May 7-9
The first few days in Honolulu were exactly what we needed: downtime. The whole team was still basking in the post-Quebec calm, enjoying the extra day we got by leaving early. We stayed at the Ares Astoria Honolulu, one of the nicest places I’ve ever laid my head, courtesy of our sponsors. Even Halo was taking it slow, though she had already started gearing up mentally for the upcoming concerts.
While the crew relaxed and unwound, I split my time between the real world and the Matrix. As Wizkid, I kept tabs on local movements, potential threats, and anything that might become relevant to our work. No surprises—just smooth, unremarkable days filled with sunshine and saltwater.
But, of course, downtime doesn’t last forever. A new job landed in my lap, courtesy of Mr. Black. Another run on VerdantChoice™ Foods, the Aztechnology subsidiary over on Kauai. No prodding from Black this time; he knew better than to push. It was a bigger job than before, with a higher risk attached. This time, we were going after Dr. Morran’s workstation in the main lab—his most sensitive research files. There was talk of a cyberdeck at his apartment, but I was betting security had long since scooped that up. No need to risk going for it.
VerdantChoice™ had locked the place down since our last visit: fences, drones, armed guards, you name it. The payout was bigger this time too, and it required a lot more planning and firepower. I pulled together the right team for the job: Eclipse, Tag, Fuzzy, Vanya, and myself. Blink and Slag would stay behind to cover Halo’s security.
We planned to hit the lab after Halo’s concert on the 12th. It was the only time we could vanish without raising suspicion, using the cover of a major event.
May 10-11
These days were all about preparations. Halo had more public engagements lined up, interviews, and corporate glad-handing. My mind was elsewhere—working the angles of the infiltration, finalizing the details of the run, and securing the equipment we’d need.
Stealth boat? Check.
Drones? Check.
Heavy firepower? Absolutely.
Everything was lining up nicely. We’d hit the facility, download the ghost copy of Morran’s workstation data, and get out clean. Nothing too fancy, but we had to account for the heightened security. The mission was solid; the execution just needed to be flawless.
Meanwhile, Halo was wrapping up her usual rounds, and I made sure the security detail kept things under control. She was focused, withdrawn, prepping mentally for what was to come.
May 12 (Night)
With Halo’s concert having concluded to great acclaim, the team went into operational mode. They geared up for the infiltration of VerdantChoice™ Foods on Kauai, with the objective of retrieving Dr. Morran’s personal offline files from his workstation within the main lab. I had already dismissed the idea of retrieving Morran’s cyberdeck from his apartment, knowing it had likely been secured by corporate security long ago. The real prize was in the lab itself.
By 1 a.m., the team assembled quietly, leaving the hotel under the guise of a late-night supply run. Dressed in plain civilian clothes, they drove up the coast, well away from prying eyes, before boarding the rented stealth boat. The water was calm, but the tension was palpable as they silently made their way toward Kauai, the dark ocean stretching endlessly in every direction.
With all gear checked, drones at the ready, and the clock ticking down, I couldn't help but reflect on how smoothly things had gone so far. But experience had taught him never to let his guard down—something big always seemed to go wrong right when you thought you had everything under control...
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