Author's Notes:

I've noticed in my story a very weakly covered aspect, which is the absence of the Cantonese-accent Royal Guardsmen which of course come from Hong Kong. Why was this so in FC4? Probably had to do with the outstanding presence of Hong Kongers in Canada where Ubisoft Montreal is based. So Ubisoft Montreal graphed a plot which could fit the nationalities that it had at hand.

This is the first time I've added in content not originally planned for the plot. There will even be a new heroine side character from the Canton Families. (No, not for Ajay, he's had enough flocking around him. Not him at least.)


It was early morning, although there were still no sign of the sun being visible the air was losing its chill and the birds were chirping. Like the proverb on the early bird getting the worm.

Ajay waited for Saras to use the shower first, then washed up and get himself dressed for an early jog around the fortress. It was both done routinely to maintain his fitness and to regularly observe the integrity of the defences around the wall. The garrison nightshift always had their wits about them as they knew he made surprise visits. Ajay came out of the shower fully dressed in his running attire with a towel over his head to dry his hair. Saras was in the midst of putting on a blouse, having already seen her body it was not necessary to mind any longer. She could feel a pair of eyes staring at her back nonetheless and giggled at his boyish ways. She wasn't expected to report for duty for at least three days after all.

Though, they got up early not because it was part of their routine.

"Somehow, it feels like we're having a secret rendezvous, doesn't it?" She said with a light smile.

"….."

They weren't exactly being secretive about it. Yet if Arjun specifically caught them, it would be a whole mess that required significant remedying and it wasn't exactly the time to distract the Marshal of Kyrat from his duties.

He looked out from the window deep in thought about what the future would bring, right now the sun peeked over the mountains to inform the lands that dawn would soon be upon Kyrat. Saras came over and pecked him on the cheek just because.

"When you're done with you setting up your alibi, come back so we can have a chat at the teahouse down below. I'd like to hear about what's been happening on your end in detail." Ajay nodded and walked out after putting on his shoes, he was just about to walk down the stairs to the main door when-

"AHHHH!" "AARRHHH!" Screams came from within the house.

Then there was laughing from Saras, Ajay chuckled a little on last night's prank.

Off he went, for his morning jog around the Fortress. Today there was an additional bastion under construction he would go around, Bastion 4. Since the barricade defences, landmines and other obstacles had been refitted and repaired. The time of peace warranted the continuation of Lanka's construction to fully operational status.

High Command agreed that with the proven success of Lanka, there could be a significant reduction of the required strength to make the defences within their current zoning while manpower could be reserved for other uses or other threaters of operation. Like the defense of the Uttar regions, keeping a close eye on Baghadur through Delta Barracks and the Airport. So excited that they sent the PDF to conduct their cross training with the active units garrisoned here. It was one thing to ignore what Ajay had specifically said, but apparently someone had made a trip to the Pagan and convinced him to overrule any other suggestions, somehow directly or indirectly.

Ajay intended to find out who was that fucker, while it may look like nothing to the normal soldiers and the PDF who were all excited to visit the fabled keep. It was a political manuever, someone was already challenging his authority openly. And it was definitely more than one person, probably a group. Ajay laughed at the attempted, he'd make whoever did that regret it several fold.

He passed the many checkpoints that had details of guards or were manned by a crew on station or simply just performing maintenance.

Of course, seeing him they couldn't ignore his presence and greeted him which he returned in kind. He could see there was much change to the fortress internally. For starters, apart from the many heavy armaments that made its way into the fortress, the anti-aircraft sites had been completed. The stinger missiles that Willis sent initially to counter the Blackhawk helicopter fleet of the Royal army had been taken out of storage, those in the hands of the QRF motorized reconnaissance were also returned to form Surface to air missile sites. They also imported some of the Indian Army's old Bofors 40mm anti-air artillery systems that were donated to them, four of them were inhabiting each of the bastions and one for the central keep.

