It’s been a while since my last entry, and so much has changed since then. Now, I find myself in Solai, a sprawling, neon-drenched city that seems alive with secrets. The journey here was led by cryptic messages, each one pulling me closer to a truth I can’t yet grasp. The latest clue came as I stood before a towering skyscraper, my reflection distorted in its glass façade. My helmet buzzed with static, then a voice—clear and commanding—cut through: “Look in front of you.”
I raised my eyes and saw him: a man cloaked in a hooded jacket, half-hidden in the shadows of an alleyway. Our eyes locked, and he grinned, an expression both inviting and taunting. “Hey, you!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the narrow street, before spinning on his heel and vanishing into the darkness. Instinct took over. I abandoned my bike and bolted after him, weaving through the labyrinth of Solai’s streets. He was fast—too fast for an ordinary man. He led me to the edge of the city center, where he began scaling a high-rise apartment building with the agility of a seasoned free climber. Without hesitation, I entered the building, determined to intercept him.
Inside, the stark contrast of a single, sterile corridor greeted me. The only way forward was an elevator, its metallic doors gleaming under flickering lights. I stepped in, my breath heavy, and immediately noticed the oddity: no controls, no floor indicators—just an oppressive silence as the elevator began its ascent. Time stretched as I waited, every second amplifying the tension, until the doors finally slid open to reveal a penthouse. The space was cavernous, its open floor plan framed by panoramic views of Solai’s glittering skyline. The room was bare, save for a centerpiece—a labyrinth of tangled wires and glowing screens arranged in a U-shape, humming with power. It was a technological monolith, a control center radiating purpose.
Standing at the far end of the room, waiting as if they had expected me all along, were four figures. Among them was the man I had pursued, now leaning casually against a wall. He nodded at me, almost approvingly. The first to break the silence was a wiry man with sharp eyes and a sly grin. “Name’s Data,” he said, gesturing proudly toward the glowing apparatus. “I’m the tech guy. This? My masterpiece. It’s how we plan missions, take down high-profile targets, and fight the corruption choking this city.” He explained that the four of them—Data, Caine, Clova, and Locke—were Shadowtask, a rogue team dedicated to dismantling Arketeq, Solai’s most powerful and corrupt corporation.
I pressed for details, and Data obliged. Arketeq, he explained, isn’t just a tech company—it’s the tech company. For the past five years, its influence has infiltrated every corner of the city. Cars, trains, elevators, even personal devices—all are connected to Arketeq’s advanced AI network. But that’s not the worst of it. Behind its sleek exterior lies a criminal empire. Arketeq funds chaos, bribing gangs to incite violence, corrupting law enforcement, and silencing dissent by framing innocents. The motive? Still unclear, but undeniably sinister.
A year ago, Shadowtask began its fight against Arketeq after receiving an anonymous message. That message led them to this building and tasked them with breaking Locke—an ex-con with a reputation—from a maximum-security prison. “Best decision we made,” Data added with a smirk.
The hooded man I’d chased stepped forward next. His left arm, bionic and glowing with a deep red pulse, flexed as he rolled up his sleeve. “Caine,” he introduced himself, though he added, “Call me Metal.” He sneered, clearly sizing me up. “Surprised you kept up. You’ve got potential.” The implication wasn’t lost on me—this was the man I had chased. Standing nearby, Locke leaned on a bat, its metal glinting ominously. “Justice in a swing,” he muttered. It was clear: these two weren’t strategists. They were enforcers, the muscle of Shadowtask.
The final introduction came from Clova, her calm demeanour a stark contrast to the others. A scientist specializing in biomechanics, she was Shadowtask’s medic and engineer. “I keep us running—literally and figuratively,” she said, her tone sharp but not unkind. Her curiosity turned to me. “And you? Who are you?”
The truth burned on my tongue: I don’t know. My only memory is of being mugged at a gas station by a gang, someone named Rico involved. When I revealed this, the team exchanged knowing glances. Data stepped forward, his voice steady. “We’ve been following you since that night. Our orders were to find you. The one who brought us together believes you’re the key to ending Arketeq for good.”
It felt like a script from someone else’s life. I demanded to meet the person pulling the strings, but their response was clear: “In time.” For now, they needed my cooperation—and trust.
I’ve landed in the center of a conspiracy, with only fragments of a past to guide me. But if I want answers, if I want to piece together who I am, I have no choice but to play along. Shadowtask is my only lead, and Arketeq may hold the key to everything. Until then, I’ll keep moving forward, one step at a time, chasing the truth in the shadows of Solai.
