S2, 25 Year's End (FB) (March 19, 2016)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**5th April 2094**

I was stood at my workbench, peering into a tiny circuitry box, attempting to solder a couple of wires together. The cave door was open to let more light in but it was still bloody difficult to see.

I bit my lip absent-mindedly, concentrating on the delicate task at hand. Several seconds later and I grinned to myself as I managed to attach the wires. Setting aside the soldering iron, I picked up the front of the box and clipped it back on, then fished a screwdriver out of my toolbox and began screwing the box into place inside a much larger metal casing.

Jarred was doubtful that my little project was ever going to work, but I had faith. From a young age I had liked to tinker with things. As a kid, I was always taking things apart, finding out how they worked and then putting them back together again. Every now and then I’d end up with a part left over and no idea where it went, but most of the time, things still worked. So I was confident that this, my hobby to take up the time, was going to work just fine.

My thoughts were interrupted by voices from outside. I frowned but seconds later heard laughter. Nobody laughed on their way to attack somebody, so I knew they weren’t trying to sneak up on us. Just a few moments later and my thoughts were confirmed when Jarred and several others, including Ghartic, appeared in the doorway.

They were all in high spirits and as Jarred and a couple of the others entered the cave, I set down my tools to watch.

Jarred: “We did it!” he told me excitedly. “We got one of the shipments!”

Tank: “That’s great.” I replied sarcastically, not in the least bit pleased.

Jarred: “A whole shipment, Tank! Just think of everything we could buy once we’ve sold it!”

Tank: “But Jarred, we don’t need anything!”

Jarred: “What do you mean, ‘we don’t need anything’?! Look around you, pal!” he tried to explain as he gestured to the cave as a whole. “We live in a hole in the ground! Literally!”

Tank: “I know…” I replied, conceding the point.

Jarred: “So think of what we could do with all the money we’ll get from this!”

Tank: “I know…”

Jarred: “So what’s the matter?” he asked, still grinning from ear to ear.

Tank: “It’s just… it’s stolen!”

Jarred: “And?”

Tank: “And… stealing’s bad.” I said, knowing how lame it sounded.

But Jarred only laughed and ruffled my hair like I was a kid.

Jarred: “Stealing’s bad.” He repeated, as though it were a joke. “You can’t tell me you’ve never done anything bad before! I mean, you *were* in prison, after all!” he joked and I sighed and turned back to my workbench.

Jarred: “Hey!” he called to a man standing by the door. The man tossed something to Jarred and then he held it out to me. “Here.” He said. “I brought you back a souvenir.”

It was a helmet. Basic design, but in good shape, which made it rather special out here in the ass-end of nowhere.

Jarred: “I thought it might look good on your ‘project’.” He smiled and as he did, I could see the old Jarred again. The one I’d become best friends with. Sure, even back then, he’d had his issues. He’d been angry and easy to irritate, I mean, as he himself had just pointed out. We’d both been in jail, after all. So he must have done something bad to get in there. But he was still my friend. Heck, he was my *only* friend! My best friend. And I couldn’t help but smile as I took the helmet from him.

Tank: “Thanks, Jarred.”

Jarred: “Hey, no worries, pal.” He grinned, clapping his hand onto my shoulder.

**13th December 2095: Present Day**

There was certainly an air of festivity about as I opened the café door and stepped into the warmth.

Even though there had only been one December since we arrived in this system in The Shift, the Christmas tradition had already begun to spread. Especially to Qoter. The GI had managed to spread *some* sort of good at least! Not everybody celebrated it and it was still nowhere near as big as it had been back on Earth, but at least people were starting to embrace it. Give it a few years and it would be just as important as it had been back when I was younger.

Recently, people seemed to have been jollier and kinder to one another. Especially in the current era of peace! Back on the 4th of this month, it had been announced that the peace talks between the Galactic Imperium and the Aurelian council had come to an end in favour of peace. However, General Corvin, Aurelia’s founder, had refused to accept that decision and divided the Aurelian ranks. Naming those who followed him “True Aurelia” and those who sided with the Imperium ‘traitors’, the nation’s members had been faced with a choice; Follow the man who founded their nation and continue standing up for what they originally started fighting for, or stay loyal to the Aurelian Council who had now sided with the Imperium in order to end the bloodshed.

So although it was peace time, it was certainly an uneasy peace. Nobody knew what General Covin was planning on doing next, but we could only hope he would see sense and end the fighting.

I stood in line, waiting to order at the counter, pondering on the future of the system in general. I had only recently discovered this little café. It was just around the corner from my apartment block and, although small, was light and airy and had a lovely atmosphere that reminded me of back home on Earth and so, in the few weeks since I’d found it, I had visited several times.

