Neon District: ALPHA (The Neon District Trilogy, Book 1)

by Chad Campbell

  “Very well. Commencing now,” the AI responded. Two additional large lab tables came from beneath automated hatches in the floor and equipped themselves with the gadgetry Rez needed to get to work.

  The work on ‘Table A’ was his promise to the twins; building the weapons they’d originally requested of him. Once the weapons were completed, he was going to track them down, and fulfill his promise of escorting them to Rune Village with their new gifts. He wanted to apologize, and tell them everything that had happened to him, everything that he had remembered. Though there were still significant memory gaps to be filled. ‘Table B’ was set to analyze the properties of the strange device Stein dropped. Rez believed this device could be used to his advantage, considering the extreme danger he was about to subject himself to.

  “Vser!? I mean, Caiden? Why are you calling me? You actually showed your face! Are you crazy!?” Shino whispered. He was in his office at the presidential quarters in Neon Tower.

  “I don’t have time to chat. I need your help,” Rez said.

  “Help? We didn’t even get to work on what we agreed to! This entire city is looking everywhere for you! What happened? I know you didn’t kill Ren,” Shino said while checking that his doors were locked.

  “They’re trying to frame me and use it as an excuse to enrage citizens. I was attacked last night by a possessed mob. They were all wearing a new version of datashades, but they were behaving strangely and then blitzed they me. They were even equipped with updated shock batons. General Cain must’ve distributed the datashades when he recruited citizens.” Rez said.

  “Shit, you got that right! Stein and Cain don’t know that I’m aware of what they’re up to. Cain is trying to establish his power. This is all really bad! Check this out,” Shino said, sending Rez a link of multiple news clips from earlier that morning. All the clips contained footage from different boroughs and different news anchors chronicling chaotic scenes of violence taking place.

  “This just started happening yesterday evening! Stein and Cain are using innocent civilians in a bloody social experiment. The people who are wearing datashades are the ones who are attacking neighborhoods where there has been the most political dissent. I dunno how they were able to pinpoint these locations. It must have been the work of the CSSA. Cain is using every tool he has available to alter the narrative before it even reaches news outlets. The city is under siege.” Shino said.

  “That’s why I need your help. I know for a fact that Zonos Tower is the source of the frequency transmission that’s controlling those citizens. If I can get in, I can destroy those generators and cut the connection between the civilians and the person controlling them,” Rez said.

  “That just might work. I can give you access codes for each floor, though I don’t know how you’d use them all. Each floor requires a special keycard too,” Shino said.

  “Send me the codes. I have an idea,” Rez replied.

  “Okay. But—”

  “But what?” Rez asked.

  “Well, the building is very heavily secured. And they’ve added more guards since they started taking control of the population with the COGLIM datashades. They’re not gonna let anyone just waltz right in. Even being the Prime Minister, I’m made to go through ridiculous levels of clearance. It’s essentially a military stronghold there. It’d be a damn suicide mission going it alone” Shino said.

  “Just send me the damn codes,” Rez said with irritation.

  “Shit, man. Sent. There isn’t much else I can help you with, I have a nation to run. Maybe I can have Asuka help out.”

  “No need. Thanks for that. Oh, and I’ll find a way to unfreeze your assets You’re gonna need ‘em,” Rez said.

  “Be safe, VseR, seriously,” Shino said.

  “Since when did you care?” Rez replied.

  “I dunno. I just know you’re not a bad person,” Shino said.

  Rez cut the transmission. He grinned before getting back to work.

  “Caiden, system analysis has determined that the device on ‘Table b’ is a force field generator manufactured by Quantum Corp. Energy output peaking at one terajoule,” Xandra stated.

  “Hmm, interesting. Scan the technology. Provide me with a hologram of its inner parts. I plan on constructing a new, more efficient device based off this tech in a few minutes. Oh, and please change registered name from Caiden Nyx to Rez Fayte, and update on all servers, please,” Rez said.

