A Broken Code
Hacker Help Quest
Requirements
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Requirements
You spot Ashton in the cafeteria, surrounded by all your friends.
Danny: Hey there, Ashton. Looks like you’re getting along pretty well with everyone.
Ashton: Definitely. Most definitely. This school is way cooler than my last one. Like, 5x, or even 10x cooler!
Payton: We were just debating the best types of music. What’s your favorite, Danny?
Danny: I’d have to go with rock.
Payton: That’s what Ashton said too!
Danny: Oh! You’re a fan?
Ashton: Obviously. Great minds think alike. I even have a set of four unreleased tracks by Led Zeppelin. 1969-era. You should swing by some time. Check ‘em out.
Danny: That sounds awesome! Thanks, Ashton!
Payton: Isn’t Ashton the coolest, Danny?
Julian: Seriously. Like, how’d you ever find that 12-pack of Slurm, Ashton? That was the best soda ever until they discontinued it!
Nishan: And thanks again for inviting me to the Gene Mycroft lecture. I couldn’t get a group interested before it sold out. Though I have no idea how you acquired tickets to see the nation’s preeminent physicist without some Game of Thrones-style backroom dealings.
Ashton: I have my ways... it pays to have contacts on the Deep Web who owe you a favor.
Wes: Speaking of favors, I managed to pull out an ‘A’ on my last quiz in computer programming... so I think I owe you one, Ashton.
Ashton: Just like I told you. CS isn’t that hard. I knew you’d do well if you tried.
Wes: Still might not understand everything as well as my classmates... but it seems like you believing in me made all the difference.
The bell rings, and everyone files out of the cafeteria.
Mia: Well, Payton and I have to run. We’ve got last minute prep for a district cheer exhibition.
Autumn: Good luck! Sorry we can’t come support you. I wish we weren’t so busy.
Mia: It’s okay... it’s really not a big deal. My dad can’t make it either. Flying to some education convention thing today. But it’s fine. It’s not important.
Everyone splits up to head to class, leaving you and Ashton.
Danny: I’m happy to see you’re making friends, Ashton. I think you’ll like it here.
Ashton: Already do. I was pretty lonely at my last school. Not many friends. But that won’t happen again. I plan to throw a huge party for everyone. Tonight, in fact. Can you help me distribute some invites?
Requirements
You and Ashton approach Alexandra, Nick, and James after class.
Danny: Hey guys, I want you to meet our newest student, Ashton!
Alexandra: Oh, we know Ashton already! Thanks for the equalizer tweak on my guitar rig. It sounds EPIC now!
Ashton: That was nothing. Hit me up if you want to work on it some more. You know... together.
James: By the way, Ashton, that Starcraft II mod you made? Ridiculously sick!
Nick: And the super-rare paint we needed for the Art Department arrived! It’s amazing! The hues, the tones... so lush! How did you ever find it?!
Ashton: A distributor in Belarus. He owed me one.
Danny: Wow, Ashton... you’ve been busy!
Ashton: Just making myself useful. So, you guys. House party tonight? My place?
Nick: Absolutely! Any party you throw, everyone will be there!
Time - 8 hours
The last bell of the day rings, and your classmates stream out, excited for the weekend.
Payton: Eeee! I can’t wait for your party tonight, Ashton! Just FYI, I have high party standards.
Ashton: It’ll fit the bill. The rest of you are coming, right?
Julian: Wouldn’t miss it.
Autumn: What about you, Mia? You look sorta down. Did the cheer exhibition go okay?
Payton: Of course! It went great!
Mia: Pretty quiet... but it was fine.
Ashton: How’d your dad like it?
Mia: What are you talking about?
Autumn: Don’t you remember, Ashton? Mia said that her dad had to fly to a convention today and couldn’t make it.
Ashton: He could, after I hacked his computer and cancelled his flight.
Mia: ...you WHAT?!
Ashton: I’d seen his message in your email. So I reconciled the scheduling conflict.
Mia: You read my email?!
Ashton: ...well, yeah. How else would I have known which flight he was on?
Autumn: Um, Ashton? Have you been hacking into EVERYONE’S email?
Julian: Wait, is that how you knew I liked that soda?
Ashton: Of course. And which music Danny likes. That Nishan missed out on tickets to see Gene Mycroft. That Wes’s programming teacher refused to postpone the quiz...
Wes: Hold on, Ashton, email is one thing, but did you... Did you hack my grade to an ‘A’?
Ashton: You told me you were going to fail. It was just a--
Wes: You can’t do that! I’m not one for rules, but I want what I earned. And I NEVER ask for a bailout.
Ashton: Why are you all so mad? I’m just trying to be a good friend!
Without a word, Mia marches off.
