Mica approached with a sympathetic smile and a new ring in her left ear. “You okay?”
“I got it.” Ari was really getting tired of that question.
Ari inserted the cold metal cable into the back of her head. No matter how many times she had to be in virtuals, she would never like that feeling. Closing her eyes, she headed towards the void.
Before she could gather herself in the VR, a cacophony of sound assaulted Ari. She spun sideways as a gush of air and neon lights raced by her.
“Watch it,” someone shouted as they pushed past her.
Standing on a busy sidewalk, buildings surrounded her and rose higher than she could see. Lights blotted out the night sky. Horns blared as cars sped by, ignoring the mass of people flooding the walkways. Distant music carried through the night, but Ari couldn’t say from where. Foreign words flashed on the side of the building. The Chinese symbols told her she was far away from home.
The chaos fed her fear. She clenched her hands against her thighs and focused on what needed to be done. She hadn’t traveled enough to be sure, but this appeared to be a major city in Asia. Never having been there before might make it harder. She ignored her doubt and searched for the problems.
Dr. Coleman’s voice cut through the noise, reminding them of their assignment. “Your test will be to find the limitations and errors in the program. You may have to push, but there are over twenty. You will have thirty minutes.”
Thirty minutes. That would be the longest Ari had ever been in the VR. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need it. A man on a bike raced by, forcing her back. She pressed up against the wall of a building. Closing her eyes, she focused on her breath. I can do this. It’s only code, little numbers floating through my brain.
When she opened her eyes, the scene in front of her flashed in gray and black as if a 2D movie had been scratched. Blinking, the scene returned to the busy street in some city in Asia. Time to work.
Ignoring the twist of nerves in her gut, Ari completed the task in front of her. She pushed in stores, talked to people, searching for any error. It wasn’t as easy as it looked. Searching down the crowded street, she noticed the same Asian man on a bicycle forcing people out of his way. That in itself was an error, but Dr. Coleman would want more than a repeating bicycle. She realized if she really wanted out of this VR, she needed to think outside the box. This was fake, right?
When the bicycle approached, she grabbed a nearby woman with a bag full of groceries and shoved her into the man’s path. Ari braced for the worst, spilled fruit and a bleeding woman. Instead, the scene in front of her flashed black for a moment and then returned to normal as if the bicycle had never hit the woman.
The woman still held her bag of groceries and turned and shouted at Ari. Thankfully, Ari didn’t understand the streams of what was probably Chinese swear words, and she turned to continue down the sidewalk. As she navigated the noisy street, she easily spotted many of the characters in the time loops. The freeze or glitch when each one started over appeared almost too easy to find. It took her more time to memorize them. Mentally she ticked them off: man on bicycle, woman selling flowers, man calling for the same cab, another young man selling tickets, and the list continued.
Coleman would want more thorough specifics on the coding problems. Anyone could pick out repeater loops. She pushed into a nearby store and found herself in a tech shop. A young salesman greeted her at the door in a language Ari didn’t understand. She ignored the man. He was only numbers, she reminded herself. She touched a couple of computers, tech, and other personal links as she headed to the back. Once Ari passed the sales desk, the associates began shouting at her. She knew the problem before she even went into the back. They put the supposed back rooms around a corner. Dark and downplayed, they didn’t want anyone going there. Another associate hollered something and grabbed for her.
Ari made it around the corner and found the door. She reached for the knob and pulled it open. Then in a flash, her world was turned upside down. Colors morphed into a drunken swirl. She closed her eyes, her stomach rolling with unease. When she opened them, she found herself standing back on the sidewalk. The program had spit her back outside. I guess, that’s one way to get rid of unruly customers.
Dizziness still plagued Ari, and she wished for a bit of peace and quiet. She thought she had enough to pass the test and for a moment was tempted to leave. A group of girls headed down the sidewalk towards her. With fluffy crowns and open drinks, it appeared they were part of a bachelorette party or something.
