The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1) by Brian Terenna (best ebook reader .txt) 📗

bomb blast. Above ground, the rest of Gabriel’s large holo-emitters mask our vehicles and the bunker’s entrance.

Alexander sits at a table, methodically cleaning his large revolver. Next to him, Ron Paul pecks at a handful of blueberries with relish. Nav and Sunny wait for me in our room, and I think Brandon is resting in his own.

Gabriel’s followers group around him.

I stop to listen, curious as to what he’ll say. I still can’t believe I stood up to him, but my confidence has come a long way. And it will grow even more as I continue to trust in myself and my friends.

Gabriel raises his hands, and his followers quiet down. “Today, we lost our sister, Martha. She died in the fight against the Antichrist, but her soul lives on in Heaven. Let’s take a moment to pray for Martha.”

The Knights bow their heads and clasp their hands.

It was a miracle that we lost only one person during the battle, despite the number of injuries. Maybe it was divine intervention.

“Our fight against the Antichrist goes on, but do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.”

The Knights cheer and praise God.

His people love him; they’d follow him into hell. He may be imposing, older, and more experienced, but I’ll never let him control FreedomFire.

The Knights disperse, chatting amongst themselves.

I walk up to Alexander’s back, his muscles showing through his military button-down as he brushes the barrel of his forty-four magnum. The smell of gun oil touches my nose, and I smile at the familiar scent.

“Hey, Sprite. Let me just finish this one part.”

“How’d you know it’s me?”

“I can tell from your footsteps,” he says. “They’re quiet since you’re a fairy.”

I shake my head with a chuckle. He puts down his revolver and turns his green eye and eyepatch on me.

“Nav, Sunny, and I are going to hang out in our room,” I say. “Join us if you want.”

“I don’t know…I was going to figure out who the main boss is and end him, but maybe I can do that later,” he says with a mischievous grin.

I giggle. What a nut.

“I’ll be there in a bit, Sprite.”

I leave for my room to find Nav sitting on the cot and Sunny standing nearby. A hologram that looks like Sunny stands next to him.

“What’s that?” I ask, pointing to his doppelganger.

“This is Moon. I wanted another bond like we have after going through this. I realize now I could lose you,” he says with a frown.

Aww. I rub his dented head but shake mine. It’s just like when I programmed Sunny after years of isolation. “You won’t lose me.”

He shrugs, unconvinced.

I look back at Moon. He’s nearly identical to Sunny. Same short legs, expandable arms, and little eyes. Only his eyes are red.

Sunny’s mouth curves upward. “I wanted a better friend than Bean, so I made him self-aware, like me. All I had to do was copy my base program.”

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,