Thunder and Webs C140 [Gold]

Diana lets herself be interviewed, but it’s interrupted when a startling revelation is made.

Chapter 140: That’s Him

March 3rd

2:18 PM

Diana

“Maybe they weren’t bad guys! Maybe we didn’t understand what they were after!” Starlight argued as I studied the identities of Stinger, Trhino and Reptilia. Their real names were Kelly Green, Ivan Moore, and Riley Orlyk… each of them came from poor families, had some history with mutational problems, and found themselves in the grace of the Fourth Prince of Muramasa. Shadow-Son.

Neither Star nor I was there when Ripley killed him. Only…

I took a deep breath.

Only Sabrina. So we both had little clue what actually occurred between them, other than Starlight’s faint knowledge about the incident from Ripley’s memories, but according to her… he didn’t want her knowing too much of his mental state then, or the weeks preceding.

“Shadow Son…” Her drone mumbled. “He asked Ripley to let his people live, but… my dad didn’t say anything more. Just that he… knew that Shadow-Son gave unique individuals a place to call home.”

“So, do you think this was his way of making right by that promise? Just like how… he took care of Alice?” I asked, unsure at my own voice.

“Maybe.” The drone floated back to the Net-Port. “They said they would die without delivering Bloom to someone, why?”

“I don’t know.” Mutations, as I experienced them, were unstable and likely to develop complications. “We know that Shadow Son was... studying Cadavers and Soul Killer, whose to say that some of his followers didn't volunteer or have their own issues. Hence, I don’t know, a reliance on another party for healing?”

Soon enough in our speculation, Alisha walked into my office, whistling. “Wooow, you look like shit.”

“I haven’t slept for two days.” I grumbled, not eager to take this from her right now.

“Huh, guess your not-ex got you-”

“He’s not my fucking not-ex.” I hissed. “Look, you’re in danger, you know that? Ripley’s gone rogue, and his nanites are inside of you! And considering who his girlfriend is? You’re a fucking breach.”

“Hey! It’s you who wanted me to go to him!” She argued.

“I never asked you to ingest his nanites, now, did I?!” I hit my desk, mostly out of the memory that once I’d been the breach, before turning to Starlight’s drone. “Now, Star, could you connect to her and check if there’s a way to… reach him?”

“I mean… I doubt I could, right now.” She answered. “My Net-Access is still unstable, but mom’s been working on it. For now, let’s just make sure she’s… that my dad can’t reach where he’s not supposed to.”

“I’d appreciate that.” I patted the drone.

“You’ve never once said that to me!” Alisha complained. “Also, is that the guy’s weird robot daughter? Why’s she with you?! Ms. ‘You’re a breach’.”

My eyes narrowed, but Alisha didn’t offer any smart words once Starlight flew up to her arm and dug a cable in. She stayed like that for a bit, analyzing the Datacube with her little spidery legs until she detached. “Alright, encoded a little safeguard and Alisha can instantly deactivate the nanites, also… wow, did I find some good stuff.”

“Good stuff?”

“About how to fix her legs.” Starlight said. “Long story short is… well, yeah my dad’s still the one who has to do it, but… uh, he kinda has to get complete access to her Implant and force a few updates.”

I eyed Alisha. “You better not get any ideas.”

“Relax!” She raised her hands up. “I’m not nearly as much of an idiot as you are to trust a criminal.”

“Hah…” I found that hard to believe. “Look, let’s just take the necessary precautions before-”

Twilight shattered into being in front of me, huffing. “I found him!”

“What?” I stood up. “Where?”

“Here, First Precinct. He saved a woman from some aggressors.” Twilight squeezed her hands. “I… she’s being brought in for questioning.”

“I’ll be taking over the case.” I grabbed my stuff, ready to use my position.

———

“I really don’t know what I saw… he just swooped down from above like a spider. Four metallic arms hovering around him that sprung from his back… he was quick — the goons troubling me all dead in seconds. I still remember that gun pointed at me. I blinked and I had blood spilling onto my face. I thought he’d done it to save me, but his eyes said otherwise,” Lune, the witness, said slowly, shaking in her seat.

