"Just a rumor?" Rogan said. "Then why do you have a folder on your desktop labeled 'Ellis-Countdown'?"
Joe blanched. Even in the half darkness I could see that.
"Dammit," he managed before Rogan grabbed his shirt and threw him up against the table. All the computers shook.
The other gamers removed their goggles to see what the disturbance was.
Rogan glared at them. "Get the hell out of here right now."
He said it with enough menace to clear the room immediately. That is, after they all carefully disconnected their computers so as not to damage the intricate circuitry.
Then they fled up the stairs and out of the building.
Joe didn't fight back against Rogan, but he looked scared to death.
"Talk," Rogan growled.
"Okay, okay. After I didn't get that job I was pissed. And okay, I wasn't just pissed at myself. I blamed you. That was a wicked opportunity my father set up. He said it was a sure thing, and you had to blow it for me. I even met your brother, Gareth. He was awesome and bought me lunch. But one word from you screwed my life."
Rogan didn't let go of him. "So you hated me. What then?"
"I went home and sank into a mega depression. I worked for a year on a little present for Ellis Enterprises to get back at you. I was bitter, yeah. Sure I was. And, hey, I had a hell of a lot of time on my hands, being unemployed. At the time I lived with my father, and he had loads of money, too-that's how he knew Gareth to get me the interview. Same circles and all that. I heard a rumor about your new game, The Countdown, and that's where I wanted to be. I wanted to help develop something for real that I normally just played online. It would have been so sweet."
"What was the present you're talking about?" I asked.
He eyed me. "Well, first I had to hack the Ellis mainframe before I could do anything. Took me a year to do that until I finally got in."
There was silence in the room.
"And when you got in, what did you do?" Rogan asked quietly.
"I uploaded a virus. A nice, juicy one I'd made especially for you. One that would know its way around and sink into everything and start eating all of your company's precious data. I uploaded it and waited to hear news of the system going down. Of everything you'd worked for going up in flames. Other than the blackout later that night there was nothing. However, the next day you got your ass arrested and thrown in jail. I figured my virus was a failure, but karma kicked in and worked its special magic anyhow."
My eyes had widened with every word he said. The virus. The virus that had seeped into the artificial intelligence program and uploaded itself into Gareth's implant during the power surge.
The thing that had ruined Rogan's life.
All because of a job opportunity lost for a throwaway sexist remark.
A flap of a butterfly's wing turning into the proverbial hurricane.
Rogan laughed then, and it sounded just this side of insane.
"What is it?" I managed. "What's so damn funny?"
He let Joe go finally, and wiped tears from his eyes as he tried to bring his laughter under control. "My … my secretary. I don't even remember what her name was."
Joe shook his head. "She had a great ass."
I couldn't believe this. Jonathan must have known. He'd known that Joe was the one responsible for the original virus. That was why he had the address to this place.
Rest in peace, Jonathan.
But why? Why would he care anymore who created the virus? What difference would it make now?
Unless…
I moved closer to stand at Rogan's side. I looked at Joe, whose chest heaved with each breath he took. He didn't look guilty for what he'd done; he looked annoyed that he'd been caught after all this time.
"Is there an antivirus?" I asked.
Rogan looked at me. "Of course. That must be what Jonathan was after."
Joe raised his eyebrows. "An antivirus? After all these years? Why would you even care anymore?"
With a deep breath, Rogan launched into the story. He made it quick. It wasn't long before Joe was blinking rapidly, and a drop of sweat slid down his temple.
"Oh, shit," he said.
I crossed my arms. "You were serious when you said you didn't know Jonathan."
He shook his head. "No, I'd never met him before."
"It still doesn't explain why you have that folder on your desktop," Rogan said evenly.
"Ever since my virus failed …" He blinked. "Or since I thought it failed, I've been a bit obsessed with all things Ellis, especially anything to do with The Countdown. I even reapplied for a job there a couple years ago. Gareth interviewed me personally and offered me something great. Then he told me about the implants. Still sounded cool, so I got fitted with one while I made my decision on the job offer. I got to actually watch a few levels of The Countdown. Man, I was so stoked." He licked his lips. "But… but then I saw somebody get eliminated. They killed him on camera. Gareth laughed it off like it was nothing. Told me that this was the future and I should get used to it. He showed me the contract. Practically had to sign that fucker in blood. Then.. somebody approached me. Told me that they'd help me get out before it was too late. He removed my implant and told me to run. I did."
Rogan and I exchanged glances. So Joe had met Jonathan after all; he just might not have known his name.
"What happened then?" Rogan asked.
"I've been in hiding ever since. I know The Countdown is a big secret. I know I know too much. My father died in a car crash a week later. I've convinced myself that Gareth arranged for his death, but I don't have any damn proof. That's what that folder is. It's research. I know about the game, the levels, how they select competitors. I know about the implant linking." He shook his head. "It's just so horrible. You don't know what The Countdown is really like now."
"Yes, we do," I said. "We've been playing it for three days against our will."
Joe's mouth dropped open. "You're lying. Then how did you get here?"
