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[Kel Riever]

Deng raised an eyebrow.  "You, ah, need help with anything?"

[Cknarf]

Frank sighed.

 

"Yes, sir. I would like to use credits to purchase this device." He held up the yellow PDA lookin' thing. "Also, I would like to use credits to purchase all of the items that the quarian and turian are looking to acquire. Sir. Please and thank you."

[Kel Riever]

Morgan spent a fair amount of time placing the assault rifles and heavy pistols into their proper racks once he located what was the Medusa’s main armory.  When he was done, he checked the time and had a quick bout of worry since he had to take care of the contents of the special box.  Morgan put the thing under his arm and went about finding a place he wouldn’t be bothered.

Settling on a small starboard observation area, Morgan unpacked the box.  Just as he had asked, each item came complete with a smaller set of packaging.  Once again, the items inside gleamed under the light.  Morgan lifted up the first item carefully; a pendant hung from a simple neck chain.  The pendant consisted of three individual rings, each warped within itself and all three connected. Coloring seemed to shift from a series of blues, to violets, to various aqua marines, and everything in between.

Morgan placed the pendant and chain in an enclosed, smaller, black and silver box.  There was a minute data display card to be put with it, and on the display card, Morgan entered:

D-light,

This, of course, is a replica of the Rings of Alune.  While I am not asari, I’ve come to find out what they mean and it is the best way I could give you something that says, in essence, ‘You belong.’ 

-Morgan

Sealing the box with contents enclosed, Morgan was careful to find Dahlia’s quarters and leave it for her while she was away.  He had to be quick because there was something else to move on with.

[Kel Riever]

Faed made an appreciateive tilt of his head towards Frank.  “I think we can go.  Everything else I am willing to bet can be found on the Janiri.  And I might need your help configuring a better receiver system for Eteon, since I am not as good with hardware as software.  If that would be all right?”

~ ~ ~ ~

Mira was still waiting to get the testing going for Lysix.  In the meantime, an odd pang of curiosity overcame her.  She made a point of stopping by Avan’s cabin.  At first, she thought it might be better not to knock.  Then, after she considered that little had been done on her part to engage one of Naleena’s core team that she hardly had interaction with, she knocked.

“Avan Rezal, are you present?”

~ ~ ~ ~

Iole, Tallis and Jenus were waiting at the main hanger for what seemed a long time for Mira and Lysix to show up for the training.

“How long is this going to take?”  Jenus rolled her eyes.

“Impatient.  Impatient,” Tallis quipped.

“Iole, you don’t even need to be here,” Jenus went on,  “What are you doing standing around?”

The golden eyed asari looked skeptically at her companion.  “I don’t know, sometimes I like the company.  Ever think of a little consideration, Jenus?  Maybe generosity?”

Jenus shook her head critically.

“You know,” Iole remarked, “The human holiday I’m most familiar with is Christmas.  As I understand it, it is meant to be a time of giving, generosity and bringing out the best in people.  And while it isn’t unique in that regard as a holiday among cultures, I haven’t met a being yet who doesn’t appreciate in some degree another being generous with them.  I only bring it up because I think you’ve missed out on our own culture’s holidays that have the same point.  It might not kill you to be a little generous yourself, Jenus, and stop wondering why people are about all the time as if they’re around to bother you.”

There was a look of surprise from Jenus, before she turned her head sideways in faux disdain.  Iole had struck a bit of a chord with her, but she wasn’t going to say it. 

Tallis, though, winked at Jenus and giggled.

“What?” Iole asked Tallis, wondering exactly what was going on in her head.

Pointing a finger at Jenus, Tallis said, “Bah humbug!  Bah humbug!”

Jenus harrumphed. 

[Cknarf]

"I'd be happy to help." Frank smiled. "Now let's get outta here. If I stick around much longer, I'm going to have an asthma attack." He made a wheezing sound, and stumbled for the door. "Oh god it's happeniiiiiiing! Ahhhh! *wheeze* I'm a goner *cough cough*"

 

Upon reaching the door he returned to normal.

 

"Seriously, old man.  Would it kill you to dust once in awhile?" He shook his head, before continuing outside.

[Kel Riever]

Back at the observation area, where nobody had disturbed his work, Morgan pulled the last remaining items from the box.

One by one, Morgan laid out two sets of gold plated ‘barrels’ for pistols.  One was for an executioner pistol, replacing every area that Blood Pack weapon experts typically designed to be in their mercenary crimson color.  The other was for a turian Brawler heavy pistol.  When they were installed, the plating would leave both weapons glinting a brilliant gold in their wielder’s hands. 

Picking up the plates and examining them closely, Morgan admired the craftsmanship of the etching he had asked to be placed on the sides of each.  In a perfected, long handed script¹, the etching on the Executioner pistol read:

Bernard

While the etching for the Brawler read:

Sinbad

Morgan would be remiss if he didn’t get something on the softer side for Jess. He next picked out two hoop earrings of gold.  These he admired for another moment before he pulled next from the box a gloss black case meant to hold all of the gifts.  Inside the case, a velvet black interior was designed to snuggly hold each of the treasures.  When Jess opened the case, she’d see her gifts all at once on vivid display.  It would be a sight for her, which of course was the point.

The final item pulled from the box was a scarlet bow, which Morgan used to bind the case tightly closed.  Morgan went to drop it off in Jess’ cabin while she was away on the bridge. There was no data card for the gifts in this box.  Jess would know where they came from.

I owe that man a lot, Morgan thought of the dockhand.  He shrugged his shoulders.  Everything was worth it.  

¹You'll need the proper browser to see the actual font used for the names

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Aboard the Janiri, VERA had observed Irina putting up the Christmas display in the lounge, and did a little research on the celebration. It was in the evening, and she lowered the lights all over the ship, and appeared on the monitors dressed in a red jacket and a red skirt with fuzzy white trim, and a holding a martini. And she started reading.

 

“’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And Mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap;

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw open the sash.

 

The moon, on the brest of the new –fallen snow,

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

 

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it mucst be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came

And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name.

 

“Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!

On Comet! On Cupid! On Donder und Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

 

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

 

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

 

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

 

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

 

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

 

And then spoke -

 

"Since we have our share of grumpies on board down in the cargo bay, and elsewhere, I thought I would share this old classic I found in the Earth archives from 1947. It is an audio adaptation of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol."

 

Spoiler

x x

[favoritehookeronthecitadel]

As Avan was walking around, his omni-tool went off. He answered and Typhin's face displayed. Typhin didn't look as happy-go-lucky as usual. He seemed to have a cold demeanor, or at least that was Avan's perspective. 

 

"Hello, Typhin? Is there something I can do for you?"
 

"Yes, Avan, there is. And um, sorry to call you on an unexpected notice."

"Quit alright". Avan answered wearily.

 

"Listen, we need to talk. In private, off of our omni-tools. Something's happened. I can't...explain it here. You'll have to come to my apartment. Do you know where that is?"

 

"On Illium, I believe?"

"Yes. Would that be ok? If you came here?"
 

"Uh....I'm not sure about this. Are you ok, Typhin?"
 

"Look, I just- we need to talk. When is the soonest you could come by?"

"By my guess, a few hours. I can get a shuttle and be over there."

 

"Ok, good. And thanks. Typhin out."

