The most advanced firewall Mech had ever successfully hacked had been a level eight, triple-layered barrier with a 1024 bit encryption matrix. That particular firewall had consisted of approximately six hundred dummy layers and top notch safety protocols which were not only designed to keep hackers from accessing the data it was protecting but also spike their enhancers with enough force to blow past the intruders defensive firewalls, fry the enhancer and cause severe damage to the hackers central nervous system. A rookie hacker, or even a careless veteran who refused to back down could have easily ended up with severe brain damage or even death.
Gateway 668.332.109-94GT located at FedNet sub junction terra-943-2-bravo was protected by a level ten firewall, equipped with at least seven protective layers and as far as Mech could tell it was jammed packed with countless active defensive protocols just waiting at their shot to take an overzealous hacker to their early grave.
< You think this is it? > Mother asked.
< It took me nearly two years to track it down but I’ am positive that the seekers originate from this gateway. >
< So you planning on going in then? >
Mech considered this for a moment. Mother was probably the most skilled hacker she had ever met. Her own skills of course were nothing to sneeze at. Most hackers could barely get past a level six firewall, the most common software to protect such vital systems as brain enhancers, government institutions and even Starfleet starship’s computer cores. But Mother was on a different level all together. She had no idea of the limits of her abilities.
< I don’t have much of a choice > she said. < I need to find out who is after me and why. >
< I agree. But there has to be another way. You try to get in there and you might not come out alive. >
< To be honest I was hoping for your support on this > said Mech’s avatar with a sheepish smile.
Mother said nothing.
For a moment both of them simply starred at the massive data knot, shimmering in white and green light in this dark and hidden part of FedNet. The energy pulses that seemed to run through the spherical shaped construct a sign of the buzz of activity within. Even at this relatively far distance it was sending unmistakable warning signs. Do Not Enter.
Mech’s avatar approached.
Hacking was a matter of the mind. Artificial telepathy some called it. Brain enhancers were sophisticated cybernetic devices implanted directly in a person’s brain stem and were linked with the wearer’s central nervous system. Besides improving the user’s interaction with FedNet and closed computer systems it also allowed to communicate with other cyberized persons without the use of words and over great distances. Data ports, the external chips that attached to a person’s neck, had once been a necessity to connect to FedNet. Now they were mostly used as boosters for hackers and its embedded firewalls added an additional layer of security.
Mech needed to focus all her thoughts, energy and attention on the task ahead. She could feel increasing resistance as her avatar closed on the gateway both on her virtual representation as well as on her real mind. This was the first and most obvious layer. It would be easily conquered.
Warning messages flashed before her eyes. A soulless voice spoke to her. < You are entering a restricted zone protected by aggressive firewalls. Disengage for your own safety. >
That was to be expected.
< You will risk serious injury if you attempt to access this gateway. >
Tell me something I don’t know.
< This is your last warning. Disengage now >
Last warning? You don’t exactly comply with standard FedNet regulations do you?
And then she made contact. The strange sensation of ants crawling on her skin extended to her real body. She liked the feeling.
The second barrier was tougher. Countless dummy layers popped open, inviting her to attempt to hack them by flashing in bright red and crimson colors. But only one was the real thing. The others would only waste her time. Time which the defensive protocols would use to counter-hack her enhancer and attempt to shut her down before she could find the way in.
This too she had expected. She fired up her own defensive firewalls which were designed to give her the time she needed by fighting off the counter-intruders.
So many choices, but which one gets me the jackpot?
A quick command to her enhancer activated the program she needed. Where moments ago there had only been one avatar there were now twenty. All of them looking exactly like the purple-haired figure she had been using.
A lot easier if you have some help.
Her duplicates went to work, diving through one layer access after the next, exploring where they might lead. All they found were dead ends.
< You just lost a firewall, > a familiar but disembodied voice told her, letting her know that the defensive protocols had struck their first victory against her own defenses.
< Mother? >
< You better get a move on. >
< Well you know this would be a lot faster if you’d lend a hand. >
She laughed softly. < I like to watch. >
And then number eight struck gold.
< Eureka. >
Layer 532.23.1 was not a dummy.
She slipped through. < Two layers down, five to go. >
The next one was a slightly bigger challenge but only because the numbers had gone up. More dummy layers and less time. Mech’s firewalls were holding off the counter-attack so far but the projections were not good. She had to go faster.
No problem.
She ran the same program she had before but this time it would run two point seven percent faster. A strain on her resources but necessary.
This time Mech felt her energy fade after she had found the right layer and passed through. She could not keep this up for long. But her progress was impressive nevertheless.
Unbeknownst to her somebody else took notice of this.
< Now this next one won’t be a picnic. >
Mech was looking at a single layer this time. But it was powerful. Too powerful to keep up her copies. And it was booby trapped all over.
A dozen projectile’s shot out towards her as she neared.
She moved with the grace and speed of a ballet dancer to avoid the missile shaped defenses. Just one hit would probably have cost her a minute or two, enough time for another defensive firewall to crumble.
Her moves were as impeccable as ever. Weightlessly she dove, jumped and spun around the virtual projectiles.
And then she spotted the entrance to the next layer. It was in reach. She needed to get just a little bit closer and then could dive inside. Just a few more seconds and she’d be through.
< Get out. >
< I’m almost there. I can make it through. >
But Mother was insistent. < No, get out. >
And then she felt something else. A nagging sensation in the very back of her mind that told her that something was not right. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was exactly. The construct around her had not changed.
< Mech > Mother said calmly. < You need to get out of FedNet now. >
Mech was torn for all but one second. Since she had met Mother she knew that one of the most foolish things she could do was to ignore her suggestions. But she had come so close, she could almost touch the entrance that would lead her into the inner core of the gateway. In the end it wasn’t a difficult decision to make.
The virtual world around her disappeared into a white flash of blinding light.
When Mech opened her eyes she was looking at the ceiling of her cabin. She was back in the real world, lying on her back on her bed. The feeling that something was wrong was still there.
In one swift motion she jumped onto her feet while at the same time retrieving the pitch black gun she kept under her pillow. Within moments she had taken a defensive posture, her weapon ready to blast away at anyone stupid enough to try and sneak up on her.
She was alone. Everything looked exactly the way it was supposed to. Nobody had set foot into the cabin for hours.
Only then did she feel the slight tremble of the floor.
Mech walked to the window to look up into the night. The majestic starry sky of Nepal was as sparkling as usual. Except for that one star. Was it not too bright? And why was it getting brighter?
The answer popped into her mind just a heartbeat later. It wasn’t a star at all.
The trembling became more noticeable by the second. She was out of time.
Mech quickly walked back to her bed. She securely fastened her weapon behind her back and picked up a silver ring she had placed on the nightstand, slipping it onto her left hand.
The only picture frame that hung on the wall, an image of the Nyuchiba City skyline, came loose and crashed to the floor with a loud bang.
Without another thought, Mech began to sprint towards the window and leaped through the glass without slowing down. It shattered easily and she landed in the soft snow outside. Not allowing herself to catch her breath, she performed a quick roll and came up running. A glance up and over her shoulder confirmed what she had already suspected.
She wasn’t moving quite fast enough.
And then it hit.
The cabin was incinerated on impact and the force of the explosion catapulted her high into the air. She came down some two hundred meters away, the dense snow softening the harsh landing. Her body communicated all kinds of pain to her brain but she wasn’t paying it too much attention. She covered her head.
A wise precaution as moments later pieces of debris landed all around her.
When Mech ventured a look from under her arms she found a flaming inferno greeting her where the small settlement had once stood.
And it was just getting homey.