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[Redbelle]

Zia watched the influx of new people coming in. She squinted at their appearance. Some wore what looked like rags, the others in their group wore armour that didn't look like it had seen a day of use. Both groups were looking around the pubs interior, those who sat inside her, and she noted with interest, at each other.

These were people who clearly did not like each other. But had been forced to work together. Her time observing those who dwelt in the bowels of Omega had made her sensitive to how other felt by their interactions with others. These two groups expected trouble from the other. In her book, that meant one side would crack under the pressure and cause the trouble both wanted to avoid. But both sides expected.

What the hell was going on outside?

She stood as Dale and Farzam looked on. “Time to get back to work”. She announced as she placed a hand on Naomi's shoulder. “C'mon. Leave some for the rest of them”.

Naomi looked up and pouted, but handed the stub back to the two in front of them. Farzam took it and took a puff. “There's always more if you know who to ask”.

Naomi smiled and got up. “Thanks. I will”. She beamed and turned to follow Zia who had already walked towards the door. As she neared the exit, she stopped and looked at the bunch who had just entered and were just standing there.

A woman who was in rags shifted slightly under her scrutiny. “Something wrong”? She mumbled.

Zia smiled. “I've not seen you around here”.

The woman shifted her gaze up and looked at Zia. “Just arrived. Because we had no choice. Because your commander forced us to come here, with them”. She glared at the other group, who now Zia was standing close too, saw their armour was a high grade security model. Better than nothing. But not built for extended warfare. On their shoulder and chest was an orange emblem. The Earth, superimposed over a closed fist.

Zia wondered how they would stand up to the rigours of combat as she gave them all what she hoped was her most disarming smile. “Welcome to Bastion. This is our local watering hole”. She added. “And your welcome to come and go. And please don't be intimidated by all the soldiers. We're a nice bunch when we're all on our best behaviour”. Zia saw many of the group just nodded while others seemed to take her veiled warning not to cause trouble to heart. The woman gave her a nod and the rest followed her to the bar as Zia exited and walked outside with Naomi.

Both stopped outside as before them they witnessed a scene that was pure pandemonium. People in dressed in clothes that looked like that hadn't washed in months. Those in the armour of security guards. And the more familiar sight of the camps MP's and soldier's. All milling around in a hive of activity.

Some seemed to just be standing around, looking lost. Others were offloading equipment from trucks that were now blocking the street. Zia looked incredulously as a YMIR mech surveyed the scene and for a moment Zia thought it was going to attack as it raised it's rocket arm. Only to offer little waves to people who walked on by. That, or it herded them from going to far into the camp. She could see MP's and the mech trying to contain the crowd. Her group must have slipped through and made their way to the pub.

Naomi saw her before Zia did. “Jan”! She bolted forward as she did the crowd parted and Zia saw her. Wyld stood in the middle of the medley, directing people to some place or the other. She followed Naomi at a trot, even as Naomi bounded up as Wyld turned and saw her. Naomi threw herself at Wyld wrapped her arms around her in bear hug.

There was a sharp crack and Wyld yelped.

[Redbelle]

“Jan”!

Wyld turned and saw Naomi bounding towards her. She looked happy as she greeted her in her customary manner of wrapping her arms around Wyld and squeezing her into a hug.

There was a sharp crack from behind her and Wyld yelped in surprise even as Naomi loosened her grip and jumped back. She looked worried, a question poised on her lips. She needn't have worried however, as piece's Wyld's ruined chest carapace tumbled down and hit the ground.

Naomi looked down at the broken armour pieces as Wyld sighed and brought her hands up to tug off the remains of the chest piece. Clad in her underlay she looked at the remains she held in her hands. The brand HM-1, peeking back at her through the cracks that now ran through it.

“I had this armour since I got to Earth”. She said slowly. “It's survived Brutes, Banshee’s, Husks, Harvester's”. She turned and looked at Naomi, her face warring between amusement and disbelief. “I didn't think it was possible to do this..... Guess I need to see if we have anything Naomi proof in store”.

Naomi looked stricken. “Jan, I am so sor-Ohhhhh”.

Her apology was lost as Wyld dropped the remains and scooped Naomi into her arms. “This is the proper way you greet a superior officer”! Lifting her into the air, Wyld spun them around before hugging her close and letting her feet touch the floor.

Naomi was taken aback for a moment before she started laughing and let Wyld hold her. “You've never done that before”.

Wyld let out a breath as her wounded side protested at the action. She didn't care. She was back and in the company of friends. Looking up she saw Zia and felt her eye's begin to mist as her smile grew. From afar, she saw Zia mouth two words.

Welcome home

Modifié par Redbelle, 12 septembre 2013 - 04:34 .

[Redbelle]

Naomi stepped back as Zia stepped up. “Bet you were out there having fun without us”.

“Next time”. Wyld said. “Next time you can ride with me”.

Zia smiled, then gestured at the scene I front of them. “Was this you”?

“Maybe”?

Naomi looked one way then the other. “Who are these people”?

“Misfit's and a pro human political party that seem to have decided to invest their donor's credit's in guns and thermal clips”. Wyld rolled her eyes. “Our new army”.

“Are you serious”?

“Yes”. Wyld winced as her side flared again and she brought a hand up over the cut out section of her underlay. Zia spotted the gesture and, taking her hand, moved it aside. She looked up at Wyld.

“You were hit”?

“It's fine”.

Zia was not listening. “I need to get you to the infirmary”.

Wyld shook her head. “Orders. Have to drop off an encryption key at command”.

Zia leaned forward and looked into Wyld's eye's. “Have you been using combat stims”?

Wyld leant away. “Had too”.

“Naomi can take the key to the command post. Your going to see the doctor”.

“We should do that the other way around”. Zia and Wyld turned to look at Naomi who stood between them. “The doctor doesn't like you”. She reminded Zia. “And he's got a lot of people with him so he's probably not in a good mood. And I don't know what to do with an encryption key”. She said turning to Wyld. “I'd be better off taking Jan to see the doctor and you take the key”.

Wyld slowly nodded. “Sounds good”. She pulled a chip out of a pouch and pressed it into Zia's hands. “Just load this into the system. It'll do the rest”.

“Right”. Naomi said. “Infirmaries this way”. She began walking away and Zia caught her arm. “Wait a minute”.

“Actually”. Wyld said, gravitating to the pub. “I heard there was some dancing going on I wanted to see”.

“Hey”! Zia grabbed Wyld, and for a moment she found herself being pulled in two directions by both Naomi and Wyld. She looked between the both of them and shook her head. “Fine. I'm outvoted. “She let go of Naomi and swung Wyld her way. “But doctor first! That's non negotiable”.

Wyld sighed. “Yes ma'am”. She grumbled as she made to follow Naomi who went on ahead, leading the way. Wyld waited till Naomi was out of earshot, before she turned to Zia and said in low tones. “Meet somewhere private later”?

Zia brushed her finger's lightly against Wyld's. Felt a spark within as their skin touched. “Business then pleasure”. She said and Wyld gave her a smile before hurrying after Naomi.

Zia looked down at the chip. Put the data it contained into the camps systems. Then meet up with Wyld later. She frowned. Somewhere private? Where would she find that in a place that was now full to bursting.

Maybe ask someone who knew the camp better than she did? Zia looked down at Jan's ruined armour on the ground. A light bulb went off in her head and she scooped to pick up the armour before heading to command. She knew just who to ask.

Modifié par Redbelle, 12 septembre 2013 - 09:15 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note: The following installment was a collaboration with Khambilo)

Rea instructed Rothan, “You’re going to wrap your arms around me and hold on tight. I can lower us both. Don’t let go until your feet touch the ground, and then step away immediately so Miranda can follow.”

Hugh called from the cockpit, “I’m going with Miranda, right?”

“Not on your life,” Miranda said with just enough ice in her voice that Hugh new she meant business, “This is for professionals.”

“Aw,” Hugh dismayed. Then, becoming serious, he added, “Bring back Arkeer; I miss him putting me in my place.”

Rothan had practiced fast rope drops before, and cautioned, “Isn’t it more dangerous if we drop together?”

“Yes,” Rea answered, “But that smoke cover is zero visibility and it is night. You haven’t done enough drops that you’d be better off without me. Do what I say, and you’ll be fine.”

Miranda and Rea each affixed rebreathers and goggles. Miranda slid the gunship door open and secured a heavy rope for the drop. A few hundred meters away, the conflagration from a large building blasted heat into the Mantis. The bluish glow of the conduit clashed with the orange illumination of the fire to cast everything that could be seen in a visual dichotomy. But just beneath the gunship, a thick pour of smoke created an impenetrable carpet of blackness.

Nodding to Rothan, Rea turned away from him and lifted her arms. Rothan wrapped himself around her, and found clips in the front of Rea’s armor, between her shoulders and chest. Gripping the opposite side clip with each hand, he fully embraced her from behind.

Rea looked over her shoulder. “Tighter.”

Rothan squeezed. He felt her body through her suit and his; it was powerful, determined and supple. Rothan tried not to let his mind wander, but Rea breathed steadily and he felt a natural fit with her figure. Before he could contemplate any further, Rea leaned forward so Rothan’s feet were slightly off the ground. She took the rope from Miranda, reversed herself so Rothan dangled out in the open air, and pushed off.

The carpet of blackness rose up as Rea and Rothan fell. Rea slowed her descent inside the black cloud. Seconds later, they landed on pavement and Rothan let go, moving away a bit off balance. Rea grabbed and steadied him before clearing the way for Miranda, who landed a moment later. Buildings were silhouettes and the only radiance came from the fire now. With the visibility little improved from the cloud, the three switched to image intensifiers. Piles of rubble and bodies littered the street, as tragic reminders of the future the Reapers would bring.

“It will be hard to find anything around here,” Miranda worried aloud. “We should spread out.”

The words had barely left Miranda’s mouth by the time bolts of red whizzed through the smoke.

“Cannibals!” Rea yelled.

They all dove for the ground, trying to find what cover they could. Rothan pulled up his battlefield anomaly program to see if it could discern anything in the smoke.

Miranda launched a volley of biotics in the direction of the red bursts, causing the smoke to glow blue. Rea followed suit, alternating biotics with shots from her Mattock, though there was no way to tell if they were actually hitting anything. Rothan fired a few shots into the foray with his Tempest while the program compiled the data.

“This way!” Rothan called as the program went off, pointing in the direction of the cover he had just found. Miranda and Rea laid down suppressing fire while they dashed through the thick smoke. Rothan caught himself before crashing into the low wall in front of him.

They all fell into cover behind it, firing rounds and biotics into the smoke. Slowly the smoke began to thin. A handful of cannibals remained but they were closing in to flank them.

Through the blaring noise of the skirmish, a noise rang out - a guttural howl. Suddenly one of the cannibals went down. Then another. Miranda, Rothan and Rea could only watch as Arkeer was charging the Cannibals down with his shotgun. The Cannibals began to turn their attention towards him.

He fired two last shots before the shotgun clicked empty. Arkeer rushed forward again, tackling a cannibal to the ground. He yelled again as he began to club the fallen Cannibal with his shotgun with such force that after a few hits the weapon burst apart.

While he was down, the Cannibals moved in and fired, this time hitting him. Arkeer took the shots as if the were nothing. He howled one last time as he ripped the cannibals arm clean out its socket and proceeded to wallop the remaining cannibals to a bloody pulp with it.

When the fighting at last stopped, the smoke began to clear and Arkeer stood panting.

“That was… fun,” he said.

Then the ground thumped slightly and through the fading haze a second hulking form came charging, this time towards the Krogan.

“Arkeer, watch out!” Rea yelled.

But the Krogan was just too slow to avoid it. The Brute batted Arkeer to the ground. Rea and the others did not hesitate, throwing everything they had at the brute. It was hard to tell, but it looked as Arkeer was attempting to grapple with the Brute. A second later it fell, entirely obstructing their view of the Krogan.

Rea suddenly bolted forward in a run. Rothan chased and shouted after her, “Rea!” She headed for the corpse of a Brute and slid around to its other side. As Rothan got closer, he saw she had come to rest next to a large, collapsed form. It was Arkeer. His Eviscerator lay shattered next to him and he held the Brute’s head in his hands.

The krogan wasn’t moving. Rothan, and then Miranda, caught up. Rea picked up Arkeer’s hefty wrist and shoved her fingers beneath his armor to check for a pulse. “I’m barely getting anything,” Rea anxiously exclaimed. She activated her omni-tool to make sure medigel had been administered to Arkeer. Then she punched him in his armored shoulder, “Come on! Don’t you leave me you overgrown varren!”

One of Arkeer’s eye fluttered open and rolled to look at Rea. He inhaled raggedly before saying, “Cut that out. Or I’m going to have to do something about it.”

