Chapter 2: A Future Crumbles as the Past Emerges
Jason left TransFrontiers' office in the outer Presidium at the usual time. In a few hours the Presidium's brief night-cycle would shroud the hues of silver, green, and blue with dim twilight. A few employees were still in the office, reviewing contracts and the like. Jason had been looking over manifests for potential contracts. While most were honest jobs, there was the sort of people looking to move illicit goods such as heavy weapons, drugs, or slaves, under the guise of innocent and completely legal shipments. It was usually enough to cross-reference point of origin, destination, and affiliated parties, but some were just lacking something. Those contracts he handed off to his father, who knew a few people in C-Sec who could investigate further if they thought it worthwhile.
Kal was still at his desk when Jay set out, mentally juggling a number of contracts, trying to figure out the most efficient use of their ships. Such careful handling put TransFrontiers in the well-established and reliable group of freighter companies. After providing his own proposals, he left Kal nodding in thanks and left for a relaxing evening. Sometimes that involved going to one of the Citadel's many recreational ranges and letting off rounds and steam with a few friends. Tonight was different, and he was meeting those friends in a bar over in Zakera Ward. It wasn't something that happened too often since night and day on the rest of Citadel were one and the same. Occasionally their work schedules coincided like this, and they tried to make the most of those times.
He got a cab to Zakera Ward and was mulling over a few freight manifests as he arrived. He passed a wall of news panels on his way to the bar, and caught a few words concerning batarian refugees, and lots of them. Maybe some civil war in the grand, infallible Hegemony, thought Jason. Maybe another relay's about to explode.
He found three of his friends sitting at a table inside the bar, called Dark Star Lounge. They knew what he liked and a Terra Novan ale was on the table, chilled appreciably.
"Jay!" called out Rob, himself from Terra Nova. "'Bout time you got here. Let's get this started," he continued, with the warm friendliness of someone who's had a few. The two others, Julia, from the homeworld itself, and Naoki, from Watson, greeted him as well, though somewhat more reservedly.
"Sounds like you started a while ago," said Jason good-naturedly.
"You hearing what I've heard?" asked Rob, opening another beer. "Crazy stuff recently and it's picking up again. Just the reason for a few drinks. May hit that ryncol they serve here later."
"Good luck with that," said Naoki as Julia laughed.
"What's going on?" asked Jason. Downing a mouthful of beer, his mind went back to the news clip he heard briefly. Julia stepped into the conversation.
"Depends what corners of the extranet you go to most often," with a glance at Rob.
"Hey, it's legit," replied Rob. "Mostly. That Plim guy-"
"Just a conspiracy theorist, looking to cash in on the latest rumour," said Julia. "Anyway, remember that business with Shepard that started a few years ago?"
"You know everyone does," responded Jay.
Julia continued. "Right. The Alliance is quiet as usual, but a lot of people are starting to believe what Shepard said about Reapers." Judging from her tone, Jason figured that Julia was close to being among them.
"Bring in what happened in batarian space earlier this year and honestly there's no question," asserted Naoki. "You don't just blow up a relay for the hell of it. Not even Shepard could get away with that so lightly. What do you think, Jay?" he asked. "You've seen a lot of the galaxy." Jason thought for a moment before answering.
"It doesn't seem right that something destroys all life every fifty thousand years." Some nods around the table. "But if you think about it, how many planets there are, how many we've been able to set up colonies on, why aren't there more species around? You know what I mean, those that could reach a relay." Rob had been silent during this exchange, in a sort of bleary reverie. He spoke now, subdued by this thoughts.
"Sure, I can see that. But if they're real? The Reapers? We wake up one day to apocalypse, and soon enough whoever comes next will be asking what we're asking." He shook his head, sighing, then drank deeply.
"At least we've got Shepard on our side," said Julia.
"Just one person, even with all that's happened. Need more than that to... to save the galaxy, I guess," countered Naoki. He continued. "If what's behind those batarian refugees is the Reapers, then... I don't know. Is this it?" They were all silent for a moment. Then Rob broke in.
"Shit, this got gloomy fast." They chuckled lightly and sipped at their drinks. Jason changed the subject.
"Eny's off to Thessia again. Left a few days ago. Her last trip there went well. She thinks that's where she's from."
"That's good," said Julia. "Really good." Eny had gone out with them a few times, and was easy-going and sociable, but she often seemed distracted, focusing on some small detail, like a word, an object, or a concept. Then there was the time she went with them to the gun range.
"Found out if she's a soldier yet?" asked Naoki with a grin, thinking of the same day.
"Full-on huntress, more like," added Rob.
"Yeah. Never seen anything like that," said Julia. "The moment her hand touched that gun, she snapped it right into position."
"Yeah," said Naoki. "Then maybe a dozen quick shots, no hesitation at all, and every target all down the range was down. That may have been an old, beat-up Avenger she had, but that didn't matter at all." They shared smiles at that day's memory.
"You know, Rob," said Jason. "You may be right."
"Well, yeah, but what about?"
"The huntress thing. That's what Eny's going to find out. All asari are biotics, right? That means most of them have amps, and if Eny was a huntress or just a soldier, she'd have a pretty good one."
"I wish I had biotics," interrupted Rob with a certain fascination. "You think things, and they happen, just like that." Naoki laughed briefly.
"Sure," he said," so long as you don't mind discrimination and migraines, at best." Rob shrugged, still set on the idea, and Julia prompted Jason to continue.
"Right. We did some research after the range incident. Before that, it was obvious she had skill with biotics. Mostly small things, like moving an object, stuff like that. Then the thing with the mugger and the shiv. You guys know how that turned out."
"She kicked his ass," enthused Rob. "Didn't even have to touch him. Damn, I wish I'd seen it."
"Yeah," said Jason. "Well, considering the biotics and the gun skills, it was obvious to us to look further. The amp she had was special work, from a place on Thessia called Serrice. Apparently they make the best amps out there, and they don't just let anyone buy them."
"I've heard of Serrice," said Julia. "Expensive stuff. So you think she had connections back then?" she asked.
"She must have," answered Jason. "So that's where she's starting this time. Serrice. Hopefully she'll find some more answers."
"I hope so," said Rob. "Can't be easy waking up one day and not even knowing your own name."
"About that," interjected Naoki. "Names, I mean. How'd she choose Enyanna?"
Jason shrugged. "All I know is it's probably not her old name. She found it while reading something, a real book she keeps pretty close. There's a story behind it, in their mythology, religion, whatever. I couldn't find anything on the extranet about it, but Eny said she'd tell us someday."
"All in good time," said Rob. "How about a toast? To us, whatever's about to happen, and to Eny getting some answers!" They all drank to that, got something harder than beer, and enjoyed the rest of their night.
