The Hacker's Reunion

________CAST_________

Marcus Thompson [MC] - blue

Jack Faust [Father] - green

Monica Thompson [Mother] - red

Greg [MC’s best friend] - brown

Captain Johnson [police captain] - yellow

Mr. Suit [main antagonist] - dark purple

________SCRIPT________

[Marcus] "Another day, another line of code.”

I muttered to myself as I stared at the glowing screen, fingers flying across the keyboard. The soft hum of my computer was the only sound in the room, a stark contrast to the memories that still echoed in my mind.

[Monica] "Jack, you're never here! How do you expect us to be a family when you're always working?"

[Jack] "I'm doing this for us, Monica! For Marcus! Someone has to put food on the table!"

Their voices, muffled by my bedroom door, still rang clear as day. I was only seven then, but those arguments were etched into my memory like lines of unforgiving code.

That was ten years ago. Now, at seventeen, I found solace in the predictable world of programming. Each problem had a solution, unlike the mess that was my family life.

[Greg] "Yo, Marcus! You coming to the party tonight?"

I looked up from my laptop to see my best friend, Greg, leaning against the doorframe of my dorm room.

[Marcus] "Can't. I've got to finish this project."

[Greg] "Dude, you got accepted to MIT early. You can afford to chill for one night."

I shook my head, turning back to my screen.

[Marcus] "You know that's not how I operate."

[Greg] "Fine, but at least tell me you're going home for the holidays."

I tensed up, my fingers freezing over the keyboard.

[Marcus] "I don't know, man. It's just me and mom now. You know how it is."

Greg's expression softened. He knew all about my family situation.

[Greg] "Have you ever thought about... you know, looking him up?"

[Marcus] "Who? Jack?"

The name felt foreign on my tongue. I hadn't called him 'Dad' in years.

[Greg] "Yeah. I mean, you've got the skills. Why not use them?"

I scoffed, but the idea had already taken root. Why hadn't I thought of that before?

[Marcus] "That's... actually not a bad idea."

Greg grinned, clearly pleased with himself.

[Greg] "See? I'm not just a pretty face. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a party to attend."

As Greg left, I stared at my screen, my mind racing. It would be easy enough to hack into the police database. But did I really want to open that can of worms?

Before I knew it, my fingers were moving of their own accord. Lines of code flowed from my fingertips as I bypassed firewalls and security protocols. Within minutes, I was in.

[Marcus] "Jack Faust… badge number… last known address... current status..."

The files are clean—too clean. But I’m not ready to give up. I dig deeper, bypassing security protocols, slipping into restricted areas of the database. It’s risky, and I know it, but something inside me won’t let this go.

My heart stopped as I read the words on the screen.

[Marcus] "No... that can't be right."

According to the database, it seemed like Jack Faust was not a real cop. He had created enough bots to know the difference - the progression of his career, his achievements, it all seemed like it was just shoehorned in.

[Marcus] “Who are you really?”

The deeper I dug, the more questions I had. Until I came across a heavily redacted document dated over 20 years ago with the FBI letterhead and the word ‘Assignment’.

[Marcus] “Does that mean he had never been a real cop? His entire career was a cover for his actual job - an undercover FBI agent?”

My mind reeled. All those nights he was "working late" at the station... had he been on secret missions instead?

I dug deeper, my curiosity overriding any sense of caution. I found more classified files that refer to activities linking him to a criminal syndicate known as The Nexus.

[Marcus] "Holy shi-"

Suddenly, my screen went black. A message popped up: "UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED. TRACING LOCATION."

Panic seized me. I slammed my laptop shut, my heart racing. With shaking hands, I grabbed my phone and dialed my mom's number.

[Monica] "Marcus? Is everything okay?"

[Marcus] "Mom, I... I found something I shouldn't have. It's about Dad. It's huge, and I'm scared."

[Monica] "Slow down, honey. What did you find?"

[Marcus] "I can't explain over the phone. It's not safe. I need to come home."

[Monica] "Of course. Come first thing in the morning. We'll figure this out together, okay?"

[Marcus] "Okay. Thanks, Mom. I love you."

[Monica] "I love you too, sweetie. Be safe."

I ended the call, my mind racing. I needed to get out of here, fast.

The next morning, I threw some clothes into a bag and headed out of my dorm. The campus was quiet, most students already gone for the holidays.

As I approached the parking lot, a black van screeched to a halt in front of me. Before I could react, men in dark suits jumped out, grabbing me.

I struggled, but it was useless. A bag was thrown over my head, and I was shoved into the van.

Meanwhile, at home, Monica paced anxiously. Marcus should have arrived hours ago. She dialed Greg's number.

[Monica] "Greg, it's Monica. Is Marcus still on campus?"

[Greg] "No, he left this morning. Is everything okay?"

[Monica] "He never made it home. Did he say anything to you last night?"

[Greg] "He was looking into his dad's records. Whatever he found really freaked him out, but he didn't tell me what it was."

Monica's blood ran cold. She thanked Greg and immediately called Jack's old precinct.

[Monica] "Captain Johnson? It's Monica Thompson. I think Marcus is in trouble."

She quickly explained the situation. The captain's voice grew serious.

[Captain] "I'll make some calls. If this is related to Jack's work, it goes way above my pay grade."

As the FBI was alerted and began their search, I found myself in a dimly lit room, face to face with the father I hadn't seen in ten years.

I try to recall how he ended up there, but everything was a blur. A bag over my head, a long car ride, and then... silence.

