Shade's Past

[The Jester]

Summary

[The Jester]

PALO ALTO, CA 2054
Ares Controlled Silicon Valley

[SOUTH BAY AIRPORT - KNIGHT ERRANT BASE]
The sun was just peaking over the Ocean reflecting off the bay onto the tarmac bringing with it a cooling breeze of ocean air breaking the ceaseless heatwave. Reginold (Duster) Farlocke was wiping down the cabin on his ARES TomCat when a message came through the wires to his screen:

"Hey Duster, Your wifes water just broke. They are taking her to the old hospital in Palo , WARD 11 bud, Capt says you can have the afternoon off - we all know you've been pretty excited about your new kid. Do me a favor and say drop a hello to Nania for me, Sights out."

Sights was the best Friend and Squad leader Reggie ever had, an honest man and amazing pilot - not to mention he was one of the few who didn't look down on him for staying married to Nania after she changed into an Oni only 2 years after they were married. But none of that mattered to Reggie because he truely loved his wife - bright blue or not. he left the cloth on the seat and jumped onto his Crusier and made his way to the old hospital, with luck he should beat his wife there since she had to cross the bridge from Newark. This was going to be a good day indeed.

---

[ARES EMPLOYEE HOSPITAL - WARD 11]
It was a long night for Nunia Farlocke in the Maternity Ward - going on her 9th hour of labour she was not about to give up. "PUSH" cried the Doctor as a little head poked out. The docter sneered as he cried out again "only one or 2 more, IT'S almost here, your doing great"

Only a few minutes later Nania was holding her new baby boy in her arms, Reggie looking proudly over - glaring at the doctor who seems to have a serious attitude problem about helping give birth to another ork - accually an Oni just like his mother. but one noticable difference was the complete lack of pigment in his skin. That didn't matter to Reggie or Nania - they were proud of there new baby boy.

"What are you going to name him Mr. Farlocke" an automated wall unit buzzed out. Reggie looked at his wife and nodded, then with a proud sigh replied " His name will be Tobias Yomi Farlocke - after my best friend and Nania's Father - Two of th best men I have ever known." within seconds the PA called Reggie to the front desk - Emergency Line. Reggie bent down and gave his wife a kiss and left the room. He arrived at the Desk and plugged in his comm to the main terminal.

//ID Confirmed - Access Granted //load file... "Duster, I'll start by saying grats on your new boy, But i get to be the party killer. we got reports of a in B&E in one of the labs. There booking it out via boat in the bay and they want air support - we need to scramble our unit - your due back in less than 5." //closing file.... //message archived.

With a sigh and a smile Reggie unplugged from the terminal "Seems like there gonna work us again, I wish those bastards would have waited until tomorrow." He jumped on his bike and raced back to the airport - It was going to be a long day indeed.

[The Jester]

NEWARK, CA 2058
The Pearls of the Bay - Building 7

2 minutes before the last break ended, children rushed past Tobias as he sat under a tree eating his afternoon treat. Looking across the playground Tobias saw the kids gathering into a circle and the chatting "Fight Fight Fight" began to echo louder. Tobias got up and went to see who was fighting, not hard for him since at the age of 4 he was significatly taller than the majority of his classmates, commonly mistaken for a 5th grader than the 1st grader he was. Not alot of people messed with him, not since throwing that 3rd grader off the gym of the playground earlier this year for calling him a freak.

As he approached he could see 4 boys, all human, kicking a small dwarf kid who was huddled in a ball on the ground. all the boys were 2-4 grades higher than him, but he recognised the young dwarf from his class.

"HEY! WHY DONT YOU PICK ON SOMEBODY YOUR OWN SIZE?" bellowed Tobias pushing his way from the back of the crowd. "besides, if you like out of favor odds lets make this 4 on 2 instead". The crowd parted in a heartbeat, getting out of the Young Orcs way as he charged forward, catching the largest of the group in the gut with a fist. The boy cried out shortly in pain as the wind was knocked from his body, as he crumpled to the ground clutching at his stomoch.

Tobias looked for the next target, as one of the 4 boys ran from the circle crying without even being hit, and saw one of the other boys picking up a rock. He lundged forward tackling the boy as he was standing up, around him the crowd began to chant again, this time including some insults regarding meta-human's. Pinning the Second boy to the ground, Young Tobias began to punch the boy in the face, left fist, right fist, left fist, right fist, over and over again until he felt a sharp crack down the back of his skull.

The world went slightly back for a few seconds as he regain vision just inches before his face hit the dirt, rolling over he saw more boys join into the fight, wielding sticks and rocks in there hands. One large boy, easily a Grade 6er, smiled as he casually said "why dont you freaks just all kill yourselves rather than cause us problems, come on guys, lets give this one a beating he'll never forget!"