While the Golden Path didn't have any sort of aircraft saved for the unprotected buzzers which a machine gun was sufficient. The Bofors autocannons could be used on ground targets to a devastating effect. With the kind of armored vehicles the Golden Path had, nothing could stop those 40mm shells from penetrating then detonating in a blast radius of 50 square metres. And to think that it fired at a rate of 330 rounds a minute, if the Golden Path came for round two they'd just be wasting their lives the next time around. Although, if it were the CNS operatives with their flashy helicopters, assuming some survived their first raid then the result might be different given their nature as highly secretive advance tech it could feature, perhaps stealth to radar. Which Ajay least likely doubted as if that were the case then the Royal Palace would have been stormed and Pagan gun down like a certain operation to kill a terrorist leader.

He reached the steps of the house huffing after doing a final kilometre dash. A bottle of water held out over his head from where he'd been leaning against the wall. Ajay reached out to take hold.

"Thanks…" He said before downing the water into his stomach.

"Yunno… I could almost get use to living here." Saras mused as she sat on the steps next to him.

"You can have the Villa, I think the architect of this place at least deserve that much for her efforts." He gave away the Villa that Pagan commissioned for him.

"Then where'll you stay?" Was what she was more bothered about.

"Anywhere, I could stay in the barracks if I wanted. Or, if you could lend me a place to stay for the time being." Ajay said amusingly to which Saras chuckled due to the reversal of their roles.

"My rent is expensive, and my mode of payment isn't in Rupees."

"Spacious ensuites, a frontage for an amazing view, and living with a beautiful woman everyday? I'm sure it'll be worth it." Ajay spoke in flattery.

"Come in, they've just started having breakfast." She said to him with a smile as she went ahead to the front door.

Ajay followed but not before taking a look outside at the calm and peaceful scenery. It was moments like these that he wished that what was likely to come would not happen.


At the table, Ajay helped himself to the spread of buns and pastries. While Bhadra was not there to cook for them, the bakers around here were farely competent. So the morning meal was enjoyable on all accounts.

Only two people didn't seem to be having a good morning.

"You're a real piece of work, boy!" Arjun burst into anger when Ajay ignored him.

"Who's fault was it that you were the first to drop without turning in yourself?" Was Ajay's only reply.

"Wha- You!-….." Arjun couldn't believe what he heard from Ajay.

"And what about me, what did I ever do to deserve that?" Bipin couldn't help but ask.

"We just put you both in the same bed, what's with all the noise?" Maya said sighing.

"Perhaps they did something we aren't aware of together." Saras suggested naughtily.

The two of them kept mum. Perhaps they leaned upon one another, perhaps… something else. From then on it was zipped mouths.

"And Bipin."

"Y-Yes?"

"Congrats on your promotion to Captain. In time, I hope you'll be able to command a battalion on your own."

"Um-…"

"Just say thank you, Bip." Maya reminded him of manners. As he did so with an earnest bow.

It was a promotion listed in the turn over report that Layak indulged him a week before he returned. Bipin was the one who first brought the mechanized infantry concept meshed with elements of the American Stryker Brigade Combat Team manuever to make it work. Because Kyrat was only so large and couldn't support as many operative capabilities as developed nations with their armed forces. It was why Kyrat had never bought any armored vehicles, that and the terrain was not ideal for any sort of tracked vehicles like tanks. Having armored units would be more of a burden than it would as a deployable asset. But of course, there had been numerous advances over the decades concerning armor firepower, versatility and the way to deploy them.

With Bipin and Anish's proposal, High Command was willing to give it a go. So far, there were only two motorized armored battalions operational at the moment. They were the 1st Hussars, run by Commander Kuber and Anish. Then, there was the newly formed 2nd Hussars Commanded by one Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Min and was also the unit which Bipin was expected to Command in future.

Ajay was a little concerned by the 2nd Hussars Commander having the surname of Min. Clearly a family member of the Canton triads who was in service to Pagan. These few months, the Min family had been doing rather questionable things such as intervene with the interrogation of Solomon under pretense of protecting family when his own family did not.

"Got any friends in that unit who'll take care of you?" Ajay asked.

"Mmm.. there is Sam, my friend from the days in the Academy." Hearing that, Ajay frowned. The most undesirable matching just presented itself before him.

"Don't worry, he's not like the rest of my peers. In fact, he was the only one that didn't give me a cold shoulder then." Bipin tried to assure Ajay like he was a worried parent to begin with. Maya was especially worried due to her brother's treatment in the past. He still wore the scars of his imprisonment in Vyatha years before.

