#fedifiction — Public Fediverse posts

Fiction plot announcement for future @plusbrothers stories as soon as the site will be ready. But we'll announce (both in Italian and English) the various plots on Mastodon.
Detectives are going to pick up killer's hint through messages on the Internet. This is not original, true.
Anonymous, VPN, and stuff. But, they're not anonymous at all.
Not for networking related clues, but the clues is in writing!
Inspired by an experience happened to me.
Using Braille Screen Input, the typing method for blind users to write on iPhone/iPad touch screen. Right hand manages 3 (or 4) dots, according to screen size, iPad has 8 dots Braille as well. And left hand manages the other combination of dots on the other side; every finger corresponds to a dot. But, if you have an injured hand, you lose control of them. A blind person using BRaille Screen Input is recognizable by another one using same method, or by very close folks knowing, even vaguely, the system. So, the villain starts to write "s" in place of "t", "k" in place of "o", "l" in place of "r"...
Means that character has their right hand injured somehow, and only a person very confident with blindness could know it; main detective is VERY connected to a blind person but he's positively biased (double meaning on "positive" very intended). Villain is death threatening main character, everyone thinks of a stranger, a monster, one politician who wants to train the sentient HIV virus for military purpose.
But, in the end, criminal betrayed themselves by writing!
Sentient virus was aware about villain's blindness, but humans don't believe that a blind person could threat and attempt to disrupt a community.
The blind villain wants to capture sentient virus to make a sophisticated and non-invasive guide for themselves...
Human umiliation in front of virus intuition. Who knows if humans are able to save Patient Zero and their very own virus.
#braille #crime #FediFiction #spoiler

Fiction plot announcement for future @plusbrothers stories as soon as the site will be ready. But we'll announce (both in Italian and English) the various plots on Mastodon.
Detectives are going to pick up killer's hint through messages on the Internet. This is not original, true.
Anonymous, VPN, and stuff. But, they're not anonymous at all.
Not for networking related clues, but the clues is in writing!
Inspired by an experience happened to me.
Using Braille Screen Input, the typing method for blind users to write on iPhone/iPad touch screen. Right hand manages 3 (or 4) dots, according to screen size, iPad has 8 dots Braille as well. And left hand manages the other combination of dots on the other side; every finger corresponds to a dot. But, if you have an injured hand, you lose control of them. A blind person using BRaille Screen Input is recognizable by another one using same method, or by very close folks knowing, even vaguely, the system. So, the villain starts to write "s" in place of "t", "k" in place of "o", "l" in place of "r"...
Means that character has their right hand injured somehow, and only a person very confident with blindness could know it; main detective is VERY connected to a blind person but he's positively biased (double meaning on "positive" very intended). Villain is death threatening main character, everyone thinks of a stranger, a monster, one politician who wants to train the sentient HIV virus for military purpose.
But, in the end, criminal betrayed themselves by writing!
Sentient virus was aware about villain's blindness, but humans don't believe that a blind person could threat and attempt to disrupt a community.
The blind villain wants to capture sentient virus to make a sophisticated and non-invasive guide for themselves...
Human umiliation in front of virus intuition. Who knows if humans are able to save Patient Zero and their very own virus.
#braille #crime #FediFiction #spoiler

