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

rip and tear at my bonds to free myself, then choke Director Tempton until his eyes pop out of his head.

I think about Nav and all of our times together, in Silent City, and after when I saw how warm and caring she was. She took me in when I needed her most, fed me, clothed me, and lent me her ear. I felt a stronger connection to her than any other human, including Barbra.

I picture Nav, her large brown eyes, her toned muscles, and her puff of hair that’s held back by a colorful headband. I imagine we’re together, researching a new game to play or brainstorming apps to create. Various holographic trees and exotic flowers of all colors fill the room. I try to feel her essence, her kindness, compassion, and confidence.

The scene morphs into another. She seems so close and lifelike as if I could reach out and feel her smooth skin. She’s standing in a dimly lit empty room, wearing a spider-silk vest. She holsters her cannon-pistol like she’s gearing up to fight the NIA…or to rescue me.

I want to be rescued more than anything, but I’d never want her to try. I glance at the menacing Liberator drone. Forget about me. It’s too dangerous.

Her gaze snaps up and seems to lock onto me. I gasp, and the image fades.

I shake my head and think of Alexander. He wanted to save the country for glory, of course, but also because he cared. I picture Sunny, my little buddy, who always wanted to protect me. Now I may never see them again.

Gusts of wind whip up around me, bringing the smell of a storm. I slump forward, and seconds later, the skies open up to pour down cool rain.

☼☼☼

I jerk awake to see a bearded man a foot in front of my face. I gasp and try to protect myself, but my arms are trapped. I inhale sharply in alarm before I remember where I am. Tied to a pole, tricked and captured. Abused and used for bait.

I squint at the morning sun, and the agony of my battered body sends me reaching back for sleep I can’t grasp. I grit my teeth against the pain and shake my head to clear my foggy mind.

“Captain Bosu wants you,” says the muscular guard at the top of the ladder. “I’m going to untie you. Don’t struggle.”

I blink my dry eyes, feeling a weariness that surpasses even the sleepless nights after Barbra’s death. The night on the pole was the worst of my life. Wet, cold, and in pain, I desperately sought sleep. The hours felt like days. Finally, I must have passed out in my delirium.

I try to speak, but my mouth is dry, and the words come out as a garbled groan. I try again and manage to say, “Water.”

The bearded man’s stern look fades to pity. He peeks over his shoulder at Captain Bosu, who talks to some of his guards. The bearded man opens a canteen and holds it to my lips. I drink thirstily as I glare at Bosu.

“This will probably hurt,” he says as he pulls the knot at my wrist.

The scraping of the rope burns against my abraded skin. He does my other wrist and then left upper arm. It leaves all of my weight on my right shoulder. I gasp at the strain.

He puts a hand under my arm and unties the last rope with his other hand. I collapse onto him and cringe at the feel of his bare hands on my skin, only protected by my bra and underwear. He doesn’t seem to take pleasure in the task, though. He lowers me to two more guards, who grab hold and take me to the ground.

They’re foolish to untie me. It increases the chances of escape infinitely. I’ll just have to wait for the right moment.

Bosu walks up, a few guards milling about in the courtyard behind him. “Ah, Fae. How was your night? Did you have sweet dreams?”

“Yes.”

Surprise flashes on his face.

“I dreamed I was at your funeral, sipping champagne. But maybe it wasn’t a dream. Maybe it was a prophecy of the future.”

“I dislike you,” he says. “If I had my way, you’d hang from the pole until you starve to death. Director Tempton has other ideas, though.”

“What ideas? Why did you take me down? Did your plan to kill the rest of my friends fail?”

“No. We’re still expecting them. But I have some good news. Rather than waiting, Director Tempton decided we should install the Evo in you now.”

A jolt of fear hits me. “If you install the Evo in me, I’ll take over your networked weapons instantly, and you’ll all die. You’ve enslaved millions of minds, but you have no idea what I can do.”

“We were aware of that possibility, which is why the director sent me a new Evo with a backdoor installed. We’ll be able to cut through your defenses before you can do anything.”

Another wave of dread hits me. No…. They’ll turn me into a puppet, a zombie. I won’t exist anymore. “I’ll locate and patch the backdoor before you can use it. You can’t win,” I say, but who knows if it’s true. At least, I’ll have a chance, no matter how small.

Bosu shakes his head with a mock frown. “The director thought of that too, so we decided not to risk it. We’re going to soften you up first. I’d like to see you beat us after this.” He looks to the side as if he’s mentally contacting someone through his Evo.

Thirty seconds later, several guards carry a reclined metal chair with clamps and wires.

Bosu gazes at it, his sociopathic smile growing. “I wanted to use classic torture like I did for Americus, but I was overruled. This will hurt