TheNetwork by JonCarlton Petertightenedthestringsofhishooduponexitinghisapartmentcomplex,thecold patterofrainstabbinghischeeks.Whatwasonceadownpourwasadribblenow,theprevious torrentleavingthestreetcoveredinashiningblanketofwater.Hestoleaglancetoeithersideof him,seeingonlyacouplepeoplelumberingtoorfromtheirhomes. HiscomplexwasnearthecenterofBlockAA,withthepathwayhewasoncuttingdown themiddletoleadtoawiderroad.Roadsonlyfunctionedtoseparatetheinnumerablecity blocks,withcarsandothermotorizedtransportationhavingbeenobsoleteforthepastseveral decades.Onlytheelderlyortherichandlazygotaroundonmotorizedbikesandscooters.On footwasefficientenough.Oneonlyhadtowalkacoupleminutestogetwhattheyneeded:food ortech.Mostblocksalsoincludedasitetoplugin,incasetheOutletinonesapartmentstopped functioning.PeterhadnotifiedthemaintenancesectorofhisowndeadOutlet,butitwouldbea couplemoreweeksbeforetheycame.HetriplecheckedhissatchelforhisJack,andsplashed downthepath,cuttingcornersandveeringdownevenmorenarrowalleyways.

Thepathswere sparselylitbyafewdimlightsstucktotheloomingapartmentbuildings.Therainwascausing sometosputteranddieout,castingthepathsinsinistershadow.Peterlookedup,havingto cranehisneckalmost90degreestoseethetopofthebuildingclosesttohim.Onlyahandfulof windowswerelit.Thenightskywasbarelyvisibleamidtheclutterofthetopsoftowers,each rooftopfightingforroomamongthestars.Peterwasthankfulthathewasntsopoorastohave toliveonthetopfloors. PetersmiledashethoughtofwhatheddoontheNetworktoday.Heknewhehadtotake careofsomepressingbusinessfirst,beingscheduledtomeetaclientforadatatradeinafew hours.Otherthanthat,hisdaywasfree,andhisNetcoinswereplentiful.Hehadnttinkeredwith

anyofthenewestSimulationsinawhile,andheheardthattherecentStarShootergamewas quitetheexperience.First,though,hehadtocheckhisupdatestomakesurehewasntmissing outonanythingelsenew.IfhefellbehindintheNetwork,hedceasetobeaprofitableuser. Hesqueezedpastafrailwomancarryingacouplebagsofgroceries.Probablyacouple weeksworth,judgingbyherfigure.HerheadturnedslowlyasPeterpassed.Hecouldpractically hearherbonescreakingfromtheeffort.Hereyeswerehalflidded,red,barelyregisteringher surroundings.Hermouthwasslightlyopen,tongueproddingyellowteeth.Peterhardlynoticed herassheshuffledalong,plasticbagsquietlyrustlingamongthepatterofrainonconcrete. PeterwasonlyslightlydampwhenhereachedtheOutletlounge.Thebuildingwasnt decoratedinanywaytobetrayitsfunction.Itwasonlyanotherdooramidstthemanyotherdoors alongthespanofthetower.Alltherewastosignifythepresenceoftheloungewasalightthat bathedthestreetinamalevolentredtint.Peterremovedhishoodashesteppedinside. Theroomwasdark.Therewasntasoundtobeheardbutthepatronscollectivebreaths, andthequiethumofdatatransfer.Dimwhitebulbswerescatteredalongtheceiling,faintly illuminatingthepeoplehuddledagainstthewalls,buncheduponthetorncouchesandplacedon wornwoodenchairs.TheloungeforBlockAAhadntbeentendedtoinages.Peterwas disappointedtoseethatthecouchesandchairs,sporadicallyplacedalongtheotherwisebare room,werealloccupied.Thoseseatedwereslouching,headsnearlytouchingtheirlaps. Whoeverwasntseatedcomfortablylayagainstthewall,theirforeheadsrestingagainsttheir knees,armssprawledouttotheirsides.Petercouldfaintlyseethebacksofthesedozenorso peoplerisingandfalling.Theonlyactivepartoftheirbrainswerethestems,leftbehindtokeep theirbodiesfromshuttingdown.Mostofthepatronswerethin.Otherswerethinner.Allofthem hadawiregoingfromtheirskullstothewall.Petercouldseeonemanshovedagainstthe corner,hislifelesseyesstaringintonothing,lipscracked,skinaspaleastheNetworksloading screen.Hehadbeenpluggedintoolong.Wherehismindwasnowwasanyonesguess.

