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

but if you’re reading this, I’m gone. Below, I left you the private keys to enough money to get you to my sister’s house in Texas. Go to her. She’ll take care of you. I hoped it wouldn’t be necessary to use, but the following was my insurance policy. I told you I quit being a military analyst because I heard disturbing news. Here it is. A large company is planning a false flag attack on Fort Stroudsburg. I don’t know who or when, but the fort is in on it. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to make us targets. I suppose it didn’t work. You don’t need to avenge me, but maybe you can use this information to protect yourself. I love you. Goodbye, Fae.’

A surge of emotion crashes into the walls I’ve built to protect myself. I love you too. Goodbye, Barbra.

“Fae,” says Americus through my q-link. “Did you have any luck?”

“Yes,” I say, forcing away my sadness.

“Very good. Meet us back at the couches.”

 I leave my room, composing myself, then enter the main hall. The Loyalists and Knights gather around.

“What did you find out?” Americus asks me.

“She knew there was going to be a false flag attack on Fort Stroudsburg. She said it was being orchestrated by a large company, but she didn’t know which one.” I wonder if it was Infoworld Media.

“How could she not say something?” asks Americus.

“Maybe she was worried for her life,” says Naveha.

Americus shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. A true patriot would have done something.”

I look down, embarrassed.

“Dad, stop,” says Nav.

Americus’ furious eyes bore into her. “I’m in charge here, and I’m still your father. Watch your tone.”

“Not everyone has the guts to face great risk, like us Americus,” says Alexander. “Let’s give her foster mother the benefit of the doubt.”

Americus looks like he’s going to snap at him but nods.

I incline my head to Alexander. He winks with a slight smile.

“It doesn’t matter now anyway,” says Americus. “Naveha, are you ready?”

“Yeah, I have the reporter on hold. I’ll put it on speakerphone. Hi, this is Officer Jain. I have a few questions about Sandra Clark. Can you tell me what news story she was working on before she was let go?”

“She got weird at the end,” says Sandra’s coworker. “She thought she was in contact with someone from Xyphotech, who apparently said the company planned to use its control over the Evo to gain power. Sounded like a crazy conspiracy theory to me. When I found out she had schizophrenia, it made a lot more sense.”

“Thank you. That’s all.” Nav hangs up.

Americus slams a table next to the couch, steely rage in his eyes. A small New American flag topples over. “Xyphotech has usurped our republic. As evidenced by the recent votes, they can control the minds of anyone with the Evo, which is over two-hundred million people. They own the acting president, the legislative branch, the military, and most of the police.”

Loyalists and Knights curse and vow retribution.

A wave of anxiety leaves me shaken as I fully absorb our new dystopian reality. A malevolent company—the creator of the mind-altering Evo—controls everything. I want to puke, but I breathe through it. Then I realize the other implication.

With South America’s defeat, Xyphotech’s Evo is one step closer to beating Neurôdados’ Eletron to the international market. Then the entire world will be enslaved, and there will be nowhere to escape to.

Americus motions for silence. “Navin said, ‘If the government doesn’t serve the people, the government must be severed from power.’ Loyalists, Knights,” he says, his arms rising. “We are the blade that will sever this evil and free America!”

Knights and Loyalists jump to their feet and cheer.

“I’m all in,” says Weird Tom.

“Goodness will prevail,” says Gabriel.

Alexander thumps his chest. “They will all tremble before my might.”

“If anyone can do it, you can,” says Asher as he smacks Alexander’s back. “Just don’t hog all the glory.”

Americus gives his people time to react, then raises his hand to silence them. “We need solid proof that we can send to the country, the United Nations, and the rest of the world that the Evo is compromised and Xyphotech is responsible. Naveha, Fae, I need you to hack Xyphotech and also Infoworld Media since they’re complicit in the cover-up.”

  CHAPTER 11

COMRADE IN PERIL

Nav sits next to me on our bed and takes a sip of her water. The smell of her jasmine perfume floats around me. Sunny is on the floor, messing around with a pile of electronics.

“I’ve been waiting for you all day,” says Sunny, his voice flatter than usual.

Poor guy. “We’re here now.”

“What are you making?” Nav asks Sunny.

“I’m working on increasing the efficiency of a motor I created.”

“You’re good to have around, Sunny,” says Nav.

His glowing mouth turns up, and he dives back into his experimentation.

Nav pushes aside an empty jar of coconut oil and puts down her water glass. “Are you ready to start this hack?”

I have so much on my mind that I can’t focus. “Not really…. What’s that coconut oil for?”

“I put it on after the shower as a moisturizer. It’s what I add my jasmine essential oil into. Looks like I’ll have to figure something else out.”

“I love how jasmine smells,” I say. “Hey…sorry about being distant this past week.”

“What’s been going on?” she asks. “I was worried about you. You’re not thinking about leaving, are you?”

“I decided to stay.” Until I erase my debt to you, at least.

Nav’s face lights up, and she grabs me in a tight hug. It feels great to be in her arms again and to see her warm smile. Of course, it’s the last thing I deserve.

“We’re going to