Earth Identity

Ethan and Gabriel finally arrived in town, the tranquility of their journey abruptly replaced by the lingering tension from their recent demonic encounter. The small Alaskan settlement bustled with an oppressive energy, its narrow streets lined with worn buildings, faded advertisements, and holographic billboards that flickered erratically. Drones hovered silently overhead, their cameras constantly scanning the citizens below, reinforcing EarthCorp's pervasive surveillance.

As they navigated the crowded sidewalks, Ethan felt increasingly self-conscious. His enhanced senses heightened every sound, every whisper, and his skin tingled with a faint ethereal glow that seemed painfully conspicuous under the town's harsh neon lighting. He glanced nervously at Gabe, who moved confidently beside him, eyes calmly scanning their surroundings.

A sudden gentle chime echoed in Ethan's mind:

System Notification: New Mission – Create Earth Identity for Gabriel

Completion Reward: 15 XP

"We need to get you an Earth identity, Gabe," Ethan murmured urgently, his voice barely audible above the hum of distant machinery and electronic chatter. "Without a TapWatch and Pad, you won't be able to function here at all."

Gabe nodded, his emerald eyes fixed intently on the prominent Citizen Services building ahead—a towering concrete structure illuminated by harsh LED lights, its facade covered in holographic warnings and EarthCorp propaganda. "Let's start there."

Ethan hesitated, swallowing nervously. "Gabe, I've never hacked directly into EarthCorp. Technically, it's impossible—no one's ever successfully breached their core security. If I fail, we'll trigger every alarm they have. It's a massive risk."

Gabe reached out and gently took Ethan's hand, causing Ethan to blush slightly and smile. "I have faith in you, Ethan. You were chosen for specific reasons. I have a feeling this is one of them," Gabe said reassuringly, guiding Ethan toward the building.As they stepped into the crowded Citizen Services office, Ethan felt a surge of anxiety. Lines of people stretched around the room, their faces weary and tense as automated screens rapidly processed their information. Guards in dark uniforms watched the crowd, their hands resting ominously on high-tech weapons. Ethan's heartbeat quickened; this was the true heart of EarthCorp's control, where every citizen's life was meticulously documented and monitored.

"Follow me," Ethan whispered, directing Gabe toward an empty terminal tucked away in a dimly lit corner. Gabe casually leaned against the console, scanning their surroundings with a deceptive calmness.

Ethan took a deep breath, fingers trembling slightly as he started hacking through EarthCorp's stringent security measures. He felt his cheeks flush as Gabe's gaze shifted to him, the intensity of the brief attention making his pulse quicken.

Minutes dragged on, and sweat began trickling down Ethan's forehead as each firewall presented a fresh obstacle. Gabe leaned closer, his breath warm near Ethan's ear. "Keep going, Ethan. You can do it."

Ethan's skin tingled at Gabe's closeness, determination surging through him as his fingers danced across the keyboard. "Gabe, look into the retinal scanner!" Ethan urgently instructed, finally bypassing the last layer of security. Without hesitation, Gabe complied, his gaze steady and composed despite the intensity of the moment. The terminal briefly flashed brightly, then settled back into its standard interface.

"Identity confirmed: Gabriel Starlight," the terminal announced, dispensing a new TapWatch and TapPad. Gabe quickly secured the watch to his wrist and pocketed the TapPad, a subtle expression of relief crossing his features.

Another gentle chime sounded clearly in Ethan's mind:

System Notification: Assignment Complete – Create Earth Identity for Gabriel

Reward Earned: 15 XP

Total Points Earned: 50 of 100

Assignments Completed: 3

Current Status: Human-Angel Hybrid

System Status: Training Mode

Current Mission: Shed Your Humanity

Reward Unlocked: None

Suddenly, the serene moment shattered as alarms blared and harsh red lights flashed urgently around them.

"Intruder detected!" an automated voice barked mechanically. "Please step away from the terminals immediately."

Panic erupted instantly. Screams filled the room as people scrambled toward exits, guards moving swiftly to restore order.

Ethan froze momentarily before logging into his own account and procuring replacement devices. The scanner flashed over his eyes, and he held his breath. "Identity confirmed: Ethan Blade." Moments later, he received his replacement devices.

"Let's get out of here," Gabe urged, gently gripping Ethan's arm, guiding him through the panicked crowd, out the door, and darting toward the MagLev transport pod station a few hundred meters away.

