Chapter Text
Dark is anxiously pacing through the computer. Hopling follows behind her, carefully avoiding getting stepped on.
“This is bad, Hopling!” She says, taking her arms to her hollow head. “This is really, really bad!”
Hopling can’t help but nod in agreement. It really is bad, that person can be no other than the Programmer Alan and Vic have talked about at times when they think no one is listening. And it’s sort of true, nobody is listening but them, who can’t help but to be curious. They’ve probably heard more than Alan and Vic would ever want Chosen or Dark to know. So they agree with Dark; this is really bad.
“What am I going to do now??” She raises her hands into the air.
Hopling jumps until they knock over a letter from the open document Dark had open. It’s an A. It’s hard not being able to communicate like the rest but at least inside the computer they can do that.
Dark stares at the fallen letter for a second before taking her hands to her head again. “Hopling, I can’t go tell Alan! I broke the rule! I talked to a stranger and now he knows my name and now he’s even angrier than before! He’s going to hack into his computer and it’s going to be my fault.”
Hopling makes a little noise, hoping to reminder her that it wasn't her fault, since Programmer was trying to hack into the computer before she even intervened.
“We need to fix this, Hopling!” Dark says, clearly not having understood what Hopling was trying to say. “But how?? I don’t know anything about hacking! I barely even know about coding!” She pauses, nervously glancing around as if searching for an answer.
Hopling thinks the best course of action is telling Vic and Alan. But… they don’t come check on them until the night and by the time, who knows what could have happened! They do need a solution, at least a temporal one.
And then Dark relaxes and it takes Hopling a second to figure out why. She’s staring at Google in silence in what Hopling calls “her scheming stance”. It’s harder to read Dark inside the computer since she doesn’t have an actual face but that stance clearly translate to her stickfigure form.
Dark calmly walks to Google and clicks it open. The coding forum tab is still open. And Hopling understands right there what Dark is thinking of doing. They jump and hit her leg to get her attention. Dark looks at them in what could be described as a sheepish way. Hopling shakes their head no. It’s a terrible idea.
Dark sags in frustration. “I know the rule about not chatting on the internet but I’ve already broken it!” She exclaims. “And I need to stop “Cody” from hacking the computer. And the only people who can help me are right in there!” Hopling stares disapprovingly at her but they can practically see the smile that woukd be stretching on her face. “Besides, it’s not like you could actually stop me.” She says with a giggle and climbs up on to the tab to log in.
Hopling sighs in frustration because she’s right and follows along. The least they can do is make sure t she does it safely. Somehow.
Dark has to create an account which she has never done before. It’s a little fun and it helps her relax just a tiny bit. She decides on the username “Lord of Coding”. It’s almost as cool as her actual name.
She tries searching for someone who has asked her questions first but it seems like no one in the coding forum has wondered what to do if someone is actively hacking into your computer.
So, a little anxiously, she types her question.
“Hi! Anybody here knows how to stop a scary person from hacking into your brother’s computer to see what you’re doing before your brother finds out??”
She pauses before sending and looks at Hopling. “Is it too personal?”
Hopling seems to deadpan so Dark takes it as a yes and edits it a little. She sends it after Hopling nods in approval and anxiously waits for an answer.
It seems like it’s been hours when she finally gets a reply. It’s from a guy called Leader_710 with the profile picture of knight. She glances at Hopling; that sounds like a trustworthy but Hopling still seems to be staring at her in disapproval.
“I already told you I need to do this, Hopling!” She pauses. “And, Leader sounds like a trustworthy name, right? Leaders are good and help people.”
Hopling gives her a look which she feels is reminded her of Alan’s words about names being just names.
“And they have a picture of a knight! In white armor! That’s good in stories!” She insists.
Hopling still looks skeptical. But she has no time to think about that! She needs help. Quickly.
The answer reads as follows:
Leader_710: Hello! I might be able to help you but it can be long. Would you mind if we talk in the private chat instead?
Dark presses her hands together as a request arrives asking her to allow Leader_710 to send private messages. She doesn’t even bother glancing at Hopling before accepting.
Lord of Coding: Hi
Leader_710: hey! Could you tell me what is happening exactly?
Lord of Coding: I was learning about coding on my brother’s computer and then some weird lines of code started appearing. I asked who it was and it was a guy saying he was friends of my brother’s. He was lying and I called him out on it and he said he was going to hack into my computer
Leader_710: …
Leader_710: how old are you?
Dark panics and looks at Hopling who once again shakes their head. Right, don’t give personal information. She has to give this person an age that is bigger than hers, to appear more mature and not a child.
Lord of Coding: 13
Nailed it.
Leader_710: right…
Leader_710: listen, I think maybe you should try telling your brother what happened so he can help you
Lord of Coding: No!
Lord of Coding: I wasn’t supposed to talk with that guy and if I tell him, he will never let me use the computer alone again!
Lord of Coding: I’m smart, I know I can stop him
Lord of Coding: I just need help please
Dark reads her messages and cringes. She probably sounded so pathetic. She wants to die of embarrassment.
It says that Leader_710 is writing and it keeps going and going and going…
And then there’s a ping.
Leader_710: alright
Leader_710: I’ll help you.
Dark sighs with relief but she can’t help but wonder why it took them so wrong to write one word.
Leader_710: how much do you know about coding kid?
Dark pouts.
Lord of Coding: I’m not a kid
Lord of Coding: I’m super old like you
Leader_710: I already said I would help you
Leader_710: I know you’re a kid
Leader_710: you don’t have to lie, I’ll help you either way
Leader_710: and you should know that I’m older than 13 if you think that’s being old
Dark chuckles.
Lord of Coding: ok
Lord of Coding: sorry for lying
Lord of Coding: I’m not supposed to give personal information to strangers, that’s what my brother says
Leader_710: your brother is right
Leader_710: you’re lucky I was the one to answer
Leader_710: I could’ve been a creep
Leader_710: I’ll help you but next time try not to ask help from strangers on forums
Leader_710: …
Leader_710: actually, a word of warning
Leader_710: if a guy called “Programmer021” or smth like that ever texts you, block him
Leader_710: that guy’s a creep. He always manages to weasel his way back into forums even after he’s been banned
Huh. This person seems to be very nice! They have offered advice and warmed her of the dangers of the internet, just like Alan and Vic do! She’s glad she stumbled on to this person not someone else. But they do talk a lot and she needs actual help.
Lord of Coding: ok. Thanks for the advice
Lord of Coding: but could you hurry?? They’re actively hacking my computer right now!!
Dark anxiously waits for the answer, occasionally stealing glances at where the code tab used to be. She really hopes that guys hasn't managed to hack into the computer.
Leader_710: right! Sorry!
Leader_710: right, Lord of Coding, so how much do you actually know about coding?