NEW STORY ARC

BLACK CLOAK RETURNS!

Something old has awakened beneath the city.

In the five years since the “Essex Fire,” Kiros has changed dramatically. Ex-Black Cloak Phaedra Essex is either the city’s greatest hero or greatest villain, depending on who you ask, and Black Cloak Pax has a bloody new case, a rookie partner, and absolutely no leads.

It is 5 years later. The city has been rebuilding. Phaedra’s father, Phinneas, is now Prime Minister and runs the city. He says they are now stronger than before because of their honesty in restructuring the city’s systems.

Pax works a crime scene with his new partner, Alden, a Bellweather. Bellweathers can’t speak in normal language and instead use a sort of emoji. They use wristlets to translate for others. The body they’re investigating has mostly been eaten.

Phaedra swims in the now-flooded Narrows, which was previously the poor section of town. She is now a private investigator and is looking for something. Sashenka and a Maid swim alongside her. When she gets out, Pax is waiting.

He introduces her to Alden and is surprised that Phaedra now knows how to speak Bellweather. Bellweathers are rare and are considered to not be natural Black Cloaks, but Phaedra says his sensitivity would be a plus.

As they walk back to her office to talk, Phaedra notes that the Maids’ cries are no longer as dangerous because they are now free to swim through the city and are not detainees and in pain. Valorie is waiting in the office. They have stayed close. The Taka often follow her.

Phaedra, Pax, and Alden sit awkwardly until he asks for her help and shows her the case files he has been working on. She is shocked and says they are the work of a serial killer. He asks her for advice. She says she needs to see the scene. This is more than he expected and he’s not sure he can get her in, but she insists. She says she has something to do and will meet him there.

She shows up with minor wounds. When she gets in, she says he should have gotten her sooner. A giant creature shows up—a Dragyern. Everyone thought they were extinct. They pull their guns at the giant creature, unsure what to do.