TROJAN
Chapter 2: "Offensive"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
This story refers to events that occurred in the story "Devil On My Shoulder"
King Endymion entered the Royal Chambers and let out an involuntary sigh. Administering a government seemed to be a seven day, twenty-four hour job and he felt a growing fatigue. Not that he would quit; Endymion still had the compulsion to protect everyone and everything close to him. But now and then he needed to get away.
That's why the dinner hour was so special to him. It was a chance to reconnect with his wife and his eighteen adopted children and just be himself. As the door closed behind him, Serenity glided out of the other room.
"Good, you're home," she said, gliding up to him and kissing him. She began to pull back, but Endymion caught her hips and held her there for a few more moments. When they parted, they noticed Setsuko standing in the doorway. The girl, thirteen now, was smirking.
"Go get ready for dinner," he playfully admonished her. As she left, he turned to Serenity. "I hope I haven't kept anyone waiting."
"Well, Daiki-Chan is impatient to eat as ever," Serenity sighed. "Otherwise we're all ready." Endymion nodded. "Children, it's time to eat."
As the royal couple headed for the dining room, children in all shapes and sizes came spilling out of two dormitories. When Serenity had first adopted the sixteen refugees, the immediate problem was where to house them. Using the Silver Crystal to rearrange the Royal Chambers and several surrounding rooms, two dormitories were built, one for the girls and one for the boys. Setsuko and Yuri kept their private rooms. In addition, a dining hall had been built so the family of twenty could eat comfortably together.
"So what was your meeting about this time?" Serenity asked as her husband escorted her to the long dining table. "Reo-Chan, please stop teasing Akari-Chan."
"She started it," grumbled the boy of eleven.
"Hino-Sensei is going to get you for lying," hissed Akari, thirteen.
"Children," Endymion said with authority. The spat calmed down. "Apparently there's a trojan spreading through the world's computer systems that's siphoning off money in very small amounts."
"A what?" Serenity asked.
"A type of malicious code or software that can take control of your computer," spoke up Kaito, a studious twelve year old. "It is designed to damage, disrupt, steal, or in general inflict some other harmful action on your data or network."
"That's bad, right?" Serenity asked Endymion. "Were many people affected?"
"The Ministry of Finance and Artemis have found over fourteen thousand computers have been infected worldwide - - including the Ministry's general accounting software. They estimate that this trojan has siphoned off the equivalent of over six hundred million yen in the last four years."
"Wow," murmured eleven year old Takumi while the other children looked on in amazement.
"Does anyone know who did it?" Yuri, now fourteen, asked.
"No one's been able to trace the virus beyond an encrypted IP address," Endymion replied as servers passed out dinner. "So far we've stopped the siphoning of the country's treasury and sent out warnings to other affected entities, but I'm not sure it's enough. If something sophisticated enough to avoid detection for four years can be built, it can be modified to bypass any current firewall."
"What can I do to help?" Serenity asked.
"Nothing personal, Dear, but this is a little out of your area," Endymion said gently. "I've already got the best minds in the country working on a counter to this trojan."
Instantly Serenity grew worried.
"Except Ami," he assured her.
Ami sat in a local restaurant with a plate of ornate food before her. Across from her was her husband and companion Hayami. In the background, a woman sang for the dining audience, backed by a four piece band. The lights were intimate. The decor was vaguely European. The room was full of diners.
As she skewered a cut of beef with her fork and brought it to her mouth absently, Ami looked at nothing in particular. Her mind was elsewhere. But a hand on her arm brought her back to reality. Looking and seeing for the first time, Ami found Hayami leaning toward her with a look of concern.
"I apologize," Ami whispered quickly. "What were you saying?"
"I called your name three times," the quiet, bespectacled librarian said. "Ami, what is it? Is something wrong?"
"I," she began and swiftly became embarrassed. "I was going over the notes on a case of rheumatic fever in my mind. I shouldn't be doing that. This is supposed to be time away from work." Looking back at her husband, she said, "It isn't that I find your company or these surroundings uninteresting . . ."
"But you've got a puzzle and you can't let go," Hayami smiled with familiarity. "I understand."
"Well I don't," scowled the woman. "I've always been driven, thanks to Mother, but I've always been able to compartmentalize things so they don't overlap negatively." Her hand went up to her forehead. "But there's just so much to do now. And so many people are depending upon me."
"Ami, what's the definition of 'burn-out'?"
"I haven't reached that state yet," Ami assured him. "But I see your hypothesis. It is a potential danger. It's one of the reasons I've been trying to cut back."
"With limited success," Hayami observed, "if I may say."
