From: friedman@news.cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark  Friedman, Crimson)
Subject: Three of a Perfect Pair [part 03/21]
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 15:07:50 GMT

	As Klone Crimson walked from the "back room" he could hear
Mrs.  Travis comment, "Such a shame to see young folk throw away their
lives like that."  He knew that she intended for him to hear it, but
he wasn't biting.  Stepping out of the room he commented (equally as
audibly), "What do you know about it, bitch?"

	When he came back into the main of Penumbra he reached into
his jacket pocket and pulled out his Whisper2000000.  Freddy jacked
the output into his personal audio system and put in the earphones:

	[travis] <...I don't actually want anyone killed, but I need
him roughed up a bit.  Since he lives in an arcology in Bellevue, the
extra muscle may be needed. I trust that you vatjobs all have brains,
too...>

	He chuckled at the thought.  "Yeah right..."  But he did also
recognize that they all seemed to have *instinct*, which seemed to be
more important in this line of work.  Freddy listened for more:

	[travis] <...about 1.5 million nuyen over the past 3 years and
has it stashed away somewhere.  I would be willing to give you, say
20% of the money if you could get it to me...>

	Quick math (no chip neccessary): "1.5x10^6 availiable.
Multiply by .20 = 3x10^5.  Divide by, um, 7 runners?  That's about
42500 newones.  Not really that great."  Freddy's salary at
Maas-Neotek had dwarfed that figure.  But the music biz hardly paid
this much...

	[mortis] <...well, it's not my specialty, but I can deck if
that drunk out there can't, but riggin' is expensive, so it'll have to
be 30%...>

	"Bwahahaha!!!" Freddy laughed out loud.  "You little shit, in
*high school* I programmed tougher ICE than *you* could *ever* crack!
I swear, someone figures out how to use a spreadsheet and they tell
you they can *deck*.  Cryminee...".  He'd have to throttle the dwarf
if the point was brought up again.

	[rael] <...I'll go if we can get Klone Crimson to do the
decking...>

	"Man, the elf has some sense.  I'm think I'm gonna like that
guy."  The Whisper2000000 emitted some static.  He cringed, wondering
if it was the unit itself, or the piezo/transmitter he left behind in
the "back room".  If it was the mic, he couldn't do anything about it.
He checked the betteries in the W2x10^6.  "Shit."  Low.  He pulled a
few spares out of his overcoat, replaced them, and tried to catch up
with the conversation:

	[travis] <...teach her a lesson, too. I don't care what you do
to her, or with her for that matter, but mess her up really bad, so
noone'll even want to take a look at her again...>

	"Yikes!  She'll be sweat-meat to some of the muscle in there.
I hope Mz. Travis doesn't have a conscience: she might not be able to
live with it later..."

	[travis] <...don't kill her, though...yet.  And because I
don't want to be implicated, make it look like a jealous gang
boyfriend did it.  I'm sure you can do enough damage and vandalism to
make it look like it was a street gang...>

	"Cryminee, *one* of those razor-guys could accomplish that,
hands down.  This really doesn't sound like the job for me, though..."

	[x] <...embezeling isn't so rare these days.  I've seen more
than money change hands in the past.  Of course, I would be offended
if someone was stealing from me also...>

	Two hands grabbed Freddy's shoulders from behind.  He spun
around ready for action, but...  "Cryminee, Kelly!  Don't do that!"
She laughed at his startled expression.  She knew he was jumpy most of
the time and loved to give him an occasional scare.

	"No luck in the back room, Freddy?  I saw you listening on the
weasel-phone..."  Her eyes were sincere and concerned.  Those eyes.
Freddy loved those eyes.

	"Well, those screwdrivers almost did me in, but I think they
want me.  Only one other guy back there can run the Matrix, but he
probably got his deck from FisherPrice!"  They both laughed.

	He listened to the W2x10^6 again, but it was dead.  "Someone
probably geeked the bug", he told her.  Freddy shrugged, "Oh well,
it's waiting time.  Can you set me up with some coffee?"

	"Sure Freddy, if it's not too *strong* a drink for you."  She
winked and he smiled back.

	"Thanks babe.  I'm glad you still put up with me."  He looked
at his shoes, ashamed of his past attitude towards Kelly.  If he had
it to do over again...

	"You know, I'm glad I still do, too..."  She took his hand and
held it for a moment.  Then she walked away to get the coffee...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Everything presented   here is Copyright by  Mark  Friedman  1991, all
rights reserved.  Well, that's  not entirely true!   Basic  story plot
and Matrix help was by Jerry Weiler, but he won't mind: I'm giving him
all the profits from the venture. Let's see, what's 100% of $0.00? :-)

Any questions, comments, requests, criticisms, and Chapman Sticks will
be accepted and appreciated at the address in the sig.

					- Mark "Crimson" Friedman

Mark "Klone Crimson" Friedman is friedman@cis.ohio-state.edu .................
"There is nothing former   "Beat poets,    "If you put a hungry ferret in your
 about King Crimson."       not children."  trousers, he'll run around..."
 - Robert Fripp, 5/11/90    - anonymous     - Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap)