Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to the next chapter of my final Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech crossover redux.
Thank you for your wonderful patience and support. I deeply appreciate it.
Good news is that I've managed to find another beta-reader who's now helping me take care of some of the finer details in each chapter. Thanks to him, each chapter has excellent flow now, so it should be easier to read from here on out.
As always, leave a review, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo or MechWarrior/BattleTech franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs, WizKids, Piranha Games Inc., etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to its original composers and/or artists.
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries OST - Threshold.
Soell III
Haven City
December 3rd, 2785, 2100 Hrs Local Time, 1115 Hrs System Time (August 15th, 2515, 1115 Hrs)
"That's it for today!" a foreman shouted. "Ladies and gentlemen, we've finished this new habitation block, and in record time!"
Cheers and grunts of approval rose up from down below. Finally, Richard thought. We're done here! This part of Haven City is ready for habitation! Hell, that means I can live here, and that'll be nice for a change.
He wiped beads of sweat from his brow and gazed over the skyline. Haven City was the newest in a series of settlements that were planned for the various planets in the Soell System. Initially, the optimism that they had found a new home had been tempered with caution, given that habitable planets were few and far between, while those that needed to be terraformed to be habitable were much more common.
The Soell System, however, was the exception to the role. Surveys had found that Soell IV and Soell III were near-ideal for human habitation, with only a few minor hazards to make note of. For the newly created Star League-in-Exile, this was nothing less than a godsend, as it meant that there was plenty of room for everyone in the fleet.
That leaves people like me to do the dirty work, Richard noted. It's up to us laborers and engineers to build all of the buildings that will house everyone in the Star League. Personally speaking, I wouldn't want to miss it for the world.
He leaned away from the safety rail and entered the elevator. With the push of a button, the elevator descended, then came to a stop at the bottom floor. Almost every worker assigned to the habitation block had gathered here, at the bottom floor of the prefab structure. Those same workers had hung up their construction helmets, and were now about to leave for home or other places they frequented.
For Richard, this meant a trip to the local bar, before heading to check on his elderly mother. Good thing I'm not married, at least not yet. I can enjoy some of the perks that bachelors do.
A hand slapped his back, sending shooting pains into his toes. "Well, looks like people can come and live here!" a familiar voice said. "I must admit, if I'd known that this final building would complete Haven City, I'd be more… nostalgic about how my ancestors did the same, back when Humanity settled known space."
Richard smiled. That was Goldstein, one of his friends. "Same here. I must admit, it's good to finally be able to live here. I hear rumors that demand for housing and businesses has picked up significantly since they got together and formed the Star League-in-Exile."
Goldstein waved a hand flippantly. "So what? It's not like we'll be going anywhere anytime soon. From the way the Protector of The Star League speaks, we're here to stay for good. If commercialization does get a leg-up, we're gonna have one hell of a time getting a stable economy."
Richard shrugged. "Who knows? We might have a tremendous business boom. You don't need many people to run a business. Plus, there may be other humans out there who'd want to do business with us… if there are any other humans out there which, if what we've learned is true, is the case."
"Fair point. However, we don't know what century they're at. For all we know, they might be in the early 20th century, or maybe even around our level. In short, we don't know enough to make any reasonable assumptions. All we know at this point is that there are humans out there. As for if we'll be able to do business with them, or if they're even able to reach us, is something we'll have to wait on."
Richard nodded. "That's a fair point too. Tell you what, I say we wait and find out what the case really is. Want to hit the bar with me?"
Goldstein frowned. "No. I'd much rather remain sober. If you want to do it, then fine by me." He strode off without another word.
"Well, that went well," another voice said. "At least he didn't yell at you."
Richard turned, found another of his co-workers behind him. "Edward, I didn't see you here. What gives?"
Edward, a middle-aged man with a bit of a paunch, smiled. "I'm easy to forget. That's my superpower." He chuckled at Richard's frown. "Just kidding. I was busy finishing the last bit of electrical work upstairs. Those folks are gonna have lights and air conditioning up there."
"Good to know that our people are gonna be comfortable. Say, you want to hit the local pub with me?"
"Sure," Edward said. "I'll drink ya under the table."
Richard smiled. "Then lets go!" Without another glance, the two walked out of the building and to the street.
A long row of small vehicles could be seen, each one lined up alongside the curb. "Well, looks like they've got automobile factories up and running already," Edward said. "I didn't know that was the case."
Richard shrugged. "It was on the news around a month ago. Some hotshot entrepreneur said that he could get automobiles rolling off the production line within a month and a half after Sanctuary was set up. Between the resources that Guilty Spark helped us find, and how motivated people were to get to building shit, I'd say that it was to be expected."
"I get it. Still, to have automobiles up and running already… it boggles the mind."
Richard smiled. "When you get enough people to work on a problem, that problem goes away real fast. So, shall we?"
"Of course." Without further ado, the two men got inside of the vehicle. A simple push of a button started the vehicle up, then they began to drive to their destination…
The bar in question was the Haven Taphouse, one of the newly started bars in the southern part of Haven City. Most of the workers frequented the place after the work day was complete, and often spent their time swapping stories or downing inordinate quantities of beer. While Richard was a light drinker, he frequented the place due to the social aspect.
Good thing I'm with Edward today, he thought. I never did like drinking alone. He brought the car to a stop, then stepped out of the vehicle.
The Haven Taphouse, much like all the other buildings in Haven City, was built from prefabricated modules that were bolted or welded together to form a single structure. Originally built as a hab-block, the building had been converted into a bar once commercial pursuits had resumed. As such, the building looked new, including the neon lights that gave the bar its name.
Right now, a stream of workers coming off of work flooded into the building. A large, tough doorman stood outside, eyes vigilant for any sort of trouble that might occur. "I've changed my mind by the way," Goldstein said.
"About what?" Richard asked.