Petersatonthefloor,againstthewallandnearanOutlet.HeretrievedhisJackfromhis satchel,untanglingthewirefeedbeforehepoppedthelargeendplugintothewallsOutlet.The otherendofthefeedattachedtothereceivingportoftheJillimplantplacedinhisskull.Aclick resoundedthroughhishead,soundingasthoughhisjawhadjustpopped.Topreparehimselffor alongsession,hesnackedonseveralbagsplainration.Whenhefinished,allPeterhadtodo wasflickthesmallswitchattachedtohisJillimplant,andhewouldbewhiskedawayinthe comfortingarmsofthedatafeed.HesmiledasheactivatedhisJack. Immediately,hisconsciousbeingwasdumpedintothefeedandsuckedintothewall, followingamassiveseriesoffiberopticcables,travelinghundredsofthousandsofmilestothe centraldatagridoftheNetwork.Petersbodyjumpedandjerkedforafewsecondsbeforeit slumpedover,asthoughhedjustbeenelectrocuted.Hiseyestwitchedashisvisionblurred. Petersawwhite. * * *

Natalierolledoverandopenedhereyes.Therewasnoalarmtosignalherawakening, norwastheresunlight.Shewokeupwhenshefeltlikeit.Thetwinbednexttoher'swasempty, asexpected.Sherolledherlegsoffthebedandstood,bonescreakingasshestretched.She madeherbrothersbed,thenshemadeherown. TheirOutlethadbeenbustedforweeksnow,andtherewasstillnowordfrom Maintenanceastowhentheydbeovertoreplaceit.BlockAAwasusuallynearthebottomofthe todolist.Normally,shedwakeuptofindPeterlayingonhiscovers,pluggedin,notresponding tohergoodmorning.Shealwayssaiditanyway,though.Maybehecouldhearhersomehow. Inthebathroom,sheexaminedherselfinthemirror.Prettyblondehairmarredby drynessandfrizz.Sunkenbrowneyes.Sheranherfingersthroughherhair,justaboveherright ear.HerJillportwascrackedandold,havinguseditonlyacoupletimessinceitwasimplanted atbirth.ShedneverbeconvincedtogiveintotheNetworktrend.Sheknewofthedangers

