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[Cknarf]

"I'll take the drugs!"

 

I probably could have worded that better.

 

"Er... I'll look into it." Frank raised a thumb.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Griss heard the way Frank said I'll take the drugs. "I would caution you not to actually take any of the drugs. With the seals broken they might be contaminated. Pick up random samples and bring them back here for testing."

 

"Anti-human message? Sounds like I'd be about as welcome as mangy dog. I'll look into the drug issue," Irina said and then turned to Frank and winked, "And I'll keep an eye on Frank."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"I don't think I want to deal with anymore crazy religious types..." Vayne said upon thinking it over, getting a sense of deja vu from hearing about a preacher setting up a congregation and some missing investigators involved, "I'll help look into the drugs."

 

"I suggest we use a non-human team for investigating the preacher..." Essul stated in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, nodding as he mauled over the news, "We don't want our mere presence to become a target for attack by this persons followers. I volunteer." he said with a tilt of his head to the left.

[Kel Riever]

After Amy’s last comment, she decided it’d be a good idea if she just sat down and waited for her cup and saucer, so she did, attempting to forget what she had just said. She wondered how much longer it would take for them to reach the comet, and knew it was really up to the Captain and her ship, but Amy did some calculations anyway, at least to keep herself busy.

~ ~ ~ ~

Morgan had gone through the inspection of the gun, and he had decided his maintenance coveralls had reached their limit. Besides, if his inklings about Sherie had been correct, she’d be expecting people to appreciate her hard work in the mess…well undoubtedly Sherie would also insist on referring to it as the kitchen.

There had been no time to figure out where he’d sleep, but Morgan had added to his list of items to bring some clothes on board. The Janiri’s default clothes were not going to do it. Worse, his Predator armor had seen its last days. Replacing the armor was going to be a bigger problem, but every time he turned around, some event prevented him from doing that. Clothes, though, were much easier. And he had ordered some things to satisfy his comfort.

A trip back to the fore, where the last of Morgan’s order still lay around in crates, took only a few minutes. Morgan found what he was looking for in one of the crates, removed two boxes, and made a couple of quick decisions where to change. It was going to have to be one of the bathrooms, without a better alternative.

No one else was in the first bathroom Morgan found so he got out of his coveralls, washed up with the sink (thankfully the water system was working fine), and broke open the boxes.

“Cotton and leather ,” Morgan said aloud in satisfaction, “Actual cotton and leather!”

The first thing Morgan put on was a white cotton shirt. It had a stand up collar, sleeves with breadth under the arms but gathering at the wrist, and opened to the middle of his front, though he closed it to the neck. Next, Morgan got into a set of well fitting black leather breeches that gave some without being too loose. Warm cotton black socks came after, then Morgan pulled a doublet coat out. It was a nod to Jess, but also felt great and was useful. The snug fitting doublet was black, short-waisted, and had no sleeves of its own so the shirtsleeves would show.

Finally, there were the boots. Morgan loved good boots and he’d taken his time picking them. He took his time putting on the soft black leather high boots he’d gotten, and once they were on, he folded down the tops. The boots had come with soulettes for fastening spurs, a dash of sentimentality Morgan decided to keep.

When he was done, Morgan sighed in satisfaction, packed up what was left, and headed out to whatever task would be grabbing his attention next.

[Redbelle]

Sherie came out of the kitchen with a tray. On which sat a couple of tea cups, saucer's and a pot of what Jess presumed was the tea. The spout was steaming lightly, but it was the details that drew her eye much to her dismay.....

 

The tray had a red and white chequered cloth draped over it and the cups had floral designs on their sides, matching the pot. All were made out of what looked like bone china.

 

They'd be broken inside of a week!

