Chapter 1: The Message
“How the fuck did I get myself into this mess?” muttered Jake under his breath. Neon signs blurred past as he weaved through the chaotic early morning traffic heading towards Kryos City’s most densely populated highway - Azure Coast Expressway. With every surge of speed, strands of his wavy, striking blond hair flailed wildly in the wind. Behind him, waves of black, armored SUVs closed in, their headlights cutting an ominous presence as they gained on him.
Jake's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline surging through his veins. He glanced at the rear-view mirror, his cold blue eyes catching a glimpse of the steely, determined faces of his pursuers. They were relentless, and Jake knew they wouldn't stop until they had him.
As Jake turns his head to face the front, he notices the upcoming traffic light shifting from green to amber. “Shit!” he exclaimed. “The light’s turning red. Fuck it! No stopping now.” his thoughts raced, and in that split second, Jake revved his Viper RX7, causing the engine of his ghost-white sports bike to fill the air as the bike thrust forward. The bike’s neon-lit tires screeched as he tried his hardest to navigate past the oncoming vehicles, narrowly avoiding a collision at the last possible second.
Behind him, Jake heard the loud screech of tires, followed by the unmistakable sound of several vehicle crashes. “Fuck! That was close!”. The thought raced across Jake’s mind as he noticed the pursuers’ vehicles disappearing in the rear-view mirror, offering him a temporary respite. Without hesitation, he continued revving the engine of the Viper to its limits, desperately speeding towards Azure Coast Expressway.
Ahead, the highway forked into two paths - one towards the glistening, towering walls of Corporate District, the other towards the seedy underbelly of Kryos City that is The Wires. Making a split-second decision, Jake veered right, following the route into the narrow alley of Slum Street. All the while, his mind was racing, frantically thinking of the best place to hide and buy some time.
However, in Kryos City, where trust was a rare commodity and friends were even rarer, his options were severely limited. “Focus, Jake," he told himself, attempting to calm himself down. "You've been in worse shit before.”. But deep down, he knew he was fooling himself. Things just felt completely different this time around.
[Half an hour ago]
“What’cha got for me today, Boss Man?” Jake quipped as he clocked in for his usual job routine at Pulse Courier.
As he stepped in, Frank “Grizzly” Morgan, the no-nonsense boss of Pulse Courier, sat slumped in his office chair watching the 7am morning news. At over 6 feet tall with a stocky build, Frank’s appearance is as rugged as his nickname suggests. His once-thick hair has receded into a horseshoe pattern, and what remains is a salt-and-pepper mix that he keeps cropped short. His weathered face is marked by deep lines and a perpetual five o'clock shadow, evidence of years spent navigating the tough streets of Kryos City.
“Our top story this morning. TitanCorp facilities were hit late last night in what is just the latest in a string of attacks against the corporation by the rising insurgency group calling itself Vengeance," blasted the 7am morning news.
“Ah hell! This city is really going down the drain,” droned Frank.
“Going? KC has always been a shit hole,” Jake remarked. A puzzled look strewn across his face at his boss’s comments.
“Oh, you younglings weren’t around during the Cyber Renaissance days of Kryos City. Now, that was the peak. Things have been going downhill since the Great Hack Of The 22nd Century,” reminisced Frank.
“You know what…..Nevermind that. We’ve got a package pick-up at aisle 8. Delivery to The Wires, pronto. Customer wants this by noon. Uploading the details now,” barked Morgan, the wistful tone in his voice turning serious as he cut his reminiscence short. His Zenic 1.0 cybernetic eyes, ancient by the standard of Kryos City’s population, lit up in an instant as he uploaded the delivery information to the company’s prime server.
“The Wires?! Blackout Alley?! Fuck! I wouldn’t want to be caught anywhere near there, even with the sun up,” exclaimed Jake as he accessed the delivery details with his more modern Kurasaki MKII cybernetic eyes.
“Customer is paying a fat sum of money for this package. Tell you what. I’ll throw in a nice bonus for a job well done. Think of your sister, Mercer,” Frank retorted.
“Fine!” exasperated Jake, his head hanging in defeat. “Morgan’s right. I could really do with extra cash for Annie’s medications.”. The thought flashed across his mind as he picked up the package.
“Hey, what is in this package anyway? Can't imagine anyone paying express, given the mad amount you charge,” asked Jake.
“I don’t ask questions, Mercer. That’s how my business and I survived so long in this blackhole of a city,” sneered the burlish man as he lit another cigar. “You grew up in KC. You know how things work.”.
“Look.". Frank’s tone softened, a begrudging warmth peeking through his rough demeanor. “You’re a smart kid. You wanna waste your good years being a courier. Aren’t you getting tired of this?”.
“You know what? That’s what your mum said last night, too. But I’ve still got plenty of fuel left in the tank,” Jake cheekily retorted.
“Very funny smartass. Just get it done,” grumbled Frank as he pointed Jake to the door.
As Jake departed, Frank’s gravelly, raspy voice echoed from behind him. “Think about what I said, kid. Don’t you wanna make a difference in your life?”.
“Make a difference? Here in KC? Yeah, right. I’ve long since given up on that dream,” sighed Jake under his breath as he proceeded to stow the package in his bag while trudging towards the exit to his Viper.
As Jake approached the Viper, he reached out with his gloved hands and swiped it over the bike’s dashboard. A faint, blue light traced the path of his fingers. Upon recognizing his unique biometric signature, the bike responded with a low hum as its systems and motor came online. All the while, he couldn't help but have Frank’s words echoing in his mind. “Not like I have much of a choice. No one’s got room in their roster for a punk like me,” Jake sighed, cutting a deflated figure as he looked upward into the skyline. “At least I’ve still got Annie. That’s all that matters.”.
