With fatigue he looked outside his window.
He looked away from it, focusing on his apartment.
He unzipped his lumpy jacket.
And placed it on the square table, Infront of the worn out leather couch.
The boy fell back on the couch ruffling his own hair.
Curly gray cloud, like blue hair, fell in all directions across his head, but more so on his left eye.
"His not gonna like this, he hasn't seen me for a few months. He might shave me bald." He mumbled.
As he played with his hair, which contrasted with his light bronze skin.
He then took off his shoes off and stood up.
He walked towards, one of two doors.
He opened the door and a worn out bed, with an impression in it was there.
But it was neatly done.
A black blanket spread across with barely any wrinkle, as if skin...
On a bed?
A bed which took half of the room.
A normal one person bed in a small room, which made the bed seem big.
But he rather focused on what was on his bed.
A laptop...
If you could call it that.
He grabbed it, and brought it to the table, placing it there.
Then he went to the kitchen and went to the 1 of 5 cabinets.
He opened it, and wires, plugs, chargers, and small cables were visible.
He grabbed a short one, and shut the cabinet. He headed over to the table, and sat back at the couch.
Leaning forward, he plugged the cable in to the side of the peculiar laptop, and to the watch he fished out his lump of a jack.
Then he looked back at the laptop...
The strange laptop...
The laptop didn't have the same look as other laptops.
It was not thin, rather bulky.
It had a bar like casing leaving spaces in between, making it possible to peer inside, the casing was black in colour.
It had multiple sockets.
USB,USB-c,HDMI and so on.
And a black screen with a glitching, repeating animation.
It was a word.
In purple.
NULL.
"I have a plain taste of names...
as if I'm dull..."
...
Null sighed "...Same goes for my humor."
He looked at the suitcase for a laptop. It had a dent, a few scratch's and scuff marks.
'It has been years since i have, had you huh....' Null thought.
'But it wasn't my first.'
He began opening tabs, some with files, and another totally black.
He typed fast.
As another tab had two green glowing dots on a map with several landmasses, the size of a continent.
Then a third glowing dot.
A forth.
Eighth.
Twelveth
Till there were 85, as it kept growing.
Blinking across the landmasses.
It was scrambling his location.
A necessary function.
He had to make a location displacer, after the first time he brought to much attention to himself, his first interaction with the big organized gang's followed.
He bled, he was bruised and he agonized...
He regretted.
He groaned realizing how foolish he was in the past.
Just remembering it made him cringe.
Example.
Same as you talking to a girl and in that moment and time, you think you did fantastic.
Then your friend shows you a recording of the moment.
And you cringe.
Your voice that you thought was charming and deep.
Was barely audible and unappealing to the ear.
And rather the shy blushing expression you saw, it was really a awkward and uncomfortable one.
Realizing it was all in your head.
That's how Null felt going back to the memory.
'It happened a few years ago, started with the first laptop i got.' Null thought.
He was 7.
In the middle of the year 4003. He decided to buy a laptop with money he 'earned' and saved up.
But he didn't want any normal type of laptop, rather he wanted one that would made him a 'Ghost'.
Just remembering how much of a character he was, made him coil his fingers into his hair.
He remembered he went to the back door of a bar, and offered his money, but they said they'll be taking the laptop permanently.
They said 'It can lead people. Easily traced back to ya, since ya bought it.'
So they decided to take the laptop and money, and the following night, they gave me a...
'Zombie Laptop'.
I asked why they call it that, and their answer.
'We went and scavenged some parts to build a laptop from scratch, built it piece by piece From dead laptop parts.'
After that, the following month i 'earned' again, enough that i bought the same one, and dissected both and compared.
First, the speakers, microphone and camera were removed.
He repeated the same thing again for the new one.
Comparing both things multiple times.
But
Now let's pause...why would a 7 year old need such a device?
'I needed more money for my plans, but i didn't want to be noticed by any anyone, and the way i got the money was by stealing.