"We escaped."
"If you have an antivirus," Rogan said, and I could hear the strain in his voice, "then we need it. It must be the only way to stop the virus now."
I heard a door shut as Colin returned to the room. "What arc you guys talking about now?"
I walked over to him. "Colin, I know you're pissed at me. I can understand that. But if you trust me at all, I need you to leave here. Go somewhere safe."
"What are you talking about?"
I pressed my lips together and felt a tear slip down my cheek. I didn't want Colin to be pulled into this any more than he already was. "Look, you said you had a cool new job lined up, right?"
"That's right."
I forced a smile. "I want to hear all about it. Soon, okay?"
He looked at me strangely. "Okay."
I gave him a hug. "Just take off. Come back here tomorrow or something."
"If… if you say so. Sure. Okay. I'll go. Um … I'll leave right now."
I frowned. Why did he sound so scared?
I pressed my hand against the back of his neck and concentrated long enough to flex a little.
It was all I needed.
I pulled back from him to look at his face. "What kind of a job did you say you got?"
He smiled, but it was a little shaky. "I'm going to be working with computers."
I nodded slowly, still close in the hug with him.
"What's going on, Kira?" Rogan said from behind me.
"I'm not sure." I slid my fingers into the hair at the back of Colin's head, hoping I wouldn't find what I was looking for.
But there it was.
Colin had a freshly installed implant.
He took a step back from me.
"I'm sorry, Kira," he said.
My throat felt thick. "You're sorry?"
"I'd already had my interview with them before I saw you at the mall. I had no idea you had anything to do with the game. They took me and fitted me with an implant so I could wa
tch." His expression shadowed. "They told me that if I saw you again then I… I had to contact them."
Rogan now stood beside me. "Where have you been for the last few minutes?"
He wouldn't make eye contact with either of us. "They're going to be here in two minutes."
My eyes widened and my heart started pounding hard-a sensation I hadn't had for a little while, but I recognized it well enough. A familiar sensation of fight or flight.
I was voting for "flight."
Another countdown commences.
"I'm sorry," Colin whispered again.
I opened my mouth to say something to him-to scream at him for selling us out-but Rogan took a step toward him first. That was enough. Colin staggered back from him and tripped on a wire. He fell and hit his head against the side of the computer table, managing to knock himself out.
I grabbed Rogan's tense arm.
"What are we supposed to do now?" I managed.
Joe's eyes had grown very large. "They're coming here? Shit. Somebody go up the stairs and lock the damn door."
Without anyone asking me to, I did just that. I thundered up the stairs as fast as I could, still favoring my sore ankle, and turned the dead bolt. I went back downstairs.
"We have no time," Rogan said. "We need the antivirus and we need it now."
Joe's entire body was tense, and I was certain he was going to try to run away. I was equally certain that Rogan wouldn't let him, but we didn't have time for a physical confrontation. Not here. Not now.
Joe finally nodded his head sharply. "Okay. Let me think." He turned and sat down heavily in front of his computer and put his fingers on the keyboard. "I know it's around here somewhere. It's been a while, man, like, over four years. I hope I didn't trash it."
The idea made me feel like throwing up.
"But will an antivirus actually work?" I asked. "I don't know shit about computers, but wouldn't it have progressed too far for that by now? Like, evolved?"
Joe shrugged with one shoulder as he whipped through folder after folder, which appeared and disappeared in flashes of light and color. "That's entirely possible. But you won't know unless you try. If you can get to the main artificial intelligence server, shove the antivirus in, and launch it, then you might be able to do some damage."
Rogan gripped the back of Joe's chair and he watched the scrolling files appear on-screen. "I wish like hell I knew where the AI server was now. It used to be on the second floor, but that was years ago."
"It's in the subbasement," Joe said absently. "It was mentioned in passing during my orientation tour. Some employee told me by mistake, and Gareth changed the subject quickly, so I figured it was a big secret."
"What room?" I asked.
"Shit, I can't find it." The files scrolled down the screen faster than I could read them. "Where the fuck did I put it? I'm so disorganized."
"The room?" I repeated louder. By my estimation we had less than a minute left to get the hell out of there.
"Uh … I thought it was strange at the time, but now I guess it makes perfect sense. It's marked as Gareth's office, even though I know his real office is on the top floor. The room has a computerized lock that only certain employees can access. The only people who are able to get in have a red name tag, if that helps. I remember that because it made me think of blood. My blood. And I didn't want to spill any of it either, then or now."
Just then I heard a bang and I nearly jumped out of my skin. At the top of the stairs somebody was knocking loudly on the outer door.
"It's a strong door." Joe's voice shook a little. "Trust me, paranoia will take you places. Especially dark, well-locked places. We have a minute."
I looked at Rogan, and his expression was strained and bleak. I moved toward him and slid my arm around his waist.
"I'll hold them back for as long as I can," he murmured into my hair after he kissed my forehead. "And you escape. Maybe I can talk some sense into them."
"I don't think they'll be too interested in talking. They'll just try to kill you."