However, his musings were cut short by a short ping on his Holo-Phone just as he was ready to kickstart the Viper. “What’s this?”. A puzzled look formed on Jake’s face as he noticed a message from a number he didn’t recognize.
A faint, almost imperceptible flicker danced across his vision as his cybernetic eyes synced with his Holo-Phone. A translucent virtual overlay appeared in the corner of his sight, displaying the message across his field of vision as if it had been projected onto an invisible screen just in front of him.
An ominous message greeted Jake:
“Jake Mercer.
Someone’s about to approach you.
He’s NOT a cop.
Do NOT trust him.
Do NOT hand it over.
Trust NO ONE.”.
“What the actual fuck?” wondered Jake.
Before Jake could process what he had just read, a booming voice echoed behind him. As Jake turned around, he saw a tall, imposing figure approaching him. The man’s presence alone commands attention, with his broad shoulders and muscular build exuding an aura of raw power and intimidation. His face, chiseled and stern, set in a cold, unyielding expression that betrayed no emotion, and his eyes hidden behind a pair of dark-shaded sunglasses, masking his gaze, making it impossible to tell where he was looking or what he was thinking.
Flashing a badge, the man introduced himself, “Officer Kane. KCPD, Sixth Precinct.”
“Errr….Can I help you, officer?” a puzzled Jake looked on, surprised at this sudden intrusion.
“We’ve received a tip-off that you’re delivering a package that may contain crucial evidence to a case we are working on. We’re hoping you can cooperate with us by handing it over for investigation,” the man replied.
Jake’s mind instantly raced back to the message he had just received earlier. “This can’t be a coincidence, right?” wondered Jake, his grip tightening on his bag.
Thinking frantically, Jake blurted out an excuse, hoping to stall for time, “Sorry, no can do. Company policy. Maybe it’s better for you to take this up with my boss, Mr Morgan. You mind hurrying, though? I’m on a clock here,”
“I’m afraid I must insist. This is a very important case. You don’t want to be charged for failing to comply with the police, would you? That is a misdemeanor punishable with up to a year in jail. This, along with the charges of assaulting a cop, we could be looking at a long sentence,” insinuated Kane, his voice cool and calm as he delivered his threat.
“What?! I never….Fine! Geez, let me get it out of my bag.” Jake relented. “Jackass!” muttered Jake under his breath.
“By the way, you said you’re from the Sixth Precinct? How’s Sergeant O’Hara doing? I’ve seen him around the station a couple of times. Nice guy. Last I heard, he was planning to retire soon,” came a seemingly innocuous question from Jake as he pretended to scramble for the package in his bag.
“O’Hara? Yeah, the guy retired last month. We had a big farewell party for him. The guy’s probably enjoying his pension right now,” came the response, cool as ice.
Upon hearing the reply, Jake’s body tensed up. He got him. There was no Sergeant O’Hara. He made the story up on the spot. As his mind raced, wondering what his next approach should be, the entrance to Pulse Courier swung open with force as if a strong gust had blown the door off its hinges. Within seconds, Frank’s familiar raspy voice filled the air, “Mercer! Why am I still seeing you here? Time is money. Get a move on kid.”.
Suddenly, a loud bang rang through the air. A plume of smoke dissipated from the barrel of the gun into the air, twisting and turning like ghastly tendrils before vanishing completely. Frank’s body fell to the ground as blood pooled around his head and slowly trickled down the uneven pavement.
The stark red stood out against the grime and grit of the alley, a macabre testament to the violence that had just unfolded. Meanwhile, Kane’s hands remained steady, the weapon still aimed at the now motionless body sprawled on the ground. Silence settled over the scene, broken only by the distant sounds of Kryos City, indifferent to the life that had just been extinguished.
As the scene unfolded before Jake, his world seemed to slow to a crawl. The sound of the gunshot ringing in his ears felt like a distant echo. For what seemed like an eternity, he stood rooted to the spot, unable to process what had just happened to Frank.
“No…no, this can’t be happening,” Jake whispered, his voice barely audible, choked with disbelief. He could feel a surge of raw emotions flooding through him, a mixture of anguish, rage, and helplessness. His chest seemed to tighten as he desperately tried to hold in a scream. Meanwhile, his fist was clenched in futile anger as he stared at the lifeless body of his once-and-now-former boss.
Suddenly, another message flashed across Jake’s cybernetic eyes, “RUN”.
The message snapped him back to his senses. As reality sat in, Jake’s instinct instantly kicked into overdrive. With Kane momentarily distracted by Frank, Jake had a brief window of opportunity to swing his bag over his body and jump onto his Viper RX7, his fingers fumbling for the ignition, urgency etched across his panic-stricken face.
The bike roared to life, its powerful engine growling like a caged beast eager to be unleashed. With a swift motion, Jake kicked up the stand and revved the throttle. The tires spun for a split second, screeching against the asphalt, before gaining traction. Not a moment too soon, as Jake heard another bang. The bullet narrowly avoided him as it grazed the left sleeve of his jacket.
“He’s getting away! I need backup over here,” Kane’s booming voice trailed behind him.
“What the fuck just happened?!” pondered a visibly stunned Jake as he sped away. His entire world had just been upended.
Chapter 2: The Pursuit
The loud screech of the wheels filled the air and the engine’s roar descended into a low growl from the rapid deceleration of the Viper RX7. Jake shifted his weight, balancing the machine as it slowed to a halt as casually as he'd done multiple times before.
However, inside, his nerves were jangling and his heart pounded like he’d never felt before. He needed a moment to stop and think. As the bike finally came to a stop at the side of Slum Street, the world around him seemed to rush back into focus, leaving him momentarily stunned.
“Shit! What do I do now? Frank’s dead, and very soon, I could be joining him.”. As the thought filled his head, Jake felt his entire body going numb in fear. Tears began rolling down his cheek at the thought of his cold, lifeless body strewn across the street with no one left to care for little Annie.