  “Very well,” Xandra replied.

  Xandra produced a holographic diagram of the force field generator and projected it to the middle of the lab space for Rez to inspect. While that was happening, Rez was at the main computer, developing two major trojans for a planned DDoS attack. He used the NOVO OS in his lenses for one, and the main computer for the other. After several minutes, he’d completed the trojans. The nanocells in his body were operating at an efficiency he hadn’t felt before. It most certainly was attributed to his recent awakening. Nonetheless he remained steadfast and focused on his multiple tasks at hand.

  “Rez, construction of the weapons on ‘Table A’ will take approximately seven hours to build, test, and finalize,” Xandra said.

  “Good. Uploading the series of codes sent over by Shino Honda to your systems. Please develop an evolving access keycard codec for completion. Also, sending over Zonos Tower’s building blueprints. Upload the blueprints to the servers and make them readily available for my NOVO Lenses to access on encrypted channel AR6,” Rez commanded.

  “Uploading now,” the AI responded.

  Rez went to his utility closets, pulling out cases of ammo, ranging from explosive rounds, to his untested powerpulse rounds, hollow tips, and shock rounds. He also pulled out flexible, lightweight, armored fabric bodysuit. The fabric was an experiment he had been working on a while back, intended to have temporary chameleo-ware properties. After testing it out with digital simulations, Rez learned that the cloaking capabilities wouldn’t last for more than two minutes at a time. It also had a twenty-minute recharge time. However, he never actually got around to using it in real-life situations. Rez walked over to the holographic display of the Quantum force field generator.

  “Hmm, fairly well constructed, but I can do better,” he said as he walked around the large display, inspecting its components. “We’re gonna update this by gutting the previous wiring, rearrange its composition, adding some energy conversion tech, and maximizing its output power, while adding a cooling system to increase efficiency,” Rez said.

  The AI control arms pulled out several tools and new wiring at Rez’s command. His innate understanding of technology and software allowed him to simply glance over things and have a general idea of how they worked; he was truly gifted.

  “Reconstruct according to the new designs I drew up and uploaded to you just now,” Rez commanded.

  “Commencing now,” the AI responded and went right to work.

  Rez’s redesign took the powerful deflective properties of the original force field and made it stronger by adding a series of translucent, hexagonal energy plates that were semi-malleable. They were designed to encircle the user in a powerful geodesic shield of protection. Rez updated the shield to absorb kinetic energy to make it stronger.

  The AI’s control arms finished with the update. Rez picked up the newly designed device and initiated the force field. A quick burst of light and translucent energy appeared.

  “Xandra, equip one of the control arms with a spare pistol,” Rez commanded. “I need to test the durability of this new shield.”

  “Equipping now,” the AI responded. With the force field still activated, Rez prepared for the test.

  “Preparing to fire in three, two, one,” the AI counted down, as it fired five shots into different parts of the force field. With each impact, it lit up before returning to its normal translucency.

  “Wow, this is really useful. But something’s missing. Xandra, can I see the efficiency of the shield after the shots have been fired?” Rez asked. />
  “Calculating effectiveness. After five bullets were fired, energy shield is currently standing at ninety-nine-point-two percent protective efficiency,” the AI said. Rez deactivated the shield. He paused, studied the sequence, then reactivated the shield again out of curiosity.

  “Xandra, what is the shield’s protective efficiency now?” Rez asked.

  “Ninety-nine-point-seven percent” it responded.

  “When I deactivated the shield, its efficiency increased, which means the shield has repairing capabilities as well. Xandra, how much energy would it take to overload this shield?” Rez asked.

  “Based off the tests, we can assume it will take approximately one point five terajoules to effectively overwhelm the shield,” Xandra said.

  “I guess I should stop playing with big explosives then,” Rez humorously remarked.

  “Yes, that would be wise,” Xandra replied.

