Hello my fellow readers, I'm back. I have no excuse for waiting this long to post this story. With this whole Covid-19 thing going on, it has put me in a non-writing mood. But that's going to change now.

This chapter takes place a few weeks before the Siva Crisis.

With a New Age, comes new dealings.

-The Spider

The city of Atlas in the Kingdom of Atlas. The most advanced Kingdom of all of Remnant. Flying high above the clouds and the city of Mantle on a gigantic floating island using gravity dust and the most advanced machines ever produced. Home to both the Atlesian Military, several large businesses, robotic centers and factories and the one company that keeps the gears of the city and the world running, the Schnee Dust Company.

The current CEO and the patriarch of the Schnee family, Jacques Schnee was sitting in the back of his limo, in a jovial and mood, on his way home from the main SDC Office Headquarters after going over the latest quarterly reviews and the latest news about a certain project.

All SDC dust stores have reported large profits with the overall sales being over 200%.

Who would have thought that it would take a robotic alien invasion to increase profits. He thought to himself recalling the Vex War for Remnant.

A machine-like race of aliens called the Vex came to Remnant and attacked both human, faunus and Grimm without discrimination. Outlier villages, town and even the kingdoms themselves were bombarded by them. His own Dust foundries weren't exempt from the destruction the Vex caused. He had to temporarily shut them down, and thanks to the profits coming in, he will be able to rebuild them and have them restart production in no time.

He also recalled the Guardians from Earth who came and stopped said invasion, most notably, one Fireteam Nero. Afterwards, Jacques has sent out invitations to the hunter Vanguard representative, Cayde-6 and Fireteam Nero to attend a party in honor of their victory. He also sent out invitations to many of his fellow socialites of Atlas, Ironwood himself along with his daughters Winter and Weiss along with her team. All have agreed to attend, whether to stay in his good books, family obligations. All save for the Guardians themselves. But hopefully they will reply soon.

The limo pulled up to his mansion and he exited it and headed towards the door. The door opened and his butler Klein ushered him inside.

"Good evening sir, everything went well?" said the butler ushering him inside.

"Everything went well Klein. Have you heard from Whitley yet?" Jacques said hoping to hear from his youngest child and only son, Whitley Schnee.

Sometime ago, Jacques himself had a memo delivered to him stating that one of his Dust refineries in Argus was due for an inspection alongside the Atlesian Military stationed there. One the requirements for his contract with the Atlesian Military stated that all Dust shipments and weapons are to be inspected by an SDC representative to ensure products are used correctly and all records are up to date. Whitley convinced his father to let him go instead of some paper-pusher from the company. He stated that as a "potential" heir to the company, sometimes the boss himself has to come and inspect the product and ensure there was not "skimming from the top". He agreed and had Whitley go.

"I just received word from his ship. On route to Argus, they came upon a small storm and have gone around it. But their trip has now increased by a few hours." Klein said after dusting the shoulders of the Schnee patriarch with a small brush.

Jacques nodded in understanding and dismissed Klein as he walked to his study. He approached the door and opened it expecting his office in the same condition he's always left it in after each night. Clean and orderly.

What Jacques didn't expect was to see nine four-armed aliens waiting for him in his study.

Eight of them wore armor with spikes on their backs pointing weapons and spears at him while the ninth was sitting directly across from his chair, fiddling with his chess pieces. This one, is portly figured, four arms, dark-green robes covering his body with a sigil adorning the front in the shape of a spider with his four eyes shining brightly.

"Mr. Schnee, please take a seat. It's high-time you and I had a chat." The portly alien said to him in perfect English with a deep voice.

Jacques simply stared at the aliens in the room, while his right arm slowly reached into his pocket for his scroll to push the silent alarm button for his private security forces.

"I'm The Spider. I run the Tangled Shore in the Sol System."

He retracted his arm quickly from his pocket, his moustache bristled and his eyes shined in anticipation and excitement. During his interactions with Guardians and non-Guardians from Earth he has heard rumors that an entity calling himself, The Spider, runs a criminal organization that is based in a place called the Tangled Shore. An entity who can get things, both quite legal and illegal.

"Yes, I quite agree. This meeting is long overdue." He said as he approached the now named Spider and took a seat across from him. The Spider snapped his fingers as his bodyguards lowered their weapons and circled the two.