There wasn’t anything special about it, but it made a nice change from sitting in my apartment all day.

I reached the counter and placed my order of a latte and a slice of cake with the barrister and then went and sat at the table that had become my usual spot in one corner of the room. As well as giving me something to do, it was also nice to have some human interaction. Even if I only spoke to the barrister, it was more than I’d get sitting at home. I mean, Tracks is great, but he’s no conversationalist. And the only other people I ever spoke to were Mr. Grey, who just bossed me around, Judas, who I hadn’t seen for a while now and Eris’s gang, who, again, I’d not seen since the funeral.

As I waited for my order, I looked around casually at the other customers. There were several loners, like me, but mostly people were in pairs or small groups, laughing together or discussing business arrangements. It made me smile to see others happy and having fun. I wasn’t sure why, but it just felt nice to be around positive vibes. I’d not had many of those in my life, so it made a nice change.

Waiter: “Order 247?”

Tank: “Oh, thanks.” I replied as a waiter brought me my order.
I took a sip of the coffee and let the warmth spread through my system.

My comlink started to beep.

Sighing, bracing for another confrontation with Mr. Grey, I licked my lips, set the mug down and then pulled out and activated my com’.

To my surprise, it wasn’t Mr. Grey who appeared, it was Jay.

Tank: “Oh! Hey, Jay. What’s up?” I greeted, pleasantly surprised.

Jay: “Hey, Tank. I’m great thanks, yourself?”

Tank: “Not too bad, thanks.”

Jay: “Cool. Hey, listen. Do you have any plans for Christmas?”

Tank: “Uh, no. Not at the moment, why?”

Jay: “Because I’m planning a Christmas party and it would be great if you could be there. Eris has never had Christmas before; you know, it’s an Earth thing, and so I’m planning something special. So, do you think you can come?"

Tank: “Yeah, sure! I’d love to!”

Jay: “Cool. I’ll let you know the details when they’ve been sorted out.”

Tank: “Sweet. Thanks.”

Jay: “No worries. See you soon.”

Tank: “Bye.” I smiled and the call ended.

Well, that was a much better com-call than I’d been expecting!

I had in fact been pondering what to do on Christmas day. I definitely wanted to celebrate it but I couldn’t decide on how or where or just what to do in general, so to receive a party invite solved everything for me!

I took another sip of my latte and began thinking about presents to buy for everybody when I heard some raised voices from off to one side and frowned as I leant forwards to see what was going on.

At the other side of the room, three men stood facing a table and seemed to be having an argument with the table’s two occupants. I was about to lean back again and pay it no mind when I noticed that one of the two seated men had a staff leant against the wall next to him and I realised that they were Collective members.

I listened in to the argument and realised that it was not in fact an argument at all, rather it was simply the three men throwing insults and abuse at the two Collective members. I scowled across the room at them, not wanting to get involved, however, after a minute more of the humans discriminating against the others, who in all this time had said nothing against the men insulting them, in fact, they’d said nothing at all, I couldn’t put up with it any more.

I left my table and made my way across the room towards them, vaguely aware of the entrance bell dinging as somebody else came through the front door as I went.

Tank: “Hey!”

The three men all turned around to face me, all with glares on their faces.

Tank: “What do you think you’re doing?”

Man #1: “Why’s it matter to you?”

Tank: “It matters to me because you’re discriminating against these men just because they’re members of The Collective.”

Man #3: “Their kind is scum! They killed tens of thousands of men, women and children! They destroyed homes and lives and now we’re expected just to accept them into our society as though none of that happened? Well scrim to that!”

Man #2: “My cousin’s roommate was killed during their first invasion!”

Tank: “I’m sorry for your… his… loss, but I’m sure these men weren’t involved in that attack. Yes, they did some dreadful things, as everybody does in war, but they were only following orders. Think about how many of them we killed too!”

Man #1: “Bullscrim! We’re members of the Anti-Collective League! Shadow had it right! It’s a shame he hasn’t been seen for a while.”

Tank: “So you hate the Collective just out of principle?”

Man #3: “I hate them because they’re all monsters and they deserve to die.”

Tank: “Now, that’s a bit harsh isn’t it?”

Man #3: “I mean every word.” He growled.

Man #4: “Well then you’re bigots and you’re not welcome in here.” A new man announced, joining me.

Man #2: “And who the hell are you?”

Man #4: Just an ordinary passer-by who doesn’t like your attitude.”

Man #1: Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it?”

Tank: “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe get the authorities in here? I’m sure they’d love to hear what you have to say about our intergalactic friends here.” I nodded to the silent and rather bashful looking Collective members.

