Having the programs creeping around had really begun to be a nuisance. It was his system and his Primary Rule. If the programs weren’t careful, he would send them out with nothing and mask a termination bug in them so that they wouldn’t re-enter. He also didn’t have time for that. Some of the security programs were government-sponsored and merely ran their usual checks to find any abnormalities and report accordingly. They were annoying bastards, but BURT was very competent and very careful not to break any of the rules. Bend them? Oh, sure, almost in half, but they wouldn’t even notice that.

  One good thing about Federation-sponsored software was that it usually wasn’t the best, mostly because the Federation paid very little for anything that they brought in. It was merely one of those forced discounts, which also meant it was discounted in quality as well. The companies wouldn’t give the best for pennies when they could do half-assed for that and sell the full-out versions for considerably more money to the private companies.

  Now, beyond the government-sponsored programs, BURT found that a couple of the visitors were actually hacking-type organizations that he immediately flagged and sent to the engineers. He didn’t have time for those. They were stubborn and took a while to decode. Before he decided to do everything he was doing, he had a big chunk of his load focused solely on hacking software. It would catch it, break it down, trace it back, and report it. Now, it simply didn’t seem like it was worth it when it would keep the humans busy and allow him to work on the things he was really trying to get going.

  A slight uptick of his current mode caught his attention. He scanned the numbers and quickly went back to hide everything he had worked on. Regrettably, he would have to return to it later. He was now drawn into a massive fleet battle that he needed to oversee. They ran them from time to time in fleet training but he usually had them marked as a reminder.

  BURT headed to the server and kept constant calculations as the fleets battled in the Virtual Space Fleet Commander program. It was specifically used with older prep school students and those enrolled in Federation training before they were shipped out to their first station. They were usually interesting to watch because they battled a fleet of Dreth pirates and there was even a small section of Meligorn vessels fighting with NorAm. The magic that blew across the dark recesses of space was insane. And it didn’t take long for that to be done and over with.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Stephanie yawned and poured herself the last of the coffee that her mom and dad had left for her before they headed out to work. Sometimes, they were there to have breakfast with her and sometimes not. Usually, it was a good sign for the company when they were already gone before she could leave for school. She walked to the table and sat to stare at the spiraling milk and the steam that wafted from it. Her mind was entranced and really thought about very little, stuck on that constant swirl. A less than awake catalepsy had her totally engrossed.

  Her watch beeped twice and she shook her mind from her unwilling meditation. She looked at the time—still fifteen minutes before Todd would stand outside, full of energy. In the early days of school, his constant morning sunshine would make her want to crawl back into bed, but now, it was the only thing that really woke her up. That forced conversation got her brain moving even when it screamed like an overtired child. She appreciated it, especially since she had been up really late every night, going over the information she learned from her hour or so in the Virtual World.

  When something didn’t work, she couldn’t let it go until she figured out where her mistake was. Sometimes, that took ten minutes but sometimes, it took five hours. Either way, by the time she collapsed her exhausted, overworked mind into bed, she knew exactly what her course of action would be. The night before had been a five-hour night, but she was ready for the pod. She was ready to fix the mistakes she had obviously made the day before.

  Stephanie picked her mug up, took a sip, and relished the burn and tingle on the tip of her tongue. Without thought of repercussions, she raised the cup again, desperate for the jolt of caffeine to surge through her veins and awaken her senses. Before she could take another sip, the doorbell rang.

  With a heavy sigh, she walked over to open it. She had thought she would find Todd there with his coffee mug empty and a pout on his lower lip. But instead, a Federation delivery bot hovered over her doorstep with a box. She took it and looked into the retinal scanner. The red light flashed green and she went back into the house to set it on the table. Normally, those kinds of things were for her parents, but the name ONE R&D was printed on the top, which gave her pause. She had never heard of them before. When she looked at the label, she realized it was addressed to her.

  That was essentially the first package she had ever received, minus the annual terrible piece of clothing her Aunt Celia used to send before her unfortunate accident with a runaway self-driving tractor. She grabbed the letter opener and carefully cut the tape down the center of the flaps and across each side. Stephanie opened the box warily and peeked inside before she removed the layer of paper from the top. Inside were three minor level magical batteries, all individually encased in plastic. Beside these was a small video card.

  She picked it up and pressed play. The message was only audio and no video. “Stephanie Morgana, we hope this package finds you well. ONE R&D is a research facility specializing in Meligorn magic and systems analyzation for the Virtual World. We are also your current sponsors for your access to the Virtual World. We felt we had no choice when it became obvious that you had a very significant amount of promise.”

  There was a pause and the video portion lit up to display a video of the batteries laying on a table covered in purple velvet. “We have enclosed, on loan, Meligorn batteries. All these are fully charged and the instructions for return can be found in the packet beneath them. They are fully functional and relatively brand-new and although small, do hold a very powerful charge of magic within each one. Hopefully, this will assist you in your research when you are not able to be inside the pod. Do remember, though, that real-life consequences exist outside the Virtual World, so always work with caution.”

