Chapter 13 - the Information Age

   "JG…"

   "Mm."

   "What do they call the era we live in? For a while now."

   "A lot of things. Why. What new in term are you thinking of."

   "I was just thinking. I've heard it called… the information age. For a long time."

   "Oh yeah. Started with the rise of the old computers. The mainframes. But, once the personal computers got cheaper and more powerful, and they took over? The term got used more. The information the computers brought? Wasn't just for the big corporations, the governments. The elite. It was for smaller businesses, then? Finally. It came down to people. Finally? Prices and availability were driven down to the point, computers became just appliances. And everyone can afford a toaster oven, a microwave. The information age? Was now for just about everyone."

   "And after computers?"

   "Well. You have your information superhighway. The internet. Blessing and curse though it may well be."

   "You're forgetting one. It rose up with the internet."

   "Hmm. Which?"

   "The cell phone. It pretty much follows the curve of the computers. Started out just for CEOs and doctors and lawyers… then? Smaller, cheaper. Then? They married the internet to the smart phone. Prices of that wonder child dropped, and? You have what we have."

   "A computer in your pocket, that a geek like me or you would have killed to get 15 years ago on our desktop, for ten times the price."

   "So. You really got to me, with your information instead of objectives… speech."

   "I'm touched, Panic. Really. Are we gonna fuck now?"

   "Not without dinner and a movie first. I'm an old fashioned boy. But seriously. We need to win? An information war. That's what you said."

   "I sure did. Please tell me, you're not just restating the problem, as a technique."

   "No. Throwing it out, see if it sticks. We want them to steal information. That we tainted. We get them to steal tainted information, say… Lightning is going to be in Kokomo, Indiana, on Saturday? We could go there and scoop them up."

   "Well, yeah. Its getting it in their hands, that's the issue."

   "We live… in the information age."

   "Put it on the internet, then."

   "No. Then I thought… computer."

   "Hmm. Some people? You could put the secret plans right on the desktop… they can't find it. They sure can all navigate to shopping and porn sites, though. You ever notice that? Its uncanny. Maybe, we should put the secret information, on a porn site."

   "Amusing? But… no. We let them steal a computer. Just a little computer. A little computer? That even a five year old magically knows how to operate."

   "Okay. I'll play along. And exactly how, do we get them to steal Little Lightning's cell phone. I mean, without risking her as the worm on the hook. I'm glossing over what the information even is, but. Sake of argument. I mean, they have to know its her damn phone."

   "They do. Um… phone falls out of her pocket. She's drunk. It happens."

   "Sheer genius. We get her piss drunk, and march her around the mouth of that alley, on the weekend. How could a plan that brilliant, possibly go wrong."

   "I'm thinking, I'm thinking. What if… we could be all having a party. She could get distracted, run in. Leave her phone out. All night. All weekend, even."

   "Hmm. That's better. I'm in that alley. I'm craving information. And? There it is. Its right there, feet away."

   "Guy has the stones to walk around the building, poking around. Takes a lot less testicular fortitude, to just wait till 4 in the morning, and swipe the phone she forgets on the stoop."

   "Hmm. Our luck? Some kid or some crackhead picks it up, and sells it to the used phone shop every town seems to have."

   "We're getting closer, though. You have to admit."

   "No. Its… way better. I wish we could just… hand it to him. I know, that's silly. Just saying."

   "Hey. You ever see that funny video that went around a couple years back? The one that was all a compilation of girls. Acting like spoiled brats and cunts. Breaking their phones like little kids cutting a fit. Then, their faces and whining was the funny part."

   JG laughed.

   "Yeah. It got longer and funnier, every time it went around."

   "Well? She could be having a cunt day. Do one of those."

   "Hmm. Possibilities. I mean, planned right? We can't hand him the phone, but… it could, by accident of course, get thrown over towards him. Now that? Would be way more tempting. And? Even less nerve than picking it up off the steps. Problems, though."

   "Work on them."

   "One. Our luck? Phone will break."

   "JG? I'll personally, let you pick out the most expensive unbreakable glass in the store, and the most expensive phone case known to man or woman. Money's no object here."