“They were cold.”

I adjusted in my seat, lending her a small smile. “I know it's difficult, Lune, but you’re doing well. Can you tell me more about what you saw?”

“Pupils so small like an animal’s and a mask covering his lower face. Soon as they were dead, he began dissecting them while I could barely move an inch. I don’t know how long I watched, but the way he moved… each crunch as he severed a limb or tore out an eye with all of those limbs slithering through their organs? It felt like ages. I was watching a predator feast on his prey, and when he was done, he took the smallest look at me with those same eyes. Cold and hungry. I thought I was next.”

“Then he leapt up, some golden wire launching from the arms of his spider legs that slinged him higher until he vanished. I don’t think I moved until you all found me next to seven dead bodies.” She took a deep breath.

Twilight stood in the air, studying Lune. “What’s your mind-reading telling you?”

{That she’s being honest. Ripley saved her from what I’m sensing…}

Twilight had a small smile, but controlled it for now. I leaned closer, needing to know more. “Did he say anything at all during the event?”

“Y-yeah, he did.” Lune nodded. “He told me that… he’ll handle it all.”

That again. What did Ripley mean by saying that he would… handle it?

“He said that he’d give them the consequences of their actions.” She spoke slowly. “And… he knew my name.”

“He did?” I said, while Twilight paled.

“Yeah, and…” She looked hesitant to answer, and I knew before she spoke, from the flutter of her soul, that a lie was coming. “He didn’t say much after that.”

“Lune.” I whispered. “You went through a lot right now, but understand that… what he just did, it’s questionable, and I need you to be honest with me. Did he tell you anything else?”

She took a deep breath before nodding. “He gave me a Bronze Shard. Told me to use it for my… my son. He said I reminded him of his mother.”

I took a deep breath and stood up. “Thank you for your time, Lune.”

Twilight spoke the moment I made it out for fresh air. “If he knew about her son, then that means that Elsa… or my sisters are with him and giving him intel.”

“Or The Dogwhistler.” I muttered. “Twilight, you’re serious about this, right? If Ripley and Elsa do end up being-”

“If they’ve really gone rogue…” she interrupted, “then yeah, I’ll take the responsibility and do what’s right. But from what I’m seeing, he helped some strange woman from being assaulted in alleyway.”

“And yet, he killed all of her attackers, without…” everything I was saying made me feel like a hypocrite. “It’s not healthy that the first thing he’s doing after Alice’s death is destroying the Snake Fangs and then… what? Going full vigilante?”

She stared at me, saying nothing, but just stared.

After a long time, she ended with a sigh. “Okay, fine… Star’s recovered her ability to send out messages. She told me she thinks Ripley might head toward the place that Alice was… situated in, prior to him taking her in. We should head there.”

“I can’t.” I muttered. “I have a damn media appearance.”

“It can wait.”

“It’s with… This was one I actually set up myself.” I felt overwhelmed. “I’ll see if I can reschedu-”

“No. Fine.” Twilight said, her bitterness floating through me. “Go for it, I’ll look into it all by myself.”

“Twilight, I didn’t mean that-” I couldn’t stop her before her form squeezed and she vanished.

———

“So… Miss Silvereye, it is such an honor to have you here on the Common Tongue.” Denise Common was bright-eyed and had a youth on her face that was rare in this city.

“Please, it’s an honor for me to be speaking to you, Ms. Commom. I’ve been… very interested in your unique approach to news and discourse — straight from the heart of the people.” I sat at ease with her. My father had done everything to get my name out there, except set me up with some honest people. From everything I looked at, Denise Common was a self-made reporter who worked for no corporation but instead painstakingly built her single-woman news blog against all odds.

“Oh, don’t you try to flatter me too hard.” Denise swept her hair back, seating herself with nervous poise. “But, off the record, I… genuinely am glad to know someone like you is in our police force. You’re a hope and inspiration to many of us, regardless of what the haters say.”

