“
I didn’t give them all of the details. By the time you’d given them the IP details of where your wife’s information was stored they’d lost quite so much interest in the R.I.G servers. They’re more interested in getting rid of the groups than its infrastructure. This was the only bit of information I held onto.”
Michael nodded appreciatively at Simon’s deception, watching as he opened another application on the screen.
“
I’m going to download the app into the system. We can then can try and use it against my brother. He must be somewhere in this maze. Doubtless in some secure location away from whatever’s happening. I’m looking in SemComNet’s logs to see if I can isolate his IP address so we know where to send the app to.”
As the app downloaded from the R.I.G secure FTP server Simon’s eyes widened in surprise at a box in the bottom of the screen providing information about current network activity.
“
Fuck me, I don’t believe it,” he said, his jaw practically on his chest.
“
What?” Michael replied, eager to know what was going on.
“
The UKCitizensNet system is being bombarded by traffic outside the system. This sort of level of traffic and the complexity of what I’m reading here can only mean one thing. R.I.G groups are doing this.”
Simon paused for a second, running his fingers through his unkempt hair as he tried to piece everything together.
“
The only thing that makes any sense is that Wally did actually manage to send the app out to the other groups we have contact with. They must have distributed it to other groups. They’re now attacking the UKCitizensNet system with it.”
Simon could feel his adrenaline pumping as he continued to delve deeper into SemComNet’s files, ascertaining the level of damage UKCitizensNet was sustaining.
Michael looked up from where he’d been following Simon’s progress to the large screen attached to the wall above the bank of desks and monitors. The display was showing the UKCitizensNet homepage. But this time it was different. Very different. A knowing smile immediately crossed his face as he pulled at Simon’s arm.
“
Look. Look what’s happening,” he said excitedly.
The normal well-ordered UKCitizensNet homepage, with its various options and menus all neatly laid out along the outer edges of the screen, had been interrupted by a large message in the centre.
‘
Warning: UKCitizensNet is a sham. It is a government front controlling and restricting your lives and the news and information you receive. This is not democracy. Stand up against UKCitizensNet and discover the real truth.’
Simon punched the air in delight as he read the message displaying boldly on the screen. Never had he imagined such a day would come. Looking back to his own screen his smile broadened further as he pulled up a system report on the integrity of the UKCitizensNet system.
“
Shit, they’ve caused more damage than I thought. The combination of app attacks on the firewall has exposed the addresses of regional server clusters and individual IP addresses. With those details they’ll be able to launch apps at other parts of the infrastructure. Only a sustained attack from all the groups on the entire system can really bring UKCitizensNet down. This is fucking fantastic. I can’t believe it.”
The smile on Michael’s face faded as his own personal reality and sense of purpose hit him again.
“
That’s great, but find me Trevellion. If you’ve downloaded the app to here I want to launch it against him. When we tried it before Smith configured it so that it would release toxic gas through the sprinklers to his physical location. Can we do that again?”
Simon scratched his chin thoughtfully, typing a succession of commands.
“
Give me a second whilst I just reprogram which parameters the app needs to use.”
“
Don’t waste your time,” a familiar voice said menacingly from behind where the two men were sitting.
Spinning round the two men flinched involuntarily at the sight of their cruel torturer. Brown stood in the doorway to the lab, a handgun fitted with a silencer in his right hand, pointing at where they sat.
“
I should have killed you two pathetic shits when I had the chance. Only Trevellion wanted to keep you alive in case you had anything else useful to tell us. Well, I think you’ve served your usefulness now. Don’t you?”
Michael could feel the sweat dripping from his forehead as he watched Brown’s trigger finger twitch.
“
At least tell me your name,” Michael said defiantly.
A quizzical look crossed Brown’s face as he kept the gun trained on Michael.
“
Tell me the name of the man who killed my wife and daughter. You owe me that knowledge at least. Give me your real name you bastard. You and the other Horseman never told me who you really are.”
A smirk crossed Brown’s face as he recalled the first time Michael had met the group.
“
OK, for what it’s worth. If that’ll make dying any easier for you. I’m John Kennedy and I killed your wife and daughter. Satisfied? Feel better for knowing? Have you got your closure now?”
He sneered, waving the gun in front of Michael’s face.
A look of calm crossed Michael’s face as he processed the words. At least now, finally, he knew who’d been responsible.
As Kennedy lined the gun up with his head Michael’s he looked squarely into his assailants eyes.
“
If you kill us now you won’t be able to stop the attack on UKCitizensNet. If you don’t believe me, just look at the screen and your precious homepage. The R.I.G has hacked into your precious fucking system.”
A wry smile crossed Kennedy’s face as he glanced at the screen that confirmed Michael’s story.
“
I should have known those useless soldiers were no fucking good. They assured us your colleague at the university hadn’t had time to send the app before we killed him. Well, no matter, our teams are already out hunting down the R.I.G groups. This will only be short-lived. A minor victory, believe me. And besides, we’ll be able to implicate the anti-net protesters for this as we did before. The same ones who savagely murdered your wife and daughter.”
As Kennedy smirked maliciously, goading Michael, the entire lab was shaken by a further explosion, very close to where they were. The room shook and the door behind Kennedy slid open a little further, knocking into the back of his legs.
The impact was sufficient for him to turn briefly to see what had happened. In an instant Michael seized his chance, quickly pulling the handgun from where it was tucked in his trousers. Seeing him reach for his gun Kennedy quickly fired, but losing his balance as his foot got caught in the door as he tried to kick it away.
