I wrote a story recently based on a dream I had. Since it's the first story I've completed in years, I thought I would post it here. It's a little odd and out there, but I hope you enjoy it.
Horatio
She looked in awe, for it had spoken. There it was between the two trashcans, which were sitting against the chain link fence. It waggled its antennae at her.
"I'm a hacker," it had said.
She blinked hardly believing her eyes. "D-did you j-just speak to m-me?" She trembled.
The roach crept forward into the light coming from the street lamp.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I just overheard you mumbling about trying to find a way into the building, and something about a file--"
"Yes, but how can you--"
"Because, as I was saying I'm a hacker. I know the ins and outs of this building. I've roamed those halls for years. I know how the technology works, and everything."
"But how can you be a hacker? You're just a cockroach!"
She was still astonished she was even speaking to it. It continued on in its raspy voice. She privately wondered if cockroaches smoked too.
"Oh, I've done quite a bit of reading on hacking. It's my favorite subject actually."
"You can read?"
The roach cocked its miniscule head.
"Can't you?"
She smirked.
"Anyway the point is you're trying to get a file from inside that building. I'm a hacker. Therefore, I can help you. That is if you want me to."
"I suppose so--" She started.
"Great!" The roach exclaimed, antennae twitching madly.
"Now lower your hand to the ground and I will climb up. I should be able to walk you through this."
The girl reluctantly lowered her palm to the dirt. The cockroach quickly scampered onto her open hand. She carefully lifted it up, and its beady eyes met hers.
"The name is Horatio by the way."
"Molly," she said in return.
"Good. Now then Molly, where exactly is this file you're looking for?"
"It's in my dad's office, on his computer, downstairs, the third door to the right. I just need to open the file, print it, and get out."
"Okay." Horatio turned around in her palm. It felt creepy.
"Let's head down to the front doors of the building then."
She walked towards the front of the building, cautious not to drop Horatio.
There was a number pad on the wall next to the door. The only way to get in would be to punch in a code. Horatio turned around to face Molly again.
"Now this is the easy part. I've seen employees come and go every day. I've memorized the code. It's 413178."
Molly punched in the combination. There was a puff of air and the doors slid open. She smiled and walked in.
"All we have to do now is get into my dad's office right?"
"Not quite." Her expression became serious. Horatio's antennae swished back. "I told you getting in was the easy part. I'm afraid we can't get in your father's office because all the offices are locked at night via the main computer. We will have to go to that computer and unlock the doors."
Molly seemed to see a problem with that plan.
"But won't hacking into the main computer set off the alarms?"
Horatio shook his tiny head.
"Not if we override the system, which can be done. Once again, I'll walk you through it. Fortunately, the door to the main computer room is at the end of this hallway. Let's go."
Molly crept quietly down the tiled floor to the end of the hallway. She wasn't one hundred percent certain the building was completely empty. Both the walls and floor were bleach white. This place could use some redecorating, she thought to herself. Unfortunately, there was another keypad awaiting her by the door. Another obstacle.
"Don't worry," Horatio reassured her. "I know the code to this too." He told her the code and she entered it. The door swung open and she went inside.
The room was neither too big, nor too small. It looked like it was recently vaccumed. On the mahogany desk sat the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It looked to be just an ordinary computer. She found it hard to believe that this computer was the central power of the building.
"All right," said Horatio. "Why don't you set me down on the desk."
She did as she was told. He crawled up towards the monitor, and she sat down on the chair.
"The computer is on, so all we have to do is break into the system. I'm going to explain to you how this works, and from there you're on your own. Are you ready?"
Knowing she couldn't leave this building without the file, she nodded her head.
Horatio's antennae danced in the air with excitement. "Good. One thing you should know about hacking is that it's often a tricky art. Some systems can only be broken in certain ways. For instance, this system in particular is a bit like a game."
"A game?" She asked.
"Yes, however this is not a fun game. If you lose in this game, you WILL get caught."
Molly gulped.
"Ok, so what do I have to do to crack this system?"
"I'm going to give you some codes to enter into the computer. This will trigger the game to override the system. Your mouse will turn into a beacon, which you'll have to maneuver into an exit marked at the end. Avoid hitting obstacles or the alarms will go off."
"That doesn't sound too bad," Molly said.
"It wouldn't be, but in the case of this system you have a thirty second time limit as well. If you don't reach the exit before the time hits zero, the alarms will go off."
"Great," she groaned. "Well, let's get started."
Horatio gave her the codes and the game began. At first the game seemed easy. The timer had hit twenty-five seconds. Then at fifteen seconds it started getting harder to avoid the obstacles. Then at ten seconds there still seemed to be no sign of the exit. Horatio's eyes were fixed on the screen. Molly's heart was pumping, her palm sweating on the mouse. At five seconds Horatio seemed frantic, scurrying back and forth. Four...Three...At two Molly found the exit. At one she entered it.
Molly breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Horatio relaxed.
"We're in," he said. "You sure cut it close."
"Yeah. I don't think I'm quite cut out to be a hacker."
Horatio made a strange sound, which she took to be a laugh.
"Well, not everyone is up to the job, but now the doors should be unlocked. We can get into your father's office now."
"Right," she said.
She picked Horatio up and headed out the door to her father's office.
The door was unlocked, just as expected. Molly set down Horatio on her father's desk. She turned the computer on.
"Oh no. It's asking for a password," she said.
"Luckily I know how to bypass password protection as well." He then proceeded to give out more codes. There were no games this time, thankfully. Then it was only a matter of finding the file. Molly knew just where to find it.
"I've got it," she stated.
"Go ahead and print it out then," Horatio said eagerly.
She clicked print and the printer whirred and hummed to life. It snagged a sheet of paper in. Soon she would have the file in her hands.
Suddenly, Molly thought she heard footsteps. She saw a speck of light outside the office window.
"Hide!" Horatio squeaked.
Molly quickly ducked underneath the desk. Out of the corner of her eye she saw an old man swaggering past the window with a flash light. He must have been the night guard. He must have heard the noise coming from the printer. The light flooded the office. She crouched lower, hoping she wouldn't be caught. She wished she was Horatio's size. It was much easier for him to go unnoticed. It seemed like hours before the old man continued down the hall and turned a corner. Horatio jumped down to where she was hidden. It startled her.
"We should probably grab the paper and get out of here," he said.
Molly nodded. She got back up, and took the printed file. She ran out of the office, through the hallway, and didn't look back until she got outside.
"Phew! We did it!" She heaved.
She took Horatio back to where she had found him, in between the two trash cans.
"Well," she looked down at him. "I guess this is where we part ways. It's amazing that most people think of cockroaches as pests, but you have been a great help to me. I don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you."
Horatio's antennae quivered. "You are the first human not wanting to squash me. You have spared my life, and for that I thank you."
He formed a little insect bow.
"I-if there's anything I can do to repay you for what you've done--" She began.
"No. No need. I live for this kind of thing. However, if you're in need of my help again, you'll know where to find me. I've had my fair share of brushes with death, but we cockroaches haven't survived for millions of years for nothing."
Molly smiled. "Thank you again. Whenever I see a cockroach, I will think of you. Goodbye Horatio."
"Goodbye Molly."
She watched as Horatio crawled away in the darkness. It would seem that even the ugliest of creatures can show a great deal of kindness. Then she began the trek home.
The End
04 Aug 2007, 1:15 pm