Ashton: Mia, wait! I was helping--
Mia: Helping? Don’t you get it? My dad never WANTED to come see me. But at least before, we both had an excuse. Before, we could pretend that it’s not because he resents everything about his daughter. So yeah. Thanks for helping, Ashton.
Everyone else storms off, furious!
Ashton: Guys! Wait!
Everyone’s gone, leaving just you and a forlorn Ashton.
Ashton: What’s the big deal? I just wanted to get to know everyone. It’s how I was able to be such a good friend.
Danny: Friends don’t betray each other’s trust like this. You invaded their privacy.
Ashton: They’ll cool off, right? They’re still coming to my party...
Danny: I’m not so sure...
Requirements
That night, you show up at Ashton’s place.
Ashton: Danny! You made it. Welcome to my home page. Come on in. You’re the first to arrive.
You step inside and look around. Blue and green ribbon streamers are draped from the walls, and a multi-colored party light rig whirs softly in the empty living room...
Danny: You really went all out with the decorations.
Ashton: Yep. This is my first party. First time I’ve had any friends, really. We can just chill until everyone gets here. Should be any minute now...
Time - 12 hours
A clock on the wall ticks time away. You and Ashton sit on the couch in awkward silence.
Ashton: They’re... not showing. Sorry I made you come, Danny. You can go.
Danny: Look, Ashton, you really hurt everyone by snooping through their personal stuff.
Ashton: I just thought, once I knew how to help everyone... I could do nice things for them. Then maybe we could be friends.
Your eyes fall on Ashton’s four-monitor computer setup nearby as it cycles through wallpaper backgrounds... They’re all pictures of teenagers from Ashton’s old school, smiling, posing, laughing... And in each one, you see Ashton in the background, trying to squeeze in... trying to be part of the group...
Danny: I understand why you did it. But that doesn’t make it any better. There’s one thing you can’t hack, Ashton, and that’s people. You can’t hack friendship to the max level. And this is what happens when you cheat.
Ashton: Easy for you to say. You have tons of friends.
Danny: That’s because I took the time to get to know them. Friendship doesn’t happen in a blink. It’s built over time. That’s WHY it’s so special.
Ashton: Okay, then how do I fix this? There has to be a way to wipe this off the hard drive.
Danny: That’s just it, Ashton. People aren’t computers. All you can do is try to make it up to them... and hope that they forgive you.
Ashton: But all I know is computers. And everyone got mad when I used them to do nice things.
Danny: It’s because you used them to invade their privacy, not because of your intentions. Like, getting the lecture tickets for Nishan was really kind of you, but you didn’t have to hack his email to find out he wanted to go. All you had to do was ask him what he was doing this weekend.
Ashton: I tried that at my last school. Everyone just blew me off.
Danny: I don’t know what your classmates there were like, but everyone here had a tough time at their last school. Same as you. That’s why we’re here. You can make friends by being interested in other people and letting them open up to you... in their own time.
Ashton: Maybe. But they won’t open up to me now.
Danny: The first step is apologizing. Show them you’re willing to be friends the right way. You wanted Nishan to meet his hero, right? Well, he won’t go with you to the lecture... but maybe you can bring the lecture to him!
Requirements
The next day at school, you and Ashton approach Nishan.
Nishan: Ashton. Can I help you get anything? My fingerprints? A blood sample?
Ashton: That’s fair. I deserve that. While I still don’t fully get why everyone’s this upset... all that matters is that I did upset you. And that’s my bad. I still want you to meet your hero. But not because you’d hang out with me. It’s because I think you’re a cool dude.
Nishan: I’m not going to the lecture, Ashton. I don’t have any FRIENDS to go with.
Ashton: You don’t have to go at all.
Nishan turns at the sound of a limo pulling through the bus loop. It eases to a stop, and out steps...
Nishan: Gene Mycroft?!?
Time - 14 hours
You and Ashton watch from a distance as Nishan talks excitedly with physicist Gene Mycroft.
Ashton: He looks happy... I think. Is it working? Usually I’d see a compiling error by now.
Danny: You just have to wait and see.
Gene Mycroft shakes Nishan’s hand and gets back in his limo. Nishan wanders back over to you, grinning.
Danny: So? How’d it go?
Nishan: I was talking so fast, my words were kind of blending as I went, much like how parallel universes merge geometrically in is time travel theory. But he gave me his personal phone number! I can call him whenever I want! Eeeee!
Danny: Are you okay? You’re making a high-pitched noise!
Nishan: Er, what I meant to say was... I look forward to illuminating discourse in the future. I AM curious, though... how did you get Gene Mycroft to come? Did you hack his calendar and divert his itinerary?
Danny: Nope. Ashton, um, ‘found’ his private email address and wrote him an impassioned request for a visit.
Nishan: Wow, really? That’s... kind of you, Ashton.
