Linda Roberti Herko

Only Child? Linda Roberti Herko

Ryan saw himself as an only child after his brother was killed. What was he to do without the brother he idolized? Ryan's dad was devastated by the loss of his son. What was he to do? Matt knew he was different but how could he escape from cyber-space? Ryan's mom found some comfort in teaching after her son was killed, so why is she agreeing to have a virtual subject as a son? These questions are answered after Ryan's dad builds a quantum prismoid to create human-like virtual children, one of which was like the son he lost. Ryan names this subject Matt and they bond immediately. Now Matt wants to live with Ryan, and his dad comes up with an escape plan. On the day of the escape, Boy #5, the cyber cops, and the virtual children protect Matt from the outside agents trying to stop his escape. Just before Matt transfers to earth, two holograms jump on him and they all end up in Ryan's dad's lab. The family's celebration is interrupted when rogue outside agents kidnap Boy #5. Matt has to go back to cyber-space to rescue him. With the help of the holograms, Boy #5 is rescued and Matt finally gets to live with Ryan. Life is good until Ryan says something so hurtful that Matt runs back into cyber-space and falls into a black hole that drops him into a parallel universe. And if it's true that people who live there are doubles of those on earth, then why is Ryan's brother there? Come join Ryan in his adventures where technology and imagination demonstrate how truly wondrous the mind can be under the worst circumstances.