My lips stiffened. “I’m happy to hear that, but… you specialize in non-biased journalism, correct? So, let me hear those harsh, no bullshit, questions from you.”

Her eyes widened, and she let out a short chuckle. “Oh, that’s why you’re Silvereye. Alright, going on record now. Let’s start: So, Miss Ulrich, care to share with the people what Silvereye means to you?”

What… Silvereye means to the people…

“That’s a loaded question.” My eyes drifted. “Truth, for one. I’ve always believed that bringing out the truth, no matter how bad it may be, is the only way forward. Aside from that, hope. In times like this, we all need to strive forward even amidst the unknowable threats around us… to not let ourselves lose to the ease of despair. We have to care. Because once you don’t… you’re liable to be careless, not just with yourself, but with others.”

“Wise words.” She smiled. “You mentioned ‘times like this’, could you elaborate on that?”

I nodded. “You’ve all heard me talk about… The Swarm. But I’m also referring to…”

I paused.

“Soul Killer?” She raised an eyebrow.

It felt weird talking about them with a civilian. The entire fact that the city knew about them and still moved on normally, as though nothing had changed both bothered me and… left some incomprehensible relief. “I know that, at times, the threat of mind-controlling flowers can seem almost… silly. But this is something you can’t be stupid about. Soul Killer is real, they’re dangerous and…”

Be the face of fear or hope.

“…I’ve seen them firsthand.” My throat dried out. I thought I was ready to know what to tell the people. “They’re a monster, willing to sacrifice anyone, from children to the elderly, for the sake of their goal in mutational research. This city must take the necessary precautions to prevent any more from falling to their schemes.”

Was I playing into SynTec’s hands, talking like this? I meant it, but-

“Some people have raised their concerns regarding these ‘necessary precautions’, namely, increased surveillance, mandatory Implant scans, tighter regulation on food, and the SIO’s ability to detain individuals based on suspicion. What would you say to those who feel their freedom is being infringed?”

I took a deep breath, speaking assuredly even as my mind came up with counter-arguments to what I was saying. “I understand the concern. I share it to an extent. I’ve never believed in punishing people for what they might do. But I also can’t ignore what I’ve seen — people transformed, turned against their will, and not even knowing it. When not just lives — but free will — is on the line, we can’t afford to be passive.”

Before she could open her mouth, I hurried to continue. “That said, these precautions must come with transparency and oversight. I can promise that on my end.”

She gave a thoughtful nod, tapping her temple before asking another question. “The city does need someone as level-headed as you spearheading this operation, but I have to ask… do you regret becoming the face of this fight?”

For some reason, that question froze me. It made me think uncomfortable thoughts; it made me doubt, and it left me… a tether I could have spoken honestly with. Instead, I hardened my voice. “Regret is a luxury. I’m here to fight, to serve, and to protect. If they find someone better than me for this job, I will gladly hand over the reins… but until then, I will remain ready and standing.”

An appreciative hum left her before Denise folded her arms and raised an appraising set of eyes on me. “Now, I’ve been holding myself back, and I’m sure you’ve been expecting this—”

Ah, of course, Dreadwire. Those questions were inevitable.

“—But an individual named Ripley Donovick has recently published a manifesto with the claim that he is Dreadwire; however, there has been debate given Dreadwire’s recent reappearance with you-”

A sharp sound left my mouth. “I’m sorry, what?”

She looked stunned before giving me a predatory smile. “It was just published an hour ago? I thought that someone with a known affiliation to him would have had prior… unless he did this without your knowing. Is it true that... Ripley Donovick is the man behind the Dreadwire mask?”

“Denise…” I slowed my breathing forcibly. “I… can I see this manifesto?”

Why hadn’t Twilight contacted me? Or Starlight? Denise looked at me with bizarre stillness before nodding as she slid a tablet from her purse and quickly found the video.

And there he was, the same Ripley I saw breaking out two Muramasa Black Dragons. White hair, a mask on his lower jaw that didn’t move as he spoke, and he stood in a dark room with barely any lighting… but those eyes were clear. Pin-drops of white surrounded in an inky black mass of steel, just like how Lune had described him.