  Rez stood still, eyes closed, and thought deeply for a moment before he did anything else. He was analyzing his findings. After some time, he opened his eyes and picked up the device. He placed it in his left palm and focused, quickly slipping into a meditative state.

  He was assimilating the shield device itself in its entirety. Finally becoming one with the purest form of himself proved extremely advantageous. Doing things such as object assimilation became a concept his body and mind found much easier to understand. In a matter of ten seconds, the bright turquoise light flashed as his palm quickly absorbed the shield device. He took a deep breath; and through his will alone he opened his palm and activated the shield.

  “Xandra, fire again,” he said.

  “Very well. Test commencing in three, two, one.”

  The AI fired two shots. The force field reacted the exact same way, but Rez noticed a significant difference. Somehow, the shield was able to show Rez it’s damage report in real time without the AI’s assistance. 'Ninety-Nine-point eight percent' the reading showed on the inside of the shield on a translucent energy hexagon.

  Rez retracted the shield once more. Upon complete retraction back into his palm, his left hand went numb almost immediately.

  “Ah, drawbacks. Guess I can’t use this as often as I’d like,” Rez said as he shook his hand to get the feeling back into it. This’ll take some getting used to, he thought. A few minutes later, feeling came back to his hand. He received another encrypted email. This time it was from Asuka.

  My brother insisted on me giving you this information for he could not, considering his important position. I don’t know what you plan to do with this, but I pray you are safe in your endeavors. My brother appears to have found his spark to do what is right because of you. If he believes in you, so shall I. I also believe it to be my duty to help, to make up for violating hacker’s tradition from my prior exploits as Queenalona. I am so sorry. I hope this makes up for such a blunder and helps you in your journey.

  Good Luck,

  Asuka

  Asuka, via Shino, sent Rez a series of energy grids. It looks like a good amount of power was recently redirected to Zonos Tower. Could those generators need that much juice? Taking thirty-five percent of the city’s excess and redirecting it to there? Rez thought to himself. He assembled his equipment, gathered his things, and made his way upstairs.

  ***

  Rez secured everything at Home-base, got on his bike, and made his way out into Darkside. It was daytime, so not much was happening in the neighborhood. Rez headed toward a Gunners stable in the neighborhood run by a powerful Controlman named Marx. As he pulled up, he was surrounded by Young AK gang members that were associated with the Controlman.

  “The fuck’re you doin’ here on our turf, man?” one of the gangsters asked.

  “I mean you no harm. I only came to see Marx. Got a business proposition for him,” Rez replied with his hands up.

  “Marx don’t have no fucking meeting scheduled, dude. Get outta here before we fill you with metal,” the gangster replied.

  “Can one of you with some sense run inside and tell Marx I got a lot of money for him? I didn’t come to fight,” Rez said.

  “Alright, alright, what’s all the commotion?” a man asked, strolling out of the rundown bungalow, accompanied by two other people.

  “I heard someone talking about money. You legit?” the man asked.

  “You Marx?” Rez countered.

  “Look buddy are you legit or not? Depending on what you say I may or may not be him,” he said.

  “I don’t have anything to do with the feds, CSSA, or Psi-Corp. Just a guy with an idea,” Rez replied.

  The man signaled his men to lower their weapons. “Let’s talk inside.”

  Rez fully dismounted his bike and secured it before he felt the barrel of a gun pressed against his back, nudging to move him forward. One of the members frisked Rez to make sure he wasn’t armed.

  “All clear,” the member said.

  These guys take no chances. Sheesh, Rez thought to himself. Inside the bungalow were close to twenty more Alley Kid gang members hanging out, smoking, playing video games. There were also a few women around. On the table in the living room was an entire rack filled with BL-48 Pulse Laser assault rifles, a bunch of pistols, reams of ammo, and stacks of cash and drugs. They led Rez downstairs to the basement. There, a sole overhead light and a large poker table stood as there were even more gang members gambling amongst each other.

