Read Socket 3 - The Legend of Socket Greeny for Free Online

Chute’s face on the back.
    “They have those in other colors, you
know.”
    “I didn’t buy it for the color.”
    “Yeah, well, it doesn’t work on you. And
what’s with the look of shock? You knew I was going to call you and
then you looked like you were going to start drooling. You having a
seizure?”
    “Yeah, well, I just was… thinking of
something. You caught me by surprise.”
    “More like I kicked you in the balls.”
    “Hi, Socket.” Janette bobbed on her toes,
holding Streeter’s hand.
    Janette and I talked while Streeter went over
to the display. She liked my shirt and asked how I was doing and
how excited she was for Chute. “Are you two going inside?” I
asked.
    “We got to break down the display,” Streeter
said. “And recalibrate this, apparently.”
    “You’re close, Streeter. The code was correct
and most of the internal structure. It must be holding some data
from previous reads.”
    “We could take it back to the lab,” Janette
said, “run another test drive to realign the synapse relays.”
    “I suppose.” He had that look again, as if
she was speaking the language of love and only he could hear it.
Then she blushed.
    “I’m going to leave you two alone,” I
said.
    “Well, come by later.” He grabbed me before I
could get away. “And don’t tell Chute we’re not in there. We’ll
watch it on relay, but I can’t get in there to see it live.”
    “So you want me to lie?”
    “No, just tell her you saw me and that I saw
her, that’s not a lie. If she gets suspicious, just run. That’s
what I do.”
    He looked at Janette for support, but she
didn’t know Chute all that well, yet. Chute wouldn’t miss something
like this for either of us and she expected the same in return.
    “When are you bringing me out to the
Garrison? You’ve had Chute out there like twelve times. Me? I’ve
been there once.” He put one finger in my face to make his point.
“You like her better than me or something?”
    “Infinitely.”
    “My feelings are hurt.”
    I pushed his hand away. “Every time I ask you
to come out you got something planned.” I stared at Janette for a
long second. “Who’s fault is that?”
    She nodded in agreement. Streeter said, “All
right, well, I got a life. Sue me.”
    “Maybe I could schedule you to come out in a
few days, before I leave on a trip.”
    “Two days?” He rubbed his chin and glanced at
Janette. “Yeaaaaah, I can’t do that.”
    “You’re hilarious, you know that?”
    “How about this? I project into your office
through virtualmode, you can show how the whole molding technology
works. You don’t need permission for that.”
    “I’ll see.”
    Virtualmode club members grabbed Streeter and
Janette followed. He pointed at me as if to say do it. I
nodded but they were already discussing the next meeting, taking
down the banner and boxing up the gear while the kids screamed for
more action from the monsters. By the time I reached an entrance to
the stadium, the corridor was mostly empty. Two minutes before the
ceremony began.
     
     
Raining Roses
    Eight-thousand seats in that stadium. All
filled.
    Lightners floated above the stadium
spotlighting the crowd that cheered when their images appeared over
the field in three-dimensional detail. Holographic fireworks
streaked harmlessly from one side to the other, like a battle of
green, blue and red fizzling missiles. Hundreds of shiny lookit
orbs hovered around, their red eyelights circling their shiny
softball-sized bodies, scanning and directing the crowd. I made my
way near the front, stood along the railing just above the
field.
    Security guards were along the perimeter.
There were some real important people on the stage in center field,
including the governor, mayor and all the members of the county
school board. The rest of the stage was occupied by coaches and
parents. There in front, sitting with a blanket over his lap in a
wheelchair, was Chute’s father, Mr. Thomas, who was paralyzed