 

The turian ended the call, and Avan just stood there, dumbfounded. Something really had to have happened, or at least that's what it looks like. He sensed a set-up or a double-cross, either made by Typhin or forced on him by someone else. Typhin did seem like the squeamish type, and one flaw of the Shadow Broker's regime was having him so close in his affairs. Could the Broker be involved, or could it be something else? It was doubtful that Typhin just needed to ask a favor. 

 

He was going to go to Illium and see what happens, but he needed to be prepared. Avan begin taking something that he had brought with him- parts to an auto-turret and a video camera that scans the inside of a building. He prepared both of them.

 

A few hours later, Avan's shuttle landed in Illium and he made his way near Typhin's apartment, where he laid out the camera. It scanned around, but Typhin was in his apartment alone, and the only others around where citizens just walking by. Avan then got to Typhin's door, where he laid a turret that was locked on to the turian and would go off if anything happened to him. He proceeded to knock on the door.

 

"Typhin?"
 

"Yes, come in."

 

Avan pulled out his pistol. "I'm afraid you're going to have to remove all of your weapons and distance yourself a few feet from them."

 

"I'm unarmed! I have no weapons."

 

"If you're lying, you'll be dead."

 

Avan opened the door and saw Typhin standing in the middle of the room, casually. He stood up straight, and looked more composed than usual, though something desperate was gleaming in his eyes. 

 

"Hi Avan, how are you?"

"Why am I here?"
 

"Ha, always having to get straight to business. Want a drink?"

 

"No. I want to know why I'm here."

 

"Ok. Ahhh, man, I don't even know where to begin." Typhin turned his head to the large window behind him, the shuttles flying by.

 

"Nice scenery, isn't it?"

 

Avan just gave him a glare, to which Typhin responded by holding his hands up apologetically. "Fine, fine. Well, I'm having a problem. A credits problem. I....I placed a few bets. And I should've won them. But...that didn't happened. And I have no money, and if I don't pay by tomorrow, they won't stop until my head is in one of their fish-tanks, if you get my drift. This was a few days ago and I'm supposed to pay them tomorrow. I've tried everything, and I mean everything. I donated one of my kidneys for credits, but that doesn't even cover a quarter of the amount."

"And the Shadow Broker won't help you?"

"What makes you think I would ask them for money?! If they even knew I was in debt, they'd just have me killed on principle! I can't do that, have to figure something else out."

 

Avan rubbed his forehead. "Uh...look, if this really is that bad of a predicament, why not just go into hiding? Maybe even change your identity?"

"They'd find me anyway, Avan. No matter what. They would find-a-way. They always do. If it's hiring the 10 best bounty hunters in the galaxy, they wouldn't stop, and the worst part is, they'd want to make sure I'm captured alive."

 

Avan gave him a confused look. "So what do you want me for?"

 

"Well, you have money. You're a bounty hunter that saves. You're like OCD about it. I'm sure you could pay the amount."

"That's not happening."
 

"I could pay you back, slowly."

"No."

 

"But Avan, I thought we were....friends."

"Again, no. And don't ask that again."
 

"Well...." Typhin cleared his through and regained his composure. "I figured that would be your response. But here's the thing. Like the Shadow Broker, I can prove to your friends that you were the one who supplied the data to that crazy ******, with absolution. If they all find out what you did, well, they won't give you a medal, that's for sure. No, I imagine they'll be pretty kinda pissed off and have the want-to-kill-you mind-frame."

 

Avan started to get angry as he remained still.

 

Typhin shrugged. "And sure, you could run. But their leader is a spectre, with an extreme lack of forgiveness or forgetting, from what I've heard. You would probably have to change your name, your lifestyle, maybe even your appearance. How much would that mess with your OCD, huh?"
 

As Avan continued to listen to him, Typhin took a deep breath before continuing. "I have....some contacts...who are going to send the information directly to Naleena tomorrow. They'll do it unless I call and stop them. So if you kill me, that will happen. So, should we go back to my original idea, with you giving me the credits? It's a big number, but I'm sure you have the amount."

 

Avan stood quietly, and then looked down, and back up at him. "It's a bit funny. I mean, I get it. I'm a bounty hunter. We're all criminals, we all do unpleasant things that are, in the long run, needless and self-serving. Everyone close to the Shadow Broker, they're in a business that you could call tasteless. It's, essentially, survival of the fittest. So, threatening me....that's one thing. But blackmail?" Avan casually pulled out his pistol and shot the side of Typhin's face off. 

 

The turian let out a yell as he touched the side of his head that was gone and protruding blue fluid. He stood, eyes wide in shock. Avan then proceeded to shoot him several more times in the chest. With each shot Typhin walked backwards until Avan shot at the window, causing the glass to break, then shot Typhin again. The turian fell backwards and into the nearly endless abyss that laid below. His bloodcurdling screams were loud at first, but continued to fade until they dissapeared and the shuttles zooming by were the only sound. 

 

"....now that's just sad."

[Redbelle]

As shuttles continued to flow back and forth, transporting supplies onto the Medusa, one in particular caught everyone's eye.

 

The shuttle's paint scheme marked it out. The bottom half of the shuttle was painted brown and appeared as if someone had tried to add a wood effect. The effect slanted up the sides towards the back. On the front a rendition of some devilish animal with horns and an unnaturally red nose sat below the cockpit window. Back on the side a man in a red suit with white trim and gold buttons appeared to have been painted over the boarding hatch depicting an old man whipping the beast in front with a long lash that suddenly opened to see his picture's namesake standing in it's place.

 

He had a long thin face and absolutely no belly. And grumbled beside him to an Elf named as Emi.

 

"Must I really do this"? Asked the Salarian.

 

Emi nodded. Her blue Asari feature's beaming with delight in her elf outfit. "Oh yes! The human workers love this festival of theirs". She reached up and polished her name badge that glittered in sparkling gold. "And I do so love the outfits"!

 

"Bah. Should have worn this.... this....  Don't even know what I'm wearing! No pocket's for data cards! No belt's for attaching tools"!

 

"Your playing the part of Kris Kringle. Your the lead worshiper in this festival where they celebrate human fertility".

 

"Bah... Not like they need a festival for that. Breed like rabbits"!

 

"No no. This is about a very special birth about a woman who had a child while still a virgin".

 

The Salarian peered at Emi unscrupulously. "No male partner was involved? Human females can do that"?

 

"Just the one time. I read about it in their ancient texts".

 

The Salarian shuddered. "Hmm. Random mutation perhaps. Self fertilization of ovaries......".

 

"No no. She was filled with spirit"!

 

"Drunk at the time? Probable male fertilisation then. Couldn't remember name of father. Common occurance. Can't see why I have to dress like this".

 

"She was filled with the spirit of a lord...."!

 

"Male ruler? There's your answer. Most likely found comely wench of lower station and couldn't keep it in his....".

 

"Mr Kringle"! Emi said pouting with her hands on her hips. "This happens to be a very important holiday for the humans! It's tied directly to one of their religions and we are going to respect that the same way you respect our dawn of ascension when the Goddess came to the Asari"! She hefted a sack sitting to one side over her shoulder. "Now follow me. We... are going to hand out presents to all the good little dock workers.... And for the Goddesses sake.... SMILE"!!!

 

Emi stalked out of the shuttle with the Salarian left standing in the hatch. His lips pulled down in a scowl. "Religion? Presents? Fertility?....... Humbug"! He griped as he moved to follow his blue helper.

