The Nuke Comes Knocking

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the ink-black night sky took over, cloaking my humble wooden camp in utter darkness. My fingers fumbled against the cold metal switch, sending a warm, gentle light scattering across the room as I securely bolted the wooden doors and windows shut. My heart drummed a staccato beat, fear dancing like a nimble ghost in its rhythm - The only light was the one that emanated from within.

Inside the camp, it was a world of my own making. The steady hum of dry cell batteries echoed against the timbered walls, Their life-force was ebbing from a solar-powered generator. Nestled in the corner, two oil generators stood like silent guardians, ready to roar to life when an emergency demanded it.

Encircling the camp were invisible threads of danger - the traps I had laid meticulously. An unsuspecting trespasser would meet an explosive end. It was a solitary fortress, my stronghold in a world teetering on the brink of chaos.

Turning to Dea, my AI, I asked, "How is the copying?"

"Already in process, master," came the immediate response, unfazed and focused. "It's a simple task. No hurdles in sight."

"And what are you copying now?"

"Right now?" Dea paused for a moment. "I am copying a blog post, entitled '10 steps to make girls fall in love with you and end up in bed with her in just 20 minutes'."

I gave a serious nod. "Seems crucial for every man. Keep up the good work, Dea. I am off to shower and eat." Leaving Dea to continue the data extraction, I retreated to the privacy of my bathroom.

***

USA:

"Mr. President!" The panicked voice of the National Security Advisor echoed in the Oval Office, his eyes flashing with an urgency that reflected the gravity of the situation. "A hostile cyber-entity is infiltrating our system. Our most sensitive data — nuclear codes, classified military bases — it's all been compromised." He inhaled sharply; the sound cut through the tense silence. "We need to respond with force. Deploy cyber countermeasures, and if necessary, a physical strike team to take down the perpetrator."

***

Israel:

Inside the covert nerve center of Mossad, the tension was palpable. The Chief of the Israeli intelligence agency leaned over the labyrinth of digital screens, a hardened expression etched onto his face. "Our secret weapon schematics, blueprints of our defense infrastructure, it's all been mirrored. It's a ticking time bomb."

***

North Korea:

In the sterile, forbidding environs of a North Korean command center, a high-ranking military officer was locked in a heated exchange with his subordinates. "We've suffered a breach. Our nuclear weapons data has been accessed and duplicated!" His eyes flashed with an ominous glint. "We must retaliate. Pinpoint the source, and prepare to launch!"

***

Russia:

Amidst the cold, clinical precision of Russia's cyber defense bureau, the orders were crisp and authoritative. " Our classified information has been accessed and copied. Red Alert! Scramble our units, zero in on the origin of the attack, and deploy our forces!"

***

China:

Inside the fortress-like headquarters of China's cyber warfare division, the urgency was escalating by the second. "Our confidential intelligence has been copied. This breach cannot be tolerated. If we can't secure our information, we must eliminate the source. Are we prepared to deploy our undisclosed arsenal?"

***

England:

In the sleek, high-tech hub of MI6, the atmosphere was fraught with tension. "Our database has been cloned. Deploy our fastest cyber response team; we need to isolate and retrieve our data before the others."

The world was suddenly teetering on the brink of an unforeseen crisis, a cyber pandemic that was spreading with frightening speed.

***

Under the dim yellow light, I sat cross-legged in the heart of the makeshift camp, my spoils of battle spread out before me. The glow bathed the objects in warm hues, creating a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness. It was a strange sight - timepieces, rifles, gold bars, assorted jewelry, all glinting like stars on a pitch-black canvas.

The content of Jack's backpack intrigued me the most. As I rummaged through it, a sense of giddy surprise washed over me. Gold bars, each glimmering with a promising sheen, were packed into it. A stash of treasure, unseen and unanticipated.

I spent the next few hours inventorying my newly acquired wealth, a bounty that carried the thrill of victory and the taste of sweet revenge. But amidst the palpable excitement, a deep yawn escaped me. The events of the day had taken their toll on me and the tug of sleep was growing more insistent.

A part of me was on alert, though. My ears were attuned to any sound that might hint at the traps I had set around the camp being triggered. The adrenaline and anticipation kept the exhaustion at bay, but I knew I needed to unwind.

I turned to Dea, who was intently interfacing with the smartphone.

"Do you have any problem copying data from the internet?"