When the bag was removed, I found myself in a dimly lit room. Across from me sat a man I hadn't seen in ten years, but would recognize anywhere.

[Jack] "Marcus?"

His voice was a mix of shock and... was that fear?

[Marcus] "Jack?"

He flinched at the use of his first name.

[Jack] "What are you doing here? How did you-"

[Marcus] “What? That’s my line. What is going on?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he speaks.

[Jack] “I’m sorry, Marcus. I never wanted you to be part of this.”

[Marcus] “Part of what? You’re a spy? All this time, you were…what? Living a double life?”

[Jack] “I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t tell you, or your mother. It was safer that way.”

[Marcus] “Safer? You left us. You left us without a word.”

[Jack] “I know. And I’m sorry. But I had to protect you.”

[Marcus] “Protect me? By disappearing? By making us think you were dead?”

Jack's gaze hardened. His silence says it all.

[Jack] "Listen to me very carefully. You can't let them know we know each other. Your life depends on it."

[Marcus] "Why should I trust you? You left us!"

[Jack] "I left to protect you!"

The door opened, cutting our reunion short. A man in an expensive suit walked in, flanked by two guards.

[Mr. Suit] "Well, well. What do we have here? A little hacker trying to play with the big boys?"

I remained silent, my mind racing. Jack had said to pretend we didn't know each other. But could I trust him? I stare at him, confused, but then it clicks. He’s in deep cover. If they know I’m his son…this could be bad. Really bad. This must be why I use my mother and I use her maiden name.

[Mr. Suit] "Not feeling talkative? That's okay. We have ways of making you talk."

I remained silent, my mind racing. Jack's expression was unreadable.

[Jack] "he’s not a threat, boss. Just a dumb kid snooping where he shouldn’t. But now that he's here, maybe we can use his skills to our advantage."

The boss's eyes lit up.

[Mr. Suit] "Brilliant idea, Jack. Always thinking ahead, aren't you?"

He turned to me, a predatory smile on his face.

[Mr. Suit] "Here's the deal, kid. You work for us now. Refuse, and... well, let's just say it won't end well for you or your mother."

I swallowed hard, looking at Jack. His face was impassive, but his eyes... there was something there. A message.

[Marcus] "Do I have a choice?"

[Mr. Suit] "Smart boy. Jack, get him set up. I want results by tomorrow."

As soon as the boss left, Jack grabbed my arm, leading me to a computer room.

[Jack] "Listen carefully. We don't have much time."

[Marcus] "What's going on? Are you really working for them?"

Jack's voice dropped to a whisper.

[Jack] "Triple agent. FBI's been trying to take down this organization for years. I’ve been working deep cover for them, and they put me in the police as a spy, But now they know about you, and it’s only a matter of time till they connect the dots back to me. Shit! it's all gone to hell."

My mind reeled.

[Marcus] "So what do we do?"

[Jack] "We pretend to give them what they want, and more. I need you to hack into their mainframe. While you're at it, I'll send a distress signal to the FBI."

For the next few hours, I worked feverishly, breaking through firewalls and security protocols. All the while, Jack stood guard, occasionally feeding me information about what to look for.

[Marcus] "I'm in. What am I looking for?"

[Jack] "Financial records, shipping manifests, anything that can link them to their illegal operations."

As I dug deeper, I couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and anger and fear. My father, the triple agent. All those years, he wasn't just absent - he was saving lives.

Suddenly, alarms blared, and the computer screen froze.

[Jack] "Shit. They're onto us. We need to move, now!"

We sprinted down corridors, Jack leading the way. Guards shouted behind us, gunshots echoing off the walls.

[Jack] "In here!"

We ducked into a small room filled with cleaning supplies. Jack barricaded the door.

[Marcus] "Now what?"

[Jack] "Now, we wait. The FBI should be here soon."

[Marcus] "If they make it in time."

Jack looked at me, years of regret in his eyes.

[Jack] "Marcus, I'm sorry. For everything. I never wanted to leave you and your mother, but-"

[Marcus] "Save it. We're not dying here, so you can apologize properly later."

A ghost of a smile crossed Jack's face.

[Jack] "You sound just like your mother."

Suddenly, the building shook with an explosion.

[Jack] "That'll be the cavalry."

The next few minutes were chaos. We emerged from our hiding spot to find FBI agents swarming the building. Jack immediately took charge, directing them to key areas and individuals.

As the dust settled, I found myself sitting in the back of an ambulance, a shock blanket around my shoulders. Jack approached, looking weary but relieved.

[Jack] "It's over. We got them."

[Marcus] "All of them?"

[Jack] "Enough to dismantle the entire operation. Your hacking skills were... impressive."

[Marcus] "I get it from my mother’s side"

Jack chuckled, then grew serious.

[Jack] "Marcus, I know I have a lot to make up for-"

[Marcus] "Ten years' worth."

[Jack] "More than that. But if you're willing... I'd like to try."

I looked at him, this man who was both stranger and father. Who had left us, but also protected us in ways I was only beginning to understand.

[Marcus] "I think... I'd like that."

As we drove away from the scene, I realized that sometimes, the most complex problems have the simplest solutions. And sometimes, the family you thought was broken beyond repair just needs a little debugging.

[Marcus] "Hey, Dad?"

[Jack] "Yeah?"

[Marcus] "Think MIT has a course on espionage?"

His laughter filled the car, and for the first time in ten years, I felt like I was truly going home.