The square remains busy around Alex, Claire, and Mara, with buses sighing at the curb and pedestrians threading past. The sealed envelope rests safely inside Alex’s coat.
Mara Ellis
Mercer believed he was preserving a controlled escape route. If the shell company collapsed, the signed instructions could expose who authorized the pressure campaign without forcing his assistants to testify first.
Mara Ellis
He kept records because he expected the truth to become useful someday, not because he planned to make amends. That distinction matters. He was protecting leverage and people at the same time.
Claire
It sounds like Alex forced a door open without becoming the person Mercer expected to find behind it. The envelope may clarify the facts, but it does not make Mercer trustworthy.
Mara nods and steps backward toward the walkway, keeping her hands visible. She gives Claire and Alex space, clearly intending to leave before the document becomes part of Nina’s legal process.
Mara Ellis
I will leave you to the lawyer. I wanted the envelope delivered properly, and I wanted you to know Mercer’s motives were complicated, not noble. Please do not include me unless Nina says it is necessary.
Claire
That is fair. Alex and I are trying to build something ordinary, and ordinary means letting the evidence speak through the right channels instead of collecting every crisis personally.
“"I'll leave your name out, unless I absolutely must, I assure you," you say kindly. "Besides, if what you say is true, and I've no reason to believe doubt it at present, this will answer a few questions that may make a few people's lives much easier. If I have need, I'll reach you." With that, you escort Claire out of the square, hailing a cab. Tapping the button on your smart glasses, you clear your throat gently, lighting a smoke as you issue your command. "Jarvis, initiate group call, Nina and Tommy." Jarvis confirms in his snarky British accent, and soon you hear the ringing. Nina picks up first, and Tommy joins a moment later. "Sorry to put you both together in this, but I need to see you both as early as possible tomorrow morning. I just got delivered a smoking gun from Mercer's from head administrator. And I have a feeling this will answer some questions for all of us."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Alex Mishyma
I'll leave your name out, unless I absolutely must, I assure you. If what you say is true, this may answer questions and make several lives easier. If I need you, I'll reach you.
Alex escorts Claire from the square, keeping the sealed envelope secure inside his coat. He hails a cab, lights a cigarette, and taps the button on his smart glasses.
Alex Mishyma
Jarvis, initiate group call, Nina and Tommy.
Jarvis
Group call initiated. Nina has answered first, and Tommy is joining now. Miraculously, everyone appears to be awake.
Alex Mishyma
Sorry to put you both together in this, but I need to see you both as early as possible tomorrow morning. I just got a smoking gun from Mercer's former head administrator, and I have a feeling it will answer questions for all of us.
Nina Patel
Understood. Bring the envelope sealed, and do not discuss its contents over the call. I can meet you and Tommy early tomorrow and document the handoff properly.
Tommy
I’ll be there, mate. If Mercer’s administrator kept a signed record, then we’ll finally have something solid enough to explain why he was leaning on my people.
“"After what I heard from thee administrator? You're closer to the mark than you think, me bruv. Talk to you both tomorrow. We meet at Nina's office. By the way, your payment for retained services should have cleared by now, Nina. Be sure to verify that for me tomorrow? I wanna make sure my legal counsel is getting paid for her diligence," you smile, taking a drag of your cigarette. As you hang up the call, Clair coms to face you, cupping your face in her hands. "Look at the man you are becoming. And you wonder why I am so proud to be yours?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
You’re closer to the mark than you think, bruv. Talk to you both tomorrow at Nina’s office. Nina, please verify my retainer payment cleared. I want my counsel paid for her diligence.
Jarvis
The meeting is confirmed for tomorrow morning at Nina’s office. Nina has acknowledged the payment-verification request, and Tommy has confirmed attendance.
Nina Patel
I’ll verify the retainer against my trust account first thing tomorrow and document the result with the handoff. Your counsel remains active.
Tommy
Tomorrow at Nina’s office, mate. I’ll bring Mercer’s pressure records, and we’ll let the sealed envelope speak for itself.
Alex ends the call and takes a drag from his cigarette. Claire turns toward him, cups his face in both hands, and studies him with open pride beneath the streetlights.
Claire
Look at the man you are becoming. And you wonder why I am so proud to be yours?
Alex Mishyma leaves Carnegie Square behind and arrives at Dev Null Cafe.
