profile and world info
Nov. 10th, 2020 08:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reroutingThe power balance in the near-future NYC that Caleb inhabits is divided between a unified crime syndicate, a collective of corporations (anti-trust what?), and a government "peacekeeping" agency. The collective (casually called Corpo) and the government presence (known as NatSec) are in a constant battle for technology, and because the syndicate makes much of its money selling information, corporate espionage is ubiquitous. Caleb works as an on-site security specialist, forcing detection devices offline and disabling alarms.
The syndicate, which holds Caleb's contract, is a meticulously organized and diverse web run by a single meglomaniacal individual. Datapirates, independent technology developers, medics, and other groups whose tasks entail a low level of physical risk work alone, but those whose lines of work involve a fair measure of danger are usually divided into two-or-three person groups and work together for the entirety of their contracts, based on the idea that the team will become more efficient and loyal to one another. These relationships, as well as most syndicate functions, are dictated by a strict code. The code was penned by the syndicate leader and, though widely obeyed and mostly effective, it's considered a laughable example of the man's egocentricity.
Caleb takes this code very seriously and has memorized it, not because of loyalty to the syndicate but because he recognizes that when properly exploited, it is one of the only intellectual weapons he has against his employer. When it benefits him, he's known to cite regulations by clause and section number, a habit that both the syndicate leader and his partner consider insufferable.
Caleb is an ordinary, unmodified human who grew up in a wealthy suburb of New Jersey. In his late teens, he became the primary suspect in a sensational murder case, and subsequently fled to NYC where he assumed he could slip through the cracks and into anonymity (it works in crime shows, right?) Because of his desperation, he was easy to lure into an exploitative contract. Thanks to the syndicate's media control and a stipulation in his contract, his hometown now believes that he committed suicide due to the stress of the accusation, and the ongoing search was dropped.
Niskala, a childhood friend who was studying medicine, did not believe the rumors and eventually tracked him down. Unfortunately, this drew her into his now-seedy world, and because she was unable to return to her former life, she currently works as an independent medic.
Caleb's partner, Dev, was a subject of one of many NatSec genetic and surgical projects. The project intended to develop a kind of pragmatic telepathy among its subjects, allowing them to call upon the knowledge and skills of the collective at any time. A side effect of their genetic modifications and training is exceptional sensitivity, and although Dev failed the final test and is thus cut off from the collective, these ingrained skills remain. He's foolhardy and impulsive, slightly arrogant, and the fact that his own physical abilities (outstanding reflexes, exceptional balance, unnaturally good hearing and a talent for brief foresight) far surpass Caleb's opens the door for a bit of difficulty and more than a bit of danger on Caleb's end. Despite this, they are fiercely loyal to one another, and odds are that if Caleb can't talk them out of a bad situation, Dev can negotiate with bullets. Though he hides these activities from Dev (which is a huge breach and his only breach of that aforementioned code), Caleb spends a lot of time and effort finding and helping survivors of similar projects.
His primary loyalties lie with Dev, Nis, and Sophie, Dev's young and extremely sheltered teenage sister. Though his job has required him to kill for survival, he generally leaves the violence to Dev (and would prefer that it didn't happen at all). When he's forced to kill or seriously harm another person, it weighs heavily on his conscience, and the guilt remains for months or even years. Given his personality, though, this isn't a trait that comes to light, and he himself is unaware of it. In general, Caleb is very good at failing at angst.
Overall, Caleb is an optimistic and kind person. His line of work has disillusioned him to some degree, but he has a general faith in the good of mankind and is motivated by a desire to help, though his position in society tends to force his actions in the opposite direction. He's intelligent, creative, and hard-working--he's the one who memorizes blueprints, deciphers and disarms security devices in a matter of seconds, and scripts the plans for a job--but, as stated, he's simply a normal person. Though engineered and well-trained people like Dev and Ryu (the syndicate's leader) are exceedingly rare and under strict genetic copyright, neural implants and other such advantages are moderately common in the underbelly of society. He has none of these, and relies on his natural wits.
Caleb is hindered by a few phobias, some more powerful than others. He's frightened by vatdogs, a breed of German Shepard with neurotoxic saliva that are often used to guard buildings, and he dislikes tight spaces though he'll brave them if a job demands it. The thing that truly terrifies him is being restrained, by handcuffs or some other means, and he hasn't yet been able to overcome this fear or address whatever's caused it. Like most people, he's afraid of losing those close to him, but unlike most people, this is a risk he runs every time that he and his partner are assigned a job. Despite the last half-decade of his life, a small part of him clings to his childhood in Jersey. Even if it were possible, he would refuse to let it go.
