“Hey Sal.”

“Hi Tony. What are you doing calling me?” I rarely hear from you or Nucky.”

“That’s because we know and trust you and the other slicers to make the family some credits without us having to look over your shoulders,” Tony replied. “I think that’s a good thing.”

“So, do I,” Sal agreed. “Your calling must mean you need something from us.”

“That it does,” Tony said. “We have an opportunity coming up that needs a special Squirrel.”

“Alright. Can you give me more information than that?” the slicer asked. Tony gave Sal a brief overview of the bank heist Nucky wanted to do. “Interesting job and not something I would have thought you or Nucky would approve.”

“If the bank we have in mind wasn’t ours, then we wouldn’t risk it,” Tony admitted. “Even the CSA wouldn’t think we would knock over our own bank.”

“True. That sort of thing hasn’t been done since the early 2000s,” Sal replied.

“Exactly why we think it’ll work now. The corporations have way more ways of profiting and screwing people over than knocking over a bank.”

“Yeah, they do,” Sal agreed.

“So, can you modify a Squirrel to do what we want?” Tony asked the slicer.

“I could, but a Rabbit might be a better choice.”

“Rabbit? What’s that?”

“A Rabbit is a self-replicating daemon generally used to take over systems or even a network.”

“Uh Sal, that’s not exactly what we want.”

“I know Tony. Just hear me out,” Sal replied.

“Alright.”

“Rabbits can nibble away at data just like a Squirrel.”

“That’s good, but again, we’re not wanting this to go beyond a single system,” Tony said.

“And that’s fine. We can code the Rabbit to not replicate outside the targeted system. It’ll steal the credits and we’ll own the system. That way we can siphon credits whenever we want later on.”

“Hmmm. Ok, so make your Rabbit and test it on a news site or something to make sure it works like you want it to. If it does what you say, I’ll make sure you get a nice bonus off the bank job,” Tony said.

“I’ll get my team right on it,” Sal promised. “I’ll call you when we’re ready to test.”

“Thanks Sal,” Tony replied and disconnected the call.

*

“How are you this morning Zoe?” Zane asked coming into her room. “Whoa! Have you gotten any sleep at all?”

“Not really. I dozed for a bit while I was compiling my code,” a very sleepy Zoe replied. The big nurse sat a tray on the bedside table.

“You know you’re supposed to be resting and recovering, right?”

“Yeah, but I couldn’t do either until I had my ICE like I wanted it.”

“Oh, what about the Bulwark didn’t you like?”

“I like it well enough, it’s just that I saw how easily it could be sliced last night,” Zoe admitted.

“So, you stayed up all night tinkering with its code?” Zane asked disapprovingly.

“No. I only altered it enough to allow my Bastion program to work with it. Most of the night was spent altering Bastion to work with my frame.”

“Let’s take a look at what you did,” Claire said walking into the room.

“Tattletale!” Zoe hissed at Zane. He grinned in reply as Claire frowned. “I’m only teasing. I know Zane is doing his best for me and his job too.”

Zoe gave Claire and Zane permission to examine her system. Zane grunted in appreciation before saying, “Not bad at all. This Bastion fits right on top of Bulwark and doesn’t use much in the way of resources.”

“Yes, not bad at all. I’m not sure how much good it’ll do though,” Claire said.

“Me either, but I feel better with it than I did before,” Zoe replied. “It was surprisingly easy to modify to work with my frame too.”

“How so?” Zane asked.

“Never mind that. You two can talk coding after Zoe eats breakfast and takes a long nap,” Doc Brown said.

“Ok,” Zane and Zoe agreed at once. They smiled at each other while Claire snorted in amusement. The cyberdoc and nurse headed for the door.

“And Zoe, you’re healing on schedule. No worries there,” Doc Brown said before stepping out of the room with Zane trailing behind her.

“Hey!” Zoe called out. The pair turned to look at her. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Claire said for them both.

“Do you know of a good, cheap set of wheels I could buy?” Zoe asked as the thought popped into her head.

“I have an idea,” Zane replied.

“Not now. Get some sleep after you eat. You two can talk about rides and coding later,” Claire said. Zane and Zoe nodded in agreement.