"I'll be the designated driver tonight. Can't have everyone piss drunk. That would spell disaster."
Tell me about it. "Sounds like a good idea. I don't intend to drink much anyway. My dad taught me that moderation is the best policy when it comes to beer."
"Good for you," Edward said. "How about we go inside?"
"Sure thing."
Both men walked to the door, whereupon the doorman looked at them. " "Bar's open. Have a good night," he said.
"Thanks," Edward said.
While the bar looked new, it smelled of disinfectants and other cleaning agents. Someone's kept this place in good shape, Richard thought.
He and Edward advanced to the bar, where a young woman was busy mixing drinks. "Hello there!" she said, a smile on her face. "What can I get you two for today?"
"Some soda for me," Edward said. "I'm designated driver for my buddy here today."
"Something light," Richard said. "Maybe a Timbiqui Dark."
"All right," the barkeep said. "One Donegal Apple-Pear Soda and Timbiqui Dark coming up." She began to sift through various implements underneath the counter. Standing up, she held both drinks in her hands. "Here you go. Enjoy it while it lasts. We've git breweries set up, but the drinks we had in the Star League won't last for too much longer. "
"Thank you," Richard said. Popping the tap off his Timbiqui Dark, he took a swig from the can. Damn… now that's the good stuff! No wonder MechWarriors find this drink to be so good. Nearby, Edward was satisfied with his Donegal Apple-Pear Soda.
A glance upwards revealed a TV that sat in the middle of the bar, allowing everyone to catch up on the latest news. Right now, a middle aged man with gray hair was displayed, along with an image of whatever the story was about. Richard leaned back, tuned in on the news.
"Recent colonization efforts at the planet Basis have hit a temporary snag as delays in the construction of the last archologies and habitation domes reaches completion. Recent investigations have revealed that workers and supervisors have taken shortcuts and cut corners during the construction of several arcologies and habitation domes on the moon Basis. First Minister Jared Torrance had this to say on the matter:
"'We knew the risks when we decided to colonize the moon Basis. While this temporary delay in colonizing the moon is a setback, I am sure that we will find a way to overcome this setback and continue with our plans.' While inspectors finished their duties, investigators found the individuals responsible, Foreman Gerry Thames and Supervisor Ian Jones, and had them arrested for building code violations. The APD has since detained them until further notice.
"In other news, numerous small businesses have cropped up since the founding of the Star League-in-Exile around a month ago. The resumption of commercial interests is directly linked to the Protector of The Star League's edicts, which have allowed small businesses to start up. Since Edict #35 was issued, these small businesses have begun to restart the engines of commerce.
"In the meantime, people would do well to keep an eye out. The wave of recent crimes at Sanctuary City have been linked to growing racial tensions between members of the Great Houses. Police Chief Jared Grimes commented on the recent wave of crimes following this trend.
"'The people that have committed these crimes fail to understand that we cannot allow old grudges and tensions to tear us apart. That is why we at the Sanctuary City Police Department are dedicated to finding those responsible and arresting them. We will not allow the petty grudges and qualms of those that would try to endanger the Star League-in-Exile.'
"Strong words from a man with equally strong conviction. Officially, the SCPD has been working to stop these crimes, though some fear that this is the start of what might be a potential schism within the Star League-in-Exile. Administrators have also been at work to ease these tensions, though what comes of their efforts remains to be seen. I'm James Townley of Sanctuary City News Network."
Whoop de doop de, Richard thought, beer in hand. So my friends don't get to settle Basis yet, all because some fucking idiot thought he could get away with shit that he thought he could do. Just wonderful.
He frowned, then took a swig from his beer. Well… I don't suppose there's a thing I can do about it. You can predict what robots will do, but not people.
"Doesn't look like Basis is panning out," Edward remarked.
"It is, though it's taking a little while. Basis is barely habitable by human standards, hence the arcologies that we've built there, along with the habitation domes. I have to admit, the fact we've even got habitation domes there shows how stubborn us humans are."
"Tell me about it," Edward said. He finished his soda off. "Let me know when you're done. I'll take you home when you are."
"Thanks." For Richard, that would've been his evening: a quiet drink at the bar before going to his flat. Unfortunately for him, fate had other plans in mind.
He was just about to finish when he heard a commotion. When he turned, Richard found that one of the attendees was groping at one of the waitresses in the bar. "Stop it!" the waitress shouted, slapping the offending man in the face. "Leave me alone!"
Her defiance only goaded the man on, and the slap only made him angry. "You've got a mouth on you!" he shouted, his voice slurred by drink. "I'm gonna enjoy hearing it back at my place!" He stood up and made to grab at her.
Richard stood up, thoroughly angered by the drunkard's conduct. "The lady asked you to leave her alone," he growled. "I suggest you do so before you earn a knuckle sandwich."
The drunkard growled. "Why do you care? This isn't any of your business!"
"It is when you're threatening to be indecent to a young lady that hasn't done a thing to you. Back off now, and we won't speak of this. Keep going, and you'll be picking your teeth off the floor."
The drunkard snarled. "Screw you, asshole! I can do whatever I want, whenever I want!" He stood up, lurched to the side, then regained his balance. "I'll teach you not to ruin my fun! I -"
At that moment, Richard blindsided the drunkard with a powerful left hook. The man, plastered and barely able to stand, took the full force of the blow to his face and spun around. Blood and teeth flew from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Richard looked at the man's drinking buddies, all of whom now seethed with rage. "Anyone else want to get involved? If you do, it's your funeral."
The others were about to join in and start fighting when the doorman came over. "Enough!" he shouted. "No fights allowed on the premises. If you've got any beef with this guy, then take care of it somewhere else!" The other drunkards snarled, then stood up and left one by one. "What's going on here?"
"This man was molesting one of the waitresses," Richard explained. "I told him to stop and he decided to pick a fight. I just ended it before it started."
