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[Kel Riever]

Keith

"No, it's cool. Let's do it your way."  Keith talked like Anika just slapped him down when she gave him the option of what to do with his gun, with heavy emphasis on her preference.  "And yeah, I heard the mantra.  I just don't want to shoot my peeper off or my noggin in the middle of a bad dream.  Or...a good one."

Keith coughed for a bit and looked away, then he looked back at his gun, instantly distracted by the weapon.  "So I'm, you know, I just think they're awesome.  Go ahead with however you do."

Iole 

Iole pushed the wooden box into Frank's hands.  

"Frank, I'm terrified.  If you don't take me away this instant I swear I'll never go!"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Armax Arsenal Arena

 

“I’d... have to see that to believe it. The sims I’ve experienced aren’t even close to real live combat.” Johnny shook his head. “But they were just the standard Alliance sims for mass training purposes…”

 

“I really don’t want to be a bother, but…” It took him a bit to work up the courage to continue.

 

It doesn’t hurt to ask...

 

“I... don’t suppose there’s a way I could see it? The sim you train with, I mean?”

 

Irina collected her prize money, and she and Arian left with Johnny following them. “Well, as much as I’d like to show you the simulator, I can’t, not without permission from the boss,” she said. “See, some areas on the ship are classified, and most of what you’ll see is classified, too.”

 

As they were leaving, a taxi opened and an Asari wearing black leather and a full length black leather coat climbed out. She headed toward the Silver Coast Casino which was right next door to the Arena. Irina saw her.

 

“Look who just arrived,” Irina said. “Boss! Naleena!”

 

Naleena turned to see both Irina and Arian with a human. She stopped and smiled. “Didn’t you have enough combat in our last mission? I thought you’d need some R&R.”

 

Arian gave her a sideways glance.

 

“Yes, I know this isn’t anything like the real thing,” she said.

 

“Just earning some quick credits,” Irina said and turned to Johnny. “This is Johnny. He’s an Alliance Marine and he’s interested in seeing our combat simulator on the ship. Says he’s good at close quarters stuff, so I could run him through the new hospital scenario and watch him soil his drawers. Also he seems to be a bit interested in pay….”

 

“Really?” Naleena said and raised a brow, then took out a cigarette and lit it. She took a deep drag off it and exhaled away from everyone. “The only time a military person would be interested would be if it was getting close to either reupping or mustering out. So are you looking for work? What do you do?”

[Kel Riever]

Morgan

There were words whispered to Jess.  Both spoke for only a few seconds under their breath, then Morgan retreated.

"...Besides, if I heard you correctly when I first came in, you were supposed to meet Naleena at the Strip.  I'll get started on what I have to do here.  Would love if you could give me the low down when you get back from your visit."

Morgan headed out of the exercise room.  He opened his omni-tool to type his own message to the Spectre:

To:  Naleena
From:  Morgan

I'm sure you've got plenty on your plate but when you have a moment, Molly left something that you, at least, should see.  Probably anyone who might be involved with investigating Iyana further should be there as well.

Hope your holding up well enough.
 

[Redbelle]

Jess looked like she wanted to say more, but instead, bent to sweep up her top and guns.

 

"Preciate the thought luv. But when your on top you'll understand". Jess buckled the guns around her waist. Then paused. "You know..... I don't look like I used to right? I mean, I got hurt bad when I started on the Medusa as a crewmen. I was saved. Lots of surgery and tech. I asked for some remodeling done then. Whatever I would have looked like, that's not what I look like now. I doubt my own family would recognize me now". She smiled sadly. "What can I say. I don't do thinks in half measures".

 

Throwing her top over one shoulder she walked towards the hatch, but paused. "I'm going for a shower. Did you see a Terra Firma rally on station? Their press officer's making an announcement. Might be worth seeing what kind of trouble their stirring".

 

And with that hanging in the air, she was gone.

[Cknarf]

Checkpoint

 

Frank noticed a curious C-SEC officer making his way over.

 

“You’ll never go, eh? Yeah, well we’ll see about that!” He said loud enough for the young man to hear. “Turn around!” Frank leaned in a little. “Turn around.” He said again, whispering this time.

 

“Is everything okay over here?”

 

“Iiiii’ve got it under control, flatfoot.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“I’m takin’ this one in.” Frank held out his hand. “Gimme you restraints.”

 

“You don’t have your own set, officer?”

 

“Detective! It’s detective. And maybe if you’d stop asking stupid questions, you’d get a promotion! Restraints! Now.”

 

“Alright…” The officer handed them over. “But I want them back when you’re done.”

 

“Yeah yeah, whatever.” Frank cuffed Iole, and proceeded towards the checkpoint.

 

“Uh… Detective?”

 

“What!?” Frank looked back.

 

“That’s the civilian entran--”

 

“Don’t you think I know that? This ain’t my first day on the job.” Frank changed course. “See ya around, Träger.”

 

The young officer watched suspiciously as they disappeared behind the door. He eventually shrugged it off, and went on about his business.

 

After passing through the checkpoint without issue, Frank walked Iole up the Vepr’s open loading ramp, and into the empty bay.

 

“Aaaaaand you just got kidnapped.” Frank removed his helmet, and placed it on the parked skycar, before freeing Iole from her cuffs. He set them aside  

 

“If anyone asks, you were taken one hundred percent against your will by a strange woman pretending to be C-SEC.”

 

=====================================================================================

 

Outside the arena

 

Johnny was dumbfounded. It wasn’t everyday that he found himself speaking to a council spectre.

 

“W-whatever you need me to.” He answered. Realizing that was more or less what all marines did, he elaborated. Or at least he tried to. “I mean… I’m not just a grunt, I have other skills too.  I’ve always considered myself more of an engineer…” Johnny fiddled with his omni-tool out of nervousness.

 

It doesn’t hurt to ask…

 

“If you were looking for a… I’m just going to end up in some boring tech job after my discharge, so…” He rubbed at the back of his head. “If I perform well in your sim, maybe I could…” Johnny shrugged.