“You slip the cigarette from your lips and smile softly at her touch. "I've had some good inspiration to tread thee 'Robin Hood' path lately," you smirk. But then your eyes meet hers softly, the vibrant green of your orbs almost glowing as you smile. "You, especially. Now let's get back to the cafe and settle in for the night." Hailing a cab for both of you, you settle in and make your way back to the Dev Null Cafe.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +1)
Dev Null Cafe receives them in its familiar wash of amber screens, roasted coffee, and low electronic chatter. Dev looks up from the register as Alex and Claire enter together.
Alex Mishyma
I've had some good inspiration to tread the Robin Hood path lately. You, especially. Now let's settle in for the night.
Claire’s smile warms as she slips her fingers through his. Behind the counter, Dev sets two clean mugs down, then notices a cream-colored envelope resting beside the register.
Dev
Good timing, mate. Nina’s payment verification came through, and this arrived for you while you were out. No sender, but it was left by someone who knew the café’s public hours.
Dev keeps his hands away from the envelope. Its paper is uncreased, its seal unbroken, and a handwritten line on the front reads: For Alex Mishyma, regarding the future apartment.
Claire
That sounds important, handsome, but not urgent. We can document where it was found and let Nina decide how it enters the record.
Dev
Your call, mate. The café is quiet, the safehouse is ready, and nobody gets to turn tonight into another emergency unless you invite them.
The envelope waits beneath the café lights while Claire leans comfortably against Alex’s shoulder. For once, the night offers warmth, privacy, and a choice before the next problem speaks.
“Tapping the button on your glasses, you take several pictures of the envelope before carefully slipping it beside the one from Mara. "You know how I love paperwork," you sigh, shaking your head. Glancing at the mugs, you smile. "Thanks Dev, it's definitely been a day. Can't say yet it's been a bad one, and I've no plan to do anything but enjoy a coffee, and binge watch the Wednesday season one with Claire after," you smirk as Dev fills your mugs.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Investigation, rolled +2)
Alex taps the button on his glasses and photographs the cream-colored envelope from several angles. He slips it carefully beside Mara’s sealed envelope, preserving both without opening either.
Alex Mishyma
You know how I love paperwork. Thanks, Dev. It’s definitely been a day, but I can’t call it a bad one. I’m doing nothing except enjoying coffee and binge-watching Wednesday season one with Claire.
Dev fills the two mugs, setting Alex’s coffee within easy reach and Claire’s beside it. The two envelopes remain together under the café lights, documented and untouched.
Dev
That sounds like the right plan, mate. Coffee first, terrible television decisions second, and paperwork only when you’ve actually chosen to look at it.
Claire
Agreed, handsome. We can let the envelopes wait while we reclaim one ordinary night. I’ll handle the snacks, and you are not allowed to call the show research.
Claire takes her mug and guides Alex toward the safehouse entrance, glancing back once at the paired envelopes. Dev keeps them in view behind the register as the café settles around them.
Dev
Enjoy the quiet, you two. I’ll keep the envelopes exactly where they are, and I’ll call Nina if either one suddenly develops a habit of walking away.
+ New Item Acquired
Future apartment envelope
✓ Quest Accepted
Keep the café and safehouse secure
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify who is testing Dev Null’s service entrance
undefined / undefined
The safehouse door has barely closed when the café’s rear-entry chime sounds twice, then stops. Above, Dev’s security panel clicks into a restricted alert, and the quiet changes shape.
Dev
That door is locked, mate. Nobody should be testing it tonight.
Claire
Then we stay here until we know who is outside. No opening doors, no assumptions, and no separating.
A muted vibration travels through the safehouse wall. Dev’s panel reports a pressure change at the service corridor, while the two documented envelopes remain visible behind the counter.
Dev
I’m checking cameras only. The rear corridor feed just went dark, but the café’s front cameras are still clean.
Jarvis
An external device has connected to the café’s public network. I cannot identify the device, but its signal is stationary near the service entrance.
Claire shifts closer to Alex, listening as a faint scrape sounds beyond the concealed access. Upstairs, Dev reaches for the manual alarm switch but waits, leaving the next move unresolved.
“"Claire, stay with Dev. I'm going to see who this is trying to breach our peace." You can see she is about to tell you not to, but you smile and kiss her gently. "Just trust me. Dev, house lockdown," you say as you exit the front doors, and head down the alley towards the service entrance, just past where the staff entrance lies. You steel yourself, leaning against the wall, and look down the small corridor to the service entrance, your fists already balled tightly.”
SUCCESS (Good Perception, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
Claire, stay with Dev. I’m going to see who’s trying to breach our peace. Just trust me. Dev, house lockdown.
