Chapter 6

After checking to make sure the first three medallions hadn’t been stolen, Oliver sat in the pilot’s chair, tossing the magenta disk of Wintermuse to himself. “Four down, three to go.”

“I can’t believe we got away,” Mara said. “I was sure the Disease would have made that agent want even more to keep us as prisoners.”

“For once,” Oliver said, “the Disease worked in our favor. We are so lucky it appeared on Mithra at the moment it did. I wonder why it happened after we arrived, and not at the same time as the rest of the galaxy?”

“It’s almost like we brought it with us,” Conner mused.

“There is one possibility,” Mara said. “I mean, that I can think of. I had been wondering if the three of us were immune to the Disease, but now I think we might be carriers.”

“Carriers?” Conner asked.

“I mean we carry the germs of the Disease in our bodies, but for some reason, it doesn’t affect us. Maybe genetic, maybe diet, maybe something else.”

“I don’t eat tomatoes,” Conner said. “Yuck.”

“We don’t have much produce where I live,” Mara said.

“Well, tomatoes aren’t the answer,” Oliver said, “because I love them. Also, the Disease affected other people in Oridion, who also don’t get tomatoes. But there is still the question of how Mithra managed to avoid the Disease, when it broke out in the rest of the galaxy all at the same time.”

“Could it be because they don’t let people visit?” Mara asked.

“Maybe,” Oliver said, “but I doubt it. I’m sure they at least have foreign representatives going out to meetings all the time. Even if they are isolationist, which I guess they might be, the government would still need to be aware of what’s going on in the galaxy.”

“Then maybe anyone who came back with the Disease was quarantined away somewhere,” Mara said. She shivered. “I can imagine people getting locked up for all kinds of reasons on that planet.”

“Same,” Conner said. “But we can only hope that this time it breaks through to the rest of the people.”

Oliver looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Why?”

“Revolution,” Mara said. “There might be mobs and panic, but maybe the people will see that their Purpose isn’t as great and all-powerful as they believe it to be. Then again, maybe it will have the opposite effect when the government regains control. We can only wait and hope.”

“All I’m saying,” Conner said, “is that maybe if we don’t rush so hard to cure the disease, it won’t be the most terrible thing ever.”

“Well don’t forget we still have the rest of the galaxy waiting for us,” Oliver said. “We still want to hurry for their sake.”

When they emerged from hyperspace, the star in front of them looked like a normal star, and the planet they approached looked like a normal planet. Just green and pale continents, blue oceans, and white clouds and ice caps.

“It’s just like Moebius,” Conner said.

“Actually, it’s typical,” Oliver said. “Most habitable planets are just like this. At least, the ones that yumans like to colonize.”

“Where are we landing?” Conner asked.

“I’m actually not sure,” Oliver said. “The Dooku Flower said something about a virtual matrix, so I’ll pull us into orbit while I do some research.” Oliver went to the computer console and started pressing buttons. Then, his eyes went wide, and he leaned in closer. “Oh, I should have known about this planet.”

“How come?” Conner said.

“It’s the hub of the galactic net. The computer technology center of the galaxy. In fact, I know a lot about this place, I guess I just never knew what the planet was called.” He pushed some buttons, and a female voice came through the speaker.

“You have reached HiTeq. How can I help you?”

“Hi,” Oliver said, “I guess first we’re looking for an elemental medallion called Chakrov. Do you know anything about it?”

“I’m sorry, I cannot help you with that,” the agent said.

“Was worth a shot,” Oliver said. “What about the virtual matrix?”

“What would you like to know about the virtual matrix?” the speaker said.

“Well, first of all, what is it?”

“Certainly. The virtual matrix is the galaxy’s most comprehensive encyclopedic database, with over seven quadrillion entries. Shall I run a search for you?”

“Yes please. If you would search for Chakrov.” He spelled it. “And while you’re at it, could you also search for elemental medallions, and talia?”

“You got it!”

A light musical melody played for about five and three quarters seconds, and then the voice returned. “We have some information on keywords ‘Chakrov,’ ‘elemental medallions,’ and ‘talia.’ I am sending the results to you now. Is there anything else you would like to search?”

“Thanks,” Oliver said. “Not now, but if there is anything, we’ll call you back.”

“That sounds great! Have a nice day.”

Oliver scrolled through the information that appeared on the screen. He squinted, and then scrolled back up, flipping between documents. “This is no help at all,” he said. “It’s the same information we already know.”

“So what do we do now?” Mara asked.

