Light After Dark is a one-shot sequel story of Light & Shadow and a direct continuation of After Dark Reunion.
Six years after their first meeting in Vice City, the three artists have established themselves as one of the nastiest grifter crews in America. Having committed countless cons across the country, Thomas reaches a point where he seriously ponders their retirement. Maria assures him that he's just overthinking as usual and suggests a break, while Cesar believes it's too soon to walk away.
Thomas picks New Zealand for the vacation. There's no plan to venture through the dangerous gangland of Eden City, though; their schedule is to taste wine on Whaler Island, admire the nature of Grand Border Island, celebrate the New Year before 97% of the world's population, and then head home.
Little do they expect, they're about to cross paths with one man who somehow possesses their secrets and knows damn well the advantage he holds.
Prelude 1: Welcome to Gangland[]
A gray Vindex speeds along State Highway 1, its tires humming against the asphalt. Traffic is very light, with only a few cars and industrial trucks passing by. The sky above is a sunny blue, offering a clean view of the fresh scenery outside: a vast, hilly grassland and pine forest that seem to stretch on forever. The natural imagery that New Zealand is famous for.
Thomas Kingston is in the driving seat. Donning a dark flannel shirt jacket and a goatee, he looks different from the slick and formal grifter persona he's associated with. It's not without reason. His casual fashion makes a statement that he's not here for his usual "business".
Sitting next to him is Cesar Álvarez, his partner-in-crime for the last six years and the crew's main muscle. A buff man dressed in a tight black polo shirt and black sunglasses. No matter the situation, he always gives off the impression of a bodyguard you don't want to mess with.
Keeping his arms folded, he stares at Thomas. He breaks the silence first.
Cesar: You really mean it?
He asks the no-nonsense question in his gruff, manly voice. Thomas ignores him, his eyes staying focused on what's ahead.
Cesar: Closing the book while vacationing in a global hotspot for the greedy? My guts say that's not the whole story.
Thomas doesn't turn his head, but his eyes briefly dart toward Cesar. His annoyance is apparent in his frustrated, professional answer and the way he tightens his grip on the steering wheel.
Thomas: A field trip to Eden is not on my watch.
Cesar smirks, leaning back in his seat like he's ready to poke the bear.
Cesar: I thought Eden was the epitome of the free-market utopia that libertarians like you masturbate about. High crime, slums everywhere, but total freedom. Do whatever get-rich scheme you want.
Thomas: We nearly left Carcer City in coffins. Eden is at least ten times worse, and we just sold that empty "riverboat casino" project two weeks ago.
Cesar: You sure two million can sustain long-term retirement for three? If you're serious, we need something bombastic. Y'know, fifteen million or more.
From the backseat, a short-haired blonde woman in a plain lemon-colored dress lets out a heavy sigh. Maria Vinogradova. Elegance wrapped in simplicity. The third member and the "beauty" of the crew. Throughout the trip, she flicks through the pages of a white pamphlet.
She stops reading, snaps the paper shut, and stares sharply at Cesar. Her voice cuts into him like glass.
Maria: This is supposed to be our healing, for God's sake. Don't bully him.
Maria's voice is feminine but firm, carrying the kind of authority that doesn't need to shout. While other men might be easily enticed, Thomas and Cesar are used to her lovely accent. Thomas can't hide a faint smirk. Cesar simply shrugs his shoulders.
Maria returns her attention to the pamphlet. An angel of death caricature embellishes the cover. The title, in all capital letters, reads:
She received the pamphlet at Archipelago Airport, near the northern tip of New Zealand. They had deliberately avoided Eden Airport to steer clear of Eden’s chaos, hoping for a safer entry. What they hadn’t anticipated was a regional flight facility locked down as tightly as Fort Baxter.
The customs officer, cold and rude, left no room for doubt. They were dead serious about preventing smuggling. No weapons, no drugs, not even so much as an unapproved prescription or an apple would slip past their scrutiny. Their gaze was sharp, their demeanor unyielding, as if they had seen it all before. Desperate traffickers, hidden compartments, last-minute bribes. And they weren't having any of it.
As they neared the exit, a nervous-looking middle-aged man shoved a worn, crumpled pamphlet into their hands, calling it a "warning pamphlet." He insisted it was important, then hesitated, before slyly demanding five dollars for it. Maria begrudgingly paid, and as he pocketed the cash, she could have sworn she heard him mutter under his breath, "I hope I see you guys leaving alive."
With the immediate tension fading, Thomas shifts the conversation, before Cesar can start sounding like a broken record.
Thomas: What does it say, Maria?
She recites it. Verbatim. The boys listen closely.
Maria: Eden City is called Gangland for a reason, organized crime isn't just a part of the city, it is the city. The biggest threat you'll face here isn't the corrupt police, the crumbling infrastructure, or the homeless, it's the gangs that rule the streets. Follow these simple golden rules, compiled by local community members, to ensure your stay is as comfortable and secure as possible. Stay alert. Stay cautious. Assume the worst.
Cesar: Gangland huh? It can't be that bad.
Maria: Rule #1: Never venture out alone, especially at night. Always move in a group. Under no circumstances engage with strangers, not even a "hello" or to ask directions. Avoid Eden City's gangs who are often identifiable by their distinct colors, uniforms, and emblems. However, some operate without any markings at all, making them far more dangerous. The Constabulary is unreliable. Your safety is in your own hands.
