Thunder and Webs C123 [Gold]

Ripley deals with the consequences of killing a nobody from his past, as he searches for their orphaned daughter.

This chapter, like I said in the last one... is dark.

Chapter 123: This is what you did.

February 18th

8:44 PM

Ripley

“Give it time, Rip. I’m pretty sure we can move Alice on our own once we know we’re not tipping any dominoes.” Elsa put her palm on my chest, eyes wide with apprehension. “You’re not going to make things better for her by rushing in; this residential complex she lives in was Muramasa-owned… who knows whose got their hands on it now.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I took her hand on my chest and gently moved it away. “You said Daylight’s taking profiles, who is it so far…”

She stayed silent, her lower lip caught in her teeth and her eyes averting mine. She was hiding something.

“Who is it?”

“Snake Fangs.” She admitted.

“Again…?” My claws itched, my breath hammering out. “Then… fuck, don’t tell me…”

“The club in that building, it’s likely using your Matrix.” She said, her hand stuttering in the air. “Truth is, after Snake Fangs got nearly destroyed, that was one of the very first pieces they began selling out to keep afloat. You made the Toxin Club popular, Rip…”

A scream died in my mouth. “Anything I can punch, El?”

Her eyes glinted scarlet, and she walked towards me with a playful stride to her hips as her hands presented herself. Midnight licked her lips. “Me.”

“Dammit, Midnight!” My hands pinned hers up, claws itching out as I yelled on top of her face. “Now’s not the fucking time!”

“Fuck… you’re hot like this.” She smiled, before her face tensed as violet regained control in her gaze. Elsa stammered, forearms struggling in my grip. “Rip… you… what’s gotten into you?”

“The Mayor and Brian Ulrich visited me today.” I said lowly, before letting go of her arms.

“What?!” She grabbed my arms this time. “Today?!”

“Midnight didn’t tell you?” I realized. “Ah, so she did take my warning well.”

“You knew about… oh Founder, Mid… what did you do?” One of her eyes turned scarlet as I assumed they were having some mental dialogue with each other. I took it as a moment to step back and put two Datacubes on the table.

“They offered me deals, both as Dreadwire and Ripley Donovick. Either I join SynTec or the city government – which might as well be SynTec.” I tapped the table once more, turning around to leave.

She flicked out of her mental talk with herself and grasped for my arm. “Wait, where are you going?! Shouldn’t we talk about this?”

“What’s there to talk about?” I shrugged. “Either we take the deal, or we don’t… if we don’t, won’t take long for SynTec to come knocking more aggressively.”

“But… they wouldn’t. Not if I’m here for you.” She rubbed her thumb on my bicep. “I’m here for you, Rip.”

“I know, El.” My gaze was locked on the door. “I can’t waste time, I’ll be leaving.”

“Wait!” She moved ahead of me, a flush of worry in her cheeks. “Just… take Daylight with you!”

“…fine.” I conceded.

She nodded, letting go off me but not keeping her eyes off my face. Just as I reached the door handle, she spoke. “Do you love me, Ripley?”

I sucked in some air, and let it back out. “I do, El.”

“I love you.” She said it insistently. “I really love you, Rip. You’re the only good thing in my life.”

If my hands had skin on them, they’d be sweating as I opened the door and gave one final glance to her with a nod. “I feel the same.”

Outside, my steps carried me to the elevator until I felt Daylight’s presence in my skull. I hadn’t given myself a full dose of the Nul-Serum, its effects weren’t as prominent nor would last as long, so I was about as powerful as a Tier I Adapter, but that was plenty for now.

Still, if this place was owned by the Snake Fangs, they could recognize me. I reached for my hair, messing it up a bit and turning it to an ashy white before adjusting my eye color to a red.

“Ooh, you trying to look like Crimson Souls?” Daylight wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

I chewed on my sigh. “This is the cover we gave to Albel Tomb.”

“Oooh, you remembered!” She stood on her tippy toes and kissed my cheek. “Sooo, been a while since we did a mission together!”

“You’re right, Day. It has been a while…” I pat her head, not quite meeting her eyes. She beamed and pushed her head into my hand.

Then she spoke words I didn’t quite expect. “You know, it’s okay if you don’t love us Ripley! I’m perfectly happy just loving you back!”

“That… that’s nice of you to say, Day… but I do… I do love you.” I took my hand off her head as the elevator dinged open. She took my hand and led me to my bike, her digital warmth slipping behind me as she tied her hands around my waist and put her head on my back.