Before things escalated into a full-blown breakdown, the familiar ping of Jake’s Holo-Phone interrupted his self-pity. Jake instantly recognized the number of the caller. Jake hesitated for a moment before picking up the call through the CyberLink situated in his ears.
“If you wanna survive, listen to me closely,” a heavily disguised voice rang out in Jake’s ears. He instantly recognized the use of a voice modulator.
“Who the hell is this?” Jake’s voice trembled.
“You were delivering something that some bad people desperately want to get their hands on,” came the reply.
“Are you talking about the package? What the fuck am I delivering?” Jake shouted in anger, demanding an answer.
The mysterious caller interjected, “Do you really want to waste time sitting around and exchanging stories? Or do you want to save your hide? I estimate you’ve probably got a couple of minutes before TitanCorp’s mercenaries catch up to you.”
“Those guys are from TitanCorp?! Why are they after me? What do they want with the package?” Jake shouted, fear and vexation seeping in.
“Again, now is not the time. As I’ve said, you need to pay close attention to what I’m about to say if you wanna live. See that abandoned mall at your two o’clock? I want you to ditch the bike and cut through the place. Head down to the abandoned subway tunnel in the basement. Follow the track and head straight to Blackout Alley. Once you’re in the clear, we can talk,” the caller replied, their voice cool and collected, barely skipping a beat.
“Who the fuck are you? How do you even know where I am?” Jake exclaimed, visibly spooked by how the caller was able to discern his exact location.
“See the camera to your right? I’m currently hacked into the surveillance system of The Wires,” came the response. “Unfortunately, the infrastructure of The Wires is in a dire state. That makes it a good place to hide. But not ideal when I need to keep track of you. I’m doing the best I can for now.”.
“You want me to ditch the bike? Fat chance! Going on foot is probably suicide,” Jake responded in defiance. There was no way he was abandoning his Viper, the dream bike that he had to work several odd jobs on end and poured blood, sweat, and tears to purchase a hand-me-down model.
The caller attempted to persuade Jake to change his mind. “There’s no choice. The guy who approached you. He’s probably seen your license plate. Do you really think TitanCorp can’t track your bike? They’re probably using their satellites to scan the city for your vehicle as we speak.".
Jake angrily retorted, “How do I even know I can trust you?”.
“The traffic light. Just before you hit Azure Coast Expressway. Did you really think it was a coincidence that the light turned red just as you were about to cross it?” came the nonchalant reply from the caller, which carried a hint of smugness.
“That was you?! Fuck! You sure took a big risk. I could have crashed,” Jake exclaimed, his tone a mixture of anger and bewilderment.
“I’ll admit. It was a gamble. One that paid off. Regardless, I’m your only shot at surviving this,” concluded the caller.
Jake realized his mysterious caller was right. He’s on the run and has no other allies. Despite his better judgment, his gut told him this person was his only option right now. But before he could commit to a decision, his train of thought was disrupted by the distant rumbling of what resembled several SUVs coming to a stop.
“Fan out! He couldn’t have gotten far,” an unfamiliar voice cried out.
“Fuck! Doesn’t seem like I’ve got any other choice,” exclaimed Jake as he grabbed the bag containing the package and made a beeline for the abandoned mall highlighted by the caller.
“Okay. I'm in the mall. Damn! This place is dark. I can barely see three feet in front of me,” exclaimed Jake as he stepped foot into the abandoned mall. Inside, the air was stale and thick with the smell of rot and mildew. Dust clung to every corner like a suffocating blanket, giving the place a grayish, ghastly hue.
The storefronts were all empty. Their displays long faded, leaving only dirty, cracked windows. Faded posters and tattered banners strewn across several walls, their colors long since washed out and the messages they once displayed now peeling and unreadable. The only sound breaking the oppressive silence was the faint echo of dripping water leaking from the broken ceiling above. This place was, in every sense of the word, a decaying monument to a forgotten era.
“What’s the fastest route to the subway tunnel?” Jake asked.
“Let me check the floor plan I’ve pulled up. There should be a nearby pathway on your right. Head in that direction till you see an E-Directory. There should be stairs leading to the basement, which links directly to the tunnel,” came the reply.
“Not good. This is worse than I anticipated. The mall’s electrical system is shot. There’s not enough juice here to kickstart the surveillance system. You’re basically flying blind here,” a hint of exasperation and panic seeping through the caller’s previously cool, calm voice. “I’m trying to redirect power from an external grid to kickstart the mall’s system. But that’s going to take time.”.
With his life on the line, Jake became increasingly exasperated. However, mustering all the inner control he had left, he tried his best to keep his voice down to a low, hushed whisper. “So, what am I supposed to do now? I can hear them closing in on me.”.
The caller reassured Jake, “Just give me a minute. I’m working as fast as I can.”.
Then, a response came that made his heart sink. ”Fuck! Critical system failure. Redirecting the power is a no-go.”.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, the caller followed up, “I know this isn’t what you want to hear. But heads up! I’ve managed to hack into a security camera on the adjacent building, and I spot a squad of TitanCorp mercenaries closing in on the mall. Someone must have spotted you earlier. I’m counting five men.”
By now, Jake was in panic mode. Whatever the caller planned on doing didn’t seem to be working, and there was a team of trained killers honing in on his location. “What am I supposed to do now?” interjected Jake, his voice increasingly agitated.
“I have another plan. But I need time. Find a place to hide and take cover,” came the instruction from the caller.
An incredulous look formed on Jake’s face. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. His life was on the line here. He retorted, “Fuck! What kind of plan is this? Hide and take cover? Hey…hey. Are you there?”. However, all he could hear was an eerie silence on the other end.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the air, breaking the oppressive silence of the abandoned mall. The source of the disturbance was traced back to the Xyrix M-72, the state-of-the-art tactical assault rifle produced by TitanCorp. The bullet ricocheted off a crumbling column, narrowly missing Jake.