howpeopleabusedtheNetworkandwouldgetlostinit.Howfamilieswouldbesplitapart.How peoplecouldbelostforever.Shehadfiddledaroundwithitafewtimesgrowingup,butthe experiencewasalwaysterrifying,andshedidntdesiretobringthatuponherselfagain. ShelookedatPetersbed,bitingherlipwithworry.Hewouldneedfoodbythetimehegot back,wheneverthatwouldbe.Lately,hehadbeenreturninghomemoreandmorelate.She wouldbeupnearlytwentyfourhoursonsomedays,sittingonbedwithhertabletnexttoher, ignoredasshestaredintotheceiling. Shereadsomeoldbooksonhertablet.Shecookedlunch.Shereadsomemore.She walkedaroundtheblockalittletostretchherlegs,keepingherheaddown.Shecookeddinner alargeportionofsyntheticchickenandvegetables,withasideofnormalrationgruel.The chickenwasparticularlydifficulttoacquire,butPeterhadmanagedtomakeafairtradewhenhe broughtuphisNetworkassetstothemerchant.Thatmanwasprobablypluggedinrightnow, spendingallhistimewiththatfakegirlPetergavehim. Shesatatthefoldouttable,waitingforthefamiliarjangleofkeys,thethudastheyhitthe ground,thentheturnofthedeadboltbeforethedoorcreakedopen.Anhourpassed,anditdidnt come.Therewerentevenfootstepsintheoutsidehallway.Onlydeafeningsilence.Itwasnt muchofasurprise.Still,shesatandwaited,occupyingherselfwiththoughtsofherbrother. Sheawokewithherheadonthetable,hairsprawledoutoverherfood.Sheliftedherself, peelingheroilyforeheadfromherarm.Peter?sheasked,hervoiceshatteringtheheavy silencelikeglass.Shelookedbehindher.Hisbedwasstillmade.Shelookedattheclockonthe wall:almosttwointhemorning.Sheclimbedontohisbedandwentbacktosleep. Thenextday,hestillhadntcomebackfromtheOutlethouse.Sheknewshehadto checkonhim,butshecouldntstandtogotoaplacelikethat.Itwassoulcrushing,seeingall thosepeoplethere,completelylifelessandempty,theirmindssomewhereelseentirely.Seeing herbrotherlikethatherewashardenough.Tohavetoseehimpluggedinataplacelikean

Outlethouse,surroundedbywitheredbodiesandbarelybreathingusers,wouldbetoomuchfor her.Shedidntknowwhatshewoulddoifshewentthereandfoundhimahusk. Soshewaitedawhilelonger.Morereading,sleeping,eating:atiredandmindless existencethatdidntseemsodifferentfromherbrothers.Shewalkedoutsideagain,her footstepsseemingmuffledinthegrayalleysofBlockAA.Sliversofsunlightbathedsmall sectionsofherpath.Shewouldstepinthemwhenshegotthechance,butonlyforamoment beforeitbecametoowarm. Peterhadbeengonealongtime.Hewasusuallygoodabouttakingcareofhimselfwhen hehadtogotothelounge,bringingenoughfoodandwater,unpluggingeverynowandthento restandrefresh.Still,Nataliefigureditwouldnthurttocheckonhimjusttobesafe.Shepacked afewrationsandbottlesofwater,wanderingthepathslookingfortheredlightsheknewmarked anOutletlounge,havingtalkedaboutthedecrepitareawithPeterbefore.Shewasproudofhim forsufferingtogotosuchahorribleplaceinordertosupportthem.Missingevenadayofbeing pluggedincouldbebadforthemboth,withPetersNetworkpersonabeingquiteprofitable.It allowedforthemtodoratherwellinreallife,barteringessentialsuppliesforNetworkassets.He wasntquitewellknownenoughtogetthemoutofAA,butNataliewasoptimisticaboutPeters talents.SheworriedthathewasstartingtobecometooaccustomedtohislifeintheNetwork, though,hearinglessandlessofhisvoiceastimewenton.HisNetworkpersonawasbecoming moreprominent.Shehopedhewouldberestingwhenshearrived,soshedbeabletotalkto him.Maybebringhimbackhomeforarealmeal.Aconversationwithhissister,even. Aredhueshonefromaroundthecorner,standingoutsharplyagainstthegrayandbrown texturesofthepathandbuildings.Nataliehurriedovertothesource,quietlyopeningthedoorto theloungeandpeekinginside.Silence,exceptforthestrugglingexhalationsofweakbodies,like theairleavingacushionthatsjustbeensaton.Nataliesquintedandscoutedthearea,not wantingtoenteruntilshesawPeter.Itwasadarkandoppressiveroom,nothavingseenany