“Mmm… that makes me happy, even if it’s a lie.” She giggled. “You could tell me anything and I’ll be happy, Rip.”

“It’s not…” I wasn’t sure what I was thinking anymore. “I’m just overwhelmed, Day…”

I bit my lip, feeling something was off. “You’re different. Not as nuanced.”

“Elsa reset me!” Daylight chuckled.

“She did?”

“Yeah… so right now, I’m 100% pure joy!”

It didn’t take me long to come up with a reason why she did that. “She used you to access the Dogwhistler Core, didn’t she? You got too damaged…”

“What?” She suddenly grew nervous behind. “Okay fine, yes, she did, but you can’t tell her I told you!”

“What did the two of you do?” My bike sped up with racing heart.

“Made a few echoes…” She quietly admitted. “To look at the Snake Fangs, we were checking if we could do anything to stop them from using your Matrix without… you getting involved.”

My bike slowed down. “I appreciate the gesture, but…”

I swallowed under my helmet. “It’s the consequences of my actions… it’s my responsibility.”

Saying what I needed to, I drove to the location.

—––

10:23 PM

It wasn’t long before I arrived at the seedy residential complex. The entire place seemed to have been renovated into one big institute of debauchery. Walking into the lobby, I saw drugged out people slumped on the wall, bodies dancing under holographic strobe lights, and strangest of all… an old lady surrounded by a few shirtless men.

I faintly recognized her; she was one of the star patrons of the Toxin Club back in the day. Small-statured, wrinkled, and possessing a singular, thin, golden left arm. Little Mama. She put many of her daughters to work in the club, and in exchange… her desires came true.

Meeting her gaze under my shifted appearance, I strode over with no fear.

There wasn’t any place for fear in my gut, not with the disgust that had crammed through every bone and muscle in my body. But my steps were interrupted when a delicate hand placed over my chest and shoulders, and a young woman in an outfit that barely concealed her body sank closer to me. “Now, how could a handsome thing like you head straight for her, when there’s a beautiful woman like me standing right here.”

My eyes scanned over her. She wasn’t Alice… but my teeth clenched. She was just sixteen. 

Seeing her, my stomach turned inside-out as I knew what Alice was doing to survive ever since I killed her mother.

“What’s with the silent treatment, Mister?” She pouted, her Bioshard registering her name as Sophia.

I didn’t want to take a good look at her, so I just whispered. “I’d like to speak to Little Mama.”

“Mmmm, I don’t know about that, but I’m sure if you showed me a good time… I could put in a nice word for you.” Her nails grazed up my arm and onto my neck. “Come on, baby. Why so silent?”

“If I pay you…” as I said those sad words, I could feel the desperation pounding in her pulse, “can you tell me where Alice is?”

“Alice?”

“Yes, Sophia.” I looked down into her eyes, seeing a pinch of fear build up in them as I spoke her name before she ever said it.

She looked hung up on what to say, the dread palpable in her body – to save herself, or put another at risk. But this world was cruel, and she was hurt by it, it made me sad as she opened her mouth and shrugged impassionately to sell out a fellow woman failed by society to me – a stranger, and strangers always had bad intentions when they came to places like this. “Alice is… busy with another customer…”

I could decipher that she wasn’t lying, I hated that.

“I want to see her now.” I urged, and she took a wary look towards me, before it shifted to Little Mama for help.

The old woman’s nose crinkled in distaste as she looked on my form, waving her hand at Sophia who tightened her grip on my arm as she pulled me towards the pimp.

“What is it you want?” Little Mama said with a bite in her tone.

“I want to see-”

“Alice, yes.” She tapped her ear. “May be old, but ears’ good. Why Alice?”

I didn’t need to give her any reason, other that a reason to have some alone time. Reaching into a compartment on my forearm, I procured two Bronze Shards and firmly slid them on the table. “I want her for a week.”

“Make it four.” She hissed.

I slid her the other two without negotiation. She had a smug grin on her as she raised her finger again. “Another one to compensate her current client for this… interruption.”

I paid another Bronze, that was 25,000 Shardyne now. She raised an eyebrow, laughing to herself. “My, my… what has dear Alice down to acquire such… well-endowed clientele?”

“That’s none of your business.” I pulled myself back from shouting at her, I just wanted to take Alice far away from a place like this.