"Forgive me Spider, but I was under the impression that travel between Earth and Remnant wasn't possible for another few months and that Guardians were monitoring any…" He was trying to search for a word that didn't offend his potential ally…guest…

"Alien activity you mean." The Spider said, his lower arms fiddling with a few chess pieces, a bishop piece dancing over his tri-fingered hand. Jacques nodded his head. "For the record, my kind are called Eliksni or Fallen. And you are partially right. You see, some humans are on my payroll so when I heard of a lost colony of humans and a human/animal hybrid subspecies, naturally I had to have the coordinates to the world for…business ventures. And before you ask, no Guardians will be bursting through the door to kill me or arrest you. You see, me and the Vanguard Hunter Cayde-6 have an arrangement. He and his fellow Vanguard turn a blind eye to my operations and dealings, and I supply them with intel on enemies that may be a potential threat down the line." The Spider snapped his fingers and one of his bodyguards came with a small box and opened it. Within the box was a bottle of wine and two glasses.

The Spider reached for one glass and handed the other to Jacques as the bodyguard began to pour into the glasses. "Wine from Earth, made several hundred years ago in the Mid-Golden Age. To potential dealings." They tapped glasses and drank.

Jacques nearly coughed on the liquid going down his throat, for it was very sweet and had a tinge of icy grape to it. He wondered if the Spider had several barrels of this vintage on hand. He recomposed himself.

"And I'm one of those dealings?' He said as he set the glass down.

"Perhaps. You are the leading supplier on Dust on this planet, a mineral that to my knowledge doesn't exist anywhere else. You have something I want, and I have several things you want very, very much."

He motioned to another one of his bodyguards, this one carrying a briefcase and unlocked it. The Spider produced two hexagonal devices, no bigger than an ashtray and a rolled-up blueprint.

The Spider unrolled the blueprint revealing the schematics of a ship Jacques has never seen before. "This is the schematics of an Arcadian-Class Jumpship from Earth." He then grabbed one of the hexagonal devices and tapped it once, revealing it to be a hologram projector showing the same kind of jumpship, but one that has seen better days. Laced with rust and in some places, grass and dirt all over it. "This one is a derelict jumpship of the same class. They are yours. For a price."

Jacques stared at the two objects before him with wide eyes, internally salivating at what was being offered.

No Kingdom, no faction, no company, no one has a jumpship in their possession save for the Guardians. The only thing that came close to them is flight simulations that the Huntsman Academies and a few Atlesian military outposts are employing. And this Spider is willing to trade not only the schematics, but it and the ship that went with it.

Jacques then composed himself. "If your offering me these two items, you want something in exchange that are of equal value."

"Oh yes my friend, just one thing." He then leaned towards Jacques. "I am very much aware that you have acquired several warehouses worth of vex parts which you have gotten through proxies at the Mistral Black Market and from SDC facilities that have been attacked during the Vex Invasion. You have been experimenting with them, without success, even when told by representatives of Earth not to. Sooner or later, Guardians will come knocking on your doors and will take them from you, dragging the SDC name through the mud in the process. Hand them all over to me, and not only will what I've said not happen, but you get these two in the bargain."

He pondered the Spiders words carefully. He didn't know how Spider got his intel, but he is correct none the less. He indeed spent a small fortune acquiring vex parts both on several SDC mining sites, refinery's and several auctions in Mistral through proxies and results from experimenting on them are non-existent. But his boardroom instincts are telling him that the Spider was holding something back.

The Spider sighed. "It seems I must, what do you humans say, sweeten the pot." He then pointed to the other holographic device. "I take it you are familiar with the S.S. Vytal?"

Jacques frowned that the Spider knew of this project when only a small handful of people on Remnant and on Earth know of it.

The S.S. Vytal is a joint construction project of a ship to transport people from Remnant to Earth and vice-versa in large quantities. It was conceived as a way of bringing together the two worlds separated by space and uniting them as one. Not only will the ship transport people and materials from Remnant to Earth, it will also transport representatives of the many Kingdoms, factions and businesses of Remnant and setting up consulates and new jobs sites. The SDC being one of them. There is even talk of some of the Huntsman Academies sending a few students. Those at the very top of the list get priority on what properties in the Last City goes to who.

The Spider pressed a few buttons on the device and waited.

"Consensus Tech support, my name is Benjamin, how may I help you?"

The Spider leaned back in the chair.

"Benny my favored techie, how are you?"

The voice on the other line choked and came back in a whisper.

"Spider, I can't talk right now…"

"This is a secure line my friend, so don't worry about the Praxic Order monitoring our conversation."

The voice sighed in relief. "What can I do for you then?"

"It has come to my attention that you are 20,000 glimmer in debt in the Tangled Shore Fight Pits. I'm willing to pay off your debt if you do something for me."

The voice was silent for a moment. "What do you need?"

"You are aware of the S.S. Vytal from Remnant?"

