"Lines Crossed" - Reboot.exe - S1 Chapter 6.

## Lines Crossed

Jenn

"Lines Crossed" is the sixth chapter of season 1 of Reboot.exe. It was released on 23rd January 2021 and is narrated by Dave.

## Synopsis

Eve, Seb and Pr0 make their way together to Ugly's bar after the rough night before. Greeted by Songbird, they descend lower, and are met with Vinod staring with hatred in his eyes. Seb steps forward, and begins to apologize. Vinod appreciates the apology for what it is, and in turn Vinod hands them
a small device that looks like a wifi receiver. He explains that its fake ID that isn't up to par for major scrutiny, but will allow you through the city, as it randomizes your identity based who is currently on surveillance, mapping the people around you and making you fit in - and the public security cameras will pick you up as a citizen

After exiting Ugly's bar, Seb's phone rings. A Scottish / Irish-adjacent man answers the phone by the name of Roary. He claims that Seb's property is ready, and waiting for him. Walking down the street towards the new property - they enter a gang territory that they are, at the time, unable to discern whom it belongs to.

A slummer woman approaches them, crawling along the ground, begging them to help her baby - pleading that the baby is starving. After desperate attempts to get them to listen and take her baby, Pr0 convinces Seb to simply keep walking - and that he can't change the world with one person. Eve on the other hand goes and find the emaciated baby sitting in the pile of wet cardboard. Having passed all of her perception and nursing checks, she can tell that the baby is within a few days of dying. She offers children's Panadol (Tylenol) for them, but eventually hands the baby back to their mother, and simply states that she cannot provide the care that a mother should be able to. The mother weeps in self loathing as the group continues on to the building.

Rounding the corner - they come across Roary standing in front of a large, slightly dilapidated building that looks marginally better than the ones in its surroundings. Unbroken windows with sturdy iron bar around them. Roary and Seb discuss the plans for this building - surprising Pr0 that this was indeed going to be a soup kitchen. Inside, Eve spots an incredibly large robot that has been half unpacked donning a chef's hat, a spatula attachment on his other hand. No food as arrived and very little mobile equipment is here.

After asking Roary about the gang tags which are in the shape of metal cogs - he states that its a new gang that's been moving in and targeting boosters, drones, and anyone with perceivable metal on them.

After closing up the kitchen, the group starts making their way towards the city. After an uneventful trip, they arrive at a strip mall. After a bit of people watching and observing how the wage slaves of the city amble about on their day, Seb and Pr0 enter to get Pr0 nicer, more incognito clothes. They then enter the city with relative ease, and incredible anxiety. Pr0's realization that the people in the city have created an entirely different planet, crawling with hateful and fear inducing messages about the slums and the people inside them. Eve checks on Pr0's elevated heart rate and obvious distress. Pr0 spits his distaste for the city and the people who have made it this way.

After regaining most of his composure - the crew finds transportation, and travels down to Ningyou showroom. Upon entering, a familiar face greets them, as another Eve drone meets them at the door, asking if they need assistance.

-YHTris

## TL;DR

* The gang re-enters Ugly's bar. They are greeted by Songbird and a disgruntled Vinod - whom Seb apologizes to. He then gives them fake IDs that will grant them access to the city
* After exiting the bar - Seb's phone rings. It's Roary, claiming that his property is ready
* As the group walks down the slums toward the building, they are stopped by an emaciated slummer woman, begging for them to take her starving baby who is days away from death. They refuse, and continue walking toward the building, spotting gang signs tagged around town.
* Roary greets them with the keys to Seb's new soup kitchen. They all step in and see a large, half unpacked kitchen robot ready to assist.
* After closing the shop, they decide to get Pr0 into more incognito clothes so that he will fit in more to the city
* Upon entering the city, Pr0 sees how the city citizens have been completely separated and blind to the slums. Having a physical barrier separating the two places, with a mirage displacing the world behind it.
* Eve helps Pr0 gather himself, and they continue on in an automated taxi down to Ningyou corporation. Upon entering, they are greeted with another Eve drone.

-YHT