Chapter 1

Echo fighting the Gloom Squad

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## The Meeting in The Warrens

The Gloom Squad have been given a mysterious job by a stranger named Cyprian, which involves hacking a data drive. They found it to be heavily encrypted. Chadbert suggests contacting a specialist, Ray, who can decrypt the data, and the team agrees to go forward with it despite the potential risks.

"Great work, Chadbert," Josh said, nodding in approval. "We'll be there." The rest of the Gloom Squad murmured in agreement, exchanging glances that conveyed their readiness for whatever lay ahead.

As the night deepened, the team made their way to the **Rusty Anchor**, a dimly lit dive bar on the outskirts of Misery Metropolis. They slipped in through the back entrance and made their way to a secluded corner booth, where they found their contact waiting for them.

The contact, a wiry man with a shaved head and a sharp jawline, introduced himself as Ray. He eyed the Gloom Squad warily, sizing them up. "I can crack the drive," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "But it's going to cost you."

The Gloom Squad and Ray found themselves in the heart of The Warrens, surrounded by dilapidated buildings and narrow alleys. The streets were littered with garbage and debris, and the air was thick with the stench of decay and desperation. Homeless people huddled in the shadows, eyeing the newcomers warily, while feral cats and rats scavenged for scraps.

Ray leaned in, his eyes flickering in the dim light. "$10,000" he said, his voice low and measured. "I can guarantee you that I'm the best in the business. You won't find anyone else who can do what I do."

The Gloom Squad exchanged a few glances, their expressions tense. Ten thousand was a steep price, but they knew that the information on the drive was too valuable to ignore. "We don't have that kind of money," Josh said, his voice firm. "But we can offer you what we can. We're the Gloom Squad. We have our ways of getting things done."

Ray arched an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "And what ways are those?"

"We can offer you our services," Nikki said, her voice low and measured. "If you ever need a team of skilled operatives, we're your people."

Ray considered this for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright," he said. "We have a deal. I'll crack the drive for you, and you owe me a favor."

The Gloom Squad nodded in agreement, exchanging a few murmurs of assent. They knew that this was a risk, but they were willing to take it to uncover the truth. "Alright," Josh said. "Let's get to work."

Ray leaned back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest. "It'll take me a few days to get through the encryption on this drive," he said. "But I'll be in touch when I have something for you."

The Gloom Squad nodded in agreement, and with a few parting words, they left the Rusty Anchor and slipped back out into the dark and dangerous streets of Misery Metropolis. As they made their way back to their hideout in the Warrens, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that someone was tracking their every move.

The city seemed to close in around them, the towering buildings and flashing neon signs serving as a constant reminder of the corruption and greed that ran rampant in Misery Metropolis. But the Gloom Squad was determined to make a difference, to fight back against the darkness and shine a light on the truth, no matter the cost.

## The Stalker:

As the Gloom Squad made their way back to their hideout, Sierra noticed a figure in a black hooded cloak following them from a distance. She quickly alerted the rest of the team, and they began to take evasive maneuvers to shake the tail. However, the figure seemed to be skilled at remaining hidden, and they continued to follow the team at a safe distance.

"We need to lose this guy," Josh said, his eyes scanning the alleys and streets for any sign of their pursuer. "We don't know who he is or what he wants."

Meanwhile, the figure in the black hooded cloak continued to follow them, their footsteps silent and purposeful. The Gloom Squad knew that they couldn't keep running forever. They needed to confront their pursuer and find out what they wanted.

Josh listened to their discussion, taking in everyone's opinions before adding his own. "I think we should set up a trap," he said, tapping his fingers on the table. "We can create a fake data drive and leave it out in the open. If our stalker takes the bait, we can catch them in the act."

Nikki nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea," she said. "But we need to make sure the trap is convincing. We don't want our stalker to suspect anything."

Mad Mud grinned. "I have an idea," she said, tapping her chin. "What if we pretend to be arguing about the location of the fake drive? We can make it seem like we're leaving it out in the open by accident."

Rebs smirked. "I like it," she said, twirling one of her throwing stars in her hand. "It'll be like a game of cat and mouse."

