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

and super-advanced evolved people. Once they learn how to increase intelligence and combine that with the Evo, norms will have no chance.

“Wait. One more thing came in,” says Gabriel. “The official story is that the chaotic behavior you witnessed is due to a chemical attack by the RSA. They didn’t mention the mark of the beast at all.”

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The room erupts in animated conversations and arguments about the various disturbing developments. I push on my stomach to dull the sick feeling that’s growing. Nav rubs my back as I sit, and gives me a we-got-this nod.

After a few moments, Americus says, “Listen up.”

The room falls silent, and everyone focuses on him.

Americus sits up straighter, lifting his chin. “We’ve just heard a lot of distressing news. The loss of President Toscano and Vice President Garza is crushing, but we must stay strong. What confuses me is why they would say the chaos before the attack was a chemical strike rather than an Evo hack.”

“It’s because you can’t trust the government,” says Nav, punctuating her speech with a quick motion of her cybernetic arm. “This is proof.”

Several Loyalists grumble and eye Nav with sour expressions.

Americus looks like his face is going to explode. “Enough! There’s got to be an explanation.”

I inch down into the couch, trying to escape. Nav clenches her jaw but lowers her head. I squeeze Nav’s hand, to try to help. She glances at me with a fleeting smile, then back down.

Americus sighs and his shoulders sag. “I don’t know what’s happening right now, but you’re right. Something strange is going on. Unless it’s some kind of new chemical attack, it wouldn’t happen like that. Fae, do you think it’s possible you made a mistake when scanning the people who were affected?”

Everyone turns to look at me.

I look down and shake my head. “I…I’m sure it’s the Evo. If it were chemicals, everyone would have been affected, including us. Plus, Barbra, Anna, and Sandra were all affected before everyone else.”

Americus rubs his beard, looking annoyed. “Why would they lie?”

“If they’re protecting the Evo, they’re in league with the Antichrist,” says Gabriel.

His Knights agree in murmuring assent.

“This fits with my theory, Americus,” says Weird Tom. “Secret societies have been controlling the world for thousands of years. The Evo is just their latest innovation in controlling the populace. I wouldn’t be surprised if aliens were involved.”

“We don’t have time for wild theories,” says Americus. “Let’s stick to reality.”

“It’s not wild. I have evidence that secret societies started Christianity and its takeover of Rome, murdered Archduke Ferdinand starting WWI, and were behind Hitler’s rise for WWII. And they were even behind the creation of the Federal Reserve.”

“Enough, Thomas! Not now,” says Americus. “We’re going to stick to the facts and figure this out.”

Weird Tom bristles but says nothing.

Diablo. Tom is out there.

“If they’re lying about the chemical attack, could they be lying about the RSA?” asks Astrid.

For a second, it looks like Americus will yell at her, instead, he says, “I did think it was strange that RSA jets snuck through our defenses. While they’ve made technological improvements, their stealth shouldn’t be a match for our detection perimeter. And why strike only Fort Stroudsburg on the first attack? They should have sent waves of missiles and struck as many bases as they could right away or not attack at all.”

Alexander pushes his long hair from his face and says, “I agree. It’s a death sentence. Had they planned it right, they could have won. I have a hard time believing anyone would have approved this attack plan.”

“Apparently someone did, though,” says Americus. “Many people saw RSA jets attacking Fort Stroudsburg.”

Hmm. This doesn’t make sense. There’s something going on. If you control the Evo, why would you only use it in Stroudsburg? They could have executed a third of the population and many people in power. Then if they all-out attacked, they would have obliterated us.

An idea hits me. It was something that Alexander said. I fidget with my q-link, and say, “What if the first attack wasn’t them? What if it was a—”

“False flag,” says Alexander, punching his open palm. “Some unknown adversary uses holograms to mimic RSA jets to start a war between the two countries.”

Americus’ eyes widen.

Hell. Was their goal to just destroy the RSA, or could it have been something more?

“Naveha, will you search independent media to see if they’re saying anything different about the attack?” asks Americus.

Nav nods, likely happy that he asked instead of ordered. She checks her q-link, then gasps. She magnifies the hologram for all of us to see.

It reads, ‘This mesh-site has been seized by the federal government and has been found in violation of the False Information Act.’

“Let me check more sites,” says Nav. “Blocked, blocked, blocked. Wait, here’s one that’s not, and it talks about a false flag. Let me see— they just blocked it.”

Americus bolts up. “This is a violation of the first amendment. What is that law? I’ve never heard of it.”

Astrid checks her q-link and says, “They just passed it.”

Americus growls. “I can’t believe that passed, even with the lower emergency vote requirement. Thomas, draw up legal papers to challenge the law immediately.”

I look from Americus to Tom. Legal papers? He’s a lawyer?

“You cannot challenge new wartime laws until thirty days after a war ends,” says Weird Tom.

Americus pounds his fist. “Damn, I forgot. The Final World War must have scared people out of their wits to pass trash like that.”

“These are the dangers of centralized power,” says Nav.

Americus shoots her a hard look but says nothing.

Nav continues, “The people who rise in power are the worst ones, and they always find a way to exploit the system.”

“Bah,” Americus growls. There’s no way that’s