“Greetings.” He said slowly, as though the word was meant to devour the attention of others. “This might come as a surprise to many of you, especially given my long-standing lack of activity, being disturbed by my recent sighting with Silvereye yesterday, but I have decided it is time for me to speak for myself. I’m ready to reveal my intentions, New California.”

At once, four arachnid limbs struck out from his back, black steel and hints of… an ink-like substance pulsing through them. “As some of you have already deduced, I am Dreadwire. But little is known of who I am beneath that mask I wore… the truth is that I am Ripley Donovick. Once, I was Dreadwire for a simple reason. To save my mother, Isabel Gravas-Donovick, from her ailing health. Despite my attempts to do all I could for her, she has since passed. Now, I have allowed information about me to be available on the Net, for I no longer need to hide who I am. Files from the late Special Investigator Sabrina Thraum, specifically.”

He let a beat of silence pass as he stared at the camera, no clear emotion in those eyes.

“I will leave this message short and succinct. Your city has failed you, just as it has failed me. Some believe they can change it from within, but I fear it is they who often find themselves changed. Others have abandoned hope, given in to appeasing their own desires at the expense of others. Once, I was of that latter.”

“But…” His head tilted lower just a tiny bit, as though in melancholy thinking. “I have since abandoned such a pattern of thought. Given what I know of the buried skeletons within our city’s governance, of their crimes, of their negligence to the people, I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer act within the shadows. From now on, expect to see me as who I am, a man once shattered and reforged by the iron will that guides me. I am a Shard Operator, and I fix things. I develop solutions, I increment upon revolution, and I forge from what others deem scraps.”

“And this city will be rebuilt from this rubble left by the exploitation of crime and corporate greed .” A stern tone settled in his voice. “What if I told you that your government intends to weaponise death? That your incompetent mayor allows himself to take orders from a criminal arms dealer? That this Soul Killer was once a police informant? That, my dear friend, Silvereye, is fighting a solitary war to correct mistakes made by those she works for. That, for too long, we have let our weakest, our most damned and vulnerable, bear the consequences of their freedom to be gluttonous, cruel, and ignoble.”

He cupped his hands, his Arachnodyne slowly curving back into him as the mask on his face slowly… dissolved. Ripley spoke from a lower jaw made of black steel, as golden veins brightened along his right arm — so different from how I knew him.

“The truth is, I think many of you wouldn’t be surprised. But you will be complacent. Why would you be anything but? This is our norm… yet I will not stand it any longer. And I invite those of you who share my belief. Those who have suffered for no reason other than the unfortunate circumstances in which they were born.” He revealed in his hands a Bronze BUG, but something slithered from that Gold pulsing in his arm, and the surface of the sphere began to melt and crack away…

…peeling to reveal Silver underneath it. “And I will give you the strength to fight back. A platform where your actions can have a lasting impact.”

“I know how difficult this City has made it to put your trust into another.” His voice took an almost warm tone. “But I ask it, regardless. To believe once more that one such as I can handle this.”

His mask fused back into place as black sparks crackled out of his arms to peel at the Silver and reveal the faint hint of Gold. “That I will unravel this Web of Lies.”

The BUG shattered into sparks as he squeezed his hand into a fist.

“That I am The Consequence you have been hoping for.”

The charged air of his words began to settle with silence, as he let his hand drop and looked at us one last time.

“Thank you for your time, New California. I have said what I needed to say. Now I will do what I need to do.”

The video stopped, and I was shocked that I hadn’t had my contacts blown up by it, yet. There were only a couple thousand views, and it had just been posted, but something like this would… blow up. It was inevitable.

“Miss… Ulrich? You’re looking quite… stunned. Was all that true? Was that actually Dreadwire?”

It was inevitable. Especially when I couldn’t hold back my next two words.

“That’s him.”

---

I lied. I call this arc 'The Dark Web'... it's time for a revolution.