"Assistance Required" - Reboot.exe - S1 Chapter 17.

## Assistance Required

Jenn

"Assistance Required" is the seventeenth chapter of season 1 of Reboot.exe. It was released on 17 April 2021 and is narrated by Dave.

## Episode Synopsis

Ugly swiftly wipes Seb's spit back on this own jacket before going back out into the main room and calling everyone together to discuss the plans moving forward, stating that Seb finally offered her something he wants - but he lies stating that Seb is going to offer him cheaper access to fusion. Ugly then reminds Eve that she said he would give him a tattoo, and underhand tosses the gun to her.

Seb walks up to Incongruent, asking if he would be willing to teach him how to use some weapons. After some snide remarks after saying what kind of weapon would suit Seb, Incongruent flatly says that he wouldn't trust Seb with a weapon that would turn on Ugly or himself. Because he doesn't trust, or even like Seb, he won't be offering any sort of training, and Seb returns back to the group.

Ugly returns and asks them again what their plan is - and to not speak so broadly as to "take down the circle" as it is far beyond their scope and capabilities. He instead suggests that they start dismantling the Australian operation and keep it from coming back. After Pr0 explains that what he is after isn't in Australia, Ugly sits him down, and tells him that he is going to need to explain his wants for going back to the circle in a crystal clear way, as people who get out of that situation, never go back.

Pr0 produces a tattered piece of paper that its his pocket with notes, things crossed out and scratches on it. It has been him working through his memories. At the top of the paper is the name Riley and underneath there are scattered bits of missing and possibly inaccurate information that he slides across the table to Ugly, stating that Riley is his first priority, stating that he won't be able to get to them if he can't get to her. Ugly says that she's the first priority, but that they may be getting her back just to bury her. Pr0 states that Riley was used basically as collateral for him, which throws a wrench in Ugly's plans of just originally buying her back. Pr0 thinks that he's going to have to trade himself completely for her, but Ugly refuses to let that happen.

Ugly begins to explain that The Busy gang are the ones in control of the Venn, and their connections to the clubs and the strips are everything in the slums. The crew and Ugly begin to devise a plan to get the circle member's attention, suggesting that someone be used as "bait." Ugly flat out says that he can't risk himself for this. He can give someone to assist, but it can't be him personally. The equipment has been taken care of due to Oscar and Nyla's money, but the weapons training is something they are still asking for Ugly's help on. He agrees to take them out to the shooting range sometime. They talk logistics for a while longer, before dismissing themselves. Before they leave, Incongruent is standing at the exit with a duffel bag that contains a few outfits, the top being a leather jacket. Incongruent says that it has incredibly concussive resistances as it is made from tanned human hide. There is a blue tank top, black skinny jeans, a pair of sunglasses, and an incredibly lame, plastic Vespa helmet.

Four days pass in the build up to the meeting, and they are able to get Pr0 an earlier appointment with the cybernetics doctor. In the days leading up to that, Pr0 will be training as hard as possible, while also learning how to recover and take care of himself that way. Seb will also be trained during this time by both Xiang and Conrado. Eve restocks up on her basic supplies, but nothing that will enhance her currant supplies. In this time, Pr0 better learned how to do hand to hand combat, as did Seb.

Another night comes, and Eve's computer starts to beep and beep nonstop. She answers it and its Uriel once again asking her to disclose more information about her personal feelings, which she denies at first. Uriel takes it a step forward and asks if someone were to push a baby in front of a car, while someone else pushes the two parents in front of the car, only having the ability to save one, which would it be? Eve chooses the child by the logic that they are innocent and still young. He adds more and more adults into this problem, but Eve still chooses the baby. He then finishes with the same scenario, but a 10 year old instead of the parents, as well as the baby. Eve still chooses the child. He then hangs up, saying he has a lot to consider and write down.

The night of the appointment arrives. The name of the doctor being Dr. Rikor. Seb and Pr0 arrive at an incredibly sterile looking place, white walls, white desks with a fake plant in the corner. The doctor asks what he is looking for, but after getting a non-specific answer from Pr0, he turns to Seb, who then says high-tech onboard computing - which will be replaced by a new eye, which cannot be stolen unless someone has a melon ball scooper. This does come with the risk of being hacked, which leads directly to his brain. They discuss a few more options before fully settling on the ocular bionics with onboard computing, which will bring his fusion dependency up to once every three days, pushing sooner. The book the appointment for the next morning.

Before Seb and Pr0 return back to the kitchen, there is a knock at the soup kitchen door, after hours. Xiang is at the door, who then is promptly let in. Xiang asks Eve for her assistance, claiming that the case is life or death. Eve agrees, and goes straight away leading her back to Ugly's motors. She walks in to two young men lying on benches, one with two bullet wounds to the torso, and the other with a significant gash. Ugly is there applying pressure to the bullet wounds. Eve rushes to the gunshot victim and begins her work, and stabilizes him. They were injured on Bomber gang turf that hate the people with the cybernetics. Ugly has a gunshot wound that is quickly healing. Ugly offers her to stay at the bar as its so late in the night.

Eve goes up to knock on Xiang's door, who answers her clad in baby blue animal pajamas, and her motorcycle helmet. Xiang invites her in after hearing their situation. As Eve washes up in her bathroom, Xiang slides her helmet off, and crawls back into bed. Eve finds a charging port, and a bench that been cleared off for someone much larger having sat here and charged in the past.

-YHTris

## TL;DR

* Ugly returns to the bar, and gathers everyone around to discuss what he and Seb were talking about, and that they need to devise a plan
* After some deliberation, they settle on that they need to either kidnap, or willingly bring the two members of the Circle that will be at the glass slipper somewhere, where they can then gain access to their memory storages. They need them alive so that nothing is damaged.
* After questioning, Pr0 reveals that Riley is his top priority, and will lead to all of the other people on his list that he wants to do right by.
* Seb and Ugly work out the details on who will be providing what for this expedition and then begin to head out, but not before Incongruent gives Eve a duffle bag filled with more protective clothing.
* The days leading up to Pr0's cybernetic surgery consultation, Pr0 and Seb are training, and are getting better with hand to hand combat.
* Eve gets another call from Uriel, asking her to answer a series of "trolley problems" involving a baby, and older people. Eve always picks the baby
* Pr0 and Seb go to Dr. Rikor's office, and discuss the upgrades he wants to get, and they end on ocular bionics with on board computing
* While Pr0 and Seb are at the office, Xiang knocks on the soup kitchen's door, asking for Eve's assistance, claiming that this is a life or death situation.
* Eve follows, and spends the majority of her night helping Ugly with two of his members that have been attacked by the Busy gang. One with two gunshot wounds, and one with a large laceration on his chest. She eventually stabilizes both of them, speaks with Ugly, and then decides to spend the night recharging and sleeping in Xiang's room.

-YHT