Chapter 09: The Matrix
[BRIDGETTE HENRY POV,]
"Your software is perfect for the British Intelligence!" Ms. Floyd complimented."Why didn't you tell us about this before when you were presented your cybersecurity program at the bidding?"
"Because it's an open bidding and spies from other firms were everywhere checking the unique software of each institution," she explained, "If I showed them the program I built for my cybersecurity company, they would ask me to surrender it and accuse me of breaking privacy laws."
"So, is this program part of CASTLE?" the agent queried.
"Yes."
"You built it within the system so the British Intelligence won't see it as standalone software but a security feature of your system?" Ms. Floyd inquired.
"Yes."
"That's genius!"
"Thank you," she said, bowing her head. "Do you think we can get that contract now?"
With eyes gleaming with excitement, the agent reached for her with arms wrapped around her waist. The thrilling scent of the officer filling her nostril encouraged her to respond by pecking the woman's neck with kisses.
"I think you will get more than that," Ms. Floyd purred on her ears.
Their lips were about to fuse when the screen flashed a warning window indicating another intruder detected on their system.
"Another hacker?" the agent asked, turning to the screen on the wall.
Hastily, she walked towards the computer to scan another program breaking into their security system. When she traced its point of origin, she knew they were facing a dangerous hacker.
"It's hacking Royal Bank."
"Bloody hell!"
Loud thumps on the glass door of the conference room made them turn their heads. Before opening the door, she closed the program that traced the first hacker.
"Ms. Henry?! There's a hacker at Royal bank." the manager said, panting.
"I know. I saw it."
"What are we going to do? We're still being slowed down by the other hacker?" Mr. Bowen asked, panicking.
"Keep monitoring the other websites. We need to flush out the slow one and stop the hack at Royal Bank."
"Maybe we should consider shutting down," the manager suggested.
"If we shut down every website is vulnerable. We might defend it fast because we kicked the slowdown but it might be too late to defend the Royal Bank," she answered.
"What are we going to do?"
"The first hacker also slowed down the new one, that's why we can still keep up" she pointed out. "We should focus on stopping the bank hacker."
"And leave the first hacker unguarded?" Ms. Floyd asked, alarmed by her decision.
"Yes."
"That's suicide!"
'No. The hacker is only a decoy. If you see the websites and the way they attacked us. It's not going to harm us like this new hacker is planning," she explained with her eyes focused on the screen.
"Boss, do you have any plans? The hacker is at 85% scanning the Royal Bank," Trixie asked, peeking her head inside the conference room.
"When it becomes 100% it's going for a full attack. I need you to stop filtering the first hacker and get this one," she instructed.
"Can the Queen scan this hacker before it finishes its scan?" Ms. Floyd inquired.
"No, we're like peering through the gates, it's still outside. Once it tries to penetrate in, we will see the details of the program," she explained with a stern voice.
Whoever the hacker was, she needed to stay firm. Watching the CASTLE security get hit twice at the same time was rare. Considering they were always targeted by the white hat hacker "Mode" to constantly test their system. This one would be written in the books of history if they could defend themselves successfully from the attack.
"Once it gets in, let the British Intelligence handle the hacker," Ms. Floyd directed.
"You're going to involve GCHQ here?" she exclaimed, worrying about the exposure of the program "The Queen"
"This one is hacking a bank. It can do a lot of damage if you fail!"
"I'm not going to fail," she announced with confidence.
"Then, I need you to track this one once it enters the mainframe of the bank!" the agent ordered.
"No," she answered with a clear tone.
"Why not?!" Ms. Floyd irritatingly asked.
"I'm not going to expose my program without the contract."
"You choose to fish a contract first before stopping a potential cyberterrorist?" The agent asked, bewildered.
"I can stop those terrorists even without the help of the British Intelligence MI5 or MI6!"
"I'm sorry. But as an MI6 agent, I need to report this."
"Katherine!" she yelled, stopping the agent from her plan.
"I'm sorry Bree," Ms. Floyd apologized, shrugging her head, "I'm going to call them."
The agent reached for her phone in her pocket and called. From the conversation she heard, the agent was serious about calling the British Intelligence about using her program to track the malicious hacker. While the MI6 officer was busy on the phone, she deleted the system records of the first hacker.
"99% scanning," Trixie announced.
"When it hits a hundred, stop filtering the first hacker and focus on the new one!" she ordered.
"Okay, Ms. Henry."
"100%!"
"Okay. LeLet'see what this hacker wants!"
"It's deleting bank information."
"What bank information?" The agent asked.
"Credit Cards."
"Random? Or not?"
"Everything!"
"Bree, scan it now!"
"Guarantee my contract first!"
"Bridgette!"
"You're going to use my program to track the hacker, I need a contract!"
"Fine! I'll make sure you get a contract."
"I don't want the answer coming from you. I want your boss to say it."
"I'll get him on the phone. You better track that hacker now!"
LiAshe agent said, she accessed the program again but before hitting the "enter" she waited for the agent's boss to ensure her contract.
"Sir Fairbank? This British Intelligence liaison officer for G, Katherine Floyd. Ms. Henry wants insurance for her contract before she helps us find the hacker," the agent introduced herself and agreed to what the man from the other line said, "Yes, sir."
The agent handed her the phone after stating
"Hello, is this Ms. Bridgette Henry?"
"Yes, may I know who you are, sir?"
"This is the Director of Government Communications Headquarters for British Intelligence, Russel Fairbank. Ms. Floyd told me you refuse to help us without a contract, is that true?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know that it's a criminal offense not to help a government agent?"
"I know. But I'd rather go to jail than expose my program to an agency who can easily steal it away from me by using the law."
"Very well. I will guarantee your contract as long as you assure us that you can jail this hacker. Will that be enough?"
"Yes."
"Good! We have an agreement. Please give the phone back to the agent."
The agent nodded her head after a few questions from the other line. She wasn't curious about what they were talking about. She could easily hack on the agent's phone and listen to the conversation from the malware she used to tap the agent's phone.
After the agent hung up the call, she turned to her and asked.
"Now will you trace the hacker?"
"Of course." She hit the enter button and it started the program.
castle:\ admn\system\queen\location\103 Queen's Road, Peckham E15
"How about the other one?"
"No."