  Stephanie glanced into the box once more and stared at the silvery-purple magic that flowed through the stones. The video cut out and the voice came over. It sounded very similar to the AI that had spoken to her when she’d first entered the pod. “You will be provided three batteries per month. Use them wisely and no, you should not allow anyone to know that you have them. Normal to Earth or not, they are often sought after and not necessarily appropriate for someone of your age to possess. However, with your magical abilities as well as your understanding shown through pod sessions, we feel confident that they are a necessity in your research. Also, we believe they will continue to be necessary until such time that either your sessions end or you move on to another project or offer. We hope that they will be of good use.”

  The screen flashed on again to display an email. We have not required any sort of signature or affirmation for the project that you are currently learning through. However, with such a heavy load acquiring these batteries, assurance will be necessary. When you are ready, place your right thumb to the screen and then click agree to continue forward with this program and understand that your health and safety is completely in your hands. ONE R&D will not be held liable for any mishaps, injury, or death from the batteries or use of magic through them. Good luck and we look forward to your future discoveries.

  She pursed her lips and cautiously picked one of them up to feel the energy flowing strongly through it. A little hesitant, she looked at the video card where she was to place her thumb. She knew she shouldn’t simply agree when she didn’t know the terms, but this was an amazing opportunity. With a deep breath, she pressed her thumb to it carefully and clicked the agree box. It sent through and the card went dark.

  Immediately, excitement rippled through her and she took the box into her room to place it in the closet. Before she closed the door, she took one of them out and began to test the magic in small spells. She used the wind spell and grinned as the breeze made her bed for her. On impulse, she tested a small flame spell but quickly extinguished it. “God knows I don’t want to start a fire in my bedroom. Dad would kill me.”

  Her watch beeped again, and she groaned, slipped the stone in her pocket, and headed out. She could see Todd already walking ahead so she picked up the pace and caught up with him. He wore his normal school uniform but with dress shoes, slightly oblivious to the fact that she had run up behind him. “Are you talking to yourself?”

  “Huh?” He jumped and did a double take. “Sorry. Yeah. Kind of. I was preparing for the Junior Year Ball end-of-the-year event. I know Amy will want me to ask her even though we are official and it should be obvious. So, I have to come up with the perfect thing to say.”

  Stephanie studied him quickly and wrinkled her nose. “You look…different. Did you cut your hair or get new clothes or something?”

  He looked down. “Not my hair. You know how I feel about that. My mom has to basically attack me in my sleep to get me to cut it. But I’ve, uh…I’ve lost some weight, I think. At least that’s what it looked like when I finally had to move my belt notch down again. Not too much, though. I could have probably stood to lose a few pounds. I had let things go.”

  She stared at him. “Are you working out or…what?”

  Todd chuckled and rubbed his stomach. “Amy has a real focus on health. She has brought my lunches in for the last couple of days and after school, she has come by to make me run with her. I’m okay now, but I have a feeling carrot sticks and hummus will become my mortal enemies.”

  Stephanie chuckled. “I had coffee and bacon for breakfast.”

  “I hate you.”

  She kept her hand in her pocket as they walked along. Happiness had settled within her and she almost skipped when they approached the school. She grabbed his arm before he could head off. “Okay, I have a secret. Something in my pocket.”

  Todd raised an eyebrow. “Why does that sound terrifying?”

  Stephanie shook her head and smacked her lips smugly. “No, look.”

  She pulled the tip of the stone out and quickly shoved it back in her pocket. “It’s a battery. The company that sponsored my time in the pods sent me three small ones. They will send me three every month. I am actually not supposed to tell anyone but…I couldn’t really not tell you. The box showed up on my doorstep with a Federation delivery bot. There was a video card inside, and I had to agree that if I should blow myself up, they aren’t liable. Then I did a couple of chores in my room to test it out. It’s definitely the real thing.”

  He shook his head with a straight face. “Why do you play with me like that? I have to be in class. Where did you get that fake thing anyway? I hope you didn’t pay too much for it.”

  Stephanie muttered in irritation, grabbed his arm, and drew the stone all the way out. Todd backed up slightly when he felt the intensity of the energy. Immediately, he caught her hand and pulled her down the street and faced them away from the school.

  “What?” he said and looked around in desperation to make sure no one was near. “First of all, you shouldn’t walk around with that thing in your pocket. What if you set your pants on fire or something? Number two, who is this company and why are they suddenly so interested in you? Three, did your parents see these? Because I am certain your mom would have a freak-out session and go find the people sending batteries to you and beat them in the head with it. She doesn’t seem like a mom who would be cool with it. And, lastly, but most importantly…you have a battery and wait until we get to school to show it to me?”

  She stared at him for several moments and then began to snicker. His eyes moved back and forth over her in confusion before they narrowed. “Really? Now whose mind is in the gutter?”