 

Sherie approached the two women and set the tray down on a far table as she picked up yet another folded piece of cloth and shooed the two of them to lean back. Throwing the cloth out revealed it to be a table cloth that spread out from the force of her throw and alighted on the table surface. An incredibly clean table surface Jess had noticed. Every stain and trace of rust that the one she was sitting next to had been obliterated before the cover hid it from view. Next came out the place mats which Sherie set in front of Jess and Amy that preceded the saucer's and cups and two silver spoons that were placed next to the sides of the crockery.

 

The tea pot came out next and Sherie poured both a cup each, taking her time and making the act look almost ceremonial as she raised and lowered the pot during the pour for each. Sherie finished her service by picking up a smaller, white glazed pourer and turned to both, smiling pleasently.

 

"Would either of you like milk"?

 

Jess squeezed her eye's shut as her hand palmed her face. Amy meanwhile nodded eagerly and Sherie gave her a splashthat turned the dark liquid a cloudly light brown that filled the cup in a moment. Sherie turned to Jess. "Milk"?

 

Rolling her eye's, Jess nodded. Sherie gave her a splash and the effect was the same as with Amy. Sniffing slightly at Jess's behaviour, Sherie placed the pot on the tray. "Now, you've had a muffin already, so if you give me a moment I'll get one for you my dear". She addressed Amy before plucking up the tray and glided back to the kitchen.

 

Jess took a sip of tea. She hated to admit it, but it actually tasted good. "I'll be needing to talk to her husband later on so I can find out just why he brought his wife on the voyage....". She trailed off as she checked the time. "Looks like we'll be in range in about five hours..... Sorry for the delay luv. We can set oyu up som e quarter's if you need a place to work in without being disturbed. Failing that my quarter's are as out of the way as they come. Little empty at the moment... I had to throw out a lot. Hope you don't mind Gecko's..... I'm looking after him for a friend".

 

Sherie returned with a couple of plates with a muffin atop one. She handed it to Amy and the empty to Jess. "No crumbs please. I just cleaned the floor".

 

"Deck". Jess corrected automatically.

 

"My dear, if you can walk on it, it's a floor".

 

"No. On ships we call them decks. Ceiling's are overhead in compartment's and walls are bulkhead's. Halls and corridors are technically passageways. Entrances to compartments are called doors. Doors to other decks are called hatches and.... You'll like this..... The manual override handles to seal airtight doors and hatches are called Dogs. So closing a door or hatch is known as dogging it down. One time the shpi took a micrometorite and we started losing air. Your husband ran to the section and managed to close the hatch in almost no atmosphere. So that's why.....". She paused as she looked at Sheries blank expression. "He told you"?

 

"No.... I was just wondering why invent all these new names for things".

 

"I didn't invent them! Their handed down through tradition"!

 

"Of course they are dear". And with that Sherie turned and disappeared back inside her kitchen.

 

Jess shook her head and turned back to Amy. "So.... Five hours..... I'm sure we can come up with something to occupy us".

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  the following was a collaboration with Shotgun Julia)
 

Dahlia sent Morgan another text: "Sounds good. I'll meet you in my quarters in five minutes."

 

She asked one of the other officers she'd trained to watch her station for her and left for her quarters.

Morgan was walking through the Medusa's passages, enjoying the feel of his new attire, when he received Dahlia's text. He hesitated at first when he saw it, then shrugged and headed over to Dahlia's cabin.  Tarus perched comfortably on his shoulder and chirped.

The ship was still a mess in parts Morgan was reminded as he moved along, but at least work was being done. Some of the panels in the crew area had their gunmetal replacements installed and he liked the look. When he got to Dahlia's quarters, Morgan simply knocked.

"Come in, Morgan."

Finding the door open, Morgan casually entered.

 

Dahlia's quarters were still undecorated with most of her belongings still in the boxes and crates she brought over from the Janiri. She'd opened all of them and hadn't put anything away, but instead was living out of them. She'd just finished hiding the remainder of her dirty clothes on the other side of her bed when Morgan arrived, and grabbed the necklace off her nightstand, and rushed to the center of her quarters to greet Morgan. It was a good thing that Asari didn't perspire easily. She had the pendant Morgan had given her on a platinum necklace and held it in front of her under a light so that the rings would reflect it in just a perfect manner.

