6:05 am AFT ( Allied Federation Time )
Moskov Residence, Lowtown
Redemption City, Allied Federation
15 years after the collapse of Eclipse Laboratories
*beep~* *beep~*
The resonant beeping of a digital alarm rang through a dimly lit bedroom. A lone figure sleeping soundly to the humming of machinery outside fidgeted uncomfortably as the alarm disturbed his sleep.
“*sigh* Morning already?” A groggy voice asked.
Following the question, the alarm rested on the dresser flashed brightly as a hologram showcasing a tiny woman made of blue binary appeared.
Immediately upon being projected, the female figure took a formal stance with its hands behind its back as a monotone but sultry voice resonated from it.
“Good morning Riddick, it is indeed morning. I hope your sleep was satisfactory, would you like to see the report regarding your sleeping patterns this week?”
As the digital figure posed this question, the figure named Riddick rose out of bed and sat on the edge while stretching his arms. He had a piercing gray eyed gaze that almost seemed to shimmer under the dim light of the room.
His hair was roughly medium length and in an unkempt state after waking up. Wearing only a pair of boxers, his toned physique was apparent and added to what was already a great image of a growing young man.
“No thanks Zoe, just stop monitoring that altogether.”
“As you wish. Disabling sleep pattern reports. Would you like me to remind you of what you have for the day as you get ready?”
“Go ahead.”
As Riddick gave casual permission, he sat up from the bed, grabbed a towel and walked toward an open doorway leading to a shower. While in the shower, Zoe’s digital figure appeared above the sink just opposite the shower as she began to state what Riddick had for the day.
“You have three reminders set for today, two marked important and one marked ordinary. First task; earn 800 credits by 12:00 pm, second task; Meeting with Specs at 6:00pm behind Rotterway Game Plaza marked important and last task; Checking application status at 9:30 pm marked important .”
As the electronic voice hummed with words, Riddick listened while cleaning himself. Upon coming out he turned toward Zoe and nodded, “alright, let me know if any pinned contacts reach out to me. For now, keep my digital profile on do not disturb.”
“As you wish, implementing changes now.”
Saying nothing more, Riddick returned to his room where he quickly got dressed. He donned a red & black sports style hoodie with the emblem of the “Redemption City Crows” Metaverse Team.
Below, he wore simple black track pants and runners, a popular look for boys in their mid to late teens like him.
Riddick glanced at himself in the mirror, adjusting his hoodie before grabbing his smart watch and E-card. The room was adorned with posters of his favorite metaverse teams and a holographic display featuring hologram trophies.
Exiting his room, Riddick made his way down the narrow corridor of the Moskov Residence. The walls were worn and chipped, with dim and sometimes flickering lights visible in wall linings, evidence of a building that had seen better days.
As he entered the bustling city streets of Redemption City, Riddick felt a cool breeze brush past him. He looked upward and was greeted by the expansive views of skyscrapers, and flickering neon signs advertising everything from virtual reality arcades to underground cybernetic enhancements. People hurried past him, their faces masked by augmented reality visors projecting holographic displays.
Riddick was forced out of his momentary daze when a figure bumped into him unapologetically.
“Watch it you lower district bookie, some of us have actual jobs to do.” The figure angrily commented without halting his steps or even looking back at Riddick.
Riddick immediately frowned, his eyes going cold and his lips parting as he readied a reply. Before he could do or say anything though, his smart watch flashed as a notification popped up.
Looking at it, Riddick saw a large prompt rise up in holographic form. On the prompt, a blurry image of a figure was shown, along with the words “Bounty Active”.
Along with the prompt, a digital voice emerged in the background, similar in tone to Zoe.
“Following your preferences when you registered with us, this notification serves to tell you that an active bounty is currently in close proximity to you. Do you wish to partake?”
Riddick’s previous frown had now shifted into a small smile as he looked at the figure being shown more closely. He then immediately turned to look at the rushing figure who had just bumped into him and saw a strong resemblance.
‘What are the odds...’ Riddick quickly thought, having already reached a decision. Before giving his response though, he asked cautiously, “What’s the payout and threat level?”
