The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1)

by Brian Terenna

  I breathe out, letting go of anxiety and tension. “I’m in.”

  “You’re brilliant,” says Nav.

  I look down and feel my face flush, loving the praise.

  Another defensive wall of code sprouts before me, blocking me from the system again.

  I gasp. “What’s this? Oh no.”

  “What is it?” asks Nav.

  I groan. “There’s another wall with at least ten digital impressions of cybersecurity personnel. I’m sure they all have the Evo.”

  Nav gasps. “I’ll defend your system. Get out.”

  “Hurry, Fae. Disconnect,” says Sunny.

  I move to disconnect when one of the attackers executes a capture program and steals my encrypted location data.

  Diablo “I can’t extract, they took my location data. I have to get it back before they unencrypt it.”

  Nav gasps. “They’ll send drones to kill us. You can’t possibly win. We have to warn the others.”

  I think I can beat them, though. I’ll just have to be flawless. “Wait. Let me try.” I send the five corrupted firewalls against the critical systems as a feint.

  Half of the cybersecurity personnel fall back to defend, and the other half launch an attack on my system.

  “Nav, support my three firewalls. They’re attacking.” I send a tracking bot to find my data.

  Thirty seconds pass, and Nav says, “For freedom’s sake. They’re too good. They just broke through the first level.”

  “Defend the second,” I say, barely conscious that I responded. Everything I do against their cybersecurity is thwarted with ease. I’m losing.

  “I can’t stop them,” says Nav. “They’re on the third.”

  Oh hell.

  My program finds the location data they stole, and I send a shredding program at it.

  “Your third firewall is down. Get out!”

  I disconnect and fall back on the bed, breathing hard.

  “What happened?” Nav asks, her body tense. “Did you destroy the file?”

  After several long breaths, I say, “Yeah.”

  She relaxes. “Thank God.”

  “We could never breach Xyphotech from the outside. Check Infoworld to see if it’s the same.”

  She does. “It looks like the same defensive systems. I’ll tell my dad.” She calls him on her q-link.

  “Tell me good news,” he says.

  “I have none. We’ll never be able to breach the systems from the outside. I’m sorry.”

  “For freedom’s sake,” he says, then sighs. “We’ll have to infiltrate Xyphotech headquarters itself. We’ll plan for two days, then strike.”

  My stomach flutters. Hell, that sounds dangerous. At least I won’t have to go.

  ☼☼☼

  I hold the Torg nine-millimeter at my side and stand at the end of the gun range. Alexander lounges on the bench behind me, cleaning a gun. Sunny is in my room, hiding out so he’s not discovered for being a self-aware AI.

  Nav and I spent two days reminiscing about Silent City, practicing hacking techniques, and creating a drone networking program in case we ever needed it. Americus, Alexander, Astrid, and Gabriel planned our attack, which is supposed to take place in a few hours.

  “Why don’t you fire off fifteen rounds this time,” Alexander says behind me. “Ten in the chest and five in the head. Let’s see what you can do.”

  “Can I try it from ten yards?”

  “I like your style,” he says and rolls back the target nine more feet.

  I get into my stance and take a few slow, deep breaths to relax. I aim, my hand perfectly stable and squeeze the trigger quickly but smoothly. The rounds pummel the target’s chest, and then I slide up to its head and fire off five more.

  “Looked good,” says Alexander, standing close to me.

  Closer than I’m usually comfortable with, but I don’t move away.

  He rolls in the target and raises an eyebrow. “Boom. Tightly packed. I don’t even think you missed any. I’m proud to have you on the team.”

  I look away to cover my smile. Am I really on the team? No, I’m just here for Nav. “Maybe I can even outshoot you.”

  He puts out his hand. I look at it, then hand him the gun with the remaining seventeen rounds.

  He rolls the target back to the furthest point and then stands back another ten feet. “This is about fifty yards. Come behind me here.”

  I back up to the wall and stare at the tiny target at the end of the range.

  He enters his stance and then fires off five rounds in quick succession. “Watch this.” He shuts his eyes and fires off another two.