 

“I’d really love to see it.” He made brief eye contact with Naleena, before looking back down at his feet.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan had his own thoughts, wanted to press Jess, but had to let it go.  He found his own way of getting clean, using the crew shower after he'd stripped off his armor.  There was time to think about Jess a bit, his family, what had happened.  Molly was on his mind and he wanted to get her any kind of help she needed.  It was his way, he realized.  There was also the matter of somehow getting the money back for the family without being traced.  Morgan could talk to Naleena about that when they saw each other next.

One step at a time.

Jess had mentioned quite a lot, despite her own difficult situation being most on Morgan's mind.  What did she mean about Babe's sister?  He was sure to hear about it.  And Miss Priss?   Morgan would have to get to her.  As Morgan stepped out of the shower, dried himself off, and put on his casual clothes (black leathers and the loose white shirt, leaving off the vest), a little bird landed on his shoulder.

"There you are."

Tarus looked at Morgan like he'd been left behind.  There was a bit of a discontented chirp, then Tarus moved closer to Morgan's head and snuggled in for a nap.

Morgan didn't hesitate after the shower to catch up with his mother and Jen first.  They were together.  The conversation could have taken hours if Morgan went at it straight, but he preferred to take things slowly, let them sink in, pace it out.  Travel aboard a star faring vessel could offer plenty of downtime to kill, and there was no rush.  It was as Morgan had imagined, and when he started speaking, he didn't know why he had feared the initial reaction to him so much.  This was his own family, and he knew them.  Even his mother who he'd had plenty of problems with in the past.  She was the first to understand, to make peace.  Jen didn't take long after, and the irony is when Morgan had explained why the trouble had started in the first place, both Jen and Rosanne were more worried about Morgan than they were about themselves.

"These people took advantage of you," Rosanne simply said.

Morgan nodded.  "That's how the Shadow Broker worked.  And I was in over my head before I could do anything about it.  Things only got worse from there."

"You did it to keep me well," Jen said.  "I can't ever blame you for that."

"It wasn't going to end that well for me," Morgan started, then watched as Tarusinterrupted his thought, leapt off his shoulder and onto Jen's.  "Well, I guess he likes you."

"Aw," Jen said, smiling at the bird.  "He's so cute."

"Protective too," Morgan agreed, then finished his thought.  "It wouldn't have gone so well for me if it hadn't been for Jess.  For the Captain, and others too.  That's a story for another time.  I have to get going, there are duties I have to attend to."

"I knew I liked her when I met her," Rosanne said of Jess.  "And don't think I don't know a thing or two about what I see."

"Mom,..." both Jen and Morgan said.

"Please, you two, your mother knows when not to interfere.  All I'm saying is I like her.  And I swear she looks familiar for some reason."

There was a pang of concern that Morgan hid.  "Mom, come on.  You would remember if you saw someone like Jess before."

"I have decent intuition, Morgan.  Maybe it isn't always correct, but don't you jump to conclusions about me.  There's something..."

"Okay, I have to go," Morgan interjected.  He stood up and couldn't help but smirk a bit.  His mother had gotten him, and frankly, she did surprise him often.  He only hoped her intuition was on the slow track for a while yet, while he could sort out what to do about it.  Morgan took a glance at Tarus but the bird seemed happy to stay put.  "Fine, you stay with her," he said to Tarus.

"He likes me better," Jen joked.

"You have what you need?" Morgan specifically asked Jen.

Jen nodded.  "For the time being.  We need to talk for what to do after a few weeks."

"I'm on it," Morgan assured her, before he headed for the door.  "By the way, where's Keith?"

Rosanne and Jen looked at each other before both turned back to Morgan.

"Where do you think?" Jen asked.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

The Medusa

 

Dahlia sat at her navigation station. Since Morgan's family had come aboard she'd been a little  antsy. Part of her wanted to meet them, yet another part told her to stay away. What would I tell them? Hi, I'm Dahlia. I'm a friend of Morgan's. I saved his life... perhaps they should know that? I don't think Morgan would tell them. I think pretty much everyone has forgotten that. I'll never forget that as long as I live. Being bonded with a man for that long of a period of time affects you. So afterward I reported him dead to the Shadow  Broker to protect both him and you. Yeah, that would really go over well. Even Morgan doesn't know I work for the Broker. Speaking of which I need to get off this ship and make contact with someone who can be trusted. I don't want to be targeted or thought of as a rogue agent.

 

Dahlia hit the com and contacted her captain. "Jess, I need to do some shopping on the Citadel for some personal items... like... well new things. I'll be back in about four hours."

 

****

 

Dahlia left the Medusa and took a taxi to the financial district. She parked the taxi and walked past the boutiques in the district and entered a particular financial institution. She walked past the tellers straight to the rear and up to one of the administrative assistants.

 

"I need to see the District Manager, Barla Von," she said.

 

"Do you have an appointment?" the assistant asked.

 

"No, I don't, but he'll see me."

 

"Who shall I tell him is here?"

 

"Ms. Snowman."

 

"(breath) Send her in."

 

"Yes, Mr. Von," the assistant replied. "You may go in. It's the next to last door on your right. The office with the window."

 

"Thank you," Dahlia nodded and entered the office suites. Barla Von's office was not difficult to find, yet Dahlia was nervous and almost shaking inside. She didn't know what to expect. She stood outside the door for a moment gathering her thoughts and tried to calm herself, then opened the door and entered.

 

Barla Von stood facing the window looking out over the Presidium. "The prodigal agent returns," he  said and turned to face her. "Do you know the penalties for crossing the Shadow Broker? Of course you do.... You carry them out."

 

Dahlia began trembling again. "As you are aware, I have been a loyal agent for nearly 50 years. I... had ethical problems with my handler. There were extenuating circumstances. An agent, a supervisory level agent of ours had brutally murdered an entire crew of a ship, chopping them up into bits for her petty revenge. My handler was passing my information directly to her."

