Daniel Duong

**Daniel Duong** is a prominent individual in the state of Virginia as part of a secret law enforcement agency, the Manassas City Counter Terrorism Unit. Daniel enrolled in Osbourn High School in 2017 who later joined the Unit in 2018. Now in 2024, he is a college senior, attending Elite University in Elite City, Virginia. At the Unit, he is the leader for Raven Team, the Unit's special reaction team. He is considered one of the best Agents the Unit has ever had by his peers. In the aftermath of the Elite University shooting, Daniel pursued Cassus Stiltdriver who boarded a plane to Canada. Daniel successfully stopped Cassus but at the cost of crash-landing the plane somewhere in the East Coast. Though Cassus was killed, Daniel survived and suffered a serious head injury where he had amnesia, who went under the moniker, Daniel Trasmen, and lived in Rochestor, New York as a bar-tender and later became a vigilante investigating the rogue private military company, Rogue Coyotes.

## Biography

### Early-life

Daniel, born to his two Vietnamese parents, lived in Manassas, Virginia in his youth and his teenage years. Daniel also has a younger brother, Kevin, who is only two years younger than him. He has traveled across the Eastern Seaboard, to include New York and Florida. When he was 10 years old, he has travelled to his country of origin, Vietnam, visiting family. As a child, Daniel had a rather quiet yet chaotic childhood, often causing trouble at his elementary school without knowing his actions, and often horseplay with his younger brother, Kevin. During middle school, he was often hanging with a group of kids he did not consider friends. Growing up, his parents were often hard on him, teaching him responsibility and always pushing him to be good at school, but sometimes he would rebel, making the case he couldn't be smart as the other students. Unironically, Daniel always theorized he has some level of dyslexia or dyscalculia, but never actually got a professional diagnosis.

### High-School Career

Throughout his four years of high-school, Daniel continued to be a quiet person, but then later began to socialize more with his group of friends that he is now in college with. Daniel's parents continued to push him to be a good student, while also adding on that he must find something to do instead of "sitting around the house and playing video games." This turned him to Osbourn's new Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp program, where he enrolled in the class. The Corp is where he met Jakeem Calhoun and Carter Gill, where they became the school's prominent members. Although he socialized and interacted more with others, he was not anyone's romantic interest, except for one, a girl named "Kaga Starlight." As a high-school sophomore, Daniel began dating Kaga for a time until the two broke up over conflicting views and interests, including a damaging night. In the wake of the breakup, Daniel continued to harbor feelings for her, watching over her in a near obsessive way until Daniel met Cassus Stiltdriver, a new friend of Kaga that she began seeing. After realizing Cassus' unhealthy behavior of drug abuse and alcohol, which he feared would compromise Kaga, Daniel closed himself off from relationships, not knowing how to process the rest of the breakup, that was until his father found out and argued with him about the topic of girls in general. Daniel, however, continued to attend social gatherings at the school, such his Homecoming and Prom events, but Daniel was never invited to any parties by his friends, as he would rather go home and work his part-time job.

All the while, Daniel also worked with Osbourn's newspaper and media group: The Nest. He was with the Nest for four years where he became the group's number one best journalist and photographer. The school regarded him as the best of the school's time. Daniel would write political articles on the school, pieces on students and their lives and sometimes fiction stories he would share with his peers and the school. However, his fame did not come without rivals. Under his shadow, was the Nest's second top journalist: Rose Hayfield. Rose grew resentful of Daniel because of his constant success in journalism. His pieces attracted the attention of Director Saul Eckhart of the fledgling Manassas Counter Terrorism Unit.

#### Meeting Reina Hunter

Sometime during winter 2017, Cassus and Daniel get into a fight, with Daniel being the ultimate victor but was wounded. Placed in the school's infirmary, that is where he met the beautiful and smart Reina Hunter, a student nurse. Reina's status as a student nurse confused Daniel, but the two began to exchange words, talking about the fight. After being released, news of the fight spread, including Daniel being placed under the care of Reina Hunter, who's apparently the school's protégé: A student nurse given full capabilities of conducting medical treatment to students. Daniel pays no mind, as he simply thought she was just doing her job, but on the same day, Daniel attends a house party with his friends and this is where he meets Reina by chance again, after running into Cassus and Reina's crush, Alex. The two escape the party together and relax at a park overlooking Elite City. Daniel and Reina talk, and for the first time, his heart locked out of fear of rejection, was penetrated by Reina, who thanked him for saving her. The two slowly become friends, but during this time, Reina is part of an organization she swore to keep secret, which caused her to remain distant from Daniel for a time, which made Daniel afraid again. Upon returning to school, Daniel decided to write a student profile article on Reina Hunter, but she refused as she did not like articles being wrote about her; Daniel then promised the article was for himself.