Fiction plot announcement for future @plusbrothers stories as soon as the site will be ready. But we'll announce (both in Italian and English) the various plots on Mastodon.
Detectives are going to pick up killer's hint through messages on the Internet. This is not original, true.
Anonymous, VPN, and stuff. But, they're not anonymous at all.
Not for networking related clues, but the clues is in writing!
Inspired by an experience happened to me.
Using Braille Screen Input, the typing method for blind users to write on iPhone/iPad touch screen. Right hand manages 3 (or 4) dots, according to screen size, iPad has 8 dots Braille as well. And left hand manages the other combination of dots on the other side; every finger corresponds to a dot. But, if you have an injured hand, you lose control of them. A blind person using BRaille Screen Input is recognizable by another one using same method, or by very close folks knowing, even vaguely, the system. So, the villain starts to write "s" in place of "t", "k" in place of "o", "l" in place of "r"...
Means that character has their right hand injured somehow, and only a person very confident with blindness could know it; main detective is VERY connected to a blind person but he's positively biased (double meaning on "positive" very intended). Villain is death threatening main character, everyone thinks of a stranger, a monster, one politician who wants to train the sentient HIV virus for military purpose.
But, in the end, criminal betrayed themselves by writing!
Sentient virus was aware about villain's blindness, but humans don't believe that a blind person could threat and attempt to disrupt a community.
The blind villain wants to capture sentient virus to make a sophisticated and non-invasive guide for themselves...
Human umiliation in front of virus intuition. Who knows if humans are able to save Patient Zero and their very own virus.
#braille #crime #FediFiction #spoiler

[ENGLISH]
REAL WORLD: we just finished all hosting change, domain transfer, DNS records and SSL certificate needs. YunoHost diagnoses everything OK; on July 1st 2026 we begin installation and configuration procedure for our site on the VPS.
POZ (FICTION) WORLD:
if moving is very hard work for humans, let alone for a sentient virus! They're driving everyone crazy!
Virus may share their experience by themselves on WriteFreely.
[Elettrona and Gifter]
#blog #FediFiction #selfhosting #WordPress

[ENGLISH]
REAL WORLD: we just finished all hosting change, domain transfer, DNS records and SSL certificate needs. YunoHost diagnoses everything OK; on July 1st 2026 we begin installation and configuration procedure for our site on the VPS.
POZ (FICTION) WORLD:
if moving is very hard work for humans, let alone for a sentient virus! They're driving everyone crazy!
Virus may share their experience by themselves on WriteFreely.
[Elettrona and Gifter]
#blog #FediFiction #selfhosting #WordPress

[ITALIANO]
MONDO REALE: cambio hosting provider, trasferimento dominio plusbrothers.net. Conclusa la fase dei record DNS e letsencrypt vari - domani 1 luglio inizia la costruzione del sito sulla vps. .
MONDO POSITIVO: se per gli umani un trasloco è stressante, figurarsi per un virus senziente! Quello è peggio dei bambini quando i suoi umani cambiano casa.
#FediFiction #selfhosting

Can an ActivityPub 'Place' also be an Actor?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

With followers, an outbox, etc.

That could be useful for both real-life places, and fictional places in stories, and in video games.

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Can an ActivityPub 'Place' also be an Actor?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

With followers, an outbox, etc.

That could be useful for both real-life places, and fictional places in stories, and in video games.

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Can an ActivityPub 'Place' also be an Actor?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

With followers, an outbox, etc.

That could be useful for both real-life places, and fictional places in stories, and in video games.

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Can an ActivityPub 'Place' also be an Actor?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

With followers, an outbox, etc.

That could be useful for both real-life places, and fictional places in stories, and in video games.

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Can an ActivityPub 'Place' also be an Actor?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

With followers, an outbox, etc.

That could be useful for both real-life places, and fictional places in stories, and in video games.

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Should an ActivityPub 'Place' be used to represent a fictional place?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

Such as a fictional place in a story, or a video game?

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Should an ActivityPub 'Place' be used to represent a fictional place?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

Such as a fictional place in a story, or a video game?

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Should an ActivityPub 'Place' be used to represent a fictional place?

https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place

Such as a fictional place in a story, or a video game?

#ActivityPub #ActivityStreams #FediDev #FediFiction #FediGames

Book promotion: Power changes everything in this mosaic novelset in a world where 10% of the population develops uncanny abilities at midlife.

Some people’s lives change for the better. Others face the loss of all they hold dear.

priced at $0.99 on my website AT THIS LINK --> https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop/p/rough-passages-fedi

Other vendors & formats:
https://books2read.com/Rough-Passages

#Fedibookshop
#Fedifiction
#bookstodon
#books
#reading
#writing
#ScienceFiction
#fantasy
#RolloverFiles

Book promotion: Power changes everything in this mosaic novelset in a world where 10% of the population develops uncanny abilities at midlife.

