He didn't reply.
I crossed my arms and kept walking. "No, I didn't think so."
My now implant-free brain was working overtime. Computers. Viruses. Artificial intelligence. Stuff that could have been out of my parent's sci-fi DVD collection of old movies. I'd seen things while playing The Countdown that I'd never seen before in my life-things I hadn't even thought existed. Holoscreens, cranium implants, a freaking talking evil robot that shot me in the damn leg.
It was all way, way out of my league. I could pick a pocket or con somebody into buying me lunch on a good day, but that was about where my talents ended.
"Wait," I said after another moment, looking around the street. This area seemed extremely familiar to me suddenly. "Where are we going?"
He handed me the business card. I studied the logo that looked like an H again. I knew I'd seen it somewhere before, but I couldn't place it.
"Somebody there knows something," he said. "But I don't know who or what."
My eyes widened. "I think I know who. Well, I'm sure it's not exactly who Jonathan was dealing with, but I know this place. I know somebody who goes there all the time."
"Who?"
"Colin. The guy from the mall, remember? I've been friends with him for years. He's totally into computers. This.. this place … I know it because he wears the logo on a T-shirt. It's an underground computer gaming network. He hangs out there for hours, sometimes days."
Rogan didn't look convinced. In fact, he looked rather disappointed as he stared at the business card. "A computer gaming network? How in the hell is that supposed to help us?"
I shook my head. "No idea."
"Maybe it's a mistake. Maybe Jonathan gave me the wrong card to throw me off so I wouldn't get in his way. Hell, maybe he didn't have a plan to stop Gareth in the first place."
I touched his arm to stop him from walking. "We can check it out. Maybe Colin will know something."
He looked grim. "Yeah, maybe."
"Considering that your other option at the moment is storming into one of the biggest office buildings in the city and trying to take out the CEO by force, I'd say this is something that we look into. I don't suppose you're on the VIP list at Ellis Enterprises anymore, are you?"
'To say the very least. In fact, they'd probably shoot me on sight."
I nodded firmly. 'Then let's go to this place and hope like hell that Colin's there. If anything seems off then we're out of there."
He didn't say anything for so long I was sure he was going to argue with me some more. "Fine." His forehead creased. "I still think it was a bad move for you to jump off that shuttle, Kira. But… but thank you."
I nodded and ran my hand down his tense, muscled arm. "Oh, and just for the record, Rogan?"
"Yeah?" He raised an eyebrow.
"I really don't think we should have gotten out of bed so soon." I moved my fingers up to his hair and pushed it off his worried face. "I'd say that things were pretty great up until then."
He let out a small bark of a laugh. "Yeah, I have to agree with you there."
I put my arms around him and pulled him close to me in a tight hug. His heart beat fast and loud, keeping pace with my own. He kissed me, and for just a moment I was very glad I jumped off that shuttle.
Then suddenly we were jostled and I had to break my hold on him.
"Watch where you're walking," an old man snapped as he gave us the evil eye. "Get off the sidewalk and get a room. Damn useless kids."
Rogan raised an eyebrow. "See, he doesn't think I'm old."
'The man has to be over a hundred."
"Still." He leaned over and kissed me again lightly on the lips, and it burned right through me.
After a moment I pulled back and felt the reality of the situation settle over me. "We need to get going. I know the place is right around the corner from here."
He nodded. "Then lead the way."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Years ago, kids used to get together and play networked video games in secret underground locations, staying for hours and hours working their way through the levels- fighting against one another or working in teams to accomplish their digitized goals.
Not that much had changed, really. Ever since the plague, new technology available to the general public had come to a virtual standstill, so the same sort of games were as popular as they were two and a half decades ago.
Colin was one of those kids, bringing his laptop computer to his secret gaming headquarters to get plugged in. He always bragged to me about how amazing he was and how nobody could beat him. He was a god among gods when it came to kicking ass and taking names in the digital jungle. At least, according to Colin himself.
I never listened too much to him. I never liked or hated computers. To me they were freaking boring.
That was before a walking, talking computer put a bullet in my leg.
I was ready to take a stand and say that I didn't like them too much anymore.
"Here." I nodded when we got to the location on the business card almost an hour after leaving the safe house. The front door had no marking other than the H logo on the door. I remembered now. According to Colin, who wore a T-shirt with the same thing, it was the Hagalaz, a rune symbol for "controlled chaos."
Welcome to the Secret Society of Computer Geeks, I thought.
Rogan nodded, pushed the door open, and we went inside.
I still had hope, but it was waning a bit with every passing minute. How in the hell was a place like this supposed to help us? What was Jonathan's purpose for giving us that business card? It didn't make any damn sense. I was hoping it would start to make sense soon or we were going to be shit out of luck.
I didn't want Rogan to get killed trying to assassinate Gareth.
Hell, I didn't want to get killed.
But Gareth had to be stopped. Some way, somehow. There was no other choice.
And the nerdy guy playing the video game on his laptop in the corner of a dark basement at the bottom of a skanky flight of stairs might just be the person to help us stop him.
However, I could be very wrong.
