Specter

Chapter 5 (Night 1): Circling Around

We last read Chapter 4, in which the butler Sylvester brings a cup of tea to his new boss King Ryker before engaging in a conversation with him regarding a recent string of vandalism and property damage crimes taking place throughout the Rusted Citadel---the Beheaded Bengal Saloon, the Rusted Citadel harbor, and a random neighborhood residence house, amongst other places---in the years since its liberation. Deducing that it must be the work of some of the younger Citadel residents who are also Iron Kingpin sympathizers---similar to how some people of younger demographics support horrible people and organizations like Bin Laden and Hamas in the present---Ryker calls a virtual meeting between the members of his court to discuss the situation. After a few tense exchanges between Doc and Specter, the spectral superheroine eventually offers to investigate the string of crimes for Ryker, with the king himself reluctantly agreeing after being persuaded to by the rest of his circle. The chapter ended with Ryker sending Specter the three images and informing her that she has the support of everyone in the group before ending the Zoom call; Specter then goes to bed to rest up for the next day.

This time, we learn more about what exactly has been afflicting the Rusted Citadel since Specter's successful rebellion.....

***********************************************************************************************

-Imperator's Armory, Rusted Citadel, Asia-

The Imperator's Armory was a seemingly humble establishment that had finally managed to find stability and put down roots following the Iron Kingpin's defeat and the overthrow of his tyrannical regime. Its trade, as one may have guessed, was weaponry; actually, both weaponry and armor of many kinds. Though these items would be the last things anyone would need in times of peace, the business's owner, Imperator Barrows, made a solid case that the citizens would need at least some way to protect themselves from hostility following the Kingpin's fall. He brought up the very possible scenario of there being spies still loyal to the late ruler potentially hiding in plain sight on the island, and if potential victims were caught defenseless, there would be nothing they could do.

So, to that end, King Ryker eventually allowed Barrows—and his hyperactive female sidekick Rogue—to open up their armory to the public in the months following the Iron Kingpin's defeat, and the duo had been operating there ever since.

Right now, though, it was decently late into the night, and in terms of official business, the armory had already closed for the evening, with the only people around being Imperator Barrows himself, Rogue, and a couple of stray workers here and there.

Imperator Barrows was a bald man with fair skin, slight wrinkles, a purple futuristic-looking suit with visible wires stemming from multiple places on said skin, a small structure resembling a microchip laid within the right side of his head, and steely blue eyes with black pupils that made him look like he was perpetually possessed.

His sidekick, Rogue, styled herself like a comic book heroine, even though her actual alignment was yet to be determined. Though her way of presenting herself was majorly different compared to the rest of the Citadel's residents, the newly-reborn island city still fully welcomed her and her superior with open arms, fully supporting their variety and their apparent good intentions.

Rogue had on a black thermal suit with silver lining, gloves, boots, and cape, and also a long sharp rapier that looked like it could cut through anything in a single slice. She also had a pair of silver goggles that were currently above her eyes rather than over them, allowing her similarly-colored silver eyes to be visible.

In the main room of the armory—with a huge smelting vat in the distance—Rogue twirled her rapier around and stretched her neck. Standing several steps in front of her was a contraption consisting of a blue body, a wide funnel at the top to load items in, and a barrel pointing in Rogue's direction; two workers were also standing by, with one looking after the machine and the other holding a big bag of various fruits.