Chereads / The Phantom Code Breaker / Chapter 17 - Hit the Wall

Chapter 17 - Hit the Wall

He continued hitting the keys on his keyboard and injecting codes to his program currently running inside the system of Orion.

"I never thought I will really win a spot in the tournament. All I have to do is to get to that spot where their firewall has a glitch. I've researched about their security for almost 2 months now, thus I'm rewarded. Hahaha." He sipped on his cupped noodles. "I just want the original copy of the latest, the newest version of ROA-RPG xx3." he rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry ORION, my mom will not let me buy that game no matter how hard I ask so let me have a copy this way... I promise you will not notice it, PA's gonna disappear like a fly. " he giggled. "Now, let's get this hack on the roll!" he returned on hitting keys on his keyboard.

"The new version of the Phantom Algorithm I created the night before the finals were injected in their system. It's running like a mice inside their system. That virus-like program will navigate through their system, the ORION network, and will search for the key code during the final seconds on the game I played this afternoon." he said to himself and continued typing.

dim cnt as byte

dim oldstate as boolean

dim state as boolean

dim lngCounter as longint

dim secs as integer

dim minutes as integer

dim hours as integer

dim blnHighState as boolean

dim blnLowState as boolean

dim blnAlarmState as boolean

dim blnAlarmSignal as boolean

sub procedure sendBit(dim b as boolean)

if (b) then

gpio.2 = 1

delay_us(1125)

gpio.2 = 0

delay_us(375)

else

gpio.2 = 1

delay_us(375)

gpio.2 = 0

delay_us(1125)

end if

end sub

sub procedure sendBit2(dim b as boolean)

if (b) then

gpio.2 = 1

delay_us(1125)

gpio.2 = 0

delay_us(375)

else

gpio.2 = 1

delay_us(375)

gpio.2 = 0

delay_us(1125)

end if

end sub

sub procedure sendPair(dim b as boolean)

sendBit(false)

sendBit(b)

end sub

sub procedure sendPair2(dim b as boolean)

sendBit2(false)

sendBit2(b)

end sub

sub procedure switchcode2(dim b as boolean)

'// house code 1 = B

sendPair2(true)

sendPair2(false)

sendPair2(false)

sendPair2(false)

'// unit code 2

sendPair2(true)

sendPair2(false)

sendPair2(false)

sendPair2(false)

'// on = 14

sendPair2(false)

sendPair2(true)

sendPair2(true)

sendPair2(b)

sendBit2(false)

end sub

sub procedure switchcode(dim b as boolean)

'// house code 1 = B

sendPair(true)

sendPair(false)

sendPair(false)

sendPair(false)

'// unit code 2

sendPair(true)

sendPair(false)

sendPair(false)

sendPair(false)

'// on = 14

sendPair(false)

sendPair(true)

sendPair(true)

sendPair(b)

sendBit(false)

end sub

sub procedure transmit(dim b as boolean)

switchcode(b)

delay_us(10000)

switchcode(b)

delay_us(10000)

switchcode(b)

end sub

sub procedure transmit2(dim b as boolean)

switchcode2(b)

delay_us(10000)

switchcode2(b)

delay_us(10000)

switchcode2(b)

end sub

sub procedure interrupt

TMR0 = 96

INTCON = $20 ' set T0IE, claer T0IF

'scan input pin

if Button(GPIO, 5, 10, 1) then

state = true

else

state = false

end if

if state <> oldstate then

if state = true then

' change true/false below depending on whether your

' device goes high or low on triggering.

transmit2(false)

oldstate = state

end if

if state = false then

' send the opposite of above (change if required)

transmit2(true)

oldstate = state

end if

end if

end sub

main:

OPTION_REG = $84 ' assign prescaler to TMR0

'TRISIO = 0 ' designate gpio as output

TRISIO = %00100000 ' configure pin 5 of GPIO as input

GPIO = $0 ' initialize gpio

cnt = 0 ' initialize cnt

TMR0 = 96

lngCounter = 1

transmit(true)

delay_ms(3000)

transmit(false)

INTCON = $A0 ' enable TMRO interrupt

secs=0 ' init seconds counter

'// ------------------------------------------------------------------

'// Our input pin 2 (GPIO 5) can respond to when the device attached

'// changes state (either from high to low, or low to high)

'//

'// You might want to reverse this logic, so that you can send an ON

'// when the line goes low for example, or vice versa.