The only light in the basement came from the flickering screens of ten computers. All of the guys-a quick scan told me that they were all of the male persuasion- faced the four walls spread along a jutting table that spanned the circumference.
Any socializing was on-screen. Each monitor showed a different piece of the digitized action. Each player was fitted with a visor that hooked into his computer. Colin told me once that he owed a small fortune to the owner of the place for the extra equipment, but it made everything seem more real-like he was really playing a game of life and death.
Having experienced the real deal, I had to say that playing for your life wasn't all that much fun.
There was a stale smell in the basement of sweat, along with something sweet and a little sickening, and a very faint odor of urine.
Lovely.
I didn't always stay in the nicest, cleanest places, but this was definitely not even up to my low standards. In fact, I would rather never see what might be crawling around in here if they ever turned on the overhead lights.
"Nice place," Rogan whispered to me, and I felt his hand at my waist as he surveyed the room. "You come here often?"
I gave him a look over my shoulder. "Oh, yeah. This is really my kind of place."
"There's your friend." He nodded in the direction of a hunched-over Colin with his back to the stairwell.
"Wait here," I said to him. "Or somebody might recognize you."
"No, wouldn't want that."
I thought he might be insulted by what I'd said, but instead he sounded vaguely amused. I felt his fingers tighten at my waist and then he released me. The floor was carpeted and seemed a little squishy as I walked across it in my boots. I glanced back at Rogan while I moved through the dark room-but not dark enough to trigger my phobia. As long as I could see what was going on around me, then I was fine.
Colin
was completely focused on his computer screen. His hands, encased in cybergloves, moved as he worked his way through the game. I could see it on the screen. His computer persona was walking through a darkened hallway with dirty walls. Doors appeared to either side as he moved along. I could see the tip of a weapon at the bottom of the screen. A big gun, maybe even a flamethrower. I wasn't sure.
Despite my disinterest in the gaming world, I recognized the game as one called "Anarchy." Apparently everybody played it. It had something to do with the bad guys trying to take over the world and the good guys trying to stop them.
But first you had to decide which side you wanted to play for.
I wondered what Colin would think about The Countdown.
"Colin." I reached forward and closed my hand over his shoulder and shook him lightly.
He shot up in the seat and let out a hoarse scream. Onscreen, the door in front of the computer-Colin burst open and I could see the outline of a figure who immediately opened fire. Digital blood trickled down from the top of the game screen.
Words appeared on the screen:
YOU'RE DEAD, ASSHOLE! NUCLEARXXX KILLED YOUR SORRY ASS! EVIL REIGNS!
"Fuck!" Colin yelled, and whipped off his gloves. Then he took off his goggles and furiously spun around to face whomever had just made him lose his fake life.
His eyes widened when he saw it was me.
"Kira!" he squeaked. "What are you doing here?"
I grimaced and nodded at the screen. Typed-in taunts were coming in from his opposing players. He wasn't being mourned for his great on-screen sacrifice, that was for sure.
"Sorry about that," I said.
He looked regretfully at the screen, which now read: LOSER!!!!!!
"Yeah, well, whatever." Then his gaze shot back to me. "What… what are you doing here?"
I bit my bottom lip. "I need your help."
He looked confused. "Didn't you ask me for help in the mall and then go all psycho and take off? I thought you were mad at me or something."
"No, I'm not mad. The psycho thing may be debatable, though." I let out a sigh. "I've been really distracted lately. I'm sorry if I seemed like a bitch to you."
"You told me to leave you alone."
I forced a smile. "I was having a really bad day. Do you have a minute?"
"You were with that guy-"
"Colin, listen to me. Can we just go somewhere private where we can talk?"
"Where are you going?" Another gamer next to Colin took off his visor. He looked about fifteen years old. "You need some time alone? Colin, I didn't know you had a girlfriend. She's fucking hot, too." He stuck his tongue out and waggled it very lewdly.
"She's not my girlfriend," Colin said very coldly. "She'd rather be with men who have police records. Sorry I'm not up to par yet, Kira. Where's your new friend?"
"Right here." Rogan appeared at my side. "Is there a problem?"
I glared at him. "I thought I asked you to wait over there."
"I guess I don't take orders too well."
"Obviously."
Rogan looked at Colin. "Now, I believe that Kira was asking you for a favor because she considers you to be a friend of hers. Are you really saying no to her?"
Colin's eyes widened. "I… I… don't know. Um …"
"Just chill," I said to him. "We don't need everybody in here freaking out right now."
The fifteen-year-old took a step closer. "You're Rogan Ellis."
He didn't seem to be freaking out. Which was a good start.
Rogan studied him for a moment. "That's right."
"You can call me Snake."
Rogan eyed him. "Snake, huh?"
'That's right. It's not my real name, but it's my screen name and I prefer it. Man, I can't believe this. Rogan Ellis standing three feet away from me."
My mouth went dry. This wasn't what I wanted. I didn't want a confrontation right here. Not now, there wasn't time.
"Let me guess," Rogan said dryly. "You want my autograph. A lot of people love to collect the signatures of serial killers. Got my share of mail asking for just that."