The syndicate, which holds Caleb's contract, is a meticulously organized and diverse web run by a single meglomaniacal individual. Datapirates, independent technology developers, medics, and other groups whose tasks entail a low level of physical risk work alone, but those whose lines of work involve a fair measure of danger are usually divided into two-or-three person groups and work together for the entirety of their contracts, based on the idea that the team will become more efficient and loyal to one another. These relationships, as well as most syndicate functions, are dictated by a strict code. The code was penned by the syndicate leader and, though widely obeyed and mostly effective, it's considered a laughable example of the man's egocentricity.
Caleb takes this code very seriously and has memorized it, not because of loyalty to the syndicate but because he recognizes that when properly exploited, it is one of the only intellectual weapons he has against his employer. When it benefits him, he's known to cite regulations by clause and section number, a habit that both the syndicate leader and his partner consider insufferable.
Caleb is an ordinary, unmodified human who grew up in a wealthy suburb of New Jersey. In his late teens, he became the primary suspect in a sensational murder case, and subsequently fled to NYC where he assumed he could slip through the cracks and into anonymity (it works in crime shows, right?) Because of his desperation, he was easy to lure into an exploitative contract. Thanks to the syndicate's media control and a stipulation in his contract, his hometown now believes that he committed suicide due to the stress of the accusation, and the ongoing search was dropped.
Niskala, a childhood friend who was studying medicine, did not believe the rumors and eventually tracked him down. Unfortunately, this drew her into his now-seedy world, and because she was unable to return to her former life, she currently works as an independent medic.
Caleb's partner, Dev, was a subject of one of many NatSec genetic and surgical projects. The project intended to develop a kind of pragmatic telepathy among its subjects, allowing them to call upon the knowledge and skills of the collective at any time. A side effect of their genetic modifications and training is exceptional sensitivity, and although Dev failed the final test and is thus cut off from the collective, these ingrained skills remain. He's foolhardy and impulsive, slightly arrogant, and the fact that his own physical abilities (outstanding reflexes, exceptional balance, unnaturally good hearing and a talent for brief foresight) far surpass Caleb's opens the door for a bit of difficulty and more than a bit of danger on Caleb's end. Despite this, they are fiercely loyal to one another, and odds are that if Caleb can't talk them out of a bad situation, Dev can negotiate with bullets. Though he hides these activities from Dev (which is a huge breach and his only breach of that aforementioned code), Caleb spends a lot of time and effort finding and helping survivors of similar projects.
His primary loyalties lie with Dev, Nis, and Sophie, Dev's young and extremely sheltered teenage sister. Though his job has required him to kill for survival, he generally leaves the violence to Dev (and would prefer that it didn't happen at all). When he's forced to kill or seriously harm another person, it weighs heavily on his conscience, and the guilt remains for months or even years. Given his personality, though, this isn't a trait that comes to light, and he himself is unaware of it. In general, Caleb is very good at failing at angst.
Overall, Caleb is an optimistic and kind person. His line of work has disillusioned him to some degree, but he has a general faith in the good of mankind and is motivated by a desire to help, though his position in society tends to force his actions in the opposite direction. He's intelligent, creative, and hard-working--he's the one who memorizes blueprints, deciphers and disarms security devices in a matter of seconds, and scripts the plans for a job--but, as stated, he's simply a normal person. Though engineered and well-trained people like Dev and Ryu (the syndicate's leader) are exceedingly rare and under strict genetic copyright, neural implants and other such advantages are moderately common in the underbelly of society. He has none of these, and relies on his natural wits.
Caleb is hindered by a few phobias, some more powerful than others. He's frightened by vatdogs, a breed of German Shepard with neurotoxic saliva that are often used to guard buildings, and he dislikes tight spaces though he'll brave them if a job demands it. The thing that truly terrifies him is being restrained, by handcuffs or some other means, and he hasn't yet been able to overcome this fear or address whatever's caused it. Like most people, he's afraid of losing those close to him, but unlike most people, this is a risk he runs every time that he and his partner are assigned a job. Despite the last half-decade of his life, a small part of him clings to his childhood in Jersey. Even if it were possible, he would refuse to let it go.
