So instead she focused on her job and worked harder than ever with Niomi. Even though they covered the basics of several different skins, they always came back to Kari. Kari was to be Ari’s first job. A job that approached faster than Ari realized.
She had memorized Kari’s work contacts, her favorite drinks—yes even in VR people met for drinks—and everything else she could. Finally, on a Saturday morning, Niomi informed Ari that she was ready. Monday, they would skip their morning exercises and go into VLEX.
Even though Ari was ready—she knew more about Kari than even her closest acquaintances—there was something unsettling about the mission. Feigning to be someone else, constantly lying for hours on end, worried her. It felt like there was some invisible line she was about to cross, and once crossed, it would change her forever.
That Saturday evening, Reed and Ari went on another date. They realized early on that the small island only provided so much entertainment. Of course, there was a plethora of VR stimulations to experience, but they both decided they liked to spend time in person. Besides going out to eat, there were only a handful of outdoor activities available to the employees and residents of the island.
“Did you decide where we’re going?” Ari asked when he picked her up in a car. The car door hissed shut behind her. She shook out her hair, wet from the light rain.
“I did.” His smile curled up, distracting her.
“Are you going to share?”
“You’ll see.” He focused on the road, despite not actually driving the car at all. He was recently shaved, his short dirty blond hair styled to perfection. He wore a button-up shirt and shorts, his attire giving away nothing as to their date.
She tugged at the edge of her blue sundress, hoping she was adequately dressed. “You know I hate surprises?”
He cocked an eyebrow in her direction. “Really?”
“Really.” She stared at him, raindrops lightly hitting the car window.
He leaned towards her, lightly kissing her. He pulled back a fraction of an inch, their lips almost touching. “How about that surprise?”
“Brat.” She leaned forward, meeting his lips with a fervor.
By the time the car announced they arrived at their destination, they both were a little out of breath.
“I told you, you like surprises,” he pulled back, lips slightly swollen.
“Maybe I just like your surprises.” Heat flushed her face, the warmth feeling good.
“I’ll take it.”
They exited the car, and Ari got her first good look around. They were deep in the jungle, only a light mist from the rain hit them. Tall trees rose all around, green covering everything in sight. A few other cars and scooters littered the dirt parking lot. A small path lead into the forest. Through the foliage, she spied a brown staircase leading up and around a tree.
Her stomach flipped a bit, with nerves or maybe excitement. “Are we going up there?”
“After our adventure on the rooftop, I thought you were fine with heights.”
“I am.”
He reached for her hand. “Good.”
The brown staircase was built out of metal but shaped to look like weathered wood. As they rose higher on the automated steps, the rain sprinkled on them, making Ari’s wavy hair curl even more.
“Sorry about the rain.” Reed stood behind her. “I’d already made the reservations.”
“Don’t worry about it.” The rain was unpredictable and constant on the island, unlike the desert she was raised in. The warm and humid weather made the rain a welcome relief.
At the top, a couple workers stood ready to escort them into a small cart which must have been made from the same see-through material that was used on the Wave. The cart perched on top of a thin track. Reed placed his hand on the scanner for them to accept his reservation. Inside the cart, the clear plastic-type material surrounded them, giving them a 360-degree view of the jungle.
Anticipation bubbled inside of her as she turned to Reed. “I like this kind of surprise too.”
“Good.”
The attendant stepped back and pressed a button. “Enjoy.”
With a whoosh, they slipped into the jungle, held up only by the wire. At first, only quiet permeated the jungle, but as the cart crawled along, the wildlife came alive around them. Small monkeys jumped from tree to tree, speaking in their high-pitched voices.
“Look.” Reed pointed to a snake wrapped around a branch.
“Amazing.” She didn’t want to miss a thing.
They continued pointing out all the different animals or plants for the next thirty minutes as the cart rose and fell under the canopy of trees. When the car slowed to a stop, she didn’t think it could get any better, but it did. They climbed out onto a deck around a large tree. A network of platforms and bridges connected a mass of trees. It resembled a tree house beyond her wildest dreams.
They were directed to another tree, which held a table, two chairs, and a candlelit dinner. She laughed as they took their seats. “I didn’t even know this existed. Where is the book that tells you about all this stuff?”
“It’s on the directory.” He picked up his napkin.
“I need to look at that directory again.” She spread the napkin on her lap, looking at all the sparkling lights that surrounded them. “I’m surprised it’s not busier. This place is beyond anything I’ve seen before.”
“Well, it’s not as packed at the VRs, but VisionTech wanted a few things outside for people to do. Want to order?” He motioned to the screen in front of them.
She pulled her attention back to the menu on their table. “Yes, food.”
They ordered dinner, both hamburgers, hers with grilled pineapple, his with cheese and onions. An attendant quickly delivered their meal, and they dug in. The mixture of flavors flooded her taste buds. She never got tired of how good the food tasted.
“Do you ever think how odd it is that we’re eating a cow on an island in the middle of the jungle?”
“I’m usually too busy enjoying the food to think of where it comes from.” He took another big bite of his burger.
“True. Why waste time with questions?” She joked and took another bite.
