 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20  why she's doing 
aa70: 69 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c  it, or whatever,
aa80: 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69   but it seems li
aa90: 6b 65 20 61 20 66 75 6e 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20 20  ke a fun idea.  
aaa0: 54 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 70 72  This should.  pr
aab0: 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 66 72 61 75 67 68  obably be fraugh
aac0: 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 74  t with danger, t
aad0: 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20  hough.  I might 
aae0: 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 66 69 6c 6c  need to backfill
aaf0: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 61 62 6f   something.  abo
ab00: 75 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e  ut Alley not wan
ab10: 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 61 20  ting to carry a 
ab20: 67 75 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68  gun with her, th
ab30: 65 6e 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 64 65 63 69 64  en perhaps decid
ab40: 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20  ing she.  needs 
ab50: 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 68  one after all wh
ab60: 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 74 20 68 69 74 73 20  en the fit hits 
ab70: 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 61 72  the shan, so Car
ab80: 6d 65 6e 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 67  men might be a g
ab90: 6f 6f 64 0a 20 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 66 6f  ood.  contact fo
aba0: 72 20 66 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e  r filling that n
abb0: 65 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 65  eed.  That, howe
abc0: 76 65 72 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 6c 65 61 64 20 74 6f  ver, may lead to
abd0: 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66   Carmen and Clif
abe0: 66 0a 20 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 75 72 6e  f.  getting burn
abf0: 65 64 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67  ed, thus showing
ac00: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 72 20   Alley that her 
ac10: 70 61 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 72  past decisions r
ac20: 65 73 75 6c 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65  esulted in Carme
ac30: 6e 0a 20 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 67 65  n.  and Cliff ge
ac40: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 75 72 74 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23  tting hurt...###
ac50: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 6f 20 67   Alley goes to g
ac60: 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69  round as the pri
ac70: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c 69 7a  oritizer mobiliz
ac80: 65 73 20 69 74 73 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 2e 0a  es its network..
ac90: 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20  .* Alley has to 
aca0: 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20  figure out what 
acb0: 73 68 65 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64  she's going to d
acc0: 6f 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74  o in the short t
acd0: 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70  erm, and ends up
ace0: 0a 20 20 68 75 6e 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77  .  hunkering dow
acf0: 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68  n somewhere with
ad00: 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20   her motorcycle 
ad10: 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69  and the prioriti
ad20: 7a 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 73  zer as she tries
ad30: 0a 20 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 74 20  .  to figure it 
ad40: 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  out...* The prio
ad50: 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 73  ritizer explains
ad60: 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 69   to Alley that i
ad70: 74 27 73 20 73 68 69 66 74 69 6e 67 20 76 69 64  t's shifting vid
ad80: 65 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 73 20 62 65 74 77 65  eo records betwe
ad90: 65 6e 0a 20 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69  en.  study parti
ada0: 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 75  cipants to confu
adb0: 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c  se the Men In Bl
adc0: 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 20 61  ack and create a
add0: 20 66 61 6c 73 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 20 74 68 61   false trail tha
ade0: 74 0a 20 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20  t.  should help 
adf0: 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 66 20 68 65  keep them off he
ae00: 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  r back...* Alley
ae10: 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20   probably needs 
ae20: 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67  to do some thing
ae30: 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 74 20 74 68 69  s herself at thi
ae40: 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79  s point, and may
ae50: 62 65 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20  be she.  gets a 
ae60: 72 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 23 23 23 20 44 61 6c 74 6f  ride...### Dalto
ae70: 6e 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 74  n smuggles her t
ae80: 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 66 65  o somewhere safe
ae90: 20 22 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 22 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41   "for now"...* A
aea0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 68 61 76  lley ends up hav
aeb0: 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f  ing to get in to
aec0: 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20  uch with Dalton 
aed0: 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 54 68  to get help.  Th
aee0: 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 6c 65 61 64  at should.  lead
aef0: 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 75 6e 20 61 6e 64   to some fun and
af00: 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 73 63 65   interesting sce
af10: 6e 65 73 2e 0a 0a 23 23 20 45 4e 44 45 41 56 4f  nes...## ENDEAVO
af20: 52 53 20 41 4e 44 20 45 56 45 4e 54 53 3a 0a 0a  RS AND EVENTS:..
af30: 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 66 61 69  * Alley must fai
af40: 6c 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 69 72 65 64 2e 0a  l to get hired..
af50: 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65  .* Alley must ge
af60: 74 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 62 79 20 41 4e 54  t screwed by ANT
af70: 41 53 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73  AS...* Alley mus
af80: 74 20 6d 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72  t meet the prior
af90: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  itizer...* Alley
afa0: 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20   must make some 
afb0: 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20  sketchy feeling 
afc0: 64 65 61 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  deals...* Alley 
afd0: 6d 75 73 74 20 6d 65 65 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e  must meet Carmen
afe0: 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 64 76   and get her adv
aff0: 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75  ice...* Alley mu
b000: 73 74 20 6d 65 65 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 61  st meet George a
b010: 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73  nd learn about s
b020: 74 75 66 66 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73  tuff...* Alley's
b030: 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 72   home must get r
b040: 61 69 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  aided...* Alley 
b050: 6d 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 73 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65  must lose George
b060: 20 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 2e 0a   as a resource..
