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[Redbelle]

As Kolme retreated, Jess and Anika sized each other up as if both were itching for a fight.

 

It was Anika who made the first move.

 

"Captain, I want to go be with Naleena".

 

"Why"?

 

"Because.... I think I'm in love with her".

 

"That's not a good enough reason luv. There's plenty of people and places I'd rather be with and at. Instead I'm here, doing a job that's turning into mess".

 

"Jess.....".

 

"We're a hauler luv. We're traders. We make credits to keep this tub moving so we can make more credits to line our pockets and this Council Spectre colony business has stalled us badly. We've been in port for days not getting a lot of business done. We don't have the connections in this part of space to get contracts. I need the whole crew pulling together to get over this slump. That after the crew know what happened to the last crew. That after the biggest overhaul this ships seen that cut into our savings. Back when colonies went dark I had a reason to help. Those colonies were our opportunities. Now they are safe from Collectors and the Aspirant's have gone quiet we can get back to our regular work routine but somehow we're still here and your off enjoying time away with your toy friend instead of pulling your weight as part of this crew".

 

Anika sighed. "I wanted to talk to you about that. Captain, I want you to release me from our contract".

 

"Request denied".

 

"Captain....".

 

"What do you think a contract is? It's a promise luv. You break a contract you break your word and you promised me service".

 

"That was years ago! I had nowhere else to go! You took care of me...."!

 

"And now you've found someone else you want to jump ship and go? I thought this was your home"!

 

"It is..... But I found.... someone who isn't here and I want to be with her".

 

"So your putting your desires over your commitment's. That's selfish luv. You'll be dropping people who count on you".

 

"I'm not indispensable".

 

"Yes, you are. Because I can surely find someone to fill your post..... But replace you? No one can do that luv. You were always unique".

 

"So your saying you only want me for my gene enhancements? Thanks Jess, that puts our relationship into perspective".

 

"Don't....". Jess went to stab a finger at Anika, only to find that the arm she generally used to do so was gone. Gritting her teeth in frustration Jess took her other hand to make the gesture. "....Don't make out I only kept you around for one thing. You know damn well how much I needed you. Hell luv, when I came to kidnap one of you in that complex I knew I'd found a good one when you practically upped and kidnapped yourself! I seem to remember you throwing a case at me, knocking me off the balcony, picking me up off the ground then carrying both me and that case out through my escape window".

 

Anika sighed. "Yes... well, it was a good window. I couldn't have gotten past the boundary if you hadn't gotten through without setting any warning flags up".

 

"And from then on it was me and you. All the way. I caught flack and a lot of merc interest from the buyer after grabbing you and pulling out of the deal but I never regretted it. You were worth it. And I protected you.... and you in turn protected me".

 

"I remember those days.... We had each other's backs".

 

"And now you want to go? Look at me luv". Jess used her good arm to pull the cloak away and where her other had once been, now lay an empty socket, as if someone had pulled out and excavated her shoulder. "Tell me right now I don't need you because I can tell you.... I've never felt more vulnerable".

 

Anika's eye's looked over Jess's ruined shoulder and she took several steps till she was up close enough to reach out and run her hand over where flesh met machine. "You always did hate our check-ups.... The way the machine part shut down to diagnose".

 

Jess turned her head away, unwilling to look at where Anika's finger's graced. "Bad enough it's part of me. I can't change that. I don't want to be reminded of it".

 

"That shoot out....".

 

"Where I met Rasgul....".

 

"He saved you.....".

 

"He died......".

 

"And ever since you've been trying to save everyone". Anika dropped her hand. "The captain who nearly nearly lost everything. Trying to do the right thing while thinking she's a bad person doing bad things for the right reasons.... You were always a puzzle to me Jess. But I always felt safe with you. But life isn't about being safe. You know, and you pushed me to imagine life outside the Medusa. I did. I saw aliens who weren't the threat I thought they were. I saw Molly dedicate her life to an ideal that she sacrificed her body for. I met someone who made me want to move on beyond the Medusa, because that's where she is. And I want to be by her side. Jess..... You turned my tidy, organised life into a mess of conflicting needs, wants and desires.... And I have to choose.... And I have. But I can't just take my freedom if it means it'll put bad blood between us. I want us to still be friends....".