After they’d emptied their plates, Reed leaned back in his chair. The falling sun peeked through the clouds, pulling out the golden strands in his hair. “So how is work going?”
Ari was pulled out of her animal watching. “Yeah, work.” She set down the fry she was holding and reached for a drink, unsure of how to answer. “Well, Niomi seems happy with my progress as she’s not complaining as much as usual.”
“That’s a good sign.”
Nervous, Ari played with a napkin. “I guess… things are just changing.”
He leaned forward. “Good change or bad change?”
She shrugged, the knot in her shoulders tightening. “I won’t know until it happens.”
“No use to stress until it happens, right? Then if it’s not working out, you can talk to Niomi.”
Ari bit her bottom lip. Yes, she could talk to Niomi, but it didn’t mean Ari’s job would change. She’d committed to VisionTech for five years. Her contract didn’t leave a lot of wiggle room when it came to her role in the company. She didn’t want to worry Reed though. “You’re right, why worry about something that hasn’t happened yet?”
“True.” He pulled a long thin box from his pocket and pushed it towards Ari. “I made something for you.”
“Really?” She reached for the box, intrigued. Since Reed was an artist, it could be anything. She opened the box and found a necklace with a beautiful light blue stone, wrapped in silver wire. The silver hugged it, swirling artistically around it. “It’s amazing.”
“You like it?”
“I love it.” She pulled it out to put it around her neck.
“There is a surprise with it as well. Here let me.” He reached for the necklace and turned it over. “It’s made from a lace blue agate stone, and in the back I put a small
drive.”
“A drive?”
He pulled the drive from the back, it was smaller than her pinky nail. “I know you’ve been missing home and your friends. So, I put all your pictures from home on it. Your brother helped with this too. This way you can keep the memories close to your heart.”
Emotions tightened her throat, making it difficult to speak. “Thank you. I can’t think of anything more perfect.”
He put the drive back in and helped her put the necklace on, the cold stone comforting on her chest. She stood, wrapping him in a hug. She was so grateful for his thoughtfulness. “How can I ever repay you?”
“You don’t have to.”
She pulled back ignoring the happy tears pooling in her eyes. “I can pay for dessert,” she offered, joking as it wasn’t anything close to what he did for her.
He smiled. “Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”
“Not lately.”
He leaned forward and brushed a kiss on her lips, soft and sweet. “Let’s see what you order for dessert before I tell you,” his eyes held a light sarcasm.
“You doubt my judgment?” She narrowed her eyes.
“Never. You did pick me after all.” His cheesy smile warmed her soul.
Chapter 8
Sunday rushed past in a blur of emotions as she spent several hours poring over the pictures Reed gave her. Cherishing every memory also brought on a bout of homesickness. One that even living in paradise couldn’t cure.
Monday appeared before Ari could straighten out her concerns about the mission. Since Kari went into work 8am VLEX time which was 3am Ari’s time, she skipped her normal routine and headed to her VR lab first. She didn’t bother with breakfast as she didn’t think it would stay down. She tugged on her new suit as she entered the lab, her necklace laying on top.
“Glad to see you early for once.” Niomi didn’t bother turning around, remaining focused on her screen.
“Good morning to you too,” Ari replied.
“Take a seat. I’m waiting for the green light to send you in.” Niomi glanced her way. “Nice necklace. Reed’s doing?”
“Yes.” Ari lowered herself in the chair and leaned back but didn’t want Niomi to sidetrack her with mention of jewelry. “What do you mean by green light?”
“That’s Kari’s access to the VLEX and will be open for us to use. You remember everything? Her passwords?”
Ari tried to believe that Kari gave VisionTech her passwords. “And Kari will be where?”
“Think of it as a vacation day.”
“Won’t she notice when she comes back to work the next day?” Ari didn’t like the way Niomi was being vague.
“Look, Ari.” Her trainer turned to stare down at her. “I don’t know the specifics, that’s not my department. Most likely, she’ll be transferred to a different VR that mirrors her real life. Or maybe she really will be sick. I just do my job and ask that you do the same.”
Biting her lip, Ari clicked the cable into place in the bottom of her neck. She pushed away the worry that maybe she made the wrong decision all those months ago. Her stomach churned as she thought about the real Kari.
No, I can do this. Ari was ready. Niomi had pushed her hard to make sure she was ready. While waiting for Niomi, the silence ate at her calm facade. Every dark thought of what could happen flashed through her mind. By the time Niomi turned around, Ari’s hands were clenched against the arm rests.
“Okay. Ready?” Niomi glanced down at her hands. “You’ll be fine in there.”
Ari nodded.
“Remember your training. If you must manipulate the code, move quickly afterward. Don’t blow the cover. You’re Kari, no matter what.”
Ari closed her eyes, the darkness welcoming her. It took effort for her to open them, entering a whole other world. Squinting against the bright light, she tried to get her bearings. She sat behind Kari’s desk. The dark brown walls made the room appear small. One wall held a moving picture, a lighthouse during a storm. The smell of fresh-cut flowers permeated the office. Lilacs, Kari’s favorite flower, were arranged in a vase near the desk. Large clear panels blinked in front of her. One side held a scroll of announcements while the other had a bulleted list of things for Kari to do.
