His statement is so out of sync with what I just went through that I nearly laugh. It’s times like this that I remember Sunny isn’t like humans. “I didn’t. Sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you, Sunny?”
Sunny stands. “Do you mind if we finish this game later, Thomas?”
Tom scratches his bushy beard and fixes his hard eyes on me. “That’s fine. Anytime Sunny.”
A shiver runs through me, and we leave for our room. “Why are you hanging out with him?”
“Just for someone to talk to and play games with.”
“He’s so strange, though,” I say. “He looks like a big-time creep.”
“He’s been pleasant to me.”
I guess I shouldn’t stand in the way if Sunny is happy, but I wish he decided to connect with someone else. “It’s fine. Just don’t tell him anything about me.”
“You know that I am always thinking about protecting you. You don’t have to worry.”
We reach the room and sit together on the mattress.
“I can’t believe that Astrid was beaten up so bad,” I say. “She would have died if not for me.”
Sunny frowns. “It’s strange to think about death. Ever since Barbra died, I can’t get the idea of mortality off my neural net.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Fae, you have to take me every time you go somewhere from now on.”
I wring my hands. “It’s too dangerous.”
“That’s why you need to take me. You’d already be dead if I wasn’t around two other times.”
Nav enters the room and sits next to me on the bed, her hair tied back in a bright pink headband. The sweet smell of her jasmine perfume floats around me, contrasting with the pistol that rests in a holster at her hip.
A dark memory of screams and gunshots flashes before me. My heart is thumping, my mind whirling. Fists crash into Astrid’s head, spraying blood on stray trash.
We should have left a scout outside or at least someone watching the door from inside. The rest of us should have stayed in close formation behind cover as much as possible. I sigh. Who could have expected this, though? “Sunny, do you mind if I talk to Nav alone?”
“It doesn’t bother me.” He walks to the corner and enters sleep mode.
“I’m glad you’re back,” I say.
“Are you okay? Americus just filled me in,” says Nav.
I shake my head and sigh, remembering the thug’s hand on me. “It was…not easy.”
She hugs me, her arms wrapping me in a feeling of warmth and security. “Seriously, though…are you all right?”
I tell her what happened.
Her jaw drops. “You can hack the Evo? That’s amazing.”
I shrug, unable to reveal that I had my pre-coded Evo hacking program and only needed to make a few changes. “I was almost too slow. I need to be the best. It’s the only way I can be safe and keep everyone else alive.”
“If you can hack the Evo, you’re one of the greatest hackers of all time. This isn’t your fault.” She wraps her human arm around me.
For some reason, her compassion brings all of my painful emotions to the surface. It would be so easy to break down now. But no. I won’t break. The fires of hell scorched me raw for years. I can take anything. “I can’t imagine walking into the training room and never seeing Astrid lifting weights or kissing Yumi again. It was so close.”
“I know what you mean. Wait, kissing Yumi?”
“You didn’t know?” I ask.
“No. Oh my God. I feel so bad for both of them. I’ll have to see what I can do to help.”
I stare off for a minute. “I can’t believe I killed people.”
Nav pulls back and looks me in the eyes. “Listen to me. I care about people more than most, but if you had to kill to survive, then you had to kill. If I have to kill to save you or Sunny, I will too.”
She’s right. I did what I had to. “We need to be more prepared when we leave the base. We should act like we’re in Silent City. This is war.”
“I’m with you on that. Remember to speak up if you have something to say.”
“I will.” As long as Nav is at my side, there’s hope. “I got you something.” I reach behind the mattress and hand her the coconut oil.
“Oh my God, this is so nice. I didn’t know what I was going to do for moisturizer.”
“Now you can be as smooth as ever,” I say.
“You’re the best. Oh, and I meant to tell you, your muscles are filling out. I noticed when we hugged.”
Still not strong enough, though.
“Let’s talk about better things. Fun things,” says Nav.
I could use a break from my tortured mind.
“Speaking of fun things, are you sure you’re not into Alexander? I noticed you checking him out again before you left to get food.”
My face heats, and I look down. “He’s so skinny.” An image of his muscular abs pops into my mind. Maybe not that skinny. “He’s also so full of himself. And too reckless.”
“Sure,” she says with a long drawl. “What do you think about Brandon?”
I know she’s at least a little interested in him, so I don’t want to be too harsh. “I don’t know. Alexander said he was a player, and I see him flirting with some of the girls.”
“I’m not sure about that either, or if I’m even close to being ready for something, but I like the attention he gives me. I’ve been very lonely. He’s also interesting. Did you know he made the silver jewelry he wears?”
I shrug.
“I tried to compliment him on his bracelet. And he brushed it off like it was nothing. I like that even though he’s done so much, he can stay modest.”
A positive trait at least.
“He actually wants to start up a silversmith business when this is all over. And look what he made me.” She reaches up to a necklace and shows me a small pendant with a purple gemstone in it. “It’s amethyst.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Even better,” she says. “I asked if he’d make something that I could give you.” She reaches into her pocket and hands me a slender cuff bracelet with a matching amethyst gem.