“We call back, that’s what.” Oliver reconnected with HiTeq service, which responded with the same greeting as before. “Hi, this is Oliver again. Are you sure that what you gave us is all of the information on the things we searched for?”

“That is all of the information that a surface scan was able to find,” the agent replied.

“Surface scan? Are there other types of scans?”

“Well, that’s not information that we readily give out.”

“We’re here on the authority of the Great Dooku Flower of Meysenia,” Oliver said, “and we have the documents to prove it.” He pulled out the writ that the Dooku Flower had given them, and scanned the wax chip.

There was a pause, and then the agent said, “This changes things. Here, land at these coordinates, and we’ll authenticate that signature.” A bunch of numbers appeared on the screen.

Oliver looked at Conner and Mara. “Looks like we know where we’re going now.”

He set the Black Fire’s course toward a spot past the horizon on the southern hemisphere. They landed on a normal-looking runway, in a normal-looking city, and taxied to a normal-looking parking spot. As they disembarked, a boy walked toward them.

“Are you Oliver and company?” he asked.

“Yes,” Oliver said.

“I am with HiTeq,” the boy said. “Right this way.” he led them to the entrance of one of the buildings. They entered, and the boy walked over to a desk and sat down. “If you would show me your document from the Dooku Flower quick.”

Oliver gave him the paper, and he scanned it. “Looks like it’s legit,” he said, handing it back. “Let me make a quick call.” He pulled a phone receiver off the wall and dialed a few numbers. After a few moments, he said, “Hello, Electrobolt. I’ve got some people here who want to access the virtual matrix. Can you make time?” He paused to listen. “Yes, I checked their documents.” Another pause. “No, it has nothing to do with chickens this time.” He paused, and then his eyebrows went up. “Really? Thirty minutes? All right, I’ll send them right over.” He turned to look at Conner and friends. “Our CEO is available to see you in person.”

Ten minutes later, they were cruising through the city in a company-hired taxi. After a few turns, a few honks, and a few swears, they found themselves in a lane with nicely kept lawns on either side, approaching a tall building that looked like it was made entirely of windows. On its top floor, in big quirky green letters, was the company name, HiTeq.

The taxi pulled to a stop, and Conner, Mara, and Oliver got out. They walked toward the building, past a pond with a fountain in it, shaped like an anthropomorphic computer monitor spewing water from its mouth. They opened the building doors, to find a reception room.

“Doesn’t it seem like we’ve been in a lot of rooms like this lately?” Conner said.

Oliver walked toward the receptionist and opened his mouth to speak, when the elevator door opened, and a well-dressed boy with medium brown skin and hair that stuck up in every which direction. “Oliver, Mara, Conner,” he said, “welcome to HiTeq HQ. I am Electrobolt, the company CEO.”

“I’ve seen you before,” Oliver said. “How do I know you?”

“Perhaps you’ve used our website, StarShine,” Electrobolt said, “the number one social media platform in the galaxy.”

“Oh, yes!” Oliver said. “I use that a lot.”

Oliver had signed Conner up for an account once, but Conner only used it once and never touched it again, preferring to interact with people in real life rather than over a computer.

“I hear you are interested in the virtual matrix,” Electrobolt said, “because it might help you cure the Disease.”

“That’s right,” Oliver said. “We, er, the Great Dooku Flower, believes that the medallion of electricity is hidden somewhere on this planet, and that its location can be found in the virtual matrix.”

“That is quite possible,” Electrobolt said. “Come with me.” He turned and went back into the elevator. Conner and friends followed him. Electrobolt scanned a chain on his wrist and pushed the button for the top floor. As they rose, Electrobolt told them about the facility. “This building is built upon the galaxy’s largest supercomputer,” he said, “currently at four hundred and seven cubic miles, all underground, of course. It is cooled by geothermal hydraulics, the water taken from and pumped back into the nearby great lake.”

“Wouldn’t that amount of heat disrupt the ecosystem?” Mara asked.

“It has changed the ecosystem,” Electrobolt said, “but we have managed to keep biodiversity high by cooperating with other companies and the government in various geoengineering projects.”

“Oh, that makes sense,” Mara said.

Conner had no idea what bi-university or genie-jeering meant, but he thought he would remain quiet about it so that maybe he would look smart.

The elevator door opened, and they stepped out to what could have been a lounge if there had been any chairs in it. It had a brown rug with a fuzzy patchwork pattern arranged roughly in concentric circles. The outside wall was entirely window, perfect for standing in front of and looking out over the grounds and the city beyond.

Squawk!

The loud sound made Conner jump, and he jerked around to see a bird sitting in a cage. “What in the Sea Serpent’s holy dead bones is that?” he exclaimed. Oliver and Mara were similarly startled.