Ashton: Any time. By the way, I could’ve gotten you his personal phone number, easy. Just saying--
Danny: Ashton!
Ashton: Whoops. Sorry.
You and Ashton meet up again between classes.
Ashton: So, are Nishan and I friends now?
Danny: You did a good thing in making it up to him, but you’re not friends yet. Take it slow, remember?
Ashton: Right. Slow. Nice and steady. Like dial-up internet. It’s cool. While that’s running in the background, I can get going on making things up to Wes. So, I... change his grade back? What do I do?
Danny: I know you had good intentions when you boosted his grade, but you took the easy way instead of the meaningful way. Wes said he’s not doing well in programming, but that’s YOUR best subject. Instead of just giving him a cheap ‘A’, you could have offered to tutor him.
Ashton: Somehow I doubt he’d be interested in my help now.
Danny: All you can do is try.
Requirements
You and Ashton spot Wes in the computer lab.
Danny: You’ve got this, Ashton.
Ashton walks up to Wes, who struggles to write a version of Pong. But the ball keeps passing right through the paddles.
Wes: Agh! Only four hours until this is due. Maybe if I could find a copy of the original game and strip out the source code...
Ashton: Have you tried decreasing the hit detection interval?
Wes finds Ashton standing behind him. His expression goes cold... but he turns to his keyboard and types something in.
Wes: Whoa... it’s working now.
Ashton: You know, I could teach you some tricks. If you want, that is.
Wes: No, thanks. I’m good on my own.
Ashton turns to you with a look of resignation. You gesture to keep trying. Ashton takes a deep breath.
Ashton: I shouldn’t have changed your grade. Like you said, you want to get what you’ve earned. And you know what? I’m the same way. I thought I’d earned your friendship by working to learn about you. But I hadn’t. Not really. So I’ll leave you alone. But if you ever feel like giving me a second chance... you know where to find me.
Wes’s face softens. He meets your gaze for a moment. You nod.
Wes: All right, listen. For the life of me, I can’t figure out how to get these paddles to move.
Time - 17 hours
Later that day, Wes comes up to you and Ashton in the halls.
Wes: Well, the teacher graded my program. I got a ‘B’. Not perfect, but it’s mine. I’m usually the one bailing people out, not the other way around. But maybe a tutor wouldn’t be so bad. Thanks for the back-up, Ashton.
Ashton: Sure thing. Maybe we’ll do it again sometime?
Wes: ...maybe.
Ashton approaches Mia, who’s changing out books at her locker.
Ashton: Hey, Mia. I wanted to apolog--
Mia slams the locker and breezes past Ashton without a word.
Ashton: Debugging this one’s going to be tough.
Danny: You did meddle with a family issue of hers. That’s a serious breach of trust.
Ashton: So what do I do? I can’t fix her relationship with her dad.
Danny: A real friend is there to comfort you, even when they can’t solve your troubles. That’s what they’re for.
Ashton: Hmm... that give me an idea.
Requirements
Ashton corners Mia in class.
Ashton: Hey. Can I show you something on my laptop?
Mia: Could you please go weasel into someone else’s life?
Danny: Mia, I think you should take a look.
Mia: Why are you standing up for this jerk, Danny?
Danny: Because this school is about getting a second chance. For all of us.
Mia: You can’t guilt me with your inspirational rally cry this time, Danny...
Danny: Really?
Mia: ...ugh, how do you always get me? Fine. What is it you want to show me, Ashton?
Time - 20 hours
Ashton shows Mia the laptop.
Mia: It’s the front page of Reddit. Big deal.
Ashton: See the top link?
Mia: ‘Check out this amazing cheer routine’? Oh my god... that’s the video of our exhibition! How did it get so many upvotes?
Mia clicks the link and reads the comments.
Mia: Wow, everyone’s being so nice about it.
Ashton: Well, it’s a pretty impressive video.
Mia: Wait, this is all fake, isn’t it? Getting to the front page, all these compliments... you planted them!
Ashton: I admit it. I fabricated the first 500 upvotes. Just to get the ball rolling. but the other 20,000? All natural.
Mia: Really?
Ashton: I just wanted to show you that your hard work is appreciated. No matter what. You’ll always have an audience.
Mia bites her lip...
Mia: Well... cool.
Ashton: Are we... friends again?
Mia: Nope.
Ashton: Oh...
Mia: But maybe I don’t hate you anymore.
Ashton: I’ll take it.
You leave class with Ashton...
Danny: I’m really proud of you, Ashton. I think you’ve made a lot of progress today--
Ashton: Nope. I’m nowhere near done. I finally get it now. I betrayed EVERYONE’S trust by hacking their email. I need to make it up to the whole school. That will take something big.
Danny: What do you have in mind?