[Kel Riever]

Previously…( http://forum.bioware...res/?p=18119080 )

Somewhere in the Terminus Systems

Iyana walked at the head of the group in her eccentric violet armor, running a hand through her white, bobbed hair.  She carried her dragonhead shaped helm under her opposite arm and strode through the cavern with a familiar gait.  The end of the cavern was rough, and covered with a brownish orange growth, but rose like a wall, high and to either side.  “Why have you not explored this place further?” she asked to the asari under guard at her back.

“We were simply marking all the possible locations of Prothean ruins planet wide before sending the information back to Pyrena.  Afterwards, we would have delved deeper into each location.”  The asari answered.  The guard next to her gave her a shove.  Then she added, “…My superior.”

Iyana spun and flashed a smile.  “It is a good thing, for you, that you did not delve deeper.”  She took a quick glance at the group of thirty or so that accompanied her.  Half were her own guards.  The other half were the lead scientists of the colonial expedition she had taken over, which included the asari she spoke with who was the colony president.  Also included with the scientists were three other asari.  Iyana made note that all of the asari were maidens before she turned back to stare at the cavern wall.  Then, in an instant, she disappeared.

The asari colony president looked uncertainly at her guard and her companions.  She could risk nothing, even with her biotics, against a heavy guard who had their weapons on her and her fellow scientists.  And even if she could, she’d be forfeiting the lives of all the colonists who had been left behind at the main encampment.  As hostage to the human woman’s people, she had no doubt of the merciless slaughter that would be inflicted as revenge for a rebellious action.  She was sure of it, after her encounter with Iyana.

There was a nearly imperceptible humming noise, and then the sound of grinding rock.  Before her eyes, the president watched in surprise as the cavern wall split in two and slowly separated.  Beyond, a hue of light broke through, and then as the aperture became wider, a long hallway was revealed.  Immediately obvious was the style, clearly a Prothean ruin, buried underground, hidden away from all the preliminary exploration done by the colonists.  But the light came from human sources, temporary lamps run by portable generators.  When the split walls, really a doorway, had finished opening, Iyana stood by one wall, her hand on a control panel with a cable that ran up along the hall and out of direct sight.

Unable to contain her shock, the president blurted, “How did you?  You know of a ruin and have been her before!”

Iyana sauntered out.  “It needs a bit of work.  Actually, it has been a failsafe of mine, a place to come back to if needed.  I must admit I would have been quite put out if you had discovered it.”

Her eyes dimming, the president said in dismay, “It is a tragedy for all beings of the galaxy that you have kept hidden this potential treasure of lost knowledge.  Of the galaxy’s history.”

Stepping well into the personal space of the president, Iyana placed a gentle hand on her cheek and said, “Look on the bright side.  I now have a need for your people to work.  They have a future, and so do you.”  Moving away again, Iyana glanced sidelong at the other three maidens.  She then ordered the guards, “Take those three to be dealt with according to the instructions I gave you.  I think I deserve my own presents this Christmas season.”

The three maidens had no choice, but were separated and led off, fear in their eyes. 

“What will you do with them?”  The president asked, dread in her question.

Iyana replied softly, “You may join them, soon enough.  But for now, I have need of you to lead your people.  An advantaged position that, if I were you, I would not take for granted.”

Snapping her head away, Iyana said aloud, but to herself, “Now I’ll need to get that Tarballs on the com.  He’s got my man and I want him back!”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Janiri – Captain’s Quarters: Day 3

 

A couple of hours passed. Naleena and Anika were lying on the bed on their backs. Naleena smiled for the first time in a while. She turned her head to look at Anika rest with her eyes closed. The meld was nice. They both needed it.

 

VERA’s light blinked. Well, she did give us a couple of hours. Back to work.

 

“Yes, VERA.”

 

“I have a call from Aria T’loak on the QEC. She said it is urgent,” VERA said.

 

“Tell her that I’ve been ‘occupied’ and will be there in a few minutes,” Naleena replied.

 

“Very well, Boss.”

 

Anika stirred. “Back to work?”

 

“Yes. I have a call to take in the QEC. I’ll be back shortly,” Naleena said, “I saw you cleaning your guns and equipment. Make yourself at home. There’s even some food in the small refrigerator, or you could order something from the kitchen. They will deliver to the Captain’s quarters. I’d like to talk a bit after I return.“

 

Naleena put on a pair of coveralls, kissed Anika, and stepped out. When she got to the QEC in the Conference Room she saw Aria sitting in her chair waiting impatiently. She had her right leg crossed over her left in a masculine style.

 

“I’m not used to being kept waiting, Naleena. I hope whatever you were doing was worth it,” Aria said with a touch of arrogance.

 

Naleena stood on the QEC and ignored Aria’s comment. “So how are things, Aria?”

 

“They could be better. They could be worse. I’m sure you heard the news by now that Shepard shutdown the Collectors,” she said, “A few hours ago, I gave her the VIP section of Afterlife for three days for a party. Then I heard the news that she gave the Collector base to Cerberus. Cerberus!”

 

“I’m sorry Aria. That strikes a raw nerve because of your daughter….”

 

“That’s not why I called you,” Aria interrupted before her eyes welled. “Do you remember that Batarian who used to preach that insane message near Harrot’s? Harrot complained that he was costing him customers so I had him moved to another part of Omega, nearer the tip.”

 

“So?”

 

“Well, it seems that he’s gathering quite a following out there which is unusual since he couldn’t preach his way out of a paper bag,” Aria remarked. “And there’s another matter, also not under your Spectre umbrella. Someone has been messing with my drug trade. Some tainted Hallex has been showing up in certain parts of Omega.”

 

“Neither of these really seems to be priority, Aria. Drug trade?”

 

“Naleena…. You know you’re a Spectre, right? Do you really want to know how you got to be a Spectre? And there was the deal with the Collector ship. You owe me. I need you to look into this. People have been clamming up around my enforcers. But you? Your people are unknown on the station and can investigate this,” Aria said and smiled. “And if you hurry, you might even be able to catch Commander Shepard.”

 

“We’ll be there as soon as we can, Aria,” Naleena replied.

 

“That’s what I like about you, Naleena. You always get your priorities right in the end.” Aria smiled and signed off.

 

Naleena shook her head, left the Conference Room and returned to her quarters.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Omega - one month earlier

 

People began gathering in response to some flyers that had been posted on supports and on boards in the market places. There was a preacher who once had a small following near Harrot’s shop. Aria had him evicted because he was scaring away customers. Not her customers, though, but his. Normally, she didn’t get involved. She did it as a favor for Harrot because the Elcor heard in passing from one of Aria’s bodyguards that her couch needed reupholstering, and he arranged to have fine leather samples brought to her and had it done as a gift. She was touched. Aria felt generous that day and banished The Preacher.

 

The Preacher was not happy about his predicament and sought revenge. Aria inadvertently had put him right in the midst of people most likely to help him exact it, he thought. He approached his awaiting flock. There were about 15 people. Most of them were Batarians and some Turian. A couple of the Volus clan stood in the rear. They wore environment suits that recycled ammonia which was their normal atmosphere. He began his usual racist sermon.

 

“Repent! The end is nigh! Humans are blight on galactic purity. The Protheans cast off the lesser races: the Krogan, the Vorcha, and the Humans. ‘And so they dwelled on worlds made of dirt and feces, and there they lay until they tumbled into the skies.’ The lesser races will be our downfall! The Word is clear! ‘Let none in my sight continue to live, lest their impurity displease me.’

 

“The Word is clear on this, my friends! Humans are the hands of the Reapers, here to commit the galaxy to ruin! ‘Bring unto me the children that I may watch them grow into soldiers for the cause.’”

