Cyberian Affair

by Mark A Pryor

  “Just watch your feet until we get in the helicopter. We’ll get you some shoes later.”

  “Helicopter? What’s going on? Where are we going? Who are you?” Niko tried to see beyond the bright lights. Something large was sitting in the field across the street.

  The man slowed his walk. “You can call me Mister Smith. You’re not safe here. We’re taking you where we can protect you.”

  The faint outline of a large vehicle appeared when they reached the street. As they walked closer, Niko saw a small commercial helicopter, silver and black, no markings.

  He looked at the man who called himself Smith. “Are you FBI? Do you know who tried to kill us?”

  “We’ll debrief you after our flight.” He opened the door to the chopper and stood to the side. “Get in. Watch your step.”

  The vehicle was on runners, like a sled. A bar parallel to the ground acted as a step. Niko cautiously set one foot on it before entering. The inside looked like the seating area for a small corporate jet, a pair of seats facing forward and a pair facing the opposite direction.

  Vyper got in next and took the seat beside him. She took his hand. “Do you trust these men?”

  The engine started, and the blades began to turn, making enough noise to drown out normal conversation.

  Niko leaned in close and kissed Vyper. He raised his voice. “Everything’ll be fine.”

  I hope.

  Secrets

  Chapter 23

  Niko peered out the helicopter window at the ground below, dimly illuminated by a crescent moon. He held Vyper’s hand and looked into her questioning eyes, but he had no answers. All he could do was shrug his shoulders.

  Who are these people? Where are we going? Are we in danger?

  His mind raced through the clues. The people who attacked the house could have been Russians. Mister Smith and the others arrived after their call for help to Homeland. They probably stopped the Russians. Then someone called them on the bat phone.

  These have to be the good guys.

  During the shooting outside Vyper’s home, someone with a bullhorn had identified themselves as the FBI. But Mister Smith didn’t act like someone in the FBI. And why did he use a fake name?

  The helicopter took a turn. The pitch of the engine changed. Niko spotted a body of water ahead, maybe a river. The chopper headed down, but the land below was all forest.

  They landed on a circular concrete pad in the center of a clearing. The engine noise faded into the background. Niko unfastened his seat belt. “We’re here. Wherever that is.”

  Vyper nodded her head toward the flight deck. “We have company.”

  Smith walked up to them. “A driver will be here shortly to take you to your temporary home. I’ll see you in a few hours.” He opened the door and left the chopper.

  Niko shook his head. “Talkative guy. Looks like answers will have to wait.”

  Vyper wrapped her arm around his. “Do you really think we are safe?” She laid her head on his shoulder.

  He moved his mouth close to whisper in her ear. “I don’t trust them, but I believe we’re safe for now. Let’s try to make the most out of it until we learn more.”

  A young man, not much older than Niko, walked through the open door. His hair was trimmed closely, and he wore a dark business suit. “I’m your driver. Follow me.” He turned and left the chopper.

  Niko stood and took Vyper’s hand, leading her outside.

  The man stood beside a dark SUV and helped Vyper and Niko into the back seat before getting into the front.

  Niko peered through the narrow opening separating the front seat from the back of the vehicle. “Where are you taking us?”

  “Mister Smith will debrief you.” A dark window slid shut, blocking their view of the driver.

  These folks took security seriously, and so did Niko. He held a finger to his lips and slid next to Vyper. They rode in silence along a two-lane road through dense woods. With the front view blocked, all they could see were the trees lining both sides of the road.

  Ten minutes later, they turned right, driving twenty feet before they stopped. When they pulled forward, they passed iron gates attached to stone pillars, then drove onto a road, or possibly a driveway, surrounded by a manicured lawn, and came to a stop.

  The driver slid the back door aside and helped Vyper out of the SUV. Niko slid across the seat and stepped out in front of a four-car garage.

  Vyper held his arm.

  Behind them, a driveway led from the gate to the car and continued around the side of the garage.