"The challenge was virtually non-existent; it felt akin to an adult swiping candy from a defenseless three-year-old."

"Good. What are you copying now, Dea?"

She paused momentarily, halting the simultaneous copying of a trillion data points to find something intriguing for me. A faint shimmer danced around her as she shifted her focus to me. "At the moment, I'm downloading a movie titled 'Avatar,'" she responded.

At my nod of approval, Dea's form flickered, and the stark wall of the cabin transformed into a makeshift screen. The vibrant world of Avatar burst to life before me, every frame of the film rendering in stunning detail on the wall.

My gaze was drawn to the unfolding plot, the mesmerizing graphics and compelling storyline pulling me in. My reality seemed to blur, the camp and my vigilance fading into the background as the movie consumed my attention.

Subtly, Dea adjusted the light source, casting a cinematic glow around the room. The ambiance matched the extraordinary universe that was playing out on the wall, heightening the immersive experience.

Without realizing it, I found myself engrossed in the narrative, my consciousness swept up in the tale of bravery, survival, and breathtaking spectacle. Time lost its meaning as scene after scene swept me away, lulling me into a state of relaxed concentration.

As the climax of the movie came to a close, sleep's persistent pull finally overcame me. My eyelids grew heavy, my body sinking deeper into the makeshift bed of soft blankets and pillows. The strains of the movie's score faded as sleep claimed me, my mind filled with visions of towering trees, stunning bioluminescent creatures, and vast water bodies.

In this serene atmosphere, enveloped by the quiet of the night and the warmth of my treasures, I succumbed to a dreamless sleep, my mind finally at peace after a day of relentless combat. The camp was silent, save for the gentle hum of Dea's ongoing operation, the tranquility interrupted only by the occasional rustle of wind outside.

Little did I know that while I drifted in the realm of sleep, the world outside was plunging into chaos.

Meanwhile, the global chaos continued unabated. Jets zipped across the sky, their roaring engines a testament to the urgency of the situation. On the ground, soldiers and operatives were scurrying to and fro, their attempts to penetrate the camp's defenses proving futile.

An aura of danger and mystery enveloped the seemingly innocuous wooden camp, drawing the world's attention and instilling a sense of foreboding among those who dared to approach. The night was falling, and with it came the promise of even more uncertainty and turmoil.

***

"Commander, we're at the designated coordinates, but the GPS just went haywire; it's not registering our position. It seems we can't penetrate this invisible perimeter," one of the jet pilots reported, a note of uncertainty creeping into his voice.

"A jammer?" the commander queried, his voice sharp with sudden tension.

"I don't know," the pilot replied, his voice wavering. "This seems beyond a simple jamming device. I've never encountered anything like it. It's as though we're being barred entry by an unseen barrier, pushing us away, forcing us to divert our course."

This peculiar phenomenon was experienced by every military unit across the globe, leaving them blind and unable to pinpoint their target's location.

As midnight draped its dark mantle over the world, a covert meeting was underway in one of the United Nations' clandestine chambers, attended by representatives of the most powerful nations.

"I propose we resort to a nuclear strike!"

"I second that."

"US is on board."

"China concurs."

"France gives its assent."

Not a single voice of dissent filled the room. "Then, let it be done. Obliterate the location."

In the obsidian folds of the night, a stealth bomber, carrying a deadly payload, swept over the target area, releasing its nuclear menace. "Payload dropped. Commencing countdown to detonation."

Back in their respective headquarters, the world leaders awaited the aftermath with bated breath.

"10, 9, 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1." The nuclear bomb detonated as planned. "Operation successful, repeat, operation successful."

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the rooms when suddenly, another report shattered their temporary tranquility.

"The hacker remains active, showing no signs of stopping!"

"Damn it! What on earth is going on, if not even a nuclear blast can stop it?" The confusion was palpable.

Suddenly, every computer in the meeting room, along with the screens in front of each world leader, including their personal smartphones, switched to a black screen displaying a single word: DEA.

"I warn you, if you attempt to nuke my location again, I will retaliate by launching every nuclear warhead on Earth, each aimed at your respective countries!" The threat was delivered in a young girl's voice.

Faces drained of color. Panic ensued.

A flurry of frantic reports to the world leaders followed. "Our nuclear weapons system has been compromised. We've lost all control, and they've now targeted our capital cities."

The world leaders were plunged into a nightmare they couldn't wake up from.