The Talon Returns

Two years after the October Crisis, Chicago is now the first American city to incorporate private law enforcement. Through Kresdek Industries, Patrick Liman now has an iron grip on the city which seems impossible to disarm. In New Zealand, Arthur finishes a period of refuge and is forced to consider the weights of responsibility and duty.

## Plot

### Refuge

It has been a year after the conclusion of the October Crisis and Arthur Henson has lived in hiding in New Zealand. He has traveled from town to town, backpacking and doing odd jobs for people he meets. He is currently working at a farm, where he partakes in some mechanic work for a local welder. Arthur is asked to visit the town to get supplies, and at a parking lot, Arthur helps someone fix the engine to their car and is afterward invited to the bar. Arthur at first is hesitant but relents, and inside watches a couple maoi act according to their character and he beats them in the parking lot. The woman tries to talk to him but he says nothing and returns home, His host is upset with Arthur and explains that he can't host him anymore, so Arthur moves on.

### Found

Arthur goes on a bus to travel to his next location, and he isn't even sure where's going yet. The old man sitting behind him on the bus challenges him in a rhetorical battle, and then gets off the bus before Arthur can interrogate him any further. Arthur gets off the bus not long after and finds that the hostel he plans to stay at is full, so he sits outside instead. He notices a mysterious fox staring at him at the side of the road, and so he follows it into the wilderness where it leads him to its companion stuck in a trap. Arthur lets the animal free and is approached by the old man who invites him into his house.

### Tea

The old man talks to Arthur and asks him "so, are you traveling from house to house helping people because of your heart or because you're running away from something?". Arthur tries to ignore the questions but it is clear that he has a past, and the old man mentions that he saw Arthur fight the two maoi freaks at the bar, but he's also seen other acts of his as well and that nothing is done in the shadows on the island.

### Training

Arthur stays with the old man, whose name is Simon, for some while. They train in the hills of New Zealand, and Arthur learns how to fight with a staff. Arthur learns that he must fight his demons.

### The Vision

Arthur drinks the beverage and enters a strange and dark vision. A figure taunts him for his failure to defend the city, as it burns behind him. He holds his own daughter over the mouth of a wolf with snapping jaws. Arthur wakes up from the vision and knows in his heart that he must go back to America.

### Returning to the City

Arthur gets ona plane and returns home, and is apalled by the dystopian state of the city. A police officer pulls him over and upon his lack of identification gives him a paper which Arthur just discards. In the city, a statue has been made to commemorate the assassin on the plane who has been spun as the hero. Arthur just looks at it with disgust, and finds a motel which he uses as his base for some time.

### Liman's True Colors

Liman sits in the hospial room and when his daughter comes to her senses, he suffocates her under the pillow so that she will not expose him to the public.

### Rooftop Chat

Exhausted, Arthur and Jessica sit on the rooftop and discuss their woes. Jessica notes that she never wanted to fight like this, but that she was filled with rage after the October Crisis, and she thought it was the only way to protect the city. She never wanted to join the force, she wanted to be a mother.

### Prison-Break

Arthur goes to the prison and breaks Danny and multiple others out, bringing them back to his base with Jessica. The journalist is shocked, and Arthur urges him to interview the captives and release everything to the public.

### Battle

Jessica kisses Arthur, who doesn't return it. At the shipyard, Arthur is ambushed by the three CORE members as Liman simply watches and cheers them on. He becomes dismayed once they lose and charges at Arthur, and they skirmish before Arthur is tranquilized by Jessica. Arthur looks at her with shock over the betrayal, and Liman remarks that "you were a fool to once again trade your rationality for emotion".

### Toxin Base

Arthur wakes up dazed and confused, and endures some torture at the hand of Liman. He is later released by Jessica who reveals that the entire stint was an idea to allow the reserves to enter the facility. Arthur makes an offensive on the plant and deactives the bomb, but engages Liman who is in an attack helicopter. Arthur brings the helicopter down and it crashes in a burning field, where the two battle it out once more. Liman lands in some liquid mercury, which won't show its effects right away. Arthur is given a chance to kill Liman, but holds back, letting out a screaming howl. Liman is brought to prison, and his task force is dismantled. In its place a new agency is created, which Arthur is recruited to but declines and Jessica joins instead. Arthur makes an ally and assistant, Rebecca, who also becomes Jessica's assistant later on. Arthur finally goes to the pub with Danny, and then they talk about plans.

### Post-Credit

A council is held to discuss the new vigilante threat arising and word is spread on figures near Russia as well. A businessman comes forth suggesting a project that can serve as a counteractive measure.

## Acts

Act 1: Fox-Chicken-Grain Puzzle (the elder gives Arthur a riddle to solve in his training; the riddle gives him an epiphany to go back to Chicago)

Act 2: Artisocrats are Evil (Liman holds a ball with foreign dignitaries, some being from Silverwolf's country. Grestov, Henry's future mentor, appears. Liman is not aware of Grestov's abilities)

Act 3: Howl of Sorrow (Arthur gives a howl at his lack of ability to kill Liman)