Sharp

Archetype: Doomed Inspector

The investigator who discovers too much and pays the ultimate price

Sharp embodies the doomed investigator archetype - the person who uncovers dangerous secrets only to be silenced before they can reveal them. His brief appearance in "Weapon" serves to illustrate the lethal consequences of threatening Horizon City's power structures and the extreme measures taken to protect corporate interests.

Basic Information

• Full Name: Sharp
• Aliases: None known
• Occupation: Inspector
• Status: Deceased (murdered by Judge Rachelle; clone prevented from activating)

Physical Description

• Young white man
• Wears a tailored brown suit with white button-up shirt and brown silk tie
• Described as uncomfortable in formal attire
• Carries a penlight for inspections

Story Appearances

• Weapon: Inspector sent to investigate the Feynman batteries at ToxPower; realizes the danger they pose; murdered by Judge Rachelle to maintain the secret

Connections

• Judge Rachelle: His murderer; she was assigned to escort him through ToxPower
• Jack: Indirect; both are aware of the Feynman batteries, but from opposite sides

Subversion of Archetype

Sharp subverts the investigator archetype in several key ways:

• The Doomed Investigator: Unlike typical noir investigators who uncover the truth and expose corruption, Sharp discovers the truth but is immediately silenced.

• The Disposable Whistleblower: He represents how the system eliminates those who might expose its secrets, with no chance for redemption or justice.

• The Sacrificial Pawn: His death serves to illustrate the lengths to which Horizon City's power structures will go to protect their interests, showing the reader the stakes of the story.

Role in the Corporate Game

Sharp functions as a potential threat to the corporate system who is swiftly eliminated. His investigation of the Feynman batteries represents external oversight that the system cannot tolerate. His murder by Judge Rachelle demonstrates how Horizon City's institutions collaborate to protect corporate secrets, with law enforcement serving as the enforcers of corporate interests rather than public safety.

The fact that his clone is prevented from activating by adding him to the "banished list" shows how thoroughly the system has been designed to silence dissent - not only eliminating individuals but ensuring they cannot return through Horizon City's clone-based immortality system.

Notable Quotes

• "It's not like I asked for this assignment. Shit, its gotta be a hundred degrees down here." - Complaining about the conditions in ToxPower
• "HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT THEY WERE BUILT FOR?" - Questioning Judge Rachelle about the Feynman batteries
• "IT'LL TAKE ANYTHING, WON'T IT? IT JUST… HEY!" - His final words as Judge Rachelle pushes him toward the Feynman battery