"Skin in the Game" - Reboot.exe - S1 Chapter 12.

## Skin in the Game

Jenn

"Skin in the Game" is the twelfth chapter of season 1 of Reboot.exe. It was released on 14 March 2021 and is narrated by Dave.

## Synopsis

The days passing waiting for the meeting to take place has been filled with increasing gang turf war activities, nights being punctuated with more gun shots, and even explosions. The soup kitchen is reaching capacity very quickly, but there has also been more volunteers helping with the serving and servicing of the kitchen, the robot being the main chef.

The morning before the meeting, Eve heads to Ugly's Motors in search of Incongruent. There is a new teenage lookout in Songbird's place, and a few boosters with unconcealed weapons guarding the door. Eve approached the new bartender, Jacob, and asks where both Ugly and Incongruent. Jacob calls for Incongruent, who is missing am arm.

Eve asks him if he would want more information on the AI and other information from the following meeting. Incongruent states that if she finds this is a good idea, that she should go forward with it. He then prods and asks her when she became human. Eve explains in low detail that she had to make a choice in a difficult situation, and that is what started everything. Incongruent continues to prod and understand what the choice was. Eve states that she will share it one day with him, but not today.

As she is about to leave, Incongruent wonders if she will pick her own name, as Eve models are mass produced. She considers, but does not give an answer at the moment.

Pr0 walks up to Seb, and starts inquiring about the meeting. He wants to come, but Seb needs some convincing. After stating that he is tired of running from potential answers, just because they may be difficult to deal with and that there is benefit to having a slummer at the table as a representative. Seb admits that he's not worried about Pr0, rather how his parents. His parents are essentially a dead end to Maya, and the circle, despite their efforts to find them.

Eve asks Seb if she can accompany these meeting as well, asking if he trusts her enough to join. He responds by saying that he doesn't really know her, nor does she know herself. Eve begins to explain that this meeting will be pivotal moment in understanding more about herself and other that are like her.

As they are discussing, Seb looks through his glasses at a shared family calendar, and sees that the meeting location has changed to an address that he does not currently have access to. He calls his dad and asks if the invite has been extended. Oscar replies "We wanted our son there, and we're not sure we've still got him." Oscar explains that Seb simply cant see why he has been behaving the way he was, and its because of genuine concern for his mental well being, from never seeing help after losing Maya. Oscar asks him why he even wants to attend this meeting. Seb explains that he doesn't himself, but wants to for him, and Peter (Pr0's real name.) Oscar asks him to hand the glasses to Pr0, who answers.

Oscar directs that if Pr0 is able to meet Oscar alone in the city, no one around, no weapons, and causing no trouble to have a conversation with him, that he will be able to join Seb at the dinner table. Pr0 hands the glasses back, and heads out immediately.

Pr0 meets Oscar in the backroom, and begins to describe why he has become a part of Seb's life as Pr0 has never had the ability to make his own choices before, and Seb has been showing him how to do such things. Oscar and Pr0 both discuss that neither of them dislike one another, but are just shocked by how different their worlds are. Oscar then asks Pr0 if he believes that Seb is simply using him.

Oscar has a photo of Pr0 with his mother - who he says is still alive. He states that he doesn't really want to see her or the photograph even. Oscar takes a picture of Pr0's uncovered face, and states that his mother wants to meet with him. Oscar then pulls out another picture that has a woman Pr0 recognizes to be Maya. His last target, the mission he escaped from, and the last person he wronged. Oscar explains that this is how Seb found Pr0, was the connection to the circle, and Pr0's last interaction with them.

Oscar demands that he goes out and find Maya for Seb. Pr0 immediately agrees and promises that he will do whatever it takes to find her for him. Oscar agrees that Seb was right about him. Oscar hands him a business card that has one of the finest human integration surgeons in the city on it, states that the expenses will be billed to his account, and then walks out of the room.

After gathering himself slightly after bursting into tears, he brings up the surgeon's business card, and the fact that they're invited to the meeting. Seb doesn't prod to get more information.

The next day, Seb gets a call from a random number, the name introducing himself as Raggs - a political candidate, who brings the promise of bringing the slums up, although it will involve some pain - with strict population control. Raggs asks Seb if he can meet at a bar in the gentrified district border of the slums, called "The Palace Pub." Seb asks Conrado if he knows anyone who is available to assist him with protection. Conrado suggests a man named Alron, who "thinks scientology is cool."

Arriving at the bar, a gruff, rude, smoking bouncer greets them at the door, and asks for Seb's ID. After being granted access, Seb walks upstairs and finds an out of place looking man, leaning up against a plant. Seb sits, and gestures for the bartender to bring some of the strongest drinks they have available. Raggs reveals that he is wanting to get in contact with Seb due to his connections with his parents and their connection to Reboot. Raggs then goes on a rant about how Reboot is stupid, as it is being directed towards the slums, knowing that they will never be able to afford it, but they will become complacent voters - bringing false hope into these people will eventually get this chance. Raggs wants him to help him to change the slums by investigating internal issues that are happening both with the bespoke creation and in Reboot about stolen technology, and people trafficking - stating that the cheapest way to get a body is not to clone them, but is to steal one.

Seb tells Raggs to send him all of the information he has, and then he will be on his way - not confirming nor denying to help at this point.

-YHTris

## TL;DR

* increasing gang activity is happening in the slums in the days leading up to the very important meeting
* Eve heads to Ugly's Motors to ask Incongruent if he is interested in learning more about the AI that will be discussed at the meeting. He agrees
* Incongruent asks Eve to consider re-naming herself, as the Eve model is mass produced, and she is unique.
* Pr0 asks Seb if he can join the meeting, only for Seb to discover that the meeting has been moved to an undisclosed location. After a call to Oscar, he agrees that Pr0 can attend the meeting, only if he agrees to meet with Oscar before hand, and have a talk.
* During this conversation, it is revealed that Pr0's last mission in the circle, the mission he escaped on, involved Maya and her disappearance. Oscar also reveals that Pr0's mother is still alive, and is wanting to meet with him. Oscar sends a picture of Pr0's uncovered face to her.
* Pr0 agrees that he will do whatever it takes to get Maya back - including going to one of the finest human integration surgeons in the city
* Seb get a call the next day from a politician named Raggs, asking for them to meet at a bar in the slums later that day, in request of Seb assisting his campaign.
* During this meeting, Raggs says that he needs Seb's help to investigate internal issues that are happening both with the bespoke creation and in Reboot about stolen technology, and people trafficking - stating that the cheapest way to get a body is not to clone them, but is to steal one.

-YHT