PMC1 - Hex and Maxwell

[just_hex]

It was after midnight and outside there was a miserable rain, too hot to be refreshing. Hex sat inside the People's Med Center 1, a free clinic for folks without credits, or perhaps some legal reason they couldn't go to the actual Hospital, and once in a while a genuine emergency. Tonight he'd seen a woman who's baby had a bad cough and a man whose implant had gotten infected. It was black market, of course.

Hex had helped them both, then settled into his chair behind the desk to wait and watch the old CRT TV hooked to an ancient VCR. The phone was a corded landline. Even the computer they kept records on was a dinosaur.

The Center was set up that wa in purpose. Most people, the ones that knew it existed at all, assumed they lacked funding. The funding wasn't the issue. Security was the issue.

They'd been thrilled to have Hex come aboard. The field medic knew how to do most anything with the lowest tech possible. And he liked doing it. Helping people without options was something he could do in a world where he saw so much wrong in the system.

Comments

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

For the most part Max fixed himself up when he could. After all, a man with no records couldn't just waltz into A&E, not unless he wanted to leave in cuffs. Whatever bug he'd picked up last night was a nasty one though, and while he'd run several virus checks and even done a trash and reboot, he couldn't seem to shake whatever was in his system. Whatever this was, it was rooted in deep.

He considered a full purge, replacing every port, drive, ram, etc until he was basically a new man- But that would take time. It had to be a last resort.

Instead he found himself walking into the med center, skin flushed and vision glitching.

[just_hex]

Hex looked up and flashed a smile.

"Oi, mate," he said cheerfully. "What's the trouble?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Virus. I need a deep scan and removal. ...I can pay," Max added, watching the man a beat, then looking away. "I'll pay extra if we keep it off the books."

His vizion glitched again, the implant briefly turning black. Though it was obvious whatever had happened to the man was more than a virus. There was a bruise on his jaw and marks all the way up his left arm, signs of a fight or a struggle.

[just_hex]

Hex nodded and buzzed him through the security door since he was walking on his own.

"Leave any weapons in the drawer. When you close it, it locks. They'll be secure, I promise. I'll meet you in here."

He vanished from behind the window and a few moments later there was the sound of a heavy mechanical lock turning. Hex opened the blast door and waited for the man.

"You can call me Hex," he said. "The only thing I ask is you be honest about what's going on so we can fix it. Nothing's being written down, there's no cameras. It's alright."

With that assurance, Hex led him to an exam room straight out of the last millenia. The exam table, the lights, even the bulky computers that were rigged together for more processing power were all antique.

"Have a seat, mate. I'm here to help."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max didn't have any weapons, not really, just a tiny pocket knife that he put away as he'd been asked.

Following Hex into the room he took it all in, the outdated technology making him slightly uneasy.

"Max," he said quietly as he took a seat. "My name, I mean. I'm Max."

[just_hex]

"It's good to meet you, Max," Hex said, sitting on an old rolling chrome stool.

"So...what happened?" he asked. "So I know where to begin."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Was at a club in old Camden. Jacked in and got something nasty," Max said, one hand trembling slightly as his nervous system struggled with the intrusion.

It was the truth, though he was leaving a few details out.

"Already used top shelf scanners, didn't work. Need medical grade."

His left eye went black again, and this time didn't return to its usual faux iris display.

"Systems are starting to shut down. I think I have less than an hour before it hits vitals, so while I appreciate your care and concern, I'd be thankful if we could start immediately."

Everything Max said was blunt and to the point, and he seemed to struggle with looking directly at Hex- Even before one eye gave out.

[just_hex]

Hex nodded and spun on the stool to open what looked like a cabinet, but unfolded to reveal a full wall of some exceptional tech.

"Lie back, mate. You're in good hands. Have a rest, hmm?" he said, calm as he got to work.

