Arwin furiously types away on his keyboard, as he intently looks at the screen only to then immediately get up from his chair, hands in air, "Yes! fuck yeah. I am in baby"
He smiles deviously, as the AI bot had finally downloaded the files he had sent, allowing him to gain access to it's system. He continues to type away and using tools to leave a backdoor in the system for him to use for later. The door opens, kid Brian walks in, dirty and covered in grime and grease from working on a car's fuel supply system. Antonio had allowed him to tinker with a diesel car and solve an issue, while being supervised as a test to understand how much he had learned in three years and could he properly apply his knowledge. He had first made him drive the car and do a basic check without allowing him to have a deeper inspection to guess what is wrong and then give solutions on how to fix it.
"You done Arwin?" he ask exhausted from being forced to think and answer, about other possible issues that could crop up, how to make a cheap fix and what if scenarios.
"Yeah, just give me some time. I need to erase the trace and clear any logs of my actions-"
"English please, I am not as tech savvy as you." interrupting, as he lays on the floor. Not daring to dirty their teacher's bed.
"And that's why I say, you should learn basics of how these systems work. So you don't get hacked and lose all your money." I reply without even turning to look at him, fully focused on clearing the traces.
"And that's why I will never download or open any unknown link online. And why have a bank account? When I could just keep cash with me, what would they take? 200 credits?", he roars out a laugh at successfully annoying Arwin.
"Just you wait, when I am done with this. I will bury you in the snow myself.", Arwin replies with his eyes focused on screen, he extract the file from his target. He's just about to finish when the screen suddenly flickers. Errors flood the display before it crashes into a Blue Screen.
"Ahh! fuck, fuck this level. It is impossible to clear it. Sometimes this fucking bot hides malware disguised as critical files, sometimes he just reports me to cyber crime. I can't brute-force it's password without getting detected nor can I talk this bot into doing things that make it more vulnerable to hack it's system."
"Well you are playing against the most accurate depiction of a human by an AI bot."
Snarling from hearing that, "Well let me tell you, an average guy doesn't know shit about real hacking, they are fucking dumb. Hell I could hack your tablet and get all your data."
He continues typing, "They all think it is about not clicking or downloading from unknown websites or links. HACKING doesn't just involve purely software and long lines of codes and hackers smashing on their keyboards. We can also just convince the target or hack the target's friend or co-worker to send a payload disguised as normal file and the target would be none the wiser. Here it's just like trying to hack another hacker who knows all the tricks in the book, making it utterly impossible to beat this fucking bot."
He slams his hand on the desk, only to then deflate from exhaustion. "There is the software approach that all movies love to depict, like we are doing some kind of 5 minutes magic trick to hack systems and then there is stalking, collecting personal information from their social accounts and finally picking easy targets to hack."
"That is called scamming, Arwin." he snorts upon hearing the reply, "Just tell brother Ant you want to be a scammer."
"Its Social engineering you dunce.", I shut down the PC I was hacking from and go to another CPU used by AI bot and shut it down as well, in the beginning it was fun to hack and try all different kind of ways one could hack an AI bot who would act as my target. From sending job offers on mail, to sending payload disguised files to get access to just simply just rage baiting the AI.
'I guess I will try again later. Right now I am really hungry, I hope they have ordered something to eat.'
I turn to face kid Brian as he laying on the floor, only for our teacher to enter the room.
"What are you two doing? Brian, I told you to clean yourself up and Arwin, how does it feel to battle another hacker? did you enjoy it?" he asks with a smirk spreading across his face.
"No. Not worth the trouble learning to exploit another hacker so early, teach. I know why I need to learn but I don't think it is possible with my current skills. I guess I need to learn more and should have taken my time observing the target."
Brian lets out a strained groan, and sits up. "Yeah, he failed spectacularly. You should have seen it."
Antonio points towards the bathroom, while facing me, "So, tell me Arwin? Where did you fail and what you should have done to avoid it?"