Rea erupted in laughter and hugged Arkeer.

~~~~

Raising Arkeer to Tempest Two was a challenge but graced with good fortune. The gunship had been equipped with winches and stretchers to compensate for most of the combined forces, including krogan. Arkeer had also, apparently, killed the last Reaper in the immediate area, so he was lifted without threat of attack. There wasn’t much that could determine the full extent of Arkeer’s injuries without a doctor’s examination, but he was awake and coherent.

Who exactly was most excited to see Arkeer was difficult to tell. Rhys and Miranda seemed satisfied that things had gone well, and that they were heading back to the camp. Rothan observed Arkeer from his seat, glad to have not lost yet another friend, and in awe of the krogan’s ability to survive. Rea wouldn’t leave Arkeer’s side, having thrown herself around him and resting her head on his back. But Hugh wouldn’t stop boasting about Arkeer, chewing off Rhys’ ear about how the krogan had single handedly slain more Reapers than the Misfit could ever actually have witnessed, and referring to Arkeer as his, “Big Brother.”

Rhys brought the Mantis down outside the infirmary, and Dr. O’Reilly was waiting with several assistants prepared to move Arkeer. Once the krogan was on his way inside, along with Hugh who swore he would stay with him until he was on his feet again, Miranda, Rea and Rothan disembarked. Then Rhys launched again to travel the short distance to where the other gunships were located at the camp.

The state of Bastion had obviously changed. Large, myriad groups of unfamiliar people mulled about., guided haphazardly by base soldiers and MPs. One woman, who appeared as if she was in charge, tried to get a handle on the situation, until she was interrupted by some old friends who reunited with her. Miranda politely excused herself, feeling the need to make sure the missiles she had worked to procure would be properly taken care of.

Rea found a low wall to sit down on and Rothan followed to sit next to her. While pandemonium reigned about the camp, for the time being, a bubble of tranquility surrounded the quarian and the asari. Both their shoulders sagged from tiredness and relief. A sharp headache seized Rea, but it was short lived. She breathed out heavily, turned to Rothan and asked, “Where do you want to go from here?”

Modifié par Kel Riever, 13 septembre 2013 - 01:08 .

[playoff52]

 Red tracers tore through the air violently. Ripping into concrete and steel alike while progressively tracking a path after Jon as he vaulted from cover to cover. He was dangerously low on thermal clips and running out of steam. The reaper monsters seemed to be everywhere. Like this was there homeworld now, not the humans. He vaulted over a dropped section of wall and slid down the steep decline hitting the bottom with a salvaged submachine gun at the ready. Two telltale Cannibal faces popped up over the edge of the top looking for him. He fed them sustained fire from the weapon. Their faces were torn away in a storm of angry metal shards fired from the weapon. 

Forcing himself up, he backpeddled away. Things were like sharks. As soon as they smelled blood, they converged. It didn't even have to be his blood. They came for anyones. Sure enough more arraived. They exchanged a glance between him and the two downed former batarians and went for the corpses instead. He was hesitated for a moment. He was just at the range of effectiveness for his charge. If he left them to consume the corpses they'd develop armor plating. If he attacked now he could be charging into a mess. Either way he was screwed. He tried his emergency transmittor one last time.

"All callsigns on this frequency, this is Lt. Masters. I am stranded and alone deep in enemy territory. My team was dispatched to conduct enemy harrasment operations. I'm the sole suvivor. Need evac to safety. Repeat-" He had to break transmission as a Husk lunged from the darkness grabbing him. He kicked it's knee out and punched it in the throat, then lifted it up and body slammed it. Before it could scramble back up he thrust his sword down into it's skull. If he wasn't wearing a helmet he'd have spat on it.

Jon didn't have a good angle on the Cannibals anymore so he turned to run. They'd finish the corpses by the time he could attack. He left his emergency transponder on via his omni-tool. Make it so his allies could track his position. He also tried to get clear of the clear of the debris he was in. Find some open road. Somewhere a gunship or mako could make a pick up. 

On the street things were deathly quiet. It had not seen any activity since the Reapers initially landed. The scene had been pure chaos. Civilians running around franticlly. Military desperately scrambling. First Responders trying to rescue those injured. It was some of the worst days the street had seen. Now it was little more than a grave marker for most. Silent, somber, serene in a way. Until one of the shop windows exploded outword. Showering broken fragments of glass and one Lt. Masters falling backwards while firing his submachine gun till the thermal clip ran dry. He rolled backwards onto his feet and threw the weapon. It was useless to him now. 

"Sword or shotgun?" He asked the VI in his helmet interface.

"You're weapons will only be effective at close range. None of them weigh in above a cannibal. Suggest using your sword for ammo conservancy."

"Noted."

He withdrew the blade from it's sheathe. His lip quirked up ward into a smile though it couldn't be seen. The Cannibals must have sensed he was more vulnerable now, or felt more emboldened due to the lack of fire he was putting out. It'd been their experience anyone not firing was a civilian and ample for processing. But not Jon. Not here. Not tonight.

"Come and get me you ugly bastards."

The first one stepped to charge, but Jon beat him to the punch. In a matter of a second he'd scored the 20 yards between them and slammed headlong right into the lead Cannibal. It flew lifeless through the air like a ragdoll after having been smashed by upwards of a thousand newtons of force. Just as quickly as he claimed his first victim he took another with a broad stroke of his sword. Blood and gore splattered the ground as he pivoted and brought the blade across what passed for another cannibals face. He felt several rounds splashing against his barrier from behind. He turned to charge, but held back as a Mako ran clean over the Cannibal. Only it's arm stuck out from under the wheel.

The hatch popped open and an Alliance soldier gestured for him to climb in. Not needing a written invitation he ran straight for the mako and climbed in. "We heard your transmission a while back we just couldn't find clear enough ground to get to ya until you made your way towards the road."

Jon nodded, "I was knee deep in debris. I didn't figure you guys would risk going that far off road." 

"We're just glad we could pull your ass out of the fire." Alliance guy said.

"We aren't out of here yet." Jon said dryly as the Mako came about and he heard the engines rev as they made their way for parts unknown. He glanced over to the gunner and knocked on his shoulder plate. "Speaking of, where exactly are we going? When command sent us out they didn't really give us a detailed layout of operations out here."

"That's because Command doesn't really know. It's hard to coordinate anything larger than a platoon out here. They sniff us out in large groups constantly."

He nodded to the gunner, "yea...sounds like other places."

"Where've you been?" The gunner asked him.

Jon shrugged, "Here and there. Rotated a squad out of Noveria for a bit. Did a stint in the Terminus for a bit. None of it looks any different."

"how does it look?" The gunner asked leaning closer.

He turned and glanced to the guy, he'd been doing most of his fighting here clearly. "The end." The Mako lurched to a stop ending the conversation thankfully. The hatch popped open.

The gunner nodded towards outside. "Here we are. FOB Bastion. It ain't pretty, but it's home."

He slid out of the mako gracefully, like water pouring from a glass. "Thanks for the lift." He banged the side of the tank. Jon felt a sharp stabbing pain in his side and only just noticed he'd taken a hit. He figured he should get it looked at. Glancing around looking for some indication of where a field medic might be. He wandered off to find his way around.

Modifié par playoff52, 14 septembre 2013 - 06:36 .

[Redbelle]

Zia stood in front of the terminal to the camps communication array. The entire system was shut down and had been since it had been installed. With Reaper capital ships dropping on camps that broadcast signals, it had been an unfortunate, but necessary countermeasure. Without some form of central command there was no way to organise the fight back with forces on the ground. Though despite Bastion, maintaining it's central command post, it's time lag information prevented active management of the battlefield.

Those in the command post had been forced to piece together what was going on. Instead of managing personnel on the field, they had been forced to draw back and view the battlefield from a wider perspective. No longer managing or reinforcing squads in areas.

No one had been more surprised then the people who now crowded around Zia, when reports from the field had begun suggesting that, without command support, the effectiveness of the battleground soldiers had gone up. True, more Reapers had gotten through their lines. But with their front lines now filtering Reapers and picking off their number's, other Alliance unit's, behind the front, had started whittling down the advancing number's even further. Guerilla tactics that command had never considered were winning the war. The Alliance hit, the Reapers tried to hit back and hit nothing but air. The Reapers advanced. They were hit by more Alliance soldier's in hiding. Meanwhile the front line relocated so that forces the Reapers threw at the area's of contention were wasted manoeuvring rather than fighting. It had been a brilliant counter that the field teams had concocted by themselves, that the command staff could do nothing but observe.

Zia flipped the chip Wyld gave her between her finger's and looked up at the heavy set comm tech in front of her. “Your sure”?

The tech called Roland nodded. “All the data we're getting points to the same thing. It doesn't matter that these new tactics are in place. We're still losing. We're still taking causalities and our reinforcement reserves are down to nothing. Meanwhile they keep pumping out more and more husks and have a never ending supply of unit's to move in.” He made a helpless gesture. “It doesn't matter how we fight now. All the data tells us we're going to be overrun in all the main theatres. We'll have pocket's here and there that they haven't focused on. But when they do....”. Roland let the statement hang in the air. “....We just can't kill enough of them for every one of ours. We need to reorganise our asset's and get them ready for either rushing the beam, or holding back the forces that would cut us off from it”.

Roland looked nervously at the chip in Zia's hand. “Radcliffe sent a messenger about that chip. He knows the score. Without secure comm's, we're can't organise our forces to hit the beam with enough might to stage a breakthrough”. Zia nodded. Turned the chip over again as Roland sweated. “I've been over the data on that chip. Some of it's incredibly complex. I can't make head's or tails of it. We're putting this thing into our system on the word of Commander Wyld that it will do what she says”.

“You doubt her”?

Roland shook his head. “No. It's just, I don't know if the data it contains will do she says. She may have been told what it will do, but I can't substantiate that claim”.

“But you will follow Radcliffe's orders”?

Roland nodded. “Yes. But, we're grasping at straws at this point. This is an act of desperation. There are rules and guidelines to follow about adding anything to the system. What we're about to do? It goes against all of them”.

Zia nodded. “Well, if we're desperate.... Boot up the system”.

Roland reached behind the terminal, manhandled a power coupling into the back and flicked a switch. The system took a few minutes to warm up, then it's holographic interface sprung to life and Roland manipulated the controls. A round holographic circle appeared with the words, interface, written in it.

Roland pointed. “Put the chip in that”.

Zia played the chip through her finger's one last time. A small smile on her lips. “Jan's always one for long shot’s”. She said and placed the chip into it's interface slot.

The terminal beeped and light's in the side began flashing. A download bar appeared and took it's time running to it's end. The moment it did the holographic interface cut out and the terminal went dead. Roland cursed and shook his head. “Good thing the comm array wasn't on. Hell knows what was on that chip”.

Suddenly every terminal in the command centre went dead, as did the light's. Roland exclaimed loudly as the emergency lights came on. Zia meanwhile watched the comm terminal. A little egg timer had appeared that no one had noticed and was running down. The sand ran out.

The lights abruptly came back on and there was a collective sigh of relief. At least, until they noticed what their holographic displays now projected.

Zia turned to the map table. It's holographic display, likewise, showing the visage of an Asari wearing a two piece so tight, it probably would have suffocated a living person. Zia's eye's drank in the sight as the figure proclaimed.

“Greeting's. I am Momma. I have begun updating all camp systems to hide our presence from Reaper forces. In short order internal and external communication's will be up and all on-site omni tool comms will be given updates to prevent.....”.

“Excuse me”. Zia said, interrupting Momma, as she stepped forward. The holographic Asari looked at Zia and recognition filled her.

“Hello Zia. I am pleased to finally meet you face to face”.

“You know me”?

“Yes. You rode me many times. And Jerry-Ann has told me many things regarding you”.

“Such as”?

Momma made a show of thinking. “I could list them in any order. But to start with, she told me how she would like to tie you to a tread mill and lick the sweat from your body.....”.

Zia smile grew large “It's freaking Christmas”. She said softly as she turned to Roland, who pointed at Momma.

“That's an AI”!

“Look's that way”.

Roland was shaking his head. “We have to get it out. It could be doing anything to our systems! It could....”!

Zia wrapped an arm around Roland's thick neck in a gesture that seemed comforting, till she squeezed just a little to tight. “I like her. Wyld brought her to us. Radcliffe ordered her installation”. She hissed as she pushed him, gently but firmly towards his terminal. “Any sign of something she shouldn't be doing”?

Roland scanned his terminal, swept though lines of coding. “No....”. He admitted.

“Then she stays”. Zia said. “If I hear you've yanked her without order's too”. She leaned forward into Roland's face and said, with menace dripping from each word. “I'll be back”.

Roland nodded, then turned to busy himself as Zia's Omni tool beeped. She brought it up and was surprised to see a small Momma, from head to foot, materialise on her Omni tool.

“Thank you Zia”. She said. “I was worried my inclusion into the camps fighting asset's would cause a panic. You appear to have averted a crisis in system management”.

“Uh....”. Zia mumbled. “Your welcome”?

“I have updated all Omni tool encryption. I am testing the settings through yours. I detect no conflicts. Would you like to know more about what Wyld told me of you in the mean time”?

Blabber mouth. Zia thought. But could not resist a deeper understanding of the inner working's of Wyld's mind.

Tie me to a tread mill?

An idea suddenly formed as she started heading out the centre and towards Sully's. “Your image can be altered, right”?

“Of course”. Momma affirmed. “Would you like me to start telling you what Wyld told me now? From all account's I gather that above all other's, she holds you in the highest of confidence's. And from reviewing your physical acts together, I do not see the harm in sharing her thoughts as she is not currently here to do so”.

“Only, if you lose the clothes”.

Mommas image fizzled, then came together once more, but without her....

Zia purred.

Modifié par Redbelle, 13 septembre 2013 - 09:41 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Commander Shepard's left leg moved approximately 30 cm toward the beam. A marauder moved 6 cm to the right behind the cover of a concrete barrier, and a brute moved 36 cm toward Shepard. Liara took a partial breath. Garrus saw the brute out of the corner of his eye, and rotated his body 4 cm of the 13.5 cm necessary to fire his weapon. All this took place in about 1/6th of a second.

(note: I had to keep the main story moving)

[Redbelle]

Naomi held open the entrance as Wyld ducked into the medical area and walked inside. Naomi came in after her and called. “Dr Ben”?

Ben's head popped around a curtain far down the room. “What? What is it? Busy”! He looked at Wyld. Then Naomi. “Not injured”? He called to them in an Irish accent that surprised Wyld. “Leave. I have patient's”.

Naomi shook her head and gestured to Wyld's side. “She was shot. Zia wants her checked out”.

“Why does that woman continue to plague me”! Ben disappeared round the curtain and there was a soft discussion that neither Wyld or Naomi could hear. Then he re-emerged and gestured to a bed. “Get on. Must be quick. More patient's coming”.

Wyld hopped on the bed. “It's okay doctor. I'm a medic. I took care of it”.

Ben made a sound of exasperation. “A combat medic? Battle field medicine. No substitute for proper surgery”. He motioned for her to lie down and bringing up his medical scanner on his Omni tool, ran it over her injured side. “Good”. He announced. “The wound was properly treated. No signs of infection. Medigel has sped up healing process”. His eye's abruptly narrowed. “But borderline on overdose of combat stimulants. Interfering with process of healing gun shot wound”. He looked over at Wyld. “As a medic you should know better. Explain”.

“I was down”. Wyld explained. “I had to go after someone and I couldn't do that without using the stims to break through the pain barrier and get my body working hard enough to reach her in time”.

“But you nearly overdosed”!

“But I didn't”. Wyld said firmly. “Because I know my limit's”.

Ben shook his head. “Foolish risk. Will not make a hash of it. Your decision. My mess to clean up. Typical”.

He walked over to a tower of drawers and pulled out two devices. Grabbing the arm of Wyld's underlay he gave a quick tug and the already damaged material tore. “Hey”! Wyld protested.

“No matter”. Ben assured her. “You'll need new armour anyway. May as well get all new equipment while your there. Underlay already compromised”. Taking one of the devices he slapped it onto her arm, strapped it in placed, made a few adjustment's, then hit a switch on the side. Wyld felt two sharp stings and she felt two needles enter her arm. Looking down at the device she saw it held two reservoirs. One was filling up with a crimson liquid. The other was full of a clear liquid that was very slowly being emptied.

She looked up at the doctor. “Your scrubbing my blood chemistry”?

“Yes”. Ben said. “Blood being filtered to remove stimulants. Herbal concoction of my own devising being pumped in two remove stims from binding sites. Will replenish strength in time. Return you to un-stimed state”. He brought out the second device. Took the patch off Wyld's side and clamped the second to the wound which adhered to the skin. “Tissue regenerator”. He explained as Naomi leaned in closer. “Will take longer to work due to stims. Will eventually repair tissues and close wound fully”.

Wyld sighed. “You could just say you gave me cancer”.

“Not cancer”! Ben insisted.

Wyld looked over to Naomi who was looking between them both. “Controlled rapid tissue growth stimulated by carefully selected energy wavelength's. Designed to have a corporation boasted. Zero point zero zero one chance of having a permanent effect on the tissue after the treatment's over with”.

“And not cancer”! Ben said again.

“Just tell me you have the decontam device in those drawers”. Wyld said plaintively. “The way this evening's going I may be that one in a million patient”.

Ben sighed. “Third drawer down”. He said. “Must attend other patient's. Very busy”. He walked off leaving Wyld and Naomi together.

Jan sat up on the medical gurney and put her leg's over the side of the bed as she looked down at the regenerator. “Damn it”.

“What's wrong”? Naomi asked.

“These thing's really do itch”. Wyld said, wincing. “I mean, really itch. I used a few on other patient's in places like this”. She gestured around them. “Never thought I'd have one used on me”.

Naomi put a hand on Wylds arm. “But your going to be okay again, right”?

Wyld looked at Naomi. Felt her touch. Saw the concern etched on her face. Wyld felt something inside her. It wanted to pour forth. A feeling unfamiliar.

A grin erupted on Wyld face and she pulled Naomi into an embrace. Naomi squeaked in surprise as Wyld held her. Nestled between her leg's over the table. One hand at the small of her back. The other slipping up across her back and over her shoulder. Wyld hugged her close. Her breath coming in quick gasps. She suddenly felt intense anxiety washing over her that holding onto Naomi seemed to hold at bay.

Naomi meanwhile was pushing herself away. “Jan”! She exclaimed. Pushing herself far enough away that she could see her face. “Let go of me. What's wrong with you”?

“I....”. Wyld took a long shuddering breath and managed to release Naomi enough that she was able to pull herself free. When she was she looked at Jan's face. Saw the distress there.

“Jan”?

“I'm fine. It's just....”. Wyld held her hand over the regenerator. The wound was prickling like crazy. “I think.... I nearly, might have died out there”. She took a deep breath and pulled herself together. “I was in the Valkyr”. She explained. “Then I had to send the Valkyr away to get injured to where they could be helped. I was with a platoon that decided not to undertake a mission I was on. I was alone with a woman. A civilian. She.....”. Wyld shook her head. “She didn't have the training we have. She kept making little mistakes. I kept having to intervene and eventually one of little mistakes caused me taking a bullet”. She paused as she took a deep breath. “And it didn't end there. That woman made more mistakes. She literally brought a Reaper army down on the two of us. Then she attracted the attention of a Banshee! Then my rifle malfunctioned, then my armour starts to fail. And there's no one but her to support me”.

Wyld brought a hand up to her eye's and took several deep breaths. As she did, she felt arms slipping around her waist. She looked down and Naomi was there. Holding her. “You went through a lot. And now your safe. And it's all coming out? Right”.

Wyld looked down at Naomi. Gratitude filling her as Naomi looked up at her in understanding. “Sorry I freaked you out”. She said as she gently slipped her arms around Naomi. “It's stress. I could tell you the medical definition if you like”. She sighed. “Soldier's have to go through a lot of intense situations. We hold it all in. We have to keep it together or someone gets hurt”.

Wyld squeezed her eye's together as she tried to relax. She brought her head down to nestle her chin on Naomi's forehead. Breathed in deeply, catching the scent of her hair. She really is peaches. She thought to herself as she felt the tension drain out of her and from her core, came a shudder, that travelled up her body and emerged as a restrained laugh. “Thank you”. She whispered to Naomi as she slowly let go. “Thanks”. She said again. Her voice steady once more. “You wouldn't believe how good it was to see friends again”.

“Friends huh”? Said Naomi as she stepped back.

“Yeah.” Wyld nodded. “You and Zia. You've always been there when I needed you. You never abandoned me in the middle of a fight. I believe in you. Both of you”. Wyld stretched herself up towards the ceiling. “I've always fought in support roles. I've never been on my own in a fight before. There's always been someone”. She paused. “And I don't have biotic's like you or Zia. Or a mass of tools to bring out when things get rough. I'm just a woman with a rifle. Take that away and I can't do anything”.

Naomi shook her head. “I don't remember being that much help to you”.

“Back at the hotel”. Wyld said. “You were grabbing our guns from the coat room. I was holding off husks with a pistol. I ran out? Had to reload”? Wyld searched Naomi's face and saw no recollection. “You came out with the rifles. Yelled at me to get down and opened up on all of them just as they were going to pounce on me”. Wyld gestured. “It was something, seeing as how you didn't have your.....”. Wyld stopped as she looked down where she was pointing. Naomi looked too. Saw Wyld gesturing at her hand.

