The morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Club Inferno's office, casting long shadows across the newly polished hardwood floor. Jasen sat behind the desk, a holopad balanced on one hand, his amber eyes scanning financial reports with mechanical precision.
I was doing my usual work for the club. Revenue projections. Food and liquor inventory. Staff schedules and paychecks. Maintenance costs. The mundane architecture of a legitimate business, or at least, one that appeared legitimate on the surface.
It was still mine. And I wouldn't complain about becoming a business owner at the age of twelve. It was also thanks to Madame Fool, that I was able to get all the proper paper work to say I was the official owner. Even though I still didn't have a legal name.
I have been going by my two aliases for the past few years. Thirteen for my everyday life. For running the club, and the runaway house.
But when I was working for Miro and the Neo Yakuza. I went by as Ghost. And so far the name fit well.
After rumor that Jane and I took over the club by ourselves a lot of rival organizations wanted to move in. Or check to see if we were these blood thirsty super soldiers the rumors said we were.
It didn't matter either way. Every interaction or threat all ended the same way. Every man, woman and occasionally a alien ended up dead, or that organization was burnt to the ground by us.
The scary part was Jane didn't mind the violence anymore anymore. She actually got better and better the more we worked together. And sometime she would even take jobs on by herself.
But today soon all of that will come to a end. The only question now is how many more bodies will Jane and I will have to bury in order to leave.
Several quiet knocks echoed from the front door of the office. Breaking Jasen quiet remembrance.
"Come in," I said without looking up.
The door opened, and Lily stepped inside. She was now in her late-twenties, her red-hair was pulled back in a practical bun. She wore the uniform of the club. A simple black kitchen staff uniform with a imbordered gold lining of her title of head chef of the kitchen.
She had a confident grace that came from years working in high-end kitchens. Also one from having to work for someone like me. Over the years She has come to develop a sense of respect for Jane and I. Not just for how the run the restaurant, but how how they treat people with respect.
While Jane was more of the poster girl for the restaurant. She wasn't a big smiler, but she was young and cute and since she wanted to have a official job to make money instead of just taking whatever I gave her. I made her a hostess. She would great people and work with Lilly of the menu.
I was more of the guy the work behind closed doors. Which was the way I preferred to do things. I made sure everything logistical wise gotten taken care of. I made sure to train Jane and Lily on how to do everything as well. They made little to no mistakes, which made things easier for when I had to leave the club for any reason.
She carried a covered tray that smelled incredible, rich, savory, with notes of butter and char. "Hey, Thirteen," she said, setting the tray on the side of his desk. "I got your breakfast."
I glanced at it briefly. "Thank you. You can place it right there." I gestured to the free space at the corner of my desk.
Lily then lifted the cover, revealing a perfectly seared steak alongside scrambled eggs cooked to a creamy consistency. The meat was marbled beautifully, the kind of quality that I knew didn't come cheap.
"Let me know if you like it," Lily said, her tone carrying a hint of pride.
Jasen raised an eyebrow. " Why? It's my usual. Steak and eggs."
"Yes, but it's not usual local steak," Lily said, smiling. "It's wagyu imported from a human colony. They said it was supposed to be better than the A5 ones we have here on Earth. Richer marbling, more tender. I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. So since you have the best sense of taste in the club, you will be the first to try."
I set down the holopad and looked at her directly. Knowing the meat wasn't cheap by any means. "Lily. How much did this cost?"
Lily hesitated. "The current market value is three hundred and fifty credits per pound. Before fee's."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. " Okay. Then make this a limited menu item. Look Lily. The club may be making money, but that doesn't mean we should spend it recklessly."
Lily's smile widened. "Yes, boss. I know you were talking about leaving soon. And since you and Jane don't want a going a way party, I figured I give you a rich breakfast. Besides the steak, those eggs were imported from Japan, from the best egg farm in the country. Just get back to me with your usual review about it."
She turned and left, the door closing softly behind her. But stopped before closing it. "Thanks for everything thirteen. I hope to see you and Jane again soon." The door then closed behind her.
I stared at the steak for a moment, then turned my chair toward the giant window behind me. The city stretched out below, Vancouver in all its sprawling, in it's own glory. The streets were already filling with morning traffic, the distant hum of hovercars blending with the occasional siren.
Five years.