"Yes, everyone in the Consensus down to the janitors that work there know about it. I'm currently going through several properties that are currently vacant and being repurposed for every single one of those on the list. Why?"

"Well, it concerns the SDC. I want you to tell me where they are on the list and to bump them up."

The voice on the other end was silent again. "Do I want to know why you want them bumped up the list?"

"No."

"Good enough for me, just give me a few minutes."

Several minutes passed with Jacques waiting impatiently and looking nervous while the Spider and his bodyguards just stood still. Until Benjamin came back on the line.

"I can bump them up from 12 to 7. Right behind the Mantle representatives and above the White Fang representatives. Any higher and that will bring unwanted attention."

The spider looked to Jacques who thought about it for a moment. He was a tad miffed that the SDC was listed at 12, and despite the fact that the current status of the White Fang is peaceful and nonviolent, years of being their target have left him holding a bit of a grudge, and this elevation would just tweak their noses. He nodded his approval.

"Excellent work my friend, do it and consider your debts paid." The Spider said as Benjamin finished altering the list and turned off the device and then leaned his hand towards Jacques to shake it. Jacques brought his hand forward and shook.

"You got yourself a deal." He said as he reached into his pocket for his scroll and brought out the coordinates to one of his refineries north-east of Atlas. He showed it to the Spider.

"This is where all of the vex parts are located, I'll contact the Chief Science Officer Dr. Strangeman and tell him to hand over all Vex components to you."

"It's been a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Schnee. I really hope of doing more with you in the future." The Spider said as a bright light washed over the room, blinding the Schnee patriarch. As he opened his eyes and as they readjusted, the room was empty save for himself, with no trace of the Spider or his bodyguards. He eyes then caught movement from one of his windows and for a brief moment saw a strange ship sped away towards the north-east.

He quickly turned to his scroll and dialed the number for Dr. Strangeman.

"Hello Doctor, it's me. Cancel all experiments on the Vex parts and have them packed and ready for transport. No there's no raid, just new 'out of town' business partners have decided to take them off my hands. You'll know them when you see them. You are to simply hand them the parts and forget you ever saw them understood? Good. Also be ready to begin on a new project. I'm calling it Project Stars-Reach. Yes, standard fee and budget. Thank you."

He then cut the call when the scroll vibrated, signaling that he's received a message. He glanced at it, eyes widening in surprise that it was an R.S.V.P from the Hunter Vanguard Cayde-6 himself. He read it.

Dear Jacques Schnee,

You will be happy to know that the entirety of Fireteam Nero will be attending your party. However, due to my work schedule as Hunter Vanguard, "What work, I do all of your work." "Shut-up Barloc!" it is unfortunate that I must decline your invitation to your upcoming party 2 weeks from now. While I myself can't attend, three other individuals will go in my place. The following are:

Guardian Lord Shaxx of the Crucible and temporary Combat Instructor of Beacon Academy

Guardian Hunter Eris Morn (she likes Raisins btw)

And Variks the Loyal Warden of the Prison of Elders and representative of the Awoken People of The Reef

With regards, Cayde-6

Jacques finished reading and smiled. This has been a very good day.

00000

Schnee Gardens and Menagerie, Schnee Manor

Willow Schnee lounged in her chair as she finished another glass of Natural Wonders Wine as she watched the video of her husbands' newest partner on her scroll. Unbeknownst to all individuals residing at the manor, she has placed several hidden cameras in all the angles and all the rooms of the house. It was for both her and her children's safety and as evidence in the event of her husband's affairs coming to light.

Suddenly the screen turned to static switching to a sigil of a Spider. She knew instantly who it was, her husband's newest partner wore that very sigil.

"I'm very much aware of your hidden cameras throughout the estate. I know about all the videos you have of your husband and his dealings, both legal and illegal. I want you to keep doing that, and I'll make it worth your while."

The screen returned to static as she replayed the message and its indication in her head. She reached a shaking hand to the bottle and brought it to her lips. Just before it touched a flash of light blinded her and before her eyes was a large sized cage containing a very big hind. If the hind was 15 feet tall, had six legs with extra joints, snout more elongated and insect-like and a rack made out of pure silver.

She approached the cage and gazed at the magnificent creature before her, her gaze continually going to the silver rack. Attached to the cage was a note. She turned it over and read:

A gift for your continued cooperation. A Species of hind from my homeworld.

-The Spider.

The following short stories will be done at some point in the future:

A Drifters Story

A Schnee Party

Whitley's Dealings

Fallen Conclave

Farmboy and the Fallen (to that one reviewer, yes Oscar will play a part)

Emperors New Shadow

Prison of Elders Blues.

See you soon.