Ashton: I know what it has to be. It’s pretty complicated. It’d take a software company a month to build. So give me 24 hours.
Requirements
You lead the student body into the auditorium. On stage, Ashton stands at a podium.
Isabella: What is this?
Alexandra: We don’t want anything to do with Ashton!
Nick: Yeah, Danny, why did you bring us here?
Danny: Guys, come on. Let’s give Ashton a chance...
Ashton: Thank you all for coming. I’ve only been at this school a short time, but I’ve already learned a lot. I learned that friendship is based on trust. Not favors. I learned that there are some errors where you can’t just wipe the memory. I learned that taking the easy way doesn’t always mean as much as doing things right. But most importantly, I learned that I have a lot more to learn about each of you. Things that can’t be gleaned from your email accounts. Not just what you like, but who you are. And with that... I’d like to unveil something I hope will chance our school forever!
Time - 23 hours
Ashton: I present to you...
Ashton presses a button on a remote, and a projection of a computer screen lights up the stage.
Ashton: ‘The Friend Zone’. A school-wide social network for connecting people and making friends in the real world. Got an event you want to attend? Use it to organize a group trip!
Nishan: Like to Gene Mycroft’s next lecture... maybe I could find others who want to go!
Ashton: Feel like the only one floundering in a tough curse? Here you can network with classmates and form study groups!
Wes: Hmm. I bet I could put together a solid team...
Ashton: Need some support for you student group performance? Promote it online and find your audience!
Mia: That could come in handy for my next exhibition.
Ashton: I hope this network helps you all connect to your classmates on a real level. And I hope I get to know some of you through this too. I know it would take some time. But someone pretty smart taught me that you can’t hack friendship.
After the presentation...
Ashton: Whew. Never talked to that many people at once IRL. How do you think they took it?
Danny: I think your project’s going to make a positive difference in a lot of lives. Thanks, Ashton.
Ashton: I can’t help but wish it had ended with everyone coming up and wanting to be my friend... but I have to remind myself of what you said. It takes time. It’s lame having no friends... but at least I don’t have any enemies anymore.
Danny: Have you thought about trying to throw the party again?
Ashton: Would people show?
Danny: I really don’t know.
Ashton: Well, let’s call it a hangout. Even if it’s just you and me, I’ll be happy.
Requirements
You and Ashton sit alone on a couch, playing a self-modded version of Legends of ClanCraft.
Danny: This is really fun, Ashton. But are you sure you’re okay that no one else came?
Ashton: I meant what I said.
Just then, the doorbell rings.
Ashton: That must be the pizza.
Ashton leaps up and opens the front door. Standing there is a large group of your classmates!
Ashton: You... you guys came?!
Julian: Of course.
Payton: You know I hate missing parties. So don’t make me have to skip one ever again, got it?
Soon, Ashton’s place is filled with friends, dancing under a programmed light show and drinking Slurm.
Danny: This is more your speed, huh, Ashton?
Ashton: Definitely. But I do wish Mia had come. I feel worst about what I did to her...
Danny: Well, guess who just showed up.
Ashton: Mia! Hey!
Mia: Danny tells me this is your first party. Not bad at all.
Ashton: Thanks. And thanks for coming.
Mia: No big deal. Parties are a good place to meet new people, right?
Danny: So what’s our next activity, Ashton?
Payton: Oh, I know! Let’s play Truth Or Dare! That’s the best way to get to know someone.
Ashton: I’m in.
Ashton offers you a can of Slurm. You taste it.
Danny: Ugh! Julian, how can you drink this stuff?
Julian: Are you about to insult the nectar of the gods?
Danny: Let’s just say I can see why it was discontinued.
The party is in full swing! Everyone dances to a radio blasting Top 40 hits while Ashton types at a laptop nearby.
Ashton: Aaaand... there!
The radio suddenly switches to Foo Fighters!
Danny: Whoa! How’d you do that?
Ashton: Just a simple code snippet. Now the whole town is listening to your favorite type of music.
Danny: Thanks, Ashton... but it’s not YOUR favorite, is it?
Ashton: Naw... I’m actually into new-wave mathcore.
Danny: Well, I’m glad to be learning something about the real you.
Ashton: You know, Danny, I never apologized to you. I’m sorry I hacked your email.
Danny: Don’t worry about it. I know you learned your lesson.
Ashton: I should make it up to you. Especially after you helped me make amends with everyone else.
Danny: Like I said, this school was founded to be a second chance for everyone here.
Ashton: Then let’s start over.
Ashton shakes your hand.
Ashton: Hi, I’m Ashton.
Danny: Nice to meet you, Ashton. I’m Danny.
- Have Ashton
You spot Ashton in the cafeteria, surrounded by all your friends.
Danny: Hey there, Ashton. Looks like you’re getting along pretty well with everyone.