 

Barla Von pointed his finger at her. "You are not to make such judgements on you own. If you have concerns about the loyalty of agents or cell leaders you know who to contact. You were out of line and should be punished for your action."

 

Dahlia lowered her head in defeat. "I will accept whatever punishment the Broker demands."

 

"Fortunately for you, the supervisory level agent has been declared rogue by the Broker..., so while your actions were improper, they were not without merit.... However, the Broker may have a special assignment for you at a later date," Barla Von said.

 

"I do not trust Cell Leader 4."

 

Von leaned on his desk. "You won't be reporting to Cell Leader 4.... You will be reporting to me. Now, I must think of a way to bring Agent Severn back into the fold. Like you said, there were extenuating circumstances."

 

"You could just leave him be," Dahlia  said.

 

"Agents can't simply walk away." Von said. ".... Go, return to your ship. You might want to do some shopping first so no one is suspicious."

 

With that Dahlia left Barla Von's office. There were several boutiques, nearby and she really needed to do some shopping. New underwear was a priority, as was a tight fitting purple top she saw that matched her eyes.

[Kel Riever]

Iole

"Really," Iole said to Frank, "I think that was just an excuse to get me into handcuffs."

Iole looked around the interior of the ship, rubbing her wrists unconsciously.  "Well, this is it.  I've probably got a few ancestors rolling over in their graves right now.  Still..."

With a smile at Frank that caught the light.  "...if I was going to destroy my old life, I can't think of someone better to do it with."

[Kel Riever]

...somewhere in the Terminus Systems

Iyana strode down the rear ramp of the Mammoth shuttle, Jrudek a step behind, and the droids with the violet banners flanking. 

"My superior," Xhuan Setura greeted with a bow, her eye following the dried blood in the creases of her armor.

"Yes, I will have it cleaned in short order."  Iyana turned her head slightly to Jrudek.  "You may go.  Use your discretion for travel."

Still surprised, Jrudek nodded, then headed away, across the tarmac. 

Xhuan looked surprised, and Iyana seemed to read her mind.

"If you had a farewell to say, then you have had time to say it."  Iyana watched Jrudek leave as she stepped up closer to the asari.  "I have admired how well you have worked together.  He has earned his choice, and if he is to return, it is within his ability to do so.  Do you think I am cruel for not informing you?"

Xhuan said, her voice revealing to Iyana a slight break. "No."

"A lie so obvious, and yet your loyalty remains," Iyana said to Xhuan.  "Do you fear my wrath so?"

"Yes," Xhuan said, avoiding Iyana's stare. "And yet I know too that you are destined.  I cannot let even my pettiness interfere with the greater cause."

Iyana's breath came warm upon Xhuan as she moved her head close to the asari's.  "Now that is an honesty I can  appreciate.  Every one of us must make sacrifices, Xhuan.  Tell me, do you not believe I understand your feelings?"

"There is no other who understands me better, my superior."  Xhuan dared to look up then, her green gem eyes matching Iyana's blue.

"We are then both privileged, my hawk.  To you I have left tasks no one else below me may bear.  It is time for you to summon the assistance of your old friends.  Events have proceeded at a more rapid pace than I anticipated.  I will have Equity now be fulfilled, and it is through them that we will execute the operation.  Furthermore, there is a new dwelling we will use for the final stages of Equity, which I will inform you of as we proceed with our actions.  Now how is our colony?"

"They have aligned, newcomers as well as the original members.  Judgments have been strict, and I have paid particular attention to Foteni, setting a healthy pace for her research at the end of my disciplinary methods."

Iyana smiled.  "Excellent.  I will find out what she has learned.  Speaking of judgments, it is time to set an example for our populace now that it has grown large enough.  Conflict must be resolved without straining our resources, and of course, the people must be kept happy.  Let us proceed to the court constructed in my absence.  Please have the Demos family in attendance."

[Redbelle]

"Jess, I need to do some shopping on the Citadel for some personal items... like... well new things. I'll be back in about four hours."

 

Jess was toweling her hair down when Dahlia's message came in and she hit the comm panel on the bulkhead. "Take the day off luv. You've earned some R and R. Keep your comm on you though. If I need you back I'll call. Otherwise enjoy shore leave".

 

The comm clicked off and Jess bunched the towel into a ball and three point shot the laundry chute she'd left open. Grabbing a fresh set of clothes she threw them on and headed out. Taking a moment to pick up a tablet and quickly scan the announcements that were made on the station going back a few days.

 

One stood out. Terra Firma's Press Secretary announces formal arrival on Citadel.

 

Jess checked the name attached to the position.... then sighed. Placed the tablet on the table, then went to inform the watch stander that she'd be departing the ship for a spell.

 

On the tablet, the name, Amy Babylon, shone bright at the bottom of the display.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Falling Leaf

The reaction Leaf had to Machaera was a bit unusual when faced with his blade.

"Well," Falling Leaf said with eyes wide with fascination, "Isn't that a lovely pet..."

Leaf stood and approached the field, as if she would press through it towards the blade if she could.  She paid no heed that the threat of the weapon could be to her.  Instead, she watched with avaricious eyes as the blade caught the light. 

"I have my own honor, so to speak," Falling Leaf answered Machaera as her gaze kept upon the blade.  "You may conduct your due diligence on me through your standard investigative channels if you wish, it is out there, a thinly veiled secret.  But I will tell you that you see I have never betrayed an employer, including my last as I was never technically under the contract of Cerberus.  If only those fools had thought to reveal themselves to me, they might be alive right now."  Her eyes briefly went to Machaera.  "But then you would be dead."

Finally pulling away from the blade, as if there was a small struggle to do so, Falling Leaf moved back in her cell.  "I answer to one.  It is not my concern if that one answers to another above them.  Killing is best coupled with simplicity, and in simplicity there is beauty.  I die for my master, who is the one who pays me.  But it is better to say that I kill for my master, so that my master may live, and fight another day.  You would be my master and your worth to me is in the wisdom you display, for it goes almost without saying that my own future lies in your hand.  A master who does not value his tool will break both wielder and weapon.  Place me in your grip and use me for what I was meant for.  I believe you are a fine assessor of value." 
 

