Rising Tomorrow (Roc de Chere Book 1) by Mariana Morgan (essential reading txt) 📕

times when you can activate all features with just a single thought. No need to input data, scroll through information or wait for various subprograms to load.

‘It was an interesting challenge, given my previous experience with Tilly, so I said yes. I created a blueprint template. They could use it for any type of system. The code I created was, as usual, protected from modification, but it allowed for free add-on patches to make it useable with whatever security system anyone wanted.

‘While I was searching their database at Olympus, I saw similarities that got me thinking. I retrieved their passwords. I can connect remotely now. I can go in and do whatever in Olympus is under the control of their security system. Everything. I can be ready to go in an hour or so once I—’

‘Wait! There will be no rushing in blindly anymore. How do you know that the passwords, the familiar-looking system, isn’t something they wanted you to see?’

‘They’ve used the VR security system for years.’

‘Which doesn’t mean anything.’

‘It means they haven’t set it up to trap us.’

‘How do you know that they haven’t turned it into a trap since? They know you programmed it. They know that if anyone in the Alliance could possibly use it remotely against them it’s you.’

Eloise snorted angrily. ‘What do you want to do then? Nothing? You said the MIS won’t give you the people for a mass assault without evidence. I’m telling you we don’t need evidence or people. We only need me. And Tilly.’

‘What will happen if it is a trap?’

‘I can stay one step ahead of the trap springing.’

‘Stop! These people found a way to modify your VRPs and effectively remove your watermark. They are already ahead of us. They have been planning this for years. Answer my question. What will happen if it is a trap? What is the worst that could happen?’

‘I die,’ Eloise replied simply. She was staring directly at Gonzalez, their eyes locked, and she refused to look away. ‘The system will discover an intruder, and literally with the push of a button it will fry my nervous system, killing me in the process.’

‘Wouldn’t an n-suit protect from a surge like that?’ Atkins said.

‘Yes, a properly functioning n-suit would do just that. But I will have to modify it before going in. I don’t know with absolute certainty how far I will have to proceed with the modifications until Tilly and I do a preliminary analysis, but the safety locks will most likely have to go.’

Eloise paused, giving Gonzalez a probing look. The man wasn’t protesting anymore, but a huge frown was scrunching up his face.

‘This is why Raymond died, Colonel,’ she began, speaking faster and with more passion. ‘So I can live to do something that matters. This matters. You want to strike at the System; I can help! I can go in. I can do this.’

‘To bring back evidence?’ Gonzalez asked, without letting the deep frown etched in his face disappear.

‘No! I will have direct access to their whole system. I can do anything. I can engage the autopilots and fly their aircraft away from them. I can lock all the doors. I can fry all their computers. I can unlock all the cells holding the Leeches. Hell, I could probably overload their energy generators and blow the whole compound up!’

‘You could do all that remotely?’ Atkins gawked at her.

‘I won’t know for certain until I go in, but yes, I wrote this system so I can do anything it is responsible for. Since I wrote the blueprint for it, I probably understand it better than their own programmers who added content later on.’

‘That’s insane. Could you do the same to military installations?’ Atkins demanded.

‘If the military had such VR security systems in use? Yes, why not,’ Eloise replied, genuinely laughing at the horror in Atkins’ eyes. ‘The programmers and designers know the ins and outs of the programs they create better than those who use them. I was in Olympus’ system; I got everything I need to break in straight from them.’

‘I’m going with you,’ Gonzalez announced. ‘I will have to see what you can access to decide what you should do next.’

Eloise hesitated before replying. She liked freedom to move fast, but there was a strong appeal to not accepting the responsibility for communicating what she saw back and forth. There would be no second chances if she got this wrong. This was not a VRP she was writing that she could revise later.

‘I can’t give you access to the controls. You wouldn’t know how to use them. It is a complex, direct link to the brain. It takes experience and skill to know how to move around a VR enviro without actually moving your body, by simply stimulating the appropriate parts of your brain. If I have to move fast you wouldn’t be able to keep up. But you can come as an observer. That is the best I can offer,’ she said firmly.

‘Fine,’ Gonzalez agreed. ‘I’ll take that. But you will not argue with me. If I tell you to do something, you do it instantly. Understood? If you truly can’t do something, as in don’t know how, you tell me straight away without any delays or bullshit. Is that clear?’

‘Yes, and yes, Colonel,’ Eloise replied, her hand twitching in a mock salute, but her voice was devoid of any amusement. She meant it.

‘What do you need to get ready?’ he asked.

‘Tilly, a pair of n-suits and about half an hour to set up, and the same again for diagnostics and analysis.’

‘Shower and change first,’ he ordered, reminding her how worn out she looked. ‘I’ll have coffee and a hot meal ready by the time you’re done.’

Eloise lowered her gaze to give her body a look, and it hit her hard. The tiredness, hunger and thirst screamed at her all at once. She felt deflated. Without a word she dragged herself back up and left the security room to