Interesting Times

July 25th, 2174

20:24

Terra Nova, Asgard-System

Scott

Ad Astra Headquarters

Five Shepards.

Even days after hearing about it, I hadn't processed it completely.

After all, how did one process the fact that there wasn't just one candidate to become the hero of the galaxy but three?

Yet, what did that mean?

I mean, it definitely wasn't "canon" anymore.

Not that I was particularly surprised by the fact since I had done my very best from the day I approached the Alliance to throw that path out of the window, to bury it, and to let it die an unremembered death, but to have one's actions thrown so blatantly into one's face? That was something else.

Until now, the changes hadn't been visible and impactful enough for me to notice without being able to brush them away or ignore them.

Sure, there was that first victory against the Turians at Shanxi, but did that really change anything?

Or the fact that we could travel independently of the relay network.

Or that we were building bigger ships than the Destiny Ascension.

Or...

Or...

Or...

All these small thoughts came to my mind, and maybe, for the first time since I started my second life, I realized how much had changed from "canon."

Intellectually, I had always known, yet it wasn't the same.

I somehow felt free.

Freer than ever.

Perhaps knowing something fundamental, like the number of existing Sheoards, changed broke the last remaining chains that held my subconscious to the belief that canon still existed.

Yet, that brought new thoughts to my mind, too.

Would the Reapers still act the same way as before, or would they change their approach?

Will the events from the first game still take place, or will something different happen?

Is Saren still a bad guy? Did the events of Shanxi still happen that brought him on the path that led him towards the Reapers, or will there be someone else who will be the Reaper's puppet trying to facilitate their return through the Citadel-Relay?

Did the Protheans even manage to reprogram the Keepers, or was the Citadel a ticking timebomb?

When that last thought crossed my mind, I shook my head decidedly.

If I wanted to go forward in any way, I couldn't doubt everything. At least not what was in the past. That wouldn't help me in the slightest with my plans.

I would create a contingency plan just in case I had to flee the Citadel in a hurry, a contingency that wouldn't just be useful if the Reapers used the station for their reappearance but for any reason when my life was in danger.

Yet, to prepare for their arrival, I would assume that everything before my birth, or my starting to cooperate with the then newly created Alliance, was within the canon timeline.

Furthermore, most of my ongoing plans and operations grounded themself on this assumption, and stopping them now because I started to doubt everything would cost me enormous sums of money and the time I invested in them would be lost without return.

And if I was wrong?

Well, it would suck, and the difficulty level would rise high above "Insanity," but we humans were tenacious. And it wasn't like we would become like fish in a barrel.

After all, should the worst-case scenario happen, where the Reapers shut down the Relay network, the DR-drive would still give us the option to fight back on multiple fronts and travel between different systems, even if the time needed to get from one end of the galaxy to the other would rise.

Furthermore, hiding in systems with inactive relays or where there were none in the first place would increase the time we could use to rally ourselves and prepare to push back against them since the Reapers would be limited by their drives that took ages to travel the distance between systems.

I knew that a branch of the military was already constructing small bases with enough raw materials on hand to serve as forward or fallback bases in case of war with the Citadel. In fact, I was one of the first supporters when the idea was first pitched to me during my time in the government, and I can't say it was a bad idea to support it.

The Salarians would probably be the first to copy that idea, even if their goal was to create outposts for the STG to spy on us and all other inhabitants of the galaxy.

That reminded me to throw the idea for better scanning and detection tech toward the R&D departments and see what they could come up with.

My hands slapped against my cheeks to refocus myself. Thoughts were coming and going rapidly, jumping from topic to topic without a clear red string, and that wasn't something I could allow myself to do.

At least, not at the moment.

With a sigh, I stood up from my chair and walked over to the hidden cabinet in one of the walls where I stashed my most expensive and favorite drinks. A simple push with my hand on the wall was enough, and the fake part went in and slid to the side.

Grabbing a bottle at random, I poured myself a generous helping and downed it in one go before I filled my glass again with half the previous amount and drank more slowly, this time even tasting the more subtle notes of the drink instead of simply the burn of alcohol.

