UR006 Diary Entry

I was concerned from the Bobby's behavior. His voice was tremorous and he couldn't complete his sentences. And on top of that the incident with his friend Tom. I forget momentarily about any reward and get sympathetic towards him. Himself forgot about controlling the doors and he could not think clear when he heard something wrong is happening to his best friend. I try to calm him down, telling him that panic is never a good consult and there is always time to act, if you think clearly... well if only I could do this.

I offer to help him finding out what happened to his friend and we postpone the discussion about the doors for later on. I promise to help him, if he comes up with a reasonable explanation of why he needs to tamper the doors for. After all, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

We switch the conversation back to Tom. He suggests that we should talk with the homeless guy that was arrested. Though being in custody, this might be difficult. I ask him who else could help on this and mentions Grace. We make a phone call to Grace, but she does not answer. Given the situation, she is probably not attending her usual schedule and so we email her on finding anyone of us, when she gets a chance.

I suggest we find out who Tom has spend time with lately. They might know or noticed something. He agrees to talk to his fellow students and come back with a list of persons that have seen Tom the last days. I suspect that Bobby knows something more private by the look in his eyes, but he does not say. Perhaps Grace knows something as well; we have to wait until she appears.

Afterwards, I call the Principal's secretary and ask her to arrange an appointment for me, when he is available. I sense that there might be meat in this case and he has asked for discrete investigative help before. Perhaps, he might be interested in finding out himself the details of what he is going on - though he must know more, I hear that he is the one that called the medic chopper. And maybe, he could use his influence as a school principal to get us an interview with the accused homeless. If he really wants to, he might claim that the guy was an old graduate of the school and find a reason to speak or guarantee for him.

How to play "Sandon C R I S I S - Who hurt Tom?"

This story will be an investigation on an incident involving a student, Tom - a geek.

Tom's best friend, Bobby Reads, will look for the truth. But he's not likely to manage alone. His professor, Mr. Ubik, and Grace, who Tom was in love with, may help. Not even Perenti and his minions have the story right at this moment. But how will they look for hints?

This is a good moment to push a character hint; perhaps you have seen something, as a certain hooker who should not have been in town, or an old homeless who is now accused of attempted murder..

Join Sandon for a hint and try to reconstruct the story.

F018. The helicopter.

I snap my knuckles and turn my wrist to check the time. It's ten past 7pm and the day is over, over finally. I did more paperwork than expected. I feel in control. Reason to party. I've been neglecting Christina, I think. Then the special phone rings.

I flip it open, kick the drawer and take the safe off the gun in the time I say "Perenti."

It's Venturi. It should not be her. She has no access to this line, I think. Wrong - she is supposed not to. As I correct myself mentally she is apparently saying security has called her, a student is critical and another dead, and she called in medevac from the local army base.

I'm saying "You need my clearance for that, Venturi, stop this madness now. We'll be on each and every newspaper..."

A loud noise of blades fending air makes me stop. I scream on the line but Venturi is gone. I fold on the desk and want to be home. A vague memory of being in control pops like a soap bubble.

I pull up and light a cigarette. Keeping calm is the only way. I take five deep drafts.

Then I throw the chair back and start running.

BR005

Bobby looks at the professor. What can he say - that he just wants to do it - that he is not going to do no stinky project? Bobby needs to find a way - help - he has a strange feeling about the school. He never realized - but now he's starting to put things together. The professor blinks and smiled when Bobby hints to a reward. Great, Bobby now you make up a reward.

"Professor Ubik - I ..."

".. this college is strange. Mr. Perenti is strange. He made us.."

".. his assistant, Ms. Christina."

Bobby gulps a lot - not knowing how much to say.

"He took me, Tom and other friends - a weekend - in a hut in the woods - Ms. Christina was there. Professor - I can tell you more - in exchange for your help."

"This college is strange. I want something - to feel safer. We could have control on all doors - only me and you. I.."

Bobby is interrupted. A girl from his class opens the door - shrieking. "Bobby! Have you HEARD what happened to Tom?"

W H O H U R T T O M ?

A Sandon Crisis brought to you from the Perenti crew.

See the lateral box for info. This is a good moment to contact Mr. Perenti and get in the Sandon storyline!

The story will be played as an actual mystery - so please ignore any information you obtained OOC (i.e., the prostitute for a start)

UR005 Meeting with Bobby

Bobby approached me last week, presenting of an elaborate study of the school locks. We met secretly at the basement of the school and, I must say, I was really impressed by the extent of his progress. He asked me of helping him override the security system so that he can obtain control of the electronic locks over the school.

I was certainly troubled by this request as if this is to be known, it could jeopardize my new position here. Out of professionalism I decided to help the student. What the heck, going into such trouble deserves of some reward. Though I am uncertain about his motivation, as well as, my employment status if this is all discovered. So I ask him to present of a legitimate excuse for asking for this kind of help. Would this be, in example, a rescue control system that would facilitate the evacuation of the school in case of a fire, by automatically opening the doors to make the escape root obvious to the panicking crowd? And, then, why does he need to obtain the ability to lock doors as well? Would this be part of a different security system that would contain a potential burglar until the police arrives? I ask him to get his story straight, so that there is a reasonable explanation, in case all this is revealed. I also ask him to present this as a summer project he has to do for being acquainted with the informatics behind automated control of building doors an, after all, promising professional endeavor for an engineering career.

I am just about to give him all the technical manuals that present the full operation of the door control system, plus something more valuable. The link to the discussion thread where technical staff discusses weaknesses of the particular door control system that Sandon has. This is basically a list for system administrators to be informed and prepared of weaknesses of the systems that they manage. With this information he will be able to obtain the control he seeks.

Bobby also mentioned something that happens to be my weak spot. Corruption. Is the guy trying to bribe me? What does he has to offer? So I end our discussion asking him to come visit me again with an offer ... in plain words "What am I going to gain for my help?"

BR004

Bobby has never studied this hard - motivation is everything - and he knows he is going to solve this one. Perhaps with a little help - he looks again at the drawing on his table at the many parts of the automatic locking system that he has removed around the school.

There is a software key - he's so near to it - but he knows that he cannot do it alone. He's spending nights trying testing modifying. But the solution remains far away.

Bobby decides - what the hell - he is going to know this one - everyone here is corruptible - power is what he seeks. He approaches the new informatics teacher, saying that he wants to show him a prototype - he meets him in a basement - shows him pages and pages of notes - the locks - all of them are perfectly automated - and the remote control he has built, on the right frequency, missing only the software key.

"I want to find the key - professor - please, look I have already an application developed. We will be the only ones - to share the secret - it will be fun"

Bobby looks in the eyes of the teacher. "Locks - are made to be broken - showing that we can do is - a need."