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

working. “There. Got it. Chim, remove the Evo.”

The man’s mouth pops open.

My eyes widen. What?

“Warning!” comes from the man’s mouth but in a strange tone. The man’s eyebrows rise. “A permanent physical change has been made to the Evo. Attempting to remove it will activate barbs, which will destroy this person’s brain tissue.” His mouth clamps shut again.

Gabriel looks up again, a deep frown pulling at his lips.

“This is bad,” says Alexander, who walks up behind us.

“Obviously,” says a shirtless Brandon from nearby.

Alexander scowls at him but turns to Americus. “I’m sure glad we didn’t get the Evo.”

“You’re right,” says Americus. “This is alarming.”

Now, not only is everyone with the Evo vulnerable, they can’t even get rid of it. I shiver even though I’m sweating from nervousness.

I glance at Gabriel again and don’t like the angry look on his face. At least, we shouldn’t have to hold the prisoner for much longer. Then Gabriel can calm down.

 I check the code from the new message to see if I can learn anything from it. My brow furrows as I study it. It’s unlike any of the Xyphotech code I’ve hacked. Strange.

 “What’s wrong?” asks Nav.

“Maybe it’s nothing, but it’s not a typical Xyphotech code.”

Americus’ expression darkens. “They must be working with someone. Hacking the Xyphotech drive is our top priority now,” says Americus. “Until we have enough proof, we can’t do anything.”

“Let’s get to that, Fae,” says Nav. “First, let’s get a bite to eat.”

We reach the kitchen, and I open up the fridge. Cool air blows by me as I grab a carrot from the oversized bag we got from the distribution center. It crunches as I bite into it.

“Gabriel, no!” yells Alexander.

I spin around, as do Americus and Nav next to me. Gabriel aims an assault rifle at the evolved man in the cage.

  CHAPTER 16

SHOCKING BETRAYAL

“Don’t Gabriel,” warns Americus.

Gabriel fixes his cold eyes on Americus. Americus stares back, shaking his head in warning. The contest of wills lasts only a moment before Gabriel pulls the trigger.

“Nooo!”

Gabriel lowers his gun, but it’s too late. The evolved man’s body is riddled with bullets and bleeding out on the ground.

“I told you no,” Americus growls, his fists balled.

Gabriel rounds on Americus. “I’m on God’s mission. I don’t follow your orders anymore.”

Americus shakes his head. “You gave your word.”

“I’m sorry, old friend, but the promise I made to the All-Mighty far outweighs my duty to you. No one who accepts the mark can be forgiven, and they can’t be trusted. This is very clear in the bible.”

Americus’ eyes bore into Gabriel, his nostrils flaring. Gabriel’s Knights begin to congregate around him, hard looks on their faces.

Alexander stands at Americus’s side, his military shirt and long revolver making him look imposing. Brandon and Weird Tom walk up behind us. Then Asher, Silas, and all of the other Loyalists whose names I can’t remember cluster around us, everyone except Yumi, who sits on the couch.

Oh hell. Suddenly, I want to be anywhere but here.

“Drop the gun, Gabriel,” says Alexander. “You defied a direct order. Surrender yourself.”

Gabriel doesn’t move, but some of his men’s hands inch toward their guns. I slide back behind the fridge and peek out. I’m not dying for this ridiculousness.

Nav growls, her eyebrows dipped. “You’re a murderer.”

Gabriel scoffs. “He was a servant of the beast. He no longer had a soul. Now that the mark has locked itself, we have to kill them all.”

A chill runs through me at the cold edge of his voice. I glance backward, considering leaving. What about Nav, though? “Nav,” I whisper. “Come back here.”

She looks back with a scowl and waves me away, her other hand moving to her gun.

So much for that.

“The Deacon was right to kill him,” says one of his Knights.

“If anyone worships the beast, he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath,” says a pudgy Knight, as his hand creeps toward his gun.

The others nod along.

Alexander steps forward. “That’s beside the point! Americus gave you an order, and when you’re here, you follow orders. What happened to loyalty?”

Gabriel scowls. “Loyalty, Boy? I’ve been friends with Americus for thirty-five years. You’ve known him for two.”

“But I’d never betray him. Now, submit,” says Alexander.

“Don’t do it, Deacon. We have to continue the mission,” says a thin woman to Gabriel’s right.

“We needed more information about the Evo’s weaknesses,” says Asher. “This is war.”

“They nearly killed Astrid,” says Gabriel. “Don’t you care?”

Yumi nods, her usually cheerful face like stone. “I’m glad you killed him.”

“Yumi,” Americus growls.

“But you still should have followed orders,” she adds, then stands to join the rest of the Loyalists.

Alexander’s gun rises a fraction of an inch. Nav’s gun is in her hand. The Knights’ guns slowly rise.

I duck further behind the fridge. Idiots.

“Enough,” yells Americus.

Everyone goes silent.

“Lower your guns. All of you.”

I peek out and see them comply.

Americus eyes Gabriel. “I’ve lost faith in you and our friendship. I’m not going to hold you here, but you have to leave now.”

Gabriel’s hard face melts into something that resembles regret. “Everyone, pack up your gear, and Winston, take Martin and grab the large holo-emitters.”

“We might need the infrared mimic and extra range they provide,” says Americus.

“They’re mine,” says Gabriel. “You’ll have to make do with your q-links. But don’t worry. I’ll use them for the cause.”

His cause now seems much different than Americus’.

Americus balls his hands into fists, his forearms tense. “Thomas, Yumi. Get rid of that corpse.”

They walk over to it. Yumi leans down and spits on the body.

“Sir,” I say.

He turns his dark eyes on me.

Somehow, I don’t wilt back. Maybe