With his Aspect slots full again and his IP count reset to practically zero, Adam knew the grind was far from over. However, his toolkit felt fundamentally different now. The synergy between [Accelerated Calculation (B )]and [Data Packet Analysis (C)] turned his research sessions on his new laptop into highly efficient operations. Raw data streams, encrypted communication fragments, complex financial reports – information that was previously opaque noise now resolved into discernible patterns and structures under his focused analysis.
Simultaneously, he pushed the boundaries of his physical capabilities, driven by the potent B+ Aspect, [Shadow Instinct]. His nights were spent on the rooftops of Brooklyn. Parkour that would have been suicidal weeks ago became feasible. The Aspect provided near-precognitive awareness of his immediate environment – loose shingles, unstable ledges, the optimal angle for a jump – while enhancing his agility and balance to execute movements with fluid grace.
He practiced the 'shadow melding,' learning to use ambient darkness as camouflage, becoming incredibly difficult to spot when still. The passive micro-reactions saved him from several near-falls during risky maneuvers, his body adjusting instinctively before his conscious mind even registered the danger.
He tried repeatedly to consciously activate the short-range 'danger teleportation' but failed every time; it remained a purely reactive, last-ditch defense tied to imminent physical harm, and the memory of the draining sensation after the book incident made him wary of testing it further without cause.
His enhanced analytical combo soon flagged a new target, significantly more ambitious than his previous intel hunts. Sifting through heavily redacted public shipping manifests and cross-referencing them with fragmented, partially deciphered chatter scraped from dark web forums (accessed with extreme caution), [Accelerated Calculation] highlighted a high probability of an upcoming illegal arms transfer at the Red Hook container terminals – Dock 17, specifically. The chatter mentioned "specialized hardware" and used coded language his AC[1], aided by DPA's ability to parse unusual data structures, tentatively linked to black market dealings involving advanced, possibly experimental, weaponry. The transfer window seemed to be between 02:00 and 04:00, two nights from now.
This was leagues beyond predicting patent disputes or finding minor software bugs. This was high-stakes, potentially involving dangerous, well-equipped organizations. But the potential IP reward could catapult him much closer to his next fusion goal. The System confirmed his assessment.
[High-Risk Intel Quest: Dockside Delivery]
[Objective: Infiltrate Dock 17 during the suspected transfer window (approx. 02:00-04:00). Obtain definitive proof (video/photo) of the illegal arms transfer, identify participants if possible, and exfiltrate undetected.]
[Reward: 600 IP, 1x B-Rank Lottery Chance, Potential Bonus IP based on identification of parties involved.]
[Failure Penalty: High probability of lethal engagement.]
600 IP baseline, plus another B-Rank draw. Worth the risk, he decided. He spent the next 48 hours preparing. His AC analyzed dock blueprints, security patrol timings gleaned from online forums and observation, even tidal charts and weather forecasts – predicting light fog for the target night, which would aid his infiltration. He planned his route meticulously, leveraging [Shadow Instinct]'s movement potential – scaling container stacks, using service gantries, sticking to the deepest shadows. He upgraded his burner phone to one with better zoom and low-light video capability.
The target night arrived, cool and damp, with the promised fog rolling in off the water, muffling sounds and reducing visibility – perfect conditions. Adam moved like a wraith through the industrial landscape. Reaching the Dock 17 perimeter, the high fences and security cameras seemed less daunting now. [Shadow Instinct] guided him, its passive awareness highlighting guard movements and camera blind spots, while its active agility allowed him to scale a corrugated metal wall and drop silently into the sprawling container yard.
He navigated the maze of stacked containers, his movements swift and silent, his Danger Intuition component providing a constant, low-level awareness of the few patrolling guards. He found his chosen vantage point – atop a large loading crane, nestled amongst the machinery, offering a commanding, shadowed view of the quay below. He settled in, activating his phone's camera.
Around 02:30, a nondescript coastal freighter eased into the dock, its lights dimmed. Shortly after, a convoy of three heavy, armored-looking trucks arrived on the quay, men in dark tactical gear disembarking and forming a secure perimeter. The ship's cargo hatch opened. Under portable floodlights, crates were carefully unloaded – larger, more robust than the ones at the substation, some bearing stenciled markings that Adam frantically zoomed in on. His AC processed the partial symbols – not HYDRA, not A.I.M., but reminiscent of… Hammer Industries? Or possibly the Ten Rings insignia he vaguely recalled from Stark's early history?
He recorded continuously, capturing the faces of the men (mostly masked, but some weren't), the crates, the vehicles, the ship's name barely visible on the stern. This was high-grade military hardware being moved illicitly.
He needed a closer look, a clearer shot of the leader who was directing the operation from near the gangway, or a better view of those crate markings. Taking a calculated risk, he began descending the crane's ladder, using [Shadow Instinct] to meld with the shadows and move silently. He got about halfway down, finding a new perch behind some stacked pallets closer to the action.
Suddenly, one of the guards near the truck stiffened, his head snapping up, peering directly towards Adam's hiding spot. Had he made a noise? A flicker of movement? Adam froze, activating shadow melding to its fullest, barely daring to breathe. The guard raised his weapon, a futuristic-looking rifle, its targeting laser momentarily sweeping across Adam's position.
Imminent Threat Detected!
Before the guard could fire, before Adam could consciously react, the world lurched. A disorienting spatial flicker, accompanied by a sharp wave of fatigue, shifted him instantly about ten feet to his left, deeper into the absolute darkness between two large containers. The guard, likely seeing only empty shadow where he thought he saw movement, hesitated, lowered his rifle slightly, and eventually turned away, shaking his head.
Adam leaned against the cold metal of the container, his breath catching, the draining after-effect of the reflexive teleport washing over him. That was way too close. He had the primary evidence, but pushing for better identification wasn't worth getting killed. He carefully, silently, retreated, using the fog and shadows, his enhanced movement making his exfiltration swift and unseen.
Once clear of the docks, he found a secure location and uploaded the encrypted footage and his analysis (flagging the possible Hammer/Ten Rings connection) to an international arms trafficking watchdog platform he'd researched.
[Quest Complete: Dockside Delivery]
[Intel Quality Assessed: Very High (Clear video evidence of advanced arms transfer, partial identification of potential faction). Bonus IP Awarded.]
[Reward: 600 IP + 200 Bonus IP, 1x B-Rank Lottery Chance Awarded.]
[Current IP: 805]
805 IP. Another B-Rank draw. He'd done it again, surviving a much more dangerous encounter and significantly boosting his resources. The close call with the guard, however, and the jarring, costly nature of the danger teleport served as potent reminders. [Shadow Instinct] was powerful, but it wasn't invincibility. He needed more – more IP, more Aspects, more power – before the real players took the stage.
[1] Accepted Code