It's been five years since I'd taken over this club. And five years since Victoria had disappeared without a trace, vanishing around the same time Miranda had left for Cerberus. Five years of building something that was never meant to last.
Considering everything that's supposed to happen when the reapers come. I knew I was just killing time until I was ready to make my next move in two decade long plan.
The club was thriving. During the day, Lily and Jane ran it as a restaurant, and the locals loved it. The food was excellent, the atmosphere inviting, the prices are reasonable enough to keep people coming back. By night, it transformed into something else entirely, a club with pulsing music, dim lighting, and the kind of energy that drew crowds from across the city.
That's when I was in charge. Thanks to my psychic sense, I was able to surf throw the cords intention, and and emotional states. I was able to stop things before anything bad would happen. But beneath the surface, it was something else entirely.
The Neo Yakuza used it to launder money. Which I had allowed it because I needed the protection, and connections. It also helped that Miro was happy to offer her resources as well. It had been a calculated risk, a temporary arrangement that had served its purpose.
And now it was time to end it.
Over the past five years working for her, I accumulated a lot of money and connections. So far between Club Inferno's revenue. My take from the Madame Fool 's operation for the Neo Yakuza. And the what money I took from Henry Lawson Estate and and Bank accounts. I'm sitting on seven-million,( Earth Currency). And around Five million in Credits.
And this is after I made sure to put some money aside for Oriana, and for the Club.
I already made my exit plan and everything was in place. The club would continue without me, the Runaway House was secure financially, and I had enough money on hand to disappear quickly if necessary.
The Runaway House had become more real over the years. Jane and I had fixed it up completely, remodeled it from the ground up. More then we did when I first moved there. Officially on paper I own it now. I made sure to leave it in a trust, so no one can take it away from the kids.
Everyone in the city knew not to bother it or the kids there. And with Miro's protection, the kids there were thriving. Over the years some had already left for college or joined the military. Others had left to travel the world or found new families.
It was everything I had hoped it would be. And yet, something gnawed at me.
It was Victoria.
She came into my life to abruptly, whether I wanted her to or not. And then she just ups and's disappears in a fashion that's not her style. She would normally be loud and cheerful, but she left without a word.
I did wonder if it had anything to do with her prediction Madame Fool gave her. But then I realized I was being superstitious at that point.
But for five years, not a single word from her. Not a message, not a sighting, not even a rumor. I ever hired someone to look into her. And they came up with nothing, no one in any official Earth, or system records matching the description of Victoria. It was like she'd never existed.
She either doesn't want to be found, or she's dead.
I didn't know which possibility bothered me more.
As for Cerberus, nothing to my current knowledge. No surveillance, no operatives, or attempts to recapture me. Either they'd written me off as a loss, or they were playing a longer game. I suspected the latter. After all the money the Illusive man, and Dr. Kline invested into creating me, the last thing I see them doing is just letting walk around freely.
I stood up and walked to the full-body mirror mounted on the adjacent wall. I studied my reflection with the same clinical detachment I applied to almost everything else.
I was older now. And I liked what I saw.
At seventeen, I now stood at 6'3", my frame was lean but I had a powerfully physique. I had the elite athlete look, with defined muscle showing in any form fitting clothes. Broad shoulders, Long muscular arms.
Despite my alien genetics I still trained regularly, with one of the few people being Jane that could actually push. It was hard but every muscle on across my body. My eight-pack that spoke of countless hours of training I put into this body.
My rich light brown skin was flawless, unmarred by scars despite everything he'd been through. Thank you Krogan regeneration and thick skin. My face had sharpened over the years, losing the last traces of my old boyhood. Replaced with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and my amber eyes still seemed to glow faintly in the light.
I can't count how many times I been stopped on the street. Just to tell people I was a teenager. Which to the older woman, and occasional men only deterred. One out of every fourth person over the years. It got so bad I need Jane to walk with me. She was the only one who could take the looks off me, and people thought we were a couple so I got bugged less.
I looked at my clothes, making sure I was well put together for my meeting later. I wore black pants, a forest green long-sleeve shirt that hugged his upper body well. I had on black steel-toed biker boots. Nothing that would draw unnecessary attention. But with my looks that was almost impossible.
Then my omni tool activated, the orange holograph showed a message on the interface. It was from Madame Fool.