  Before Niko could begin to explore, the driver took charge. “Follow me. Stay on the pavement. When we get inside, don’t open any doors. If you encounter anyone, do not speak to them.”

  A large stone house appeared around the corner, tall chimneys on either side of the sprawling mansion. A dozen windows dotted the first floor, with a dozen more in dormers above.

  The driver walked ahead to a covered entrance and opened a heavy wooden door.

  Niko led Vyper into a foyer that looked like it belonged in a modern hotel. A stairway led up to the right, blocked by a “Restricted Access” sign on a chain. Straight ahead, a few wooden seats and bookcases lined the walls along the corridor with a few doors on each side. At the end of the hall, they turned left into another corridor. Halfway down, the driver opened a door on the right and waved his hand toward the entrance.

  The two of them stepped inside. The room was large—a combination living room, dining room, and kitchenette.

  “Make yourselves at home,” said the driver. “You’ll find fresh clothing in the closet. Don’t leave before Mister Smith arrives.” He turned around and left.

  Vyper held a finger to her lips. She took a tour of their new living quarters, Niko at her side. She walked to the window and opened the curtains, revealing a small lawn leading to a wooded area. A door on her left opened to a full bathroom. The door on her right led to two bedrooms, each with a king-sized bed. In one closet, she found two pairs of pants and two blouses that proved to be her size, plus some pants and shirts that would fit Niko, hanging above two pairs of tennis sneakers. Inside a dresser drawer she discovered underwear and socks.

  Vyper chose an outfit to wear. “I need a shower.” She kissed Niko and walked away.

  Niko figured anything he did on his phone would be monitored, so he checked out the TV and turned on the news before settling into the couch. He thought about Smith and his people. They had been helpful and generous, but they hadn’t shared any information. Worse yet, anything he and Vyper discussed could be recorded. He hadn’t gotten much sleep last night and his eyes were getting heavy. The local news droned on in the background as he dozed off.

  Vyper’s kiss woke him up. When he reached out to her, she jumped back, a smile on her face. “No hugs until you take a shower.”

  Niko stuck his lip out in a fake smile. “If you insist.” He kissed her, grabbed something to wear, and headed to the bathroom.

  The hot water and change of clothes raised his spirits. He was ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.

  When he stepped into the living room, Vyper stood and wrapped her arms around him. She turned her head as though to kiss him, then whispered, “We cannot stay here, constantly being watched … listened to. It is creepy.”

  In a low voice, Niko responded. “We must … for now.” He kissed her.

  All alone in a strange place without their possessions. They had no computers or video games, and he didn’t feel free to talk or use his phone. They sat next together on the couch and watched TV.

  When a chime rang, Niko got up and opened the door. “Come in, Mister Smith.”

  He nodded and entered, carrying a briefcase, wearing the same suit as earlier in the day. Something about him seemed a bit less intimidating—perhaps his loosened tie or the hint of a smile. “We have a few things to talk about.”

  Niko pointed to the breakfast island in the kitchenette. “Why don’t we sit o
ver there.”

  Smith sat on a tall stool, opened his case, and removed a folder. He looked across the table at Niko and Vyper. “Do either of you have any idea what happened tonight?”

  When they both shook their heads, Smith continued. “A five-man team assaulted your home. Three men were found inside the house, dead.”

  Niko nodded. “They came after us. It was self-defense.”

  “We have no reason to doubt you. The FBI arrested two men who tried to escape—one is hospitalized.” Smith opened the folder and pushed a picture of Vyper across the table. “Each gunman had a picture like this in their pocket.” He flipped it over, revealing a single word handwritten on the back—PRIXSTER.

  Vyper’s hand flapped and she began to rock. The front feet on her stool lifted and returned to the floor.

  Niko put his arm around her shoulder.

  Smith slid the picture back into his folder. “Neither of the captured gunmen would talk at first, but one of them finally agreed.” He fixed his gaze on Vyper. “Alexei Sokolov hired them.”

