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Hacker's Memory 19 HM

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237
PlayerI feel like someone's here, but I can't pinpoint where...
PlayerThere's an anonymous post on my DigiLine.
Player?
Digivice" S T O P L O O K I N G A T M E "
Player...!?
PlayerWho are you? Tell me your name!
PlayerNo reply...
KyokoYo, we got another case from the occult club. This one looks personal, though...
KyokoI think those guys might have taken a, uh, liking to us, given that we deal in the strange and unusual in our line of work.
KyokoAnd in doing so, they're inviting yet more strange, unusual things into our lives.
KyokoStarting with themselves, really, heehee...
KyokoHey, nice to see you again, Manaka! What brings you here by yourself?
ManakaUh, well, I...think I might be caught up in a cybercrime.
KyokoCybercrime? Did you go to the police?
ManakaI can't, really... There are some supernatural elements involved, I think...
KyokoI understand. You made the right choice coming to us. All right, give us the details.
ManakaOkay. Take a look at this. It's my log on DigiLine.
KyokoAll right, let's see what you've got...
Manaka's DigiLine>*sigh* Should I go to my club tomorrow?
Manaka's DigiLine>They claim they do research, but...all they really do is hang out and talk. It's only a club because everyone has similar interests...
Manaka's DigiLine>I should probably enroll in something a little more serious and go to that, too...
Manaka's DigiLine>And I could really use a hot, manly boyfriend, too! Oh my gosh, did I just write that!? <3
KyokoHuh? What's so special about this?
ManakaKeep going. You'll understand why...
Manaka's DigiLine>Could Kenji have a crush on Mei?
Manaka's DigiLine>lolololol, no way!!! She has a one track mind! She can't think of anything else but occult stuff!
Manaka's DigiLine>...does that guy even have his eyes on straight?
Manaka's DigiLine>He's such an ass. He has a real hottie right in front of him and can't take his eyes off Mei for even a second to notice it!
Manaka's DigiLine>Maybeeeee I should seduce him, ehehehe. <3
Manaka's DigiLine>I mean... I've got the goods. I'd give him a peek aaaaanytime...
KyokoHmm... how do I put this? Your posts aren't... pulling any punches here.
Manaka...
KyokoPutting my personal opinion aside, I otherwise don't see anything wrong with them. They look normal to me.
ManakaUh, the thing is...I didn't write that stuff.
KyokoWhat?
ManakaThey just randomly showed up, but they freaked me out so badly that I deleted them.
KyokoAh, I hear you. Then doesn't that mean your account was probably just hacked?
KyokoSome two-bit hacker probably did it to screw with you, or maybe your computer was infected with--
ManakaNo, it isn't anything like that.
KyokoHmm...then I take it that this is where that
"supernatural" part you mentioned factors into these posts?
ManakaYeah...
ManakaI wasn't the one who wrote those posts and put them online, but...they are how I feel.
ManakaWhat you see written there, that's...stuff that I think about, but don't express...out loud.
KyokoOkay, I get you. It's stuff that's hard to share with any of the other club members, basically.
ManakaR-right...
KyokoHmm...seeing as you're in an occult club, I'm sure you know about Ouija boards and whatnot, right?
KyokoYour hands move against your will, sending you messages from the spirit world... Something like that could very possibly be happening to you.
KyokoLooking at the post times on your log, those messages went out in the dead of night.
KyokoYou should have long been sound asleep by that point.
ManakaOkay...then what?
KyokoIn the late 1800s, there was an academic by the name of Enryo Inoue who posited these sorts of things can come from having multiple "selves."
ManakaEnryo Inoue? You mean the man who came up with
"mystery studies," right? I've shown off his work at the club bef--
ManakaHold on, are you saying I have a split personality!?
KyokoThe politically correct term for that would be
"dissociative identity disorder," actually.
ManakaI guess... I guess it makes sense. If I'm writing those posts at night without realizing it, that would explain it, but...but...!
ManakaHmm... M-maybe it really is that... I've honestly been worried that it might be deep down...
Kyoko...
KyokoBut no...that's not it.
ManakaHuh?
KyokoThis isn't because of some mental issue... Here, take a look at this.
Manaka's DigiLine> J U S T T R Y A N D F I N D M E !
KyokoThis was just now posted onto your account. It's a reply to what I wrote on your DigiLine.
Manaka's DigiLine>To the culprit: I'm a detective who's taken up Manaka's case.