Throughout his summer break, Daniel and Reina became closer with each other and eventually started dating. Daniel introduced Reina to his parents. Daniel's mom particularly shows affection for Reina, while his father remains cautious but accepting of her. The two's relationship budded into a healthy one, one with its rough patches and difficulties. Reina struggled to keep her job in the MCCTU a secret, while balancing her life as the high school's resident nurse and being there for Daniel. One of their most memorable dates was when the two went to Washington D.C. during Blossom season in March 2018. Daniel and Reina's families became very close, being open to each other's cultures and traditions.

#### Joining the Counter Terrorism Unit

Shortly before beginning his sophomore year, Daniel was approached by former D.C. Metro and Marine veteran, Saul Eckhart, to join his unorthodox law enforcement agency: the Manassas City Counter Terrorism Unit. Saul promised the young boy a career after high school, and enrollment in the upcoming Elite University. Daniel, who had no real obligation to join, took a week to decide on joining. Given a tour, Daniel discovered Reina's secret: she was the Chief Medical Specialist in the Unit. The two immediately came to blows, arguing why Reina kept the truth from him, but she explained that anyone she told that she was in the Unit would put others at risk. Daniel accepted Saul's offer, based on the personal reason he wanted to be there with Reina because of a promise their mothers told them to keep: To protect each other. Daniel swore in on his 15th birthday, just in time before the start of his sophomore year. He met other young high-school students, such as Henry Rake, Quintus Mereel and Davish Wayland, all three of which he would become good friends with. Daniel was given the freedom to choose his number designation, which had to be three digits. Henceforth, he chose 115, and he became Agent 115. Agent Henry Rake "099", quickly asserted his masculine dominance over Daniel, who in comparison by size, was much smaller.

The four young boys would go on to finally form Raven Team.

Daniel was assigned to be part of the Unit's Intelligence department, which was spear-headed by young 18-year-old Stella Steele. A year as a technical exploitation and evidence analyst, Daniel was tasked with collecting and providing intelligence to Steele's department to which she, reluctantly, fed to the local police department and other three letter agencies. Daniel had wondered why the Counter Terrorism Unit did not have a dedicated special response team to combat terrorism. Saul had explained to him that the Unit did, but did not disclose any details.

#### The Tragedy

One year in the Unit, Daniel, now a junior, was successful in keeping his job a secret from his family and school friends. Having been taught combative, handgun and carbine firearm training, Daniel felt physically and mentally more powerful than his peers and enemies, especially Cassus Stiltdriver. The two would again get into a short brawl only to be stopped by Reina Hunter, who intervened. Osbourn High School had notified Daniel's parents where he and his father got into an argument about why he was fighting. Daniel explained the full story, about how it connected with his ex-girlfriend, Kaga Starlight who had started dating Cassus just to piss off Daniel. Enraged, Daniel's father scolded Daniel for letting such trivial things affect him. Later that week, with emotions running in the family, Daniel and his parents went to go grocery shopping but were tragically involved in a serious vehicle accident which resulted in the death of Daniel's mother. His father however, sustained life-threatening injuries. During an emotional conversation, between father and son, Daniel's father revealed to him that he and his mother knew about his job at the Counter Terrorism Unit. Asking how they knew, Daniel's father explained Reina told the truth due in part that the promise made by Reina and Daniel's mother extended to family, and that lying would eventually destroy everyone. Daniel's father succumbed to his injuries, leaving Daniel and his younger brother orphaned. The two boys suffered depression and became lost without the guidance of their parents. Kevin Duong would go to live with their step-grandparents in Rochestor, New York by court order. Daniel was almost court ordered to go as well, but Director Saul Eckhart convinced the judge to let Daniel stay and continue his work in the Unit. The brothers relationship fractured after they separated, effectively leaving Daniel alone by himself.