“Aww. Thanks, Nav. I love it.” I slip it onto my bare wrist, then rotate it, admiring how the gemstone sparkles. I also like that it distracts from my scar. “Now, we’re twins.”
She looks down at me. “I must have stolen all the nutrients in the womb.”
I giggle. “It’s true. So, your dad wants us to study the Evo in the man they captured,” I say, changing the subject. “This is a good opportunity for us to improve our hacking.”
She nods. “I know it’s important, but I’m going to be uncomfortable experimenting on a man. That’s why I’ve always liked hacking. It’s all computers. And nobody really gets hurt.”
The blimp crushes her husband, his screams slicing through me. “Right.”
“What exactly does he want us to do?”
I rip my mind away from my…mistake and refocus on the issue. “I’m not sure. He didn’t say yet, but I have some ideas.”
Nav pokes me in the ribs. “Of course, you do.”
I flinch back and swat at her hand.
“I also don’t like the idea of what will happen after we finish our testing,” she says.
“It doesn’t look good. Gabriel wanted to kill him on the spot, and the Loyalists had to be cooled down by Americus, or they would have too.”
Nav presses her knuckles into her lips and shakes her head.
“Maybe he should die. He was with those thugs that beat up Astrid.”
She looks up at me, frowning. “He didn’t do it, though, and who knows why he was going to rob the place. The supermarkets didn’t have much food before the government took them over.”
It annoys me that she’s defending this man. “These creeps almost killed me. Don’t you care?”
She squeezes my hand. “Of course, I care. You’re important to me, but I don’t like to see people di
e unnecessarily.”
I suppose she’s right. Neither do I…although he was trying to capture me. I guess it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t know where I am, though. Either way, if it’s important to her, it’s important to me. “You’re right. You should try to convince Americus to let him go when we’re done.”
She pulls back and adjusts her headband. “I will.”
CHAPTER 15
PUPPET MASTER
The next morning, Nav, Sunny, and I checked on Astrid and Yumi. Astrid’s wounds, while brutal, were not life-threatening. She had two broken ribs, a broken nose, several gashes and bruises, and a concussion. She would have destroyed him if he didn’t have a friend. Luckily, Astrid had one too.
Yumi thanked me a hundred times for saving Astrid. Her usual infectious energy and positive spirit pulled us out of the darkness, and instead of reliving the disaster again, we talked about our future goals and dreams.
Yumi was the harmonica player in an indie folk-rock band. Her bandmates were unharmed in the war and don’t have the Evo. She said when this is over, they’re going to record their second album, titled Sprite’s Revenge, after me.
Astrid showed us photos of her protein powder and talked about other supplements she wanted to make. Sunny talked about all the improvements he’d make for himself, like sensors in his fingers so he can feel like we do. He made a joke in the middle of it, and Yumi cracked up laughing. Perhaps the relief of Astrid living made her think it was funnier than it was.
Nav told us about a positive coping skills counseling group she planned to create, and I told them about several apps I hope to finish after we’ve saved the country. It was weird to be chatting with the girls as if we’re in a normal world, or I’m a normal person, but I liked it.
“Fae?” asks Nav.
I shake my head to bring myself back to the present. “Sorry. Chim, execute program thirty-three.”
The prisoner stands and raises his arms awkwardly as if pulled by puppet strings, which he essentially is.
“Wow, that worked well. Finally,” says Nav. “It looks like you have complete control now.”
“There’s still a fair amount of resistance, though,” I say. “His movements are too jerky.”
Nav points to a section of the code floating before us. “What if we replace this line with this section and then delete lines ten and eleven?”
I examine it. “You know what? You’re right. Nice catch.” I make the change.
The man growls and throws himself at the front of the cage.
I flinch back, my heart skipping a beat. Oops. “Chim, freeze him in place.”
The man freezes but keeps growling behind his gag. His eyes burn with fury and contempt.
“Chim, sit him down,” I say.
The man sits, his motion much smoother than before. I roll my shoulders, sore from sitting on the bench for so long while testing.
“So is that it?” asks Nav.
“No. I want to see if we can induce hallucinations and emotional extremes like we saw in the streets.”
“I don’t know,” says Nav. “I’m not sure if that’s right.”
“But it would prove the Evo is capable of what happened,” I say. “It could also come in useful.”
She purses her lips and looks down. “You’re probably right. Things are just a lot different when you’re not in a game.”
That’s for sure. Death is so much gorier…and final.
“How will we know if it works?” asks Nav.
“We’ll have to ungag him.”
Americus walks up to us and glances at the prisoner. “How’s your progress?”
Nav motions to me. Americus turns, and I’m instantly anxious.
It felt natural when Nav deferred to me in-game, but it still feels strange in real life. “So far…well…” Oh hell. “I mean. It’s—”
He lowers his hands in a calming gesture. “Take your time. You seem nervous.”
I take a few mindful breaths, relaxing further with each one and feel grateful that Nav taught me the technique. I wonder how much more relaxing meditation would be. “We got my program to a point where we can control him physically. It seems absolute.”