Manaka's DigiLine>Know that we will track you down and uncover your identity, no matter who or where you are. You can't hide forever.
Manaka's DigiLine>You've been warned.
ManakaWell...
KyokoThis conversion unfolded online as you and I were talking, while you weren't touching any terminals.
KyokoThat means you're not the one behind those posts, let alone any mental disorder of yours. The real culprit is out there somewhere.
KyokoWhoever's behind it is just a dumb troll, albeit an arrogant one at that.
KyokoTo quote Enryo Inoue's work again, what we've got is a case of a "fake wonder," or someone trying to make this look more mystical than it really is.
KyokoIn other words, this is plain old hacking.
KyokoYou said that the contents of these posts are based on actual facts about yourself, yes?
ManakaWell, I don't know about facts, so much as... just how I think and feel, really...
KyokoWere you logged into EDEN before you fell asleep?
ManakaY-yes. I do that every night.
KyokoGotcha. Then the way I see it, I bet the culprit's been snooping around and hacked into your memory data in EDEN.
ManakaYou can do that sort of thing in EDEN!?
KyokoWell, not literally, at least not when you're lone-wolfing it like your hacker here.
KyokoStill, avatars in EDEN are essentially digitized versions of people's "mental data," so to speak, and so memory data hacks theoretically doable.
KyokoThings take a bit of a different turn once the so-called "supernatural" enters the equation.
Manaka...Huh?
KyokoDon't sweat it. For now, just log into EDEN tonight like you normally would.
KyokoI'll have my assistant waiting for you in the lobby.
ManakaAll right... But what do you actually plan on doing?
KyokoOh, let's just say we're going "fox hunting." And our decoy will be...
KyokoOur little maiden's deep, dark secrets, heehee...
KyokoLooks like Manaka's still not here yet. Here's hoping this isn't a sign of what's to come...
Player?
KyokoHmm? Oh, I had Manaka lay down our decoy. If the culprit's the type of person I suspect they are, they'll definitely go for it.
KyokoThat means it's a pretty safe guess to say that they're going to log into EDEN tonight.
KyokoOnce they're in position, it's just a matter of apprehending them... But that shouldn't be a problem, either.
KyokoThat's because Pete's going to be working with us.
PeteHow's it goin'?
PeteLong time no see! Thanks again for what you did back there with the AC stuff!
KyokoI had Pete here take a look at those posts the hacker wrote so he could learn their "scent."
PeteYep! Turns out those messages had traces of a Digimon on them. Can't fool me!
PeteI'll let you know when the bad guy's close by. You can count on me and my nose!
KyokoBut of course. That's why I brought you onboard.
PeteThis is so cool working with a real live detective! I feel like a real Boy Wonder here!
Player?
PeteEh? You don't know who the Boy Wonder is? Really?
ManakaHey, I'm here. Sorry to keep you waiting.
ManakaI did just like you asked and posted the message on my DigiLine, but...
ManakaAm I really going to be okay doing that?
Player???
KyokoHeehee, you're curious what she wrote, aren't you? It's fine, I'll tell you...
KyokoShe confessed her love to the hacker and also mentioned that she really wanted to meet him.
Player!?
KyokoIt's a real blatant ploy on our part, but again, this guy thinks his hacking skills are hot stuff.
KyokoHe's going to want to verify Manaka's claims, preferably by checking her memories directly.
KyokoHacking memory data takes some work, though, even to just take a look inside it.
KyokoIt'll require actually directly reaching out and making contact with her avatar.
KyokoThat's the only way he could have done this. He had to have been touching her somehow in order to do the hacks.
KyokoWhat's more, messing around with someone's mental data would take going into the core of EDEN itself.
KyokoThe security there is supposed to be tight as can be. It'd take real effort to break in.
KyokoThe hacker behind Manaka's messages would have therefore had to be touching her for at least several minutes before leaving his handiwork.
PeteI smell him! He's close by!
KyokoGood. It's time to go hunting! Go investigate the surrounding area and get this person out of his foxhole!
ManakaI don't really understand what's going on... Is the culprit really somewhere nearby?
Mr. Navit*yawn* I'm so tired... You guys are working so late tonight...
PeteI smell him! We're getting close!
PeteWhat...? I don't smell anything anymore! This is bad! If we don't pick it up soon, we'll lose him!
PlayerI can't leave Manaka behind...
PeteThere! Right in front of you! Hurry up and do a scan!
Pete...Yes! We've got you now, buster! You're not going anywhere!