Some people’s lives change for the better. Others face the loss of all they hold dear.

priced at $0.99 on my website AT THIS LINK --> https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop/p/rough-passages-fedi

Other vendors & formats:
https://books2read.com/Rough-Passages

#Fedibookshop
#Fedifiction
#bookstodon
#books
#reading
#writing
#ScienceFiction
#fantasy
#RolloverFiles

Ever since this forest refused to let me go, I've been growing with it. By a careful application of my instruments, I set up the ongoing statistical analysis of this ecosystem's generalised behaviour and its tidal pulses. Even under the canopy, there's plenty of sunlight during the day to charge batteries, while the nights are dark enough for my camouflage tent to remain completely concealed. I've managed to hack an autoflowing scriptbot that excites my surroundings through my ring's emitters. It's meant to adapt and optimise for my safety under various circumstances. I believe I depend on it. Sometimes I hear growls in the distance and bioluminescent scampering about.

I keep stumbling into groves opulent with eternally ripening fruits. They make me think deeper and wander longer. I feel better than I ever did in my erstwhile youth. The way I got my days going for me is like a kind of neverending eden. I sometimes spot the birds singing their uplifting melodies... My favourite are the ones with spider-patterned heads and iridescent tail feathers. Their sounds remind me of my father's electric flute. It's almost as if I could hear him again, and I keep marching on through the verdant woods, feeling happy as a lone child on a fantastical quest.

Now, if I could only find my way out of this labyrinth of foliage... I long for human touch and to converse with another intelligent mind. Keeping a physical diary helps, though lately I noticed it writing back to me.

#MicroFiction #FlashFiction #WeirdFiction #Solarpunk #FediFiction #TootFic

Ever since this forest refused to let me go, I've been growing with it. By a careful application of my instruments, I set up the ongoing statistical analysis of this ecosystem's generalised behaviour and its tidal pulses. Even under the canopy, there's plenty of sunlight during the day to charge batteries, while the nights are dark enough for my camouflage tent to remain completely concealed. I've managed to hack an autoflowing scriptbot that excites my surroundings through my ring's emitters. It's meant to adapt and optimise for my safety under various circumstances. I believe I depend on it. Sometimes I hear growls in the distance and bioluminescent scampering about.

I keep stumbling into groves opulent with eternally ripening fruits. They make me think deeper and wander longer. I feel better than I ever did in my erstwhile youth. The way I got my days going for me is like a kind of neverending eden. I sometimes spot the birds singing their uplifting melodies... My favourite are the ones with spider-patterned heads and iridescent tail feathers. Their sounds remind me of my father's electric flute. It's almost as if I could hear him again, and I keep marching on through the verdant woods, feeling happy as a lone child on a fantastical quest.

Now, if I could only find my way out of this labyrinth of foliage... I long for human touch and to converse with another intelligent mind. Keeping a physical diary helps, though lately I noticed it writing back to me.

#MicroFiction #FlashFiction #WeirdFiction #Solarpunk #FediFiction #TootFic

Sometimes you publish a story to your site, and then just forget to tell anyone about it for... a month?

Anyways, a bit of a stranger piece for yours truly. Lemme know what you think. ~10m read

"That spring, the wind ceased to speak.

"It was not an easy tongue. Stand in copses of young trees, sway to match their branches. Wait on sea bluffs, watch the patterns of waves and spray, let the drum of blown sand sting your skin...

"Windspeakers, even then, do not hear its words. But welcome them from the cold, warm their cold cheeks, wet their chapped lips, and often they speak.

"And what they speak is always true."

https://nebulos.space/windspeaker.html

#fedifiction #AmWriting #shortStory #speculative

Sometimes you publish a story to your site, and then just forget to tell anyone about it for... a month?

Anyways, a bit of a stranger piece for yours truly. Lemme know what you think. ~10m read

"That spring, the wind ceased to speak.