 

"The pendant is beautiful. Thank you. I had this necklace, and I thought the two fit perfectly together. Here, help me put it on."

"Sure." Morgan looked around not aware of much else than the pendant, which did captivate the eye. And the necklace Dahlia had put it on was sublime. "That's a nice chain. I'm not usually one for handling tiny jewelry hooks, but let me see what I can do."

 

"It belonged to my grandmother."

Morgan stepped behind Dahlia and took the two ends of the necklace from her. It took him two attempts to fasten the hook and lay the chain connected on her neck. "There we go," he said with a bit of satisfaction he hadn't fumbled the delicate adornment. "You're grandmother gave this to you? She must have thought you were special."

 

"Thanks. It was... to be my mother's, but they killed my parents on Omega. So she gave it to me before she died," Dahlia said with some sadness. "I kept it hidden for years so no one would find it. You can't have nice things on Omega unless you work for Aria. Someone is always trying to take it from you. Even with Aria, I kept it hidden. I was afraid she might take it as payment for rescuing me. I had nothing."

 

She held the pendant in the flat of her hand. "The Rings of Alune have a special meaning to my people. The original Rings are on the world of Nevos. It's an artifact that dates back to our pre-space flight culture. The rings signify unity and the healing for our people. Morgan, I... did not get you anything. I am sorry."

"You weren't supposed to get me anything," Morgan laughed gently. For a brief moment he noticed the little bird that had been content to sit on his shoulder had gone. Morgan looked around momentarily for it, then shook his head and turned his attention back to Dahlia. "You've been through plenty I've seen and it sounds like a lot more I haven't. Maybe its about time your luck changed."

"I hope so. It's just that I'm worried I won't measure up here. I'm working so hard," she said and pointed at the datapads next to her bed. "Then there's the new crew. That's what I did on Aria's frigate. Now I'm a navigator. I sat in the navigator's chair a few times on relief, but this is a lot more responsibility. I have people I'm responsible for. I've never had that. Honestly I'm terrified I'll screw up."

"Don't be that terrified," Morgan smiled, "At least you know something about how to plot a ship's course. I'm first mate and I don't know anything but what a basic marine got in training so I could land a shuttle in an emergency. Maybe you could teach me something while your picking your way through those manuals."

 

"But what's even worse is that Aria had a VI handling some of the tasks like monitoring ion storms, and various space weather conditions in addition to plotting courses. Also there's small space objects like rocks that could damage the ship. We're traveling at high speeds in systems and if we run into a cluster of them they could damage the hull. Oh, keep the shields up at full, you say. That uses too much power engineering says. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it, and they had people do it this way when this ship was built. It's just scary. We had VERA aboard the Janiri as a backup or doing that stuff. I have to handle that stuff and make the proper compensations in the kinetic barriers otherwise the consequences could be lethal. I'm rambling. I'm a little overwhelmed. I tried to look all official and in charge, and now I have the job and need to perform it.

 

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I'm here, but it's more than I thought."

"Well," Morgan offered, "If you aren't able to teach me while you're hitting the datapads, how else can I help?"
 

"It's just that I feel that I've, how do you say it when you talked yourself into a position that you're not really ready to do so you're not scrubbing floors?" Dahlia asked while she turned and gazed out the portal. "As first mate you should know how to operate that system, too. At least have some kind of knowledge, you know, for relieving me or in case something happens to me. When I understand it better I'll teach you."

 

The words in case something happens to me had a bit of weight to them as if she was a bit worried.

Morgan folded his arms across his chest, "Sometimes, Dahlia, I wish I were a brain surgeon, so I could get in there and figure out what is going on 'under that crest'."

Now I'm picking up asari phrases, Morgan thought to himself.