"It isn't as easy as you make it sound," bristled Ami. Then her shoulders slumped. "That was an irrational emotional response. I realize that you're only concerned.."
"Well of course I'm concerned," he smiled. "But I will admit that I miss our discussions on current events. It's no fun not having someone to debate."
A small smile sprouted on Ami's mouth. "Now that you've reminded me, I miss those discussions, too." The woman silently made a decision. "Very well; from this point on, I intend to begin delegating work to my staff. No more sixteen hour days. I must not become a machine with no emotional qualities. That is a counter-productive and potentially dangerous path."
"Good for you," Hayami replied, raising a glass of wine to her.
Ami took another bite of her meal. "Mmm, this is rather tasty. I hadn't noticed until now." She stopped and thought a moment. "I hadn't noticed. My goodness, Hayami. I was farther gone than I surmised. To be that engrossed in work that I failed to notice the world around me . . ."
Hayami reached over and covered her hand.
"Noticing a problem is the first step toward solving that problem," he assured her. "And I'm glad to have you back."
She colored slightly. "I'm - - glad to be back."
The King and Queen swept into the office shared by Luna and Artemis. As usual, Artemis was at his laptop.
"Oh, Artemis, you need to get out more," Serenity said immediately. "You're really looking pale."
The cats stopped and looked at each other curiously.
"What? I can't crack a joke?" huffed the Queen.
"It is difficult to know when you're actually being facetious," sniffed Luna.
"You've made a breakthrough in dealing with the trojan matter?" Endymion asked, pulling his wife closer to him.
"I've developed a little trojan of my own," the white cat replied proudly.
"Oh, Artemis, you're not going to start stealing too?" gasped Serenity.
"Your Majesty, IF you would," growled Luna.
"What does it do?" asked Endymion.
"First of all, it downloads to every computer in the world that's connected to the net," Artemis explained. "If that computer has the siphoning trojan installed, it eradicates the code."
"And if there's a firewall?"
"I used the same firewall-ducking code the siphoning trojan used, which was REALLY sophisticated, so it can't be locked out of any system."
"That's good, right?" Serenity asked, because computers were never her forte beyond games and gossip message boards.
"Yes, that's good," Artemis nodded. "But what's even better is that it'll download onto the server of the person reaping the benefits of the siphoning trojan and shut him down at the source. Program and any funds it can lay its cyber-hands on suddenly go 'poof'! And if it hits a firewall it can't penetrate, it reports the IP address back to me so you and the Senshi can deal with it personally."
"Well," Endymion began, "I'm not entirely comfortable with infecting every system in the world."
"Don't think of it as an infection," Artemis argued. "Think of it as an inoculation against a virulent virus. Sort of like when Serenity cured COVID-19 a few years ago."
"Only you won't end up in hospital for a month, Your Majesty," Luna added acidly. Serenity shot her tongue out at the cat.
"I still don't like it," Endymion frowned. "But if it stops this person from embezzling the world's monetary funds . . ." He turned to Serenity. "What do you think?"
"I understand why you're hesitant, Endymion," Serenity told him. "If it wasn't accomplishing a greater good, I wouldn't want you to do it. But I don't know of any other way to put a stop to this. And maybe this program can find this person and I can convince him to stop hurting other people. But if he's preventing some poor person from buying food we need to stop him and if this is the best way to do it, then it has to be done."
Endymion nodded and considered things for a moment.
"Go ahead and implement your plan, Artemis," the King said. "If there's any blow-back, I'll take the brunt."
"Blow-back? Why would anybody object?" Serenity asked.
"There are several governments who will probably look at this as an attack on their sovereignty - - possibly a lot of governments. Not to mention private businesses and individuals. And if we have to travel to a foreign country to stop this person, that could open a whole new line of objections."
He sighed.
"But I'll handle it."
Makoto and Minako entered the Queen's office fully expecting her to be watching the wide screen TV on the wall. Instead, they found the Queen at her desk, hard at work on something.
"Wow! I haven't seen you this busy since you wrapped up 'Fire Princess Rika'," Minako exclaimed. "Getting ready to do a new manga?"
"No," Serenity replied, then looked up from her paperwork. "But I really should. I'd like to start another one if I could find the right subject - - and the time."
"How about the adventures of a world famous singer and actress looking for love in all the wrong places?" Minako suggested.
"Yeah, you might like doing a comedy for a change, Hon'," Makoto needled.
"Maybe," Serenity replied in a non-committal manner. "But I'm too busy!"
"Affairs of state?" Makoto asked. "I heard about that embezzlement program Artemis found. And I heard we might be going into action because of it."
"Yeah, I was talking with Hikaru last night," Minako added. "She checked her account when I mentioned it and it got her, too! And it's not like she can afford it!"
