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

heart leaps into my throat. The device detonates, sending a pulse through the air.

Nothing seems to happen at first, but then my friends materialize around me. I look at my q-link in dismay. My battery is dead. So is my external one. Oh hell no. A battery-drainer.

Another robot sprints around the corner. Alexander’s gun flashes, and the robot’s head explodes. Alexander blows the smoke from the barrel with a big grin.

He’s enjoying this. What a lunatic.

“As fun as this is,” he says, “if we can’t get out this door, I’ll eventually run out of ammo.”

“Our q-links are dead,” I say. “I can’t hack it.”

Nav steps up to the door and slams her metal hand into it like a jackhammer. Once, twice, three times. Her efforts dent the door, but it’s not nearly enough to free us.

She screams and pounds the door again to no avail. “What were you thinking, Gabriel?” growls Nav.

Gabriel frowns. “It’s in God’s hands now.”

A large stomping sound comes from down the hall. Something big. Something dangerous. Something our ammo won’t hurt. Nav steps in front of us, her metal arm raised to defect bullets.

I’m cornered with no way out. What can I do? I glance at the headless robot on the ground. Maybe I could rip off one of its weapons? No. It wouldn’t have power. Steal someone’s q-link? No. I won’t be able to get by the massive robot. Besides, I’m sure they all have the Evo anyway. I groan in frustration.

“Any ideas?” Americus asks us.

I shrug. I’m nothing without my q-link.

Nav shakes her head.

“I’ll gun us a path out of here. We just need to distract that big killer robot that’s coming,” says Alexander.

“All the doors will be locked. It won’t matter,” says Americus.

Nav looks around nervously.

What the hell? I’m screwed again for being around people.

“Fae?” someone asks from the other side of the door.

“Sunny?”

“Are you in trouble?”

Of course, he didn’t stay where I asked him to…thankfully.

“I saw the door shut and got worried,” he says.

Americus squints at me.

“They drained my q-link. I can’t hack the door,” I say.

“I planned for this possibility,” says Sunny. “I upgraded myself after the last power issue you had.”

Americus looks between Nav and me, his eyes wide.

Alexander shoots another humanoid robot. The pounding footsteps of the other monstrosity continue to get louder.

“I’m going to beam you power,” says Sunny.

My q-link lights up, and the battery charges. Twenty, thirty, forty. I access the code and trip the lock.

The door pops open.

I glance back, and the stout ten-foot tall robot, with thick armored plates and imposing cannons, rounds the corner. Its unfeeling red eyes scan us. We sprint outside, slam the door, and flee to our vehicle.

As soon as we’re inside, Americus activates the cloak, then says into his q-link, “We have him, Astrid. We’re heading back now.”

“Thank, Navin,” says Astrid.

My breath comes in ragged gasps, and I feel like my heart might explode. I force myself to take steady meditative breaths, deep into my stomach. After a few, my brain-gripping fear dims.

 “Thank you, Lord, for our safety,” says Gabriel. “I am yours.”

Americus frowns, one hand still on his pistol as he starts to drive. Nav grabs my hand and glances at Sunny with a frown.

“Boom,” says Alexander. “Did you see me? I destroyed those robots. One shot, done. Wasn’t I great, Americus?”

Americus doesn’t respond.

“It’s because my ancestors were Roman. Greatest empire of all time. We need more guns next time.”

Next time? This guy is crazy.

Americus’ frown deepens. “We’re safe, and that’s good,” he says to all of us as he stops the car.

Xyphotech is in the distance now but still too close for comfort. Why is he stopping?

He turns around and lifts his gun. “Now we need to dispose of this human-level AI,” he says, eyeing Sunny, his face hard as steel.

  CHAPTER 12

REMARKABLE ALLY

I wrap myself around Sunny to protect him from Americus. “You can’t kill him. He’s my friend.”

“That thing can upgrade itself,” says Americus. “It could network and take over the world. Get away from it now.”

Nav draws her gun and points it at Americus. Her hand is steady, but there’s a slight quiver in her lips. “Dad, put it down. He’s a conscious, thinking being, and he just saved us. Plus, he’s saved my life before.”

Americus’ eyes go wide and then harden. Alexander glances from Americus to Nav, his jaw dropping.

“You must know better, Naveha,” says Gabriel, his own gun drawn now. “AI and people who accept the mark of the beast are soulless abominations.”

Americus takes one hand off the gun and holds it up. “Stand back, Naveha, and lower your gun.”

“He’s not dangerous,” she says, her voice strong and courageous. “Lower your gun.”

Americus growls, then turns on me. “Where did you get this thing?”

I want to disappear, but I force myself to calm down and focus. “I made him. He’s self-aware, has memories and experiences, and is just as alive as you or anyone else. It’s murder if you kill him,” I say as clearly and firmly as I can.

Gabriel gasps. “You think you can play God? Do it, Americus. End it.”

Alexander rises, his blazing eyes drilling into Americus. “Enough. Put down your guns,” he says, punctuating the words with motions of his hands. “Sunny is a hero. He put his own life on the line for us. He’s part of the team now.”

Americus’ eyebrows drop, shading his dark eyes. He grits his teeth as if he’s trying to chew iron. The muscles in his thick forearm tense and relax several times. He breathes out slowly, holding Alexander’s gaze, then he looks to the side, his knuckles pressing into his lips as he