Sam's date!

Looking at matrix space, it is not hard for Sam to spot about a half dozen different icons going about and messing with his stuff. They are making no attempt to hide themselves, apparently delighting in the chaos they are creating.

Sam activates his Co app
D9 F7 A6 S4
Init Cold Sim:
Sam Dekker carried out 4 launched of one d6 :

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+14

Configure deck A9 F7 D6 S4
Sam picks the most menacing looking icon, and the three of them converge on it.

Lycos and Jeeves attack it using brute force for one mark each
Sam Dekker carried out 8 launched of one d6 :

, , , , , , ,

Sam Dekker carried out 12 launched of one d6 :

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sam follows that up with a data spike
Sam Dekker carried out 19 launched of one d6 :

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sam blasts one of the icons to bits. The others turn to him and poof away, leaving all the devices in the house to continue going nutty, including his bike which is on it's way up the street.

Sam sets about turning everything back to normal, starting with calling the bike back.

It's annoying, and tedious, but Sam has no real problem setting everything right. As soon as everything is settled down, everything goes haywire again as the icons have returned. The same as before, Sam drives them off, puts everything back in order and as soon as he's done it repeats all over. This continues well into the night, making sleep impossible as all the flickering lights and noise keep waking him up. By morning he is completely spent and irritable as he has gotten no sleep and had to deal with constant attacks. Even the most caffeinated of energy drinks can't help him at this point.

As the attacks continue and his exhaustion rises, he starts to find shorter and easier ways to deal with them so he can put less effort into it. By the third day he completely passes out and no amount of noise or flashing lights can awaken him. It's going to be a long 6 weeks...

Sometime in around week three, (which I think is week 2 of this awful training regimen) Sam sends a message to Roku and Tetsu through whatever sort of unnecessarily complex secure routing method he and Roku must have devised before she and Tetsu went into hiding.

>>>>>> Have not heard from you guys for a long time. How are you? Are you almost ready with a plan?

Roku texts back:
>>>>> We're still grieving her death. Our friends are still grieving as well, but two people have come by to speak with her. Tetsu explained to them not to come back and they will not bother us further. Despite setbacks, preparations for our plans are still underway.

Later that evening, Sam heads over to Auntie Muku's house for a weekly dinner. She's prepared a nice sukiyaki nabe which she places on the table on a small gas burner, allowing you all to pick from it and eat together. The weather is cooling down and this makes for a nice fall meal.

Hanako quietly dips a thin slice of meat in some raw egg as Auntie Muku does her usual chatter with Sam. "So how are things going between you two dears?" she asks, "Hanako mentioned something about a trip to a convention together. What was that like?"

Sam waits for Hanako to answer.

When she doesn't, he says "It was good" while keeping his eyes fixed on his meal.

Sam makes sure to keep his mic ring pointing in Hanako's direction throughout dinner. This is his first mic ring test run. He tries not to make it too obvious.

With the ring pointed at Hanako, Sam is perfectly able to hear what she is saying, which is currently nothing. Well, she's chewing her food which is clearly audible to him anyway. Auntie Muku says, "Good, eh? How good? Are we talking it was better than doing nothing 'good' or crazy sparks of love 'good'? Are you a couple now? Did you have your first kiss?"

Hanako blushes deep red and says, "Mother!"

Auntie Muku doesn't seem to notice, which is understandable since Sam can only hear that because of his microphone. She leans in toward Sam, eager to hear the answer.

"I do not know about any of that, Auntie. But, I thought that it was good."

Auntie Muku smirks and says, "You don't know if you had your first kiss or not? Come on, you can tell me. I won't be upset."

"No," Sam says. "We did not have a first kiss."

Auntie Muku pouts a little. "Awww. Well there's still next time. If you need some privacy, my offer for the lake cabin is still open. You could spend the weekend, just the two of you. Have your first kiss. Maybe some other firsts too..."

Hanako stares at her mother and says, "Mother! You're embarrassing me!" Again Muku doesn't seem to hear it, but she glances over at Hanako and can at least read the expression on her daughter's face. Muku says, "What? If I don't push you to go out and get laid, I'll never get grandbabies now will I?"

Hanako covers her face, unable to speak, but her ears are beet red.

To Sam, Muku says, "You do plan on having babies with my daughter, don't you? You aren't planning on being one of those D.I.N.K.s, are you?"

"I have not planned that far ahead, Auntie."

Auntie Muku says, "Well you absolutely must plan ahead, my dear. You don't get anywhere in life by just waiting for things to happen. You need to make them happen, understand? How about I arrange for that lake cabin retreat next weekend?"

Hanako says to Sam, "You don't have to feel pressured to do anything you don't want to do, Sam. She's always pushy like this."

"If Hanako wants to go to the cabin, we can go to the cabin. If there is matrix access."

Auntie Muku says, "Of course there's matrix access! I'm not sending you to a savage jungle. Hopefully you two get up to more than playing around on the matrix though."

Hanako blushes and says, "S-s-sure. W-we can go," with a nod.

Auntie Muku says, "Great! It's settled then! Next weekend. I'll even let you borrow a car to take you down there. A nice romantic getaway for the two of you. Exciting!"

Sam has no particular response. He eats his meal.

Auntie Muku takes a bite of a small tofu block then says, "So Sammie-kun, I was wondering if you've been taking care of yourself properly. As they say, healthy body, healthy mind. Do you get the chance to exercise regularly?"

"Yes, Auntie Muku," Sam intones.

Auntie Muku smiles and says, "That's good to hear. What about your spiritual health? Do you go to church these days?"

"Yes, Auntie Muku," Sam intones.