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

I think of all our in-game interactions, all of our victories, strategies, and conversations. What could I tell her? “I’m not nearly as shapely as my avatar.”

“What?”

“You said you had a hard time believing I could be such a great leader and so shapely. I’m short and thin.”

“So, it’s really you?”

“It is,” I say, my voice cracking and pitiful.” Then in a rush, I say, “Everything is falling apart. I wanted to help you, but then something horrible happened. And then I was mugged, and I don’t know what to do anymore,” I say, feeling myself begin to break down.

“Shhh. Shhh. It will be all right. Come here. I’ll help you.”

☼☼☼

The sun shines down, and birds chirp happily in the distance, making things seem less bleak. I walk down the busy streets, trying to step carefully without drawing attention to my limp.

I check my q-link’s power level for the third time, even though it’s almost full. Nearly running out sure did a number on me. With this amount of power, my holographic disguise will easily last. Just a regular girl walking with her little brother.

I can’t help wondering how much Blaze has in common with her toned, attractive avatar. She’s probably a slob with no teeth. Everyone always wants his or her avatar to look good. I think of mine, tall, muscular, someone who could lead. Not someone like me.

We step up to a tall apartment building in the bad part of town. The overgrown grass does nothing to distract from the colorful curses graffitied on the pavement, shed, and even the complex’s lower levels. It looks like one of the dilapidated buildings in Silent City.

Sweat drips down my body, but I’m not sure if it’s from my nerves or the summer heat.

I walk through the open entryway and take the elevator to her floor. I lift my hand to knock on her door, but hesitate and murmur to Sunny, “Remember to talk dumb. She can’t know what you are. This is very important.”

His little-boy head nods in a rather robotic way.

I considered temporarily overwriting his language programming, but it feels wrong, like duct taping a child’s mouth shut. He was always good around Barbra. I’ll just have to trust him.

I take a deep breath and knock.

Blaze appears before me in a tank top. She has the same pretty face, the same full lips, and the same smooth, dark skin. She’s even wearing a colorful headband. She’s just like her avatar. All except her right arm and shoulder, which is a chromed metal cybernetic enhancement.

I meet her eyes, and although they’re the same ones I’ve seen a hundred times, they’re red and puffy.

She squints down at Sunny, then back at me. “StarFeather?”

“It’s me.”

She motions us in.

We enter her small one-bedroom apartment. My q-link connects and begins to restore the power I used on the way.

Scratches and stains mar the walls, and a fist-sized hole gapes in the ceiling, exposing support beams above a coffee table. A small pile of drywall dust lies on the table next to a laughing Buddha statue. There’s no other furniture.

“Sorry about the place. I just moved in,” she says, sweeping up the drywall dust with her hands.

It’s a million times nicer than the house I just left. At least there are no rats…I think. “I’m just happy for your help.”

“And who’s this little guy?” she asks, pointing to Sunny.

I let my disguise fall away. “Sunny, you can drop the hologram.”

He does and morphs into a little metal robot.

“Wow, you have military face-shift software.” She looks at me again. “You’re so much smaller than your avatar.”

I wince. And slower, weaker, and less confident.

“And so young. What are you, fifteen?”

I stop myself from rolling my eyes. “Seventeen.”

“That’s smart to choose a taller, older avatar,” she says, oblivious to my annoyance. “It helped you command.”

My heart lifts a little because of her compliment. I wonder how much harder it would have been to lead if my avatar looked like me. I shake my head at the thought of me standing in front of a group of soldiers, giving orders before battle. I’m sure there would be plenty of laughter before a real leader took over.

“You’re so exotic looking and what pretty golden-brown eyes.”

If she notices my blush—and how could she miss it—she doesn’t show it.

She examines me closer. “How did you get that bruise and that cut? From the mugging? Your clothes are all ripped too. And, oh my God, look at your neck.” She walks up and touches my shoulder, her other hand hovering near my bruised eye. “Are you okay?”

I turn to conceal my icy hatred toward the mugger.

“And what’s this scar?” she asks, pointing to my right wrist.

I hide my arm behind my back. “It’s nothing.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get you fixed up,” she says, misinterpreting my body language for pain or fear. “Face-shift software is illegal. What did you need it for? Did you hack it?”

I ignore the first question, not ready to talk about it. “I didn’t want to risk it. I programmed it.”

Her eyebrows rise. “You were always my best student, but wow. I still have some tricks to teach you, though.”

I’ll need them if I’m going to figure this out and escape the police. “Looking forward to it, teacher.”

“Let me see what you’re working with?”

I raise my square-faced, black and green q-link. “It’s a Lumicode 3000,” I say with a grin.

“That’s a nice model, more advanced than mine. I like Lumicode too, not that Xyphotech garbage. And what’s this? A Foster Buddy?” she asks.

“I call him Sunny. He’s been with me for years.”

Blaze grins down at me like you would a puppy, then pulls me into a tight hug. The sweet smell