“The number of dollars left in my bank account: $13.” 

Emika thinks about her debt, most in rent and credit card bills. Her attempt to hunt and capture Martin Hamer, a Warcross gambler and petty criminal, is crucial to getting out of debt, as the bounty for him is $5,000. Though Emika successfully catches the man, the police say someone else found Hamer first and refuse to pay her. 

“[…] …but tonight, I can join in with everyone else, put on my glasses, and watch magic happen.” 

Emika gives in to the escape of Warcross, a virtual reality world and competition. In Warcross, amazing scenery replaces her ugly, harsh environment, and watching the professional competitors in the opening ceremony game of this year’s championships distracts her from her debts and hopelessness.

“See? Every locked door has a key, Emi.” 

Emika recalls a time when her father showed her how to see the unmatching elements between two similar photos on the back of a magazine. When he tells her to look at “the whole of something, not just the parts” (33), she spots the differences right away. Her success prompts this line from her father. Later, recalling this advice from her dead father and the inspiration she feels after learning about Hideo Tanaka’s Warcross invention boost 11-year-old Emika to see the mistake in her Computer Science assignment code.