 

One of the volus clan said to the other, “Bah! He’s crazy! *fffsk*  Let’s get out of here.”

 

“I agree *fffsk* We should leave.” The other said and they departed.

 

The Preacher pointed at the Volus and said to them. “Sinners! Go ahead and leave! I declare you unclean,” and then he continued.

 

“The way is clear, my friends! Draw your weapons for the Word, or face its terrible wrath! The end times will come not with a bang but with a sigh. Those who dip their extremities in the well of sin and vice must repent with fire, oil, and the gun! Let not fleshly friendships and base urges compel us to sin and neglect. The Word makes Its demands and It demands obedience.

 

“‘And on this great station, the pure shall be rejected and the lesser races given their places in heaven, and this shall be the beginning of the end.’ The end times are upon us. Repent! And restore your souls to glory!”

 

The crowd dissipated except for one Batarian. He wore a black knit hat and a black duster, quite odd looking. He was older with his facial folds having white on the outer edges. The Preacher hung his head and began to leave. The man followed and approached him. “Pastor! Wait.”

 

The Preacher turned. “What do you want? My ministry is a failure.”

 

“My name is Karik Had’dah. I think I can help your ministry.” Karik wore a hat and a duster. He turned and winked two of his four eyes at The Preacher. “I don’t believe it is message, but it is how you are delivering it.”

 

“What do you mean?” The Preacher and Had’dah continued walking down the dark Omega alley in the lower market place.

 

Had’dah turned to The Preacher. “You look hungry. There’s a food stand up here. I would like to buy you something to eat.”

 

“Thank you. You are kind.” The Preacher smiled.

 

The food smelled delicious from the stand. It was authentic Batarian food. Had’dah bought each of them a varren meat kabob and an ale. He slipped something into the ale that he gave to The Preacher.

 

“Here you go.” Had’dah handed The Preacher the kabob and set his ale in front of him, then took a seat across from him.

 

“So, what is it about my delivery that you think can be better?” The Preacher asked.

 

Had’dah smiled. “Well, you need to think about your rhythm and pacing. That’s very important. It’s more important than what you’re saying. Isn’t this meat delicious?”

 

“Yes, it is. It’s also a little salty. It is making me thirsty. Thanks for getting the ale.” The Preacher raised his mug and drank.

 

Had’dah was enjoying his kabab. “Not a problem. I come here all the time. I’m surprised you haven’t seen me.”

 

“I’m not feeling that well, can we leave?” The Preacher was getting drowsy. “Can you help me to my home?”

 

“Sure, not a problem. Where is it?” Had’dah asked as he was putting The Preacher’s arm around his shoulder.

 

“Around the corner and upstairs, apartment 214.” The Preacher went limp.

 

Had’dah glanced over at the person behind the counter and saw he wasn’t paying any attention. No one was paying any attention. The Preacher was just another drunk who needed help getting home. He took The Preacher up the stairs, and he got the key out of the pocket and opened the door. The Preacher’s apartment was a small, one room studio with a bathroom. Had’dah turned on the dim lamp on the night stand, and took a small tech probe out of his pocket. When he brought it near the back of The Preacher’s neck the probe came to life and jumped out of his fingers and burrowed into The Preacher and attached itself to the spinal column around the C1 vertebrae. It would now synchronize itself with The Preacher’s brain patterns.

 

********************************************************************************************************************

 

Anto and Griss had searched the docks for the crates and their search was fruitless. The The Turian wanted to simply tell Aria they were lost, but Anto was already in trouble. Aria had found out about the business he was running on the side and slammed him hard for it. You don’t run a business on Omega without giving Aria a cut, and Anto had violated that rule. He was lucky Aria found out the same day that Harrot delivered her exquisitely reupholstered couch. Harrot had even included a bottle of her favorite Serrice Ice Brandy as a gift. Not the crap stuff they sell to tourists, but the real top end stuff.

 

“We’ve got to keep looking for those crates, Griss. Aria will kill me, and I mean literally.” Anto pleaded with the Turian.

 

“Okay, but where do you want to look? We’ve been all over the docks.” Griss was tired.

 

Anto pointed to the elevator. “You’re packing, right? Let’s check the next level down.”

 

“You’re f*cking kidding me, Anto. My shift is about over. I’ve got to get home.” Griss complained.

 

“Aria said she wants those crates, and she told me to take you with me. That means it’s your ass, too, so don’t give me any sh*t. We’re going down. Now.” Anto pointed in Griss’ face. “Follow me.”

 

The bird wasn’t happy, clicked his mandibles with displeasure, and threw his hands in the air, but followed the Batarian into the elevator. They exited on the next lower level. It was much darker. Aria didn’t allow as much power to the lower levels. She needed it to run the light show and gambling casino at Afterlife. Anto led them into the dark corridor.

 

“I know this area well. I lived here when I was young.” Anto spoke in a low voice, drew his pistol and walked quietly. Griss drew his pistol as well. There was a gang tag on the wall. It belonged to a bunch of small time local thugs. The area opened up into a kill zone. Anto took cover on one side, Griss on the other. Griss saw a half dozen gang members around three crates messing with jars, rounded the corner with his pistol aimed and shouted, “Hey!”

 

Anto checked his side, then turned and covered Griss. The gang members took off running when they recognized those were Aria’s men, but they each ran with a jar of Hallex. “Let them go, Griss. It isn’t worth it.” He grabbed Griss. “Let’s check the goods.”

 

Griss nodded and walked in with his pistol drawn. The crates were on a table in the middle of a large room that had a single light overhead. Anto holstered his weapon. “Keep an eye on the entrance.” Anto started checking the jars. “F*ck! Aria is going to be p*ssed. They broke the seal on every single jar.”

 

“What are we going to do?” Griss asked.

 

“Isn’t it obvious? We don’t tell her. Mark these crates for sale to the sh*t section of Omega where all the sh*t goes.” Anto holstered his weapon and began closing the crates. “These assh*les were going to cut the sh*t for sale down there anyway. But if you breathe a word of this to Aria, before she kills me I’m going to make sure you have a bullet in your head. Have you got that?”

 

“Yeah, yeah, Anto. Now let’s load this onto the f*cking hand truck over there and get the hell out of here.” Griss holstered his weapon.

[Cknarf]

The convertible rolled up in the Janiri. Everyone stepped out of the car in slow-mo, wearing sunglasses (even Faed) and smoking cigarettes.  They all took one last drag (even Faed), before flicking their cigarettes away in synchronized super duper slow-mo.

 

They were immediately scolded by Septerax, and forced to pick up their litter.

 

Frank carefully parked the car in its original position aboard the Janiri.

 

"We'll, guys. I had fun." Frank said while climbing out of the car. "Sucks about that mirror, though." He ran a hand over the place where it used to be.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne sighed in his quarters as he held his latest present in his hands, the 8 gauge double barreled gift from Irina making him smile as he clicked open the latch and swung the barrels open, flicking it back into its secure position with a chuckle as he heard it snap close. He had to admit, much as it wasn't his style, he did enjoy the noise and feel of this gun. It was smaller, lighter then a normal shotgun, and the shells were apparently used to hunt giant horned animals on earth, which only added to its coolness.