  “Emergency meeting. Five of you guys head upstairs and take watch. And for god’s sake, keep your dicks in your pants, those women ain’t here to be raped now! You pay!” the man said. The gang members complied and went upstairs. Rez was directed to sit at the table. He walked over, small briefcase in hand, and opted to stand instead.

  “Now what’s this supposed deal you have for me?” the man said. Rez quietly opened the briefcase. Inside was twenty-five thousand Creds cash. “Well, well. The name’s Marx. And you are?” Marx asked, leaning back in his chair as he lit a cigar.

  Marx was above average height, was relatively thin with fair skin, and dirty blond hair in a bun. He sported a medium sized beard, wore dark brown cargo pants with boots, a flight jacket with a fur collar, and no shirt on underneath. He sported strange tattoos and sported an industrial chain that hung low around his neck.

  “Doesn’t matter what my name is right now. What does matter is whether this money has convinced you to work with me or not,” Rez flatly replied. Marx motioned his hands as if to open the floor for conversation. “Very well. I’m about to embark on a little anti-Zonos campaign,” Rez said.

  “Anti-Zonos?” Marx asked.

  “Yeah, you can call it a nice little prank.”

  “Marx! Marx! I heard there was some guy with golden eyes here to meet with you!” a gang member yelled as he stumbled down the basement steps in a frenzy.

  He looked beat up and flustered. His shoulder was in a sling and had a swollen black eye. He had other scratches and marks on his face and neck. He was breathing heavily. Rez had his back to the frantic gang member, but he turned his head and looked over his shoulder at the young gangster.

  “You! That’s him! That’s the fucker that did this to me! Kill his ass! Kill him now!” he cried out.

  The other gangsters drew their weapons, but before they could do anything, Rez already had the barrel of his gunblade pointing at Marx displaying his superhuman reflexes.

  “You shoot at me, this guy dies. It’s that simple. I wasn’t kidding when I said I did not come here to fight” Rez firmly stated.

  “We searched you, man! How did you do that?” a gangster asked.

  “Put your fucking guns down. Now,” Rez said slowly and menacingly.

  “Guys, do what he says, man! Jesus!” Marx commanded. His men stood down cautiously. Rez’s eyes were glowing again; he was more intimidating than ever.

  “Oh, yeah. I remember you. You wanna know why I didn’t kill you? Because I ran out of regular bullets,” he said to the injured gang member. The injured thug shrunk, turning his
head away out of sheer terror.

  “Look, man. We’re cool, okay? Now, can we get back to business please?” Marx asked.

  “Of course,” Rez said as he retracted his gun back into the skin of his forearm. The others around him were completely befuddled, amazed, and downright appalled by what they just witnessed.

  “What the hell are you, man?” Marx asked.

  “A man on a mission,” Rez simply replied.

  “Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I was hoping to borrow ten of your Gunners to go to these particular power grids at a specific time tonight,” Rez said as he summoned a holographic map from his bare wrist. Unbeknownst to the others, this was his holo-watch operating from just below the surface of his skin on his left wrist. He enlarged the diagram for Marx to see. Marx was stunned by Rez’s unique abilities, but withheld his initial excitement to keep the focus on the proposition.

  “Wait! All these power grids are associated with Zonos Tower. That wasn’t the case last week when I had my guys do their siphoning runs!” Marx exclaimed. “What’s the meaning of this?”

  “Good question. You're street savvy. I'm sure you're aware of all the current events. Hell, you’re from Darkside, you must know what’s going on. The recent wave of violence in the main city from last night wasn’t a coincidence. Someone made that happen,” Rez said.

  “What? How?” Marx asked.

  “High level frequency transmissions coming from Zonos Tower. The people who became violent last night were all wearing the new Zonos issued datashades,” Rez explained.

  “One of my Gunners was injured from one of those attacks. No wonder. That explains a whole lot. So, what is this idea of yours?” he asked.