New Task

Meanwhile, at Ink Tech.

The IT department team members are ready in front of each computer.

This morning they've received a warning from the big Boss. Tonight, there will be an attack on their servers. The Big Boss is instructing everyone to stand by.

They have been waiting since morning until now. So far, no problem with the server. No sign of any intruder on their server.

Some of the staff, who looked tense since afternoon, now look more relaxed. Some are even having fun playing games with their cellphone.

While they were relaxing, suddenly, a signal appeared on one of the monitor screens. Someone has infiltrated their security system, and now whoever it is, is successfully penetrating layer three security.

"WHAT!?? Guys, someone is attacking us! They already in layer 4. OMG!" Another is shouting.

"ARE YOU KIDDING?" another staff reply.

"OMG!!"

"GUYS, HURRY!!"

The room becomes noisy. All of the computer experts at Ink Tech are trying to block the hacker attack.

"Sir, the attacker is withdrawing their attack. I think he is stuck and can't get through beyond Layer 4 security." Said one of the staff proudly now their system has been proven capable of blocking an attack.

They still have two more layers, which have more robust security than the previous layers.

"Stay alert, don't let your guard down. If the big Boss tells us to get ready, it means that the attackers are stronger than us."

They are speechless but agreeing with their Boss.

In silence, everyone is waiting for something.

A few moments later, the door opened.

All staff who have been highly concentrating on the computers before them immediately stop and stand up to greet the man who has just entered the room. "Mr. James..."

James nods. Then, he raised his hand, ordered them to their seat, and returned to their activities before he came.

"Any progress?" he asks the Head IT department that is standing next to him.

James rushed to Ink Tech's control center after Big Boss told him that someone would attack their servers tonight.

"The intruder only managed to pass until 4th layer security." The head of IT delightedly replied. He then looks at his watch, "It's been 5 minutes since he withdrew his attack, and there is no sign that he will try it again."

"Does he leave any trace? Can you trace the attacker?" James asks repeatedly.

"We've been trying to find any traces from the attackers since the attack started, any unknown codes he might have left, but we didn't find any traces of him. It seems he had erased all traces very quickly when he was withdrawing." said one of the staff.

James crossed his arms over his chest. He stares at the computer screen sharply. Five minutes later, all the computer screens in the room turned black.

All staff panicked.

"What's the matter? Is this another attack?" James asks.

No one knows what to answer.

All staff is trying to type something on their keyboard, but there was no response as if someone else controls their computers.

A few seconds later, a bright blue letter appeared on all computer screens.

[HI, INK TECH. I LEFT MY TRACE HERE. Q]

The word lasted only a moment, then disappeared. And suddenly, an anime photo appeared on-screen, a beautiful woman with long silver hair, wearing a black crown.

Everyone in the room froze.

Nobody speaks, including James.

They didn't believe their newly developed six-layer security system, broken in just such a short time.

"Darn it! This hacker is slick! She can penetrate our security in a flash." Said one of the staff frustratingly.

And others also shouting in the same frustrating tone.

"FU*K!! I, I know this Picture. It's Q profile; I heard she's a TOP Hacker."

"True! I've also heard about this Q. From what I heard, no one has been able to beat her out. The girl is freaking good."

While the staff was busy praising Q, the IT head can't hide his stressed face. It is understandable since a formidable hacker has breached layers of their security system unbelievably fast.

"Mr. James, what should we do?" he asks in desperate.

Looking at his cellphone, James suddenly chuckled as he read the short message on his cellphone screen.

[Big Boss] "Don't panic; it was just a system testing."

James turned his gaze towards the head of IT... "Okay, calm down now; I'll take care of it from here." Not too long, James is calmingly said, "There! the computer will be back to normal 10 minutes later." He patted his back lightly; then, he left the room.

At Empire Apartment.

Mel, who just triumphantly broke through the 6th layer of security, smiles with relief. She stretched her fingers, leaning back on her command chair, and said, "Do you see that, Max?"

"Yes. Boss, Congratulation. How do you do it? You break through the 6th layer in 10 minutes. I got to the 4th layer for almost an hour, and they found me."

"Probably because I'm the best." she laughs but feels a bit embarrassed for bragging in front of an AI.

Then she added, "Earlier, you've passed their security trap, so their intruder alarm is triggered. It would help if you guessed that by the 4th layer, there would be more traps waiting for you than the previous layers. No worries, you will learn from this. It's a failure that will teach you to be more careful next time. By the way, have you rechecked if any traces are left behind?"

Max replied, "Yes, I have, Boss. It's now clean as if we never there. Everything is safe now."

Mel nods in satisfaction. "Good. Now please rescan our security system. Just to make sure there is no loophole and no one follows us."

Not long after, her cell phone vibrated.

[Black] Hello Q. I believe you deserve a Congratulatory. I have wired the money to your account.

[Q] Thank you. Nice to do business with you.

Mel giggled in silence.

Her savings increased by 6 billion from the work she did in just 2 hours.

[Black] You got caught on layer 4!?

[Q] That's not me. That's my Padawan*.

[Black] You have Padawan? So, you're a Jedi Queen? Hahaha

Mel laugh.

[Q] To you? Yes. By the way, I've discovered a loophole file on your system. You know what to do with that loophole, right? After some patching and upgrading, I'm sure no one can break through your security. Well, no one except me.

At the other end, Black smiled bitterly. "She's the best," he mumbles.

A few moments later, he typed,

[Black] Queen…I have another job for you.

[Q] Go ahead.

[Black] I need you to the identity this person [Picture attached]

Mel is frozen when she's looking at the Picture Black sent. It was her photo; it appears on her cell phone.

"Who wants to found out about me?" she asks herself.

She tries to remember the person she might have offended recently. But no matter how hard she tries to remember, nothing's ring a bell.

Because all this time, she believes she never had any direct contact with new people. She only interacts with her best friends and some staff at the MT Group.

A second later, Mel tapped her forehead and said, "Andy Tanner!?"

Her face suddenly turned red and seemingly upset, remembering her unpleasant conversation on New Year's Eve with that bastard.

* * * * *

*Padawan was an apprentice paired with a Jedi Knight or Jedi Master for teaching and training (StarWars Movie)