"Well it isn't a sure thing," Serenity replied as she continued to sketch, "but you two should stay ready just in case."
Makoto got up on tiptoes and glanced at the sketch. "Is that a floor plan? Planning on redecorating?"
"Or, given that we're only six months out, another gigantimongous Christmas Eve party?" Minako suggested.
"Gigantimongous?" Makoto asked in confusion.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Serenity fumed. "It's like I've already done everything!"
"I think you already have," Makoto chuckled. "Look Hon', why not spare the fireworks and brass bands this year and just go with what Christmas is supposed to mean: Family, friends and warm hearts."
"And presents," added Minako.
"You don't think people will be disappointed?" Serenity asked.
"Good food, a warm fire and good friends and family will win out every time," Makoto assured her.
"But what about the children? They'll be expecting a show and presents."
"Oh, make sure they - - and Blondie - - get presents. But you don't have to set up a stage and have the latest boy band sing carols. Low key works, too."
"I wouldn't mind having a boy band here," Minako said.
"You're too old for them," Makoto shot back.
"Well," Serenity began uncertainly, "if you think so. I just . . ."
"You just want to put on a spectacular," Makoto nodded. "If you do a spectacular every year, it becomes common place. It won't hurt to switch it up once in a while."
"OK," Serenity sighed. "But low-key is no fun." Then she perked up. "But that'll give us more time to help Rei-Chan with New Years!"
"Ugh," groaned Minako
"Hey, maybe you can convince Rei to bring in a boy band to entertain," Makoto chuckled.
"For that, I'd put up with Rei the slave-driver," Minako replied.
"Now Mina-Chan, don't be that way!" whined Serenity. "New Years is just as important as Christmas." She paused. "At least that's what Rei-Chan says. I never saw it myself." And then the Queen was seized with a thought. "Maybe she'll let me help her plan the festival!"
Immediately she was off and gliding out of the room, leaving her two friends in her wake. Makoto stared after her in surprise.
"Oh, this isn't going to end well," the woman sighed.
"Hey, at least this way I'm sure to get my boy band," Minako joked. "I hope it's Thirty-Seven Degrees. That lead singer is muy cute!"
Goro Awanishi entered the small living room in his beach-side cottage on the western edge of Palau. Since relocating there, he had been a happy man for several reasons. Palau was a tropical paradise despite the humidity and the frequent rainfall. The crystal blue waters of the Pacific and the as yet undeveloped area of rain-forest he resided next to were very beautiful and very relaxing.
Additionally, though many of the residents spoke Japanese, Palau had no extradition treaty with Japan. Goro had no desire to go back to Japan - - not after the Universe Phone scandal of a few years ago. And he had no reason to; his latest software discovery of the siphon trojan had made him a very, very rich man. Nobody in the world except maybe the United States could touch him. Most of his funds went into research. He didn't spend his wealth lavishly, seeing no need to go beyond anything other than comfort. As long as he paid cursory taxes, the Palau government left him alone. And those taxes could easily be skimmed back without the government being any wiser.
Sitting down at his computer screen, which was hooked up to the most advanced state of the art mainframe he could buy and build himself, Goro breathed in the air conditioned environment of his living room. He sat his morning can of energy drink down far enough away from the keyboard so as not to be a potential hazard. The Japanese ex-patriot, fifty-one, with thinning brown hair, thick horn-rimmed frames on his face and a body in the early stages of middle age sag, pressed the wake up key on his board.
"What?" he gasped.
His monetary take from the last twelve hours was zero. Typing in a few commands brought up his cyber connection with several of his major trojans. All of the links were severed.
"Someone must have caught on," Goro murmured. "I wonder if anyone was able to track this back here."
Typing in more commands brought up a report from his extensive protection firewall. There was evidence that a program had tried to breach the firewall and failed. Goro was momentarily elated. But his elation dimmed when he saw that the program had a locator protocol and that his IP address had been mapped through all of his proxy addresses and reported back to whomever sent the program out.
"Very clever," he mumbled, taking a drag from the energy drink. "I wonder who sent it."
Goro very easily traced the trojan's trail back to its point of origin. Once he had the address, he did a search of all contacts he'd had during the life of his computer files and phone to see if it was a business or government he'd contacted. The answer surprised him.
"Japan?" he said out loud to no one. "And that address is the one who tried to contact me about the Universe Phone."
Goro leaned back in his chair.
"Fortunately I don't have to worry about Palau handing me over," Goro mused. "And if they or someone else shows up to arrest me," and he pulled a CD-ROM out of a storage box, "I have a little counter-measure all ready. And a new way of augmenting my finances without using the skimmer."
CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 3