"Here," Morgan went on as he let go with his arms and motioned with them around the room, "All of this, where we are now, you and I both never know when it's all going to change. You can wait if you want, to talk to me or do something later, because you don't feel like it's the right time, but what if that 'later' never comes? I'll give you a phrase, if you want one, which I'm sure isn't unique among different species: 'There's no better time than the present.' This might be the best time to let me on anything you have to, Dahlia, before something else comes up and sweeps us away."

[Kel Riever]

...and in the Medusa's 'kitchen'

With the arrival of tea and muffin, Amy forgot about the work she was supposed to do.

Amy even forgot about the spot on her coat.

Amy also forgot to ask Sherie for a knife and fork before she disappeared.  It wasn’t like the doctor to even eat finger food with, well, her fingers.  Not to mention biting into something like a muffin at all.  It wasn’t as if Amy was heavy, though there was a little extra on her bottom that often she couldn’t stop thinking about getting rid of.  Her job didn't provide enough physical activity so it was generally up to her diet to keep herself in shape, a practice she had taken very seriously, like most of what she did.

The smell of Sherie’s muffin was too much for Amy to resist.  She daintily picked it up between her little fingers and bit into it.  Hayashi’s eyes rolled as the succulent muffin gave way and its taste filled her mouth.  For at least a full minute, she could do nothing but chew.  When the doctor finally swallowed, she picked up her tea cup and enjoyed its aroma before sipping.

A tiny amount of delectability went the distance with Amy.  She had to pause after the one bite and one sip, setting down the cup and staring at the setting in front of her, and felt the need to say something.

“I’ve experienced transitions and I’ve experienced discomfort, but never enough to give reason to be senseless.  I know a particular kind of feeling when it springs up.  It’s like a storm that overtakes me.  You know it isn’t easy when you run out of things that keep you happy, or even forget what you want.  Do you think about what you want, Captain, and if so, what is it?”  Doctor Hayashi hummed a short harmony as she contemplated.  Then she said, “Please let's make sure we enjoy ourselves now, until I must attend to my professional tasks.”

Amy hummed to herself again.  She wasn’t exactly quite sure what she had said and it reminded her of something else she had heard.  But the feeling was right, and she was more than content as she took another bit of the muffin, not even thinking about eating with her fingers anymore.

 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena looked around the room, and tallied up who was on which team. “Alright, it looks like Anika, Frank, Irina, and Vayne will look into the drugs. And Essul, Eteon, Arian, and Griss will check out the cult.”

 

She pointed to a spot on the map. “Follow Griss in your skycar to this point on the map. This is where the shipments have been disappearing. Spread out and observe what’s going on. Follow people, and just mill around. See if you can score some of the goods from some of the users,” and she looked directly at Frank, “but don’t use any of them. We don’t know what’s in it. Find out who is distributing, then meet up again at the rendezvous, then get back here.

 

“Team 2 – Griss, take the team to the cultists. Try to look the part. Be careful not to get caught. You have experience from the Drowned Aspire. Something isn’t right here, too.

 

“I’ll be here. Good luck.”

 

She turned to Avan. “You wanted to see me?”

[favoritehookeronthecitadel]

"Yes, we will need to discuss this alone." Avan waited as everyone left the room.

 

"Alright, well, there's not an appropriate way to discuss this, so I will be as blunt and detailed as I can."

 

"Alright..." Naleena nodded, though wary of what could be so bad to make the bounty hunter seem nervous, and miss most of the meeting.

 

"The informant, the one that leaked everyone's data and personal information to Iyana and her crew...that was me. All of it."

[Cknarf]

"Do I really look like that type of guy?" Frank asked, while catching up to his group. "Pffft. Yeah, Frank Eli, biggest sandblaster in the galaxy."

