Epilogue - Side Story
"Big Bubba Zin"
In a lonely stretch of remote space drifted a massive and grand spaceship that held within it the might of an alien empire. At its heart was a large circular room, and in the center of this room stood a raised platform where a throne was placed. Casually reclined on the throne and sitting with his chin resting in his palm was the leader of this mighty alien force, his hulking body easily dwarfing any normal human.
Emperor Zinyak smiled, his eyes darting around to look at the many video screens surrounding him. They hovered in the air looking like holograms, spinning around the throne in a circle in tune with Zinyak's thoughts. He began to linger for a while on one feed in particular, this one showing a recording of an incident inside the city of Rapture. Well, one of the many Raptures that existed across time and space.
"Oh, Kinzie... look at you now."
The alien emperor's smile deepened as he got to watch the young woman's head explode across the screen. Oh, what a
nuisance she had been! Really, something as sudden and relatively painless as a bullet to the head almost did not seem satisfying enough. Zinyak would have much preferred a more... intellectual death for Miss Kinzie Kensington. She had, after all, impressed Zinyak to some degree. Perhaps a bit of Bach playing in the background while the young woman got waterboarded into oblivion.
"Without your technology... well, you were about as pathetic as I imagined. All that intelligence must feel like such a waste now." Zinyak lifted his head and swiped his hand through the air, dismissing the video feeds.
"That is, if you could feel anything at all."
The hulking alien pushed himself up and out of the throne before taking a few slow steps to be on the same level as his special guest.
"What do you think?" he asked, head tilting to the side in curious amusement.
"Do you think she felt the crushing feeling of her own short and limited existence before she died?"
Before Zinyak stood another imposing figure, this one having become quite popular as of late. It was a Big Daddy, except this one had adopted the name Bubba at some point in his life. An amusing name for such a creature, so Zinyak thought. He smiled at his guest, chuckling inwardly once again at the name, knowing that Bubba was not likely to respond to his question at all.
". . . ... .. . . . . . .. . .. .. .. .."
"Ah, you are such a breath of fresh air. You don't talk back, you do as your told... Really, humanity in particular could learn so much from you. This is why I've enjoyed working with you so very much."
Zinyak raised a hand, conjuring a video feed between them. The
Normandy came into view, shining as it hurtled through space, one of the more primitive ships Zinyak had ever seen. It was quite understandable from humans.
"To think someone like you was able to move around the ship as fast as you did. The intel you provided on these humans was... satisfactory."
"Then, of course, you integrated into their group so well. You figured out the secret of that barbaric vault, keeping the group on their path long enough to find..." The video feed shifted into a grand vista of color. Vibrant green fields filled with flowers in every color of the rainbow under a clear blue sky. No wonder it was named after paradise.
"Eden. A very integral program for us. Certainly strange that a mere human could create something that mimicked Zin technology so closely. I suppose, as some say, we must always be prepared to open ourselves up to new perspectives. At least you advocated to save Eden, allowing us to commandeer the program for our own uses."
No doubt the humans believed they were doing the right thing by saving the virtual world. They were always so misguided.
"Ah, and then..." The view shifted once again, this time showing an image of the Rachni Queen. Surrounded by broodlings, even Zinyak had to say she was an imposing sight.
"We managed to capture her once she was jettisoned from the space station. Interesting creature, isn't she? She will easily double our capture rate of other alien species. Conquering is always such time-consuming work."
The video feed would shift one final time, this time to show the final moments of the one known as Elliot.
"Tell me, did it satisfy you to see this boy murdered? Did it send pleasure down your spine to witness the life slip out of him? After all, he was a notorious murderer of those you were to protect. For you, I can imagine it was... personal."
Zinyak tented his fingers together, leaning forward slightly to get a better view of the darkness behind Bubba's helmet. Who knew what the Big Daddy was truly thinking.
"It's all right, you know. That feeling of bloodlust has led to the greatest accomplishments of all sentient kind. The boy who was only a sad, deranged puppet... and an entire universe cried out for his death. It was an accomplishment, one that has allowed the Zin empire to place a foot into the multiversal ring."
"The masked fool can have his Reapers, for the boy's technology is ours. Mine. Our conquest will shake all of reality and soon all will be Zin. Think of it, entire universes bowing to the one and only Zinyak!"
Zinyak raised his arms, looking upward for dramatic effect. Bubba had no response. The Zin emperor could only laugh.
"And you, Bubba, will have a place in our new multigalactic empire. Perhaps a statue or two in your honor. You will know the generosity of the Zin... that is, if you continue to carry out our tasks."
The video feed disappeared, replaced by holographic images of ten individuals. Zinyak knew one of them rather well: Matt Miller, always the lackey. Zinyak would love to watch the small man squirm.
"I need these humans captured. I wish to test the boy's technology to see how it contrasts against our own. I am intrigued by the ability place so many minds together in a single simulation..."
There was a moment of silence, but Zinyak was eventually clearing his throat.
"Of course, you'll have help this time. Mercenaries hired to serve the Zin. It's only fair you meet them now."
". . . h .. . m. .."
