Tassiter sat quietly in his office chair and observed the slow bleeding of the planet below him. A luminous purple glow seemed to ooze out of Pandora like an open wound as it climbed through the atmosphere into space. The scientists had told him that it was an optical illusion brought about as ionized particles interacted with the planet's atmosphere due to the chemical changes in the surface composition. Tassiter cared little for the reason behind the phenomena. What he did care about was what it represented. That purple light promised an untold fortune that he wasn't about to let pass through his fingers.
His afternoon meal lay almost untouched on the desk behind him. The salmon garnished salad appealed for him at the time, but now his mind was turned to more important matters. The course of action he was about to embark on was… risky. Involving so many people was sure to increase the chance of discovery, and discovery was something he could ill afford. Still, it was John's risk that had given him this opportunity and Tassiter wasn't about to let a dead man show him up. John had been nothing if not charming and charismatic. Where he lead, people followed. Tassiter gave a slight smile as he amused himself. In a way, they still would be.
But first things first. Rolling his chair back to his desk, Tassiter punched in a contact on the desk's ECHO communicator and was rewarded with the familiar sight of a weathered face. "Wilhelm," came the monotone response and Tassiter refrained from rolling his eyes at the obvious. Tassiter had managed to limit himself to calling the man only three times during the last day for progress updates on how close he was to the station.
"There's been a change of plans."
"Again?"
Tassiter pretended to ignore the remark and continued, "I don't need you at Helios anymore, I need you to go directly to Tartarus Station. I have a hit on Nisha's location and I need you to investigate."
Wilhelm's beard twitched in amusement. "Should I pick up any groceries while I'm at it?"
For a moment, Tassiter actually considered making a request to remind the man just how far back talking would get him, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth the effort. He already had to deal with one unruly employee, the last thing he needed was another. "Just make it quick," he said instead and disconnected the call.
That taken care of, Tassiter stood up from the desk and slowly walked over the sitting area of his office. Not much had changed since the remodeling. He had kept the bookshelves, though some of their contents had changed, and the furniture itself now favored his style. All in all, much more refined than his predecessor. Needlessly straightening his suit, Tassiter arranged himself into a chair and turned toward the ECHO broadcaster he had set up on the coffee table.
Tassiter recited the words to his speech in his head. He had spent hours the night before preparing his statement... and also preparing to say John's name out loud with as little scorn as possible. After all, it wouldn't do to have anyone mocking Hyperion's New Hero. Readying himself, Tassiter cleared his throat and pressed a button on his ECHO device to begin the countdown. In every room and screen on the station, all normal activity would be interrupted as his broadcast began.
"Attention my fellow Hyperion employees," Tassiter began in a somber tone. "Today, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the passing of this station's former manager. I know that Jack was well known within this company and even more well beloved by its people. A man of unmatched vision and outstanding fortitude, he never allowed his humble beginnings to hold him back from achieving greatness. Jack served as an example to us all of everything a Hyperion employee can hope to be: a Hero."
Tassiter paused for a moment and looked away from the camera for dramatic effect as he pretended to stumble over his words. "This… this only makes the manner of his death that much more reprehensible. Timothy Lawrence – a man sworn to protect him – was instead the one to end Jack's life. In an equally heinous crime, this despicable man also kidnapped Jack's only daughter and has disappeared to Pandora's surface."
Tassiter pulled up a still image of Lawrence dragging Angel by the wrist during their escape. Holding the image steady in front of the camera for several seconds, he eventually lowered it and continued. "Do not be fooled by this impostor's appearance: this man is no more Jack than you or I. My friends, we can not allow such a great man's death to go unpunished. That is why, as of this moment, I'm offering a bounty of one-hundred million dollars to whoever can bring this vile murderer to justice. Furthermore, I will offer an additional hundred million for the safe return of his daughter."
Tassiter allowed himself a moment to steady himself before issuing a challenge straight to the camera. "Hyperion will not stand to see this Hero's legacy tarnished by allowing his daughter to spend a single minute more than necessary in the clutches of that planet's foul denizens. Jack's Angel will be returned home."
