An Unlikely Alliance (standard:science fiction, 2454 words)
Author: Virtual Adept	Added: Oct 13 2000	Views/Reads: 4169/2482	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
First part to a Mage: The Ascension/Werewolf: The Apocalypse crossover story about a young Virtual Adept Mage teaming up with a Garou warrior in an attempt to thwart the Technocracy.

The security at the front door had proved too easy for his skill. The
Trinary computer-goggles with liquid-plasma screens built into the eyes 
didn’t hurt the situation any for Max. He wondered why a building owned 
by the Technocracy, with such precious content would be so ill 
protected. Then again, most people weren’t Virtual Adepts. For the 
average person, the voice scanner, retina scanner and fingerprint ID 
required after hours would be insurmountable. Max almost chuckled out 
loud. Slipping in the front door, he used a bit of Quintessence to 
render himself transparent. He looked rather like a green 3d wire frame 
used in the Sleepers special effect programs. Max adjusted a few 
settings on his goggles, and scanned the area. Trinary computers did 
have their advantages. 

The emulated 36-inch screen perfectly mapped out the route he would need
to follow in order to reach his destination. Up the stairs first, he 
thought. At night, the usually bustling CyberX headquarters building 
underwent a strange transformation. The droning of a thousand computers 
humming in perfect harmony would be unsettling for anyone else, but Max 
found comfort in the cacophony. Max floated gently up the now still 
escalator, observing the security features. Mounted over the doors, 
were two very intimidating gauss cannons, which could propel a round at 
the speed of light. 

Security cameras were mounted wherever two walls met and then some. The
security guard, which was supposed to be watching the monitors, was 
instead asleep, powdered sugar and jelly smeared across his lips. Max 
couldn’t resist himself. He floated back down the escalator, and under 
the door crack to the security room. The monitors filled all but one 
wall surface, effectively enabling the guard to view every room at 
once. Max looked around, and picked a small marker up off a nearby 
desk. On a “While You Were Out” pad, he scrawled the words “Sleeping on 
the job, eh?” 

Max chortled as he adhered the note to the brim of the man’s hat. He
left, and continued out the door. Max hit a few more buttons on his 
goggles, and the view changed to normal first person view, except now 
that a blinking red arrow now made itself visible. This was going to be 
easy. 

Max passed down the sterile, white hallways, passing empty office, after
empty office following the red arrow exactly. He rounded a corner, and 
the arrow vanished before a giant, titanium door. A small glowing 
screen rested near the door crank. Max walked toward the screen, 
removing a tiny picture frame looking device. He fitted the frame over 
the keypad, and turned it on. The screen flooded with binary code for a 
moment, and then it vanished. Tiny numbers showing the order of keys to 
be pressed appeared, making Max’s job a hell of a lot easier. 

Max pressed the keys one by one slowly, and the screen folded away into
the door. The crank began turning, echoing a low, metallic clank in a 
rapid pattern. Max silenced this with another use of Quintessence. The 
massive door slid into the wall, and another barrier presented itself. 
A small, tunnel like passage lay ahead. A bright green glow emanated 
from within. 

“A full body scan. Shit.” Max muttered. He went to his goggles once
more, and sought answers. The only way Max could get through here was 
to summon up the one man who could pass through, and even some of the 
best Mages couldn’t do that. If he didn’t do something, the door would 
slam shut and alert security. Max approached the control panel near the 
tunnel entrance, and looked it over. There was a communications port 
embedded near the edge of the panel. Max raised the arm with his 
specially equipped utility glove to the panel, and pressed a button. A 
small wire shot out, and fitted itself into the port. Max changed the 
view on his goggles, and began searching for the data cluster 
containing the genetic data of the man able to enter. Thousands of 
hours of viewing binary code lines had proven to be useful, as Max came 
upon the cluster containing the genetic files. He set up the computer 
to download the file into a small disc, and he started the process. The 
code began moving as it transferred itself. The computer beeped and Max 
took the disc out and set it down. He slipped the tiny, metallic disc 
into a slot on the side of his headsets. 

He projected the hologram keyboard in front of him. He called up the
genetic files he had downloaded, and made a few keystrokes. The 


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