Madame Fool: We are ready for the meeting. Miro is here as well. Don't keep us waiting.
I closed the interface and grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair. It was mid-October, of 2171, and Vancouver was cold this time of year. The jacket was black leather, worn but well-maintained. I didn't need it per say. My body wouldn't have a problem adapting to the cold easily. But it was more for appearances.
Before leaving, I sat back down and cut into the steak.
The first bite was... exceptional. Even if my face didn't show it.
The meat practically melted on my tongue, It was rich and buttery with a depth of flavor that almost justified the price tag. My face remained expressionless as I devoured the steak, but internally, I acknowledged that Lily had been right. But then again she has the talent to make anything taste good.
I activated my omni-tool and typed a quick review: It is semi worth the cost. Add it to the menu as a seasonal premium option. Limit availability to maintain exclusivity and special events. If another people buy it, set aside a modest budget to do a seasonal promotion.
I added another line.
Thank you for all the wonderful meals over the years. I will miss your cooking always.
I sent it to Lily, then finished the rest of the breakfast in silence.
I grabbed my stuff and exited through the back entrance. I didn't say goodbye to the staff or any of the regulars who I knew would be there. Not because saying goodbye was hard, but because I didn't see the need to.
Over the years my body had change a lot, and not just physically. All my already enhanced senses and abilities, jump to a whole other level.
My psychic sense got so strong, it's to the point where I can basically read someone's mind. Not one-hundred percent, it's more like I can read their emotions to the point its easy to tell what they feel. Along with see some images of their mind. What they were doing in the last few hours, who they were with and what they though in that moment. It got so bad I stayed away from crowd's as much as possible over the years.
The sick things these people did, and thought of while around me disgusted me.
My sense of smell got some much stronger too. I basically have the same smell as a dog. Which kind of sucks because of my other heightened senses. To many food smells can sometimes make me nauseous, especially to very pungent foods. Which makes enjoying spicy food as little hard.
My sense of taste has magnified greatly as well. So I can taste when people have tried to poison me. Which has happened enough times for me to get familiar with the taste of most earth and some alien poisons. My healing factor happens to negate most of these poisons while others only make me somewhat sleepy. So after killing the person who poison me. I sleep it off and let me body detox itself.
Which is why I only eat food that I, Jane, or Lily made.
My eye sight has increased to the point I can see perfectly at night now. But sucks because I can pick up on the kinetic energy build from movements through multiple walls now. Which makes it hard to sleep sometime.
And that goes into my hardest problem. My sense of touch as become heightened, I'm sensitive to the faintest shifts in air pressure, noises and touches. It took me three years just to get use to that. It all happened around the time I hit puberty.
I don't even want to get into the raging hormones going on in my body. It still happens to this day. The best way I can say it is that, when a woman around me is ovulating. My body reacts like a shark that got a whiff of blood in the water.
But the worst part is my biotics.
Like my physical abilities, they got natural stronger, whether I trained them or not. But my biotics got so much stronger then I thought possible. I discovered new abilities and ways to use them, but they were becoming hard to control.
Each and everyone of my biotic abilities went up by three levels. I had to stop using my biotics against regular humans. I felt like StarKiller from star wars every time I did a biotic pulse or push. I don't even want to remember what happened the last time I used a singularity.
I told myself at one point I will need to find Matriarch Yelara, and get her guidance on this. Hopefully she is still alive and not working with Cerberus anymore.
But for right now I have to focus on today.
Stepping into the cool morning air. The alley behind Club Inferno was quiet and clean. I'd made sure it stayed clean, literally and figuratively. To many idiots have tried to make moves back here. It got to the point I had the cleaners on speed-call.
My motorcycle was parked near the wall, it sleek and black with subtle modifications that made it faster and quieter than standard models. Like this other cars in this world it didn't run on the road but hovered off it by a few inches.
I got a Kawasaki model for the aesthetic look, and up a few upgrades. She's faster then majority of other sports models.
I had already remotely started it while I was inside, letting the engine warm up from the cold. The engine was humming softly as I approached, the bike already lifting a few inches off the ground in response to my proximity.
"You sure you're gonna do this today?"
Jasen turned.
It was Jane.
She stood a few feet away, leaning against her own bike. She'd changed over the years like me. She had grown into a young girl near the edges of her womanhood. It was impossible to ignore how much she had changed.