  I shake my head. He thinks he’s so great.

  “Roll in the target,” he says, a big grin on his stupid face.

  I do, and I can’t help but laugh. A smiley face is punched into the target’s head. “Pretty good. I guess.”

  He laughs and holds out the pistol. “You’ve shot a lot of rounds through this Torg and have made steady progress. It’s a dangerous world out there, and whether you stay with us or not, I want you to have this gun.”

  I meet his eyes, and while the humor is still in them, there’s something softer, kinder. I rarely feel anything but ambivalence or distrust toward people, but it’s different with Alexander. Even though he’s a buffoon, who’s full of himself, there’s something more to him. Something I can’t quite put my finger on. “Thanks. This means a lot to me.”

  “It better. It’s my favorite nine-millimeter,” he says with a wink. “So the war’s over. Did you decide what you’re going to do?”

  “I don’t like the risks, but I’m sticking around for now.”

  He grins, showing off his perfect white teeth.

  “Alexander,” says Americus from the range’s door. “I need to discuss something with you. Fae, you should come too.”

  Why does he want me?

  We enter an office to see Nav standing next to a metal desk. Americus sits behind it. Ron Paul hops off Americus’ shoulder to peck at some sunflower seeds. Above the desk hangs an oil painting of Navin Briggs battling government forces. Twenty or so soldiers lie dead around him as if he won the war by himself.

  Americus sees me looking and motions to the painting. “A gift from Alexander.”

  Alexander puffs out his chest and grins. “Like it? If you keep up your shooting practice, that will be us. Commander Luna and General Fiore.”

  I laugh and shake my head. This guy is a nut. Commander Luna. I like the sound of that but certainly not the risk it would come with. Barbra would have loved that painting, though.

  Nav whispers to me, “I’m surprised the painting isn’t of Alexander with his foot on Zeus’ head or something.”

  I hold in a laugh.

  “Where’s our Heavenly Father?” asks Alexander.

  Americus’ face hardens, and he scratches his beard. “No one knows. He left unexpectedly and isn’t responding to his q-link.” He smacks the desk. “He should know better and give me a heads up. We have a mission today.”

  “I’ve always admired his initiative,” says Alexander. “That and his heroic work in the Marines. He’s a remarkable guy.”

  Americus nods, but his frown remains. “I have some concerning news.”

  My stomach tightens at the words.

  “I just heard from my NIA contact that the military is making it mandatory for the remaining Generals to install the Evo. It looks like the takeover is complete.”

  Alexander grips the handle of his revolver in its holster.

  “And even more concerning,” says Americus. “President Falk stated that in order to normalize relations between the USA and the RSA, Xyphotech will be working with Neurôdados to create a new brain implant for international export.

  Nav gasps. “They’ll take over the entire world.”

  “I’m surprised the Republic of South America would agree to that,” says Alexander. “We just crippled their country.”

  He’s right. Could it jus
t be that they’re desperate? What if it’s more? A thought strikes me. “I have an idea,” I say more quietly than I mean to.

  Americus eyes me. “Speak up. I can’t hear you.”

  My breath catches, and I squeeze my wrist to build courage. “What if Xyphotech took over the Republic of South America also? Their military was destroyed. It would have been easy, especially if Xyphotech compromised Neurôdados’ Eletron.”

  “Concerning for the RSA people, but not our problem,” says Americus. “We need to save America before we can do anything else.”

  Astrid runs into the room, her toned shoulders and biceps glistening with sweat. “We just got an encrypted report from Gabriel. They caught him inside of Xyphotech headquarters.”

  “I can’t believe he didn’t include me,” says Alexander.

  Americus pounds his desk with a growl. Ron Paul flies over to Alexander. Alexander rubs his back, and the raven leans into it.

  Americus sighs, and the bags under his eyes seem to grow darker. “He had to jump the gun. This is just like him.”

  “What do we do?” asks Nav.

  Americus clenches his jaw, his lips pursed. “We rescue the old fool.”

