The Human Experiment

Cat and mouse

Chapter 11

Everly glared at the screens. Fingers flying over the holographic pad in the air in front of her. Usually, hackers are effortless to track down. This time, though, it wasn’t a simple infiltration into the system.

The intrusive program was a pain. Every time she put her hands on it, it disintegrated through her fingers like sand. If only her full concentration could be focused on it. Unfortunately, too much was happening at once. The hacker, the virus, the dangers her partner Ian kept facing while gathering up those trapped. Not to mention the A.I. that had turned temperamental. All hell was breaking loose at once.

“Scarlett, Lydia, and Luca have all been located. We’ve moved all three to the infirmary with Ian.” Checking on the first of the seven screens before her, she confirmed the trio were still present in the system. Sighing in relief, she addressed the man.

“Get some of the counter tech departments down there. They all need to be monitored to ensure whatever this virus is stays out of their stasis systems.”

“Yes ma’am.” He had left before she could correct him in his address. It was a sign of respect from the guard. Everyone knew that but it still rankled.

Bringing her attention back to the task at hand, she gritted her teeth. There was something about Miles that was more than a little off. He had been excessively adamant on getting Scarlett away from the crowd. She didn’t believe his intentions to be well meaning. Looking through the translucent screen in front of her, she caught the eye of the tech across from her.

“Look into this celebrity, Miles. I don’t trust his motives.” The young man nodded as the text on his own screen shifted from what he had been doing. Satisfied, she lost herself in the codes once more.

Cries of dismay began sounding off throughout the room. Everly glanced around. A scowl deepening her brow and a slew of profanity at the ready. She wasn’t prepared for what was happening at the other stations. Each screen across the room was no longer under the control of the tech working at it. Even the keyboards had disappeared from in front of them.

The codes changed on all the monitors except for Everly’s own set. An image grew in shape as if it was moving closer to the screen from within. All that could be made out was basic humanoid shapes as the face kept shifting and altering itself. DAX. It had to be. The taunting laughter that filtered in from the speakers was chilling.

She lifted her gaze to the young man that had been investigating Miles for her. His screen was like all the others. Things were going from bad to worse.

“Did you get anything?” The shaking of his head had her clenching her teeth.

“I was locked out just as I had filtered past the generic articles on the guy.”

“Interesting.”

“Agreed.”

“Damn it! I needed that information too. I don’t like being blind. Ian is counting on me having his back.”

“You keep working. I’ll get you that info.”

“How? You’re locked out.” The guy smiled at her, sending a wink her way.

“I’m going old school.” Lifting a brow at him, she had no way of asking further questions. He had breezed out of the control center a man on a mission.

She hoped whatever he had up his sleeve proved useful. She couldn’t shake the bad feeling she got when she thought about the group still trapped inside. It was a nagging feeling that only grew worse with every second that ticked by. Heart pounding. Sweat trickling down her back. She couldn’t wait to let this construct play out.

Her fingers flew over the board with her decision made. There hadn’t even been time to warn Ian before she moved them and collapsed Mile’s faux world. DAX’s maniacal laughter broke through her panic, drawing her dark eyes to its likeness on the distant screens.

Had it locked down the other consoles in hopes she would react as she did? It was more plausible that it was hiding something.

“What are you up to, DAX?”