The rain hammers down in dreary sheets, cold and unrelenting. Jamie stands motionless, his breath visible in the night air as his mind swirls in chaos. Every raindrop that splashes against his skin seems to carry the weight of a thousand questions.My wife... a child...The words the Broker has spoken to him echo in his mind, blending with the roar of the rain and the hum of the city around him. He clenches his fists, his heart pounding beneath his soaked shirt. Betrayal, confusion, and an odd, unwanted joy tangle inside him, creating a knot he can't unravel. His wife, the one who has twisted and controlled him, is pregnant—with his child."What... what do I do, what the fuck do I do now?,Oz… I need to… I need to get to him " Jamie whispers to the empty street.Then it happens.A familiar sensation blooms in his head. The system activates, its interface flashing before his eyes. For a long time, Jamie has resented this power. It has taken from him, stripped him of normalcy and thrust

The dim light in Oz’s workshop casts long shadows across the cluttered room. Jamie steps inside, his clothes still damp from the rain and his thoughts heavy with everything that’s happened in the past few hours. The familiar scent of old paint and rusted metal fills the air as his eyes adjust to the chaos around him. Half-finished sculptures, abstract art, and strange machinery litter the space, creating a labyrinth of Oz’s eccentric mind.In the back, hunched over a table, Oz mutters to himself, his gnarled fingers tracing patterns on a massive canvas. He doesn’t acknowledge Jamie at first, engrossed in whatever vision he's trying to create. After a beat, Oz turns, grinning with a mixture of mischief and knowing in his eyes.“Ah, you made it,” Oz says, gesturing lazily for Jamie to take a seat. His voice carries that usual edge of sarcasm, but there's something deeper—something that weighs heavy beneath his casual tone. “You look like a man drowning in more than j

The rain had stopped, but the night still clung to a damp chill as Jamie walked down the deserted street. The puddles reflected the distant streetlights, their glow flickering like a heartbeat. He had just left Oz’s place, his mind weighed down by the cryptic advice and the unsettling realities of the system. His thoughts scattered, he pulls out his phone, intending to text Lyle, when it hits.The familiar sensation snaps into place, sharp and clear in his mind: *the system activates*.*New Mission: Retrieve Classified Intel.*  *Location: Underground Facility, North Seattle.*  *Time Limit: 1 Hour.*  *Reward: 200 Essence.*Jamie freezes, his eyes narrowing. It’s the same facility Lyle mentioned during their last phone call. Too coincidental. The system never operates on coincidences, and Jamie knows better than to question it at this point. But the timing couldn’t be worse.Just then, his phone rings—Lyle. Jamie hesitates b

The aftermath of the fight leaves Jamie on edge. His pulse slows, but his senses stay sharp, eyes flicking to every shadow that stretches beyond the dim alley. He bends down, checks the pockets of one of the unconscious attackers, but finds nothing useful—no ID, no sign of allegiance. The system warned of hostiles, but as usual, it keeps the details frustratingly vague. “Any chance these guys are connected to Cipher?” Jamie asks, his voice barely a murmur. Lyle emerges from his hiding spot, shaking off dust from his jacket. “Could be. Cipher’s got eyes everywhere. Or maybe they’re just goons trying to make a quick buck. Either way, we’re not sticking around to find out.” Jamie gives him a long look. “How about we start with some answers? What do you know about Cipher that you haven’t told me yet?” Lyle’s grin falters, but only for a second. “Look, Jamie, Cipher’s not your typical underworld boss. He’s... different. Rumor has it he’s got connections way deeper than anyone reali

The air feels thick as Jamie and Lyle weave through the streets of downtown Seattle. The city is bustling, unaware of the impending storm brewing just beneath the surface. Seattle Central looms ahead, its towering structure cutting sharply against the darkening sky. As they approach the building, Jamie's heart pounds in sync with the system's ever-looming presence in his mind. Lyle adjusts his backpack, checking the makeshift comms device he rigged up. “So, what’s the plan when we get inside? We’re talking high-security here, and if Cipher’s people are already in place, we’re walking straight into a deathtrap.” “We’re not walking in,” Jamie replies, his voice low. “We need to hit them from the inside out. Disrupt their communications, take out key personnel, and cut off their backup. Holmes should be in position by now, and if everything goes smoothly, we’ll have a window to sabotage the whole thing before they even realize what hit them.” Lyle quirks an eyebrow. “Smoothly, huh?