"(Sigh) It must have been a harsh life for you, young one. Your father was the greatest hero yet-…." Arjun showed sympathy for the lifestyle Bipin had to undergo because of the collapse of his family house.

"If there is anything you ever need, a favour from me. Consider it gratitude for the great service your father performed for his King and country." Arjun said heart felt.

"Oh? Am I witnessing acts of daylight nepotism, again?" Ajay interrupted the mood that Arjun set grinning evilly, who was now sweating from his forehead. One word from him to the King could very well end his life and family. Especially considering Ajay's character of punishing the wicked horrendously.

"Relax, I think it's fair to say it would be considered repayment for Paresh's contributions. That being said, Bipin."

"Yes, A- Badala?" He quickly corrected himself as he was in the presence of Arjun whom was still the only one unaware of Ajay's identity.

"If you do find anything suspicious, so much as a glint please report it to Arjun and me."

It was so undesirable when your friend was potentially your enemy. Up till this point, the Canton families had not even been involved in the events that transpired since his arrival. Apparently, someone was shrewd enough to sit back and watch. And his or her prediction paid off when the first sign of calamity that could befall them came in the form of the charred remains of Sugun.

They did contribute financially to sponsoring the establishment of the 2nd Battalion much to his initial surprise of their willingness to donate. It took off a lot of burden from Ajay who had used most of his wallet into financing the Arsenals and the S-Program, around Four-hundred Million was sponsored by them which was by no means a small figure. But of course, there was a catch to it, and it was revealed to him in the most logical reasoning. The ration of men in that unit had a vast majority from the Canton background, as in nearly the whole unit. It was either a safe haven for the Canton soldiers or it was a gathering of power.

A glimmering possibility of that unit doing their own thing and getting in his way was high. And it annoyed the hell out of Ajay, it was like they were reverting to segregating Kyrati from them. Something he'd tried so hard to dissolve when Arjun decommissioned the main Royal Guard, a highly unpopular move with the nobles whom were in the armed forces. He of course promoted all of them to officers to make up for it.

By far, it was still the most well equipped unit. Unlike the 1st Battalion which principally operated the reactivated Ratel IFVs, which by the way were undergoing an overhaul with the armor and weapon kits that just came in. These guys were operating brand-spanking new Finnish-made Patria AMVs.

A modern 8x8 wheeled vehicle in the same equivalence as the Stryker ICVs that Willis appropriated from US armories. And they were just as heavily armed, some versions had an advance 120mm automated mortar called NEMO, several were equipped with a turret from the Russian BMP-3 vehicles. But the most impressive, as was reported by an ever-vigilant Anish was the tank destroyer variant using an advanced Belgium turret which held an 105mm autoloading tank gun. Making it the closest counterpart, if not superior in survivability and situational awareness to the M1128 MGS fire support vehicle that Anish and Bipin drove around during the Airport Siege.

How these were possible in procuring was through numerous phone calls and appointments. The Belgium 105mm turrets were ordered from an office branch in Maharashtra curiously and to their convenience. The BMP-3 turrets with the 30mm autocannon and 100mm tank gun were part of the deal with Dmitry, otherwise known as 'the associate'. The mortar system was part of the order with the vehicle frames.

So how were they able to ship armored vehicles all the way from Europe legitimately without being stopped or confiscated because UN felt the need to prevent an ambigious nation from gathering arms? The answer was partly India, building a pretext that they were the procurers. The other part was the infamous smuggler who was the good old yet reliable Jackal. And there were few people that wanted to get involved with a man of his ability and tenacity, not even international law could keep you safe from him.

Agent Paul Ferenc told him a story of how Joint Signatory Framework ordered his assassination once, the would-be assassin ironically surcomed to malaria. But over a stream of events, that assassin assisted him in saving an entire nation of refugees in fleeing but ultimately died in the process. Paul's friends tried to get in their way because they were trying to rid the diamonds that were supposed to be their payment as mercenaries in that nation. Unfortunately, none survived to tell the tale. Paul and another person, a French woman chose not to pursue the conflict diamonds so they survived. It was a little surpise when that woman turned out to be Ms. Dachss, a member of the 'Mexicans' that were crucial to the S-program and spent their days restricted to the boundaries till Arjun declassified the program. They were an expensive bunch, money wired to a swiss account. Lesson learnt from Longinus and Samson told him to never give payments in anything but green cash or to a swiss back account of their chosing. Stones were the worst type of payment because of their compact and easy to get lost nature, often stirs up human greed easily among the ranks.