Ashton: Definitely. Most definitely. This school is way cooler than my last one. Like, 5x, or even 10x cooler!
Payton: We were just debating the best types of music. What’s your favorite, Danny?
Danny: I’d have to go with rock.
Payton: That’s what Ashton said too!
Danny: Oh! You’re a fan?
Ashton: Obviously. Great minds think alike. I even have a set of four unreleased tracks by Led Zeppelin. 1969-era. You should swing by some time. Check ‘em out.
Danny: That sounds awesome! Thanks, Ashton!
Payton: Isn’t Ashton the coolest, Danny?
Julian: Seriously. Like, how’d you ever find that 12-pack of Slurm, Ashton? That was the best soda ever until they discontinued it!
Nishan: And thanks again for inviting me to the Gene Mycroft lecture. I couldn’t get a group interested before it sold out. Though I have no idea how you acquired tickets to see the nation’s preeminent physicist without some Game of Thrones-style backroom dealings.
Ashton: I have my ways... it pays to have contacts on the Deep Web who owe you a favor.
Wes: Speaking of favors, I managed to pull out an ‘A’ on my last quiz in computer programming... so I think I owe you one, Ashton.
Ashton: Just like I told you. CS isn’t that hard. I knew you’d do well if you tried.
Wes: Still might not understand everything as well as my classmates... but it seems like you believing in me made all the difference.
The bell rings, and everyone files out of the cafeteria.
Mia: Well, Payton and I have to run. We’ve got last minute prep for a district cheer exhibition.
Autumn: Good luck! Sorry we can’t come support you. I wish we weren’t so busy.
Mia: It’s okay... it’s really not a big deal. My dad can’t make it either. Flying to some education convention thing today. But it’s fine. It’s not important.
Everyone splits up to head to class, leaving you and Ashton.
Danny: I’m happy to see you’re making friends, Ashton. I think you’ll like it here.
Ashton: Already do. I was pretty lonely at my last school. Not many friends. But that won’t happen again. I plan to throw a huge party for everyone. Tonight, in fact. Can you help me distribute some invites?
Requirements
- A Musician (Alexandra)
- An Artist (Nick)
- A Gamer (James)
You and Ashton approach Alexandra, Nick, and James after class.
Danny: Hey guys, I want you to meet our newest student, Ashton!
Alexandra: Oh, we know Ashton already! Thanks for the equalizer tweak on my guitar rig. It sounds EPIC now!
Ashton: That was nothing. Hit me up if you want to work on it some more. You know... together.
James: By the way, Ashton, that Starcraft II mod you made? Ridiculously sick!
Nick: And the super-rare paint we needed for the Art Department arrived! It’s amazing! The hues, the tones... so lush! How did you ever find it?!
Ashton: A distributor in Belarus. He owed me one.
Danny: Wow, Ashton... you’ve been busy!
Ashton: Just making myself useful. So, you guys. House party tonight? My place?
Nick: Absolutely! Any party you throw, everyone will be there!
Time - 8 hours
The last bell of the day rings, and your classmates stream out, excited for the weekend.
Payton: Eeee! I can’t wait for your party tonight, Ashton! Just FYI, I have high party standards.
Ashton: It’ll fit the bill. The rest of you are coming, right?
Julian: Wouldn’t miss it.
Autumn: What about you, Mia? You look sorta down. Did the cheer exhibition go okay?
Payton: Of course! It went great!
Mia: Pretty quiet... but it was fine.
Ashton: How’d your dad like it?
Mia: What are you talking about?
Autumn: Don’t you remember, Ashton? Mia said that her dad had to fly to a convention today and couldn’t make it.
Ashton: He could, after I hacked his computer and cancelled his flight.
Mia: ...you WHAT?!
Ashton: I’d seen his message in your email. So I reconciled the scheduling conflict.
Mia: You read my email?!
Ashton: ...well, yeah. How else would I have known which flight he was on?
Autumn: Um, Ashton? Have you been hacking into EVERYONE’S email?
Julian: Wait, is that how you knew I liked that soda?
Ashton: Of course. And which music Danny likes. That Nishan missed out on tickets to see Gene Mycroft. That Wes’s programming teacher refused to postpone the quiz...
Wes: Hold on, Ashton, email is one thing, but did you... Did you hack my grade to an ‘A’?
Ashton: You told me you were going to fail. It was just a--
Wes: You can’t do that! I’m not one for rules, but I want what I earned. And I NEVER ask for a bailout.
Ashton: Why are you all so mad? I’m just trying to be a good friend!
Without a word, Mia marches off.
Ashton: Mia, wait! I was helping--
Mia: Helping? Don’t you get it? My dad never WANTED to come see me. But at least before, we both had an excuse. Before, we could pretend that it’s not because he resents everything about his daughter. So yeah. Thanks for helping, Ashton.