“Hmm, but I’ll be needing an insurance policy.” Little Mama tapped her finger on the five Bronze Shards. “Double it.”

I paid with a BUG of the same Grade. She blinked in surprise, before a cruel grin lifted on her face. “Hm, I hope you’ll be a repeat customer… just return her with a pulse. Do you have a name?”

“None that concerns you.” My eyes narrowed on her, I should kill someone like her… but all around I saw guards with weapons in their arms, I saw Sophia’s nails, the faintest hint of Shardware in her fingers ready to lash out at me. I felt Little Mama’s Warpcode fluttering through the air, ready to turn her ‘daughter’s’ or employees against me at any moment.

Because they all had a Personality Matrix, one I’d coded so long ago.

But I didn’t show anger, not that I wasn’t feeling it… rather, that anger tempered my behavior in a forge of blistering heat until all that remained was a blade.

Sophia led me to Alice’s room, and I saw an old man fixing up his uniform – a police uniform – as he exited it. He gave me a nasty glare as I passed by him.

“Here you go… um… take good care of her.” Sophia smiled awkwardly, but I held her arm gently to stop her from leaving. I passed her two Bronze Shards, my voice twisted in both regret and resolve. “Don’t let her know you have this…”

She took a fearful look at the valuable metal, before pushing it back into my hands. Tears pricked her eyes as her voice wavered with dread. “She’ll know, she always does…”

Before I could say or do anything, she turned around and walked away. How many young women like her were trapped here? I’d even seen boys, outfitted with guns, some dressed just as provocatively.

Swallowing back my disgust, I opened the door. Alice was sitting on a bed, her back turned to me and topless as she hastily put a shirt on. I looked away, but she heard my entry and her voice came teasingly. “So, I heard you’re taking me out on a date, mister?”

“Just… let’s get out of here.”

“Mmmm… so eager, aren’t you?” She grabbed a bag, walking over to me and taking my hand in hers. She was dressed in a crop top and skirt, both too small and too revealing for someone of her age to wear, blonde hair fell over her face that had faint smears of makeup. 

Behind her, the bed was a mess…

My hand clutched hers, disgust crawling in my bones as I took her out of her room. A taxi was already called.

She pouted. “Aw, I thought you’d have a nice car for us to drive in.”

“Just get in.” I urged, not sure what to say. This entire thing made me feel…

I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, so I forced myself to think – I’d gotten her out of the initial danger, so my finger exposed a needle and stabbed the remaining contents of a Nul-Serum into my neck. She winced, a growing sight of worry that I’d just taken drugs but I shook my head. “It’s just medicine, nothing… nothing to worry about. Really. I’m no addict.”

And yet, I could never bring myself to completely turn off the Personality Matrix. That self-loathing turned to drive as I got in the car and tinkered with the settings.

Personality Matrix Output: 0%

My head twisted to the memories of that night when I’d first unlocked Data Mimicry and was exposed to the raw Warpcode of another’s Implant. When I felt it guide my thoughts and control me, leading me to follow a woman into an alley where she bought ‘Embrance from Alice’s mother. That same drug which led to my father’s death. And her mother was arguably as much of a victim.

She took a cautious look at me, and I felt scores of guilt and empathy ravage my soul as I looked at her youthful face, putting on an air of confidence despite the depravity of this ordeal. She’d just gotten in a car with a stranger, sold herself out for a week, and had no choice in the matter.

But those eyes, green and dilated told me everything when she scooted nearer and sat on my lap. All that fear was erased so she could be a product. “Is this your first time, Mister? Are you sick, and trying to have some fun while you can? I’ll make it good for you, I promise.”

“I…” My breathing deepened as I looked into those eyes that weren’t allowed to feel the fear, the disgust, or the hope that a child like her should have. “I’m a friend of your mother’s.”

The lie struck her like a knife, her eyes unfocused as she stared at me in silence for a moment before smirking. “Oh, you’re such a naughty man! Hmm, did you come over once? I don’t remember you, did you think I was cute and wanted to check up on me?”

“Alice… get off my lap.” I put my arm on her waist and gently pushed her off, she yelped despite my care, and playfully swatted my arm.

“Hey, if you’re going to be rough on me, at least tell me first!” Her nails scraped my arm, and I couldn’t help but see that her fingers were cybernetic.