That was the story in a nut shell, nobody crosses Jackal. And even Ajay would take that into consideration, although the man had chosen to help him out in numerous binds already without even meeting him. It was fair to say the Jackal approved of his actions in starving the civil war, Ajay was thankful that Longinus put a good word for him in the first place.

Back to the topic at hand, the Min Family were definitely up to no good.

While Bipin might be 'protected' by powerful figures, the Duke of Lakshman, Queen Min's protégé, and most recently the Marshal of Kyrat. It still remained that he could be taken captive or killed at any time they were away, you still couldn't bring back a dead man.

"Bipin, I'll say this only once. Be mindful of your surroundings." Ajay said with seriousness in his expression.

It made Bipin feel as if something was going on, like an invisible war was being waged amongst themselves.

A war on two fronts, how could the Kingdom manage? He thought, little did he or anyone in that room know.

That what was to come, could very well threaten the foundations of Kyrat's thousand-year sovereignty.


It was an annoying sight, to see the person that had been responsible for their predicament in the very tent they set at the edge of the recruitment camp of the local movement.

"So what you simply want is reconnaissance." Willis nodded as he lit up another of his precious cigars that were on short supply as it was. He'd already gotten use to the imbalance of his missing leg with a crutch to support him.

"It's been bothering me for ever since the satellite revealed a picture of that region to me. I hope I don't think it is what I think it is."

"And why should my company give a fuck about what you think, let alone go on an expedition through the mountains to take pictures just on a whim of yours?" Willis inhaled deeply and breathed out a cloud of smoke.

"Think of it this way, cupcake. You want me to finish this up so that you can go home. Win-win, besides, you wouldn't be going into the mountains alone." Willis motioned for the renegade Marines under Fredrick Grilles who came into the light of the command centre they were in.

"These boys have traverse the treacherous mountains before. I need to know what's down there."

"What about your local assets, where are you double agents?" Dominic asked.

"All dead, and on the same day months ago. They got flagged by someone on the inside perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"It was figurative, buddy. All my assets in the North have either gone dark or were killed, Yuma did a thorough spring clean of her ranks so I'm on my own on this one. How bout this, consider it a favour I'm asking from you."

"Why would a favour from you be of any value?"

"Meh! Who knows, I know I'm careful, but remember who put me in this situation to begin with."

"…"

Willis dared to say it as Lynch had gone out that morning to speak with Mohan. Who was now this founding father of the 'shining way' ideology that the two weird Devas exported to the country of Yinke. Whose current government was the People's Democratic of Yinke, another socialist group in the mountains. Willis heard a rumor they were secretly armed and trained by the People's Liberation Army Western Theatre Command, they were gonna need whatever the Chinese supplied, because Solomon was no longer around to give a helping hand. He had to admit, Badala was extremely cunning as he was dangerous up close. Using the anarchy to snatch him from as far behind enemy lines as Sleeping Saints. Not that the Golden Path members cared much for him as they did for those dipilidated statues Badala blew half to hell.

That being said, the pixelated picture taken by the spy satellite in orbit revealed some disturbing images to Willis. In the Western corridor of the Uttar region was heavy movement and flight activity. They could only take a brief picture and not a real-time video because of some interference they were receiving. Analysts suspect it was man-made in origin, the question was who would bother to disturb them and who was in possession of such satellites capable of doing so besides their own. Russia? China? Willis realised he needed to be extra cautious, while Badala achieved amazing victories against Golden Path attacks he never pursued them nor launched any offensives that the Golden Path regularly did. That site on the picture was the key to what Badala had been doing all this time since he first arrived, he needed visual confirmation now before Mohan made moves that could throw even his new cult worshippers into chaos. Because if it were what he thought it was, then the Golden Path and the newly arrived forward elements of Yinke's scouting force for the invasion were in for some real trouble that could potentially annihilate all of them in a single swoop.

