Cybercity Lawndale - Part 3

Then a tall man in Black slacks and a leather jacket approached the group. “Hey Janey” came out of the person's mouth when Jane put her drink down on the side and hugged him. Then she said: “Trent! How long has it been now?”

Trent: “About 3 Years. Hey Daria”

Daria: “Hey Trent. I gather you've been busy touring”

Trent: “Yeah. We're well known all over the country now. Hoping a record company gives us a contract though”

Matt: “Your from Mystik Spiral, Aren't you?”

Trent: “Yeah. You a fan of ours?”

Matt: “Yeah, I liked your old stuff more though. I didn't know you knew Daria”

Jane: “He's my brother. The same brother she used to have a crush on during high school”

Daria: “I should kill you for that but right now, It's not worth the trouble”

Trent: “Don't worry Daria, It was high school and everyone has crushes then”

Jane: “How long you in town for then?”

Trent: “At least 2 weeks since we needed a break and we thought we'd come back home to see everyone.”

Matt: “Well, I'm Matt”

Trent: “How do you know Daria then Matt?”

Matt: “She's done some work for me before. First time we've met eye to eye today though”

Trent: “What do you do for work Daria?”

Daria (Whispering in his ear): “Hacking”

Trent: “Ah. I understand”

Then Daria felt something vibrating against her arm. She had a new message waiting for her at the apartment. She tapped the hidden indicator once to stop it vibrating and carried on drinking.

Jane: “How's Monique?”

Trent: “Got fed up of her intentionally causing fights and left her up north. Hope she's rotting in a ditch now.”

Daria: “Bit harsh, isn't it?”

Trent: “Well, she had it coming”

Jane: “She was a bitch so good on you. Now he's free for you Daria”

Daria: “Stop poking at that or risk losing that tongue of yours”

Jane: “OK, I'll stop”

Trent: “You still want to go out with me Daria?”

Daria: “Wouldn't turn it down if offered but if your not interested then there's no point in asking either”

Trent: “Well, fancy a drink alone sometime while I'm here?”

Daria: “Sure. Casual or Date?”

Trent: “Your choice” grinning slightly

Jane: “Have you become less oblivious during the last 3 years or something Trent?”

Trent: “Considering I've come off of the weed”

Daria: “You were smoking weed? I thought that was just you”

Trent: “Well, I was a serious stoner then so it would have appeared as my persona as you never met me before I was a stoner. Mom or Dad were never there to notice and I don't think Jane got that impression since she didn't know how a stoner acted”

Jane: “I thought that was just you changing as you grew up naturally”

Then a ginger haired girl came up next to Daria and said: “Boo”

Daria jumped in shock and when she turned, she saw the face of her younger sister, Quinn.

Daria: “Oh god, you scared me Quinn”

Jane: “Princess grace? Long time no see”

Quinn: “I know. How are you Daria?”

Daria: “I'm fine sis, How about you?”

Quinn: “I'm Ok thanks. What you doing here?”

Daria: “I could ask you the same question. I'm just here with Jane. That's when I met Matt, an online Acquaintance. Then we met Trent again for the first time in 3 years”

Quinn: “Oh, right. This is a regular hangout for me now. I occasionally see Stacy and Tiffany but apparently Sandi's gone missing”

Jane: “What a shame” in a sarcastic tone

Quinn: “I hated her anyway so no tears shed over her”

Jane: “Well, there may be some chance of a spark between these two” pointing at Daria and Trent

Daria: “Jane... Your treading on very dangerous ground”

Quinn: “You two again? Just admit your feelings Daria”

Daria: “Shut up Quinn”

Quinn: “I'm being serious Daria! You two would go well together”

Trent: “Well, If you want my number, I'd be quite happy to give you it”

Daria: “Umm... ok”

Trent then got a piece of paper with his number on it, handed it to her and said: “Don't worry, i'll get yours when you call me”

Daria put the piece of paper in her pocket and said: “Thanks” feeling slightly shy

Jane: “I Think we should be getting home. We both have jobs to do but it was nice seeing you all”

Daria: “I'm looking forward to working with you again Matt. And Trent, thanks”

They both said “Night” to everyone else and started the walk home.

On the way, Jane started talking: “I hope you and Trent do get together, he might be happy with you”

Daria: “Yes I do still have feelings for him but don't try to push us together. If anything is going to happen, It'll be on our terms, not yours”

Jane: “Ok. I have to ask though, When Quinn said Sandi is missing, you didn't react in any way, why?”

Daria: “Should I? In the end, how she died isn't my issue” then realizing her slip

Jane: “How she died? You know something, don't you?”

Daria: “She died when involved in of one of my hacking missions I was employed to do. The rest is officially confidential”

Jane: “I need to know more now”

Daria: “Top secret to the company I worked for on that mission”

They arrived at Daria's apartment block.

Jane: “I See. Well in either case, you should be safe going up to your apartment now. See ya”

Daria: “See ya”

Daria then made her way into and up the building before reaching her apartment and opening the door. She walked in, shut the door and sat down at her desk. She then said: “Display inbox” and saw it was a message from her informant:

“DarkFox,
Here's the information you requested. I took great risk but It was worth it for the payout, I look forward to working for you again.

Server IP: 111.254.1.90
Security: Triple-Strength AXXL Encryption coupled with 2 Firewalls custom coded inhouse.

Good luck in your endeavors

SlyShadow”

Daria thought: “I knew he'd come through with the info. I'll start on this when I get up tomorrow”

She then took the slightly crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket and saw it had more than Trent's number on it, it had his electronic communication ID on it. She noted both down on her phone and PDA that were lying next to her keyboard. She then commanded: “Shutdown computer”
and the computer shut down in a matter of seconds before she took off her clothes, put them in the walk-in closet and climbed in her sub-stasis pod for the night.