Precocious BoyUgh, for real!? How'd you find me!?
KyokoI knew it. The culprit's a little kid.
Precocious BoyDon't call me a little kid, that's rude! Hey...wait a minute!
Precocious BoyYou're the one who spotted me here before, aren't you!? Crap, how'd you notice me!? You're not supposed to be able to see me at all!
KyokoWe're Cyber Sleuth. It comes with the job. But enough of that. We've got questions for you.
Precocious BoyDoes that make you a detective, too? Whoa! You're so hot!
KyokoYeah, whatever, just answer my questions already. Who are you and how did you achieve such a complicated--
Precocious BoyI'm...what you'd call a genius "architect." I'm not some lowly hacker or programmer.
Genius Architect BoyDo you know about the Baku Reborn Service? It's a special service here on EDEN.
Genius Architect BoyIn cases like where a user either permanently leaves EDEN or they die, the Baku Reborn Service gathers all of that user's data and deletes it.
Genius Architect BoyAnd I'm the one who runs it.
Player!?
Genius Architect BoyYou don't have to act so surprised. Kids are just more attuned to the digital world than adults.
Genius Architect BoyI just studied on my own and joined groups that I could trade info with and soon enough, I started working in corporate R&D.
Genius Architect BoyOh, but the reason I'm considered a genius isn't just because I run that service. I'm also the one who designed it.
Genius Architect BoyActually, what I said about Baku gathering and deleting abandoned user data isn't entirely accurate. It actually does more...
Genius Architect BoyNot only does it gather and accumulate data pertaining to a given account, it also organizes it, almost like it has a mind of its own.
Genius Architect BoyTo be honest, even I'm surprised by that. I never expected it to act so precisely and deliberately.
Genius Architect BoyIt's a real case of the creation surpassing the creator. But that's how it should be with these sorts of things, no?
KyokoI follow you... Baku Reborn Service... Tell me, does the name "Baku" refer to the mythological creature that consumes nightmares?
Genius Architect BoyYep, you've got it! I named it that because data we don't want to show online is very much its own sort of nightmare.
KyokoAnd by using that baku on yourself, you could... All right, I'm onto what you did now.
KyokoYou handed your avatar's surface level appearance over to your baku and let it consume it.
KyokoThat way, nobody around you would be able to know that you were lurking.
KyokoBut you didn't let it purge that data outright... You controlled it yourself, making it hand it back, like a dog returning prey to a hunter.
Genius Architect BoyWow, you figured it all out! Yep, you got me! That's amazing, though. I love it when I actually meet a smart adult.
Player...
KyokoI'm guessing you basically used that same trick to draw out Manaka's mental data, then?
Genius Architect BoyYeah, I copied it, but I only did that with her short-term memory. The stuff you'd find around a person's hippocampus inside a real brain.
Genius Architect BoyEven something as advanced as Baku can't break into a person's memory within active mental data.
Genius Architect BoyThat would definitely be crossing the line and I understand why that's bad.
Genius Architect BoyI'll hand over what I copied to your partner, given the apparent interest it's sparked.
Genius Architect BoyIt...really is like a baku, isn't it?
KyokoI think I more or less have a grasp of the current situation now.
Kyoko"I Am That I Am Not"... I think that might be the best way to describe what your partner is to this world, if you catch my drift.
Genius Architect BoyHeh, you know, I was thinking the same thing. Genius or not, even I can't purposefully go out and architect life itself.
Genius Architect BoyThat thing was...probably "born" as such by pure chance.
Genius Architect BoyI have no idea how it'll end up growing moving forward. Certainly at the very least, I have a feeling I'll lose control of it eventually...
KyokoYou really are smart. I don't just mean you know a lot, either. There's a sharpness to your words that I admire.
KyokoCan I trust you to let me deal with the baku?
Genius Architect BoyDo you plan on...disposing of it?
KyokoWe'll see... It depends on how things go.
Genius Architect BoyOkay... I trust your judgment.
Genius Architect BoyYou'll find it uploaded onto a site. The password lock for it is lifted. The rest... I'll leave up to you.
ManakaWhoa, this little kid... He's the culprit!? I'd have never guessed it would be someone so young!
Genius Architect BoyWha'!? I, uh... Well, you see...
Genius Architect BoyHuh? Why did I do what I did with her account?
Genius Architect BoyWho... Who cares at this stage!?
Genius Architect BoyI won't do it again and I promise to even apologize for it later! I'll even give her some consolation money, so just leave me alone!