"That's not good enough for us." Dominic persisted in denying Willis, and he was forced to give up one of his cards.

"Alright, how about I throw in a little something extra, huh? How bout this?" Willis drew out a paper from his jacket and handed it over. Dominic took the piece and read it, his face distorted and looked back at Willis in dismay.

"Consider that an advance payment, time to get working gentlemen! This site ain't waiting to be uncovered by itself."


Ajay went to teahouse with Saras hand in hand at her request. At this point, whatever he did for her was indulging in her selfishness. It didn't conflict with his views towards the final outcome of the war and what he intended to do.

Of course, that was not what the soldiers and civilians saw when he walked pass. What they saw was a beautiful woman with the People's Duke, perhaps a lover they speculated and whispered softly. Then there were some who openly shouted good luck to him, not that he responded.

The result was as Saras had intended, soon a rumor will fly around that Badala was seeing someone. But then again because she had not been there at the crystal falls ball she wouldn't have known that the guests thought Ajay was with that woman protégé of Yuma's. Maybe they'd mistaken her for Maya, maybe they'd discern them and take Ajay for a womanizer, who knows.

"Table for two, preferrably somewhere away from peering eyes and ears." Saras informed the teahouse waiter whom dashed off to find the manager and reported their situation. Not too long later, a place had been prepared by a corner window seat on the second floor.

The waiter poured them a fresh batch of tea and bowed before leaving.

"Thanks." Ajay was the first to take a drink to settle his stomach from the heavy breakfast he took.

Saras continued to stare at Ajay for a while.

"What?"

"…. You've changed quite a bit since I left for Maharashtra."

"Suffering molds character I supposed." Ajay shrugged his shoulder and took another sip. Saras looked at him a little troubled at his attitude towards himself.

Ajay put down the cup.

"You wanted to know about what's been going on correct?"

Saras gazed at him without flinching. "I promised didn't I? I won't shut my eyes from the truth anymore."

"Even if the truth is more horrifying than what you already know?"

Saras nodded. Ajay closed his eyes to take in all that had transpired since her departure and formed a summarized version.

And so Saras became the third person to hear about the unnatural presences of Mohan and the Devas. A shadow had cased itself over Kyrat in the form of an entity which they had no defense against. The only one with knowledge of this threat was possibly Darshan, who was nowhere to be found with Bishal. To story on that man, he did a short summary on him as well, mostly parts told to him by Gary.

The last part of his story was his own warped nature, courtesy of the Shrine of Yalung. Of course, it had been the one from his previous timeline but it was technically the same so he left that part out. Only Noore knew of his origin, and he wanted it to be kept that way.

Ajay's throat got parched from all that talking at the end, so he drank refills of his tea to remove that thirst.

Saras was left deep in thought, processing this information. She remained deep in thought with a troubled expression all the way, but all Ajay could to was let her get it registered in her head. He'd only be capable of answering inquiries from her at this point.

"Indestructible bodies…."

"They're not indestructible, just very hard to kill. .50 cal and above should do the trick, and anything that can outstripe that insane recovering speed."

"And what of your father?"

"That thing isn't my father. Just a hollow will trying to reanact what he would have done if mom hadn't shot him."

"….." She understood why he felt this way, it was fair to say that Ajay bore no feelings of love for his father that hadn't been there his entire life. Most of all he was furious with him for killing an innocent baby over his mother's infidelity. Ishwari might have been in the wrong but what did Lakshmana ever do to deserve that? But most of all, he hated his father's legacy, the Golden Path and its narrowminded power figures.

"And if it were really your father?"

"He wouldn't have taken up the mantle of Mohan again but die out, perhaps seek redemption after much contemplation. But not thread the same path that shrouded Kyrat in two decades of civil war."

"I see, then something else has truly taken his place and manipulated the Golden Path."

"It's not him I'm worried about, it's the entity that molded this one to resemble my father." Ajay ceased to call it human. Bestowing abilities to people like Sabal to make them wreck havoc as much as possible with their impulses.

"Is their anything we can do?"

"Stockpile weapons and heavy firepower and wear down their overall manpower. It's the people that define the movement, so all we need to do is sway them to think the Golden Path is finished and it shall be so."

