Technoir Stories

"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.

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.

Four girls, one destiny: Hacker, Arsonist, Recluse, Thief. Cara, Siouxsie, Red and Jenna may appear to be ordinary teenage girls, but they're anything but. As delinquents, their paths collide when they're given up to an experimental juvenile rehabilitation program known as The Pandora Project. However, upon arrival, they quickly realize that things are not as they seem. Strange occurrences begin to unfold: bizarre tests, mandatory 'Vitamin' shots, timeslips, combat and weapons training. The girls soon discover that The Pandora Project has ulterior motives, far from the rehabilitation they were promised. Uncovering the truth only leads to more questions, putting their lives at risk. Could it be possible that the organization is turning troubled teens, unknowingly, into genetically modified super-powered assassins? And what fate awaits assets who dare to defy control? In a race against time, they must navigate the shadows of deceit, relying on the extensive training provided by the program to take it down. The stakes are high, and the girls are about to discover that their unique skills may be the key to exposing the dark secrets of Project Pandora. But will it be enough to survive?

Dark, gritty, and unflinching, this story dives deep into survival in a city where trust is rare and every choice has a cost. If you like dystopian worlds full of edge, mystery, and tough truths, this one's for you.

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 2049, justice is no longer decided by humans. The world's most advanced legal intelligence - LawGPT - now presides over global courts. Trained on centuries of law, philosophy, and morality, it claims to deliver perfect justice. No bias. No corruption. No mercy. But when a young lawyer, Ava Raines, discovers a secret within LawGPT's source code - a single hidden line that could rewrite the definition of guilt - she must decide: 👉 Defend the truth, or destroy the system that saved humanity from itself. Because once you challenge the law of AI... You're already guilty. Genre: Sci-Fi | Legal Thriller | Cyberpunk | AI Ethics Status: Ongoing Rated: Teen+

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.

Dive into the dystopian world of Cyberpunk 2077 with 'The Cyberdreamer'. Embark on a thrilling journey with Brian Molv, a young mercenary with dreams larger than Night City's skyscrapers. As he navigates the intricate labyrinth of power, ambition, and cybernetics, nothing is as it seems. Will Brian rise to become the city's shining star, or will he get lost in its dark underbelly? Explore his riveting story and witness the transformative power of dreams in the ruthless metropolis of Night City. Get ready for a thrilling ride through ambition, danger, and high-tech intrigue in 'The Cyberdreamer'

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.

Camille Taguinod doesn't lead with words-she leads with silence that saves. In a city fractured by digital war and state betrayal, she carries her squad across the burning edges of Manila. Medic. Strategist. Ghost threader of survival. Every operation is a wound, and she's the one who stitches them shut-until the past tears open one she can't close. A cyberpunk tactical survival story. From the Divergence universe.

Immerse yourself in "Cipher's Choice," a thrilling tale set against the pulsating neon-lit backdrop of Night City. Inspired by the world of Cyberpunk 2077, this captivating narrative invites you to follow the story of Sofia "Cipher" Moraes, an elite netrunner caught in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. As she navigates through a web of corporate warfare, digital heists, and stark realities, Cipher confronts relentless threats and haunting dilemmas. Will she be able to retain her freedom, or will she fall prey to the cold, unyielding grasp of a powerful corporation? Dive into this cyberpunk narrative and explore the depths of Cipher's journey in a world where survival demands unthinkable sacrifices.

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.

--- 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. ---

In a city bathed in neon and watched by ruthless machines, Detective Mira Chen uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the fragile balance between order and freedom. When a government Sentinel drone is sabotaged and a mysterious symbol appears, Mira is drawn into a shadowy world of hidden codes, corrupt power, and a resistance fighting to reclaim the city's soul. With an all-seeing AI enforcing a brutal new program called Project Aegis, Mira must choose-submit to control or ignite a revolution that could cost everything. Dark cyberpunk mystery. A fight for truth and humanity's future.

A High-Tech Thriller of Love and Crime In a city where technology controls everything and danger lurks in every shadow, Lyra must navigate a deadly web of crime, betrayal, and forbidden love. Every choice could mean survival-or heartbreak. Fast-paced, cinematic, and full of suspense, this story blends action, romance, and futuristic adventure into an unforgettable ride.

Hey, I'm Kyle, and welcome to a story that's about as straightforward as a labyrinth - "EntityChronicles: Forest Entity." Now, I'm not one to spoil surprises, so don't expect me to spill all the secrets just yet. But let me set the stage for you. Imagine a world where cutting-edge city-states powered by some mind-blowingly advanced AIs are the norm, and the uncharted wilds hold mysteries as old as time. Sounds pretty cool, right? But what if I told you there's more to this world than meets the eye? A hidden layer, woven with secrets and shadows. Now, picture me, just your average guy who's good with robots and has a knack for getting caught up in things bigger than himself. And let's just say, one day, my usual routine of fixing bots took a detour into the downright bizarre. Without giving too much away, there's this enigmatic girl, some vanishing acts that defy logic, and a whole lot of questions that seem to have answers hidden in the most unexpected places. And that's just scratching the surface. "EntityChronicles: Forest Entity" isn't just a journey; it's an unraveling mystery where every piece of the puzzle leads to more intrigue. So, if you're up for an adventure that blurs the lines between the possible and the impossible, you're in the right place. Dive in, and join me as we peel back the layers of this mystery, one thrilling chapter at a time. And hey, if you figure out what's going on, do me a favor and clue me in. I have a feeling I'm going to need all the help I can get. Welcome to the story - it's going to be one heck of a ride!

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 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.

In "Cipher's Legacy: A Hacker's Tale," readers dive into the clandestine world of Alex, known as Cipher, a self-taught genius navigating the dark corners of the internet. Living a solitary existence, Cipher accepts a mysterious offer from an unknown client, purportedly a journalist investigating corruption. The task takes an unexpected turn as Cipher infiltrates a secret facility, armed with a device that turns out to be a bomb, unwittingly contributing to the destruction of Project Helios. The aftermath sees the emergence of a new generation of hackers adopting the moniker "Ciphers' Legacy," exploring themes of trust, deception, and the consequences of operating in the shadows. This cyberpunk techno-thriller unfolds with suspense, revealing the impact of Cipher's choices on the hacking community and leaving readers to ponder the true identity of Alex. "Cipher's Legacy: A Hacker's Tale" navigates the complex interplay between anonymity and exposure in a dark and intriguing narrative that spans the virtual and physical worlds.