Crypto Shadows

Only 3%? What the hell?

Hello? - Hey, Dad.

Cara! There you are.

Hun, Cara finally called us back!

-Sorry, I've been busy. You...

You're supposed to be taking it easy.

I am taking it easy.

Uh, the connection's bad.

You're not in that bunker of yours are you?

It's not a bunker.

It's just

intentional country living.

Hi, Care Bear.

Mom, please, stop calling me that.

Oh.

Hey, we heard there was another

power outage on the hill.

- Are you okay? - Yep.

One of the perks of having my mining rigs

and connections off-grid.

How's the, uh, hydrogen fuel cell system

- working out? - Like a dream.

I wish you hadn't helped her

with that generator, Walt.

You know, I read that those are very dangerous.

For the thousandth time, Mom, you need to stop believing

everything you read online.

Any progress on your game project?

Some.

You know, we worry about you

being out there by yourself.

Grandpa lived out here on his own for years.

That was very different.

I'm fine.

You know, you're never

gonna meet anyone cooped up there.

I have plenty of friends.

Going to the grocery store 20 miles away, it's

not a social life, sweetheart.

Well, you haven't met the local cashiers, so...

And online doesn't count either.

Is there something you guys actually wanna talk to me about

other than questioning all my life choices?

Just checking in.

It's been busy, I have lots of potentially lucrative

irons in the fire.

I saw a computer class

at the community college.

I'm good, Mom.

Thank you.

Look, we miss you, Care Bear.

We'll take a fun trip together

once all my projects are over.

Hey, why don't you come stay with us

for a few days?

I really can't right now.

It's better to face your problems

than run from them.

- I'm not running from... Yes, you are.

I just needed a break.

By moving 300 miles away to the middle of nowhere.

You don't get it. Okay? Burnout is real.

All right. Look, please don't be mad at us.

Do what you need to do.

We love you and we just wanna make sure you're recovering.

Oh, my God! Yes. I'm fine, Mom.

How about we bring you another casserole next weekend?

That would be nice.

Thank you.

I really have to get to work.

We're glad you're doing well, Care Bear.

- We'll see you soon. - Love you guys.

Love you. We love you, too.

Ah, this always looks so much more fun in the movies.

Okay.

Cara, you got this. We can do this.

Okay.

Just... just do it.

Okay.

Hello?

Damn raccoons.

Don't let it bother you. I bet you made more

than your dad ever has as a professor.

Harsh,

but probably true.

Yeah, they still haven't wrapped their heads around

this whole freelance thing.

I hear ya. Every day I work from home,

my parents think I'm taking the day off.

- Because you are. - Shh. Don't tell Clint that.

I can't believe that asshole hasn't been fired yet.

You'll win the lawsuit. Give it time.

Yeah. Waiting on others to act

isn't exactly my strong suit.

I plan to move on as soon as this project wraps.

I don't want any more to do with those bastards

after how they treated you.

On to bigger and better things, I suppose.

Not that I'm getting anywhere.

My latest iteration of my algo was only 3% gain.

I expected more.

Damn. I'm coming up short too.

The real money's in hacking.

Playing with fire, dude.

Nah, everything I dabble in is borderline legit.

You're wasting your talents on mining.

Figuring out how to capture all the wasted computer power

-is gonna change the world. -Oh, so virtuous.

-I'm serious. -Well, you know where

to find me if you ever want come over to the dark side.

No, I'm gonna... I'm gonna crack this.

-I'm close. -If anyone can, it's you.

Okay, food break. Catch you later.

Winning. Yeah.

Hm.

Going for a gold star mental health report today.

Yeah.

Get it. Okay.

Have the positive affirmations

been helping?

Sure.

Well, remember to practice the phrases

whenever you feel stressed.

Close your eyes, breathe,

visualize your peaceful place and repeat the words.

Yeah. I have been. Good.

Feeling better about the upcoming trial?

Coping okay.

Any feelings about seeing Clint again?

Um, yeah.

But I'm handling it.

That's great.

And how about your parents? Have you opened up yet?

No.

I've been sticking with the burnout story.

How could I tell them that my creeper boss

sexually harassed me, and I was too scared

of losing my job to report it?

I can help you with strategies.

It may be helpful to have their support at trial.

I... I'll think about it. Okay.

Recovering from trauma is a process,

but you don't have to go through it alone, Cara.

We're overtime for today, but talk to you next week.

You bet.

- Hey. How was dinner?

My favorite noodles, so, pure perfection.

You need some variety in your diet, girl.

I've got better things to do than cook.

Quick and easy is the way.

Have you ever considered a less stressful line of work?

Sorry, I've already got a therapist,

and I can't afford another one.

This is how I relax.

Yep, that's you. Miss Chill.

On that note, since you get such deep fulfillment

from these headache-inducing endeavors,

can you look over a thing?

Oh, now you appreciate me?

Sure. Send it.

Llamaz! My man, we've been over this!

I know. I know. I think it's close.

This hashing protocol isn't scalable.

Focus on optimizing the consensus method

to speed up the confirmation.

Is that how you're doing your algo?

I've got my own thing going.