Instead of the normal tasks of forwarding emails and scheduling meetings, Ari started searching Kari’s computer. Any possible important information had been copied and sent over to VisionTech, but that wasn’t what Ari wanted this time.
She began in Kari’s personal files and found that on the days Ari had been absent Kari had taken personal days.
Her home country was the Icelandic States, where her parents and younger brother still lived. Kari moved into the city and probably didn’t stay in contact much anymore. After the political session was over soon, Kari’s schedule inside the VLEX shortened, leaving only a few hours a day to schedule meetings. She didn’t have the vacation with Antoine scheduled for a couple weeks. Some snowy mountain resort, Ari gathered by the notes left in the computer.
Then she found a picture. Ari thought it would be of Antoine, he was handsome enough to keep a few of those on hand, but it was of Kari’s family. All pale skinned with scattered freckles. Her father had a strong build with blond hair; her mother had the red hair, like Kari, and was just as pretty. Kari and her brother were younger, maybe in their teens. Instead of the serious pose of their parents, Ari could tell the kids were trying hard not to laugh. Their green eyes lit up the picture, and their mouths were pressed hard into a tight smile.
It reminded Ari of her own family. Not perfect, but family. She had to find out what happened to Kari. Hopefully Tessa would have some answers. Ari owed it to her. It was one thing to be a stand-in worker, but to stand in as a girlfriend was a whole other thing. One Ari still wasn’t sure how she felt about.
After closing Kari’s personal files, she did a search for VisionTech on Kari’s database. It pulled the corporation, with the familiar blue and white logo. Clicking on it, Ari could see the company directory inside VLEX.
VisionTech was listed as an electronic technology and software company residing in the United Asian States. The CEO appeared to be an older man with Asian heritage. It could have been Vinh’s grandpa for all Ari knew. Ari recognized the photo below it. It was the Director of Special Projects, no other name listed. He was the director of her division that met with Niomi weeks ago.
Recognizing the director didn’t help with the rest of Ari’s search. She didn’t have access to many other important files. Kari’s position forwarded files, but she never got to keep a copy of them. Even half of the messages she forwarded to Higgins were classified and closed to her. Ari couldn’t even read the bill that she translated as President Tao. She needed more access, but where?
President Higgins pressed through the doors at the exact moment. “How are you feeling today, Ms. Trenton?”
“Much better, sir, thank you.”
“Glad to hear it.” He continued into his office.
Higgins’ computer had all the information she needed, she just needed him. Between his passwords and facial recognition, it would be hard to break into undetected, even for Ari. But what if Higgins did it for her?
Checking his schedule, she saw that he didn’t have a meeting for a couple hours, which meant he’d spend the morning in his office glued to his computer. Quietly she snuck out of the office and rode the elevator. On the first floor, she stepped around the corner to find a space with relative privacy. Not wanting to draw attention to Higgins’ office, in case there was some security measure in place to alert people when code changed, she came down stairs and became invisible. It was an easy enough transformation that didn’t require too much work.
The elevator on the way back up was the tricky part. It took five minutes to wait for the right floor to be selected. While she was invisible, she was still physically present in the VR. So, walking next to people or through walls didn’t prove a problem. She could have just popped into Higgins’ office, but again didn’t want to set off too many alarms or use her powers too much and get another headache.
When she entered his office, she found Higgins on the phone staring at the screen in front of him. “Yes, I know the vote went the way we wanted, but I still worry that we unearthed something we don’t want to and will only give other countries ideas they didn’t have before.”
Ari moved behind him and realized the bill was on the screen. Taking her time to read it, she realized the supposedly illegal methods the Russians were accused of were Virtual Reality Torture and Forced Incarceration inside the system. As she couldn’t scroll down on his screen, her mind sped through the implications of this. This took war to a new level. If you could force someone inside a program and keep them there, you could psychologically withdraw any information you could want.
It reminded her of the first program she walked in on with Niomi and the Director. Did VisionTech already have this technology as well? The idea made her ill. Her father was trapped in a VR coma due to his own addiction, now they wanted to force prisoners or anyone they didn’t agree with to be incarcerated inside of one?
“Let’s schedule a joint commission meeting to seal the specifics of the findings. I’ll have my assistant set it up.”
Ari snapped out of her thoughts by these words. She raced down the hall where other offices from the Icelandic States were held. When no one was looking, she reappeared in the program, then headed back to her office.
She walked in as Higgins opened his door.
“Sorry, sir. Just needed some fresh air.”
“I need a meeting scheduled. I sent you the details.”
She hurried to her desk. “I’ll get to it right away.”
The rest of the morning she spent getting caught up on Kari’s work. Things were busy with this new bill that passed. A committee to investigate VR research was being created. Even Antoine didn’t have time to meet. They tentatively planned time for coffee later in the day.
By the time Ari finished Kari’s work, she took a late lunch while President Higgins was out at a meeting. She didn’t bother with going to the center to eat but headed straight for Ryope Industries. It was a small business compared to the worldwide organizations present inside VLEX.