He asks me in that same questioning tone whenever I fail and didn't properly think about my methods thoroughly. He would sometimes randomly test me with mind games, whether I could piece together information from disjointed conversation or manipulate me in completing a task without even asking me directly. I had to learn to figure out when he is doing this and give him an answer about the motives behind his actions, and even if I am right he neither confirms nor denies my conclusions.
At first I was confused why is he doing this, then latter on being constantly trained against these mind games of always second guessing my opponent's motives and moves, I became better at noticing natural cues a person gives off. And the most effective way to catch these cues was by actively listening.
'What did I miss this time? Is it because I tried to complete it too fast? No, he is asking 'Why I failed?' he cares more about my failure, no. No! he is side tracking me, he knew I was not ready, but I didn't reject his proposal on trying to crack the hardest level. He knew I would fail, he set me up for failure. And the only reason he could do this is to show me my limits.'
Confidence prevalent in my eyes, "You gave me the proposal to try against the hardest level, knowing I would lose. You wanted me to know my own limits and shave off my overconfidence. You did this to keep my ego in check, while simultaneously getting an understanding of my current capacity by how long I would last against another hacker."
His lips tighten into thin line, as he weighs whether he should say or remain quiet, deciding to speak, "Yeah good guess, but it is more to do with avoiding a dangerous target. I have taught you and you, yourself have said it is better to pick easy targets who could not retaliate. So when I put a proposal to you to hack a dangerous target, you should have refused. In the real world, gangs would threaten you to hack sometimes a well protected target, and it is your job to know when to say no."
Surprising me that he decided to give me an actual answer as I quietly contemplate and find it a reasonable enough.
"And when Brian is done, go take a bath as well. Today is the movie night, Noose has gone to get snacks." I nod, as I also lay on the cold floor.
"You did excellent today, kid."
"Is that a compliment or should I second guess whether you have a hidden motives?" I ask laughingly, mentally exhausted from trying to exploit that AI.
"Learn to take a compliment kid. You won't get many from me you know." I respond by giving a thumbs up laying on the cold floor. Watching him leave and observe Con cleaning the room.
I am awoken from my nap, "Arwin, go take a bath. Antonio came back and said Noose will reach in 10 minutes." said kid Brian, with excitement in his voice.
I slowly get up with a groan and enter the bathroom, as warm running water fills a tub. I consciously think back to the time I had spent before and after meeting Antonio. And there was a vast difference in my lifestyle, before meeting him. I had to constantly wait for Brian as he could only visit twice or thrice a week, just to entertain me or converse with me, he was all I had to a human connection. After meeting our teacher, my timetable had changed drastically from spending time alone in a room with a robot to constantly learning new things about cars and programming, to history. Brian surprisingly had deep interest in history and stories, especially myths about gods, magical beings and magic. Reminiscing about the conversation we all had while playing a table top game.
"How do you know so many stories?", kid Brian asks, while focusing on the game.
"They are not just stories kid. Before the year of Awakening, before 2020 happened. Stories about gods, magical creatures and magic was thought to be the colorful imagination of our ancestors, a fantasy. A method of storytelling our ancestors must have enjoyed, that paradigm changed when the year of awakening happened, as people started gaining supernatural powers. Not like in the comics, gaining a different power but those who naturally survived the covid-19 developed a supernatural sense to feel and manipulate an energy thusly named 'Mana'."
"Then what happened? Did they start the invasion then?" ,kid Brian asks, his attention focused on Brian.
"Well, humans being humans, wanted in on unlocking their hidden potential. It started as one could have superpowers if they survived covid, which changed to if you have covid you could have superpowers to then becoming just having any disease allowed one to gain superpowers. This caused a new wave of not only new covid infected patients, but also other diseases saw an immediate spike in number. It was a race to have these superpowers." Brian says with a tone of sadness in his voice, as he whispers 'Fools, lot of them.'
