They left the shop and entered the kitchen to grab some food. They helped each other to put up dinner. They sat around the table and faced the food like a hungry wolf.
Markus munched on his food and Ned watched him closely as they eat their dinner. The fridge made a humming sound behind them as the AC supplemented the noise. A distant honking of vehicles and passing trains were heard from their seats.
"Careful, that food is all yours," Ned said as he pin a sausage with his fork from the plate. He's stood and fetched a pitcher of cold water. He handed the kid a glass and sat back in his seat.
"Sorry." Markus reached his glass and poured some water and immediately emptied it. "I just felt so hungry." he exhaled.
"That's what you get from fighting with an empty stomach." Ned laughed. He cleaned his plate, went to put it in the sink, wore an apron, and started washing their plates.
"De," Markus emptied his plate and stood next to Ned, sliding his plate in. "About what you said about the Hack..." he looked so interested that gave Ned goosebumps.
"What about it?" Ned replied. He picked the wok and started scrubbing it.
"It seems that you know something about it," Markus said. "Perhaps, do you know how to do it?"
"If I did, why do you want to know?" Ned exclaimed.
"I want to learn how to do that." Markus replied with a straight face. "Hacking!"
"Do what?" He turned and face the kid "Hacking?" he repeated. "Why would a kid like you like to learn about that stuff?" the wok slid from his hand and it hit his toe. "Aww.." he screeched, jumping on one foot.
"Are you alright?" Markus was shocked but at the same time, he kept his smile by biting his lips.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Ned slowly stood up; he saw Markus' face turning weird. "Just go get a mop and dry this place." he sighed.
"Hai." Markus obeyed and immediately wiped the floor, giggling.
"De, answer my question." He started to run water on the dishes. "Why do you want to learn how to hack?"
"Do I have to spell it out?! Of course, to beat that certain person that made us suffer like this. I want to fight on his ground and defeat him like how he defeated us." Markus said with full determination. "But I can't do that if I don't know how to use those kinds of cheats." he pouted.
"That knowledge is not for revenge. It's not even for a child's play." Ned said with a straight face. "Besides, even if you learn how to do it, you might not get the chance to fight against him if he's really caught by the cops."
Markus felt Ned getting serious out of a sudden. "Perhaps..."
"If it's ROA, cheats are not that important, you know." Ned started to explain. "The game itself is not for those kinds of players. There is no enjoyment in hacking your way to the top. No one will recognize such a person, you know. You just have to level up your account and you can experience the great side of the game. That's what most kids and even adults do."
"But most players have their own cheats to defeat opponents and enhance their accounts, right? It's quite unfair!" Markus replied.
"The world is unfair, to begin with," Ned said. "But to do things to cancel that unfairness is pretty unfair, too."
"You're not making sense, uncle Ned."
"I know...But the thing is," Ned pointed the kid with a spatula, dripping soap on the floor. "You're still so young to understand those concepts and to actually apply it in the real world is out of the question. Not to mention, the Firewalls, the obstacles in succeeding to hack are pretty sturdy and strong now that ORION has taken control over everything around the city." he caught his breath and continued, "You know it's a crime to do such a thing, right?"
"But, I can't put on a fight if I won't equip myself with that knowledge," Markus argued. "Besides, I will be fine if I'm not caught, right?"
"That's not the reason you will just go on with it, stupid brat." Ned stared at the kid. He didn't know what to say to the kid to stop his fantasies. "Knowledge is dangerous."
"Ignorance, too, is dangerous." Markus stared back.
They fell silent for a moment and Ned continued his washing without a word.
"Just teach me about those cheats, uncle Ned." Markus begged. "Please."
Ned leaned down and leveled his head to meet the kid's eyes. He dried his hands on his apron.
Markus knew he'd triggered something that Ned was very concerned about. Unconsciously, he looked at him closely. He examined his dull shabby face whose pores are already screaming from stress, his greased ash afro curls are filled with the smell of dried sweat, his brimming black eyes have black circles around them, and his fair middle-aged body is drenched with sweat. He then started to realized that this man has been with him and his mom's life ever since and that he's just worried about what might happen to him.