Claire starts to object, but Alex smiles and kisses her gently before turning away. Dev moves to the security controls as Alex exits through the front doors toward the service alley.
Dev
House lockdown engaged, mate. Claire stays with me, and I’ll keep the café sealed while you check the corridor.
Alex reaches the alley and leans against the wall beside the staff entrance. From the shadowed corridor, he can see a young adult woman in a dark hooded jacket crouched at the service door, one gloved hand testing its lock.
Jarvis
The stationary device is within arm’s reach of the service entrance. I identify one person at the door, with no second signal detected nearby.
The woman pauses at Jarvis’s announcement and turns her face toward Alex. Her hood frames a tense young adult woman with cropped black hair, a narrow scar through one eyebrow, and a compact canvas satchel.
Lena Ortiz
You’re Alex Mishyma. I’m not here to hurt anyone, but I need to talk before whoever sent me realizes I stopped moving.
“"Then you better talk quick. You are on a timeline for an ass-kicking for trying to invade on my sanctuary," you say, keeping your hands ready at your sides.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Alex Mishyma
Then you better talk quick. You are on a timeline for an ass-kicking for trying to invade my sanctuary.
Alex keeps his hands ready at his sides, his stance controlled but unmistakably threatening. The woman releases the lock and slowly rises, keeping both gloved hands visible.
Lena Ortiz
Fair. I’m Lena Ortiz. I was sent to confirm whether the envelopes behind that counter were still there, not to take them or hurt anyone.
The service door remains shut between them. Through the alley, the café’s locked interior is visible only in fragments, while the device near Lena’s hand gives a faint status blink.
Lena Ortiz
The sender called himself Rourke’s replacement, but he used details only someone watching this place would know. He said the cream envelope was bait and Mara Ellis’s envelope was the real target.
Lena Ortiz
I stopped because I saw the lockdown and realized this was not a clean retrieval. If you want proof, I’ll show you the message and disconnect the device right now, in the open.
Lena turns her phone screen outward without stepping closer. The displayed message contains a photograph of Dev Null’s rear entrance, a payment amount, and a deadline set for tonight.
Quest Complete
Identify who is testing Dev Null’s service entrance
Attribute Upgrade: Perception Good→Great
“"You can tell whoever hired you, both envelopes are in safe, legal custody being reviewed. And that was an impressive device you used to attempt to breach us. Hand it over, and no police will be involved while you make a lucky getaway." You hold out your hand: it was not a request.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Alex Mishyma
Tell whoever hired you both envelopes are in safe, legal custody under review. Hand over the device, and no police get involved while you make a lucky getaway.
Alex holds out his hand and does not raise his voice. Behind the locked door, Claire stays with Dev while the café cameras preserve the exchange.
Lena Ortiz
Understood. The envelopes are not worth getting arrested over, and neither is the payment. You made the terms clear.
Lena disconnects the small device from the service lock and places it in Alex’s open palm. The status light dies, leaving only the phone displaying Rourke’s message.
Lena Ortiz
It is a commercial relay and contact sensor, modified to report connection attempts and pressure on the lock. Nothing exotic, but whoever supplied it knew this entrance mattered.
The service corridor remains quiet. Lena backs away from the door, hands visible, while the café lockdown holds and Alex now has the device for lawful examination.
Quest Complete
Keep the café and safehouse secure
Skill Upgrade: Athletics Good→Great
+ New Item Acquired
Relay contact sensor
“"You're free to go. Though, if you are ever looking for more meaningful employment? Seek out Tommy at the Lamplight Pub. Tell him Alex sent you, and to contact me if and when you arrive." You nod towards the open alley and begin to walk back to the entrance. "Hold on... just like that, you're offering me a job?" The woman askes clearly stunned. You smile back. "That depends on if yer willing to accept the offer. Jarvis, text Dev: Green light." You make your way back to the front doors of the cafe. Everyone in the elite section, and even the less-famous regulars are gazing at you speechlessly. You head back to the counter, rejoining Deev and Claire, and grab your coffee as you light a smoke. You slide the relay device to Dev. "Impressive little bit of modified tech," you say, taking a deep gulp of coffee, and then a long drag of your smoke.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Alex Mishyma
You’re free to go. If you want more meaningful work, find Tommy at the Lamplight Pub, tell him Alex sent you, and have him contact me.
Lena Ortiz
Hold on. Just like that, you’re offering me a job?
Alex Mishyma
That depends on whether you’re willing to accept the offer. Jarvis, text Dev: Green light.
Jarvis
Message sent. Dev has received the green light.