Ari decided to get one more error for the test before leaving. Determined to stay still, she hoped to watch the girl’s glitch at running into her. Maybe they would go around her and then Ari would be out of luck. The girls didn’t even notice her as they laughed and carried on. When they reached Ari, one stumbled into her, actually stumbled into her, shoving her out of the way. Surprised, Ari fell awkwardly off the sidewalk. Someone shouted, and she reflexively turned to face an oncoming car.
She didn’t have time to move, and the car slammed into her. Ari flew through the air, pain bursting in her body.
Ari woke in the classroom with a gasp. Her hands trembled as she reached for her stomach. Just a second ago, there had been so much pain and darkness. Her breath came out in harsh gasps as her adrenaline raced. “I’m back.”
“You okay?” Mica appeared at her side.
“Yeah.” Ari tried to rein in her emotions. It wasn’t real, but her racing heart wouldn’t listen.
Ari removed the plug and rubbed around her port. Dr. Coleman sat at his desk in the corner of the room, not even bothering to glance her way. The majority of the class remained unconscious, plugged into the VR. Without speaking Ari logged onto her tablet and completed the test by writing down her observations and errors in the system. She prayed it was enough and headed to grab a drink before her last class.
Her last class blurred by as she waited numbly for her future to be decided. With no appetite, she headed to her room, checking her HUB every couple minute to see if Dr. Coleman had posted grades. Her whole life had been spent in fear of VRs, and now she wanted to stay in a program for them. Funny how life worked sometimes. She had finally began seeing a future here, not only for herself but for her family. She could make enough money for her mother to quit both of her jobs.
The afternoon passed in its usual fashion. Tessa kept busy on her game, bickering about the rate of currency exchange. Ari plugged her earphones in her tablet, turned up her music, and opened a book.
About a hundred pages later, the sun started its descent, casting shadows through the small windows in their room. Tessa stood up to stretch and grab a soda.
“Want one?” Tessa asked when she noticed Ari’s gaze.
“No thanks.”
“How did the test go today? I didn’t hear anything about a first-year screaming through the halls.” Tessa smiled easily, but Ari wasn’t quite ready to laugh at herself yet.
“I think it went well, but we’ll see.”
Her HUB went off with a new message. She opened it. It was from Garrett.
Congratulations on your test. Ready to celebrate? Party tomorrow night in virtuals at midnight.
This took Ari back a bit. Tessa must have noticed her surprise.
“What is it?”
“I guess I passed.” Ari flipped through the school site on her tablet. There it was, a high B. That was better than even she expected. How did Garrett know this? Grades weren’t public. She’d figure that out later.
“I passed,” she told herself as well as Tessa. “I got a B+ on the test.”
“Good. I would have hated to have a new roommate. You never know who you’ll end up with.”
Ari rolled her eyes at her roommate’s flippant remark, but it didn’t bother her. “Tessa, get ready. We’re going to party this weekend.”
Chapter Eleven
After hacking their school issued HUBs, the two girls walked through the campus guided by the orange glow o
f the school’s emergency lights. Ari tugged on her fitted blue sweater as they approached the building. Uncomfortable, she wished she wore something else, probably just nerves from her first party.
“If this is supposed to be a date with your boy toy, why did I have to come along again?”
“First, he’s not my boy toy. Garrett is ... I’m not sure what he is, but I know what he’s not. And second, this is a party, not a date. I thought you’d have fun.” Truth was, Ari didn’t want to go alone. Ari didn’t know why she felt uneasy, but having Tessa there, somebody besides Garrett, helped. “I’ll owe you okay? I’ll get morning coffee for a month.”
“Don’t skimp on the Danish.” The corner of Tessa’s mouth lifted at the idea. “And stop pulling on that sweater or I’ll dump a drink on it.”