 

"You like it? It's a high-frequency blade with mono-molecular edgework. It pierces and cuts thinly enough to pierce anything solid, and the vibrations ensure that any cut becomes deep, wide, and deadly..." he said, looking to his own blade with a sense of pride, "A gift, one of the few I ever received in life..."

 

'I think I'm going to puke.' Ren thought to herself with a roll of her eyes, obscured behind her visor. Connection to inanimate objects, especially ones not made by themselves, was foolish. Pride in the work one could make was more impressive then by the artistry of a simple sharpened piece of metal.

 

Machaera gave his sword a flourishing spin before he held his sheath, sliding the blade in as it was suspended in a miniaturized mass-effect field, to keep it from actually touching the walls of the sheath, and cutting through them.

 

"Yron, and my close associate Talza, have both run background checks on you. You're work is, impressive." Machaera said simply as he regarded falling leaf, "Your loyalty to one person is interesting, to say the least. Recent events have brought some...interesting developments, to my table. We will be fighting against many fronts. Corporations, Colonies, Mercenary Bands, Government Militaries...the risk will be great, but the reward...all the greater." He said as he crossed his arms behind his back, head held high as he looked down to Falling Leaf.

 

"If you can fight against any who would threaten my plans, in my stay or by my side, then bow. Prove to be a weapon worthy of this war...and I will see you venerated." He said, speaking with a strong passion as he watched to see what falling leaf would do.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

 

=====================================================================================

 

Outside the arena

 

Johnny was dumbfounded. It wasn’t everyday that he found himself speaking to a council spectre.

 

“W-whatever you need me to.” He answered. Realizing that was more or less what all marines did, he elaborated. Or at least he tried to. “I mean… I’m not just a grunt, I have other skills too.  I’ve always considered myself more of an engineer…” Johnny fiddled with his omni-tool out of nervousness.

 

It doesn’t hurt to ask…

 

“If you were looking for a… I’m just going to end up in some boring tech job after my discharge, so…” He rubbed at the back of his head. “If I perform well in your sim, maybe I could…” Johnny shrugged.

 

“I’d really love to see it.” He made brief eye contact with Naleena, before looking back down at his feet.

 

Naleena gave Johnny a quick once over and turned back to Irina. "Take him back and give him a couple runs. Don't be too hard on him, though."

 

"Right," Irina said. "Well, Johnny, you heard the boss, you have a job interview. Let's go."

 

Irina hailed a taxi to go back to the ship. When they got there she gave him the "cook's tour" of the vessel.

 

".... and before you ask, because everyone does, the seats are leather. This is not a military vessel. It's what they call civilian comfort by design. It doesn't mean she isn't armed to the teeth. It means that we have civilians on board conducting research and we're out in space for long periods," she said as they walked through and took the elevator down to the cargo bay training area. "We need some comforts. You'll get used to them and learn to appreciate them.

 

"Ah, here we are," she said. "VERA."

 

VERA's image appeared on the terminal. She was busy putting together a combat scenario on a three dimensional map in her office.

 

"This is VERA. VERA, this is Johnny," Irina said. VERA glanced up and smiled. "VERA is our ship's VI and will be running the simulator today for this test. He says he's a combat engineer, so I'll run through it with him. Let's give him some moderate combat and some breaking and entering, and have to do a field repair so we can extract."

 

"I can do that," VERA replied.

 

"Does that sound good to you?" Irina asked.

[Cknarf]

"Ha. Yeah. You couldn't have done better if you tried." Frank agreed wholeheartedly. "Let me get outta these t*ts and I'll show you around. C'mon." He led Iole to the elevator, and hit the button for deck 2.

 

"This is where... where..." Frank began as the doors opened. "What the..."

 

The corridor was cluttered with gym equipment, among other things. The door to Frank's room was open.

 

“Goose! You need to punch us out! I can’t reach the ejection handle! Eject!”

 

“I’m tryin’ I’m tryin!”

 

“Eject eject eject! Watch the canopy!”

 

Frank gestured with his head for Iole to follow. He peeked around the corner and into his room. Quintus was hunched forward, with his talons dug into the pillow that he was holding.

 

"Quintus?"

 

"Oh no... Goose..." Quintus was so lost in whatever he was watching, he didn't notice the pair in the doorway.

 

“Goooooose! Goose!”

 

Imitating the human on the screen, Qunitus fell back onto the bed, and pulled the pillow tightly against his chest.

 

"Quintus!"

 

"Huh?" The turian quickly sat up, and switched off the monitor.

 

"What are you doing?"

 

"I was... I was movin' your sh*t. But I uh... fell asleep." He looked down at the pillow, and tossed it aside. "Yeah, that's it."

 

"Are you... crying?"

 

"Nah." Quintus dismissed that claim, as was the turian way. He wiped the manly tears from his eyes. "Just a little sleep in 'em is all. Who's the *sniffle* who's the babe?"

[Kel Riever]

Iole

“Hi, I’m Iole.”

Iole didn’t even wait for Frank to introduce her, not exactly sure why, at first, she didn’t simply wait.  She greeted the turian on the bed with another customary greeting:  air quotes as she said, “Nah?”

Then Iole realized why she felt so at ease being informal; these were Frank’s people.  Besides, nothing broke the ice like turian tears.  She walked over to the monitor.

“What are you watching?”

Iole waited not at all for any answer and flipped on the monitor.

When she saw what was on the screen, she was drawn in with excitement.

“Are those fixed wing aircraft?  From Earth?!”

Without waiting again, Iole hit the secondard controls directly on top of the monitor and sped back along the video until she saw it…two fixed wing aircraft chasing another.

“Goddess…this is awesome!  Move aside crybaby, I want to see this!”

Iole hit play, sat right on the edge of the bed, forcing the turian over, beckoned for Frank to sit next to her, and hit play. 

