Free Make Mine a Marine by Julie Miller Page B

office opening in Tokyo, and plans to open a third network in Europe. “Most of you are familiar with the internet language for computers that BJ designed. That will still be the main focus at LadyTech. But tonight, BJ has prepared something just for fun. A sample of the games line we hope to launch in the near future. If I could direct your attention to the big screen behind me, I invite you to the premiere of 'Legends.'“
    The lights dimmed and the audience quieted.
    A familiar song BJ had composed on the keyboard jingled out of the speakers as pictures of superheroic androids introduced themselves on-screen. Mentally, BJ reviewed each command and waited for the resulting action in the program.
    Slowly, the game unfolded. The androids played a battle of wits and strength against a master computer bent on destroying their home world. But as the game entered its second level, a sick feeling chilled BJ. This wasn't her game. Familiar images appeared, but she noticed subtle changes in the design. The androids looked more like monsters. The factual questions were worded like riddles. Lights blinked, and a graphic of a thunderstorm washed the androids off the screen, racking up thousands of points for the computer.
    She hugged her arms tightly around herself, turning her knuckles white. Did the others see the same program she did? Or had she fallen into some demented dream? This was definitely her program, yet it wasn't the right program.
    Her stomach heaved and the room spun. This was the game she had rewritten last night, killing time while Brodie wandered outside in the storm.
    This was the last thing she remembered before coming to in Brodie's arms.
    Panic overwhelmed her. Desperately she turned away from the screen, searching the darkness for the man who stood head and shoulders above the other guests. Too many shadows kept her from seeing if he was there.
    She saw Damon, smiling at her and giving a thumbs-up sign. Quickly, she turned her attention back to the screen.
    Emma leaned over and whispered. “When did you beef up the program? I thought you wanted to keep things simple.”
    Jas whispered from the other side. “This is terrific. Certainly a little irreverent, but the audience is eating it up.”
    “You can see it then?” BJ's whisper held none of the same excitement.
    “See what?” Emma turned around and saw how badly BJ was shaking.
    “This isn't right.” A headache pounded behind her eyes. “It's a pirated program.”
    Jas wrapped a steadying arm around her shoulders. “Are you sure?”
    Emma frowned with fear. “I'll find Brodie.”
    “I need some fresh air.” BJ pulled away from Jas's support.
    “I'll go with you.”
    “No. Cover for me. Please. I'm losing it.”
    BJ quickly descended from the platform. She barely acknowledged the congratulatory remarks from the guests as she pushed her way out of the room.
    Someone had gotten inside her head again. Images from last night wound their way into the android program, its intricacies mocking her with the clever style that only she could devise.
    She left the warehouse by the back exit and ran into the parking lot. She had to get out of there. She had to find Brodie.
    What kind of sick jokester would take a woman's private daydream and put it onscreen for two hundred people to see? Or was the joke for her alone? What kind of demon tormented a woman with a silly game, making her doubt her own sanity?
    She dug in her pockets for her truck keys, then remembered Brodie had driven them to the ball. She glanced back over her shoulder, anxious to escape, but not eager to return to the scene of her nightmare to look for Brodie.
    Instead, BJ hurried over to his Explorer, praying he would look for her there.
    She paced beside the Explorer for nearly a minute before noticing the folded paper tucked beneath the windshield wiper. Responding out of distraction more than curiosity, BJ pulled it out and unfolded it. On a sheet of LadyTech stationery, laser-printed in