The Right Path

Its A New World

Chapter 2: It’s a New World

***

“Are you my new master? You seem like a really shady guy…” The person they so desperately called dangerous looked like nothing but a teenager. The close fitting clothes and his youthful face spoke of naivety and innocence ever. And yet the man was a criminal convicted not only of theft of intellectual property, tax evasion and large scale financial frauds but also of the highest sin a man could conduct… murder…

Such was the person that stood before him but instead of showing fear or even the least bit of hostility Noah stood before him with bright eyes and an energetic smile as he spoke to him as an equal. “Me? Shady? No way… so what’s your name inmate?” He asked almost like it was a joke.

“Is this a test? You obviously know it from my file.” The inmate replied in an almost mocking fashion.

“Whoa you really don’t let up, fine, it’s Damian. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Noah.” Damian spoke with a sort of carelessness very common for teenagers although he was in his early twenties.

“You know about me as well?” Noah paused for a bit, his smile widened all the more as he crossed his arms.

“Anyone worth their bread knows about you. You’re a famous loud mouth that speaks before they think… and yet the higher ups in the government seemed to value your input none the less.” Damian explained, he stretched out his arms, he’d just been released from the uncomfortable handcuffs and now he was able to walk outside again thanks to this man.

“Glad to know I’m so well loved, now come here, I need you on a scene.” Noah spoke quickly as he gathered the man’s belongings and stood by the door.

“Right now? Just like that? You’re going to release me?” Damian was a bit conflicted, he liked being free but he was surprised at how careless this entire operation seemed to be.

“Of course, if you escape you will face a longer sentence, you’re free to try but I doubt you’ll get too far, especially with that tracking device on your leg.” Noah explained while pointing at the man’s left ankle, it was the newest ankle monitor one that was not only water proof, sturdy, and especially wide ranged, the tracking device inside could potentially even pinpoint him down through satellite even if he were in another country.

“So that’s why you’re so confident…” Damian took another look at the device, maybe inside his mind he wondered how much time it would take him to crack-it open or hack it.

“Let’s head to the car.” Noah however didn’t seem worried at the very least, he grabbed the man by the arm and lead him away from the detainment hall and into the empty and large parking lot outside.

Damian walked quietly at first but by the time they reached the man’s car he spoke again. “You heard I’m dangerous, right? I’ve killed people before. Even if you’re willing to do this for the greater good or whatever there is still no reason for you to take such a risk-”

“Greater good? No, I’m changing the world itself.” Noah smiled once more as he opened the car door for the man.

“Isn’t that what I said just now?” Damian tilted his head in confusion, none the less he followed the man’s lead and entered inside.

Noah closed the door and calmly walked to the driver’s side and sat down. Then before starting the car’s engine he spoke again in a sort of theatrical manner once more, more akin to a shakespearean play than a normal conversation his strong voice resonated inside the car. “There is a difference, in the world there isn’t any clear good or bad. But there is a gray area that the general public doesn’t know we walk on. In between the corruption and the redemption of criminals comes in someone like you… You can be the first to walk that tight rope and cross to the other side successfully… Now which side you go to will ultimately depend on you.”

“Are you a teacher now or something? It seems like everything you say always has this hidden deeper meaning to it and I feel kind of annoyed already.” Damian hated being lectured even at school he disliked listening to other’s instructions and methods.

“Haha. I think we will get along just fine with you, right kid?” Noah asked with a gentle nod and a wink in the rear view mirror.

“I’m 22… I’m not a kid.” Damian responded he seemed sort of insulted.

“And I’m 43, I could genuinely be your father at this age.” Noah replied back happily, once more that air of naivety seemed to dominate their interaction.

Damian stood still for a bit before bursting into laughter. “Pf…. you’re a funny guy!”

*

*

*

“This is your first job. Hack the system and pull out any relevant documents that contain these names. Got it?” Noah’s quick instructions and the random equipment he gave the younger man seemed a mismatch.

“Just like that? Do we have clearance for this or are you really going rogue??” Damian wasn’t used to something so non authoritative all of a sudden. No rules, just hack this and do that? Without any warrant from the police or anything?

“No clearance, I like to allow the results to speak for themselves in situations like these. The only way we will change the world is if–” Before Noah could fall into his usual speech he was interrupted by a monotone response.

“Yeah I stopped listening a while ago… let’s see now… we have a data breach that happened here two years ago… and you think it’s an inside work?” Damian deduced while sounds of the clicking of the mouse and simultaneous quick code being written for a split of a second sounded inside the small room.

“You could guess from so little information?” Noah asked, he seemed genuinely impressed by the man.

“No, it’s cause I’m the reason this place was breached two years ago. So I kind of wanted to tell you its not because of anyone in the company. It was an outside job.” Damian spoke with an air of certainty while his hands not once stopped moving. Back and forth, the continuous clicking of the mouse, the typing, the sound of the buttons being pressed in a concise manner almost too orderly.

“Even if you say that I can’t believe you.” Noah smiled widely as he leaned against the nearby wall.

Damian didn’t seem too surprised as he responded quickly. “Yeah, it’s hard to believe a criminal, right-?”

Noah interrupted. “No, I would believe you if I didn’t know for sure it was an inside job. Check the names and you might be able to gather it.” He pointed at the sheet he’d given the man.

Damian took another look at the paper then at the screen, he searched the next name and the one after that. After about a three minute or so moment of contemplation he reached his conclusion. “Oh… I see now… So I was hired through one of these guy…”

“You’re quicker than I thought on the uptake. Now let’s get to the second phase after you’re done with those files.” Noah showed the man a tailored suit that seemed to be just Damian’s size.

“Second phase? You really just started throwing me in the deep like this without any warning, huh…” Damian looked sort of excited, he took off his clothes quickly and changed into the suit he was provided.

“Don’t complain, it’s either field work or a not so nice or cozy prison cell.” Noah remarked as he looked down at the screen. He was impressed to see the young man in action. It didn’t even take 10 minutes for him to do his work flawlessly.

“Fine, I won’t complain but I want a meal after this.” Damian said as he slicked his hair back and put a pair of glasses that instantly seemed to change his vibe to someone quite refined.

“You got it!” Noah agreed readily. Seeing the man in action was sort of exciting…