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

“No,” Alexander yells.

Then there’s a thump, and he’s silent. A gun goes off, and there’s another thump. My vision clears to a hazy view of Americus and Alexander on the ground.

Oh no. Was one of them shot? I react on instinct. The years of foster homes have taught me to run, but Alexander has taught me to shoot. I tug the gun from my pants and twist to face the hazy figures of masked men.

“Watch out,” screams Astrid.

A heavy object smacks into my head, and the world fades away into darkness.

☼☼☼

Something grinds against my back, and I groan in pain. I open my eyes to see a bright sky and some creep dragging me. I push off the ground to free myself.

The man’s grip is like steel as he yanks me forward and tosses me. I roll and hit a wall.

“Leave her alone,” demands Astrid from nearby, venom in her voice.

I sit up, pain pulsing in my head from where they hit me. Astrid sits against the wall. Her hands are zip-tied together, and her eye is black and blue.

An unshaven man with a gut looms over us, pointing a gun at my head. Another short but stout man with a dimpled chin stands next to him. Neither of them has a q-link, so they must have Evos. We’re in an empty alley, nothing but trash and dumpsters.

“You and your friends are coming with us as soon as our ride gets here,” says the man with the gut.

Like hell that’s happening, but what can I do? I don’t have my gun anymore. I’m still dazed too and don’t even know if I could stand.

“Why don’t you dance for me while we wait?” The chubby man asks me.

My stomach crawls. I want to spit or curse at him, but that would only get me beat.

“The boss wouldn’t like that,” says the stout man.

His partner scowls at him. “I’m just kidding. You need to lighten up.”

What could they want us for? Who knows, but I’m sure it’s not good. I need to escape before their ride gets here, but how? The guys were taken out, so they’ll be no help. I look over at Astrid. She’s tied up, so I can’t count on her either.

I stare down at my q-link. I hacked the Evo once. Maybe it’s updated, or maybe it was a fluke, but it’s my only chance. How can I possibly do it, though, while he’s holding a gun on me?

I glance behind our captors, wishing I could run, but I can’t leave the others. Can I take the men down somehow? I almost laugh. Yeah, right. I’m going to knock out two robust men, and then hack the world’s most secure device in seconds.

An autonomous van drives up, and the back opens.

Oh hell. Looks like I’ll have to escape after they take me.

“Time to go,” says the man with the gut. He reaches for me with one of his thick hands. I recoil back.

Astrid jerks her arms apart with a growl and snaps the zip tie, all while leaping up. She roundhouse punches the shorter man. He drops to the ground, his eyes rolling back. She darts to her left and tackles the man with the gut, slamming him down.

This is it! For a split second, I consider charging in to help. I’m much stronger now, but I doubt it’s enough. I have to use my best asset. “Chim, access the nearest Evo. Execute the puppet software.”

Astrid grits her teeth, and her substantial muscles bulge with exertion as she struggles against the larger but less fit man.

Come on, come on. The hologram of my program appears in front of me and attacks the Evo’s code.

Partway through, it stalls.

Xyphotech must have updated its security. Oh hell. I spout code to enhance my program while my hands speed through the motions of selecting and unselecting sections. The changes are complex, but I won’t be stopped.

Astrid wrenches the man’s gun away.

Yesss. We’re going to win.

Before she can turn it on him, he smacks it out of her hands. She moves to punch him, just as the man’s fist crashes into her head. She collapses on her back.

My eyes widen as I keep programming. Oh hell, oh hell…just a little bit more.

The unshaven man goes to kick Astrid in the ribs, but she rolls away, then leaps up again and strikes him with a straight punch to the face. The man grunts and clutches his bleeding nose.

Astrid darts for the gun, but the stout man, now recovered, gets to her first and grabs both her arms. She pulls forward, her muscles bulging.

The other man steps up and punches her in the ribs before she can escape. He pummels her with punch after punch in the face, chest, and stomach. I want to leap up to stop him, but I’m much smaller than he is. I keep hacking as fast as possible. It’s the only way for me to save her so that she can be with Yumi. He punches her several more times, but it gives me the time that I need.

Hell, yes! I’m in. I just need to—

The brute whips around, grabs my shirt, and lifts me like I’m a stuffed seal. “What are you doing over here?”

I gasp but keep focused, a rare rage flaring inside me. “Chim, open his hand.”

I fall to the ground with a grunt and roll backward. “Chim, make him get the gun and target his partner.”

The chunky man reaches out for me, but his hand slows as if moving through tar. His eyes widen. “What? What’s happening to me? What did you do?”

As if a puppet controlled by a child, he twists and lumbers toward the gun,