For his lot in life, his situation wasn't so bad. Least he had a place to stay, money for rent and the occasional BlastOh, a role in the community…
Static on his computer.
"Goddamnit, man."
He gets up and whacks the device once – twice for good measure – and as if it was never dead the news droned on once more. It was old-age tech, yes, but so long as the big companies still supported non-hardlight formatting he was all good. The video quality on the cheapest omni-tools was so bad he'd have to squint to get anything out of the picture.
"I'll be home at 11!" a shrill voice cried.
"'Kayyyy!"
"Love you!"
"Bye."
As the door groaned to a close, he slunk further into the leather. He was suddenly reminded he had work in an hour.
"Shiiiiet."
He savoured every last drop of beer before the can unceremoniously clattered into the metal bin, not that there was much left in it. People are so quick to judge him for his drinking habits, but a year ago he could probably take down a whole barrel of piss in the morning, no problem. Of course, his obligations sort of clashed with that lifestyle now, but can't a man reminisce about his accomplishments once in a while?
He stumbled into the bedroom and got out of his sweater, throwing a cursory glance to make sure his hi-vis was in at least a presentable condition. A folded uniform was already on his bed, bless his sister's heart.
She really was the better sibling among the two of them. More prospects for the future, all that shit.. If his old man was ever right about one thing, it was that she was going to go places. But he probably didn't predict his vagrant son to be a functioning member of society, so he couldn't be always right. What he wouldn't give to dig up his grave and make him see where he was now.
Yet, a curt knock on the door would interrupt his reminiscing.
…Huh? Oh, right. "Forgot your keys?"
"Mr. Hillman?"
He comes to an abrupt halt, his scowl deepening as he side-eyes the door. It couldn't have been a month before rent was due.
Dragging his feet across the metal grating floor, his hand gripped the door handle and braced himself for the bullshit that was about to come his way.
What he got instead was a woman he'd never seen before in his life. Wherever she hailed from, it couldn't have been the grimy and shit-stained tiles of Omega Station. Looked more like the kind of stuff you'd see in pin-up calendars from way back yore. She looked too good for this life.
Her judgemental eyes shut his internal dialogue up right quick.
"Yeah, that'd be me. What can I do you for?"
"I was wondering if you'd seen a rather prominent figure pass by lately. As I understand it, he turned many of the districts in the lower areas of Omega around. Almost single-handedly."
"Am I in trouble?"
"No, no trouble. I am just on a research assignment of my own, and I thought it wouldn't hurt to get some first-hand accounts of his character."
He whistled. "Must be one hell of an assignment."
"You don't know half of it."
"Wanna come inside?"
"I will only be here for a while, thanks. We are talking about the same person, right? Krogan."
"Mm-hmm. Same page as ya."
Crossing his arms and leaning on the doorway, his eyes glazed over the horizon of space just behind her. Say what you will about the lack of amenities and crime rate of this god-forsaken place, but at least he had a killer view.
"Well, damn… where do I even start? What specifically do you want to know about him?"
"Particularly, the nature of his affiances with the Blue Suns, what role did he exactly play with the Blood Pack, his relationship with Aria—"
"Whoa, lady. We just met," he insisted. "Yeah, he's involved with 'em, but you say that as if he's in trouble or something. You gotta understand I am no snitch, yea?"
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"I am not part of any government body out to sic him if that's what you are concerned about. Quite the opposite, actually."
"Mm-hmm. Real comforting," he said with a wry grin. "The Blood Pack don't have the most stellar track record, and I won't lie: they have done some real shitty things in the past. But I think he's done more than enough to turn them around. I'd be probably dead if he hadn't come around when he did."
"So, you really have no idea?"
"Take a good look around."
Almost as if to indulge him, she did as he told. He had hoped she took a good long look at how rusty the tiles of the boardwalk were. What good was body corporate in space when they were not beholden to fulfil their end of the bargain?
"See what I mean? Hell no am I gonna know what they are up to. If I was half as smart as he is, you think I'd want to live in this shithole?" he exclaimed, wax lyrical. "I'm not going many places in life, so I got no clue about any business of his. And that's fine. I am not built for that kind of life. But what I do know is that he saved my ass, got me a job, and I think I am a rather good judge of character for saying he's a damn good citizen in spite of his criminal alignings!"
"What makes you say that?"
"Lady. Just think. When you done gone onto my doorsteps, what exactly did you see?"