   "Okay. Any woman can be a cunt and toss a phone cutting a fit like a little kid. Why doesn't she go pick the phone up. I don't see the guy, just… jetting out of the alley, and grabbing the phone and running away with it. Be nice, but…"

   "JG? You underestimate the possible cunt factor, that some women bring to the table. For one? Most of those women were reacting to their boyfriend on the phone. They got pissed at him, and threw their own phone down. Boy, sure showed him. But? The other half… were arguing with the guy standing there with them. When they pitched the phone down. Like… whipping something at the guy's head."

   "Panic. That ain't half bad. Kemosabi redeems himself. We refine that? We might have something."

   "We just need to… plan the argument. A cunt? Can say anything during an argument. Or don't you get out enough, Junior."

   "Good one, good one. You know? The argument itself, could potentially be… the information leak. Part of it, anyways. The… clue to get the rest in the phone."

   "Ooh. The argument? Is about… what day and time the cunt is damn well going to go and do something."

   JG furthered it.

   "Oh. It practically writes itself from there. Fuck you. I just texted so and so, that I'm going there. No, honey. Its Thursday, you know we were going to go…"

   Panic giggled.

   "Well, fuck you. I'm definitely going now. By myself, and you? Can't stop me. And here's what I think of you and your stupid phone you gave me. There! Try texting me and annoying me about me going there now. Hmm."

   "A nice pimp slap would really, you know… just kinda sell it."

   "A pimp slap? Cunt power, baby. Never underestimate that shit, Junior. That gets you punched and kicked at…"

   "Right after you just ducked and avoided the phone whipped at your head. Of course, the pimp slap, and the obligatory girl punches and kicks, well… easy to forget the cheap phone she was making fun of you for, calling you a cheapskate for even buying her such a cheap piece of shit anyways…"

   "Shit. No imagination. A real cunt would kick the fucking phone he tried to pick up."

   "Hmm. Now, a girl that once was a soccer star. Could, potentially launch that motherfucker right down a dark alley."

   I'm pretty sure they thought I was asleep. Elise had been granted the bed by Little Lightning, I suppose out of pity for her condition she showed up in and all the chaos and hell around for her "vacation". Light was asleep in it as well. I had to try to be as funny as I could. When one of the two noticed I was indeed, awake? I was doing my best "little girl" imitation I could muster up. Big smile, chin in my hands supported up on elbows. Feet up and swishing lower legs.

   "No way, boys. Go on. I find this? Simply… fascinating."

   JG looked at him, he looked back at JG, then they both looked at me. He said it first. Smiling.

   "Okay. How much trouble are we in. I mean, I can explain."

   JG all but snorted into laughter.

   "What's this we shit? Your girl's the one eyeballing you. Do I have a girl here? No. Normally I'd complain about that, too. Story of JG's life, right there. Two guys, staying with three good looking broads. Two of them, belong to my buddy here. The other one? The more I hear about her… never mind. Point being? This, is the upside of that. You can explain it."

   "Wow. Some battle buddy you are. You know, we're getting eggs, bacon, sausage, toast? There you are. Hey buddy, where's mine? A little explanation is needed. Oh, I'm on my own."

   "Yep. You got it."

   I'm still smiling, swishing my ankles and skins.

   "Well? How much trouble am I in."

   "Well. First off. Gotta tell you. I woke up to the whole… cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt conversation. My first inclination? Diabolical punishment. Then though, while I was dreaming up… truly evil shit to do to you… I realized exactly what was actually going on. And? How its positively diabolical genius. So? They cancel out, and you're not in any trouble."

   "If you think you heard the basic idea, then. What do you think."

   "Hmm. Like I said, its diabolical. I love it."

   "Think I can sell this idea to Little Lightning?"

   "Well. Let's see, here. Option A. We're in a holding pattern, no idea what to do. Best idea so far? Has been to wait until he tries games at the door again, and just… let him in, thinking he's home free. Then, we kick the door shut and flip a coin. Whether he caves in immediately and gives up? Or… equally likely, mind you… all hell breaks loose in here. Not to mention, we don't really get the other guy that way. Option B? Pretty impressive."

   He went back to JG.

   "JG? Refinements."

   "Well. Off the top of my head. We armor that phone up. Then, there's the nature of what's on the phone. Its… a new phone, its the phone she hates. Its half the argument. So, there's not a lot on it, but what is there? Is pure gold to him. Its all that's on the phone, it makes it so easy to find the good stuff for him… but? That means it has to be good. Has to look… perfect. Then the last thing I worry about…"

   "Which is what."