 

"Its a simple Spike Thrower, nothing too complicated about it." He commented aloud as he looked to his current collection, and let out a sigh, "Still...there's just too many of these for me." He said with a sigh as he counted the amount of shotguns he had. First was his scimitar, the normal one out of his bunch. Then there was the Bakara, the war trophy shotgun pistol that felt like he was firing a cannon every time he used it. Still had no clue how it worked, but damn if it wasn't effective. Then there was this new one, he was still working on a name, but between it and his chakram launcher and n7 pistol, vayne was beginning to think people might not trust his long range combat skills.

 

Not that he blamed them, he couldn't shot for crap long distance. He sighed as he placed the gun on one of the racks, looking to the collection as he pondered what he was going to do. No way was he leaving this new gun behind, not without giving it a proper test run first. But he couldn't just walk around with 3 shotguns, people might start talking and claim he had a problem.

 

With the issue, in his eye at least, being clear as day, vayne picked up his scimitar shotgun and walked out of the room. It was the "christmas" season, apparently, "Wonder if it has a season?" he said aloud as he walked down the hall.

 

Someone was getting a new shotgun for christmas, and he just needed to figure out who.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul stood with hard-light sensors attached to his body, standing ready and sweating hard as he faced off against the faceless, hologram opponent he had chosen to vent his frustrations on. He had to give it to these engineers at Antonaria Industries, they seemed to know what they were doing.

 

The simulation was simple, a circle area was drafted that essul couldn't leave, and a basic attack hologram made to fight him. He wore sensors to help register his blows, as well as the blows of the simulation, and then he simply fought. It was simple, it was effective, it was most of all silent and non-judgemental, which was what essul had wanted at the moment.

 

The hologram came at essul with its guard up, and essul snapped into action as he side stepped, backing up and circling with his arms raised as well, moving swiftly as the hologram gave pursuit. A normal person would ask why he'd wanted to spar, ask about rules, ask questions that essul didn't want to ask. Additionally, a real sparing partner could get hurt, seriously hurt, if he didn't make absolute sure to hold back.

 

As the hologram circled essul leaned back and lashed out with one of his legs, smacking into the hardlights shin as it buckled, sending the hologram falling to one knee. Essul planted that foot down and pushed himself forward, sending a viscious right hook at the holograms head and knocking it aside, before he reached out with his left hand and grabbed the holograms arm, bringing his knee to bear and slamming it hard against the holograms elbow region, the projection showing a massive red lightup and an image of a broken bone displaying on the area.

 

Essul didn't want to hold back, and he didn't want to hurt a crew member. So he settled for the next best thing, beating holograms till he felt better.

 

He reached out with two hands and grabbed the holograms head, shoving it hard into his knee as a registered broken bone sign lite up the faceless region, the hologram falling back as essul descended upon it. He sent one punch after another, viscous blow after viscous blow, as the hologram registered its own structural integrity depleting from the assult. Finally, he raised a fist and sent it crashing straight down into the holograms face region, fist crashing through the hologram and into the ground as its form dematerialized. A small score counter appeared over essuls head, but he didn't pay attention to it as he rose to his feet and shock his fist.

 

He flexed his fingers and walked back towards his side of the ring, waiting for a minute as the system respawned another blank faced opponent for him to fight. He raised his arms, ready for another round as he ran forward, deciding to go on the offensive this time.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Essul was in the middle of his routine when his omni-tool flashed. It was Naleena. The message contained one word. "Granted. - Naleena." VERA, a synthetic, a machine, came through for him.

 

Naleena then sent a message to the Medusa. "Jess, we've been called away to Omega. Aria has some urgent business. You'll have no trouble in this system, but contact VERA before you leave and we can provide you with an escort in the Sahrabarik system if your ship isn't 100%. - Naleena."

 

Han'Breizh vas Janiri nar Qwib Qwib had given Commander Selani the signal that the board was now green. The defective part had been replaced and the drive core was in perfect balance. He looked forward to putting her through her paces at maximum acceleration into FTL. Selani passed the word on to Naleena who returned to the bridge to see this happen.

 

One last check by VERA assured that everyone was on board.

 

VERA appeared on the central console and her voice sounded over the ship-wide intercom system. "All active crew, please return to your stations, and everyone else please return to your quarters. Take your seats, fasten your safety harnesses and make sure that your seats are in a full upright position. We are about to depart for the Omega system. Our arrival time is in approximately eight hours. Should we experience cabin decompression, an oxygen mask will drop from the panel above you. Place the mask over your face as shown by the hologram in front of you and leave it on until the situation is rectified. A blue light will appear on your panel when you may remove them. Please remain seated and refrain from smoking until the seatbelt lights and no smoking lights are turned off. Thank you, and we hope you have a pleasant flight."

 

Jorril had filed the flight plan with the Alliance Control Tower.

 

"Janiri, you are cleared for take off."

 

The spaceway detached from the ship, and the Janiri left the shipyard. Naleena watched the event on the large overhead viewscreen. VERA switched to rear view to that they could see the moon grow smaller and smaller. There was no disruption, since VERA was monitoring the flight path. At these speeds everything had to be done by instruments and sensors anyway. Visual was way too slow. Without inertial dampers and mass effect fields the g forces experienced by the crew would be deadly and the ship would have been crushed, but the Janiri accelerated smoothly.

 

"Zero point seven C. Zero point eight C. Zero point nine C. Zero point nine nine C. Engaging FTL drive," Jorril said and tapped some buttons on his panel.

 

There was a momentary lightness as the ship's mass shifted and stabilized as was normal. VERA monitored it closely.

 

"I apologize for the momentary sensation that everyone felt. That was my first FTL drive engagement at such a rapid acceleration in a ship this size. I have made the appropriate calculations to compensate for that. You should not notice anything the next time," VERA said.

 

"VERA, that was normal," Jorril replied.

 

"It was normal for a VI controlled ship, but we can do better," VERA said.

 

Jorril clicked his mandibles in approval. "We should reach the mass relay in three hours."

 

VERA turned off the seat belt and no smoking lights.

[Cainhurst Crow]

((This is a collaboration between SJ and myself.))

 

 

Three hours until relay transit. I need to see Essul, Naleena thought.

 

She left the CIC and went to the crew deck of the ship directly to Essul's cabin and buzzed the door. “Essul? It's me, Naleena. Do you have a moment?”

 

Essul opened the door and bowed his head to Naleena, one arm behind his back as he stepped out of her way.

 

“Of course, Commander.” he said formerly, his quarters being well lite and cleaned this time, a nice change from the darkened and disheveled state they'd been in earlier.

 

Naleena entered. She looked around at how bright and clean his quarters were, yet she made no comment about that.

 

“May I sit?”

 

Essul motioned. The two exchanged formalities and Naleena took a seat on the couch.

 

“As you probably guessed, I approved your request for asylum,” Naleena said while crossing her leg at her knee. “VERA forwarded a packet she said she decrypted from your terminal with your permission. You informed me of your status and your mission before. But this information goes counter to your mission. I'm assuming that this is why you requested asylum?”

 

Essul nodded as he gazed to the ground, standing opposite of her rather than sitting. “When I first took my mission to investigate the collectors, I had been suspicious of the hegemony's activities. I was looking in to it as well as looking into the collectors, and when I found leads on one, I leveraged them with a shadow broker agent to buy information on the other.” He admitted as he brought his arm from behind his back, his knuckle bruised slightly, and a small still healing scar on his upper forearm.

 

“I got my data packet after my last trade, a few weeks before I met up with you and joined this team, or knew of its existence. I had been working on it on my off hours, hoping it'd give me answers. But all I got out of it was a reference to a military research base that wasn't on the books, and details about resupply orders....” He paused as he rubbed his arm, looking up to face Naleena with a scowl on his face, obviously displeased.

