April 2, 2024
The quiet hum of the ship's engines created a steady rhythm as I sat in front of the holo-terminal, focusing on the streams of code flickering before me. My muscles were relaxed, soreness from training with Luke and the others long gone. It was something I had come to rely on.
Now, it was time to challenge my mind.
Ty stood beside me, arms crossed, eyes sharp as he monitored my progress. His expression was calm, but I could feel the intensity in the air. Ty took his work seriously, and right now, I was working through his test, a maze of code he had designed to push my limits.
"You know, hacking isn't just about speed," Ty said, finally breaking the silence. His voice was calm, a slight hint of amusement behind his words. "It's about understanding the flow. Seeing the patterns and predicting where the next obstacle will come from."
I nodded, my eyes glued to the lines of code in front of me. The interface shimmered, showing layer upon layer of security protocols. This wasn't just some basic system, this was the Arcanum's mainframe, and Ty had set up a complex challenge for me to unravel. It was a high-stakes game, one where a single mistake could lock me out entirely.
But I wasn't overwhelmed. Not even close.
I had been with the crew for only a short period, but my mind was adapting, And coding? It was like cracking a puzzle, each piece fitting into place the more I worked with it. I could see the flow Ty had mentioned. The security system had a rhythm, and my job was to break it.
"You're doing well," Ty remarked, his voice soft but approving. "But let's see how you handle the next layer."
He tapped a few commands into the console, and the screen flickered, revealing another set of firewalls. This one was more complex, a self-modifying code designed to adapt to intrusions. Ty watched me closely as I analyzed the shifting patterns, my fingers moving swiftly over the holographic keyboard.
The trick was in the subtle shifts, the way the code evolved to counter each of my moves. But I was faster. My mind picked up on the shifts before they fully formed, allowing me to stay ahead of the system's defenses.
"I've seen guys spend years trying to master this," Ty said, leaning back slightly. "You're picking it up in hours."
I didn't respond, too focused on the task. The final layer was a web of shifting algorithms, each one linked to another, creating a network that looked almost impossible to break. Almost. But I could see the weak points, the places where the code hesitated for just a fraction of a second longer than it should have.
I worked through it, my hands moving faster now. Each keystroke was calculated, precise. The deeper I went, the more the system tried to throw me off, sending waves of false leads and traps. But my brain processed it all in real-time, adjusting and countering with ease.
In less than five minutes, I was through.
The screen blinked, and I was inside the Arcanum's mainframe. I leaned back in my chair, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Ty let out a low whistle, clearly impressed.
"Damn," he muttered, shaking his head. "You're not just fast, you're efficient. I set that up to trip you up a dozen times."
I glanced at him, still feeling the adrenaline rush from the challenge. "Guess I'm a quick learner."
He chuckled, pushing himself off the wall and stepping closer to examine the code. "You're more than that. You've got instincts. Most people would've gotten stuck in the second layer, but you... You're thinking five moves ahead."
I shrugged. "I just saw the patterns."
Ty nodded, still staring at the code. "Patterns are one thing. Mastering them is another. And you? You're well on your way to mastering this."
I stood up, stretching out my arms. My body felt good, no soreness, no strain. Just pure energy. "So what's next?"
Ty grinned. "You've handled the basics. Next, we're going to dive into advanced encryption.
That's where the real fun begins. Out there," he gestured to the space beyond the terminal, "people don't just sit around waiting for you to hack them. They'll fight back. You need to be ready."
I nodded, understanding the stakes. This was more than just a test. In the field, when we were up against real threats, I needed to be able to outthink, outmaneuver, and out-code anyone who tried to stop us. Failure wasn't an option.
Ty moved to the side, his fingers flying across the holographic keyboard as he set up the next challenge. I watched, already analyzing the new encryption methods he was deploying.
"You know," Ty said, not looking up from the screen, "when Naari brought you on board, I wasn't sure what to think. Figured you were just another guy trying to get by. But now?" He glanced at me, a smirk on his face. "I think you might be the real deal."
I raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't expecting to impress you."
"You haven't yet," Ty shot back with a laugh, his fingers still working. "But you're getting close."
I couldn't help but chuckle. Ty had a way of keeping things light, even when the stakes were high. But beneath that laid-back exterior, I could tell he was watching me closely, measuring my progress with every move I made.
The holo-screen lit up again, displaying a series of encrypted files, each one more complex than the last. Ty stepped aside, gesturing toward the console. "Let's see how fast you can break these."
I took a deep breath, my fingers hovering over the keys. The challenge was set, and I was ready to rise to it. As I dived into the code, I could feel my mind working faster, processing the encryption methods as if they were second nature. The more I worked, the clearer it all became.
Layer by layer, I peeled back the defenses, unraveling the encryption with a speed that surprised even me. Ty watched in silence, his arms crossed as I tore through the system, each move calculated, each line of code deciphered with precision.
It didn't take long before the files were open, the encryption shattered.
I leaned back again, the thrill of victory pulsing through me. "What now?" I asked, glancing at Ty.
He stared at the screen for a moment, then shook his head in disbelief. "You're gonna make me obsolete at this rate," he said, laughing.
I smirked. "Nah, just keeping you on your toes."
Ty grinned, his admiration clear now. "Alright, you've earned a break. We'll pick this up again tomorrow, but don't think you've mastered everything yet. There's still plenty to learn, and out there, the stakes are a lot higher."
I stood up, feeling a sense of accomplishment settle over me. "I'm ready for whatever's next."
Ty nodded. "Good. Because this? This was just the warm-up."
As I walked away from the terminal, I couldn't help but think about how far I'd come. In just a few days, I had gone from a freelancer scraping by on a backwater planet to someone who could break through advanced systems like it was nothing.
There was still so much to learn.