As the boy raised his stick to beat Tobias again, a loud whistle sounded as Mr. Grendas yelled "OK BREAK IT UP!" The crowd fled and everyone looked up at the large Black Teacher who was on duty in the yard this week. "I want all 6 of you in the office right now, you all know there is a zero tolerance for fighting at this complex."

As Tobias stood up he felt dizzy, reaching to the back of his head he felt a large bruise forming where he got hit. he looked around to see 3 others on the ground. The young dwarf was still huddled in a ball crying out loud, the other boy he chrgaed was staggering to his feet, still gasping for breath, and the third boy was just lying there with blood rolling out of his mouth, his face slowly swelling up.

Tobias stood up and walked over to the young dwarf who was still crying. "Heya, its ok now, the bad kids are all gone - but we have to go to the office now. are you ok?"

The young dwarf rolled over, must have only been 4-5 years old, and looked up. "Ttthank You", he studdered out of his mouth as he worked to supress the crying. Tobias reached down and helped the young dwarf to his feet. "My name is David, whats your name?" the young dwarf asked as they walked towards the office.

"My Name is Tobias Farlocke, are you feeling ok? Those kids were really pounding on you." replied Tobias, "Do you know why they were picking on you?"

"My Dad just got a promotion down in his research center. My Dad said not alot of people were happy about a "Dwarf" getting the job." studdered David. Tobias knew where the boy was coming from, He was also harrassed for being an Ork, not to mention an Oni with albinoism. "Thank You again for saving me Tobias, that was very brave of you... Will you be my friend?"

Tobias was shocked, no one had ever asked him to be his friend before and with a big smile he replied "Yes I will David, its good to have a friend". Tobias continued to help David towards the office, but instead of looking beaten, Tobias looked like he just conqeured the world.

[The Jester]

SAN JOSE, CA 2065
Ares Institute of Advanced Technology

Tobias watched with only slight interest as the broadcast of the teacher buzzed out the lecture on Security Protocols. Sitting with him around the Terminal was his best friend David Stone, known now by his online persona [Fakx], who was glued to every little detailed word the teacher was rattling off.

Fakx has been Tobias' best friend since that fateful day back in there first year of school together when he jumped to David's rescue from a severe beating. Both Tobias and Fakx jumped many grades due to there "knacks" in programming and mechanics. Many mentors have left amazing reviews regarding this pairs ability to think together and work on projects considered to far advanced for them. of course, jumping ahead of other students and being slightly smarter than those around you brings its fair share of hate and jealousy, 2 things this pair was pretty used to at this point. Even at their young age, both Tobias and Fakx had completed every course and program thrown at them over the last 7 years. While most of there counterparts are beginning to worry about high school life, there preparing for 2nd Year Midterms coming up. In the last 2 Years Tobias has mastered every type of mechanics that came his way, from vehicle design to aeronautics, theory to an engine strip and rebuild - nothing got in his way.

They rarely left there dorm during lectures preferring to catch them on the local terminal rather than hang out with the older kids in the common study area. but like all lectures, Tobias was thinking about other things, such as helping his dad work on his classic '76 Cuda Drop-Top down in the Garage or joining his dad and the pilots down at the base working on the birds.

"Hey Tobias" David said while he gave his friend a light punch to the shoulder, "This is an important class your missing, quit day dreaming and pay attention will you, if you keep messing up these assignments were going to get dragged into extra classes to catch up."

Tobias gave his head and shake, "Yeah, Sorry Fakx, this is your world not mine, send me a nutshell version of the lesson, I'm going to go put some hours in at the shop, were rebuilding a 42 Tom-Cat this term, I want to go and get my hands dirty."

"Whatever Bud, yeah I'll forward you the info you need to get the assignments done." noted Fakx "Speaking of hardware, why don't you get a Data Jack installed - you know your parents are willing to sign off for it. I bet it would give you an even better edge when working on those projects."

Tobias cringed "You know my stance on that Fakx, I'll leave the implants to you buddy. I love technology and all - I even have one hell of a knack for it, but the though of sticking it in my body just gives me the creeps. I'd rather not have all that data noise buzzing about in my head, ya know?"

"You say that every time, look at Your Brother - Hes already a Sergeant in Knight Errant - rumors say hes going in for a wire nerve job, good luck kicking his ass once he has that put in" chimed Fakx tauntingly.