She raised her hand in front of her. “You mean, since I only had one hand. Because Count Berger cut it off and fed it into a clone tank”.

Wyld blanched. “Sorry. I didn't mean too...”.

“But the person who saved you wasn't me. It was the original me. The one that died nearly a husk”.

Wyld looked at Naomi. “Maybe we shouldn't talk about it”.

“Because I might flare”? Naomi shook her head. “I have to admit. Back then I was naïve. I was scared. I didn't help you or Zia as much as I perhaps should”. She looked Wyld in the eye. “But I've changed since then. Zia helped me. You and Zia helped me become who I am now. But I don't remember saving you because it wasn't me who shot the husks off you”.

“Your still the same person Nay”. Wyld said quietly.

“I hope not”. Naomi said. “I hope I'm not still the scared little girl you two had to carry. I want to pull my weight. I want to do more for you. For the war. I want to win! I want to live so I can find out who this me is! The one who isn't scared any more”. Wyld nodded as she looked on her with pride and Naomi took a deep breath. “So seeing as how you've always been there for me. I'm asking you. Because I'm ready to shoulder my own load. Are you and Zia screwing each other behind my back”.

Wyld froze mid nod and her insides seemed to turn to ice. She paused. And that hesitation was all Naomi needed.

“She's been cheating on me. With you. Hasn't she”.

“Nay.... I....”.

Naomi shook her head. Pressed her knuckle's against her eye's. “I saw the signs early. I thought you weren't into women so it didn't matter. Then you had that blow out when we got here, before you went to the brig. Then there's the little cues Zia gives when someone mentions you. Then I heard of a video doing the rounds. I never saw it. But I heard it was of two people behind bar's making love”. She took a harried breath and looked up. Her eye's boring into Wyld's. “Then there was the way you met us. You grabbed me but were cooler to her. With your history I'd expect that to be the other way around. Why? Because you feel guilty about taking her from me”?

“Nay”. Wyld said firmly. “I will not let Zia leave you. She needs you more than me. I'm sorry..... for all of this”. She said, meaning every word. “But..... I can't let what I feel bottle up inside me any more. It's needs to come out or..... or I feel like I might burst”.

“You won't let Zia leave me.....”. Naomi repeated slowly. “Well when it comes down to it, that's not up to you. Is it”?

“Nay...”. Wyld began.

“Maybe this commander business has gone to your head. Maybe you hope that maybe, Me, you and Zia will be an item together. Is that right”?

Wyld tried to find words. The right words. “It's.....complicated. I don't know....... I don't want to hurt anybody”. She could feel her desperation growing. “Nay, we can figure this out. I don't know what your thinking, but understand. This is all new to me! I don't know what to do about us. I'm figuring it out as I go”. She slowed and took a breath. “Look. Let's be calm and talk about this”.

“I'm a lot calmer than you are right now”. Naomi assured her. “I could level this camp. I've had to grow up. Handle myself better. Be.... Responsible.....”. She drew out the words deliberately. “So I'm not going to flare. And I'm glad you trust me to work in the field because I trust you to look out for me as well. Because unlike Zia, you tell the truth..... when your asked”. She added.

Naomi worked her jaw a few times as Wyld stayed quiet. She could see something warring behind Naomi's eye's. Something was vying for dominance. Her eye's abruptly narrowed.

Her hand flew through the air so fast that Wyld never saw it coming. There was a crack that filled the entire room, hitting her cheek and the cut Zia had inflicted on Wyld, after Naomi had died, split open and began bleeding once more. The sting of the slap came as soon as Naomi withdrew her hand.

Wyld reached up as she turned to face her. Finger's brushing tender flesh as Naomi glared at her in carefully controlled fury.

“You.... ****”. She hissed, and turned to stalk away.

Wyld sat there, looking after her as Naomi exited. Holding the side of her face where the slap had fallen. Her eye's becoming liquid. “Nay”. She whispered. Her voice reflecting the regret she felt at the harm she had caused another.

Further down, Ben listened from behind a curtain. He shook his head. “I can't cure that”. He said. Then busied himself in work. More patient's were coming and he had to prepare.

Modifié par Redbelle, 14 septembre 2013 - 05:31 .

[Redbelle]

Wyld sat on the bed in the infirmary. The device's on her arm and side humming away as they worked to repair both her body and rebalance her blood chemistry. They seemed to be working as the fatigue Wyld felt was rapidly diminishing. And her side no longer ached as much as it had.

But still, she felt lousy.

She reached up and touched the side of her face. Saw Naomi's face in her minds eye as she swung her hand around. Saw the rage that she had placed there after admitting, when Naomi had asked, that she had been carrying out an affair with Zia behind her back.

That was what hurt her the most. That look. Not the hatred or anger that had twisted her face into that mask. But her eye's. In those eye's she'd seen sadness. Disappointment. A human soul in pain.

And she was the cause of it.

One thing that medics often talked about around tables was the Hippocratic oath. About how it applied to them. They were not required to speak the oath themselves. Given that they had to be prepared to snap into action and, maybe, kill someone someday, the oath would simply work to add the potential of hesitancy in their actions. But as Medics they spoke of it anyway. One very important part of the oath in particular.

Do No Harm.

They'd argued and talked of how such an oath could apply to them. The context of which they would have to apply it.

Do No Harm.

Corpsman carried guns. Because a corpsman was just another infantry man until someone was injured. Until that time, they were expected to be able to inflict as much harm as any other soldier with a rifle.

She felt a tear roll down her face.

Do No Harm.

No medic ever spoke the words. But each knew, and held deep the meaning behind those words. An unspoken contract between themselves to, at the very least, defend the meaning behind them in so far as they could. And she'd broken it. She'd inflicted an injury that went beyond the wound she felt in her side. The one that in five minutes, would be gone, with just the hint of a scar to remind her that she had nearly died.

From the entrance of the tent men burst through about half a dozen carrying a large stretcher in which lay a Krogan. “We need a bed”!

Wyld looked around. Saw all the beds taken.

Do No Harm.

“Over here”! She called as she hopped off and the men wasted no time dropping the Krogan off. The bed groaned under the weight before it settled.

The men let out a collective sigh of relief as they dropped him off. “Crud. This guy's heavy”. One said as they turned and left. As they did a couple walked inside, stepping to one side as they made room for the soldier’s Wyld saw they were an Asari and a Quarian.

They looked over at where the Krogan lay. “Arkeer”! The Asari called out as they both hurried over the bed.

Wyld meanwhile had brought up her Omni-tool's medical scanner and was running it over his body. Her Xenobiology course had prepared her for treating other species. Though this being her first Krogan she had to admit. He'd need Ben if there was anything seriously wrong with him.

Wyld cast an eye up as both moved to either side of the bed. “Arkeer”? Said the Asari once more, and the Krogan's eye's opened just a fraction.

“Euugh”. He groaned. “I feel like something ran over me”.

“Something did”. Said the Quarian. “You wrestled a Brute”.

“Heh”! Arkeer laughed, which began a coughing fit. “Wish I could see the other guy”.

The Asari looked up at Wyld, concern etched on her face. “Can you help him”?

Wyld shut down her Omni-tool and moved to his side. She gently began to remove section's of armour. “The Doctor will be here soon. Near as I can tell, he's got some broken bones, some bruised and torn muscle.....”. She broke off as she grunted with a section of armour that had been bent so far that it wouldn't come away.

Arkeer rolled his head over. “Don't stop now”. He said. “Get to the good stuff. I wanna tell everyone how bad I got beat. And then still broke a brute in half”.

“With some help”. The Quarian pointed out. Arkeer just raised a hand and brushed him off.

“Details, Details”. He looked over at Wyld. “Well? C'mon. Spill already”.

The Asari and Quarian both started chuckling. “It's all right”. The Asari assured Wyld. “He won't stop asking till you tell him”.

“Damn Straight”.

Wyld felt a smile. She could feel the camaraderie pouring off these three. “I don't think you'd want to know”. She said as she gave the armour another tug before giving up. It wasn't going anywhere.

“What”? Arkeer asked suspiciously.

Wyld just shook her head. “No no, it's nothing..... I mean we can transplant if we do some gene therapy I guess.....”. She trailed off.

“What's wrong with me”. Arkeer demanded.

Wyld looked up at the two standing next to her and winked. “Well..... Maybe if I just show your friends, they can tell you”. She walked away. Then returned with a pair of large mechanical shears that had Arkeer's eye's bulging. “Don't worry”. Jan said. “These are for the armour. Hold still though”. She said between her teeth as she lowered them down on the section that refused to budge. We've been known to snip a few things other than armour with these things.

The Asari patted the Krogan. “It would be a shame, to be cured of the genophage, to suddenly be castrated while being cut out of your armour”.

“What's going.....”. Arkeer tried to rise but at Wylds urging, both the Quarian and the Asari held him down. “Don't move a muscle”. Wyld warned him. “This is very delicate work”.

Arkeer could only stare up at the ceiling as the snips were moved into place. Then the soft crackle as a section of his armour was slowly cut. There was a clatter and everyone crowded around the now exposed section.

“There”. Came Wylds voice.

“Where”? Asked the Quarian.

“Right there”. Wyld replied.

The Asari's voice sounded confused. “I don't see anything”.

“Exactly”!

“What? What is it”? Arkeer was beginning to sound frantic as Wyld came into view motioned for him to raise himself up. He looked down and saw that his midriff had been exposed, leaving his armour plates open to the air. Aside from some old scars and some new cuts where the armour had failed to protect him, the looked fine. He looked up at Wyld who simply showed him an image on her Omni tool.

“I'm sorry, but scans confirm it”. She looked over to the other two and Arkeer followed her gaze to see Rea and Rothan trying very hard not to laugh. Wyld placed a hand on Arkeer's shoulder. “You have no belly button. The Brute must have punched it right off”.

Now the two couldn't hold back. They started spluttering which turned into full blown laughter that echoed down the ward. Wyld meanwhile maintained her grave tone. “Maybe if someone had gone to look for it we could have saved it and put it back on. As it stands, we'll have to transplant from a donor”.

“Hey”.

Wyld continued as if she hadn't heard him. “Maybe a Salarian could be convinced to part with one. We have one around here somewhere you can ask”.

“Hey”! Arkeer grabbed at Wyld who laughed as she took a quick step back. His hand brushed thin air. “I hatched from an egg you idiot”!

Wyld had the gall to look surprised, which just added to Rea and Rothan's merriment. “You don't say? Well how about that! I need to tell the whole medical community about this. We're on the verge of a ground breaking new understanding of Krogan here”!

Rea brushed a tear out of her eye as Arkeer just made strangled guttural sounds. “He will recover though”?

Wyld turned nodded. “He''ll be fine. If he were me or you, he wouldn't be here”. She brought her tool up and quickly scanned through the results. “There's a lot of damage. But nothing that should be life threatening. Field treatment prevented anything serious from occurring in transit”. She looked at Arkeer who was still fuming.

“Your already healing and your redundant systems are taking over for what was hurt. The doctor can fix up the major injuries. You'll be sore and maybe need some down time to let the treatments take a firm hold. But you'll be back up in no time”.

The Quarian finally managed to pull himself upright, having doubled over during his fit of laughter. “Our brave, strong and noble Arkeer will live to fight another day”.

The Asari nodded, and smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Perhaps we should all focus on how brave and strong he is... rather than allow rumour's to spread that he almost panicked from not having a belly button”. She caught herself just before she laughed again, resulting in a snort. “Though I have to wonder. Would he look cuter with an innie, or an outee”?

Arkeer was saved from replying by a stern Irish voice carrying over. “What's all the noise over here”?

Ben appeared holding a pad. He saw Arkeer lying in the bed Wyld had vacated. “Your early. No one informed me”. He saw Wyld standing off to the side. “You. Treatment complete. Can leave now. Must make room for more patients. Leave equipment on the side”.

Wyld took off the devices on her arm and side. She felt much better as she fired her scans over to the doctor who double checked them. “Medics thinking their doctor's”. She heard him mutter as she left with the other two. “Saint's preserve us”.

Then they were outside and Wyld was greeted by the two who introduced themselves as Rea and Rothan. “Thank you for that”. Rea said as she shook Wylds hand. “It's been to long since we had something to laugh about”.

“I wish I'd taken a picture”. Rothan said, standing closely by her side. “He'd probably never forgive me if I had though”.

Rea smiled at him. “We could always relive it.....” she said before her smile faltered and she looked away. “though perhaps we should respect his pride”.

She looked at Wyld now. Her soft eye's seeming to look through her, into the core of her being. “And out of respect for what you have done for us. Perhaps we could meet later? You seem to have something weighing you down. Perhaps a friendly ear.....”?

“....Or two”. Rothan added.

Wyld looked between both of them. “Thanks, but I'm fine. I need to go see whoever hands out the armour in this place”.

Rea took a step closer and picked at her armour underlay. “You certainly seem to have taken a battering. I myself need to see a man called Sully. Perhaps if we go together....”?

Wyld felt her stomach ride up into her chest, flop down and turn to goo at the mere proximity of Rea. Then she remembered Naomi. The two feeling's. Desire, and guilt, warred for dominance which she pushed to one side. My feeling's are all over the place. She thought to herself. And as Rea took her hand away, Wyld felt relief. Relief.....And not small amount of..... of what?

Just what the hell was going on with her feelings? One moment, she was wrecked over having upset Naomi, the other, she was ready to paw the ground because a beautiful attractive woman had reached out for her?

A beautiful and attractive......

….....Oh damn.

Modifié par Redbelle, 14 septembre 2013 - 07:28 .

[Redbelle]

Sully was busy over his workbench when he heard someone behind him say.

“Knock knock”.

Turning, Sully saw Zia standing in the doorway. One arm resting her head between the frame while she leaned with her hip cocked out to the side.

Sully sighed. “Mercy temptress. Mayhap's you brought an angel to protect me from your influence”?

Zia laughed and pushed away to walk into the room. “No such luck. She's looking after a friend. Which is why I'm here”.

She threw Wylds broken armour onto the bench and it made a clatter. Sully stared at it. “Holeeeee”.

Zia nodded. “It's a small miracle the person wearing that is still breathing”.

Sully prodded the carapace and, applying a little pressure, watched a section crumble under his finger. “It's hit it's expected life expectancy”. He found the serial number, ran it and sighed. “It's not that old though. Damn.... the field's murder on equipment these days”.

Zia nodded. “I need you to help her”.

“Her”?

“My friend”. Zia said. “Jerry-Ann Wyld. She was a medic who got promoted to commander”.

Sully though t for a moment. “No one by that names come to see me”.

Zia nodded. “If she does. I need you to deck her out for war”.

“Well sure I....”.

“For war....”. Zia repeated. “Not for support duty. She'll want replacement gear. She needs to wake up and realise she's supposed to be fighting like a leader now. Not a medic”.

Sully nodded. “So her role's changed but she hasn't caught on”?

“Exactly”.

Sully nodded. “I've got just the thing. It'll take time though”. He ran Wylds file. “And I've got nothing in stock for her”. He frowned. “I've got some clothes and some kit she can use in the meantime. But if you want her ready for war she'll need to be patient”.

“She can do patience”. Zia said and turned to go. Sully likewise turned to look over the ruined armour when he heard from behind him. "By the way, is there anywhere in the camp someone can go when they don't want to be disturbed"?

"Try the top floor of some of these buildings". Sully called back. "We never got around to testing the floors up there, so there off limit's. I'm pretty sure the supports are good. We just never got around to signing off on them".

“Thanks. And don't go telling Jan I was here. I want what's coming to be a surprise”.

Sully turned to ask her what she meant.

But Zia was gone.

Modifié par Redbelle, 14 septembre 2013 - 07:24 .

[Redbelle]

“C'mon, c'mon”! Babylon motioned impatiently at the two Volus who hurried after her. One held the remains of a roving camera, whose anti grav array was broken, but was still able to record, over her shoulder. The other held a long pole with a microphone attached to the end of it which fed into a belt that could broadcast both the sights and sounds that they captured.

Babylon huffed. Swearing that once her marriage was annulled she'd drop these two and get real camera and sound men. Humans. Professionals. Two professional human men......

....Who didn't require a third Volus following the other two carrying a box for the camera Volus to stand on.

Babylon pointed to her husband carrying the box. “You! Get that over here right now”!

Hiss “Yes dear”. Hiss. Came the reply.

Babylon shook her head as she took a quick draw of a cigarette before dropping it to the ground. Then she looked around at the scene behind her.

Perfect.

The scene was one of Alliance troops offloading Tee-Eff equipment while Tee-Eff personnel stood around. They looked like they were supervising the scene. Not actively participating, but that didn't matter. She could set the scene for her audience. That was her job after all. To control how people saw things. A group of Misfit's stood out of camera shot. That was also good. Didn't want undesirables in the picture. Speaking of undesirables.

She turned and saw that the Camera Volus had managed to get up on her box. She pointed the camera at Babylon and counted her down.

Three.

Two.

One.

“This is Amy Babylon reporting from within a Human Alliance camp, deep within hostile alien territory. You see me here where Alliance soldier's stand shoulder to shoulder with the volunteer army of Terra Firma who have agreed to fight alongside our brave service men and women. Terra Firma, at this point in time, may very well be the last party to be confirmed as having a leadership who, has been medically confirmed by specialist doctors, as being free of the Reaper influence. This Reaper influence has seen many of the current political leadership betray humanity to this alien invasion. With many leader's urging surrender and compliance across the globe, it has fallen to the brave men and women of Earth to repel this current occupying force using whatever means are available to them. Truly, humanity has risen to the challenge in the face of overwhelming opposition”.

“Now however, we may be about to see the final operation in this war that may well tip the scales firmly in the alliance's favour. We are unable to disclose much at this time, but sources close to the leadership within this camp say that forces are being gathered to wage the final blow against the Reaper hordes. With both the Alliance and the Terra Firma party, who has been led to this potential historic moment by it's current leader, Wilson Armitage. We can only wait with baited breath to see who emerges victorious from this climactic final battle for the future of mankind”.

She waited until the Volus lowered the camera. “You get it”? The Volus nodded. “Good. Let's get it to editing. We need to get these up on the screens. Start broadcasting some actual news to people”.

She walked off while the Volus hurriedly attempted to get their companion off the box to follow.

Modifié par Redbelle, 14 septembre 2013 - 10:10 .

[Kel Riever]

The medic seemed to exude feelings that Rea felt oddly familiar with, despite never having met her before. Either that or Rea wanted badly to talk to someone and she seemed like the right person. Maybe it was just that the woman wore here emotions outwardly. Something Rea desperately wanted. She spied over at Rothan; it still was impossible for her to figure out exactly what was going on behind his visor, despite her best attempts to stare through it.

Rea, Rothan and Wyld stepped out from the infirmary and headed toward the armory down the street. With all Rea’s thoughts bottlenecking about Rothan, she focused on the medic. “Forgive me, I don't think to even introduce myself sometimes, with the war happening around us. My name is Rea and this is Rothan.”

“Oh, actually, guilty as charged, as well. I’m Jerry-Ann Wyld, but you can call me Jan.”

“So, you really aren’t a doctor,” Rea asked, a bit incredulous. “You’ve got better bedside manners than Dr. O’Reilly.”

“Is that Dr. Ben’s last name?” Wyld’s eyes rolled. “Why am I not surprised?”

Rea drifted a bit at the memory of her own Ben. Rothan brought her attention back, however, declaring, “O’Reilly…That doesn’t sound like any salarian name I’ve heard of. How strange.”

“Let me tell you,” Wyld exclaimed, “That isn’t even the beginning of the strange in this camp.”

The people who continued to mill about the street only seemed to mount evidence towards Wyld’s observation. Small group now formed between those who were most familiar with each other, and while many listened to the directions soldiers were giving them, many also appeared to want to branch out and find a bit of their own territory. Rea was envisaging the problems that could arise with such a diverse group of non-military personnel when she spotted a Mako in front of the armory. A man was unloading an object Rea recognized instantly. She broke into a jog, raised her hand and shouted to get his attention.

Out the rear hatch of the Mako, the man was trying to move a jetbike. He was sitting on it, pushing it backwards with his feet as it hovered in its idled mode. As he reversed the bike, he almost tilted over sideways on it, barely catching himself by extending one leg.

Rea made it to him as he cursed profusely. She warned, “You’ll damage it.”

“Excuse me?” The man was annoyed, but then he spotted Wyld as she and Rothan caught up. “Excuse me. I’m just having a hell of a time off-loading this beauty. Nice to see you out of the infirmary Commander Wyld.”

“Nice to see you too, Patterson. Are you about to face-plant with one of the pieces from your, ‘Collection?’ “

“Uh, well, maybe.” Patterson laughed. “Its just the compensators on this are giving me problems.”

“May I help,” Rea asked. Feeling a bit foolish, Patterson nodded. Rea gestured with a thumb to get him off, and Patterson dismounted. He scratched his head while Rea put her hand on the control panel and activated her omni-tool. The jet-bikes responded by popping up an interface. “You had it in sport mode. That’s for flying at maximum performance. This is a Series 2185 Viyera Starscreamer, with a VI.” She pushed a button on the interface, and spoke at the bike, “Neutral hover mode.” Rea placed her palm at arm’s length over the control panel, and then slid it sideways. The bike floated where her palm moved, as if it was weightless.

It was Wyld’s turn to laugh. Patterson looked sheepishly at Rea. “Are the rest of them that easy?”

“No, not really. You’ll do fine for the others.” Rea peered inside the Mako. “You have two NSD Hawks, and a Bloshun Bolt that could be piloted by a child, slow as it is. Those three will glide off much more easily. Maybe I can help you get them inside?”

Patterson was out of his league and new it. “That would be an affirmative, ma’am.”