"Nope." Snake shook his head. "You totally didn't do it."
Rogan's eyebrows shot up. "I didn't?"
"No. Why, are you saying that you did?"
"No … it's just…" Rogan closed his mouth for a moment, and his gaze flicked to me. "It's just that when I meet new people they usually assume that I'm some kind of monster."
The kid flicked his hand dismissively. "You were set up. It's obvious to anybody with half a brain. I even have a Web site devoted to proving the conspiracy that sent you to prison."
I eyed Colin. "Did you hear about this?"
Colin nodded. "Yeah, but Snake's theory is that it has to do with aliens. I never took it too seriously."
Snake glared at him. "Shut up, loser."
Colin didn't even look at the kid; he stayed focused on me. "I tried to show you one of those sites once as a joke but you blew me off. Said you weren't interested in some boring murder case. Guess you've changed your mind on that one now, right?"
Rogan raised an eyebrow at me.
I cleared my throat. "Well, um … right. I think I remember that, now that you mention it."
Hindsight has a strange sense of humor, I think.
Another gamer had taken off his visor and gloves and stood to the side watching our interaction silently. The remaining seven players continued on as if nothing were happening outside of their video game.
"Rogan Ellis," he said after he'd been noticed.
Rogan eyed him. "And you are …?"
"Name's Joe. Screen name's NuclearXXX. I own this place." He extended his hand and Rogan shook it. "So I finally, officially get to meet you."
I took in a quick breath. The owner of the place Jonathan had a business card for was glad to meet Rogan. That had to mean something.
Rogan glanced at me. It was obvious that he was thinking the same thing.
"Good to meet you, too," he said.
"A lot's changed since the last time we saw each other."
Rogan pulled his hand away and studied the guy suspiciously. "We've met each other before?"
"Well, not officially. I saw you in passing five and a half years ago when I came in to interview for a job at Ellis Enterprises."
Rogan frowned. "I never did interviews personally."
Joe leaned back against the table. "No, but we were in the same elevator."
"Sorry." He shook his head. "I don't remember."
"No, I'm sure you don't. But I do."
"Oh, yeah?"
"I was completely floored to be sharing the same air as you. You were so… I don't know. Impressive, I guess. Thought I'd take a moment and try to break the ice, so I commented on your secretary's ass. She had a very fine ass." His lips thinned. "When we got off the elevator you told the interviewer not to hire me. I heard you."
Rogan's expression didn't change. "I don't remember that at all."
Joe shrugged. "Hey, whatever. It's been years. You've been through hell since then; I know that. You're out of jail already? Did your lawyers prove you innocent?"
"Something like that."
I looked at Colin. He watched Joe and Rogan's conversation intently. The other kid, Snake, had obviously grown bored with the whole situation and had gone back to playing the game.
Colin shook his head. "I can't believe you'd want to be with that guy."
There was a dark venom attached to those words. I knew Colin had a crush on me. It was obvious, and I wasn't just being vain by thinking so. There were computer programs in which you could use a real person's appearance on a computer model and then have virtual sex with it. The thought made me feel a bit sick, especially since I'd caught a glimpse of a character on Colin's computer that looked a bit too much like me for comfort. That had been a few weeks ago. Ever since then I'd been trying to keep some distance between us, hoping that he'd get over it.
Not that Colin had never acted on his feelings. H
e'd never even mentioned them to me. I didn't feel threatened by him at all. But there was still a level of discomfort there. I also didn't want to encourage him, since I didn't feel anything but friendship for him in return.
I was really hoping he would move on to another object of affection very soon. However, even after the little scene in the mall the other day, I'd just seen over his shoulder that his desktop wallpaper was a picture of me.
Terrific.
Therefore, and in my opinion, the hairy eyeballs he was giving Rogan probably had very little to do with the fact that he was a wrongly convicted rapist and murderer, and much more to do with the fact that he was in my company.
"Colin-" I began.
He held up a finger. "I have to take a leak."
He turned his back on me and left the room.
"Okay," I said slowly.
"So what are you doing here?" Joe asked.
Rogan reached into his pocket and pulled out the business card. "Somebody gave this to me."
Joe shrugged. "I appreciate the word-of-mouth advertising. I like to keep things small here. Don't want this place to get too overpopulated."
"Do you know somebody named Jonathan?" I asked. "He works for Ellis Enterprises, too."
Joe shook his head. "Sorry, no. I don't know anything to do with that place. Don't really care, either, since I'm not working there." He grinned. "But no hard feelings, of course."
Why did I think he was lying? It wasn't a terribly friendly grin he was giving Rogan.
Rogan studied him for a moment. "Have you ever heard of something called The Countdown?"
"Rogan!" I grabbed his arm. It felt almost like a magic word that shouldn't be invoked. Say it too loudly and the bad guys might swing in and grab us.
I waited. Nobody swung in.
"The Countdown," Joe repeated slowly. "Now, that could be a listing of popular songs this week, or you might be referring to a secret death game. Survive or die, right? Yeah, I've heard of it. Thought it was just a rumor."
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