As a coupe de gras, Tassiter ended the broadcast with a still image of John and his daughter laughing together. Of course the image was a fake, but in this case the truth of their relationship just wouldn't do. After all, Hero's had to be good parents. As the broadcasting equipment switched off, Tassiter got up and seated himself once more at his desk. Resisting the urge to pump his arms in jubilation, he instead settled for carefully folding one leg over the other and drumming his fingers over the desk.
Checking the time on his watch, he decided to give it another forty-five minutes for his announcement to sink in before he contacted that man. The next step in his plan was about to begin and everything was going perfectly.
Glancing back to his forgotten meal, Tassiter decided that he had an appetite after all.
"WWWWWWHHHHHHYYYYYY?!"
Nakayama clutched a picture of himself and Jack that he'd made to his chest and hiccuped sloppily past his tears. Slumping himself down into the seat at his desk, his elbow knocked the half-empty bottle of champagne to the floor. It was supposed to be their champagne and he'd been saving it in anticipation of Jack's promised visit. He had begun to worry after over a week had passed, but it wasn't like Jack would have forgotten him. Now, he knew the real reason!
"You were too perfect to die…" he mumbled as he lightly caressed his fingers over Jack's face. "That impostor isn't fit to wear the face of such a handsome man!" The ECHO device on his desk once again beeped for his attention, but Nakayama was far too despondent to answer. "Can't they leave me to my grief!" He wailed.
His day had started normal enough. He'd been keeping his lab extra clean in preparation for Jack's visit and was in the middle of spit-shining his picture of Jack when the broadcast override had flashed across his terminal. But instead of Jack's handsome face on the screen, he'd instead been treated to the sour visage of President Tassiter. He had been so annoyed that Tassiter had been making the announcement, that he hadn't even paid attention to the first few lines. It was only after Tassiter had mentioned the tragic manner of Jack's death did Nakayama become the saddest man alive.
His mournful introspection was interrupted by a sudden hiss as the door to his lab opened and light from the station's hallway assaulted his eyes. Just like his mood, his lab had been left dark after the announcement with only the soft glow of his terminal lighting the room. The intruder flicked on the light and Nakayama curled his hands over his head. "Leave me alooone!"
"Professor Nakayama," he recognized Megan's voice immediately after all the times he'd tried getting a hold of Jack. All the time they had wasted! Why couldn't Jack have been less busy?! "I understand that you may be a little upset right now, but you weren't answering your ECHO -"
"Can't you see I'm g-grieving right n-now!" He broke down into sobs again.
"Professor, President Tassiter wants to see you in his office," Megan said gently. "It's about Jack."
Nakayama sat up and wiped away the snot that dribbled onto his beard. "...R-really?" Maybe Jack had left him something is his will. Nakayama knew that his work was appreciated! Maybe they'd even let him keep Jack's body. He'd immortalize it forever!
Megan eyed him critically. "Yes, I'll um… give you a moment to clean up first."
Nakayama ran a hurried hand down his face and swept his comb-over into place. He was as ready as he'd ever be. With one last shuddering breath, he followed the secretary out of his lab. As they walked down the hall, they passed groups of workers and scientists, all of whom spoke in subdued whispers. Everyone seemed to have an experience with Jack they wanted to share.
"I remember the time Jack killed my supervisor," an engineer spoke to those around him. "It was great; that guy was such a dick."
The others responded with solemn nods and wistful smiles, recalling their experiences of the man who led them through the Dalh occupation, removed their rivals, and always did it with a charming smile. Jack had touched all of them in some way or another. An elevator trip and a short walk later brought the two of them to the steps of Jack's old office.
Nakayama recalled happier times as his eyes lingered on the now clean spot where his Claptrap had once left his masterpiece for Jack. "It's not fair, Jack should be waiting for me on the other side!"
Megan ignored him, perhaps too caught up in her own emotions. Instead she opened the office door for him. "Sir, I've brought Professor Nakayama as requested."
