CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 140: PROJECT DARKDAY

"Chief, are you sure we don’t need to make contact? We can have the entire cavalry here in minutes. We can even outsource to the Hero Association. You can... call Whiteking."

"I told you earlier, and I am telling you now—that is not a good idea."

Detectives Dorothy, Jake, and Prophet were outside Kitty’s apartment building. Their eyes haven’t left her windows for quite a while now, not even for a cup of coffee.

"It’s not like I’m questioning your ability, Chief. But... are you sure Darkday’s in there?"

"No. But the chances that he is are higher than if he’s not there," Prophet said, chuckling as he waved Dorothy off. "Stop asking so many questions, you know I can’t answer perfectly. I’m not a clairvoyant or a seer."

"...But that was your registered power in the registry."

"Well, they’re wrong," Prophet brushed the side of his hair, his fingers gently untangling the whites and grays that happened to stick together due to the wax he put. "I’m not even a super. It’s all just hypercomputation and deterministic cognition. Just ask Bernard if you don’t believe me."

Dorothy glanced at Jake, who only waved her down and let it go. It was common knowledge among the bureau that Prophet was indeed a super. It was also common knowledge that he liked to be considered a normal person because of one single reason—Bernard Ross, aka Whiteking.

"Is... it true that you and Whiteking grew up together, Chief?" Dorothy asked, and Jake’s eyes immediately went wide. He tugged on her, but it was Dorothy’s turn to wave him down.

"Dors," he whispered loudly, but Dorothy only glared at her and told her to watch the window.

"Oh? Where did you hear that?" Prophet chuckled, but his eyes didn’t leave the window at all.

"I’ve... read it in Bernard Ross’s book, "The Echoes of Tomorrow, Now: Building The Future". He mentioned you a couple of times, of how you’re the one who inspired him."

"Ha!" Prophet huffed loudly. "He wrote that, did he? Yes. We did grow up together. We were orphans, he and I."

"The Pearson Orphanage."

"Wow, you really did read the book," Prophet blinked, smiling at Dorothy before turning his focus back on Kitty’s window. "Why are you even asking this out of the blue?"

"Because we could really use his help right now, along with the other members of the Hope Guild," Dorothy declared, not batting an eye at all.

"And risk a battle right in the middle of the city?" Prophet shook his head. "We know nothing about Darkday aside from his name, and that he is a TK... and that he would have killed us if we stayed inside that apartment. Also... I’m not sure if calling Bernard’s the best move at the moment, or any moment at all."

"...Are you still thinking that Riley Ross is Darkday? But that doesn’t make sense?" Dorothy squinted. "We’ve confirmed that Riley Ross is in Mega Academy."

"I know it doesn’t make sense, and I’m not saying it’s him. After all, with all the cards we have right now, it is completely impossible for it to be him... but weirder things in life have happened, especially in that family."

"You’re... suspecting your friend?"

"Not that family. Didn’t you read the updated profile I sent to you regarding Riley Ross? I sent you a letter."

"We... haven’t received an email, Chief."

"Email? No. I sent it by mail. Why would I use an email?"

"Our server’s incredibly secure."

"Our server’s made by Bernard."

"That—"

"It doesn’t matter." Prophet sighed, waving her off as he shook his head. "The only thing you need to know about Riley’s new profile is that he is Alice Lane’s biological son."

"What?!"

"Yes." Prophet nodded. "Disregard Riley’s location, and everything points to him—but of course, his location is everything. So, it’ll be incredibly stupid, and reaching to even suspect him. But... the time of Riley Ross’s awakening. The fact that he is a TK. The time and location of Ryan Roman’s death. Stephanie, Replica Ricky’s insistence and anger at him, and now the family earlier—take off Riley’s current location, and he is the obvious suspect. I’m sure you’ve thought of that too, correct?"

"Yes." Dorothy shrugged. "But unless Riley Ross can replicate himself like Replica Ricky, then he’s completely out of the equation

."

