Contributor: SpaceBrown

Kenna eyed the chip dubiously. It was burnt and chipped, pieced together from two different colors of circuit boards, and appeared to have been resoldered all over. All in all, it was a wreck.

“It looks like it was pieced together from three different chips.” Kenna sniffed distastefully. Graffyr smiled.

“Seven, actually. The original board was hardly recognizable. But, I'm sure it's a 77-GLK. Generation 4.”

“GLK...that sounds familiar...aren't those really high-profile chips? Government-use or something?” Kenna asked.

“Military, to be exact.” Graffyr clarified. “But you're right. Top-of-the-line, government-controlled, hack-proof, surge-proof circuit boards.”

“Then what was it doing in the trash?” Kenna questioned.

“My thoughts exactly!” Graffyr exclaimed. “But, this chip wasn't just thrown away. It had been broken, shredded, burnt, crushed, and magnetically wiped. I had to replace all the resistors, capacitors, transistors, and resolder everything! It took over five hours and all of my skill to repair it!” Graffyr cradled the chip in his hands. “But you don't get to restore a true masterpiece every solar cycle.”

“You mean, you retrieved the data on it?” Kenna asked incredulously.

“Well, I obviously didn't call you down here just to admire my work with a soldering iron.” Graffyr grinned. “Of course I got the information! It's not perfect, but it's enough. Whoever tossed this chip sure didn't want anyone to see the information on it.” He smiled. “But here's where it gets really weird. This chip came from the Eastern Mars Penitentiary.” Kenna's jaw dropped.

“Mars?” She breathed. “But nothing ever happens on Mars.”

“I wouldn't call this nothing, Kenna.” Graffyr said, suddenly serious. He plugged the ship into his black communicator. “This chip came from a prison automatic on Mars.” He hit a few keys and the grainy footage began to play.