"It was not an easy tongue. Stand in copses of young trees, sway to match their branches. Wait on sea bluffs, watch the patterns of waves and spray, let the drum of blown sand sting your skin...

"Windspeakers, even then, do not hear its words. But welcome them from the cold, warm their cold cheeks, wet their chapped lips, and often they speak.

"And what they speak is always true."

https://nebulos.space/windspeaker.html

#fedifiction #AmWriting #shortStory #speculative

.. like to say:

We #friendicans prefer #fediFiction.

@hypolite @Robert_Brandt

Are you one of those people who say "I'd rather read your crappy original writing than something generated by AI?" Now's the time to put your money where your mouth is!

I, without any previous experience, wrote 100 different short stories, around 1,000 words each, for a total of over 105,000 words! Find them on my #blog, or don't; it's a free country!

http://maxalmonte.com/blog/i-wrote-fiction-for-100-days-straight-and-heres-what-happened/

#blogging #writing #amWriting #fedifiction #writersOfMastodon #writingCommunity

Are you one of those people who say "I'd rather read your crappy original writing than something generated by AI?" Now's the time to put your money where your mouth is!

I, without any previous experience, wrote 100 different short stories, around 1,000 words each, for a total of over 105,000 words! Find them on my #blog, or don't; it's a free country!

http://maxalmonte.com/blog/i-wrote-fiction-for-100-days-straight-and-heres-what-happened/

#blogging #writing #amWriting #fedifiction #writersOfMastodon #writingCommunity

Book promotion: Move slow, fix things. Heroes beaten down by the system team up to fight for a philanthropist targeted by shadowy enemies in this science fiction adventure about a future more optimistic than dystopian.
DRM-free ebook direct price $0.99 https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop/p/controlled-descent-ebook1

Other vendors & formats here:
https://books2read.com/ControlledDescent

#Fedibookshop
#Fedifiction
#bookstodon
#books
#reading
#writing
#ScienceFiction
#Technothriller
#RestorationSeries

Book promotion: Move slow, fix things. Heroes beaten down by the system team up to fight for a philanthropist targeted by shadowy enemies in this science fiction adventure about a future more optimistic than dystopian.
DRM-free ebook direct price $0.99 https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop/p/controlled-descent-ebook1

Other vendors & formats here:
https://books2read.com/ControlledDescent

#Fedibookshop
#Fedifiction
#bookstodon
#books
#reading
#writing
#ScienceFiction
#Technothriller
#RestorationSeries

Book promotion: Take a chance on one of my otherworldly stories about people who risk everything for the sake of hope, trust, & cooperation. You also get heaps of humor, whimsy, sarcasm, & optimism. Sometimes gritty, but never grim.

Because I can, I've priced the ebooks at $0.99 on my website AT THIS LINK --> https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop

Other vendors & formats at regular prices:
https://books2read.com/kmherkes

#Fedibookshop
#Fedifiction
#bookstodon
#books
#reading
#writing
#ScienceFiction
#fantasy

Book promotion: Take a chance on one of my otherworldly stories about people who risk everything for the sake of hope, trust, & cooperation. You also get heaps of humor, whimsy, sarcasm, & optimism. Sometimes gritty, but never grim.

Because I can, I've priced the ebooks at $0.99 on my website AT THIS LINK --> https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop

Other vendors & formats at regular prices:
https://books2read.com/kmherkes

#Fedibookshop
#Fedifiction
#bookstodon
#books
#reading
#writing
#ScienceFiction
#fantasy

#FediBookFair Promo:
All my stories feature heroes & heroines who've been beaten down by life taking a chance on hope and one another, achieving victory through cooperation. Books also include heaps of humor, whimsy, snark, and sarcasm. And, tbh, some grim violence.

ebooks are $0.99 ON MY WEBSITE through 11:29PM CST 2 Nov.
https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop

other vendors:
https://books2read.com/kmherkes

#Fedibookshop #Fedifiction #bookstodon #books #reading #writing #scienceFiction #fantasy

