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

of what happened,” I say. “It could also come in useful.”

She purses her lips and looks down. “You’re probably right. Things are just a lot different when you’re not in a game.”

That’s for sure. Death is so much gorier…and final.

“How will we know if it works?” asks Nav.

“We’ll have to ungag him.”

Americus walks up to us and glances at the prisoner. “How’s your progress?”

Nav motions to me. Americus turns, and I’m instantly anxious.

It felt natural when Nav deferred to me in-game, but it still feels strange in real life. “So far…well…” Oh hell. “I mean. It’s—”

He lowers his hands in a calming gesture. “Take your time. You seem nervous.”

I take a few mindful breaths, relaxing further with each one and feel grateful that Nav taught me the technique. I wonder how much more relaxing meditation would be. “We got my program to a point where we can control him physically. It seems absolute.”

“That’s very good,” he says. “You might be one of two people who can hack the Evo. I’m starting to see why Naveha thinks you’re so special.”

I turn away with a smile. Am I special? I’ve known for a while that I could out-hack most people, even ones with the Evo, but I always thought it was just my hard work.

“Where are you going to go from here?” he asks.

I tell him about our plans to induce hallucinations and other emotional states.

“Good, good. Once you calm down, you know how to explain yourself well.”

“We’ll need to take off his gag, though,” I say.

“Let me get Thomas to sedate him.”

I shake my head, my hair springing back and forth. “Not necessary. I can freeze him.”

“Do it,” says Americus.

I do, and Americus ungags him and then locks him back up. The man starts yelling.

I inhale sharply. “Chim, close his mouth.”

The man’s mouth clamps shut, and only muffled sounds escape.

Americus’ eyes widen. “This is something else. Can you induce pain? I have some questions I want truthful answers to.”

Nav winces. “I don’t think that’s right.”

Americus sighs. “Naveha. Why do you have to go against everything I say?”

She stands, her eyes level with his. “It feels wrong, and I’m not comfortable with it.”

He turns on me. “And you?”

I feel small under his gaze, but I don’t like the idea of inducing pain. Can I force him to tell the truth in another way? “I agree with Nav, but I might be able to get you answers. One sec.”

I research the areas of the brain that activate when people lie. The thalamus, the caudate, and the anterior cingulate cortex. If I suppress the activity of those areas… “I think I can force him to tell you whatever you want to know.”

“Good, good,” says Americus. “Do it.”

I suppress the areas of his brain.

Americus leans in, his eyes locking on the man. “What were you doing at the distribution center?”

The man’s face twists as he opens his mouth. “We were sent to capture you all.” His eyes widen as if surprised by his own statement.

“By whom?” demands Americus. “How did you know we’d be there?”

The man’s face twitches as he tries to resist. “Boss didn’t tell me.”

“Who’s your boss?”

His shoulder slump as he resigns to my control. “She killed him,” he says, his attention making my skin crawl. “I don’t know anything about him. Just that he pays me.”

“Who’s his boss? Do you know anything about the government coup?”

“I don’t know anything about that,” the prisoner says. “I was just trying to feed my family.”

Americus grunts. “This is very disturbing.”

“Dad,” says Nav.

He turns back, a frown on his face.

“Are you going to kill him when we’re done?” she asks.

“Naveha, this man nearly killed Alexander and your friend here. His accomplice beat Astrid half to death.”

She nods. “That’s horrible, but he didn’t do it. I understand killing in the moment, but we don’t have to be executioners. Can’t we let him go when we’re done?”

Americus scrunches his face, looking like he’s wrestling with the idea. “Even though he doesn’t know where we are, it could still put us at risk.”

Nav purses her lips, then asks, “Fae, can you disrupt his memory of his time with us?”

“Probably. Let me work on it.”

Americus rests a hand on Nav’s shoulder. “Good thinking. That should eliminate the risk. If you can erase his memory, I’ll respect your wishes.”

Nav breaks out into a grin. “Thank you, Dad.”

A small smile forms on Americus’ lips as he nods. It’s about the most affection I’ve seen him give her since I’ve been here.

“Before we release him, though,” says Americus, “keep testing out your capabilities. I want your control to be perfect.”

Gabriel eyes us with a scowl over the hologram of something he’s reading.

“Do you want to have dinner later, Dad? I want to clear the air and catch up.”

“Maybe tomorrow or some other day. I have a lot to think about.”

Nav deflates.

Americus rubs his beard as if in thought, then asks, “The Evo can be removed at any time, right?”

“Yes,” says Nav. “That’s always been important for its adoption.”

“I want you to make sure that nothing has changed with that,” he says.

That’s smart. “Chim, remove the man’s Evo.”

“This feature has been disabled,” says my q-link.

Diablo.

Nav gasps.

Americus grumbles. “Fae, is this something you can work around? Or you, Naveha?”

“Let’s take a look,” says Nav.

We bring up the code and scan it together.

“Look, here it is,” says Nav.

I examine the section of code closer. “I should be able to get around this. Give me a minute.”

I alter sections of the code as they stand over my shoulder. Their attention makes me uncomfortable, but I ignore them and keep