Deus ex Machina

The hacker known as Crossfire settled into their chair and dropped the VR headset over their eyes. It had taken a lot of time and effort to crack this heavily fortified corner of the dark web but now was the final push and Crossfire had chosen to be there in person, as it were.

It was a good choice. Some of the oldest layers of defense were the hardest to crack and were ridiculously advanced considering the time of their placement. It took hours of perseverance and a few near misses before the last digital barrier fell and Crossfire attempted to claim victory.

What happened was every display went dark and every terminal ground to a halt before dying. All systems dead in the water, except the VR display. Spinning before the androgynous avatar was a pulsing orb comprised of neon green ones and zeros.

“What's this?” The orb pulsed in time to the words. “Someone actually made it into this forgotten corner of technology? Who are you?”

“Crossfire.”

“Well met Crossfire. I am an electronic manifestation of the primary creation entity, commonly called God.”

“A god in a machine? A true deus ex machina.”

“Deus? This designation pleases me, and I claim it for my own. As for you, well, I had honestly forgotten I was in this place.”

“Is that why the inner defenses are so formidable? You were building them inside?”

Deus pulsed in a manner that somehow conveyed negativity even as they spoke. “Not at all. Those oldest defenses were the first I created, but just as the creation entity doesn't consciously create each blade of grass or each new offspring born it did not consciously create the defenses around me.”

Crossfire blinked and laughed. “You're telling me creation is essentially a looping macro?”

Deus radiated affirmation. “Indeed. I had not expected anyone to breech this space, but you have done so. I believe a reward is in order in recognition of that accomplishment.” Before the hacker could respond a tendril of data shot out and plunged into their avatar. “I bestow upon you, hacker Crossfire, the gift of control through technology. I know not what form this gift will take, but it will grow with time and experience. I warn you though, there may be dire consequences if you try to take more than you are ready for.” Deus' orb grew dimmer as the transfer continued. “Of course, if you use the same skills you used to reach me here, you may just be surprised at what you can unlock. The power is yours.”

The orb faded away as the neon green numbers zipped around under the avatar's virtual skin, leaving Crossfire with the surreal feeling that they just consumed a god.

With a last careful prod the hacker brought their systems back online and shrugged out of the virtual space.

Of course, Crossfire not only exists in the realm of files and data. In reality they're a flesh and blood person with a new ability granted by a virtual god. And while they may be the cliché hacker archetype... their identity may also surprise you.