~~~~

By the time Rea had finished helping Patterson get the jet-bikes into the armory bays, Patterson had surrendered the Starscreamer to Rea. “I really don’t feel like getting killed by my hobby,” were his parting words, and she thanked him extensively.

Sully, the man in charge of the armory, seemed to be a bit more than a grease monkey, and had a charm that was reflected in his shop. Rea didn’t miss a second before she grabbed his attention. She started going over a list of items with him, while Rothan and Wyld watched Sully’s eyes almost glazed over from the deluge of requests. Neither even fully understood the list of items Rea was asking for, although both caught one snippet of, “This commando armor is all awry. I’m going to need it modulated and lighter,” and another snippet of, “Then don’t try to center it, just let it kick entirely to one side,” after which Rea pointed to the Starscreamer.

Sully looked taken aback. “Are you serious? That thing will pull like an anchor.”

Rea simply answered, “I can fly it as long as I know.”

Then Rea spotted a gun on a workbench. “Is that an assassin’s weapon?”

“Uh,” Sully seemed mystified, “I have no idea. It was left here by one of the other asari, I think.”

Rea picked the gun up. It looked like a slender rifle and she moved it around effortlessly. The stock was nothing more than a long alloy bar. Rea pushed a button on it and it collapsed immediately. Rummaging over the workbench, Rea found a group of thin clips that looked like they fit in its grip. She looked directly at Sully, and said, “This too. HP mod option and ultra-light, please.”

“You’re a bit of a challenge, if you don’t mind me saying so,” Sully worried.

“I get the sense that you’re up for the task.”

Sully squinted, “Is that an asari mind trick?”

“Its an asari mind trick if you can tell me where I can find a place to clean up, too.”

Sully threw his hands up in exasperation. “Everything. You want everything. Please, if you can stop adding to your list right now, you can take this key. There’s an athletic center near the barracks. Don’t tell anyone I gave this to you. One of the sets of shower stalls was emancipated for cleaning up some of the arrivals. The other set of stalls hasn’t been used. I was going to keep it to myself, but I’m not getting out of here at this point. The water should run well, since it is being pumped into that whole facility. It isn’t the only place you can get washed down, but it’s empty. I’m going to trust on good faith that you’ll take it as my personal thank you for not giving me any more to do. And please, bring the key back when you are done.” Rothan and Wyld looked at each other in bewilderment as Rea took the key.