"Are you sure you want to learn it? There is no turning back after you learn those kinds of stuff... Cheating will lead you to hacking and hacking will lead you to prison. It is a crime. Your mom will be very mad." Ned said sincerely.
"If I won't learn it now, when?" Markus said. He tried to consider what Ned was saying but he's made up his mind. "I've decided, uncle Ned." the kid declared.
"Decided what?"
"It may sound absurd but don't get me wrong. I know knowledge is a double-edged sword. It may drag me to heaven or to hell. I'll keep that in mind." he smiled with all his confidence and said, "But, I've decided what I want to become when I grow up." Markus bragged, he placed his right hand to his chest.
"And what was it?" Ned raised an eyebrow.
Markus looked outside the window and stared at the bright Gold Star illuminating in the center of the metropolitan center of Aurum.
"That star is seen no matter where you are in Aurum. It illuminates under the dark night sky and shines bright in the morning light. As if it reminds everyone that someone is on the lookout no matter where you are." the wind blew from that open window, blowing his curls. "Someone is in control and that everything is connected."
Ned patiently listened to what the kid was talking about. He stood straight and stared outside as well.
"You see, I've researched this past 2 weeks for methods on how you can apply cheat codes in the game and I've memorized the ROA manual in just 4 days. I've also read the Saesen's Decree, so I know what I'm talking about." Markus said.
"Wait, what?" Ned's eyes widened and somehow lost his footing as he faces the kid. "You finished reading the Decree? I mean, it took me 4 weeks to finish it."
"You're just a slow reader, that's it." Markus laughed. "What I'm saying is..." he turned and faced the old man standing next to him. "I'll soon work at ORION and be their NUMBER 1 Engineer," he said with a sincere smile. His eyes were filled with determination. A gust of air ran past them and the street lights shine on the kid's face.
Ned knew he's lost the conversation. He was surprised that the kid he's been taking care of when his mom is not around had grown mature under his watch without even realizing it. He shook his head and grabbed the seat next to his counter.
"But you're just 12..." Ned complained.
"Turning 12." the kid corrected. "If that's the case, then I'll be the youngest number 1 Engineer."
They stared at each other without blinking for a moment.
"Okay okay, I lost." He waved his hand in defeat. "I'll teach you some things about how to use cheats or even do the hack." Ned said.
"Why are you sounding like you really know how to do it, uncle Ned?" Markus is confused. "I thought you'll just introduce someone, aside from my mom, who knows how to those stuff."
"I'm just saying I know a little stuff about it." he stood straight and said, "Come and follow me upstairs. I'll show you something interesting." He led the way and he brought the kid to his attic.
"What's up there?" The kid asked.
"You'll soon know."
The attic was cramped and has a little too much for what's inside. It was filled with tools and unused furniture which was not arranged and were all covered with clouds of dust.
"You haven't cleaned this place!" Markus complained as with brush off the dust on his arms and pants. "What's in here by the way?" he looked around and saw nothing but scraps. "You sure you've kept something useful here?"
"That's rude." Ned went straight to the cabinet near the window and opened the almost detached door.
"You should at least dust the things here and open the door," Markus suggested.
"As if I have that much time," Ned complained as well. "If you have something to say, then why don't you come here and clean this place up for me?"
"Are you asking a favor?" Markus asked.
"Yeah. Something like that." Ned nodded.
"You know it's discouraged to hire kids to work. It's called child labor."
"Shut up, I'm doing this for you. It's just a simple exchange for these." Ned showed the books he got from his arsenal. He smiled and said, "I've been to college as well, you know." though he coughed after inhaling dust.
"Really? Are you serious?! But, you're just an old man right?" Markus teased. He slowly walked towards Ned and tried to grab the books in his hand but Ned threw his hand up and the kid pouted.