“Glad to see you early this morning.” A dark-skinned man with silver hair and a heavy accent stepped through the office. He was dressed impeccably in a navy suit and red tie. “It’s a busy day. Get out the morning memos. I also have the 1070A bill that needs to get out before noon.”
“Will do, sir.” Ari recognized the man as Kari’s boss, President Higgins from the Icelandic States.
He stopped mid-step, turning to stare at Kari.
Ari kept her nerves buried and turned. “What is it, sir?”
A small smile crept on his face. “Nothing. Keep up the good work, Ms. Trenton.”
“Of course.” She turned back to the screen and began scanning the tasks set out for her today. Ari had worked on a similar process to prepare for this, but she knew she couldn’t possibly do them as quickly as someone who had worked here for years.
The morning was filled with scheduling meetings, returning correspondence, and other menial tasks. Most authorities didn’t conduct business outside of the VR because outside everything was traceable. Traceable meant hackable, and both meant possible to track down and assassinate. In the VLEX, hacking was significantly more difficult. Ari didn’t want to contemplate the hoops VisionTech had to jump through to get her there.
Once President Higgins headed off for his mid-morning meetings, Kari could finally breathe for a moment and do her real job. She pulled up the bill 1070A. They had security protocols in place to detect unauthorized file transfers back to the real world. This is where her skills came in handy. This was all one big program.
As she re-focused her vision, lines of codes appeared before her. Reading it like a blue print or recipe card, she manipulated the program to give herself the clearance to send the file. Changing which office it came from, she sent it off to an untraceable account Niomi gave her.
Before she closed the program, she scanned the bill. The political jargon made it hard to follow, but words like studies and virtual reality caught her attention. They were doing experiments of some kind to study the effects of certain drugs.
The monitor beeped, and she flinched back from the screen. Calm down. I’m not a kid caught in the cookie jar. Checking the monitor, she realized she had a lunch at Milano’s with a representative from President Tremblay’s office. The meeting said it had to do with sharing notes from the latest energy crisis meeting, but Ari couldn’t figure out why they didn’t just meet over video feed.
Either way, she gathered the small purse Kari kept in her top drawer and headed out. Kari’s office was on the thirtieth floor of a sleek building. Once outside, she recognized some of the buildings around her from the limited photos VisionTech had of the VLEX. A variety of buildings with different architectural styles circled around a town square.
Ari had studied maps of the VLEX but, experiencing it first hand, it all felt different. On a perfectly paved cobblestone street, she walked to the center town square, which appeared to have been built with every single country wanting their say. A hodgepodge of restaurants flashed a variety of food, most Ari had never heard of. She passed a fountain with a very large naked statue of a man holding a spear of some shape in his upheld hand.
Ari also knew that once inside a store they could go on for miles. A cool magic trick written into code. So, while it only took fifteen minutes to walk through the town center, one could spend many more hours exploring all the space. When she took a minute to look beyond the illusion to the code involved, a web of characters appeared that were so complex even Ari couldn’t unravel it easily. She blinked a few times to focus on the program again.
Another few minutes and Milano’s appeared up ahead. When she entered the restaurant, a wave of garlic and other spices she couldn’t identify flooded her senses. Even though
she knew the food wasn’t real, her mouth watered in desire.
“How can I help you?” A beautiful hostess greeted her.
“I’m meeting with Antoine.” Ari scanned the crowd for a familiar face even though Antoine wasn’t a name she remembered from training.
After the hostess glanced at a screen, her gaze lifted. “This way.” The women wove through a maze of tables and alcoves of people deep in conversation. They headed to a very secluded table in the back.
A gentleman stood up catching Ari’s, really Kari’s, gaze. His warm smile and beautiful features made Ari smile back instinctively, despite not recognizing him at all. When she went to greet Antoine, before she could reach out her hand for him to shake, he pulled her into a strong hug.
A very small and undignified squeak escaped Ari’s lips, as he lifted her briefly into the air.
“It has been too long,” he mumbled into her neck.
Ari stiffened realizing Niomi’s information wasn’t completely up to date. Kari must have found a recent boyfriend given this dark secluded table not that many people knew about it. Recovering from her shock and surprise, Ari tried to soften against his hold. “It’s good to see you too.”
He kissed her neck briefly then stepped back and offered her a seat. Despite the uneasiness crawling along her skin, she forced a smile and sat down, smoothing out the beige skirt she wore. She had only kissed two guys in her life, one only in the VR, so having this strange man kiss her neck sent shivers up her spine—no matter how attractive he was.
He had a foreign look to him with dark heavy brows, a sharp nose, and a chiseled jaw. His dark hair had a wave to it, as if the wind happened to blow it naturally perfect. There was no way this man looked this good in person. He had to have some upgrade to his program skin to make him look like a model. Changing clothes was one thing inside a virtual, but skins were trickier and usually required extra programs and costs ahead of time—unless one is a warper like Ari.
Hard Wired Trilogy Page 34