 

"You'll always be more than that to me luv. I just never imagined that you and I would ever really separate....".

 

"Everyone leaves eventually. That's what you keep saying about crew".

 

"You were more than 'just crew' too"

 

"Jessica....". Anika said, using Jess's full name known only to a few. ".... I need to do this. And I want your blessing to do it. I want to see who I am beyond what I am. Here I'm..... comfortable. I know my place. The Medusa is my now. My present. But we both know that eventually the Medusa will be mothballed. It's crew will come and go until there's no place left for them here. And when that happens, you'll be a captain without a ship whose place in the galaxy she doesn't know..... And as much as I want to stay by your side, that's not the future I want. I want something else. And I can't find that living the life of a nefarious trader who pirate's on the side. I got what I needed and for that I will always be grateful to you. But It's time to take the next step in my life".

 

As Anika spoke Jess's body trembled. Imperceptible perhaps, but Anika who had known her the longest out of anyone saw. Saw the inner turmoil her words caused her and so desperately wanted to pull them back to spare her friend. At last though Jess took a deep breath and reached for Anika's hand.

 

"Anika..... You've been the back bone of my life for a long time. If you leave, you'll be tearing it out. I never imagined you leaving you leaving because I never wanted you to leave. Jess and Anika, roaming the galaxy. Getting into scrapes and pulling each other's butt's out the fire. You always questioned me and while you think I ignored you, you always made me think. That's a rare gift for anyone to do regarding yours truely.... Luv, you want my blessing? It's always been yours. No matter what else I can't and won't stand in the way of what makes you happy. I just always hoped happy would be by my side as XO of the ship. But things changed. I know. New faces. New people. New challenges. Even new relationships. If you found something outside the Medusa that you need to pursue then follow the code of the pirate and take it. And don't let anything stop you from getting it. But know this luv..... It's rare that anything in the galaxy lasts forever. I thought you and I would go on.... now we've got this.... But I don't blame anyone if it's what you want".

 

Anika felt hope welling inside of her. "Then.... You mean I can go? You'll release my contract"?

 

Jess guffawed as her eye's took on a merry if sadistic twinkle. "Oh hell no luv. You signed that fair and square. Fact is luv, till it runs it's course..... You work for me".

[Kel Riever]

Morgan

"So, as soon as thing calm down for, let's say a day," Morgan joked with Dahlia as he was bringing in old crates where the tops could be cut off to use as planters, "I have to figure out how to get the funds the family used for Jen back to keep her going.  Or somehow we find a way to do business while we're towing along with the Janiri.  There are other options, but none that don't have some degree of obligation attached to them."

Morgan was thinking aloud with Dahlia.  He trusted her enough.  And for once, talking things out seemed to help.

"You might think I'm a bit odd when it comes to money, but there are things that you couldn't give me a planet for that I value.  I know a lot of people say that, but I think you know I mean it since you watched me turn my back on how much?  The amount doesn't matter."  Morgan started making sure the cut tops were smooth and wouldn't cut.  "So Jen needs the money, I understand.  That's why I gave it to the family.  They need it, I don't.  Now we're talking going through some agent to get that money released, and I don't care who tells me there are no strings attached...there are always strings attached.  Or we somehow rely on Spectre funds...I'm not saying that we don't have needs while we work with the Council, but I'd rather my work with the Council come without a monetary obligation.  If that makes sense.  I'm willing to bet that Jess would sign on working with a different Spectre.  I wouldn't; I stuck with Naleena because its her, because she helped me with Iyana.

