"Gestern und heute."

[Deneth Aleski]

March 3rd, 818 A.S., Planet New Berlin

"Ich mochte ein kaffee, bitte. Schwartz."

I'm on a road. I barely remember how I got on it and I have no idea where it'll lead me. If I turn back, I might find something familiar, but there's a possibility of me dying in the process. If I go forward, I will step only deeper in uncharted territory.

"Hier ist ihrem kaffee. Sohnst noch etwas?" The waitress placed the cup of coffee I ordered close to my right hand. I told her nothing else was needed. She bowed slightly and withdrew promptly. I dipped into my thoughts once more.

March 818 A.S. Planet New Berlin. "Avant Garde Café", some coffee shop located not far away from the Tegel Interstellar Spaceport. Right in the center of the planetary capital, which conveniently and symbolically bears the name of the planet. The café was always full, brimming with activity. Federal Polizei officers on break relaxing, businessmen going about their business, ordinary citizens sipping coffee and Rheinwehr soldiers lounging about were part of the daily scene at Avant Garde.

It was March. In the City of New Berlin, this meant daytime. "Day" and "night" here last roughly six months each, due to the planet's obscenely slow rotation. While temperatures hover above freezing point during the day, it dips to -40 degrees Celcius at night, on average.

I'm not supposed to be here. I was on medical leave for trauma sustained to the head four weeks ago. My leave was only two weeks long. And here I am, in New Berlin, after accompanying Austin Goodman and Sipher Rockwell to Rheinland. Planet Holstein, to be precise. God I hate that place.

They left somewhere. I'm not sure where, I didn't bother asking. Probably somewhere in the Sigmas. I told them I had things to take care of back home and that I would part ways. They took no issue to it, wished me luck and we bid farewell. And now I'm here, living out of a cheap motel, contemplating what to do with my life. Stay here and call New Berlin's massive underground world "home", or stay the path in Bretonia, where I can live in legality, but under increased scrutiny due to my past.

I'm at a crossroad. I need to figure out what I want in this life. I need to decide what my path will be. That is why I'll be staying here for a bit.

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Wilhelm D. Aleski || Paul Speer