Rebel
Chapter 2: Ross City: Daniel 1
by Lu, MarieDaniel Altan Wing, formerly known as Day, is a former fugitive turned agent for the Antarctica Intelligence Service (AIS) in Ross City. The chapter opens with him attempting to call his younger brother, Eden, who doesn’t answer, leaving Daniel frustrated yet protective. Reflecting on their traumatic past—losing their parents and surviving a revolution—Daniel tries to rationalize Eden’s silence, wondering if he’s busy with friends or school. His thoughts drift to June, a figure from his past, but he pushes them aside to focus on his mission in the Undercity, the poorest and most dangerous part of Ross City.
Daniel’s current assignment involves tracking a woman linked to Dominic Hann, a ruthless crime lord terrorizing the Undercity. As he waits in the shadows, he contrasts his current life as a law enforcer with his past as a street rat in the Republic. His colleagues, Jessan and Lara, view him with curiosity, unable to relate to his harsh upbringing. Daniel’s familiarity with poverty and crime fuels his determination to bring down Hann, whose brutal tactics—extortion, murder, and illegal activities—mirror the injustices Daniel once fought against. The irony of his role as a lawman isn’t lost on him.
The Undercity’s grim reality is starkly different from Ross City’s luxurious Sky Floors. Daniel observes the impoverished residents, their virtual “Levels” marking their social status, with Level 0 denoting the most marginalized. The system theoretically allows upward mobility, but few escape the cycle of poverty. Daniel’s empathy for the Undercity’s residents stems from his own experiences in the Republic, though he acknowledges Ross City is still an improvement. Despite his hero status, he remains driven by a simple desire: to protect his family and those vulnerable to exploitation.
The chapter culminates with Daniel spotting his target, the woman connected to Hann, and preparing to pursue her. His focus shifts from personal reflections to the immediate task, highlighting his adaptability and resolve. The scene underscores the tension between his past and present, as well as his unwavering commitment to justice, even in a system that once branded him a criminal. The chapter sets the stage for a high-stakes confrontation, blending action with introspection.
FAQs
1. How does Daniel’s current role as an AIS agent contrast with his past in the Republic, and what does this reveal about his character development?
Answer:
Daniel’s transformation from Republic fugitive “Day” to Antarctica Intelligence Service agent highlights significant character growth. Once the Republic’s most-wanted criminal who fought against systemic oppression, he now upholds the law in Ross City. This irony isn’t lost on him (“Pretty ironic for me, yeah?”). His past as a street survivor gives him unique insight into the Undercity’s criminal underworld, making him effective at tracking figures like Dominic Hann. The shift suggests Daniel has channeled his rebellious energy into protecting others rather than fighting the system, though he maintains critical awareness of social inequalities. His motivation—hating how Hann preys on the poor—shows his core values remain consistent despite the role reversal.2. Analyze the significance of Ross City’s Level system as presented in this chapter. How does it reflect broader societal structures?
Answer:
The Level system is a rigid class hierarchy where citizens’ rights correlate with their numerical Level (e.g., Level 0 homeless people “have no rights at all”). While framed as meritocratic (“You can work your Level up”), Daniel observes most never escape poverty, mirroring real-world systemic barriers. The Sky Floors’ luxury contrasts sharply with the Undercity’s squalor, emphasizing extreme inequality. Daniel’s conflicted perspective—acknowledging it’s “better than the Republic” while recognizing its flaws—highlights how even “advanced” societies marginalize their poorest. The system’s visibility (virtual Levels hover over heads) underscores how status dictates social treatment, paralleling modern surveillance capitalism and social credit systems.3. What does Daniel’s relationship with Eden reveal about his psychological state and priorities?
Answer:
Daniel’s repeated failed calls to Eden showcase his protective guilt and emotional displacement. Though he rationalizes Eden’s silence (“Maybe he’s hanging out with classmates”), his immediate use of geolocation tracking betrays anxiety. His vow to “never lose my temper” after Eden’s trauma (losing parents, surviving revolution) suggests survivor’s guilt manifesting as overprotectiveness. Notably, he struggles to relate to Eden’s university life, highlighting how his own traumatic past (“exams without real consequences… foreign to me”) creates emotional distance. His instinct to consult June—a figure from his past—further reveals how he defaults to familiar bonds when navigating unfamiliar familial dynamics.4. How does the author use physical descriptions of the Undercity to reinforce thematic elements of the story?
Answer:
Vivid imagery (“pockmarked streets,” “rusty jumble of cheap storefronts,” “spilled garbage”) creates a visceral contrast with the “glitzy” Sky Floors, mirroring class divides. The permanent darkness (“where sunlight never reaches”) symbolizes hopelessness, while neon signs suggest artificial, predatory commerce (like Hann’s loan schemes). Daniel’s physical discomfort (“leg’s starting to fall asleep” on the ledge) mirrors his psychological unease—the setting triggers Lake flashbacks, showing how trauma lingers. The “tide of ants” simile dehumanizes the poor, reflecting how the system views them. These details collectively critique systemic neglect of marginalized communities.5. Evaluate Daniel’s internal conflict regarding his identity. How does this chapter set up potential future tensions?
Answer:
Daniel oscillates between embracing his new identity (“Daniel Altan Wing, of the AIS”) and feeling like an impostor (“I’m kind of a fluke”). His self-consciousness about appearances (constantly mussing his “polished” hair) symbolizes discomfort with assimilation. References to June and Republic-era wanted posters hint at unresolved attachments to his past. The chapter plants seeds for future conflict: his unique background earns colleagues’ “awe” but may isolate him, and his empathy for the Undercity’s poor (“reminds me too much of my past”) could clash with institutional demands. His wry humor about hunting criminals (“makes me want to crack up”) suggests deeper existential questioning about justice and redemption.
Quotes
1. “My name used to be Day, the boy from the streets of the Republic. The fugitive who unwittingly started a revolution. Now, though, I’m Daniel Altan Wing, of the Antarctica Intelligence Service. My job is to hunt down the worst criminals in Ross City. Here, apparently, I’m the law. Pretty ironic for me, yeah?”
This quote captures the protagonist’s profound identity shift—from a revolutionary fugitive to an enforcer of law—highlighting the central irony of his character arc and the novel’s exploration of justice and perspective.
2. “Ross City is still a better place than the Republic’s ever been. What advanced nation doesn’t have some poverty? At least these people have never been subjected to the Republic’s Trials or the Colonies’ stifling corporations. But as far as I’ve seen, no place in the world treats their lowest rungs well.”
Here, Daniel reflects on systemic inequality across societies, comparing Ross City’s flaws to the Republic’s brutality. It underscores the novel’s critique of societal hierarchies and the universality of oppression.
3. “People may think of me as some kind of shining hero. But honestly? All I really wanted in the first place was to protect my family.”
This vulnerable admission reveals Daniel’s core motivation—family over ideology—and humanizes his actions amid larger societal conflicts, grounding the narrative in personal stakes rather than abstract heroism.
4. “You can work your Level up, of course. That’s the whole point of this system… But pulling yourself up that way takes an overwhelming amount of work. Most never make it out.”
A pointed commentary on Ross City’s meritocratic facade, this quote exposes the systemic barriers faced by the poor, mirroring real-world critiques of social mobility myths in technologically advanced societies.