  Vyper shook her head violently and flapped both her hands. “No! He is dead!”

  “We’ve received several reports that Sokolov faked his death,” said Smith. “The man we interrogated seems to support those reports. The bodies of he and his wife were disfigured—head shots, and their hands were missing. It’s possible this fooled Russian investigators, or perhaps they were paid off.”

  Niko held his grip on Vyper. “You’re safe. He can’t get to you now.”

  Smith placed his hand on Vyper’s arm. “Are you okay? Is there anything you need?”

  Her head stopped moving and she clasped her hands together. “I will be fine.”

  Niko whispered to Vyper, “I love you.” He looked at Smith. “Who’s Prixster?”

  Smith raised an eyebrow. “Let’s be honest with each other. Sokolov figured out Harris … I mean Vyper, was Prixster. He sent these people to snatch her—alive. The suspect we’re holding told us Prixster has something Sokolov needs, but he had no idea what it was.”

  Vyper sat up straight. “I cannot go home. He will keep searching for me. We need to hide.”

  “We can help you with that.” Smith removed some papers from his folder. “In return, we need your help to stop the Russian cyber-attacks.”

  Niko leaned forward, hands on the breakfast island. “We appreciate your help, but I’m confused. We’re already helping Homeland.”

  Smith pushed a document in front of them. “This is from the personnel office of Crystal Intelligence. You are no longer assigned to the Homeland project, they have reassigned you to my organization.”

  “They did this without talking to us? Suppose we didn’t want to be reassigned?”

  “Homeland can defend the country without your help.” Smith slipped the document back into the folder. “The only way to stop Russia is to go on offense. And that requires overseas assets—our specialty.”

  Niko exchanged a look with Vyper.

  We’re working for the CIA?

  Part III: Offense

  Making Plans

  Chapter 24

  Safe House, somewhere in Virginia

  Niko’s first night in the safe house had been a restless one. Twice he awoke in a sweat from a nightmare and reached out to Vyper for comfort. The details of the dreams quickly faded from his memory, except for Sokolov’s cruel smile and Vyper’s screams.

  After breakfast, he sat on the couch next to the woman he loved, the TV volume loud enough to make eavesdropping difficult. He leaned closer to her and whispered, “We have to stop Sokolov and Zatan before they find you. If the CIA can help us eliminate them, we should do whatever they ask.”

  Vyper wrapped her arm around him and nodded.

  At eight o’clock, right on schedule, a chime rang at the front door. Niko greeted Smith who stood next to a large suitcase and held a briefcase.

  The mysterious man from the CIA wheeled the suitcase inside. “I brought some of your clothes. We’re keeping the rest of your things in storage for now. If there’s anything you need, just let me know.”

  Niko was tempted to give him a list of demands but thought better. First, it’s time to listen. He led the man to the island in the kitchenette where Vyper had already taken a seat.

  Smith sat and opened his briefcase. “Our conversation yesterday must have raised a lot of questions.” He placed a folder in front of him. “Let me begin by saying that I trust both of you, and I hope to earn your trust.”

  Niko took a seat and glanced at Vyper, whose face gave away nothing.

  Smith raised an eyebrow. “I can see you’re not convinced. Nevertheless, we have to work together.” He opened his folder. “Let’s talk about your assignments.” He slid a document across the counter to Vyper. At the top, it displayed the security classification: SECRET//ROPE2//SHADE. “This is your first assignment. It should be simple for someone with your talents. We want you to develop software that can penetrate a Linux system, using techniques that security experts have never seen before. Something that won’t be detected by up-to-date security programs.”

  Vyper nodded. “I understand. You need a zero-day implant. What does this Linux system do? Where is it and how do I access it?”

  “I can’t divulge that. We’ll use our field operatives to handle the insertion. The security precautions implemented on this computer are stringent. The document lays out all the details. In addition, we have a test computer, with the configuration of the target system, sitting in a lab.”

  “What is it for?” asked Vyper.

