Days of Darkness

**Atlantech: Days of Darkness** is the sequel to The Early Days. It takes place exactly one month after the events of Early Days, and follows the original cast as they are all trying to recuperate from their losses as well as the psychological scars they've been left with. It is much darker in tone than Early Days, and the chapters have progressively gotten longer. Also, characters such as Brian Smith, who didn't play a very big role in the first story, seems to be taking up a much larger one in this story. There are also some new characters introduced such as the strip mall fortune teller: Madame La Rouge (real name Belva Dewitt.)

In Days of Darkness the AMF is trying to figure out why some of the Tjatey workers had turned on them. It is also mentioned at the beginning of the first chapter (as Justin Church recounts) that every single warrior that had been knocked unconscious with Justin's ether smoke bombs had been killed before they could awaken. It is also mentioned that their weapons were also taken and disposed of for good (melted down.)

Justin mentions how he's been discharged as a result of what happened (also kicked out of Atlantech), and also how William Sterling had been put on probation. There are flashbacks of Lynne blaming both men for not warning the others about the attack, and also reminding them that they should have known what to expect as a result of that; they brought it on themselves.

There doesn't appear to be much arguing on their end as both Justin and William have accepted the consequences of their actions. However, William does eventually reach a point where he no longer wants to hear it, and even goes as far as to call Lynne out on her hypocrisy: stating that she would have made the same choice if Abraham's life had been in danger, and would have willingly sacrificed them all just to save him. In the aftermath of that argument Lynne is speechless, and ends up walking away from William, where she next heads to a bar (The Card Shack) for her first drink, and meets a man whom she is immediately taken with.

Justin meanwhile, appears to be enjoying his newfound freedom in Gambler's Strip (without the need for a disguise), although he isn't too happy about having to move back in with his father. But it seems Justin has come up with a solution to keep his father off his back, as well as discovering a little trick of his own, which involves inserting a long thin magnetic strip down into the coin slots of the casino's slot machines in order to manipulate the wheel. He appears to use this method only after pretending to have a losing streak in order avoid rousing suspicion.

It isn't exactly known just how long he's been at this game, but it is mentioned that he's been using his winnings to help fund his father's drinking problem. In Chapter 1: Not the Same, Justin is shown utilizing his little trick again when nobody is watching him, but after he heads off to cash his winnings in a do-it-yourself counter machine, that's around the time the Ritz casino manager (who reminds Justin of Maxwell Graham), shows up and begins to suspect that the teenager is up to no good. But when he begins to interrogate Justin, that's about the time Justin pulls the wool over on him and throws the empty bucket over the man's head before making a break for it. Afterwards, the manager heads to his office to notify Morane of the problem.

Before, there is another flashback scene which shows Stan Winston, who is still bleeding out, making his way back to City Hall. But along the way he comes across a police sketch of his likeness, now discovering that he is a wanted man, which he also informs Morane of once he finally makes it to his office before collapsing onto the floor, losing power. Morane then asks what happens, to which Stan tells of the attack and also mentions how there were many casualties. Seemingly amused by this information, Morane then proceeds to ask Stan if Abraham Grant had been among those. Stan's only answer is he doesn't know.

Not long after, Lynne and Abraham have a heart-to-heart talk she agrees to let William off probation. This seems to be her first step towards mending her broken relationship with him, although when she visits him and delivers the news he isn't completely sold and believes there must be a catch. She says there isn't; coming across as though she has had more than a change of heart judging from her happy emotions she's got on full display. Based on that alone William figures out that Lynne must have a new man in her life, and even tells her he is happy for her. She is unexpectedly taken back by this and demands to know who told him about her personal life. William then goes to say: "You did." He explains that could hear it in her voice. After that awkward conversation William next asks when she might think about letting Justin off the hook as well. Lynne doesn't appear to have an answer for him, but says she will think about it.

Brian, meanwhile, is wandering about near a strip mall, where he comes across a small fortune telling business. Thinking nothing of it, he lights a cigarette and makes a few wisecracks in which the fortune teller herself: Madame La Rogue overhears him, and then offers him a free reading in order to show him there's no fakery involved. She does all this despite the fact he even referred to her line of work as "crap." However, that is not all as she then claims she is able to see the darkness he carries with him; even knowing his name.