Culture #2
It’s only after another drink and another flirting wink from the bartender that I finally get to the notes from yesterday.
Blackwood was a security advisor to someone within DAEMON’s AI department. There’s nothing about his history or resume publicly available.
Below the scrawl is a printed clipping from an online headline. It only half-mentions Malachi by last name alongside a new artificial intelligence from DAEMON.
Anders’ relationship to DAEMON is uncertain, but I just got her bank statements, and she received one payout that does match the data signature for DAEMON’s HR department.
And, dutifully, below the note is the very same bank statement. The numbers are gibberish, but the relevance is meaningful.
The next clipping is the hierarchy list from RISE, which looks to be updated through early yesterday.
1. Darkrend - alive, possible
2. Bloody Mary - alive, no evidence of involvement
3. The Dark One - alive, not connected
4. Omen - alive, possible
5. Gargantuan - alive, last sighting in the Steel Empire
6. Azazel - alive, last seen in the Western Alliance
7. Revenant - alive, involved
8. Marek - alive, in Western Alliance, name only available because of living victims
9. Dottir - alive, possibly in the Black Keep
10. Yokai - alive, last seen in New Republic
The comments beside the names seem disjointed. They were clearly hastily written, and there’s nothing to suggest what each is "involved" in.
She’d eliminated the ones who were in other city-states. It’s possible they’d managed to get in and out of the city using a teleportation power. But, those powers are influenced by distance. The Alliance and the New Republic are far out to the west, and the Steel Empire is on the eastern seaboard.
And no one really knew much about the Black Keep save for a general location.
My own identity had been cleared of this wrongdoing. Though the words “not connected” are different from “not involved.”
Almost like a certainty. Like total exoneration.
I swallow thickly and move on.
Bloody Mary’s involvement is apparently questionable, but why? She’s involved. That much is certain from how she’s been watching me.
Waiting for me.
Caring for me.
I take a large swig of my drink and find the final name.
Revenant.
The man is allegedly a hitman, but he's essentially a serial killer who does the occasional corporate hit. His Darkness-type affliction is the strongest on record. He might even be able to outdo me when it came to fighting from the shadows.
I open up the dPad and swipe to the RISE entry for Revenant.
7. Revenant
The readout populates and it feels as though Kronos’ time dilation has fallen over the whole bar.
Revenant is a well-known public threat. His name has been on the lips of most new reporters for years. Calls for him to be brought to justice were always met with NCPD concerns of not having enough information. Of not knowing his true capabilities. Of not knowing his identity.
The database I had access to both as a civilian and as an NCPD associate had been the same. It had been sparse on details.
So why does Bellick have access to everything about Revenant?
Identity: Rafael Gomez. Powers: Tier 5, Darkness-type. Last Seen: October 25th, 1030 A.D. - 400 Block, New Chicago.
Description: Six foot, 225 pounds. Brown hair, green eyes.
Notes: Rafael Gomez (Revenant) is a Tier 5 Remnant with the ability to phase through shadows.
He will often appear as a dark silhouette, preferring to maintain anonymity through these means.
Most of his abilities are utilitarian, but his invulnerability while using powers makes him capable of mass destruction.
NCPD Instructions: Avoid. He will try to kill you. Reach out to Francesca Bellamy-Carter at DAEMON for further instructions.
I stare down at the tablet in my hand for what feels like hours. The DAEMON contact isn’t a name I recognize, but it puts DAEMON squarely at the center of this.
Going directly to the corp is likely a death sentence. At least right now while both the NCPD and the Guild are looking for me.
I look up my own identity, but find it as redacted as the others in the top four. Which is both reassuring and disconcerting.
The 400 Block isn’t far from this bar. It’s between the districts but falls closer to the Remnant side of the city.
I glance down at the time on the tablet. At just before eight, rolling up on Revenant might cause a fight.
“Isn’t that what you want?” a voice hisses from somewhere in the darkened bar.
“I thought you guys were giving me the silent treatment,” I grumble, looking up at where the voice had come from, but they’ve already faded away.
I slip off the stool and flag down the bartender. She gives me a grin and slides the bill to me. It, too, is paid for by the house.
“Thanks,” I say, shooting her a small smile that feels somewhat real.
I wave to Kronos who reciprocates before pushing through the crowd and into the brisk evening air.
Groups of Remnants pass by, some in elaborate outfits, others in their civilian clothing.
None of them pay me any notice. None of them really care. Here in the Casket, everyone’s different—everyone’s a monster.