Chapter 13 Part 4

"I'm not sure I am, Felicia. Six hours really isn't all that long to solve something like this."

"Well, it is going to have to be long enough," said Felicia.

"You must be really sacred I'm going to break your code," replied Sal.

"Hmmph. If it were up to me, I'd give you a solid week with all the meals you could eat to try to break what I've put together. Unfortunately, it is not up to me. Telray is satisfied that my work is good enough since you have not been able to find a way to crack my algorithm in the six hours that you have been here, plus the failure of the terrain modification."

"Well then, why don't you go tell your bosses to go fuck themselves?"

Felicia smoothed the lapels of her jacket for a moment before she answered. "Some of us have found that having manners goes a lot father than being a rebel without a cause."

"So what you mean is that if you behave like a good dog, your handlers are happy to give you pats on the head? asked Sal.

Felicia's brow furrowed. "No, that is not at all what I mean."

"Could have fooled me," replied Sal.

"I already have, Mr. Grimone. Twice."

"Listen Felicia. I don't know what your handlers have taught you other than how to be an obedient little bitch, but your code will break. If you have enough pride to think it won't, then you are not nearly as smart as you try to project."

"I do not need it to be unbreakable, Mr. Grimone. Just unbreakable enough. Nonetheless, your time is up, and Telray has no further need of you. I suggest you shut your terminal down so that I may escort you to the other door--unless you would prefer the slip stream travel that brought you here."

Sal glanced at his interface to close it. He kept his vision firmly on the cursor. The instant before the interface disappeared, it blinked twice.

Sal turned to Felicia, "Well, I guess you can't win them all," he said. "Better show me out before I prove how misplaced your boss's confidence is in you."