If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
This was the place she felt at home, felt at peace, felt whole. The fact that this place was not real in the physical sense made no difference in that feeling. The bike that she rode through the void was very similar to the one she owned except that it was darker than black, a black that could only exist in this world of bits and bytes.
Running with lights off she was just a blur against the backdrop of the constructed area she cut through. It was a community effort, these ?public? streets, with low lights and a flow that traffic could follow, giving structure to the nether. She had assisted with the latest upgrades, making the place more secure, giving more form and function to the avatars and wrote the code that allowed for avatars to make anonymous transfers of information.
Of course here she was not a she, but she?d built herself a lithe male form. The long blond hair was similar but longer, wide lavender eyes and slightly pointed ears. Puck was rarely seen without a small monkey-like familiar and she?d used a voice that was that of a teenage boy with a British style accent. The voice mod she had written herself, she just needed to watch the use of distinctly Southern idioms.
She pulled up in front of one of the lesser known gathering spots, The Wintermute, a tribute to Neuromancer. Riding the bike to the door before climbing off, the bike itself melting into the ground as she left it to go inside. The dismissal and retrieval of created objects in the void separated the good hackers from the amazing ones. She could call her bike back to her in a matter of seconds, for some it would take a minute or more.
Placing a hand against the door and waiting, gathering the statistics of which avatars were within and taking note of any that were not using programs to mute conversations, another good way to suss out those that probably hopped another person's account to get some face-time here or knew just enough to get in trouble.
The door was set to open after sensing an avatar closeby for more than ten seconds, it was set into the framework of the void and tampering with that code was a bannable offense. When it slid open she, or perhaps he as her avatar was male, stepped in.
There was only a few people in attendance, she hadn?t expected more than that, this place was off the beaten path and typically not frequented by those trying to get themselves seen. You might think in an underworld society that the void certainly was that people would want to be discreet, but egos grew large in the nether and the avatars reflected that quirk.
There was one avatar sitting by the bar construct that was dressed in the steampunk style that had grown so very popular over the last few years. Summer knew her, called herself Dr. Francine Von Frankenstein, and spoke with a thick slovakian accent. Dr. Frankenstein traveled the nether via dirigible, a small craft that trailed puffs of binary steam, it was interesting to say the least.
There were a few other there but she moved toward the man she had made the appointment with, he was in the corner and nearly swallowed by the shadows. She?d known him for nearly two years now and she had no more idea of what he looked like, not even his avatar than the first night they had met.
Sliding into the booth across from him, doffing an imaginary hat in his direction. ?Slider, I do hope this evening finds you well and entertaining only the most joyous of thoughts.? It was always a little disconcerting to hear the deeper voice coming from her but there was none of that on her face, the impish features dimpling with a grin.
?Puck, you know I hate the frivolity. We both know you can be serious.? Sliders voice was deep, and reminded Summer of the earth, as rich and vibrant as the soil back home.
?Someday you will appreciate the feel of the words and will be glad that I persist in raining them down upon you. I have faith.? Now setting both elbows on the table and cupping her hands to form a canopy to rest her chin upon. ?Now, do you have treats for me tonight or must I go on a trick rampage??
?Much as I love your trick rampages.? This was said with sincerity, Puck had earned the name on more than one occasion. ?I have the information you requested.?
The two talked for a half hour, both hackers having set up programs to prevent others from listening in and also sniffers to detect if someone was trying. When she left she was satisfied that the conversation had been private and she had a good lead on finding the mystery person that had been asking after her alter ego.
Something twisted in her again... perhaps Slider would get a bit of a show tonight after all. Yes, by the time she was on her bike she had decided a few tricks would be just the antidote for her sullen mood. The void was lively the rest of the night as people attempted to contain the outbreak created by a few subroutines inserted into the night life.
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
This was the place she felt at home, felt at peace, felt whole. The fact that this place was not real in the physical sense made no difference in that feeling. The bike that she rode through the void was very similar to the one she owned except that it was darker than black, a black that could only exist in this world of bits and bytes.
Running with lights off she was just a blur against the backdrop of the constructed area she cut through. It was a community effort, these ?public? streets, with low lights and a flow that traffic could follow, giving structure to the nether. She had assisted with the latest upgrades, making the place more secure, giving more form and function to the avatars and wrote the code that allowed for avatars to make anonymous transfers of information.
Of course here she was not a she, but she?d built herself a lithe male form. The long blond hair was similar but longer, wide lavender eyes and slightly pointed ears. Puck was rarely seen without a small monkey-like familiar and she?d used a voice that was that of a teenage boy with a British style accent. The voice mod she had written herself, she just needed to watch the use of distinctly Southern idioms.
She pulled up in front of one of the lesser known gathering spots, The Wintermute, a tribute to Neuromancer. Riding the bike to the door before climbing off, the bike itself melting into the ground as she left it to go inside. The dismissal and retrieval of created objects in the void separated the good hackers from the amazing ones. She could call her bike back to her in a matter of seconds, for some it would take a minute or more.
Placing a hand against the door and waiting, gathering the statistics of which avatars were within and taking note of any that were not using programs to mute conversations, another good way to suss out those that probably hopped another person's account to get some face-time here or knew just enough to get in trouble.
The door was set to open after sensing an avatar closeby for more than ten seconds, it was set into the framework of the void and tampering with that code was a bannable offense. When it slid open she, or perhaps he as her avatar was male, stepped in.
There was only a few people in attendance, she hadn?t expected more than that, this place was off the beaten path and typically not frequented by those trying to get themselves seen. You might think in an underworld society that the void certainly was that people would want to be discreet, but egos grew large in the nether and the avatars reflected that quirk.
There was one avatar sitting by the bar construct that was dressed in the steampunk style that had grown so very popular over the last few years. Summer knew her, called herself Dr. Francine Von Frankenstein, and spoke with a thick slovakian accent. Dr. Frankenstein traveled the nether via dirigible, a small craft that trailed puffs of binary steam, it was interesting to say the least.
There were a few other there but she moved toward the man she had made the appointment with, he was in the corner and nearly swallowed by the shadows. She?d known him for nearly two years now and she had no more idea of what he looked like, not even his avatar than the first night they had met.
Sliding into the booth across from him, doffing an imaginary hat in his direction. ?Slider, I do hope this evening finds you well and entertaining only the most joyous of thoughts.? It was always a little disconcerting to hear the deeper voice coming from her but there was none of that on her face, the impish features dimpling with a grin.
?Puck, you know I hate the frivolity. We both know you can be serious.? Sliders voice was deep, and reminded Summer of the earth, as rich and vibrant as the soil back home.
?Someday you will appreciate the feel of the words and will be glad that I persist in raining them down upon you. I have faith.? Now setting both elbows on the table and cupping her hands to form a canopy to rest her chin upon. ?Now, do you have treats for me tonight or must I go on a trick rampage??
?Much as I love your trick rampages.? This was said with sincerity, Puck had earned the name on more than one occasion. ?I have the information you requested.?
The two talked for a half hour, both hackers having set up programs to prevent others from listening in and also sniffers to detect if someone was trying. When she left she was satisfied that the conversation had been private and she had a good lead on finding the mystery person that had been asking after her alter ego.
Something twisted in her again... perhaps Slider would get a bit of a show tonight after all. Yes, by the time she was on her bike she had decided a few tricks would be just the antidote for her sullen mood. The void was lively the rest of the night as people attempted to contain the outbreak created by a few subroutines inserted into the night life.