Shadowtask EP

#ENTRYSIX

It’s been awhile since my last entry, since then a lot has happened. Currently I’m in Solai, that’s the name of the city I‘ve been led to. After making my way towards that skyscraper I received another message in my helmet, it was easy to make out what was being said. I heard a voice say “look in front of you”, when I looked up I saw a man standing in front of me peering out from underneath a hooded jacket in an alleyway. We locked eyes and with a grin he nodded his head and yelled “hey you!” before quickly turning around and disappearing into the darkness. I left my bike behind and chased this guy on foot, trying to keep track of him until I reached a high rise apartment building on the edge of the city centre. I watched as he began scaling the walls on the outside of the building like some kind of freeclimber, and I had no choice but to enter the complex to try and cut him off from the inside. I entered the building and found nothing but a single corridor leading up to a single elevator. I entered the elevator and noticed it had no controls or floor indicators inside, I waited anxiously until suddenly the elevator began moving on its own. I ascended for a while until the elevator doors opened into a huge open plan area with panoramic views of the city spanning the entire top floor of the building. It was a penthouse apartment with no furniture, although built right in the centre of the room was a myriad of technology in a U shape, hundreds of cables trailed along the floor leading to what looked like a control centre made up of all kinds of computer based technology. As I panned my eyes around the room, stood waiting for me in the corner were four people, one of them was the guy I had followed here. They were expecting me.

Data introduced himself first as the self proclaimed ‘tech guy’ of the group. He told me that the neon tower of technology sat in the centre of the room was built by him and is the control centre from where he organises and plans takedowns, infiltrations, and other missions in high crime areas. He told me that together the three other members and himself form a highly skilled team known as ‘Shadowtask’, and that their purpose is to shut down one of the biggest and supposedly most corrupt companies in Solai, Arketeq.

I asked him to tell me more about Arketeq and why Shadowtask plans on shutting it down. He explained that Arketeq is a technology company with its headquarters situated in the heart of Solai. Over the last 5 years, it’s grown to be one of the most influential and powerful companies in the entire world. They specialize in developing and building machines with highly advanced Artificial Intelligence. This technology is used just about everywhere, every car, train, bus, elevator, mobile phone and such is likely monitored and controlled by Arketeq. Several people within the company have chosen to exploit this technology in order to control and manipulate the entire city. Arketeq’s multiple involvements in illegal activity within Solai include paying gangs to cause chaos; bribing law enforcement; and framing any witnesses for the crimes committed. The purpose of these actions is currently not known, but the person behind Shadowtask is confident that there is a very strong motive. 12 months ago Data, Caine and Clova received an anonymous message from someone and the three of them were led here to this building. After being told the same thing Data just shared with me they were instructed to break Locke out of a maximum security prison in Solai in an effort to build a team of people capable of bringing Arketeq down for good.



I tried to digest everything Data had told me, eager to speak Caine introduced himself; Leaning against the wall peering from underneath his hood he stood at the back of the room with his arms folded. Pulsing with a deep red glow his left arm looked completely bionic, rolling his sleeve up he sneered and told me his name is Caine but that I should refer to him as ‘Metal’. He said he was surprised I could keep up with him, at which point I realised this was the guy that I chased here. He told me that both him and Locke are responsible for “taking care of business”, I didn’t understand what he meant, but sat in the corner of the room holding his weapon of choice the ex-convict Locke muttered “Nothing wrong with justice in the form of a baseball bat”. I understand now, Caine and Locke beat the living shit out of criminals and enjoy doing it. Caine seems to be the complete opposite to Locke who seemed more concerned with polishing his baseball bat than to even give a shit about introducing himself.

Clova introduced herself last, She told me she’s a scientist and the nurse responsible for taking care of the Shadowtask teams medical needs. She specialises in biomechanics and apparently has a lab here where she spends most of her time researching and building new technologies, though I’m yet to see this lab myself.

Clova asked me who I was, I told her that I don’t remember anything about my life. They looked confused as I told them the only memory I have is being mugged by a gang at a gas station and that someone called Rico was involved. They looked at each other in agreement as though they knew who I was talking about. Data said that Shadowtask were instructed to find me and that they have been following me ever since I left that gas station. Apparently the person who assembled Shadowtask knows who I am and needs my help taking down Arketeq, insisting that I am a crucial part of the solution to ending the corruption within this city for good. I keep asking to speak with this person and I’m told that in time I will, but first Shadowtask have to gain my trust…

For now all I can do is play ball until I can speak with the head of Shadowtask.

- PYLOT

VIEW THE JOURNAL ENTRY