Ari stuck her hands in her pockets and tried to stay calm. This would be the first time she entered a VR for no other purpose than to have fun. She spent all of her pre-teen years wishing she could do this.
They approached the lab. A couple of students turned in front of them and entered through the dark metal doors. Just inside, a scruffy guy collected Tessa’s money.
“I was supposed to meet Garrett here,” Ari told the guy.
“Oh, you must be his current girl.”
Ari grimaced at the word current, as if Garrett had girls on a rotating roaster, replacing them for whatever fit his pleasure.
“I got it from here, Paul,” Garrett interjected as he appeared behind Paul. Garrett grabbed Ari’s hand and pulled her into the dark corridor.
“Congratulations, Ari.”
“Thank you. By the way, how did you know I passed?”
A mischievous smile crossed his lips. “Mica is a friend, remember?”
Ari inwardly cringed thinking about what Mica had probably told him. It also made sense how Garrett always knew when she needed help. It didn’t sit well that he knew so much more about her than she did about him. “Oh, so you have spies.”
“Spies, friends, contacts, however you would like to put it.” Garrett led her through the usual doors, but this time only dim light cast shadows around the room. Green lights pulsed from numerous VR stations. Someone familiar passed down a row. Her brother maybe? With the darkness she couldn’t tell.
“And how can you pull this off with so many students?” Ari whispered as the room quieted with each student plugging in.
Garrett guided her through rows of unconscious students whose eyes flickered unnaturally in their semi-conscious state.
“There are only about twenty or so people. Any bigger would attract attention. But don’t worry. We have a couple people we pay to look the other way. Do people really expect students to not party or have fun? At least this way no one gets hurt.”
“Sure,” she half-heartedly replied as Garrett repeated the same government line she had heard since a child. “Why the dim light?” When it was just two of them the lab was well lit.
“That’s for the ambiance.” He waved his hand like a true showman. “Here you go, Ari. I hope you like it.” Garrett led her in a chair and then leaned close. “I’ll be joining you shortly.”
Ari plugged herself in, closed her eyes and then opened them to a dark city street. Cars and cabs rushed by, sending a polluted breeze her way. Tall, old buildings surrounded her. The one in front of her had an old gray brick face with fire escapes that led up to the roof. She turned in a full circle taking in the looming aged monstrosity of the big city.
A flashy young couple walked down the street and entered the building before her. The guy wore dark pants and a striped shirt, while the girl matched in a small black dress and four-inch heels. This has to be it. Looking down, she noticed her dress—a frumpy old black Sunday school type dress with black flats.
“Really,” Ari cried to the starry night. She wasn’t going to a party looking like a poor nun. Ari closed her eyes, trying to force herself to change. Her thoughts traveled to dresses that flashed across the celebrity blitzes on the screens.
When she looked down again, she wore a small gold dress that fit perfectly and strappy heels to match. A smile crossed her lips in satisfaction. It might not be perfect, but it was definitely an improvement and much easier than she thought. When she reached the end of the block, she noticed Tessa leaning against the building smoking.
“You clean up nice, girlie.” Tessa pushed off the building. She wore ... well, it took a minute before Ari could figure out exactly what Tessa wore. Black leather wrapped around Tessa’s body covering the bare necessities. A long black skirt trailed behind her.
“You look amazing. How did you do that?”
“Plan out your outfit when you close your eyes. It’s easier to get dressed on your way in.” Tessa blew a cloud of smoke in her face. “Come on. You have a boy toy to see.”
They crossed the street and approached the aged building. At the door, a large man checked their names off a list. “The full bar is on the first floor. Second floor is for dancing. The next two floors are virtuals, and the heated rooftop is also opened tonight.” He opened the door for them.
“Virtuals?” Ari had heard of a virtual in a virtual but why here? She turned to Tessa who ignored her question and headed inside.
“This club has several top destinations. Have a good night.” He ushered her in without further comment.
