Disaster in the 'Net The star-spanning 'Net is crashing—collapsing under its own unwieldy weight, its vital database losing bits and connections at an alarming rate. The politicians and technocrats that depend on it are desperate. Desperate enough to come looking for the boy they dispatched on a mission larger than they knew, and for the prankster who exploits are notorious among programmers on the 'Net. Stephen Ridenour—tormented boy genius and survivor of HuteNamid's secrets—has found a refuge from the civilization whose bigotry almost destroyed him. Wesley Smith—genius, seducer, joker, and certifiable loose cannon—has captured the ultimate prey and isn't about to set it loose. And no one realizes what can be done is already a dead issue . . .