Turning away from the cabinet, I walked over to the other side of the room, where the wall was made out of glass, giving me a panorama view of the city of Scott.

I didn't know how long I stood there and watched the shadows wandering through the city as the sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon and the lights of the Scott turned brighter and more numerous, yet I knew I felt myself becoming calmer.

It didn't feel anymore like a cloud was lying on my thoughts, making them fuzzy and elusive.

Perhaps knowing that one of the major facts of the canon timeline was now completely different and unrecognizable hit me harder than I expected. Enough to get me to doubt everything else.

Shaking my head and letting out a sigh, I couldn't help but think back to the time before the Mars ruins were discovered when I thought I had been born in the future and that no extinction-level threats were waiting in the shadows.

Sadly, going back to that time or ignoring what was to come wasn't possible, so I would go on and see the events of the game, or at least something close to them, as the most probable outcome and leave enough room in my plans for improvisation and adaptation.

Lifting my glass in salute to the last rays of the sun, I said: "One day ends, and another begins. And I will see that cycle long into the 23rd century, that I promise."

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July 26th, 2174

13:34

Omega, Sahrabarik

Sometimes, Levin couldn't help but think that Luk was getting crazier with every passing year. Yet, behind all that craziness was a sharp mind.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have survived for long in a world where people had loose trigger fingers and long memories when it came to grudges.

Or they would have died the first time when one of Luk's plans inevitably went wrong, and they had to improvise.

Luck could only explain so much before that explanation became ridiculous.

After almost a decade of working together, Levin was used to Luk's hair-brained schemes and protested only minimally whenever he saw too great a risk in a part of a plan, but protesting against the whole plan from the beginning wasn't something he had done in the last five years.

"You do remember that the bounty Gorvak has put on our heads is still in effect? And now you want to make a deal with him?"

Yet, Levin couldn't help but question his long-time partner's sanity when he heard his idea.

"Well, Gorvak is one of the best weapon smugglers on this side of the galaxy. His client list has some high-profile weapon collectors. Do you remember from the time before he put the bounty on us? The job where he asked us to retrieve the antique Turian rifle from that collector on Cordus V? I think that guy was one of Gorvak's clients. At least, he had enough information about the collector's home to have been there before."

"Of course, I remember," replied Levin. "It was one of the few heists where we got out quietly and weren't chased by a pack of varrens or mercenaries."

"See!" exclaimed Luk loudly, drawing the attention of a few people passing by for a moment before they continued walking and forgot about the Salarian and human pair sitting at one of the many food stalls in the district.

"It is a good omen! Most of the jobs we took that involved Gorvak went without - well, almost without - a hitch. This one will, too."

"You forgot the last one," said Levin, his voice as dry as the something he was chewing on. He grabbed the accompanying sauce and put a generous helping on his meal. "That one went wrong in such a way to tilt the scale in the other direction. I mean, he did put a bounty on us. A small one that hasn't attracted any serious bounty hunters, but it is a clear sign that Gorvak has it out for us."

Instead of answering, Luk continued to eat his meal, ignoring its dryness as if it wasn't there. After swallowing, he said: "He's just angry that we lost him money. And with this job offer, we are bringing him an opportunity to recoup his losses and make more credits than ever before. The Big Boss has pockets deep enough to drown someone in Credits."

After the two of them had started to work for Oscar Denebren, Luk had started to call the man Big Boss at some point, and Levin had cheerfully copied the nickname. It fit, and Levin didn't want to find out what would happen if they let his name slip to the wrong person or at the wrong place. The consequences to their health could be fatal if someone in Denebren's entourage decided to do some damage control before the Big Boss' reputation took a hit from employing two two-bit criminals.

Luk didn't think anything drastic would happen if it came out. Such news was easily dismissed by the public after all, but he agreed to keep quiet for Levin's peace of mind.

"Anyone else would still fit the bill. Without the possibility that we may be shot on sight before getting a word out, I may add. Why are you so fixated on Gorvak? Is that your idea of hitting two birds with one stone?"

A confused expression appeared on Luk's face, and Levin explained: "It's a human idiom. It means accomplishing two goals at once. Getting a supplier for rare weapons and getting rid of the bounty at the same time. Because if that is your plan, I can understand it, even if I don't like it."