“Oh, one more thing,” Rea added. “That list was for me. This is Jan, and this is Rothan. They might have some needs of their own.” Sully yowled. Rea turned to head out of the armory, but not before Wyld noticed her look for a moment at Rothan. The quarian made an ever-so-slight nod of his head. Rea then left, but a look of concern crossed her face that she didn’t show Rothan.

~~~~

On her way out, Rea spied a young woman in a hooded Fury outfit, without insignia, looking at an inventory. She was out of view of Sully and the others in the armory. Rea called over, “Elaine?”

Zia spun slowly to see who called. When Rea saw it wasn’t who she thought it was, she apologized. “I’m sorry. Just a mistaken identity.”

“Not at all.”

Rea glimpsed the young woman’s alluring face under the hood. The Fury’s slightest moves were sensual and predator like. Mentally, Rea waved through it. The idea that what she was going through with Rothan was playing on Rea, but she couldn’t help but be reminded of her time long ago with Ali, on Thessia. Rea found herself speaking. “Well, good luck.”

“With what,” the Fury inquired innocently.

“With whatever you are looking for.  I've got to get myself cleaned up.  Take care.” Rea exited the armory, wondering about a certain quarian.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 15 septembre 2013 - 01:26 .

[Khambilo]

Sully narrowed his gaze upon Rothan as Rea left. “Tempest?”

Rothan shrugged as he looked down to the SMG at his side. “Something wrong?”

“Only if you’re trying to hit something,” Sully said. He moved foreward and snatched the weapon from the him. “This will not do.”

Sully moved off into the armory examining the Tempest as well as the many weapons on the racks. Rothan glanced back to Wyld, giving a questioning look. She merely shrugged.

Rothan didn’t know what to make of any of this. The war had brought everyone together to defeat the Reapers. That included the eccentric ones. Rothan tried not to fixate on Wyld, who if given the right circumstances, looked as if she could the outcome of one of Admiral Xen’s experiments.

Sully returned a moment later with another weapon. “Its your lucky day. Last one of these I have in stock.”

He handed the weapon the Rothan. Another submachine gun, but this one was lighter, slightly more compact than the Tempest. Rothan was unfamiliar with the model, but when he tilted the gun to further investigate it, he caught the N7 logo emblazoned on it. That explained it.

“N7 Hurricane,” Sully said, beaming. “Would normally kick like a mother****er but it’s been outfitted with a stability mod. Punches like a heavy assault weapon, but weighs like a feather, perfect for biotics, which judging by your choice of weaponry, you are.

“Indeed,” Rothan nodded. He postioned the Hurricane in his hand, feeling the weight and balance. It felt good.

“You’re gonna make a lady jealous if you keep me waiting much longer,” Wyld said, patronizing Sully.

Sully just glared at Wyld for a second in response, then he moved to Rothan and clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re good to go then buddy.”

Rothan bristled a bit at the gesture, but nodded all the same. Then he turned to Wyld. “I’ll meet you outside I guess.”

She smiled and nodded. “If you’d like.”

Rothan ignored her somewhat cryptic response and stepped out of the armory. There were more pressing issues on his mind. Seeing if the misfits made it back okay with the Krogan. Mia. Miranda. Arkeer. He wanted to see each of them again. Then there was Rea…

As if to answer his racing mind, Rothan found Rea speaking with a woman dressed in N7 Fury garb near the exit of the tent. It was only a brief moment, but Rea peaked up to see him, but quickly looked away and moved off.

Keelah… What am I doing wrong? Rothan thought. He pictured Celis and Lenaia jeering at him.

“Awwww, Rothan has a little crush,” Lenaia would say.

Eventually Celis would just level with him. “Just tell her how you feel. Do it!”

Rothan actually smiled at the thought of them. Maybe you guys are right… bosh’tets.

Modifié par Khambilo, 15 septembre 2013 - 01:45 .

[FuriousFelicia]

Zia gazed after this Asari who had just spoke to her. Her sculpture like figure distracted Zia as she turned away from Sully’s rack of equipment she was checking out. She already got everything she needed anyway. She was actually looking for whatever Wyld could use. There was a dismembered old Lancer assault riffle. Zia thought it might be just a thing for Jan as she was constantly running out of thermal clips. But that quickly became a thing of lesser importance as Zia's mind was already working on a new idea.
 
Shower? I could use that myself. Zia thought to herself. Maybe I can find a nice lonely place while I'm at it. Zia was determined. She left the armory and slowly strolled after Rea.
On her way she thought of Wyld. Seeing her in such a mess, and being shot, made Zia concerned. This was new for Zia becouse she never before had such feelings towards anyone. It was confusing for her. When she saw Wyld again, safe but all battered up, she couldn't shake the feeling of her chest trembling. She was so happy and relieved, and even her eyes moistened. All those funny feelings made her a bit frustrated as she didn't expirience anything like it before. She never had to ask herself before if Aria is going to be safe when she would go somwhere on her business. Or Disdain or Lucy for that matter. She wouldn't trouble her mind with such things, and yet, there is a first time for everything. And she was genuinely concerned about Jan. Momma's holo image suddenly popped up on her omni tool.

"Zia lieutenant, I noticed a change in pattern of your behaviour."
Zia shook her head at the sound and looked to her wrist. "Now don't you go pulling ranks on me. Just Zia will suffice." She said and smiled. 

"I understand Zia." Momma quickly answered. 

"And what do you mean, a change in pattern of my behaviour? You know me for like ten minutes." Zia muttered. 

"That is incorrect. I have been with you all along as a part of vehicle's systems. The one that commander Wyld likes to refer to as the Bucky Valkyr." Momma implied. Zia was silent but momma didn't leve her a lot of time to think as she went on. 

"I also noticed your puls elevelated when I mentioned commander's name. Is that the reason for the change in your behaviour?" Momma asked but Zia delved into her thoughts again. 
"Zia?"

"Ha...yes..I mean no..uh what did you want to know again?" 

"I said could commander Wyld be the reason fo..." Momma was about to repeat her inquiry but Zia interrupted her half way. "Look, I don't know why my pulse is elevated. It could be anything. Now why don't we cut this me telling you about Wyld and you tell me about what she said about me instead." Zia sounded a bit frustrated. 

"Your request seems unlogical." momma stated. Zia's brow fell down as she turned to her wrist. "What to hell does that mean?" 

"Your blood pressure elevated and your body temperature increased by zero point seven degrees when I mentioned commander's name. It would seem that talking about her affects your biological functions. Your request however doesn't make sense becouse it doesn't eliminate the commander from our conversation." Zia sighed and then brought her hand with a hologram of momma in front of her face.

"Ok, first off, let me worry about my blood pressure and my health. Second, stop questioning me and tell me what I want to know, okay. Now tell me what did Jan tell you." Zia demanded.

"She wanted to rein in captain Radcliffe and ride him through Bastion with you in saddle in front of her. She would also like to meet your parents and see your home. She would like to order a pizza and watch movies with you. There's more but commander Wyld instructed me that that's not how normal people ask about it." Zia was left baffled by Momma's words. She didn't know what to say so she was quiet. Momma seemed curious and in a mood for talk as she didn't wait long to break the silence. 

"It would seem that my analysis is correct. Your metabolism reacts to a mention of commander's name. I have observed the same reactions with other humans as well. Would you like me to give you your diagnosis now Zia?"

"Uh..ok." Said Zia with a little uncertainty in her voice. 

"All evidence points to a state of affection which you humans refer to as love."
Zia stopped in place and brought her hand up in the line of her face. "I think you have a lot to learn about humans. Of course I love Jan. I love Naomi, and Gizmo and Pepper too for that matter. What does that have to do with my pulse?" Zia steamed up a bit. 

"The changes occur only at the mention of Jan. I detect no fluctuations when we talk about the other three. I have studied more than one form of affection you call love and in your case I would categorise it as..."

"Wait, wait, wait stop." Zia interrupted her. "I don't think I like where this is going. Why don't you take a little rest now." Zia said and switched off her omni tool as Momma's visage dissipated.

Their conversation left Zia a bit distracted as she found her self standing in the middle of the street, trying to remember what was she actually after in the first place. She turned around and saw the barracs building behind her. Another building stood in conjuction to the barracs. There were people coming in and out of it. Some were soldiers, others looked like bums with their clothes smeared with mud and dirt. Who are all this people? Zia thought to herself as she watched them buzzing all around the camp. She entered the building and found herself in a corridor that had a sign strapped on its wall that said 'showers' with an arrow pointing the direction. Zia sighed. 
"Ok, let's see what we can find here."

Modifié par FuriousFelicia, 16 septembre 2013 - 11:54 .

[Redbelle]

Rothan suddenly felt someone grab his arm. “Rothan”! Said Wyld. “Emergency! No time to explain! Help me! Your my only hope”!

And with that, Wyld jerked him back inside the armoury.

[Redbelle]

Sully looked up at Wyld and Rothan who were sitting back to back on his bench. Wyld was chewing on something out of a wrapper that had her wincing with every bite. Rothan was sucking on something in a squeezie pack through, what he insisted, was an emergency induction port. Sully looked back down at his design pad. Wyld and Sully were deadlocked over designs and there was one way he knew of too break the deadlock.....

Then Wyld had grabbed hold of that Quarian......

“Xenon”. He said. “Atomic Number”.

“Uh”. Wyld said, scrunching up her face in concentration.

Rothan popped the tube out of his mask. “Fifty-four”. He provided.

“Yes”. Wyld said. “What he said. Fifty-four”.

Sully shook his head. “Correct, but your first word was uh. We have to take your first response in this quiz so I win”. He tapped his pad. “That means your armour will be heavy”.

“Light”.

“You'll be better off in heavy. It can absorb more damage”.

“Yes it does. Because people who wear heavy armour can barely move in it”. Wyld shook her head. “And have you ever tried to treat someone who took an injury in those tins? You need a can opener to get inside”.

“Look, I won. Your getting heavy armour”.

“Light let's me move around faster. I need to be able to get to patient's quickly”.

“Go with medium”. Came Rothans bored voice behind them. “It can be fabricated as light with an extra  five mil thickness with trauma plates worked over all the vital spots where fatalities are most common. Better protection with no discernible increase in weight”.

Wyld and Sully looked at each other. “Sounds reasonable”.

“Very”.

“Okay then”. Sully added the specs to his pad. “Next up is leg coverings”.

“No coverings”.

“Everyone has covering's”.

“Not everyone uses these prosthetics”.

“I've never seen limbs used like those before”. Rothan turned and looked over his and Wylds shoulder. “They look Quarian in design”.

“I'll take your word for it”. Sully grumbled as Rothan got down off the bench.

“May I”. Rothan gestured and Wyld nodded.

“Your not the first”. She mentioned dryly.

Rothan reached forward and took the heel of her foot and pulled it up, watching how the leg flexed from the movement. “They have no internal bone structure”. He noted. “Incredible. Someone developed a system of maintaining rigid structure while allowing for movement all in one system”.

“That's great”. Sully said behind him. “But put a bullet in them and they stop working. Right”?

“Not really”. Rothan said back, still running his hands up and down Wylds calf. He didn't see Wyld leaning back with a somewhat overwhelmed look on her face as she tilted her head towards the ceiling. “In fact....”. He worked a finger past the strands of synthetic muscle. Wyld's face scrunched a little as he worked it around. Then he withdrew and between his fingers he held a Reaper bullet.

Sully looked on and shook his head. “You mean she got shot in the leg and didn't notice”.

Wyld, breathing hard, looked back down at Rothan. “Wow”!

“She got shot, and the leg moved the bullet out of the way while it repaired the damage”. Rothan stated as he dropped the spent round on the table. He was about to let go when he noticed the soles of Wylds foot ripple. “What was that”?

Getting her breath back, Wyld smiled. “I'll show you”. Pulling her leg out of Rothans grip, she brought it around to his side and pushed the sole against Rothans new Hurricane hanging on his hip. As she brought her foot back, Rothan felt a tug and the Hurricane came detached from his weapon clamp. He stared as it hung from Wylds foot. Nothing obviously gripping it, but still suspended nonetheless.

Sully stepped forward. “Well how about that”. He brought his scanner up. “Huh. That's interesting. Van der Walls”.

“He means sticky when I want to be”. Wyld purred at Rothan.

“I think I know what you mean”. Rothan assured her. “Though we call it something else”.

“Well that decides it. Your gauntlet’s are getting the same treatment.”.

Wyld stared at him incredulously. “What for”?

“So you can climb up things. Obviously”.

Wyld shook her head. “I want defibrillator padels in the palms”.

“Spider hands”.

“Padels”.

“Molybdenum ”. Sully said abruptly. “ Atomic number”.

“Uh”. Said Wyld.

“Is the wrong answer”. Sully said triumphantly. “Spider hands it is”.

“Forty two. And can I say something”? Rothan said. Both looked over to him as he took the pad. “Having glove's that mimic the action's of her prosthetics sounds good in principal, but I don't see how they would work in the field. If she tried to climb something she would be a target. It seems to me these limbs work best as anchors, or climbing in situation's when people are not shooting at her”. He made a few notes and held the pad so Wyld and Sully could see.

“I think your Van Der Waals material could work best in the finger section of the gloves. The padel's could be incorporated into the lower palm. But perhaps, if you insist on climbing to other levels fast and securely....”. He pointed to his modification's. “You could use either a grapple shooter built into the forearm, or a jump pack on the back, and use the gloves and feet to keep you bouncing off walls. I've heard of jump jet packs used by Turians to cover large distances fast. It would increase mobility and give greater positioning power”.

“Yeah”. Sully said thoughtfully. “I see where your going. Not sure about jump packs. Alliance tried it before and soldier's shooting into the air just made them easier target's for whoever could draw a bead the fastest. But these are enough ideas to get started with”. He looked at Wyld. “By the way, I put some clothes in a bag in the other room for you. You can get dressed....”.

“Great....”! Wyld beamed as she began unbuckling the parts of her armour that hadn't fallen apart. “Rothan, could you grab the bag for me? It takes ages to take this off”.

“Uh...”. Rothan gulped as Wyld started throwing piece's of her armour onto Sully's work bench.

“Is the wrong answer”. Sully and Wyld both chimed. They looked at each other and chuckled as Sully turned to his work. Wyld meanwhile turned to put another piece of armour on the bench as Rothan turned to the door Sully had motioned to.

He walked in, noticing the door was not sitting flush to the frame. And as he stepped through, he looked in surprise.

It was like a bomb had gone off within.

The room was wrecked. Or had been wrecked at some point in it's life. Bit's of broken equipment lay swept to the sides against the walls while tables had been placed in the centre. On those tables lay guns. Some dissembled, others whole with weapon mods sitting next to them. He spotted the bag on the corner and he grabbed it and turned back where he came.

Wyld was off to the side, having moved behind the bench appeared to be doubled over behind it. She was cursing, at least, Rothan presumed she was, in languages Rothan had never heard.

“You need help back there”? Asked Sully as he worked on a terminal.

“No. No I got it”. Wyld finally straightened up holding her underlay out in front of her as she regarded all the damage that had been inflicted on it. “It looks a lot worse when it's off”.

“N...no it doesn't”. Stammered Rothan, who suddenly found his throat had constricted. Wyld stood before him dressed as she had been born. She seemed utterly at ease in her surroundings and Sully seemed non perturbed by what was suddenly on display. Rothan's floundered at what to do or say while his keen analytical mind assessed the tight muscle and rounded hips that went on down to her prosthetic attachment sites.

Now those were interesting. He latched onto the sight of the metal rings around her upper thigh like a life line. Wondering how the prosthetic muscle controls interacted with the signals from her nervous system when he became aware of Wyld looking at him.

“Ahem”. She gestured to the bag.

The bag! He was holding the bag! She couldn't get dressed till he handed her the bag. And he'd been staring!

Did she think he'd been staring?

Keelah please don't let her think I'm staring

He found the will power to walk forward and handed her the bag which she dumped on the table. Unzipped it, and drew out a piece of material, the same as her previous underlay, but different in it's cut. She plastered it across her chest, checking it's size, much to Rothan's relief, as she called to Sully.

“Hey Sully? Do you have any other underlays? This one's a bit skimpy”.

“We're making more but that's all we have in your size right now. You'll have to make do”.

“It looks like a leotard”.

“It's a core secondary layer for space operations”. He called back. “In case someone needs extra insulation”.

Wyld shrugged and stepped into it. Rothan tried to turn around as she straightened. Desperate to avert his gaze when she said. “Could you seal me up”?

Keelah! What did I do to deserve this?

He turned, and mercifully, the outfit covered enough of her that he felt able to walk forward and begin to pull the two parts of the outfit closed across her back. As he sealed the final section he felt Wyld shiver. Poor girl, he thought. The air circulation was producing a bit of a chill in the air and she was standing in what was essentially a piece of swimwear.

Wyld turned to look at him over her shoulder. “Thank you”. She said softly, her voice thick and sultry, with a smile on top.
.
“Y..your wel....”. He cleared his throat as Wyld's hand dived into the bag and emerged with....

Trousers! Rothan saw with relief. Despite being clad in the new underlay, the skin tight fit left little to the imagination. She jumped into the new trousers, drew them up and her prosthetics disappeared from view.

Then they got stuck around her hips.

“Can you help pull”? Wyld asked over her shoulder. “These are a bit tight”! She called the last bit over to Sully who just shrugged.

“All we have out back”. He called to her.

Wyld shook her head and took a step back into Rothan who was now painfully aware of they were tightly pressed against one another.

“Here”. She said and drew his hands around her front and had him grab hold of the front. She tilted backwards and together they pulled, and the trousers slid up and around. “Thanks”. Wyld said clasping her hands over his before he could pull away. “Your stronger than you look babe”.

The hands clasping his. The impish tone. And now..... babe?

Keelah, is she doing this on purpose?

Before he could put more though into it Wyld had stepped away and was pulling the last piece of clothing from the bag. A white jacket that she threw around her shoulders. Pulling it down she reached out a hand to the workbench and her fingers brushed air. She looked around in confusion. “Where's my pistol”?

Modifié par Redbelle, 15 septembre 2013 - 09:26 .

[Redbelle]

Sully called over his shoulder. “Your guns here. I'm just checking the service history. The way you go through equipment your lucky to have a side arm at all”.

He picked up a pad and tossed it to Wyld. She caught it and looked at the display. “Your Omni tool captured those figures. They show how many rounds you put through that Avenger over the course of your service history. Close to ten thousand. On the range and in the field”. He shook his head. “The log shows a failure in the ammo shave unit. When that happens it shorts out the rifle to stop the mass effect field catching a partial shave in it's influence and throwing the whole block forward. Blows the rifle to piece's. The person holding it doesn't fare much better. Over use of key component's is why your rifle died according to what I'm reading”.

Rothan looked over Wyld shoulder and read through the data. “Can you scroll down? I can't see your hit ratio”.

Wyld killed the screen. “Let's not worry about that now”. She managed as she crossed to where Sully now held her pistol. “So what's the verdict”?

Sully held up the weapon. “M3 Predator. The Alliance started phasing these out a while back. Still, people can't seem to let them go”. As he held the gun in one hand he scrolled a holographic display. “Your also not the registered owner”.

Wyld nodded. “I took it off a body”.

Sully nodded. “Well, if you ever meet someone called Arkeer, you owe him a predator”.

The room went quiet for a moment. Wyld blinked a few times, then let out a small chuckle. “I think we met. He's over in the.....”.

“Who did you take the gun from”?

Wyld turned and saw Rothan standing stock still, his hands seemed to twitch. Like they wanted to come together before they fell down by his side again.

“It's, not something I should talk about”. Wyld said after awhile.

“Please”?

Wyld blinked. Something about Rothan's plea. The way he said it.....

She sighed. “I was travelling with a group when we had to stop. I separated and found an Asari. She was in bad shape”.

“Did you help her”?

Wyld sucked in a breath. Felt her teeth click together. Willed herself to relax. “I tried”. She said. “I really tried. But her injuries..... And by that point the Reapers had smashed our entire support groups and unit's apart. And we had no comms to coordinate.....”. She stopped. Remembering the feeling of helplessness she'd had felt,  so vividly. It was like it was back on her once more. She shock it off and returned to the present. “She kept talking about her baby”.

“Damn”. Sully said softly off to the side. Rothan seemed to suck in a breath.

“No, not a baby, baby. Someone she called baby. I think it was a nickname. She....”. Wyld smiled. A sad smile as she recalled. “....she said she'd miss him the most after she was gone. That, and how he was always holding himself back”. Rothan seemed to shake, ever so slightly as Jan stared up at the ceiling. “Then she said, how he had outdone them. Whoever them were. He'd gone out there and done what needed to be done, and lived to walk away I guess. Not an easy thing to do when Reaper's are crawling everywhere around you”. Wyld chuckled. “That best I could do was hide in a loft space with a bullet in me”.

As she held a hand to her side the room was quiet until Rothan stepped forward. “Did... she say.... anything else”.