PlayerDo it right. Look her in the eye and say sorry. This isn't about the money!
ManakaYou know, I just remembered... We've met here in EDEN before, haven't we?
ManakaWe talked for a little bit while I was waiting to meet up with a friend.
ManakaRight?
ManakaSo why did you do all of that mean stuff? You're so smart, you shouldn't be out committing crimes.
Genius Architect BoyEh... Um...
ManakaYeah?
Genius Architect BoyYeah, you're right... I'm sorry...
ManakaThat's what I was hoping to hear! See, you're a good kid at heart!
Genius Architect Boy...
Player...?
Genius Architect BoyWhat are you staring at!? I did it, all right!? I apologized!
KyokoLet's...call it good at that, shall we?
KyokoYou still have work to do. I'm sending you the URL of the Baku Reborn Service now.
KyokoWe're going to resume our hunt now...only our goal here is to capture, rather than kill our target.
KyokoManaka, I want you to go back. It's too dangerous for you to stick around. My assistant will take care of everything from here.
ManakaAll right... I'm counting on you.
PeteWe don't know how our prey is going to react once we get there, so you better be prepared for anything before we go!
Player?
KyokoOh? So that's what's happened, huh?
KyokoHeh, my little assistant is so sensitive to Digital Waves and special networks... The culprit didn't stand a chance of hiding forever!
Genius Architect BoyIt's up to her what happens to Baku now...
ManakaStay safe! I'm going back to your office in the meantime.
KyokoThere it is, our one and only Baku.
KyokoFrom the look of it, that kid's program has merged with a wild Digimon.
Baku/Clockmonきおく, くう-くわせろ-きおく
Baku/Clockmonたべる-きおく- おまえ-きおく-くわせろ
KyokoIt's no use trying to reason here. The program's erased whatever traces were left of that Digimon's own sentience.
KyokoDigimon are easily susceptible to influence from man-made programs...
KyokoIt's one of the reasons why some don't consider them to be autonomous beings with their own sense of will.
KyokoThere's no getting around this one... You're just going to have to knock some sense into it.
KyokoOkay, now that that's over, download the data and collect what's left of Baku.
KyokoOnce you're done, get out of there and come back to the office.
ManakaIt's hard to believe such a little kid would do a heinous crime like that... I'm still shocked.
KyokoHeinous, huh...? I guess I see where you're coming from.
KyokoEven if he didn't mean any harm by it, what he did certainly broke the law.
KyokoBut that's all in the past now that we've
"exorcised" your account of that little stalker that haunted it. This case is closed now.
KyokoWe'll be holding onto the Baku program in the meantime. If we can tune it up a bit, it could very well come in handy.
ManakaBut I still don't get it... Why did he go after me in the first place?
Player...?
Kyoko*sigh*
KyokoDo neither of you really get why that boy picked on her?
KyokoIn a way, there really was no reason at all...
KyokoExcept to say that it was love at first sight. He really liked you, Manaka.
Manaka...Huh?
KyokoAt first, he probably just wanted to get to know you more with all his heart. But as we saw, he was less mature than he'd like to admit.
KyokoHe wanted to tease and mess with you so you'd pay attention to him.
KyokoAt his age, it's a pretty standard mentality towards someone you like, really...
PeteWhew, that was soooo fun! Let me help out again if something else comes up, okay?
PeteI think it'd be pretty cool to be a detective cat Digimon like that!
KyokoYou definitely helped us back there, so you have my thanks, Pete.
KyokoAnyway, are you still not able to actually leave the confines of Nakano Broadway's intranet?
PeteYeah. I think it has to do with how old the network protocols for the intranet are... It makes it hard to transfer data around.
PeteIt could be I'm just stuck to the vacuum tube computer, like how Baku was to that Digimon...
KyokoHmm... there's still much to learn about what Pete truly is, it seems.
Player...?
KyokoHuh? Why do we call Pete "Pete"? Well... He's a cat.
KyokoHe was extracted from his own little time capsule, where he was frozen asleep all that time... Besides, open enough doors and you're bound to--
KyokoDo you really need a reason for it?
KyokoUnlike the digital world, the real world is filled to the brim with things that have no real reason for being what they are.
KyokoIt's a simple pleasure in life that we're entitled to have as humans. Don't sweat it too much. Just kick back and enjoy it.
GirlBut moooom, I swear! There's something there! I just felt it!
MotherSweetie, look behind you and check for yourself. See? Nothing there. Now don't worry about it.

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