#FediBookFair Promo:
All my stories feature heroes & heroines who've been beaten down by life taking a chance on hope and one another, achieving victory through cooperation. Books also include heaps of humor, whimsy, snark, and sarcasm. And, tbh, some grim violence.

ebooks are $0.99 ON MY WEBSITE through 11:29PM CST 2 Nov.
https://kmherkes.com/sale-bookshop

other vendors:
https://books2read.com/kmherkes

#Fedibookshop #Fedifiction #bookstodon #books #reading #writing #scienceFiction #fantasy

Book promo time!
Things all my stories have in common: heroes and heroines who've been beaten down by life taking a chance on hope and one another, achieving victory through cooperation. Also featured: humor, whimsy, snark, and sarcasm.

https://books2read.com/kmherkes
or
https://kmherkes.com/book-catalog for more info on each title

#ScribesAndMakers Sep 13 - Shameless self-promotion day (late bc I was AFK all Saturday)

#Fedibookshop #Fedifiction #bookstodon
#reading, #writing #scienceFiction #fantasy

Book promo time!
Things all my stories have in common: heroes and heroines who've been beaten down by life taking a chance on hope and one another, achieving victory through cooperation. Also featured: humor, whimsy, snark, and sarcasm.

https://books2read.com/kmherkes
or
https://kmherkes.com/book-catalog for more info on each title

#ScribesAndMakers Sep 13 - Shameless self-promotion day (late bc I was AFK all Saturday)

#Fedibookshop #Fedifiction #bookstodon
#reading, #writing #scienceFiction #fantasy

#ScribesAndMakers 13: Self promotion

Taking a page from Sarah, I talk mostly about my time travel stories. I've written supernatural mysteries on AO3 as well.

Melissa Virga is a university student who does magick, and she takes in first year James to help pay the rent. Curious Holmes/Watson vibes result, with paranormal cases. All meant in fun, if somewhat existential at times too. Enjoy, perhaps. #FediFiction

https://archiveofourown.org/series/4640575

#ScribesAndMakers 13: Self promotion

Taking a page from Sarah, I talk mostly about my time travel stories. I've written supernatural mysteries on AO3 as well.

Melissa Virga is a university student who does magick, and she takes in first year James to help pay the rent. Curious Holmes/Watson vibes result, with paranormal cases. All meant in fun, if somewhat existential at times too. Enjoy, perhaps. #FediFiction

https://archiveofourown.org/series/4640575

For today's #ScribesAndMakers, I encourage y'all to use #FediBookShop (for paid) and #FediFiction (for free) so folks looking for something to read can find your work in the future!

#ScribesAndMakers 13th Sept 2025. Shameless self-promotion day. Let's boost away.

I mostly write in German, but I also have some fanfictions in English - here is an overview:
https://amalia-zeichnerin.net/fanfictions-in-english/

I also have a free queer romance novella (see picture) which you can download here as a PDF or ebook:
https://bit.ly/Demonettes

(The Link leads to my Dropbox. You don't have to sign in there to download the novella.)

#freebook #queerRomance #Fanfiction #FediFiction

#ScribesAndMakers 13th Sept 2025. Shameless self-promotion day. Let's boost away.

I mostly write in German, but I also have some fanfictions in English - here is an overview:
https://amalia-zeichnerin.net/fanfictions-in-english/

I also have a free queer romance novella (see picture) which you can download here as a PDF or ebook:
https://bit.ly/Demonettes

(The Link leads to my Dropbox. You don't have to sign in there to download the novella.)

#freebook #queerRomance #Fanfiction #FediFiction

I will also, in full honesty, note that I had to overlook a couple of "seriously?" moments. For instance, everyone seems to be able to run around and engage in combat for hours on end and not get tired. They just jump into the next adventure. That, I had to kind of squint past. A couple small things. But this book still lands solidly in the "worth reading" category.