The digital voice responded promptly, "The payout for this bounty is 10,000 credits, and the threat level is marked as Class D. Please note that engaging with the target may result in physical altercations and potential danger to your well-being. Our agency will not be held liable for any damage to you, anyone else or property. Do you wish to proceed?"
"Proceed," he confirmed with a resolute tone. The holographic prompt disappeared, and Riddick's smart watch transformed into a compact holographic interface displaying real-time data about the bounty target. With narrowed eyes, Riddick scanned the crowded streets, following the trail of the figure who had bumped into him.
He swiftly maneuvered through the hustle and bustle of the rather shabby area he was in, blending seamlessly into the flow of individuals as he waited to see if an opportunity would arise. But after nearly 30 minutes of tailing the target with no opportunity arising, Riddick grew impatient.
‘Something’s not right. Even if he hasn’t noticed me, he’s acting very nervous, maybe he’s expecting danger. This might be compromised contract, I knew the payout seemed too good to be true.’ As Riddick continued to follow the target and a steady distance, he felt the need to change his approach.
Riddick decided to activate a small, inconspicuous device on his smart watch. The device emitted a series of low-frequency sound waves, causing a temporary disruption in the augmented reality visors worn by the people around him. In the split second that their visors flickered, Riddick took advantage of the confusion and slipped into the nearest alleyway.
Now hidden from prying eyes, Riddick accessed the encrypted network of his agency. He initiated a search for any information regarding this particular bounty and the sudden change in circumstances.
As he waited for the search results to populate, his mind began to race with possibilities. Could it be that someone had leaked information about the bounty? Or was it possible that this target was more than what he seemed? Riddick's instincts told him there was more at play here and he didn’t want to needlessly risk his life.
Just as he was about to delve deeper into his investigation, a message from Zoe popped up on his smart watch.
"Riddick, I have detected an anomaly in the system. It appears that the bounty target's data has been tampered with."
“Tampered with? What do you mean tampered with?” A now very cautious Riddick questioned as he looked around more alertly.
“The agency’s original digital reference on this bounty has changed. Such an instance can only occur if there was an error in the system or-.”
“Or if the system was comprised.” Riddick finished Zoe’s words as his frown grew deeper.
“Precisely. Given normal agency protocol, all agents would have been informed of any errors or maintenance taking place within the system, be it large or small. That leaves you only one logical conclusion.” Zoe further clarified, receiving no objection from Riddick as he fully agreed by giving a slight nod.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“But what could be the reason for-.”
*BOOM!*
Before Riddick could finish his words, a loud explosion rang from behind. The explosion’s shock wave hurled Riddick a few feet forward, causing him to collide with a nearby automated disposal tank.
“*Argh!*” As Riddick’s back collided with the chrome-like surface of the tank, he felt the air in his lungs get forced out.
*Thumb*
His body thumped to the ground and he could feel his ears ringing, with his vision slightly blurred. Despite the abruptness of all this, Riddick quickly raised his head and looked at the source of the explosion.
There, just beyond the confines of the alleyway he was in, he could see a chaotic scene in the now fiery street ahead. Nearby buildings had numerous parts catch fire, the people that once roamed the busy street where now either dead, charred or gruesomely injured.
Their screams echoed through the air, mingling with the crackling of flames. Panic and chaos consumed the once vibrant cityscape, transforming it into a nightmarish inferno.
Riddick's instincts kicked in as he scanned his surroundings for any immediate threats. The heat from the flames licked at his skin, but he ignored the discomfort.
Before he could do or say anything, the now somewhat static digital voice of Zoe rang from his watch. “Are you *ksssh* okay Riddick? My sensors are indicating that your body just suffered a brunt attack but I do not detect any hostiles in the immediate.”
Noticing this obvious oddity in Zoe’s speaking pattern, Riddick looked down at his watch and saw it was slightly damaged. “I’m fine, but looks like the fall damaged the watch. *sigh* these things aren’t cheap.”
As Riddick let out an annoyed sigh, the sound of sirens ringing could be heard in the distance. He quickly patted the dirt off his clothes and turned to leave the scene. Despite his curiosity over what just happen, he knew that now was neither the time or place to investigate further.
