54: The Ethical Line

The cold glow of the console illuminated Alex's face as he leaned back, still absorbing the staggering prices he'd just seen. Everything in this fractured world revolved around Energy Credits. It was both currency and lifeblood—a necessity for survival and the key to unlocking a better future. But now, with only 500 Energy Credits in his account, the future felt far away.

He stared at the numbers on the screen, weighing his options. No matter how many jobs he took, the price of real advancement—better gear, more energy, transportation—was almost unreachable without months or even years of grinding.

There had to be another way.

Alex had been running through different possibilities when a thought crept into his mind. The AI connected him to nearly every part of this new world. It was more than just a tool for repairs—it was a conduit to the entire network. The AI could bypass security, analyze encrypted data, and even dig deep into the systems that ran this society. What if it could do more?

A subtle, morally gray idea formed in his mind, and it made him uneasy at first. But the pressure of surviving in this harsh world—of protecting Elara, Serena, and Nia—was weighing on him. He couldn't afford to play by the rules if the rules were stacked against him. And besides, he reasoned, there were dormant accounts, forgotten by the system, tied to people who hadn't survived the unforgiving cold.

Maybe, just maybe, he could tap into them.

No harm done if they're not using the credits anymore, Alex thought. It's just wasted energy otherwise.

He sat forward, his pulse quickening with the weight of the decision he was about to make. He took a breath, knowing that once he asked, there was no going back.

"AI," Alex began, his voice low but steady, "I want to ask you something… hypothetical."

"Listening," the AI responded, its voice calm and efficient as always.

Alex hesitated, then decided to just say it. "Can you… hack dormant accounts? You know, accounts that aren't being used anymore, that still have Energy Credits in them."

The AI was silent for a moment as it processed the request. Alex's heart raced in the silence, his mind spinning with the implications of what he was asking. This wasn't just another repair job. If the AI could access dormant accounts, it would mean free Energy Credits—free power that he could use to buy everything they needed without the months of grueling work.

"Clarify: Define dormant accounts," the AI finally responded, its tone neutral.

Alex leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Accounts that haven't been active for a long time. People who might have died out there, or abandoned their accounts for some reason. They're not using the credits anymore, but the credits are still there, right? Unclaimed."

The AI processed for a few more seconds. "Dormant accounts are those that have had no activity for a specified period, usually due to the user's absence or death. Energy Credits in such accounts remain until reallocated by governing authorities or outpost systems."

Alex's heart pounded harder. This was it. He could see the path ahead now. "So… if an account is dormant, and no one's using the credits, could you access it? Without anyone knowing?"

There was another pause as the AI seemed to consider his request. When it finally spoke, its response was measured. "Accessing dormant accounts is possible through unauthorized means. However, this action would be illegal by the system's governing standards. Such breaches could be detected by the network's monitoring algorithms if not executed with extreme caution."

The word "illegal" hung in the air, and Alex felt a cold wave of doubt wash over him. This wasn't some small-time repair or scavenging job—this was a direct violation of the system's rules. If they got caught, it wouldn't just be losing the Energy Credits they'd hacked. The elites had the resources to punish them in ways Alex didn't even want to imagine.

Still, the temptation gnawed at him. This wasn't just about survival anymore. With access to dormant accounts, he could leap ahead, securing food, better suits, energy cells—everything they needed. It could mean the difference between scraping by and actually thriving.

"How likely is it that the system would detect you?" Alex asked, his voice quieter now.

"Risk of detection varies depending on the security protocols of the network and the activity of monitoring systems. Dormant accounts often have lower surveillance than active accounts, but unauthorized access would still carry a risk. Precautionary measures would need to be implemented to minimize detection probability."

Alex sat back, biting his lip. The AI could do it. It could secretly pull Energy Credits from forgotten accounts, and the risk might be manageable. If they were careful, no one would ever know. But the question wasn't just whether they could do it—it was whether they should.

He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking about Elara, Serena, and Nia. They had survived so much already, barely holding on in the Rust Quarter, scavenging for scraps of food and technology. This wasn't about greed—it was about securing their future. But at what cost?

It's just unused energy, Alex reasoned with himself. No one's going to miss it. And if I can keep us safe, fed, and warm, isn't that worth the risk?

He opened his eyes, staring at the console again. "If we do this," he said slowly, "I want you to be as careful as possible. We can't afford to get caught."

The AI processed for a moment before responding. "Understood. Would you like to proceed with identifying dormant accounts?"

Alex's hands shook slightly as he placed them on the table. He was on the edge of a decision that could change everything. One wrong move, and the elites would know what they were doing. But if they played it right, it could be their way out of constant survival mode.

"Yes," Alex finally said, his voice barely a whisper. "Start scanning for dormant accounts. But make sure there's no trace."

"Commencing scan," the AI replied. The screen shifted, showing lines of code as the AI dove into the network, searching through layers of data. Alex's breath caught in his throat as he watched the process unfold.

Minutes passed, each one stretching on for what felt like hours. Alex sat in tense silence, his heart thudding in his chest. He hadn't told Elara or Serena what he was doing—there was no way to explain this without them asking the same questions he was struggling with himself.

Finally, the AI spoke. "Scan complete. Several dormant accounts identified."

Alex exhaled, the tension in his body releasing slightly. "How much… how many Energy Credits do these accounts have?"

"Dormant accounts identified hold a cumulative total of approximately 78,000 Energy Credits."

Alex's mouth went dry. 78,000. That was enough to completely change everything for them. They could buy better suits, energy storage, food—hell, they could even afford a snowcrawler to travel beyond the Rust Quarter. They could leave the Rust Quarter behind entirely, maybe even move to one of the thriving outposts he had seen on the social media feeds.

But as the possibilities spun in his head, so did the risks. He hadn't expected to find so much. If they hacked even a fraction of that, it would be noticed eventually. They couldn't take it all, not without raising suspicions.

"Can we just… take small amounts? Spread out over time, so no one notices?"

"Extraction of smaller amounts from multiple accounts would reduce detection risk," the AI confirmed. "Recommended strategy: Withdraw increments of less than 1,000 Energy Credits per account, staggered over time."

Alex nodded to himself. It made sense. Slowly draining the accounts would minimize the risk. They could pull enough to keep them going, without drawing too much attention.

But as he sat there, his finger hovering over the command to start the withdrawal, something inside him hesitated. This wasn't just a quick hack—it was crossing a line. He wasn't sure what the consequences would be if they got caught, but they wouldn't be good.

Still, survival in this world wasn't black and white. The system was rigged, and if the elites were willing to hoard resources while people starved and froze, maybe bending the rules was the only way forward.

With a deep breath, Alex made his decision.

"Do it," he said quietly. "Start with small amounts from the dormant accounts. Spread it out so no one can trace it back to us."

"Executing request," the AI responded.

Alex watched as the screen flickered, the AI working in the background to transfer the Energy Credits. His heart raced, knowing that he had just crossed a line he could never uncross.