'Cards, phone's and watches.
'I extracted the Alet's, from them by hacking, any saved data in it, of their accounts.
Remnants... they were called.'
Alet's, is the currency that the Empire operates with.
Alet is a Turkish word for Tool.
And I needed it if i wanted to live, out of reach of the Empire's hand.
Yet when i used my adjusted new laptop, i extracted a larger amount than normally.
And the gang's noticed.
That whole situation escalated from a small fee to a head hunt,due to an... important person to me...
Red tinted circular glasses, with a gold rimming, flashed through his head.
He cupped his head, shaking it, he continued skimming his memories.
After that whole situation was...dealt with I went back to the same people, who gave me my Zombie laptop, i went there to learn a bit more about technology and coding.
But they wanted something in return.
Which was polite in this place, where an intimidation or threat, kidnapping or robbing or simply bullying, was how you gained something.
But that was common, if you were left alone.
There were higher chances of being sought out with malicious intent than any other.
But it was simply, that malicious.
They wanted me to protect them.
In the span of a few years at the beginning to the end of the problem, i dealt a considerable amount of damage.
Making me a sort of threat to the up an coming organized gang's.
But where did the previous gang's go?
*Din*
*Click*
Got rid of the main ones.
But then why work with the people who want to murder me?
*Din*
I didn't. I worked with the new established gang's.
*Click*
But...
*Din
*Click*
My reputation with the previous gang's made it so that, they would be hesitant to involve themselves with me.
So... I gave them a proposition.
They deport me in a faraway city with a, new persona.
And I work for them.
Ya~—,that didn't go so well.
But with the hackers it went smoothly.
...
I learned quite a bit.
*Din*
Null focus came back to the laptops screen, which had a long list of red coloured rows of numbers.
Which couldn't fully be shown on the screen.
Yet one sticked out, since it was green.
Then Null pulled out the connected watch, throwing it on the side of the couch.
With the others.
'Did i really just haze.' he thought
'Haze' is a slang word that is used when one is self absorbed in a multitude of actives or actions.
Unlike zoning out, which is when you lose concentration, and awareness of one's surroundings.
And so...
He hazed.
Till the watches where all next to him.
Then he proceeded with the credit cards, they were much fewer since he was only able to get them, do to the rare people who wore specific clothes that made it easy.
He pressed at the side of the laptop, and a part of the side popped out. He pulled it out and pushed the card in.
And the screen began to go through lists of rows of codes.
Till mintues later, the screen stopped on a green code.
He pulled the card out, and threw it at the pile next to him.
And it kept on.
It was quite repetitive.
But it was done under two hours.
He then opened another tab it was a account which his uncle made for him.
It was a special one.
The Alet's in the account reached.
872'512 Alet's.
Alet's were 1.5 times more than a single dollar.
So...
He was well off... that was what I would say, if i didn't have to go into a money pit.
'If i wanted a better chance at the Military. I needed to buy some equipment off the others there or...
Make allies.'
...
'My future seems bleak.'
Null looked at the pile.
'Just doing this would of never have got me here so i would next sell the watches, and burn the cards.'
He sighed, falling back into the couch.
"But all of you are useless at this point."
He took out a earring from his jacket.
"Bought it just in case they didn't keep their word."
He said twirling the circular rather oval small sliver chain like earring, with a small black rectangle at the end.
He pressed the black rectangle.
*Click*
And then a USB spun out.
Null plugged it into the laptop as all the money in the account disappeared into the USB.
Which also held another special account.
But when the transaction was nearing completion, he noticed something from the corner of his eye, he looked to the side, the other tab which held landmasses with the glowing dots.
They were decreasing.
"Been a while since someone got curious."
The dots were disappearing by the second.
But he was unfazed.
Then the transfer completed.
He grabbed another USB, but it had a skull on it.
When they were fewer than a hundred, he plugged it in.