#SelfPublished #IndieBookstores #bookstodon #GoodReading #SciFi #adventure

And I just discovered I should use the tags #FediBookstore and #FediFiction. So there's that. :)

I will also, in full honesty, note that I had to overlook a couple of "seriously?" moments. For instance, everyone seems to be able to run around and engage in combat for hours on end and not get tired. They just jump into the next adventure. That, I had to kind of squint past. A couple small things. But this book still lands solidly in the "worth reading" category.

#SelfPublished #IndieBookstores #bookstodon #GoodReading #SciFi #adventure

And I just discovered I should use the tags #FediBookstore and #FediFiction. So there's that. :)

color zines! courtesy of the public library

https://nebulos.space/saltwater_billionaire_zine.html if you want your own copy

#zine #fedifiction

color zines! courtesy of the public library

https://nebulos.space/saltwater_billionaire_zine.html if you want your own copy

#zine #fedifiction

https://wandering.shop/@abetterjulie/115147011227759431

#fedifiction

"You can't be friends with dragons!" the knight shouted. "They're cruel, capricious, detached from the world, want whatever they see-"

"You're describing kings," the princess said. "Well, one king. Others have made different choices."

"Can dragons make different choices?"

"All can. Why not try?"

#MicroFiction #FediFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The torch of the word curator has passed on! I'm here to boost your excellent words and fascinating discussions of how we use words to make art.

To that end, I have a favor to ask --- Please use the following tags:

#FediFiction - for fiction that people can read here and now. free or paid is fine, but please have a free sample available

#FediBookShop - Are you selling your work? Tell us what it's about and drop a link

#WritingHelp - If you have a question about the craft!

- @nebulos

"As they throw you into the circle of stones, you think to yourself, 'This is just an execution in slow motion.'"

Come read my short story Saltwater Billionaire -- about the existinction crisis, the (nano-)tech industry, and restorative justice. Cover art also by me!

https://nebulos.space/saltwater_billionaire.html

#SaltwaterBillionaire #AmWriting #Gouache #Fedifiction #ShortStory

"As they throw you into the circle of stones, you think to yourself, 'This is just an execution in slow motion.'"

Come read my short story Saltwater Billionaire -- about the existinction crisis, the (nano-)tech industry, and restorative justice. Cover art also by me!

https://nebulos.space/saltwater_billionaire.html

#SaltwaterBillionaire #AmWriting #Gouache #Fedifiction #ShortStory

"You can't seriously be suggesting we make first contact with these... Beings" Zarnok said in disgust seated on the bridge of the "Friendship π".

Tronk shrugs: "They all like to bomb each other, we did, or did you forget what WE were like?"

"No, no, no. A few nukes never hurt anyone. THESE people tho..."

"Zarnok, are.you hungry or something?"

"You don't UNDERSTAND! Most of them carry MULTIPLE chemical explosives with them, some even have them in their hearing organs!"

#fedifiction

"You can't seriously be suggesting we make first contact with these... Beings" Zarnok said in disgust seated on the bridge of the "Friendship π".

Tronk shrugs: "They all like to bomb each other, we did, or did you forget what WE were like?"

"No, no, no. A few nukes never hurt anyone. THESE people tho..."

"Zarnok, are.you hungry or something?"

"You don't UNDERSTAND! Most of them carry MULTIPLE chemical explosives with them, some even have them in their hearing organs!"

#fedifiction

Episode 3 #fedifiction #fiction #storytelling #story #infosec

"Go for it. Tell Alex to come over"

You send Alex your coordinates and start making the flat decent. In reality this means shovelling everything onto the bed in the spare room and closing the door. You feel a bit silly given that Alex could be coming over to harvest your organs rather than help you, but at least you had a tidy lounge.

The remaining time you spend watching the cameras for activity. Shortly, you see a character in a black hoodie with a rucksack and a purposeful stride.

That's them. Your heart starts beating - friend or foe? Could you defend yourself if you needed to? At least they were alone, or at least seemed to be.

A knock at the door. You check the camera. Frustratingly, they are facing away,checking the street. You go to open the door.

