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[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Vayne looked towards the women getting into the car, getting onto his coms with Vera, "Vera. Can you confirm the signals coming from that skycar? With certainty?" He asked, eye narrowing as he watched her enter the car. The reports had said a possible woman weilding a sword had been part of the strange attacks. He wasn't about to take any chances.

 

"If his omnitools there, then this might turn ugly. You be ready to quick draw..." He said as he looked to Irina, "And you make sure those biotics are on, defense or stunning, whichever your better at..." He said as he looked to Jenus.

 

Vayne received the message from VERA. "Arian is in the skycar."

[TheMajonese]

Zakera Ward

 

Spectre? Great! But I've been through worse... 

 

She still had one finger on the trigger mechanism of the flash grenade and to grab her sword, which was still hidden for everyone else, she would only need a second.

 

But there wasn't the slightest sign in her face that could gave her away. The woman seemed to ponder for a moment before she shrugged. "I'm sorry, I haven't noticed anything unusual around here", she said apolotecially to the asari. "I only heard about this terrible murder on the news, not too far from here. But aside from that, nothing."

[Kel Riever]

"Maybe a picture will help,"Jenus said. 

She thought she sounded great as a C-Sec officer.  Even if she wasn't one.

"Anything you could tell us would help."  Jenus activated her Omni-tool calmly and dragged up a picture of Arian.  It was from VERA's files.  He looked as scary in the picture as he did in real life.  It caused her to pause a moment, then she had the figure of Arian appear as a hologram above her extended arm and Omni-tool. "Maybe you've seen him in passing?  You could have caught a glimpse of him just once, he's a stand out turian as you can see."

Jenus' eyes narrowed.  More to cause a reaction than she suspected anything.  If Arian's signal was, in fact, coming from the car, it was likely someone dumped the Omni-tool.  Arian couldn't be here.  This woman looked too harmless.

"Let me be honest with you," Jenus said.  "We've picked up a signal from our friend.  And we suspect he is very close to here.  Are you sure you haven't seen anything at all that might jog your memory?"

[TheMajonese]

His Omni-tool! That's how they found him... That was all the information she needed, now it was time to get out of here before more of the spectre's troops showed up.

 

The woman looked at the hologram and then suddenly gave a surprised reaction. "This turian...yes, I've seen him! I was watching a broadcast of the Armax Arsenal Arena, he was there..." Being sure that she had their attention, she activated the grenade and waited a moment. "Sorry, but aside from that, I've never seen him before..." Then she tossed the flashbang over the door of the car, took cover behind it and closed her eyes.

 

She had perfectly timed her action. Just a second later, the grenade exploded with a deafening bang. The door offered almost perfect protection, so the woman just needed a second to grab the heavy sword and jump around her cover. Instead of cutting through Jenus' body, she used the flat side of the blade like a club against the head of the asari.

[Kel Riever]

Jenus was taken off guard, and if she hadn't been a veteran, she might have gotten it a lot worse to the side of her head.  Of course, it was relative, and being better off in this case didn't mean well off.

Not by a long shot.

The flashbang reaction was pure instinct.  Completely blinded, and deafened, Jenus was stunned, but trained enough to put up what little barrier around her that she could.  It wasn't as if she thought about it, it was her practiced reaction.  When the flat of the blade bashed into the side of her head, there was no hiding the stupid, stunned look on her face as she collapsed sideways, and hit the pavement with her shoulder.
 

Jenus was laid flat out on the ground, her head spinning, putting her out of the fight completely.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina reflexively rolled and unholstered her shotgun. Then the flash and noise. Disoriented she lay flat on the ground for about 10 seconds until her vision and head began to clear.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Anika chuckled. "Not right now. Not unless you get called away. Or Jess calls to tell me she needs rescue from TerF. I doubt she'll do that". She added seeing the look Naleena gave her. "Though.... I guess that's the elephant in the room isn't it. I work for the Medusa. You work for the Janiri. I have a contract to work through. You can't exactly drop Spectre status and come ship with me. I want to spend more time with you. Really. But I've had time to think about some of the things I've been through lately and......".

 

Anika stopped suddenly and gave Naleena a strange look. "Nally, when you went down to that planet and ran across trouble.... how bad did it get? Really? What was going through your mind when you found the resistance was greater than the team you were leading"?

 

Naleena sighed. That question was like picking the scab off a wound. "It was bad, Anika. Really bad. We got our asses kicked. If I had any sense I would have requested a squad of Serrice Guard before the mission, but there wasn't time. Besides I had the Medusa and Jess. Jess kept the fleet tied up by talking them to death, and we launched my shuttle down to the surface. VERA downloaded into a geth platform. She said we needed the additional firepower.

 

"Corporate forces in the area each were at company strength. The only saving factor was that they were at each others throats, and there were peace demonstrations, which I later found out were run by a shell organization for Cerberus, apparently hoping to extend the negotiations long enough to slip in a force and grab the artifact for themselves.

 

"Then there was Hailot Wrund, whom I will take out myself if he is still alive. I should have known better than to trust a Krogan warlord. Wrund seemed sincere about negotiating peace. Fortunately I put a contingency plan in place to grab the artifact and get out just in case he wasn't. But we Asari are supposed to be negotiators, peacemakers. And the Council doesn't want to provoke open war with the Terminus.

 

"In retrospect, we should have avoided the mission. We were outgunned. I trusted people I shouldn't have trusted. I tried to negotiate peace in a nest of vipers. Next time I'll know better. I should have brought my entire team down to the hospital after arranging the peace talks. When Wrund pulled the crap about handing over the artifact only if I acted as a mediator, I should have killed him and his entire team right there, taken the artifact and left," she said with a hint of anger. "Instead I agreed to mediate thinking I could bring Garvug under the Council's influence. It would have been a coup for the Council. I was a fool."