Lena lowers her phone, stunned, then turns toward the open alley. Alex walks back to the café entrance, while every elite patron and regular inside watches in speechless silence.
Lena Ortiz
I’ll find Tommy. And if he says you sent me, I’ll take the chance.
Back at the counter, Alex rejoins Dev and Claire, takes up his coffee, lights a cigarette, and slides the relay device across. Dev studies it before looking up with a wary grin.
Alex Mishyma
Impressive little bit of modified tech. I’m glad it’s in your hands now.
Dev
Green light accepted, mate. But you just spent one of my favors with Tommy, and my name is now attached to Lena’s first impression. I’ll vouch for her once, not blindly.
“"Wouldn't ask you to put your neck out for me, Dev. You do that enough. I'll handle Tommy. Just take your time to analyze this device and tell me how a piece of consumer-grad software nearly breached our firewalls. You know I don't take Claire's safety lightly. Granted, the physical security would have put the intruder through their paces to get in... but the fact that they could have potentially shut us down with this device concerns me greatly."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
I wouldn’t ask you to put your neck out for me, Dev. You do that enough. I’ll handle Tommy. Take your time analyzing this device and tell me how consumer-grade software threatened our firewalls. Claire’s safety comes first.
Dev
Fair enough, mate. I’ll analyze it properly, and you can handle Tommy without spending another favor of mine. Claire’s safety is exactly why I’m not treating this as a clever toy.
Dev carries the relay device to the isolated workbench, photographs its ports and casing, then places it in a shielded analysis pouch before connecting it to a clean café workstation.
Dev
Here’s the answer: it did not break the firewall. It authenticated through the café’s public network, then abused a management feature that should never have been exposed across that network boundary.
A diagnostic screen shows repeated connection attempts, a valid commercial relay certificate, and requests aimed at the access controller rather than the protected safehouse systems. Dev isolates the vulnerable path and disables the exposed feature.
Dev
The firewalls held, but the controller trusted traffic from the wrong segment. I’ve separated the management plane, revoked the relay’s certificate path, and added a rule blocking this entire device family.
Claire
So the danger was the café trusting a convenience feature, not Lena possessing some impossible technology. Good. Fix the trust boundary, and then we decide what Tommy needs from us.
✓ Quest Accepted
Have Tommy meet Lena Ortiz lawfully
“"Now the only real question becomes, who programmed this device? I mean, it's amateur, but it's clever. That tells me it was someone smart enough to not only know their stuff about programming but knew enough to exploit our internal weakness." Your eyes gently drift towards the elites, then back to Dev and Claire. "I am almost positive wee have a mole in the cafe."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +0)
Alex Mishyma
Now the only real question is who programmed this device. It is amateur, but clever. Someone understood programming, our systems, and the weakness inside them. I’m almost certain we have a mole in the café.
Alex’s eyes drift across the elite café patrons, then return to Dev and Claire. Conversation continues around them, but several customers suddenly become very still.
Dev
That is a serious accusation, mate. But the technical evidence supports the first half: whoever built it knew our controller architecture and chose the public-network boundary deliberately.
Claire
Then we do not accuse anyone from a glance. We compare access logs, device exposure, and who knew about the service entrance. If there is a mole, the records should narrow the field.
Dev turns the clean workstation toward them and opens the controller audit history. A short list of internal sessions appears beside the relay’s certificate requests, with one account accessing the management panel shortly before the intrusion.
Dev
There. The relay did not discover the weakness by itself. Someone authenticated to the management panel, changed the exposure setting, and left the public path available. That required internal credentials.
Claire
So Alex’s suspicion is confirmed as a working theory, not proof against a person. We preserve this, restrict access, and find whose credentials opened the door.
“"We preserve this, yes, but we handle this in-house. What terminal did that authentication come from, Dev? I'm handling this right now."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +4)
Alex Mishyma
We preserve this, yes, but we handle this in-house. What terminal did that authentication come from, Dev? I'm handling this right now.
Dev swivels the clean workstation toward Alex and keeps Claire beside him. The audit panel expands from the short session list into controller-level records, timestamps, and terminal identifiers.
Alex filters the management-panel authentication against the relay’s certificate request, matching the access window instead of relying on the account label. One result resolves immediately: Terminal 3, the café’s public gaming station near the rear service corridor.
Dev
Terminal 3. The account was authenticated at 8:14 p.m., then the exposure setting changed thirty-eight seconds later. That is our source, mate.
The record yields more than the terminal number. Alex finds a preserved local session token and a camera index linked to the same interval, giving Dev a direct path to identify who occupied the station.