Michael felt the bullet flash past his face before impacting into the white wall behind. In the same moment his finger tightened on the trigger. He felt the force of the gun explode in his hand and recoil before the bullet hit Kennedy squarely in the centre of his chest, sending him hurtling backwards into the door, shutting it with the force.
Quickly, before Kennedy could respond, Michael fired two more shots rapidly into his chest area. Kennedy’s body slid slowly down the door, blood streaking the white interior from where the bullet had exited his body. Michael stood over Kennedy’s slumped body, breathing heavily. Even through the pain, and the blood bubbling from his mouth, Kennedy still smirked maniacally as he attempted to speak.
“
I enjoyed killing them both,” he finally got out as Michael’s finger tightened on the trigger.
“
I know,” Michael said flatly. “And I’m going to have to live with that.”
The gun recoiled again as the final bullet shot Kennedy through the top of the head, his body toppling over into a bloody pool blocking the door.
“
That’s for Colette and Clare,” Michael said quietly, looking back to where Simon was sitting, the colour in his face returning in relief.
Turning back to his computer Simon typed a few more commands before sitting back as the machine processed his request.
“
I’ve accessed the login logs. I’m trying to isolate where my brother is logged in, if at all. He may have fled the building.”
“
He’ll still be here,” Michael said confidently. “He’s not going to leave. This is his project. He’s not going to let it go up in flames without a fight.”
Simon watched as the SemComNet system scanned its logs for any indication of his brother being logged into the system, and more importantly where. Michael watched anxiously as the machine processed his request, fearing his opportunity could be lost and that Simon was right that Trevellion could have fled.
“
I’ve got him,” Simon finally said. “He’s logged into the system alright. I just need to cross-reference his login IP address with his physical location. Give me a moment.”
Michael looked to the door as the sound of another explosion filled the air, going off in another part of the building.
“
He’s in the Data Warehouse on Level 3,” Simon said as the information popped up on screen.
Michael exhaled loudly, looking down at the gun he was still holding.
“
That’s where all the servers and infrastructure for UKCitizensNet will be stored.”
“
He’s trying to save it from the attack,” Michael said knowingly.
“
You’ll need a security code to override the retinal scanner to get in there,” Simon added, exiting the information on screen and querying the security module for the SemComNet building.
Michael turned the handgun he was holding upside down in his hand and released the magazine from the butt of the gun. There were five bullets left. He hoped it was enough.
“
OK, the security code for the Data Warehouse door is 190704.”
Without a word Michael turned, heading for the door.
“
Wait, I’ll come with you.”
“
No, you get yourself out of here. I’m going alone. I want to see the look on his face when he knows there’s no escape. When he realises they’ve failed. I need to ensure Trevellion is in the room when the app strikes his location. I need you here to do that.”
Simon’s eyes widened as he realised what Michael was saying, and the price he was willing to pay to finally avenge his wife and daughter.
“
How long do you want before the app releases the gas into the Data Warehouse.”
“
Fifteen minutes should be enough,” Michael replied, pondering the forthcoming situation and his showdown with Trevellion.
“
OK, I’ll need to do a minor bit of reconfiguration, but that shouldn’t take me long.”
Michael nodded, half-smiling.
“
Good, and thank you. Just promise me when it’s done and the app’s gone that you get yourself out of this damn building.”
Simon nodded, looking at the determination burning in Michael’s eyes.
And in an instant Michael left the room in search of the Data Warehouse on Level 3. Simon began to type rapidly, configuring the app to send his brother to his death.
It took Simon less than five minutes to reprogram the app, ensuring the gas release settings Smith had originally programmed were used as the correct deployment handlers. The Horsemen had programmed a number of possible scenarios for the app to follow. But this was the one Michael had wanted, and he’d obliged.
He’d paused for a few brief seconds, mentally debating whether he really could send the app to kill his brother. Memories of their childhood clouded his thoughts, dredging up the same pain and regret he’d felt at his father’s funeral. And then his father’s words rang in his ears once more. The irony all too palpable.
“
Why don’t you behave like a real man, like your brother.”
“
Simon, say sorry to your brother.”
The images of the torture ordeal Vincent had sanctioned, and his intention to kill them both when he’d visited them in the holding room, came flooding back.
Blood isn’t always thicker than water.
Without pausing he slid his finger over the ‘Enter’ key, initiating the app, sending it to Vincent’s location in the Data Warehouse. Michael had 15 minutes to get to his brother and ensure he was trapped in the room before the app released the deadly cocktail Smith had manufactured.
Running from the quiet lab Simon reached the balcony in the atrium, looking over the top at the chaos below. People were still running about. All sense of calm had disappeared as the building continued to be rocked from explosions. Sprinklers were going off in various parts of the complex in a vain attempt to salvage the premises.
Amidst the chaos soldiers were attempting to direct the crowds. But there were too many panicked staff for it be in the least bit effective. This fact alone was his best chance to escape.
Heading for the stairwell he quickly descended from the fourth floor where they’d been previously and onto the ground floor in the centre of the atrium. Reaching the bottom of the steps he was nearly sent sprawling to the floor as a group of armed soldiers hurried past, not paying the slightest attention to his disheveled and beaten appearance.
Looking round, a group of workers were pushing at the main doors of the building in their bid to escape, the soldiers had given up trying to control the situation at SemComNet’s entrance. Without a second thought Simon turned and ran in the direction of the crowd, hoping to be lost in the anonymous hysterical mass.