“Oh shit!” Jake hushly muttered under his breath, desperately trying his best to keep his voice down. However, his heart was beating furiously inside.
“I’ve got him. Close in on my location now,” a voice echoed down the hallway.
Jake instinctively scrambled to the closest cover. As he took cover, he could hear footsteps reverberating through the empty mall. They were onto him.
He sneaked a peek at his pursuer. Amidst the blanketing darkness, the laser sight on the Xyrix M-72 allowed Jake to spot the mercenary. A man, armed to the teeth and spotting a pair of tactical night vision goggles, was approaching Jake’s location tentatively. The broken pieces of glass strewn across the floor shattering under his feet.
“We have you. Come out, and we can make this quick,” came the snaring threat.
Jake wondered, “Damn it! All this just for a package? What’s even in it?”. Then, a naive thought crossed his mind, “They just want the package, right? That’s my lifeline. If I give whatever is inside of it to them, maybe they’ll let me live.”.
Instinctively, Jake swung his bag to his front, scrambling for the package within. Upon feeling the package in his hands, he pulled it out of the bag and began frantically tearing it open. His hands trembled as each layer of coarse wrapping paper stripped away in jagged strips. He could feel his heart pounding and his gut twisting.
The contents of the package finally spilled open, and Jake could feel a lump in his throat. It was as if his breath was caught in it. A small data chip. Just that. No flashy weapon or some advanced tech gadget. Just a tiny, unassuming chip. He stared at it for what felt like an eternity, a mixture of surprise and disappointment slowly setting in. This was it? The thing that everyone seems to be after?
However, there was no more time to question it. This was his only way out alive. But Jake also knew that there was no guarantee they would spare his life if he just handed over the chip. If he wanted to make sure, there was only one thing he could do - hide the chip.
Specifically, inside his data slot. The very same access point that links directly to his brain’s neural operating system - a cybernetic enhancement that seamlessly blends biology and technology, connecting everyone in Kryos City to cyberspace. This way, only he could access it. If they wanted it, they were going to have to guarantee his safety. He would only fork it over if he was absolutely sure that he was safe.
Jake fumbled for the data slot embedded on the side of his neck, revealing a slot that was the exact fit for the chip. Even as Jake did so, his hands trembled at the thought of inserting something of unknown and questionable origin into his OS. If it contained a virus, things could go very wrong. “If I don’t do it, I’ll be dead anyway,” Jake thought to himself. However, any lingering doubts disappeared as soon as Jake heard the mercenary’s footsteps closing in on him.
As the chip clicked into place, Jake’s vision flickered. Then, nothing. Momentary relief spread through his body. It didn’t seem like the chip held anything harmful. Now, it was just about negotiating with his attackers.
“I’ll surrender. Please, just don’t shoot!” Jake exclaimed as he stood up from his hiding spot with his hands in the air.
“Where’s the package?” responded the mercenary, his tone a mix of frustration and bafflement upon noticing his objective was nowhere in sight.
Trying his best to contain his nerves, Jake responded, “I’ve hidden the package away. If you want its location, you have to let me go.”.
The mercenary paused for an instant to process what Jake had just said. A brief moment later, he turned to the wireless communication system hidden within his right ear to relay a message. “Control, we have a problem. The target doesn’t seem to have the package with him. What do we do?”.
Suddenly, Jake let out an agonizing scream, “Arghhhhh!” as he collapsed to the floor in pain. A sensation akin to a surge of electricity crackled through his mind, sending his senses into overdrive. The sudden outburst startled the mercenary, causing him to train his rifle at Jake and shout out in panic, “Hey! What the fuck is happening?”.
However, Jake could barely hear him. His entire worldview seemed to be fading to black. The world around him vanished, replaced by the suffocating void of cyberspace. He felt himself drifting aimlessly, with nothing but the sound of his breath echoing in his ears. Time seemed to lose all meaning here.
“Am I dead?” Jake thought as his mind teetered on the edge of panic. However, before dread could set in and threaten to swallow him whole, a jolt shot through his entire body. His neural pathway felt like it had been set ablaze. His eyes snapped open, and reality slammed back into focus.
“What the fuck just happened?” Jake thought, his breathing heavy and his heart racing. Whatever this chip was, it had just taken him to the brink and back. As Jake recovered his bearings, his cybernetic eyes began to flicker once again. However, this time, a message appeared before his sight. “Alpha pattern established.”.
Chapter 3: The Escape
“Alpha pattern? What the fuck does that mean?” Jake’s face betrayed a look of utter confusion at the words appearing before his eyes. However, before he had time to react, a rush of data flooded his mind. In that brief moment, he was fed a vision so vivid, it felt like reality itself. In the blink of an eye, Jake saw the glint of the Xyrix M-72’s barrel aimed directly at his head, and then, a flash. The sound of the gunshot reverberated in his mind, and everything faded to black.
Jake could feel a searing pain exploding in his skull, but it wasn’t real - at least not yet. The vision was a glimpse into a possible future, a mere fraction of a second away from becoming his reality. As he watched the horror of his own death unfolding before him, he noticed his breathing become more shallow and rapid.
Full-blown panic was beginning to set in, gripping Jake’s heart. Terror, unlike anything he ever felt, coursing through his veins. However, underneath the fear, deep in the recesses of his mind, something else stirred - a desperate, unyielding instinct to survive. As his mind wandered to the thought of leaving Annie alone, all he could think of was, “I don’t wanna die.”.
As if on cue, another vision began to play out before Jake. This time, it showed him a possible survival route. This was it. There was no time to think, no time to doubt - only to act. His body seemed to react on its own, driven by pure adrenaline and the raw, primal urge to live, moving with a speed and precision that surprised even him.