formofmaintenanceforpossiblyyears.ItwasawonderthatsomeoftheOutletsstillworked. Natalietimidlysteppedinside,theairthinandpermeatedwiththeodorofwaste. Petersblondeheadstoodouttoherlikeabeaconuponentering,seatedatthewallon theothersideoftheroom.Nataliehurriedovertohim,ignoringherperipheralsandlookingonly atherfeet,carefulnottotripoveranylimplegs.Peter,shewhispered,crouchingnexttohim, shruggingoffherpackoffoodandwater,whichshelaidoutlikeapicnic.Hedidntrespond. Nataliefrownedandshookhimlightly,thoughsheknewthatwouldntdoanything.Hisconscious beingwassomewhereelse.Allthatwasleftwasaclockworklefttoitsownautomaticdevices.A bodyonautopilot. Aflickering,dimlightabovePetersheadremainedsteadilylitformorethanafew seconds.Natalieglancedatherbrothersfaceandrecoiled.Peter!shegasped,collecting herselfanddrawingclosertoherbrother.Hisfacewaspallidandgaunt,withtwosunkendark circlesforeyes.Hemustnothaveunpluggedsincehegothere:nofood,waterorsleepfor almosttwodaysnow.PETER!Nataliesaidathirdtime,thewordsechoedbacktoher.She shookhim,buttonoeffect.Hisheadrolledaroundonhisshouldersbeforefallingforward,limp. Shestood,unsureofwhattodo.Takingouthisplugwouldkillhim.Hisbodyandmindwouldbe completelysevered,andhisbrainwouldntbeabletohandletheshock.Hewasnothingmore thanahouseholdappliancenow,hislifegoingoutwiththepulloftheplug. NataliedidntknowwhyPeterwoulddothis,butsheknewshehadtogoinandfindhim. Shedartedfrompersontopersoninthelounge,rummagingthroughtheirpacksforextraJacks. Noonehadone.Nataliesstomachbecameheavylikelead,herheartlikeacagedanimaltrying tofreeitself.Knowingherbrotherwasdying,andknowingshewouldhavetogointotheNetwork afteryearsofinactivitywerebothweighingheavilyonher. Inthecorner,therewasahusk,amanwhohadbeenpluggedinsolonghisbodyshut down.Nataliehurriedovertohim,holdingherbreath.Shecheckedforapulsetomakesureof

hisdemise,eventhoughhishollowfacewassignenoughofhislifelessness.Tearswateringher vision,NatalietuggedtheJackfromtheOutlet.Then,barelytouchingthemansskullwithher fingertipsforleverage,sheyankedthefeedfromhisJillport.Themancollapsedontohisside, elicitingawaveofnauseafromwithinNatalie.Sherubbedtheplugthatwasinsidethemanwith hertunicasshewalkedbacktoPeter.Kneeling,shepluggedthefeedintoanearbyoutlet,her incessantshakingmadeitdifficult. Cold,hardmetalgreetedherfingersasshegropedforherJillport.Shetookmanyjabs toherheadbeforeshefinallymanagedtosinkthefeedinsideher,theclickofitsentrancethe loudestthingshehadheardforyears.Nataliecountedtotenandflippedtheswitch.Herbody collapsedontothegroundashermindwasdumpedintotheNetwork. Fadetowhite. * Awakentoblackness. Sometimeswhensleeping,Nataliewouldbejoltedbacktoconsciousnessbyadreamin whichshewasfalling.Thisfeelingwasrecalledvividlyuponenteringthenetwork.Shelooked around,facedwithnothingbutblackness,exceptforawhitebarthatremainedinfrontofherno matterwhatdirectionsheturned.Adisembodiedfemalevoiceechoedinherhead,asthoughit wasmerelyoneofherthoughts,pleaseenterquery. ThingshadchangedsinceNataliewaslastintheNetwork.Before,shewasdumpedata randomdomainandlefttofendforherself.WhereamI?sheasked. ThisisyourHomePage.Fromhere,youmayaccessanylocationintheNetwork. Simplystatethedomainyouwishtovisit,thevoicesaid.WouldyouliketosetanewHome Page?Wasitavoice,orwasitNataliesthoughts,modifiedbysomestreamofNetworkdata? Gradually,shefeltherdullmindbecomingmoreactive,shufflingthoughtafterthought,withthe amounteverincreasing.Shefeltadventurous.Shewantedtoexploreanddiscover.Shefound * *

