The New Identity

Dean stood outside a rundown building on the outskirts of the city, his mind racing with everything that was about to unfold. He'd just left the briefing with Rourke, who had made it crystal clear that failure wasn't an option. Now, Dean had to take the next step—establishing a cover that would get him close to Thalia's Gang.

The door creaked open, revealing a small office with minimal decoration and a cluttered desk. Behind it sat a man in his late thirties, his face hidden behind a pair of thick, round glasses. His name was Victor Slate, and he was one of the best at what he did: creating identities out of thin air.

Victor didn't stand up as Dean entered, just gestured to the chair across from him. "You're Voight, right?"

"Yeah. I need a new name. Something that'll help me get into a criminal gang without raising any suspicion." Dean sat down, his posture straight, but his mind still focused on the mission ahead.

Victor didn't seem phased by the request. "I can do that. It's what I do. You want a fresh identity, so you're starting from scratch. The name needs to be solid. A few criminal contacts on the street have to buy it. I'm thinking Daniel Ross. Simple, common. No red flags."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Ross? Not the most creative, but if it works, it works."

Victor pulled a file from the side of his desk and opened it. "Ross will work. You need to disappear, so this is the easiest option. I'll provide the backstory—you're a guy from out of town, no one too special, a couple of minor run-ins with the law but nothing major. Just enough to make you seem... credible. You don't want to be too clean, or they'll think you're hiding something."

Dean nodded, his eyes narrowing as Victor continued to explain the details. The more he heard, the more he could tell this wouldn't be just about pretending to be a criminal—it was about blending in so well that he could pull the wool over their eyes.

Victor slid a piece of paper across the desk. "Here's the new identity. It's not perfect, but it'll get you in. Your criminal record's light enough to get you by without raising too many eyebrows."

Dean picked it up and scanned it quickly—Daniel Ross, born in a nearby city, now living under a fake address in a rough part of town. It was a story that would make sense, especially to people who had nothing to question it.

"I'll also set up some connections for you—people who'll vouch for your street cred. You'll need to gain the trust of Thalia's people, and that's going to take time. But with this, you won't stand out."

Dean felt the weight of the mission settle on his shoulders. A new identity meant a whole new life, and he'd have to live this lie for as long as it took. He had no choice. If he wanted to bring down Thalia's Gang, this was the only way in.

"Thanks," he said, standing up. "How soon can I get it?"

Victor smirked, pulling out a small card from his drawer. "It's all set. The documents, the story, everything you need to start fresh. Just remember—if you blow this, you're on your own."

Dean didn't need to hear that again. He took the card, the weight of it heavy in his hand, and turned toward the door.

As he stepped out, he couldn't help but feel a sense of finality. The man he used to be—the real Dean Voight—was gone. In his place was Daniel Ross, a criminal with a past that no one could question. Now it was time to dive in deep, to gain Thalia's trust, and to do what he was trained to do: bring down the syndicate.

The game had officially begun.