The team set to work on their plan, creating a convincing fake data drive and arguing loudly about where to leave it. They made sure to make their voices carry, hoping to attract the attention of their stalker.

As they made their final preparations, Mad Mud turned to the rest of the team. "Remember," she said, her eyes flashing with determination. "We don't take bullshit from anyone. Let's show this stalker what we're made of."

## The Trap

The team continued their conversation, their voices growing louder as they pretended to argue.

"We should split up and cover more ground," Nikki said, trying to sound convincing.

"That's a terrible idea," Rebs retorted, shaking her head. "We need to stay together and watch each other's backs."

Mad Mud chimed in, her voice rising. "No, we should split up. That way, we can catch them by surprise."

Verity shook her head, her voice calm and measured. "I don't think that's a good idea. We should wait for them to come to us."

Josh listened to their bickering, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of their stalker. He knew that they were just pretending to argue to draw their stalker out, but it still felt tense and unsettling.

As the team pretended to argue, they watched carefully for any sign of their stalker.

Finally, they saw movement in the shadows. A figure in a black hooded cloak emerged, slowly making their way towards the team. They seemed to be taking their time, as if savoring the moment.

Nikki watched through her interface as the figure approached, analyzing their movements and behavior. She activated the trap they had set, and waited with bated breath to see if the hacker would fall for it.

Suddenly, the figure stopped in their tracks. They seemed to sense that something was amiss, and quickly turned and vanished into the shadows.

Nikki let out a frustrated sigh. "Damn it," she muttered. "They were too smart for us."

## Rebs' Disguises

The team regrouped, discussing their next move. They knew that they couldn't let the stalker slip away, but they also needed to be careful not to put themselves in danger.

"We need to be smarter about this," Josh said, his voice serious. "We can't just rely on traps and tricks. We need to get more information and figure out who this person is and what they want."

The team nodded in agreement, determined to uncover the truth behind their stalker's motivations.

Rebs looked around the room, her eyes scanning each member of the team. She knew that they needed to be cautious and avoid being detected, so she began to think of ways to blend in and stay off the radar.

"Alright, hear me out," Rebs said, her eyes shining with excitement. "I've got an idea."

The team turned to her, curious and eager to hear what she had come up with.

"We all know that we can't just walk around town in our usual gear," Rebs continued. "We need to blend in and avoid being detected. So, I propose we all wear disguises."

Nikki raised an eyebrow. "Disguises? Like what?"

"Like, we dress up as civilians," Rebs said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "We could wear wigs, change our clothes, and even alter our appearance with makeup and prosthetics. That way, we won't be recognized and can move around without drawing attention."

After Rebs had finished her handiwork, the Gloom Squad looked almost unrecognizable. Nikki was wearing a bright red wig and a flashy silver dress, while Verity had donned a bulky, ill-fitting suit and a fake mustache. Josh was wearing sunglasses and a fedora, and Mad Mud had changed her hair color to bright pink and was wearing a leather jacket and dark sunglasses.

As they looked at each other, the team couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of their disguises.

"We look ridiculous," Verity said with a laugh, adjusting her fake mustache.

Josh nodded in agreement. "But hopefully, we look ridiculous enough to fool our stalker," he said.

Mad Mud grinned, "And if they don't fall for it, we'll just have to kick some ass," she said, cracking her knuckles.

Nikki rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of a fight. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," she said.

The team set out, their disguises helping them blend in with the bustling crowds of Misery Metropolis. They scanned the area, searching for any sign of their stalker. They knew that they were walking into a dangerous situation, but they were determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

As they made their way through the city, the team couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration at the thrill of the chase. They knew that they were outmatched, but they were ready to face whatever came their way.

As they made their way through the dark and dingy streets, they couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension. They were walking into the unknown, with only their wits and skills to protect them.

Josh led the way, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. Verity followed closely behind, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Nikki trailed behind them, her interface active as she scanned for any signs of electronic interference.

Rebs and Mad Mud brought up the rear, their throwing stars at the ready. They moved with a grace and stealth that belied their small frames, their eyes scanning the alleyways and rooftops for any sign of their stalker.

As they approached the spot where they had set their trap, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. They knew that their stalker was no ordinary hacker, and they were prepared for anything.