Everyone else storms off, furious!
Ashton: Guys! Wait!
Everyone’s gone, leaving just you and a forlorn Ashton.
Ashton: What’s the big deal? I just wanted to get to know everyone. It’s how I was able to be such a good friend.
Danny: Friends don’t betray each other’s trust like this. You invaded their privacy.
Ashton: They’ll cool off, right? They’re still coming to my party...
Danny: I’m not so sure...
Requirements
- Danny
- Ashton
That night, you show up at Ashton’s place.
Ashton: Danny! You made it. Welcome to my home page. Come on in. You’re the first to arrive.
You step inside and look around. Blue and green ribbon streamers are draped from the walls, and a multi-colored party light rig whirs softly in the empty living room...
Danny: You really went all out with the decorations.
Ashton: Yep. This is my first party. First time I’ve had any friends, really. We can just chill until everyone gets here. Should be any minute now...
Time - 12 hours
A clock on the wall ticks time away. You and Ashton sit on the couch in awkward silence.
Ashton: They’re... not showing. Sorry I made you come, Danny. You can go.
Danny: Look, Ashton, you really hurt everyone by snooping through their personal stuff.
Ashton: I just thought, once I knew how to help everyone... I could do nice things for them. Then maybe we could be friends.
Your eyes fall on Ashton’s four-monitor computer setup nearby as it cycles through wallpaper backgrounds... They’re all pictures of teenagers from Ashton’s old school, smiling, posing, laughing... And in each one, you see Ashton in the background, trying to squeeze in... trying to be part of the group...
Danny: I understand why you did it. But that doesn’t make it any better. There’s one thing you can’t hack, Ashton, and that’s people. You can’t hack friendship to the max level. And this is what happens when you cheat.
Ashton: Easy for you to say. You have tons of friends.
Danny: That’s because I took the time to get to know them. Friendship doesn’t happen in a blink. It’s built over time. That’s WHY it’s so special.
Ashton: Okay, then how do I fix this? There has to be a way to wipe this off the hard drive.
Danny: That’s just it, Ashton. People aren’t computers. All you can do is try to make it up to them... and hope that they forgive you.
Ashton: But all I know is computers. And everyone got mad when I used them to do nice things.
Danny: It’s because you used them to invade their privacy, not because of your intentions. Like, getting the lecture tickets for Nishan was really kind of you, but you didn’t have to hack his email to find out he wanted to go. All you had to do was ask him what he was doing this weekend.
Ashton: I tried that at my last school. Everyone just blew me off.
Danny: I don’t know what your classmates there were like, but everyone here had a tough time at their last school. Same as you. That’s why we’re here. You can make friends by being interested in other people and letting them open up to you... in their own time.
Ashton: Maybe. But they won’t open up to me now.
Danny: The first step is apologizing. Show them you’re willing to be friends the right way. You wanted Nishan to meet his hero, right? Well, he won’t go with you to the lecture... but maybe you can bring the lecture to him!
Requirements
- Ashton
- Nishan
The next day at school, you and Ashton approach Nishan.
Nishan: Ashton. Can I help you get anything? My fingerprints? A blood sample?
Ashton: That’s fair. I deserve that. While I still don’t fully get why everyone’s this upset... all that matters is that I did upset you. And that’s my bad. I still want you to meet your hero. But not because you’d hang out with me. It’s because I think you’re a cool dude.
Nishan: I’m not going to the lecture, Ashton. I don’t have any FRIENDS to go with.
Ashton: You don’t have to go at all.
Nishan turns at the sound of a limo pulling through the bus loop. It eases to a stop, and out steps...
Nishan: Gene Mycroft?!?
Time - 14 hours
You and Ashton watch from a distance as Nishan talks excitedly with physicist Gene Mycroft.
Ashton: He looks happy... I think. Is it working? Usually I’d see a compiling error by now.
Danny: You just have to wait and see.
Gene Mycroft shakes Nishan’s hand and gets back in his limo. Nishan wanders back over to you, grinning.
Danny: So? How’d it go?
Nishan: I was talking so fast, my words were kind of blending as I went, much like how parallel universes merge geometrically in is time travel theory. But he gave me his personal phone number! I can call him whenever I want! Eeeee!
Danny: Are you okay? You’re making a high-pitched noise!
Nishan: Er, what I meant to say was... I look forward to illuminating discourse in the future. I AM curious, though... how did you get Gene Mycroft to come? Did you hack his calendar and divert his itinerary?
Danny: Nope. Ashton, um, ‘found’ his private email address and wrote him an impassioned request for a visit.
Nishan: Wow, really? That’s... kind of you, Ashton.