Claire
That is concrete. We can preserve the token, pull the matching camera segment, and question whoever used Terminal 3 without accusing the whole room.
Dev
I’ll lock the terminal, preserve the logs, and isolate the camera clip. Nobody gets warned until we know whether the credential owner and the person at Terminal 3 are the same.
+ New Item Acquired
Relay device
“You sigh, the adrenaline from your encounter with Lena and this finally burning away, and you nod. "There's gonna be a day where I get to see the old you in action again, bruv. I genuinely look forward to it. But now that things are contained, Claire and I are headed to relax. Text if anything comes up," you say with a smile, clapping Dev on the shoulder firmly. "You know I have yer back."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +2)
Alex Mishyma
There’s gonna be a day where I get to see the old you in action again, bruv. I genuinely look forward to it. But now that things are contained, Claire and I are headed to relax. Text if anything comes up. You know I have yer back.
Alex sighs as the last of the adrenaline drains away, then claps Dev firmly on the shoulder. Dev accepts the reassurance with a tired smile while Claire waits close by.
Dev
I know you’ve got my back, mate. And I’ve got yours. Go take the night off before you find another crisis hiding in the furniture.
Claire
Come on, handsome. We are officially relaxing, and I am holding you to that promise. No chasing leads, no interrogations, and no heroic detours.
Claire takes Alex’s hand and guides him toward the safehouse entrance. Dev turns back to the isolated workstation, keeping Terminal 3 locked while the preserved camera segment loads.
Dev
I’ll text if anything comes up. For tonight, the café is contained, the evidence is preserved, and you two are off duty.
The safehouse door closes behind Alex and Claire, muting the café’s activity. Upstairs, Dev begins reviewing the camera clip while they disappear into the quiet below.
“Picking up the tv remote, you turn on Netflix, and open Wednesday season one, putting the first episode on pause. "Well miss, you did say you would be on sack detail?" you smirk gently, wrapping your arms around her waist. "Anything gummy works for me, but get what you like too."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -1)
Alex retrieves the TV remote from the safehouse table, settles beside Claire, and opens Netflix. Wednesday season one loads, and he pauses the first episode at its opening frame.
Alex Mishyma
Well, miss, you did say you would be on snack duty? Anything gummy works for me, but get what you like too.
He wraps his arms around Claire’s waist, keeping the embrace gentle and familiar. The café’s muted security sounds remain distant beyond the sealed door.
Claire
Snack duty accepted, handsome. I’ll get a gummy mix we can share, and you are not allowed to call candy a balanced meal.
Claire reaches for the snack basket, choosing gummy candies and a few salty sides before returning to the couch. She places them within easy reach beside their drinks.
Claire
There. Episode paused, snacks ready, and no investigations until the credits roll. Now come here and watch with me.
Claire tucks herself against Alex’s side as the paused episode waits on-screen. Above them, Dev continues his review, but the safehouse holds a quiet pocket of ordinary time.
“You resume the episode as you both snuggle into each other, and for a time, the world ceases to be anything more than the two of you in this quiet pocket of peace. Jarvis' voice in your ear indicates an incoming call from Tommy. You sigh, pausing the episode. "Sorry love. Accept call." Tommy's voice pipes in. "You've sent me some right curveballs, boyo, but this one, she's a canny one. I take it less than gentle persuasion was involved, eh?" you hear him chuckle. "Hardly Tommy. Just offered an olive branch to a dove who was flying in the wrong direction. Make her a part of your security detail at the pub. And thank me later. Now, I'm going back to time with my lady. Get at me tomorrow, ya big heap, and lemme know how she fits in."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
The episode resumes, and Alex and Claire settle into each other as the safehouse narrows to shared warmth, quiet breathing, and the glow of the screen.
Jarvis’s voice sounds in Alex’s ear with an incoming call from Tommy. Alex sighs, pauses the episode, and accepts before the interruption can linger.
Alex Mishyma
Sorry, love. Accept call.
Tommy
You’ve sent me some right curveballs, boyo, but this one, she’s a canny one. I take it less than gentle persuasion was involved, eh?
Alex Mishyma
Hardly, Tommy. I just offered an olive branch to a dove who was flying in the wrong direction. Make Lena part of your security detail at the pub, and thank me later.
Tommy
I’ll do it, mate. Lena gets a proper trial on the pub’s security detail, with clear duties and lawful boundaries. I’ll let you know how she fits in.
Alex Mishyma
Get at me tomorrow, ya big heap. I’m going back to time with my lady.