herselfsuddenlyyearningtoseewhatlatestModernGirlfashionswere. ModernGirldotnet,Nataliesaid.Shewasntsurehowsheknewthatname.Hadshe heardofitbefore?Theblacknesswasreplacedwithablinkofhereyes.Surroundingherwasa store,thebiggestroomshedbeenin.Rowuponrowofclothingwasoneithersideofher,with countlessshopperssiftingthroughnewtops,pants,shoes.Nataliereachedforwhatwas closesttoher,asimplelookingwhiteblousethatseemedjusthersize.Tryiton?shethought. What?Nno,shestammered.Withdifficulty,shereplacedtheblouseandlooked around.Streamsofimagessweptalongtheauburnwallsofthetoweringroom,imagesofpretty younggirlswearingbeautifulclothes.Oddly,thosegirlslookedalotlikeNatalie,ifshewould cleanherselfupmore. Nataliesheadcontinuedtorace.Itwasquicklybecomingtoocluttered,toomany thoughtsfightingforroomtotheforefrontofhermind.Onewanteddominanceoveranother,with thevolumeofeachthoughtoverpoweringtheotherinintervals.Shewantedtoreadthelatest headlines.Shewantedtoseethenewestdigitalartgallery.ShewantedtocatchthelatestVid show,starringtheNetworksmostawardwinningactor,JasonDelaney.Nataliecouldntstop thinkingabouthowfunitwouldbetotryonsomeshoesfromthemostrecentSoleShoes catalogue.Shesoonfoundherselfjumpingfromdomaintodomain,exploringalltheNetworkhad tooffer.Newideasandthoughtsconstantlypoppedintohermind,willinghertogohere,go there.Everydesiresheeverhad,thatsheneverknewshehad,wasbeingfilled.Shecameto accepthernewfoundthoughts,listeningtotheloudestone,followingitsdirectiontosomewhere wonderful. Shemetincrediblepeoplewhohadthesameinterestsasher.Thosepeopleinturn showedherevenmorenewthingsthatshewouldnthavebeenabletoevendreamofonher own.Whathadonceseemedtoofrighteningandintimidatingwasnowsonewandrefreshing. Shewasabletoconversewithpeoplelikeneverbefore,openlyandfreely,withherlisteners

actuallysmilingandrespondingtoher.SheplayedafewSimulatorswithsomefriendsshehad madewithinhoursofenteringtheNetwork.Shetriedonclothes,sherentedavirtualDateWith theStars!Thoughtsofwhatshemostcravedtickledherbraineveryfewseconds,prompting hertojumptoanotherdomainthatshefeltasthoughshehadknownaboutallalong. Herabsolutewonderandelationcapturedtheattentionofmanyusers.Theysmiledat her,asherenergyandjoywasrubbingoffonthem,makingtheNetworkseemfreshtotheir eyesaswell.Itsasthoughshesneverbeenherebefore!onewomansaid.Iremembermy firsttimepluggingin,saidanother.Iwonderwhattookhersolong?amanquestioned. NataliesatnearonegroupoftheseinquisitivestrangerswhilevisitingtheBrainBoost dopaminedomain.Abrownhairedmanjoinedthegroupandaskedthemiftheyhaddemoedthe latestfromPeterBranam. Onemanshookhishead,butseveralotherswerenoddingenthusiasticallyandsmilingat eachother.Thatboy!athinlybeardedmansaid.BestdamnSimManonherenow.Thosegirls hemakes.Theyrejustsoreal!Hesmiledathisbrownhairedfriend,andthetwobuttedelbows. IwasreferringmoretohisofficialDungeonCrawlerrelease,butthosehushhush projectsofhisareprettygoodtoo,thebrownhairedmangrinned. Nataliesmindfeltclearallofasudden,likeafoghadbeenlifted.Shedidntfeelthe insatiablecravingsanymoretheunreasonabledesiretoexploretheNetwork.Herheadwas emptyandsilentbutforonefamiliarword.Peter,shewhispered,asthoughhearingitforthe firsttime.Peter. Search.SEARCH!sheshouted.Thegroupofmen,startlednow,glaredather cautiously. AwhitebarappearedinfrontofNatalie.PeterBranam,shesaid.Hisnamewas transcribedontothebar,andinstantlyapictureandprofileofherbrotherappeared,theclosest matchtowhatshedlikelybeinterestedin.Nataliefeltcalmuponseeinghim.Helookedso

