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

“Remember what he said, ‘Patience and proper planning are the keys to victory.’ He was a great leader because he didn’t rush in. You know more than most how much I hate the NIA, but this is how we have to do it.”

Hell yeah, Americus.

Alexander sits down. “I respect your decision. I’ll pay for whatever weapons you want as long as I have the money left.”

Nav and Yumi nod along, and the other Loyalists give their consent.

“I’ll update you all when I speak with my contact,” says Americus. “For now, everyone rest up.”

The Loyalists separate while Tom picks up his cards. I kneel and help him. He acknowledges me but says nothing.

I build my courage and ask, “I heard you and Sunny talking about aliens creating the ancient Egyptian religion. What do you know about the Eye of Ra?”

He stops collecting cards. “You’re interested in ancient aliens? It’s always nice to talk with another theorist.”

“Sure,” I say, not wanting to burst his bubble.

“The Eye of Ra was the creator god Ra’s attack dog. There’s some evidence that aliens used some drone-like weapon to subdue dissent.”

Weird. “So you think the Egyptian gods were aliens?”

“I do, along with the serpent-like Naga described in the Hindu religion, the Anunnaki in Sumer, and the Hopi’s Ant People. Also, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, and many others were likely aliens.”

Diablo. He sounds crazy.

Nav grabs my hand. “Mind if I borrow her?”

Tom waves a dismissal.

“Let’s go to the room. I want to talk,” she says to me.

We walk down the hall, Sunny following.

“It was good that you spoke up,” says Nav. “I wanted to attack immediately because I hate the NIA, but you’re right. Delaying makes sense.”

I’m glad she sees it my way. “Alexander is going to get us killed one day. We need to make sure to temper his brashness.”

We reach our room and sit on the bed. Sunny walks over to the corner, summons Bean, and dumps out his bag of tech to mess with.

“I want to tell you something,” says Nav.

I glance at Sunny.

“He’s fine. I never told you this, partly because it happened a couple weeks before we met in person.”

A wall of anxiety slams into me. “Yeah?”

She adjusts her headband and looks out the window. “I don’t know if you heard that news story about the NIA blimp crashing into a wedding.” She exhales long and slow. “That was my wedding. My husband, Ty, was killed that day. That’s how I lost my arm, and that’s why I detest the NIA with every fiber of my being.”

I see the blimp crashing into them, followed by screams of horror and pain. Flames burst forth like the fires of hell as Nav crawls from the wreckage, her arm a crushed mess. Warm bile rises in my throat, and I want to hide. I swallow hard. It takes everything I have to appear normal. “That’s horrible. That’s why you want revenge so much.”

She nods, her eyes flat and lifeless. “I don’t know if they targeted us because my dad was protesting or for some other reason, but I know it wasn’t an accident. I will have my revenge.”

It feels dirty and wrong to lie, but what can I do? Admit it? I want to. I want everything to be in the open and have her forgive me. She never would, though. I’d lose her as surely as she lost her husband. And the Loyalists would be much less likely to take down the NIA without me. “We’ll get them, Nav. The NIA is finished.”

“You look tough. I’ve noticed a change in you lately. You’re still shy, but every once in a while, I get a glimpse of StarFeather. You must be practicing the body language I told you about.”

Hmm. Like StarFeather. I want that, but she’s just being nice. I’m still too shy to say much at meetings and still too pathetic to tell Nav what I did.

☼☼☼

The next day, Nav, Sunny, Astrid, Yumi, and I all sit on the bed in my room. Astrid’s wounds are fully healed thanks to healing patches and concussion recovery medication. At least the huge pharmaceutical company, Bioplex, is good for something. The four of us chatting on beds is a regular thing now. My initial discomfort around them and reluctance to open up is gone, and I consider them my friends. I already know more about Astrid and Yumi than most people in my entire life.

“I can’t believe you programmed all of that,” Astrid says to me. “You’re like a prodigy.”

I look down, feeling warm.

“I need an app made for my business,” she says. “I was going to hire this programmer, but I’ll hire you instead.”

Awww. “I’d love to help. I’ll do it for free.”

“You won’t find anyone better,” says Nav.

Astrid grins at us.

“You should come watch one of Astrid’s powerlifting competitions after we save the country,” says Yumi. “She’s hardcore. Tell them about your injury story.”

Astrid points to a long scar on her forearm. “I was lifting for first place when the weight slipped and broke my arm. Compound fracture,” she says with a wince.

“At least you placed second,” says Yumi, squeezing Astrid’s muscular butt.

Astrid’s eyes widen, and she pushes her hand away. “Not here,” she whispers. Then as if it didn’t happen, she says, “We should all watch one of Yumi’s performances. Her band is so good live. Tell them who you opened for.”

Yumi’s lips turn up, her eyes crinkling. “Twisted Light.”

“Wow,” says Nav. “I saw them once. I love Connor Gray. He has such a resonant voice.”

I nod excitedly, even though I haven’t heard of them.

“Your band can play at one of Astrid’s competitions,” says Sunny. “Then we can see you both at the same time. That would be more