The Vandal's Shadow - Andrew Nesser - Wattpad

Story cover for The Vandal's Shadow by andrew_nesser

The Vandal's Shadow

Reads 107
Votes 18
Parts 6
Time 1h 13m

Reads 107
Votes 18
Parts 6
Time 1h 13m

detective future futurism futuristic genetics hard-boiled mystery noir novelette robots sci-fi science-fiction sf

When an unknown substance on a public sundial is thought to be evidence of foul play, Detective Wyatt Kask is called in by the police to help determine the nature of the crime. Over the course of the night, Kask and the Sheriff of Wellington are pulled into a bizarre labyrinth of industrial espionage.All Rights Reserved

detective future futurism futuristic genetics hard-boiled mystery noir novelette robots sci-fi science-fiction sf

Table of contents

6 parts

Sign up to add The Vandal's Shadow to your library and receive updates

or

Content Guidelines

You may also like

Citizen ID by SadOwl19

In a world of levitating cities and fractured clusters, one man's search for the truth could shatter the foundations of society. Jason "Jay" Loveloch, a battle-hardened contractor, lives in the shadows of Plant City, part of a triad of floating metropolises tethered together by electromagnetic fields. When he's hired to find a missing geneticist, his investigation spirals into a web of gruesome murders and chilling secrets hidden within the corporate powerhouses of the city clusters. As Jay follows the bloody trail, he uncovers whispers of forbidden experiments and a connection that stretches across the globe's four city clusters. Forced to descend to the Earth's surface-a place abandoned and shrouded in mystery-Jay confronts truths long buried by those who control the skies. With the clock ticking, he must navigate dangerous alliances, relentless enemies, and his own haunted past to unravel a conspiracy that threatens not just the clusters, but humanity itself.

Mad Love & Mayhem by 3rach4ss

Felix believed he could study madness without falling into it. He was wrong. As an intern at Arkham Asylum, he was expected to investigate Gotham's most dangerous minds, not become one of them. Then he met Hyunjin. The Joker. A walking enigma with a blood-red smile and a desire for anarchy. Felix persuaded himself he was merely doing research. It's just fascination. It's just curiosity. Until it was not. The city now whispers their names out of fear. The boundary between love and obsession has blurred beyond recognition, and Felix is too far gone to notice. He belonged to Hyunjin. And Hyunjin? He also belonged to Felix. But Gotham is unyielding, and even love forged from blood and ruin has limitations. When the Bat comes knocking, Felix is forced to choose between running deeper into the lunacy and losing the only thing that has ever felt completely real. Whatever happens, something will burn.

Life and Death by atomic102

In order to force citizens to remain peaceful after the riots about birth control, the massive country of Americo decided to allow scientists to stimulate the afterlife once they die. If a citizen was good and broke no laws, then the scientists would stimulate Heav, the equivalent to Heaven. If a citizen broke a few minor laws, they would go for Rebirth, where they are born with the same personality and mind, just different looks. If a citizen goes to jail for more than 15 years, the scientists would stimulate Ell, the equivalent to Hell. Lorian Hurando, director of the Afterlife Project, knows things about the system that few people know about. But when a letter arrives in the ocean of death threats one day that tells him to 'retire' or he will be in grave danger, he took the chance and retired. The letter is one in a series of letters that is all from a mysterious sender initialed H in cursive. When the final letter tells him to shut down the Afterlife, he must decide between right and wrong. But first he must know which is which. Heather Dia is the daughter of a store manager. When her dad is falsely accused and is sent to Ell, she is heartbroken and decides to get revenge on Director Lorian and leads him on a wild goose chase in order to shut down Afterlife, telling him that he will be in grave danger. But as time progresses, Heather wonders if she'll be right.

Lonely Thieves by Talesfromsquareone

In the futuristic city of Twilight, life isn't easy for those who aren't rich. Those who aren't able to pull themselves out of poverty sometimes turn to the life of Night Hunters, who will do any job, even those that toe the line of illegality. Four Night Hunters with wildly different backgrounds cross paths on a job to steal a necklace from one of the strongest families in Twilight. However, the deeper ramifications behind this job are greater than they ever could have imagined. New chapters come out every Monday.

