_INTERLUDE: HACKING CONTRACT

4.1 DISRUPTION IN THE ETHER

Location / The Loop // One Block West of WKZ-TV Center

Location / The Loop // One Block East of Palin Correctional Facility

Investigation

Difficulty:

While Jordi keeps Maurice busy, he’s hoping you might complete a contract on his behalf; he’s looking for a driver to help one of his cohorts out of a sticky situation. Agree, and rendezvous at the small parking lot near the newsstand, one block west of the WKZ-TV Center in The Loop. However, when you attempt to start this mission, you notice something strange: The mission is locked!

You’re being invaded! A nefarious Fixer known as 2XTheTap is currently hacking into your smartphone with the intention of stealing your valuable data and exposing you to your enemies! Obviously, you can’t allow this to happen, so bring up your map and locate the circular area bathed in purple light; the Fixer is somewhere in this vicinity. Set off on foot or bike along the cobblestone street, heading east, under the elevated L-Train tracks; this is the most direct route.

When you reach the hacking area, the infiltration of your data begins in earnest. The Fixer could be above or below you, hiding on a rooftop or in a vehicle or blending into the crowd. Immediately bring out your phone and start to profile. Normal citizens appear in blue and are usually standing, sitting, or walking.

The hacker you’re looking for varies in ethnicity and clothing each time you play this mission. However, there are some telltale signs to look for: Look for someone moving in a way contrary to the general public, such as standing with a phone, looking out of place, or crouching behind cover. If this was a real (human) adversary, they could be in a vehicle or above you in the garage. But 2XTheTap is usually in the raised brick plaza area, and your target updates to a “kill” status when he’s spotted. He immediately sets off running.

4.2 REPARATION FOR THIS INVASION

Investigation

Difficulty:

The Fixer is off and running, and if you allow him to get away, he finds a vehicle (always the one parked on the street corner, southeast of the plaza) and speeds off. You receive a warning sign when he’s about to evade you. If he speeds about three blocks farther from you, he disappears and you receive a “partial success” credit for this mission and an addition to your Notoriety. But a complete success is called for here!

Run toward the fleeing 2XTheTap. At this point, you have a few options when intervening:

Chase 2XTheTap, catching him up so that you can leap onto him with a melee strike and neutralize him.

Chase 2XTheTap, shooting him in the head or in the body repeatedly until he falls over dead.

Chase 2XTheTap, utilizing (via hacking or shooting) any interactive scenery, such as junction boxes or transformers that can explode, wounding or killing the target.

Chase 2XTheTap until he locates a vehicle and speeds off in it. In order not to fail this mission, you need to acquire your own vehicle and give chase. Bring the chase to a halt using one of the many tried-and-true tactics detailed in this guide, such as slamming into the enemy vehicle until it spins out of control or using hacks to cause a crash.

Chase 2XTheTap in a vehicle (usually a car or bike) and run him over, neutralizing him.

Once you’ve neutralized 2XTheTap, this activity is over, and you receive bonuses to your experience, Reputation (lowered for a violent kill, raised for a melee takedown), and Notoriety.

Once this interlude is over, your Notoriety usually increases. This determines how recognizable you are in the Fixer community (online players). Increase your Notoriety by completing online contracts. Check the Statistics App to see the special perks you can unlock with an increased Notoriety. You can also use the Leaderboard App to check your ranking against others worldwide.

For the moment, though, access your Online Contracts App, which brings up the Grid view of your world map. From here, you can access any of the online contracts. If you aren’t online, Aiden recognizes this, and you fail to start an online contract. You can start or ignore online contracts at your discretion; once this interlude is over, Main Mission: Backseat Driver becomes available.