The Dance of the Keepers

Chapter 11 The Puzzler

"So where do we even start?"
I asked Glass, feeling at a loss.

We were in the elevator, riding up to my floor.

"We need a way to do some research, look up any theories we come up with."

"Are you thinking something like a computer?"
I suggested.

She nodded.

"That would be perfect, do you have one?"

"No, but Jasper used one for us to look over the Tournament videos, I can ask to borrow it."

The elevator came to a smooth stop and the doors slid open.

"Here's my key card, why don't you go into my suite and I'll get the computer. Jasper will be suspicious if we both come knocking on his door."

"Okay, makes sense."
She answered, taking the key card from me.

I stepped up to Jasper's door and rapped solidly three times. A moment later it swung open.

"Hey Blue, what's up?"
He asked, leaning against the door frame.

"Would it be possible for me to borrow your computer?"

"Sure, but why don't you use the one from your own apartment?"

I paused.

"I have a computer in my suite?"

"Yeah, where do you think I got mine? They are stored in the cabinets behind the television."

"Well, who would have guessed? Thanks, brainiac."
I turned to leave.

"Hey, what do you need it for anyway?"

"Oh just a little research project, no big deal."

"Do you need help?"

"No, believe it or not, I do know how to use a computer. Mostly."
I said with a wry smile.

"Thanks though."

He nodded and said good evening, closing the door as I went back to my apartment.

"So apparently we all have computers!"
I informed Glass, steeping through my own door.

"Seriously? How did we not get the memo on that?"

I shrugged and headed over to the spot Jasper had mentioned. Sure enough, there was a laptop and it's coordinating cords, stashed in the cabinet.

"Do you have any idea how to set that up?"
Glass asked skeptically.

"Vaguely. You?"

She didn't answer but began untangling the individual pieces.

"Well, this is clearly the power cord."
She held up a long electrical cable with a plug on the end.

I clicked one end into the outlet and the other into the computer. We set aside the mouse and pad and didn't bother with the speakers. There seemed to be several extra cords that probably served some purpose, but we couldn't figure them out. Glass located the power button after several minutes of flipping the laptop between the two of us trying to figure out how to turn it on. Finally, the electronic device came to life, whirring quietly with a lighted home screen shown. Luckily it was already connected to the internet in the building because we never would have figured out how to do that. I opened a search browser and leaned back in my chair.

"Okay, well, what do we look up first?"

"Let's start with the easiest possible option. Type the whole code in and see if anything useful pops up."
Glass suggested.