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A half-eaten muffin and a cold cup of coffee rested next to Callen on his workbench. He pulled his goggles over his eyes and smiled. He turned on his wrist computer, disruptor, and goggle combination for the first time. His rig was complete. The actual computer was about the size of a large watch and the materials that Callen had made the device look like a leather strap. A metal disk was attached to the strap and housed a series of sensors, but absolutely no monitor was on the strap-like computer.
He attached the band to his arm, and after a quick adjustment on the workbench terminal, a graphical interface spread out over his hand. He lifted the goggles and the graphics disappeared from around his left hand. "Cool." He murmured. "No way to see the glowing interface without goggles synced to my system...though tapping on something invisible over my arm in public would make me look crazy...but, oh well."
"System detected, sir, would you like to sync to the Mavis interface overlay for the shop?" Mavis asked.
"Yep," Callen said as he pulled the goggles back on. A variety of graphical controls could be seen next to doors and other machines around the room. "Man, if I could have used all this stuff when I was building my rig, everything would have gone so much faster. This augmented reality is sweet. Guess it's time to test my disruptor." He brought up the targeting system for his disruptor. "Mavis, activate the five test targets. Randomize the code using the arcane symbols from the cipher."
"Test targets activated," Mavis said.
He let out a slow breath. "Here goes...well, everything..." He triggered the targeting software for his disruptor and saw the various computers in the room highlight as possible targets. His rig rapidly discerned the computers communicating with the arcane cipher. He specified one of the five computers as his target. His rig visualized the wireless network connection allowing him to note the specific electronic systems that were communicating. He started the hack and in a heartbeat, the target computer stalled.
"Alright." He said with a grin. "One works fine." He repeated the targeting sequence. "Multiple target time." He hit activate, and in perfect synergy, the four dummy computers flashed as they shorted out. "I did it, and this is just plain more wicked sweet than I could ever imagine." He said to himself. "Derrick would never believe this. Mavis, reset the targets with new hardware that has protection protocols in place. I wanna test how fast this thing rips through the best of defenses." He scratched his head and looked at the test computers. "I really should do something to enhance this. I wish I knew more about the metallic demon's electronics and power distribution, then maybe I could enhance the virus too..." His motion sensors on his goggles blinked. They both interrupted his thoughts and revealing that someone was in the doorway. He turned to see Ania standing there.
"There you are." She said. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Where would you expect me to be?" He said as he flipped to view the X-rays. "I see your bones." He chuckled. "And the goggles put whatever graphics I want over anything in my vision...this is sick..."
"Let's go." Ania said. "We gotta go now...Grandpa said..."
"Go where?" Callen said. "I got work to do and its 7 AM..."
"Well, good, but we have to go to church. Grandpa woke me up and said we have to go...Lady Cole is demanding it..."
"That's ridiculous!" Callen yelled. "We have been here for two months and now they want us to go to church? This is dumb..."
"I've been going since we got here...guess since you have been working so much you got out of it...but now you don't have a choice..."
"For what?" Callen said. "I got stuff to do now...I'm almost done...I just have to set up a test and finalize the assembly of the disruptor module for Sir Reeves, and..."
"Yeah, well, after last night's demon attack, Lady Cole and Grandpa say we have to attend mass," Ania said. "Let's go..."
"Why?" Callen argued. "You know I don't believe in that crap..."
"Doesn't matter," Ania said. "Mass is a ritual that provides protection against demons and since Sadie's close encounter...you have to go...or..."
"Or what?" Callen asked.
"Or Lady Cole said she would suspend any use of things you invented related to saving mom on suspicion of demonic possession..."
"What?!" Callen roared.
"Yeah." She said. "I don't know. That's just what I heard her yell at Grandpa over breakfast. So, come on!"
"Fine." Callen gave up. He didn’t have a choice if he was going to finish saving his mother. They left the shop and hurried towards the church.