The Citadel - The Silversun Strip
The taxi landed at the Silversun Strip outside of the Silver Coast Casino, and Jenus and Irina exited.
“There it is: The Armax Arsenal Arena.” Jenus said with a glow about her, and started dragging Irina in that direction. “Come on, Red! That’s where all the action is. Score well and maybe even you’ll get a little action.”
Irina was still protesting. “Jenus, is that all you evere think about?”
“Is there anything else?” Jenus asked. “And what the f*ck else you got to do?”
As they entered a couple of Asari Commandos were leaving, and one didn’t look very happy.
“Now there’s one we don’t have to worry about,” Jenus commented as they got in the short line to pay their fee, “Did you see the long faces? Are you sure you don’t want to compete?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
The hanar behind the window spoke. “Greetings. Welcome to the Armax Arsenal Arena. How may this one be of service?”
“One ticket for competition, and one observation,” Jenus said.
“Excellent. This one hopes you are familiar with the rules. You may have up to two holo partners of your choice, but you must have detailed vital scans of them and weapon load outs. You must have fought with them on more than six occasions. We will check the records. You will receive massive bonus points for eliminating the three waves in under 5.2 Asari standard minutes. Do you have teammates to submit?”
“Yeah, I do,” Jenus submitted all of her commando fire team members. “And there’s one more. This redhead.”
“We do not have…”
Jenus slammed both hands on the counter, and behind the protective plexiglass, the hanar flinched. “Look, there are four on record. We were on assignment together for two years on a sh*thole of a world where we fought off raiders and assh***s for the Asari military and Council, but it’s not on record and I can’t tell you where. Just scan her and make her available.”
The Hanar reached under the counter and pulled out a data pad. “Very well. The red head will have to complete this form and participate in one combat sim so that we may gather data on her behaviors. That is also a very strange weapon she is carrying.”
“You b*tch! I wanted to relax. But no, I have to fight in a goddamn arena just so you can have a f*cking holopartner,” Irina said, “Fine, I’ll do it, but it’ll cost you.” She turned to the intake clerk and tapped her omni-tool. “Here are my other weapons. Make sure the Mattock is modified for semi-auto, burst fire, and full automatic fire.”
“This one requires that you leave your ‘shotgun’ here. It will be returned to you on your way out. The Asari must leave her side arm here, too. No weapons are allowed inside the arena.”
Irina sighed and handed over her weapon. The hanar placed it on a pad where it was immediately scanned.
The Hanar glowed. “Excellent. Your entry fees are 15000 CR each.”
“Jenus is paying both of them.”
Jenus’ eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped.
“You were the one who wanted to come here, not me,” Irina said. “Now pay up or shut up.”
Jenus’ look of disbelief quickly turned to smugness. “I’ll make that back in a few rounds. You just watch how the pros do this. Now come on before the arena rusts.”
The two climbed the stairs to the main level. The concession stand was to the left, vending machines were across the way along with counters and prize exchanges. To the right was the observation area to watch matches, and Irina saw a familiar face leaning over the railing and approached.
“Kadavar Vayne. I knew you’d be here,” Irina said.
“So are you gonna compete?” Vayne asked.
“Just one match so they can get my stats. I just wanted to relax a bit,” Irina replied. “I figured real battles are sufficient to prove myself. Besides, I’m not getting any younger and it takes a little longer to recover between missions.”
“Ha! I understand. I take it Jenus will be the competitor, then.”
The young Asari leaned over the rail so that Vayne could see her better. “Yeah, that’s right. You see that scoreboard? I’ll be on top before the nights over. You watch.”
An announcement calling Jenus Stasia and Irina Sloane for an exhibition match. “That’s us, Red. See you, Vayne.”
“F*** ‘em up!” Vayne said.
As they headed down the stairs into the locker room, they had to decide on their enemy, and they were looking at the brochure as they arrived at the terminal.
“Let’s see. We have a choice of Krogan Rebellions, but I want to get warmed up first. Geth. Random mercs. What do you think, Red? Random mercs to start?” Jenus asked.
“What do you mean, to start? This is my only match.”
“Aw. Come on, man.”
“No, this is it. And random mercs. I’m not f***ing around with anything else right now. I want to relax on my shore leave.” Irina said.
“Okay. You’ll at least be cheering me on, right?”
“Of course, Jen. I’ll be right up there next to Vayne.”
Jenus put on the commando leathers supplied that were a duplicate of her own. “I really thought you were tougher than that, Red.”
“Jenus, I’m not a maiden Asari. I’m 37 and will be 38 in a month. I get banged up out there. It’s taking longer between missions for the aches and pains to go away. It doesn’t mean I can’t fight anymore. It just takes a bit longer to recover. You’re the equivalent of human age 20. Now back the f*** off.”
“What? You pissed at me now?”
“No. I’m not pissed at you. It’s not something you’ll understand for another couple hundred years,” Irina sighed. “Let’s just get this over with.”
They entered the arena on the Armax Classic Map. Ramps and cover areas were in plain sight.
“IT’S COMBAT TIME AT THE ARMAX ARSENAL ARENA! In this exhibition match, Jenus Stasia and Irina Sloane put their wits against some Random Mercs in their first match. Let’s hear it for our challengers!”
“Okay, Red, watch my back.” Jenus said drawing her Disciple.
“I know how you fight, Jen. Don’t forget to watch mine.” Irina replied drawing her Mattock.
The first group of mercs spawned on the opposite side of the map. Jenus did a biotic charge into the group, staggering them, followed by a nova, and then used her fists and feet to finish off the group. “KILL STREAK.” She charged the next group and shot two in the face with her Disciple.
Irina managed to shoot three who were moving in to flank Jenus. This ended the first wave.
Jenus charged back to Irina’s position. “See? That was easy.”
“Wait, the waves get tougher.”
“Why don’t you do something this time instead of just standing around?”
“I shot three of them that were about to flank you.” Irina replied.
“Yeah, but they need to see some real action,” Jenus said. “Go for it this time.”
Irina sighed and the enemies spawned. “Right. We had regulars last time. This time we get Bloodpack. F***ing great!”
Vorcha approached with their flame tanks ready to fry them. Irina used her AR to shoot out the tanks so they would explode and take out others nearby. This left a Krogan in the group. She holstered her Mattock and drew her shotgun and charged at him low and rolling. The Krogan was too slow to match her movements with his aim, and she got close and let him have it with both barrels, staggering him. Then she rolled sideways around him and pulled out a concussion grenade and stuck it in the seam of his armor on his hump, then ran away. The grenade exploded sending pieces of the Krogan around the arena.
Vayne cheered and beaming with pride, turned to the person next to him. “That’s my Krannt down there.”
“She’s insane,” the person replied.
Jenus finished her part of the wave pretty much like she did the first wave. And the third wave ended in victory with both of them shining. Final score 6235 points. Not too shabby.
“I’m glad that’s over, now the rest is up to you, Jen. I’ll spectate with Vayne.” Irina said. “Good luck. Kick some ass.”
Jenus smiled.
Both of them left the locker room and cashed in their prizes. Jenus used hers to unlock stuff, and Irina just cashed out for credits and took her seat next to Vayne.
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