Altered Frequency

CHAPTER 3

21st NOVEMBER, 1998

3rd PERSON POV

The evening sun cast long shadows as Brendan stepped out of his modest apartment building. Dressed in dark clothing taken from his wardrobe that blended seamlessly with the night, he carried a small bag containing his essential tools. Tonight, he was on a reconnaissance mission, preparing for the heist of the Cobalt safe house tomorrow.

His mind buzzed with anticipation as he navigated the bustling streets of Gotham City. Every passerby seemed to fade into the background as he focused on his objective. After leaving his house he made his way through the sprang bridge and soon he reached the outskirts of Bowery where the safe house was located. Brendan needed to get all the possible information he could about the place and for that, he needed a safe spot, a vantage point from which he could observe the area surrounding the Cobalt safe house without drawing suspicion.

After careful consideration, Brendan settled on an abandoned building located just a few blocks away. Its crumbling facade and broken windows spoke of neglect and disrepair, providing the perfect camouflage for his covert activities. Slipping through a cracked doorway, he entered the desolate interior. As he climbed the stairs to the upper levels, his footsteps echoed through the empty building, a haunting reminder of its former grandeur. Dust particles danced in the air, catching the faint light that filtered through the broken windows. Brendan found a small room at the top, with a window overlooking the area surrounding the safe house. Peering out through the grimy glass, Brendan meticulously examined the surroundings. The safe house was a two-story building that stood at the edge of Bowery, nestled between two derelict buildings he couldn't tell if there was a basement or not, if one was present the money would surely be in it if not the most probable location would be the first floor. The streets around the safe house were dimly lit, offering pockets of shadows for a stealthy approach. He observed the movements of pedestrians, noting their patterns and any potential threats.

Beat cops didn't patrol the area surrounding the safe house or any area where the Cobalts did their business for that matter probably paid off after all this is Gotham we are talking about so that marked off any interference in case things went south and there was some noise. His gaze shifted to the safe house itself, studying its architecture and security measures. One entrance in front of the house, one in the back, and one gate on the rooftop that led to the first floor Brendan marked it as a potential entry point as it can be accessed if he could get in any of the buildings adjoining the safe house, A narrow alleyway adjacent to the safe house guarded by a single skinny goon smoking a cigarette which led to the back entrance seemed promising, offering a discreet route for infiltration if the guard can be dealt with. It was secluded and shrouded in darkness, shielding him from prying eyes. He made a mental note to mark it as another potential entry point. Entry from the front was crossed off as two big tattooed goons guarded who kept a sharp watch of all the people scurrying in the streets. After observing the building for a couple of hours Brendan counted a total of 6 cobalt's in and around the building 2 in front,1 in the back, 2 guys whom he saw through the windows on the top floor, and 1 guy that changed shifts with the guy watching the backdoor.

He also observed the adjoining buildings and saw that there were normal apartments although in bad condition but still populated which meant a lot of eyes which and that meant the rooftop access point was not a realistic option and decided the back entrance was his best bet. However, he knew that relying solely on one plan was a recipe for disaster. Brendan needed a backup, a plan B, in case his primary approach was compromised. His mind raced, formulating alternative routes and strategies. He left the abandoned building to find more options and soon found a sewer system a few blocks away from the safe house, ensuring that no one was present he took out a crowbar and opened the sewer cap, slid inside the sewer, and closed the cap behind him.

Brendan's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit tunnels of the sewer system, a labyrinthine network hidden beneath the bustling streets of Gotham City. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the distant sound of dripping water reverberated through the tunnels. Armed with a dim flashlight, he cautiously navigated the winding passageways, his senses on high alert. The walls, covered in moss and grime, seemed to whisper secrets of the city's forgotten past. Brendan's light illuminated rusty pipes and discarded debris, remnants of a world long gone. As he pressed forward, the sound of rushing water grew louder, indicating a hidden underground stream. With each step, the oppressive darkness seemed to swallow him whole, and he had to rely on his heightened senses to navigate the treacherous terrain. The occasional scuttling of rats or the eerie echo of distant echoes added to the eerie atmosphere, sending shivers down Brendan's spine.

After what felt like an eternity, Brendan reached a point where the tunnel widened, opening into a spacious chamber. The sound of rushing water grew thunderous, as the underground stream cascaded through a narrow channel, carving its path towards freedom. Brendan carefully made his way to the edge, peering into the churning darkness below. To his surprise, the chamber didn't lead directly into the Cobalt safe house as he had hoped. Instead, it opened behind a bakery in front of the safe house.