Electrobolt laughed, easing the atmosphere. “Don’t worry, that is just Electrobeak, the electric toucan. He is the company mascot. Don’t pet him, or you might get shocked.”

“An electric toucan?” Mara said, leaning in close to the cage. “I’ve never seen one before.” She looked at Electrobolt. “Is the electricity an adaptation for predation or defense?”

“Defense, I think,” Electrobolt said. “He eats seeds and nuts.”

Electrobolt walked to a door, and scanned his wrist chain. “Right in here is the virtual matrix interface,” he said. He gestured in a different direction toward a glass wall with a desk behind it. “In clear view of my office.”

On the other side of the door, Conner saw rows of padded chairs shaped to conform to the yuman form. Many of them had people in them, their heads enveloped in helmets connected to consoles. The people weren’t moving.

“So,” Conner said, “what exactly is this . . . whatever it’s called?”

Electrobolt looked at him. “What do you mean?”

“What is this virtual matrix?” Oliver said.

“Yeah that,” Conner agreed.

Electrobolt looked stunned. “Wait, so you came here without knowing what the virtual matrix is?”

“Well,” Oliver said, “I kind of assumed it was a digital database.”

“Oh, it is so much more,” Electrobolt said. “The virtual matrix is a digital library, but in cyberspace. Virtual reality. You can walk around in it.”

“Virtual reality?” Oliver said, a look of amazement on his face.

“Yes,” Electrobolt said, grinning. “All of these people here look like they are sitting around sleeping, but they are actually running around in a computer-generated landscape, coding and debugging and searching for information. An entire world inside our supercomputer, the size of the whole galaxy.”

Oliver was looking at the head-machines like a kid in a candy store. To Conner, however, they looked like they were going to suck his brain out. “So what happens to us when we use these things?” he asked. “Isn’t it risky for our consciousnesses to leave our bodies?”

“Oh, that’s not how it works,” Electrobolt said. “When you are hooked up, the computer hijacks your sensory nerves, so that it only feels like you have left your body, but you are really still here. It is recommended that you go to the nearest disengagement station when you are ready to leave, so that you are mentally prepared, but you will wake up safe and sound in your physical body regardless of where you are in the simulation when you disconnect.”

“Hold on a minute,” Conner said. The idea of going into a virtual reality world was weird, and plenty of things about it confused him. “Are you saying the medallion is inside this virtual matrix?”

“No, no,” Electrobolt said. “We cannot store physical objects in the supercomputer. Only data. All the records will show us is where to find the medallion in the real world.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Conner said.

“I don’t mean to presume,” Oliver said, “but is there any reason we shouldn’t start right now?”

“You might want to use the restroom and take a drink of water first,” Electrobolt said, “but other than that, we can wire you in whenever you are ready.”

Several minutes later, Conner was sitting into one of the chairs, next to Oliver and Mara. Conner looked up nervously with his eyeballs as a technician fitted the headgear over his scalp. It was tightened so that it was snug, but not uncomfortable. The technician patted him on the shoulder. “Are you ready?” he said.

Conner looked at Oliver, and at Mara beyond him. “I guess.”

There was a click, and the scenery changed all around him. He felt the pressure lift from his head, and his chair was in the middle of a white octagonal room. He got up, stretching out his arms and legs. They felt real enough. He was even wearing the same clothing. It was as if he had been physically transported to a different place.

He looked around, and found a door. Or rather, he found an off-color rectangle in the wall that was the right shape for a door. As he walked up to it, it slid open, revealing a walkway with a railing which looked out at a wall on the other side of a great chasm, with catwalks running between them and up and down. Looking around, he saw that the side he was on was also an enormous wall, which went up and up and up until it faded away into whiteness. The horizon to either side was a fuzzy boundary where the white gave way to dark gray, which faded to black as the angle got closer to straight down.

“This is amazing!” Oliver’s voice said. Conner looked to the side to see his friends each walking out of their own doorways. “We’re really in cyberspace.”

“So this is what a computer looks like from the inside,” Mara said.

“Imagine the graphics software they need to be able to render this,” Oliver exclaimed, leaning precariously over the railing.

“It is pretty cool,” Conner said, “but what are we supposed to do?”

“Would you care for my assistance?” A robotic voice said. From below them, a metallic object floated up in front of them. It was the shape of a football, with two folded-up black fins on its sides that looked like upside-down penguin arms. “I am Microchip, one of the virtual matrix’s guide drones. I am an artificial intelligence. It is nice to meet you.”