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

at the thought of going on another risky mission.

“Let me go instead,” says Nav. “I don’t want to put Fae in danger.”

“No. I’ll go,” I say, feeling even sicker. As much as I don’t like it, I can’t let her do this for me after what I did to her.

“Let me go with her then,” says Alexander, sounding hopeful.

Americus rubs his beard while gazing off into the distance. He focuses again and shakes his head. “It has to be me.”

Alexander sighs. “Americus, come on. It’s me. You’ve seen what I can do.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve made up my mind.”

Alexander throws up his hands. “And what do we do if the kill-switch doesn’t work?”

“It will work,” says Americus.

Alexander frowns and nods, although I’m not sure if it’s from agreement or resignation.

“What do you think about the plans your contact sent?” Americus asks Gerald.

“It looks thorough to me, sir. Our entry cards will get us through a rear door, and my contact sent the code for the cell they’re held in.”

I wonder who his contact is and why Americus doesn’t ask.

“He has also provided pictures and voice signatures of three guards that we can mimic with face-shift holograms and voice mimicking programs,” says Gerald. “We shouldn’t even have to kill anyone.”

“Let’s hope so,” says Americus, “but we’ll be ready to.”

“That reminds me of your old joke,” says Gerald. “What was it? Join the Marines, meet interesting people, then kill them.”

Americus chuckles. “That was it.”

“You used to have such a dark sense of humor,” says Gerald.

Americus grunts. “Don’t have much of one at all now. Send all the data to Alexander and me. I want to review everything.”

Gerald gives them the code to access the documents.

Americus reviews them, nodding as he does so. “What do you think, Alexander?”

Alexander studies the plan. “It looks sound, Boss. Just make sure you bring enough weapons.”

“Zill, show me the location on the map,” says Americus.

A holographic map projects from Americus’ q-link. An indicator blinks about twenty miles outside of town.

“What about the military checkpoints and drone surveillance of the town’s border?” asks Americus.

“We have a tunnel,” says Gerald.

Americus nods. “And transportation once we’re out?”

“I have another contact that will leave us a cloaked car past the checkpoint.”

I know that Gerald was a high-level employee at the NIA, but how did he get this info? I also wonder who this other contact is. We should really check them out too.

I look up at Americus, knowing I should say something, but his unforgiving eyes and the deep lines between his eyebrows keep me silent.

“We can’t afford to screw this one up, Fae,” says Americus. “Sunny must stay back.”

I suddenly feel even smaller. “He will.”

Americus grunts. “I’m serious. Make sure he does. We’ll bring nine-millimeters with suppressors and wear vests under our clothes. Each of us will have a battery pack and two q-links to cloak with if things go wrong. We’ll leave half an hour after we get our uniforms and cards. Gerald, get us the supplies.”

I groan inwardly. That’s so soon. I’m still reeling from our last encounter, my nerves crumbling like an outdated firewall.

I touch the chain around my neck that Americus gave me. It holds a small glass vial, containing our former prisoner’s Evo. Even though I’d never install it, I had Sunny remove the brain shredding barbs.

It’s crazy how something so tiny can have such a huge impact. The exponential speed would make me a hacking god. Of course, I’d just as likely be turned into a puppet.

☼☼☼

Not long after, I leave for Alexander’s room.

“Astrid and Yumi, Mom,” he says. “I’m not sure if I can do this anymore.”

I stop at the doorway to listen. The smell of gun solvent drifts around me, familiar and welcoming. It’s not that it smells nice. It just reminds me of Alexander.

“You’re a Fiore, a natural hero. You have the blood of kings, Alexander. I don’t ever want to hear you doubt yourself again. Just keep reading the book I recommended.”

Natural hero…blood of kings…now it all makes sense. I can’t believe he doubts himself, though. He always seems supremely confident.

“Sorry, Mom. You’re right. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”

Awww. That’s sweet.

“Love you, Son. Make me proud.”

I wait a second and then enter the doorway.

Alexander lounges back in his bed, propped against pillows and rotates his dad’s gold medal. “Oh hey, Sprite.”

I sit on the end of his bed. “I’m worried about this rescue.”

“I can see why. You won’t have me to watch your back,” he says, his usual grin returning.

“You’re right,” I say, wanting him to be like he usually is. “Will you help me make some extra tactical plans?”

He sits up and puts his medal in his pocket, his lips stretching into a giant smile. “Commander Luna, you’re back. Finally, we plan our first mission together.”

His smile is infectious, and I turn away. He’s such a goofball.

“Should we get Americus?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I’d rather it just be us. We can fill him in after.”

“Alright, Boss. What are you thinking? It can’t be too bulky, or it will give you away.”

I’m nodding. “Right. But something that would help me escape if things go wrong.”

“Flashbang grenades always come in handy,” he says. “It’s much easier to escape a bunch of blind, dazed people.”

He’s right. I used to use them in Silent City when breaching a room. “What about sonic nauseators?”

His face screws up. “What’s that?”

Too bad I didn’t have Sunny make some earlier. “Nothing. Do you have dazzlers? Those lasers that blind people? Those are helpful too.”

Alexander purses his lips, the scar on his cheek moving with the motion. “I wish. If Americus wasn’t spending all of my