YesterTime Relics. The place kinda sits on the edge of time, you know? A spot where yesterday's dreams are packed into tight aisles of crackling plastics and blinking circuits. It's more than just a store, though—it's really a sanctuary. A place where people like me—well, people chasing memories or survival—find pieces of both. And Jim Augustine? He’s the guardian of it all.The sign outside always gets me first. “YesterTime Relics” in all its flickering neon glory—red and amber, humming like it’s alive. Reminds me of the days before everything got so... complicated. Inside, well, it’s like stepping into some technicolor maze. Rows of cassette decks, old game cartridges, service android parts—it’s as if the old world decided to settle here and collect dust.But don’t let the nostalgia fool you. This isn’t just about retro cool. This place has, uh, purpose. Real purpose. People in the know come to Jim when they need tech that still works without being traced. The man himself—Jim Augustine—is someone you'd trust not because he asks for it, but because he earns it. If Neo Memphis has a beating heart in its shadows, Jim’s a valve keeping it alive.I still remember the first time I stepped through that door. I was... gosh, nineteen? I had this old vidwatch I’d scavenged from one of the junk heaps near Nile City. Thought I’d hit a jackpot, you know? Except, the thing only worked halfway. Needed some serious tinkering. So, someone sent me to YesterTime. Walked in, wide-eyed and curious, and Jim—without missing a beat—says, “Aiming to bring that fossil back to life?” I didn’t even know what to say. But moments later, I’m behind the counter, and he’s showing me how to fix it myself. We’ve been on good terms ever since.And look, Neo Memphis isn’t exactly a place where you make alliances lightly. But with Jim? He’s one of those rare types who’d rather help someone stand than tear ’em down. Loyal to a fault. Criminals, soldiers, tech-runners, broken families—doesn’t matter. If you can walk through those doors, you’ve already got a little hope on your side.So yeah, every time I visit, it’s like stepping into the past. My past, the city’s past, maybe even someone else’s past right there on the shelf. Funny, though—the things that make you feel safe aren’t always shiny and new. Sometimes, they’re tucked behind layers of dust, glowing in faint neon, just waiting for you to find them.When you hear about an explosion leveling half a city, your brain kinda stalls, you know? Like, it can't process something that massive. Neo Memphis—my Neo Memphis—lit up in a way no one wanted. Gone. Buildings erased, lives shattered, futures... futures just burned away. It's not just numbers, though. It's people. Over 250,000. Let that sink in for a second. Two hundred and fifty THOUSAND souls, just wiped from the map or left wondering if they're gonna make it through the night.And then there’s the Scion. Honestly, I... I don’t even know what to say about that. To Aset, he wasn’t just some name in the headlines. He mattered. Like, truly mattered. And now, he’s gone. Can you even imagine what that does to someone like her? But hey, Aset—she’s fierce, right? She doesn’t just crumble under the weight of grief. No, no... she takes that pain and she forges it into something sharper, something stronger. But still. Losing the Scion? That’s a hit that cuts... deep. It’s personal, and when something hits that personal, you can bet it’ll shape every move she makes next.But here’s the thing—this isn’t just about one life or one explosion. This is about Neo Memphis itself. What does it mean for a city to lose, what, HALF of its existence overnight? The people left—how do they even begin to pick up the pieces? You got fear crawling into every corner of the city now. The streets are quieter, but, like, not the peaceful kind of quiet. More like the quiet before a storm—heavy, tense, waiting. No one’s sure what tomorrow’s gonna bring, or if tomorrow’s even coming at all.And the trust? Let me tell you, it feels like Neo Memphis is kinda standing on broken glass right now. People are second-guessing... everything. The powers that be—are they still in control? Or was this a message from someone who’s, uh, gunning for the throne? Corporations, rogue factions, underground networks—it’s all one tangled web held together by desperation and duct tape. Something like this doesn’t just destroy buildings—it destroys balance.But you know what I can’t stop thinking about? The ones in the shadows—the Jims, the Asets—what are they planning while the rest of the city reels from this? If Neo Memphis is gonna find any hope in this mess, it’s gonna come from those corners. The forgotten, the fighters, the ones who don’t wait for answers—they make their own.You ever meet someone who's always one step ahead, no matter what? That’s Aset. When you've been through fire like she has, you don't play around with plans—you perfect 'em. And when Aset steps into a spot like YesterTime Relics, it’s not just for nostalgia. No, it’s for strategy. Every visit comes with a purpose.So there she was, teaming up with Jim to get Beta Squad what they'd need. And honestly? Beta Squad... they’re not just names on a roster. No, these are the folks you'd want watching your back when things go south. They're relentless. Smart. Focused. Jim knows this, which is why he’s already got Gor in motion, running weapons to support them. Gor’s a legend in his own right—part grease, part grit, and somehow always exactly where he needs to be. Between his tech wizardry and Jim’s network, Neo Memphis might still have a fighting chance. Might.And the weapons? When you’ve got enemies lurking in every shadow, having the right firepower isn’t just nice to have—it’s survival. Aset knows the stakes, though. She’s not the type to walk in unprepared. But, uh, planning? It’s also about trust. Trust that Beta Squad’s ready to go when the time comes and trust in people like Jim and Gor delivering on their promises.It’s funny, right? How something as simple as prepping for a meeting can ripple out into everything else. Kinda reminds me of Old Ogo, actually. Same principles apply: Watch your back, double-check your gear, and always, always stay sharp because the second you get too comfortable? That’s the second the chaos finds you. Aset gets it. She’s been through her fair share. But it’s not just about surviving—it’s about being ready to strike when the time’s right.Neo Memphis isn’t gonna fix itself overnight. Heck, it might never bounce back, not completely. But people like Aset, Jim, and even Gor? They’re the spark in all that darkness. There's no waiting around here—just moving forward, step by step, plan by plan. And honestly, after everything I’ve seen in this city, if anyone's got a shot at pulling the pieces together, it’s them.And that’s all for today. Neo Memphis might be drowning in shadows, but maybe, just maybe, there’s still some light left worth fighting for. Until next time, take care of yourselves. Stay sharp... and steady your aim.

Episodes

Echoes of the Past