"Funny you say that," Prophet whispered. "And what if he has the ability to replicate himself?"

"Then—"

"Then we’re all royally fucked." Prophet didn’t let Dorothy get in a word at all. "Because that means Darkday can copy other super’s abilities. But of course, in the end, all of this is just hypothetical. Don’t think too much of it, and don’t treat Riley Ross as a suspect—I only want to meet him, and maybe he’ll lead us to a clue in solving Darkday’s true identity."

"Shit..." Dorothy muttered, a piercing cold suddenly crawling through her as she imagined the scenario of Darkday being Riley Ross. She shook her head, choosing to focus on the window instead.

"What... do you think they’re talking about?"

***

"I need to save people?"

"Yes!"

Back inside Kitty’s apartment, Kitty was beside her TV, showing a video compilation of vigilantes who turned into something more. As for Darkday, he was still seated on the couch, just listening to her intently.

"That would basically decide where the media and the people would put you!" Kitty placed her palm on the TV, causing a light flash to rebound on its surface. Her previous indignations and anxiety were now completely gone, replaced by a certain sense of... excitement.

How could she not be... when Darkday had promised her that she would be the only journalist that he would do an interview with?

Not only that, but he was asking her to build him an image. He practically volunteered to become Kitty’s own project.

This was big, very big. The sort of thing that would put her on the map, no. The sort of thing that will let her become the map. The sort of thing people would kill for.

"But why are you so insistent on just becoming a vigilante? What if someone puts you in the Superhero Registry? Although... that wouldn’t happen anymore since you publicly confessed to murdering people," Kitty said, perhaps more to herself than Darkday as she glanced at the TV. "What if... what if you promise not to kill anyone from now on?"

"That’s not going to happen," Darkday said without any hesitation. "I kill because my body wants me to."

"R-right..." Kitty gulped, once again being reminded that she was talking to a murderer. But then it all just quickly faded away as she thought of all the opportunities.

"...What’s my guarantee that you won’t kill me? I know you only kill abusers, but—"

"No."

"No...? No what? You’re not going to kill me?"

"No, as in I don’t think I only kill abusers." Darkday shook his head. "I want to be very honest with you, Kitty. I’ve taken a liking to you, you see—you remind me of my sister. Megawoman was the same way."

"Ex...cuse me? Megawoman...? Sister?" Kitty’s eyes turned wide. "Wait, don’t! Don’t tell me your identity and kill me!"

"I’m not going to kill you. I just want you to know that I’m not on the side of justice—the fact that my victims were abusers happened to be just a convenient coincidence that my... tech guy cooked and twisted. Do not misunderstand...

...I’m a bad guy, Kitty. But with you by my side, with your help—I’m a bad guy with a story."

"Wait, wait!" Kitty raised both her palms, awkwardly chuckling as she shook her head. "I’m not... I’m not on your side, okay? I don’t want to be an accomplice to—"

"Then I suppose we’re done here."

Riley stood up, turning around and not even looking back as he headed to the door. Kitty watched him leave for a moment before practically diving to chase him and slamming the door, not even an inch from him opening it.

"Okay! Fuck! Okay!" Kitty winced at herself, looking down as she gritted her teeth and sucked in a deep breath. "Fine. I’m on your side... but I want it on record that I don’t condone any of your actions."

Kitty pulled out a recorder. "I want it on record."

"Very well." Riley shrugged, walking back to the living room as he removed his helmet.

"Wha—?!" Kitty’s eyes turned wide as Darkday just casually revealed who he was.

"You... what the fuck..." Kitty tried her best not to faint and explode there and then.

"What the fuck. How... what..."

"I know, right?" Riley One glanced at Kitty, smirking as he sat back down on the couch. "Plot twist."

"Why would... why would you reveal yourself?!" Kitty planted her back on the door.

"Because I don’t want you snooping around. In order to prevent that, we decided it would be best for you to know who I am. So, taadaah. Now then, shall we continue our conversation? On how to turn me into an antihero? Let’s call it...

...Project Darkday."