 

Naleena let out a sigh. "What went through my mind? Once the attack began it was pretty simple - survive and get everyone out. I gave the order to Irina to kill Wrund's squad and take the artifact. We'd pick them up in the shuttle. Essul and I barely made it out of the central compound. Vayne had a defector inside the hospital. They took them by surprise and secured it. Then our position at the evac zone was being overrun. First came the mechs. VERA took them out with Legion's sniper rifle - only a mech can fire it. That gave us a chance to run. Then I was hit. Essul made it. I didn't. I was down and bleeding out. That was it. I was making peace and preparing to go to the void. Essul and Specialist Danri saved my life. He called for a withdrawal. Forget the artifact. There wasn't time. I only saw the vids from there on. He made the right call. Then came the gunships. A frigate hovered overhead and blocked our escape route. VERA saved everyone. I woke up in Huerta."

 

"I was in the hospital ten days," she said. "I really missed you."

[Redbelle]

Anika tightened her grip around Naleena possessively as she spoke and when Naleena ended, Anika had to consciously relax.

 

"Sounds like you had a lot on your mind. So if I'd been on the Janiri, would you have brought me along? I think you'd have considered it. I'm good at my job after all. Then you'd have your girlfriend by your side on mission. That could distract us both and tat point when you took that hit would have definitely distracted me. I would have gone back and held my ground. a static target defending a position is easier to take down by a force of superior numbers. Tactically it would be a major error of judgement".

 

Anika shifted and cupped Naleena face, rubbing her thumb along her jaw. "Now flip it around and I'm the one who got hit and bleeding out. Would you keep falling back or come after me? Standing by a fallen comrade could be a death sentence. You and I both know that. I'd want you to run and get to safety. Do the right thing. Focus on the mission. Keep the squad intact as much as you can. But could you say you wouldn't throw away everything you know about combat tactics and strategy to defend me if I were downed"? Anika shook her head. "Being together and working together might not be something that goes hand in hand for us. We'd have to talk about it. Talk about what we want for each other. Then trust that our hearts don't override our heads. Even when every fiber of my being wants to wreck anyone and anything that tries to hurt you. And would we be fair to the others you lead if, in a squad, I'm an exception to the rules that govern squad survival"?

 

The music faded as the track ended and Anika slid down the coach, taking Naleena with her in the faded lighting till she lay atop her. "But that can wait. I missed you too. Between fighting off a group of your people's commando's, the family extraction and showing Morgan's kid brother how to fire a gun..... I think we've earned some down time". Anika rolled Naleena over and kissed her deeply. When she'd had her fill of her lips she moved down her chin across her exposed throat before finding the fastener along her front and pulling it down, continued leaving a trail of kisses down her collar bone, across her chest. "..... Lots...... and lot's.....". She murmured between kisses as she continued her descent. "...... of down time".

[Kel Riever]

Babe

The Alliance was like this.

Babe remembered how full of chaos Basic was.  She didn't want the preferential treatment she received, and what made it horrible, is the woman who probably would have garnered all the attention if it wasn't for Babe, got it bad.  Usually, preferential treatment was weeded out by the troops, if they could.  A visit to a bunk in the middle of the night.  That would reel in the egos.  All part of the rise to become the alpha, or tear the alpha down.  It would work itself out, through a natural course.  But when someone was held in esteem far above the others for the entirety of the training, well...the other woman got what people wanted to do to Babe, but wouldn't.  Or didn't think to.

That was about the past Babe needed to escape from.  Putting herself in the Alliance seemed like a good idea at the time.  Would it have been better somewhere else?

At least Babe learned.  Learned how to defend herself a bit, learned the politics, learned how to make her way through a bigger crowd.  It was the navy, and she'd learned about the guns there, falling in love with her job immediately.  But every day the particulars of getting around were a maze.  More than a few people had gotten the wrong idea, and of course for those she wanted to befriend, or more, it never worked out.  Best to stay away from everyone, she had thought.  And that's what she was thinking when she was assigned to Calleston, as part of a ground team.

Which, in and of itself, was strange.  The ground team was short of marines and Babe just so happened to be picked to go.  After nobody wanted to let her go anywhere, keeping her within their sights as much as they could.  That was the way, Babe knew.  She could always tell it was happening when something didn't make sense.  The next thing she knew, she had an opportunity to skip the military, go AWOL, and land a job on a ship that she adored since she first layed eyes on it.

So strange and so perfect, even if it made little sense.

Babe had warned the Captain to get the ship under way, and why?  It was that feeling that something else was happening and if only the Medusa could be there, it might not.  How much sense did that make?  Oh, and putting her hand on Morgan.  Why would she do that?  Babe felt odd about it, and looked at the Captain to see if she'd caused any kind of bad reaction.  Nothing could be seen from Jess' expression.  That didn't really help Babe much at all, as she wondered if she was causing problems again.

It was that urge that would come up every now and again which Babe couldn't stop.  Not like the urge of desire, actually that had happened twice before (ending in mistakes both times), but like waking up from sleep walking.  Which wasn't entirely accurate either because Babe was conscious the whole time.  More like she might as well have stepped outside of herself and watched herself do things as if she wasn't part of them.

All that swarm of thought happened in the few seconds Babe was standing waiting for their host.  

Morgan and Jess stood in front of her, giving no sign that they had noticed anything different.  