And.....
The screen went black.
...
That was it.
Null grabbed it and threw it out the window, shutting it after, as he went to pack his bags.
--
It was a quiet night, for those still awake.
In a parking lot the dark hid, a car.
It was old, not in the sense it was dusty and battered.
Rather in the sense of era.
It was a 1965 ford mustang GT.
It was blue, with two thick white stripes adorning it.
It didn't fit in with the scenery.
Lights far...
Behind it, shown. It was a city, vehicle's floated, train's travel around and above the city.
And the buildings were chrome.
In the car, a man in military clothing.
He had dreadlocks falling around him, and a shaved beard, and large canines as he licked his teeth in irritation.
His skin was a light sand like colour.
And his eyes a dark blue.
He looked quite young.
He shut the laptop in front of him and placed it in the back seat. He placed his head on the wheel, as he sighed.
"... his the money launder. And with that irritating new bank card secrecy, the lesser military are having a hard job tracking skilled people like him, if he just kept activity after being noticed, over a minute or two, military can easily get him." The man said, raising his head turning the car on, he spoke once again before going further with his travel.
"I'ma have a serious conversation with him." He narrowed his eyes. "Just you wait Null."
--
Red...
The walls were red, flowing with it...
It was vicious, and clotted with dry dark blood. The blood runs down slowly as it flows across the alley floor and then out of it, the shadows shaped like people walk past by the shadow like man at the entrance of the alley way. As another man stood above someone with a gun.
The barrel of the gun reflected in dead milky eyes of a boy, the blood flowing from the wall coated the boy entirely causing him to be featureless, with the exception of his dead like eyes unstained.
The shadow right above the boy, slowly pulled the trigger as the entrance shadow watch.
The trigger slowly but surely
Bang Bang Bang!!!!
The gun shots...
Gun shots?
No that didn't sound like gun shots
Null opened his eyes they were watery as tears flowed.
It's the next morning and Null was in a sleeve less shirt and baggy camouflage pants.
His bag packed, teeth brushed and hair tied back.
His eyes stayed open not blinking for 2 seconds then blinking the drowsy feeling away.
Bang Bang Bang!!!!
Ya that wasn't gunshots...someone is knocking.
He stood and opened the door, expecting the man in front of him.
His Uncle...
Standing at 6 feet, 8 inches tall, a man in casual clothing having dreadlocks falling around him, and a shaved beard, and large canines as he smiled. His skin was a light sand like colour, and his eyes a dark blue.
"Hey Uncle Ron, we going or not?" Null asked readjusting the strap of his large side bag.
The large muscular man bent and hugged the boy in one swoop.
"... Enough hngh, just—Hnng!" Null said, struggling to get out the grasp of the man. He wasn't putting much effort since it never mattered.
"Look at you, your not grasping for air like last time." Ron said fondly, proceeding to let go of the boy.
He landed quietly.
"Silent feet there little Olive." Ron said with a smirk as he began walking down the building stairs.
"My name is not Olive." He said catching up to his uncle.
"You didn't even complain about the little part." Ron said chuckling.
"Well yes your name doesn't fully say Olive in it, it has enough letters for the baby name." Ron said, jumping over the railing to land on the stairs just below them.
Null jump over the railing but landing down on the higher ones and jumping off onto the same stairs Ron is on.
"You shouldn't do that." Null said.
Ron chuckled a slight bit off tone than normal.
"Sorry, just wanted to get to the car a little tad faster." Ron said, while Null looked at him in a more cautious demeanor.
"Did i do something wrong?" Null asked
"Why would you little Olive, be in trouble?" Ron questioned, brow raised.
Null's eyes narrowed.'Something feels off, but if i was actually in trouble, he would of than something already, specifically with a belt.'
"I want to get you to the military base soon as possible, you missed a week." Ron said stepping off the last stair with Null right behind him.
"Oh, so your in trouble for that?" Null asked.