"So I'd rather come up with a way to close the distance without agents, without some obligation, without any favors.  That's a tall order, I realize.  I never went over the amounts, but it's...we've got a couple of weeks, and then Jen needs the supplies."  Morgan didn't even want to say how much it was.  Jen had one of the top ten most expensive treatments for any chronic disorder the galaxy knew of.  And now he had to figure out another way to make ends meet.  This time without destroying lives.

Jen

Jen was running out of things to do.  She had time enough to start worrying about her future, her dream.  It was all gone, well, it was gone and now with the rug pulled away, she could see that she was never going to get to Vancouver without something bad, very bad, happening.  The change since she'd left Earth was so immense that Jen still felt numb from it.  And to her, the Medusa was strange.  She missed the innocence, and the feeling that everything was going to be all right, despite...

...Jen didn't want to think about her condition.  Morgan always pulled through.  She needed him always, and she didn't mind it either.  That wouldn't be the case one day.  One day she'd be...

....and that was the problem for Jen.  What would she be now?  She did everything she knew how to do to get where she needed to go.  People said she was brilliant.  No.  Jen worked at all of that.  People said still, even with working, some people could never do what she did.  But without the work, neither would she.  Jen was out, suddenly, off the map.  And where was she going?  Some place where the best minds in the galaxy could trade ideas?  Come up with solutions?  Save lives?  No.  Jen was with her brother now, down where the dark side of the galaxy reared its ugly head.  Surrounded by...guns.  And the people who weren't afraid to use them.

Jen missed the people who were afraid to use them.  The people who came up with other answers because they had to.  The people who needed the protecting.

Jen needed the protecting.  Jen was scared.

Babe

As the sound of Jess' guffaw subsided, there was the click of a heel as someone came through the door to Kolme's new and Medusa-fied workshop.

Jess and Anika saw Babe standing there, in her new outfit, which was, of course, outrageous.  She wore something that looked like a skin tight jester's body suit, with a black and white diamond pattern on it, and a plunging neckline.  Her feet were showboating a pair of black T-strap high heel pumps that looked about as pricey as a person could get.  And Babe had tossed on a cropped black leather jacket, with a myriad of pins and patches decorating it.  Of course, the jacket was open, and with the plunging neckline, only served to enhance the look of, well for the love of all things sacred, her to die for chest.  And in true fashion that only Babe seemed to pull off, she had the jacket sleeves rolled up to make room for long gloves that were mismatched; one was an electric blue while the other was a screaming scarlet.  A choker and mismatched chain earrings (hearts hanging one side, diamonds the other), finished the over-the-top outfit.

And with the person inside of the outfit, it was that typical, can't stop looking attraction, with Babe throwing her golden coifs aside, to make room for the blue lakes that stared at Jess and Anika.  But then there was something at least Jess picked up on, having been with Babe a little bit.  It caught a bit of that radiance that shone outward from her too.  Like a little pang of caution, or wariness or...protection.

It would have made sense if Babe's first words were something like, 'Where's Kolme?' or 'Hello, nice to see you again.'

Instead, Babe asked, "Is everything all right, Captain?"
 

[Redbelle]

Neither of them spoke for whaat felt like an eternity. Then Jess blinked and turned to look at Anika who was still staring and with her good hand, reached up and clicked her jaw shut.

 

"Yeah....". She said. ".... Me too. Wait, it's been awhile. Have you two ever met before now? I mean, in person"?

[Kel Riever]

"Sort of," Babe said.  "We met briefly.  Same situation.  I was looking for parts."

Babe's eyes were examining Anika, and if Jess could call it something, it was more analytical this time.  Not like the Babe who was warm and inviting, though she still had that predominantly about her aura.  More like someone assessing a threat.

And then, formally, Babe reached out to offer to shake Anika's hand.  "Nice to meet you again, Anika."

The eyes drifted, Jess saw next, to Jess' arm, and then back to Anika.  It wasn't as if she though Babe believed Anika had ripped her arm off or something.  In fact, Babe was kind of responsible for that.  But Babe had this look at Anika like she had torn the arm off, and was about to tear the other one off too.  And Jess could tell something didn't sit right with Babe, though she couldn't tell what.

