My mouth drops, and I glance at Nav. She shakes her head, her brow furrowed.
“You made an AI?” I ask.
“Don’t worry. He’s my friend, and I limited his intelligence.”
Okay. That’s good. But wait… “Could you create one smarter than you?”
“Maybe,” says Sunny.
Nav’s eyes widen.
Ooo. That could be a risk. “Don’t do that.”
“Hello, Fae,” says Moon. “I hope we can be friends too.”
I flinch back, not expecting the hologram to talk. “Can you dismiss him for now?”
Moon’s red mouth turns down as he fades away.
I sit next to Nav, and the fresh smell of her jasmine essential oil hovers around. I sigh, trying to relax from our ordeal.
“Your hacking was unbelievable today,” says Nav. “There’s no way we could have ever taken down the NIA without you.”
I smile at her, and some tension fades from my shoulders. “Or without you and everyone else.”
“Why did Director Tempton imply you weren’t human, Fae?” asks Sunny.
My stomach sinks. Why did he say that? I remember the feeling of letting my past go. Like clouds parting to reveal the shining sun, my mind expanded and split. Could that have been what Tempton meant by awakening? And is that why he implied I’m not human?
Then I remember my dad’s letter. He said meditation allows people to do miraculous things. Could he have been talking about the same thing as Tempton? I decide not to tell Nav and Sunny about my awakening.
“He was just messing with us,” says Nav. “That’s ridiculous. Of course, she’s human.”
She’s right. He had every incentive to fracture our group and break me down. I did something amazing with my mind, but so have many others throughout history. Nikola Tesla, Buddha, Baba Vanga are just a few if what Alexander’s mom told him is true. They were human, and so am I. My mom was Dominican; I’m Dominican.
“I can’t believe this isn’t over,” says Sunny, his tone muted.
I run a hand down my face. “Me either.”
Nav sighs, slumping forward. “I really thought that was the end, that I avenged my dad and Ty. Now, we find out the NIA wasn’t the top,” she says with a growl. “Maybe they weren’t even the ones who killed Ty.”
Oh hell, I hoped I was free of that. I put an arm around Nav to comfort her, but I’m probably as burned out as she is. Annihilating the NIA was a huge victory and, certainly, a blow to whoever is in charge, but come on. I want an end to killing, to madness, to risk. I want freedom. I want Nav, Sunny, and I on the beach, with Alexander doting on our every need.
“I wish we didn’t have to work with Gabriel,” says Nav.
“I know, but we need him,” I say.
She nods hesitantly. “How do you think the eye of providence is related to whoever is orchestrating this?”
I involuntarily shiver at the words. “I wish I knew.”
“I wonder if this could have something to do with secret societies. Many of them use that symbol,” says Nav.
I remember what Tom had said, ‘Secret societies have been controlling the world for thousands of years.’ Could he be right?
“Gabriel called it the all-seeing eye of God,” says Sunny. “Could this really have something to do with Christianity?”
“I don’t know. I never told you guys, but my foster mother also drew an eye, but it was the Eye of Ra.”
Nav shakes her head with a huff. “What’s going on? I can’t even think about this right now. It’s too strange.”
I’m not sure what scares me most, a secret society controlling us, the Devil eating our souls, or the Eye of Ra, a violent force that subdues Ra’s enemies. I pull at my shirt and exhale slowly, trying to relax. “We have the NIA’s internal data. We’ll crack it eventually and get answers.”
“How did the director die, though,” asks Nav. “He didn’t have the Evo.”
“I have no idea,” I say, “but it’s terrifying to think it could happen to us.”
Alexander walks in, his head high and a big smile on his stubbly face. Ron Paul sits on his shoulder, glancing around the room excitedly.
I sit up straight and smile back, my fears suddenly vanishing.
Alexander winks at me, his smile growing broader. “There’s the miracle worker.”
He sits down next to me, and the skin of his arm brushes against mine. My arm tingles where he touches it. I savor his nearness and the feel of his soft skin.
His masculine smell mixed with gun oil drifts around me. The combination is alluring, and I feel myself blush as another thought appears in my mind.
