Carmen

Biodata

History

Carmen arrives at Waterfront Street with Enforcers Gero and Soda to investigate the destruction of Fries’s enforcement team. He examines the bodies and blood trails, then suspects that the person who killed three drifters at the East City Water Affairs Center also killed Fries 27. When Fries’s brother, Commander Lawrence, demands an explanation, Carmen presents Marauder Prison’s involvement as a possibility rather than a proven fact. He privately keeps the Water Affairs Center connection from reaching Lawrence 31.

Lawrence later suspects Carmen of failing to support Fries and orders Soda to kill him. Wounded in the sewers, Carmen feigns helplessness until Soda aims at his head, then cuts Soda’s gun hand with a concealed claw blade. Yu Yuan shoots Soda before Carmen can finish the confrontation 34 43. Yu Yuan disarms Carmen but spares him, arguing that they share an enemy in Lawrence. Without Carmen’s knowledge, he uses a Thoughtwave Card to make him fear Lawrence 44.

After investigators corroborate Carmen’s account of Burning Fortress and Marauder Prison activity, Black Shield clears him of suspicion. Carmen warns Old Ke that the attacks may be part of a larger plan. A subsequent encounter with Lawrence brings on intense fear and strengthens Carmen’s suspicion of him 48.

Abilities & Skills

Investigation

• Reconstructs events from wounds, missing equipment, blood trails, and other physical evidence 27.
• Connects separate crime scenes while distinguishing a plausible theory from confirmed evidence 27 31.

Concealed Combat

• Keeps a claw blade hidden and uses it to disable Soda’s gun hand while critically wounded 43.
• Wears modified boots with a spring-loaded blade of about five centimeters; Yu Yuan detects the attempted counterattack before Carmen can use it 44.

Equipment & Items

• Enforcer uniform and helmet — Yu Yuan takes Carmen’s helmet and leaves him wearing Soda’s bloodstained one 27 44.
• Claw blade and modified tactical boots — concealed weapons used or prepared during the sewer encounters 43 44.
• Collar-mounted injection — Carmen administers it after treating his wounds; it eases his pain and helps him stand 44.

Relationships

• Commander Old Ke — Carmen appeals to his authority when threatened by Soda; Old Ke later shares a confidential warning about an approaching war 43 48.
• Commander Lawrence — Fries’s older brother suspects Carmen of withholding support and orders his death 34 43.
• Soda — fellow enforcer who defects to Lawrence and attempts to execute Carmen 27 34 43.
• Gero — fellow enforcer who asks Carmen to investigate Fries’s death and mediates an argument between Carmen and Soda 27.
• Yu Yuan — the killer Carmen traces through his investigations; Yu Yuan later kills Soda, disarms Carmen, and spares him as a possible ally against Lawrence 27 31 43 44.