The doorman looked at the unconscious man on the floor, then at Richard. "Former SLDF Army Command?"
"No," Richard said. "Why?"
"Used to be part of the Army Command myself. Good swing, though your stance needs a little work. I'll talk with the boss and have this guy banned. He takes his rules very seriously; plus, I'll recommend you to him if you're ever in need of a job."
"I'll definitely keep it in mind. I do apologize for any trouble that did happen."
"I'll let it drop in your case," the bouncer said. "You defended a woman's honor and taught that pasty faced bastard a lesson he won't forget. I'll have the HCPD come over and take his ass to the drunk tank. As for you, I hope you enjoy the rest of your night."
"Thank you," Richard said. "I'll take my leave." He looked at Edward and whistled. Edward nodded, then came over to him.
"Nice right hook," he said. "Your dad teach you to fight?"
"Yes. He was SLDF, specifically Army Command."
Edward smiled. "He did good. Speaking of which, you haven't mentioned him at all to me. Why?"
Richard's face fell. "He died in the Amaris Coup. Laser bolt to his forehead. Mortician said his head was completely gone."
Edward winced. "Ouch. I'm sorry to hear that. Sounds like he was a good guy."
"He was. Now it's just me and my mother. I check up on her every now and then. Speaking of which, can you drive me to her place. I need to check on her. It's why I only drank lightly tonight."
"Definitely," Edward said. "Where's she live?"
"Around twenty minutes from here, in the outskirts area that's been recently settled. I'll tell you when we get there."
"Sounds good," Edward said. "I'll wait to pick you up and drop you off there when you're done."
"Then let's go…"
The house in question was one of the smaller prefabricated buildings that had been assembled. Split into four quarters, it held enough room for an entire extended family. It was in this same house that the Tornelli's, Richard included, lived.
"Here we are," Richard said. "Thanks for the lift, Eddie. I appreciate it."
"Same here," Edward said. "See you tomorrow."
"You too, Eddie." Richard stepped out and closed the door. The car drove away, it's fuel-cell powered electric motors silently whined before falling silent. Richard advanced towards the door, then opened it. "Hello?" he called out. "Mom?"
"In here!" a voice shouted. Richard walked inside, taking his shoes off before going deeper in. In the kitchen of the quarter he lived in was an elderly woman. Despite her age, she stood strong on two feet, while her back was straight. "Richard!" Elizabeth said as she embraced Richard in a bear hug. "It's good to see you. How's my boy doing?"
"Just fine," Richard said as he sat down on a couch. "We got finished with work today. The habitation area for that part of Haven is ready, which means that the city should be fully habitable by now. It boggles the mind how fast we got it built."
"Well, between the surplus of volunteers and those Sentinels from Halo, work gets done fast," Elizabeth said.
"Yeah, about that. Have they come around here?"
"Oh, all the time," Elizabeth said. "We're living in the system that Monitor's fancy ring's located in. It'd make sense for him to be checking up from time to time. Just yesterday, I had a splendid conversation with one of those Sentinels. Didn't talk back the way we do, but it felt good to just talk about whatever came to mind."
Richard smiled. His mother could hold a conversation with a rock and make it the most interesting thing in the world. Not that it's a bad thing, he thought. We need people like that from time to time. "Good to know. I'mma get myself some dinner and head off to bed. I'm pooped out."
"There's no need," Elizabeth said. "I cooked dinner for you tonight. Consider it a treat for doing such a good job today."
Richard's smile grew. "Thanks, Mom. I wonder what Dad would be thinking if he were still here today."
"He'd be proud of you," Elizabeth said. "It's a shame that Amaris' bully-boys killed him at Lockdale. I still cry from time to time when I think of him. All the more reason that I'm glad that we've settled down and are ready to begin healing."
"Me too."
. . .
While Richard's day had come to a close, Nicholas Kerensky's newest day at Sanctuary City had only begun. The young man sat at the edge of his bunk bed, hands latched onto a book and a pen. He finished a few words, then stopped to look at the contents of what he'd written.
"December 3rd, 2785. Diary Entry # 32.
"I recently had another dream today. As per the psychiatrist's suggestion, I wrote down the dream in my other diary. I've been trying to interpret it ever since I had it.
"Right now, however, I'm also focused on what my father is having me doing. I don't know why, but some part of me thinks that he's preparing me for some role. I don't know what, but I don't intend to disappoint him.
Kerensky, N."
Nicholas frowned, then laid back on his bunk bed. He puzzled over the meaning of his dream; his mind conjured up images as he visualized the dream from every angle.
I remember standing in the middle of a parade, he thought. I was on some vehicle that had an open-air canopy. People were gathered in a city square, all of them cheering and celebrating. Soldiers, Combat Vehicles and BattleMechs were moving along in perfect formation.
He frowned as he remembered the next part of his dream. I remember seeing a shadowy figure or entity standing next to me. All of the people gave it adulation as it stepped off. It then proceeded to this glass casket, which had an old man inside of it. It then began to turn around to face me. Just when I was about to see its face, the dream came to an end. The question I now have is, who was the shadowy figure, and what does the dream mean?
He frowned, then memories flashed through his mind. His mind drifted back to when he visited the man that his father had recommended to him for psychological treatment.
. . .
Halo
Sanctuary City
Thirty Two Days Earlier
"Are you still with us, Mr. Kerneksy?" the receptionist asked.
Nicholas shook his head lightly, then focused on her. It had been a couple weeks since he'd admitted, to his father, his role in the Prinz Eugen Mutiny, a wound that had bothered him since. Now he was here to find out what the psychologist his father had recommended to him was like.
I really hope he isn't like other shrinks, he thought. "Yes," he said to the receptionist. "I was… thinking."
The receptionist smiled. "I understand. I just wanted to tell you that Dr. Edward Jung is ready to speak with you. He's been expecting you for some time."
"Thank you," Nicholas said. "Where is he?"