Instinctively, Jake reached out to grab a stray piece of broken glass lying on the floor with his left hand. Clutching the glass shard, he swung it at the approaching mercenary in one swift motion. The sudden action caught the mercenary by surprise, allowing Jake to stab him squarely in his right hand.
The mercenary let out a scream of pain, his guard momentarily broken. This brief window of opportunity provided Jake with exactly what he needed to follow up with another attack. Pouring all the strength he had in his slender 5’8” frame, Jake drove his knee into the mercenary’s gut, causing him to stagger backward. In doing so, the mercenary dropped his Xyrix M-72 rifle, exactly what Jake had foresaw and hoped for.
In an instant, Jake leaped at the rifle. As his hand slipped to the trigger, he immediately raised the gun and pointed it at his target. With a sudden jolt, the rifle buckled in his hands. The sound of the gunfire was deafening in the confined space. The mercenary’s body stiffened, his eyes wide open with pain and disbelief as he crumpled to the ground, blood spewing across the cracked tiles.
As Jake stared at the fallen mercenary, his grip on the Xyrix M-72 tightened. His breathing was heavy and jagged, the weight of what just happened sinking in. Sure, he’d fired a gun before. Multiple times even. But taking shots at a lifeless target board at a firing range is a far cry from taking a life. His entire body began shaking at the thought of the life he’d just extinguished.
“Mercer! What happened? I just heard gunfire.”. The caller’s modulated voice finally returned once again to his ear. This time, it contained a hint of concern.
“The guy...I killed him..I..I..felt like I had to. I saw that this was the only way. I had to kill him.”. Jake stammered as he recounted what just happened. "I just fucking killed someone!”.
“You killed someone? And you saw that this was the only way?” responded the caller. A brief pause followed as the caller contemplated what Jake had just said before their voice returned, now a mix of incredulity and anger. “You opened the package, didn’t you? What did you do, Mercer?”.
With his voice still quivering, Jake attempted to defend himself. “I…I inserted the chip into my data slot. I..I was planning on hiding it and negotiating my safety in exchange for it.”.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done? The chip contained a one-of-a-kind experimental tech. We have no idea what it could do to you,” reprimanded the caller.
The chastisement seemed to snap Jake’s senses momentarily, and he could feel anger boiling within him at this perceived injustice. In a defiant mood, he angrily replied, “What have I done? I was trying to save myself. You left me hanging. He was gonna kill me. I did what I had to to survive.”.
“Mhmm...It doesn’t matter now…There are still others after you. The priority is to get you out of there,” came the caller’s surprising response, catching Jake off guard.
The caller followed up, “What you just mentioned. You said you saw something. What do you mean by that?”.
Jake struggled to respond, unable to describe exactly what he was seeing. “I don’t know how to explain. I seem to be getting fractured visions. I can’t control them. They’re sudden and fleeting, and they seem to be constantly changing.”.
“Hmmh…our contact did mention the chip contained a predictive algorithm. But we had no idea that it could be implanted into a person’s OS. Interesting,” mused the caller. “But that’s not important right now. Let’s get you out of there alive, then we can talk.”.
The caller proceeded to outline their plan. “It took longer than I'd anticipated as the mall’s infrastructure is outdated, but I’ve hacked into its pre-existing control system. There used to be an illumination display at the atrium. The same level that you are currently located. There is enough electricity to turn on the light show for a brief moment. However, I can only do this once before the power is gone. So, we have to time it correctly to distract the remaining mercenaries and buy you enough time to get to the subway tunnel.”.
“I know this isn’t much of a plan. But that’s all I’ve got left. Maybe with the help of the chip, we might be able to pull it off. Just give me the signal when it’s time,” reassured the caller.
"The caller was right. It wasn’t foolproof. But I’ll take what I can get right now,” thought Jake. This surprise package may have helped him take down one mercenary. However, there were four more to go. Given that he had no idea how to control these visions, he may not be able to rely on the algorithm alone. As the reality of the situation came flooding back to him, he recalled what he had just said earlier, “I did what I had to do.”. Whether he truly believed it, he knew he had to steel himself and move on. There will be time to process what happened later.
Suddenly, Jake’s cybernetic eyes started flickering again. New visions began to unfold before his very eyes, showing him where each mercenary was going to be. He bolted into the shadows, his mind racing as the algorithm fed him a continuous stream of predictions. He silently ducked behind an abandoned storefront just as another mercenary appeared to check in on his fallen comrade, exactly as predicted.
Jake waited, like a predator stalking its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. As the second mercenary began turning his back to him to sweep the area, Jake struck. A rapid burst from the pilfered Xyrix M-72 took the second mercenary down. But there was no time to think about it. Jake was on the move again, fluid and relentless, guided by the algorithm's cold, calculated foresight.
Even as Jake honed in on the next target, a chill shivered down his spine. “Am I too relaxed about this? What I’m doing should bother me. But I'm already seeing a vision of their death. It’s like knowing what is about to happen lessens the impact somehow,” he mused. Unfortunately, this thought only furthered his doubt. However, he brushed it aside. Survival is the priority now. “I can’t leave Annie alone,” concluded Jake.
“There! The narrow hallway in my vision. There’s where the third mercenary will show up. In three, two, one,” Jake thought as he steadied himself. Exactly on cue, the man turned into the hallway where Jake was already waiting, his finger on the trigger. The muzzle flashed, and the mercenary’s life was extinguished before he even knew he was in danger. Three down, two more to go.
The remaining mercenaries were getting nervous. They were hearing gunshots, but they were unable to get positive confirmation on their communication system. This was not what they anticipated. As the uncertainty spread and their numbers dwindled, their movements became more erratic as they frantically searched for their unknown assailant. However, it didn’t matter. The algorithm was able to track their every move, boiling their tactics down to simple, predictable patterns.
