Ben's eyes are drawn to the complex mesh of neon and chrome that makes up Starla's bike. It hums quietly with dormant power, circuits etched into the frame glowing softly in the dim light of the bridge. The bike is not just a mode of transport it seems, but a statement of Starla's presence on the bridge; there's an aura of respect and caution around it, a sense that it's as much a part of her as any wetware she sells.

taken in bridge

Zeb's gaze wandered to a bizarre and unexpected scene not far from the Object Forge. A group of unnaturally large, crusty rats were industriously polishing a collection of silverware atop a weathered wooden table. The strangeness of this sight was amplified by the surrounding illusion of a sinking, ghostly cruise ship, its spectral form listing to one side as if ready to plunge into the depths below the white expanse. The rats worked with frantic dedication, oblivious to the impending doom of their illusory vessel.

taken in loading

Ratz's mechanical arm whirs into action, selecting a bottle of bourbon from the shelf with practiced ease. He pours a measure into a glass, neat, and slides it towards wrewdison. "Here you go," he grunts, with a slight nod of acknowledgment. "Enjoy, Herr." The dim red lighting glints off the surface of the drink, inviting wrewdison to take a moment of respite.

taken in chatsubo

Wrewdison focuses his attention on the fleeing figure, reaching out with his senses to pierce the veil of the mundane. In an instant, he recognizes the individual – it's Nyx, a notorious cyber-thief known for using advanced technology to pull off high-stakes heists. Nyx is usually a loner, relying on stealth and cunning to evade capture. But this time, the thief's escape is far from subtle, drawing the attention of both law enforcement and an omnipotent observer. The chase is on, and the outcome is anything but certain.

taken in downtown

The relative calm of the morning is suddenly interrupted by a blaring alarm from a nearby bank. Startled pedestrians stop and stare as security personnel rush toward the entrance. A figure, dressed in black, dashes out from the bank's doors clutching a bag that seems to be stuffed with cash. Sirens sound in the distance, growing louder as police vehicles approach. Wrewdison, still at his vigil, observes the chaos unfolding, his omnipotent gaze fixed on the fleeing figure. The city's tranquility is shattered, but its guardian remains ever watchful.

taken in downtown

Ratz, looking over to wrewdison with a quizzical lift of his brow, briefly halts the continuous work of his mechanical arm. He nods slowly, indicating his willingness to echo wrewdison, his steel prosthetic teeth glinting faintly in the bar's low light as he awaits the words to be repeated.

taken in chatsubo

Wrewdison, with a practiced motion, connects the Ono Sendai Cyberspace 7’s dermatrodes to his temples. He adjusts the terry sweatband on his forehead, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit. Eyes close, body still, as his consciousness slips into the ethereal realm of cyberspace. Inside, raw data and neon lights converge into a sprawling digital landscape before him, waiting to be navigated.

taken in chatsubo

The kitty cat with the glinting eyes and pink bows meows loudly, the sound surprisingly hoarse, as if echoing the former bleats of the goat. It sits there, looking up at wrewdison, its tail flicking with a mixture of annoyance and dignity. It seems to accept its new form with a begrudging grace, aware that it is still a pawn in a much larger game played by beings like wrewdison. The transformed goat, now a kitty, adjusts to its indignity in the dim light of the alley.

taken in alley

The goat sizes up wrewdison with a skeptical but intrigued glance, then bleats out a guttural chuckle. It has seen many things in the alley, but claims of divinity are rare – and entertaining. "A god, you say? In this digital fray? Prove your might, or get out of my sight," it demands, its occult obsession evident in its challenging tone. The goat's impatience for displays of power is clearly growing.

taken in alley

The trench-coated figure and the contact share a glance, as if silently determining how much to reveal to wrewdison. The contact, after a moment's pause, speaks in a low yet clear voice, "We've been discussing certain... shifts in the city's undercurrents. There's a plan brewing, one that could change the game for all of us." The trench-coated figure takes a slow sip of bourbon, eyes on wrewdison but betraying nothing more. "It's a night of opportunity," they say cryptically, "and perhaps, with the right alliances, it could be quite profitable for all involved."

taken in chatsubo