The building had a basic tall rectangular design, but advertisements covered it completely. Not only for Ryope Industries, but other businesses, products, and vacation services. Unlike some of the more cultural designs for buildings in VLEX, this felt like a hundred-foot tall billboard.
After checking the directory, she traveled up to the tenth floor designated to Ryope. The inside of the building looked similar to the outside. Loud advertisements covered the walls, cheapening the sleek design of the office.
The young man sitting at reception welcomed Ari and informed her that neither Tessa nor her father—Ari had met him once before—were in the office today.
With his manicured hair and nails, along with his pressed bow tie, his perfection appeared robotic. Maybe he was part of the program in here. “Would they have left any files or packages for you?”
“Maybe.” Ari remembered Tessa saying they could pass messages through this office.
“Your name?” he asked.
Ari wasn’t about to give him her real name. “Oya.”
The fact he didn’t even react to that name told Ari he was a program. He had the same stiff no nonsense personality as Ari’s AI. Functional but not fun.
“Tessa did leave you a file.” He glanced up at Ari. “What format do you want it on?”
Ari couldn’t take it back to work. “Do you have a reader I could use?”
“Of course. There is a password to open the file.” He handed her a small screen.
“Thanks.” Internally, Ari cursed Tessa. Now she had to guess at a password. After a few different tries all involving Tessa’s game, Ari finally opened it using a variation of Tessa’s gamer name: VegaRules.
“Figures,” Ari muttered.
The AI glanced up at Ari.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
Tessa left a message at the top of the screen.
Your family is safe. Better than this girl you had me check up on. I hope this isn’t your co-worker.
Scr
olling down, Ari found information on Kari’s current address, phone number, position and title. A picture of Kari’s apartment, green and white, rotated on the screen. Next was a picture of a red-haired woman coming out the door. She had a striking similarity to Kari, but for someone who had studied and lived her life, Ari knew it wasn’t her.
Tessa’s message continued.
Kari has been silent online and not in contact with friends. A neighbor claimed that she works long hours and spends even more time in the VR. There is someone living in her apartment, but it’s not her. I picked up a red-haired woman on satellite, but it wasn’t a match. Not sure what happened to her, but something doesn’t sit right. Stay in touch.
Ari slowly sank against the wall. The reader crashed to the floor just as the safety and innocence of Ari’s world did the same. She stared at her hands, Kari’s hands, so petite, so perfect, with the nails painted in a light pink color that matched the floral dress Ari put on today. Was this the only place Kari would be alive in again?
She tried to reassure herself that it could mean several things. Maybe Kari was on vacation. There may not be a dead body, but Ari knew deep down something wasn’t right. They couldn’t have hacked her feed or something. If Kari wasn’t dead yet, she probably would be. Just like Representative Tao. So easily replaceable, these people were to VisionTech. Inside virtual reality for an extended period, it was easy to gain a sense of invincibility. But outside this fabricated world, they were human and weak.
“Can I help you, Oya?” The receptionist extended a hand.
Surprised she jolted upright. “I’m fine, really.” She picked up the screen, and with trembling fingers she deleted the message and handed the screen back to him. “Thank you for your help.”
She clenched her hands as she walked out of the building. She needed to think, not freak out. Her HUB beeped a reminder that she had an appointment to meet Antoine for coffee.
Antoine. Her heart ached for that love-sick fool. How could she break it to him? Should she break it to him?
Chapter Eighteen
In a small Parisian cafe, she greeted Antoine with a kiss on each cheek.
“Just like the Parisians do it,” he said. His musky smell had become familiar which tore at Ari’s heart.
He pulled back, holding her hands. “What’s wrong, my love?”
“Nothing, nothing.” She turned her head as she wiped away a tear that betrayed her. “Just a stressful day at work.”
“Yes,” he lifted her chin with a finger. “But only a couple more weeks until vacation. Imagine you and me in front of a fire. Glass in hand. A fur rug under our bare skin. I can’t wait to meet you in the flesh.”
The excitement on his face rivaled that of a child. She couldn’t help but smile at Antoine. He wore his heart on his sleeve along with everything. Ari was beginning to see why Kari would fall for him. He wrapped sunshine, love, and magic up and presented it to Kari with a bow.
To Kari, Ari reminded herself. Not to you. You might be the cause of her death. She bit down on her lip to push back her emotions while he ordered them both coffees. He carried most of the conversation, which Ari appreciated. She nodded and agreed as he complained about a co-worker and then talked about their plans in the mountains.
“You’ll love it there. The air is so clean, the sky so blue. Like VR blue, but real. I can’t wait for you to meet my brother there.”
“Me either.” The smile came easier for Ari now because she wanted to believe.
Kari and Antoine felt like some type of show or romance novel. These two characters who struggled for true love only to be thwarted by forces beyond their control. If Ari could put this off for a little bit longer, maybe somehow she could give them the happy ending they deserved. Ari wanted to believe in happy endings.
“Damn,” Antoine said checking his HUB. “I have to get back.”
He gave her a deep kiss. Ari felt detached, watching it from a distance. It isn’t her body, it isn’t her life. She hijacked Kari’s world, so at least she could keep those she loved protected.
