BECAUSE YOU FOUND THE DOOR. WE OFFER YOU A CHOICE. JOIN US, AND WATCH THE OLD WORLD OF SECURITY BURN. OR FIGHT US.

The screen flickered. Not the usual sleep-mode dim, but a single line of green text across a black void: CRACKITNOW // YOUR FUTURE, DECRYPTED.

Leah’s heart pounded. Had it already adapted?

Leah leaned back. She had won tonight.

PATCH BY CRACKITNOW // THANK YOU FOR THE LESSON. WE WILL RETURN.

Her boss, a man named Croft, had gone pale. “Delete that report, Leah. Now.”

On the other end of the line, Croft was quiet for a long moment. Then: “Welcome to the real war, Vance.”

FAREWELL, LEAH. YOU HAVE TAUGHT US SOMETHING NEW.