“That’s very good,” he says. “You might be one of two people who can hack the Evo. I’m starting to see why Naveha thinks you’re so special.”
I turn away with a smile. Am I special? I’ve known for a while that I could out-hack most people, even ones with the Evo, but I always thought it was just my hard work.
“Where are you going to go from here?” he asks.
I tell him about our plans to induce hallucinations and other emotional states.
“Good, good. Once you calm down, you know how to explain yourself well.”
“We’ll need to take off his gag, though,” I say.
“Let me get Thomas to sedate him.”
I shake my head, my hair springing back and forth. “Not necessary. I can freeze him.”
“Do it,” says Americus.
I do, and Americus ungags him and then locks him back up. The man starts yelling.
I inhale sharply. “Chim, close his mouth.”
The man’s mouth clamps shut, and only muffled sounds escape.
Americus’ eyes widen. “This is something else. Can you induce pain? I have some questions I want truthful answers to.”
Nav winces. “I don’t think that’s right.”
Americus sighs. “Naveha. Why do you have to go against everything I say?”
She stands, her eyes level with his. “It feels wrong, and I’m not comfortable with it.”
He turns on me. “And you?”
I feel small under his gaze, but I don’t like the idea of inducing pain. Can I force him to tell the truth in another way? “I agree with Nav, but I might be able to get you answers. One sec.”
I research the areas of the brain that activate when people lie. The thalamus, the caudate, and the anterior cingulate cortex. If I suppress the activity of those areas… “I think I can force him to tell you whatever you want to know.”
“Good, good,” says Americus. “Do it.”
I suppress the areas of his brain.
Americus leans in, his eyes locking on the man. “What were you doing at the distribution center?”
The man’s face twists as he opens his mouth. “We were sent to capture you all.” His eyes widen as if surprised by his own statement.
“By whom?” demands Americus. “How did you know we’d be there?”
The man’s face twitches as he tries to resist. “Boss didn’t tell me.”
“Who’s your boss?”
His shoulder slump as he resigns to my control. “She killed him,” he says, his attention making my skin crawl. “I don’t know anything about him. Just that he pays me.”
“Who’s his boss? Do you know anything about the government coup?”
“I don’t know anything about that,” the prisoner says. “I was just trying to feed my family.”
Americus grunts. “This is very disturbing.”
“Dad,” says Nav.
He turns back, a frown on his face.
“Are you going to kill him when we’re done?” she asks.
“Naveha, this man nearly killed Alexander and your friend here. His accomplice beat Astrid half to death.”
She nods. “That’s horrible, but he didn’t do it. I understand killing in the moment, but we don’t have to be executioners. Can’t we let him go when we’re done?”
Americus scrunches his face, looking like he’s wrestling with the idea. “Even though he doesn’t know where we are, it could still put us at risk.”
Nav purses her lips, then asks, “Fae, can you disrupt his memory of his time with us?”
“Probably. Let me work on it.”
Americus rests a hand on Nav’s shoulder. “Good thinking. That should eliminate the risk. If you can erase his memory, I’ll respect your wishes.”
Nav breaks out into a grin. “Tha
nk you, Dad.”
A small smile forms on Americus’ lips as he nods. It’s about the most affection I’ve seen him give her since I’ve been here.
“Before we release him, though,” says Americus, “keep testing out your capabilities. I want your control to be perfect.”
Gabriel eyes us with a scowl over the hologram of something he’s reading.
“Do you want to have dinner later, Dad? I want to clear the air and catch up.”
“Maybe tomorrow or some other day. I have a lot to think about.”
Nav deflates.
Americus rubs his beard as if in thought, then asks, “The Evo can be removed at any time, right?”
“Yes,” says Nav. “That’s always been important for its adoption.”
“I want you to make sure that nothing has changed with that,” he says.
That’s smart. “Chim, remove the man’s Evo.”
“This feature has been disabled,” says my q-link.
Diablo.
Nav gasps.
Americus grumbles. “Fae, is this something you can work around? Or you, Naveha?”
“Let’s take a look,” says Nav.
We bring up the code and scan it together.
“Look, here it is,” says Nav.
I examine the section of code closer. “I should be able to get around this. Give me a minute.”
I alter sections of the code as they stand over my shoulder. Their attention makes me uncomfortable, but I ignore them and keep working. “There. Got it. Chim, remove the Evo.”
The man’s mouth pops open.
My eyes widen. What?
“Warning!” comes from the man’s mouth but in a strange tone. The man’s eyebrows rise. “A permanent physical change has been made to the Evo. Attempting to remove it will activate barbs, which will destroy this person’s brain tissue.” His mouth clamps shut again.
Gabriel looks up again, a deep frown pulling at his lips.
“This is bad,” says Alexander, who walks up behind us.
“Obviously,” says a shirtless Brandon from nearby.
Alexander scowls at him but turns to Americus. “I’m sure glad we didn’t get the Evo.”
“You’re right,” says Americus. “This is alarming.”
Now, not only is everyone with the Evo vulnerable, they can’t even get rid of it. I shiver even though I’m sweating from nervousness.
The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1) Page 23