Ashton: Any time. By the way, I could’ve gotten you his personal phone number, easy. Just saying--
Danny: Ashton!
Ashton: Whoops. Sorry.
You and Ashton meet up again between classes.
Ashton: So, are Nishan and I friends now?
Danny: You did a good thing in making it up to him, but you’re not friends yet. Take it slow, remember?
Ashton: Right. Slow. Nice and steady. Like dial-up internet. It’s cool. While that’s running in the background, I can get going on making things up to Wes. So, I... change his grade back? What do I do?
Danny: I know you had good intentions when you boosted his grade, but you took the easy way instead of the meaningful way. Wes said he’s not doing well in programming, but that’s YOUR best subject. Instead of just giving him a cheap ‘A’, you could have offered to tutor him.
Ashton: Somehow I doubt he’d be interested in my help now.
Danny: All you can do is try.
Requirements
- Ashton
- Wes
You and Ashton spot Wes in the computer lab.
Danny: You’ve got this, Ashton.
Ashton walks up to Wes, who struggles to write a version of Pong. But the ball keeps passing right through the paddles.
Wes: Agh! Only four hours until this is due. Maybe if I could find a copy of the original game and strip out the source code...
Ashton: Have you tried decreasing the hit detection interval?
Wes finds Ashton standing behind him. His expression goes cold... but he turns to his keyboard and types something in.
Wes: Whoa... it’s working now.
Ashton: You know, I could teach you some tricks. If you want, that is.
Wes: No, thanks. I’m good on my own.
Ashton turns to you with a look of resignation. You gesture to keep trying. Ashton takes a deep breath.
Ashton: I shouldn’t have changed your grade. Like you said, you want to get what you’ve earned. And you know what? I’m the same way. I thought I’d earned your friendship by working to learn about you. But I hadn’t. Not really. So I’ll leave you alone. But if you ever feel like giving me a second chance... you know where to find me.
Wes’s face softens. He meets your gaze for a moment. You nod.
Wes: All right, listen. For the life of me, I can’t figure out how to get these paddles to move.
Time - 17 hours
Later that day, Wes comes up to you and Ashton in the halls.
Wes: Well, the teacher graded my program. I got a ‘B’. Not perfect, but it’s mine. I’m usually the one bailing people out, not the other way around. But maybe a tutor wouldn’t be so bad. Thanks for the back-up, Ashton.
Ashton: Sure thing. Maybe we’ll do it again sometime?
Wes: ...maybe.
Ashton approaches Mia, who’s changing out books at her locker.
Ashton: Hey, Mia. I wanted to apolog--
Mia slams the locker and breezes past Ashton without a word.
Ashton: Debugging this one’s going to be tough.
Danny: You did meddle with a family issue of hers. That’s a serious breach of trust.
Ashton: So what do I do? I can’t fix her relationship with her dad.
Danny: A real friend is there to comfort you, even when they can’t solve your troubles. That’s what they’re for.
Ashton: Hmm... that give me an idea.
Requirements
- Ashton
- Mia
Ashton corners Mia in class.
Ashton: Hey. Can I show you something on my laptop?
Mia: Could you please go weasel into someone else’s life?
Danny: Mia, I think you should take a look.
Mia: Why are you standing up for this jerk, Danny?
Danny: Because this school is about getting a second chance. For all of us.
Mia: You can’t guilt me with your inspirational rally cry this time, Danny...
Danny: Really?
Mia: ...ugh, how do you always get me? Fine. What is it you want to show me, Ashton?
Time - 20 hours
Ashton shows Mia the laptop.
Mia: It’s the front page of Reddit. Big deal.
Ashton: See the top link?
Mia: ‘Check out this amazing cheer routine’? Oh my god... that’s the video of our exhibition! How did it get so many upvotes?
Mia clicks the link and reads the comments.
Mia: Wow, everyone’s being so nice about it.
Ashton: Well, it’s a pretty impressive video.
Mia: Wait, this is all fake, isn’t it? Getting to the front page, all these compliments... you planted them!
Ashton: I admit it. I fabricated the first 500 upvotes. Just to get the ball rolling. but the other 20,000? All natural.
Mia: Really?
Ashton: I just wanted to show you that your hard work is appreciated. No matter what. You’ll always have an audience.
Mia bites her lip...
Mia: Well... cool.
Ashton: Are we... friends again?
Mia: Nope.
Ashton: Oh...
Mia: But maybe I don’t hate you anymore.
Ashton: I’ll take it.
You leave class with Ashton...
Danny: I’m really proud of you, Ashton. I think you’ve made a lot of progress today--
Ashton: Nope. I’m nowhere near done. I finally get it now. I betrayed EVERYONE’S trust by hacking their email. I need to make it up to the whole school. That will take something big.
Danny: What do you have in mind?