A sense of relief washed over Brendan as he understood the importance of this discovery. It wasn't the entrance he had hoped for, but it offered an escape, a lifeline in case his carefully orchestrated plan unraveled. He made a mental note to familiarize himself with the terrain surrounding the exit, plotting potential escape routes and contingencies. With a renewed sense of purpose, Brendan retraced his steps back through the dark, winding tunnels of the sewer system. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and uncertainty. But armed with his knowledge of the Cobalt safe house and the newfound escape route, he felt a glimmer of confidence flicker within him and he made his way back to his home

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22nd NOVEMBER

3rd PERSON POV

It was around midnight when Brendan reached the abandoned building from where observed the safe house yesterday, getting inside he made his way to the top floor. After getting inside the room Brendan started changing his clothes into something more fitting for what was about to go down. Brendan wore a black hoodie and black pants with black gloves covering his hands while he also wore a ski mask covering his face and checked his equipment which consisted of the vibro-gloves, a few homemade lock-picks, and tension wrenches, a flashlight, a low voltage taser he made after salvaging the TV and leftover materials left making the vibro gloves. Brendan double-checked his equipment, ensuring that everything was in place. He knew that success hinged not only on his skills but also on having the right tools for the job. With his gear secured, he mentally rehearsed his plan, ready to put his preparation into action and face the Cobalts head-on.

He made his way to the alley adjacent to the house, slowly crouching and sticking to the walls for maximum stealth, and found the skinny guy sitting on a chair beside the gate and smoking a cigarette, hiding behind a dark corner Brendan gave called out to the goon "Hey dude can you come here I need some help moving this cart " the goon alerted threw his cigarette and made his way to the source of the noise and said " the fuck, who's out there " Brendan taking out his taser waited for his chance and as soon as the goon turner around the corner brendan lunged at the guy with a taser in hand and accurately stuck it at the dude. The skinny guy fell to the ground with a sound and started jerking Brendan tased the guy two more times for good measure which knocked the goon out cold, after which he proceeded to search the guy's body and found a key for the back entrance, a couple of hundred dollars, a pack of cigarettes. Pocketing the key and money he went to the door put in the key and quietly went inside the house.

BRENDAN's POV

My heart still beating from the encounter outside the safe house, I had never been in a confrontation before in my previous life and this was the first time I hurt someone, my palms under the gloves were sweaty, and beads of sweat rolled down my forehead, my hand was shivering a little bit before I reminded myself why I was doing this and what were the stakes involved and soon made my way inside the safe house.

Entering the safe house, My heart still racing I found myself in a dimly lit corridor. Entering the safe house, I found myself in a dimly lit corridor that seemed to embody the decay and neglect of the Cobalts' criminal empire. The walls were stained with years of dirt and grime, paint chipped away to reveal a forgotten layer of wallpaper. The ceiling sagged under the weight of neglect, water stains marking the spots where leaks had once infiltrated the building. The air was heavy with the smell of dampness and mold, a constant reminder of the house's neglected state. I knew I had to be cautious and move quickly to avoid detection. On the ground floor was the staircase with two rooms opposite to each other next to it one was a kitchen joined together with a living room and the other was a bedroom.

I peeked inside the kitchen and found that it was empty and moved to the bedroom and opened the door a little bit and peeked inside to see a man snoring away on a bed which meant there was only one guy left in the house, I closed the door and walked up to the first floor. The first floor was in even worse condition as compared to the ground floor the rooms he passed were in disarray, evidence of the Cobalts' indifference towards their surroundings. Broken furniture, shattered glass, and discarded drug paraphernalia littered the floors, creating an obstacle course of debris that Brendan had to navigate with caution. Finally, I reached the end of the corridor where a locked door was present, taking out my lockpicks I tried to recall how to use them through shockers memories how to use them and put the lockpick in the lock and adjusted the tension wrench, after 5 tries the door finally opened and as I moved inside the room was in somewhat decent condition, inside it was the guy that changed shifts with the skinny goon sitting on a chair in front of a table drinking from a bottle with two glasses, his back to the door. Seeing this I slowly moved behind him and took out my taser soon I reached behind and swiftly pressed the taser on his neck and tased him for a good part of a minute knocking the lights out of the guy. Then I looked around and moved towards the wardrobe and as per my suspicion inside it was a safe.