[Kel Riever]

Falling Leaf

"The old customs, they seem to be universal," Falling Leaf said with an upward curl in the side of her mouth.  She bowed low.  "I shall be contracted to you, for the duration of my contract, terms forthcoming, none of which is likely to surprise you.  On one hand you are my client, and on another, my director.  Yet should you prefer to be addressed by another title, I am honor bound to oblige."

[Kel Riever]

Morgan

“Keith!”

Keith looked up at the sound of Morgan’s voice.  He was at a table, the Revenant opened with all its mechanical guts on display.  Anika was behind him, over his shoulder, in the middle of pointing the younger brother’s attention to the feed mechanism.

“Bro!  Uh, you need me for something?”

Morgan looked between Keith and Anika.  “Not unless you need me.  You look like you’re in the middle of something.”

“Uh, yes.  Could I catch up with you later?”

“Sure.  Anyone here knows how to reach me if they need to.  Make sure you listen to everything she tells you.”

Keith nodded, then went back to his instruction.

Morgan had to suppress a laught.  Clearly his brother was fine.  In the meantime, his thoughts returned to what Jess said about the Terra Firma meeting.  The family was settled and after checking with the watch stander, saw Dahlia was off the ship as well.  Weighing his time, Morgan guessed he could catch up on events with the bridge, then make it just in time for the political party’s meeting on the Citadel.

Jess wanted him there, so he wasn’t going to let her down.

[Cknarf]

Aboard the Vepr

 

Frank shrugged, and took a seat.

 

“Never took you for a human movie guy, Quintus.”

 

“I’m not. I just…” The turian sniffled again, while reaching for the pillow. “I heard about it on the net.”

 

“What’s it about?”

 

“Old Earth pilots, and stuff. Fighters. Some kinda war, that’s not a war or somethin’.”

 

“Ah. I can see why you might be interested in it.” Frank nudged Iole. “Quintus used to be a fighter pilot. Damn good from what I’ve heard. Weren’t you?”

 

Quintus nodded, but didn't elaborate. He continued talking about the movie.

 

“It’s kind of a love story… A real sh*tty one.” Quintus squeezed his pillow again. “There’s this pilot, and there’s this other pilot, and they’re like… you know?”

 

“Uh…”

 

“Like the girl, I forget her name, is like there, but I can’t help but feel that Mav- Maverick, that’s his callsign, might have a little you know, kinda thing goin’ with…”

 

“Goose?”

 

Quintus buried his face in the pillow.

 

“And they killed him. Just like that?”

 

Quintus nodded.

 

“Are you sure that the girl wasn’t the ‘thing’? ‘Cause that’s a pretty brutal way to take out the main love interest.” Frank chuckled.

 

“Maybe she was, I don’t know.” Quintus stood. “And I don’t care anymore. I don’t think I want to finish it…” He moped to the door. “I gotta go prep us for takeoff anyways.” He sniffled again. “Nice meetin’ ya, Iole.”

 

“And I won’t say anything to big bro until after we take off a’ight? Just in case.”

 

“‘preciate it.” Frank smiled.

 

“And if you’re gonna watch it, you gotta start all the way over.” Quintus skipped to the beginning. “The intro is… it’s beautiful, man. See ya’ll later.”

 

 

==============================================

 

Aboard the Janiri

 

“To be honest, ma’am, everything I’ve heard in the past twenty minutes has sounded more than good.” Johnny nodded. “Let’s do it. I-I’m ready.”

[Kel Riever]

...somewhere in the Terminus Systems

Sonu was a salarian geologist.  He had come to the colony as an employee of the Pyrena Corporation to study.  When he had signed up, he thought he understood the risks.

Standing on the hardened dirt, under a sun rising to its noon high, surrounded by tall walls of reinforced alloy, it was clear he had grossly underestimated those risks.

The man who had stolen from his personal belongings stood three meters to his right, refusing to look in his direction.  He was wiry, unkempt hair, one of the second waves of arrivals of ruffians for lack of a better word.  The colony was twice its size since the invaders had come, but those who had followed were outcasts, criminals, mercenaries.  There had been no choice.  Since the speech of the white haired woman before the original colonists, events had gotten worse for the likes of Sonu.  He had caught the man in the act, struggled with him, until the guard had arrived to break them apart.  Both Sonu and the man were imprisoned, punished mutually as the guard had only the word of one versus the other, no witnesses available to confirm any story.

There were many witnesses now, however, in the stadium that had been constructed.  The guards had brought both the man and Sonu in, instructed them to stand and wait quietly, and observed from above with the rest of the attendees.  Perhaps there were a hundred seated, or more, but the capacity of the stadium was for many more.  Sonu had the sense that the contruction lent itself to further expansion as well.  The walls surrounded the grounds in a perfect square, with the two standing below facing one side where a more elaborate seating booth had been arranged.  In an excessive sort of way, two violet banners with white dragon emblems were unfurled to ripple in the wind on either side of the elaborate booth.  Noticably, there was a high backed chair, a throne for lack of a better term, centered in the booth for a perfect view.

With guard on either side, a group of three asari stood conspicuously in the booth to the right of the throne.  Two Sonu knew, Gille Demos and her daughter.  The last he did not recognize, a wispy, tall asari.  All three seemed to be discomposed beneath a display of imitative calm.  When Sonu caught Gille’s eye, she averted her glance to look slightly away from him, as if to indicate she had no power to intercede in what was to come.

There was a door in the side of the booth, recessed, allowing entry from behind the stadium seating.  It opened, and two figures came through.  First was the asari with the strange facial markings in a brass and black Commando suit who Sonu was most familiar with.  Xhuan as she was called, overseeing almost all operations at the colony.  She heralded the second figure who was the woman with white hair, Iyana, in a gleaming, barbaric suit of armor.

The front of the booth was windowless, and as Iyana moved to stand in front of the throne, Xhuan stepped forward to address the crowd.  “All stand!”