“I better get out of here before police mechs or some wannabe hero gets here.” Riddick looked around the alleyway a final time, this time checking if there were any surveillance in the area.
‘For once Lowtown’s lack of security is a good thing.’ Seeing no visible cameras, Riddick quickly left the scene and joined a panicked crowd that was fleeing away from the direction of the explosion.
The crowd moved in a frenzied wave, pushing and shoving as panic gripped their hearts. Riddick weaved through the chaos and eventually got to the nearest safe place.
He ducked into a narrow side street, away from the main thoroughfare, hoping to find momentary solace in the shadows. The once bustling Lowtown streets now simmered with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant sirens and crackling flames.
Riddick's mind raced with questions as he retraced the events leading up to the explosion. Was it a terrorist attack? What was the connection with the compromise in the agency system? Was there a chance he was a target?
As he rounded a corner, Riddick stumbled upon a figure huddled against a dilapidated wall.
Through the dim light, he recognized the person to be a homeless elderly man, his face marked with lines of worry and fear.
"Hey, are you alright?" Riddick asked, stopping in his tracks a few feet away and showing extreme caution. The elderly man appeared frail and malnourished, with sunken cheeks and a wrinkled face. His clothes were tattered and dirty, with his hair unkempt and matted.
The man gazed up at Riddick with shallow eyes and showed an unsettling yellow teethed smile. “Is anyone really ever alright? The world is finally ending, it’s time for humanity to have it’s salvation! Repent, we must repent.”
‘He’s just a loon.’ Seeing the crazy expression the old man had as he spoke, Riddick concluded he wasn’t mentally sound. Such a site was very common in Lowtown.
Riddick gave the man a cautious gaze and decided to walk past him. But just as he did so, the old man’s smile grew more sinister as he reached into the ragged loose sleeves of his tattered outfit.
Then, out of nowhere, the man brought out a strange looking knife before lurching at Riddick’s back and yelling, “you must repent!!”
Riddick, who had been walking away from the old man, was caught off-guard by the sudden lunge. He barely had time to react, but he knew he couldn't let the knife make contact with his skin.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Riddick spun around and grabbed the man's arm, using his hand to deflect the knife aside. The blade missed his back by mere millimeters, its sharpness leaving a cold, metallic smell in the air.
"What are you playing at, old man?" Riddick growled, his voice laced with disdain as he glared at the senile attacker. Luckily for the old man, getting attacked in Lowtown wasn’t a strange instance either so Riddick didn’t jump to conclusions over the man’s intentions.
"I...I only want to help," the old man whispered, his voice quivering. "You need to repent, too! We all do! The Machines have tainted the pureness of our bodies, we must free our souls!"
*Tsk* ‘He really is just crazy.’ Riddick's irritation and frustration grew, but he suppressed it, knowing he couldn't afford any distractions in this chaos. Although it was not strange for one or two things to go wrong in a day, far too much was happening far too quickly for Riddick to not be a bit paranoid.
“I don’t have time for this.” Riddick’s grip on the man’s wrist grew tighter, while his gaze became more serious and hostile.
“N-no… get away!” Seeing Riddick’s now hostile expression, the old man panicked and began to yell hysterically.
Without uttering another word, Riddick suddenly jerked his hand upward while still gripping the old man’s wrist.
*Crack* A resounded cracking of bone was immediately heard on the scene. But before the old man could even respond to this, he felt Riddick’s free hand suddenly press against the front of his face.
*Bam* *crack*
What followed for the old man was a feeling of being absolutely overpowered. In just a split second of confusion, the old man realized his head had just been violently slammed against the nearby wall.
He could feel a violent thumping in his head, along with blood leaking out from various wounds. His vision quickly grew blurry as he tried to raise his damaged head to look at Riddick.
However, what he instead saw was the sole of Riddick’s shoe coming toward his face.
*Bam!*
With an even violent thump, the old man’s already injured head was slammed into the wall once again. This time, his skull cracked open and one could even see a more unsettling scene as the old man’s body jerked eerily… despite his eyes losing all signs of life.
