Cyberdrive

Planning

Mel called Ryker as she drove with Cass back to her garage.
Ryker's deep, authoritative voice came through. "Mel?"

Mel went straight into it. "Jep has tracking and monitoring on Cass's van. Ashton is still inside, and the car is at a YCS research facility. Jep told me you might be able to help us with their security."

There was a long pause, and Mel wondered if Ryker was still there, or if he was offended by her lack of greeting.

"Yes," he said finally. "I don't know half of what you just said, but I can help with YCS's automated security systems. I cannot get your son out, but I can make it so they might not see someone coming in."

"I can go in and get him myself." Mel said. "I'll do anything for my son."

"They will have guards. Not all of their systems are automated or accessable to me. It will not be that simple."

Mel said "I have to try."

"You are a brave woman, Mel," Ryker said. "I can disable their security systems. They still have guards. And locked doors. If the doors have no connection to the security system, I am unable to do anything about them."

"You do what you can then. I'll handle the rest."

"When do you plan to do this?"

"My son is trapped in a van, and who knows when they'll get him out of it. I have to do this tonight."

"You don't waste time. I like it. You tell me which facility he's in and I'll get to work on the security."

They arrived at the garage and Mel saw Ryker's enormous armored vehicle. Mel didn't reply as she was staring at Ryker's car and thinking. "That place has a big garage door."

"Does it? You'll need to get that open. It is unlikely to be connected to other systems."

"Yeah. Would any security go off if I rammed the door open?"

"Not after I've disabled it, but that will be a sturdy door. You'd need a bulldozer or a tank."

Mel hesitated, then said "In addition to giving you that car you ordered, I can also fix all of the damage to your existing armored car for free."

"What damage?" Ryker said. Then there was a pause as he realized what she was talking about. "No!"

"I just need to borrow your car for a night. I will give it back to you as good as new."

"No! I need that car."

"For what? Driving around and impressing women with your amazing overcompensation abilities? My son needs rescuing."

There was a pause that Mel hoped was a noise-cancelled resigned sigh. "I suppose you need my car more than I do. But you owe me."

"I will give you your car back better than new."

Mel turned to Cass "I need your key."

"What?"

"My plan is to let Ryker disable the security, then drive his car through the garage door, get Ashton out of your van, and drive out."

"How will you get the doors to the van open?"

"Your key."

"I assume the van's key is disabled now."

"No, the legitimate key can't be disabled remotely. They can lock the doors, but they can't keep them locked against the legitimate key. Ashton doesn't have it. I don't have it. But you do."

"Uh... The key is part of my spleen."

"What?"

"I keep all of my important IDs, like the key to my car, apartment, and my banking tokens stored in my artificial spleen. That way nobody can steal them."