A girl her age shouldn’t be cleaving their flesh away, I doubt it was even her choice. Then again, back when I worked with Shaun… how many of my ‘clients’ did have a choice.

The tech on her was all familiar, cheap, and built for pleasure. While I doubted her Personality Matrix was as extensive as the one I used in The Toxin Club, it likely moulded her to be… willing if her client wanted that. Or non-willing.

Blades crawled through my gut.

“Alice…” There was so much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to change. In the end, all I could do was stare at the consequences of me orphaning her. Her bright smile and laugh should be shared with friends, not on teasing people like me.

Then my eye trailed up her forearm, and my breath hitched at the tattoo glitching just below her skin. Black and gold – it was a Dreadwire mask.

“Why… why do you have that tattoo?” I clenched my fists.

She slid her delicate fingers over the contours of my mask and the golden pattern within, her pout wistful and teasing. “Why? Is a girl like me not supposed to have a tattoo? Or do you not like Dreadwire?”

I looked away, ashamed at the irony of this. “You shouldn’t… why him? Why not someone like Silvereye? Dreadwire hasn’t been doing shit for the last few months, anyway.”

“Silvereye?” She scoffed as though offended, all playfulness suddenly erased by teenage rebellion. “Why would I want that bitchy princess on my skin? She hasn’t done shit for this city?! All she does is talk-talk-talk on the Net about that Soul Killer dude, who hasn’t even been seen in this city other than those supposed raids happening? And where are they happening? Elderly centers, apartments, factories, schools? You know what I think? It’s all just a fucking ploy from the police to investigate whoever they want without any warrants.”

That was true. I’d been keeping up with the activities and… well, with the nature of Soul Killer’s hivemind, Diana’s team was given special authorities to not require warrants to investigate.

“And,” she continued, crossing her arms as she traced her tattoo of mask, “sure, Dreadwire hasn’t been seen in the city lately, but c’mon?! When guys like him go into hiding its because they’re planning something big! He doesn’t need to go on Holovision and pander to people about the Swarm or other shit, he just appears and gets things done. Actions speak louder than words, don’t you know?”

“Dreadwire… he isn’t all that.” Why was I talking about this? I needed to help her.

“You act like you know him personally.” She scoffed, a teasing smile on her face. “Say what, get me an autograph… and I’ll let you do whatever you want to me. Full access before I head back.”

I clenched my fists. “You’re not going back to that place.”

She paled, sliding away as she reached for her purse.

“I didn’t mean that as a threat.” I corrected myself. “I… I gave them a Bronze BUG as insurance that I’d return you. They can keep it, you’ll be living a proper life now.”

“Is this a joke?” She looked at the car door, but then her eyes dilated and she turned to me. “Oh, mister, you’re so funny. But I like the work I do, they treat me well there.”

“Show me your Frame.” I asked, and she had a worried look on her face. I prayed that she had the self-preservation instinct to reject me… but I could see it in the way her shoulders fell as she scooted back to my side. She was used to letting others have their way with her.

I placed my claws against the Neuroframe that shouldn’t even be installed on a woman of her age, and connected to it — and the Iron Implant within. Her memories came slowly, a steady tide of pain masked by the Matrix… that had blended in with the sole Feature in her mind. Psyche.

As the Personality Matrix turned off, I saw what I had done to her.

She hadn’t been Implanted when I killed her mother last June. The memories then were hazy, all I saw was her mother’s boyfriend and… the putrid things he wanted to do to her now that her mother was dead and she had to rely on him. I felt her hatred for him boil in my heart until she escaped onto the streets, hungry and alone and vulnerable. She looked for anyone who could take care of her, searching on the Net for havens in the city for people like her.

She tried, at first, to hope in the city’s limited relief. She’d been put on waitlists as she hungered in the streets, as she was forced to do whatever it took to survive. At times, she’d even… hurt herself just to escape her reality.

I felt pain on my legs, mirroring her scars.

Until, eventually, her desperation took her to the only people who’d accept those like her. The gangs. She tried to be smart, to not be her mother, but what else could she do? Los Diablos were all too eager to take her in, but their dissolving leadership led her to be sold like produce to Little Mama, where she was outfitted with an Implant and a Personality Editor.

Now, the memories were clear — cruel, and depraved of all humanity. But with the little program in her head, she accepted everything they did to her.

She was only fourteen.

I cut away, feeling her trembling in my hand as a weak voice crawled from her throat. “Why… why would you make me remember all that?”