  Alexander stands and pumps his fist in the air. “Finally, some action!” He turns to me. “Wait until you see me on this mission.”

  After I relax from his outburst, I realize that I’d have to be there to see him. “I don’t have to go, right?”

  Americus looks at Nav, questioningly.

  Nav’s big brown eyes meet mine. “We could use your hacking skills, Fae.”

  My heart sinks, and I feel like I’m going to puke. People are always trouble. Always. I owe her, though. I nod to them, but I can’t help but feel like this will be my last act.

  ☼☼☼

  Alexander, Nav, Americus, Sunny, and I drive to the Xyphotech headquarters, outfitted in tactical gear and weapons with explosive ammo to penetrate Mark2 Security bots. We also have two q-links for complete invisibility. I made the program more efficient, but we also brought external battery packs so we won’t have to worry about running out of power.

  We park our invisible military vehicle a few hundred feet away from the main building.

  Americus turns to look at us. “Thanks for your help. This means a lot to me.”

  Nav and I nod.

  “Boss, whatever you need. I’m there,” says Alexander.

  Americus bumps Alexander’s outstretched fist, then turns his dark eyes on me. “Are you sure you can hack the door?”

  I incline my head, but I’m suddenly anything but sure. What if I mess up? At least Nav is here to help.

  “If all goes well, we won’t even have to use these guns,” says, Americus patting the bulge under his button-down shirt.

  Alexander shakes his head. “What’s the fun in that?”

  I like the idea of not having to use force. It will mean we stayed out of danger. Still, I’m glad to have the Torg that Alexander gave me. Who knows, maybe his gift will save my life one day.

  I rub Sunny’s dented head to calm myself. When I agreed to come, I said I was going to bring Sunny to give me confidence. Americus argued against it, comparing me to a child carrying a stuffed animal. When I said I wouldn’t come otherwise, he had to relent. I’m glad he did because I’d be a wreck without Sunny.

  I lean in and whisper to him, “Stay here. I’ll be fine.” I hope.

  He looks at me with a frown. I’m sure that he wants to argue, but he’s too smart to reveal himself as an AI again.

  We all jump out of the car.

  Americus holds up his q-link. “HQ, we’re beginning the rescue mission now. I’ll update our progress when I can.”

  “We read you, sir. Be careful in there,” says Astrid.

  We stroll up to the building in our professional clothes, a few employees walking next to us. Nav strides ahead, like she knows we’ll succeed.

  I can’t believe I’m doing this. With each step I take, my stomach pains me a little more, and my heart pounds a little faster.

  We separate from the employees and make sure no one is looking while we activate our cloaks on the way to the back of the building. Alexander, Nav, and Americus fade into the background.

  “I’m heading toward the side door. Contact me when you’re ready,” I hear Alexander say from an empty space nearby.

  “Chim, access Team Tracker.” A small holographic map with a cloaked back appears in front of me. The green dot that represents Alexander veers off. The others activate their trackers, and we jog to the back door.

  I stop at the door and access my q-link. “This is dangerous and won’t be easy. I created a stealth hacking program on the way over, but it’s experimental.”

  “Do you need help?” Nav’s voice comes from thin air.

  It’s strange to hear bodiless voices. It must have been devastating for Barbra. “I might. If I’m detected, I’ll need you to distract their cybersecurity while I access the door.” Luckily, I only have to breach the secondary systems. Otherwise, I’d have no chance.

  I enter the system and immediately detect five cybersecurity personnel, certainly all with the Evo. I crawl through their firewall’s code, searching for weaknesses.

  When I find what I’m looking for, I begin my assault, careful not to give myself away. The hot sun beams down on me, making it even more difficult. Sweat beads on my chest, but I ignore it, laser-focused on my task. One wrong move, and we could be surrounded by guards or worse, LR7 Drones.

  After some skilled maneuvering, I say, “I’m in.”

  “Navin smiles on us. You proved yourself worthy,” says Americus.

  “Best student I’ve ever had,” says Nav.

  My face flushes, but luckily no one can see me.

