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Chapter 18

THE SILICON SETUP

Outside MystTech Creations, West Hollywood, California, United States

Gen stepped out of MystTech Creations, the cool evening air a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere of the studio. She took a deep breath, letting the tension drain from her body as she walked away from the sleek, imposing building.

That was intense, she thought, reaching out to Emperor with her mind. But I didn’t find anything truly suspicious or dangerous. Maybe you misread the place because of the technological interferences.

Maybe, he replied in her head, not sounding convinced.

I just don’t get it, Gen mused, pausing on the sidewalk out in front of the modern building and looking up at it. Chip was both open and seemed to be hiding something.

People are a paradox, Emperor supplied.

He told me about his mother, almost seeming vulnerable in that moment, she related. But then we both sensed that he wasn’t telling the whole truth about the lockers. And the strange security with the Sneak’s Stain Solution and virtual reality. I just don’t get it. I feel like I’m missing something.

You definitely are, because the cosmic negative energy I picked up on before hasn’t gone away, Emperor replied. If anything, it’s only gotten stronger. There’s something really dangerous and wrong associated with MystTech Creations but I can’t pinpoint it—probably because I’m looking at it too directly.

What does that mean? Gen asked, perplexed.

It means, sometimes we look at things, trying to find the problem on the surface, he began. But the actual problem is hidden somewhere deep within. Maybe Chip isn’t at the source of the danger. Maybe it’s something buried deep within the company that we haven’t seen yet.

Gen shrugged, at a loss and definitely too exhausted to unravel this anymore right then. She’d had a long day and more than anything, she needed, and thought she deserved, a nice meal and some rest.

I’ll think on this more when I’ve got a clear head, Gen related. Maybe we’re wrong, but something tells me that we’re not. Something even tells me that it’s not a coincidence that I was sent to MystTech Creations for this internship.

She felt the dragon’s comforting presence, a warmth that enveloped her like a protective cloak. Trust your instincts, Emperor replied, his voice a soothing rumble in her mind. But don’t let fear cloud your judgment.

Gen nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She turned her back on the studio, ready to begin the short walk home.

Gen hadn’t walked half a block when suddenly, the piercing wail of sirens shattered the stillness of the night. At first, Gen expected the police cruisers to simply speed by her. She was absolutely astounded when the three vehicles screeched to a halt on the road in front of her, their lights painting the scene in a dizzying kaleidoscope of red and blue.

Gen froze as an officer peeled out of the closest vehicle. Again, Gen expected him to move along, to investigate something nearby her. That’s why she was utterly shocked when the man strode straight up to her, a menacing look on his face.

“Are you Gen Beaufont?” the man asked, his hand resting on his holster.

Gen nodded, confusion muddying her thoughts right then.

This is it, Emperor said in her head. This is the trouble I felt that you’d get into.

But I didn’t do anything, she urged silently.

It doesn’t matter, he replied. You can’t run from what’s happening next. I believe, although I can’t say why, that it’s pivotal to set a ball in motion. Sometimes bad things have to happen to stop worse things.

Fine, Gen said, returning her full attention to the police officer.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, looking back at the building she’d exited, only a few yards away.

“I’m afraid not,” the officer said. “We’ve gotten a report that valuables have just gone missing from MystTech Creations.” The man pointed to the large building.

“Oh, well, it wasn’t me,” Gen urged suddenly.

The police officer gave her a stern expression under his dark hat. “We have reason to believe it was. Do I have your permission to search you?”

Gen was about to comply when yelling from the building stole both their attention. She whirled around. Panic raced through her veins from the loud protests. Her heart leapt into her throat as she saw a group of other MystTech employees burst through the front doors, their faces contorted with anger and accusations. At their backs, walking much slower and seeming reserved, was Chip. His arms were crossed in front of his chest and there was a strange expression in his eyes.

“There she is!” one of the technicians shouted, his finger stabbing in Gen’s direction. “She’s the one who stole the quantum-entangled silicon!”