Maybe it was like Babe thought she had to protect Jess.  Which might have been weird.  Since that's pretty much what Anika did.

Babe threw a warm smile at Anika.  And that only made it worse.

[Redbelle]

"Hey". Anika said as she tore her eye's from Babe. Despite her revealing presence distracting her however, Anika thought she detected an air of detachment around Babe. The same kind that she usually saw when someone was watching with a mind that the situation merited close scrutiny.....

 

Those old instincts of Anika's flared up again that told her things were not as they seemed. But since she was trying to leave the Medusa anyway.....

 

"I don't understand Jess. You've got Morgan. He's your XO now. You've got the ship back. You have a new crew! What is it I bring that you won't let go of"?

 

"Your word for one. Plus I'm not sure if this relationship with Naleena will last".

 

"Oh you are not going there..... Shall we count how many relationships you've had...."?

 

"Don't count luv".

 

"Dammit Jess...."!

 

"Wooooah"! Jess said holding a hand up. "Let's deal with this shall we? Your right. I don't want to let you go....".

 

"Glad we can agree on that". Anika ground out.

 

"....And I want you to fufill your obligation....".

 

"That you could waive".

 

".... And more than anything, I want you to know there's a place here for you if things don't work out".

 

"That's not for you to decide! You can't just..... I can leave. I can go right now. Walk off this ship and never come back"!

 

"Yes you could".

 

"Then why are you pushing me away by trying to keep me here"?

 

"Because luv....". Jess grinned. "I've got a new job for you since being my bodyguard isn't going to work for us anymore".

 

Anika stared at her. "A job.... A new..... job.....". Anika's face fell. "Jess..... Whatever your scheming, there's nothing you can offer that's going to distract me from Naleena".

 

Jess's face twinged into a smile. "Oh.... Not even if I kept Mr Bojangles"?

 

"He's coming with me"!

 

"But he's so comfortable in my cabin. Besides, would Naleena allow a pet on board"?

 

"...... She has VERA so it's not like she's not used to bending the rules on.... things you shouldn't have".

 

Jess sighed. "Look, let me put you out of your misery. The contract stays in place till you fulfill it. It's your first contract luv. So it's important, to me, and to the galaxy as a whole that your someone whose first contract she can say she saw through to the end". Jess looked up then Anika. "So you working for me isn't going to change anytime soon. But what I am going to do is change your roll in my employ and I'm making you Medusa's representative aboard the Janiri".

 

"Jess! I can't believe your doing this to me I thought you respected the what now"? Anika tailored off as Jess's words finally penetrated.

[Kel Riever]

Babe was listening, but then the tone of the conversation changed.  Or seemed to change.  So that other sort of mechanism of Babe's went away, and that little bit of detachment calmed.

The room seemed to get warmer.

Kolme wasn't around, but there was a stack of crates hiding the back of the work area.  And Babe heard conspicuously loud sounds coming from that direction, as if someone was trying to avoid overhearing what was being said.  She was about to head over, when Babe figured out she could find the part without bothering the quarian.

Babe started rummaging through things.  Unlike Kolme, she kept it down.  But she did spy some armor that was white.  Probably Anika's.  It was sort of interesting, if someone wanted to go running around like a tank.  But it did have some fairly sophisticated electronics in it.  Babe started looking it over.  She had a bit of familiarity with the circuitry, but a lot of personal battlesuit stuff was outside of her domain.  What was well within her domain, however, was that the suit was obviously linked to have the wearer fire heavy weaponry.  Not the sort of heavy weaponry Babe fired, but some electronics were universal, such as a...

"Noreima Mark IV Transfer Switch."

Babe just wanted to see if it was compatible.  There was no reason it wouldn't be.  But it was a good idea to make sure since Kolme customized his work.  If it was compatible, maybe he had a few more.  Babe reached down to the piece of armor and poked at it to get a better view.

