The night felt colder underground.
Rael pulled his jacket tighter as he stepped into The Spine—a network of tunnels beneath Cloudfall where the law didn't reach and where secrets walked in plain sight.
He was looking for one man.
FANG.
A rogue hacker. A former test subject of Project Raven. And the only one who ever got out alive.
Scene 1: The Tattooed Bouncer
Outside a hidden bar called Binary Grave, Rael was stopped by a huge man with glowing tattoos.
"Password?"
Rael calmly replied, "Ravens can't fly with clipped wings."
The man smirked. "You're expected."
Inside, neon lights flickered over rusted steel. The place smelled of oil and rebellion.
Scene 2: Fang Appears
In a back room filled with ancient monitors and tangled wires, Rael finally met him.
Fang looked nothing like a hacker. He was young, wild-haired, and wearing a lab coat with scribbles on it. His left eye glowed red.
"You're the system kid, right?" Fang grinned. "Heard your name's been echoing through the cracks."
Rael nodded. "I need your help."
Fang raised an eyebrow. "You've got Ash. That thing alone is worth a hundred mercs. So why me?"
Rael dropped the Raven Files on the table. "Because you're in them."
Fang stared. His smile faded.
Scene 3: A Deal in Code
Fang finally spoke. "I was Subject #12. They used me to code and destroy minds. One day I broke their firewalls from the inside. Slipped out when no one was watching. Since then, I've been hiding in wires."
Rael leaned in. "Help me take them down. I'll protect you."
Fang laughed. "Protect me? Bro, I'm the firewall now."
Then he turned serious.
"But yeah... I'm in. You'll need blueprints, encryption keys, and someone to erase the trackers in your system."
He tossed Rael a tiny chip. "Insert this. It'll unlock Shadow Mode for Ash."
New System Mode Unlocked: Shadow Mode— Allows Rael to move undetected for 30 seconds— 50% damage increase when attacking from stealth— Cooldown: 10 minutes
Mission Updated: Recruit Fang New Objective: Break into Calderon Labs