AN: Well hello there again dear readers. I am truly honored by you all. This is kinda like a milestone for this story, with 45 favs, 70 follows and 2000 reads, I can truly say that I am thankful and hope this story lives up to my expectations and yours. Anyways here is a filler for those who have just read this story, just until your suggestions and opinions have all been submitted to where I can continue this further along. I've got plenty of ideas that I want to try out but I'll wait for all of you dear readers since you're the ones who wanted this thing to continue...your demands will be met...to the best of my ability.
Disclaimer: Nothing of ME or Stellaris belongs to me, they belong to their respective owners. I have never once thought of borrowing them.
Note: For those of you who had suggested the names for the Turian Dreadnought, I thank you for them. I've actually got some pretty cool ones too and I can't decide which one to use, but I'll pick one and put in later in the next chapter. You sir who suggested the name will know. And for the other names, well I'll be using them for other Turian ships as well, don't worry all of the names will be credited to you all.
Any ideas you guys have and which may be implemented will be accredited to you and so forth. Because, after all what the mass wants the mass gets...most of the time.
Also, this is the result of the suggestions for when to set this story in Mass Effect:
(Small Update for this-A new Contender and it seems ME1 is in the lead!)
Pre-ME1: 2
ME1: 6
ME2: 1
Between ME2&3: 1
ME3: 0
Please keep those suggestions coming and until one of these five reaches 10 the Setting of the story will remain undecided until such a time when one of those five reaches the max. (So far M1 is leading by...well...a large margin)
Important Notice: Thank you all for your reviews and I thank whoever that was who gave me the name of the FoZ/ZnT story that inspired this story of mine. It's titled: The Construct by RedDesertPhoenix...for those who have asked me about it well there it is! I've fav and followed now! Take that old brain o' mine! Try forgetting that now! In other news...
Anyways let us get this story underway. This is just a filler chapter to wait for the results of the above mentioned suggestion-thingy.
To:
All of you who have suggested the time to set this get go I thank you for your participation and hopefully we find a winner by the end of the week. Thank you again. Now...
My Apartment
Sunday, 2017.
0800 hrs
Today I woke up feeling a little weird. I had been having strange dreams lately. Mostly its blurry and inconsistent but I feel like I was actually there and felt the things that I felt in that dream. I managed to make out most of what I saw in the dream but when I woke up I begin to gradually forget what it was I was dreaming about.
I vaguely remember an apartment bedroom of some kind, but it was dimly lit and dark, there was a light in there but even that was very dim and almost blinking out. Then there was a scream and I felt as if my ears would explode but I saw black from there only to feel an excruciating pain coming from my crotch. I woke up then and grabbed my nuts!
It was a crazy dream but I had shrugged it off. Except last night as I had finished speeding up the construction of the Gelanix Beta Colony, which I named Breach, and then typing in instant_build I selected several power plants, mineral mines and farms (I know they have their own names but I like to call them that). From there it was a simple thing to build military buildings on the planet surface tiles that were devoid of any resources and then typed in add_population instantly populating all of the empty surface tiles with the buildings already built on them.
As soon as that was done I upgraded all of the power plants, farms and mineral mines so that they can yield a higher output of resources and surplus foodstuffs. I turned my attention to the shipyard and instant build all of its modules and looking at my ship cap I see that I still have some room for more ships. Thus was the 51st Fleet or Holy Breach was born. I decided upon instant building 200 corvettes, 75 destroyers, 22 cruisers and 3 battleships.
I assigned a man by the name Harald Vandersen, who was among the five candidates available for recruitment. The reason I chose him was because he had a 4 star rating whilst the other had only 3. His traits included Eager, Cautious, and Gale Speed. I think he'll be the man for the job seeing as how most of the ships under his command are corvettes, which consists mostly of Annoyance class.
Not wanting to think about the game for now, I proceeded to bathe then dress up and finally made my way to the kitchen. A simple one, its not much but its what makes my apartment home. I thought back to Friday night and laughed just a little remembering what had happened. When I had told Kate about the situation she had suggested she and Mark head over to Michael's to try and mediate the coming storm but I stopped them.