And the chip popped out with a clatter. 

[Redbelle]

Whatever Babe had done, Jess and Anika seemed oblivious as they talked to one another, back and forth. Seemingly one word coming from one before the other returned another word like a monosyblic tennis match.

 

Someone had obviously noticed however. No matter what noise was in the workshop, the sound of a chip clattering to the floor resulted in the sound of rummaging to cease a moment later a voice, tinged through the tell tale warble of a modulator said sharply behind of Babe. "Now what do you think your doing to my latest creation? And while your explaining yourself perhaps you could explain why your busy destroying my last Noreima Mark IV Transfer Switch for Anika's armor"?

 

"Say what now about my armor"? Anika called out from across where she stood.

 

Jess rolled her eye's. "Can we focus luv? Still got plenty to work out here"?

 

"No". Anicka held up her hands as she stepped backwards a step. "He said armor. I'm going to armor". she added as she swung her hands in whirly fashion towards where Babe was poking about. She followed after in that direction and as she did she saw Babe leaning over the opened, empty shell of what Kolme had was her new.....

 

"It's..... sooooo.... Beautiiiifuuuuul". Anika managed, her eye's shining like saucer's as she finally got an up close look at her new work wear. Look at the molding! It's got angles but no angles and barrier generators actually in the forearms.... Are these extra hardpoints? Imagine all the extra guns I could carry and a heavy weapon mount? What's the helmet like? Does it have VI assist and smart targetting and heeeey....". She dragged out as she pointed to a chip that had fallen to the ground. On impact a small prong appeared to ave broken loose and now lay by the side of the chip. "....What's that"?

 

Jess came up behind her. "Hmmm. Noreima Mark IV Transfer Switch. Handy, especially for firing the big guns. Now can we get back to it? I was saying, whoever works in the Spectre office....".

 

"I fire big guns all the time"!

 

"..... Still has information about me....".

 

"Ms Babe here is the Medusa's new gunner". Kolme helpfully supplied.

 

".....And the rest of the group......".

 

Anika's eye's slid over to Babe. "Are you after my chip"? She asked, her eye's locked onto her.

 

"....And the sooner we learn who it is who knows so much about us the sooner we can..... why do I bother". Jess sighed dramatically and gestured for Kolme to step aside with her. "Hey Kolme, what would you say if I told you the Spectre office, or someone the Spectre office get's info from brought us all together when we crewed the Audron and that person or persons is still at large"?

 

Stepping to the side with Jess, away from Babe and Anika, he shrugged. "I would say that someone has been spending an inordinate amount of time compiling information on you".

 

"Would you be curious as to why luv"?

 

"Why would I be"?

 

"Because someone out there has lever's they can use to move the team. And I've a mind to know whose pulling those levers".

[Kel Riever]

Babe gently picked up the chip in two fingers off the floor, stood up, and looked at it regretfully.

"I'm sorry.  I'm not the kind of person who drops stuff like this."

Her eyes slid over to Anika who'd come up to her.  She started to try to explain things to the tall woman.  "It's...we should have a case of these things on board.  It shouldn't be loaded in like that.  It's only because...because it looks like you need some sort of compartmentalization, or collapsibility, that you'd have a mechanism that is so precisely set."  Now there was a sigh.  "We need one on each of the cannons, not to mention backups.  And you're going to need...this..." 

Babe shook her head.  It really bothered her, the whole time she'd been watching Jess, worried about her for some reason from the tall woman she barely knew.  And now she was ruining her armor.  Like a kid playing with a toy they didn't understand.

"I understand these things," Babe said as if talking to the other side of herself in a conversation.  "I can fix it if we can't get more.  I...think?"

Now Anika was close.  And that was good or not good for Babe.

Depending on who's point of view was being considered...

[Cknarf]

Milgrom spaceport, Bekenstein.

 

“Hello, beautiful.” Frank smiled,  checking himself out. in the mirror. He really couldn’t get over how great he looked in the all-black Yakuza duds. He tucked one of the revolvers into a shoulder holster beneath his jacket, and put on his sunglasses, even though it was totally night time in the capitol city.