Wyld nodded. “Yeah”. She looked up at Rothan. “Yeah. She said that tonight, she was very proud of him”. She shook her head. “I never really got how anyone could think of someone else when they were dying. It's not an easy thing. I've seen it too often”. She looked back at Rothan. “But she died... I don't know, serenely? I gave her something for the pain. And after that, she was quiet. Just watching the sky. Then when she spoke, all she'd talk about was how much she'd miss everything. How much she'd miss this baby of hers.... She died and all she did was wish the best for the one she was most proud of”?

Wyld sighed. “I just don't know. I didn't know her long, but losing her hurt. Deep down, I think she knew she'd hit her end, and accepted it. And all she wanted was more time to appreciate what she had”.Wyld closed her eyes. “An Asari wanted more time to appreciate what was important to her. Seems to me it doesn't matter how long you live. Only that you make the most of what life offer's you when it comes”. Her eye's opened. “I just wish life wasn't so complicated that we could see that. That it hadn't taken a war to show me how important life can be. And maybe....”. She chewed her cheek as she looked around at Sully and Rothan. “.....Don't spread this around you two. But in a kind of messed up way, I also grateful, because without this war I wouldn't have met someone I think I could be happy spending a life with”.

Wyld cheeks abruptly went red. “Not that, that's important right now. We're talking about gu....”.

“I'd like to take it”. Wyld looked around at Rothan who looked at her, then nodded to the predator. Sully has more guns out back. I saw. I can return this one to Arkeer.

Wyld looked over to Sully. Took the Predator from his hand. “When I checked this after I took it, the thermal clip was slagged. She used every shot on the enemy. And lived without them laying a finger on her”. She placed the gun into Rothan's hands. “I really like this gun. It came from someone who never gave up. I wish I'd had a chance to know her”. She stepped back and as she turned back to Sully, she paused. “Your right though. I need to let go of what I had. I need to be better”. She turned to Sully and nodded. “Let's talk more upgrades”.

Rothan found his feet walking towards the door. Before he left he turned back to where Wyld and Sully were working. “Thank you”. He said.

Wyld waved over her shoulder. “Thank you too babe”.

And with that hanging in the air, Rothan departed

Modifié par Redbelle, 15 septembre 2013 - 10:58 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (Camp Bastion) XLIII

It was getting a bit rowdy in the pub, but Ereba thought she should used the down time to get restocked, so she had a big grin and went over to talk to the sarge. The sarge was seated at a table near the bar. Ranassa had just finished talking her ear off and went back to the bar to join T and Erikka.

"Hey, Sarge!" Ereba threw her arms around her and gave her a bear hug. "It's good to have you back."

"Good to see you again. It was touch and go for a while." The sarge was happy to see her. Shay was making her way over.

"So the brass over there is your mother? Damn, you never said anything about that to me." Ereba winked at her. "So it looks like the Alliance has got something big planned here. I've heard the talk."

"Yeah, and it's all about that big reaper that's in the way of Hammer. The one we ran into and beat feet from." The Sarge said. "And you know what that means."

"The more they throw at it, the more reapers are going to be occupied with them." Ereba had a wicked look in her eyes.

"And the less resistance for anyone trying a back door entrance." Nasyra replied.

Shayrana pulled up a chair. "Is this war ever going to end? I'm getting tired of it. I love you guys. I love everyone in this squad, and I really mean it, but I'm really getting tired of this. Sarge, Nasyra, I want to go to art school. I want to get this condition fixed." She threw her arm around Ereba. "And this one is special."

"That she is, Shay. And if I have anything to say about it, we're all coming out of this war alive. You, Ereba, me, Ranassa, T, and Erikka. Every remaining member of Artemis is going to survive. And now add my mother." The sarge looked at her in the eyes with a certainty. "It's just the way I roll."

Ereba looked at Shay. "That makes two of us."

"Hey, I'm all stocked up from Camp Alpha. You guys might want to head over to the armory and get stocked up before those rookie humans take all the good stuff." The Sarge said. "Just tell them you're under the authority of Captain Marisa Soniri, Asari Navy, Spectres Office. That'll shut 'em up if they give you any ****."

"Sounds good to me, Sarge." Ereba replied. "Let's do it. The armory is across the yard."

Shay and Ereba got up from the table, and the sarge called Erikka over. Erikka had been feeling insecure ever since the sarge was hurt. The two of them were a team on the field and she was a fifth wheel. She needed to know that her team mate was back and would be guiding her once more. It wasn't that Ranassa and T would pick on her any less. It was just that Erikka wasn't good at making decisions.

Ereba and Shay were headed across the yard. It was busy. Radcliffe was barking orders. Some Terra Firma ass was finishing up a speech and leaving. Ereba wasn't paying them any attention. "So Shay, special, huh? You really meant that?"

"Yes, I'm finishing treatment as soon as this damned war is over." Shay stopped in the middle of the busy yard and took Ereba's hands and looked her in the eyes and her eyes began to fill. "I met you a year ago, and just because I have this medical condition doesn't mean I can't meet someone special and fall in love. And I... I know this is even more forbidden for someone like me, but Goddess, I can't help it. And... and you haven't helped things either.... teasing me the entire time. Then in the underground you said something to me and kissed me. Did you mean it? Did you really mean it?"

Ereba pulled Shayrana close and embraced her. "Yes. I meant every word, babe. Shay, I love you." Ereba kissed her in a tight embrace.

Unbeknownst to them, a crowd of human soldiers had gathered and were watching and listening to the drama unfold and applauded.

"Goddess!" Shay said trying to regain her composure. "Let's get out of here."

Ereba bowed and left for the armory with Shayrana. There was a bit of a line starting to form, but Ereba motioned to Shay, to follow her and they made their way into an old alleyway, climbed over some junk and got into a side door, and found themselves among some shelves of old stocks of junk and odds and ends. A bit further on there was some good leather, and a rat was nibbling on it, and a bag on a table with some food in it. It probably was Sully's lunch. Ereba hit the rat with a stasis and walked over and picked it up by the tail, and picked up the bag then walked out into plain sight.

"What the hell?!" Sully shouted. "How the hell did you get back there?"

"Hey, I just saved your lunch from your guest here." Ereba tossed the lunch bag at Sully and held up the rat. "And they're having a feast on your leather, unless that's what you're feeding them so we have enough meat to eat these days."

"Well, thanks." Sully awkwardly caught his lunch bag. "But you're not supposed to be back here. Get on the other side of the counter."

Ereba decided to try the Sergeant's bluff. "Look we know what we need. We'll just take it, and sign out, Captain's orders."

Sully got testy. "Oh are they now? Radcliffe wouldn't give an order like that. Why don't we call him?"

"Not that Captain." Ereba said. "Captain Marisa Soniri, Asari Navy, Spectre's Office."

"Oh, so now you'll have me believe you're a Spectre, will ya?" Sully stood there blocking her path. "Well, let's see, you're carrying a Black Widow. Fancy. Oh look, let's see the numbers on that.... and if I cross index they belong to Special Forces Marine by the name of Eric Matzen."

Ereba was getting miffed and gave him a head butt. Then apologized when she saw Sully rubbing his head. "Sorry. My dad is Krogan, and he's on the front lines here in London right now. They say we Asari don't get anything from our fathers. I say it's a bunch of crap. My mother is a Commando in another platoon somewhere else in London."

The soldiers in line laughed nervously.

"I'll save you the book keeping. My partner's Paladin also came from Matzen. The rest of my squad will be in here shortly. They're carrying non-standard issue stuff. I'd advise cooperating, especially with the one with the LMG."

Sully was rubbing his head. "I had no idea Asari were like this. Damned stubborn lot you are. But Radcliffe gave me a bunch of rules. So I'll tell you next time you see Matzen, you owe him a Black Widow and a Paladin. Your Carnifex checks out, and her Locust? What the hell? That has a history of several owners.

"Ereba, this isn't working." Shay said. "Sully, we were in the underground. Six asari, one quarian, and because of us and one human woman with a lot of ink, a lot fewer humans are being 'processed' right now. I'm told a reaper fell over as a result. Tell me you felt the Earth move a while ago. And you repaired some armor for a friend of ours."

Sully's eyes widened. "That was you?"

"We didn't come here to pole dance, Sully. We came here to kill reapers." Shay said.

"Well I did here about some pole dancing at Sid's." Sully said.

"Hey, sneaking around a bunch of husks, a banshee, and some brutes to plant a bunch of plastic in a husk factory, then overloading a Cain near a plasma conduit in a reaper processing plant requires a little R&R afterward, you know? And for Asari, that means some dancing. So how about that ammo?" Ereba asked. "And there was one more human female who didn't make it. She gave her life so we could get out. Come over to Sid's and I'll get one of the girls to tell you the full story. I owe you a drink for the head butt. If we're not here, I paid in advance, so don't let Sid screw you."

"Give them they ammo, Sully!" Banes was in line. "I saw them when they came in. You don't want to **** with them."

Sully shook his head. "Okay, what do you need?"

"AP and Warp rounds, thermal clips, lift grenades for both of us." Shayrana said.

Rea was listening to the conversation while she was working on the bench in the area adjacent to them, but out of sight.

Sully gave them the ammo. "Alright. After this mess is done, I'll see you at the pub. And I'll take you up on that drink."

Shay and Ereba went back to the pub. Shay put her head on Ereba's shoulder. "Ereba, you've got to control that temper."

Ereba looked down at the ground. She knew Shay was right about that. "Yeah, Dad always told me that it was something he had to continually work on. I guess that's why he liked to go shooting a lot. He used to take me with him, and then I started shooting. I guess that's where I learned all this stuff. Then he took me fishing...."

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  The following was a collaborative with FuriousFelicia)

Sully had been correct about the Athletic center. As human custom dictated, the center was designed so that the shower areas were separated based on gender. Because of the needs of the camp arrivals, however, the men’s’ shower area had been dedicated to the general populace of the camp, particularly the Misfits. The rag-tag group of survivors had mostly been unable to clean themselves off for some time. As they washed, their joyful voices celebrating a recaptured pleasure of life rang like a choir off the tiled walls. Its sound filtered throughout the building.

The women’s shower was located on the opposite side of the center. Though the Misfits could be heard, the song of their cheer faded off, and not a soul was in sight. Rea came across the heavy door to the women’s shower area. She used the key Sully had given her and pushed the door open.

Inside it was dark. “Hello,” she called out, overly cautious. There was no answer. Rea removed a few glow sticks from the basic survival gear compartment of her armor. The sticks lit the chamber beyond as she raised them high and entered. The place had been left alone and remained relatively clean. Wrinkled glass separated the stalls from the entryway, to hide those within from prying eyes. Rea let the automatically locking door close behind her, moved past the glass, and walked into the stalls. She tried one of the sets of faucets. The pipes groaned a bit, but after a few seconds, clean water sprung forth from the showerhead above. A container of liquid soap had been left on a shelf. Rea placed the glow sticks all about; they shone like fairies, casting the interior in a soft, cool radiance. Sighing in satisfaction, Rea rapidly stripped herself and set aside her gear. She turned up the flow of the water and placed herself under.

A peculiar, muffled, whip-like sound surprised Rea, and then she saw a silhouette through the wrinkled glass. Rea’s guard was raised, but when she spotted the Fury she had seen at the armory rounding the glass, Rea relaxed. A curiosity of how the Fury had gotten past the locked door came and went. Rea wanted to stop concerning herself with every last defensive reaction she had for once. She gestured an invitation to Zia, “My name’s Rea. Come on in. They did a great job with the pumps; everything works.” Rea placed her hands on her head and reveled as the slightly cool water caressed her.

The Fury entered and opened the faucets for the shower next to Rea. “Zia. You don’t mind if I do?”

Rea laughed slightly, “I never understood why humans made basic functions so difficult. Go ahead.”

“I was just trying to be polite. Actually, you might find me more of an asari than human in that regard.” Zia smiled, and then without hesitation began removing her clothes, “It must be an entirely different experience on an asari ship though.” Zia tried to keep facing away from Rea, but found herself glancing sideways. She couldn’t help but remember Aria. Rea was different, with a body like exquisite sculpture. Her bare, naked form now lay in whole view of Zia. Rea’s skin sparkled under the flowing water, like gemstones with constantly changing colors. Though her skin was smooth, it was patterned as if Rea had a neon overlay of scales shifting from violet, to midnight, to cerulean, and back again. There was a scar along one thigh and another large, brutal one across her back. Someone else might look at the scars as flaws, but for Zia, they only enhanced her picture of the asari as intriguing and ethereal. Then a familiar desire sparked with Zia; the desire to seize the figure in front of her and possess it. It is how she would have greeted Aria if she stood there instead of Rea. And Rea's crest alone was enough of a kicker for Zia's wild drive; a drive that was now boosted both with desire of Aria, and her overall infatuation with the asari.

This does not need to happen, Zia said in her mind, but she didn’t believe her own voice. Still, Zia found herself needing to think about her actions before she took them. She remembered Naomi and Jan. Then she justified to herself that this was nothing like that. Rea was something to take and release. “Release,” Zia said aloud.

Rea looked at her, uncertain. “What?”

Zia grabbed Rea around her shoulders and pushed into her lips. It was like seizing the exquisite scultpure as her own treasure. But unlike her experience with Wyld, or Naomi, Zia found Rea didn’t give way. The resistance drove Zia crazy and she pressed harder into Rea, but the asari’s lips weren’t parting. A clear no, Zia thought to herself, and she abruptly drew away. “I'm sorry... you seemed like…”

Rea’s face had become flushed in a deep violet. She stared back, shocked. Her mouth opened while she fully took in the sight of the dark brown haired and saphire-eyed woman standing before her. Rea placed a hand on Zia’s shoulder. “It’s all right. You have no idea how much…”

But before Rea could finish, Zia’s inner animal roared with a vengeance. Feeling as if she was suddenly given permission, Zia rushed again to grab Rea. This time, however, Zia grasped at thin air. Rea had moved in the blink of an eye to the side, captured Zia by the waist, and spun her around. Zia discovered herself pinned against the wall, looking for an escape, and unable to find any way to do so. Rea was up against her, body-to-body, with a strength belied by her angelic face. They locked and Zia whispered, “Go ahead. Just release.'' Zia's eyes narrowed, like a cat enjoying being pet by its master - only Zia didn't purr. Her seductive ordinance spoke for itself, and was now wholly pointed towards Rea.

Two strange things happened in that moment for Zia. One was she actually felt as if she didn’t mean the words she just expressed. The other was that Rea didn’t close in.

Zia tried to encourage Rea, “Go on. It’s all right.” But she felt even less convincing. And she watched the intensity also fade from Rea. Both Rea and Zia separated. Zia found herself confused and in doubt. This was the first time she sensed she wouldn't be able to carry through, not even if Rea changed her mind and insisted on it. For her part, Rea stood as confused as Zia. The two were momentarily frozen, unable to navigate their emotions.

Rea finally sat down on the floor and put her back against a wall. “It’s my fault. I just…,” she started as she placed her palms at her temples. “I can’t tell you how much I need that… and if only there wasn’t someone else.”

Zia merely nodded, and sat down across from the asari, under the running shower. The water struck her shoulders, and ran in rivulets down her sensual shape. Rea stared at Zia with regretful eyes, but was now looking past her sexuality.

“It’s the quarian, isn’t it? The one I saw you with before.”

Rea tilted her head and confirmed Zia’s suspicion. “I wish, every now and then, that he was like you. That he’d just come at me and be done with it. I wish I could reach out and touch his skin with the tips of my fingers.” Rea eased her arms and placed her hands on the floor. “How can I describe being so close to someone and yet feeling separated? Does that make any sense?”

For Zia, the question left her wondering if Wyld ever felt that way about Zia. “It makes sense to me. But I think you mean more than the suit, don’t you?” Zia giggled, but began to think. She needed her passions, yet didn’t want anyone getting in with her further than that. Except with Wyld, for some incomprehensible reason. Here was Rea, someone with no outlet for her carnal needs, an inability to attain intimacy, and yet the drive to stay on her path with a person. Aria was never like that, demanding what she wanted and taking it. Patience only came to Aria as a strategy to get what she needed. Zia was troubled, and prodded, “The galaxy could end, and we could all be dead tomorrow.”

“I must seem hopeless. But this isn’t about not having my fair share of pleasures. This is about some invisible barrier I can’t break past and keeps getting in the way.”

“What does that mean?” Rea’s words fell heavily on Zia. She bowed her head and lost her smile.

“I suppose it means wanting to end up with a person you can be with who will accept you any way you are, and love you for it. Someone who takes all of you, with nothing left behind. A person who is more to you because with them you are free.”

“How can you be free when you’re stuck with one person?”

“Because you aren’t stuck at all.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Zia said as her voice faded. “I’ve never been in that situation. Those aren’t the kind of people I’ve ever had around me.”

“Ever?” Rea leaned towards Zia. “Come on. Family? Someone close?”

Zia shook her head.

Rea moved forward and raised herself up on her knees in front of Zia. The asari took Zia’s chin and held up her face to peer into her eyes. Rea could see she was telling the truth. “You’re serious.”

Zia’s eyes misted for a moment, and then she withdrew.

“That’s what Rothan’s talking about.” Rea was in awe at what had happened. It was like looking into a mirror. “You’ve never told anyone about it, have you?”

“What?” Zia looked baffled by Rea's question. She had no idea of what Rea was implying.

“The agony. The one you won’t tell, or you pretend to forget.”

Zia pulled her chin away from Rea’s hand. Then she pushed towards Rea, rolling her on her back and to the floor. Rea let her, but firmly kept Zia’s gaze. Zia placed herself over Rea on all fours, yet stopped going any further. She didn’t understand what was happening with herself and growled, “How come you just wont f*** me?!”

Rea watched Zia’s expression contort in frustration and perplexity. With a serene tone, Rea said, “Because you need more than that. And I’m not the one to give it to you.”

Zia stood up from Rea and clenched her fists. What she was thinking bothered her immensely. “People use each other.”

Rea slowly stood up and placed herself under the water while Zia circulated problems in her mind. After a while, Rea spoke. “Yes they do. But maybe not in the way you think.”

Zia was quiet. Rea said nothing more as she turned off the water, and flung the moisture from her body with her hands as best she could. She picked up her gear and walked towards the door.

“There’s one,” Zia admitted.

Rea paused and spun to Zia.

“There’s one who’s more,” Zia said, with emphasis.

As Rea uttered her next sentence, she felt as if she was actually talking about herself. “You should find that person and tell them. Nothing will happen if you keep running from it.”

Zia went to Rea, hugged her, and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Maybe we both have someone to talk to. We might not be here tomorrow to get another chance. I’m not sure what exactly I’m going to say but I’m telling Jan before we’re both dead.”

Rea lowered her head and shot a glance dead at Zia. “Jan? Jan Wyld?”

Zia snatched up her clothes and moved towards the door, past Rea, with a newfound urgency. “The very same. It’s now or never. I’ve got to get in touch with her as fast as I can.”

Modifié par Kel Riever, 16 septembre 2013 - 04:02 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (Camp Bastion) XLIV

"Hi, Sarge." It was Erikka finally making her way over to see the sarge.

Nasyra kicked a chair out for her to take a seat. "So have they been treating you alright while I've been gone?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. 'Erikka's not all here.' 'Erikka just uses her omnitool for videogames anyway.' My squad was just a bunch of screw ups, Sarge, you know that. Yours was the good one. You guys just kept us alive, and now I'm the only one left of Bravo.

"And did Ranassa tell you what T did down in the underground?"

Nasyra smiled. "That was pretty funny, but you tackled her in that ****? Girl. Now that would have been worth seeing. See they just think you're slow up here, but you're not. Your mind doesn't work like theirs. You have different talents. You are not a screw up. I owe you my life. I'm the one who screwed up.

"Going down the center like that without having Ereba check that center building on IR first was stupid and overconfident of me. She would have seen a heat signature of that brute through the wall and warned us, but I was in too much of a hurry for us to take up positions. You killed that brute, then you dragged me from the field."

Erikka smiled at the sarge. "So we're back?"

"Yes, Erikka, we're back until the end of this war anyway." The sarge picked up her glass and took a drink. Erikka was drinking bottled water. "We were only teamed up for less than thirty minutes. I'll teach you some stuff that'll help you survive. Stuff they didn't teach you in basic. It'll bring you up to Alpha Squad level, but the way things are going I'm going to have to do it the quick way."

"Quick way?" Erikka asked. She was a bit puzzled.

"Tell me about your family." The sarge asked.

"Well, my mother's name is Dalina, and my father was a Batarian who was exiled from the Hegemony. We were a middle class family, and lived on Thessia. He made musical instruments for performers in Serrice where I grew up." Her eyes got sad. "My mother taught, I don't even know if she's still alive, art history at Serrice University."

The sarge almost sighed, 'nothing to use there', she thought. "Any relatives you were close with?"

