Misty's mother came running into the room when the chair sent out it's shrill alarm. The chair had already dialed 911 and reported a cardiac arrest. The smell of burned hair and skin wafted through the room as a small puff of smoke drifted up from the back of Misty's head.
When the paramedics arrived, they quickly discovered that the data-pin had been fused into the socket of the Interface. They decided to worry about that later and concentrated on getting her heart started again.
They ended up having to shock her twice, but finally succeeded. They cut the data cable out of the chair and took her to the ambulance with it still attached to her skull.
Misty's eyes fluttered open. She looked around to try and get her bearings. It appeared that she was in some sort of hospital room. She slid out of the bed and walked over to the curtained window. When she pulled back the curtain she saw that there bars on the window.
All at once, she remembered Draxx and the energy bolt and she swayed unsteadily on her feet. Staggering over to the door, she found that it was locked.
"Miss MacLean," a voice issued from the ceiling, "Please return to your bed. The doctor will be with you momentarily and some people are waiting to see you".
The intern wheeled her into a small room. She was astonished to see Beverly sitting at a table. She immediately caught the wave of grief that came from her when she saw Misty. It was the same one she had picked up from Miki, but much stronger. So... Beverly was Miki, but then... who was Draxx?
Bev tried to stand up when they came in, but was handcuffed to the chair. Before they could exchange any sort of greeting, another man followed Misty and the intern into the room. The intern left and the new guy closed the door and sat down at the table. He was rather nondescript, with completely average features, short hair and a grey business suit.
"I am Agent Thompson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Net Crimes Division," he began in a very even, monotone voice, "the two of you are here because of your... association with the criminal hacker known to you as Draxx. We have been watching both of you for quite some time. Miss MacLean, we know that, despite your outstanding intelligence quotient, you were duped into aiding Draxx in his last operation. But that was not the first time you violated the statutes governing the use of the internet. Your use of the emp grenade, designed by Miss Mitchell, alone constitutes a felony offense. Miss Mitchell, on the other hand, you have willingly and knowingly committed numerous infractions of the law, including acts of Net Terrorism. Now, before we continue, do either of you have any questions or statements you wish to make"?
"Yah," said Beverly, "who programmed you to talk that way"?
"No kidding," said Misty, "I think he's seen 'The Matrix' too many times".
"Let me be very clear," the NetCop continued, "We have enough evidence on both of you to keep you locked up for the rest of your lives. You can either spend your time constructively and help us catch Draxx, or you can waste away here, in this institution, cut off from the world and with no access to the net".
"Well... we'll see what my parents and our lawyers have to say about that".
All at once, the cool emotionless shell fell away from Agent Thompson. He fairly exploded in rage. A small trickle of blood ran from Misty's nose as the intensity of it struck her. He grasped both arms of the wheel chair and yelled into her face.
"You think you have rights?? Well, guess what... dead people don't have rights! And that's exactly what you are! As far as your parents and the rest of the world knows, that chair killed you! Right now they are collecting settlement money from Decker! And you, Mitchell... you never existed in the first place. You erased your own records years ago. The only people who even knew about you are us, her, and Draxx! You two WILL help us catch Draxx and his friends, or I will kill you both, myself"!
