There are two keys to executing a revolution: time and persistence.

It doesn’t take immense amounts of ingenuity, although that helps. It simply takes a big idea, a reason to live, or die, for – and time and persistence.

It had taken several attempts over almost a year to break into CSWA owner Chad Merritt’s computer for the first time. A few of those attempts had almost been disastrous, but thankfully he hadn’t left enough evidence behind to track back to him. But through persistence, the fumbles and bumbles had led to great opportunity, greater than he had even hoped. The files themselves were a treasure map, leading to a pile of gold larger than expected.

It took time to regroup after that. To plan again. And again as things continued to change. Merritt was ousted and Thomas returned to power. Bank accounts were frozen and changed. Talent came and went. New contracts were written. But he had the time to regroup, time and time again… and the persistence to stay steady on the narrow path.

Two years ago, he exerted power for the first time. A revelation that someone was out there and willing to start a revolution.

“Change is good.
Change is necessary.
Change.”

He had even left a calling card. 66.79.190.75

It had been enough. Enough to see who he might be able to use to execute his plans. If they were smart enough to put the number in a web browser and figure out how to contact him, they had passed the first test. For that, he was willing to share a taste of his knowledge with them.

Then he began to exert his control. Using his access to create a contract for Ruben Ross had been a nice diversion. Thomas spent his time chasing his tail – first reveling in signing a big name, then actually pausing to try and figure out who had done it. Always willing to take the credit without questioning the motive. By the time Thomas had released Ross, Hacker had already gathered enough information to make his next set of moves while he searched for the one thing – the one document – that he needed to announce his revolution.

He had reached out to the Red Midget, Lyle Tallman, when no one else would. Brought him in as a lieutenant and given him a chance to get revenge on Thomas and the others who had treated him so badly, and then left him for dead…twice.

Taking over the Parsons Cruise Liner had been even easier than expected. He had all the logistics from Thomas’s own files, and enough cash siphoned from one of the CSWA’s own bank accounts to hire all the accoutrements he needed – a helicopter and a group of thugs. And all done with Thomas’s own bankroll.

Put in danger of watching his company go down the tubes financially, Thomas had rebounded with a big idea. Exactly as he had planned. Let him focus on righting the ship (no pun intended) rather than searching for the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Two pieces of the puzzle down. Two pieces to go. So far so good.