(Jason)
An old employer. It was maybe five months, after I left Vigil, that I was job hunting. The only job that was going to work at the time, was being a bodyguard.

(Miranda)
Whoa, you played the personal bodyguard for Mr. Borden?

(Jason)
Nope, his daughter.
=We exited the ship. We were both wearing civilian clothes (let's face it. Combat Skin would not react well with the locals) After hailing a cab, I gave him the directions=

(Jason)
=We arrived at the tower. It was just as imposing as last time, though the burn marks were new. Must have been from one of the attacks Joseph mentioned. We got to the front door, and instead of two, there was a team of guards there. And they all had their guns out=
Afternoon boys. Mr. Borden wants to see me, he called me himself.

*Guard*
One second Shepard. We have to confirm with Mr. Borden.

(Miranda)
=I whispered to Jason=
They still know you?

(Jason)
Hey, I was Molly's bodyguard. They had to know me.

*Guard*
Okay Shepard, you're good to go. But I'm afraid I must ask you're friend to stay here. Mr. Borden invited you, and only you.

(Jason)
No problem. Just give me one minute.
=I turned to Miri=

Go back to the ship, and wait for me there.

(Miranda)
Got it. Just, be careful.
=I got back in the cab, and headed back to the docks=

(Jason)
=As I walked through the front door, and towards the elevator, I looked around. Everything seemed the same. Same old white tile, same ornate, wooden walls, and the same matte black elevator doors. The bullet holes were new though. And if my experience told me anything, they weren't old. A week, maybe a few days. Hell, it resembled the set of an action film. I got in the elevator, and went up=

(Jason)
=I got off the elevator at the top. A lot had changed. What used to be a luxurious penthouse, filled with the type of stuff that fell under the, "if you have to ask, can't afford it," category, had been transformed into a freaking barracks. The paintings? Gone, replaced with massive screens, showing everything from air-space, to security footage, of every floor. Furniture? Replaced with concrete clocks (I had no idea how they got them up there). The living room was turned into the command center, filled with guys in armor, and holding black-market weapons=
Jesus Christ! Who are they expecting to attack the place? Spartans?

=One of the guards saw me=

*Guard*
You Shepard?

(Jason)
Yup.

*Guard*
Mr. Borden's in his office. He's waiting for you there.

(Jason)
Thanks.
=I went across the living room (sorry, command center) and past a few more rooms, until I was outside Borden's office. Two guards stood outside, holding large assault rifles. They nodded to me, and I walked inside. Borden was sitting at his desk, reading something on his screen, when he looked up, and smiled=

*Borden*
Jason! Good to see you again.
=He stood up from his desk, his hand outstretched=

(Jason)
=I shook his hand, a small grin over my face=
Joseph, it's been a while.

*Borden*
It certainly has.
=When he saw my face, he looked shocked=
Shepard, what the hell? Your eyes? And what's with those marking?

(Jason)
Oh, it's a long story. Let's just say, a lot has happened.

*Borden*
It certainly has. But you seem to be the same man from before, so I guess it's only skin deep.
=He went over to one side of the room, pulled out two glasses, and a bottle of a very dark liquor. He poured the stuff into both glasses, and offered me one, which I took. We sat down=

(Jason)
So, I like what you've done with the place.

*Borden*
=He grimaced=
Yes, things have gotten......bad. As I'm sure you gathered from my message, I've been trying to go straight. I've been doing what I can, to move my business into more.... legitimate areas. I have discussed my intentions with the other families, and they have allowed this, in exchange for a severance package: mainly resources, contacts, and politicians under my control. Everything was going fine, until the coup.

=He drifted off, in memory=
Apparently, some were not patient enough to wait until I could get things in order, and they killed the heads of the other families, and began attacking me. They want me dead now, rather then let me walk away.

=He took another sip of his drink=
And that's not the worst bit.