As instructed, the audience did. 

Xhuan stepped aside so that Iyana could take her place.  Her armor catching the sun, Iyana peered down at Sonu and the man on the stadium floor with an expectant expression of her porcelain features.

Sonu glanced to the side where he saw the man did nothing to respond.  Whether it was because Sonu felt compelled to do so irrationally, or because he sensed that it might benefit him in the mind of the woman, he bowed his head towards her in deference. 

“As this populace grows, the tasks demanded of it will grow accordingly.  My rewards are not enough for some, it seems, to prevent petty thievery, misunderstandings, or idle time to spend on arguing such occurances which cannot be resolved with outside validations.  There will be a new justice enacted for the benefit of all, and resources will not be wasted on such damnable troubles.  Nor will I tolerate the seed of resentment to take hold.  All here today will move forward as a people, and the lot of you will lay your grievances to rest in a deep, restful grave.”

Iyana reached to the small of her back and withdrew her stiletto.  Holding it up by the bladetip for all attending to see, she faced each section of the crowd and called to them. “Make sure you understand the consequences of your actions!  There are no long court proceedings here, or lengthy incarcerations.  There are those who live to build, and those who fall by the wayside.  Thus, the two accusers before me shall fight until there is only one, and that one will prove his righteousness through his victory.  The defeated will not be spared!”

Sonu felt a coldness pass through him as Iyana cast her stare back down to him and the man once again.  She took her stilleto and tossed it high into the air, until it landed decisively, its blade tip penetrating into the hard earth so that the weapon stood, ready to be seized.  Sonu saw the stiletto had been tossed such that it was between him and the mand, but closer to Sonu and he was favored to take it first.

Iyana leered as she commanded, “Begin!” 
 

[Redbelle]

"Ms Babylon? It's time".

 

Amy Babylon stood facing the window looking out at the hordes of people outside the newly opened Terra Firma embassy. Actually to call it an embassy was a bit of a stretch. The TerF, party as some two bit journalist had dubbed them, was still unestablished in the political world. But the attention it was gathering had all other parties weary of the success in reaching out to those they served. As a direct result every other party was taking pot shots. Trying to discredit them as bigoted, extraterrestrial hating sociopaths in nice suits to hide the ugly truths that everyone claimed they hid behind the wall of public relations spin.

 

Bleeding hypocrites, Amy thought. Every party hid things from it's electorate. Everyone did it because everything was better hidden until the message could be crafted. Tailored so that a message could be consumed by the billions of Earth citizens in a positive manner. Because that was what everyone did. Everyone wanted control of the message. Their message. The other sides message. Spin it right and you got minds. Spin it brilliantly, you got hearts.

 

Spin it Amy Babylon and you got the whole package.

 

The stub of cigarette between her fingers had burned down to nothing and she opened her disposa case and popped it in before snapped it shut.

 

Lousy Citadel planners could organize a mass transport system that moved thousands an hour, on time but never thought to add public bins for in the common areas.

 

"Thank you..... Nigel". The name came from the fuzziest part of her consciousness that remembered birthdays and names of distant relatives. Amy smoothed down her new suit. Feminine enough to appeal to Asari, with enough smooth lines to attract the aesthetic appeal of Salarians while the shoulders were pronounced enough to catch a Turians attention. Her time by the window had been more her looking at her faint reflection and wondering who in their right mind had come up with the cut.

 

"Change of plans. I'll wear my own suit".

 

"Ma'am. The focus test groups.....".

 

"Were wrong. We're here to push the interests of humanity. Not show these other species that we 'Get it'". She looked back at her faint reflection. "If these other species see us not respecting our culture and fashions they'll see us as trying to appease them..... We're not here to beg Nigel. We're here to make absolutely certain we can take our due in the galaxy..... The first council races have divided up the galaxy nicely between themselves while throwing scraps to the rest of us and even with Udina on the council, the other three have shown their politics by hampering humanities progress to true equality....... How did that sound? You think we can use that? Don't answer....". She said as Nigel was about to begin saying something. ".....having a thought. Having a thought..... No. To combative. Like we're blaming them for our own inadequacies...... Get my suit and a room where I can change".

 

"But we're nearly.....".

 

"Ready? Then you'd better hurry then. If I'm late for my own conference..... your fired".

 

Nigel swallowed and ran off as Amy turned back to looking out the window. The banners decrying TerF's presence were already out of course. There would be hecklers, naturally. She'd turn the crowd to her side and drown them out. She looked at the banners one last time and shook her head as she noticed the same style of writing on all of them. Written in the same color pen. So they only had one detractor who was filling out there presence to appear larger than they were?

 

She couldn't wait to get out there.

[Redbelle]

Anika's hand moved deftly as she picked up, scrutinized the Revernant's parts, then casually tossed many of them into a waiting trash receptacle she'd brought along for just that purpose.

 

"Worn.... Worn.... Wrong part..... This is a pistol part someone glued a ceramic block to......". She tapped something she didn't recognize and then picked up a small modeling knife, cutting at the base and peeling it away. "...... I'm pretty sure this is chewing gum". She announced after picking it off and tossing it away. Finally she was down to the shaving block and the frame. A few connectors and parts had survived the cull but everyting else baring the casing was now sitting in the bin as Anika picked up a case from the floor, brought it up to place on the table and opened it. Inside plate arose, sliding back as holders unfolded on which rested new parts that gleamed in the overhead lighting.

 

"I didn't know what we'd need so I brought a dissembled rifle like yours. It's one of my old ones. I took it apart one day for kicks then forgot about it". Picking up an oily rag Anika picked up the barrel from the case and taking a long stick, ran it down the barrel till it popped out the end. "Now...... This was a custom design that saved on weight using lighter components. Since I'm not sure how good you are we're going to mod your gun to be light. That may not sound cool. But a light weapon is a weapon you can carry without hampering your ability to react.. My Typhoon weighs to much for the average person to carry and react fast to situations that arise. That's the beauty of this mod. You won't be fighting the mass of the gun which means your reaction time will be high. Likewise carrying it stowed won't be a chore in the field. Lug enough weight on your back all day and you'll pay for it the next. That leaves......". Anika set down the barrel and pulled out a scope. "..... A good rifle needs a good scope. It's handy for two reasons. A well maintained rifle with a properly calibrated scope can hit more accurately while giving you the ability to see a situation from afar. This one's better than the one that comes on the rifle.... Not one that see's through obscuring mists.... maybe next time".