 

“Just more questions for me to ask. It wasn't until our recent mission though that I began to truly wonder about my government. The men we killed, the ones in charge, we're agents of the Special Intervention Unit. My organization, under the command of my former CO.” he said, as he straightened his posture, fists clenching as a surge of anger welled up in him.

 

“My mission was to keep the Hegemony from being dragged into a war with the alliance, because a war would doom us all. And yet my commander ordered an attack on not just humans, but Batarians, Turians, Salarians, anyone working at these mines!!!  Either he was lying to me the entire time he gave me this mission, or he was lying to himself about it, or he was...or he was protecting me, from what I was doing.” He said as his voice shook a moment, anger giving way to a brief surge of regret, like bile that snaked its way up his throat.

 

He shook his head to clear his thoughts, bringing a hand to rest on his temple, “I...I needed to know which, so I called him. And in so doing...tipped my hand about what I'd found in my investigation...”

 

Naleena saw the handwriting on the wall. “Your government used you to hedge their bet in case the attack on the dome failed. You're a hero in my book, Essul. And now you're exiled from your home. I am sorry.

 

“The information you gave me is damning and implicates your government. It is my duty to turn it over to the Council. It could start a war. However, as a Spectre I can hold it pending further investigation, which is what I am going to do. Do you think the Hegemony will send anyone after you?”

 

“Undoubtedly they will. My CO was already targeted during my call to him. His terminal and Omni tool undoubtedly bombed remotely...” Essul said as he looked to his arm, where the wound had been sealed by Medi-gel.

“He...helped me. My CO, commander Ghurkas. When I asked him about Keter branch, he told me about a tracking device in my armor and in my arm...” he said quietly, shaking his head in disbelief. “Even knowing he was going to die, he helped me instead of trying to save his own life...”

“I do not know what to think, but I do know what I know for certain. I trust you as a commander. Keter branch is a research base the hegemony doesn't want known about. And my people could be in danger because of it...” he said as he looked Naleena in the eyes, cold hard determination burning in them.

“If we can, I'd like to find out about this place. Investigate it fully and find out what this accursed place is. It may not be my place to ask, but I will ask you anyway...” he said as he lowered himself to one knee, bowing his head to her, “Do not let this be a weapon against my people. Help me find out what it is and end it, for the good of everyone.”

 

Naleena stood and walked toward the door. “I hope you understand that I don’t want to make a promise that I might not be able to keep. Discovering where Keter Research branch is located may entail entering Batarian space, and that will exceed the authority granted me by the Council. It could start a war. I will do what I can from the shadows. I have contacts and will use them. They are however, not the type who have direct access to such things. This will take time.”

 

"I...understand." Essul said as he nodded his head, rising back to his feet, "Knowing that you'll be looking into it as best you can is a great help. You've been a good commander to me, and fair to my people." He said before he gave a final tilt of his head to the left to show his gratitude, "I will wait as long as it takes, Lady T'Sarius. You can trust me on that."

[Redbelle]

Duncan looked up from his comm station on the Medusa. "Eh, Captain? Message from the eh.... The Jeniri"?

 

Jess looked over and nodded for him to forward the message to her station. She looked over and then recorded a response. "Medusa to Jeniri. Attention, Spectre Naleena and Jeniri flag. Wutsup luvs? Got your message. Ten to one the Medusa will be up and running next time we meet. For the record, until we get some idea of the fallout of our mission being accomplished we'll be operating near the Jeniri. Specially the Citadel. Whoever gave us our marching orders through the Audron had to have Council connections and someone owes us hazard pay. Plus we uncovered and disrupted that new source of collectors..... The Aspirants. I figure we're owed a reward for discovering that nest of vipers".

 

"Medusa's ready to pull out soon. Catch you on the flip side. And give Anika my best. Tell her Bojangles is still in our quarters. I'll look after him while she's away. Medusa, signing off".

 

With that Jess turned away and called over to Duncan. "Comms! Send a message. Directed to the comm accounts I gave you. Message begins. To the former crews of the Audron and Jeniri. Medusa calling. Will be departing in an hour. If remaining safe journey and warmest thanks for all your efforts. If wishing to attach to Medusa be aboard before Medusa departs. Message end. You get that"?

 

Duncan fiddled with some of the controls on his panel and nodded. "I think so. Yes..... Yes..... got it! Sent"!

 

Jess sighed as she looked at Duncan looking around like a boy caught in his fathers clothes. 'Really wish I could pinch Aelias off the Audron'. She thought. Then set it aside. He was her's now. Jess looked over the empty stations and then turned to toggle the ship PA.

 

"Attention crew. Report to the bridge. That means all of you. No exceptions. Even you Dogger! Leave the maintenance teams alone and get up here"! She toggle the PA off and bounced on her heels as she mulled over what needed to happen to leave the station.

[Cknarf]

Frank sat on the edge of his bed, with his chin resting on interlocked fingers. He hadn't moved since the Janiri's departure from Caleston.

 

Thirteen years, four months, and three days....

 

He stood up, and began pacing, as he relived the events of his darkest day.

 

I'm going find you. If not now, later.

 

His fists clenched tight.

 

But when I do, you're gonna wish you'd never pulled that trigger.

 

Frank had a name, a description, and a target.

[Terca]

Hades Ridge

 

"Hallway cleared."

 

"Confirming."

 

"Third."

 

"Good. Move to secure entrance to Factory One." Akvia said as her Turians finished clearing the stragglers from the corridor. In front of them were a trio of sealed blast doors which lead into what looked to be the first of the production arms. From what the tech had extracted from the omni-tool this was the preparation station for transport, T-34. The doors were blast-proof so it would take a while before her technicians could break through. "Peek after Jarrol breaks the centerfold seal. Sonic suppression is to be activated after the first seal is broken."

 

"Yes sir."

 

As the men set to work she moved to the next door and splayed her hands out at her side. Crooking two of her fingers a thick cylinder extended from the wrist of her armor. Using the ends of two talons she flicked it in a smooth circle on the crease of her palm. Gripping it she pressed her fingers along three smooth spots and a gout of plasma from the modified torch was stabbed into one of the doors. There was a hiss and some metal slid down the front of the surface. Her composite ignored the scorching metal as the pressure forced a hole through the material. After a few seconds the hole pierced all the way through, the change in weight within the cylinder letting her know that the process was complete. Ending the plasma gout she pulled the cylinder from the wall and pinged a saboteur.

 

"Pierce mic." She asked, and caught the thumb-sized cube in the same motion that she placed it into the hole. Configuring her omni-tool she pressed a button and suddenly the inside of her helmet was filled with the soft clicks of rifles being moved and the whirring of servo motors. The tech wasn't as sophisticated as that which was used in Cabalist armor, but it was still effective at scanning sounds to estimate weapon count off of standard weaponry. Anywhere between forty and eighty weapons of varying types approximately.

 

"Commander Androkan, we've arrived at processing. The majority of combatants are inside shipping "

 

"Unlikely. Current count within their R&D wing is in excess of one hundred."

 

"Sorry sir?" She asked, surprised. That was more than the combination of the fight up to the factory and the highball estimate of the factory.

 

"Fire Team One is moving to secure the third wing. Motor action has been detected and the Audron has confirmed several attempted escapes from these regions. It must be suppressed. Once your team is installing itself with force provide support at my location."