Jake slipped through the dilapidated corridors, staying one step ahead, his body seemingly moving like a puppet on a string, following the algorithm's guidance. The fourth mercenary, located at the atrium, never stood a chance either. The smoke of gunfire barely left the barrel of the Xyrix M-72 before his body dropped dead to the ground as Jake put two rounds through the man’s chest.
Now, only one remained. As Jake stopped to catch his breath, he could hear his heart pounding with the relentless beat of adrenaline. Despite his doubts, the chip has gotten him this far, allowing him to outmaneuver four of the mercenaries. “Could I do this? Am I really going to make it?” Jake wondered, as his heart soared.
However, whether it was a misfortune or a glitch, Jake suddenly froze. His vision began to flicker with static as everything went dark just before it could reveal the location of the final mercenary. Panic started clawing at the edge of his mind - he knew he was blind without it.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. Before Jake could react, he felt excruciating pain emanating from his right leg as the bullet tore through the flesh, causing him to crumple to the floor with a cry. The Xyrix M-72 rifle dropped to the ground beside him. As Jake gritted his teeth, trying to fight the pain and claw towards the gun, he glanced up and saw a shadowy figure, decked in full tactical gear, approaching him steadily.
“Mercer! What happened?” The caller’s voice echoed in Jake’s ears, startled by his cry of pain.
“All this effort, and for what? A bullet in the brain? Pathetic,” sneered the mercenary. His booming voice sounded familiar. It was the man who killed Frank - Kane. “Still, it seems we severely underestimated you. We thought a courier wouldn’t pose much trouble. Who are you really? How did you manage to get the drop on four of my men, and where’s the package?”.
Even as he faced certain death, Jake could not help but stifle a laugh at what these questions entailed. "Heh…You’re that Kane guy, aren’t ya? I knew you weren’t really a cop. Turns out, you’re just another money-grabbing merc. Your boss sent you and your team through all this trouble, and they don’t even bother telling you what you’re really after?”.
“Fine. I’ll just kill you and search your body for the package myself,” replied Kane, his finger tightened on the trigger.
In that instant, the algorithm sparked back to life, flooding Jake with another round of vision. The prediction flashed before his eyes - Kane pulling the trigger, the blinding lights, the bullet leaving the barrel of the rifle. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. But Jake only had a split second to react. He had to time this right.
Jake screamed, “Now! Turn it on now!”. In an instant, the mall’s long-dormant illumination system roared to life. A blinding cascade of light erupted from above, cutting through the darkness like a blade. The sudden explosion of light caused Kane to recoil, his night vision goggles instantly overwhelmed by the influx of brightness. What had been a tactical tool and clarity in the dark was now a blinding obstacle.
The distraction worked. With Kane’s aiming trajectory affected by the searing light display, the bullet flew past Jake, narrowly avoiding his head and hitting the floor. Without hesitation, Jake rolled to his side, ignoring the agonizing pain in his leg and desperately reaching out for the Xyrix M-72, his fingers brushing the cold metal of the rifle he dropped earlier.
As Kane recovered, he took off his night vision goggles, cursed his miss, and proceeded to adjust his aim, giving Jake just enough time to close his hands around the rifle. He swung it up, his movements fueled by a mix of pain and determination. As Kane lined up his next shot, Jake fired first. The crack of his rifle echoed through the empty mall as the bullet found its mark, rifling straight into Kane’s chest with deadly precision. He staggered back and dropped to the floor, his face contorting in shock and pain as blood began spreading across his chest.
Meanwhile, Kane’s shot missed its intended target, but not by much. Jake felt a hot, searing pain in his right shoulder. Instinctively, he clutched his wounded shoulder to numb the pain. With all the remaining strength he could muster and using the Xyrix M-72 rifle as a makeshift clutch, Jake pulled himself up. He was doing all he could just to stand and balance himself as he tried to avoid putting pressure on his injured right leg.
Once he steadied himself, he limped towards Kane, wanting to make sure he got his man. Surprisingly, Kane was still alive. But not for long.
“Do you think this changes anything? TitanCorp is relentless. They will stop at nothing to retrieve what’s theirs,” gasped Kane before life slowly drained from him. All that was left was a lifeless corpse.
“That was for Frank,” muttered Jake as he stared at Kane’s body for one last time before trudging away.
“Mercer?! Answer me. Please tell me you’re still alive.” The caller repeated their plea. Genuine concern was evident even amidst the heavily modulated voice.
“If this is what it feels like to be alive, I think I’d rather be dead,” Jake said with what little strength he had left, the pain overwhelming him.
“Mercer!”. A sigh of relief emanated from Jake’s ear. “You're alive! Fuck, I thought…”.
“Barely,” wheezed Jake. It was the only response he could muster given his current state. It was taking all his strength just to stay conscious. He was not sure how much further he could go.
“How are you doing? You’re almost there. Just follow the direction I gave you,” pleaded the caller.
“Yeah, I’ll manage.”. With a grimace, Jake forced himself to make the next step. But his entire body was screaming in agony with every step he took. His vision began to blur, the edges of his world fading in and out of focus.
Jake’s knees buckled, causing him to stumble. As he did, he caught himself against a pillar. However, the surface did little to support him. His legs trembled, barely holding him up. Every ounce of his willpower focused on taking one more step. But it was a losing battle. The pain and blood loss were too much to bear, and his body was shutting down.
His head spun violently, and his legs finally gave out, causing him to collapse to the cold, hard floor. “This is it. I’m sorry, Annie,” muttered Jake. The last thing he saw before everything went black was a flicker of data from the algorithm, a fractured image that made no sense. Then, nothing.