Antonio mockingly continues where Brian left, "Yeah it, was a race to see who could go embrace Death the fastest. Many infrastructure of 3rd and even 2nd world countries collapsed as their hospitals were flooded with infected. Within 2 years the death toll had surpassed a billion had died during the chaos. Many government had dissolved, as citizens had blamed their governments. While in some countries the opposite happened, the government ruled with iron fist. But it was the least of everyone's problem, there were many people who had gained superpowers, some used their superhuman ability to help others, some were not too kind. They tried to create their own small kingdoms to some joining extremist groups, to the creation of many cults occurring at the same time, to the point every somewhat stable countries were under martial law in order to deal with propped up extremist groups with people having superpowers."
"It took years for countries to stabilize, but a new kind of arms race was already in the progress, a race of who could have the highest number of Awakened humans? Although it didn't change the power balance against the countries possessing nuclear weapons, it still had enough weight for countries to scramble for a new kind of arms race. Where it was not dependent on how technologically advanced a country was, all it required was a virus like Covid and large volume of humans subjects."
"What kind of powers did these people have? You said they unlocked only one power?" I ask, to look like I was curious but also to find any hidden details I may have forgotten or something new and unknown changes that may have occurred without me knowing, like any derailments to the story line or something new but important relevant change in details of how powers worked.
Brian has a look of betrayal written on his face, "Just one power? Kid they unlocked a supernatural sense that allowed them to control mana, 'the mana' . You have played fantasy games right? So you know mages, warriors and priests. It is similar to that, except all the current government are unnaturally paranoid and cautious about giving in depth details of what they can do, but from what they have given information. We know for a fact there are two style of wielding mana: mage who slings spell and warrior who are physically superhuman."
"How strong are they actually, can they run faster than a car? what about flight, can they fly?", kid Brian ask with wonder, utterly distracted from the game.
"Well there is no certain answer, but there was this incident where an awakened warrior threw a bus with just his strength. And they are very fast, how fast? I don't know. and sadly no, they can't fly apparently. But they have the capacity to grow strong with training and practice at least that is what being told. lastly it also has a positive effect on your healthy lifespan and lifespan, to the point many who had awakened during Covid-19 are still around not looking older than 40s, while actually being older than 80."
Kid Brian hops like a super charged bunny, filled with enthusiasm and wonder, "How!? how can I have superpower like them?"
Antonio winces, as Brian stops for a moment and then solemnly says, "You will eventually know, but when you turn 14 you can sign a contract where you accept the risks with undergoing the procedure. And before you go running thinking about signing that contract, it has the mortality rate of 80%, 8 out of every 10 people die a death similar to drowning with your organs shutting down. But the mortality rate is definitely higher than 80% the government would do all to hide that fact, if they could get soldiers to throw in the meat grinder that is war. So never think about it kid, it is not worth it."
His enthusiasm freezes up, upon hearing the cruel reality of never having superpowers, he whispers, "Why?"
Feeling guilty for being the one responsible for these harsh restrictions, I begrudgingly say. "If you become an awakened one, then you will forced to fight the aliens Brian, not worth it. But as an average person without superpowers we will not be forced to join the war efforts, it is better to be a normal person than to chase strength."
Even Antonio makes a solemn expression neither agreeing or disagreeing, he also gives his piece, "Both me and Noose grew up in orphanage, there were more than 50 of us. Now only few of us are left, most died unable to awaken, only handful of us awakened. But were whisked away by army and died gods knows where. I don't know if even one of them is still alive or not."
*Knock* *Knock*
'Hm!', "Give me a minute Brian. I am almost done."
I turn off the tap, and start to dry myself and clear my head of any distracting thoughts. As I exit, I see that the whole room had been transformed into a Halloween themed room, with different types of pizzas on the bed, and all kind of snacks while all three of them are slowly enjoying it. The projected screen displays starting of a movie. I immediately start to wear my spare clothes, "Couldn't you guys wait for me?"