Perception and Deception by andreahintz1

Felix Jaynes is a special agent for the Real Life Immersion Program (also known as RLIP). A few months ago, she had a traumatic experience that caused her to go from a confident agent who was a phenomenal expert in her field, to suddenly doubting her career. She has recently been sent to an extremely rural town called Toselville. Her mission: find the middle aged son of two weapons designers who created blueprints for the United States government. As time goes on, she befriends Ashton Mathis, the owner of the only grocery shop in town, and his best friend/employee. RLIP agents have partners who talk to them through their small earpieces that cannot be seen. These agents are not allowed to see their partners or even know their names. Felix has had many partners who are generally cold and over-professional. But Felix has been assigned to Wolf, an older gentleman who becomes a sort of wise father figure to her. After going with Ashton and his friends to the town bowling alley, Felix finds that she is starting to get into a clique of her own. Ashton is there to hopefully win Felix's heart, and Felix is there strictly on business, hoping to get information for her case...or so she keeps telling herself. Against Wolf's initial words of wisdom, Felix finds herself thinking about Ashton and accepts his invitation to go out on a date. But Felix accidentally blows her cover, and soon, Ashton is attacked. Felix was able to save him once, but now her enemies will stop at nothing to get to them. Felix is reassigned to a new mission...witness protection for Ashton and herself. Their budding romantic relationship comes to a sharp halt as they now have to focus on working together to survive. They can run, but they know their enemies are never far behind. Their only option to save themselves is to solve this case. And it is not going to be easy.

Site-113. by Falkegudhater

This is a fanfiction made of the upcoming game Fragmented Minds! If you want to know more about its universe, characters and backstory, i'd suggest joining the discord server. Bacon was a high-standing researcher back on earth. He often performed... less moral acts in pursuit of knowledge, much to the displeasure of his previous employers. His life would soon turn around, however, as an organization with less focus on morality and were rather prioritized on results came along and hired him for a job. A job that would take him to another planet. This book is not a part of my Back in Time series, it is an original piece of fanfiction! Again, look up Fragmented Minds on google to learn more about the universe.

Loaded Secrets (ONC 2023) by AngryEasternReads

Aria is on top of her game. Putting away criminals, closing cases, she is smart, tenacious, and ambitious. As a detective with the NYPD, she is putting in the hours and working diligently towards a promotion. Only instead of a new title, she finds herself transported into the future where death is not the end, but merely a transition into virtual reality. Now in the year 3000, Aria is immersed in a new type of case where the victim of a grisly murder can still provide some clues to help catch the perpetrator through his consciousness. Worse yet, as Aria delves deeper into the investigation, she finds herself falling in love with a mysterious man named Ayden. Nothing is as it seems in this new world where reality can be augmented and the truth may be hiding in plain sight. As Aria and Ayden grow closer, the looming shadow of the murderer threatens everything they have come to care for. Aria must use her skills of deduction to unravel the truth and bring justice to the victim while saving the man she loves. -------------------------------------- ONC2023 Prompt 82. In a future where humans have the ability to upload their consciousness into virtual reality at the time of their death, a detective must solve a murder case in both the virtual and physical world as the victim's consciousness may still exist in the virtual world and hold the key to solving the crime.

The Last Case by MrBildango

It is the year 2163. Earth has expanded its boundaries to the domed city of Hale on Mars. Hale was the first successful colony city on the red planet, and is now home to massive corporations, manufacturing centers, small and large independently owned businesses, and a thriving entertainment industry. The people of Hale were drawn from all corners of the Earth. The criminal element is as diverse as the people are. The justice system is managed by the privately owned Central Police. We find Felix Rook, transgendered man, formerly the top inspector for the Hale Central Police, on suspension and pending termination for an incident on his most recent case that left eight civilians dead. He’s three days from being shipped back to Earth when his former boss shows up at his door to ask a favor. A young son of a powerful executive has been kidnapped and the powers that be have decided to call in all officers, suspended or not, to assist in the investigation. With the help of the boy's android nanny, Felix is determined to use his final three days on Mars to find the kidnappers and safely recover the boy.

