"Access Denied" - Reboot.exe - S1 Chapter 13.

## Access Denied

Jenn

"Access Denied" is the thirteenth chapter of season 1 of Reboot.exe. It was released on 20 March 2021 and is narrated by Dave.

## Synopsis

Outside of character - Dave confirms that the reason that the circle may be involved with Reboot, because the Gen 1 version of Reboot, where there is an implant installed in your head that will wake you up in a different body after you die was either sold, given away, or stolen - and in turn, gangers now have their hands it, as well as large criminal organizations, such as the circle. Gangers now have an easy way out in another body that isn't cloned, but instead, stolen.

The afternoon of the meeting, Seb gets a notification on his glasses that gives him an address in the city to head to in the early afternoon, requesting him to bring his friends. Seb also receives some base level information on what was requested from Raggs, nothing hard or incredibly incriminating. Raggs then later calls him, particularly asking him to gather information at this meeting. When Seb states that he won't be working against his family, Raggs agrees, and confirms that he wants them to work against the other family, the Clements, in regards to Reboot. Saying that he knows that the Clements are working against the Allens anyway. He states that there will be someone at the Palace Pub waiting there to give Seb something.

As Seb walks into the Pub, he sees a female bespoke that instantly walks up and heads to a bathroom upon seeing Seb. While Even and Pr0 are going through the security checkpoint to start getting into the city, Seb walks up, opens the small package and sees a string of very small computing chips that he assumes are either listening or hacking devices with a note that states "It think the common folk should have a seat at the table too."

Approaching the city, a large city security drone stands, covered in graffiti. It instantly spots Pr0 and stares at him. Pr0 loudly announces to Eve and anyone else listening that he will see her later. He then quickly calls Eve, telling her that he's going to need to find another way in. He scurries to an alley to check on his hacking devices, fake ID, and other supplies to make sure things are in check. Due to his paranoid, and imperceptive state, he doesn't notice the large piece of pipe swinging down from behind him, hitting his head, and the back of his shoulder, taking a serious injury as the back of his head is split open. He doesn't fall unconscious - but completely unable to react to anything as all of his things are stolen, including his fake ID.

Pr0 gathers what he can of himself, and begins to limp and crawl his way towards Ugly's. Seb and Eve both see the figure of a person trying to run in the slums, Seb recognizing that it is Pr0. After trying to leave the city - the drone stops him from going out as there has been violence near by. Seb persuades the robot to let Eve go out and check on him. Seb sends a text to Pr0's phone, saying that he's hit an associate of Ugly's, and the consequences will be dire. The number responds with "We have his stuff. Meet us at {this location} to get it back within the half hour."

Pr0 arrives to Ugly's; crying and begging for assistance. Xiang meets him at the door, and in an effort to console him, signs "Alive," pointing a finger into his chest. She takes him into the backrooms where they meet Ugly, who is fresh out of a steam room, looking calm and casual. Pr0 again asks for his help, explaining that he knows they didn't leave off in the right place last time, but he will work on it if he gets help. Ugly cuts him off, strides up to him, picking him up bridal style, and immediately carries him into another room, where he and Xiang begin working on suturing his head.

Ugly shushes Pr0's worries by explaining that the people in the slums need to stick together and treat each other like family, but that he sees that Pr0 has chosen a different family out here. Pr0 starts explaining that he has begun to see Ugly's side of things more, and that he does want to continue working with him. Ugly is ultimately happy that Pr0 came to them first, but explains that it may not be that way next time.

Pr0 asks for another favor of Ugly, assuring him this time that he will be able to do what it takes in order to repay it - although it will be dependent on the people he has to kill. Ugly agrees to the proposition. He has a solution for him, but it won't be without pain and will be incredibly uncomfortable. Xiang holds down his arm, and injects him with a needle full of painkillers. Growing woozier, Ugly and Xiang both pick him up, bring him to another back room that is unfamiliar to Pr0, an underground warehouse that is guarded by four of five armed guards. Xiang and Ugly, somewhat gently throw, him into a very tight, cold steel box that is lined with foam that then the lid is drilled shut on top of him before he is lifted, and loaded up and onto a vehicle.

Eve's phone rings. Ugly explains Pro's currant situation to him, saying that he'll arrive shortly, but that they'll need a drill. Ugly then rings Seb to berate him over how Pr0 is not in a good place while around Seb, saying "at least he knew where to come when he actually needed help," but then also explains that Pr0 will be dropped off in a specific location. Seb has Conrado to gather a group to meet and grab Pr0's stolen items so he can go and rescue Pr0.

Seb and Eve go to the scheduled address to pick up Pr0, undrilled the lid of the box, and pull him out of the canal who is dressed up in Ugly's oversized clothes. They begin making their way to the meeting point - where Pr0 is picked up by the incredibly intense detection of Oscar's security cameras and the police have been automatically notified. Oscar rushes in, stating that there is a solution to this problem, but no one is going to like it. Pr0 would have to be marked as human property of Oscar's. Pr0 agrees and is injected with a tracking implant that labels him now a volunteer organ donor for Reboot corp.

- YHTris

## TL;DR

* Seb gets a call on his glasses early in the afternoon, the day of the diner meeting from Raggs, saying that there is something waiting for him at The Palace Pub.
* Seb, Pr0 and Eve all walk to the boarder of the city and the slums, Seb making a detour to the Palace Pub, where he sees a bespoke with bright hair that immediately walks away when noticing him. Seb opens a small package to see a string of listening devices with a note stating "I think the common folk should have a seat at the table too."
* At the boarder into the city, Pr0 becomes paranoid that the security check will go wrong, so he tells Eve to go ahead of him, while he scurries into a back alley to check if his fake ID is still working. In this state of panic, an unseen assailant whacks him in the back of the head and shoulders with a pipe, causing a serious injury before gathering all of his supplies, and taking off with it.
* Pr0 decides to run to Ugly's in search of medical assistance. Seb and Eve both notice that this, Seb seeing specifically that its Pr0.
* Seb calls Conrado, asking him to gather a group of strong arms, close the kitchen for the night, and go to grab the bag of Pr0's stolen things after getting in contact with the person that stole them.
* Ugly and Xiang suture Pr0's head, and make the promise that they will get him to his meeting, so long as Pr0 is willing to do whatever it takes to return the favor. He agrees, and then is heavily drugged, shoved in a steel box, and then dropped in a canal for Seb and Eve to gather.
* Pr0's fake ID is still missing, but due to his proficiencies in going undetected, the only security camera that picks him up is the one right outside of Oscar's building.
* Oscar offers a solution to keep Pr0 in the city, and to not be taken away from police that are already on their way. It involves making Pr0 the companies property VIA a chip implanted in his bone. He agrees.
* Pr0 gets the simple keyhole procedure, and is now labeled a "volunteer organ donor" of Oscar's business.

-YHT