"Yeah, that's part of the reason, but there's something I heard when we made a pit-stop at the spaceport of Vertris that got my attention, and it would be something that would net us an enormous bonus from the Big Boss." Luk's expression turned more serious, and his eyes flitted from one side to the other, making sure nobody was paying them undue attention before gesturing to Levin to get closer.

Whispering in a low volume, Luk explained: "I heard Gorvak got his hands on a few pieces of Collector tech. I don't know if it is a weapon or something else, but I think the Big Boss would want it nonetheless. After all, those pieces are among the rarest and most advanced in the galaxy."

Levin fell back on his seat with a stunned expression. Collector tech. Just like Luk said, those were among the rarest and most advanced pieces of technology anyone could find in the galaxy. Perhaps not as rare as working Prothean tech, but it is up there nonetheless. He finally understood why Luk was so fixated on Gorvak. If they could manage to get their hands on that and give it to their contact in the Big Boss' entourage, their usefulness and trust would skyrocket. Better pay, better opportunities, better life expectancy. Everything would be better.

After all, Levin grew up with Oscar Denebren's reputation around him, and leaving Alliance space hadn't made him forget what he heard. If one showed that they were a valuable employee, the Big Boss would move mountains to help you. Luk and Levin would get a "You-get-out-of-Jail"-Card essentially.

Nonetheless, Levin couldn't help but agree with Luk that Gorvak potentially having access to Collector tech was a game-changer. Yet, with their current standing with the grouchy Batarian, the chances that he would sell them even the dirt that fell off the tech were less than zero.

He said as much to his Salarian partner and friend.

"He's not going to sell it to us immediately. And if he did, I am sure it would be a dummy. I am not even completely sure he still has it or had it in the first place. It is just rumored. He could have put them out there himself to make himself more interesting than other dealers to attract more high-value clients. That's why I didn't tell you until now."

"And letting me fret and worry about your sanity?"

"Your face makes funny expressions whenever you do," replied Luk, a grin splitting his face almost in half.

Levin let out a huff and asked:" The plan?"

"Nothing too difficult. Or deviating from what we have to do for the Big Boss anyway. Gorvak is still good at his job. Collector tech or not. I see it as just a bonus in addition to us getting rid of the bounty."

"And if we get the tech, andit is still a dummy?"

"Well," drawled Luk, a hint of dark satisfaction flashed in his eyes, "it won't be us with the bounty then. Don't forget, we are only the intermediaries for our client, and those will be the ones Gorvak will have ripped off. And I don't think that they will take that lightly. Collector tech is expensive after all. Furthermore, from what we heard, the Big Boss doesn't hesitate to escalate things. Just ask Eclipse."

There was not a single person in the Terminus systems who hadn't heard how Oscar Denebren had ripped the oldest and most established existing mercenary outfit a new one for daring to hurt what was his. He hit hard enough that even Jona Sederis wasn't willing to continue what could have become a full-blown war.

Of course, there was no evidence that tied Denebren officially to the disappearance of Eclipse's bases and the death of hundreds of their members, but the underworld knew who was responsible, probably through rumors planted by members of Ad Astra.

It was enough to give the whole galactic underworld a good wake-up call to what it would mean to go against Ad Astra and Oscar Denebren.

Until then, he was seen as powerful but harmless. Yet now, there would be immense hesitation in accepting any contract or job that could bring one into conflict with the human company.

The number of companies and organizations that managed to do that to the underworld could be counted on two hands, even for the species with less than ten fingers.

"You are hoping that Gorvak does something stupid, don't you?" asked Levin but there was no accusation behind his words, perhaps only a bit of anticipation.

"He's good at his job, but he never was the smartest tool when it came to those he didn't like."

"You know we can't just drop the name of our employer? He would not like that."

"It is not like we would have to," argued Luk. "We simply have to report what Gorvak did or did not do. If we exaggerate a bit about any threats he makes toward us or what he plans to do, well, I always had a tendency for the dramatic."

"Sounds like you were aiming for that from the start."

"Maybe I was," replied Luk with a smile that was at the same time innocent yet held a sharpness that would make people uncomfortable.