"Left hand door at the very end of the hallway."
"Thank you." Nicholas walked down the hall, then turned left. True to form, a single door could be seen at the end of the prefab's hallway. A plaque on the side said Dr. Jung, Edward. Psychoanalyst. PhD.
Nicholas was about to knock when the door opened. On the other side was an elderly looking man with white hair and a beard of the same color. His green eyes, however, held an energy normally seen only in young people. "Are you Nicholas Kerensky?"
"Yes," Nicholas said.
The man smiled, then extended a hand. "Dr. Edward Jung, at your service. Do come in and make yourself comfortable."
To his surprise, Nicholas found the man's demeanor oddly comforting. It's almost like I'm with a grandfather, he thought. This might go well after all. He stepped inside and took a seat.
Dr. Jung's office was well decorated, with a few paintings on the walls, as well as some sofas and a recliner. At the back was an oak wood desk with papers stacked on it. Grabbing two cups of coffee, Dr. Jung came over and sat down on the sofa opposite of Nicholas. "Would you mind a little coffee?"
"Not at all," Nicholas said. He took the cup and carefully sipped it. He looked at the cup. "Where'd you get this? Is this -"
"French coffee," Dr. Jung said. "I brought a few bags of the stuff with me, seeds included, before I left Terra with the Exodus Fleet. Now that coffee's out there, doing what it does best: growing and making people happy."
"That's good." Nicholas frowned. "I take it that my father -"
"Told me about your role during the Prinz Eugen Mutiny," Dr. Jung finished. He nodded. "That he did. I must admit, I was deeply surprised when I heard you allowed it to happen. Still, as a psychoanalyst, it is my job to treat my patients, regardless of who they are and what their social status is. That being said, could you tell me more about what happened?"
Nicholas was silent. Should I tell him or not? a part of him wondered. This isn't like talking about the morning newspaper. "Are you sure you want to hear about it?"
"Of course. Nicholas, I've heard some very dark secrets from my other patients. I doubt that what you have to share with me will be as dark as some of those have been. Plus, I know when to keep a secret myself. I wouldn't be doing this job if I didn't know to begin with."
The words comforted Nicholas. "Very well," he said. He leaned back, brow furrowed as he thought back to that day. "We were traveling along to wherever Dad said we were going to settle down. While we traveled, tensions began to build up in as we traveled along. Most often, dissent was the way it manifested, though that day was something else entirely."
"And you sensed some of that tension, no doubt."
"Yes," Nicholas said. "When I heard that Robert Nicholls was getting a group of people together, it told me that a mutiny was about to happen. I, however, wanted to 'test the water' so to speak, to find out why they wanted to mutiny. "
"As such, in order to find out more, I decided that it was best to have my brother find out more. As such, I 'leaned' on Jennifer Winson to have him join up with the dissenters. I even convinced him to send seditious messages to some of the ships in the fleet."
"So, if I may ask, why did you manipulate your brother into doing this?" Dr. Jung asked.
Yeah, why did you? a voice in Kerensky's mind asked. He was hesitant to answer, but then another voice spoke in his mind. Your father wouldn't ask you to do this if he didn't think it would help you. Be honest with the doctor. "Part of the reason was sibling rivalry, I guess. I was the oldest son, but my father favored Andery Kerensky."
"So you resented Andery because of that."
The response shocked Nicholas. "Resent?! Why would I resent my own brother?! I -"
"Would you allow me to finish?" Dr. Jung asked. While the request was innocent enough, there was something in Dr. Jung's voice that made Nicholas stop dead in his tracks. "Thank you. As for why, well, given what happened during the mutiny, I think I can draw a few conclusions. The first is that you're needy for approval, which leads me to another question. Did you fight with the resistance during Terra's occupation?"
More memories flooded through Nicholas' mind. "Y-Yes," he said. "I was in a support role, but I saw combat as well. It's how I learned to pilot my Atlas II. You either learned fast, or you died. There wasn't any middle ground."
"I see. Your mother was a part of the resistance against the Usurper too, yes?"
Nicholas nodded. "Yes. I don't see how this might be related."
"Because in a way, it is. You spent a lot of time in a resistance where you had to learn to be competent fast, or you died. Given the pressures involved, that meant you rose through the ranks quickly, and with rank comes responsibility. Was your brother involved in the resistance?"
"Yes," Nicholas said. "He was one of the front-line combatants. Kept refusing promotions due to the fact that he wanted to fight Amaris and his thugs."
"Exactly my point. You had to learn to deal with responsibility that comes with higher ranks early on, while your brother was a ground pounder. So when your father chose to elevate him over you, it's easy to see how that might cause resentment and anger at the injustice of being ignored."
Nicholas opened his mouth to protest, then stopped. He's right, a voice in his mind said. You did rise pretty highly in the ranks during the resistance against the Usurper. He sighed. "You make… a fair point. I still love Andery, though."
"But you resent that he was chosen over you to be a potential successor," Dr. Jung said. "Why is that?"
Nicholas frowned, then frustration welled up inside of him. "Because out of the two of us, my father chose the younger of us rather than the later. Why him and not me, the man that made the hard decisions, that made the snap decisions that helped the resistance survive?" He huffed. "It's so… frustrating!"
"That it can be," Dr. Jung agreed. "That's part of the reason why I think you manipulated him into the position he ended up playing during the mutiny: you resented the fact that he was chosen over you, so you wanted to teach him a lesson. An irresponsible decision, but an understandable one. You do realize, however, that lives were lost during the mutiny."
Nicholas nodded. "I do, but I didn't intend for Andery to get killed, or hurt. Yes, I was resentful of him, but he's still my brother."
"Which is why there's hope yet for you," Dr. Jung said. "That being said, your father and mother also told me more about some of your actions during the resistance. In my professional opinion, it would seem that you have a very thick shadow."
