Tue Aug 28 2007
Background:
Kimi has been hired by Richards higher-ups in the DMHA as a consultant for
IT and computer-security matters. They have periodic meetings in a
restaurant near the LA office.
As consultants go, this computer-chick isn't a bad sort. She even buys lunch. It's not a swank restaurant, but a comfortable diner, with a great burger and the best fruit salad north of the tropics. It's the monthly semi-'management' meeting with the head of the local branch rather than a disaster-prompted inhouse call. Besides, the big-wigs in the DMHA don't want their regular technical people to know there's someone watching them. The wonders of government paranoia. At least Richards gets a free lunch out of it, no doubt tablated on an expense account to his bosses' boss or somesuch. Kimi ordered the salad, with a side of burger and a milkshake.
Richards comes out of the bathroom where he's been washing his hands, double-cheeseburger please. A heart attack is probably the last thing he's going to die of. Without asking anyone if they mind, he lights up a cigarette before smoothing out his blood-red tie, nodding to Kimi, "Hey."
There's a wrinkled nose of distaste at the cigarette, but Kimi doesn't say anything. Which is surprising as she's the sort of girl that radiates a sublime perfection. A complexion models would die for, hair Panteen would wage war to acquire, and clothes that never seem to wrinkle. But then, it's doubtful she sleeps in her suits when she bothers to wear them. She starts with her usual question, "so have they realized how silly paying a consultant is and decided to drop me yet?" A fleeting smile. She knows that news won't come from Richards, but she has little tolerance for his bosses' boss. It's her usual greeting.
"Yeah, I just keep you coming every week because I need the date." Sarcasm and dry humor are arguably perfected by the British, and Richard has both of them in spades, blowing out smoke though away from Kimi, "So what's new? How's the work coming on the control systems for the prison?"
A small shrug. "Just a bunch of PLCs with control modules. I don't really see the point, though. Some meta can easily break into the most secure system, heck most without being within sight." She sucks down a few ounces of chocolate banna shake. "Best I can do is be as circumspect and obfuscate the design as much as possible. Of course, that'll make the install a nightmare." She flashes a grin. "Still think you're better off with using caves and rolling big rocks in front of the openings."
"I'm not worried about people breaking into them, I'm worried about people breaking out." Richards gives his own small shrug, saying quietly as he looks off to the side, watching the other patrons of the diner, "And there's methods to deal with the ones inside."
Kimi is quiet a moment. Then, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." It seems to be a quote. She came to light in the meta-database after being attacked by a meta back East. She got something out of it--but she isn't saying what. Other than a huge amount of money, most of which she gave to charities. She idly eats a few star-fruit slices. "When it comes to preventing break outs, big rocks are a lot cheaper," she quips. Then shrugs, "I'll lay out the best design I can. But there'll have to be budgeting for improvements and changes. It can't be left alone for years."
"Lincoln." Richards says with a small little shrug, "I don't want to test my character, I just want to put away bad guys." His tone cold but tired, as if a little wearied by the demands of his job, "The prison is a priority right now, you'll get the money."
From her expression, she hadn't directed Lincoln's words at Richards. Whether she meant prisoners or politicians, though, is up for interpretation. "I've built in some redundancy, that'll allow for a bit of leeway when the politicians decide it's been a priority long enough." She tilts her head quizzically. "The people at the NOC installed the new firewalls yet?"
Richards shrugs his shoulders, "Beats the fuck out of me. You'd have to ask one of them, I'm not really into the technical side of things." Richards grins faintly, as if thinking of the irony of him being the one to meet here all the time.
There's the tell-tale rattling of an empty shake. Kimi waves the cup at the waitress, wanting another. "Now, now. They're your office's body armor. Shouldn't take them too lightly." Though she understands the sentiment. "Thanks for taking that recommendation on a hire... The kid has a lot of talent. Now he'll be too busy working in the real world to get into trouble." The 'Kid' was 25 and a college graduate. Yet somehow this 12-year-old looking girl manages to pass it off effortlessly.
Richards nods his head, finishing his cigarette and snubbing it out on the plate in front of him, "Anything you want to let me know about?"
"There were some checksum errors in the redundancies," Kimi replies. "But it looks like it was a hardware failure in the transmission. A power spike or something. I don't think it was a breach." She shrugs. "Full report in the email you'll eventually get. And there were the usual run of crack attempts, nothing special."
Richards nods, "Okay." He stands up then, smoothing out his uniform, "So, I'll be seeing you again, same time next week right?"
Kimi shakes her head, "will have to move the appointment back a couple days. I have to go to Washington." From the evident distaste, she means D.C.
Richards drops enough on the table to tip, then nods, "Okay, see you then."
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