Female. Pink hair. Nose ring. Messenger bag. Your brain is trying to take in all this new information.
"You gonna let me in then? You might wanna blink at some point too"
"err...yeah... come in".

She strides over to the sofa like she owns the place and pulls out 2 laptops.
"This old beater has TAILS on it. No persistence, no logging"

You are still standing at the door, gawping.

She scans the surroundings.
"Got any smart devices?"
"nope"
"Great. You gonna make coffee? And I'll need an isolated VLAN on your network"

Your adrenaline is still pumping from the potential threat to your life and it seems to have shut down most of your faculties. You shake yourself out of it.
"Sure, coffee coming up. How do you like it..?"

Alex reaches for an HDMI cable and mirrors her screen to the TV.

"Right, gimme that onion link and we'll find out what this is about"

You provide the link and the onion site displays a black screen with a countdown timer, with just under 12 hours.
"Oof , this aint good. Who have you been messing with?"

Nothing obvious comes to mind, but you don't know the comings and goings of all the instance users.

Alex sips her coffee and continues. "A lot of these hacks start as proof-of-concept. The hackers use low-level targets to test their systems before moving up to bigger fish. They might be in the system for a while before showing their hand. You might be part of a wider campaign to perfect their method."

Alex continues "But you're also lucky. If this were a high-value target, you'd probably be in their crosshairs instead of just your server."

She scrolls through the security forum messages on her phone. "My friends are looking into this. They've seen similar patterns before, but never on such a small scale. The sophistication of this attack is... concerning, and it may well point to a vulnerability in the activity pub implementation you are using"

Alex taps the laptop screen. "We need to get ahead of this. I'm going to access the backdoor they left. We need to know exactly what they've done to your system before we can start cleaning it up." She turns to you. "Do you trust me enough to give me root access to your server? I need to be able to see everything to fix this."

She's confident and sassy but you don't know if she's part of this and you're being socially engineered in a big way. But you're also intrigued at what's going on.

You say ""what are my choices right now"

Alex pauses, considering. "You have three main options:"

1. Give me root access to your server. I can analyze the backdoor before whatever is supposed to happen when that timer hits zero. This is risky but necessary if we want to protect your instance, and potentially others too.
2. Ignore the countdown. The deadline might pass, but the backdoor will remain open, and they could trigger it at any time. This is a gamble, and I wouldn't recommend it since we don't know what happens when the counter reaches zero. You could attempt to restore from backup but we aren't sure at the moment how long they have had access to your server
3. We try to negotiate with VoidSurge

Alex continues, "My gut says option one is best."

Episode 2 #fedifiction #fiction #microfiction

"Reach out to other instance admins for help"

Quickly you message a group of trusted instance admins on signal messaging. None of them have seen this behaviour yet.
"What's in the README, Alex asks". You've known Alex virtually for a while and they live in the same city, but you don't know much of what happens beyond their profile picture of a dog.

You display the contents of the README. It's just a single .onion url, a dark web address only accessible via TOR.

Alex says, "I think you should visit it, but take some precautions. I'll take a laptop over to yours and we'll look together".

You've never met Alex in real life, and you haven't ever tested the acquaintance. How do you know if you can trust them, or if this information is for your eyes only?

Next step?

#fedifiction #fiction #chooseyouradventure #poll #storytelling #story

You are the admin of an instance with 5000 active users.

As you tuck into your bacon sandwich, your phone buzzes with a notification. As you swipe to open your Mastodon moderation queue, a message from an unknown account named "VoidSurge" appears at the top.

"Admin, this is legit. Your instance has been compromised. Check the README in the root directory for your next move."

You scroll down to see your most recent activity. Everything looks normal—community announcements, user posts, the usual traffic. But your heart races as you worry that this is real.

You then receive an email: "Your account has been accessed from a new IP address". That wasn't you.

You login to the server via SSH , knowing that a compromise likely means your password and keys are compromised. Indeed the README is there.

What to do next? Next episode after this poll expires.