"No." Ron answered.
...
"I'm i?" Null asked.
"Absolutely." Ron answered.
"Than why didn't you get here earlier." Null said going around the car and entering the passenger seat.
"Now I'm going to be played with." Null said groaning. As Ron shut his door getting into his seat.
Null wanted to throw his bag to the back, as he was about he froze...
There was a laptop...a broken one.
His...
His head didn't move, but his eyes slowly moved to look at Ron.
Looking down on him, side eyeing him as his dreadlocks obscured his face.
Null dropped his bag in the car as he swung the door open. Running out, he didn't look back at the still Ron that waited for the disappearance of the boy that turned the corner.
Ron leaned to the side and slammed the open door shut.
He looked at a screen next to the radio with a two dots.
One was moving, and it was purple.
--
Null slide, grabbing at the floor as he turned into a alleyway.
He jumped over a pile of trash bags, landing quietly unconsciously, even though no need of it, as he ran past a golden skull head man in rags. His foot spilling over so food and drink he seemed to have scavenged for.
The Golden skulled man, had nothing but a emotionless stare, since it had no skin there wasn't a emotion to start with.
But it's mechanically shaped hexagonal pupil narrowed.
"Ahhhhhh!!" The Skull head screamed as he ran after Null, with speed unnatural to a humans, as his rags were flipped by the wind, rusted cybernetics worked even though rusted they are still cybernetics. Specifically his entire legs and spine, yet were not entirely seen due to the rugs.
Null heard the scream and looked behind him, and saw a screaming skull headed man after him.
He looked front, and leaned forward as he grit his teeth, determined not to be caught by both his pursuers.
He turned into a narrower path as he jumped grabbed a pipe then swung to a brick wall with small cracks to grab.
It scraped his fingers but his fingers were already rough, having than this before.
The building was 2 stories high and as he reached the top forearms holding him up, his head above the edge, he heard something.
As if under pressure or strain and creak with age. He looked beneath him, as the skull head squatted as his leapt and landed at the building edge.
Turning his head as he looked at Null from the corner of his eye.
"What day is this supposed to be?" Null asked himself in disbelief.
"Stray...." The skull head said, before kicking Null's hands off.
Null fell as he hit a pipe with his back.
Face first with one that dented on impact
Another with his stomach, than proceeding to land back first into a hard pile of trash bags.
He stood, spitting blood and teeth. As he grabbed the wall before falling on his knees, blood pouring out his nose.
Falling unconscious, body limp.
On top the edge the skull head, looked down with his blue camera like eyes.
"Oof😣!! You did him dirty."
The skull head, snapped his head to the side as a crouching large muscular man with dreads was next to him.
The Skull head froze.
"Now tell me what he did to you." Ron smiled his canine's sharp real sharp.
--
Red...
The walls were red, flowing with it...
It was vicious, and clotted with dry dark blood. The blood ran down slowly as it flows across the alley floor and then out of it.
As shadowy people walk past, as the shadow like man at the entrance of the alleyway stared at the suited shadow in the shape of the man,who stood above someone with a gun.
The barrel of the gun reflected in dead milky eyes of a boy, the blood flowing from the wall coated the boy entirely causing him to be featureless, with the exception of his dead like eyes unstained.
The suited shadow slowly but surely press upon the trigger–....
....
....
Everything was blurry as he opened his eyes and he felt vibrations, he thought he would see the dead boy.
He blinked a few times, as he began to recognize the interior... The interior of a car.
His Uncle car.
The vibration was the engine, and he was in the back seat with his bag and the broken laptop nowhere in sight. His Uncle in the driving seat, and the crazy golden skull man next to him...
...
...
...
The Skull head!!
Null sprang awake from his seat, his head colliding with the roof. Sitting back down as he pressed his back firmly against the door.
The Skull head turned his head and looked at Null as he spoke.
"I am Midas, and your's is
"Olive..."
====