Epilogue: The Offer
“Argh…”, Jake groaned as his eyelids fluttered and he slowly drifted back to consciousness, the world around him hazy and unfocused. His body felt heavy, every muscle weighed down by the exhaustion and injuries he had endured. All he could remember before he passed out was the overwhelming fatigue, the pain, and then… nothing. Now, as awareness gradually returned, he realized he was heavily bandaged and lying on a worn-out bed, his limbs aching and stiff.
As Jake surveyed the strange, unfamiliar environment, the room he found himself in was small and cramped, the walls closing in on him like a cage. Harsh, sterile lights hung overhead, bathing the space in an almost blinding brightness. The light pierced his eyelids, causing his head to throb as he tried to reorient himself. He blinked rapidly, his vision slowly sharpening as he took in his surroundings.
The room was bare and clinical, with walls covered in chipped, discolored ceramic tiles. The once-pristine tiles were now mottled with stains and cracks, some of them barely clinging to the wall, giving the place an air of neglect. The grout between the tiles was darkened with age, a stark contrast to the blinding lights that reflected off the worn surfaces.
With all his strength, Jake struggled to push himself up, every movement sending sharp jolts of pain through his body. He winced, gritting his teeth as he managed to prop himself up on one elbow, trying to shake off the lingering fog in his mind. As his senses began to clear, he instinctively thought, “The chip!”. Immediately, he placed his right hand on his data slot, causing it to slide open. The chip was still safe.
Suddenly, Jake became aware of voices - muffled but growing louder. A heated discussion was taking place nearby, the words indistinct but the tone unmistakable. The voices were tense, filled with urgency and frustration. He could only catch fragments of the conversation, but it was enough to make his pulse quicken. Whoever they were, they were close - too close.
A deep voice boomed from outside the door. “Why we even bother with a courier if we hafta go fetch the thing ourselves?”.
The door swung open, and two figures - a man and a woman - stepped in. The first was a tall, lanky middle-aged man with flowing dreadlocks. The striking figure had dark, ebony skin that seemed to absorb the light around him, giving him an almost shadowy aura. His skin, weathered in places, seemed to tell the story of a man who had lived a life full of trials and tribulations. The deep hue of his complexion highlighted the sharp angles of his face, with his high cheekbones and strong, angular jaw giving him a commanding presence.
But it was the second figure that immediately caught Jake’s eyes. The woman was someone who could turn heads the moment she walked into a room, and she certainly had Jake’s attention. Her long, raven hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. The dark hue of her hair contrasted beautifully with her fair, porcelain-like complexion. Her piercing green eyes, sharp and intense, like emeralds catching the first light of dawn, were captivating yet unnerving, filled with a quiet confidence that belied her youthful allure.
However, Jake’s focus was soon interrupted by a question from the man. “Dis the bubu we went through all the trouble to find?”.
Jake turned to face the man, and his gaze immediately caught Jake’s attention. He noticed the man’s forehead was furrowed in thought, showing faint lines that hinted at the countless battles he had fought, both physical and mental. Meanwhile, his eyes were a deep brown, almost black, that contrasted sharply against the darkness of his skin. They were the kind of eyes that seemed capable of seeing through anyone, cutting through any facade to the truth beneath. The intensity of the man’s stare unnerved him.
“Who the hell are you guys?! Where am I? And what the fuck did you just call me?!” Jake exclaimed. Even though he could not understand the term the man used, he could tell the man was insulting him from the tone of his voice.
“Bubu. In my native tongue, it refers to an idiot or simpleton. Only word that comes to mind for someone crazy enough to plug some mystery chip in his data slot and then take on a whole TitanCorp crew by himself,” the man replied matter-of-factly, without care that his earlier words had angered Jake. “And to answer your first question. I’m Delroy Campbell, and this here is my associate, Mia Levine. We’re with Vengeance. Right now, you're at one of our secure bases.”.
“Vengeance?!” Jake’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re that terrorist group that has been attacking TitanCorp facilities across the state.”.
“We prefer the term Freedom Fighters.". Delroy clarified to Jake. “Easy to paint us as the villain when one controls the media. Tell me, Jake Mercer. Who yuh think owns the news in KC.”.
“Not hard for TitanCorp to frame you guys given what you’ve done,” Jake retorted. "So, what’s your grudge with TitanCorp? And what does all this have to do with the chip in my data slot?” asked Jake.
Upon hearing his question, Delroy scoffed, prompting a reaction from Jake. "What’s that for?”.
Delroy replied, “Not sure yuh ready to know.”.
Jake hesitated for a moment before saying, “After everything I’ve been through, I think I deserve some answers.”.
Delroy took a deep breath. His expression remained stern throughout, making it impossible to tell what the man was really thinking. Eventually, he muttered, “Fine”.
“Yuh’ve landed in the middle of a war, Mercer. Our war,” Delroy began, his voice steady but now tinged with a simmering anger. “TitanCorp’s been ripping people apart, all for their profits. It’s time somebody stands up and fights back.”. As he spoke, Mia stood nearby, her piercing green eyes locked onto Jake, silently reinforcing the weight of what Delroy was about to reveal.
Delroy paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. There was a fire in his eyes, a deep-seated rage that came from witnessing a grave injustice. “TitanCorp ain't just some company lookin' to get bigger. Dem a butcher. They take people nobody cares 'bout - the ones who slip through the cracks, don't even exist in the system. An' they use 'em like lab rats, testin' biochemicals that tear up the flesh, cybernetics that turn folks mad.”.
As Delroy spoke, his voice grew quieter and more intense. "We seen what’s left behind. We’ve found the bodies left at the scrap heaps. No names, no graves, just forgotten. We won’t just sit back and continue to watch it happen. Vengeance is more than just exposin’ TitanCorp - it’s about stoppin’ them. We fightin’ to tear down every last one of their labs, endin’ their wicked experiments, an' givin’ these people back their dignity, even in death.".
