Rex

Archetype: Gatekeeper

The aging fixer who controls access to dangerous opportunities

Rex embodies the gatekeeper archetype - the figure who controls access to opportunities and resources - but subverts it by prioritizing self-preservation over loyalty to those he sends through the gate. His apparent frailty masks a calculating mind that understands exactly how expendable his operatives are in the larger game.

Basic Information

• Full Name: Rex
• Aliases: Old Rex
• Occupation: Fixer at Allsafe Securities Incorporated
• Status: Alive

Physical Description

• Elderly man (appears around 120 years old)
• Mocha skin
• White shock of hair
• Baggy, wrinkled pasty white skin
• Frail appearance
• Ancient black eyes
• Dresses in white shirt and tan pants

Story Appearances

• Street Sam: Fixer who provides Akiko with contracts; betrays her when things go wrong
• Deck Jockey: Mentioned as a business associate of Hiro Fujita who provides jobs to Akiko

Connections

• Akiko Takahashi: Fixer; provides her with contracts but ultimately betrays her
• Hiro Fujita: Business associate; works with the Yakuza
• Kenji Fujita: Knows of his hacking activities through Hiro

Subversion of Archetype

Rex subverts the gatekeeper archetype in several key ways:

1. The Fixer Who Prioritizes Self-Preservation: Abandons his operative when things go wrong, showing that his role as gatekeeper is conditional on his own safety.

2. The Frail Elder With Surprising Power: Uses his network rather than physical strength, demonstrating that power in Horizon City comes from connections rather than physical capability.

3. The Mentor Who Sets Up Failure: Knowingly sends Akiko into a trap, revealing that his guidance is compromised by other loyalties.

4. The Gatekeeper Who Closes The Door: Denies Akiko when she needs help most, showing that access can be revoked as easily as it's granted.

Role in the Corporate Game

Rex functions as a middleman between corporate interests and street-level operatives. His position at Allsafe allows him to maintain plausible deniability while facilitating corporate espionage and assassination. He represents how corporations in Horizon City outsource their dirty work through layers of intermediaries, ensuring that those at the top remain clean while those at the bottom take all the risk.

Notable Quotes

• "I don't think you want this one. This one is going to require more than just a graceful blade." - Warning Akiko about a dangerous contract in Street Sam
• "A forward is not magic pixie dust, Ki. You don't just take a forward, sprinkle it on a situation, and expect miracles to occur. Scan me on this." - Trying to dissuade Akiko from taking a risky contract in Street Sam
• "Event horizon, right? No return from this." - Warning Akiko before finalizing the contract in Street Sam
• "Who? You wouldn't be talking about the one they just banished for destroying Horizon City property? The one they claim is responsible for the death of over three thousand innocent people?" - Denying knowing Akiko after her mission goes wrong in Street Sam

Business Operations

As a fixer at Allsafe Securities Incorporated, Rex serves as the interface between clients who need "special services" and the operatives who carry them out. He manages contracts, provides equipment and information, and ensures plausible deniability for all parties involved. His desk, described as "an ancient crumbling piece of cardcycle and metal fasteners," belies the sophisticated operation he runs, with secure storage for credchips and other sensitive materials hidden behind a painting in his office.

Rex's connections extend beyond Allsafe, including ties to the Yakuza through Hiro Fujita. This network allows him to arrange complex operations involving multiple parties, such as the contract that paired Akiko's skills with Kenji's hacking abilities. However, these same connections make him vulnerable to pressure when operations go wrong, leading him to sacrifice operatives like Akiko to protect himself and his position in the larger criminal ecosystem.