“Alice-” words died in my dry throat, but she pushed away from me to shrink against the car door.

Tears flooded her eyes. Every drop cutting into my soul as I sought for anything to make up for this.

“Is this what you’re into?” Her voice wavered between clenched teeth. “You want me to be some broken little thing to enjoy? You’re not the first, do your worst!”

“Alice…” My eyes shut tight, my mind twisting. If I hadn’t dosed myself, I didn’t want to know what updates I would have had to make me okay with all of this. “I want to help you.”

“You can’t help me…” She gave a brazen laugh as I saw her sliding the controls of her Personality Matrix back up. I wanted to stop her. 

But I felt like such a hypocrite. She gasped in relief as her eyes closed and the Matrix hid those memories in the back of her mind. And all at once, it was like she had no pain at all.

I stayed quiet, I needed to get her to trust me, to… give her the chance to heal from all of this. “Tell me more about Dreadwire? Why do you look up to him?”

She had a small smile on her face, despite all the make-up and the way she dressed, it was a remarkably childish and innocent expression. “He’s… cool. He gives shit to the corporations, he deals with criminals and… I mean, he’s free.”

“Free?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she had a smile on her face, “he soars in the sky, whether day or night and does what he needs to do. Doesn’t take shit from anyone. You know, some of the visitors I really hate despise the guy.”

“The Snake Fangs?” I guessed, frowning.

“Yeah,” she had a surprised look on her face, “they… they’re bad men. But I can deal with them. Just some days, you know, I wish I could… get revenge. Not have to deal with any of this stuff. I wish that sometimes… the bad people got what they deserved.”

“Their consequence.” I muttered under my breath. “Why do you think Dreadwire can do that?”

“Because…” She looked back down on her tattoo, “I dunno, but if anyone could, it would be him.”

“Silvereye could-” I cut myself off seeing the scowl grow on her face. “I mean… this is a whole lot you’re putting on a guy whose motives aren’t even known.”

“We know his motives.” She said stubbornly. “Just look at his track record! If you look in the Abyss you’ll see that pattern. He started from practically nothing, but that didn’t stop him from pissing off all four gangs — even taking down some big names in them! Next thing you know, he’s taking the piss out of Yuzhou with The R0N1N and Iron Devil! And he can’t be that bad of a guy, otherwise he wouldn’t have saved people from those Soul Killer MALs!”

“I thought you said they weren’t a threat?”

“They…” She had some teenage rebellion in her as she pouted. “They aren’t as big of a threat as that silver-wigged princess claims.”

“You think Diana’s wearing a wig?” I chuckled at the absurdity of it. It was startling for me to realize just how much we were known… but how little the public really knew about us.

“Either that, or she consumed a lot of cosmetic mutagen.” Alice grumbled. “In fact, I bet her injuries aren’t even that bad! Like, she’s the daughter of a mayor-candidate! Surely they’ve done whatever fancy procedures they have to cure her, it’s all just for gaining sympathy and I’m not falling for it!”

“You really don’t like her.” I whispered, gazing out onto the street where I saw a holographic billboard with Diana’s face on it. She was posing with a steady grin as she held a rifle, her Silvereye suit glowing as metallic wings expanded from her back.

It read: Her Lightning Strikes So Your Voice Can Thunder, Fight For This City Now By Joining The Police.

Elsewhere, another billboard had a terrifying glow of crimson eyes with white pupils.

Soul Killer lurks and corrupts the mind. If you notice inconsistencies in the behavior of those around you, don’t wait. Report them now and keep this city safe.

I couldn’t deny… the unease settling in me. And slowly some things came together as I saw Alice scoff at the sign. The reasons why Soul Killer was now made public… it was exactly what Diana had wanted, yes, but at the same time…

They were the exact type of threat that government and corporations needed to exert even more control over this city. A threat that lurked in the mind, one that ‘for the sake of this city’s security’ required them to bend the laws and delve into the deepest corners of a person’s autonomy. Homes, institutes and work places would be raided, but how many of them would be genuine threats of The Revenant? And how many of them would only be lies told by the police and corporations to have their targets arrested?

Soul Killer went from a threat of losing control, to a tool of gaining it.

All because of Skeleton and SynTec.

“You okay, mister?” Alice poked my arm. “You’re a lot more serious than most of my clients.”