He asked only what questions he needed to before he had himself inside Max's systems.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

The virus wasn't modern like Max had thought, but instead old- Really old. So old some modern scans didn't look for it. It was nasty though, rooted in deep. It took two full sweeps to purge it. As he rebooted though, everything seemed to restore itself. His vision returned as the eye corrected itself, no longer black and demonic, but perfectly normal. Easily mistaken for a natural eye even.

Max blinked as his system went into safe mode for a moment, then relaxed as it booted up in full. He looked better, though he still had some nasty looking cuts and bruises.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

[just_hex]

"No worries, mate," Hex smiled.

"Now let's take care of the flesh wounds, yeah? How'd this happen? Not a virus here," he added, examining a bruise.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Fight. Same club," Max said, and that was also the truth. Though again, he was leaving important details out.

He was still for the most part, but flinched when Hex grazed a bruise near his elbow. It was darker than the others, angrier.

[just_hex]

"Two for one special today, hardware and software," he said cheerfully, gathering supplies to disinfect him and bandage everything up, neat and tidy.

And then he began to clean up and let Max put himself back together.

"I'm keeping the virus," he said. "That pays for all this. Alright?"

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max looked surprised, then unsure. After all, he knew the details of how he'd gotten the virus. It wasn't some random bug he'd picked up. He'd been infected. The club wasn't a lie, nor was jacking in or the fight. He just hadn't explained how it all fit together.

How he'd been confronted by his next target, pinned down, forcibly jacked in and infected.

"Why do you want it?" Max asked bluntly.

[just_hex]

"I like to collect old things. Oldest live bug I've gotten yet," he said. "I have a few classics on discs, too."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max held his gaze for a moment, as though deciding if he could believe him, and eventually he nodded.

"Alright," he agreed quietly, frowning as he wiped a small amount of blood away from his nose. No doubt a side effect of the full reboot.

[just_hex]

"That should clear up. Or I can cauterize it really quick..." he offered.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max shook his head, eyes a bit wide... A bit wild.

"No. ...I mean- No thank you," he said awkwardly. "It'll stop soon. ...I should go."

Though he wasn't sure yet where he was headed.

[just_hex]

"Have you got a place to go?" Hex asked with concern. "I've got resources if you need help."

He opened the door and took him to a wall of numbers and addresses. No websites. No emails.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Can't go there," Max said, shaking his head. It didn't matter he didn't know them or they were analog. The scariest people kept the furthest away from tech.

"It's a warm night. I'll find a spot."

[just_hex]

"It's a slow night. You can sleep in the lobby if it stays quiet enough," he offered. "I'm just watching telly."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max looked at the seats in the lobby, assessing them, wondering if he could truly rest there. Three hours was all he needed really, by then it would be early still, but not so much he couldn't start his day. A shower at the local gym, breakfast at the one cafe in town where surveillance was low... Yes, the lobby would be fine, he decided, nodding his head slightly.

"Thank you," he said, returning his gaze to Hex. Bright green eyes studied the man, as though analyzing every inch of him. Max was tall, just over six foot, his skin pale and features sharp. He was lean, and his hair dark, ear length, but never messy even when it hung like curtains around his face.

[just_hex]

Hex settled himself in his seat and went back to his tapes, waiting for the next patient.

There was no next patient.

At 5 am on the dot a person walked in with a box of donuts and a thermos of coffee. She took note of Max resting, then flashed a smile at Hex.

"Breakfast enough for three," she said.

The secure door chunked loudly and Hex let her in, then went to see if Max was ready to wake up.

"Oi, mate," he said softly to rouse him.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max was startled out of his sleep at the clunk of the door, and he looked nervous as he looked up at Hex.

"I'll go, I'm sorry," he said awkwardly.

[just_hex]

"You don't need to go. Sally brought breakfast. Come have a bite before you go, yeah?" Hex invited warmly.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max seemed unsure, but he hadn't eaten since... He couldn't recall, actually.

"Alright," he said softly, pausing a beat before adding a quiet, "Thanks."

He seemed on high alert as he followed Hex, as though expecting an attack at any moment.