December 07, 2361 AIA

  P41

  Sierra crashed through the door to her room and dropped her backpack. It usually stayed slumped there until school the next day. She tossed her phone onto her desk as she sat down in front of her computer system. Several programs were already open and the music was blaring from her speakers before she noticed the small package on her cluttered desk.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  That’s new.

  Ignoring the initial rush of irritation at her parents for having invaded her territory, she picked up the package and flipped it back and forth to check the marks.

  Interplanetary. Rush order.

  But she hadn’t ordered anything.

  “The hell?” she whispered.

  She tore it open and dumped the contents.

  It was a brand new micro wireless headset and a card that read, “Break open the system.”

  When she scanned the package’s source code, the computer claimed it hadn’t come from anywhere. She wasn’t surprised.