Nicholas looked confused. "I… don't understand."
"It's a part of the analytical psychology that my ancestor, Dr. Carl Jung, created and practiced. We have two sides to our personalities, Nicholas: the anima/animus and the persona/shadow, the latter of which I was talking about just now. The persona is the public face that we present to people; it's the side of us we show to get them to like us.
"The shadow, on the other hand, is everything we hide from people and ourselves. It represents everything that we've denied, repressed, or rejected because they are deemed unacceptable or incompatible with our self-image or societal norms. The shadow is composed of both negative and positive qualities that have been suppressed, including our fears, insecurities, desires, instincts, and untapped potential. As much as we try to deny it, the shadow is an integral part of who we are. The shadow is formed through the process of socialization and cultural conditioning, as society imposes certain standards and expectations on individuals. As a result, certain aspects of our personality that do not align with these standards are pushed into the unconscious and become part of the shadow."
How very intriguing, Nicholas thought. "So the 'shadow' is everything that we've pushed into our subconscious mind either because we don't like it, or is not acceptable to us and/or the people around us."
"Exactly," Dr. Jung said. "That being said, I do believe that you've developed a thick shadow."
"Why do you say that?"
"I can make a list of reasons as to why," Dr. Jung said. "You grew up during the Amaris Civil War, which saw you being thrust into a hostile environment at an early age. In order to survive, you had to conform your social and moral beliefs to fit the environment. This caused some of your more negative qualities, such as paranoia, distrust, suspicion and the like to grow in prominence, while the good aspects of you, such as love, trust and rationality, were suppressed and pushed into your unconsciousness, where the shadow resides.
"Now that you're in an environment that's less hostile, however, those same qualities that kept you alive and well during the Amaris Civil War are now proving detrimental. As such, it is my duty, both as a person, and a psychoanalyst, to help you find ways to regulate and control those darker aspects of you, while also bringing out the aspects of you that are believed to be positive and enriching."
"You sound like you want me to allow those darker aspects to remain," Nicholas murmured.
"Not exactly, Nicholas. Embracing the shadow does not mean indulging in destructive or harmful behaviors. Rather, it involves recognizing and accepting the existence of these aspects within oneself, understanding their origins, and finding healthier ways to express and integrate them. To that end, I will do what I can to help you 'integrate' the so-called 'gold' in your shadow, while helping you control the darker aspects of yourself."
Nicholas frowned. So far, I'm hearing explanations, not ideas on how to make my father happy. "So, how does one do that? How do I start 'integrating' this shadow of mine? Any ideas on how to demonstrate that?"
"Yes, and you can join in too," Dr. Jung said. He pulled out a small diary and handed it to Nicholas. "What I want you to do, for the foreseeable future, Nicholas, is to write down any dreams that you have. Then, I want you to think to visualize and daydream on what the dream means."
"What does writing down dreams and thinking about them do for me?"
"Your shadow will manifest in various ways, such as through dreams, projections onto others, or sudden emotional reactions," Dr. Jung explained. "It often appears as a dark figure or an unknown entity in dreams, representing the hidden aspects of ourselves that we are not consciously aware of. By using active imagination and dream interpretation, we can find out what the dream means, and what our shadow self is telling us."
"And this is relevant… how?"
"When we project our own unacknowledged qualities onto others, we may perceive them as embodying our shadow," Dr. Jung said. "For example, if someone strongly dislikes a certain trait in another person, it may be an indication that they are projecting their own disowned qualities onto that individual. For instance, you're resentful of Andery because your father approves of him. That means you're projecting your shadow onto him."
Nicholas was about to counter when he realized the truth of Dr. Jung's words. He's right, he thought. The only thing that confuses me is why. Why is he right? "I see," he said. "I'll take your words into account."
"Thank you, and remember, your father asked me to help you, so I'm asking you to do this not just for me, but for him as well." He handed Nicholas a pen. "Here, keep the diary and pen. You'll need it more than I do. Remember: write down the dream, then begin actively daydreaming on what the dreams mean. Visit me each day when you can, and I'll tell you more about analytical psychology when possible."
Nicholas shrugged. "All right. If this helps me with making my father happy again, then so be it. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
. . .
The memory drifted out his mind, leaving Nicholas to himself. The implications now disturbed him. If what Dr. Jung said is true, then the shadowy figure was… me. It was my shadow self, the parts of me that I've repressed for so long. If that's the case…
The truth began to dawn on him. Could it be that the reason why I had that dream is that my subconscious is telling me that I want to rule the Star League-in-Exile? That single thought, more than anything, unsettled him.
Before Nicholas knew it, he began to hyperventilate. Sweat beaded onto his forehead, while his stomach churned and roiled. Before he knew it, he was in the bathroom of his quarters. He heaved, but nothing came out. His heart raced even as he stood up and tried to compose himself.
It then occurred to him what the dream meant. Some part of me wants to rule the Star League-in-Exile, and it doesn't care if my father has to die for that to happen! Some part of me wants the people's never-ending adulation, but what good is that if I become a murderer, if I become…?!
He pushed the thought out of his mind. It was far too terrible for him to comprehend. "No, I can't be like him!" he began to shout. "I'm not him! I'm not Stefan Amaris! That's not who I am! That was a sick and disturbed man! I'm NOTHING like him! I -!"
Suddenly, three thumps came from the door. Startled, Nicholas jumped, then composed himself. He flushed the toilet, then walked to the door and opened it. He his his feelings behind a mask of congeniality when he saw the face beyond. "Andery," he said. "Good to see you. How's it going?"
"Fine," Andery said. "Just wanted to swing by and see how you were. I heard someone yelling in here. Would you happen to know about that?"
Nicholas shook his head. "Not at all. I was… rehearsing for what Dad is going to have us do soon."
If Andery saw through his duplicity, he didn't show it. "Fair enough. I'm about to go out on patrol and make sure all's well."