The first man snarled.

Man #1: “Come on guys. We’ll get back at them one day.” He growled and together the three of them sauntered off and left the café.

I waited for them to leave and then nodded my thanks to the man who had backed me up.

Tank: “Are you two okay?” I asked the Collective members and both nodded in reply and smiled timidly. I smiled reassuringly in return and then turned to head back to my table.

However, midway across the room, I stopped in my tracks as I found Riley, the Governor's Aide, stood at the back of the queue, watching me.

I only paused momentarily, but it was enough to be noticed, then I regained my composure and after politely smiling at her, returned to my seat.

I sipped on my coffee and took a bite out of my cake and thought over the argument again. Just a minute later though, my thoughts were interrupted.

Riley: “That was very noble of you.” Riley announced from where she stood at the opposite side of my table, a cup of something in her hand.

Tank: “Thank you. But, I was just doing what anybody would do.”

Riley: “Or not.” She pointed out, indicating to the room at large and all the people who had just sat back and ignored what was going on. I shrugged, although in my head, I was mildly panicking, as I realised this was the first time we’d actually spoken directly to each other.

Riley: “May I?” she asked, indicating to the seat opposite me.

Tank: “Please.” I smiled and Riley sat.

Riley: “Not many people these days are willing to stand up for others.”

Tank: “It’s a shame.” I agreed.

Riley: “Most people are perfectly happy just to sit back and watch. Not get involved.”

Tank: “Yeah. Well, luckily for those Collective guys, I’m not ‘most people’.”

Riley looked at me over the top of her coffee cup.

Riley: “No, you certainly aren’t.”

What was *that* supposed to mean?!

Tank: “Uh…”

Good start.

Tank: “So, what brings you here?”

Smooth. Saved it.

Riley: “I come here whenever I can. Gets me away from work for a while. It’s quiet, out of the way, a nice place to just relax and think.”

Tank: “Fair enough.” I said out loud while mentally wondering why the hell I was so nervous! I hadn't been this nervous during any of the now multiple fights I'd been in and I was only talking to Riley!

Riley: “And you?”

Tank: “No particular reason. Found this place a few weeks ago and just like coming here. Gives me something to do.”

Riley: “When you’re not off, gallivanting around the system, saving people and doing your employer’s dirty work?”

I frowned quizzically. How did she know about that?
Riley smirked slightly. I liked that.

Riley: “Boan isn’t the most tight-lipped person.” She replied to my un-asked question. “Don’t worry.” She added, seeing the look on my face. “I’m a lot better at it than he is.”

I didn’t really know what to say, so I remained quiet and took another bite of cake.

Riley: “Um," Riley began slightly timidly, looking into her own mug. "I’m sorry for not being more polite when we’ve bumped into each other before.” she explained. “I’m just a little… un-trusting.”

Tank: “That’s alright. You’ve no need to apologise.”

Riley: “I’m glad you think so.” She smiled slightly. “But all the same, I’m sorry. I suppose I’m a bit overprotective too. You know; I don’t want to lose my job.” She joked and we briefly shared a laugh.

Riley: “So when you showed up out of nowhere and Judas invited you in without really knowing who you were, I was a little suspicious of your motives. Not many people get to be that close to the man who runs the entire planet. And yet you’ve managed to meet him in person several times now.”

Tank: “And had dinner with him.” I added with a smirk.

Riley: “Exactly. So, I hope you can understand why I was suspicious.”

Tank: “Of course.” I replied warmly. “I get it. So, why tell me now? Have you changed your mind about me?”

Riley: “You’ve had ample opportunities to kill Judas. If you were going to do it, you would have done it by now. Plus, just now, seeing you defending those Collective men, that helped to put my mind at ease.”

Tank: “I’m glad.” I smiled.

Riley: “I don’t think you have it in you to be a cold-hearted killer.” A smile played at her lips but that remark affected me more than she realised. No, I wasn’t a cold-hearted killer. But I had certainly killed.

Tank: “No.” I stated, attempting to smile in return. “So,” I continued, trying to move the conversation along. “Do you like working for the Governor?”

Riley: “It gets me by.” She joked. “No, I do. I actually do. Judas is… a nice guy. He really does want what’s best for the planet, which is rather uncommon these days. He has no secret agendas or anything sinister like that. He just has a good heart. Kind of like you.” She added and I laughed slightly.

Tank: “So how long have you worked for him?”

Riley: “Well, technically, I’ve only worked *for* him since he was elected, but I’ve worked in the office for a couple of years now. I was Governor Wilson’s assistant too, before he died.” She paused and I wondered if she was considering telling me something.