(Jason)
What's the worst bit?
=I had a sinking feeling=

*Borden*
Molly ran away a few months ago, and she's covered her tracks pretty well. I have no idea where she is, and I'm too stretched out in resources to try and find her. Irresponsible, I know, but it has an advantage.

(Jason)
Let me guess: you're worried that if you go looking for her, then you'll lead the guys after you, to her. And once they realize who she is to you.......
=I didn't have to finish that statement. Hell, I didn't want to consider the ending, to that statement=

*Borden*
I need you to not just find Molly. I need you to take up your old job again, and protect her.
=he paused for a moment, as if troubled by what he had to say=

Perhaps permanently.

(Jason)
What, you don't think you can keep her safe here?

*Borden*
No, I don't. And I doubt that my enemies will let her live, even if they do kill me. After all, they won't risk revenge.

(Jason)
Alright, do you have any leads?

*Borden*
Only one. Before my daughter ran, she kept talking with whatever friends she still had about this party, or rave. Apparently, it was, or still is, the biggest rave of them all. However, I have no idea where it is, or who would know about it. I'm sure she's there though; she always loved to dance.

(Jason)
Okay, so other than a rave, do you have anything else? Maybe someone I can talk to? Or a name for this thing?

*Borden*
Yes. Apparently, the rave is called, "End of Line." Apparently, whoever started it wanted to honor some 21st century film, Tram something. The only guy I know, who might be able to point you to this thing, and he doesn't trust me at all.

(Jason)
What's his name?

*Borden*
Name's Johnny, Johnny Nolan. Apparently, he know where the place is.

=It wasn't a second after he said the guys name, that the sound of an explosion reached my ears=

*Guard*
=he burst through the door=
Sir, they're back! And there's more of them.

*Borden*
Aww hell. Not now. Shepard, I need you to get out of here, right now. Find Nolan, and find my daughter.

=another explosion, this time closer=

*Random Guard outside*
THEY BROUGHT A GUNSHIP!!!!!!!

=this time the sound of machine guns=

(Jason)
Dammit, where is he?

*Borden*
He runs a shop, over in the Beta district. It's a music store, can't miss it. Listen, get out of here, right no--

=an explosion, bigger and closer than the last one, shook the freaking building=

Fuck!
=he pulled out a gun from under his desk=

I'll buy you time. GO!!

(Jason)
Where exactly? The elevator is probably blocked by now!
=I already had my pistol out=

*Borden*
Hey, I've been preparing for this. I have an escape plan, but looks like you'll need it more than me. Come on!
=He walked over to the other side of the room, and pressed a button. The wall slid away, and showed another elevator=

(Jason)
Isn't that a little cliche?

*Borden*
Hey, take your escape routes where you can get them.

=this time, the doors slammed open, and two men with guns burst through, guns firing. I ducked, and so did Borden. He wasn't fast enough though; three shots hit him in the chest, and blood sprayed=

(Jason)
BORDEN!!
=I sprang up, and emptied the clip into both shooters. They went down, and I had to drag the table to the door, to block it off. I went back to Borden, and dragged him into the elevator=
Come on Joseph, you're not dying on me now! You still want to see your little girl? Huh? You stay awake dammit!

=the doors closed, and I felt the elevator drop=

*Borden*
She--Shepard.

(Jason)
=I knelt down=
Don't speak. I'm getting you to a hos--

*Borden*
You kn-
=he shuddered in pain=

You know they can't help me now. Shepard.
=he tried to get me to look in his eyes. I couldn't=

Look at me, Jason.

(Jason)
=I looked into his eyes. I saw him then, what was really going through his mind: fear. Fear, for his daughter. A father's love for his child was behind those eyes, something I had never known myself=

*Borden*
I've seen how she talks about you. I've known, how much she respects you......loves you. I only wish, I could have earned the same love. Take care of her Jason. On my deathbed, I name you her godfather.