healthyinhispicture.Hisblondehairandsmilewouldbesuretocharmanyonehemet.Heeven lookedolderintheNetwork.Location,shesaid.Adomainwasgiven:SierraSims.Natalie blinkedandherenvironmentwastransformedonceagain. Natalie?afamiliarvoicecalled.Oneshedidntgettohearoftenenough.Natalieopened hereyes,thespacearoundherlookinglikeshewasinsideofacomputer. Shebeamedatherbrother,rushingforwardandembracinghim.Peter!shesaid, elationquicklyturningtoresolution.Ineedtogetyououtofhere!Youvebeenpluggedintoo long!Ifoundyouatthelounge,andyoulooklikeyoureabouttowitheraway. TheexpressiononPetersfacedidntchange.Shock,intermixedwithsorrow.Iknow, Natalie,hesaid. Natalienarrowedhereyes,turningherhead.What? Youdontremembertellingmelasttime? Yourenotmakingsense. Petershookhishead,lookingathisfeet.Youknow,itkillsmeinsidetohavetotellyou thiseverytime.Tohavetohurtyousobad.Hisliptrembled,buthedidnothingelsetoshowhis anguish.Youvebeeninhereforyears,Natalie.Youvebeenlost. Excuseme?Icameinherelookingforyou,Peter.Youareabouttobelostifyoudont ejectsoonandtakecareofyourself. Peterstoodupstraight,lookingintohissisterseyes.ThatwastrueNatalie,alongtime ago.Youworriedandcameinafterme.Butyouwerentready.Yourmindwastooweakandthe Networkgotthebetterofyou.Youwanderedaroundfortoolong. Natalieblinkedandremainedquiet.Shefeltasthoughherheartwasbeatingoutofher chest,butsomethingaboutitdidntseemright.Itwasasthoughshewastryingtoremember whatitwouldfeellike. Iejectedeventually,incrediblyweak,andwenthomeexpectingtoseeyouthere.Ididnt

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spotyouwhenIleftthelounge,buteventuallyIdidfindyou,hechokedslightly,butregainedhis composure.Ahusk. Nataliewasntabletosayanything,notabletothinkofwhattosay.ShelettheNetwork begintothinkforheragaininstead.Shethoughtabouthowinterestingitwouldbetosamplethe improveddopamineplusformulaatBrainBoost. Peterbrokethesilence,familiarwiththedumblookhissisterwasnowgivinghim,which slowlymorphedintooneofchildlikecuriosityandwonder.Natalie!Youhavetodoyourbestto rememberwhatIvejusttoldyou.Comewithme,Icankeepyousafeinhere.Dontwander BrainBoostdotnet,Nataliesaid,andvanished. Petersighedandputhisfaceinhishands.Heknewshewouldbevisitingmoreoftenas hisnamegotaround.Settings,hesaid.Asquare,whiteinterfaceappearedbeforehim. Command?itasked. BlockuserNatalieBranam.

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