“I’m not your client.” I shook my head. “But I am… going to be what you need to live a genuine life. No jokes. No lies. I… want to give you a chance to fix your future.”

Her gaze remained hesitant to believe me even as we stopped at our destination. I sighed at my own words as I led her into the building, down the elevator and into the apartment.

My apartment. She gazed with surprise at the state of the place, I hadn’t been back since my mother passed, but it was the safest place I knew for her. There were countermeasures here to protect her. Ever since Skeleton visited without notice, I’d made sure that this entire building was under my watch and control at a moment’s notice.

She stopped at the wall of photographs of me and my family. “Whose apartment is this?”

“Mine.” I said quietly. “But I haven’t visited in a while.”

I saw her confusion, my appearance was twisted so I slowly let it recede as my hair turned black again and my facial structure realigned. “My name is Ripley Donovick…”

“Oh… okay.”

But that wasn’t what she needed to hear, what she needed to see. I felt fear grip my heart, I didn’t want to tell her the truth of what happened to her mother. I wanted to give her hope.

Maybe that was why I commanded the drizzle of Warp Energy in my control to my back, and let the Arachnodyne emerge through my clothes. She took a step back, disbelief and awe warring inside her gaze as one jet-black arachnid limb reached out to her.

“I’m also Dreadwire.” I said quietly, shame creeping into my voice.

“I don’t believe you.” She shook her head. “Why would…”

“That BUG I paid to free you is worth nothing compared to you, Alice.” I approached her, feeling dirty but stuffing it all away to be what she needed in this moment. “And maybe, a small part of me does want to be all those things you think I am.”

She wordlessly shivered, not from fear, but from… reverence. She looked at me like I was a miracle.

“This can’t be real.” Even with a Personality Editor in her head, tears rolled down her face from the intensity of her emotions.

Silently, I picked up her hand with one Arachnodyne limb to let her feel its solidity in reality, her fingers traced the steel like it was holy, flinching back when it lingered for too long. I laughed at the innocent awe in her face. “I know its difficult to believe, but…”

I looked around, deciding to show off a little as I sent a command to my wardrobe to open and shot a claw-tip out to retrieve the content inside. My mask landed in my clutches, and she saw the reflection of what had been etched on her skin. “Wanna wear it?”

“Wear…” She blinked herself out of a daze, but I just stepped forward and tucked her hair so the mask could wrap around and fit onto her skull.

She looked into a mirror, voice quiet as she registered what was happening. “You’re really Dreadwire?”

“Unfortunately, yeah. I guess I’m a little lamer than you thought.” I sat down on my bed. “But… you know, I’m also way more badass than anything the media knows about me.”

I patted the space next to me, she hesitantly but quickly sat down.

“Ask away.” I shrugged, smiling at her.

——— 

Hours had passed as she asked me about the nitty-gritty of the Dreadwire life, I was… honest about most parts. She’d been disbelieving at first until I caved in and showed footage from the Yuzhou heist, she wanted to know my tech, my greatest feats… my motives.

“It was her.” I pointed to a picture of a younger me besides an older woman. “My mother.”

Alice almost frowned, but didn’t quite as memories in her mind muted. “What happened to her?”

I looked away, but gave the honest answer. “Last two months, I was… working on a cure for her. She was sick, really sick. It cost me a lot of money, a lot of friends… but even that wasn’t enough for her.”

Alice gazed up to the ceiling, she’d been lying in my bed for a while, sleepiness and exhaustion overtaking her excitement. Slowly, she spoke again. “I’m… sorry for you loss. My… my mother wasn’t a good person either, but she, when she died… I couldn’t believe it and… I was both so relieved and in so much pain.”

I let one Arachnid limb hold her hand, she tightened her grip. “Who were you… before Dreadwire?”

I told her that tale, some sanitized version of it. Life with the Snake Fangs, my mother’s illness… the fortunate destruction of the Toxin Club from the Gold MALignant and how Diana and I had killed it to receive the Implants. She was so… enraptured by it.

“You’re… even cooler than I thought you were.” She giggled sleepily. “I mean, know that I know… why you fought, you’re everything I thought you were and more.”

“I’m nothing like…”

“And you’re remarkably an idiot.” She laughed. “Plus, you’re cute.”

“Please, don’t say that about me.” I warned. “I have a girlfriend and she’s very jealous… besides you, you’re not going back to that life. I’m an uncle, or… father-figure, or older brother to you. Okay?”