"Don't be so sure. I have a strange feeling that Gareth will want to see me personally. Find out how we beat the system. I'll be questioned before they kill me."
"Rogan …" My throat constricted at the thought.
"Here it is!" Joe shouted, sounding very relieved. "I found it! I just need to put it on a minidisk for you."
He opened a drawer next to him and fumbled through a variety of objects that included a half-eaten banana. He closed his fingers around a small blue plastic disk about the size of a quarter, pushed it into the slot on the side of the computer, and clicked a few keys. After another moment he pulled it out and handed it to Rogan.
'Take this. If you can get into that room-and I don't have any goddamned idea how you're going to do that- put this into the AI server. If it's going to work, that should do it."
Rogan studied the disk with a frown. "How will I know if it worked?"
Joe hesitated. "That's a good fucking question. I figure if it works you'll still be breathing."
"Great," Rogan said dryly. He eyed me, then looked at Joe again. "Is there a back way out of here?"
Joe swallowed hard. "Unfortunately, no. But now that I think of it, that would have been a really good idea. Escape routes, and all that."
The pounding on the front door increased. We were cornered, with only one way out.
I heard the front door begin to splinter open and I held a hand out to Rogan. "Give me the disk."
"What are you going to do with it?"
"I'll hide it in my bra."
He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't even know you were still wearing a bra."
"A lady has her secrets."
With only another moment of hesitation he handed it to me. "And you'll be giving that back to me when?"
"As soon as I can."
He forced a smile. "I just thought of something funny."
"Oh, do share. I could use a laugh right about now."
"I had no idea how I was going to break into Ellis Enterprises without getting caught. Security's pretty tight."
"Yeah, I bet it is." I blinked. "You think that's where they're going to take us?"
"I'm thinking it's a definite possibility."
I was hoping. I really was. I tucked the minidisk into my bra. Rogan took my hand in his, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it.
Then I heard several sets of feet pound down the staircase as Gareth's men came for us.
ENDGAME
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ellis Enterprises was a twenty-floor building made of silver and glass that sat in an otherwise empty section of the city like a cold, sparkling gem under the overcast skies. I saw it from the comer of my eye as the car carrying the four men in white coats that had captured Rogan and myself drove toward it.
I rested my head on Rogan's shoulder. Both of us had our hands bound behind our backs.
He was currently unconscious, but he'd put up a pretty good fight. Despite what I'd told Rogan earlier, I was actually surprised that they hadn't killed us on the spot.
I was sure it was only a matter of time.
I tried to imagine Rogan showing up to work every day at a building like this one and couldn't quite picture it. The Rogan Ellis I knew wasn't a high-powered businessman with billions of dollars to spend and power to wield. I wasn't sure if I would have liked the old Rogan when he was a rich, spoiled playboy.
In fact, I was quite sure I would have hated him.
Then again, the old Rogan probably wouldn't have looked twice at somebody like me. At the end of the day, I was just a street thief who happened to steal the wrong guy's wallet one day. I'd never even been inside a building like this one.
But that was exactly where they were taking us.
I tried to concentrate on the sound of my breathing. Anything to keep from thinking about how badly this could all go. As Rogan had said, he wasn't sure how we were going to get inside the building in the first place. The security was tig
ht. Super tight. We had to go through three checkpoints and a manned security station before coming within fifty feet of the place.
The car rolled to a stop next to a black side door. A man in a white coat sprayed something in Rogan's face, and he woke up with a jerk. Every muscle in his body seemed to tense until he saw me and our gazes met.
"We're here," I told him.
"Are you okay?" were his first gruff words.
"No, we're both royally screwed."
He smirked at me. "I think you're probably right."
"Shut up," a White Coat suggested firmly.
I glared at him but refrained from telling him to fuck off. We were in enough hot water as it was. Wouldn't want to speed up the execution.
God, even thinking about it made me feel sick.
Then the back door of the car opened and both of us were yanked out of our seats. All the White Coats, whom I had originally assumed were scientists of some sort, were carrying weapons. Scientists packing heat. Didn't make me feel any better.
"Move," they instructed.
We moved. Through an open door and into the cool interior of the building.
"We're in," Rogan said. "Should we celebrate now or wait till later?"
I gave him a look. How could he joke at a time like this? But I saw that the mild levity of his words did not spread to his expression.
"Shut up." One of the men jammed the butt of his gun into Rogan's back as we walked along a long, bare hallway. The white-tiled floor squeaked against my boots. "Don't make me tell you again."
Rogan said something under his breath, and it wasn't pleasant.
At the end of the hallway something was waiting for us, and I stopped walking quite as fast as we neared it.
Or rather, him.
It was Gareth. He stood there next to an open elevator with his feet spread, his arms folded across the front of his expensive, designer black business suit. His eyes were narrowed at our approach.
"Welcome back, brother," he said as Rogan was shoved into the elevator before me so hard that he hit the back of it with his shoulder. His hands were still bound behind him.
"Brother?" Rogan repeated through clenched teeth. "Is that what we are? Are you certain of that?"
Countdown Page 20