Babe looked down at herself for a moment.  Was she even there?
 

[Redbelle]

"Ahem....". Jess cleared her throat and stood between the gawker's and Babe. "....If your going to catch flies all day could one of you gent's do me the favour of telling me where we're supposed to go".

 

"Hmmm, oh yeah". With Jess blocking the view Babe's spell appeared broken and one of the worker brought up his Omnitool, connected to the TerF network and looked at the list of appointments on the calender. "Hmmm. There's only one. Amy Babylon.... Hmmm. I guess that's you". He said looking at Morgan. "Just go down a level and it's office forty five".

 

"Ta luv". Jess stepped back and placed a hand on Morgan's and Babe's back as she pushed them forward. "Let be going. Can't keep her highness waiting".

[Kel Riever]

Morgan

"No, I suppose we can't," Morgan replied.  Not one reaction from Jess about the meeting, which was beneficial for her, of course.  And a bit worrisome, though in this case keeping identities hidden was keeping people safe.  It was his meeting, supposedly, anyway.  Morgan wasn't exactly a Terra Firma fan.  Aside from politics, which he had little personal tolerance and no preference for, their agenda was simply too similar to another organization Morgan was more familiar with.

The offices were all business, at least in the working area.  Meant to appeal to everyone, would be the best way to describe it.  Being given directions instead of being led to the office had a particular feel to it that Morgan wasn't used to.  Sort of a 'oh, you check out, help yourself'.  These were civilians.  They weren't going to lose money or their personal health by being dumbfounded, then aloof.  Or maybe it was just dumbfounded.

Babe, with her appearance, was killing it, Morgan knew, but there was that uneasiness about her a person who paid attention could see.  Like she was on some alien world she was seeing for the first time, even though these were people just the same as the rest.  All human, so there was really nothing unusual at all.  Not to Babe, though, where she seemed lost in her own world.

Babe

The Captain had stepped behind Morgan and her.  Pushing them forward left Babe to walk alongside Morgan.  She eyed the man uneasily, striding next to him as if she was with him.  If Babe could have, she'd cast the same uneasy look at Jess, but with the Captain behind her, she didn't want to look back.  What was the Captain up to?  Didn't she want to take charge?  When Babe came along, she didn't know why, nor did she think about it.  She was following orders.  Now, every hit of her thigh boot high heels was like a tiny jolt that stirred her.  

They were meeting some woman, somebody who wanted to talk to Morgan.  Babe sensed she wasn't the only uneasy one, though, her reasons were different.  Clenching her driving gloved hands in the only show of nervousness she couldn't help hide, Babe's eyes were wide as they came to office 45.  Morgan knocked on the office door and a voice from within invited them.  Morgan pushed the control panel so the door would slide open, and then surprised Babe by offering her the chance to step through first.

Babe looked at Morgan directly, and did turn to look at the Captain this time.  Was this what they wanted?  To have her on hand to break her in?  Or was it that they wanted her for that thing she feared.  She didn't even notice herself gulp, though it was clear to Morgan and Jess as they watched where her jaw met her neck ever so enticingly move.  Babe stepped in first, at their behest, and took a look around, running one hand through the golden coifs of her hair.  

Morgan came in after and stood next to her, Jess was still behind them.  "Hello," Morgan greeted.  Babe's denim jacket was for show, and was too short to either practically be wrapped around her or shove her fists into the pocket of.  Otherwise, Babe would.  So instead, she put one hand on her hip and let the other fall loosely to her side.  At least she could put on a friendly smile, so that's what she did.


 

[Redbelle]

Amy was hard at work crafting another press release when the door opened. She looked up.

 

If heaven had opened it's gate's and spat out an angel to visit her office and give Terra Firma the boost it needed in the polls then the vision that walked through her doors was just that person. Amy was aware that she was doing that quizzical thing with her face as she tried to place her. She was expecting the man from earlier when.....

 

That's him! By the star's! He's ten times what the screen captured!

 

Hot on the heel's of the Vision from Heaven came the Hero from Earth as she'd decided to brand him. As he stepped through the door. All easy confidence and swagger that had Amy lean backwards as she chewed a finger.

 

Yeeeeeess. Very easy on the eye. And those eye's. She could see him doing a quick sweep of the office before they settled on her and if there was any doubt her job had made her heartless, those concerns were thrown to the wind as it skipped a beat and back flipped for good measure.

 

She was enjoying the view to much. They were asset's that could do wonder's for their campaign. She needed them onside. Rising she nodded and extended a hand. "Thank you for coming. Both of you". She said smiling. "I admit I was only expecting one but I'm thrilled to meet a friend of the man who has caused so much gossip from that commotion we had at the press conference.....".

 

Amy had been about to continue when another person walked it. Like herself, she bore the proud African heritage and held herself confidently........... And that was about all she could say about her she could spin positively she thought as she took in her rugged clothing. The gaudy twin pistols around her belt and the jaunty, almost carefree stride that she put on when she walked in. Taking a closer look revealed two mismatched eye's that suggested she was either wearing contact's to seem out of place, or didn't think enough of her appearance to consider at least one color changing contact lens.

 

Next to the first two she seemed out of place. Amy cleared her throat, hoping as she said. "Excuse me, You may have the wrong office. I had a meeting for.....". She stopped and gave one of her perfectly calculated embarrassed smiles. "Oh, of course. Forgive me. I am Amy Babylon. Press Secretary for Terra Firma. And you my good sir, are about to become famous. Super famous if I dare say. Both of you in fact". She said looking over at Babe, a gleam flashing in her eye's as she envisaged her appeal to a target audience she'd yet to determine. "Please, sit! Do sit down. And please, tell me your names so we can begin". She looked over at Jess squinted. "There's really no need to take notes but if you feel you must.....". And she gestured at a chair in the corner for Jess to sit in".