"They have to deal with it by themselves." I had told her then. She had hesitated but agreed and I also asked them that if for some reason I end up missing for days, then she and Mark will know I've been murdered.
*sigh*
Looking down at my breakfast I finished it in own go and hurried out of the apartment. I stopped and looked down then growled and ran back to my room. Coming this time with my pants on, I reached the front door and opened it. Stopped, patted down my pant pockets and groaned frustratingly as I headed back into the living room and tossed around the couch for my wallet. I found it and then pocketing that I head out, locking the door behind me.
When I reached the sidewalk, I looked up to where my window was and I sighed, hanging my head and walked back into the building heading up the flight of stairs and unlocking the door. Inside my apartment I looked around for my phone before remembering I left it in my room. After grabbing the damned thing I stopped before heading out and tried to remember anything else I may have forgotten.
Pants? Check.
Wallet? Check.
Phone? Check.
Anything else?
...
Nothing?
...
Okay then.
I headed towards the door when I suddenly turned around and walked over to the kitchen counter where a small bowl, shaped like a turtle's shell, was and I reached in and picked out my bike keys.
Just how the hell was I going to get around in this damned city? Commit GTA?
That's sure to get me a one way ticket to prison!
After rechecking all the important stuff I think I've got all of them and made my way out of the apartment.
Outside...
I walked out the building, it was about 20 stories high with about 10 maybe 12 apartments. I don't actually know all of my neighbors except for Mr. and Mrs. Liang across from my apartment door. They were a Chinese couple who have lived in this building for 20 years now, in fact they were the ones who greeted me and owned the grocery store/restaurant on the ground floor. Heck I later found out they owned the building!
That took me by surprise since I rented the apartment from a Jennifer Wills, who happened to be the Liang's oldest child and a lawyer and who handles all of the financials for the apartment rentals in the building for her parents. The Liangs were in their mid-70s but still active and very cheerful. I almost always eat down at their restaurant since they serve the best Red Pork and Chicken Chop Suey I've ever tasted.
Moving on...
I saw my motor bike inside the mini-garage to the side of the building, it was big enough to house up to 20 vehicles and the tenants all have cars. I had my trusty Harley (which I call Harley Quinn), why my friends and family bother me with trivial questions about my naming my bike is beyond me.
I keyed in the ignition and the engine coughed to life then began purring...or growling, depending on how your hearing interprets the sound of the motor rumbling as I pulled the accelerator and revved the engine.
"Oh, Mr. Fate!" A man called out to me, it was heavily accented with the famous Chinese accent (one you hear in all of the movies) and I turned around to see old man Liang walking up to me. "You heading out?"
"Yes. I need to pick up my nephew from my sister's house." I told him and he smiled. I knew why but I just quietly chuckled underneath my helmet as I put it on.
"Little Kenji is coming over?" Mr. Liang laughed as he said my nephew's name. He's always laughing whenever he says that name, granted he likes having the kid over and would often times teach him some kung fu lessons, which I find interesting and had requested him to teach me but he refused saying that I was too old for it. I simply thanked him anyways.
"Yep. Today's the day. Erika and Akio are going out on their...what?...12th wedding anniversary? I seriously forgot but the called me last night to go over to their place and pick up Kenji."
"Of course." He nodded but looked like he wasn't finished. "When you return, can you send him over to the shop? I've got some of Yun's old toys from when he was a little boy. I'm sure Kenji would like to see them."
"Sure thing. I've got to go. See ya when I get back." I revved the engines one more time before accelerating out of the open garage door and turned right onto the main road. I narrowly missed the stop sign...for the fourteenth time! This week alone! Whoever, put that there was an idiot...or maybe I'm just blind.
Forty minutes later, suburban area.
South of the city...
0901 hrs
I reached the outer parts of the city and headed deeper into the suburbs. This place is always almost quiet on Sundays. I glance around and saw a few of the people who live here walking their dogs or simply taking a stroll. I drove up a few more blocks before coming to a house I recognized. It was colored a dull brown color with blue and green trimmings, the windows were obscured by curtains and there was a small white picket fence in front of the green recently mowed lawn.
A gate blocked the path to the front porch where the door was but I drove up the drive way to the left side of the house and stopped just a few meters from the garage. I keyed off the ignition and the humming of my Harley stopped, I set the stand and got off.