Tangled Vengeance by XIIITHIRTEENXIII

In the futuristic city of Tek City, where technology and secrecy intertwine, Alexander Reto embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind his father's untimely demise. In this gripping sci-fi mystery, set in the year 2080, secrets lie buried beneath the gleaming façade of progress. Haunted by the memory of his father, a dedicated police officer who met a tragic end, Alexander Reto resolves to follow in his footsteps. Joining the ranks of the city's law enforcement, he soon discovers that his father's death was no ordinary incident. As he delves deeper into the web of deceit, he stumbles upon a chilling revelation-Tek City's police force is more than what they seem. As Alexander unravels the threads of conspiracy, he becomes entangled in a treacherous game of trust and betrayal. Alexander navigates a maze of lies, corruption, and hidden agendas, all while facing powerful adversaries determined to protect their secrets at any cost. With each discovery, Alexander's resolve grows stronger, fueled by a burning desire for justice and the need to uncover the truth about his father's fate. In a city where truth is a rare commodity, he must confront his own fears and confront the demons lurking in the shadows of Tek City. Will Alexander Reto uncover the sinister forces at play and expose the dark underbelly of Tek City? Or will he succumb to the forces that seek to silence him and bury the truth forever? Prepare yourself for a gripping sci-fi mystery that explores the depths of human nature, the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of a son's unwavering determination to uncover the truth. Step into the futuristic world of Tek City and join Alexander Reto on his relentless quest for justice and redemption in this script styled story!

Six Bullets For John Carter by chadeagleton

In the future, thieves don't steal your identity, they steal you. The man didn't care who a client wanted or why, as long as they could pay. He buried his conscience under a mountain of wealth and there it stayed...until he agreed to grow the blonde from Alpha Centauri... Burned by a powerful client, the man fled Mars for the free cities, the anarchist encampments along the Kuiper Belt, and the black market strongholds secreted in the Oort Cloud. But now he's tired of running. A slice-and-splice job has given him a new face and new body, but the rewrite will kill him in a matter of days. He's got a powerful gun, but the weapon only came with six bullets. He's sacrificing everything for revenge, but what will it get him? A violent and philosophical cyberpunk novella.

Akropolis by hcedwards

"Any thought you ever had; memories, desires, your fears and your dreams, are all recorded and stored safely in the Quantum Cloud for your eventual revival. Death is now merely a transitional period to the next stage of your existence. As a QUBIT (quantum processing biosynthetic), you will experience a life free of disease and suffering. Time is no longer your enemy. Regret is a thing of the past. Each new day brings the promise of endless possibilities, spent in the pursuit of your own happiness, guiltless with the knowledge that there are no longer earthly constraints to inhibit you. This is the life you have always wanted. Welcome to your new beginning..." Akropolis is a city at the end of times, a sanctuary where the brightest and best have been housed since the last Great War. A genome defect has afflicted the majority of the population and scientists are desperate to find a cure. In the meantime, man has found his own salvation in the form of the QUBIT (quantum processing bio-synthetic), an android that is capable of prolonging life almost indefinitely, and yet what makes them human in the first place has been lost in the transition. The ruling council believes that salvation is nigh, but whether that hope arrives in time is questionable. The city's future depends upon the actions of a few individuals, all of whom are struggling with their own mortality. Quentin is the boy who dreams of death. Mia is the tortured soul. Trey is the soldier that defines duty. Misao is the future of the ruling council. Claire is the girl with a secret that will rock the foundations of their entire civilization. Unbeknownst to them, the entire fate of Akropolis lies in their hands. Either humanity will find a way to survive or it will sink slowly into the sea of extinction.

The Last Mandizite by BidemiMoses

Jack Ortiz is a young detective with a lot of failed cases. After having a de ja vu and witnessing murder, his life changes as robots begin to attack him and people begin to die. To his surprise his chief puts him on the case to find out the cause of these deaths. Unknown to Jack the deaths are a result of a ripple from the future and soon he finds himself , battling with robots, believing myths, and meeting the dead as he journeys through time.

