Hard Wired Trilogy by DeAnna Pearce (smart books to read .TXT) 📕

VR coma the mind is active like they are dreaming, living or reliving whatever fantasy they choose to relive. This,” she motioned to Tricky, “presents more as a classic coma. I’m not giving up yet, though. Her mind is probably resetting or resting to protect itself.”

“Thanks, Sue.” Patrick moved next to Ari. “Let’s replay what happened.”

“I’m not sure. It happened so fast. Reed walked by the window, and I turned for a moment.”

“Reed?” Marco turned at the mention of his best friend.

Ari didn’t mean for it to come out, but she was still trying to figure it out. “It was him, or a skin programmed to look like him. They had his appearance down perfectly, but he seemed different, too.”

“It was probably just a skin,” Patrick said. “A way to find you. Anyone that stares too long or tries to contact him will hit the program and alert them. Blur has done enough of them.”

Guilt made Ari feel heavy at the idea that she could be so easily tricked. Could Ari staring at Reed have sent Tricky into a coma? She hoped not.

“How can we be certain it wasn’t Reed? What if it was him?” Marco asked.

Patrick shook his head, standing. “It’s a rooky move. They know your connection and that you’ll do anything to get him back. Don’t fall for it.”

“But what if they are connected?” Ari stood as well, ready to do something to help. “Could this be an attack from VisionTech?”

“I don’t know,” Patrick rubbed his neck and paced in the small room. “Ballsy, if so.”

“I will bury them.” Blur’s voice held a cold edge.

“Let’s figure out what’s going on in the program, and what can do this to one of us.” Patrick turned to Ari. “Do you think you can recreate the code they used?”

“Maybe? It happened so quick. I tried to delete it, but that’s when it crawled to me. Leaving was the only way to help.”

“We can work with ‘maybe’. Blur, we’re going to set up camp in the meeting room to work on this. Everyone will be on this.” He turned to Ari and Marco. “I’ll talk to the others and meet you there.”

“Okay,” Marco answered.

Blur nodded his agreement and continued to watch his sister. Ari remembered being in that same position a year ago, watching her brother and feeling helpless. But this was different, more dangerous. Someone was out to hurt warpers, and with Reed nearby Ari wondered if this attack was specifically planned for her.

“Ari.” Marco tapped her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts. “Ready to go?”

Patrick had already headed out.

“Of course.” She walked out with Marco, heading down the hall.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered next to her.

“What?” She turned to him. “That wasn’t your fault. You weren’t even in the program.”

He shook his head. “No, not that. I’m sorry that I put you in that position at school. I must have been hard.”

“It was.” Watching people get stuck inside a program was hard. Difficult with her dad and now Tricky. But it was damn near impossible with Marco. She wanted to tell him that but didn’t. Those words would come out in a mess of tears and emotions, and right now Tricky needed her to work. “You’re here now though and can help with Tricky.”

“I don’t have your ability, but I’ll do what I can.”

“We don’t need my ability. We need to find out what this is and who sent it. You’re better geared for that any day.”

They continued to the extra meeting room next to Patrick’s room and found their seats around the table, while Patrick set up various tech. Even Sue and her mom brought some drinks and light snacks. Ari worried that her mom would give another lecture—or worse, demand she quit—but it was quite the opposite.

While Ari reached for a sleek computer and logged in, her mother stepped behind her and kissed the top of her head.

She murmured a Spanish phrase Ari often heard from her grandmother, which roughly translated meant, “God protect you and guide your hand.”

“Thanks,” Ari said as her mom continued out the door.

Sometimes moms were just awesome like that.

Patrick cleared his throat and stood at the front of the table. “Here’s what we know so far. Tricky was searching Maxim’s account records with Windsor Corporation. She said she found something and was attacked with a virus of sorts.

“Now here is where we have to guess. Maybe Maxim left a file to decode, a trap and she triggered it. At the same time, Ari saw Reed, who she last left with VisionTech, and that is another avenue that needs to be explored. Until then VLEX and the realms will be restricted unless you talk to me. Even our off-grid offices in the VLEX will be abandoned.”

He made assignments through the team. “While you guys work on the who, Ari and I will work on re-creating this virus she saw. Once we can figure out what this is, we can figure out a way to fight it. Any questions?”

Everyone’s expression was serious and determined. There were no questions. Everyone appeared ready to work and nail whoever did this.

With one final look around the room, Patrick said, “Let’s do this.”

Chapter 14

Everyone knew about Sue’s coffee addiction. It was an essential staple to any morning meeting, and whoever was on grocery duty didn’t forget it if they wanted to eat the following week. Ari had never been so grateful for Sue before.

They worked around the clock for two days. Patrick demanded people sleep, telling them if they need to go in the program, they have to be on the top of their game. So, between caffeine highs, everyone tried to catch what sleep they could. The only plus side of the round-the-clock work was Ari was too tired to dream about Reed or her father. Those memories brought a heartache that she couldn’t deal with right now.

The downside to the caffeine was that it didn’t help her anxiety. After Tricky’s coma, Ari felt nervous around