Episode 1: The Heist
On the planet of NewTerra, a bustling beacon of humanity’s evolution, floated in the distant emptiness of space. Built after Earth’s collapse, it thrived as humanity’s second chance in life. Cities like New Haven were an example of how advanced the world has gotten, with its neon-lit streets and cutting-edge technology. The upper districts served as an escape for the rich and famous where they lived perfect lives while the lower decks near Neon District were a chaotic maze of black markets, factories, and crime. Here, crime thrived in the shadows cast by the corrupt like Apex Corporation, whose iron grip defined the city’s power structure.
In a cramped office deep within Apex Corporation’s headquarters, Cipher moved quickly and quietly. The glow of his augmented glasses reflected the lines of codes streaming across the monitor on the terminal he found. Inserting a small device into the back of the terminal, now all he had to do now was wait. The files slowly downloaded as he watched a green bar move across the screen.
“Almost there,” Cipher muttered under his breath, fingers dancing across the keyboard. Suddenly the terminal let out a loud beep, a red alert flashed on every screen in the room.
“Unauthorized access detected,” an automated robotic voice announced, cold and unnerving.
“Shit.” Cipher said. He yanked the device out, shoving it into his hooded jacket.
Sprinting down the corridor and sliding under a door as it sealed. The sound of mechanical whirs echoed down the hallway, meaning that the security drones were after him. Cipher reached a vent and climbed inside.
Minutes later, Cipher emerged into the chaotic streets of the Neon District. The sound of merchants yelling over machinery drowned out the faint hum of sirens. He headed towards an alleyway and hurried to his hideout.
His safehouse was hidden beneath a junkyard on the outskirts of the city. An abandoned building stood above it, only Cipher knew what was hiding beneath. Cipher stepped into a rusty elevator, pulled a concealed lever and disappeared into his underground lair. His home was the perfect sanctuary for a hacker full of flickering monitors, salvaged machinery and stacks of technology.
Sitting the stolen drive into his computer, he watched as the files began decrypting. Suddenly, HavenNews flickered to life on one of the monitors.
“Breaking news, Apex Corporation executive Jonathan Brown was found dead in his office earlier tonight. Police have identified the notorious hacker known as Cipher as the prime suspect. A city-wide manhunt is underway, and we advise people to remain alert.
https://x.com/havennews5/status/1859371466552377766
Cipher stared at the screen, stunned. “What the hell? I didn’t kill anyone.”