 

“Showtime.”

 

Just as he was stepping out into the corridor, Kira emerged from her quarters in full regalia. “How do I look?”

 

All of the sudden, Frank felt a little underdressed. And maybe a little jealous. There’s no way he could ever pull off a  look like that, and it made him kind of sad. Not that he ever wanted to be a pretty lady or anything…

 

“Like a million credits.”

 

Kira wore a dress, long and black, which, by her standards, was rather conservative. Aside from a slit that climbed slightly past her upper thigh, there wasn’t a whole lot to be seen. A little makeup, expertly applied, brought out her eyes  as well as her normally faint facial markings.  Around her neck was a necklace of diamonds fit for royalty.  Around each wrist, bangles of gold. With diamonds. Fingers? Yup. You guessed it. More diamonds. Oddly enough, there was nothing on her right hand, except for a tarnished band of silver.

 

“I think it’s a bit closer to five, but thank you.” Kira smiled, flaunting the comically large rock on her finger.

 

Frank opened the elevator door, and gestured for her to enter first, because he’s gentlemanly as f***. Or he was trying to be, at least.

 

“You ready?” He asked, looking to the matriarch, who now stood a few inches taller, thanks to her absurd stripper heels.

 

“Goddess, am I ever.” Kira carefully pressed at the elevator controls, and began their descent to the cargo bay.

[Redbelle]

"Now don't be silly Ms Babe. I am more than capable of putting together that chip". Kolme said across the gap that seperated them. "As for the armor, Ms Anika I suggest you stop messing around and try it on".

 

"Uh huh". Said Anika, staring at Babe. Kolme waited, and when Anika made no move towards the frame he prompted.

 

"Ms Anika"?

 

"Hmmm? Oh, yes... Of course". Anika started as if she'd been interrupted by something and forgotten everyone else was there. "So is it like the old Destroyer"?

 

"No! It's nothing like that. Now pay attention Ms Anika....". Kolme activated his multi tool and pressed a few functions. The Frame came alive and the empty shell's surfaces rippled revealing many interlocking plates along the exterior that expanded outwards as the internal sections of armor rose into place and clicked shut. Where an empty suit had once stood now was a towering white Juggernaut  whose presence dwarfed even Anika's. Anika, for her part, looked back at Kolme. "It works better when your inside it before you seal it".

 

"I've no time for pithy observations Ms Anika. Now. Approach from the back and walk into it".

 

"I'm sorry"?

 

Kolme gave an exaggerated sigh. "Walk as if you were going to walk through the frame and come to a halt in it's centre".

 

Anika gave him a strange look as she moved around the back, but still held a skeptical expression on her face. Jess for her part looked merry. "I'd take picture's luv. But my Omni tools in my other arm".

 

Anika sniffed but looked ahead. The back of the armor was smooth like the front and unlike the Destroyer armor, showed faint outlines of her female form on the outside, as opposed to the ape like appearance of the Destroyer. Deciding that Kolme was either about to make a point, or haze her, she took a quick breath and walked forward.

 

She was perhaps half a meter away when the armor's back shifted, revealing more moving plating when the back of the armor, from her perspective, exploded outwards. Actually that wasn't quite accurate. It expelled it's back out as sections slid away while others slid up and extended outwards towards her. Before she knew it the whole back section had reconfigured so that instead of outer plating and internal structure was a large hole that she walked into. Or nearly did. So surprised was she that she had pulled a foot length short of the armor, but Kolme it appeared, had anticipated the user having trouble aligning herself with it's entry mechanics.....

 

The sections that had reached out stretched further and seized hold of her ankle and calf and the whole lower body of the armor seized hold of and dragged itself closer, causing the legs to seemly bend in on themselves until the armor literally pulled itself against her body. As it did, the upper sections came within reach and grabbed hold of her and did the same. In the space of about two seconds Anika had been completely pulled into the suit that quickly slid it's plates back over the hole to envelope her whole and in short order, where Anika had once stood was now a startled armored Anika who brought her hands up to look at the armored gloves that were shifting to better fit themselves to her hands.