 

He didn't wait for a reply,

 

"I didn't mean I was actually going to take take the drugs." He shrugged. "But you guys knew that, right? Guys?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Yeah, sure, Frank. Whatever you say," Irina said and slapped Frank on the ass hard as they walked to the skycars. "Just remember to stay focused on the job. We're not here to pick up girls. They'll be plenty of time for that later."

[Terca]

Noveria, Hades Ridge

 

"Suppress!" A Cerberus lieutenant said as he directed fire towards the remains of the YMIR mech which had been dispatched minutes before. They had expected the mech to hold back the invaders until they had moved most their inventory out of the base. They had already sent out three shipments but they had received no return messages. She didn't know if they had survived and escaped, been scuttled. Worse, captured. "I want the third arm to press the left side!"

The man who had broken into their facility had used some weapon to force the YMIR mech into the doorway which lead up and towards the processing faculties. From the Lieutenant's position it covered most of his sight lines, They were able to squeeze some fire through the spaces around the heap of metal but it was hardly effective. They hadn't seen the assailant move from his cover so they were hoping to keep him pinned there. The surveillance equipment on the inside had been destroyed by the pressure wave that had followed the YMIR overloading, so they couldn't actually be sure.

"Affirmative!" The squad leader said as he moved from his position covering one of the two possible alternative exits and into the hallway that led up to the opponent. He was flanked by three guards who held their mattocks up and at the ready. They approached one of the consoles and as they were about to pass by the leader was grabbed by the collar by and invisible hand and flipped ass-over-kettle onto the ground. He sat there dazed for a moment as his guards found their armor being seized by an overload. They each fell prey to paladin shots which tore through their helmets with a satisfying crunch.

"H-he-!" Was all the man was able to say before 400 pounds of force on his throat closed his lungs to air permanently.

///

50 Minutes Later

///

 

 

"Report." Androkan said as he put pressure on a very literal husk of a man. Bluish skin and rabid eyes attempted to focus on him while hands clawed fruitlessly at the armor of his boots. The man was obviously insane, possibly not even human even though he certainly looked and was dressed like one. The Turian kept his weight pressed on the thing's chest to keep it from squirming away.

 

"Factories have been cleared sir." The team leaders replied. "The Audron has scuttled the enemy ship."

 

"Good. I want scanning equipment in RnD now and set up lockjaw protocols. We're keeping this facility for now."

 

"Sir?"

 

"This place has a lot more value than we first thought." He said as he closed his comms and looked up at the giant steel box in front of him. Through a view panel a large finger was facing up towards the ceiling while silvery blood trickled out the bottom. The purple was a very... Familiar color to anyone who saw the attack by Sovereign. Looking down at the husk and putting a bullet through its shoulder he watched the blood spray out, then the silvery threads begin to part through the vita like oil in water. Opening his omni-tool again he spoke, "Send the Janiri a notification by QEC letting them know that we have something in a Cerberus den. Use my Spectre ID."

 

Taking his foot off his captive human and breaking its legs with the butt of his rifle he took a deep breath.

 

"I've found an object Naleena might be interested in."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"Can't fault the kid for trying at least..." Vayne commented as he gave a laugh at franks predicament, "It's not everyday you get to live it up on a station. Much less omega."  With that he made his way with the rest of his group towards their skycar.

 

Essul was silent as he followed gris towards their skycar, frowning as he mauled over naleenas words. He'd not experienced anything about this drowned aspire group, but he had heard about it on GNN. Suddenly, he was somewhat glad he was wearing his armor, and felt a bit more justified in his paranoia.

[Cknarf]

"Shotgun!"

[Kel Riever]

A woman in light armor and a raincoat waited by the skycars typically accessed for people leaving the area.  She had a nasty bruise on the side of her face, though the swelling had subsided.

Molly wasn't going to block Frank's way, especially with the armed group that accompanied him.  But she caught his eye when he looked her way, wondering if his intent the whole time had been exactly to blow her off, using his companions as a shield.  So when it was apparent that Frank knew she was waiting, Molly looked off into the distance.  He was aware she was there and to Molly, that was enough.

