[Merchant] 0005

It took a bit to get home from Mick and Ralph's, but the whole way back, I couldn't help but think back to what I saw in the sewers. Why were the Great Khans down in the sewer? What was in the box they were carrying? Knowing the Khans, it could only be something bad, whether it be drugs, weapons, explosives, or even a person. Whatever it was, it could not be good, but why go down into the sewers? The Khans typically just tried sneaking in on the surface, as everyone knew the Sewers were a death trap.

Were they trying to smuggle something into New Vegas? No... not likely. The House closed off all the Sewer tunnels under New Vegas to prevent anyone from entering that way. However, I heard that a few tunnels were still open to keep waste flowing out and away from New Vegas, out into the wasteland somewhere, although Securitons heavily guarded alongside Turrets if the rumors were true, but that was for another time.

I'd certainly look into it once the Feral Ghouls calmed down, but in the meantime, I had another objective in mind that took the forefront of my mind. When I got home, I checked to ensure no one had entered my hidden home, then locked myself in and began working on creating what I called a 'Network Hijacker.' 

While it didn't take long to assemble the hardware, the software proved to be the central issue with the device. The broken terminal in my tiny underground home was filled with issues, including a damaged motherboard. Still, it would work for my purposes as I connected my Network Highjacker via a makeshift port into the Terminal and began writing the most crucial piece of the device that would make it actually function, the code that would be broadcast into the Network to provide a backdoor for me into the System; theoretically, that is.

There was a good chance it wouldn't work, especially if I couldn't devise a workaround that would bypass the RobCo firewall, which was commonly included with most commercial and residential network systems. I doubted that the Network at H&H Tools had anything better than the common commercial Network used by most businesses pre-war.

While I didn't exactly understand what I was writing and coding, I knew that it should do its job and work, maybe once or twice, before the Highjacker would likely stop working. Essentially, what the progamm was being designed to do, was poke a small pinpoint hole into the Firewall, just enough to insert a programm that would install a backdoor in the Network, giving me access to everything from the makeshift terminal device the transmitter was connected too, and from it, I should be able to either deactivate the robots or give myself administrator access, or as close to it as I can.

If I manage that, I would only need to locate the main office inside the building, hack the terminal connected to the network, and grant myself administrator access that way.

 …

I spent three entire days coding away at my Terminal, only taking short breaks to eat and drink before returning to my work. 

I felt as though my body was on autopilot, with little understanding of what I was typing on the terminal, other than gibberish that I couldn't even begin to comprehend. However, in the end, I could feel that it would work, maybe only once, but it should work. 

Once it was done, I passed out, exhaustion finally having caught up with me, and when I woke up, I felt stiff and sore, with a bit of a headache. 

Taking some time to wake up, I looked up at the clock in my workshop to see that it was half an hour past noon. Gathering what stuff I could, including my prototypes, I made my way out of my workshop, closing it behind me.

It was time to test it out and see if it actually works. 

…

I took my time making my way to H&H Tools, trying my best to stay in the shadows and alleyways so that no one noticed or saw me. Once I did make it to H&H Tools, I took a moment to look around the building, making sure there wasn’t anyone nearby, before heading into the building through the front door. 

As I stood within the main reception area, I took a moment to peek around to make sure there weren’t any hidden turrets, traps, or robots before making my way behind the counter and pulling out the Highjacker. 

Much to my surprise, the Terminal did turn on, giving me an advantage as I hooked the Highjacker directly to the Terminal via the computer’s port and started the program. 

If this Terminal were connected to the Security Network, I could gain access through this method, but if not, the signal emitted from my Highjacker would still allow me to enter; it would just take longer.

As the Highjacker started up, I took out my pistol and nervously watched the hallways, ready to run at a moment’s notice. 

Then I heard a slight ‘ding,’ making me look down at the screen on the Highjacker.

[Starting]

[Loading]

[Loading]

[Loading]

[Backdoor Successfully Installed]

[Granting Permissions]

[Alpha-Level Clearance Granted]

[Welcome: H&H, CEO, House]

Seeing that I somehow received the highest clearance when I was expecting at most a VP or COO, not the CEO's clearance level right away, surprised me. Not taking the gift horse in the mouth, I immediately used the Clearance to send a shut-off code to all the robots and turrets still connected to the Network before registering me as the new CEO and Alpha-Level Clearance. However, I'd need to have one of the Robots scan me to enter my image into the system and prevent them from attacking me.

Once they had my image, I could reactivate them. Still, until then, it was safer to keep them all deactivated to prevent them from becoming hostile and shooting me on sight. Now that the biggest problem ahead of me was out of the way, I needed to search the whole building, top to bottom, and get a good look at what I was working with. I also needed to locate the main office and explore the Factory section of this building, as well as take inventory of the robots and turrets that still worked after all these years since the War.

Knowing my luck, I likely would not find much of use and would likely have to spend days disarming traps and carefully tiptoing around the whole building to make sure a sneeze wouldn't topple it down over me.