Before I know it, the front door is thrown open and my nephew comes barreling out, he's about 9 years old with wavy brown hair (color same as his mother's, while wavy hair he gets from his dad), wearing an Iron Man t-shirt and black shorts. He's quite pale compared to my sister and I's more light brown skin tone. I got ready for when-yeah there it is!
He jumps up and I stepped forward and caught him under the arms and swing him around while laughed and squealed, the kid is always so happy when I see him. I laugh along with him and then set him down just as I caught a glimpse of another kid standing on the porch.
It's a little girl about 7 years old, she had short brown hair, pale skin like Kenji's and had the most adorable face I have ever seen. Seeing as how most women I meet I consider cute, this little girl takes the prize. I look to Kenji who stared up at me and I asked him, "Who's that?"
"What do you mean?" Kenji asked back with a confused stare.
"Who's the little girl, Kenji?"
He looked from me to the porch and then back at me. "That's Kasumi, Uncle Rad." He said, but I just stared at him and then back at the girl who had a sad look on her face.
"Kasumi?"
"Yeah, Uncle Rad!" He crossed his arms. "Kasumi. She's my little sister...you know?"
Wait...what?!
Since when did Kenji had a little sister?! Hold that thought...since when did Eirka and Akio have another kid...and looking at this little girl, she was the near spitting image of when Erika was a little girl. She can't be their kid...right? Holy shit! I must be dreaming.
Damn...how is this possible?! Wait...calm down Rad...calm down...there has to be a logical explanation for this. There has to be!
"Hey Rad!" I shake my head and take off my helmet and set it on the Harley. Then turning back to the porch I see Akio walking down the porch steps but stopped and patted the little girl, Kasumi, on her head. She ducked under Akio's hand and ran towards me. I simply didn't move and let her hide behind me, she poked her head out and gave Akio a big smile. "Kasumi. Get back here, don't bother Uncle Rad, not until you and Kenji go over to his place."
He chuckled as he said that and then turned to me. "Listen Rad. We may be gone for an extra day so..."
"Its no problem." I assured him, though in my mind I'm still trying to figure out who this little girl is...I mean, she looks enough like Akio and Erika to be their daughter but I don't remember them having had a second kid. "I've got the rest of the week off so I'm free and I won't start work until the following week."
"That's great." Akio smiled and then motioned with his head. "Go ahead to the house. I'll get your bike in the garage. Erika is in there..." he leaned closer and whispered. "Don't mention the Nexus games."
"What why?" I raised an eyebrow, the Nexus games is a popular Cyber-Online Tournament that pits you and your team against another in an ongoing tournament that lets you win over 50,000 dollars cash prize. It's held every two years and sponsored by several unknown benefactors and a few game companies such as Bioware, Bethesda, Bungie and so on.
"Her team lost on Friday night. She's been in denial ever since." He explained and I couldn't help but laugh and feel sorry for my sister at the same time.
"Alright thanks for the heads up." He nodded and pulled out his remote for the garage door. I looked over to find Kenji and the little girl...Kasumi...talking to each other and playing a hand game of some sort. "Hey kids! Come on, lets go inside."
"Race ya!" Kenji and the little girl-I have got to stop referring her as that-ran up ahead of me and opened the door. It slammed against the wall as it was flung open so far and caused Akio to yell from the garage.
"Kids! How many times do I have to tell you?! Don't fling the damn door so wide!"
"Sorry!" Both children yelled their apology and disappeared into the house. I followed and closed the door behind me...slowly. Then I turned and took in their living room, it was spacious and had a fireplace, what the hell would that chimney on the roof be for then?, there was the same 24inch Flat TV hung on the wall to the left and surrounded by the home theater surround sound system. There was the three arm chairs all sitting around the black round coffee table and then there's the couch I used to crash on when I still hadn't found an apartment the last two years. *sigh* A lot of lazy memories those.
"Rad! is that you?!" Erika's loud voice came out of the kitchen and I went there. She was making a last minute touch to whatever it was she was doing and when she saw me she smiled a sweet sisterly smile and I gave her my cheeky brotherly grin in response. "Wipe that smirk off your face."