 

As Anika pulled components out of the case she continued explaining. "Snap trigger for increased firing options. You can go for the full pull or go hairline depending on the settings. Grooved grips. If your ever using your bare hands holding a target in the reticle can make your hands sweat. The grooves maintain airflow, meaning your less likely to have the weapon slip in your hands. Always polish the shave chamber. The smoother it is the less draw on the battery to generate the field to expel the shaving...... Now this motor that collapses the weapon I took apart and replaced the fluid lubricant with graphite dust. Then it was sealed airtight to trap it all inside. If you thikn your weapons not opening or closing smoothly just shake it to reallocate the graphite around the mechanisms. The spindles are hardened steel to handle the extra torque I added by rewiring the motor. This thing wil open so fast that if you have a hand in the way, there's a possibility it'll break something if you mess up a fast draw..... Optional ammo mods as standard with a non standard wider ports with smoothed edgesthat tapers so there's less chance you'll catch a mod on the guns frame...... The shaving block compartment housing is a shot resistant composite. Anyone gets a lucky hit on the shaving block housing will find that anything less but an armor piercing round will be stopped. And finally".

 

Anika reached down and toggled a switch on the case and the gun frame housing that now looked lonely without the host of parts now fitted on Keith's gun swung back to reveal silver plating to house Keith's new weapon parts. "Now these were..... Jess's choice. Personally I never liked them. To flashy for my tastes. But Jess knows a few things about guns to and these are non conductive heat resistant plates. Anyone hits your weapon with a taser round, the charge won't hit you. Likewise you go to a planet where the heat is high enough to affect peoples weapons, yours won't suffer reduced shot from the heat sink working over time".

 

Anika reassembled the plates over Keith's gun and held it up to admire her work. The plates caught her's and Keith's face in the mirror polish and sent sources of light bouncing in all directions. Satisfied, she placed the gun on the table and then took the barrel of Keith's old setup out form the bin.

 

"Now, I want you to understand one thing before I give this to you. This weapon before, was a showcase piece. Now, it's a deadly weapon. Deadly to anyone you point it towards and.....". Anika placed the weapon close to where Keith's thumb would be on the grip and triggered the close function.

 

With no warning of any kind the gun snapped closed, catching the naked barrel as the grip swung upwards where it jammed between the grip and the frame of the rifle. The rest of the weapon was already closed but from inside the weapon Keith could hear the strain of the motor as he watched in fascination as the grip began crushing the barrel between the frame.

 

Finally the grip reached a point where the compressed metal could be squashed no further and the grip stopped as the motors overload circuit kicked in, protecting the motor from a burnout. Anika then triggered the release and the weapon snapped back open so hard it practically jumped off the table leaving a hollow tube with a flattened end behind.

 

"..... a danger to yourself if you don't know what this weapon can do. Not all guns are the same. This one will take a thumb off or break your hand if you don't respect the fact that it's not built for safety. It's built to be ready for combat the second you need it. It's so fast opening and closing that it'll be ready to fire before it's cleared your hard point. And my favorite part.....". Anika grinned wolfishly. "It's looks so good that if you leave it in the open and some scumbag comes and thinks he'll just take it that it'll take his thumb off. The number of times I've ambushed people with this gun......". Anika's eye's were merry in nostalgia before she shook it off and plucked a ring out of the case. Taking Keith's hand she slipped it onto his trigger finger. "Wear this. Remember. This is your own personal screw up get out of jail free card. It sends a low beam signal to the motor. While your hands on the grip, the motor won't function. If you take it off and use the gun though you need to know the damage it could do to you if you ever forget to keep your hands out of it's reach". She paused and added. "Seriously. I don't ever want to have to apoligise to your mother for crippling her son..... That kind of thing can really get in the way of a good relationship".

 

Her work done she set Keith's old casing back in the case that contained her old Revernant frame before closing it. "Now, we'll cover maintenance later. But if you have questions now's the time before we go and fire this thing".

[Kel Riever]

"Yeah," Keith said, staring down, looking a bit scared by his own gun, "Do you think I should wear gloves?"

It was a bit obvious the question was only half serious.  Keith poked his gun's collapsing mechanism and yanked his hand back as it snapped closed once more.  I'm going to fire this now, Keith thought to himself, and looked up at Anika with kid-like eyes.

"Hey."

The voice came from Keith and Anika's side, surprising them as they were focused on the newer, deadlier Revenant.  When they took a glance at the owner of the voice, it was like time stopped.

It was Babe, who'd changed again, wearing a pair of black, thigh high leather boots over form fitting cotton pants with red and white vertical stripes.  Her choker was now white to match her white crop top, but she'd thrown a blue, short cut denim jacket over herself and topped off the look with black, open fingered gloves.  She was lowering herself from a maintenance hatch in the low ceiling above, and of course with her powerful, yet graceful movements, her liquid blue eyes, and her golden coifs of hair, the whole scene was mesmerizing to the point of practical incapacitation.

Well, to the point of actual incapacitation for Keith as he looked like he'd just been struck by lightning.

"Nothing like the sound of a servo to get my attention," Babe said apologetically.  She approached, staring at the parts left over on the table, ready for disposal, and she seemed oblivious to her affect.  "You aren't going to throw that all out are you?"

Babe rummaged through the pile.  She looked at the parts as if each one was talking to her, and she pulled out a drawer from below the table that the gun was being worked on.  "That's a nice piece," she said about the Revenant while placing the unused parts in the drawer.  Then she flashed a look at Anika.  "I don't have you on the list for gun training, but...I get this feeling that you're going to know about the ship guns already.  The Captain asked me to put people onto training with a rotation, but do you need it?  Or should I let her know you're an exception."