'//

'// Configure below as follows:

'//

'// blnHighState = what signal to TX when the input wire is high (+5v)

'// blnLowState = what signal to TX when the input wire is low (0v)

'// blnAlarmState = what signal is most important (repeat every 10min)

'// blnAlarmSignal= what is the signal (ON (true) or OFF (false))

'//

'// set these to true/false where true is BBSB ON, and false is OFF.

blnHighState = false '// off when line high

blnLowState = true '// on when line low.

blnAlarmState = false '// what is the state we're most interested in?

'// e.g 'the house is flooding with water'

'// this state is repeated every 10 minutes

'// the opposite 'the house is dry' is only

'// repeated every 12 hours as a 'my battery is ok'

'// message.

blnAlarmSignal = true '// send this code if the alarm state is true.

'// ------------------------------------------------------------------

do '// begin infinite loop..

lngCounter = lngCounter + 1

if lngCounter = 11377 Then '// count cycles in a second

secs = secs + 1 '// increment seconds counter

lngCounter = 0

end if

if secs = 60 then '// minutes..

secs = 0

minutes = minutes +1

end if

if minutes = 10 then

if state = blnAlarmState then

'// we are STILL in the 'alarm' state, so send the required

'// signal every 10 minutes..

transmit(blnAlarmSignal)

end if

end if

if minutes = 60 then '// 1 minute

hours = hours + 1

minutes = 0

end if

if hours = 12 then '// 12 hours..

hours = 0

if state <> blnAlarmState then

if(blnAlarmSignal = true) then

transmit(false)

else

transmit(true)

end if

oldstate = state

end if

end if

loop until 0 = 1

"It will leave a mark on the program that will tell my computer where to navigate and do the hack. A unique characteristic of the Phantom Algorithm is that it builds firewalls the moment it leaves a folder to hide its whereabouts. I really hope that this program will pass through the tight security of the ORION." he stopped hitting his keyboard. "And if it will do as what I've planned, I will be the best computer engineer in the world... Hahahahaha" he laughed his heart out, almost losing his balance on his chair. "The first one to trespass the greatest stronghold, the Origin, none other than ORION! That will be awesome. The Greatest hacker they've been finding to work for them." his smile reached his ear. "Almost there..." he went back to his PC and continued hitting the keys.

He thought he won the game. It has risen to 32% after two hours of hacking that gave him confidence in what he's doing. He had glanced at the information he doesn't really care about like employees' names and addresses, other stakeholders, Bill statements, and the like.

"I don't need these.... Where could they place the game in their system?" he continued to do his work. "Hurry up."

....

On the other hand, the programmers of ORION had found a foreign activity in their system.

"How grave was it?" asked the assistant programmer whose sweat drips from his forehead.

"It has entered to the first shield, Sir!" another programmer who almost lost his blood replied.

"What???" one replied. "Can't you trace where it came from?" he demanded.

"We're dead if we won't stop this." they all went silent. "The president will-"

"We're on it, Sir." they all responded.

"13%, Sir... it had accessed to employees' info.' another reported.

"That's bad, kill it now." The asst. programmer ordered. "What does he want in here." he mumbled. "Also, call the Bureau..."

"Yes, Sir..."

.....

The Bureau is the implementing hand of the police force against the illegal activities in the cyber world. They have the best computer engineers and IT programmers on their team that will apprehend the intruder as fast as they can. They have a unique way of finding an offender no matter where or what it is because of their upgraded real-time system tapping the systems of Orion. They have access to every network including cell sites and national satellites because of the power vested in them by the Saesen Degree. The nearest Bureau branch is located on Zone 9 where Charlotte works as the Assistant Programmer and Vice-captain of the 3rd Assault Unit.

"The ORION is under attack,, they called us to find the rat... on your deck hounds!" the captain ordered to his members. "...the upper echelon gave us, the 3rd Unit, the case and to take custody of the rat..."

"Hai..." they all responded.

"Though it will be faster with Charlotte on the room..." he paused for a moment and continued, "...Anyway, let's just do our best!" the Captain said, "...and,, ahh,, I don't know, I would like to begin the search around the City, check all the Zones!!"

"Hai, Captain!"

"And, one more thing... Tap on the ORION's system."

Charlotte was out with his partner Carl because the Captain, Kevin, sent them somewhere to do some errand. They were using the issued car of the Bureau as they patrol around the Arcade area to meet the chips dealer they ought to buy a computer piece.

...