=Borden died right there, in that elevator. No family with him, no peaceful goodbye. Just, dead, with someone he barely knew=

(Jason)
=I closed his eyes. I was disturbed by his words=
"I name you her godfather."

=Don't get me wrong. I cared about Molly, really, I did. But, her as my goddaughter? I didn't even know the first thing about being a real father=
One step at a time Jason.

=The elevator stopped, and I found myself in a garage, filled with cars. I didn't pick any of them though. I did choose the cycle though. There was a helmet, and I put it on. The keys were in the ignition, and I started the bike. It was a fairly large bike too; almost like a single seat car. The doors opened, and I drove the bike out of there. I headed for Beta district=

(Jason)
=when I got far enough from the tower, I stopped an looked at what was behind me: the tower was on fire. It started at the top, right at the penthouse. It wouldn't be long before the fire consumed the whole building, unless the fire department got to it soon. I called the Serenity=

(Miranda)
=I was sitting on the bridge when the comm line beeped. Someone was calling. I activated my own comm, and took the call=
Hello? Who is this?

(Jason)
Miri, it's Jason. Things just hit the fan here.

(Miranda)
What happened?

(Jason)
Someone attacked Borden's home. He's dead, and he wants me to find his daughter, and keep her safe.
=I didn't want to tell her about me being named Molly's godfather=

(Miranda)
Jesus Christ. Okay, what do you need?

(Jason)
For now, just stay on the ship. I'll contact you guys later.

(Miranda)
Where are you going?

(Jason)
With luck, I'll be going to a party.
=I got back on the bike, and continued into Beta district=

=Beta district wasn't so bad. It wasn't like Alpha district, where the elite lived. Beta was more like the middle class section of the city. Unfortunately, the store where Johnny Nolan worked, was located at the edge of the district, on the border between Beta and Gamma, the seedier part of the city=
Oh, this should be fun.

=I left my bike well within the boundaries of Beta district (hey, it was a nice bike, and I didn't want to walk) and made my way for the store. Like Borden said, it was a music store; outside, posters of all the great bands and pop-stars were glued to the windows. There were also bars on the windows. I walked inside=

*Johnny*
Hey! Welcome welcome welcome! How can I help you today?

(Jason)
=I walked up to the counter where Johnny stood. He was a little older than me, and he had his hair slicked back, and greased. He blanched when he saw my eyes though=

*Johnny*
Whoa, your eyes.

(Jason)
=I already had my excuse=
What, these? Oh, I just had some work done. It's just for looks though, I can't see in the dark.

=He laughed a little, though I felt guilty--technically, I could see in the dark. Hey, I was a Spartan=

*Johnny*
So, what can I do for you? Is there any type of music you're looking for?

(Jason)
=Truth be told, yes I was, and I figured that while I was here.......=
Actually, I've been trying to find some old Van Halen songs. Think you have any?

*Johnny*
=he grinned=
You are in luck man, I have some copies of Van Halen's "Women and Children First."

(Jason)
Really? How much?

*Johnny*
Well, since it's a 21st century album, 50 credits?

(Jason)
That's fair.
=I pulled out my card, while he brought out a tiny little data crystal. I swiped the card, and everything had cleared=

*Johnny*
Okay, is there anything else I can do for you?

(Jason)
Yeah, I was wondering if you could help me find this event. I'm new here, and I've heard of this big party, called the "End of Line." I was told that you know when and where I could find it.

*Johnny*
End of Line? That's a big party. Sure you're up for it?

(Jason)
=I chuckled=
I've been to a lot of parties man, and they were pretty wild. But yeah, I can handle it.

*Johnny*
Well, you bought some music from me, and you've made a good impression.
=he reached under the desk, and pulled out two things: a map, and a tiny little ticket=

This will show you when and where. This will get you inside. Now, I suggest you dress appropriately man. This place is almost like a big, techno costume party.

(Jason)
=I took both items=
Thanks, I'll be sure to wear my party face.