With a sudden realization, Babe stopped her train of thought and offered her hand to shake.  "I'm sorry, where are my manners?  I'm Babe. And you are?" 

Keith was paralyzed.

Babe shifted her offered hand towards Anika.  "We haven't officially met, have we?"

[Kel Riever]

Morgan had gotten down to the Terra Firma meeting faster than he thought he would.  He'd simply taken his Omni-tool with him, and had his Phalanx comfortably hidden in a body holster under his loose shirt.  The political meeting wasn't much of his sort of thing, and if Jess was around he hadn't been able to spot her.  There was definitely a crowd that was ready to protest.  Morgan got several dirty looks from them, most non-human, presuming he was there in favor of Terra Firma.  Conversely, he'd gotten an offer or two from what looked like pro-party humans to come on over and join them. 

Opting to simply stay back, and in a generally neutral area where some other, simply curious people were, Morgan waited for the event to begin.  For a moment, he thought he saw someone familiar, but when Morgan focused towards the movement, whoever it was had gone, or perhaps wasn't even there in the first place.

[Redbelle]

Anika gripped Babe's hand in her and gave it a firm pump. 'Niiiiice..... needs head tentacles'. "Anika..... No I don't believe. I was with the ship before the....... incident". Anika smiled as she lowered her hand and looked over to Keith and bumped him with her elbow. ".....Keith?..... Ah..... Keith, mouth closed in front of a lady".

 

Looking back to Babe she shrugged. "I'll come and sit in on the guns again for sure. I've fired them enough times but I need to keep my eye in. Glad to hear we've got a new gunner. Between you and me the old one wasn't up to scratch. Not enough practice, to quick to reach for the rum. Cap'n had to thrash him a couple of times before she threatened him with a public beating. That scared him into keeping his drinking in out of duty hours".

 

Realizing she was speaking ill of the dead, Anika cleared her throat. "I guess we can keep the parts for something as long as they don't go into a weapon. Parts can only go through so many firing cycles before their done. Maybe a few can be restored but we can manufacture new parts if we need". Looking her up and down and liking what she was seeing Anika leant back and rested her backside on the table as she crossed her arms. "So what's your weapon of choice when your not firing the big guns"? She asked with a smile.

[Kel Riever]

Babe was rummaging through the parts a bit absent mindedly, "I...don't have one, really.  The Alliance had me qualified on everything standard, but I never got into the little guys.  Maybe I just never had a good enough teacher."  Babe then looked up at Keith, then Anika.  "Or maybe I just didn't have enough rum to learn."

With a laugh that made hearts leap, Babe seemed to be humored by the thought. 

"I'm a big guns kind of, I don't know, fan.  These parts aren't going to be used for firearms.  But I bet I find a use for them before they get broken down into a refabricator. Don't ask me how yet, but I've just...I can't put the parts down until I know I've gotten a chance with them."

Babe had a bit of a waver in her stare which started at Keith again and went back to Anika.  Then she offered, "We can talk more up at...well I've been running routers, but you could probably find me at the aft most main turret.   You can show me whatever it is you know, give me a sense of confidence someone around here is onto how lovely this gear is."  Babe smiled, picked a blowpop out of her jacket, unwrapped it and shoved it in her mouth.  She picked up the drawer.  "Whenever you're done shooting that beauty on the table, that is.  Catch you then, I suppose."  Babe turned and left with a hip ranging stride.

Keith finally recovered once she was gone.  "Where have you people been all my life?"  He looked like he had to focus on the Revenant again, because between Anika, the gun, and Babe, it was the one thing he could barely handle it right then.

[Cknarf]

Vepr

 

“What’s the matter, Quintus?” Kira asked, noticing that the turian was looking a little off, as he lazily slapped at the controls.

 

“Nothin’.” He pulled up a secondary display, and jabbed a talon in its direction. “Everything’s fine.”

 

“Where’s Eli? I need to speak to him.” Marius asked, while checking something on his omni-tool.

 

“Deck two.”

 

“Alright. Take us out when you’re ready.” Marius patted his brother on the shoulder, and headed for the stairs.

 

“Wait! Don’t go down there!” Quintus shouted.

 

“Why not?”

 

“He’s uh… he’s…”

 

“He’s what, Quintus?”

 

“He’s takin’ a massive sh*t.” Quintus nodded, satisfied at his excellent recovery. “You really don’t want to go down there.”

 

“You’re right. I don’t.” Marius chuckled a bit.

 

“He should be done right abouuuuuut…” Quintus worked the controls, and pulled the Vepr away from where it was docked. “Now.”

 

“Yeah… I think I’ll just wait for him in the lounge.” Marius descended the stairs, and took a seat on one of the long couches that lined the area.

----------------------------------------------------------

 

 

“God, this movie is so cheese.” Frank said, tossing his lady plates aside. “Sad thing is, I could totally see Quintus trying that later.”

 

He received a message.

 

[Eli, we’re clear. Marius was looking for you. I imagine it’s about the deal. Told him you we’re taking a dump. Ha. If you’re going to introduce him to your girl, it’s better to do it with people around. Trust me on that.]

 

[I just made him 200k in less than an hour, I doubt I’ll have any trouble out of him.]

 

[He’s waiting for you in the lounge. Good luck. See you topside.]

========================================================

 

Janiri

 

“I trust you’re familiar with the M-5.” Septerax checked the handgun, and placed it on the bench.

 

“Yes sir.” They’re Johnny put his borrowed helmet on, and secured it. He picked up the Phalanx, and attached it to his hip.

 

“And the M-12?”

 

“I’ve handled one before.”

 

“Excellent.” Septerax handed him the weapon. “VERA will begin the simulation when you’re ready.”

 

Johnny entered the simulator. Using his thumb, he disengaged the safety. The simulation began.