"Construction. But…"
Then it seemed to hit her.
The schools, the playgrounds, the clinics. Squeaky-clean, yet seeing constant use. Should be unheard of in the Terminus. So oddly out of place for a place as run-down as Omega. Not much development should be happening down here, ever. Not with the gangs, not with the violence.
"…but what exactly would a Krogan like him stand to gain from all this?"
"Maybe he's a philanthropist."
"You just said this place was… unsavoury."
"Shitholes don't become good places to live in overnight. I am here for the long haul."
She regarded him for a moment, nodding. "You really believe in what he's doing. That he won't bail."
"It's not like him. He doesn't exactly stand to gain much from building infrastructure on Omega."
With a deep exhale, the lady relents and takes a couple of steps backwards. Though she maintained a fixated and steely gaze, he could tell something in her eyes changed.
"Thank you for being patient with me. I shouldn't keep you any longer. That was… insightful."
"Anytime."
With that, she turned tail and left, her high heels clanging on the steel grates of the rafts as her silhouette vanished into a backdrop of neon lights and debauchery.
"Whew."
He gently closed the door, and stood to contemplate how goddamn weird she was being about Kakmar. She couldn't have been from Omega, seeing as how brazen she was being, asking questions like that in the open. No, she wouldn't have been Eclipse. They don't wear get-ups as awfully protected as that. And not one blemish on her baby-skin! Maybe she was sent from the Citadel? C-Sec? That would explain her ignorance and privilege. No way had she worked a day here in her life. Wait. Work… work…?
His eyes widened larger than saucers.
"I am FUCKING LATE!"
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CHATLOG #1995334990ba
23 October, 12:32 pm
Scuttlebug: hey man, hows things? Been a minute
Silverhand: honestly? Quite stuffed. VERY busy. But thx for asking. Yourself?
Scuttlebug: on break rn. But listen, I have smth to tell u. sensitive info type shit. I dont go around saying that kinda shit for no reason
Silverhand: BNjeei8Kwkl199367773k
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0000000xx_xx0000000
ENCRYPTED_CHATLOG
RED SUNS—SENSITIVE_INFORMATION
2168/10/23
12:32
Matt: shit just like that? im flattered. Feels like im in some type of spy movie or smth
Kakmar: the matt I know wouldn't go straight to business like that. That's when I knew it was serious
Matt: well it IS serious business. so like, some spook came on omega, came asking and looking for u. no way she was eclipse, either. i would know.
Kakmar: as if my ego couldn't get any bigger…
Matt: nah but srsly tho. Said she was on a 'research assignment', but I know better.
Kakmar: was she some merc?
Matt: nope. She doesn't even look like shes from the terminus systems
Kakmar: well shit lay it on me
Matt: might come off like a creep but like… but she had an ass bigger than the fucking moon man. like, huge badonkers. AND she had a white latex corset. it was unreal. personally wouldnt though. I felt like her eyes stared into my soul, like i was going to disintegrate on the spot.
Kakmar: wow. Sounds like her.
Matt: you KNOW her?! Leave some for the rest of us jesus
Kakmar: Oops. Also why does everything have to devolve into talking bout chicks... besides... she's probably out of your league
Matt: what? U think she wouldnt like my bum ass jajajajajaja
Kakmar: *GIF of Tom Cruise laughing*
Kakmar: real talk tho. Thx for telling me. i know I never text but u guys are in my mind, always. I will be back on Omega
Matt: don't worry about me. I'm taking good care of her. more worried about you... merc life aint a joke
Kakmar: i know.. just way too busy with work.
Matt: workin in what... you hit the jackpot man
Kakmar: y'know me... nothing good... always chasing after things I probably shouldn't
Matt: hahahahaa
Matt: well get back to work Mr business man... krogan... whatever
Kakmar: Businesskroganman
Matt: bb babygirl
Kakmar: ew. ciao. Say hi to Sofia for me
END CONVERSATION
PURGING MESSAGES
RED SUNS–SENSITIVE_INFORMATION
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hallo
this is a plot bunny thats been aching me for fking ages, needed to get it out my system
just posting here to gauge the interest of a story like this
any criticism on my style welcome
i was thinking of doing a story from multiple POVs and media formats (regular story, chatlogs, news, etc.). should i focus on one story format or several. i prefer the latter
if u take an interest in this kind of story, thx for sticking around :)