  “As I said, I can’t tell you. We operate on a ‘need to know’ basis.”

  Vyper leaned forward. “Fair enough. But why me? There are hundreds of people with the skills for this. Besides, you said we are going after the Russians.”

  Smith took the papers from Vyper and leafed through them. He handed it back, opened to a page labelled TARGET. “There’s more. Once the program is operational on the Linux system, it must search for a specific industrial controller. Here are the specifications. Once it finds the target, the program should try to insert another implant onto the controller.” He looked at Vyper’s quizzical expression. “No, I can’t reveal what this specialized machine does. However, an identical machine is sitting in our lab for testing.”

  Niko rested his hand on Vyper’s arm. “He wants you to plant a bug that could take control of machinery. It might be a train, a power plant … for all we know, it fires nuclear weapons.” Niko turned to Smith. “Isn’t it true?”

  “You’re asking about a hypothetical. You’re not cleared for the details.”

  “Okay,” said Vyper. “What else does this software have to do?”

  Smith flipped through a few more pages. “It must open a communication channel to reach my team in a way that’s difficult to detect. My team will use the channel to send software updates. And one final requirement.” He poked at three words on the page. “Insert the phrase ‘KILROY WAS HERE’ inside the implant … in English, disguised by weak encryption.”

  Niko resisted saying anything confrontational—it wouldn’t do any good. The CIA compartmentalized everything. Perhaps even Smith didn’t know what the program would be used for.

  Vyper leafed through the pages. “Can I keep this, or do I have to commit it to memory?”

  Smith reached under the breakfast island and opened a panel, revealing the door to a safe. “You can study it inside your apartment any time, as long as no one else is visiting. When you aren’t using it, store it here. Press your finger to the scanner to open it.” He moved aside. “Go ahead. Put it away. We’re done with it for the day.”

  After Vyper stored it in the safe, she sat at the counter with a frown on her face. “You did not hire us to write a program for you. Niko will help, but this is primarily an assignment for me. It’ll only take a few days. What happens to us then?”

  Smith removed a second document from his folder. The security classification was designated
: TOP SECRET//STRAP3//TWILIGHT. He looked at Vyper. “You identified a Bahamian datacenter in Nassau that the Russians are using to attack the Rockefeller Petroleum network. You also told Homeland there were sections of the network you haven’t been able to penetrate remotely.”

  “Correct,” said Vyper. “They have configured their firewalls very well. So far, I have been unable to slip past them. I believe somebody needs to physically enter the site and insert a probe on the protected side.”

  A smile appeared on Smith’s face. “That’s exactly what we intend to do. The operation requires an accomplished con man. Someone who can gain the confidence of key operations personnel in Nassau. And this person will have to understand the technology nearly as well as Prixster. It would also help if they were familiar with Belenko, aka Zatan.”

  Niko had no doubt who Smith was describing.

  The CIA man steepled his fingers and locked his eyes on Niko. “We know about your life in Sevastopol and Philadelphia. You have the aptitude and experience required to mislead people.” He held up his hand. “Don’t worry. My organization is not part of law enforcement. With some training, you could be the most qualified person for this job.”

  “You want me to be a spy? To break into a datacenter and attach a bug? Why me? Why should I do it?”

  “That was more than one question,” said Smith. “You’re right. That’s what we expect you to do. We’ll put you through a fast-track training course to round out your skills. We have assets in Nassau for support. As to why we picked you—frankly, our people are perfectly capable of handling the job—but maybe not as well. But our government can’t afford to be accused of an aggressive cyber-attack.”

  Niko looked at Vyper. “He admitted it. If I get caught, they can deny any involvement.”

  Smith nodded. “It’s a dirty business, and you’re right. We require deniability.” He held up one finger. “Don’t forget about Sokolov. He’s after Vyper, which should give you a strong motivation to stop him. And we believe Belenko is not only working for the Russian government—he’s also secretly supporting Sokolov. We nail Belenko, we get Sokolov, too.”