### College Career

A year later, Daniel enrolled in college in June 2021 attending Elite University, the newly, multi-million dollar institute known for top of the line instructors and robust programs. The death of Daniel's parents motivated Daniel to go, as one of his mother's wishes was to go to school and learn. He would often wave off their lectures and talks about becoming an adult, and that having a job was critical to success. Even though Daniel was often annoyed at his parents' constant lectures, he took them into consideration. Daniel began to study Criminal Justice for his Bachelor's degree and Associate of the Arts in Elite University. Because Elite University was new, offering a plethora of robust courses and degrees in the major fields, most of the highschool students in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia area, enrolled in Elite University to include Kaga and Cassus who continued to torment Daniel. As a freshman, he stuck with two friends, Julio Pineda and Henry Tran, while also interacting with Caleb, Jakeem and Carter. He often felt as a fourth wheel to them as the three went onto conduct Carter's plan to become the college student president. Carter even offered Daniel to be on the ticket for the student vice presidency, but Daniel declined, saying he'd rather write about the politics instead of practicing it. Daniel joined Elite University's newspaper group: The Talon, and again, he proved to be one of the top journalists like he was in high school. Rose Hayfield, again, lived under Daniel's shadow. Daniel considered his first three years in college to be average, comparing it to his days in highschool as an average student with an average social life.

However, life as a college student would turn into a nightmare for most of the college, as Elite University suddenly enforced harsh rules and standards, such as giving detention to students who were late to class, kicking them out of course for failing exams and being hazed by the professors. These hardships created The True Eagles, a collection of oppressed students that sought to remove the University administration and the student presidency. Daniel wrote about both sides, the True Eagles and the University's unjust policies, but Rose Hayfield decided to capitalize on the chaos and convince the administration to bar Daniel from the Talon after considering his work defamatory and fallacious. The administration officially removed Daniel from the Talon so he couldn't write anymore of his pieces, which made Rose Hayfield the top journalist for the Talon. Occasionally, Daniel works as a freelance journalist, conducting independents pieces, and from time to time, he still works on his fiction writing. Sometime in Summer 2024, Daniel along with the members of Raven Team were promoted to Field Agents; they became the Unit's first direct action team that specializes in counter-terrorism, counter-surveillance, hostage rescue and wet work. However, this promotion was a blessing and a curse for him, as it allowed Daniel to perform his leadership skills and become a proficient field agent, at the cost of keeping his college life balanced. When the True Eagles became a fully-fledged organization, Daniel was tasked to investigate them and their leader, Maggie Sudduth, a low-level student turned political leader. Soon, Daniel's studies started to deteriorate as the investigation into the True Eagles turned problematic when Raven Team conducted a raid on a house suspected to have illegally seized weapons, which were in possession of a True Eagles student. Daniel further conducted his investigations by interviewing Maggie under the guise of his freelance journalist work. All the while, Daniel continued to combat domestic terrorism for the Unit while investigating the True Eagles and gathering evidence to prove there is threat of domestic terrorism.

### Personality and Traits

As a child, Daniel was often rebellious and preferred to do things his way, and despite being pushed by his parents to be better and be academically smart, he would brush them off but still do what was asked of him anyways. He was also shy in front of others, and did not want to interact with other kids until his days at middle school. His lack of social skills somewhat carry over to his days in highschool, which is shown after his failed relationship with Kaga Starlight. Some of his father's tendencies, such as yelling and the critical aspect of responsibility, also show in Daniel, along with his mother's tendencies of being overprotective, all of which, are demonstrated in Daniel's failed relationship as well.

In college, Daniel's less socially awkward, now having a new group of friends, but would still prefer to keep to himself. Through his father's aggression and determination, Daniel turned that in a form of anger whenever he encountered a particular problem that would be bugging him, such as Cassus' constant taunting him about his ex-girlfriend. Despite his hidden anger, Daniel is usually a self-tempered individual, wishing to avoid battles he didn't need to get into, but when pushed to a certain point, he does not hesitate to stand for himself.

After meeting Reina Hunter, his fear of scaring off Reina slowly goes away, as he and she discover they're both similar to one another, and as they get comfortable with each other, Daniel learns how to properly take care of his now significant other.