Hard Wired Trilogy

by DeAnna Pearce

  “I’m not sure who I’m angrier at, you or Marco. He told me he would keep an eye on you last night. I didn’t think that would include tabbing until you passed out. I thought you would know better. You’re usually my sensible one.”

  That was true. Ari took over many of her mother’s household responsibilities as she worked two jobs.

  “Don’t worry. Never again.” After a few sips, Ari laid face down on her bed while her mother rubbed her back. Her head throbbed, and her body refused to move.

  “Why do people get wasted?” Ari moaned.

  “Lots of reasons. Not many of them worth it.” Ari’s mom rarely drank or used tabs but that probably had more to do with money.

  “I have a double shift today or I wouldn’t have woken you,” her mother said.

  “I know.”

  “Have you decided what you’re going to do? I’m not going to force you to do something you don’t want to. But if you don’t go, you’ll need to put your name in at the factory to find a position before winter.” Her mother’s hands, dry and cracked from work, smoothed out Ari’s blanket. Maybe that’s why people drank or did virtuals. It was better than real life.

  Ari had another choice besides the life her mother lived. With a higher education, Ari would have better paying jobs. The choice wasn’t only about Ari not wanting to work in the factory, but a chance for her mother to leave the factory. Her mother had to work two jobs just to keep her husband’s feeding tube full.

  Six years ago, Ari’s dad took a VR vacation down the Rhine River and never came back. Six years since she truly spoke to him. Six years of after-school jobs, of discount food, and watching her mother wither away every day. Ari watched her mother’s hope turn into foolishness. Ari hoped he would drown in that damn river.

  When Ari graduated from the VR Academy, she could afford to buy a place for both of them. She also wouldn’t be completely alone there. Reed and Marco went to the same campus for training in computer security. The thought of Reed and what she did last night made her moan all over again.

  “It’s okay, honey.” Her mother stood. “One more day won’t hurt. I’ll talk to Kent, my manager—”

  “Yes.” Ari would do this, for herself, for her mother, for a chance at a real future.

  “Yes? Put in for the position?”

  “No, I decided. I’m going to accept the scholarship.” Ari turned her head away, not wanting to look at her mother’s concerned face. Closing her eyes, she tried to block out the world for a few more hours.

  Chapter Three

  Her choice made, Ari reported to her principal with her final decision. With only a week to pack and say her goodbyes, the time flew by. When the morning of her departure finally came, she boarded the tram with Marco and, of course, Reed. Break ended for all them, and the boys were returning for their final year at school. She sat apart from the pair, not wanting to revisit her mortifying behavior from the party. Slumping down on the cold plastic seat, she watched the only home she’d ever known disappear.

  Last night, her mother had insisted that Marco and Ari visit their father before heading off to the Academy. Normally, Ari refused since her father didn’t acknowledge anyone. This time she went and soon became edgy and unsettled.

  She hated watching his withered frame and sunken face. He didn’t look like her father anymore and stopped being her father years before that. It didn’t help that the facility reeked of old people, dying people.

  Ari’s mom carried on a one-sided conversation with her unresponsive husband, but despite her efforts, Ari wouldn’t play along. She was done pretending this was okay when it wasn’t. Instead, she fixated on the computer tied to his vitals and feeding tube. With coma patients, you could turn off the computer or whatever VR they were in, but their brains wouldn’t wake up. Subconsciously their minds stayed in the virtual world even without the plug. They didn’t want to wake up, not even to eat, drink or survive.

  That one little box of wires and parts controlled their lives. She bit back the tears that burned her eyes. He didn’t deserve them anymore.

  Trying to block out the memory of the trip, Ari pulled up a book on her old tablet and read for the rest of the trip. A mechanical voice pulled her back to reality and informed them of their upcoming stop. Standing, she pulled her old leather bag onto her shoulder. It was her dad’s or had been. The only reminder she had of him. Not sure why she even kept it anymore, she reached for the battered suitcase above her seat.

