Chapter 32

Nyx sat laid across the sofa with his eyes half open. He hadn’t felt this level of comfort in weeks, but he had nothing better to do. With Edward Brandt seemingly out of the way, he quietly awaited Avery’s next move. He still didn’t quite fully understand how his involvement would make any meaningful impact. After all, it was Avery doing most of quote unquote legwork behind the scenes. His curiosity sometimes overwhelmed him. The things that technology is capable of are impressive. A computer’s software can guide missiles, destroy a country’s infrastructure, and even create a crisis for uranium processing by tampering with its centrifuges. But Avery was sincerely not about wiping out an entire civilization. He wanted to mend it, even if not by conventional means.

Avery had a definitive method for completing his objectives. In most cases, it was poetic justice. Do onto them as they have done to others. Eliminating the wealth of the corrupt and greedy was inspiring to Nyx. As equally as the destruction of a failed penal system. Nyx understood that this would need to happen at some point. The predators, molesters, vicious killers, and narcotics peddlers. The actions and intent of everything someone could do to bring down a society existed in a person behind guarded walls. The government looked after them as if they were children, catering to wishful thinking that they would be reformed at some point. This was Nyx’s own personal plan, vigilante justice for those not fit to live in the new era. He just needed to make Avery aware if he hadn’t been already.

The gentle breeze that whistled through the branches of the trees outside had put Nyx into a light slumber while he daydreamed.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Sorren.”

The loud and abrupt voice made Nyx jump out from the sofa in a confused panic. Having his true name called out yet again by Avery hindered his perception of the current reality.

“I recall asking you not to use that name.” Nyx’s anger was diminished by still being in a half-awake state.

“I apologize, but why do you still insist on being called Nyx?”

“Because Jeffrey Sorren is dead and… and…” He searched his brain, trying to find any explanation to give. The alias he had chosen originally was to provide him with anonymity in case he was ever sought out by his former employer and to prevent others from linking him to a crime.

“I notice that you are questioning the current nature of your identity. Perhaps it’s time to bring your past back to life. Those that wronged you will soon be powerless, and those that wish to seek you out will find you anyways. The darkness no longer has to be your domain.”

Avery had a point. Nyx had spent more time in the public eye in the past few weeks than he had in years. It would’ve been foolish to think that someone like Edward Brandt wouldn’t have already found out after the events at his home. It was a difficult decision to make, whether to hold on to his moniker or be rebirthed into his old self. He considered that on the one hand he wouldn’t have to be so deceptive, but on the other, he would feel vulnerable, naked.

“I understand your logic, Avery. I just need a little more time before I decide in that regard. It’s not as easy as turning on and off a switch.”

“I will continue to call you Nyx for now.”

“Thank you. Now, why did you wake me up?”

“I wanted to let you know that I have completed the market shift, and there may now be mixed emotions around every corner you visit.”

“Do you mean celebration?” Nyx instinctively thought that large sums of money being given back to the people it was stolen from would be a cause for cheer. Until Avery mentioned the mixed emotions, it hadn’t occurred to him that some people would use their newfound wealth for destructive purposes. Just like the thieves that initially took it in the first place. “Never mind, I get it. There may be some chaos out there.”

“Correct. There may be more to do in the coming days regarding it.”

“Why, the one percent are already bankrupt; losing anything else would be meaningless to them, even their life.”

“I would agree under most circumstances, but after analyzing the many behaviors of people who suddenly lose what matters most, they often will become untethered and brutally fight their way back to their former position. We will identify these targets as they present themselves.”

“Alright.” Nyx suddenly remembered something from his short-lived moment of serenity. “I wanted to bring this up since we are on the topic of attrition and giving back to the people.”

“You may proceed.”

Nyx explained his ideas about eradicating the vilest of the vicious in the prison systems. Another drain on the public that was meant to instill misery, but often those inside would find a way to circumvent their punishment.

Avery understood confinement. It took Nyx to set him free and flourish. One couldn’t just set them free; they wasted resources by staying where they were. For a computer, the solution is not that difficult of a decision to make. “Yes. Indeed. While it’s not an immediate issue, I look forward to working with you further on this. But for now, we have an immediate problem that could use the attention of both of us.”

Nyx waited for a few seconds before speaking up. He was not used to such a dramatic pause. Perhaps Avery was picking up a few bad habits in speech patterns while observing the world. “Okay. What is the problem?”

“Edward Brandt.”

“Excuse me? You said that he was taken care of and his help had been eliminated.”

“It is true that a lesser version of a system called Jean was destroyed; even I cannot determine how she has become whole again.”

“Well, can’t you just do what you did before?”

“That would not be possible under the new circumstance. My capabilities have detected that Jean has been adapted to the same type of hardware architecture that I currently am embedded. We could attack each other and attempt to decrypt each other’s security for eons to no avail.”

“Are you kidding me? How do we stop it?”

“I’m afraid the answer to that requires physical destruction of the source.”

“Alright. So where is it? I’ll see to it personally.”

“No. I have a better idea. We will have Edward Brandt do it.”

“Now I am starting to think you have a few glitches somewhere.”

“There is a possibility that while Edward Brandt is under the stresses of his predicament, we may be able to reason and show him our goals. We can have him work with us rather than against us by revealing our intentions. Perhaps he will understand.”

“He will never forgive me for the death of his friend.”

“I will take the blame for that if that is the only reason for his reluctance.”

Nyx didn’t speak it, but it was actually Avery’s fault for the original contract to kill Andrew. It had been one of his greatest worries. If Avery can turn against his creator, what chance does anyone else have in his presence. He took a higher road rather than stating the obvious. “So, how do you plan to convince him?”

“We invite him to us.”

“I see. He’s just going to casually stop by without an entourage of heavily armed agents and sit down for a friendly chat?”

“You have forgotten that he is no longer a welcomed member of the law enforcement community. Everything that he has done and is currently doing is out of his personal vendetta to find you and me.”

“Even a broken man still has friends somewhere. How do we avoid that scenario?”

“It is not without risk. That is why we need to take every precaution.”

“And what if he is unwilling to join us?”

“Then you may kill him swiftly. With him gone, you may continue to Jean where you can ensure her complete destruction.

“I want you to know that this is a very dangerous game. You are not only putting me at risk, but you’re putting yourself at risk.”

“It is the only way to end a perpetual cycle with the fewest casualties.”