Shade by Charles O'Donnell

Author:Charles O'Donnell [O'Donnell, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781970041019
Publisher: Moon Lit. Publishing
Published: 2018-11-30T22:00:00+00:00

30

IDENTITY AT RISK

CHRYSALIS RUSHED TO the Engine Room, pulling on her VR gear as she went, as soon as the alert came through: Dylan is in the dance venue.

“Daystar, initiate the persona.”

“Yes, Chrysalis. Interactions are limited to visual-only, by default.”

“Disengage the limits.”

“Nemesio has locked the limits on the persona.”

Chrysalis pressed a gloved fist against her mouth.

“Daystar, override the lock.”

“I’m sorry, Chrysalis. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Chrysalis looked out over the Engine Room. She saw no sign of Nemesio, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t want to ask him to disengage the limits; he would never agree to it, and besides, she had other options.

“Daystar, open the back door.”

“Yes, Chrysalis. Passphrase, please.”

“My head is bloodied but unbowed.”

After a pause, Daystar replied, “Confirmed. You have root access.”

Within seconds, Chrysalis had rastered into the dance venue. She spotted Dylan before she’d even stepped out of the vestibule. As he rushed toward her, she held up her hands.

“I saw Raúl. He told me what you’re up to.”

“Mom, I…”

“Don’t talk, just listen,” she spoke in a rush. Every word she said, every second spent in the venue, every interaction with Dylan added to her exposure. “Do not try to find me. I’ll find you. Do you understand?”

Chrysalis waited for an answer, but Dylan stood still, eyes down, as if transfixed.

He looked up. “Connor, Transformed…” He paused.

“Dylan?”

The boy looked exasperated. He stared directly at Chrysalis.

“Transformed…Alert…Cherubs.”

“Dylan, listen to me!” Chrysalis pleaded, reaching toward him.

A glowing yellow message floated in her field of view: UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS…IDENTITY AT RISK…EXIT THE VENUE IMMEDIATELY.

“What’s that?” Chrysalis asked. “What’s happening?”

The venue vanished in a blinding flash of light. Chrysalis squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them to slits. The venue reemerged from the light. Dylan’s avatar flattened and rastered out. She looked around, but he was gone.

~~~

Chrysalis sat alone in her dorm in full Shade costume, her elbows on her knees, when another Shade entered.

“I’m called Nemesio.”

Chrysalis pulled off her hood and cloak. Nemesio did the same, then they peeled off their masks.

“Celeste said you’re looking for me?”

Grace nodded. Adrian stood by while she mustered her courage.

“I used the persona again.”

Adrian rolled his eyes, sighed, and sat. “Dylan, I assume.”

Grace nodded.

“And what happened?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary, according to the log.”

“That’s good, then.”

“Except…”

Adrian held his breath.

“There was one message I’ve never seen before. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS…IDENTITY AT RISK. I don’t know what that means.”

Adrian turned his head slightly. “Was it only in the log?”

“I saw it in the venue, too.”

“What were you doing at the time?”

“Talking to Dylan.”

Adrian furrowed his brow. “About?”

Grace kept her eyes down as she stood and faced the door. “I told you what he was up to, right? Accessing the blockchain. Remember?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Adrian, I was only going to tell him stop doing it. I don’t want him to get into any more trouble.”

“And that’s when you saw the warning?”

She shook her head. “Dylan said something really weird—‘Transformed…Alert…Cherubs’ I think. That’s when I saw it.” She turned to Adrian. “What is that? A passphrase?”

The color drained from Adrian’s face. “Oh, Jah.

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