The audit notice continues glowing on Daniel Cho’s tablet. Marjorie Vale keeps one hand pressed to the paper ledger while the wall clock measures the silence.
Marjorie Vale
There. The entry was made at 10:42, after my credentials were used. It points to workstation twelve and an employee account labeled R. Mercer.
Daniel Cho
That account belongs to records coordinator Rachel Mercer. But the workstation log shows activity after her scheduled departure.
Daniel Cho angles the tablet across the bolted table. A second line identifies the terminal in the records corridor, while the audit notice pulses brighter.
Daniel Cho
If we preserve this evidence, the system may trigger an automatic report. It will name the protected placement, not merely the altered account.
Marjorie Vale
Then we cannot simply click through the warning. Whoever changed the alert may be waiting for that report to expose where the child was sent.
At the Dev Null Cafe, the therapist, child, and famous client remain beneath the rubber mats, waiting for Alex’s return. In the interview room, Daniel Cho’s finger hovers over the confirmation prompt.
✓ Quest Accepted
Prevent the automatic report from exposing the protected placement
✓ Quest Accepted
Confront Rachel Mercer about the misleading alert
“"Give me access to something better than a tablet," you say quietly with a huff, bringing out a very specific thumb drive from your pocket, containing PHLAK, a tried and true hackers key to the kingdom.”
SUCCESS (Superb Willpower, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
Give me access to something better than a tablet.
Alex says it quietly, with a restrained huff, then draws a specific thumb drive from his pocket. Its label reads PHLAK, worn from use.
Daniel Cho
That is not an ordinary recovery drive. You came prepared to examine systems, not merely accuse staff.
Alex Mishyma
The audit terminal is isolated, but it has a full keyboard and local access.
Marjorie Vale
Give him the records workstation, Daniel. If the report exposes the placement, we need someone who can separate the evidence from the child’s identity.
Daniel studies Alex, then unlocks the records corridor and leads him to workstation twelve. He disconnects the tablet’s prompt, signs Alex into the terminal, and leaves the local audit console ready.
Daniel Cho
You have access to the full workstation and its logs. Keep the protected destination masked, and preserve every original timestamp.
“Cracking your knuckles, you smile as you slip the thumb drive in, and execute the PHLAK program. As soon as it opens, you pull up the VPN, masking your work, and you type in a laundry list of keywords to search for. "And no, Daniel. This is what I do outside of being a barista," you smirk.”
SUCCESS (Great Computers, rolled +0)
Alex cracks his knuckles, smiles, and inserts the worn PHLAK drive. The program opens on workstation twelve, its local tools unfolding beneath the audit console.
Alex Mishyma
And no, Daniel. This is what I do outside of being a barista.
He launches the VPN, routes the session through a masked connection, and fills PHLAK's search fields with placement, transfer, override, Mercer, Vale, and alert keywords.
The workstation indexes local logs and cached records without exposing the child's destination. A filtered result set opens, preserving the original timestamps beside every altered entry.
Daniel Cho
The connection is masked, but the terminal still records local activity. That distinction may matter if this reaches court.
Marjorie Vale
What did it find? Keep the placement details sealed, but show us who touched the alert.
PHLAK highlights Rachel Mercer's account at 10:42, then reveals a second authentication token used from workstation twelve after her departure. The audit evidence is copied intact, with the protected destination masked.
Quest Complete
Prevent the automatic report from exposing the protected placement
Attribute Upgrade: Willpower Superb→Legendary