Name: Stephen Grayson<br/>Location: Asgard office.<br/>Tags: Flashback, One day before.<br/><br/>It's amazing how many misconceptions surround human mythology. Most people wouldn't be able to tell you much more than 'Thor goes boom', and that is just the humans. The other species had even less knowledge about it. With that in mind, how few people would be able to link the common theme of Norse mythos that he had surrounded himself in. How few would be able to piece together the connection between the Asgard Protection company and the deadly mercenary Mjolnir? So far, he'd not met a single one: Excluding, possibly, the most powerful man in the Universe.<br/><br/>Perhaps it was with arrogance that Stephen took his call with that man in the Odin suite. It was named after the king of gods and held two very individually intimidating men. On one end; a man who's biotic potential was scary and whose skill with firearms was just as frightening; on the other, the most powerful information baron in existence and a man who could rally an army of people of similar intimidating talents as the first.<br/><br/>"So what do you need from me this time? I can't imagine this is a friendly chat." The voice rang with a cold confidence. Nothing quite as deep as arrogance, but self-reliance that came with a success story. The second voice rang out with the obvious gravelly gargle of a voice distortion unit.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: right;">"I don't know what is going on, but the Council is making waves. Apparently you've been shortlisted for some secret project coming up. I could certainly use a pair of ears on anything being guarded this closely. </div><br/>"It's been a while since I've taken any of your work, Broker. Why should I start now?"<br/><br/><div style="text-align: right;">"Think of it as your own work: They'll approach Stephen Grayson on the outside, but Mjolnir is who they want. Who knows what they know? How they plan to motivate you is beyond me, but you know that information on you is accessible from me…at the right price. If they had information on the one thing you want…"</div><br/>"Jen’ann..."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: right;">"Listen to their offer. Take the job, and it might get you leads on her. I'll pay handsomely if you dig me anything up. It’s a win-win."</div><br/>With that, the Shadow Broker ended the call: his point made. So far, it had never been Stephen who put the phone down first. Always the Shadow Broker who lead the way...leading the dance, so to speak. Was he leading the dance, even now? Pulling at strings and dictating moves without giving a single tell to the mercenary? It didn't matter either way: for Stephen's mind was stuck on one thing...<br/><br/>"...Jen’ann."<br/><br/>Stephen felt a dull ache in his left side, along the lines of his artificial limb.<br/>_____________________________________________<br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Location</span>: Shuttle bay<br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Tags</span>: All and none<br/><br/>The here and now.<br/>______________________________________________<br/><br/>When you are called to see a Turian spectre by a Turian Councillor, there are many things you expect: Most of them involve a carapace and attitude. What is not expected is being crammed into a room with an amalgamation of different races; ranging from Quarian to Salarian, Human and Asari. Even further down on the scale is seeing one of the most important people in your life, the Asari to whom he owed his life. In most situations, he would have pushed through the crowd to shake hands with the woman who maintained his existence so expertly, those years ago.<br/><br/>Yet this was not a time to prove anything less than expertly and efficiently business-like. He'd expected this meeting to be one closer to a job interview, and he'd dressed appropriately. He wore human designed attire, a business suit: with tie included. He felt almost naked, in comparison to the Turians and Quarians in body armour. Still, he wasn't completely defenceless. For one, he had ALICE at his beck and call...or should he say 'VIOLA', and for a second he had a Shotgun pressed against the curve of his back, the holster slightly hidden just below the suit jacket. He doubted he'd need it: but nor did he hide it. It was, for lack of a better descriptor, hidden in plain sight.<br/><br/>Slowly, watching the War veterans take up centre stage: Stephen noticed a creeping boredom take him over: he had never been an 'Alliance man'. It didn't run in his family, so to speak. So he didn't particularly know the Human from Adam. If not for the medals he wore, he'd think the man had wondered onto the ship accidentally: He couldn't profess to know who the Turians were either.<br/><br/>As if designed to dash away his boredom: a Turian from the group led into the Shuttle bay reacted with rather obvious malice and hostility towards the Human. At what looked like a threat of violent escalation, Stephen felt his hand reach and grip the holster of his shotgun. The Turian wouldn't have time to grab his pistol before eating the results of a barrage of pellets being driven through two mass effect fields and into his back. Thankfully, he controlled himself with a fine decorum.<br/><br/>Clearing his throat, Stephen stepped forward, highlighting himself as an oddity in the group. He probably almost looked non-threatening; A human in a suit with a vaguely hidden shotgun. Each of the fighters in the room probably thought themselves his superior. Each one would be unaware of the surprise biotic cannon he had at his fingertips. Barely anyone expected human biotics, especially powerful ones.<br/><br/>"I feel myself inclined to agree with the Turian. You don't gather such a mixing pot of specialists for no reason. Why are we here and, more importantly: why should we undertake this mission?"<br/>