A/N hi there. After last weeks binge, we are back to a more regular diet this week. Just want to reach out to all of you and send you a lot of love. My thoughts are out there in space with the 50's anniversary of Apollo 11. Also with the brilliant work down in boca chica. Be nice to feel those kind of world unifying epic events again. RK.

Meta's POV/ Dorm #7 Institution 71

After dinner, we were sent back to dorm 7. Brooklyn said we had something to talk about.

Collin looked at Hannah and Valaire he was playing some disco music loudly in his headphones. You could hear some of the beats leak out. "Hey hon," Valaire said, "what you playing there?"

"Yeah wheeeey don't you.....d.. dance furr... me?" Collin said. Valerie smiled. She shimmied for him. "you mean like this?" Valarie said changing her move.

Hannah was in one of her positive phases so she joined in. "Ok like this?"

Zoe got up "Come on lover," she said going over to Collin. She began to move to his beat before him. I could see Valarie and Hannah looking at each other in confusion. Collin pulled a face like he was trying to smile. I couldn't join in. I was still so angry about the truck and the plan. Instead, I used the opportunity to slip out with the Morpheus laptop.

In the corridor there was just me, some wardens and a group of security cams between me and the computer back with videos in it. I had already figured out how to look inside the video cameras. It turned out they all had the same password. For a few seconds, I could fill-up the video buffer with the previous image and move past one unseen. At intervals, I could see the warders moving round. Either I could unlock a digital lock on a cupboard and slip in. Or I could set their phone ringing and distract them. Soon I got to the classroom This made copying the drive from the computer on to the laptop relatively simple.

********

An hour later before bed, I was standing in dorm seven. Everyone was watching the video of project liberation. Everybody was stunned. The screen glowed lighting their faces. The refection of the grim glow was the bitter shape of shock.

"Fuck," Lee said at the end.

"That's not all." I began. "you might not have noticed but both Brooklyn, Zoe and I have changed recently."

There was some nodding to this. Zoe definitely said, Hannah.

"I've become infected with something. I can see into computers and it cured my dyslexia, Zoe's ASD."

Everyone looked at Brooklyn. He looked back.

"I didn't fix my legs obviously." He confessed.

"We think if we can infect about twenty of us we could possibly put up some kind of organised resistance. The downside is I don't know what would happen over the long term. It's not a pleasant cure. To be honest, I've spent a few hours puking into a bucket. I don't think I would be recommending this except for this emergency. Also if we start hacking into stuff."

Hannah put her hand up. "Hacking into stuff?"

"I can see inside people's phones," Brooklyn said.

"I'm starting to text or talk to Brooklyn by thinking about it over the wifi. Zoe is developing the skill. If we start hacking into stuff with our minds people are going to get interested. Government people, Administrators. If it's obvious we did this then we are going to have to leave and hideout."

"Or" Lee began looking away "Perhaps you're turning half spreadsheet."

I looked around. "I'm asking you to join us. You have to be sure. I don't think there is a way of reversing this. We are the best hope for everyone in this institute. Maybe all institutions. You decide,"

'maaa' I heard in my head. I looked over to Zoe.

'ma?' I thought back to Zoe 'First words so thrilling.' Zoe smiled.

Collin kind of waved at me. "I...ung.... In.. for it."

I knelt before him "Sure?"

He kind of nodded. "evennnn iffff nit killed mmeeee. What have I, I , I guuuurt toooo looosee?" he stuttered out.

"OK. I'm going to kiss you. A little while later you will drop unconscious. When you wake up you will have a head ache then later start vomiting. I'm not selling this very well am I. You understand I've got no idea what will happen to you." I said.

"Duhh," Colin said.

"But we are here for you," Brooklyn added.

Zoe and I helped Colin out of his chair and onto the bed. I kissed him, it wasn't a normal kiss. I kept the image of the virus' in my mind. Colin twitched and within seconds he was out.

Hannah was next. Then Lee. Finally, Valery was out on her bunk. I left Lee on my bunk. My plan was to go next door, sell the same story and infected dorm #8 that would make twelve.

I was checking everyone was sleeping ok and we had enough to catch any vomit when Craven came in. There was a seriousness on his face.

"Hi," Zoe said softly and smiling to Craven and walking up "how are you?"

He didn't look at her, he looked at me.

"There has been signs of a cyber intrusion." Craven got out looking at me. Then an alarm went off. It wasn't a normal alarm. He went over to my bunk where he found the laptop behind Lee's head. Zoe meanwhile was desperately trying to chat him up. I got the feeling she thought could she socially engineer her way out of this.

Brooklyn did the smart thing. He connected to the laptop and deleted the video before Craven could find it.

"Bingo," Craven said finding the laptop. Zoe said, " It's mine, its a prop."

Craven pulled his taser out and before I had a chance to disable it he dumped all its current into me. I felt like I shorted out.

**************

I came too being rolled in a wheelchair to the grey wing. Craven pushed my head back. I was aware of Wardens all around me rushing.

"Is this the one?" Warden McDonald said.

I felt crispy like my brain had been deep-fried.

"Had the laptop," Craven said.

My head rolled like a rag doll in the chair.

"If they have discovered about project liberation then the others might have. The institute is on lockdown until the neural scanner arrives." McDonald said.

Craven nodded.

I was in despair. How were we supposed to get the information out now?

"This one goes in the grey wing. Maximum isolation. Send some excuse to the parents. Say poor personal hygiene has resulted in lice or flees or something. Get this one delivered then back to your dorm. They are not to talk to anyone."

"Madam," Craven said.

I could just feel the world swirling around me again. My head was tilted back.

"Don't worry?" Craven said stroking my hair. "I'll come and visit you. I'll come and visit you, all alone in your cell." I had a glacier melting over my heart at his words. I could hardly breathe.

I don't remember arriving at the grey wing. I did remember getting my wrist bracelet scanned. I was injected with something. The rest was a blur. In a moment I remember laying on the floor unable to move. All I could feel was my breathing. Breathing and failure. 

***************

A/N - Thanks to everyone reading the book. As always your reads, votes and adds to your liberties it helps the book.