 

Jess's head bowed down a little as she gave a sidelong look at the chair before looking up at Amy from under her brow. "I'll.... stay". She ground out before taking a few steps and dropping into the offered seat. Steepling her finger's she closed her eye's to half lids and regarded Amy from across the room.

 

Brazen hussy. Amy thought. No matter. When she was finished she'd have both the Hero and the Angel wrapped around her finger and ready to take advice on a better quality of Personal Assistant. "Thank you for coming". She said again. "Now, first things first. You my good man, have sent tongues a wagging with the way you handled yourself earlier. People are talking and the interest is only getting stronger. Might I know whose name I can attach to the first man on the scene of what happened earlier today"? Amy moved backwards to sit back on the front of her desk as she gestured for Morgan and Babe to the two chair's in front of her.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne didn't see the flashbang coming, only seeing her motion to throw out something towards the group, as the krogan reacted on instinct. He activated his omnitool, shifting towards the close range Ballsitic Blade launcher, and charged forward. He held his arm out as he kept his momentum, only for the flash to blind him. He fired his launcher, feeling his arm pull upwards as he tried to shield his eye, and felt himself smack hard against something solid, the cars alarms slowly coming into focus as his hearing returned.

 

He hadn't been knocked off his feet from the blast, but without sight and diminished hearing, all he could do was try and blink to clear his vision, his ballisitic blades detonating a second later as small explosive pops sounded off around.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan watched as Jess accepted the chair placed out of the way, keeping herself in an observer role, while Amy put her attention on anywhere but her.  It was possibly part of Jess’ plan, and perhaps it might have been more useful in her mind to stay out of the way.

However, there was no way in hell that Morgan was going to stand for it.

Without any dramatic gestures, Morgan got up after Jess sat down, went over to her, took her hand to lift her up like a gentleman, and said to her, “Captain.”  Once she was standing, Morgan moved her chair next to his, on the other side from Babe, then brought Jess over to it and sat her down.  Then, Morgan sat with Jess on one side of him, and Babe on the other.

“I’m not exactly sure what you’re getting at, but we’re freelancers.  “There’s a bit of decorum that might be different than the sort you are used to, I suppose.  The first of which is that I wouldn’t want to be part of any conversation without including the interests of the person I answer to, which is Captain Stone.  The second is that for now, and please don’t take this the wrong way Ms. Babylon, but we’d prefer to keep our names as that which we’re known commonly by.  Of course, the Captain, as mentioned, I’m Morgan, and this is…”

“Babe.”

The breathlessness in which Babe spoke was like a hook punch.  Morgan himself was as courteous as could be, but he exuded a presence that made no question that he meant business. He leaned back, casual in his posture but with his shoulders squared to Amy, before he went on.

“The third point is even if I’m not sure you have the right person.  I’m not someone looking to be famous.  In fact, it gets in the way of how I normally do things.  There was a woman today who died in a heartbreaking way.  I was the one who got to her first, but it was too late.  You’d have to explain to me how that translates to what you’re speaking of.  Just, I’d like to tell you this concern I have before you do that.”

Morgan leaned to the side, leaning on one of the arms of the chair.  “Wherever this is about to go, I get this sense that you don’t really take no for an answer.  Not unless you have to.  And maybe not even then.  So, whatever it is we’re going to have a conversation about, is it going to be a two way conversation?”

Babe had been silent for a while, including since she’d come into the room.  To Morgan and Jess she seemed no different, though of course she was an incredible distraction and as she put one white and red striped, tight fitting cotton pants, black thigh booted leg over the other, it made their hearts want to burn their way right out of their chests.  But Amy Babylon saw something a bit different.

Amy saw someone who was key on what she was talking about, as if Babe had known the whole time about what she was going to say.  There was a tropical storm about Babe, and it was as if a strong, warm wind was blowing through her golden hair.  The blue eyes, the to die for Caribbean lakes of blue that begged someone to swim in them, they were looking right at Amy.

And then Amy swore Babe winked at her, with the slowest, long lashed wink she’d ever seen.

Morgan and Jess noticed nothing about a wink, of course, because it only happened for Amy.

[Redbelle]

As Jess accepted Morgan's hand and allowed him to maneuver her into her new position she flashed a triumphant smile at Amy. Amy, seeing it on Jess, narrowed her eye's slightly before Morgan took her attention..... though several times during, her gaze wandered to Babe.....

 

Such a hunk..... such commanding authority..... so easy to dive into those eye's.... wait... which one am I looking at?.... did he stop talking? Am I staring?

 

"Please, Morgan, call me Amy". She said flashing a shy smile. "And absolutely this is a two way conversation. Two way, three way...." She said gesturing to Babe. "As many ways as you like. And really it's not what you can do for us that I brought you here for Morgan. It's what I think we can do for you. I saw you cradling that woman Morgan. I saw your face. The sadness. Watching that woman die while she lay in your arms is the hard truth of what happened and I don't think your someone who shy's away from hard truths. But really, she wasn't the first. And I can tell you she will not be the last".

