Inbox: Mask or Menace

[megabytes]

"You've reached the comms device of Megaman.EXE. I'm not available at the moment, so please leave a message and I will respond as soon as I am able! Thank you!"

Comments

[megabytes]

Your ID string? I don't know. Do you have one?

[microbrobotics]

Shouldn't I? Do operators usually have them?

[megabytes]

No. Why would they?

[microbrobotics]

They access data and stuff. They've gotta at least have a user id.

[megabytes]

Well, yeah, but those are usually system-specific. Besides, we handle most of that.

[microbrobotics]

... Okay, so what do you call me when you do handle "most of that"?

[megabytes]

I'd just call you Hiro.

[The spoken name's accompanied by the by-now familiar speaker's surrogate operator ping.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Interesting, but he knew that part already. He thinks for a moment... ]

Could we make one? I mean, when I'm in data like this, I'm more like a navi than an operator, right?

[megabytes]

Well...I guess so? I don't really know how, but...

[microbrobotics]

Let's figure something out.

[megabytes]

It can't be that hard. It's not like we're trying to...to fake a security clearance, or something.

[microbrobotics]

Exactly! Good practice.

... Wait, you know how to do that?

[megabytes]

Do I know-- no! That was just an example!

[He has security-bypassed his way into government systems he's not supposed to have clearance for, but that's because he. Kind of has legit, legal clearance for them. Benefit of growing up in a government-funded lab.]

[microbrobotics]

... Dude. I know experience when I hear it.

[megabytes]

Then you need to get your ears checked!

[microbrobotics]

Uh huh. Nope, I hear juuuust fine.

[megabytes]

And I don't have a single faked or spoofed clearance!

[microbrobotics]

Really? You ever fixed a gap between what you should have had but didn't? 'cause I've done that.

[megabytes]

Of course not! [Unless fighting a system to make it accept a clearance that isn't as specific as it'd prefer in a manner not unlike hammering a square peg into a round hole counts, in which case yes, yes he has.] And you shouldn't be doing that either!

[microbrobotics]

Why not?

[megabytes]

It's hacking, it's illegal.

[microbrobotics]

Doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong.

[megabytes]

Hacking's always wrong! I've never seen anyone use it for something good.

[Normally this would be where a snarky "look at your life look at your choices" sort of line would go, but, uh. Technically he's got a stellar record there. He'll bend over backwards to get into systems he shouldn't even touch for the sake of the Greater Good, but by god he at least does it legit.]

[microbrobotics]

Jeez, okay, okay ... I'll just ask Magicman to teach me.

[ He's joking. Sort of. ]

[megabytes]

Not if I tell Tadashi!