DarkNet Chat Log – Encrypted Channel: #DarkNetOps

SteelSentinel:
@Whisper, you there?

Whisper:
Always, SteelSentinel. Working late? Or should I say working early? What can I do for the city’s most relentless vigilante?

SteelSentinel:
Need a favor. You got any low-risk leads on Kisonic? Something… manageable. Not looking to burn down a fortress tonight.

Whisper:
Let me see... searching... You're not usually one for "manageable." What's the occasion?

SteelSentinel:
Training day.

Whisper:
Ah, I see. Bringing your protégé into the light—or rather, the dark, I suppose. 

Whisper: Got just the thing. Kisonic’s got a low-key shipping operation running out of Dock 17. Smuggling prototype tech, allegedly. Word is it’s guarded, but not heavily. Might make for a good start.

SteelSentinel:
Details?

Whisper:
One shipment scheduled for tonight. Expect a few armed guards, standard tech defenses, but nothing you can’t handle. Surveillance indicates they’ve been cycling personnel to avoid attention. Should be ideal for a… “training mission.” You want me to patch you into any feeds?

SteelSentinel:
Already pulling up the data. Thanks.

Whisper:
One more thing—don’t underestimate “low-key” Kisonic ops. They’re paranoid, even at the street level. Good luck.

Steve leaned back from his terminal, his eyes strained in thought. Whisper’s information was solid, as always, and this was exactly what he’d hoped for—an opportunity to ease Silas into the fight without dropping him straight into the fire. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t any risk. It was time to suit Silas up for the challenge ahead.

Safe House – Training Room

Silas stood in front of the workbench, staring wide-eyed at the equipment Steve had laid out. It looked like something out of a tech fantasy, sleek and intimidating, with just the right hint of danger.

“You’re serious?” Silas asked, picking up a mask that was lightweight but sturdy, the inside lined with tech nodes and sensors. He turned it over in his hands, feeling a thrill of excitement mixed with nerves.

“Dead serious,” Steve replied, his voice even. “If you’re going to be out there, you need to be prepared. This isn’t a game, Silas. You make one wrong move, and the people you’re up against won’t hesitate.”

“I know,” Silas said, his voice quieter but firm. “I’m ready.”

Steve nodded, handing Silas the rest of the gear. “First, the mask and AR goggles. They’ll act as a HUD, giving you critical data in real time—heat signatures, structural weak points, digital readouts. And they’ll keep your identity hidden.”

Silas slid the mask on, the AR goggles adjusting to fit perfectly over his eyes. A soft glow appeared, and data began streaming across the lenses. “Whoa. It’s… it’s like being inside a video game,” he murmured.

“Don’t let it distract you,” Steve said with a small smile. “Next—the trench coat and lightweight body armor. The coat’s reinforced, offers some protection without restricting movement. The body armor’s rated for high-impact resistance. It won’t stop everything, but it’ll buy you time.”

Silas shrugged into the gear, feeling its weight settle over him. “Feels… real now.”

“It is.” Steve placed two sleek batons in his hands. “Electric batons. For close combat. They can deliver a strong electric shock—stun, incapacitate, or neutralize.”

Silas tested their grip, twirling one experimentally. “Nice.”

Steve placed a small, circular device in his hand. “Disruptor module. Emits EMP pulses strong enough to disable most electronics within a limited range. Careful when you use it.”

“And this?” Silas asked, eyeing the shimmering fabric Steve held up next.

“Invisibility cloak,” Steve said, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Limited duration, but it’ll let you get the drop on someone or make a quick escape. Don’t rely on it too much. People adapt.”

Silas nodded, slipping the cloak into a compartment in his coat. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the gear, the responsibility it symbolized. “What’s the plan?”

“We hit Dock 17,” Steve said, his eyes hardening. “You follow my lead, but when I give you an opening, you take it. Show them what you can do. Tonight, Silas, you’re not just the kid with potential. You’re making yourself known.”

Silas swallowed, feeling the adrenaline kick in. “Let’s do this.”