Men in suits shouted and swayed. Women in their best dresses teetered in high-heeled shoes. None of these people look like hackers, thought Zac. Actually, they look like an ad for staying at home with a good DVD. Just then, the bouncer unclipped the velvet rope blocking the entrance. He waved a couple through, and Zac tagged along behind. He was inside! The Golden Eardrum was absolutely packed. In a crowd like this, the hackers could be anywhere. Through a smoky haze, Zac saw a stage at the front of the room. Above that, there was a large screen. Song lyrics appeared on the screen so you could follow along when you were up on stage singing. Along one wall, he saw what looked like phone booths. They were sound-proof karaoke practice booths. Up on stage, a trio of girls were finishing a horrible, soppy love song. ‘Now’s my chance!’ Zac whispered to himself. He sneaked up to the stage. He hid the Protector Projector under a nearby table and switched it on. A beam of light shot out. Zac aimed it at the stage.