   "Selling it. This… is a performance."

   He nodded along.

   "I wasn't just whistling Dixie. Cheap phone, but… I meant what I said. We spare no expense. I want that thing, the best glass cover, the best phone… suit of armor, known to exist. I want what little information is on that phone? We'll go over it, with a fine tooth comb for as long as it takes, it looks perfect. And the performance, as you call it?"

   JG wagged his head. Calculating.

   "That's what we can't just buy. Just like we spend as much time as necessary worrying about every last word and letter we put on the phone for him to find? She has to work on her… performance. I don't want a cute phone commercial for a phone case company here. I want… five minutes out of a big budget movie. Anyone on board with me here? This is… everything. This, is the whole case."

   It went back to Panic.

   "We have all the time in the world. Hell, we were just waiting around for more… door games anyways. The phone? Physically preparing it. Me and JG? We can go over it with a fine tooth comb, and make it perfect. We can… buy multiple phones and cases, and test it. The… performance, as he calls it? Fuck it. We do the same thing. We'll go somewhere, and… practice. Do it again. From the top. I want… perfection. We spend time, and money? Like water. I have a few bucks. Money is no object."

   I nodded.

   "Well? Didn't you have, what. Something like, eight psychology classes? What's the… psychology of this like. I want your take."

   I gave him my go to little grin face. He's being a smart ass, having fun with the situation. He knows full well, that I had more like eight years of psychology classes. Associates. Bachelors. Masters. Extra year on my masters for extra emphasis classes. Even a whole year in on my doctorate before I left my former life behind. Because a part of me died when Wiz died. A part of me died with him. In my frame of reference though… Wiz and Hurry died. Merry was more or less born. And though Wiz died, him or some part of him came back to Merry. And here he is.

   "Actually, it was more like I was less than one semester away from my associates, smart ass. But since you ask?"

   "I do."

   Wow. There it is. That… sudden warm headlight beam of emotion that flashes in and withers and goes quick. Just for a couple seconds? I get that shiver. I do. That? Was something that Wiz would always say to answer questions, and Wiz knew I loved hearing it. Because it was what a man says to a woman when getting married. I would quiz Wizzy on something, and get a string of… I do, I do, I do. It made me smile, it made me feel wonderful and warm all over. And he knew it, and enjoyed giving it to me.

   He doesn't know that. I never shared that. But? He's saying I do, and it makes me actually feel for a few seconds. Holy shit, I just thought the words… he doesn't know that. I just… separated him as himself, instead of falling for my self delusion he's someone dead that's been sent back to me.

   I'm scared of feeling emotions full strength again. Its been so long. Mercifully, it passes over me and subsides. The headlight beams pass over the windows, and the house goes dark again, like it should be. He's Wiz sent back to me, its why he knows to say I do. I'm not sane. I'm damaged and crazy. Good.

   Whew. Was sweating that for a moment there.

   "Hello. Earth to science girl, come in science girl. You asked if I wanted your opinion. I said… I do. Do I get to hear it?"

   "Subject, guy I have no experience with. Fine. Education? Probably high school. Then… local cop. I'll assume fairly normal childhood, no crazy aunt burning his testicles with holy candles while she reads relevant scripture to punish him for touching his wiener when she caught him doing it in the bathtub when he stayed every summer with her."

   "What. He becomes a local cop. Whole force is dirty. Some criminal boss and his son running the town. He has more power than any cop because of being dirty. Extra money, extra power. Bet he gets free lines of coke and free blowjobs from the hookers the town boss runs. All that… success? He loved it. He was on top of the world, as he saw it."

   "Then? Bad times. In comes a whole team of law enforcement. The whole world crashed in on his head. Mister big, the son. The chief, the whole dirty force… all either died or got taken down. And why? Because the madam's teenage daughter, didn't like having been drugged and sold to gang rape parties. Getting smacked around by the big boss's son and made to dance and perform like a cute little monkey, between gang rape parties."

   JG's mouth hung open.

   "He was once powerful and part of something very big and important. That's how he saw it. Then? He goes to state prison. Because someone else shot one of the law enforcement team on site. In his mind? Fuck. I didn't kill anyone. Everyone else just gets a two year smack on the wrist, a little time and cut loose on parole. Why me? I didn't kill anyone, someone else did."