"And what about your condition?"

"Noore's doing her best to keep the symptoms in check, but there's been no major breakthrough. This goes beyond biological science into something we don't even have a theory for." He refered to his blood and abilities.

"But if you're exposure caused this, then-." She looked at her own hands and body.

"You won't have any of these symptoms, the Relic promised me. However, it did leave out that I wasn't clear from the effects."

"So what can we do?"

"The only way it stops getting worse is if I quell my rage fully."

"And will you?"

"As if. It's one thing that I'm constantly at edge about Golden Path and Mohan. And then there's Jason Brody."

Saras had been given a brief overview on the individual known as Jason Brody, the person Ajay held accountable for the death of Kamala whom he held dear. It was an anger that outstripped all others.

Saras chuckled slightly, which broke Ajay out of his solemn mood baffled.

"And yet you let your ex go after him. Do you know what I see Ajay?"

"I see the first steps of you letting go of your hatred that runs as deep as your blood. You've seen it with the way your father acted, it's like a curse bounded to your blood. But you're not like him, you're actively trying your all to deny it take root in your soul. And that on itself is admirable." Saras smiled and placed her hands upon his.

"Hmmm…. After hearing all about this ex-lover of yours I have a sudden urge to ask her all about you."

"And why would you do that when the person in question is right in front of you?" He asked in the same light mannered way.

"It's no fun hearing it from the horse's mouth, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to learn an embarrassing history or two from her." She said laughing.

"Oh you…. I'd be sure to keep you a short distance from her as possible." Ajay said in response as a joke.

"So between both of you in bed, who was the dominant one-?"

"Ok! End of topic. Let's move on."

"Come on. Indulge me for a bit." She insisted playfully.

"How about we talk about Pravindra as well then?" Ajay said with a forced smile.

"Urgh…. Point noted." She retreated from the topic as well.

At the mention of that annoying fella whom was not far away, Saras quieten down and returned to her quietness. Ajay was beginning to find the name Pravindra was a useful word to use at times like this even if he was a prick and currently being beaten for it. A bit of sores and bruises would do him some good for a spoilt brat like him was the way Ajay saw it.

The time was ten-thirty, they'd spent about an hour or so at the teahouse.

"So what do we do now?"

"Let's have a walk back to the Villa, we'll take the long scenic route." A smile planted across Saras's face. Ajay was now taking initiative. Ajay held out a hand which she took and followed him to browse the market place together with him. It was one of those moments that she treasured.

But she couldn't erase a feeling that things were too easy for her, almost as if…

He was simply indulging her only for this limited time. The fear of what Noore told her regarding his ultimate drive concerned returned to her.

That Ajay simply does what he does because of an irreconcilable death wish.


Dazzling eyes fluttered open from under the cloak she wore at all times, concealing a beauty that made man and woman alike go crazy. The emotional torrents of these lowly humans was the least she needed in her time of recuperating.

She had just branded Vasu with soulbinding arts, now he was truly her servant and hand to act on her behalf. A privilege that Mohan had denied and would never receive again and held by only one other that remained at her side at all times. Except now, with Vasu to stand in. Vel left to personally take to the field at freeing the road to Tirtha.

The witch herself pressed her fingers onto her forehead, she had just immersed herself in meditation and had used her divine sense considerable. What she used it for, was to watch over that boy.

With him, a woman that gave off the scent of divinity, she was clearly blessed and looked upon by the mountains in favour. A sharp contrast to the boy's signature that taunts that mountains into usurping its place as the overlord of the lands. Fragments of the Asura embedded within him, wholly apart of him yet incomplete.

The woman was having the time of her life, a face which reminded her of herself in the eariest of days that she treasured dear to her heart. But the boy's heart had not improved, it was still locked in the same miasma of pain and suffering. Guilt and shame weighed heavily on him, if his only his heart wasn't so good natured, it would have spared him the pain.

"They are both one in the same."

She was worried for the boy, whether he could take the sufferings she had in store for him. Yet, she had no choice. What was to happen, must happen in order for the stream of events to take place. Then finally, the end she'd waited a thousand years for.

Where not only his but her pain would end.