Reverie Across Timescape

Musubi's Cafe

In the end she brought me here. Though there's so many things to complain about the food in here. Wtf is this kelp like substance offered on my plate?!

Seemingly understanding my hesitation she said, "Eat up, don't think that you're those young masters of the corporates who complained all the time about the food offered in these areas."

At her nagging I grumblingly ate the food on my plate. Surpirsingly it wasn't that bad, the taste resembled those of rice noodles with rich umami flavor of the kelp. It smelled quite fishy though but nothing too bothering. So I started eating with relish.

Beside me, the girl calmly sipped on the energy drink she ordered before as her mind seemed to be occupied elsewhere. Even so at times she still took a glance at me as I ate. I could sense her curiosity from her gaze. But I decided to ignore it if she didn't plan to ask.

On another thought, I didn't seem to know her name yet. So I stopped eating and asked her, "By the way, what's your name?"

Surprised, she widened her eyes as she told me with a smile, "The name's Silvana, so what're yours?"

"Claude, the name's Claude but you can also call me Cloud if you will."

"Pfft~ what's the difference."

"Well, there's nothing. In fact my people used to call me as such because of the instance of my previous job," as I raised my hands to create a gesture of helplessness.

Silvana stirred her drink as she seemed to be in thought. I continued eating for a while before she asked me about my previous job.

"What are your previous job anyway? You didn't seem to be from around here judging from your attire. Most importantly, you didn't have any cybernetics implants, not even a cybernet nodes installed on your body," she spoke as she pointed at the side of my neck.

That action of her prompted me to rub on my neck as I began to notice a certain device attached on hers and the people all around. Well, how do I explain this now?

Pondering for a moment, I decide to just ask her another question, "What's the cybernet nodes anyway? I do understand what a cybernetics implants are but never heard of any nodes you've mentioned."

Silvana looked at me with a strange gaze.

"You don't even know about it? Do you live in a cave from like a hundred years ago?"

I could only scratches my head when hearing her remarks.

"Well alright then, let me tell you," she said as she turned her neck towards me. She move her silky white hair aside to show me a contraption that resembles the old school SD Card plug-ins. Though instead being attached to a device these things were instead sewn into someone's body; maybe through somekind of operation procedure.

I couldn't help but feel the urge to touch it myself to inspect how it works but I managed to hold it back as Silvana began to tell me about the details of operation.

"These thing right here, is called the Cybernet Nodes. It was a mandatory attachment for someone in the cities around here to get by the time they turned thirteen. Although even if it is mandatory it isn't necessarily written on the laws as people nowadays wouldn't even be able to get a job without it. You see, there are two nodes on mine, while most people would have only one which was called as the main node. Other nodes however, you could think of them as somekind of add-ons. Let's cover the basic function of the main node first,"

Silvana then pressed a hidden button near the first node on her neck when a certain chip that resembles an SD Card popped out of it. She then held it in between of her fingers and show it to me.

"This was called the Cybernet Card. It represents your identity in the Cyberspace. What's a Cyberspace you ask? You might think of it as a space composed by a network of consciousness that made it possible for us to exchange information with each other."

So Cybernet Card is like your phone number or your google accounts while Cyberspace is actually the internet, which use the Cybernet Nodes as the transmitter. Now I began to understand a little bit about this day and age. To think that the so called handheld mobile devices has become as mobile as your own body nowadays is quite fascinating.

But then again, it's not the first time I've been exposed to this kind of concept. It was pretty much the same as what surfaced in the media back then.

Understanding from how the modern era digitalization worked these cybernet invention might as well carries the inherent flaw of sabotage. I could already picture a few scenarios where these inherent flaw could be potentially fatal as I feel a shiver went down my spine. Especially thinking of those application depicted in a particular series which involved countless factions and higher ups.

So I refrain from inquiring any further and decided to hear her explaining how it works and the procedure of attachment involving the organ such as the spine and the brains.

Soon she switched to explain more about the other nodes that she described as add-ons. After putting back her Cybernet Card in the main node, she began to pull out another card.

"See this one? This is called the secondary node. This specific model of mine was referred as the Eidolon Node V2.4. As for its function is to enhance the brain computing processes. It enables me to make a quick decision and critical thinking in different scenarios. Most importantly this one of mine has been filled with an extensive library of information that I could recall and use at anytime. It could even run a program through the Augmented Interface that was linked directly through my eyes. Now tell me, how cool is that! Now you see why you're the weird one around here being the only one without any cybernetics implants."

She shook her head as she commented on my strangeness. Hearing her comments I just smiled without saying anything. Shaking my head along as to acknowledge her remarks.

That was until when the shit goes down and she asked me,

"So, after that long-ass explanation do you mind of telling me what kind of job did you exactly do before arriving in this city?"

Sigh, how should I answer this question anyway? Might as well just dodge it.

"Well.. I do mind."

"Aw come on! At least tell me about what can you do!"

I frowned for a bit, "What for?"

Then she pointed her finger at the empty plate in front of me.

"Isn't it fair if you help me after I fed you?"

Sigh..

Realizing that I might have been tricked I could only raise my hands in surrender as I said, "Alright, alright, I'll tell you but you might have not believe me even if I said so."

Hearing my remark Silvana's face instantly brightened like a happy rabbit. Well at least the one that was possessed by a demoness that's it.

"Hmm, how should I say this. You see, I was one of those software specialist back then. Not cybernetics, more like the old school one. You know, when they still carries various equipment to perform the job. Everyone called me the master of machine language and penetration specialist, there's no such thing as a secure network that was safe from these hands of mine."

"No you're lying!" Silvana said as she glared at me.

Well just as expected, it was impossible to tell others about my circumstances in the first place.

So I said, "Well, doubt me if you will. I've said that you won't believe me anyway."

"Proof it then! So I could judge your skills myself," she insisted.

"Sigh, alright then. The fact is, however, as you might know, I didn't have the required devices right now. Please wait till I have settled for a bit. Of course once I have settled then I'll perform in order to repay your meal. How's that?"

Hearing my assurance, Silvana pondered for a moment, seemingly deciding for something. I waited for her to make a decision as I calmly sipped on my drink.

Soon, she raised her head and locked her eyes on mine.

"Fine then," she said as she accepted my proposal but then she continues, "but there's no need to wait for that long, here."

She throw something that I quickly catches with my right hand. I took a glance at it and it seems to be somekind of a handheld device with a black colored frame. I instinctively pressed the only button that seems to be the power button of the device.

And then, a semi transparent hologram extended from the device. Offering an interface resembling those of modern days tablets. I tried to scroll at the hologram only to find that it was pretty tactile and unlike those intangible light projection. Browsing for a few seconds I quickly turned off the device.

Seeing that I'm done inspecting the device Silvana said to me,

"Meet me in this place three days from now, I'll prepare the test network as a target first. No need to contact me, I've put a tracker on that device so you just need to come here by the time. You understand? Don't break your promise or I'll find you at your place!"

"Huh, alright then I'll come here by the time."

"Good.." with that she swiftly got up and went out of the cafe.

I sighed once again before leaving the cafe.

And so I parted ways with that cute girl.