"I can do this,, almost there..." Markus said as he continues his work. "Just a little more..." he took a sip on his iced coffee.

...

"Sir, it has reached 32%... the virus is scanning our system. It seems that it is finding something while damaging files."

"Then stop it before it finds what it's searching...! We can't let it outrun us. Damn it!" Louige, the Asst. Programmer said in urgency.

"Hai! But, needless to say... the virus has a unique activity, Sir."

"Ahh, I've noticed. It's a new type of virus that leaves a firewall after it scanned a specific folder..." someone added.

"It's erasing its traces, huh?" Louige said

"Hai. On top of that, it has a good stealth activity... it appears that it was activated about-" he did some calculations on his keyboard for a moment and said, "-two hours ago..."

"Two hours, huh?" Louige gave it a deep thought. He thought that the virus might have started to move during the RPG games at the atrium. "What about the Bureau? Do they have any updates?"

"They're on the move, Sir..."

"Good,, let's teach that bastard a bunch of things... Show him who's the king in this Savannah."

"HAI! Sir, Yes, Sir!" the team said in chorus.

...

At the Bureau,

"We've scanned the Area, Sir. And we found an unusual activity on this network." Said the member.

"What Zone?" the captain explained.

"We're narrowing it on the East side of the city. The signal was around Zone 11, sir."

"Alright,,, find where it leads..."

"On it!"

...

The two officers were trying the best to find where the virus and the hacker were located. They have connections and ways to find it that the little hacker didn't know.

45%

...

"Sir, it reached 45%, Mr. Louige!"

"That's insane!" the asst. Programmer Louige said as he punched the table "...take a higher action,,, raise the Aegis! We don't want to anger our boss, you all know that."

"Hai!"

"We need to stop it before reaching the half or else, Boss will be very mad," Louige said under his breath

...

In his room,

"Oi, they have found the irregular activity.... They are doing quite a resistance here, huh..." he took a sip on his cupped ramen "Well, it doesn't matter. I will play your game and win it for sure. I don't play a losing game, you know. I can do this."

Markus did the cancellation process where he breaks the firewalls the ORION team is building around their system. Unbelievably true, Markus is putting up a fight against the "so-called best programmers" of ORION, the NUMBERS. During the process, he now doubts the power of the stronghold they all look up to.

...

"I GOT YOU!" one of the Bureau members said

"Where?" the cap exclaimed.

"At this house, Captain Kevin..." he pointed on the spot on their map that flashed on the screen. "Zone 11, Zwischen St."

"Ja,, let's head out there and capture the flag!"

"You mean, the culprit, Sir." The member said sarcastically.

"Whatever..." Kevin said and head out to his car.

On their way, they have sent the information to Charlotte and his partner with a note to follow immediately after they have done the errand.

"Oi, Charlie... this location seems familiar," Carl said, Charlie's partner

"Look," she stared at his phone.

"You're right, let's go there immediately...I've got a bad feeling about it." Charlie said.

...

"They're sure are persistent, huh." Markus complained. He is starting to feel nervous about what he has done. "I'm already on 53%, idiot!... just let me pass to find it already..." he continued.

...

Just outside their house,

"We're here, Captain.". The Bureau arrived in front of Markus' house. They did not wail their sirens yet because they were waiting for the right moment to move in.

"Too, domestic. I can't believe our persistent rat is lurking in a place like this..." Kevin exclaimed.

"I agree, Sir... but don't you think this house seems familiar?"

"Really? I don't remember.... Ma, ahh... let's just go and bust in!"

"Hai!"

The 4-man squad entered silently through the front door and scanned the first floor. Having found nothing, they went upstairs and divided themselves into two. The two members came to check the door on the left and the other two came to check the room to the right. They slowly opened the doors. The guys on the right saw nothing suspicious but the other two on the left saw the culprit. They kicked the door and hurriedly grab the poor kid from his chair and send him to his bed.

"Who? Who are you? Let me go, that hurts!" Markus shouted. He started to go pale. He felt all his blood draining from him as they held him in their hands trying to cuff him up.

"You are under arrest for the crime commuted against Sec 4(g) of Saesen Degree,..." Edson was surprised to see the face of their Hacker. "... Kid?"

"Let me go! I haven't done anything, Help!, ol' man! Mom!... Help me!" Markus continued. He is crying and strangling desperately.

They arrived at the place they have been asked to come for backup. Charlotte was so surprised that what she thought was right. They parked on the back street and went outside the car. She saw Ned at the gate near the back door and she approached him.

