Chapter 3: Blood Gods
1105 Words
Akihikowas performing his daily core strength exercise routine, before going on his normal jog. Normally, this would clear his mind. But not today, his mind would not settle. Questions about Zoe kept whirling through his mind. How can she speak Japanese so well? What was she doing all the way out here?
“Akihiko!” Ena said drawing him out of his thoughts.
“Yes old man, what is it?” Akihiko said.
“Well apart from your movements are sloppy and focused, there is an update from the Motherland” Ena said
“Oh?” Akihiko said. News from Japan always welcome, even if it was normally bad.
“They said the Syndicates are still looking for you, but..” Ena said
“Alannah has dropped the charges. You still wanted for the spy wear, but the Drakes have taken responsibility for that” Ena said
“Why would she drop the charges?” Akihiko said
“She married now to Kurt and wants a quite life as a Queen. Plus they have bigger issues.at the moment” Ena said
“Such as?” Akihiko said
There is a rebel syndicate that is making all sorts of issues for them. Spies, drugs trafficking, undercutting the Syndicate as well as cyber attacks. The best in the trade have tried to track them down, apart from one grey hat group they all failed.
“Grey hats?” Akihiko asked
“You really need to get with the times Akihiko Grey hats are hackers who hack systems with good intentions, but not always with permission” Ena explained.
“So these grey hackers broke in and stole information from the rebel syndicate?” Akihko said
“The rebel group have called themselves the Blood Gods and are very nasty. But yes, this grey hat group stole a lot of information. Any syndicate or gang council would give anything, including forgiving you, to get that information” Ena said
“Like that is going to happen” Akihiko retorted. But at least it was a way into the game and the syndicate would be busy not bothering him. There were just the mercenaries to watch out for.
“Gives you more time to chase that women” Ena said casually
“Zoe? No I don’t think she is interested to be honest” Akihiko said
“She didn’t agree to a second date?” Ena said surprised
“Yes, but I had to ask her” Akihiko said and Ena laughed
“My friend, that is how it normally goes. Invite her round for dinner, I will show her the meaning of Japanese cooking!” Ena said
“That actually might not be a bad idea” Akihiko said. Ena was an amazing cook and it might help to be in a relaxed, but private atmosphere.
“Good! Now go do your run and invite her round” Ena order and Akihiko set off for his jog.
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Washington DC
“God dam it!” Andrew Livingston shouted as he flung his mug of tea at the wall. He was suppose to be the American Syndicate’s best hacker, but this group was running circles round him.
“Unsuccessful again, like me?” Kurt Blackwood, the chairman of the British syndicate and owner of Blackwood industries said. Andrew and him had been working together to try and trace this Grey hat group.
“If you mean do I have the Queen of Hearts saying “naughty boy, not this time”, then yes I have failed” Andrew said to the screen where Kurt’s face was. Conference calls were very handy at times like these.
“Well least they have a sense of humour and they don’t seem to be attacking us” Kurt said
“I have to admit, they are brilliant. I wish I could communicate to say we have the same goals”Andrew said.
“Yes and a very highly paid position in my company” Kurt said Wistfully.
Suddenly, Andrew’s screen changed to the Jack card with no markings.
“Kurt you getting this?” Andrew said and Kurt nodded.
The poem suddenly appeared along side the card.
“The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts,
And took them quite away!”
“Why does it say the Knave of Hearts, but the card has no markings?” Andrew said feeling it was important but he did not know why.
“Oh listen to this! The grey hat group have just hacked the Blood God’s sever again and shut down the system with Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS)! All from the Queen of hearts! They not been able to do any operations or cyber attacks for the next couple of days” Kurt said happily.
Andrew smirked, DDoS is a type of malicious attack that distorts normal traffic to enter a server, flooding the network traffic (resulting in a denial of service). It acts like a traffic jam that clogs the road and prevents regular traffic from arriving at their destination.
“Well I hope they are being careful whoever they are” Andrew said.
“Maybe we should put a message out on the dark web?” Kurt suggested
“Worth a try. You don’t think it is.....” Andrew said
“Akihiko or the Drakes? Don’t make me laugh! This is far to advance for them, it is taking two of us to even get a sniff!” Kurt said
“You are right, I would love to meet him” Andrew said
“Or her!” A voice belonging to Kurt’s wife Alannah said.
“Indeed my Love! Never underestimate the fairer s*x my dear friend and this seems to be personal” Kurt pointed out
“You are right, I also have got this feeling that we are going to need some extra help” Andrew said
“Got anyone in mind?” Kurt said intreasted. He had some of the best programmers in the world at his company, so he was genuinely interested in who Andrew had in mind.
“I do, but they are not going to like it. How soon can you get to Washington Kurt?” Andrew said
“He be there by the end of month” Alannah said and Kurt smiled
“Great! I will need your help locating them, it may take a while!” Andrew said with a smile.
- Writer