  Reed appeared at her side and helped pull it down. “How are you feeling?”

  Like an idiot, she wanted to say. Instead she kept her eyes down and mumbled, “Fine.”

  “Don’t worry. School’s not that bad.”

  Marco appeared between them. “Oh, my sis will do great. Once they strap her down for her VRs.”

  Ari glared at her brother and stepped off the tram.

  “It’s not like every class is in the VR.” Marco kept close behind her. “Unfortunately.”

  “Whatever, Marco.” Ari kept moving with the flow of the other students. People had spoken about making all of the Academy’s classes purely VR, so the cost of schooling would be cheaper, but they found students suffered from too much VR use. VR comas were on the rise, malnutrition ran rampant, and muscular atrophy increasingly common. Ari grimaced at the thought of her future working with these wonderful machines.

  Ari arrived at the gates and wasn’t sure what bothered her more: the armed guards waiting to let students into the Tech Academy, or the high electrified fence that wrapped around the school. Was it to keep people in, or out?

  Students stood with their motorized luggage trailing behind as the line to enter the silver registration building crawled forward. The sun peered out through the clouds, warming them as they waited. The immaculate grounds sprawled in both directions with flawless engineered grass and bushes. Massive trees stood along the electric fence.

  They finally entered the registration building, which entailed another line. This time though, they could watch the government news and alerts that ran on screens as the lines inched forward. Details on the current global conflicts played on the screens. The government referred to the various wars as the Continuing Struggle for Human Rights. Most people called it the Never-Ending War. One picture of a soldier stood out as he held an injured child in his arms. Large words appeared underneath him: “Our Democratic Union at Work.” The line moved forward. Up ahead, guards processed the incoming and returning students.

  “You’re next, Ari.” Marco pushed her toward the armed guard standing in front of the scanner.

  She couldn’t help but notice the weapons at his waist that stood out against his pale silver uniform. She placed her luggage on one scanner and walked through the other.

  “Ariana Mendez?” The guard asked looking at his monitor.

  “Yes.”

  “This way please.” The barrel-chested guard motioned for Ari to step to the side. He pulled out a silver electronic wrist HUB.

  “I already have one.” Granted the sleek design would outrun her old HUB, which was battered and slow, but her HUB had all her favorite books, shows, and old contacts. Her life lived on her wrist.

  “Every new student is required to have a school issued HUB.” He waited expectantly and motioned to the desk, which held a pad to rest her arm on.

  She released her old HUB, slid it into her pocket, and extended her hand out. He placed the new device on her wrist and it automatically sealed shut. It would take pliers and a blowtorch to pry it off.

  He must have guessed her thought. “Don’t attempt to remove it. The school would be notified immediately.”

  “Great,” she mumbled.

  “Also, you have been requested to see Advisor Williams. You can request directions from your HUB.”

  Unease tightened her stomach. “What for?”

  “Because he asked.” The guard waved her along and turned his attention back to the line of students.

  Ari turned to say
bye to her brother, but he was already in deep conversation with a red-headed girl. Reed stood under the silver full-body scanner and was busy talking to a guard. She turned back around and walked through the doors, stepping into a world that could have been its own VR.

  A variety of modern, polished buildings reached up to the heavens. Every building was different and unique. One mirrored its surroundings, almost disappearing as it traveled up to the sky. When her gaze finally returned earth bound, the grounds were no less stunning. Brightly colored shrubs and flowers were scattered around the greenery. On closer inspection, she realized they were manufactured. Genetic replicas that couldn’t help but be flawless. The picture-perfect landscape sent an uncomfortable chill down her back.

  Activating her new wristwear, she followed its directions. Students brushed by her, talking to one another or some flying by on boards. She couldn’t help but stare at the variety of tech: projected on arms, hands, and glasses with display screens. Other people showed no sign of tech, not even contacts, as they talked with an invisible someone, probably using the new Push implant she’d read about—an implant that connected directly to your tech and was only steps away from a portable VR.