*

“Hey Zoe. How was the nap?” Zane asked a few hours later.

“Good,” Zoe answered while stretching. “I missed lunch though.”

“I can bring you a snack if you want.”

“Nah. I can wait until dinner.”

“Alright. Everything else is looking good. You should be out of here in another day or two.”

“That’s great.”

“I’m sure it is. Now tell me about your modified toy.”

“Alright,” Zoe replied. She spent a little while telling the nurse about her modifications.

“Honestly, with how easily that sounds and checking out that source code you tossed me, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bulwark wasn’t originally planned to have addons,” Zane said.

“That makes sense,” Zoe agreed. “I wonder why the corporation didn’t make them.”

“Maybe they did, just not to the general public.”

“Good point,” Zoe conceded. “Before you go, you had said something about a good, cheap car this morning.”

“No, I said I had a good idea for good, cheap wheels.”

“What’s the difference?”

“A lot. There are other vehicles out there other than cars, you know.”

“I don’t think I’m a truck kind of girl.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a good truck.”

“I know. I grew up on a farm where we used them all the time.”

“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, accept these links I’m sending you” Zane replied. Zoe accepted the links after they were scanned by her ICE.

“Motorcycles?”

“Yep.

“That’s…” Zoe began. She told Zane about the bike courier when Jimmy had first picked up her from the bus station.

“Yeah, your thinking was too narrow.”

“Is there one that is better than the other?” Zoe asked. She didn’t know much of anything about motorcycles.

“I sent you the links to the better brands.”

“Thanks. Is there one you would recommend over the others?”

“Not really. I’m partial to cruisers myself. A customized cruiser is a thing of beauty.”

“Do you have one?” Zoe asked.

“Not yet. I need to talk Claire into it first.”

“Why do you have to talk Doc Brown into it?”

“We’re married.”

“Oh.” Zoe said. “So, Doc is your boss in more ways than one?”

“Yep, and you’re being a smartass. You know we’re married.”

“Yeah, I do, Zoe replied. “I guess you two give new meaning to playing doctor too.”

“Ha-ha.”

“Anyway, what kind of bike do you have?”

“I currently have an SRM-4.”

“Oh. Isn’t that Saito’s top of the line motorcycle?”

“Checking out the site?” Zane asked with a knowing grin on his face.

“Yeah,” Zoe admitted. “Uh. They start at 15000 credits. I can’t afford that.”

“Capone will probably fork over the credits to at least give you a good down payment.”

“I’d rather not go further into debt to him, if I can help it.”

“Don’t blame you.”

“How much would I need for a good down payment?”

“2000-3000 should do. That’s what I put down on my first bike.”

“I think I could swing that after last night’s testing.”

“What did…you know, I don’t want to know,” Zane said shaking his finger at Zoe. “Anyway, this is what I’m thinking of getting and then customizing.”

“A brand new 2061 Williamson Fat Boy?”

“Yeah. Give it some longer front forks, change the wheels, and chrome it all out. Maybe change the paint to a racing red or blue, and it’ll be a beautiful beast.”

“Has Williamson been bought out by a larger corporation?”

“I don’t even know or care,” Zane replied. “I’m just happy they are still making bikes.”

“Wow. I think I really like this one,” Zoe suddenly said sending a link to the nurse.

“A Stefani SV12? Those are nice, but very expensive.”

“Figures.”

“It would be worth the cost, and you can’t go wrong with a Ducati.”

“I like this one too,” Zoe said tossing another link to Zane.

“The GT4 Triple Black?” Zane asked. “Now, that is nice. Can’t chrome it out and I don’t like the twin headlights, so it’s a no for me. Besides, I like the American made bikes.”

“Says the man driving a Japanese motorcycle.”

“Who’s planning on getting his American bad boy.”

“If his wife allows it.”

“I…Ok, you got me there,” Zane said grinning at Zoe. She smiled back. “Despite my preferences, I do suggest not cheapening out on whatever you decide on. Any ride should last you years and will be your lifeline as a courier.”

“Thanks for the advice and talk.”

“No problem. Have fun shopping.”

“I will!”