 

"Androkan, you're not-"

 

Comms cut off and the Octis looked down at her omni-tool in disbelief. Is he serious? He's a prodigy, but he couldn't possibly think...

 

"Plans are changing. Use high-force charges to pierce the barrier, then use..."

 

///

 

Yes, Androkan was thinking of suppressing whatever was happening on the opposite side of the wall in front of him. Unlike processing there was only a single triple-barred door. There were no external access ports for the doors and it was obvious this was a lock-from-within tactic. No external accesses.

 

He had expected that.

 

Pulling something nearly as heavy as his armor off of his back he let the Krysae rifle unpack from its normally compact form into its firing position. He was standing a third of the way down the hall so that the blast from the anti-material rifle wouldn't affect him with its backblast. The 'sniper rifle' was more accurately an 'explosives railgun.' It suspended a fabricated payload in an eezo field then used electromagnetic currents to launch the jacketed explosive at high velocities. The principle was the same as all thermal clip weapons, but the fact that the rifle discharged 1500 gram shaped charges at .7c meant that it required a not-insignificant amount of power to operate. It was one of the few weapons which remained exclusive to production by the Palaven Weaponsmiths.

 

After the weapon had fully decompressed he lay down beside it to aim at the doorway. While there were anti-personnel rounds for the rifle which didn't require stabilization and could be fired while standing, the true piercing rounds were required to be fired from a supported or prone position. The gravitational forced created a toroid which is what allowed for such a heavy material to be moved, but had the issue of causing the weapon to be pulled off-target by the forces. Setting it on a surface helped mediate that while the onboard systems suspended the round. The variable zoom locked onto the door and the reticle turned green. The rail primed and the payload suspended...

 

Breathe in...

 

Breathe out...

 

Breathe in...

 

Breathe out...

 

Pulling the trigger created a massive amount of noise but somewhat unsettlingly didn't jump in the Turian's hands. A second shot followed three seconds later once the rail had spun up the second time. Even the muffling of the helmet couldn't completely remove the noise and Deidrus felt an uncomfortable pressure on the inside of his head from the vibrations traveling through his armor into his chest, and sound into his ears. Grimacing and standing he packed the rifle and placed it onto the mag-locks on his back as it continued to pack. He could already see into the entranceway and pulling a recon scanner from his thigh he tossed it into the doorway to see what he was up against. The number he gave the Octis wasn't his own, it was the one that he had just been sent by his friend from the outpost. An SB member had been inserted into the operations late and had fed out the number just before his comms went dark.

 

As much as he might put those days behind him they kept coming back to give him just what he wanted. It was unsettling, but as a YMIR mech lit up on the holographic interface of his visor he was forced to put those thoughts behind him. There were more imminent threats,

[Kel Riever]

Faed had returned to his cabin and laid out the purchases from Deng’s store on the table, along with a pile of odds and ends he had scrounged from supplies.  He was busy inserting cables into ports, and most of what he was working on looked like a temporary mess, but two places had been cleared.  One had the cylinder like object he’d first picked up at the store.  The other was for the computer interface he’d repaired, and on the screen were diagrams for a bio-feedback system. 

The announcement of the ship leaving had little impact on Faed.  He was deep in his work, and trying to get as much as he could done on the feedback system for Eteon before he had to consult Frank.

~ ~ ~ ~

Mira didn’t often get frustrated, but when she heard the Janiri was leaving she rolled her eyes.  The tests hadn’t gotten underway yet, so she presumed they’d be done en route.  What she had wanted to do was take a good run outside.  Somewhere she could put her mind at rest while getting away from seeing the same walls repeatedly.  Duellos wasn’t exactly friendly to a long distance run, but even the enclosed base there had more room than the Janiri.  With waiting for the test, her opportunity to get her run in was gone.

~ ~ ~ ~

Morgan heard Jess’ message.  He didn’t think either she or Dahlia had gotten back to their cabins to see their gifts yet, but he figured they’d find them eventually.  There wasn’t time to really get into anything as a set of clothes that had come with the delivery, so Morgan rolled up the sleeves on the orange maintenance suit and headed for the bridge.

Duty calls, Morgan muttered with a nod of his head.  He was hopeful about whatever would come next, and looking forward to having something more to do.

[Redbelle]

Since coming aboard the Medusa with the rest of the hostage negotiation team Antwain had been of a perpetually grumpy dispostion.

 

The simple fact was, he didn't want to be here.

 

Oh sure, he'd gone along with he others. He hated going against a consensus of others. But after the fact of what their lives were going to become had started settling in he realised..... He really didn't want to be here!

 

For starters, he didn't like the Stone woman. He didn't like the way she'd brazenly carted them off to her ship. He hated the ship! It wasn't fast, or sleek on the outside. The inside's smelled of machine lubricant and greese for crying out loud! The ship was literally being pulled apart to be reassembled later as well and on top of that......

 

......

 

....He had to admit, he was afraid. Afraid of space in general if truth be told. He could make a trip here and there to new stations but all his posts had always been on planets. Not ships that ran the void. The more time passed by the more he realized that was what that Stone woman had in store for him. She was going to take them into space and the longer he waited the more certain he was that the others weren't going to see sense and head back to their assigned posts. Sure the money was better, by a long shot, but still...... He needed someone to break ranks to follow out of this situation he'd found himself in. The last thing he wanted was to confront Stone. It wasn't that he wasw scared he just.... Never could find the right words. The words that would settle what always turned into an argument for him.

 

I want to go.

 

Why?

 

Because I do.

 

Request denied.

 

That was usually how things went for him. Only finding the reasons he should have stated coming to him after the matter was settled. Others often seemed more on the ball and so he waited for a leader to propel the leaving of the ship. But with none coming to the fore he'd stopped hoping and was instead looking to settle matters another way.

 

He'd gone into the system and found a communication junction box along the lower decks. A place where he could tie into the comm dish and send a message taht would say one thing. Help! Being Kidnapped! That would get someones attention. Tehn people would come, discover him and he could leave back to his nice, tidy.....safe, posting where nothing ever happened to him.

 

He was halfway down a ladder towards his destination. The service ladder system being less traveled than the lift's. He was busy congratulating himself when he heard voices above him.

 

".....Not the right way"!

 

"Oh poo you. I'm sure there are others we haven't 'gifted' yet".

 

"Really must return to work".

 

"Only a few more I'm sure and we haven't looked down this way yet. Look out below"!

 

Antwain looked up and saw a large, green sack embroided in red and gold appear over the hole he'd entered the maintenance shaft in suddenly fall his way. Reflex took over and he through up his hands as it hit him. It was however, surprising light and would not have knocked him off had he kept his finger's wrapped around the ladder rungs. As it was, the bag slid between him and the rungs and flailing out desperately he could only feel his finger's close around what felt like boxes from inside the sack as he tipped backwards and fell with a loud yell. He hit the dck below head first and he felt something give way as the world faded to darkness around him.