The MagLev pod system was one of humanity's most impressive technological achievements, connecting major cities across vast distances at extraordinary speeds. Sleek, metallic pods hovered inches above magnetic tracks, propelled forward silently at near-supersonic velocities. Each pod was perfectly synchronized, monitored continuously by EarthCorp's central control systems to maintain optimal efficiency and security.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office deep within EarthCorp headquarters, Raymond stared intently at the glowing screens before him, anxiety etched into his features. Despite being one of EarthCorp's most skilled system analysts, even he was locked out of the sections recently compromised. The breach was unprecedented—a violation of EarthCorp's impenetrable, iron-clad defenses. The thought of public discovery sent a chill down Raymond's spine.

Determined to contain the crisis discreetly, Raymond picked up a secure line. His voice was calm, measured, but tinged with urgency. "Sir, we've traced the breach. It appears connected to a known petty hacker—Ethan Blade—and a previously unknown accomplice named Gabriel Starlight. Their access went deeper than anything we've seen before."

There was a brief pause on the other end, the silence palpable. Finally, a deep voice responded with cool authority. "Blade, you say? Ethan Blade?"

"Yes, sir," Raymond confirmed cautiously. "And Gabriel Starlight."

The silence stretched uncomfortably as Blackstone entered the names into a terminal at his desk. His voice returned, thoughtful and calculating. "Ethan Blade and Gabriel Starlight are within the recruitment age range. They will be scheduled to join EarthCorp's two-year program next week, correct?"

"Yes, sir. Should we apprehend them?" Raymond's grip tightened on the handset, anticipating orders.

"No," Blackstone replied decisively. "Let Blade join. Mark him—and his associate—as potentials. Keep an eye on them, Raymond. I want regular updates. But for now, officially, this breach never happened."

Raymond hesitated, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Understood, sir," he murmured, ending the call and sinking back into his chair, the weight of secrecy pressing heavily upon him.

Back at the MagLev terminal, Ethan and Gabe scanned their TapWatches to board. The automated speaker announced, "Ethan Blade boarded. 25 TapCoins deducted from your balance." Gabe scanned his new watch next. "Gabriel Starlight—insufficient funds," the speaker's voice declared flatly. Ethan quickly tapped over 25 coins to Gabe's account. Gabe scanned again, this time successfully. Ethan exhaled sharply, relief mingled with lingering apprehension. He stole another glance at Gabe, whose calm demeanor appeared unaffected by the close call as he settled comfortably into his seat, examining his new TapWatch with quiet interest.

"These things control everything, huh?" Gabe remarked, frowning at the device. "TapCoins, identification, even your vital signs. How do people accept such control over their lives?"

Ethan shrugged uneasily. "It's not like we have a choice. Without it, you don't exist. EarthCorp controls every aspect—money, health, identity. We live in constant surveillance. This thing," he tapped his TapWatch gently, "is both your lifeline and your shackle."

Gabe's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "It's unsettling. Humans weren't meant to live under constant scrutiny."

"Welcome to 2065," Ethan replied dryly. "Freedom is a distant memory."

Gabe turned to Ethan, his gaze thoughtful yet probing. "Have you always been this cynical?"

Ethan smiled faintly. "Life has a way of doing that to you. But somehow, you seem completely unaffected by everything around you. How do you manage it?"

Gabe laughed gently, oblivious to Ethan's deeper curiosity and subtle admiration. "Perspective, Ethan. I've seen enough to know there's always more to the story."

The pod raced through the Alaskan wilderness toward San Francisco, silence settling heavily between them, interrupted only by the soft hum of the pod. Ethan watched Gabe from the corner of his eye, intrigued by his stoic nature.

A news alert flashing across the pod's display caught Ethan's attention, and his heart pounded. "Security breach scare at EarthCorp in Alaska," he read aloud, his voice trembling. "Gabe, look!"

Gabe swiftly scanned the screen and calmly reassured him, "Don't worry. They're declaring it a false alarm."

Ethan relaxed slightly, heart still racing. Gabe leaned back, entirely oblivious to Ethan's lingering gaze and turbulent emotions. The duo sat silently watching the scenery change in the distance until the pod announced their imminent arrival in San Francisco.

As the city's sprawling neon skyline appeared, Ethan felt an ominous sense of foreboding. San Francisco loomed ahead, its towering skyscrapers bathed in bright, artificial lights, surveillance drones weaving through the sky. Gabe stretched gracefully, rising with ease as the pod docked.

"You ready for whatever's next?" Gabe asked lightly, entirely unaware of the tension radiating from Ethan.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Ethan answered softly, unable to keep the slight tremor from his voice.

Gabe clapped Ethan reassuringly on the shoulder, his warmth lingering just a moment too long for Ethan's fluttering nerves. "Then let's face it head-on."

Together, they stepped off the pod and made their way onto the crowded, neon-lit streets of San Francisco, uncertainty and tension filling every step as they ventured deeper into the dystopian heart of EarthCorp's sprawling metropolis.