  “Alexander, we’re in,” Americus, says into his q-link. “Rattle the door.”

  I glance over to where Alexander should be, expecting to see him for a second. A pounding noise rings off the door, and an alarm sounds in the distance. Alexander’s radar dot speeds toward us.

  I open the door. A humanoid robotic guard disappears around a corner down the hall. I look left and right, wishing I could see Nav’s warm eyes or Alexander’s unwavering confidence. I step inside the corporate building. Drop ceilings and track lighting hang above my head.

  “I’ll keep you guys safe. Those robots looked nasty,” says Alexander, excitement in his voice.

  I follow behind him as we head toward a blue dot on the map. We turn down a hall and walk up a wide stairwell. A skinny man in a tie turns the corner and walks down the stairs.

  I freeze, as do the green dots around me. He walks by us, grumbling to himself about his boss, lost in his own world. We continue to walk, up the stairs, through a door, and down a hall to a locked office.

  Gabriel slumps in the back of the cell, his head lowered, and his hands entwined in prayer. “Oh Lord, deliver me from this evil—”

  “Your prayers are answered, old man,” says Americus.

  I access the backdoor I left in their firewall and unlock the office. It pops open with a click.

  “Is that you, old friend?” Gabriel asks as he pushes himself up.

  “You’re lucky I like you,” says Americus. He steps into the office and hands Gabriel two q-links, a battery pack, and a pistol for the escape. “Did you get to download their data?”

  Gabriel stands straighter. “I have a drive hidden in my skin compartment. They didn’t find it.” He activates his cloak.

  “Good work,” says Americus. He lifts his q-link. “HQ, we have Gabriel, and we’re extracting now.”

  Something hisses around us. I jerk my head around, trying to locate the source. What is that?

  Mist pours into the hallway.

  Americus’ broad back and Nav’s shocked face materialize before me. Alexander, holding his oversized magnum, appears to my right.

  Oh hell. This is cracked.

  Six robotic guards with attached guns march into the hallway, blocking
both escapes.

  “It’s a trap,” yells Americus as he fires.

  A sparking hole erupts in one of the robot’s heads.

  The other robots open fire just as we dive into the makeshift cell.

  “HQ,” Americus says into his q-link. “We’re under attack. If we don’t escape, don’t come after us.”

  “But sir—” Astrid starts to say before he cuts the connection.

  I crouch in the back corner, gripping onto Nav’s shoulder. Adrenaline pumps through my body, making thought difficult. I’m going to die. Why did I agree to this? What the hell!

  “God, help us through our plight,” says Gabriel, his pistol in hand. “Lend me strength, and I will be your holy sword against the agents of evil and the beast himself.”

  “Get ready,” says Americus. “When they show their faces, roast them.”

  We wait a tense few seconds, our guns trained on the door.

  “They’re not moving,” says Americus. “We’re going to need a distraction.”

  “Cube, patch me into one of the robots,” says Nav. “Come on, Fae, let’s get these noobs.”

  She’s right. It’s our only hope besides Alexander and Americus. I crush my panic and force myself to focus. “Chim, access the same robot.”

  I scan through the protective architecture of the robot’s programming. It’s different from the doors. More military-like. Complex. New.

  “Wait, I’ve seen something like this before,” says Nav. “I know what to do.” Her cybernetic hand blurs into motion as she mumbles code.

  I scan the firewall, learning the pattern until cybersecurity locates my q-link and begins an assault.

  Nav gasps.

  They must have found her too. I disengage and focus on defending her system.

  “I’m almost there,” she says.

  The five attackers hit Nav’s system at once. Their offensive programs eat away at her firewalls. I can’t hold them off for long.

  “I’m in,” says Nav.

  A hologram of the robot she controls appears before us. She jerks it to the side, and it clanks into the robot next to it. Alexander takes advantage of the distraction. He drops down and rolls from the office, his guns blazing.

  There are multiple clangs, and the robots on one side collapse. More gunshots sound from the remaining two robots. He rolls back in, a broad grin on his lips.