ROGUE by Brein_Ouano

In a dystopian future where crime is snuffed out before it even happens, the world is under the shadow of the Reapers - hunter androids armed with predictive technology that can foresee criminal intent. Ruthlessly efficient and unwaveringly loyal to their programming, the Reapers serve as judge, jury, and executioner in a society that prizes order over freedom. 17-year-old Kayle "Kae" Hawthorne has always questioned the system, but her rebellious streak turns dangerous when the Reapers mark her as a "pre-criminal." She has no idea what crime she's supposedly destined to commit, but one thing is clear: she's now the hunted. Her only allies are her father, Inspector Samuel Hawthorne, a decorated ex-Special Forces operative turned cop torn between duty and family, and Benjamin, an unassuming housework android who proves himself to be far more capable than she ever imagined. As the Reapers close in, Kae uncovers chilling truths about their predictive technology and the shadowy organization behind it. With Benjamin's advanced intellect and her father's tactical genius, Kae fights to stay one step ahead while unraveling the conspiracy that threatens not just her freedom, but the future of humanity itself.

The Time Traveller's Ball (The Erik Midgard Case Files Volume 1) by kdnorwich1

How do you solve a murder when every single suspect has a time machine? Time-travelling police officer Erik Midgard has a problem. He has seen his own future. His fate is set. There is no way out. There is nothing he can do to escape it. He is going to die. But in the meantime, he has a murder to solve. On the moons of Mars, 900 years into the future, the wealthiest men and women in the solar system are arriving for the biggest night in the social calendar. The invitations are exclusively for people rich enough to own their own time machines. It is meant to be the greatest party in history. No one is supposed to die there. But when the guest of honour is found dead after the last dance, Erik and his partner Mirabi find themselves facing the greatest challenge of their careers. Trapped in a luxurious mansion and surrounded by millionaires, lovers, enemies, assassins, terrorists, robot doubles, hidden grudges, secret agendas and a criminal genius plotting his masterpiece, Erik and Mirabi must solve the case before its consequences can explode across the solar system. But as they sift through the evidence and the details of the crime start to appear, Erik finds himself beginning to wonder. Is his destiny truly written in stone? Or could there be a way for him to change it? A Wattpad Featured Book Selected by the BBC for their official Doctor Who reading list.

Almost Human by TrikkiNikki

Robots have become a modern staple. The Big Three, three mega-robotics companies, have set up a monopolistic control of the worldwide robotics market, selling everything from the most basic, task-oriented units to androids, the humanlike metallic jacks-of-all-trades. And then there is Veda. She's young and the most gifted robotics engineer the world has ever seen. And the only thing about her equal to her intelligence with robotics is her reclusiveness. Unwilling to be recruited by the underhanded Big Three and turned into a researching and developing slave, Veda has hidden herself from the world since she could learn how to build a circuit. In her home, she has tinkered and built robots that the world has never known..... But when a good friend of hers and a Head Roboticist at one of the Big Three goes missing and foul-play is suspected, a detective named Andrew comes to her door, hoping to get some information about this disappearance. What he finds is not the solution to a mystery, but a world of mechanical engineering that delves into the realms of taboo so deeply that he is caught up in the conspiracy of it all. And more important than the task he originally set out to complete, Andrew meets a miraculous creation, something so new and different that it could change the world, or even the course of human history. His name is Sam.

The Cultist's Retreat (The Erik Midgard Case Files Volume 4) by kdnorwich1

How do you solve a murder when you cannot reveal you are an undercover detective? The development of time travel undermined most traditional religions in the Solar System by proving there is no such thing as fate. But it left a void that had to be filled. Today, many people venerate science and evolution, but some worship time itself. In the rings of Saturn, one of the Solar System's greatest sporting events is approaching, providing the perfect cover for the secretive temporal cults to hold their annual inter-faith retreat. Members from every sect will meet to socialise, discuss their ideas and beliefs, and display their latest inventions, which can manipulate time in ways that should not be possible. Time-travelling police detective Erik Midgard is also attending in disguise, to gather intelligence on the cults for the Chronological Operations Agency. It is a risky and complicated assignment, made harder because the laws of time appear to be suddenly - and inexplicably - changing, which could have dire consequences for Erik himself. The last thing he needs is another murder to solve. Undercover in a small hotel, in a jurisdiction he is not meant to be in, with a killer among the guests who may be the most intelligent and cunning adversary he has ever faced, Erik must solve the case, and the mystery of his own origins, before it is too late. One way or another, Erik's time is almost up. The final volume of the Erik Midgard Case Files.