"Haven't your mom told you we were classmates at the university before?" he glared at the kid. "and don't call me an old man. I'm just 34 years old." he grinned.
"Oh sorry..." Markus replied with a smile. "What were those?"
"Ahh, these..." Ned handed him the books and sat on the floor. "Those were my references when I was still in college."
"School, huh..." Markus murmured.
"It was way before you were born." Ned started to tell his story.
Markus knew it will turn out to be one of those stories that last for a long period so he suit himself on the nearest stool and sat to listen.
"I studied computer programming at Curie University," Ned said.
"Woah, really? That was one of the biggest universities found in the neighboring city!"
"I know." Ned boasted. "It was hard enough to enter that place since their standards from the entrance exam up to the competency appraisal are all above the average. It was also one of the funded universities of the Gold Star Industry."
"Woah.. and you were able to enter there, huh, Uncle Ned."
"You've been underestimating me, kid." He poked him.
"Oh, sorry." Markus apologized insincerely.
Ned rolled his eyes and continued, "Anyway, Charlie and I were classmates during our first year of schooling. She was very diligent and was true to her feelings and ambition. You know her Dad and her Mom pretty well, right?"
"Ahh.." Markus nodded. "They're pushovers."
"Yeah." Ned said. "That is why she really tried to get away from their nest and study at CU."
"She's a free spirit."
"Yeah, a Free spirit." Ned agreed. "We're in the computer programming department but she was good in sports and very athletic. Her long red hair is pretty famous at school during that time. She's smart, talented, and kind. She talked to me the moment we became seatmates that very first semester and we became friends. And there I was...." the kid stared at him waiting for a grand skill. "NOT even wanting to be the center of attention."
"What was that!!" the kid exclaimed as he whined.
"Shut up." Ned felt somehow embarrassed and looked away. He grabbed the rest of the books from the shelf and brought it in front of them. "After the 2nd semester, I transferred to a different department, the Components Engineering department."
"And that's currently your living, right?" Markus said. "Why did you changed course?"
"I just don't want to torture myself so I let go." Ned rhetorically said.
"That's deep."
"Yeah." Ned agreed. "I didn't expect you to understand my story pretty fast."
Markus paused for a moment and an immediate thought came across his mind "Well, in that case, are you my DAD?"
"NO... Definitely NOT.!" Ned immediately waved in disagreement. He was so shocked that he pushed himself from Markus and hit the box behind him, making everything from its top to fall down.
"Hey, are you alright?" Markus picked up the debris and laughed at the guy.
"Don't scare me like that...." Ned whined.
"I thought so!" Markus laughed.
"I mean, your mom is beautiful and all the boys at school before are all around her, but she's not a girl. I'm not into the manly woman you know." Ned explained.
"You don't want my mom to hear that, uncle Ned. "
"Shut up kid. Don't tell your mom I said that, huh... but no Markus, I'm not your dad. I'm sorry." he looked away and sat back.
"I thought I have my hopes there." He lowered his head "But, Don't worry about it..." he recovered in an instant and gave off a smile "...you're better off to be my ol' man than my ol' dad, you know."
"And why was that?" he gave him a glare. "And I'm not that old."
"SE..CRE..T!" facing away from Ned.
"You want to have these or not?"
"Ah,, sorry, my bad,," Markus returned to his seat and faced Ned.
"Ja, I will only teach you what I have learned on the small time I've spent on that course with these references I have. It may not that be useful since it is in a higher degree of complexity than the books you have at elementary school. But if you have questions, I'll answer them with the brain I have." Ned assuringly said.
"Woah, really?" he looked so amazed and said, "I didn't think you have one."
Ned quickly poked his head "Oi." and continue saying "Ahh, this thing is dangerous. You better make use of it properly. And It's very difficult to learn without a teacher."
"Don't worry, Uncle Ned," Markus replied brushing the pain on his head from teasing the old man. "Who do you think that I am?"