Jake’s stomach turned as he listened, the full horror of the situation crashing over him. He had heard rumors about the corporation’s shady dealings - people disappearing in the back alleys of Kryos City, whispers about bodies found in the heaps of refuse - but he had never given them much thought. What Delroy just described was a different level of corruption, of evil.
However, he soon steadied himself, asking, “The chip. What does it have to do with all this?”.
This time, it was Mia who spoke. Her sultry, raspy voice and tone sounded familiar to Jake. “The chip. The algorithm inside….It’s not just some piece of tech. You’ve seen what it can do. TitanCorp developed it for a reason, a dark one. They’re tired of the opposition and dissenting voices. They want to integrate the algorithm into KC’s existing public surveillance infrastructure, turning this place into their own fortress of control. With it, they can predict every move and every thought of anyone who dares to stand against them. Anyone who steps out of line won’t just be silenced - they’ll be erased, like they never existed.”.
“How do you even know all this?” Jake asked.
“We had a man on the inside. He was the one who leaked this to us. He took a great risk smuggling the chip out of TitanCorp’s R&D lab and sending it to us. We haven’t been able to contact him since,” came the answer from Mia.
“That’s where yuh come in. We hafta ensure it can’t be traced back to us. So, we needed a courier that wouldn't ask questions,” Delroy interjected.
“Can TitanCorp really accomplish this? They’re just a corporation. They’re not the government. They don’t have the authority to do this, do they?” questioned Jake.
Mia nodded grimly before continuing, “KC is as corrupt as they come. You should know this. TitanCorp already has the mayor and the police in their pockets, like marionettes on strings. Linking the algorithm to the city’s system is the easy part. All they needed was to recover the chip. When they do, it’s over. We’re talking about absolute control.”.
"That’s the future they be shaping, Mercer. And that’s why we can’t let 'em get that chip. If they do, it’s over for all of us," concluded Delroy.
After hearing what the pair had to say, Jake sat in the bed silently, his mind racing to process everything Delroy and Mia had just laid out. It was a lot to take in. The weight of their words was pressing down on him, making it hard for him to speak. His thoughts were an incoherent mess, struggling to form a suitable response as he tried to wrap his head around the situation he was now in.
Eventually, Jake found his voice. However, his voice cracked as he pleaded, “The chip. You need it? Take it…..Please. I’m done. I’m just a delivery guy. I did my job. I don’t want a part of this anymore. Just….Take the chip and let me go.”.
Delroy and Mia exchanged a look, one that was filled with understanding but also a touch of sorrow. Mia stepped forward, trying to steady her voice the best she could. “Mercer….Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. When you were out, our biotech team ran some tests. The algorithm is fully integrated with your OS. Even if we took out the chip now, it’s useless. It’s a part of you now.”.
Pain was etched all over Mia’s face, showcasing the discomfort she felt at delivering this devastating news. “I’m sorry, Mercer. As long as you have the algorithm in you, TitanCorp will never stop hunting you. You’ll always be a target.”.
Jake stared at Mia, the hope draining from his eyes. The only things he could think of were his life and Annie. He could feel himself spiraling. “That’s it? There’s no way back?” Jake asked.
Then, Delroy stepped in, his tone more resolute. “Dis need not be the end, Mercer. Join us. Join Vengeance. We can protect yuh. Keep yuh safe.”.
“Keep me safe? You think this is just about me?!” Jake angrily retorted, his voice rising in anger. “I have a sister. I’m the only family she’s got. She needs me.”.
“Yes. Annabelle Mercer. Rough ting, to be diagnosed with leukemia at such a young age. But we can help. Same way we help yuh. Vengeance has connections, Mercer. We can move her someplace safe. Make sure she gets the care she needs,” Delroy reassured Jake.
“You know about Annie? How?” a bewildered Jake asked.
Mia interjected, answering in place of Delroy. “After receiving the details of the delivery. We did our due diligence. We had to ensure every minute detail, including you, checked out.”. She then continued, “Jake Mercer. 22 years old. Your parents passed away in a car accident when you were 16, leaving behind you and a sick younger sister….”.
“That be enough, Mia,” Delroy interrupted her. “I’m not gonna lie, Mercer. Joining Vengeance means life as a fugitive, always lookin’ over your shoulder. But there be safety in numbers. We have each other’s backs. If yuh wanna be with your family instead, take your chances and disappear, that’s your call, we won’t stop yuh.”.
“But know this, TitanCorp ain’t gonna stop comin’. Even with the algorithm, I can’t say how long yuh’ll last. I’ve watched KC grind down folks like yuh for years, leavin’ their broken bodies in the gutter, forgotten,” Delroy continued. “Mia told me how yuh handled yourself against those TitanCorp mercs. Yuh got heart, kid, even if yuh a bubu who made some risky moves. I don’t want to see yuh become another body in the pile. The choice is yours, Mercer. Don’t yuh wanna make a difference in your life?”.
The room fell silent as Jake processed the enormity of his situation. His thoughts were a whirlwind. Flashes of Annie’s pale face, the relentless chase with the TitanCorp mercenaries, the weight of his new reality pressing down on him. He felt cornered, trapped by a fate he never wanted, but knowing there was no escape.
Jake’s mind raced, running through every possibility, every outcome. Could he outrun TitanCorp? What about Annie? She would be too weak to be on the move constantly. The world seemed to blur around him as he weighed his options, his heart pounding with the gravity of the decision before him. Yet, the words, “Don’t you wanna make a difference in your life?” continued to echo loudly in his head. Those were the exact words Frank said to him shortly before his death.
Amidst the chaos of his thoughts, Jake's mind finally came to a deafening still. He found his answer. This was the only way. His expression hardened, with resolve settling in his eyes. He knew what he had to do. With that small bit of refound strength, Jake pushed himself up from the bed and steadied himself, his gaze matching Delroy’s and Mia’s. So... does membership come with a t-shirt?”.