“It must have been her,” another employee said, pausing with the others a few feet away. “She just left when we noticed the significant shortage. The intern took them.”

Behind the raging men, Chip had halted too. He didn’t make eye contact with Gen, looking down at the ground, like this theft was hurting his heart.

Gen shook her head. “I didn’t steal anything. I sorted the silicon. You can ask Chip. I did it and in record time. Maybe there’s a mistake because I changed the process.”

“Miss Beaufont,” the officer began in a calm voice. “This could all be a misunderstanding. Since you’ve just left the facility, can I have permission to search your person?”

“Of course,” she replied, holding up her hands. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

The man stepped in closer, giving her a hesitant expression. Then he looked over his shoulder at the officers waiting in the police cars and nodded. It was a signal of sorts, like checking that they were watching and had his back, should anything happen.

Gen grimaced as the man patted her down. It was very clinical and not rough, but it still felt like an invasion. His hand paused at her hip, the expression on his face suddenly quizzical. He pressed on the pouch she wore strapped to her belt.

“May I?” he asked, indicating the small bag.

Gen nodded, keeping her hands up, wishing this would all be over soon and she could go home. Then she’d really be sorting through these events, trying to figure out what was going on at MystTech Creations and who was trying to rob the place.

Gen’s racing thoughts were interrupted when the officer pulled out a glowing blue crystal-like chip.

“What?” Gen barked, nearly losing her voice. “What’s that doing there?”

“We told you!” one of the technicians cheered loudly, slapping the hand of one of the other employees beside him.

“I didn’t steal that,” Gen argued. “This must be a mistake.”

She wasn’t granted any respite from the search as the officer again dug into the bag, pulling out several more of the quantum-entangled silicon chips.

Gen’s eyes widened, her mind spinning with questions. Her blood ran cold, her mind reeling with confusion and disbelief. She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a word, officers poured out of the vehicles.

They lifted their weapons and instantly trained them on Gen as they formed a tight circle around her. She raised her hands even higher into the air, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

“Gen Beaufont, you’re under arrest for theft of highly valuable technology,” the police officer in front of her stated, his voice harsh and uncompromising.

“Someone must have put that in my bag,” Gen said, her mind searching through the various events that had transpired in MystTech Creations. There had been so many and several chances when her attention was diverted. There were so many people who could have done it too and it boggled her mind suddenly. She looked through the crowd where Chip seemed to be hiding. His face was blank and unresponsive as she shot him pleading expressions.

The officer’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. “We’ll see about that. Please turn around and place your hands behind your back.”

With shaking fingers, Gen complied, the cold metal of the handcuffs biting into her wrists as the officer snapped them shut. She flinched as rough hands patted her down again, this time checking for weapons. They withdrew Bellumferrum from her pocket, the only other thing she was carrying. Well, it was the only thing she’d been carrying until someone, somehow put stolen valuables in her bag.

The officer confiscated Bellumferrum, turning Gen around abruptly. Their force wasn’t rough, but it hinted at the fact that it could be if she fought them. Gen had no intention of fighting. She needed to figure out what was going on and who she was fighting first. Then she was going to kick their ass. Emperor had said something bad needed to happen to get things in motion—and whatever it was, Gen was going to find out and stop it, delivering a brutal punishment to whoever was behind this.

“Gen Beaufont, you are under arrest for the theft of valuable goods,” the officer began, reading her the Miranda rights.

Gen’s world tilted on its axis, as the officer led her to the back of one of the police cars. The words washed over her, a surreal blur of strange terminology that only heightened her sense of unreality.

“…anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…”

As the officers pushed her into the backseat of the vehicle, Gen’s mind raced with questions and fears. Who had planted the silicon on her, and why? What would happen to her now, arrested and accused of a crime she didn’t commit?

But even as despair threatened to overwhelm her, Gen felt a flicker of determination spark to life in her chest. She would not go down without a fight. She would find a way to clear her name, to unravel the web of lies and deceit that had ensnared her.

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