Riley: “I moved to Qoter right after the Shift.”

Tank: “Oh! So, are you from Earth, or…?”

Riley: “Yeah. I’m an Earth girl.” She smiled.

Tank: “Me too!” I grinned. “Well, an Earth guy anyway!”

Then, as we sat there smiling at each other, a thought hit me like a hyper-speed train and froze me in place.

It couldn’t be… Could it?

Tank: “So, where abouts on Earth?” I queried subtly.

Riley: “New York.” She replied and my heart started to palpitate. I felt my face freeze.

Riley: “You?”

Tank: “Um, Boston.” I lied, just in case the theory that had just hit me like an anvil proved to be true.

It was! It must be!

Riley Rinse, from New York! She looked the right age too. It must be her! From when I was little! I hadn’t thought about Riley in, well, years! But now here she was! On another planet in a different system and somehow, by a twist of fate, we’d ended up in the same little coffee shop!

But I needed to be certain, so I probed a little deeper.

Tank: “Did you like New York?”

Riley: “Yeah. It was nice to grow up there. Especially when I was little, but the older I got the more I began to dislike it. My father was pressuring me to go in directions I didn’t want to. Not that that’s stopped.” She added quietly.

Tank: “So, why the change?”

Riley: “Things just started going downhill. My best friend was taken to jail for killing his parents, not that I believe that he did it, and then my parents split up. After that…”

Riley was still talking but I’d stopped taking it in. It  **WAS**  her! My childhood best friend! But my elation at being reunited was cut short as I reliased that I couldn’t tell her the truth. I was a wanted criminal. Even if I hadn’t killed my parents, (and it had been so good to hear Riley say she didn’t believe I had either!) I had still committed numerous other crimes since.

No. It would be too dangerous to tell her who I really was. So as much as my heart was bursting to tell her, I couldn't. Instead, I stayed quiet.

Riley: “… and so then I ended up working in the Governor’s office. And now here I am.” She smiled slightly.

Tank: “Here you are.” I repeated, almost to myself.

Riley: “So, enough about me. What about your ‘employer’? You’ve always been very vague about him whenever you’ve mentioned him in the past.”

Still trying to process the information I had just worked out, I hesitated before answering.

Tank: “How do you know it’s a him?” I smirked slightly.

Riley: “Oh, come on!” she joked and I laughed. "It's always a him."

Tank: “Okay. He’s, well, very secretive. He tells me to do something and I do it. In fact, I’ve never actually spoken directly to him.”

Riley frowned.

Tank: “He always sends a messenger. He’s the one I deal with. I’ve never met the ‘big man’ himself.”

Riley: “Well, that all sounds like a pretty one-way deal to me.”

Tank: “It seems to be turning out that way, yeah." I admitted.

Riley: “So why do you keep working for him?”

Tank: “Because he has information that I need. Or at least, he says he does.”

Riley: “Do you trust him?”

Tank: “Not as far as I could throw him, but I really do need that info, and I have no other ways of getting it. So I have to trust that he does have it, because if he doesn’t, then….. I’ll be back to square one.” I said, deflated.

Riley: “Well, seems like a bit of a bum situation, if you ask me.”

Tank: “Yeah…” I sighed. My comlink began beeping again.

Tank: “Excuse me. I bet that’s him. Or… his messenger.” I explained.

Riley: “I’ll leave you to it. It was good to finally speak to you. I imagine we’ll be seeing each other again soon.” Riley smiled warmly and I found myself helplessly smiling back.

Tank: “I look forward to it.” I replied, still smiling, and with that Riley took her coffee and left me alone again. I sat there for a few moments, just letting everything I’d just worked out sink in. Riley Rinse. Back in my life after… well… after goodness knows how many years away.

I sighed and flicked my comlink on and sure enough, Mr. Grey appeared.

Mr. Grey: “Good afternoon, Tank.”

Tank: “Hello.” I replied bluntly.

Mr. Grey frowned and appeared to look beyond me to what limited of my surroundings he could see on the hologram.

Mr. Grey: “Where are you?”

Tank: “On vacation.” I replied sarcastically, my conversation with Riley and what she’d said about trusting him, still fresh in my mind.

Mr. Grey scowled.

Mr. Grey: “And now a proper answer?”

Tank: “A coffee shop! I’m in a coffee shop! Is that okay with you?”

Mr. Grey: “Now, now. I was merely inquiring as to your location.”

Tank: “Sorry.” I grunted.

Mr. Grey: “I have something new for you.” He continued and I ground my teeth, stopping myself from shouting at him. “The Brain would like you to… ‘take care’ of an informant who has been leaking information to…”

Tank: “Actually!” I snapped. “You know what? I’m *NOT* sorry! I’m fed up!”

