Nicole Hunter was relaxing in her chamber aboard Disco Volante, one of the two cruiser class vessels belonging to the Lane Hackers. She was drinking a glass of milk, when she decided to bring up a holographic screen. Moving her wrist gently, she quickly flicked through recent reports which were sent to the Department of Intelligence and Subterfuge. Suddenly, she put the glass back on a wooden table and picked report #0923-001, which was sent by Airdrie Research and Development department.
- So let's see how are you doing, Mr Diavolo - she whispered, while viewing the report. Multiple graphs appeared on the holoscreen showing the progress of mental conditioning.
Nikolai Diavolo was one of the most dedicated Lane Hackers she have ever met. Possessing combat skills equal to a Lane Hacker assassin, and at the same time being a master of survival, Diavolo was often sent on near-suicide missions deep inside danger zones. Often surrounded by multiple hostile ships, he always managed to accomplish mission's objectives and escape. Nicole believed that this is what caused his hypercritical superiority complex. Diavolo started to disregard his fellow Hackers and conduct mindless bloodbaths of civilians and military personnel alike. Eventually, he turned on the professorship itself, which forced Professor Phate to order Diavolo's assassination.
However, Nicole Hunter had her own plan. She decided to organize Diavolo's capture. Subject #0923-001, as he was labelled in databases, underwent experimental neural-enhanced mental conditioning, a fancy name for an extremely invasive brainwashing. The results were satisfying: unconditional and utter loyalty to the Lane Hackers at the cost of a minor brain damage. What was not in the report, were special subliminal directives Nicole personally encoded into the treatment. She wanted to ensure that Diavolo will be suicidally loyal to her, and her only, but even more importantly, that she will be able to use him at a right moment to strike Moriarty. She knew that if Diavolo, who was known for his hatred towards the senior professor, assassinated him, no suspicions would fall on her. Then she could simply press the kill-switch, a brain-bomb secretly implanted in Diavolo's head, and take complete control over the Lane Hackers in the glory of Moriarty's avenger. Nicole Hunter smiled and opened communication channel with Airdrie Research and Development department.
- Time to let the hound out.