Simon feeds Quinn daily updates, giving him supreme control over information. Unbeknownst to the general public, he has earned trillions planting information from anyone who wants their message ingrained as truth. He employs a top-notch team of coders who encrypt the channels that supply information to Quinn, but a backdoor key/algorithm that can control every device does exist. It is a powerful tool that, in our hands, is imperative to preserving the truth.

Recognizing Simon’s name, the tree seemingly twists around me. My parents were integral in influencing the world into accepting Quinn into their homes in the first place and are still on Simon’s payroll. But I’ve never met James and Collette in person. I’ve only seen their feet when I was a nine-year-old hiding under my parents’ dinner table. Will they remember I existed? Quietly fighting for air, I try to keep from passing out, lest Garrett have to revive me. But then, I didn’t know they had a daughter, so maybe I was off their radar, too. Allard wouldn’t put me in danger. I probably won’t have contact with Simon. Clutching the tiger’s eye, I call upon its powers to calm me. My heart rate slows as my lungs expand.

I keep reading.

Simon is about to launch a Quinn update that will have her convince the public “mind uploads” to provide a permanent backup to their “mind files”—memories, personality—are a good idea. Quinn will insist everyone go to their nearest upload center immediately. This is the first step in getting people to enter their data into the Super Brain. It will put their brain information into the AI, making it smarter, and later, will ease society’s entry into the Simulation. If we have the backdoor algorithm, we can take Quinn offline and shut down Simon’s propaganda feed forever. But we have to do it before Simon launches his update.

Mission: The key/algorithm is not stored digitally. Simon is nervous about it being hacked and falling into the wrong hands, so he keeps it on a hard drive physically locked in a medieval jewelry box at his Menlo Park home. The key to the box is a ring Nicki wears at all times. Your mission is to steal the ring. Once you’ve obtained it, transmit your completion to your advisor and await further instruction.

Contact: Faye Connolly is living undercover in Silicon Valley society. She will introduce you to Nicki.

Garrett’s eyes are on fire. “This is going to be wild.”

My mouth refuses to close. “Have you lost your mind? How are we supposed to get close to Nicki and stay off the grid? Silicon Valley is the most connected place in the world!”

“The same way people have been hiding in plain sight for centuries. We’ll change our appearances, our names. I’m sure you’re no stranger to the term ‘alias.’”