The safe stood as a testament to the gang's arrogance, its robust construction seemingly impenetrable. Undeterred, I activated the vibro gloves, feeling the gentle hum of energy coursing through my hands. I placed my gloved fingers on the cold metal surface of the safe, and with a concentrated focus, I began to apply pressure. The vibrations emitted by the gloves created subtle micro-fractures in the metal, gradually weakening its structural integrity. With each precise touch, The vibrations intensified, the hinges started to shake and sweat formed on my brow as I persevered, the seconds felt like an eternity. And then, with a resounding click, the safe's door swung open, revealing its hidden contents. I gave myself a mental High-five and started to collect the money inside it after I was done I turned around and was hit with a big boot to my face which threw me off the side, I took a second to process things, and found a large guy barreling towards me still feeling the pain in my jaw I sidestepped him and threw a kick at him but he dodged too and loudly shouted " Bennie, Mickey, Joe get up here we got a bug in the house" as the man in front of me was calling me for reinforcements I saw the bathroom door was open and realized my mistake I never bothered to the check the bathroom, cursing myself I heard three footsteps coming up to the room and soon Three guys with each carrying a baseball bat entered the room.

Meanwhile, the big and I were slugging it out and he was winning, I realized I may have had the experience of the shocker but this body was not trained or ready to be in any sort of heavy physical altercation like this and After the three guys came in my chances went from somewhat possible to nil, The big guy knocked me away and I hit the wall I aim my right arm and fired off a vibro-shock which pushed back the 4 guys and also knocked them out at the same time the dilapidated house started creaking and the weak structure groaned under the weight of the struggle, the once-solid foundation now showing signs of breaking. Dust and plaster rained down from the ceiling, adding to the chaos and confusion. As I was catching my breath the four guys got up and again started to walk towards me and one of them spoke "You better surrender kid, put down the money and we'll let you live there's no need for escalating things" choosing not to reply I decided what I was going to do I put my arm on the floor and cranked the gloves setting to max I looked at the thugs with a knowing smirk and pressed on the pressure button but something went wrong as the vibro shock was released the gloves started to malfunction and smoke and sparks started coming out and I was thrown out the window with a the recoil force at the same time as the floor gave out and all the thugs fell to the ground floor.

With a thud, I got thrown on the street and immediately my right arm and shoulder started hurting like hell, somehow I started getting up and made a beeline to the bakery in front of the house as the commotion from the fight started was heard across the entire block soon I reached behind the bakery and slid inside the sewer I had opened up before I went to the safe-house and with my one good arm slid the sewer cap back on and made my way back to the abandoned building where I on reaching I laid down on the floor gasping for breath. My arm still hurting I changed my clothes and decided to spend the night here only and leave tomorrow morning or noon. Soon my world turned to black and I passed out from the pain.

I woke up the next day and found that although my shoulder was still killing me it was at least manageable and I decided to count my loot. The total amount present was around 22K $ which was more than sufficient to pay the falcones this week and still have a lot of dough leftover to work on other things. Putting everything back in the bag I looked outside the window and saw that cops had cordoned off the house and a lot of people were around watching, though none of the cobalt guys were to be seen. Deciding not to dally anymore I left the building and made my way across the town towards my house, after grabbing a quick meal at a burrito stand I finally arrived at my house.

After entering the house I went for a quick nap, woke up in the evening, took some of the money, and went outside. From there I hailed a cab to the old Gotham from where the Falcone gang's stronghold was located. After some time I reached the place and got out of the cab and started walking towards Maxwell Avenue after reaching there took a few turns and reached the "Bella Luna Taverna". As I stepped inside, the sound of animated conversations and laughter fills the air, mingling with the aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering marinara sauce. The interior of the taverna is reminiscent of a traditional Italian trattoria, with its rustic charm and inviting ambiance. The walls are adorned with vintage photographs depicting the rich history of Italian-Americans in Gotham, showcasing the bond between blood relatives and trusted associates.

