"…dishonor is like a scar on a tree, which time, instead of effacing, only helps to enlarge."  Bushido - The Warrior's Code, Inazo Nitobe

It was a cerebral exercise, nothing more.

The hours of effort it had taken to get this far could be erased with a single stroke on the delete key. If...if he chose to keep it as an exercise.

Marc West had taken measures to assure the encrypted code remained within the boundaries of his system's firewall, an array of servers and workstations securely housed inside the private quarters of his mother's estate. His creation displayed in neat rows of characters across the computer monitor. Monochrome proof of his genius. The deed could be done.

He'd tested the waters and now the temptation to plunge deeper, to go all the way was much stronger than he'd expected.

The next step would advance his work from an exercise to actuality. An act of great risk. Marc leaned back in his ergonomic chair, fingers at rest on the keyboard. His life at a virtual crossroad.

He'd successfully hacked the first level of security on the other system, but if he breached the second level, he would have no choice but to continue down the path. If he retreated now, he avoided the unlawful act of intellectual theft and his electronic footprint would never be found.

The next level of security was more complicated. His encryption would cover his electronic footprint for a while, but cyber technology was ever evolving. Eventually, better programs would be designed; his creation would become archaic, exposing his work. Exposing him. But by the time someone develop such a program, the damage would already done.

Regardless of the air conditioning to keep the state-of-the-art computers running at an optimum, sweat beaded on his forehead. His heart felt as if it would leap from his chest. Seconds became minutes as his index finger hovered over the delete key while his conscience struggled with the decision. The conflict of choice, of right and wrong should be easy. Not for Marc. There was doing what was right, and then there was doing what would bring peace to his existence.

He jumped as the alarm chimed on his computer. 1:55 a.m. If he was going forward with the plan, then he had to do it now while he still had access to the other system.

His eyes moved from the computer screen to the picture frame on his desk. It was because of the woman in the picture his decision was so difficult. He would do anything to bring his mother happiness again. Even if it meant breaking the law.

Her happiness, his choice. The two intertwined until there was no beginning, no end-no choice. With his decision made, Marc's hands moved over the keyboard. In less than ten key strokes, he'd breached the firewall of the other system. The packet of encrypted code began to worm through folders filled with classified documents.

The game had begun. Who would be his opponent? Who would Northstar Security Firm pit against him?

Step one was complete. The pieces lay strategically on the board. The next move belonged to Northstar.

Once Northstar's technicians started patching their firewall, his special delivery would go to work, wreaking havoc on the reputation of the most elite security agency in the country.