Ari walked inside to find a large, gold trimmed bar that went decades past the crumbling exterior of the building. Velvet couches littered the room as people lounged around with drinks in their hands. Candles on the tables flickered, producing a seductive atmosphere that unsettled Ari.
There had to be more than the twenty or so people Garrett invited. The others had to be from the program, but being unfamiliar with the upperclassman, how did Ari know who was real and who was part of the program? She followed Tessa as she struggled to keep the panic at bay. Maybe a drink or a tab would help? But that wasn’t even real.
At the base of a large staircase, Tessa turned to Ari. “I’m going to check out what games they have on the VRs. You want to come or are you waiting for him?”
Not in a hurry to go hop in another VR, Ari replied, “I’ll wait for him here.”
“Catch you later.” Tessa headed upstairs, her skirt billowing behind her like a dark bird.
A shiver ran over Ari at the thought of what Tessa was about to do. But Tessa was a big girl. Ari headed towards the bar and found a seat.
As she climbed on the stool, a familiar voice spoke nearby. “Yes, two beers and an ounce.”
“Marco,” Ari called down the bar.
“Hey, little sis.” Marco headed towards her. “What are you doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“I’m an upperclassman, and this is a party.” A familiar smile lit his face as he strolled towards her.
While she was so happy to see him, she had to wonder where he had been and what he really was doing here. “How can you afford the party charge?” Ari whispered. The cost of the party was a lot of money for them. Her mother brought that home in a day, with double shifts. Ari only got in free due to Garrett. Granted, the drinks and drugs were free here, since they weren’t technically real. It still didn’t feel right.
“I work on the side.” Marco brushed off the question. “But look at you, dressed up and everything. How did you score an invite?”
“Garrett.”
“Garrett?” It took Marco a minute to register this. “You’re the freshman he’s dating?”
“We’re friends.” She shrugged.
“Sure.” He lowered his brow and stared at her. “I’m not sure I approve of that.”
“A little hypocritical, isn’t it?” Ari motioned to the two drinks and the small mirror with powder and a straw that was placed in front of him.
“Virtuals don’t count.”
“I could say the same.” She bristled against his desire to control her. He’d never been the type, and she didn’t want him to be. She decided t
o turn the tables. “You’re not in the virtuals a lot, are you?”
Marco rustled her hair. “Don’t worry, little sis.” He picked up his two drinks. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” And then he was off.
Those instructions left things pretty wide open. She sighed and watched him head across the room.
Before Ari could worry too long about her brother, a hand slid around her shoulders.
Garrett sat at the chair next to her in a dark suit. “What are you drinking?”
“Not sure yet. What’s the point of drinking in the virtuals?”
“It’s as real as you believe it is. Why do you think we come here?” Garrett asked but didn’t wait for an answer.
“Most of these rich kids have actually been to this club. The more closely tied to reality it is, the more believable it is. Then, if you want something more exotic you can go hit up a virtual.”
“I thought a virtual in a virtual wasn’t safe.” Ari had read reports that the more levels you go down in a VR, the harder it was to find yourself back to reality. After her father, she’d read a lot about it.
“Amazing isn’t it?” Garrett eyes flashed with excitement. The bartender came by and Garrett ordered a couple of drinks for them.
“So, what’s it going to be tonight? Drinking, dancing, or head to another beach?”
Ari wasn’t ready to think about another VR. “How about the roof?”
Before Garrett could answer, the bartender pushed the two drinks in front of them.
“The roof it is.” Garrett lifted his glass in agreement. “I’ve got to take care of a little business, but I’ll meet you up there.”
Ari nodded and watched as Garrett headed off into the crowded bar. He greeted several people as he passed. He headed to a dark table with a few girls too perfect to be real, and, of course, her brother sitting in the middle. Ari wanted to know what was really going on with Marco and what he knew about Garrett. Annoyed by this possible friendship, she grabbed her drink, and headed to the elevators.
Hard Wired Trilogy Page 9