John Burke's group was called the Zephyr. To most people who frequented the Deep Web, the Zephyr was just another hacker group wanted by the Five Eyes. But in reality it was more. It was a brotherhood, bound by the belief in a world of equality and solidarity. They moved constantly to evade the authorities and to be spiritually in touch with the plight of humanity.

Their most famous feat was the assault on the El Paso migrant detention center. Their thirty-people hacker team crippled the facility and freed over two hundred migrants in federal custody. The Zephyr then provided fake identities so the migrants could settle throughout the country. Since then, they became heroes to the common people.

But Burke was not satisfied with sporadic battles. They did not contribute to his grand vision. Rumor had it that he obtained a box, which contained some sort of immense power. Whatever his endgame entailed, it would certainly play a part.

Oh boy. Alberto was stricken with conflicting emotions. The parliament in him had voted, and no reasoning could veto the results.

At the concert, Alberto found Rosario amongst the people. Her face was covered in glowing paint, and her eyes were intensely profound in the dark. "You made it!" she said, looking enlightened. But part of her must have anticipated this.

"Yeah," said Alberto. "And I'm going to regret it."

"No you won't!" Rosario assured him with a soft sort of cheerfulness. "Come, let's go see John."

She took his hand, and together they cut through the crowd under white concert lights. Her thin, delicate fingers interlocked with his, and her long, bountiful hair drifted in the breeze like thick brush calligraphy.

They came to a group of tents towards the back, just a little too far from the music. There was a man seated in a folding chair, guarded by lieutenants with concealed weapons.

"He's with me," said Rosario, when those hard-looking cohorts tried to block Alberto.

The man in a folding chair was wearing a red flannel shirt. He was tall, slender, and had elderly silver hair. He hummed along to the music while reeling in the comforts of the campfire.

"John, this is the guy I told you about," said Rosario.

The legendary hacker gave Alberto a gentle but probing look. Through unbroken eye contact, Burke assessed his character, skill sets, and potential future within the brotherhood. "You were the guy who tried to hack the Five Eyes? Over live-streaming?"

"Yes," replied Alberto. "Dumbest thing I ever did."

He bit his lips, wishing he had chosen his words carefully. If only there was an undo button for this.

"Without a doubt," said Burke. "In the Book of Samuel, David fought a giant named Goliath. You tried to tackle five giants. Foolhardiness notwithstanding, it's an experience we can use."

John Burke relinquished a smile. It was a formal and manufactured smile. To his followers, it was his way of showing approval. He then nodded at Rosario, prompting her to initiate the acceptance procedure.

She ushered Alberto away from the campfire. They went somewhere else, and Alberto realized he was close to joining the brotherhood. No longer at a crossing point, he was finally taking on a new direction.