“Aw, I was really hoping to call you-”

“Don’t finish that sentence.” I snapped, but with a grin before I gave her hand an honest touch. “You’re safe here, I’ll protect you.”

Tears wet her eyes for the umpteenth time today, and she quietly sobbed. “Thank you.”

I let her cry as much as she needed, until she finally found the strength to ask me another question. “What will you do now?”

“I… have some complications to work on with Diana. With Silvereye. Long story short of it is… I burned down some bridges while working to cure my mother. She was one of them and… we came to an agreement of sorts that I’d stop being Dreadwire until she needed me.”

“Until she needs you?” Alice gave a defiant look. “This city needs you. Not her.”

“Maybe so, but she is helping people…” I spoke with my honest belief. “When the time is right, and I know you’re safe, I’ll see what I can do about moving you to one of her facilities. It’ll have the resources to get you-”

“I don’t want that.” She shook her head, sitting upright. “I want to… to help you. To… work with you, not like as a mercenary or anything, but I wouldn’t mind… oh! I could be your publicist!”

She had a hopeful smile on her face, and I entertained her for this moment. “We’ll see, but… I have someplace to go right now. We’ll talk tomorrow morning, alright? Sleep well and call me if you need anything.”

She gave a sad nod to my news of departure, reluctantly letting go. The Arachnodyne slipped back in as I approached the door, but I turned back to her with a few words I needed to say.

“This probably goes without saying, Alice… but… all this is a secret. Don’t go sharing it on the Net, please?”

“Yeah, I’m not an idiot!” She giggled, waving me off as she pulled the blanket on.

As I opened the door, her voice came back in a soft sound. “And… thank you. Mr. Donovick.”

“Just call me Ripley… and thank you, Alice.” I smiled softly at her.

“For what?”

“For giving me… direction. Have a good night.” I opened the door, trailing back up to my bike in the parking as I responded to a message from Elsa.

[Elsa <3: How’d everything go?]

[I feel like shit, but I got her out of there. She’s resting at my place, got somewhere else to go tonight, I’ll tell you more in the morning.]

I then swiped away, scrolling through my contacts until… I found her. She picked up in seconds.

Twilight’s voice crackled into my ear. “Oh, Ripley?! It’s great to hear from you, I- I’m really happy you called. How’re you doing?”

“Twi… I’m sorry. Sorry for… being avoidant.” I muttered as she slowly began to appear in front of my eyes. Her Avatar looked different. For one, she wore a crisp business suit, and her hair was cropped into a shorter bob, also dyed differently. It was no longer a split between black and white, but instead black by the roots while slowly shifting in gradient to be white by the ends.

“No, it’s fine. Starlight’s been keeping me updated. I’m glad you’re doing well…” She stepped closer, almost as though she’d put her hands on me, but then hesitated. She wasn’t my girlfriend anymore.

I hugged her anyway, using what little Gold I could control. “It’s been… really shitty. I won’t lie.”

“I can’t imagine, Rip… I’m here for you.” She rubbed my back, digital warmth seeping in. “Do you want to talk?”

“I do, but… in person. Starlight didn’t tell you what happened earlier today, right?”

Her eyes widened in concern. “Did something happen?”

“Diana’s dad came to visit me…” I gritted. “And the Mayor.”

“Fuck.” Twilight hissed. “He’s been around, been making things really difficult for Diana. What happened?”

“Offered me… deals of employment. But… that’s not the only thing I want to talk about with Diana.”

Twilight paled. “Oh, I’ll set up a meeting.”

“No, I need to do it… now.” I couldn’t waste any time, not with the threat behind the Mayor’s words. “Just… tell me, where are you guys?”

“I don’t think now’s the best time.” Twilight clenched her fists. “Um, but if this can’t wait… we’re at the Hellfire Club.”

“Hellfire?” I supposed I had another reason to go there. I was to check up on the Heart Seeker Project. 

I took a deep breath. “Alright, I’m on my way.”

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Next chapter, we switch over to Diana's POV. But we won't see her and Ripley meet just yet.

Also, one of the things I really wanted to play around with in Act 3 was to see how the City and general public respond to Dreadwire and Silvereye. You saw this a bit in the last chapter of Act 2. And again, we get to see it in Alice, here. I do a similar thing with Soul Killer, in which I can shamelessly admit I was very inspired by world events.