Read Gamers' Rebellion for Free Online

nanos we’re going to use to put you in are programmed for a time-limited access of ten minutes. So once your time is up, you’ll exit automatically.’
    ‘Theoretically,’ added Tark.
    Josie met his gaze. ‘You are our only option. We took a great risk getting you out of the Design Institute. We lost one of our own during the raid. You –’
    ‘Ya reckons I owes ya,’ interjected Tark. ‘Well, I owes ya nuthin’.’
    Josie’s face fell, hope draining from it.
    ‘But I’ll thinks on it. Now, can I has sum food? I is starvin’.’ Tark jumped down from the table. The too-short lab coat rode up and he grabbed at it. Tugging it down, he felt it rip at the back. ‘And can I please has sum proper clothes?’

10: Mel

    ‘So do you think she might be able to tell us what’s happened to Tark?’
    Zyra looked hopefully at Robbie, walking next to her along corridor after identical corridor. The featureless walls and even lighting made it almost impossible for Zyra to make any sense of where they were.
    ‘I do not know,’ answered Robbie, truthfully. ‘We shall find out shortly.’
    They turned a corner and Zyra saw a guard standing against the wall. He was tall and broad, with an impassive face. He wore a black jumpsuit with padding and armour – bullet-proof and able to absorb an energy burst, according to Robbie. He also had accoutrements – a thick black belt around his waist and double bandoleer crossing his chest. There were various devices and pouches attached to the criss-crossed fashion accessory. On his right hand he wore a thick black glove – a bit like a data-glove, but menacing. It was inlaid with silvery threads and reminded Zyra of the glove the Cracker had once used to attack her and Tark.
    ‘Power-glove,’ explained Robbie. ‘The wearer can throw a concentrated charge of energy – mild enough to stun you, or strong enough to kill you.’
    ‘Toys!’ whispered Zyra. ‘Could have used something like that back in the Game.’
    ‘Indeed.’ Robbie brought them to a halt in front of the guard. ‘We have permission to interview the prisoner.’
    The guard cocked his head to one side as if listening to a voice no one else could hear.
    ‘The guards are all cloned from Designer Alpha’s original recruit,’ Robbie explained. ‘He was strong, ruthless and had an unwavering loyalty. The clones also have communications implants.’
    The guard stepped aside as a door slid open in the wall. Robbie led the way in, adding, ‘Designer Prime refers to them as grunts .’
    There was a table with two chairs just inside the door. Beyond that, a girl sat in what looked like a plastic armchair. Everything was white.
    Robbie sat down in one of the chairs, and motioned for Zyra to do the same.
    The girl’s eyes widened when she saw Zyra, but she didn’t move.
    Zyra studied her intently. She seemed unremarkable in every way – medium height, medium build, mousey mid-brown hair, cut short. Her face was plain. Her clothes were ordinary – black pants, black long sleeved top. She wore no jewellery. Her eyes were the only notable thing about her. There was a burning intensity to them, despite the absolute stillness of her body.
    Robbie began the proceedings. ‘My name is Robbie and this is Zyra. We would like to talk with you.’
    The girl made no response, her eyes still fixed on Zyra.
    ‘I understand that you have already been questioned by the Administrators,’ continued Robbie. ‘And that your name is Mel.’
    The girl finally moved her eyes to look at Robbie.
    ‘We were hoping that you might be able to answer some questions,’ he said.
    Still no response from the girl.
    ‘WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH TARK?’ Zyra shouted.
    The girl blinked and slowly shifted her gaze back to Zyra.
    ‘What’s wrong with her?’ asked Zyra, her voice back to a normal level. ‘She doesn’t move. She doesn’t talk. Can she even understand us? Is she stupid?’
    ‘She can’t move,’ explained Robbie. ‘She is in a