The first to appear had been hidden in plain sight for sometime now. There was a pop sound as a cloak was dropped, revealing a humanoid chameleon with a glowing energy blade.
"Sacrebleu... I've been waiting," he said, a heavy French accent coloring his words. It was almost comical.
"They will en garde! They will feel the sharpness of my blade! HAHA!" The chameleon gave a throaty laugh.
"Bubba, is it? I am... Leon Chameleon."
Before Leon could say more, a small tornado of water dropped in from above, splashing water all over the chameleon. Leon gagged and stepped back from the mass of water, only to grimace when the tornado revealed itself to be a humanoid frog.
"Yo! Make some noise for the Frog!" he cried, raising his water pistol into the air.
"Zut! Some help he will be!"
The frog raised a hand and wiggled his finger at Leon.
"Froggy G gets the job done... and don't you forget it."
"If how much we are paid is determined by how much we contribute to getting the job done, then I am expecting that I get a cut of at least 90% if these are to be my cohorts," a third figure said with a low, gruff, yet also somewhat haughty voice, having also been hidden in plain sight as Zinyak went on about whatever he was talking about.
Tipping his hat that had been obscuring his face a little, crimson eyes practically glowing in the dark, he folded his arms behind his back, possessing a more professional, cold, and calculated air compared to the so-called bounty hunters known as Leon Chameleon and Froggy G. How barbaric, he thought of them, but he shan't say anything if they would prove to have as much bite as their bark.
"Now... You want us to start with this.. Miller boy, no? Shouldn't be too hard, even for the other rascals," he spoke, gesturing towards the other two mercenaries.
"Perhaps," Zinyak said casually, crossing his arms. He looked upon the four gathered before him for a moment as a silence stretched between them. Leon and Froggy each gave the other sidelong glances, the pair clearly wary of the idea of working together.
At this sight, Zinyak broke into a grin.
"One's dedication to the job laid out before them could directly contribute to their compensation. Start with whoever you wish, as long as you get to the task at hand quickly. Remember, brevity is the soul of wit."
"And on that bombshell..."
A new voice would cut through the scene, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. Hunched over on one peg leg and twitching every so often was a tall, blond man with his skin darkened by soot and ash. He grinned madly at the group, giving them a small wave. A few locks of his hair was burning, as if he'd just been through a fire moments before.
"G'day, mates! Lovely day, eh? Call me Junkrat. Job don't matter to us, just as long as we get paid."
"We?" Leon questioned, raising a brow.
"Yeah, we!" Junkrat giggled, rubbing his hands together.
"Roight, say hi to my tubby friend here!"
"Hurm..." A mountain of a man came into view from behind Junkrat.
"The name's Roadhog," was his reply, muffled behind that gas mask of his. He didn't seem too keen on Junkrat calling him tubby, but he didn't do anything other then look down at the man with a disapproving look.
"Ahh..." Junkrat uttered a nervous giggle, giving his big friend a sidelong glance.
"Don't mind him-- I do the talking."
The blue man gave a mildly disgusted look at Junkrat and Roadhog. Tch, who would have thought that Leon and Froggy G would be the more appealing looking people to work with? Still, he tried his best to remain professional about it.
Still, he could only hope that the pay would be worth it all.
"Cad Bane... And more talking won't be necessary. In fact, I encourage less of that if you're supposed to be the more civilized of the two," the man said, introducing himself gruffly, shaking his head briefly as he would move over to the window, gazing at the empty space outside, adjusting his hat ever so slightly as he would do so.
So this was his job, eh? Well, multiversal business usually came at a high risk, but to complement that risk, it also potentially came at a high reward as well. Again, he could only wish that this would all be worth it in the end.
"So then, Zinyak... Any other lovely comrades to introduce? And if not, what exactly is the significance of these humans if I may ask? Not that I particularly care for them, but they seem a bit... random, from my point of view, that is."
Leon and Froggy both exchanged glances, their expressions agreeing with Cad Bane's assessment of the other two. For them, it was bad enough that they had to work together, let alone this random pair. Even Lonestar would be preferable to these whelps.
Zinyak seemed to have anticipated the ragtag group would not think much of each other, or at least he did not seem to care for their misgivings. He had a plan in mind for gathering them all specifically, that much was clear.
"No, the humans are not particularly high on the list of intergalactic races I would count on." Zinyak paused as Junkrat let out a pleased giggle at this.
"... However, even I can not deny that tenacity of theirs. That will to live to survive like abhorrent cockroaches. As gross, vulgar, and bothersome as they can be, some humans are... exemplary. To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. These two have their uses, like all things."
Zinyak smiled widely.
"But enough introductions. It's time for you to get going. Work together or not-- it doesn't matter to the Zin. As long as you all work toward the task at hand, you will be compensated." The alien leader turned then to Bubba, a knowing look on his face. The Big Daddy had his uses, and would be valuable in the days to come. It would only be a matter of time before the multiverse bent its knees to the almighty Zin empire.
All Bubba had to say was,
". . ."
COLLAB DONE WITH @Verite AND @Jeremi