"Ned,, what happened here? Where's Marky?" She asked, very startled.

"I don't know. I was shocked when cars parked in front of your house and when I came to check, they didn't let me through."

"I need to see Marky..."

"You should hurry...get going"

At that very moment, Charlotte and Ned heard Markus' shout from his room upstairs. "Help, help me! ol' man! Mom!!"

"Markus!" Charlotte shouted and rushed inside the house. She went upstairs pushing her comrades just to immediately arrive at Markus' room. There she saw Markus struggling with his arms hoping to get away from Edson's grip.

"No! Let me go,, let me go,, you idiot ol' man!" Markus said with his face filled with tears and snots.

"Let go of him, Edson..." She glared at her comrade and rushed to Markus taking his hand from Edson's grip and held him to hers. "I'll take care of this."

"Mom...." He said crying, panting while hugging his mom.

"Shhh... don't cry... Marky... Mom's here.." Charlotte brought him to her chest and eyed Edson for what he has done to her son.

"Charlotte?" the captain said.

"That's what I thought,,, that's why this house seems so familiar, it's Charlotte's flat, Cap." Edson said

"But how did your son did all this? I mean, did you taught him about this stuff?" Kevin asked, "... he's been too impressive for a little kid." He added.

"I guess it's the reverse, Cap. She's not always here to teach that brat anything." Edson butted in. "besides, I guess the kid learned it by himself." He raised the books on the table and showed some printed copies on his desk.

"Shut the hell up, Edson..." She said crying "I don't need your hellish comment for now."

"Ahh, for you to know, Charlie. Your son just hacked ORION." Edson turned the other way, scratching his head.

"ORION? Impossible..." Charlotte's eyes widened and tears form on her eyes, slowly gazing at her son's face. "Marky ..."

"No,, Edson's right..." the Captain went to Markus' computer. "Here's the evidence, clear as the bright sun.."

He showed the tab where Markus and ORION were fighting codes as he tried to break through their system.

"This is the first time someone had laid a hand in the mighty ORION. If what he did is not a crime, I would have commended him for what he'd done. But, Charlie..." Kevin voiced his concern.

"Markus..." she hugged him tighter; her tears kept falling.

"And, we still need to bring him in custody. The boss just called, the ORION is really mad about what happened." Edson added

"You don't need to cuff him up... I'll carry him there. And I will talk to them." Charlotte carried her son downstairs.

She did not know what to do. She followed her comrades outside and got in their car carrying Markus, who is not moving his face from his mom's chest, while both of them were crying. She doesn't know where to start to think nor what to do or what word will she say to Markus or to ORION after everything that has happened during this damn night. She was lost in cloudy thoughts looking blank.

"Hey, Charlie, is he okay?" Ned followed them to the car. "What happened?"

"He's just hacked ORION." she replied shyly, covering the kid's head.

"What??!!" Ned exclaimed. "ORION isn't that-" he whispered.

"I know. That's why I will be the one to talk." She looked into his eyes." He'll be fine. I'm here anyway. "

" Ahh, take care. " Ned doubtly said.

They drove out and arrived at the headquarters. Charlotte and Markus were brought to the interrogation room alone with an intervening officer inside. Charlotte asked the Captain that she would accompany Markus no matter what and the Captain agreed. She also suggested that she will do the questioning.

They sat in the middle of the room side by side as Markus didn't move from his mother's chest since they left their house.

"Hey... Marky..." she started the conversation. Her voice is still shaky. She has to be careful about what words she'll ask.

She doesn't care about the hacking this time, she is more concerned about how Markus felt at the moment.

A few minutes later, the Big Boss of ORION came to the headquarters to see the hacker and teach him a good lesson: not to mess up with Orion. He was burning with anger.

"I have more important things to do and you ruined my schedule..." he said as he entered the hallway. He muttered stuff to himself and cusses at the one who hacked his system. "...damn that bastard you will really get what you want...from my fist first then from the law. I'll make you regret challenging Ginsei Reiko and the ORION."

"Good evening, Mr. Reiko." The captain greeted as he walked with Reiko's pace.

"There's no good in my evening." the angry man replied. "I'm in a foul mood because of that stupid bastard who courageously hacked the fortress. Ja, where's that damn culprit?"

"He's inside this room, but Sir..."

He didn't let the Captain finished what he is saying, Reiko immediately opened the door and aimed to hit the kid on the face shouting,

"Damn you bastard!"