"I take it your Exterminator is ready?"
"That's the thing," Andery said. "This is a foot patrol only. Sure, I'll take an APC or some such vehicle, but this is grunt work now. After that, its more lessons on what Dad wants me to do."
"That being?"
Andery smiled. "I'm afraid that's 'need-to-know' and you don't need to know."
Nicholas frowned, then shrugged it off with a laugh. "Playing smartass, eh? I can work with that. That also means that I won't tell you what Dad wants me to do."
"Fair enough. Still, good to see that you're all right. I'm gonna head out now. See you sometime this evening. Stay safe, Nicky."
"You too, Andy," Nicholas said. Once the door closed, Nicholas slumped to the ground. Something's wrong with me, he thought. Why do my dreams tell me that I secretly want to rule the Star League after my father's death? For what reason? Greed? The ability to influence the lives of everyone in the SLiE? A stepping stone to something greater?
Frustration welled up inside of him. Then another voice spoke in his head. Now now, remember what Dr. Jung said. When you perform active imagination, you aren't to employ censorship or judgment. You are to examine all parts of yourself equally, the good and the bad, the worthwhile and the worthless.
Either way, Nicholas could now see why most people didn't want to explore their shadow. It's terrifying to explore it. He swallowed. Either way, I cannot turn back now. I must face my shadow, for my father's sake if not my own. He took a deep breath, then laid back down on his bunk, ready to face his shadow, even if it horrified him to no end.
. . .
While Nicholas was busy with his shadow, his brother Andery was out in the town, or at least a small part of it. He could feel the familiar rumble of the APC's engine as it traveled down the road. Before long, they would be in one of the seedier parts of the settlement.
It's amazing how fast we got this settlement up, he thought. I have to admit, Guilty Spark knows a thing or two on how to get places like this onto their feet. He frowned. It's a shame that, within a couple weeks, the only people here will be SLDF personnel. New Sanctuary's almost ready for habitation, even with the slowdown the poor construction caused.
One of the soldiers looked outside and whistled. "Beautiful place, even though its all prefabs," he said. "Reminds me of where I lived, before all this shit happened."
A twinge of curiosity filled Andery. "Where'd you live before all this?" He frowned. "Sorry, I forgot to ask your name."
"Terrence," the man said. "Terrence O'Connor, and there's no need to apologize, sir. As for where I came from, well, it was the Taurian Concordat."
He's from the Periphery, Andery noted. "Interesting." He leaned closer to Terrence. "What was life like there?"
Terrence shrugged. "My mother was a combat medic in the Taurian Defense Force. My papa worked as a oil rig worker on one of the petroleum rich worlds the Concordat owned. Grew up wealthy as a result. We had everything a man might ever want or need: expensive food, expensive drinks, a mansion, the whole shebang."
"What prompted you to join the SLDF?"
Terrence frowned. "My parents were old money. They wanted me to take over the family inheritance and start a company."
"I take it that didn't quite suit you."
Terrence laughed, a loud and sharp bark in the confines of the APC. "Damn straight it didn't! I didn't want to be stuck in some suit, forever forced to pander to businessmen and the like. I wanted to get out there, get my hands dirty, actually participate in a worthwhile venture. My parents tried to blackmail me into the business."
"And you told them they could shove that up their ass for all you cared?"
Terrence nodded. "Close enough. I'd thought about the TDF, but it was little more than a militia at that point. I wanted to get out there and see some action, and that wouldn't happen if I was TDF. Boy did my dad throw a fit when I told him I was gonna enlist with the SLDF. Called me a 'no good League lover' and then disowned me. He might as well have been pissing in the wind for all the good that did. I'd already used some of the money to fill out the paperwork and get into the SLDF Army Command."
Not bad, Andery thought. Wanted to become part of the SLDF, despite his parents best efforts to hold him back. "I take it they're not here with you?"
Terrence frowned. "No," he said. "They didn't want to associate with me after I became a member of the SLDF. A bit of a shame, but given that they were assholes, I'm not too surprised. Still, I wasn't left wanting for action. I'd just left boot camp when that asshole usurper tried to purge and reform the Star League. Warms my heart to know he's dead and that the Star League lives on in us."
"I'm sorry," Andery said. "It take it -"
Terrence cut him off. "It's all right. My parents and I never did get along. Some days, I think they cared more about me as part of their legacy than me as a good son. Tried to drag me down with their petty bullshit. I'm sad that their gone, but not sad at what they tried to do to me. I try not to think of them too often. Don't need those bad memories and all."
Andery nodded. "I know the feeling." He sat down, a thoughtful expression on his face.
The APC rumbled, then came to a stop. Andery looked up at the driver. "What's the holdup?"
"Got a large blip on thermals," the driver said. "No idea what it is. Wanna scout ahead?"
Andery frowned, then nodded. "All right. I'll go take a look. Keep the MGs ready in case shit goes down." The driver nodded, then hit a control on his console. The door swung open, and within seconds, Andery had gotten out, Mauser 960 in hand and helmet on.
A notification flashed onto the helmet's HUD. Switching to thermals, Andery spotted a large, indistinct blob to his right. Disengaging the thermal mode, he depolarized his helmet's visor, then advanced towards the heat source. That brought him to the corner of an alley.
He heard the commotion before he saw it. Loud, meaty thumps echoed from around the corner, along with shouts of terror and pain. "Eat that, Fedsnake!" a Capellan accented voice growled. "Your kind only been trouble since you lot came around!"
Andery leaned around the corner. Up ahead, in a small courtyard between a pair of prefabs, were a gaggle of ten men, each one clustered around two men and a single woman. The woman was unconscious. The other man wasn't; his body was already cold and he laid in a pool of blood.
The other man, however, was alive, but in a poor state. One of his eyes had swollen shut, and one of his legs was bent in an unnatural way. Bone protruded from his right arm, and he had propped himself up with his left arm.