“How come you got so happy when Alexander entered the room?” asks Sunny.
Diablo, Sunny. I have to teach this nut some tact. I glance at Alexander with his wide grin. “No, I didn’t,” I say as calmly as I can manage.
“There was a clearly defined difference in your body language,” says Sunny. “Additionally, your heart rate and pupil diameter both—”
I give him a hard look, my finger to my lips.
Sunny nods to me, making it super obvious. “I meant to say…there was no change.”
I roll my eyes. Great.
Alexander bursts out laughing, rocking against me. Ron Paul leaps off his shoulder onto the cot with a caw.
Alexander’s mirth boosts my spirits, and despite my embarrassment, I laugh along. Nav giggles next to me, and suddenly, the pervading mood is positive.
Alexander looks my way again, and his gaze lingers, a sly smile on his face. I squint and smirk at him, unsure of what I’m seeing. Could he actually like me?
“Fae, what did the director mean when he said there are ancient powers at work?” asks Sunny. “That sounds distressing.”
The mood crashes, and a cold chill passes through my body.
Nav and Alexander look at me as if expecting some grand answer.
How the hell should I know?
When I say nothing, Alexander answers, “It doesn’t matter. We’ll just get more people, more weapons, and more training. My legend will expand ten-fold. And the Olympics are still a year away, so I have time.”
I grin and shake my head. He’s the Alexander that I know and love. He’s the Alexander we’ll need if we’re going to win. And he’s right.
I’ve dominated powerful cybersecurity and cracked the Evo itself. I’ve escaped two heavily armed prisons and destroyed a powerful intelligence agency that was infected by some evil. It’s not over, but I’ll never stop fighting, and I’ll never break again.
I stand and face them, my shoulders back, and meet their eyes. I’ve wanted friends my entire life even though I was afraid of the consequences. As long as I have them, I can do anything. I remember my last speech in Silent City, standing in front of perfect avatars, inspiring them to fight. This is no different.
“Alexander, Navin Briggs reborn,” I say, with a hand out to him.
He pounds his chest, then bumps my fist.
I motion to Nav. “Blaze, cyborg hacker and half of StarBlaze.”
She shakes her head with a chuckle.
“Sunny, bodyguard, best friend, and genius,” I say.
His green smile grows, and he pumps his fist like Alexander does.
I look at them all again, taking the time to connect. “No matter who our new enemy is, we will find them and thrash them. In our weakest state, we obliterated the entire NIA establishment. Think of what we can do when we grow, as Alexander suggests. From this day on, we gain power. FreedomFire forever.”
Nav nods, sitting up straighter. Alexander makes a fist, his eyes fiery.
I continue, “You’ve all seen what I can do, and I’ve seen what amazing things each of you can do. Together, we’re unstoppable. The director said we have no idea who we’re dealing with. But the truth is, they have no idea who they’re dealing with. We will win.”
“Commander Luna, Commander Luna,” chants Alexander.
Nav and Sunny
chant with him.
My face heats. “Come on, guys. Enough.” I wave at them to stop, but really…I love it. “We have challenges ahead of us, but tonight, we’re heroes. Let’s celebrate.”
Alexander beams. “Let the fun begin.”
Brandon pops his head in. “Partying without me? You’ll regret it.” He shakes a bottle of Gabriel’s scotch.
Nav grabs his hand and pulls him into a hug, then snatches the bottle and swigs it. “Here’s to all of us being together.”
About the Author:
Brian Terenna
grew up in a land of possibilities. He saw a path to all of them, but could only pick one. Now, he creates worlds, where fantasy is reality and reality is anything you make it. He runs a relaxation and meditation YouTube channel called, “The Calm Life.” His first two novels are “Talent Storm” and “Kissing the Intern.”
If you enjoyed this novel, please review it on Amazon. It is a huge help to me. Thanks everyone!
Brian Terenna Author Page
Looking forward to seeing you at the sequel: The Cyborg Anarchist
Did you find the secret code in The Astral Hacker?
The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1) Page 37