## Echo

Suddenly, they heard a rustling in the shadows. The team tensed, ready for action. But as the figure emerged, they were taken aback by what they saw.

It was a young girl, no older than 12 or 13. She was dressed in rags and her hair was matted and unkempt. She looked up at the team with a mixture of fear and defiance, her eyes flashing with a fierce intelligence.

For a moment, the team was unsure of what to do. They had been expecting a dangerous hacker, not a child. But as they looked closer, they realized that the girl was not what she seemed.

"She's wired," Nikki said, her interface analyzing the girl's cybernetic enhancements. "She's been modified to look like a child, but she's much older and much more dangerous than she appears."

The team exchanged glances, their expressions grim. They knew that this was only the beginning of their journey, and that they were up against a powerful and cunning adversary. But they were ready for whatever lay ahead, and they would stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

## The Fight

As Nikki shouted "attack!", the team sprang into action. Josh's eyes glowed red as he entered a state of bullet bending, anticipating the incoming attack. Heather pulled out her tech bow and aimed, while Rebs disappeared into the shadows, preparing to strike from a stealthy position. Verity unsheathed her knives and stood ready to defend her squadmates.

The figure that emerged from the shadows was small, almost childlike in size, but moved with incredible speed and agility. As it approached, the team realized that they were indeed facing a kid, no older than twelve or thirteen years old.

Josh hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. "Wait, we gotta fight a kid?" he exclaimed, his hesitation showing.

But there was no time to waste. The kid was already attacking, moving too fast for any of them to react. Nikki jumped out of the way, barely avoiding a swift kick aimed at her head.

Heather fired a shot from her tech bow, but the kid dodged it effortlessly, moving with a grace and speed that was almost inhuman.

Verity lunged forward, her knives flashing in the dim light, but the kid twisted out of the way, dodging her attack and countering with a swift kick to her side.

The team was on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the kid's lightning-fast movements. But they knew that they couldn't let their guard down, not even for a moment. This kid was dangerous, and they needed to take them down before they could cause any more harm.

As the fight continued, the team began to work together, using their individual skills and abilities to create a coordinated attack. Josh used his bullet bending to redirect the kid's attacks, while Nikki hacked into the kid's neural interface, trying to gain control and neutralize their movements.

Despite their efforts, the kid continued to fight with incredible speed and skill, dodging and weaving around their attacks. But the team refused to give up, determined to take down their elusive opponent.

The fight raged on, with no clear winner in sight.

As the fight raged on, the Gloom Squad began to realize that they were facing a formidable opponent. The girl may have been small, but she was lightning-fast and incredibly strong.

"How is she this strong?" Josh asked, dodging a swift kick from the girl.

Nikki, who had been analyzing the girl's movements through her interface, frowned. "She's wired," she said. "She's been modified to look like a child, but she's much older and much more dangerous than she appears."

The girl continued to attack, her movements almost too fast for the team to keep up with. Rebs managed to land a few hits, but they seemed to have little effect on the girl.

Heather tried to use her poison, but the girl seemed immune to it. Taurtuga fired her smartgun, but the girl dodged the bullets with ease.

The Gloom Squad began to feel the weight of their opponent's strength, and for the first time, doubts crept into their minds. This wasn't just a simple stalker or hacker they were dealing with; this was something much more dangerous.

The girl continued to fight, her movements becoming more fluid and graceful with each passing moment. The Gloom Squad knew that they couldn't keep this up much longer. They needed to come up with a new plan, and fast.

Nikki quickly pulled up her interface and began typing furiously. She tried to find a weakness in the girl's cybernetic enhancements, a vulnerability she could exploit to shut her down.

But the girl was too advanced, and her defenses were too strong. Nikki's attempts were met with resistance, as the girl's system detected and countered each of her moves.

Nikki gritted her teeth, frustration mounting as she realized how outmatched they were. But she refused to give up, determined to find a way to shut down the girl's enhancements and end the fight.

## Mad Mud's Surprise

As Mad Mud reached for her explosives, Heather's eyes widened in horror. "No, wait!" she shouted, but it was too late. Mad Mud had already armed the bomb and thrown it towards the girl.