Despite his extensive injuries, the man still continued to speak to his tormentors. "Why are you doing this to me?!" the man asked, anger, confusion and terror in his voice. "I didn't do shit to you!"
The first man that had spoken, a man of ancient Asian heritage, leaned down towards him. His face was a mask of contempt and rage. "You're a Fedsnake, and you took my job! That's reason enough for me! All you Fedsnakes get the good jobs while the rest of us are left to scrounge up a living! When I'm done, your family's gonna be dead, and so will every other Fedsnake in the settlements, while the rest of us get the jobs we deserve!"
Andery pulled back around the corner. We need to end this fast, he thought. If this goes on any longer, someone's gonna die. He keyed his earpiece. "Alpha Actual, this is Alpha 1-1. Need backup ASAP. Ten foot mobiles in the alley, all armed with what appears to be laser and ballistic pistols and SMGs. Contact Papa Charlie and get them here ASAP."
"Copy, Alpha 1-1," the APC driver said. "Gunner's contacting local police. Wait one…" There was silence for twenty long seconds. "Alpha 1-1, this is Alpha Actual. Police Chief says you've got this one. SWAT team is 10 mikes out. They'll be here ASAP."
Andery cursed. That's too far. Good thing he's given us carte blanche to do this. "Copy, Alpha Actual. Moving to detain foot mobiles. Send more soldiers here. We'll need them."
"Understood. Alpha Actual over and out."
"Copy. Alpha 1-1 out." Andery leaned towards the entrance to the alley. Subconsciously, he reached down and powered on the rifle. Once he received confirmation it was active, he leaned towards the corner again.
"You know what, screw this!" the first man shouted. "Benny, get the knife. Time to gut this bastard!"
"Oh really?" Andery asked. In the same instant, he swung around the corner, Mauser pointed directly at the gaggle of men.
"Oh shit!" one of the men shouted. "Who the hell are you?! Why are you here?!"
"I could ask you the same thing," Andery growled. "Who's your boss?"
"I am," the first man said. "Hwang Tai Hong, and this doesn't concern you. We're just settling a minor argument."
"Doesn't look minor to me, Hong. You've killed one man, and are dead set on two more additions to your body count. Why?"
Hong sneered. "Why do you want to know? They're Fedsnake scumbags that have caused us loyal citizens of the Capellan Confederation a lot of trouble when they stole our jobs and forced us to scrounge to survive. I'm just returnin' the favor the only way I know how."
"Through murder." Andery shook his head. "I can't let you just walk away from this. You're coming with me."
At that, Hwang's men drew a variety of sidearms and rifles. A few brandished laser rifles of their own. "You and what army?" Hwang asked. "Way I see it, you better run off to your papa or whoever. I've got the power. That means I can do whatever the fuck I want, and you can't do a thing to stop me."
"We're in position," a voice said in Andery's earpiece. "Ready on your go."
"Good," Andery said. He turned to Hwang. "As for you, Hwang. I'm afraid you'll have to think that through again," Andery said. At the same time, laser dots appeared on each of Hwang's men. Four SLDF soldiers stood inside of an alley, while eight more had taken up position in the balconies overlooking the small courtyard.
This time, it was Hwang's men that looked nervous. "Boss, we can't fight 'em all!" one of his subordinates said. "We try to, we're fucked!"
"There ain't enough soldiers to take us down!" Hwang snapped. "I'll bet they don't even have an APC!"
"That's a sucker's bet," Andery said, just as the APC came into view. "It's over, Hwang. Surrender, and your lives will be spared. Refuse…" He let the implications sink in.
Fortunately, some of Hwang's men seemed to favor life over death. Several of his goons dropped their weapons and laid down on the ground. The rest held onto their weapons. "Fine!" Hwang said. "If you cowards won't do it, then I will! Die, Fedsnake lover!" He raised his laser pistol and fired.
The shot, fired in haste, missed Andery by a mile, with the beam splashing harmlessly against the APC. Andery's shot, however, was significantly better aimed, and lethal. Hwang's chest exploded as the pulse laser tore through him. The criminal went down like a sack of potatoes, dead before he'd even hit the ground.
The other gangsters raised their weapons to fire, a terrible miscalculation on their part. In an instant, half of them were dead, most sliced open and diced by the other SLDF soldier's rifles. The remaining few fired off a few shots, though their aim and trigger discipline clearly needed work. When it came to an end, not one SLDF soldier had been injured.
"All clear!" one soldier shouted.
"Hostiles down, call the EMS," Andery said. He leaned down towards the sole male survivor. "Are you OK?"
The man let out a moan of pain. "M-my chest hurts. I-I can't feel my… my legs." His eyes widened. "Terry?! Terry! He -"
"I'm sorry," Andery said. "I don't think he made it."
The man's head bowed and tears dripped from his face. "Those bastards!" he snarled weakly. "Why couldn't they just leave us alone! We didn't do anything to deserve this! Why did they do this to us?! WHY?!"
Andery winced, the man's despair plainly evident. "I don't know why, but I intend to find out." He keyed his earpiece. "Alpha 1-1 to Alpha Actual, SitRep on the EMS?"
"On their way," the APC driver said. "ETA: 8 mikes.
"Good, We've got two civvies to pull out. Also, inform the General of this specific incident. Alek needs to know about this."
. . .
General Kerensky advanced through the hallways of the SLiE's HQ, Harmony Building, his expression stony-faced. This is not good at all, he thought. My predictions were closer to the mark than I'd thought. We've got nationalist incidents on our hands, and this might just be the start.
Memories of statistics his eldest son showed him floated to the forefront of his mind. From what Aleksandr could tell, Andery's case wasn't an isolated one. We've got multiple reported cases of racial violence cropping up on all of the major settlements. So far, it's minor, but if this keeps up, we'll have a crisis on our hands.