 

Amy sighed and sagged down in her seat. "The simple fact Morgan is that violent crime against humans on the Citadel has increased since our people got a seat on the council. That woman's body has already been processed into the system where they are trying to reach her next of kin. Do you know what happened though Morgan? After they processed her"? She leaned forward. Fire sparking in her eye's. "Nothing!..... Absolutely nothing. Violence against humans keeps rising and those who are supposed to protect us focus instead on those who they share common DNA strands with. It's a simple occurrence seen time and again that those who share common traits gravitate together. Turians will always focus primarily on Turian problems. Asari on Asari problems. There is only one way to arrest this problem Morgan. We need more of our species on the C-Sec payroll. The only way to stop the problems humans have on the Citadel..... to arrest this issue..... is to put more of our people into positions where they can do something. Not talk about doing something like our good Udina. We need people who are prepared to work. People who care that justice is done for humanity and whose presence will stop the rise in future assault's by Xeno's on Humans".

 

Amy leaned back and spread her hands out in a helpless gesture. "Unfortunately recruitment is low. No matter what we try we simply can't get people to come over from other assignment's to the Citadel. We can't order any transfer's because we don't have the power to affect those transfer's. Our current leader's won't either as it would highlight the problem and you know how politician's are. They want to sweep problems under the carpet until they burst up into the media spotlight so they can sweep in and affect a solution. Well that's not Terra Firma's way Morgan. And I'm guessing, based on my feeling's about you. that's it.... not.... your way..... either".

 

As she was speaking Amy caught the corner of Babe out of her eye and like a hungry woman who had seen food she suddenly found her attention dragged like a heavy chair across a tiled floor.......

 

Babe winked.

 

Amy could have sworn the station stopped spinning. Or maybe time had just stopped. The sudden thudding in her ears let her know that her heart was still beating. Albeit to loudly for her to hear herself over the thump, thump thump ringing in her ears......

 

Wait, am I still talking?..... I'm not?.... Oh.

 

Clearing her throat she reluctantly looked away from Babe and focused her attention back on Morgan. "So really, Morgan. The question is, how can we help you stop what happened to you today, happen to others tomorrow? I understand Morgan. Really I do. But you heard me today didn't you. I saw you in the crowd". She lied as passionately as if she were telling the god's honest truth. "You heard me speak about how we want people who can make a difference in positions where they can make life better for all of us at great personnel sacrifice. That's what all of us here at Terra Firma have done and our reward is to be branded the same as any other politician because that's what people think we are. But what they don't see is what we do. Well what you and I and your friend here can do is light a fire under the recruitment process of Humanity in C-Sec. Bailey? He's not drawing them in. He's a old goat. Good at chewing through the issues but no one wants to jump on his back and ride on to C-Sec. But you Morgan? You can be that someone. You can be the man who makes people want to come here. Imagine it.....". Amy held up her hands as she raised her eye's above their heads and was gratified to see them follow her gaze. "......Somewhere on the Citadel a crime is about to be commited. The life a young couple hang's in the balance as the grinning face of an alien approches.... backing them into a corner. The orange hue of an Omni Blade illuminated his death mask feature's as he closes in..... Then from behind him, the clang of metal on metal as a hatch bursts open..... A long shot along the ground reveals a pair of boots as an unknown figure walks into shot. The boot's are pristine. Shining in the station lighting. Switch to a back shot as the figure closes with the Alien who cowers and drops the knife while the couple look on with nervous relief..... Swtich to the front, from the deck looking up! A human monolith of security..... We can keep the face in shadow if you prefer but.... Here is someone who has seen first hand the injustice visted on his people.... And here is him now! The man who will stand up to the bullies and murderer's who stalk us in teh dark..... Close up on the C-Sec badge.... We don't need to resolve the couple or alien that's not important. We want people thinking about what could be. What they could do in the place of this figure. And as the camera and light play over the badge we fade in the simple words..... Choose.....".

 

Amy put her hands back down and smiled at Morgan and Babe. "That's what I know you could both bring to security of our people. Not service.... But a life story..... One that hasn't happened yet and make people in the security sector want to live that adventure here where they get to jump out of moving cars and wrestle aliens to the ground in the name of humanity. Now tell me that's not something either of you want". Amy said looking between the both of them.

 

Off to the side, Jess was typing something silently. Looked up and sidelong at both Morgan and Babe, when shrugged. Added an extra address to the message and sent it to both of them.

 

To: Morgan@Medusa.Cit, Babe@Medusa.Cit

From: Jess@Medusa.Cit

Subject: Molly's request

 

You may as well throw her a bone luv's. When she get's this way she'll pull something really mean to get something out of you. I can tell you now, she's not changed a bit over the years.....

 

Morgan, Remember Molly saying I ought to let you in more? Well sending you to that rally was my way of doing that without actually doing that and..... It's kinda backfired.

 

Babe, welcome to the Medusa. Where no good deed goes unpunished and good cap ship gunners get to spend time with her seniors watching them make fools of herself......

 

By the way, Stone's not my real name. It's Babylon. That's my sister whose giving you the come here gaze. Trust me Morgan, your in her sights.

 

Jess Stone.... AKA. Jessica Babylon....

 

P.S. Delete this as soon as you've read it or it's chastity belt's for both of you. FOR A MONTH!

 

P.P.S. For crying out loud Babe. If you want to hop Morgan's bones then stop being so coy about it. Trust me, it's a ride you won't forget. Oh, and welcome to the family.

 

P.P.P.S. Morgan, I think Amy's really serious about this. She never talks advertising unless she's spoken to someone who can help her make it happen. Be careful, she may have been up to something before we got here...... Now delete.... Doooo Eeeeet!

[TheMajonese]

Zakera Ward

 

With two quick steps she reached the red-haired woman lying on the ground. After stomping on the hand holding the shotgun, followed by a blow against the head, the woman turned to her last enemy, the one-eyed krogan.

 

Oh, Crap...