Riddick approached the old man’s corpse and crouched down slightly, proceeding to search the old man for any evidence. Sadly Riddick found no such thing, he could only pick up his attacker’s knife and investigate it later.
“Let’s hope it really is just some loon.” Riddick examined the knife briefly, recognizing nothing about the design.
At that moment, Zoe’s resonate digital voice rang from Riddick’s watch. “Are you aware of anyone who would want to take your life? It wouldn’t be strange given your occupation.”
Riddick tucked away the knife in his jacket and began walking away from the scene, his shoes leaving behind eerily bloody footprints. “I’m a contract killer Zoe, even if the only people I’ve taken out were scumbags, a lot of people would still want me dead if they knew. Agencies alleviate that danger by acting as middle men but if they are compromised… it becomes a different story. Send a letter of contract termination to my current agency, they won’t make a fuss since they messed up first by giving me a compromised contract.”
“Forgive my lack of knowledge, it hasn’t been long since you provided me A.I capability and increased my data banks. I have sent the letter and will alert you when a response is received.” Zoe aptly replied, her voice lacking all human emotion.
“It’s fine, that’s one of the downsides of creating your own A.I when you aren’t a tech genius like Specs. But it’s better I have a learning model that I know isn’t secretly sending my information to the remnants of Eclipse.”
“Hm, that does indeed sound more adequate. After all, given your occupation, it would be impossible to work in this day and age without an A.I or V.I assistant.”
“Exactly.”
Without moving too far from the scene, Riddick moved in coordination with Zoe, who helped him avoid several surveillance points in that part of the city. A big reason for having to pass so many points was that Riddick wasn’t going back to his house, but rather something called a “Drop Point”
Drop points were common among contract killers (CK’s), they were places in which CK’s could plant their gear and disguises to either help them in carrying out a contract or escaping afterward.
Riddick’s nearest drop point was Lowtown’s red light district. The air was thick with the scent of cheap perfume and alcohol, mingled with the stench of sweat and desperation. The aroma of street food and cigarette smoke lingered in the air while the ground was littered with discarded wrappers and empty bottles.
The sidewalks were sticky from spilled drinks and other unmentionables. Pulsing music could even be felt through the pavement, making the ground vibrate with the beat, despite it being morning.
Within this bustling and rowdy part of Lowtown, Riddick went toward an inconspicuous food stall. Without bothering to take a seat, he knocked twice on the wooden counter and muttered, “can I have number 4, extra sauce.”
The stall owner was an oriental looking man with short black hair, brown eyes and a small frame. Compared to Riddick’s 2.05m tall frame, he looked especially small.
The stall owner sized up Riddick and nodded before passing him a large bag quickly and waving him away. Riddick quickly picked up the bag, strapped it over one shoulder, and left without drawing any attention to himself.
In a place like the red light district, people knew how to mind their business, as they knew the price to pay for not doing so was often grave, especially when killers were involved.
After picking up the bag, Riddick went into one of the many alleyways in the district and changed into the clothes stashed in the bag. As he was doing so, Zoe’s voice rang from his watch, “I’ve just received a response from the agency. They are deeply sorry for the compromise and have expressed understanding for your desire to leave. In addition, they are offering a compensation fee of 10,000 credits, under the condition that you do not speak of the breach to others.”
“Of course they want this quiet, they’d lose half their clientèle if this got out. Draft a simple contract of agreement and sign it for me. At least something good finally comes up, what a shitty way to start the day still.”
After Riddick finished changing, he left the red light district altogether and dumped the clothes he had worn all around Lowtown as he made his way back to his apartment.
He passed by crumbling buildings and graffiti-covered walls, the signs of neglect and poverty visible all around him. The streets near his home were littered with trash and the occasional stray cat darting between the shadows.
Riddick's apartment building stood tall and rundown, its walls peeling and windows broken, a common sight for most residences in the area, hence the perfect cover for a safe house.
As he approached it though, he halted his steps and frowned. The door to his unit, which he had left securely closed, was now slightly ajar.
‘I guess I spoke too soon.’