He soon came to the entrance to the office of the Protector of the Star League. The receptionist stood and said, "He's ready for you, sir."
"Thank you," Aleksandr said. "Carry on." The receptionist smiled and sat down, while Aleksandr stepped inside.
The office of the Protector of the Star League was a large, but sparsely decorated one. A few portraits and landscape pictures were present, along with some fancy furniture, but that was about it. The only other signs of habitation were a coffee machine on a counter in the back, and a water dispenser.
The rest of the room, however, was occupied by empty floors, and a desk in the back of the room. Behind the desk was a brown haired, hazel eyed man in his mid to late thirties. He held up a hand as General Kerensky approached, his other hand on a phone. "The arcologies need to be up and running within the next week and a half… I know that, but we need those up if we're gonna house everyone from Sanctuary there. Do whatever it takes to get the job done. In fact, I'll personally speak to Guilty Spark and see if he can lend some of his Huragok and Sentinels for the job… Thank you… Bye."
He put the phone down, then looked at General Kerensky. A frown crept onto his face. "I don't think this is the usual talk we have, General Kerensky," he said. "Lay it out for me. The sooner I hear what's wrong, the sooner we can fix it."
Kerensky fought the urge to smile at the man's candor. When the Star League-in-Exile formed around a month ago, he needed someone that had leadership experience and was preferably of noble birth. Most of the candidates he'd spoken to either lacked that experience, or didn't have the necessary qualifications to be considered in the first place.
The man before him, however, had the right combination of experience and was of noble birth. "Good to see that you're as blunt and direct as ever, William."
William smiled. "The people my family worked with have a saying, 'as direct as a Torrance.' We might've been a minor noble family back in the Inner Sphere, but here, we might as well be royalty." He leaned back. "Still, you don't earn your people's love without any work. I should know; I ran a business after all, and then I ran my family's holdings during the Amaris Civil War.
"That being said, let's get down to business. What's wrong?"
General Kerensky sighed. "We've currently got a string of nationalism related crimes the police are working to contain and isolate. My son recently stopped one such crime."
Torrance frowned. "Shit. Not even two months, and already people want to settle old grudges." He leaned forwards, hands clasped together. "How bad is it?"
"Right now, the crimes are minor, but I think we might be at the start of an all-out insurrection. We need to act fast if we wish to contain the situation before it gets any worse. While I do have experience with that sort of thing, I'd like to hear your opinion as well."
"Possibly," Torrance said. "Why not simply use martial force to contain the situation? You've got more than enough men, even with the SLDF reduced to just over a one point three million people."
"As much as I'd like to, I believe that would only exacerbate problems. People would begin to perceive us as just another Stefan Amaris, or as the attack dog of a tyrannical government that sees them as nothing more than pawns. I think you'd know that already, Torrance."
"I do," Torrance said. "I'm just putting it out there to consider. I will admit, though, that you're correct. What we need is a way to get everyone to work together, which will allow us to contain the violence that threatens to break out with minimal loss of life." He stood up, then began to pace.
General Kerensky watched Torrance carefully. When the man began to pace, it was a sign that he was considering possible solutions. His ability to process information and come up with solutions is second to none, he thought. He reminds me of myself in a way.
The stars must've aligned, as William came to a dead stop in his office. "OK, I've got an idea," he said. "The last resort, as we've agreed upon, is military action. We'll only use that if all other options fail. I think I know of a way that we can contain the situation with minimal risk."
"And that would be?"
"Two things," Torrance said. "The first is that we need to finalize the Judiciary Branch of the Star League-in-Exile. Once we do that, we can begin using the penal code I drew up a couple weeks earlier to punish any criminals as necessary. Once that get set in, a lot of these nationalist crimes will begin to go away, as they'll actually realize that law enforcement is no longer a push-over. The best deterrent against crime is the certainty of punishment.
"However, without a reason to obey the law, all that will do is build up resentment. That leads to the other thing we need to do, and that is to set up projects that will help the average citizen empathize with our government, and get them to work together, including the provision of financial support to the commercialization that has begun to crop up. In short, we need to start a public relations campaign to get people to focus on cooperation rather than insurrection."
"A hearts and minds campaign," General Kerensky concluded. "Use the Judiciary Branch as a stick to threaten wrongdoers with real punishment, while using these projects as the carrot to convince the public to work together. If some offenders refuse to see reason, the law enforcement organization you, I and Wright set up will handle them.." He smiled. "I like it. That will allow us to treat the root cause of the problem, and keep public approval of the SLiE high."
"Exactly, General Kerensky. Good to see we're on the same page."
"Great minds think alike," General Kerensky said. "Now that we've got that business sorted, I would like to know how you're coping with your newfound responsibilities. The way I hear it, you nearly went mad from inactivity."
Torrance smiled. "What was it that one guy said? Oh, I know: 'My mind rebels against inactivity. Give me problems! Give me work!' It's the same thing with me. I really hate inactivity, which is why I really, really love this job."
"Because of the privileges you have as the ruling nobility?"
Torrance shrugged. "That's part of it, but a really minor part of it. The reason, though, is that I can use my talents to help people, to grow this government into a beacon of civilization and hope. I went into business with the intention of earning enough money to set up a non-profit charity for orphans and the like. Now, I can use my talents for business to manage the political strain of this job. It really reminds me of my job as head of the Free Worlds League branch of Defiance Industries."
"That's good to know," General Kerensky said. "Do you have any family here?"
"Not really," Torrance said. "Too much work, not enough free time."
"You could settle down and raise a family. I know I did, despite the demands of my profession."
"Yeah, but I'll burn that bridge when I get to it," Torrance said. "Either way, I've got work to do, and not a lot of time to do it. Take care now, General Kerensky. I hope your endeavors go as well as mine are."
"Right back at you." Kerensky turned and left the room, while Torrance continued his job of keeping the SLiE stable and healthy.