"You guys are crazy, I'll stick to gut feeling and working my Wrench's, it hasn't let me down yet." responded Tobias with a hint of the chills, "Just the thought makes me feel wheezy, all that noise - no privacy." Tobias stopped and turned at the door. "Besides - ain't no way anyone is ever going to hack into my brain!"

As Tobias began to walk away he shouted back "Dammit to Hell Fakx, now ya got me all worked up, I'll hit the shop later, I'm heading down to the Campus Bar to shoot some pool, I need some cred anyways."

---

About 2 hours after arriving downstairs Tobias was ahead about 100 Nuyen and had a pretty good buzz going. He lined up another shot - carefully calculating the pressure and angles, he also knew this table leaned about 1/32" towards the SE corner, which would have an effect on the shot, he allowed for the slight adjustment and lightly sent the white ball rolling down the middle of the Table. "8 Ball side pocket" stated Tobias as he stared down the Cue. With a crack the White Ball connected to the 8 Ball sending it rolling past the guard and into the side pocket. "That will be 20 Nuyen and a Beer, don't feel bad, just about everybody loses - you'll get used to it." Tobias picked up the cred from the table and waited on his beer to arrive.

"Hey Tobias, what the hell are you thinking" steamed a little dwarf who just crashed the party. "Confirmation of Acceptance into Knight Errant's Firewatch Training Program, Dude, what the hell are you thinking?" Fakx strolled across the floor, dodging drunken college students stumbling about, and took a seat on the stool next to Tobias. " Seriously, your a wiz mechanic and Meta-Prodigy, why would you apply to be shot at daily. I know your old man was a Pilot and all, but dude - you fix shit, ya don't fly it." as he plugged himself into a terminal in the wall.

Tobias looked around "Is someone gonna rack-up the next set or what?" he casually implied as the waitress approached with the second half of his winnings. "Thanks again, Megs" as he dropped the elfin waitressing programming student a few Nuyen in tip.

She gave him a slight smile "Always a pleasure Toby, you ever gonna buy your own drinks when you come in here?"

Tobias laughed "Not if I can help it Megs, you know I'd rather just spend my hard earned Nuyen on something better looking, lunch sometime?"

Megan laughed and replied "You know my parents would flip if I did, and since there funding my ass through this hell-hole I gotta keep em happy. Nothing personal Toby, your a great guy, but like always you already know the answer." She gave him a little wink as she walked towards another Table.

"Well, 1000th time not a charm eh, Bud?" Tobias chuckled to Fakx as he turned towards the now set-up Pool Table. "and as far as K.E. goes, I think its a good call. I'm not a desk jockey like you Fakx, I hands on - I like excitement, K.E. has a great program, plus I can still do mech work on my baby. and its not like somebody is going to Hi-Jack my ride with you watching over it."

"What the hell you talking about Tobias? I ain't applying to K.E., thats ju.... wait, somethings coming in - uuuurgent? stuttered Fakx as he opened a newly sent Data File.

//[To: David Stone] //Subject: Application Accepted Mr. Stone Thank You for your application to our Firewatch Special Division. In response to your submission and request to Join Knight Errant's Mobile Matrix Security Division we happily accept. Your profile and records came highly recommend by your professors. We are also able to accommodate your request to be assigned with your schoolmate Tobias Farlocke. This decision was reviewed very closely but once again given your records on team work and the fact you both requested the same thing we approved both applications. See you in June and bring a helmet, Lt. Jean Gelinas Senior Recruiting Officer - Firewatch Division //End Transmission

Tobias smiled as he watched his friends eyes go wide, "Oh come on - you know we are fated to be together forever buddy, I can't think of a better person watching my back. I hope you don't mind, I used your data pad to apply 2 months ago when I did"

Fakx stared hard at his friend, He was hoping for a nice cushy job here in the Silicon Valley when the graduated next year.

"Oh come on, we got to have some fun while were still young, you can go all office drone in a few years - after our 5 Year Commitment is done."

"Did I mention that I hate you and I hope you burn in the deepest pit of hell one day Tobias?" Steamed the little dwarf as he unplugged himself from anymore surprises. "I can't believe you managed to Apply to K.E., on my data pad, without me even noticing"

Tobias lined up another shot and with a swift calculated shot split 2 balls into the far corners. "Tell ya what, how about after I take this chumps money, he can order you a drink instead?"

"Hey you arrogant asshole, you haven't won yet" noted the kid from across the pool table.

"Oh come now, we all know that cred is mine." replied Tobias casually, "and don't forget to tip the waitress either, shes working hard to bring me the beer you guys keep buying me." Tobias lined up another shot, "Corner Pocket" as the Black 8 ball rolled into the pouch. "Hey Fakx, whatcha drinking - hes buying this round"