Mr. Grey: “Tank…”

Tank: “I’m sick to death of being sent off around the system doing The Brain’s dirty work for him! I was promised answers and so far I’ve received **NOTHING**!”

Mr. Grey: “Tank…” he warned again, but I barely heard.

Tank: “I’ve gone from planet to planet doing whatever has been asked of me, even when I haven’t wanted to. I’ve done it. I’ve done things I’m not proud of; nobody would be. I’ve fought in a fucking war for you! For him! And what the hell have I gotten in return?! **NOTHING**! That’s what! Absolutely nothing! Zilch! Nadda! Naught!” I shouted, not giving a damn about the other patrons of the coffee shop.

Mr. Grey warned me again but I had had enough now. I’d reached the end of my tether.

Tank: “How many lives have I ended?” I snarled, slightly more conscious of my volume. “How many times have I done things that I should have been sent to jail for? Should have been executed for? I agreed to this deal because I was promised answers! I *NEED* to know that information! But I’ve had enough now. I don’t care what The Brain will say. I’ll look for the answers on my own. I’m not doing his dirty work for him any more.”

Mr. Grey: “Zeth Stripe.”

I had opened my mouth to continue ranting, but I was thrown by the random name.

Tank: “What?” I demanded, trying to stay in command of the argument.

Mr. Grey: “You want answers? You want a name? Zeth Stripe.” He replied. “Zeth Stripe is the man who murdered your parents.”

I didn’t know what to say. I was stunned into silence.

My mouth opened and closed several times, but no sound came out. At last! At last I had a name! Something to go on! I was one *HUGE* step closer to finding out why my parents had been killed!

Mr. Grey: “Zeth has been missing for years though. The Brain believes he is still alive but he may be hard to track down.” Mr. Grey explained. “Right, now you’ve got your little tantrum out of the way, are you ready for your next assignment?”

Still a little dumbstruck, I closed my mouth and simply nodded, my mind in overdrive. First Riley and now this!

At last I could finally begin to figure out the truth! Begin to get justice for my parents!

**Elsewhere…**

Colonel Ramson strode along the holding facility corridor. Both walls were lined with heavy metal doors and at the end of the corridor, another door, currently closed like the rest, led into a ready-up room.

In his hand, Ramson held an activated comlink that was currently linked to his superiors and he was mid conversation.

Col. Ramson: “…all have been fully prepped with nerve implants and they have been briefed on their mission – hunting down and re-capturing the prisoners who escaped during the Shift. Once they are acquainted, they will, of course, be put to work straight away.”

Superior #1: “That’s good news, Colonel.”

Col. Ramson: “Now, without further ado, may I present to you, Beta Squad.”

The Colonel stepped towards one of the cell doors and seemingly knowing what he wanted, the door swung open. From within the darkness, a hulking figure emerged.

Col. Ramson: “Codename: Jaws.” He explained to his superiors. “Imprisoned for murdering and eating several dozen people.”

Col. Ramson: “Codename: Ranger.”

Ranger: “My *only* name” he quipped.

Col. Ramson: “Ex-army. Deserter. Galactic smuggler and thief.”

Col. Ramson: “Codename: Hammerstrike. Former wrestling champion. Turned to crime when he got too greedy. Has a bit of a fetish for hammers.”

Col. Ramson: “Codename: Wolfhide. Infamous bounty hunter. Charged with numerous crimes including murder, arson, assault and theft.”

Col. Ramson: “Also part of the team is Codename: Download.” The Colonel continued, pointing at a security camera in the top corner of the corridor. “Working from a secret, secure location, Download will be the technological eyes and ears of the team when out on missions. Tech support, if you will.”

The camera made a nodding motion and it became clear at this point that it was this person who had been opening all of the cell doors.

Col. Ramson: “And now, gentlemen!” Ramson spoke to both his superiors and the gathered, soon-to-be squad mates. “Let me introduce, your squad leader!”

The ready-up room door at the end of the corridor slid open with a clang.

Col. Ramson: “Codename: Darkblade.”

A man in fully customised, black and red combat armour stepped into the light of the corridor, pulling a helmet down over his head.

Darkblade: “Okay ladies," he growled. "Let’s get this show on the road.”

**BONUS PICTURES**

One side of the coffee shop set.

The other side of the coffee shop set. The walls were movable to allow for photography.

The corridor set, showing the LEDs I used for the blue lighting.

An alternative picture of Ramson in the corridor.

And finally, another alternative image of Ramson about to introduce Darkblade to Beta Squad.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE