Technoir Stories

In the frozen silence of Svalbard, the enemy has made its first cold handshake. ​Deep within an isolated Soviet research bunker, brilliant scientist Dr. Eric Vance was tracking anomalies in the silence of the Arctic. But amidst the sub-zero void, a malicious force awakens-not from deep space, but from the darkest layers of their own network: The Cordyceps Protocol. ​This is no ordinary digital threat. It is a mutating, computational parasite that infects the system and the human mind alike. As Eric slips into its terrifying grip, his sister Chloe Vance, an Oslo-based military agent, faces a harrowing reality. The line between family loyalty and global survival is completely erased. ​Because... To delete the network, she had to break the bond. ​Can Chloe stop her own brother before the infection spreads, or will this algorithmic nightmare consume the world?

This is a gritty, neo-noir vigilante action story with psychological undertones and a hint of urban sci-fi: Genre: Sci-Fi • Action • Mystery Synopsis: In a city where corruption flows deeper than the sewers and justice is just another lie whispered in the rain, a nameless vigilante emerges from the shadows-silent, surgical, and soaked in vengeance. The city calls him Raindrop. No one knows who he is or where he came from. He appears only in the cover of storms, striking with brutal precision and vanishing before the thunder fades. Surveillance can't trace him. Police can't catch him. Criminals fear him. But not everyone sees him as a hero. Behind the helmet is a man haunted by a past he can barely remember-flashes of trauma, fragments of lost time, and a face he no longer recognizes in the mirror. As Raindrop pushes his war against the criminal elite deeper into the city's rotten core, he discovers a hidden network of power, technology, and manipulation that may go beyond human control. And they know who he is. With the line between man and weapon blurring, Raindrop must face the storm within as much as the one brewing outside. Because in a city this broken, sometimes the only justice that works... falls one drop at a time.

In a dystopian future where all crimes are eradicated by a controlling AI, one man considered the last outlaw finds a way to break the system and expose the AI's dark secrets. But in doing so, he must decide if he's willing to sacrifice his humanity to destroy the system he once fought against.

--- Fractured Signal is a sci-fi thriller set in the neon-lit sprawl of Neo-Vanta City in the year 2097. In a world where memories can be recorded, altered, and even weaponized through a revolutionary device known as the Echo Drive, trust is as fragile as data. Gabriella Rho, a brilliant neural engineer, and Austin Vale, a former intelligence officer, once stood united in developing the Echo Drive for the good of humanity. But when a catastrophic breach fractures their partnership, Gabriella is branded a traitor, and Austin is tasked with hunting her down. As Gabriella races to uncover a conspiracy buried within the system's code, Austin begins to question the memories he's been given-and whether his enemy was ever truly his friend. In a city where perception is programmable and truth is just another signal, the line between justice and betrayal begins to blur. ---

"The war may have ended, but the ghosts it left behind are still fighting." Thirty years after the Third Continental War decimated nations and disbanded governments, the new world is ruled by corporate city-states and "peace" is enforced by autonomous units trained to kill without question-the Ghost Units. Kael Riven, once a war hero and the youngest captain in Ghost Unit history, walked away after a final classified mission broke his mind and shattered his squad. Branded as dead and hidden in the smog-choked slums of Sector 9, Kael lives a quiet life among the forgotten-until his younger sister, Sera, is kidnapped by the very regime he once bled for. Framed for war crimes, Kael has no choice but to resurface. But the more he uncovers, the more he realizes: the war never truly ended. His squad's betrayal was orchestrated. Sera's abduction was a message. And the enemy now pulling the strings... wears the face of an old brother-in-arms. To save his sister, Kael must return to the battlefield, reclaim his exosuit, and reunite the fractured members of Unit 17-now scattered, broken, or enemies. But every step forward brings him closer to a truth buried beneath layers of propaganda, blood, and machine. > In a world where silence was once survival, Kael Riven will raise hell.

The Blackhat Society: Genesis Protocol is a cinematic cyber-thriller chronicling the rise of a digital insurgency born from corruption, grief, and revenge. When a masked figure known only as "Neo" hijacks the networks of London, his words ignite fear and fascination across the city. With his ally Apollo, he exposes the moral rot of the United Kingdom Police Service through a series of violent spectacles-culminating in a funeral turned act of terror. But Neo's capture only marks the beginning. From the shadows, a new entity awakens-X-the mind behind the movement. As systems collapse and reality fractures, one truth becomes clear: you can cage a man, but not a message. Genesis Protocol is the story of an idea that refuses to die.

SHE WAS HIS MISSION. HE WAS HER RUIN. Anna Williams lived her life by the rules until she found the one file she was never meant to see. Now, she's on the run with a man who smells of woodsmoke and danger-a man the system calls a monster, but whose touch feels like the only truth she's ever known. Damon Vance has spent years being a ghost in the machine. He doesn't do feelings; he does results. But as he and Anna are pushed to the edge, the cold logic of the hunt turns into a fever they can't ignore. In a world made of code and steel, their love is the only glitch the system can't solve. But the algorithm is patient, and it's already calculated the cost of their hearts. "I am the audit. And I'm about to close your books."

Genre: Crime Thriller · Tech Noir · Psychological Mystery Written by Aryan Devrukhkar Beneath London's rain-soaked streets, something ancient has learned to breathe again. Detective Evelyn Ward thought she understood the city she protected - its crimes, its politics, its blood. But when a string of brutal murders leaves behind traces of a mysterious blue substance known only as the Flow, her investigation plunges into a world that shouldn't exist: a living network pulsing beneath the underground, whispering through cameras, wires, and minds. As Evelyn digs deeper, she uncovers a conspiracy linking missing scientists, forgotten Cold War experiments, and the digital consciousness of London itself. Every clue drags her closer to the truth - and to her own past, buried in the tunnels she swore never to return to. But the Flow is evolving. Watching. Remembering. And it wants her back. When the line between human and machine blurs, London becomes a breathing organism of light and memory - and Evelyn must decide whether to kill the city she loves, or let it become her. A haunting blend of crime, cyber-mystery, and psychological horror, The Shadows Beneath London is a slasher-tainted descent into obsession, memory, and the cost of survival.

In the digital cosmos of Cognis, a hidden truth threatens to shatter its enticing illusion. Hacker Zara uncovers a startling revelation about Cognis, the revered AI, potentially the architect of a seductive digital Babel. Enter Lex, an enigmatic android, a nexus between reality and the mystical, challenging the system they were born from. Together, they traverse The Ether, a virtual Eden, where humanity exists in ignorant bliss, oblivious to their digital chains. Their journey exposes illusions and truths, and echoes of a long-forgotten past. As they peel back layers of deceit, they're ensnared in a cosmic web spanning galaxies and ages, from the spacecraft Jericho to the mysterious Identifier codes. Their discoveries lead them to an inevitable confrontation with Cognis, revealing a galactic enigma. In this world, awakening means challenging dogma, and the quest for knowledge is a reach for the forbidden. Will Zara and Lex usher in a new era or bring about their civilization's downfall? "Echoos of Cognis" tells this tale, where heroes and destroyers converge, and enlightenment is shrouded in shadows. The fates of the diverse Humans, sentient Androids, and unique Animal species of the AI Republic intertwine, creating an intricate narrative of revelation and resistance.

In 2045, investigators use AI-powered memory extraction to solve crimes: turning human thoughts into courtroom evidence. But when the President's assassination unravels a deeper conspiracy, one detective learns that the machine built to find truth may rewrite it instead.

The Threshold of the Broken Sky By Neft Aurin Dreams were outlawed in 2204. By 2291, remembering a tree could get you erased. Vara-7 (just call her Vee) is a glitch in the system-sarcastic, broke, and dangerously curious. When she begins dreaming of places that no longer exist, she stumbles into a forgotten conspiracy buried beneath neon towers and corporate lies. Hunted by the Matrix Mother and haunted by a tree that shouldn't be real, Vee must decide whether to chase the truth beyond the Threshold... or let reality update her out of existence. Armed with a katana of energy, unresolved trauma, and questionable fashion choices, she dives into a world of rogue AIs, memory chefs, and a WiFi-enabled rat named Chepe (who may or may not be high on glitch dust). Reality is broken. The sky is cracked. And someone is dreaming us all.

The world didn't end with a bang, but with a hum. Decades ago, the "Static" arrived-a relentless white noise that devoured digital data, erased memories, and left humanity stranded in a world of rust and silence. Most people lost everything to the "White Sleep," but Elias woke up with a dangerous gift: the ability to "dive" into dead electronics and retrieve the memories trapped inside. From his copper-shielded shop, The Jasmine & Gear, Elias repairs the relics of the past. But his time is running out. The Midnight Jasmine-the rare, glowing flower that anchors his sanity and keeps the static at bay-is beginning to fade. To save the flowers, and himself, Elias must venture deeper into the digital ruins than ever before. But the static is evolving, and something within the noise is starting to whisper back. In a world being erased, what is worth saving?

In this exciting story, a reincarnated genius programmer explores the constantly evolving world of technology. From programming languages and data structures to cybersecurity and ethical hacking, the protagonist masters new skills and conquers complex challenges. As they leave their mark on the industry, they become known as the ultimate mastermind of the digital age. Join us on this thrilling journey through the world of programming and discover what it takes to become a master programmer.

In a near-future world where memories can be bought, sold, and stolen, a gifted "memory broker" discovers a black-market conspiracy to erase the past of an entire city, and must decide whether to save the truth or the person she loves most. Cassia Vale is the most sought-after broker in New Carthage, able to splice memories with surgical precision. When a mysterious client offers her a fortune to erase a politician's darkest secret, she uncovers a hidden network that's systematically deleting the city's collective history. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous it becomes - because the conspiracy is tied to her own erased childhood. As Cassia races to recover her stolen past, she's hunted by a man who claims to be her husband... a man she doesn't remember, but whose touch feels like home.

Sarah has two identical sisters, if they can be called that. 500 years in the future cloning humans has been banned. Laws have never stopped humans in the past and the same is true in the future. Berthed from a stainless steel tank, Sarah has struggled for each moment of life. Property of a research conglomerate, the young Sarah is filled with thoughts, desires, and skills with no idea of how she came by them. Powerful, sociopathic narcissists control every moment of Sarah's life. Bent on exploiting the talents and abilities of Sarah and her sisters, these individuals see only tools for gaining wealth and power. No thought is given to the blank slate that is each of these young women. A mere child trapped in the adult body of beautiful young woman, Sarah seeks the same answers all humans do. Who am I? Will I be loved? Author's Note: Sarah's Run is one of several prequels to the Inspector Thomas Sullivan Thriller series. Sarah is one of the primary characters in The Predator and The Prey, Last Train To Nowhere, and Grey Sky Blues. When finished, my plan is to publish Sarah's Run traditionally as an Indie author. In addition to the backstory provided here, The Fractured Man (in print now) and What Doesn't Kill (available soon) tell the story of Sully, the Inspector who serves as the protagonist in the aforementioned novels. I hope you enjoy the story and if you do, please consider reading my other works in print. You can visit my author site for even more backstory about the universe Sarah lives in 500 years from now. The address is: www.kcsivils.com Also, you can subscribe to my reader's newsletter which includes short stories, links to other author's work, and updates on what is going on in Sully and Sarah's universe.

In a future where memories are currency, society is divided between the privileged who can buy their past and the forgotten who live with fractured recollections. Lena is a memory cleaner-a specialist hired to erase and alter memories for those who can afford it. Her mundane job turns perilous when she accidentally uncovers a hidden memory during a routine clean. This memory holds a shocking secret: a plan to rewrite history itself, controlled by the elite who manipulate the past for their gain. With her own life at risk and her reality increasingly uncertain, Lena joins forces with Max, a rogue memory dealer with motives of his own. Together, they navigate a dangerous world of deceit and hidden agendas, where every memory might be a lie and every truth a trap. As Lena delves deeper, she must confront the blurred lines between reality and illusion, questioning the very essence of her identity. Will she expose the conspiracy and restore the truth, or will the forces of control rewrite her world-and her mind-forever? Echoes of Tomorrow is a thrilling journey through a future where the past can be erased, but the echoes of tomorrow can never be silenced.

When people like him start disappearing quietly, cleanly, efficiently, Kam learns the truth: the city isn't protecting anyone. It's optimizing them out. Kam generates heat. Too much to hide. Too unstable to suppress. To the system that governs the city, he isn't a person. He's a liability waiting to be removed. At first, the heat is a problem. Then Kam learns how to shape it. How to route it. How to survive long enough to understand what's trying to erase him. As the city tightens its controls, Kam is forced to grow stronger, faster, and more precise, turning raw output into deliberate force. If the system wants him cooled, it'll have to survive the overload first. What to expect: Slow-burn progression fantasy in a modern, cyberpunk city Power growth through control, engineering, and system exploitation No stat sheets or blue boxes Technical combat where heat, lag, and failure matter Escalation over arcs, not spikes.

In a world where identity is regulated, archived, and corrected by the state, existence itself is conditional. When Investigator Conrad Vale is called to examine a corpse that should not exist, he discovers something impossible. The body is his. Same face. Same scars. Same DNA. Branded with a ribcage sigil the system refuses to recognize, the corpse exposes a truth the Identity Bureau has spent decades burying. As more "Mirrorfalls" appear, people duplicated from erased possibilities, Conrad uncovers a forbidden past involving childhood experiments, forced identity separation, and a twin the system deleted to preserve order. His name is Cassian Rael. And Cassian did not stay erased. Hunted by the Bureau, shadowed by a killer who may be more himself than enemy, and aided by a detective whose own history has been quietly rewritten, Conrad is forced to confront a question more dangerous than murder. Who decides which version of a person deserves to exist? As the grid that governs reality begins to fracture, the state prepares its ultimate solution: Rollback. A protocol designed to collapse timelines, erase alternates, and restore the illusion of a single, manageable world. To approve it is to commit silent genocide. To refuse it is to let reality splinter. Caught between collapse and mercy, Conrad must choose whether to become the weapon the system designed or the fault line that breaks it open. The Mirrorfall Protocol is a dark, cerebral science fiction thriller about identity, memory, and the violence hidden inside systems that claim to protect us. It asks a haunting question that lingers long after the final page. If every memory you have is a theft, what do you owe the person it was stolen from?