 

She immedietaly had to change her plan to take him out as well, it would take too long, even with her sword. It was the standard reaction of a krogan to charge at everything that moved, or in this case, at the skycar. After he collided with the car body and fired ballistic blades that penetrated the open door of the car, she realized that it was better to get out of here before the krogan managed to disable the car.

 

It took her only a few seconds to run back to the car, throw her sword back on the passenger seat and start the engine. The skycar began to hover and instead of just moving forward, the woman piloted the car backwards, out of the range of the angry krogan. The car turned around, then the thrusters accelerated it to full speed, quickly increasing the distance to the three pursuers. The damage to the driver's door forced her to stay within atmosphere height but that didn't bother her.

 

A spectre and his team?, the woman thought amused as she activated the auto-pilot and then turned around to the unconscious turian. Finally a challenge... It took a moment to activate the turian's omni-tool and then turn it completely off. She hoped that this was the only thing on this turian that was transmitting a signal to the spectre. If not, she would have to kill her pursuers next time and that was something she wanted to avoid. The murder in the alleway a few hours ago had been enough attention for now.

 

A few minutes later, the skycar parked on a large, mostly abandoned parking lot. Finally, she was able to eat her bratwurst. Great..., she thought with a frown after she took the first bite. Its almost cold!

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Ow! That b*tch!" Irina shouted as medigel rushed to her hand and the side of her face through the heavy skin weave, beginning to heal the area where the woman stomped and slapped her with the sword. The skin weave absorbed much of the shock of the blow (lore) and Irina struggled to her feet, the world still spinning from the flash bang.

 

"VERA, track Arian," Irian said. "Alert the boss."

 

"The boss does not want to be disturbed."

 

"I don't care if the boss doesn't want to be disturbed," Irina said, "We've just been attacked and Arian has just been kidnapped.... and call C-sec, send their patrol car the tracking information," Irina continued and gave a description of the woman. "Tell them she neutralized an asari commando, alliance marine, and a krogan."

 

Vayne protested. "She didn't neutralize me!"

 

"Think, Vayne. Dramatic effect. Otherwise they'll take this lightly," Irina said as she tended the asai. "Now help me load Jenus into the sky car and lets get that b*tch."

[Kel Riever]

Morgan

The first person to the delete button was Babe.  Morgan was a close second, but by then a whirlpool was dragging everyone present down into its center. 

Babe had gone red, red as half the stripes on her pants.  Her embarrassment was so profound that Jess, Morgan and Amy felt possibly the worst, most awkward, shamed moments of their lives seen in Babe.  Then, seeing Babe’s embarrassment, they wanted to reach out, and comfort her with as much zeal as a parched throat seeking water in a desert.  While all ships tilted and buckled towards the eye of the whirlpool, Morgan fought his damnedest to fight the pull.

“You tell a good story, Amy,”  Morgan put his eyes on hers so he could focus his attention.  “It’s a bit action hero, and I hope you know I’m no kind of actor.  But I see you’re dedicated to your cause.  The only question I have left is if you’ve considered this the best way to get what you want?”

Amy Babylon seemed to be the kind of person who’d respond best if she were complimented.  Morgan was familiar with how different family members could be, but as much as Jess desired to protect her sister, he couldn’t help but wonder if the move away from her family was as good for Jess, if not better.  To be around Amy seemed to be in a world of using and being used, and Morgan could speculate as why the concept of giving without needing to receive in return was such a foreign concept to Babylons. 

“You’re a powerful woman, I can see,” Morgan said, “I think I could get on board if you took my personal concerns into account.  That is, if you want me to be at my best, which I presume you would.  There are enough battles out in the galaxy to have without having one between us, right?  And I see you’re also smart, very smart.  Maybe even dangerously smart, and I don’t mean that in a bad way.  You’re cause, that’s the only part I would worry about with you, but I would worry about that with anyone.  And you’re the only person who can say, but if you at least can question yourself, check in with yourself, that this is what you want…because I see you get what you want…then I see how the rest can follow.”

Babe

While that conversation was happening, Babe was trying to recover from an eezo core meltdown of embarrassment. 

A blue-eyed gaze had slid in Jess’ direction.  Stuck in the meeting, Babe could say nothing, other than make an excuse so that Amy didn’t catch on.  “I am very flattered,” Babe said to Amy, while she felt heat radiate outward in all directions from herself.

Then a switch flipped right after Morgan finished his last sentence.

Babe was up, out of her chair in dramatic fashion, before anyone could anticipate her reaction.  As in most offices, the executive style chair that Amy sat in was centered behind her desk, and just in front of the back wall by half a meter or less.  Babe put one palm on the wide desk and jumped lightly, letting her momentum slide herself sideways across the surface, which pushed everything on its top in her way off and onto the floor.  Datapads, a mug, a desktop computer, some ridiculous decoration, all went crashing as Babe and her beautiful legs slid and brought themselves around, heels first, towards Amy.  What her heels found were the arms of Amy’s chair and she shoved the press secretary back in her seat until she touched the wall.

There Babe sat, perched on Amy’s side of the desk, her thigh boots pinning Amy’s chair by the arms to the wall behind.  Babe leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, staring straight into Amy.

“Hey,” Babe said to Amy, like a splash of cold water that both shocked and invigorated, “Morgan’s being really nice about things, because Morgan is a class act, despite also being able to drive himself hard as nails.  What you’re talking about is taking us and using us for your purpose.  Which I don’t particularly find to be an issue up until the point that you start to diminish us.  Amy, let me tell you something about me - I may look pretty, and I may talk nice, but I’ll invert you by going up your rear and pulling your tongue back out your food exit if I think it ever comes to that.  So why don’t you make sure, sure as the Earth circles the Sun, you really people like us working with you.” 