"Sorry."
"Right." She shook her head and took out two children's food boxes and a larger plain white container. "You called dad or mum yet?"
"No. You know I'm trying to avoid them..again." I sighed, I'm not on the best of terms with both my parents lately, ever since I dropped out of College. "They hate me."
"They don't hate you, Rad." Erika said as she took a steaming pot of what looked like stew, from the gas stove and set it down on a place mat. her hands had mittens on them and then bent down and opened a cabinet from which she pulled out a scooper. "They're just mad that you didn't want to retry College."
"Same thing." I pointed out and pouted but she ignored me.
"You know they won't call you unless you call them first, right?" She scooped up a lot of stew and poured it into the white container, it was large enough and none of the stew spilled. "You have to call them sometime."
"I know but I don't want to hear them nagging me about college all over again." I told her and she simply shrugged as she then poured the remaining stew into the kid boxes. "By the way? Is that what I think it is?"
"Yep. Mom's secret recipe." She grinned at me knowing full well that even if I begged her she wouldn't tell me the secret recipe. "The white container is for you and the kids tomorrow but their lunch boxes they'll have to eat tonight. I know Mr. Liang can cook a very delicious meal for them but for tonight I want my kids growing up on the food we grew up with."
"Got that right, sister." I did my best impression of an african-american choir singer but that only served to get Erika to laugh.
When she had stopped laughing, I remembered what I wanted to ask her earlier on...not the Nexus Games but about...the little girl. Kasumi. I don't know how she fits into all of this since I don't even remember her...ever.
"Hey, sis." I started.
"Hmm."
"Who's the little girl?" I asked her and she stared at me like I'm crazy.
"What little girl?" She inquired and then blinked twice before saying, "You mean, Kasumi?"
I nodded.
"What are you talking about, Rad?" She crossed her arms and frowned at me. Oh boy...she's gotten into her mom mode. "You're acting weird you know?"
"Me? Acting weird? Pfft...as if." I scoffed and tried to avoid the glare she was shooting at me.
"Spit it out."
"What?"
"Why are asking about, Kasumi?" She said, her voice had turned a tad too threatening for my liking.
"W-when d-did you guys have her a-again?" I asked with a slight stammer.
"Six or seven years ago." She said, her voice returning to normal. "You know about that...you were there. All of you were there. It was a complicated procedure but somehow we managed to saver her."
Hoooly shhhiitt!
Six or seven years ago? But thats impossible! What happened six or seven years ago was a failed birth attempt that nearly cost Erika her life and the baby had died! This can't be happening! How is-how is this possible!
If what she says is true...then...that little girl...Kasumi is...that baby from...then.
"Rad? Rad? Damn it, Rad!" Erika snapped her fingers in front of my face and I came back from my very odd and very weird trance...it just isn't possible. How the hell did she and the baby survive together? "hey, Rad. You look a little pale, is everything alright? You know, if you're not feeling well then we can postp-"
"No,no,no!" I shook both hands at her. "You and Akio have been planning this anniversary for a while now and you should go. Don't worry about the kids...I'll take care of 'em."
"Its not the kids I'm worried about." She mumbled as she headed towards the stairs calling after the children. "Kenji! Kasumi! Are you kids ready?!"
"Yeah, mom!" Both their voices came down, they sounded excited. I know I am. Coz seriously I didn't expect that there would be a little girl for me to take care of. I sure as hell didn't expect a niece! Who would?! Then again...if she really is here and this isn't a dream or an hallucination and I don't any sort of memories of her over six years ago then, quite possibly I missed six years of Kasumi's life.
Damn...
"So Rad. Did Mr. Liang ask you about the kids?" I heard Akio's voice and turned around to see him coming in the front door. I noticed he said kids and not Kenji so...wait...is it possible that..."Buddy, you okay? You look a little pale? If I didn't know any better I'd say you're trying to look like me."
I smiled a little at his little joke and I lightly punched his shoulder. We've been good friends since he and I met about a decade ago right when he started dating my sister. He's a cool guy who, surprisingly, played a lot of RTS games same as me. On occasions we would join up in a multiplayer LAN match for anything from Age of Empires, Empire Earth (among our common favorites) and even Warcraft and some Starcraft. But its with Sins of a Solar Empire that we truly played to beat each other.
