365... Tech

Dialing 151-4343...     Come on, hurry up!    The familiar beeps and whistles sounded, indicating that the call had gone through. Now, all Mac had to do was wait.    Finally, a connection was established, and he was online. Thankfully, there was no stupid Welcome. You've got mail sound file. Mac shuddered at the thought of AOL as he opened the _link_ to the Game Corner server. What most people didn't realize was that the Rocket Game Corner was mostly computer-operated, which made it a lot easier to rig the slot machines. Unfortunately for them, it also made it a lot easier for a computer hacker to rig the machines to their favor.     Are you in yet? said a familiar voice through Mac's headset.     Just about. What's happening on your side, Jake?     I just sat down at one of the machines, Mac. Now hurry up and do your computer 'thing.'     My computer 'thing' deserves a lot more respect than you give it, said Mac, irritated by his good friend's mockery of his favorite hobby, which was hacking. Compared to other places, the Game Corner was a snap. I don't think I've ever seen a server with so little security. All I needed-     Spare me the techno mumbo-jumbo, Mac, sighed Jake, Just put the gizmo in the whirlygig and get things going.     Magnemite, said Mac's Pokémon, also eager to get things going.    Mac looked up at his Magnemite, which he had hooked up to his Performa's modem. Your lack of vocabulary speaks volumes, Magnemite. Fine, let's go. He then turned his attention back to the monitor, and to his headset. Jake, which machine are you at?     I'm in the third row from the counter, sixth seat down. Now let's get some Pokémon!    Mac looked through the data_base_ and located Jake's slot machine. He double-clicked with his single-button mouse (only IBM users actually need two buttons to get things done, he thought). The plan was simple: With Magnemite's help, Mac would change the slot's odds of a jackpot. They would win lots of coins, and cash 'em in for Pokémon and other prizes.    With a few clicks, Mac was in the source code. Magnemite, sort through all the junk code for what we're looking for.    With a nod, Magnemite began humming as he executed the command. Being a machine, Magnemite was the perfect tool for any hacker that needed something done in a hurry. Plus, he was compatible with most operating systems, and needed few upgrades.    The screen scrolled down to the text he was looking for:    WIN.PROBABILITY=2/971     I don't like those odds, let's see if they like this, and Mac deleted the 2, replacing it with an 800.    Over the phone, he could hear the sound of bells and sirens. Wahoo! I won! The wonders of technology! Jake put on the illusion of surprise to the astonished onlookers.    He slipped in another quarter and pulled the lever. Dratini, Dratini, Dratini! Again the coins shot out into an intelligently-placed bucket. By now a small crowd had formed around the lucky gambler.    Whispering below the audibility of the other gamblers, Jake spoke to Mac: Hey, it's working, Mac! We've hit the jackpot! I might even have enough for a Porygon here! I'm telling you, nothing can go wrong now, nothing!     Careful, Jake, warned Mac, those are famous last words.     Whatever, MOM, and again the winning sirens went off.    A few tall men in suits walked up to Jake and grabbed his shoulder. Excuse me sir, but your grand prize is waiting in the back. Please come with us.     Grand prize? All right, this is my lucky day!    Even Mac was letting down his guard. Good work, Jake. Just collect your prize, and let's get that Porygon. He then switched the 800 back to 2, so as to not arouse any suspicion. On second thought... and he switched it again, this time to a 200. There's my Good Samaritan act for the month.    Suddenly, a window popped in front:    SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR FRIEND.    Oh great, he thought. Someone on the inside had traced his connection. The message was probably a harmless prank (in fact, it reminded him of flame wars in obscure newsgroups), but he would have to change his e-mail address again...    Meanwhile, Jake was exchanging his coins at the Coin Exchange (well where else would you exchange them?).     You have enough for any Pokémon of your choice, sir. What is your pick?     Hmm... said Jake, pretending to browse, as if he didn't know what he wanted. That Porygon is downright tempting...     Very well, sir. If you like, we can transfer your Porygon through e-mail to your home address.     Cool, and he told her Mac's address.     Huh? I got an e-mail? Mac was just about to sign off when the mail arrived. When he double-clicked on the attached file, his floppy drive began to smoke and sizzle. Instantly, a Porygon blasted out.     The wonders of technology... he said jokingly to Jake.     AAAAAAAH! squawked his headset, which then went dead.     Jake? JAKE!    His computer then got another message, which was simply a skull and crossbones, laughing.    A second later, the whole system exploded, sending shards of keyboard and CPU all over the place. Mac was barely able to duck under his desk to avoid disfigurement.    When the smoke cleared, he peered back at his desktop. Although the Performa was beyond repair, only one sight truly disturbed Mac.     Magnemite! What was left of his Pokémon was a tangle of wires and circuits. Besides being at point-blank range, its brain was directly hooked up to the system, so even if it had survived, it would have been a vegetable. If machines can be vegetables.    Mac held the wiring in his fists, and a tear began to form. First his best friend, then his Pokémon. And all under 10 seconds.     The wonders of technology...