Erikka thought for a minute. "I had an uncle who was a Turian who would always go on about wars and bore the hell out of us when they'd come to visit. My aunt is nice though, her name is Hesta and she was last seen heading toward Omega. I don't know how she thinks she's going to sell any of her art there, but she said 'Now that Aria is back in control and kicked Cerberus out people are going to want something nice to forget the war."

'Perfect. The uncle will work fine.' Nasyra thought to herself. "Would you allow me to meld with you and share a memory?" Nasyra asked. The uncle would now be in the front part of Erikka's memory.

"What does this have to do with sharing a memory?" Erikka asked.

"Well, you see my mother over there. She's a Captain in the Asari Navy, and works for the Council in the Spectre's Office. I thought it was only fair. My father was Drell." She replied. "When we share memories we should know a little bit about each others families."

"Okay, I see your point." Erikka said.

"I'm really interested in this Turian uncle of yours." Nasyra said, then she held Erikka's hands and the two joined.

Naleena met Erikka floating in space, smiled at her. She didn't look quite the same as Nasyra, but rather as her true self. One cannot hide during a joining. Erikka got a little nervous, but Naleena touched her head and calmed her. Then they began to move into the past. Naleena's past.

"Show me your uncle, Erikka, and I'd like to hear him talk."

Erikka wanted to focus on Naleena, but didn't have the discipline of her mind to do anything and an image of her Turian uncle came into view standing in his military gear talking away. Meanwhile Naleena was wiping all traces of Naleena's past from Erikka's memory. Then she arrived at the one she wanted. The secret training grounds where she received her stealth and survival training. This was not an Asari Commando training ground. Her trainer was Matriarch T'Goni, but Naleena substituted Erikka's uncle for the Matriarch, and substituted Erikka for herself in the memory and implanted the memory in Erikka's mind once it was scrubbed of anything that could betray its location or anyone else in it. Erikka would never remember anything other than what Naleena wanted her to remember. That was part of the training Naleena had mastered. Then she released the melding.

"How do you feel, Erikka?" Nasyra asked.

Erikka looked a bit disoriented. "What just happened?"

"We shared a memory, that's all."

"No, I feel strange, like something happened to me." Erikka said.

"You were telling me about your Turian uncle." Nasyra said.

"Yes, there was this one time he took me on a trip. He said he wanted to teach me how to survive in the world, and that I'd need these skills some day. I laughed at him like I always did, but he insisted I go along, and I humored him. The trip was brutal, and he put me through some kind of trial at the end, but I made it through. Strange, though. I can't remember where it was."

"That explains why you're the sole surviving member of Bravo Squad, Erikka, and why you're going to survive this war. It wasn't luck." The sarge held her hand, then waved to Sid for another drink.

Erikka sat up a bit taller in her chair. Ereba and Shayrana walked into the pub. The sarge saw them.

"Hey, you two!" Soniri shouted. "Have a seat. Erikka and I are going to head over and get restocked. Well, I'm fine, but Erikka needs to get restocked anyway, and we're team mates. You know the drill."

Ereba and Shay nodded. "Okay, Sarge."

"I got some business with Sid." Ereba said and she walked to the bar.

"Erikka! You're all flushed. What's up?" Shay took a seat at the table.

Erikka shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just glad the sarge is back. It's a team mate thing, you know. I've felt like the odd one out." And the two left.

"Hey Sid!"

"Yes? What can I get you?"

Ereba looked a bit embarassed and pulled Sid close. "Listen, I kind of got a bit upset in the armory and gave ol' Sully a head butt."

Sid laughed.

Ereba started talking a bit louder. "What? My dad's krogan. I started when I was 5. He taught me. So I told Sully I'd buy him a drink. Just in case we're not here, I'm paying in advance."

Sid was laughing his ass off. "Your money's no good here. That one is on the house. And so's these two. Now go park yourself at that table with your girlfriend. What I wouldn't have given to have seen the look on Sully's face. But don't the rest of you get any ideas, you here?"

[Redbelle]

Wyld stood outside the armoury with Sully in front of, what she saw as, a large metal coffin. Only taller. And Deeper. Sully grinned.

“Iron Suzie's”. He said running his hand over the finish. A holo display appeared under his hand. “Turn's out your Tee-Eff buddies had some. They make armour”. He waved his hand and it opened up. A seam appearing and then splitting apart as the doors swung out and open. Inside looked bare. But as Wyld's eye's adjusted she saw ingresses. All of which held what looked like precision tools made to cut and weld. She turned and pointed at the inside.

“Seriously”?

“Just jump in and we'll scan you”. He said. “Believe me. This will be the best armour you'll ever wear”.

Wyld sighed and jumped up onto the platform. Standing in place Sully waved his hand and the doors closed leaving Wyld in pitch black. A light appeared above her and she heard Sully over her comm. “”Comfortable commander”?

Wyld looked up at the little light. “Could use some elevator music maybe”?

“Hah hah. Stand still and look ahead”.

Wyld looked forward, and a moment later the interior erupted with lights that reminded Wyld of a night club laser light show. Her comm chimed.

“Jerry-Ann”. Momma's soothing voice came over the link. “Forgive me for interrupting, but I have asked to deliver a message”.

“Who from”?

“Zia”.

Wyld's eye's sent wide. Zia.... After Rea and Rothan, and then the armour design session she'd been roped into she'd allowed herself to forget. “Tell me what it says”.

“Message reads, Jan. I'm sending you my location. Come quickly. It's now or never”.

Wyld swallowed. “Tell her...”. She stopped. Suddenly unsure of what to say.

“Yes Jerry-Ann”?

“Tell her.....”. She squeezed her eye's shut. “Never mind. Just put her location on my tool. I'll tell her in person”.

“As you wish”.

Jan's Omni-tool's beeped and the laser show stopped. The doors opened and Sully stood there beaming as he looked over a pad. “Hey! Guess what this Suzie has! Adaptive camouflage! You gotta let me add add it”.

“Sure no problem”. Jan stepped off the Suzie in a daze as she stopped outside. The Suzie sealed itself back up and began to rumble as something began to occur inside. She brought her Omni tool up and saw where Zia was. It was somewhere high. In one of the buildings. She looked up and saw the building the map pointed to. Meanwhile Sully was babbling next to her.

“I'm telling you, taking on any camo pattern from the environment is the next step. And with the shield upgrades, you'll be fast and.....”.

“Sounds good”. Wyld said, not listening, as she started walking towards the building.

Sully watched her go. “Yeah..... I guess everyone can only listen to so much of this stuff”. He said as he turned back to the Suzie and started manipulating the panel.

Wyld meanwhile was trying to figure out what to say when she saw Zia. Naomi had found out about them. From her! Now Naomi was out there and Zia had no idea. And what if Naomi decided to break with Zia? Because of what she had done.

After all. Naomi and Zia were an item. All she'd been was Zia's bit on the side. A desperate play from her. But one that had given her a brief respite from being without Zia.

What if she told Zia and She said she didn't want to see her again? Wyld suddenly found her breath coming in gasps. Mild panic, she deduced as she looked at where Zia was waiting. No sense waiting. She had to see her. Tell her everything.

She walked in through the ground floor.

Modifié par Redbelle, 17 septembre 2013 - 07:22 .

[Redbelle]

Zia waited for Jan on the top floor of the building. Several floors down the Alliance had set up temporary storage and people milled around. Taking inventories maybe? Whatever. Zia hadn't bothered to ask as she'd walked past them. She drew a little attention, but since she wasn't bothering them they didn't bother her.

She was thinking of Rea. Her lips against hers. Her body grinding against hers. Her body had responded to being pressed against, in the same way her favourite dish made her mouth water at the aroma.. Rea's wet skin making her...... And then she'd.........And after that........

Nothing happened.

Something always happened. Usually. Nine times out of ten.

Maybe nine and a half.

She could have claimed her she knew. She'd resisted, but not tried to escape. Those who tried to get away were one's she always let go of. She had her boundaries that she would not cross. Knew that what she offered was not meant to invoke fear or despair. She'd been there. If she had a code, that one rule would feature highly.

Yet, she hadn't persisted in the effort. Rea's hesitancy had seemed to invoke a similar reaction within herself. Why? Why? Why why why? Wyld?

The name conjured up her image within her mind and for a moment, she felt a little bit lighter. Something inside her seemed to ease. As if a weight had been lifted and she was free. But what freedom? She'd always been free. But not really. She'd seemingly been placed into service of a crime lord when she was very young and trained to be her gloved fist. Meant to squeeze those she was pointed too. That was the cost. And in return, a life of freedom.

But not really.

She wanted to turn around and go back to the shower. To batter down that Asari's resistance. To pin her to the wall and run her tongue up her back. Brush her lips against her neck. Claim her as water cascaded over them while she learned what Zia had to offer her. A part of her wanted it. She'd have her begging as she worked her. Soft gasps turning to admission's of love as they always did.

Love?

What kind of love? The love of a good lay? She'd had enough of those. Some with people she knew. Some with whom she didn't. It had always been enough. But now?......

As she explored the building she found a staircase and began to climb. As she did, the Alliance soldier's fell away as the upper floor's were empty. She continued to climb. Getting further and further away from everyone. As she climbed to the top she found herself in a large a room. Large because the walls had been blown out, leaving just the support beams in place. As she looked around she saw tables and vid screens. Fridges and chairs. Signs that people had once existed here. Everything had been destroyed. Knocked over, shattered, broken.

She walked and found that in the side of the building was an enormous tear in the wall. She looked out and saw the remains of the London, as far as she could see. Looking down she saw Bastion. A hub of activity below. A lonely and depressing sight when she looked out across London's rooftops. Like a small piece of humanity overlooked by those who had inflicted so much harm. A chill wind blew in from the outside and she clutched herself. Bracing herself against the chill, up here. All by herself.

She didn't want to be by herself she suddenly decided. She turned and next to a table that rested near an L-shaped couch she activated her Omni tool

“Momma”?

Momma's visage came into view. “Yes Zia”?

Zia smiled at Momma's attentive expression. “You can put your clothes on now”.

“I do have clothes per se”. Momma explained as she broke into pixels, then returned in her customary two piece. “However, I do prefer this to other's”.

Zia smiled and looked out across London. She didn't want to be alone. Naomi was down there somewhere. But she wasn't the one she thinking of right now. She wanted Wyld. And to coin a phrase Wyld often said time and again.

“We have to talk”.

“Excuse me”?

Zia looked at Momma. Her decision made. “Could you send Jan my location? Tell her to come to me. Tell her to hurry”. Something in the back of her mind was emerging. An idea. A desire that existed, not so much in the now, but for the future. She looked down at Momma. “Tell her. It's now or never”.

“I do not understand”.

“Me either. But it sounds like the right thing to say. Maybe it'll be the right thing to hear too”.

Momma nodded and disappeared. Leaving Zia to walk back to the tear in the side of the building. Staring out over the worn torn London.

Modifié par Redbelle, 17 septembre 2013 - 07:30 .

[Khambilo]

A flurry of thoughts swirled through Rothan’s mind. Finding the same weapon that Niria had held in her hands awoke the images that Rothan thought he had long tucked away.

Niria had fought until the end, Wyld said. But it was the other things she said that Niria had mentioned to her, about how she was proud of him. How he had reached a point of recognition in the squad. How could that be true? To Rothan, it always seemed as if he was just getting by. That some of them including Niria, were always skeptical of Rothan’s presence in an Asari spec ops squad.

War had changed them all, there was no doubt, but was he really the fighter the Niria had spoken him up to be. Rothan always thought he was just surviving.

At least that was how his time on Earth felt, running from one place to the next, hoping that things would turn out all right in the end. Now, in this call before the storm, this waiting for the final plunge, Rothan was restless. Heap on the communication issues with Rea, the lack of anything to do was driving him crazy. Rothan never considered himself a restless person, but this was almost unbearable.

In a split second, Rothan decided to give himself a purpose. Visiting Arkeer would keep his mind away from the things that were too much to think about now.

It didn’t take him long to reach the medical tent. Not too long ago, he and Rea had been there themselves. Finding Arkeer was easy after that. Through the various curtains of the tent, Rothan could hear the grizzled voice of a Krogan yelling.

“Let me go!”

“You ruptured your spleen!”

“I have two more.”

“You’re going to rupture the second if you don't let me repair the damage.”

Rothan peeled back the curtain, revealing a salarian medic struggling to keep Arkeer pinned down on the stretcher.

As soon as he entered, Arkeer’s furrowed look brightened. “Look who it is!” He laughed heartily but then clutched his stomach, wincing.

“This is exactly what I was referring to,” the medic said. “Now lean back.”

Arkeer glared, but complied with the medic’s instructions. Rothan entered the space smiling. Hugh and Mia were sitting off to the side watching as Arkeer struggled.

“Hey Arkeer,” Rothan greeted.

“It’s good you got here when you did,” Hugh said. “He’s been like this since he woke up.”

Mia giggled. “He’s tough. Nothing wrong with that.”

“There is when I’m trying to patch him up,” the medic said. Then he turned to Rothan. “You are?”

“Rothan’Vells nar Ketsa. Arkeer was…” Rothan paused, thinking how to describe the relationship between him and Arkeer. “Arkeer was a part of my squad.”

The medic nodded and set to work administering drugs through his omnitool to the Krogan.

“Gotta say,” Arkeer looked to Rothan. “Didn’t expect to see you after all of that.”

“Come on Arkeer,” Rothan smiled, taking a seat beside Mia. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

“I wasn’t,” he guffawed. “I was selling you short. Damn suicidal going after Rea like that. Glad you both are alright though.”

“You are another story,” the medic said. “Bruised ribs. Minor concussion. Perforated spleen. It’s a wonder you made it out in one piece.”

Arkeer nudged Hugh, who was sitting closest to him but looked to Rothan. “They told me when they brought me in I was covered in blood. Some of it was mine. Heh heh heh.”

“Yeah it was touch and go there for a minute,” Rothan said.

“But the missiles are okay,” Arkeer said. “I’ll call that a success.”

Rothan nodded. “Yeah, Miranda’s working on them now, but it looks like everything is okay. You guys did well. All of you.”

Mia smiled proudly. Hugh looked a little downcast though.

“If only the others…” He began. “Elderis. Hylar. A.Q…”

“Mourn them later,” Arkeer said. “Better yet, blow something up in their name. Show them that they didn’t die in vain.”

Hugh smiled a little. “Thanks.”

“Now can I get off the stupid table?” the krogan said, shuffling.

“Almost,” the medic responded without breaking his focus from his task.

Arkeer glared at the medic but then relaxed his head, looking to Hugh and Mia for a second.

“You mind if you give me Rothan some privacy,” he said. “We got some man things we need to talk about.”

Hugh looked insulted, “But I am a man.”

Arkeer smirked. “Sure you are.” Then he motioned to the exit. Hugh rolled his eyes and gathered up Mia.

“See you in a few.” He called back as they exited.

Rothan sat closer, taking the seat that Hugh had once claimed at Arkeer’s side. Arkeer’s smirk did not vanish in the slightest, which meant Rothan already knew what was coming.

“So… You and Rea, huh.” He said.

“How did you know?”

“You smell bad,” Arkeer stated. “Both of you. Pheromones or something. Krogan are more attuned to that sort of thing. Smells like repression.”

Rothan narrowed his eyes. “Really?”

“Yes, really. That and Hugh said something. Plus you ran off like a knight in shining armor to go save her.”

Rothan blushed slightly, again glad for the suit that obscured that particular effect. “I… yes…”

Arkeer laughed. “Have you said anything to her?”

“Some,” Rothan admitted.

“Some?”

“What?”

“Well, was the ‘some’ something to the effect of 'I want to get in your commando leathers'?”

Rothan recoiled slightly. “What?! No! Of course not!”

“Why not?” Arkeer shrugged. “Considering what’s coming ahead you may not get your chance. You got down time now.”

“Right…” Rothan glared. “I’m just supposed to be like ‘Hey Rea, lets do it!’ and then strip off my suit and make love to her in the street.”

Arkeer rolled his eyes. “I didn’t say that.”

Rothan rose out of his seat. “Right, I suppose I should go about sanitizing the rubble first. Wouldn’t want to get an infection!”

His voice rang out, perhaps a little too loud. Rothan caught the salarian medic’s flicking glance and immediately felt self conscious, sinking back into his seat.

“See, that was a fighter’s spirit,” Arkeer smiled.

Rothan cocked his head, questioning where he was going with this. “What do you mean?”

The krogan looked away, reminiscing. “On Tuchanka, females have their own separate clans. We meet as a full clan when it is time to mate. When both our blood and their blood boils. And since there are so few fertile females, we must fight each other to prove our strength. To prove that our strength can overcome the genophage itself.  The males grapple, proving their worth in battle. Then when the victors remain standing, we take the female we desire and we fight and grapple until she can no longer resist. Then…" Arkeer breathed deeply. "Then we mate.”

Rothan blinked. “That sounds like rape to me.”

Arkeer glared at him for a split second but quickly smirked. “You’re assuming the females don’t like it that way. It’s about strength. Krogan, male and female, do not accept weakness, even in the mating process.”

Rothan rolled his eyes. “Of course….”

“Point is,” Arkeer said lightly, “you could benefit from some of that directness. Maybe not pinning her against the ground. Wouldn’t want you to break your visor.”

“I can’t believe we just had that conversation,” Rothan said, letting his hands sink into his palms. With his head still clutched in his hands, Rothan’s onmitool illuminated, signaling that he was receiving an incoming transmission.

“Miranda,” Rothan said as he examined the display. Then he looked to the krogan. “I should take this.”

Rothan was already half way out of the tent when he heard Arkeer calling. “Think about what I said!”

When he at last emerged from the medical tent, Rothan gave himself a moment to compose himself then accepted the incoming transmission.

A second later, his omnitool projected the image of Miranda on a holo screen in front of him.

“Miranda,” he said. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing dire yet,” she said looking around. “We’re preparing the missiles we’ve gathered here for the final push. My crews are leaving earlier than the other soldiers headed for the beam. We need to be in position when Shepard brings down the Reapers defenses. I wanted to know if you would volunteer for missile duty, since you and Rea did an excellent job of protecting them when they weren’t your responsibility.”

“Sounds better than nothing,” Rothan nodded. “What do you need me to do?”

“The fighting has gotten worse now,” Miranda explained. “Before we were relying on heavy vehicles, like the Krogan and their Tomkahs to get the missiles to their vantage points. But land vehicles and gunships are visible targets and they’re getting destroyed at most every turn. Already we’ve lost too many missiles squadrons. We can’t afford to lose more. So we’re going with a new tactic.”

“What’s that?”

“Sublety. Stealth. Smaller squads taking roundabout routes,” she said. “That’s why we’re leaving earlier but there’s something else.”

Rothan understood. “You need a diversion.”

“Exactly,” she nodded. “Someone to take the fire away from the missiles. Think you’re up for the challenge?”

Rothan nodded. “I think so.”

“Good, I’ll contact Rea and let her know you’re in,” Miranda smiled.

He felt the blood drain away from his face. “Rea’s coming too?”

“Probably?” Miranda said, sensing his hesitation. “I haven’t asked her yet. Is there a problem?”

“No,” Rothan quickly said. “No. No problem. None.”

Miranda smirked slightly. “If you say so. Lawson out.” Then the screen cut out.

Rothan stood for a moment in the middle of the camp. Time was running out…And despite Arkeer’s explanation, maybe he was right about some things.

But all of that was secondary to the task at hand. Miranda needed a distraction. Rothan pondered the problem for a moment before the solution hit him. The reapers were targeting vehicles. So a vehicle would naturally make a perfect distraction.

As the realization donned on Rothan, he bolted off in the direction of the armory.

Modifié par Khambilo, 18 septembre 2013 - 01:11 .

[Kel Riever]

Dale sat on a stack of ammo crates in front of the squadron of gunships. She had put up a perimeter of empty storage boxes as a line of demarcation for the civilians and non-essential personnel who now roamed Camp Bastion. As extra measures of precaution, she kept her helmet off, scarred face in full view, and the M-76 Revenant light machinegun at the ready. There hadn’t been any problems.

Lor was next to her with an omni-tool, reviewing his engine maintenance checklist for the third time. The volus asked, “When…do you think the commander…will return?”

“No telling,” Dale responded. “He’s over with Captain Radcliffe at HQ now, updating him on our capabilities. He’s probably also talking strategy.”

A youth exited the armory and began poking around the boxes Dale had set up at the perimeter. Dale leaned forward, but Lor raised his hand to stop her. “That’s…Gizmo. He’s working with…Sully and Pepper. There’s a long…list of requests for gear.”

“Those boxes don’t have anything in them,” Dale called out.

Gizmo looked frustrated, and then headed over. “I’m looking for a Rosco-Ariake M series battery pack. You wouldn’t happen to know where one is, would you.”

Lor shrugged, “That’s a unique…request. We don’t use anything that small on the…gunships, and most omni-devices don’t need as much power as…an M-series. Why do you need a large but…portable battery like that?”

Scrunching his nose, Gizmo replied, “Someone needs it for a custom suit of armor. I couldn’t even tell you what Sully is working on.”

A young girl with green eyes wandered over from the direction of the infirmary. Gizmo waived to her and she waived back.

Dale asked Lor, “I take it she’s all right to let in too?”

“Yes,” Lor replied, “The girl’s Mia....They do things together.”

Aiming her conversation towards Gizmo, Dale said, “You didn’t hear it from me, but I think I know where you could get one of those M-series,”

Gizmo and Lor spoke at the same time, “You do?”

“It isn’t exactly going to be requisitioned to you, if you know what I mean.” Dale winked at Gizmo.

Gizmo glanced sideways at Mia. “Shouldn’t be an issue. Where?”