  She was light-years behind these kids and that wasn’t even talking about virtuals. Granted, even if she could afford it, Ari detested the idea of an implant. Why would kids even want an implant here when the school and government monitored all their data and controlled their access to the outside? With a huff, she continued down the path. Ari never felt like she lived in the dark ages at home, until now.

  Once inside the large mirrored administration building, she took the elevator to the fourth floor and checked in with a receptionist.

  “Please have a seat.” The woman directed Ari to white chairs lined against the wall.

  Ari sat stiffly, glancing around the office. Sleek angles and designs were muted with soft colors, but it still had a doctor’s office feel.

  “Ariana Mendez, Advisor Williams is ready to see you.” A mechanical voice spoke from her HUB.

  Ari stiffened. She’d forgotten she wore a new HUB, one that the school was hooked into. She hefted her bag on her shoulder and grabbed her suitcase, wishing it didn’t look so shabby. Unlike the rest of the modern design of this room, the advisor’s door was mahogany wood. Authentic wood doors were a rarity. They cost a lot more to add security to.

  In the center of the gold knocker, a small camera was buried deep within. Since the advisor was ready see her, there was no reason to prolong the inevitable. She tapped the gold knocker and a mechanical voice replied, “You may enter.”

  She walked into a world of old and new mixed together. The furniture was obviously from an older era and a painting—an actual physical painting—of a golden field hung on one wall. Computerized screens covered the other wall, which sat across from his desk. This room had to be the most expensive place she had ever been in.

  The man behind the desk had no trace of age, sitting tall with short black hair. The only thing that gave his age away was the surgically tight skin. Only rich people preserved themselves so well. He would probably be considered attractive, if his lips weren’t pressed into a rigid line.

  “Hello, Ms. Mendez. Please take a seat.” Without looking up from his screen, Advisor Williams waved her to the over-sized leather chair in front of his desk.

  She nodded while she slid into the chair.

  “I have been reviewing your file for the past several minutes, and you have quite an interesting case.”

  Ari shifted in her seat.

  “I can see you are a bright student. Top scores on your written tests. Even an aptitude for programming and advanced problem solving. Interesting that you were assigned Virtual Programming when you didn’t complete the session though.” His voice rose hesitantly as if he wasn’t sure if he dared question the evaluation of the test himself.

  Ari remained silent, the knot in her stomach twisting in worry.

  Williams stared for a few moments longer before turning to Ari. “My responsibility is to make sure you are given the tools to succeed and to weed out any potential problems. Be that as it may, I hope we won’t have any problems with your adaptation into this program. I know coming from your background may pose certain ... challenges, but you’ll need to immerse yourself in the program and strive for the excellence that permeates this Academy.”

  Ari had stayed silent throughout the conversation, but now she realized he expected an answer.

  “I will complete the program, sir.” She had no other choice but to complete. Failure wasn’t an option.

  “Good, good. That’s the spirit. I have your class schedule and some forms for you to read. Sign and return them to me by the end of the day. I can upload them directly to your tablet.”

  When she pulled out her old tablet from home, he tightened his lips. “That won’t be adequate for your classwork.”

  “I can make do.” Ari had rigged enough old gear. She was confident that she could manage.

  Advisor Williams probably wouldn’t consider her old tablet worth killing a rat with. “I’ll send the tech department a requisition form right now, and you can head down there to pick up the new gear. In our student union, you’ll find meals, and a basic shop for clothes and other hygiene items. Your monthly stipend should be adequate to cover your needs.” He didn’t bother hiding the judgmental disdain creasing his face. “You may go.”

  Ari stood and gathered her bags. She left the office as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the cold chill he gave her took longer to leave.