"Omega," Hagen simply muttered under her breath.  There are no medals for good behavior here, she then thought, Just credits for being selfish.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Duh- obviously work of Kel and me.

 

"I'm fine Morgan, really I am," Dahlia replied and looked around her quarters, "Do you believe in anything, Morgan?"

 

"You mean, what do I believe in, right?" Morgan searched for something to lean against, but Dahlia's cabin didn't seem to provide much in that regard, so he leaned against the wall.  "Of course, there's my family, meaning my brother, sister and mother.  And, now this ship...I guess it means I believe that the people I care about matter."

Morgan didn't exactly know what Dahlia was getting at, but it seemed she was driving at a point.  "I've been hopeless, if that has meaning.  Against the ropes, ready to throw my life away.  It took change to come back from that."  Morgan thought of Jess.  "And it took people to help me.  But if I didn't come back, I probably wouldn't have run into you, would I?"

Using his thumb, Morgan pointed generally to where he'd been shot and winked.  "You passed on a chance to shoot me so you've got to be special."

 

 

Dahlia loved the sound and sight of the bird. It was life, and innocent life. Some days she wished she could turn back the decades and things would be different had she made other choices in her life, but then she thought On Omega, what else did I have? Be a dancer or a merc? She listened as Morgan spoke and nodded.

 

Dahlia paused. "You're not a shallow person. You're practical. I just can't seem to get the living nightmare out of my head. It was like it happened yesterday. We Asari process things a lot slower than other races, so we compartmentalize them so we can function, but something like that keeps coming to the surface. What about Jess? And the doctor who was here through the whole thing? Do you think Jess would like some kind of proper memorial for her crew?"

 

"Jess will say if she wants something, I can count on her for that," Morgan replied.  "I don't know about asari but I've seen all kinds of people compar...well whatever you'd like to call it.  Maybe you have to find a way to get yourself through it, but I wouldn't wait on it, no matter how long you have to work on it.  Worry about yourself, and know you've got people here on your side, who will do whatever they need to so you get through this."

Morgan let his eyelids fall and stared into Dahlia's violets.  "I hope you also enjoy pulling all this talk out of me, because I don't know if I can take much more of this sharing feelings with words."

 

"Thanks for listening," Dahlia said meeting Morgan's eyes. She approached him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad we spoke."

 

Tarus fluttered nearby, and Dahlia heard the beating of his wings. She stepped back. "Okay, Tarus. He's all yours. You take care of him."

 

The bird landed on Morgan's shoulder and cocked his head, looked at Dahlia, and chirped.

[Terca]

Akvia and Deidrus walked onto the bridge and the Spectre addressed the combat crew which were still at their stations. "Report."

 

"Sir," the Pilot said, inclining her head. "during the assault several land and aircraft attempted to escape the facility with support from a Frigate. The Frigate escaped with a compromised core drive. All detected crafts were scuttled, only the frigate left the designated range of contact."

 

"Good. Comms, get in contact with Elanus and request that they use their active sensors over the Northern Plateau. If the ship goes down it is better to salvage it sooner than later." The Turian said before activating LEADCOM. "All leaders, occupation of the 'Eidolen-Kawamura Composites' facility will begin shortly. Until we have support from the Council seventy soldiers will be put on five hour rotations. They will be selected from the non-essential crew by the Philiad¹lottery and equipped with anti-vehicle and counter-infiltration equipment. Armor up now, deployment for the first shift will begin on the next metric hour. "

 

1. A Turian structure for determining most uniform distribution of skill. Based on a few factors, but most importantly a log of soldier statistics kept by the members of the Leadership. In common translation, it means 'kinship in skill'.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina looked around noticed the woman in the light armor and raincoat she'd seen earlier standing around.

 

"Hey, you there, with the shiner. Didn't I see you outside of Afterlife?" Irina shouted as they were about to get into the skycar. "You following us?"