Ashton: I know what it has to be. It’s pretty complicated. It’d take a software company a month to build. So give me 24 hours.
Requirements
- A Musician (Alexandra)
- An Artist (Nick)
- A Gamer (Isabella)
You lead the student body into the auditorium. On stage, Ashton stands at a podium.
Isabella: What is this?
Alexandra: We don’t want anything to do with Ashton!
Nick: Yeah, Danny, why did you bring us here?
Danny: Guys, come on. Let’s give Ashton a chance...
Ashton: Thank you all for coming. I’ve only been at this school a short time, but I’ve already learned a lot. I learned that friendship is based on trust. Not favors. I learned that there are some errors where you can’t just wipe the memory. I learned that taking the easy way doesn’t always mean as much as doing things right. But most importantly, I learned that I have a lot more to learn about each of you. Things that can’t be gleaned from your email accounts. Not just what you like, but who you are. And with that... I’d like to unveil something I hope will chance our school forever!
Time - 23 hours
Ashton: I present to you...
Ashton presses a button on a remote, and a projection of a computer screen lights up the stage.
Ashton: ‘The Friend Zone’. A school-wide social network for connecting people and making friends in the real world. Got an event you want to attend? Use it to organize a group trip!
Nishan: Like to Gene Mycroft’s next lecture... maybe I could find others who want to go!
Ashton: Feel like the only one floundering in a tough curse? Here you can network with classmates and form study groups!
Wes: Hmm. I bet I could put together a solid team...
Ashton: Need some support for you student group performance? Promote it online and find your audience!
Mia: That could come in handy for my next exhibition.
Ashton: I hope this network helps you all connect to your classmates on a real level. And I hope I get to know some of you through this too. I know it would take some time. But someone pretty smart taught me that you can’t hack friendship.
After the presentation...
Ashton: Whew. Never talked to that many people at once IRL. How do you think they took it?
Danny: I think your project’s going to make a positive difference in a lot of lives. Thanks, Ashton.
Ashton: I can’t help but wish it had ended with everyone coming up and wanting to be my friend... but I have to remind myself of what you said. It takes time. It’s lame having no friends... but at least I don’t have any enemies anymore.
Danny: Have you thought about trying to throw the party again?
Ashton: Would people show?
Danny: I really don’t know.
Ashton: Well, let’s call it a hangout. Even if it’s just you and me, I’ll be happy.
Requirements
- Complete a Party with Danny and Ashton
You and Ashton sit alone on a couch, playing a self-modded version of Legends of ClanCraft.
Danny: This is really fun, Ashton. But are you sure you’re okay that no one else came?
Ashton: I meant what I said.
Just then, the doorbell rings.
Ashton: That must be the pizza.
Ashton leaps up and opens the front door. Standing there is a large group of your classmates!
Ashton: You... you guys came?!
Julian: Of course.
Payton: You know I hate missing parties. So don’t make me have to skip one ever again, got it?
Soon, Ashton’s place is filled with friends, dancing under a programmed light show and drinking Slurm.
Danny: This is more your speed, huh, Ashton?
Ashton: Definitely. But I do wish Mia had come. I feel worst about what I did to her...
Danny: Well, guess who just showed up.
Ashton: Mia! Hey!
Mia: Danny tells me this is your first party. Not bad at all.
Ashton: Thanks. And thanks for coming.
Mia: No big deal. Parties are a good place to meet new people, right?
Danny: So what’s our next activity, Ashton?
Payton: Oh, I know! Let’s play Truth Or Dare! That’s the best way to get to know someone.
Ashton: I’m in.
Ashton offers you a can of Slurm. You taste it.
Danny: Ugh! Julian, how can you drink this stuff?
Julian: Are you about to insult the nectar of the gods?
Danny: Let’s just say I can see why it was discontinued.
The party is in full swing! Everyone dances to a radio blasting Top 40 hits while Ashton types at a laptop nearby.
Ashton: Aaaand... there!
The radio suddenly switches to Foo Fighters!
Danny: Whoa! How’d you do that?
Ashton: Just a simple code snippet. Now the whole town is listening to your favorite type of music.
Danny: Thanks, Ashton... but it’s not YOUR favorite, is it?
Ashton: Naw... I’m actually into new-wave mathcore.
Danny: Well, I’m glad to be learning something about the real you.
Ashton: You know, Danny, I never apologized to you. I’m sorry I hacked your email.
Danny: Don’t worry about it. I know you learned your lesson.
Ashton: I should make it up to you. Especially after you helped me make amends with everyone else.
Danny: Like I said, this school was founded to be a second chance for everyone here.
Ashton: Then let’s start over.
Ashton shakes your hand.
Ashton: Hi, I’m Ashton.
Danny: Nice to meet you, Ashton. I’m Danny.