Death From Within by Kingofstillport

It's February 13th, 2037. Mars explodes soon after a colony had begun plans to drill into the crust. It wasn't the drilling that caused it, however. An evil lurked inside Mars. Growing ever since it was formed. Like an egg, it hatched in a big explosion. Releasing a creature beyond comprehension unto man. The story goes covered up, but some astrologists across America noticed. They wanted to bring the information to the light, and how this could possibly happen to Earth. They believed that every planet hosted these creatures, and Earth could very well hatch at any moment.

VALE by valmontderouen

Hana is in her last year of high school when her father dies. During his last days he reveals to her that he was working with an agency of time travellers. Wanting to know more Hana hires one of them.

Moebius 2157 | ONC2019 Short List [Complete] by taivaan_sininen

Special Agent Alyssa Caine has been tasked with the most important mission of her life: the assassination of the man who would bring about the end of the world. The only problem? He is already dead. A minor issue that is resolved in the year 2157 when a renegade group of scientists develops a device that allows to jump through time. They recruit the former special agent to send her back fifty years, to take just one man out of the equation, a minimal change with a predicted maximal effect on the fate of the world, and prevent a devastating war that has driven the last surviving humans to live in decrepit underground bunkers. Every action has a consequence. Alyssa is humanity's last hope, and her actions will determine the fate of the whole world. She is willing to sacrifice everything for a better future. But she soon realizes that the impact of her actions might be beyond her control, and beyond all predictions. _____ Highest Rankings: #16 in Science [06.02.2019] #36 in Dystopia [06.02.2019] #65 in FemaleProtagonist [01.02.2019] #71 in TimeTravel [06.02.2019] #1 in Paradox [28.02.2019] #1 in ONC2019 [01.02.2019] #3 in OpenNovellaContest2019 [28.02.2019] This is my entry for the ONC 2019! At first I thought I'd pick something a bit out of my comfort zone (so.... NOT SciFi for once...) to expand my horizon, but when I saw a prompt about time travel I was immediately inspired. Please keep in mind, all of this is WIP! The title, cover, and some of the content might change at any time... I have an outline and I worked hard to come up with a compelling and consistent story line, but due to the nature of the story (timey whimey stuff!) I might have to revise things a few times as I write. I'm grateful for any feedback and I hope you enjoy :)

You may also like

Slide 1 of 19

Citizen ID cover

Mad Love & Mayhem cover

Life and Death cover

Lonely Thieves cover

Perception and Deception cover

Site-113. cover

Loaded Secrets (ONC 2023) cover

The Last Case cover

Tangled Vengeance cover

Six Bullets For John Carter cover

Akropolis cover

The Last Mandizite cover

The Time Traveller's Ball (The Erik Midgard Case Files Volume 1) cover

Almost Human cover

The Cultist's Retreat (The Erik Midgard Case Files Volume 4) cover

Death From Within cover

Moebius 2157 | ONC2019 Short List [Complete] cover

Citizen ID

In a world of levitating cities and fractured clusters, one man's search for the truth could shatter the foundations of society. Jason "Jay" Loveloch, a battle-hardened contractor, lives in the shadows of Plant City, part of a triad of floating metropolises tethered together by electromagnetic fields. When he's hired to find a missing geneticist, his investigation spirals into a web of gruesome murders and chilling secrets hidden within the corporate powerhouses of the city clusters. As Jay follows the bloody trail, he uncovers whispers of forbidden experiments and a connection that stretches across the globe's four city clusters. Forced to descend to the Earth's surface-a place abandoned and shrouded in mystery-Jay confronts truths long buried by those who control the skies. With the clock ticking, he must navigate dangerous alliances, relentless enemies, and his own haunted past to unravel a conspiracy that threatens not just the clusters, but humanity itself.