Unstable Prototypes Read Online Free PDF Page A

aid supplies, four
to six additional hands-free audio devices, four to six additional
slidepads or datapads..."
    "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What is this, a scavenger
hunt? Listen, I'm not sure I've got enough available credit to
cover this stuff. I mean, what's a cheapo slidepad run these days,
five thousand credits?"
    "High-end models would be preferred."
    "Yeah, I don't have the cash to be buying
those things by the half dozen."
    "Of course. Please stop at the nearest
gambling kiosk."
    "Heh. This ought to be good."
    Before long, Lex spotted a video poker
machine beside a coffee stand on one of the upper levels. Just as
cash had found a replacement in casino chips, ATMs had evolved into
Poker Kiosks. All one had to do was take a seat, load some of their
credits into the machine directly from their bank account, and cash
out to get a pocket full of fixed value, non-traceable funds. Best
of all, the machines didn't charge a service or convenience fee.
This was largely because virtually all of the people who sought to
use them simply as a way to convert money from credits to chips
took the time to play a hand or two, inevitably losing a bit in the
process. It was actually a fairly ingenious and effective system.
Unless, of course, you had a gambling problem, but society had
shuffled those unfortunates down to the bottom of the ladder long
ago. He settled his bike down and Ma hopped to the seat. The light
on her neck flashed, a log-in screen came and went, and a user
profile under the name Kyle Oscar Dunbrook appeared. As she worked
at the Kiosk, a patron of the coffee shop, sporting a latte larger
than his head, stopped and eyed the bizarre sight.
    "She's my good luck charm. I always sit her
in the chair for the first hand," Lex explained.
    The stranger shrugged, apparently satisfied
with the answer, and moved on. A moment later, Ma was finished
bringing up the account information. The balance was... unusual. It
seemed to say 5.45E11.
    "Wh- Why is there an E in the available
balance field?" Lex asked.
    "Scientific notation. The funds display of
this machine is only ten characters," she said, the screens
flipping through to the cash out tab.
    "Wait... so Karter has more than ten digits
in his bankroll?" he asked, eyes wide.
    "In this account, yes. There are others."
    "... I should have become a mad
scientist..."
    The coin tray on the front of the machine
quickly filled. There were five 100k chips, twenty 10k chips, and
twenty 1k chips. A moment later, four more 1k chips dropped. For
the appropriate frame of reference, if his various jobs managed to
bring in 100,000 credits combined, it was a pretty good week. He
was holding nearly two months salary in his hand.
    "That should be sufficient to cover the
expenses. I would suggest you only deposit half into your account.
Liquid funds may come in handy."
    "Whatever you say, Boss."
    She logged off, he logged on, and in short
order his account swelled to a larger number than he'd seen in
months.
    "Right, let's go shopping," he said.

Chapter 3
    The items on the list were snagged, one by
one. First was a harness-style leash, which was securely strapped
on so that Lex would stop getting irritated looks from security
guards and fellow shoppers. He also had swung by the pet food
section, but Ma assured him that Solby always seemed happier and
healthier when he was provided with the food Karter favored.
Specifically, beans and rice. Thus, frozen burritos and vitamin
tablets were chosen as her rations. Next, he managed to get a
decent deal on a combo-pack of six current generation slidepads
bundled with hands-free buds. At Ma's request, he'd splurged for a
few ruggedized cases, complete with lanyard and belt clip, as well.
The vague "blue clothing" requirement was fulfilled by a handful of
bandanas. The epinephrine gadgets were a little hard to find – they
were in the allergy medication area rather than the prescription
area, and everybody seemed to prefer the disposable ones rather
than refillable