[Cknarf]

Oh, f***. I totally forgot.

 

Frank placed a hand over his visor.  He meant to talk to Naleena about contacting Androkan, but he's Frank.  Like he was going to remember that s***.

[Kel Riever]

Hagen glanced at the redhead who had passed before.  She was clearly part of Frank's group.  

"I am following you," Molly said casually.  She nodded her head towards the man with 'Beans' written on the front of his helmet.  "I was wondering if I could get a word in with Frank."

Molly jammed her hands in her pocket.  Her normally hard but pretty demeanor now just looked hard with her bruise.  The effect was enhanced as her normally pulled back long hair was undone, and she blew several strands of tousled hair away from her face.  She didn't like her odds with the people in front of her but she was absolutely resolved; she wasn't going to let the family she'd met down.

[Cknarf]

Frank sighed.

 

"I am so sorry, Mols" He said, climbing out of the coveted 'shotgun'. "I completely forgot to talk to her about it."

 

Seriously, Mols. Of all people in the group you chose me to talk to. Even though I totally ran you over.

 

"I can send her a message right now, if you'd like." Frank opened his omni-tool.  "I would have said something, but Afterlife, and dancers, and... you know, all that."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

That didn't satisfy Irina and she turned to Molly. "Pardon my friend here, he's got a memory like a sieve, especially when he decides to dip south and impress the girls," she said and grabbed Frank by the arm. "Send who a message? Frank, if you used your loaf more often, you wouldn't get into these messes,"

 

 

 

(American translation - "Especially when he decides to spend a lot of money and impress the girls." "Frank if you used your head more often,....")

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne let out a sigh as he looked between frank and Irina from his seat in the back. Great, just what they needed.

 

"Please tell me you don't got anything to do with her shiner, frank..." The old krogan mumbles as he rests a hand on his forehead, slowly bringing his pre-emptive facepalm to bear.

 

"...Or that she's another vagabond here to join our crew..." He said. He didn't mind them recruiting more people, really he didn't. Its just that, at a certain point, one must consider that not every trip needs to end in a new mouth to feed and new member to arm.

[Kel Riever]

Molly went back and forth between the woman with dyed, stringy hair who had Frank by the arm.  The krogan surprised her when he spoke, but his interruption stopped her head motion.  She smirked briefly, a forced politeness, then said to Frank, "I understand it wasn't that important to you.  Maybe I made a mistake."

When she wanted to, the detective could let her expression show, and Molly's disappointment was heavily on display.  She stared straight through the visor of Frank's helm, trying to see if the man behind it had any care at all.  "What's a chance meeting anyway, right?"



 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Following done by FH and Me

 

Conference Room 6 - Afterlife

 

The Asari stood stunned momentarily, but remained calm as was her way knowing she could snare Avan in an instant. She wanted Avan to tell her as much as he would voluntarily without delving into the recesses of his mind. Obviously, the human came forward having felt guilty about this. Confession was good for the soul, she felt, and it also provided information.

 

Naleena motioned to Avan and spoke in a serene voice. "Please, Avan, relax. Sit down. Why don't you start from the beginning?"

 

Avan wasn't sure if this could be a trick or not, but it didn't matter. He sat down calmly and began explaining. "One of my contacts, a turian named Typhin, asked me to...spy on everyone aboard the ship and study their personalities, describe their strength and weaknesses, find any secrets they might have, their weapons of choice. It was a detailed job anyone would have to commit to, for a healthy amount of payment."

 

Avan paused before continuing. "Typhin works under the shadow broker. Usually, the broker wants intel on everyone he deems of importance. At the time, I didn't think that this would lead to him having any of you killed, but I knew that was a possibility." Avan looked down for a moment. This was a regret. They were on an important mission, and he risked their lives for credits. It wasn't worth it.