  Her HUB directed her along a path that weaved amongst the unique buildings. Every building was slightly different in shape, and used a mixture of glass, metal, and synthetic materials. Each dorm housed a different concentration: hardware, electronic security, network systems, and a few others Ari couldn’t remember. This campus was the biggest in the west for electronics. She passed a shorter building with a constant flow of students streaming in and out. After accessing the map on her HUB, she discovered this beige building with arches on top was the student commons, holding the cafeteria, multipurpose stores, and a gym. The student tech supply center was in the rear.

  She pushed back her hair and headed off. The flawless perfection of her surroundings pushed past the ordinary, becoming almost surreal, like she was on another planet. The bright flowers dotting the campus produced a rich, fragrant smell that trailed along the path.

  At the tech center, she headed through the automatic doors. “The attendant will be with you shortly,” a pleasant woman’s voice spoke above her. The entry room appeared small, but behind the counter it extended farther back into a myriad of shelved rows, cubicles, and locked cabinets. An electronic sign-in screen hung from the ceiling. Her name appeared on the screen, indicating she was the next in line to be helped.

  Behind the divide, a guy, entranced in a game, propped his feet up on the counter. He had canary yellow hair, which fell to his ears in a naturally messy style. It clashed horribly with the silver metallic uniform clinging to his slim build.

  “Whatcha need?” He didn’t bother to look up.

  Ari stepped forward. “I need a ... a computer, I guess. I’m in the virtual design program, and they said you could get me what I need.”

  The guy finally paused his screen and looked up at her through gaming contacts. Colors swirled around his eyes. He blinked several times, and his eyes cleared, except for a gold glint next to his iris.

  “You’re a newbie, right? First year?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You didn’t bring your own gear?” The ring in his eyebrow pinched slightly.

  “Nothing from this century.”

  The guy exhaled slowly. “O-kay, so you like antiques.”

  “Like isn’t the right word. ‘All I can afford’ is more fitting.” Ari kept her gaze steady and chin high. She wasn’t going to start the program by being ashamed of being poor.

  “I’m Garrett.” He stuck his hand out and sm
iled. “It’s okay to be different. Most everything here is new and shiny. I’d rather see something original.”

  “Ari.” She shook his hand and wondered if his meaning went beyond electronics.

  He returned to his computer. “Just pulling up your orders. Okay, Ari, let’s get you hooked up with something that will give those geeks in the VR dorm a reason to drool.” His smile was nice, with a bit of mischief in it.

  An electric cart followed behind as he walked down the rows of equipment, picking up this and that. It kept a steady pace behind him, pausing when he did. He eyed one small piece that looked like memory, before putting it on his cart. It wasn’t until the top of his cart was cluttered with random hardware, that he made his way back to the front.

  “Has someone been good?” Garrett asked in a humorous voice.

  Ari couldn’t help but be excited as her eyes flew over the pile he’d gathered. She’d only seen stuff like this online. “And if I say no?”

  “I’ll ask you out.” The smirk on his face made it hard to tell if he was serious. “I already have your number from the paperwork.”

  Startled by the turn in the conversation, her faced warmed and she adjusted the HUB on her wrist.

  “Come on back and let’s get to work.” Garrett pushed a button and a short door around the side of the counter opened for her. She grabbed an extra chair and pulled it up next to him.

  When Garrett said, ‘let’s work’, what he really meant was Ari could watch and “ooh” and “aah” respectfully while he worked. She didn’t mind and enjoyed watching him fly through the systems. He kept up a running commentary cluing her into the capabilities of her HUB and tablet.

  “Your Advisor’s requisition said to supply you with the equipment needed for your program. I love when they say that.” Garrett turned to her with a large smile. “Then I can do what I want.”

  He turned back to the gear. “Okay, so here’s your tablet that can port into any of the school’s systems or desks. I’ll order you a bigger screen to link to in your room and a backup drive too. Here’s a ring or phone for your HUB. If you’re tired of a ring, it can hook on your ear.”