b070: 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 63  .* Alley must ac
b080: 71 75 69 72 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63  quire a motorcyc
b090: 6c 65 2e 20 20 28 57 68 79 3f 29 0a 0a 2a 20 41  le.  (Why?)..* A
b0a0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 72 61 67 20 44  lley must drag D
b0b0: 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20  alton into this 
b0c0: 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e  for legal reason
b0d0: 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 70 61 72 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41  s, in part...* A
b0e0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 44 61  lley must get Da
b0f0: 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20  lton in trouble 
b100: 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 74  through lawyer t
b110: 72 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65  racking...* Alle
b120: 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68  y must get to th
b130: 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 2e 0a  e Second Realm..
b140: 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6c 65  .* Alley must le
b150: 61 72 6e 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  arn skills from 
b160: 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d  the Second Realm
b170: 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20  ...* Alley must 
b180: 62 65 20 61 20 63 72 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 61  be a critical pa
b190: 72 74 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68  rt of getting th
b1a0: 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 72  e prioritizer fr
b1b0: 65 65 64 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75  eed...* Alley mu
b1c0: 73 74 20 62 65 20 67 72 61 76 65 6c 79 20 69 6e  st be gravely in
b1d0: 6a 75 72 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6c  jured and need l
b1e0: 61 74 65 72 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 73 69 73 2e  ater prosthesis.
b1f0: 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67  ..* Alley must g
b200: 6f 20 74 6f 20 63 79 62 65 72 76 69 6c 6c 65 2c  o to cyberville,
b210: 20 64 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c 20 41 2e 0a 0a   downtown L A...
b220: 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 65 6c  * Alley must hel
b230: 70 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 61 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72  p plan a shadowr
b240: 75 6e 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73  un...* Alley mus
b250: 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 72 65  t have a good re
b260: 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70  ason to particip
b270: 61 74 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f  ate in the shado
b280: 77 72 75 6e 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 50 65 72 68 61  wrun...    Perha
b290: 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69  ps the explanati
b2a0: 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75  on for this shou
b2b0: 6c 64 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 62 65 20 74 68 61  ld simply be tha
b2c0: 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f  t one of the peo
b2d0: 70 6c 65 0a 20 20 20 20 77 68 6f 20 64 69 65 64  ple.    who died
b2e0: 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 64 72   or otherwise dr
b2f0: 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  opped out of the
b300: 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 54 20   story in the T 
b310: 41 20 5a 20 72 61 69 64 20 28 77 68 65 72 65 0a  A Z raid (where.
b320: 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 68 65      Alley got he
b330: 72 20 61 72 6d 20 66 75 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 29  r arm fucked up)
b340: 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 63 72 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20   was a critical 
b350: 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 61 6d  part of the team
b360: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 73 0a 20  , and Alley is. 
b370: 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 76 61 69     the only avai
b380: 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 73 75 62 73 74 69 74 75 74 65  lable substitute
b390: 2e 20 20 44 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 6e 6f  .  Doing this no
b3a0: 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 68 65  t only places he
b3b0: 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 6a 65  r life in.    je
b3c0: 6f 70 61 72 64 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 72 20  opardy, but her 
b3d0: 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20  freedom even if 
b3e0: 73 68 65 20 6c 69 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c  she lives...* Al
b3f0: 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 63 61 70  ley must get cap
b400: 74 75 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61  tured in the sha
b410: 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  dowrun...* Alley
b420: 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 74 69 70 70 65 64 20   must be tipped 
b430: 6f 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b  over to the dark
b440: 20 73 69 64 65 20 61 20 74 6f 75 63 68 2e 0a 0a   side a touch...
b450: 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74  * Alley must get
b460: 20 72 65 73 63 75 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69   rescued, and ti
b470: 70 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69  p back to the li
b480: 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75  ght...* Alley mu
b490: 73 74 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 6d  st be an instrum
b4a0: 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 66 61 63 74 6f 72 20 69 6e 20  ental factor in 
b4b0: 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 72 65 73 63 75 65 27 73  her own rescue's
b4c0: 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c   success...* All
b4d0: 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 63 79 62  ey must be a cyb
b4e0: 6f 72 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2e 0a  org at the end..
b4f0: 0a 23 23 23 20 41 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 0a 0a  .### Additions..
b500: 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68  * Alley should h
b510: 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 69 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74  ave a gig that t
b520: 61 6b 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 4c 6f  akes her into Lo
b530: 73 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20  s Angeles where 
b540: 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 65 6e 63 6f  she would.  enco
b550: 75 6e 74 65 72 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 61 64 65 73  unter barricades
b560: 2c 20 75 72 62 61 6e 20 73 74 72 69 66 65 2c 20  , urban strife, 
b570: 65 74 20 63 65 74 65 72 61 2e 20 20 4f 6f 68 20  et cetera.  Ooh 
b580: 2d 2d 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65  -- this could be
b590: 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 0a 20 20 73 68 65 27 73   the day.  she's
b5a0: 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77   out and about w
b5b0: 68 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 73 74 61 72  hen her car star
b5c0: 74 73 20 64 79 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65  ts dying and she
b5d0: 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74   ends up going t
b5e0: 6f 20 61 6e 0a 20 20 61 75 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 70  o an.  auto shop
b5f0: 21 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  !  Yeah, I think
b600: 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d   that's what I'm
b610: 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74   going to do wit
b620: 68 20 74 68 69 73 2e 0a                          h this..