Cogwheels

Jaf Daskal's got it made at last.

Officially an unofficial spy, Jaf's natural sneakiness and flexible ethics should make success a snap in the world of shadows! Even better, the small-time crime boss from his old hometown may hand over his empire to Jaf – for a piece of the action. What a side gig!

But something's screwy. On his first assignment Jaf and his espionage partner/lover discover the destroyer of poor neighborhoods with 'accidental' poison gas leaks. Jaf's warnings are ignored – could this be part of some greedy redevloper's scheme? Jaf manages a rescue for the people, but can't prevent the obliteration of their homes. Underground, Jaf gains a rep as one of the good guys -- the last label he wants.

His second case leads him undercover to the Pleasure Palace, a party place for a wealthy underworld of sexual exploitation and occasional murder. Sent there to hear any whispers of discontent among the jaded rich, he recruits some of the young 'workers' as his eyes and ears. Once they're working together they take heart as a community, and decide to work together to end their abuse and improve their lives – and take Jaf as their leader.

Unwillingly riding the crest of this swelling unrest, Jaf hears mad whispers swirl that he is the One who can topple the Emperor, tear down the Empire and bring order and justice to society at last. Torn between cringing and laughing, Jaf knows enough to fear that role, knowing the outcome. Every day he wants more and more to just escape the world of luxury and privilege he's been drawn into.

Tangled in ever more sticky webs of power, sex and corruption, Jaf wonders how he can ever survive.