Morgan felt like a bombshell had just gone off¹.

¹ pun intended.

[TheMajonese]

Zakera Ward

 

The first thing he felt was the unbearable pain in his head, as if someone had hit him with a hammer or something similar in weight. Arian used to be that drunk almost every week and never had such headaches before, but for some reason it was different this time. There also was a strange numbess in his arms and legs and on top of that, Arian could hardly even move.

 

When he opened his eyes, he stared at the back of the front passenger seat of a skycar. Arian was lying on his side, both arms behind his back and his legs oddly bent back at the knees. Now that he saw in what kind of position his body was, the pain got even worse.

 

"Ohhgh! Huar bagh!" The voice came from the driver's seat. Then there was the sound of a hard swallow. "Sorry...I said 'oh, you're back'." 

 

Arian didn't want to believe his eyes. It was the woman who bumped into him after he had left the bar. With the internal lights of the skycar, it now was bright enough for Arian to see who she actually was. And it was very hard to guess her age. There were a few wrinkles in her face and her long black hairs with green and white dyed strands showed a slightly grey shade. The look in her eyes was the one of someone who had seen a lot in a lifetime. But at the same time, her features looked surprisingly young and she also emitted an unusual aura of strength and vigor. Her eyes were observantly focused on the turian. In her hands she was holding something that looked like a sausage in a bread bun.

 

"I'm sorry I had to put you in here like that", she said as she pointed at his unnaturally bent legs, "but you're just too tall and I somehow had to get you into a position that relieved your neck..."

 

Suddenly the memory returned, Arian saw the dark alleway, the human in front of him, heard the gunshot from behind...He had been shot! 

 

"Don't move!", the woman warned him but it was already too late. When Arian tried to turn his head to sit up, a sharp pain caused him groan and he immediately stopped in his movement, before carefully letting his head sink back on the seat. For a few moments, the world turned around him though this wasn't the result of his injury. "I told you not to move", he heard the voice of the strange woman. "You're one tough son of a b*tch! And a lucky one as well. The bullet missed your spine, your wind-pipe, your gullet, your throat, pretty much everything important...except for muscles and veins but as far as I could tell, it was nothing that medi-gel couldn't fix...at least for now. And you lost quite some blood, however, I'm no doctor but I think you'll survive this."

 

"Great!", was all that Arian could say.

 

"But I might be wrong about the damage, so avoid moving, if possible."

 

Arian ignored her and started another attempt to get up, this time he tried not to move his head in any way. Very slowly, he moved his legs from the seats and at the same time began to turn his body into a sitting position. "Not bad!", the woman commented when Arian eventually sat straight on the seat behind her, his face contorted with pain. Even the slightest move of his head or even his shoulders caused unbearable waves of pain in his neck. In addition to that, he suffered from the alcohol that was still running through his body. And even now he wasn't feeling a lot more comfortable than before. It seemed skycars just weren't made for people of his size.

 

"It was you who saved me?", he wanted to know and the woman nodded. "Who are you?"

 

At first she just gave him a somewhat sad smile, then she turned away and stared through the front window. "Just call me Quinn."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena and Anika snuggled, and the light flashed on her terminal. It was VERA.

 

"F*ck!" Naleena said. "I told her I didn't want to be disturbed."

 

VERA's voice interrupted anyway. "This is an emergency."

 

Naleena grumbled and sat on the edge of the bed. "What is so important?"

 

"Irina contacted me. Arian has been kidnapped by a woman who used a flash bang grenade on Jenus, Irina and Vayne to get away with him," she said. "I have alerted C-sec and provided a description of the vehicle and I'm tracking Arian with his Omni-tool. I have relayed tracking information to C-sec."

 

"Thank you, VERA." Naleena said, got out of bed and rapidly stepped into her Commando leathers, grabbed her SIG, Locust, and coat. "Sorry, Anika. Duty calls once again. Feel free to come along. Bring you typhoon. Knowing the way things usually end we could use the fire power."

 

********

 

C-sec Dispatcher: Attention all units. We have a 207 in progress. Suspect is driving a blue Aries skycar, license number D43266." This was followed with a detailed description of the suspect.

[Kel Riever]

Getting her senses back in the car, Jenus put her hand to her head.  Groggily, she said, "What are you doing, Red?  Calling in Naleena..."

Jenus looked around, it was becoming clear they were pursuing.  

"We want to follow her.  We don't want to go eezo core meltdown on her.  If you get everyone in a panic, and they call in the badges, first, they aren't going to do as good a job, second, they'll drive her underground."

There was still a spinning sensation in Jenus' head, one she was doing her best to make go away.  "We want to find her, follow her, make sure she thinks she lost us, and find out where she's going."  Thinking back to her conversation with the woman, Jenus added, "Trust me, I've seen a lot of police shows."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"That was before she tried fleeing from us, Jenus..." Vayne answered in his own seat, "Trust me, I am still technically a detective. Now that our perps been alerted that Arians got friends, the first thing she's probably going to do, is ditch the omnitool..." He said with a wince as he rubbed his temple, still seeing blurry lights from the flashbang.

 

"She's already going underground. Cause we let her know she was made...like a bunch of goddamn fools..." Vayne looked down at his own lap, clearly refferig to himself in that picture as well, "Best case, she tries to make a break for it off the citadel. Worst case, she decides this is too much trouble, and gets ride of her hostage to make it easier to escape..."

 

The grim tone of his voice made it clear exactly what he meant by that.