The lighting is dim, casting a soft golden glow that enhances the intimate setting. Overhead, strings of twinkling fairy lights crisscross the ceiling, creating a magical ambiance that adds a touch of romance to the air. The wooden furniture is well-worn but lovingly maintained, with sturdy tables and chairs that have witnessed countless gatherings and whispered conversations. The bar, positioned prominently at the center of the taverna, boasts an impressive display of premium liquors and an array of fine wines. Behind the bar, skilled bartenders expertly mix and pour drinks, their movements fluid and confident. The scent of freshly brewed espresso wafts from the nearby coffee station, enticing patrons to indulge in a shot of rich, aromatic caffeine.

The chatter of the patrons is accompanied by the melodic tunes of traditional Italian music playing softly in the background. Occasionally, a live musician serenades the crowd with a soulful rendition of classic Italian songs, their voice carrying through the taverna and evoking a sense of nostalgia. The Bella Luna Taverna is not only a place for socializing and revelry but also serves as a hub for the Falcone family's operations. In discreet corners and private booths, whispered conversations take place, discussing business matters and sharing secrets. The air is thick with an undercurrent of power and authority, as the Falcone family's influence permeates every corner of the establishment.

I moved towards the barkeep and asked "Where is Toni ?" the barkeep pointed at the third door and I went towards it and opened the door and went through it, inside the room surrounded by a few of his associates was Toni Braga, a towering figure standing at an imposing height of 6'5 feet, is a high-level enforcer for the Falcone crime family. He is renowned for his physical prowess, unwavering loyal, and relentless penchant for violence that has earned him a fearsome reputation among both allies and adversaries. Braga's muscular build is a testament to his dedication to physical fitness and combat training. His broad shoulders and chiseled frame exude raw power, instilling an immediate sense of intimidation in those who cross his path. With a shaved head and a rugged appearance, he possesses a rugged charisma that commands attention and respect. His intense gaze, framed by piercing eyes, reflects a cold and calculating demeanor. Every movement he makes, whether it be a deliberate stride or a swift strike, exudes a controlled aggression that sends shivers down the spines of those who dare to oppose him. His presence alone can fill a room with an air of tension, as others instinctively recognize the volatile energy that emanates from him. Braga's wardrobe consists of dark, tailored suits that accentuate his formidable physique. He favors dark colors such as black and charcoal gray, which mirror his enigmatic personality and serve as a subtle reminder of the shadows in which he operates. Despite his penchant for violence, he possesses a sharp sense of style that complements his fierce reputation.

Toni looks at me and says "Well well well look who decided to finally show up, My favorite borrower, and here I had thought that I would have to send the boys to break your legs and bring you in "That got a laugh out of the guys around him, getting straight to the point Toni asked " did you bring the money kid, or we have to find a different arrangement to get it " to which I replied " yeah I got it and a little extra" after saying this I took a brown packet out of my jacket and gave it to one of the guys who passed it to Toni who started counting the money after few moments looked at me with suspicion and said " did you win a lottery or something" coz there's 10 G's in here and just last month you barely scrounging up 5? "

"let's just say that I got resourceful and got them from a friend going out of business I would have given you money sooner but your boy Alessio and his friends beat me up to an inch of my life and stole everything I had on me " I replied and toni gave me stern look and said with timber in his voice " is that so, hey Marco" he called out one of the guys standing around " yes boss " the man replied curtly with fear in the voice " call Alessio and the guys he hangs around with here "

After waiting 15 minutes the door to the room opened up and in came 4 guys with a punk-looking boy in front of them, this was the same asshole that beat old Brendan to death in that alley and stole his stuff, looking at them Toni said " did you beat poor Brendan up here and stole his stuff a week ago? " Alessio looking proud spoke, " Yeah the little dweeb was dodging us when went to his to collect so we jumped him after he was coming from the port ".

Rising from his seat Toni walked towards Alessio and with blinding speed and to my shock just started beating him up to a pulp, after 5 minutes Toni's suit had a crimson coat and Alessio was busted up very badly his nose caved in and his chest too, casually Toni walked back to his seat and said with steel in his voice to the rest of the guys in the room, teeth almost grinding which turned into a smile " we don't hurt the people that borrow from us after all who will pay us if everyone one of them is dead and you three clean this up and get him fixed up" pointing to the guys that came with Alessio who quickly picked him up and bolted.

Some guys were shocked and others were nonchalant as though this was the norm, breaking the tension in the room I spoke up "Hey Toni, you got a Job for me ?"

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A/N: Next chapter Brendan does a job for the falcones which has some implications in the later parts of the story, also please tell me if the pacing of the story is too fast or too slow as I am new to writing. :)