   "And? Its all that little bitch's fault. Man, when I make it out of here? Boy, am I going to show her a thing or two. I was a cop. She? Was just some hooker made madam's daughter."

   "Honey? That's the parolee, I want you to do the alley guy."

   "Shut up. I didn't say I was done…"

   He put his hands up, palms forward, in surrender.

   "This guy? Has some magical personality. Some people have it. People around them? Tend to ask them their opinion, then they take it. He has that. He egged the cop to shoot the team member back then? He did it. Now he's out. Now? He's going to show that little bitch that ruined everything for everybody. He's got another ex dirty cop on board, he can get that out of people. So, there's one of his other disgraced and ruined cop buddies, who also once felt powerful and important? On board. Out in that alley. Waiting. Because they're going to show that little bitch."

   "Now. He's watching. Waiting. No one knows, how could they. He's waiting for his chance. To get that stupid little bitch, now grown up. Enjoying the success? He once had. That he should have. Man, my buddy's right. She ruins it all, now she gets to live the good life? Yeah, we'll show her."

   "Not happening. Yet. And? Here it comes. What's this? Big fight. Wow, what a spoiled cunt. Phone? Ain't good enough. The guy? He ain't good enough. She's going to go where she wants. When she wants. By herself if she feels like it. Whips that phone at his head. Wow, what a bitch on wheels."

   "If he ever felt bad, just a little? Look at her. A complete bitch, a total spoiled cunt. She? Deserves it. Fuck her. Fight's over… cops come and go… and? There's. That. Phone. She just screamed her plans, to go somewhere alone. And… there's her phone. Bet there's something in there. Might even help me figure out where she's going. By herself. Alone."

   "She's a spoiled cunt. She deserves what she has coming to her. And? Like a gift from god… all I have to do, is pick up this phone everyone seems to have forgotten about in all the confusion. Boy, am I lucky. Boy, am I smart. Boy, is she a spoiled bitch, huh? Serves her right. Its going to be her downfall. Poetic justice."

   Yeah. Him and JG both agreed. When you're working hard on your project. Getting nowhere. When you deserve it, and it hangs just out of your reach. Then? There it is. Ball's loose, right in front of the net.

   You just can't say no.

   Wiz's words keep whispering in my ear. JG and Panic are off. To reheat some cold pizza. To plan some practical phone details. They're shopping for a deal on a small stack of cheap phones they think will be perfect for this. Elise and Little Lightning are still asleep in the bedroom. I'm not alone. I'm never alone, not really. I just think about Wiz and what he would say, and there he is. The PTSD image comes up at the slightest bidding. Its that comforting repeating movie clip. So real, so lifelike. I can see the apartment right through it, yet see every last detail of the image burned into my eyes and brain, down to the molecule.

   He shrugs. He smiles. What can you even do, you know?

   I speak softly. No one's paying me any mind right now. Everyone else is either asleep or worrying about details of the breakthrough. The universe wanted me to be a psychology whiz. Then, it wanted me to scrap that and become Merry. I did. Its times like this, that its all worth it. I wish Wiz was here. I'd get what you get, when you do the right thing. Go the extra mile. All for no real recognition. But you get that hand on the shoulder. They say "yeah". You wait. You say it back. You both nod. Share the moment, the triumph.

   He's always with me. I can see him. I can smell and taste him, if I imagine it. He's like my own personal guardian angel. I can just hear his words I recall from memory on this subject.

   When you use the right bait? No human being can resist it.

   I was looking at all this at first, as if I were spoiled. This was for me. My revenge. My vengeance. It was a present for me, to myself. It was my present, from Wiz to me. My present, from Panic to me. I'm not selfish or spoiled, though. You can't be a full fledged senior agent of karma if you don't have purity. The mentor, the oracle? Has to see you have pure mind, body, spirit. Pure heart and motive. I was worried for a minute there.

   But its okay. I'm not selfish. Its not really for me. I just thought it was at first blush. The universe needed something more from me, and I know to give it what it wants. Just let it. So? I did. I felt the selfish need for revenge, and took it with both hands. Now though, I see it. Its still my present.

   Its my present to Wiz.

   "I'm almost there, honey. We're finally going to finish this. For good this time."

   He just smiles and shrugs at me.

   What can you even do.