[Kel Riever]

...aboard the Shanghai

Todd Roman had been pondering his mission with Spectre T'Sarius at least daily, since his mission with her.  He was aboard the Shanghai, an Alliance Cruiser, and heading to Earth for events unknown.  At least until he was called into the QEC for an unexpected conversation with one of the senior observers in his quest to become a Spectre.

Introductions were brief, then Darius Octavian, a turian, cut to the chase immediately.  "Todd Roman, you are en route to Earth at the behest of the Spectres.  Despite your status as pending, there are areas of work you've shown capability in.  One is your forthrightness, even if it comes at the expense of being able to handle other situations that demand a Spectre response."

"Sir, pardon, but I'm not...."

"It was T'Sarius, so that is all you need to know about the source.  A criminal organization has been uncovered on Earth, involving corrupt law enforcement agents.  There are arrests to be made, someone trustworthy and efficient was needed to coordinate them.  There is no judgement to be made here, the enemy is clear.  However, you are to proceed immediately with your mission, using only the officials and assets I have specifically outlined in this briefing.  These are dangerous people, Roman, working for one of the most wanted criminals in the galaxy.  At the top of the list is a New York City precinct chief.  Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir.  Without a doubt."

"Then get to it.  Bring these people in."
 

[TheMajonese]

Zakera Ward

 

Arian took a look around but since he couldn't turn his head, he had to move his whole body. The car was on a parking lot, surrounded by a few other skycars, but aside from that, the place looked quite abandoned. "And where am I?"

 

"In a skycar..." The woman turned back to him again, a smirk on her face. Then she saw the look that the turian gave her and sighed. "Okay...Citadel, Zakera Ward, parking lot, in a skycar. Precise enough?" She didn't wait for an answer. "And before you ask anything else, I need to know something first...do you still remember what happened?"

 

Arian's answer was a nod though he couldn't recall most details. "I left that bar and was on the way back to my ship, when you bumped into me..." He gave her an angry look before he continued. "Then, a while after that, there was this weird turian...I think he was talking to me but he was either crazy or drunk...maybe both. Anyway, I then heard someone crying for help and stepped into that alleway..."

 

"It was an ambush", Quinn said, her voice now sounding very serious, confirming what Arian already assumed. "But I guess I should start by telling you how I found you. So...about what I'm doing here...I was looking for you for reasons that I'll explain later. The problem was that I actually had no idea who I was looking for, I only had your name and a vague description of you. But then I saw that name on one of these shows about the Armax Arsenal Arena..." Arian gave a snort but didn't say anything. Quinn continued. "So I moved to the arena and waited until I saw this unusually tall turian with a scarred face I had seen on that show. But I wasn't the only one who was waiting for you."

 

"These two assassins were there as well?", Arian asked in disbelief. This was just another reason for him to avoid this ridiculous arena for the rest of his life.

 

The woman nodded. "I wouldn't call them assassins, they were bloody amateurs, but you're right. At first I ignored them and followed you to that bar. And then these two men showed up as well and began to observe the entrance of the building. That's when I realized that something was wrong. And after you left the bar, one of them followed you while the other one disappeared to set up the ambush. I had to make sure I could keep following you without being noticed by them, so I kept some distance. You know the rest...they lured you into the alleway and I stopped them from killing you."

 

"And instead of taking them out in time, you wait until I get shot...", Arian said with a snarl and crossed his arms.

 

"Hey, how about something like 'Thanks Quinn, for saving my life!'" She gave him a wink, then turned her attention back to her meal. "But you're right, I should have moved sooner. I need you alive. Besides, I shouldn't have killed that human, it caused too much attention. But when he started shooting, I had to act fast."

 

"Who cares about him?", Arian gave back. "I would have killed him if I'd be able to...that human shot me..." He carefully moved his hand up to the white bandage around his neck and even the slight touch was enough to cause another wave of pain. "And what happened with the other one?"

 

Quinn shrugged and it took a moment until she was finished chewing. "Nothing. Well...you broke his arm really badly when you landed on him but aside from that and the hit I gave him to make sure he was out for a bit, nothing. I was there to make sure you'll survive, not to kill them. After that, I brought you to my car and left. Oh, and by the way, I also saved your gun." She pointed at the stuff on the seat next to her which was occupied by her gear. Arian spotted his Typhoon under the parts of Quinn's black armor, additional equipment like a silenced pistol and, of course, the huge sword that leaned against the seat. It looked like the woman had already cleaned the blade from the dark red blood. "Typhoon...", she said with a look at the light machine gun, "a really good weapon...rare and expensive as well."

 

"Thanks for the help!" The turian wasn't serious. The headache seemed to get worse every second and he also felt as if he was going to die of thirst within the next few minutes. To make things worse, he felt a nausea that was worse than he had ever felt it before. "What now?", he asked, trying to keep his voice under control.

 

"First, I finish eating this", Quinn gave back and took another bite. "Then, I get you to my apartment, then you'll have some rest and then we can finally talk."

 

"And why should I do that?", Arian wanted to know as he crossed his arms. He didn't trust this woman, even though she had saved him.

 

"Well...there actually is a pretty good reason." She turned back to him. "I'm here because someone wanted me to find you. A krogan named Ruyak..." Laughing at his reaction, she gave him a wink. "I knew I get your attention with that..."

[Kel Riever]

Jenus

"Well, if that woman hurt Arian in any way, I'll do worse to her than...than Arian would!"

Actually, as impromptu and unfinished as her raged expression was, Jenus couldn't think of much worse a threat.

"Did we lose her?  Are you still on her?"