"Arwin, if you remain such a scatter brain then your future is bleak. I already told you, today is the movie night and you decide to hole up in the bath tub." said Antonio, "I... oh! you know I am sorry kid."
I look at him with questioning gaze and feeling a bit surprised, "Why are you apologizing brother Ant?"
"I. No, we shouldn't have disturbed you during your personal time kid." he looked genuinely apologetic.
'Why is he apologizing? I mean, yeah I needed some time to think...' only for my attention to be grabbed by kid Brian, trying to muffle his laughter, slowly the gears in my head turn, replying with irritation, "Oh come on, I am not even old enough to get a reaction out of it and you guys know it."
Kid Brian quips, "But not too young to look at porn." as both Antonio and kid Brian burst into laughter.
I defend myself against the accusation, "I was just seeing why so many people look at those things." causing them to roar out in laughter at my poor attempt to deflect.
In my defense, I was just interested whether I could get a boner or not. Interestingly, I could not feel even a hint of lust when I watched porn it was like my body just swallowed plastic and couldn't digest it, but the plastic also couldn't do anything to me. It seemed until the changes which happen when we hit puberty, until then I had a clear mind away from distracting thoughts.
Brian stops their laughter with a stern gaze, "Curiosity is fine, Arwin but patience is a virtue. Trust me, rushing adulthood is like skipping the trailers and complaining the movie doesn't make sense."
I nod in agreement, then stop as his words catch up to me. I turn toward him, confused. I swear I saw the corner of his mouth twitch before he exhaled and fixes that same awkward smile back in place. "Well the movie has already started, Ant can you go to the beginning of the movie, we missed some scene."
Arwin gives a scowl, but accepts being the butt of the joke for today. He sits on the bed to enjoy the pizza and the movie, but he would not forget what happened today.
***
"No one told me we were watching a horror movie. Why didn't you tell me, Noo-Brian?" I ask, as the horrifying scenes still play in my mind.
"Oh come on, if we told you then you would have bailed on us. And today's Halloween, what's the point if we don't watch a horror movie." comes the reply, his eyes on the road but his attention was definitely on me. we were driving back from dropping off kid Brian.
"It was boring, they always rely on cheap jump scare to terrify the kids-"
"And you know it was not boring, at least not to you. You are scared of horror movies Arwin, accept it."
Comes the immediate refusal, "I am not! I am just, just... Jumpy! everyone is a bit jumpy to an unexpected jump scare. Even Brian got scared, ok."
"Yeah, but he also enjoyed it. You were not watching a movie, it felt more like you were getting punished. Accept it kid, you are scared of horror movies, hate the taste of black coffee and love strawberry flavor snacks. The only reason you still drink black coffee is so you can show you are an adult."
"I may not be an adult but I am mature, you always say it yourself. And how is me liking strawberry flavor, relevant in this conversation?" I get unnerved that Brian knew so much about me, without me noticing.
"But you hide the fact you like strawberry flavor, like someone will call you out about not being man enough or something. There is nothing wrong with liking strawberry flavor or not liking the bitter taste of black coffee, enjoy it and don't care what other think of you Arwin, you do not live to get approval from others. People will say what they want, you do not live for other's approval, son-"
An awkward pause follows before he adds, "And its kind of like you have a gap moe. Nothing wrong with that." he hurriedly adds.
I feel a chill run down my spine, 'Gap moe? me? I.. wait how does he even know that word?'
"Wait, how do you even know of that word-" halfway through I get interrupted as Brian's phone rings. He takes out the phone and parks the car somewhat near where I live.
I watch his expression shift from confusion to serious, only to then turn to relief. He turns to look me in the eyes, a complicated expression appears on his face.
"What happen-"
"Your mother is admitted to hospital, she was found overdosed on drugs. For now she seems to be in clear now."