That game brought out the worst in us. The last time we played it we ended up brawling in the living room much to Erika's dismay. Her snowglobe collection broke when I threw Akio against the shelves and that was where our fight ended. Erika had gotten out her husband's registered Colt 45 and was aiming it at us.
We both stopped then and hadn't played a single SoaSE since that night. We've decided not to play it anymore in their house so we set an online match so we don't brawl the next time around.
"Nope. Just thinking is all." I grinned and he shook his head. Both him and my sister are two years older than I am which was reason enough for Akio to try and set me up with his younger sister...needless to say his sister and parents hated me afterwards. I had somehow managed to mess up a Japanese phrase that Akio taught me, which loosely translated to something along the lines of; I would very much like to get to know you better and hope we can be friends. I screwed that up and said something I'm not even sure I understood.
They hated me right after that, even with Akio trying to explain what had happened had been an accident, his parents simply didn't want to have anything to do with me, while his sister threatened to gut me like a fish if I ever got near within fifty feet of her. I complied. My saving grace was my sister whom Akio's parents and sister love and adore, more than I can say for myself. So at least I haven't completely screwed up my relationship with Akio's side of the family.
"Okay they're ready." Erika walked down the stairs with Kenji and...Kasumi, in tow. They both look like any other average child in this country but this is my family so to me they looked especially special in my eyes. Who knows...maybe when I find the missus, I'll be able to look at my kids with the same amount of adoration and love. "Kids go to the kitchen and get your lunch boxes, I've already put them in separate plastic bags."
The two little mini-Erika and Akio went to the kitchen and returned with a pair of plastic bags. I walked over to the kitchen and retrieved the bigger container. The stew was still hot but the container helped mitigated the heat.
"Alright!" I say this a little loud. "You kids ready to go over to the King of Games' castle?!"
"Yes!" Both of them squealed happily as I led them out the front door with Erik and Akio following. Akio opened the garage and handed me their car keys. They have two cars, one is a mini-van much like my own while the other is a four-dour BMW. It belongs to Akio who works for a Japanese company whose name I can't even pronounce.
As I opened the car and deposited the container, both Kenji and Kasumi got in the back seat and strapped themselves in with the seat belts. I nodded approvingly and gave them a thumbs up which they responded in the same gesture. I turned around and and opened the driver's side door and got in. Keying the ignition the car rumbled and came to life causing both kids to yell out happily.
"Hey Rad." Erika called to me as I backed a little ways out the drive way. I stopped the car and looked out the window.
"Yeah sis?"
"You watch them like a hawk, is that understood?" I gulped and nodded. She smiled and then waved at us. "Goodbye kids! Don't drive your uncle insane, okay?"
"Okay!" The two little rascals grinned cheekily and waved back to their mother. I drove us out of the driveway and turned into the road and alternating between R-reverse and D-drive, I stepped on the gas and the car lurched forward a little sending us zooming past the other houses.
In front of my apartment
A few hours later...
I parked the car inside the building's garage and all three of us headed out. We reached the door to my building when I stopped and turned when I remembered what Mr. Liang had asked me to do. I looked at both Kenji and Kasumi and motioned for them to follow me. A few steps later we reached the Liangs' Grocery store. I opened the door and the kids filed in and I followed closely.
"Ah! Little Kenji and Kasumi!" an old lady's voice came from the counter and Mrs. Liang walked around said counter and picked up both kids on either arm. Let me tell something about this old woman...she's not as frail as she looks and Mr. Liang told me she was a martial arts champion in her time for five years in a row! I pity whoever tires to rob this grocery store.
"Ni Hao." both children greeted the old lady and she gave a low but happy chortle.
"Hi, Mrs. Liang." I bowed my head a little and she returned the gesture. It's become our little joke because when I first met the old couple I thought they were Japanese. I didn't know their last names then so I just assumed.
"Mr. Fate." She said as she set the two kids down on the floor. "You are overdue on your rent."