“Love you.” His gaze penetrated past the charade and Ari shuddered.
“Love you too.”
She watched him leave. Every decision she made had consequences she couldn’t see. She just hoped she made the right one where Antoine was concerned.
Somewhere along the way, Ari had become a pro at hiding. She hid in Kari’s life, even in Tao’s. Now, as she emerged from the VR once again to Niomi and her reports, Ari realized she’d been hiding in her own life. The pain and fear of what VisionTech had done was sealed tight. Moving through the motions, she typed the lies easily from her fingers. The correct words flowed effortless from her mouth.
By the time she walked away from Niomi, with a promise to exercise tonight, she felt as fake as the AI in Ryope Industries. Walking through the motions of life, detached from reality.
“What time is it?” she asked her AI, wondering where Reed would be. Ari didn’t even find humor in tormenting her personal AI anymore, and recently changed his name to just AI.
“4:30 in the afternoon.”
She had stayed late in the VR. Messaging Niomi, Ari told her she was going to visit Reed and workout with him. She stopped asking permission to leave her wing, and Niomi knew better than to bug her about it. She checked out a hoverbike and rode to Reed’s work.
It began raining during her ride, but Ari welcomed it. The cleansing coolness of the water gave her hope that she could figure this mess out. She needed Reed, needed to be reminded of home and who she was. Guilt pulled heavy on her shoulders as she remembered Antoine. Would Reed care? She didn’t want to hurt Reed, but she needed to be honest. He needed to know everything, no matter what his security clearance. He needed to know the stakes before getting sucked into VisionTech more than he was.
She pushed strands of wet hair out of her face and parked the bike. She elbowed through the crowd of people leaving work for the day. Not finding him in the hall, she searched through the clear doors and spotted him. She picked out his wavy blondish brown hair. It had grown out more lately.
As she approached, she noticed his face lit up. He was talking with his hands, which he did when he was excited. He radiated joy, something she only glimpsed before coming to the island, and usually with her. Laughing, his body shook, and his eyes sparked to life. One step closer, and Ari found out who he was talking to—Kimmy.
Ari froze, and a realization sunk in. Kimmy was the one who brought joy to Reed. His art, his friends, his life here with VisionTech brought him a happiness. Would Ari be enough to replace all that? She never saw Reed this happy at school. Even with Marco, he always acted a bit reserved.
Reed wanted to do art. He wouldn’t be killing people with his art, but inspiring, creating. And this may be the only opportunity he had to do that. Would Ari really take that away?
Could she crush his happiness the same way she would one day crush Antoine’s? The guilt of Antoine and her fake promises and declarations of love forced her back. One step then another. Reed could find joy here. Not just with his work, but with Kimmy or someone like her. Ari… well, Ari did a better job stealing people’s joy than creating it lately.
After a few steps, she turned and hurried out of the building. Back on the hoverbike she found herself at the outdoor workout facility. Partially covered, it protected Ari from the rain, but not the wind howling through the trees. Howling like Ari wanted to, pushing, fighting forces it couldn’t control. She struck out at the dummy, over and over.
If somehow she was stronger, better, then maybe she could figure this out.
Chapter Nineteen
The rest of the week, Ari kept her head down and worked hard. She needed time to figure out her next step. She kept tabs with Antoine inside VLEX searching for the best way to end his relationship with Kari, but never figuring out how to. Blaming President Higgins for keeping her busy, they messaged more than anything.
Staying occupied with work was also the be
st way to keep her distance from Reed. If she met with him, she may not be able to keep her distance. She wanted what was best for Reed and giving him that was the hardest thing she ever had to do.
So, when Jewels left a note in her room—a real note on stiff paper—inviting Ari to a party, she replied yes. Granted, it was odd that her maid invited her to the party, but Ari wanted to see more of the island and needed a distraction. Ari replied in pink lipstick, the only thing she could find to write with.
Not only did Ari need a reason to avoid Reed that weekend, but she was beyond curious to see where Jewels lived. With Niomi’s runs, Ari felt like she had traveled the island, but she never saw any sight of homes or islanders on her section. Ari jumped at the chance to see more of this place.
At first Niomi wouldn’t agree for Ari to leave VisionTech property even if she had a chip in the back of her neck reporting her location.
“I can take care of myself,” Ari told Niomi. “You’ve taught me that much. And if VisionTech wants me to keep working for them, they can’t lock me in a cage for the rest of my life.” They probably could, but Ari hoped they wouldn’t.
“Let me see who I can get with cleared to go with you.” Niomi’s anger was evident on her face.
In the end, two security guards were assigned to accompany Ari. Neither one was chatty. Both were way over six feet, with muscles to spare. Their close-cropped hair looked like part of their uniform, which was a navy Fit Suit. Ari had always known VisionTech had to have some type of security or police force on the island. They hid in the shadows though. Now up close, intimidating didn’t begin to describe them.
Jewels had sent Tamar, who Ari recognized from her gambling stint. Next to the guards, he stood a good half foot shorter, but it didn’t seem to bother him. He wore a simple button shirt with dark baggy shorts, island garb.
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