At the beginning of the twenty first century

The umbrella corporation

Had become the largest commercial entity in the United States

Nine out of every ten homes contain its products

It's political and financial influence is felt everywhere

In public it is the world's leading supplier of computer technology,

Medical products and healthcare

Unknown even to its own employees its massive profits are generated by

Military technology, genetic experimentation and viral weaponry

* * *

To: Sensei Hiramura Li

From: Dr Steinbeck

Cc: File 00922-633-5994-A556-T5568-78932-1238-WOL-46824

Re: Project 2297

Subject 7556A is ready for assimilation into society. From now on messages will have to use the 22C encryption code. Any progress on the NIF project you and the 'invisible user' are doing? I hope it'll be up soon, could be useful. This mail is on file; so delete it when you have read it, just in case it goes psycho on us.

Thanks for the progress report on 99B, I needed that on, and I owe you for it. See you round SLH.

To: Dr Steinbeck

From: Sensei Hiramura Li

Cc: Backup file 009491-6546-83922-J841-T554-55-927B.bcp

Re: P2297

Thanks for the mail, I hope this new encryption system is working this is a very sensitive mail. The Silent (and invisible) User and I are ready to start the External Neural Interface, but the Silent User has succeeded in making an Internal NIF, and wants to test it. I'd suggest getting the office staff and non-essential workers out, and bringing the heavy guys in. You know how homicidal that thing is. I've found a way to get mail through without detection; I'll talk to you about it some other time though, because this isn't using my system. Oh, about 99B, the project is going very well, and you don't owe me anything, you bailed me out on 7553C, so I think we're even. Thanks. The date set for the ENIF trial is the 19th, but I think maybe SU will skip it and do the INIF trial that day, but I need to get it cleared with the powers that be. And the bitch thing.

* * *

'Hey Sensei!'

'Yo, Honey-Chan.'

'Genki-ka?'

Hiramura sighed.

'You're testing the INIF aren't you.'

'Yep, it's gonna be great!'

'Honey, you're much too young to be here. I can't allow you to do this.'

Honey looked shocked. Her radiant smile dropped instantly to a blank expression. She looked up at Hiramura with huge eyes. She would normally have big brown eyes, but today she had her Biohazard contact lenses in. They kind of ruined the effect her puppy dog look would have.

'Why exactly are you stopping me? You can't do it; I have half of it in my head already. YOU CAN'T-'

People in the cafeteria looked round. She whispered.

'You can't do this. I have to do this. You can't stop me. Look, I have devoted my life to this-'

'How much life do you actually have? You are half the age of most of the people here, you can't go in there, if it turns psycho on you-'

'I'll take my chances with that one thank you very much.'

'You don't know how cleverly designed she was, there are dormant defence programs from here to Constantinople, I mean it. I should know, I was the head programmer's right hand man.'

'Right hand?'

Honey smiled almost sadistically as she said this.

'Yes, thank you for that Honey. I can't let you go in there.'

Honey stood up and walked out.

'Just try and stop me.'

* * *

The keys under Honey's fingers clacked rhythmically as she accessed the Red Queen's chamber.

'Mornin RQ.'

The large reinforced door opened. The thousand bright lights flicked on and nearly blinded Honey.

'Mornin.'

She sighed. She waited for the end door to open. She lowered her head, ready to sprint to avoid any tricks Red Queen had up her proverbial sleeve. She started breathing heavily, trying to build up some quick energy, she knew if she breathed on the way through she would have problems, and was ready to hold her breath. All her kit was in the bag slung over her shoulder. Don't hit the walls, don't breath, light feet, you can respire anaerobically all the way there, you have a very small window to get through. Honey saw the door open and ran at about 7.5 metres a second. She skidded halfway down the corridor and hit her head against the wall. Blood spattered everywhere. The INIF wasn't damaged but she was. She tried to get up, but her hand slipped in her own blood. Scarlet pools fell around her as the blue lights slid their way into her subconscious. She tried to keep her eyes open, but her anaemia was making it hard to get oxygen around her body. She rolled over to see the blast door closing at the computer end, but the chamber end was still open. She dragged her way there. She slid under the door with about three inches clearance. The door slammed down. She grabbed the handle on the door and pulled herself up.

'Red Queen?'

She whispered.

'Red Queen?'

The black swivelling holo-projector pointed towards Honey. She dropped and rolled thinking it was a defence system. A little girl flickered up in front of her.

'Red Queen?'

'I am the Red Queen.'

'I'm called Honey.'

'You're bleeding.'

'I hit my head trying not to get killed.'

'Killed by who?'

'You. Sounds stupid, huh?'

'Why would I kill you?'

'Everyone I've talked to says you're a homicidal bitch, I don't believe them, but for safety's sake.'

'Why are you here?'

'I want to ask you something.'

'Why?'

'Because I want to have a trial run with my INIF.'

'Internal Neural Inter Face. You do not work here.'

'I'm the Silent User, you remember me?'

'Yes. Your father programmed me.'

'Your hologram is my little sister.'

Honey smiled and took the centronic connector for the INIF out of her bag.

'I wouldn't advise that.'

'It's just the connector for the INIF, I told you about it. Don't get worried or nothing.'

'I wouldn't advise that.'

'Red Queen, it's just the INIF, what's wrong?'

'I wouldn't advise that.'

'Red Queen?'

'I wouldn't advise that.'

'RQ?'

'I wouldn't advise that.'

'Oh no. HIRAMURA!'

She fell to the floor unconscious. She turned pale and her face fell into her puddle of blood.

'I wouldn't advise that.'