Nolan was still asleep in bed unaware that his grandfather Raiden had just climbed into bed with the intention of cuddling close. Feeling the heat radiating from behind him, he repositioned himself in the direction of his grandfather without opening his eyes and replied, "What are you doing in here Papa Rai? How'd you even get in here anyway?"
"I may have taught you everything you know but not everything I know kiddo," stated Raiden. "Plus, I wanted to visit my favorite grandson and see how he's doing." "Mmmhmm, I bet Papa Rai," said Nolan. "Don't get cocky sport, no matter how good you are; never let anyone see you coming," said Raiden. "You must always be two, three steps ahead otherwise people will get wise to what you're doing."
"Grandpa, even if they were to get wise to what I was doing, it'll be too little too late before they put two and two together," Nolan told his grandfather. "Especially with the way you taught Chess and Shogi to me." "Maybe so kiddo but still be careful," Raiden warned his grandson. "Because chances are you'll encounter an opponent who'll match a majority of your moves the moment you make them." "I'm saying this from experience." "Oh really gramps, prove it with a personal experience of yours," Nolan challenged his grandfather.
"Five years ago, I was part of a hacker group known as "Black Cell", Raiden said as he regaled his personal experience to Nolan. "I've heard of Black Cell," said Nolan. "Wasn't that the hacker group that resolved to safeguard the freedoms of American citizens and their neighbors at any and all costs." "Yes in a way scout," replied Raiden. "But they were also resolved to ensure that people who were less fortunate than the 1% of America and everywhere else in the world were able to afford what they needed as well as giving their loved ones a chance at a better life, and I was one of their best hackers."
"Plus, a majority of the corrupt businesses and banks that were controlled by the same 1% of the entire world were determined to ensure that they owned the world and everyone in it." "Little did they learn that we weren't going to allow that to happen so bit by bit we struck where they were most vulnerable siphoning their money into the accounts and businesses of honest hard-working people who valued each other over money."
"Eventually, the corrupt businesses and banks caught wind of our endeavors and were determined to wipe us out, but we weren't afraid of them so we met their challenge but at the same time had a contingency plan that would cover our tracks and expose all the illegal activities that were happening behind the scenes." "We discovered that they were operating from an abandoned hotel and with impunity. As we watched them discussing how best to eliminate us, one of our number took it upon himself to be the decoy long enough for us to deep-six everything to our system and delete their files in the process. So far the plan went off without a problem until one of them took the liberty of calling the authorities on us." "What happened next grandpa?" Nolan inquired. "We covered our tracks and got away or so we thought. The police showed up and arrested every single one of us and took us to jail. While we were sitting on our hands waiting to be processed, one of the corrupt businessmen came to visit us and said with a wicked grin on his face, " With you and your hacker entourage behind bars our livelihood will return. You've lost." As he walked away, I said to him, "If anyone has lost it's you and your associates, you just don't know it yet." He chuckled loudly thinking I was bluffing but he didn't know that the officers who arrested us were part of our group and that he was in for it big time.
"What happened next Papa Rai?" Nolan inquired. "Soon as he made his to the door the officer arrested him on the spot," Raiden said. "Not only did he and his associates lose all of their assets and their illegitimate businesses but they were facing 5 concurrent if not consecutive life sentences if they were convicted of Grand theft larceny, bribery as well as conspiracy to obstruct justice. That literally meant that their gooses were cooked big time." "Wow, I bet that they looked like total fools thinking they could get away with it," Nolan said. "Indeed kiddo but the joke was on them," Raiden replied but also stated next. "So, the point I'm trying to make is this; no matter what endeavor you dare to initiate always make sure that your bases are covered completely and always avoid utilizing the same pattern even if it's familiar to you because eventually someone will pick up on it and be prepared to use it against in all its aspects. Always remember that kiddo, always." "I will Grandpa, I will," Nolan promises. "I love you Papa Rai." "I love you as well scout," Raiden tells his grandson. Having said all that was needed to be said, Nolan and his grandfather fall asleep in each other's arms feeling secure in the comfort that can only be shared by a grandfather and his grandson. But as Nolan and Raiden slept together, a thought crept into Nolan's mind, "What did Grandpa mean by 'make sure that all your bases are covered'?" Is there something that Papa Rai knows that I don't? That just doesn't make sense to me. I understand that grandpa is trying to make sure that I'm safe and that I don't get in trouble with the law but he doesn't realize that the law is easily corrupt because of self-absorbed politicians who care more about their wealth and not the well-being and welfare of the people they serve. If he only knew what these politicians did behind closed doors, he would agree with me. As Nolan drifted back to sleep, he found it very easy to rest and not have to worry too much about it.