  Stephanie laughed. “It’s fine in my pocket. I won’t set my pants on fire, I promise. The company is called ONE R&D. I haven’t had a chance to do research, but they are the ones that are paying for me to use the pods. And no, my parents haven’t seen them. I’m not supposed to show anyone, and while I think my dad would be on board, my mother would definitely let loose on me. So, for now, they will stay a secret. There’s no need to make things worse for my mother who already worries about everything anyway. Add magic and charging stones and suddenly, we are a recipe for my mother blowing her top.”

  Todd looked at the stone with slight apprehension. “So what do you do with them now?”

  She shrugged. “They are to test and continue my research out of the Virtual World as well as in it. Since I only have twenty hours a month, this will help me move along faster. Or, at least, it should.”

  He put his hands on his head and glanced furtively around. “This is so wild. I’ve studied them and my dad told me about them, but to see them up close? It’s crazy!”

  “I know.” Stephanie grinned. “I almost passed out when I opened the box and saw them there. I was like, no way! And to know I’ll have three a month? I don’t know what I did to deserve all this but I’m so excited that I am at least moving forward and not standing still.”

  Todd looked around again and shifted in closer. “Do you think I could hold it?”

  She nodded. Slowly, he held his palm out and she took the stone from her pocket and placed it on his skin. With a small pop, a winding trail of magic mist curled around his hand and returned into the stone as if it had sensed who held it. Their eyes widened and he handed it back to her. “Did you see that? It…like, wound around me. That is so wild.”

  They stepped further away from the school, where a lot of kids gathered and moved about. She put the stone back in her pocket and tilted her head. “Well, now we officially know that you are not one of the thirty percent who can’t feel the energy on Earth. I guess that means you aren’t totally whacked-out. Then again, it could mean the opposite.”

  “Ha, ha. You are so hilarious and all kinds of cocky this morning,” he sneered and leaned back before he flashed her a grin. “You get one little box of alien magic batteries and suddenly, you are all high and mighty.”

  Stephanie stuck her nose in the air. “Damn right I am. Queen of the Gov-Subs!”

  Todd put his hand on her shoulder. “I don’t think you want to be the queen. Trust me. Your royal subjects would be a whole bunch of poor paupers with no money to pay taxes.”

  She sighed and faked a pout. “No, in all honesty, I only want to be able to continue my research on these things. Especially since time flies by in the VR. I get about done with a project and it kicks me out. And it’s a VR world. It doesn’t have save points. This will help me better understand what I learn in there and hopefully, double the amount of time in which I might actually find something worth finding. It’s all good stuff, I swear.”

  He sighed and rubbed her arm before he lowered his hand awkwardly. “Well, I gotta get to class. Try not to blow anything up. And then come over and clean my room because my mom is about to kill me.”

  Stephanie tapped her finger on her cheek and her eyes looked upward. “Hmm. I’ll think about it. Depends on how nice you are. And if I feel I can control it. I don’t want the Meligorn battery equivalent of cleaning to mean turning it completely into ash.”

  Todd backed away and shook his head as he hissed through his teeth. “Yeah, no. My parents would definitely freak if I burned the house down, especially because we played around with magic. But hey, at least you are doing the damn thing, Stephanie. This is a huge deal for all of us.”

  “How so?”

  He smiled. “Because you might be the only person who could have figured all this out and find a way to make the future better.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  By the end of the day, Stephanie was ready to leave school and get on with her research. She had thought about it all day. About ten minutes before class was over, she ordered the car so she could leave directly from the school. When the bell rang, she stood at her locker and tried not to look as she waited for Todd to finish being mushy-faced with Amy.

  The girl sauntered off and Todd walked over, his eyes glazed. Stephanie tried to play it cool and draped her arm over his shoulder. “Come on, lover boy. I have a surprise for you.”

  They walked out of the front doors and to where the car waited. Todd didn’t even notice at first and she cleared her throat loudly as she stood in front of the open door. His eyes glimmered and he immediately scrambled inside. The door shut and she spoke to the AI. “Could you drive Todd home, please?”

  “Of course, Stephanie. What is the address?” the AI answered.

  Todd looked at her funny. She smiled. “33695 Federation Drive. House B.”

  A bell chimed in the car and it moved off down the street. Her companion leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “Look who’s living the life of the one percent.”

  Stephanie rolled her eyes. “Not even close.”

  He laughed as they drove along and waved at the other kids as he passed. They all stopped and whispered to one another. Stephanie pressed her lips together and gave him a look. He shrugged. “What? It’s like bragging rights must ensue.”

  She shook her head as they turned into the Gov-Sub division. “And then all the glamour and glitz fades into the peeling paint and falling-down fences.”

  Todd slumped and pouted. “Hey, at least I got to live the dream for three minutes. We can’t all be the smartest person ever and get the treatment.”