The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1) Brian Terenna (best novels to read to improve english txt) 📖

that my obsessions on the past are the problem. I always thought I had to relive my past horrors to avoid them in the future, but by reliving them, I never escaped them. It’s time to let go.

As I do, my head clears as if a mighty wind pushes aside the obstructing smoke. A burst of understanding sparks in my brain. Whereas before, I couldn’t fathom how to split my mind, it’s now as obvious as a children’s logic puzzle.

My mind splits into two pieces and then four, each equally as powerful as the others. I still can only hack one section at a time but can solve all the problems at once. I push back against their cybersecurity and strengthen multiple sections of code in my firewall, stalling their attack. An intense feeling of pride and amazement at my skills surges inside me. I am the greatest!

Nav’s eyes widen as she sees what I’m doing. “How?”

My firewalls hold, and Alexander must be far enough away now.

“Chim, target the NIA structure with all six missile turrets,” I say. “Fire.”

The six missiles slam into the roof in a deafening boom. We’re far away, but the shockwave blows my curly hair into a wild mess. An immense churning cloud of fire and smoke plumes upward as if the devil himself has unleashed hell on earth.

The black cube collapses in on itself, becoming a towering pile of rubble. Alexander disappears in a cloud of smoke.

My breath catches as I wait for him to emerge. Nav raises a fist to her lips, worry written on her face.

Alexander bursts from the smoke and charges forward, the director squirming in the suit’s grip.

Yes. We did it. It’s over!

“Praise God!” says Gabriel. “We have the Antichrist.”

His Knights of Christ whoop and thank the Lord.

Brandon lifts his rifle overhead and cheers. “Thank Navin. I knew you could do it, Commander.”

Nav hugs me with a broad smile on her face. “You’re the best hacker the world has ever known. You thrashed those noobs.” She turns and looks up. “It’s over, Dad. Like your hero Navin, we did it.” She kisses the wedding ring on her finger. “This is for you, Ty. We have our revenge.”

Brandon walks over and holds his arms out to Nav. She glances at her ring, then back to him, hesitating. Just as it looks like he might lower his arms, she steps in for a hug. He grips her tight, and she molds into his arms.

She deserves it after all she’s been through.

“Miriam,” says Gabriel. “Take B squad and surround the building. If anyone yet lives, kill them.”

The redhead squeezes the cross around her neck and jogs forward. “B squad, fan out around the perimeter,” she shouts. “Kill the beast’s minions.”

Alexander stops in front of me and opens his cockpit, holding Director Tempton by the waist in his suit’s hand. The man’s white hair sticks up, and his rumpled shirt is missing several buttons. He struggles to free himself, all his former composure gone.

“Victory,” says Alexander. “A perfect ending to my first legendary adventure. I’m looking forward to the next one,” he says and winks at me.

I shake my head at the goofball. I want to hug him and not let go. He was so close to death that seeing his smile again is like basking in the sun after a month of darkness. And now that we’ve won, I can be with him without worrying, assuming he even likes me, of course. I’m too shy to hug him, though, so I hold out my knuckles.

He bumps them, then looks back at the smoking rubble. “America is saved because of our brilliant planning.”

I feel the weight of the world fall from my shoulders.

“Like David slaying Goliath,” says Gabriel. “I believe you’re blessed by God, Fae.”

Diablo. That’s a lot to live up to.

A few gunshots bang in the distance, presumably the Knights killing anyone who survived the explosion.

“Now let’s get what we need out of this trash and end him,” says Alexander. He drops the director to the ground.

The old man leaps up to flee, but before he can take three steps, Nav grabs him with her enhanced arm and lifts him over her head. He twists around and strikes her in the face. She gasps, scowls, and then slams him to the ground. He grunts and gulps for air.

Gabriel’s Knights raise their rifles and Nav rubs her face, her eyebrows lowered.

Once Tempton catches his breath, he says, “You’ll never get away with this.”

I ignore him. “Chim, scan the area for non-friendly life-signs.”

“There are no NIA operatives remaining except for the director,” says my q-link.

The shameful loss of life makes me sick. I step up to the man, my fists clenched. “You killed countless people in your quest for power. You killed Barbra, Astrid, Yumi, and Americus. You think you can enslave us? You’re wrong. We’re FreedomFire, and we’ll always keep America free.”

The director stares at the ruined and smoking NIA building, then looks at me. His eyes are but a shadow of the reptilian ones I saw back at my last prison. “I won’t try to run again,” he says, then stands and adjusts his blue suit and tie.

“Everyone, stay sharp,” says Gabriel.

“I see that I’ve underestimated you again, Fae.” Tempton chokes out a sad laugh. “You beat the most complex cybersecurity in the world. Your mind must be waking up.”

“What does that mean?” I ask. “Tell me what you know.”

Gabriel touches his cross and speaks to the sky. “We’ve done it, God. I praise your glory. And now, we purge the Antichrist in your name.”

The director squints at Gabriel, ignoring me. “What are you talking about? I’m certainly not the Antichrist.”

Gabriel steps up, grabs the man’s shirt, and pulls him close. “You dare lie