"Thank you, Megan, you may leave us," President Tassiter replied. With a short nod and a tight expression, Megan hurriedly left Nakayama at the entrance to the office. He understood: she probably had her own crying to do. Tassiter gestured to the chairs in front of his desk, "Please, sit."
Nakayama morosely drug his feet towards the desk as his eyes wandered around the office. He immediately noticed the differences. How dare he change Jack's office! Annoyed that the man before him could ruin Jack's perfection, Nakayama stiffly lowered himself into a chair.
Tassiter bridged his fingers with a sigh. "I'm sure by now you've heard the unfortunate news."
At once, all of Nakayama's grief came back to him. "Y-yesss!"
Tassiter slid a box tissues towards the edge of his desk. "Yes, yes. We're all very saddened by his loss." Nakayama only blew his nose in response. Tassiter continued on, "That's what I called you here to talk about."
"Did Jack leave anything for me? A message? Any last words?" The words were muffled by the handful of tissues.
"I'm afraid the manner of his death was a little sudden for that," Tassiter replied.
"OH GOD," Nakayama blurted out. "B-but the body. You have the body, right? For the funeral?"
"There will be a memorial, but I'm sorry to say that the body has been lost to us." Tassiter pulled the tissue box back just as Nakayama was snatching out another fistful. Talking over Nakayama's fresh wave of tears at the news, Tassiter continued. "Professor, I didn't call you here to talk about Jack's body. I called you in here to talk about his legacy."
"Y-you mean his daughter?" She didn't seem very special to him.
"No, his other legacy," Tassiter rubbed at his temples, clearly upset as Nakayama was. "I'm sure you're aware that Jack was constantly conducting all manner of research aboard this station."
"Oh, yes." Of course he was. Nakayama's project to recreate the Destroyer had been one of Jack's... not that it had come to anything. At one-sixteenth the size, his creation had been less than suited to be an 'Eye of the Destroyer.' More of a pupil, really.
"With Jack's death, many of these projects are stuck on a permanent hiatus. Several in particular I'm keen to continue. As one of Jack's most talented researchers, I'd like you to pick up where they left off."
"R-really? He said that about me?"
"Yes, Jack's file on you contained nothing but praise for your work," Tassiter tapped said file between them on the desk.
"I KNEW IT! He really did care!" That alone would have once filled Nakayama with joy, but now it only left him feeling empty inside. Only after Jack died, did he really come to understand how much the man cared.
"It says in your file that you have a doctorate in biochemistry," Tassiter ignored his outburst. "Tell me, what do you know of slag?"
"Well ahh... it's a byproduct of refining eridium – very toxic. It's also a meta-stable compound with a very high energy content," he breathed out excitedly.
"I see. Jack was in the process of researching multiple different applications of slag, some of which had very interesting results. I want you to oversee these projects to fruition. You will answer directly to me. Together, you and I can finish what Jack started and realize his legacy."
Inspired by Jack's praise, Nakayama immediately answered. "YESSS!" He would finish what Jack started. He would make Jack proud. He would avenge Jack!
Tassiter smiled thinly back at him. "Wonderful."
Wilhelm turned off the radio with a snort. It'd been the eighth time the Hyperion Network had broadcast Tassiter's speech in the last two hours. Since landing at Tartarus Station, Jack's death had been the topic of everyone's conversation, much to Wilhelm's annoyance. Just let the dead guy die. Sure, he got what Tassiter was doing: he was riding the wave of Jack's reputation by making him into a martyr. Didn't mean he had to be a drama queen about it. What Wilhelm didn't understand was why Tassiter even needed to. The snob hadn't bothered to inform Wilhelm of his plans. All Wilhelm knew was that he was told to find Nisha and that she was supposed to be on a train.
And that train hadn't arrived at Tartarus Station. When he landed, he'd quickly discovered that the train had been held up sometime in transit and eventually returned to Lynchwood sans an engine. Wilhelm didn't need two brain cells to rub together to figure out who might have been behind that. Not wasting anymore time, he borrowed a technical and drove off along the tracks in search of that missing engine. Not like it could've wandered off.