I froze and tried my best apologetic expression. She was clearly not amused by it. So I just sighed and said, "I'm sorry Mrs. Liang, I had set aside the rent money on Thursday of last week but-"
"Yes, yes. I know about the little thief that stole your wallet and you had to buy a new one from here." she held her hand up and then from the small satchel pouch that she had belted around her waist she produced an old looking black leather bound wallet. That had a skull engraved onto one side...that's my old wallet!
"How?"
"Same day, little thief ran into Bojing, he had your wallet. Had not yet taken any of the money inside." She handed me my wallet back and I thanked her gratefully. "Your rent is paid, you need not worry."
"Ah! Mr. Fate." Mr. Liang's voice greeted me and I saw him come in from the back door that led to their restaurant. He had a box with him and he set it down. "Where are the two little-oh, oh! There you are!"
Kenji and Kasumi ran up to the old chinese man and he hugged them both. I smiled a little at this but then wondered if I heard the old man right when he asked me earlier if Kenji was coming over. *sigh* I don't want to think about it now. For a few minutes we stayed in the grocery store and I talked with Mr. Liang and thanked him for somehow returning my wallet and he just scoffed telling me that I need to keep my stuff safe or I'd lose a lot more than just my wallet. I detected a subtle hint of the possible dangers of his statement and I nodded my agreement.
After that I decided it was time the two kids hit the showers and get ready for their lunch. They took turns in the shower and I went third. I looked around and nodded at how clean it looked, considering I cleaned it and the apartment last night at near break neck speed. I prepared their lunches and we all sat in front of my TV in the living room of the apartment.
I asked what they wanted to watch and they both looked at each other and in perfect unison did something even I didn't expect. They completely and utterly blew my mind when they did the exact movements of the well known jutsus that Ive seen in one of the animes I watched a while ago. They both also yelled out and took on dramatic poses, "Naruto!"
Seeing them do that caused me to fall on my knees and laugh...I couldn't stop...it was hilariously cute the way they did that together. Oh well, getting up I messed around with my TV and DVD player and found what I needed. Then with a few adjustments I found my external hard drive and plugged it in and searched for my Anime folder.
Selecting the folder marked Naruto I opened it and asked which season they wanted to watch. I picked it out for them and asked, "Kenji you know how to work this thing right?"
He nodded and then I handed him the remote. Both sat down on my sofa and watched the intro of Naruto. I left them there for a moment as I went to my room and deposited my wallets into a safe...corner. Said corner also happened to house my safe which I keep the more important stuff inside, a registered 357. Magnum among them.
I returned to the living room and took my place next to the kids and watched as Naruto was facing off against his friend and now enemy, Sasuke.
This is going to be a long day...
Meanwhile...
Somewhere not significant to the story but nonetheless will help in furthering the plot...
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
"I may or may not have altered something..."
"WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU?!"
"Not to mess around with your stuff..."
"AND YET YOU STILL MESSED AROUND WITH MY STUFF!"
"Sorry boss...won't happen again."
"YOU DAMN RIGHT IT WON'T! BECAUSE I CAN'T ALTER THE DAMN THING IF ITS CHANGED...NOW WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
"It...er...wasn't my fault completely." A pause. "I just wanted to watch some po-er-cartoons when I accidentally hit the Surge button."
"YOU ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE SURGE BUTTON?!" Another pause. "ARE FUCKING MENTAL?! DO HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT DOES?!"
"Er...no?"
"FUCK! JUST GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
*Door opens and then shuts*
"GREAT...JUST FUCKING GREAT...NOW WHAT THE HELL AM I GONNA DO?"
*cricket-cricket-cricket*
"I HATE THIS JOB..."
This filler just explores more of our gamer/god character and I only do this because I'm waiting for the results of that little question I posted earlier. So far...anyways...Its up to you readers though if you think this should be considered part of the story. I just wrote this because I was bored and because I only have this laptop for tonight before my mother (whose laptop this is) comes and takes it. Mine as I (or have yet to explain) explained is busted and the connection here to the internet is slow.
Anyways looking forward to your responses and hopefully by next week I'll have the time setting and can plan out the story further from there. Also I'd like to thank Prince Sheogorath and LanzcorporalAssWipe for their suggestions. Thank you guys.
-Danen5 Out!