 

 

~~~~

 

From high above the ladder entrance a long thin face with a badly attached white beard looked down the shaft.

 

"By the high intelligence! You killed someone"!

 

Emi's face appeared next to his as she pouted. "No I did not why do you always have toOH THE GODDESS THERE'S SOMEONE DOWN THERE"!

 

Both looked as at the bottom of the ladder the sack lay with the splayed out hand and feet of a body underneath it. It was not moving and Emi looked around panicked.

 

"I didn't mean....".

 

"You killed a man"!

 

"I didn't mean too"!

 

"He's dead I think".

 

"You think"?

 

"Maybe still alive. Maybe just out cold".

 

"Well go check"! Emi shoved him and in her heightened state of distress, pushed to hard, causing the avatar of human goodwill to fall forwards, face down through the service shaft. There was a scream..... that cut off as Emi heard a thud. Gawking at where he'd just been Emi looked over the rim and saw Kringle lying face down atop his sack. his neck at an odd angle.

 

Emi shook and then a strange serene calm overtook her as she looked around, seemingly confused at her surroundings. "Now where's that girl gotten me into this time". She said, letting out a long sigh as she looked down the hole and saw the bodies. Her eye's narrowed as the palm of her hand covered her mouth as she shook her head. "Oh Emi..... Not again"!

 

The figure climbed down the shaft after the bodies.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

The seatbelt light came on again, and the inertial dampers kicked in. Pilot Jorril guided the ship toward the mass relay and VERA signaled the IFF and destination to the relay. Transit engaged. The crew felt a slight vertigo when the transit began. Naleena had not made it back to her quarters and was nearly thrown off her feet, but grabbed onto a door frame to steady herself. A few minutes later they emerged in the Sahrabarik System.

 

“Our relay transit is complete. Drift… 1000 km. All systems are green. Barring an encounter with hostile ships, we will arrive at Omega station in two and one half hours,” Jorril said over the ship-wide intercom.

 

VERA popped up next to Jorril. “Do you like our new navigation program? I am still working to reduce the amount of post transit drift. It will take several more relay transits for me to optimize the algorithms used. Some of them require a more precise entry vector.”

 

“Then why don’t you just pilot the ship?” Jorril said with a bit of irritation. “I’m doing the best I can with it.”

 

“Jorril, calm down. You did well for an organic. I will have Faed write a program that will make it easier for you to find the proper approach vector,” VERA said, “The person who wrote the current program was not a pilot. It is too complex making it inefficient.”

 

Jorril was getting a little irritated. He took pride in his work. “Are you saying I’m not intelligent enough to handle it?”

 

“No. There are too many things for you to process at the same time, and that makes you prone to an error of 1.578%, which over astronomical distances is very significant,” VERA said, “With the proper interface, you can do better.”

 

Jorril stared at his console. “You’re right. It is inefficient. There are too many buttons to push and instruments to read. It’s not like the old ship I trained on where you just guided it into FTL.”

 

 ***

 

The ship approached the asteroid field around Omega.

 

“This is Lieutenant Jorril of the CSV Janiri requesting permission to dock.”

 

“State your business.” The Turian traffic controller replied.

 

“Aria is expecting us.”

 

The traffic controller hesitated a moment. “You are cleared to dock. Proceed to gate D13.”

 

The ship passed through the asteroid belt with its shields up to deflect any small objects that might otherwise damage the hull, but between Jorril and VERA they made it through without incident. As they approached Omega, the ship slowed, and they passed by the SSV Normandy SR-2, and saw crews performing makeshift repairs to the ship’s hull. It looked like it had been through a war. They approached the station and docked several gates down from the Normandy.

 

VERA began her post flight announcement. “We will be docking at Omega Station in ten minutes 33 seconds. Unauthorized personnel are asked to remain seated with their safety harnesses fastened and their seats in a full upright position until the spacecraft has come to a complete stop. We hope you had a pleasant flight.”

 

Naleena hit her communicator and opened it to the entire team. “As you heard, the ship will be docking shortly. I have some business with Aria. Vayne and Eteon, you’re with me. The rest of you can remain here or stay close to Afterlife. Stay sober and out of trouble. We have a couple of what I assume will be short investigations. I’ll need two teams.

[Redbelle]

People began to drift onto the the bridge and Jess waited till Dogger entered and leant against the side before speaking.

 

"Thanks luvs. Here's the deal. Ships ready to depart. But we've got a contract to complete first. As you know getting the ship back and repairs have drained our resources. To alleviate the drain I took a job. A comet's due to fly through the system. In fact, it's already here. It'll be approaching the sun in about twelve hours. The job? A group of scientists intended to put a new satellite in place around it to replace an old one that failed. They were all set but their ship's drive went sour on them on lift off. Bloody bad planning if you ask me. So they put out a post on the job boards. We're heading in the direction they want and it won't take us out of our way. We put the satellite in place for them, they pay us for the inconvenience".

 

"Of cause though, that's not all of it. While we've been here I've had the cargo containers converted. They are now purposed to store liquids. I have a few concerns about the future and so I'm putting the Medusa on more of a war footing. Water is a cheap but highly effective armor. It absorbs kinetic energy. When it flash freezes due to contact with the cold of space it solidifies to patch a hole. We need a lot of it and that costs credits. Or we can siphon what we need off that comet".

 

"Problem. The comet is protected. No one is allowed to mine it as it's an object of scientific importance. However, in twelve hours it's going to disappear from everyone view since the sun will be between it and every sensor apparatus this system has to offer. Giving us a window to get what we need".

 

"Dogger? I need you to get the maintenance monkey's to pull every last droplet we can store within that window. We're leaving with them. Don't tell them. You know how it goes. When we start moving they won't know it till someone tells them. If they feel the vibrations from the engine tell them it's a maintenance cycle or something".

 

Dogger nodded curtly. "Got it. Keep em clueless. Shouldn't be a problem given what I'm working with. This is the third station team we've shanghaied this way you know".

 

Jess shrugged. "I payed for them to fix the ship. Last I saw the ships not fixed. If they want to leave after we're done let them. But pick out the ones who you think are worth keeping on and offer them a deal to work for us".

 

"Cap'n".

 

"As for the rest of you. We have the shuttle carrying the satellite en route to us now. Their carrying two of their own to seeing that the satalite is put in place. I've managed to convince them we can intercept the satellite in fifteen hours. In reality we'll have intercepted it in twelve. We'll have three hours to pull the water off the comet but I need to stress that when the scientists come aboard..... They. Do. Not. Know That! Spin them whatever you have to. Keep them occupied. Hell, bed them if you have to! Solar alignment will keep our vectors and transit times from being known once we put the sun between us and the systems sensor's. The only way we get rumbled is if the scientists find out and raise hell. And you know what that mean"?

 

"No pay"? A voice said from the crowd.

 

"No pay. And no pay makes Cap'n Silver...... Stone.... an angry girl".

 

"Excuse me"? Said a voice to the side. Jess looked over and saw Sherie standing there.

 

"Yes luv"?

 

"Isn't this all extremely dishonest"?

 

Jess stared blankly at her. "Yes".

 

Sherie stared back. "Is it always this..... exciting"?

 

Jess grinned. "Welcome aboard luv".

[Terca]

Eteon heard the request from her quarters and set about armoring up. She wore her Hierarchy Standard, medium-weight armor and the most common mode of dress for any member of the Turian military. It was more comfortable than her Cabal armor and she was more used to the weight than the lightness of civilian clothes. She had her carnifex and kept it mag-locked to her thigh. She doubted she would need it but it was Omega. Unexpected things happened. If Aria's guards wanted to hold onto it she wasn't going to kick a fuss.

 

Walking to the main exit lock she looked through the Ship's registry of members and sent Faed the access key to her armory locker along with the message 'Feel free to take a close look at it if you need to.' She was grateful for the Quarian's offer but even as a Cabalist she couldn't share the specs outside the Cabal. Physical observation would have to suffice.

 

"Naleena, it's Eteon, I'm ready to depart." Was the message she sent to the Spectre as she stood near the front airlock.