Levin couldn't keep the smirk off his face at Luk's words. No matter how often he grumbled about Luk's plans and ideas that got them in situations where they had to run away from various dangers or came close to dying, the Salarian was still a very capable person with the potential to outwit his enemies and allies alike.

After all, Luk had survived in this cut-throat world long before Levin ever met him.

No, surviving was too mild a word that didn't capture the picture correctly. 

He thrived in this world.

Levin cleared his throat and shoved his empty plate away from him before asking: "Well, then. Shall we find out if our good friend Gorvak is amenable to a meeting?"

"Let's."

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July 29th, 2174

15:55

Terra Nova, Asgard-System

Scott

Ad Astra Headquarters

My eyes wandered to the clock in the upper right of the screen in front of me as I was tipping my response to one of my lawyers, who was still busy tying up some loose ends on Illium.

Lawsuits, corrupt and bribed officials, the takeover of the companies and contacts of my dear deceased colleagues of the Circle, the list was perceived as endless. Thankfully, there was nothing my employees couldn't take care of by themselves, and the only things I had to contribute were some emails to dictate the course when two or more options had vastly different outcomes, and the gain for Ad Astra was almost on the same level.

Of course, there were also informational messages that I had to answer, like right now.

The Circle may had some influence on Illium and was one of the bigger players, but they were by far from the only ones played in the big leagues. And right now, my employees were fighting for the control of the Circle member's companies with those sharks.

They were doing well enough, and they managed to secure the parts I wanted. The remaining scraps and parts were more difficult to obtain, but they weren't that important to me, so I could see them as good training exercises for my employees.

The most important part, in my opinion, and the one I simply had to secure before anyone else, was De'Tiyovi's news network branch on the Citadel. Having the opportunity to influence the media, or at least a small part of an established and trusted network - as much as people trusted what they heard on the news - would be an invaluable tool in my hand when I went back to full-time politics and secured the position as ambassador.

Objectivity may have been one of the ideals news agencies were founded upon, but objectivity itself was an ideal that was impossible to fulfill. Everyone had opinions. That was one of the fundamental parts that make a person a person. And opinions were fueled by feelings and created those, too.

One had to accept that fact.

The only possibility of getting a truly impartial recounting of events was if someone had no feelings and no goals, and I, for one, would never be able to trust such a person.

Furthermore, it wasn't like I was the only one who would use the media to further personal goals. Doing something like that probably dates back to the time when, for the first time ever, a person spoke to a crowd.

The bigger the agency, the more one could expect that there was someone with an agenda behind it since there had to be a person who controlled the flow of money. The governments, private persons, or interest groups. All of those had reasons to push their agenda through, and to find out what this agenda one had to observe what was reported in the news, how it was reported, and, most importantly, what wasn't reported.

There was a reason why I kept a whole department whose only job was to analyze the different media outlets and the news they reported.

I was thrown out of my head when the intercom on my desk buzzed, and the voice of my secretary sounded out from the small device.

"Mr. Denebren? Your 16 o'clock appointment has arrived. Should I lead her in?"

"Please do, Catherine," I replied in a short tone while trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

This was one appointment I really could do without. Of course, there was a part of me that was curious why an official from a planet remote from the center of the Alliance wanted to talk to me, but that curiosity disappeared after I found out that there would be elections on the planet in the near future.

After that, it was easy to deduce what this official wanted.

But perhaps she was going to surprise me and ask for something different than my help to win her the election.

Yet, when my secretary opened the door, a smile started to form on my face. The first thing I saw was a set of brown eyes staring at me without wavering for a second when I returned the stare.

The determination in them wasn't what I had expected, and I was positively surprised by it. Especially, since it seemed like she wasn't going to ask for my help to win the election. Or any kind of contest.

Someone with so much determination in their eyes had enough pride in them to never think of asking for help and indebting themselves to someone. That woman before me would win by herself and only accept things she gathered with her own hands.

"Seems like this is going to be more interesting than I thought," I whispered to myself, low enough that the two approaching women didn't hear anything. Louder I asked: "Now, what can I do for you, Ms. Abernathy?"