Four hours later, he finally found his prize. The train engine had been abandoned just outside a small town. When he'd asked the natives if any of them had seen a rakk-shit crazy cowgirl running around, no one had seen a thing. But the shattered glass and bullet-riddled cockpit told him that someone had been on that train. Finding no further leads, Wilhelm hopped back in the technical and continued down the tracks towards Lynchwood.
Another few hours and several shitty radio stations later, he saw it. A lone rakk circled the sky before the crack of a gunshot brought it down to earth. Wilhelm definitely recognized that sound. Pistol - Jakobs. He had a good feeling about who he'd find on the other end.
The technical came to a stop next to a boulder. Judging by the amount of animal corpses littering the area, she was definitely alive and kicking. Slumped back against the boulder, Nisha instinctively aimed her gun for a few seconds at his head before lowering it with a grimace.
"Took you long enough," she smiled.
"You look like shit," he said in greeting. Exiting out of the vehicle, Wilhelm crouched at her side to look for any obvious damage. Finding none other than some scrapes and bruises, he reached out a hand to help her up. "What happened to you?"
Nisha winced when he pulled her up to her feet. Mostly. "I got thrown from a fucking train."
Partly carrying, partly dragging Nisha to the truck, Wilhelm grunted. "Timothy?"
"Who?"
Apparently Nisha didn't listen to the radio much. "Jack's double."
Nisha spat on the ground. "'Timothy'? What a stupid name."
Wilhelm opened the passenger door and shoved Nisha up into the seat and chuckled at her attempts to stifle her gasps of pain. Serves her right. She needed to get with the program and quit trying to be a one woman army. Shutting her door, he circled back around to his side of the truck and pulled himself into the driver's seat. As the truck rumbled to life, he glanced at his gimped passenger. "How bad is it?"
"I'll live," she said shortly. Wilhelm waited expectantly, the truck still idling beneath them. It didn't take long to wait out her patience and she heaved a sigh. "Few broken ribs, and I think I dislocated my right shoulder. I'm fine."
Wilhelm started driving. "Sounds painful."
"Fuck off." After noting the direction they were heading, Nisha added, "Where are we going?"
Wilhelm thought it was obvious. "Lynchwood. Gotta get you patched up."
"Like hell we are," Nisha straightened up higher in her seat. "Timothy and that Bitch are still out there."
Was she really gonna argue this? "Tassiter didn't send me after them. He sent me after you."
Nisha fixed him a challenging stare. "You bringin' me in?"
"That's the idea," he said evenly. "Tassiter doesn't want you hunting them down by yourself."
"Fuck Tassiter," Nisha spat and Wilhelm could feel her eyes on him. "What happened to your loyalty to Jack?"
"Jack's dead."
"Oh, so you just move onto the next person that'll pay you?"
"That's our job."
"Jack was our friend, and all it was to you was a job?" Nisha accused. "Jack was gonna do way more for us than he would for just anybody. We were important to him and he still meant nothing to you?"
Wilhelm shrugged. "I wasn't fucking him."
"Fuck you!" If she had been in any other state, Wilhelm was pretty sure things would have turned violent.
"We're mercenaries," he spared her a glance finally. "Any loyalty I had to Jack died with him. Tassiter's paying me now, so he gets my loyalty. Nothin' more to it than that."
"Maybe for you, but not for me," she replied.
"I never said I didn't wanna kill Timothy. I never said I wouldn't help you. But you gotta knock it off with this solo crusade of yours or you'll end getting yourself killed."
"Since when do you suddenly care?"
"You've been out of the loop," Wilhelm chuckled as reached over and turned the radio on. "Why don't you sit back and listen for once. Pretty sure we'll hear about it again in a few minutes anyways."
Nisha awoke to a pounding headache. Opening her eyes proved to be a mistake since the bright overhead lights seared her retinas. Cursing colorfully, she reflexively slammed her eyes shut before slowly opening them to squint at her surroundings. If this place was supposed to be a clinic, a back alley would have been a better choice. The smell of rust and mildew hung in the air along with the stench of death. Well, she was still alive, so that was a start.