The explosion was deafening, and a cloud of smoke and dust enveloped the area. When it cleared, the team saw the girl lying motionless on the ground, her small body battered and broken.

Nikki rushed over to the girl, her interface scanning for any signs of life. "She's alive," she said, relief evident in her voice. "But just barely. We need to get her to a hospital."

Verity stepped forward, her eyes narrowed in anger. "I am the hospital!" she shouted.

Heather looked at Mad Mud, her eyes flashing with anger. "What the hell were you thinking?" she yelled. "You could have killed her!"

Mad Mud shrugged. "She was a threat," she said defensively. "I was just trying to protect us."

Josh stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "We can't let fear and anger cloud our judgment," he said. "We need to stay focused and work together if we want to survive in this city."

The team nodded in agreement, each one of them feeling the weight of their actions. They knew that they had to be careful not to let their emotions get the best of them, or they would end up making mistakes that could cost them dearly.

As the dust settled, the Gloom Squad looked around, panting and injured from the intense fight. The girl, now unconscious, lay motionless on the ground.

Rebs approached the girl and examined her closely. "Is she bot or is she humanoid?" she asked, trying to determine the truth behind their mysterious opponent.

The rest of the team looked at Verity in shock. They knew that cybernetic enhancements were common in Misery Metropolis, but they had never seen anything like this before.

Nikki walked over to the girl's body and began to examine her cybernetic enhancements. "This is next-level tech," she said, her interface analyzing the devices. "Whoever built this must have had access to some serious resources."

Josh looked around at his team, his mind racing with possibilities. "We need to find out who's behind this," he said, his voice firm. "We can't let something like this go unpunished."

The team nodded in agreement, determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to the city. But they knew that their battle was far from over, and that there were still many challenges and dangers ahead.

## Regroup

As the team regrouped after their encounter with the mysterious child-like figure, Verity's mind was already working to figure out what kind of entity they were dealing with. She wondered if it was something that could be explained by Zed's Ripper Doc abilities.

"Is this something Zed is capable of doing?" she asked, turning to the rest of the team for their thoughts.

Nikki shook her head. "I don't think so. Zed's good, but they specialize in cybernetic and biotech modifications. I don't think they could create something like that."

Rebs chimed in, "Yeah, and Zed's not the type to go around creating child soldiers, if that's what this is."

Josh listened to the discussion, his mind racing with possibilities. "We don't know for sure what we're dealing with yet. It could be something completely different than anything we've encountered before."

Heather spoke up, "Maybe we should reach out to some of our contacts in the underground to see if they've heard anything about this kind of thing."

The team nodded in agreement, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. But they knew that they had to tread carefully, as their enemy seemed to be one step ahead of them at every turn.

## Summary

The Gloom Squad is given a job by a stranger named Cyprian, which involves hacking a heavily encrypted data drive. They seek out a specialist named Ray to decrypt the drive, but he demands a high price of $10,000. The team offers their services instead, and Ray agrees to the deal, telling them they owe him a favor in the future.

On their way home in the Warrens, they realize they are being followed. They attempt to lure their stalker by pretending to argue loudly to draw them in, but fail as the stalker realizes the trap.

Rebs comes up with a new plan. Disguises. After Rebs had finished her handiwork, the Gloom Squad looked almost unrecognizable. Nikki was wearing a bright red wig and a flashy silver dress, while Verity had donned a bulky, ill-fitting suit and a fake mustache. Josh was wearing sunglasses and a fedora, and Mad Mud had changed her hair color to bright pink and was wearing a leather jacket and dark sunglasses.

The Gloom Squad dons their civilian disguises and confronts their stalker once again, discovering that it is a wired, modified child-like figure named Echo. They engage in an intense fight, with the child proving to be a formidable opponent. The team eventually almost gives up until Mad Mud throws a homemade bomb to subdue her. They discover that the girl has next-level cybernetic enhancements and make plans to find out who is behind them.

The Gloom Squad regroups after their encounter with the mysterious child-like figure and discusses what they know about their enemy, and what they should do with them. They speculate that the figure may be a child soldier or a product of next-level tech and wonder if Zed knows anything about it.