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

I wonder about his scar again. I’m not sure if I should ask, but I go for it anyway. “Sorry if this is rude, but where’d you get that scar on your face?”

He touches his cheek and smiles. “I can’t believe I didn’t tell you. We were at a Xyphotech protest a couple of years ago, and I jumped in front of a baton strike for Americus. He still gives me props for it.”

Maybe that’s why he always fist-bumps back. “How come you didn’t get it fixed?”

“No way. Every time I look at it, I get reminded of what a boss I am.”

I chuckle.

“Where’d you get that burn scar on your wrist?”

I cross my arms. “It’s nothing…but I just had this great idea. The lasers that generate the holograms from my q-link would be able to create a dazzler effect. I’d just have to build the program and disengage the safety mechanisms.” It would drain my battery like crazy, though.

“That’s smart. You sure have a mind on you.”

I look away with a smile.

“You should take smoke grenades too. That’s a third great way to escape. You’ll just have to wear those glasses that Americus has to see through the smoke. They probably have them too, but you’ll have time while they switch modes. What weapons are you going to take?”

“The Torg since it’s easy to conceal, but I can still have high capacity magazines.”

“Right, right,” he says, nodding. “What about that amazing trick when you took over the laser turrets? It’s another prison. Maybe you can do it again.”

“They probably updated the code, but maybe not. I’ll have to prepare a program to hack the doors too. I’ll ask Nav about it since she did the hack. Or maybe they’re the same as the prison Nav and I escaped.”

“How did you manage that anyway? I don’t even know if I could pull that off.”

Hell, that’s the most modest thing I’ve ever heard him say. “It took Nav, Sunny, and then you to succeed. So in a way, you did pull it off.”

“I’m glad I did. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have you here,” he says with a wink.

I lower my head.

“It still seems wild that you were in jail. You’re so gentle.”

It’s mostly an act. “That was actually the second time I was in jail.”

“Really? What was the first time?”

“I was caught stealing money for food at nine. They kept me in detainment for two nights. I remember my cold sweat as the older and crueler kids harassed me. Unfortunately, when I returned home, my punishment was the cherry on top of a rotted cake.”

He lowers his eyebrows. “I wish I could have been there to help you.”

Aww. I wish he were too.

“Sounds like you had a rough childhood,” he says.

“It was, but because of my experience, I’ll be able to help people avoid what I went through. When this is over, of course.”

“Good attitude. I’m still surprised Americus didn’t want me on this mission.” Alexander stands from the bed, looking determined. “You and I would be unstoppable. A dashing, bold, and deadly secret agent teamed with the greatest hacker the world has ever known.”

A giggle escapes my lips. I shake my head and roll my eyes. I’d prefer him as my partner too, though. Americus is certainly a capable fighter, but Alexander is deadlier with guns. I picture myself back behind the dumpster, a mass of drones targeting me. My mind flew through computations and patterns, and my words built the code. But I was too slow.

I had been prepared to die. Then Alexander whipped around the corner, his long hair illuminated by the sunny backdrop, his face in shadows. He fired, and drones fell like flies to a flamethrower.

“We should put a tracking device on you. We could hide it under your hair. That mop will hide anything,” he says with a smirk.

I push at his shoulder. “Hey.” He’s right, though. If things go wrong, he’d be able to find me. We can use Sunny’s new design so it’s not detected.

 “I’m sure you won’t need it, though, since you’re…you. But if necessary, I’ll rescue you.”

I smile at him, admiring him for his kind words, but then for his rugged bone structure, his long wavy hair, and his sharp, vibrant eyes.

“You’ll be fine with Americus,” he says as if knowing my worry. “I saw him come down on you hard, but he was just upset about losing Yumi and Astrid.”

I stare at the ground, all of my worries and failures returning to haunt me.

We discuss contingency plans and strategies for a while longer, until Alexander asks, “What do you want most out of life?”

I rest my chin on my knuckles as I ponder the question. “I want connections with people. I’ve always been so isolated.”

“I’m close to my mom,” he says. “She’s really supportive. And Americus, he’s super interesting and knowledgeable. But otherwise, I distance myself from most people by keeping things light.”

All his boasting and jokes. “What do you want most?”

“To be a famous legend like my dad and to impress my mom. You only get to live once. I want to make it grand so people will talk about me like they do about General Briggs.”

I should have guessed.

“But it’s more than that,” he says, surprising me. “I want to help people get back the freedoms they deserve.”

So it’s not just for himself. “I can relate to that. I’d like to be admired too, but what I really want is to come up with technological ways to make things better for people. I think I can make a difference. It’s more my style than fighting in battles and being shot at.”

“I find battles to be exciting. You don’t have to