Cesar nods quietly, agreeing that bad things always happen after nine.
Maria: Rule #2: Do. Not. Enter. South Eden. This isn't just a bad neighborhood, it's a full-blown warzone. Gangs have completely seized control, and what little remains of the Constabulary's presence exists solely to contain the chaos, not stop it. The entire district is cordoned off, with armed checkpoints and barricades cutting it off from the rest of the city.
Cesar: We won't visit there anyway, right?
Thomas: No, but if we had actually booked a flight to Eden Airport, we could’ve gotten a nice, safe view of it from the control tower with those coin-operated binoculars. They’re literally cashing in on a hood safari.
Cesar: Jesus.
Maria: Rule #3: Arm yourself. We understand that firearm possession is strictly prohibited, but let's be real, relying on the Constabulary or private security for protection is wishful thinking at best, suicidal at worst. You need to be able to defend yourself by whatever means necessary.
Thomas glances over his shoulder at Maria, giving her a knowing look.
Thomas: That's your job description.
Maria: Kirikov's goons are in the city, but Adegoke has already handled all our homework.
Adegoke, the crew's unofficial fourth member, the silent hero behind the scenes. “The Nigerian Prince” doesn’t have a silver tongue, but he doesn’t need one, his skillset speaks for itself. He specializes in generating fake websites, disabling alarms, and handling the technical side of their more elaborate cons. They rarely see him in person, meeting only once in a blue moon. Coincidentally, he happens to be in Eden too.
They've already paid him to secure a safe house in North Eden, the least dangerous part of the city, and to have all their equipment prepped and waiting. If anyone could find a way to carve out a sanctuary in Gangland, it was Adegoke.
Remembering him, Maria suddenly voices a thought that's been lingering in the back of her mind.
Maria: Does he know about us “ending” our partnership?
Thomas doesn’t like where this conversation is headed. His answer is concise, clipped with a hint of frustration.
Thomas: Not his business.
Maria frowns.
Maria: We should see him again, one last time. I miss him.
Cesar: She’s right. You’re throwing a farewell party, yet you refuse to shake his hand and thank him in person? You’re disrespecting the guy who got us this far.
Thomas: He’s the one who always says no.
Cesar: Maybe if you’re honest with him, he’ll change his mind.
Thomas takes a moment to process. He’s always assumed that Adegoke was simply too afraid to see their faces in the first place. Maybe he doesn’t want to be associated with them. Or maybe their Machiavellian tendencies have driven him away. Or perhaps, deep down, it’s Thomas who fears that Adegoke could turn out to be a snake, just like Edgar Zuáznabar, the one who could have been their fourth musketeer years ago but chose to spit on that chance instead.
But really, what’s the harm in waving him a quick sayonara? If Adegoke doesn’t want to linger, neither does Thomas.
Thomas: Make it brief.
Successfully convincing Thomas, Cesar chuckles. Maria grins victoriously and shows her smartphone at Thomas.
Maria: Should I chat him?
Thomas: Once we’re safe and sound in the hotel.
Nothing else needs to be questioned. Maria continues her interrupted reading session.
Maria: Rule #4: Always watch the road. Illegal street racing has become a growing epidemic in and around Eden. Maintain a moderate driving speed. Drive too slow, and you become a target for carjackers and short-tempered drivers. Drive too fast, and you risk a fatal collision with unauthorized racers who treat the streets like their personal battleground.
Not even a second later, from the right side of the road, a flashy red Kuruma X rockets past at breakneck speed with a monstrous roar, the sheer force of its speed sending a gust of displaced air through the trio’s Vindex.
But in the Kuruma X's shadow, another beast emerges, a silver and blue-trimmed Elegy Retro, perfectly positioned in its slipstream. The driver is in complete sync with the lead car, drafting effortlessly, like a predator locked onto its prey. The two cars aren’t just speeding, they’re racing.
Then, above them, cutting through the sky like a vulture, a helicopter looms. Not police. Not news. Something else entirely. Its gold-plated hull gleams against the sun's glow, the rotors chopping through the air with mechanical precision. It doesn’t pursue, it spectates, following along as if it's a judge to an unseen competition, a silent overseer to the reckless chaos below.
The scene stuns the trio. Thomas' grip tightens on the wheel, instincts nearly forcing him to brake. Maria, wide-eyed, tracks the red Kuruma X only to spot the silver and blue-trimmed Elegy Retro slipstreaming behind, locked in a high-speed duel. Cesar barely reacts, but his pulse quickens, just slightly.
Thomas: Fuck!
Cesar: That pamphlet might actually save our lives.
As they approach Eden City’s urban sprawl, they silently pray they won’t have to test that theory.
Prelude 2: Gilded Cage[]
[]
| Contents from Light & Shadow |
|---|
| Characters & Factions: Thomas Kingston • Maria Vinogradova • Cesar Álvarez • Adegoke • Edgar Zuáznabar • Irving Belfort • Medalla Cartel • National Revenue Authority • The Collective (Nikolai Kirikov) • Tijs Bergling • Valerio Reyes |
| Stories & DLCs: Light After Dark • Fortunate Face |