Nisha tried to push herself up from the gurney, and immediately regretted it as a sharp pain lanced through her body – and not the good kind either. Hissing through her teeth, she tried to look past the curtain that sectioned her off from the rest of the room, but it looked like she was the only one in the clinic. Giving it up for now, she flopped back onto the bed. And now we play the waiting game.
This is what bothered her most. The downtime; the inactivity; just sitting helpless. And Nisha hated feeling helpless. She hadn't felt that way since she left home. Then again, she hadn't been this injured since she left home either. Sure, she'd had the minor bullet hole and flesh wound every now and then, but never this bad. Hell, some of those had been fun.
Still, a med-hypo only went so far towards patching you up. If Wilhelm hadn't shown up, she wasn't sure how she would have gotten back to civilization. It could have been worse though. As if being thrown from the train wasn't enough, that Bastard had tried to run her over. He hadn't even had the balls to finish her off himself. But they still got the better of her – him and that little Bitch. That part stung worse than any of her injuries did.
Of course Tassiter's speech was skagshit. Kidnapped my ass. The Bitch didn't seem very kidnapped when she helped Timothy – what a pussy name – on the train. After all, he wasn't the one who stopped it; she'd seen that clearly enough. What wasn't so clear was why the girl looked like she had been glowing while she did it. Trick of the mind probably: Nisha hadn't been thinking things through at the time. And that was the problem.
Wilhelm was right. He may have been an asshole about it, but that didn't make him wrong. She shouldn't be so damn wrapped up over Jack's death. Sure, he'd been fun enough, and a great fuck, but that was no reason to get herself killed over him. All that mattered was giving Timothy a slow and painful death.
Her fantasies over the exact manner of Timothy's death were interrupted as the curtain was pulled aside to reveal Wilhelm. He tossed her hat onto her knees and leaned against the wall. "Found that while you were out."
Nisha dusted it off before placing it back on her head. "Surprised you bothered." She figured it was gone for good and having it back made her realize just how much she'd missed it.
He shrugged. "Figured you'd never find a good replacement around here. You just ain't the same without it."
Sitting up gingerly and swinging her feet over the side of the gurney, Nisha motioned him over. "Help me up, let's get back out there."
Wilhelm pushed himself off the wall and stood before her, arms crossed. "Not so fast there, cowgirl. I've still got a job to do."
Nisha snorted. "You're still gonna bring me in?"
"Tassiter just wants you stopped," he scratched at his beard. "I figured bringing you in was the easier way."
"And if I resist?"
"Don't think you're in a position to do that right now," he grinned. "Tassiter doesn't care, but I'd rather not have to kill you."
Resigning herself to a long talk, Nisha sat back onto the pillows once more. "So what does Tassiter want?"
"He wants what you want: Timothy dead. But you heard that speech: he's got everyone riled up now and they want Jack's daughter back. Angel has to live."
Angel. It was easy for Nisha to believe that she really was Jack's daughter after hearing her name in Tassiter's speech. Jack always was shit at naming things. "Okay, fine. The girl lives. But I wanna be the one to kill Timothy."
"Fine by me," Wilhelm shrugged. "So, you comin' with me or are you gonna resist?"
"Where are we going?"
"Back to Helios," he said less than enthusiastically. "Apparently, Tassiter's got 'big plans' for us."
Nisha released a groan of frustration and pain as she pushed herself off of the gurney. "Fine, but admit it: you hate him as much as I do."
"Yup," Wilhelm agreed. "But so long as he's paying, I'll listen."
A/N: Surprise fast update! Don't get used to it. So we're gonna take a moment to explain how med-hypos work in our narrative. Obviously, they have limitations and aren't the instant cure-all they depict in the game. To avoid getting too wordy down here about how they work, just know they don't mend bones or replace lost blood. They're more for repairing internal organ damage and stopping blood flow. Honestly, we have a huge theory on how everything works in our narrative, but like most of the background of our story, you'll probably never see it all. Anyway, thanks for the support so far. Catch you all next time.