~~~~

“Listen, Amy, I can’t be standing around here, “ Wilson Armitage grumbled, “As the senior elected official of Earth in this theater, I’ve got to meet with that hard-nosed Radcliffe and talk some sense into him. Terra Firma needs to be given a proper level of responsibility.”

“And that’s exactly what we are going to do, Mister Armitage. Let your voice be heard!” Amy Babylon did her best to reassure an impatient Wilson. Her mood changed promptly when she addressed the volus camera-‘man’ who was fumbling with his equipment, “Exactly how much longer is it going to take you to figure that device out! It isn’t like you didn’t just use it!”

“I’m…sorry. I just have to reset the…zoom.”

The volus’ constant hissing was getting on Babylon’s nerves and this was not the time for distraction. She instead focused on another name for her broadcast. Something that would glue the viewer to the screen. It had to be lyrical. It had to have rhythm. It had to have panache!

“We’re…ready to…go,” the volus camera-'man' hissed.

Amy stuck her chin up. “Mister Armitage, prepare to speak to the people of Camp Bastion. That camera is your direct link to them.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Wilson, while he seemed more interested in making a last minute adjustment of his cuffs. The volus with the camera pointed it at Babylon and Armitage, and counted them down.

Three.

Two.

One.

“This is Bastion News with Amy Babylon! Bringing you the latest from the war with the Reapers. I’m standing here with the elected leader of Terra Firma, Wilson Armitage. Terra Firma stands at the forefront of humanity, the tip of the spear driving deep into enemy territory against countless odds! We…” Amy stopped as she noticed the on-air light of the camera was dark. “Cut! Camera Number One, what is the problem?”

The volus lowered the camera and examined its display. “We…ran out of power. Need…a new battery.”

Amy’s blood pressure rose. “Well, can you not see that Mister Armitage is patiently waiting? Get one now!”

Wilson Armitage rolled his eyes as the volus camera-’man’ fiddled with a large belt pouch at his side. The volus reached in and worked his fingers around before pulling them out empty.

“It’s…gone. I had a spare Rosco-Ariake M series…just a minute ago.”

“I have no time for this,” Armitage said dismissively and trotted off.

Amy Babylon found herself grinding her teeth.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 18 septembre 2013 - 12:02 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Erikka got in line for her ordinance load up, and the sarge was with her. Erikka. All 6'3" of her. She was the tallest one in the squad, and she was also the strongest one in the squad, but the sarge needed to test her on a couple of things since Erikka was not the most graceful one and what Nasyra had implanted was stealth and grace. There was a box of grenades that were going to be loaded into one of the Makos. She ordered Erikka to steal it. There was a path to do it without getting caught.

"Sarge!" Erikka protested.

Nasyra laughed. "Don't worry. We'll give it back to them. This will be fun. Go on. Banes' buddy is guarding them."

Erikka snuck around the line in the shadows and crouched. She waited for the light to pass and watched the movement of people. Then she squat sprinted out to the Mako and hugged it. Her coloring nearly blended with it. They were right there. Just then a soldier picked up the box and put loaded it inside the rear of the Mako, but didn't see her. Nasyra was smiling and waved her back the same way she came.

"I failed." Erikka said. "I always fail."

Nasyra was happy. "You did well. I just thought we'd have a little fun with Banes. Have you ever done that before?"

"The only time I remember doing anything like that was with my uncle on that trip. It's been almost 100 years." Erikka started to smile. "I'm amazed I can still do stuff like that."

"Ah, here we are. Sully!" Nasyra shouted.

Sully looked up hearing more female voices. "Argh! More Asari! What do you want?"

Erikka was polite. "Hi Sully. I need a restock for my weapons, and a new power cell for my omnitool, and more grenades. And my squadmate did pay Sid in advance. I just thought you should know."

"Oh, did she? So she kept her word? Well, I guess she's not all bad, then? Let's see what you've got here. Carnifex that checks fine. Cerberus Harrier. That doesn't, but it's Cerberus and that means you took it off the enemy, so no complaints there. Let me guess AP and Warp rounds, Lift grenades?"

"Actually I prefer incendiary and warp rounds. I like to watch them burn." Erikka laughed. "I find the effects rather stirring."

"Okay, here you go. What about you sergeant?" Sully asked.

Nasyra was eyeing some of the custom gear in the back, and she pulled Sully close. "Do you have any nano-suits?"

Sully looked a bit puzzled. "Huh?"

"I didn't think so. Never mind." Nasyra started to leave.

"Wait!" Sully shouted.

Nasyra got real close. "It's a suit that allows a person to cloak for an extended time."

"Oh sure. I've got one that'll give about a 25 second cloak." Sully said.

"Not good enough. I'm needing about 20 minutes without a full power cell drain." Nasyra said.

Sully just shook his head. "There's nothing here like that. You're talking full black ops special issue stuff, and you don't have the clearance.... oh yes I just noticed the name. Sgt. Soniri. Sorry, I don't have anything."

"Thanks anyway." Nasyra said. "Take care. I'll send the next two out. One has special needs: big gun."

Erikka and Nasyra went straight back to the pub and had a seat at the table.