Her red hair fell just past her ears now, styled in a way that was practical but still distinctly her. Her bright green eyes were bright and sharp as always. She was taller now. Standing at, "5'11" for a girl. She had a lean but curvy athletic build, that spoke of the same relentless training I had put myself through.
Her skin was fair and flawless. She was so beautiful it was hard not to notice. Everywhere we went guys looked at her with lust, and girl looked at her in jealousy. But to me she was still the same old Jane.
Kind, sweet and helpful to those around her. And like me she was stronger, and faster now.
"You know we could hold this off for another year," Jane continued, her tone casual but her eyes serious.
I pulled my helmet from the bike's storage compartment. "No, Jane. We have to end this today. The sooner we do it the better. You said you would trust me and follow my lead. Well this is my choice."
Jane stared for a moment and nodded slowly. "Okay. You're right, your the leader, and I trust you after all." She paused, then added, "By the way, any word from Victoria?"
I stopped, my hand resting on the helmet. I looked at Jane, my expression unreadable. I could tell she was stilled worried about her after all this time. I didn't need my psychic to figure that out. Those two were basically like sisters. Even though Victoria gave me that she was into girls vibes.
"No, Jane. It's been five years. I think she doesn't want to be found."
Jane's eyes narrowed. "I still don't believe that. She was our friend. What if she's in trouble?"
"Then go find her yourself Jane," I said, his tone flat. I put on my helmet and swung my leg over the bike. "Odds are she's living her life wherever she is, or she's dead. Either way, no point in worrying about it."
The engine roared to life, the bike lifting smoothly eight inches into the air.
"Are you coming?" Jasen asked.
Jane stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. "Yeah. But we're not done talking about this."
She put on her helmet and mounted her bike. The engine purred, and the two of us took off, weaving through the morning traffic with no care for the traffic laws.
The ride to Madame Fool's shop took less than ten minutes. Jane and I parked our bikes across the street. The engines powered down with a soft hiss.
The shop looked the same as it always had, unassuming, tucked between a noodle bar and a pawn shop now.
I pushed open the door, and the familiar scent of incense washed over him. The interior was dim, lit by soft ambient lighting. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, crystals, tarot decks, and other mystical paraphernalia that served as window dressing for the real business conducted here.
Madame Fool sat behind the counter, her expression as inscrutable as ever. She was a striking woman in her now late twenties. She was beautiful as ever, her dark hair looking freshly cut and eyes behind those big round glasses stared daggers at me like always.
She said nothing as Jane and I entered, merely inclined her head slightly. Gesturing to Miro.
Miro stood near the back of the shop, flanked by two bodyguards. She hasn't looked like she aged a day. But I could tell she was in her early to mid-thirties. Her sharp features glinted in the light and her dark eyes were hiding her true intent with a warm expression, that hid venom underneath it. She wore a tailored dress that managed to be both elegant and intimidating.
"Hello, Ghost, so good to see you in person after all these years." Miro said, her voice warm but edged with something cold. She waved the same hand I mangled all those years ago. "So tell me, what did I have to come all the way back here for? Couldn't this have been handled over a simple call?"
I removed my helmet and set it on the counter. "It's only respectful that I say what I need to say in person."
Both women looked intrigued.
"I've been working with your organization for five years now," I said, my tone calm and measured. Making sure to be as respectful as possible, but not show any weakness. "And now, Jane and I will be leaving it as of today."
Jane remained near the door, her eyes on Miro's bodyguards. Her posture was relaxed as she leaned against the wall, but I could sense the coiled tension beneath.
Miro's expression shifted, her eyes narrowing. "So you called me all the way here, a luxury I granted you because you've performed wonderfully for me over the years, and now you're quitting? Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"And you think I'll just let you walk away?" Miro's voice was soft, dangerous. 'After everything you know and seen?"
"I'm not leaving you high and dry," I said. I stepped closer, my eyes locked on hers. "I've wiped out all your competition in this city and the surrounding areas over the past five years. The cartels, the mafias, the rival families, all know not to come to this region. It's yours and yours alone."
I gestured toward Madame Fool. "And because of that, you've made a lot of money. So I'm giving my territory to her." I gestured to Madame Fool.