 

Naleena sat down across from Avan. "That explains the teleportation route; the escape route; everything. That would explain how Iyana knew my preferences right down to my ammunition choice. Armor piercing rounds. They went right through her and into Morgan. She had the perfect counters for every member of the crew. We might have had her if it weren't for this. Did you tell him anything else? About the ship, perhaps?"

 

"Nothing about the Janiri. I don't think they're interested in that. I can show you the data I sent. It's detailed, but basically, they know everything. If you're going to try to find her, you and the crew will probably need to have some new techniques. In fact, you might want to go ahead, in case she strikes you first. And if you're wondering why I've told you all of this, it's because my friend Typhin attempted to blackmail me with the information. He wanted me me to give him money, and said that someone would tell you tomorrow if he wasn't paid. I eliminated him. I don't get blackmailed."

 

Naleena took a cigarette out of her case and offered one to Avan. She took a silver flask of Nevosian Ambrosia out of her inside coat pocket, took two shot glasses out of the drawer in the table, opened the flask, filled them with the purple liquid, and pushed one of them toward Avan. She lifted hers and drank, then lit her cigarette and blew a plume of smoke into the air. "I see.

 

"You took a great risk coming forward," she said as she sat back in her chair. "But not nearly as great a risk had you waited for the information to reach me. There have been at least four different Shadow Brokers since I've been a professional. I could tell by the type of contracts that I'd be given and their information trails. The current Broker is particularly sadistic by tolerating the likes of Iyana. Most would run the system as a profitable brokerage and use people like me as enforcers. You don't ever cross the Shadow Broker," she said and pointed her cigarette at the glass on table in front of Avan. "Go ahead, drink."

 

Avan drank the exotic Asari liqueur. He'd never tasted this before. It wasn't sweet like other Asari liqueurs, yet it didn't have a bite of human alcoholic drinks either. The flavor blossomed in his mouth.

 

"It's good isn't it?" she asked.

 

"Unusual. I've never had anything like it before," Avan replied.

 

"It's from Nevos. It's from my private stock. Alcohol doesn't affect powerful biotics like it does humans, so Asari rely on an herbs in the process for any additional effects. Still they are quite mild. Nevosian Ambrosia is highly regulated outside of Asari space."

 

She took another drag from her cigarette and rolled the ashes in the ash tray. "We defeated Iyana and took back the Medusa with only three casualties despite her having your intel, and we're back at full strength. Her advanced knowledge allowed her to escape, nothing more. When we meet again she will not be so lucky, I assure you," she said in a calm voice.

 

"I wish you had come to me earlier before you had taken action against Typhin. We could have perhaps used your contact to our own advantage. You could have informed me of your assignments, and I could have given you a counter mission if you would have been up to doing that sort of thing: fed him information that had both good and false information mixed in. The good information would have been non-critical, while the false would have been mission critical. Every once in a while we'd have to allow some mission critical information to be good so as not to let them know you'd been compromised. But it is too late for that. They'll be after you, now," she said with a sigh.

 

Avan began to feel the effects of the drink with objects having a slight golden aura to them. The alcohol content wasn't that high, but it must have been the herb from which it was made. Naleena was unfazed. She refilled their glasses.

 

Then Naleena sat forward in her chair with a golden fire in her eyes. "I'm not going to kill you, Avan. You're not the first mole on this team to come forward. Yet, you supplied information that perhaps did the most damage, but you came forward. Confession is good for the soul, don't you agree? I have but one question, and think very hard before you answer because if we're in this situation again it will not be over drinks and a cigarette. I will burrow into your mind and extract every bit of information from it. We did things this way only because you came to me. Can I trust you?"

 

Avan paused for a moment, though he knew the answer. "Yes."

 

She filled their glasses half full. "Good. I will need the information you sent Typhin," she said and raised her glass to his, and drank. "You will be with me for the rest of this mission, and we will not speak of this again. If, however, you are contacted by the Broker network, you are to come me and only me. If I am not available, VERA can get me the message."