Cj Williams

The Cyclops Effect Cj Williams

When Asha said she wanted to give the Chinese hackers a piece of her mind, she didn't mean it literally. But that's what happens when medical technology goes awry. Doctors promised they could teach her brain to read digital signals. They gave her a fully functional visual prosthetic that transmits images across her optic nerve directly to the visual cortex. The module even has wi-fi so they can monitor the signal traffic to her brain. They didn't anticipate her brain would figure out how to use the wi-fi connection both ways. Asha can now see the Internet.

ASHA BECOMES THE ULTIMATE HACKER

As her digital brain develops, she creates an online alter ego, a true artificial intelligence. In fact, she can access every bit of data in the world, even files that are supposed to be secret. Since the FBI promises handsome rewards for capturing criminals on their Most Wanted list, Asha becomes a bounty hunter. The AI she calls Abbot becomes her right hand as she goes to work tracking down international terrorists. Unfortunately, she is so effective, the government believes she may be a co-conspirator. When they refuse to pay her, she walks out.

IT'S NOT JUST THE FBI WHO SUSPECT HER

When Asha crosses paths with Chinese military hackers, she stops them by taking out Shanghai's electrical grid. The communist government wants to know who did it and how. After Asha gives a copy of Abbot to her husband's company, things go downhill. The Chinese military steals a copy of it and immediately recognizes its military significance. Their top priority, however, is to take out the woman who came up with it in the first place.

CHINA FLEXES ITS NEW CYBER WARFARE TOOL

Using her own technology against her, the Chinese suddenly become a serious threat to the US. The FBI calls Asha back and asks a favor: stop the Chinese attack. She agrees, but this time there are conditions. Either they pay upfront, or she will take care of the Asian threat in her own way, and knowing Asha, that could mean World War Three.