Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 256

Badass In Disguise

Chapter 256

At 2:17 PM Eastern Time, every major social media platform across America went dark simultaneously, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook–all displayed the same blue error screen. Users frantically refreshed their apps, restarted their phones, and reset their routers, but nothing worked.

By 3:30 PM, the panic had evolved. Users who managed to access backup systems discovered something far more disturbing–specific data had been selectively erased. Not just any data, but every viden, screenshot, and post related to Jade Morgan and the Mercedes incident. Comments, shares, saved coples–all gone. Even personal backup drives and cloud storage weren’t spared.

At 4:12 PM, the situation took an even more bizame turn. Every screen connected to the internet–phones, tablets, computers, even digital billboards–suddenly displayed the same content: the complete, unedited surveillance video from Mike’s Auto Service showing the cheap Chevrolet owner threatening Silas and Jade’s intervention.

No amount of refreshing, restarting, or rebooting could change what was displayed. The nation’s entire digital infrastructure had been commandeered to show a single piece of evidence.

In Silicon Valley, the headquarters of every major tech company blazed with light despite the late hour. Emergency response teams huddled around monitors, desperately trying to regain control of their systems. The Pentagon had assembled its top cybersecurity experts, but they were equally powerless against the mysterious intrusion.

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” a senior security analyst at Google admitted in an emergency briefing. “It’s as if someone rewrd the fundamental protocols of the internet itself. We can’t even identify the attack vector.”

Meanwhile, at the FBI’s Cyber Division, analysts were running facial recognition software on the surveillance video displayed on billions of screens.

being forcibly

At Princeton the next morning, the atmosphere was electric. Groups of students huddled together, whispering theories and reactions to “The Override

an, that family

“Has to be Haxton,” a business major said as Jade walked past. “Nobody else has that kind of tech capability and motive. Man, doesn’t fuck around,”

“Did you see how they

they made everyone watch the full video?” his friend replied. “Power move. Bet nobody’s going to try spreading fake news about Morgan again.”

1. by. Some looked away nervously, while others stared with a new mixture of fear

Several students fell silent as they noticed Jade passing by. S and respect.

Jade’s phone buzzed with a text from Ethan.

If you didn’t step in, I was about to take action myself.

She typed back: Mind your own business.

His reply came immediately: Got it.

She didn’t respond. By mid–afternoon, Jade had grown bored with campus and returned to her apartment. She methodically worked through some academic readings, fed Captain, and went to bed early, completely undisturbed by the chaos,

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Chapter 256

In the early hours of the morning, around 3:17 AM, Captain’s ears perked up. He trotted to the floor–to–ceiling windows and released two sharp barks.

Jade stirred, opening one eye to glance at the security feed on her nightstand. Three men stood outside her apartment building. Even in the dim lighting, she recognized Grant’s stocky build among them. The other two wore the unmistakable dark suits of federal agents.

Captain looked back at her questioningly.

“Let them wait,” she murmured, turning over in bed. They can come back at a decent hour.”

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She glanced at the screen, saw Grant’s name, and declined the call. When it rang again, she went into her settings and added him to her blocked list.

The older of the two agents spoke, his voice carrying through Jade’s security system. “Quite the attitude on this one.”

The younger agent reached

ed for the dear.

door, but Grant stopped him. “Trust me, you don’t want

want to force ent

entry. Let’s wait till morning”

By sunrise, the three men were still there, now sitting in an unmarked black sedan. Jade watched from her kitchen window as she sipped her morning coffee. When they finally approached her door again, she noticed their confusion as they discovered the Intercom and doorbell systems were non–responsive.

“Security system seems to be malfunctioning,” the younger agent said, pressing the button repeatedly.

“Coincidence, I’m sure,” the older agent replied dryly.

After several minutes of knocking with no answer, the younger agent suggested forcing entry. Grant quickly dissuaded him.

“We wait,” he said firmly. “Trust me.

Two hours later, Silas arrived carrying a bag of groceries.

The agents quickly positioned themselves to follow him in.

Captain greeted Silas with enthusiasm but growled deeply at the three men trailing behind him.

“Miss Morgan,” the

e older agent said, stepping forward and producing his credentials. “I’m Agent Blackwood with the FBI. We need to speak with you regarding yesterday’s nationwide cybersecurity incident.”

Jade leaned against the doorframe, Starbucks cup in hand, studying them with calm indifference. “Oh?”

“May we come in?” he asked, already attempting to step past her.

Captain’s growl deepened, stopping the agent in his tracks. The dog’s hackles raised, and his teeth gleamed in the morning light.

The younger agent introduced himself as Agent Harrington as they settled awkwardly in lades living room. Silas busied himself in the kitchen while Jade lounged in an armchair, completely at ease despite the tension filling the room.

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12:29 Sat, Sep 27

Chapter 256

“Miss Morgan,” Blackwood began, his tone formal but strained, “yesterday’s cyberattack was the most significant breach of national security in American history. Every major social media platform, news outlet, and even government systems were compromised.”

Jade took a slow sip of her coffee. “And this concerns me how?”

“The attack specifically targeted content related to you,” Reynolds interjected, “forcing the entire nation to view a video that exonerates you from recent accusations.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like someone was fighting fake news. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Grant shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. He clearly knew what Jade was capable of, but was equally aware of how impossible it would be to prove.

“This was a direct attack on American infrastructure, Miss Morgan,” Reynolds continued, leaning forward with intensity. “Billions in damages, potential threats to critical systems, mass panic-

“Where’s your evidence?” Jade interrupted, her voice cool and untroubled.

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