Expanding the Base

I had established the core of a habitable base out in the wilds. The planet seemed a suitable place to settle down, at least for the time being. I needed to expand and staff my base if I was to make a success out of my new home.

I met a strange Gek, who somehow seemed to have anticipated my arrival.

-{{ Is it really you? Forgive me, I've been searching for such a long time. I am contracted to aid you in this and every cycle. Don't worry, everything was paid for a long time ago, it's all quite above board. }}-

As the stranger spoke, a smell assaulted me: a pheromone infesting my brain, giving me memories of places I never visited, of actions I never took.

Of myself in a mirror, aged and alone; of this Gek cradling their fallen brethren; of a bargain made many years from now, a contract signed across the cosmos.

The vision ended, and the Overseer remained. There was something compelling about them...

-{{ I will be at my station before you know it. See you soon, friend! }}-

The Overseer encouraged me to hire a Korvax Scientist for my base.

-{{ The Korvax have suffered terribly at the hands of my people; be kind to them, I beg of you. }}-

The Overseer spoke strangely, implying that we had performed this encounter before. I had no memory of such meetings.

I asked who paid them for this service they were performing for me; they laughed and claimed that my child did, many years from now.

I did not know what they were talking about.

The Overseer was reflective, for a Gek. They almost seemed to regret the greed that characterised their people.

-{{ We have littered the universe in our greed, Traveller; this planet is no exception. But there is much that can be done with litter. Make your way to an abandoned structure and harvest the data from their terminals. }}-

Was this just greed in disguise, or something else? Whatever their motive, the Overseer claimed I would find data for a construction blueprint in a nearby abandoned structure.

The place the Overseer had sent me to had long since fallen into disrepair. The air was foetid and damp. I powered up the terminal with little hope of success, but to my surprise, it buzzed noisily and sprang to life.

My Overseer's intuition had served me well so far. I would have to trust that these schematics contained the required data.

-{{ You are back! I'm so glad, friend! }}-

It was good to see the Gek was so invested in the success of our home. They were clearly happy to see me, energised for the task at hand.

-{{ Here is your blueprint, as promised. A trivial task, their code was just sitting there to be manipulated! }}-

The Overseer asked me for microprocessors in order to design a Weapons Terminal.

-{{ Things are going well, friend. But it will not be long before violence follows us here. It is inevitable. }}-

The Gek had been helpful so far, and I had no reason to distrust them. I would find them the microprocessors they needed.

-{{ Now... Imagine this, friend. A lifeform displeases you. You punish it, reward it, reshape it. In time, it would do anything you wanted.

So it is with the Sentinels and their attacks. But no more - now we shall train the trainers. }}-

The Overseer required me to kill Sentinels and bring back their Pugneum.

-{{ The Sentinels have harried me the length of my journey. We shall be free of their constant harassment! }}-

-{{ Things are aligning. We are ready now for a Gek farmer to join us. Indeed, I have already prepared their contract. All you need to do is gather the solanium required to finalise their workstation. }}-

The Overseer grew in confidence, and sought again to expand my home. I found it hard to disagree with them, for a farmer would open up a world of possibilities.

The Overseer requested Circuit Boards in order to create a Galactic Trade Terminal blueprint.

-{{ Once you have secured our farmer, you will want to trade unhindered! To profit from our glorious harvest without being dragged to and fro! }}-

I did not have the zeal for trade that seemed to seize the Gek. Nonetheless, it would be convenient to tap into the galactic market from right there in my home.

As I approached the Overseer, I was almost certain I heard them talking to themselves, spitting out words and phrases in a tongue I recognised but did not understand. But seconds later, there was no trace of the venom I thought I heard. I must have been mistaken.

-{{ I trust our Scientist was able to meet your needs, friend? They have the circuits we demand? }}-

The Overseer was strange, but no more so than any of the other beings I had encountered. Indeed, they had been more helpful than most. I handed over the circuits and received my reward.

-{{ Ah, friend, you will be so happy with your Overseer! I have drawn up plans for some Starship Technology! But I cannot yet sync my design with your ship. I shall need a Gravitino Ball to perfect my device. }}-

The Overseer predicted I would be pleased, and once again they were correct. They had been ceaseless in their efforts to improve my lot.

-{{ Did you enjoy your adventure, friend? Your expedition to find our orb? I have waited for you faithfully. }}-

There was something about the way the Gek spoke that, for all their kind words, suggested a resentment saved only for the deepest of enemies.

But they would not have come to work here if we were enemies. Of course not. We were friends.

-{{ As ever, I am so grateful for your assistance. Friend. }}-

Since the Overseer arrived, I had had a recurring dream, a nightmare that felt like a memory. Flesh merged with metal; a world of glass that blinked.

A planet with green skies and an obsidian moon, a dream where I saw my grave... As I snapped back to reality, there was a moment before I could shake the image, that wound on the world lingering before my eyes.

-{{ Have you ever wondered what happens after death, between expiration and rebirth? Meditate upon annihilation. Harvest Mordite from the dead. It is the only way to escape. }}-

The Overseer had served me well. Perhaps their task would free my mind from these lingering nightmares.

-{{ I can see the change in you, friend. You have completed your task, and I have seen the world as you see it. }}-

I did not entirely understand what I had done for the Overseer, but they seemed once again ready to reward me for my actions.

-{{ Here. Take these schematics.

May the things you build always remind you of those you killed to construct them. }}