Date: 06/24/20xx
Josh had been a devoted patron of Janine's artistic career for a staggering 18 years, amassing a remarkable collection of her finest works over time. As such, he eagerly awaited the unveiling of her latest exhibition, "Siloam," which drew inspiration from ancient monuments and was set to debut on June 29, 20xx.
Despite their antiquity, these monuments retained their original allure and purpose, captivating modern audiences. Josh was filled with anticipation to witness how Janine had breathed new life into these age-old wonders through her artistry.
Touching down at Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore/Washington, D.C., Josh boarded his private jet with a heart brimming with excitement. His destination: Sydney, Australia, where he would personally witness the grand opening of Janine's exhibition.
However, fate had different plans in store for him. Spencer, Josh's travel companion, encountered a minor roadblock in England, which hindered their plans. Undeterred, Spencer decided to take matters into his own hands and flew to London, rescheduling his rendezvous with Josh in the European country, but determined not to let this setback ruin their plans.
Reuniting with his team at the CIA and making their way to the airport, Spencer received valuable intel from an informant regarding Astra, a notorious hacker who had skillfully evaded detection for years.
Recently, The Register had leaked information about Astra, unveiling his true identity as a 37-year-old Austrian mathematician who had orchestrated intricate cyberattacks on Johnson Group for nearly five years.
Astra had not only stolen highly classified weapons programs and cutting-edge software but had also deployed a clandestine spy algorithm, infiltrating the company's networks and exfiltrating state-of-the-art data. These ill-gotten assets were then sold to 250 individuals worldwide, resulting in a staggering $580 million loss for the company.
Despite his malevolent exploits, Astra's true identity had remained veiled in secrecy, but the name itself held significant meaning as "Astra" translates to "weapon" in Sanskrit, a befitting pseudonym for this infamous hacker.
Spencer's informant disclosed that Astra was departing England for Australia, scheduled to board a London-to-Sydney flight on 06/27/20xx. Fueled by determination, Spencer took it upon himself to personally investigate the matter, unwilling to allow Astra to perpetuate further harm.
As Spencer shared the plan with Josh, an undeniable tension filled the air. Astra was no ordinary criminal, posing a substantial risk of failure. Nevertheless, Josh was not one to shy away from a challenge, especially when it involved apprehending a hacker as audacious and fearless as Astra.
As they boarded the plane to Sydney, Spencer donned his civilian ID with the name Aster O'Connor. Josh couldn't help but wonder why he chose that name. Was it to honor someone special? Or was it just a random choice? He decided to ask Spencer later.
During the flight, there was no conversation between the two friends. They behaved like strangers, focused on the task at hand. Josh felt out of place on a commercial flight, having his own private aircraft. But he knew that it was necessary for the operation to be successful.
(London) 15:00 hours ago...
Josh let out a sigh when he saw his ID and turned to Spencer, "Why Damián Bowes-Lyon? Why not Bruce, Brandon, or Dräger"?
Spencer's choice of the name Aster intrigued Josh, and he finally asked him about it. Spencer told him the story of the flowers of Aster and how they symbolized love, patience, loyalty, wisdom, light, and power. It was Emma's favorite flower, and Spencer used the name Aster on occasion to honor her memory.
Josh felt a pang of sadness for Spencer. Losing someone you love is never easy, and it was clear that Emma had a special place in Spencer's heart.
Josh knew that many people wanted to see him dead.
He continued complaining, "Look at me, Spencer. I'm 1.90 meters tall, 48 years old, with a face and body of a 30-year-old. They should've called me Hulk instead. My ID should be Bruce!"
Spencer replied, "Stop being so dramatic, Josh. It's just a name, and I'm sure you've been called worse things before."
"We have a 20-hour flight ahead of us, and we need to confirm if the hacker is the real Astra," Spencer continued, trying to steer the conversation back to the task at hand.
Josh thought for a moment and suggested, "What if we intercept him during boarding?"
Spencer shook his head, "That's too risky. The hacker is a wanted criminal on the Interpol list with a multi-million dollar reward on his head. Let's contact the British authorities and give them the information we have."
Josh argued that they could safely perform the arrest, even if the media sensationalized it. "Our country has good cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom. Since he is Austrian, we will extradite him to the US for his crimes. Some agents are already mobilizing for this."
As Josh thought about the situation, he found solace in thinking about his sister, Janine. Her happiness brought joy to his heart, and he felt lighter.
Maybe he would be lucky enough to see his nephews. He thought about his destiny, days of tribulation, and days of triumph. Losing his parents had left his heart withered, but Janine's happiness was his happiness.
"This is the chronicle of my life," he thought to himself, "and I am a warrior, grateful for the battles I've fought and the victories I've achieved."