Her eyes widened, with genuine surprise flickering across her face. "Excuse me?"
Jane spoke up from her position by the door. "We knew from the beginning you wanted to run this area. So Thirteen figured that if he was going to turn things over, he'd leave it better than how he found it. Your territory is booming now, and it's all yours. No rival organizations to worry about."
"But," I said, cutting in, "there are conditions."
Miro leaned forward slightly. "What kind of conditions?"
My stoic expression hardened, my voice dropping to something cold and final. "My rules still stand. You stay away from schools and kids. The Runaway House is under your protection, and you don't take any money or recruit kids from it. Same goes for Club Inferno. You protect it, but you don't profit from it more then you have already."
Miro's lips curved into a sly smile. "Oh? And what happens if we don't comply with your conditions?"
I held her gaze without flinching purple eezo glinting slightly in my eyes. "I would advise you not to do that. Otherwise, everything you've built in this city, and every other city in the world, will be burned down. I will guarantee it personally."
The room went silent.
Miro chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "And what makes you think I can't just kill you both right now?"
"If that was the case, you would have done it a long time ago," I said. My voice was calm, and conversational. "But you either see us as useful, or you know we're hard to kill, or you can't kill us from some reason. Or all of the above. Either way you know what I'm capable of, why do you think I let those little games of poison and and backstabbing slide all these years."
I didn't look away. I didn't even blink. I knew Madame Fool partnered with several rival families over the years to try and kill me so she can have this place to herself. But all it did was help me to test out my abilities. The only reason she's even alive is because she can actually run a good drug empire, that her disguise tech is on a whole other level.
No matter who in the galaxy I talk to no one says they can make what she's made.
Miro stared at him for a long moment, then laughed, a genuine, full-bodied laugh that echoed through the shop. "Well it seems like it's settled then. Oh, well," she said, shaking her head. "It's sad to see you go. You are very good as a cleaner and enforcer, but I guess we knew this was always temporary." She turned to Madame Fool. "What about you, Lia? After everything he still see's you as useful. So we you take the position of running the operation down here?"
Jasen and Jane's eyes narrowed in unison. "Lia?"
Miro smirked. "Oh yes that's right, I guess she never told you her name. It's Lia."
Lia looked furious, her jaw clenched tight. "Yes my lady," she said through gritted teeth. "I can agree to these fair terms. And handle the operations in this region." Her eyes were locked on to mine, but I didn't look away.
"Good," I said. I picked up my helmet and turned toward the door. "Now, ladies, I'd like to invite you both to my club. Enjoy a meal and drinks on the house. We just imported wagyu beef from a human colony."
Miro's expression brightened slightly. "Oh? Well, we'll take you up on that offer. Since your so quick to go I take it you don't want a going away dinner." She paused, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "But I must know one thing. What will you two do now that you're out of the organization?"
We stopped at the door and looked back over my shoulder.
"I'm going to join the Alliance Military."
Both Miro and Lia's faces registered genuine surprise, their composure cracking for just a moment. Jane and I didn't wait for a response. We walked out, the door closing softly behind us.
"That went better than expected," Jane said.
"It went exactly as expected, I'm just glad we didn't have to kill them. They still have a use for now." I replied.
We reached their bikes, and as I was about to put on my helmet, I heard a voice speak from behind us.
"Shouldn't you two be in school right now and not hanging out at a psychic shop?"
I froze.
I knew that voice anywhere. I had heard it countless times in his previous life, every time I played Mass Effect. It was a voice that carried authority, experience, and a quiet strength that commanded respect.
Jane and I turned slowly.
Standing at the mouth of the alley, arms crossed and wearing a faint smile, was David Anderson.
He was younger than I remembered from the games, mid-thirties, maybe, with close-cropped hair and the kind of build that came from years of military service. He wore civilian clothes, but there was no mistaking the way he carried himself.
Jane tensed beside me, her hand moving instinctively toward the concealed weapon at her waist.
Anderson's smile widened slightly. "Relax kids. I'm not here to cause trouble."
I stared at him, his mind racing. What is Anderson doing here?
I don't know why he's here but this could change everything. I was about to head to the recruitment office and enlist, but this changes everything.
"Who are you?" I asked.
Anderson's smile didn't waver. "Someone who's been keeping an eye on you two. And I think it's time we had a conversation."