 

"Grud Damn"! She exclaimed, looking down at herself. The armored panels' continued flexing as they adapted to her and inside Anika could feel the internal structure shifting against her. Tightening in some places while loosening in others.

 

"It's a simple design really". Was saying to those in attendance. "Variable geometry armor plate. Now individually each plate is not as durable as the old Destroyer design but overlapping them gives each plate the equivalent strength while the external hardening process give it a slight edge in shrugging off damage while maintaining the full flexibility of the user".

 

Anika rolled her shoulder's and immediately noticed that the armor moved with her, providing her with much more motion than her other armor... Plus.... "Is this thing.... lighter"?

 

"This 'thing'.... weighs thirty pounds less than your old armor and has muscle assist....".

 

"I don't need muscle assist". Anika immediately said.

 

"The strength enhancement feature's are entirely optional. As are the use of the boot mounted thrust vectors....".

 

"Wait... The what"?

 

"Thrust Ms Anika. I assume that as well as donning your armor you would quite like to jump out of shuttle's and how you say.... hit the ground running? Now the thrust vector's aren't omni directional so where ever your legs are pointed, that is where the thrust will be applied. Handy for slowing a rapid descent and with the muscle assist augmenting your own natural strength's I anticipate the ability to jump to higher heights than you've ever reached before".

 

Jess pursed her lips as she listened intently. "Do you make these with stripes"?

 

"Now then, by now you'll have noticed the Hud arrangement. You have all the usual features as well as another I'm particularly proud of. A translator matrix that on sampling unknown dialogue will translate it into any language you understand".

 

"Can't I get a head laser instead"?

 

The air went quiet as Kolme's visor regarded  Anika's black lenses. "Ms Anika. Perhaps your idea of soldiering is different than mine. But in my world, we don't do battle unless all other means of resolving conflict have been discounted. Now my inventions are intended to be used as tools. Not toys. If I can't trust you to use them in the spirit I offer I have no problems melting down what I've made and turning my talent's to more useful inventions than those of war".

[Kel Riever]

Babe watched with some curiosity towards the thing that would have impressed most.  It wasn't that it didn't impress.  Babe was pondering what it was, and hadn't completed the thought.

Wandering over to Jess while Kolme's speech went on, Babe had approached the Captain from behind and put a hand softly on the shoulder of her missing arm.  It was a touch of compassion, and apology, as Babe sent the message tactually with her expression when Jess looked towards her.  Then Babe focused back on Anika as the speech was coming to a point of pause.  There were no guns on the armor that Babe could see.  And even if there were, they still weren't big enough for her.  Babe was about to look around for one when she had an instinct possess her.

Babe used the distraction of Kolme's talk and Anika's fascination to wander over to the side of Anika she was facing away from.  There was glance thrown Jess' way to let her know she was up to something, then Babe waited for the best moment she could anticipate of Anika's diversion.

The kick came fast, more of a shove than impact.  Babe had taken a position to get herself the best leverage and caught Anika in the small of the back, near her side, pushing her with a good deal of force forward, enough force that would put someone on their face.

[Redbelle]

The kick hit home and Anika's instinct's took over as she flexed to absorb what she thought was a harsh impact.....

 

As the hit went home though, the plate's of her armor reacted and bunched together quickly, locking in place to absorb the blow. What would have been a forceful kick instead caused a 'thunk' as Anika's armor demonstrated it's reactive properties and Anika halted her movement's mid flow as she realised the strike hadn't been as bad as she'd thought. As she straightened the plates unlocked and returned to their normal arrangment as Anika straightened and her helmet turned to Babe.

 

"What was that for"?

 

Kolme to looked on, his expression likewise hidden to all. "Well, at least that saves me from explaining how the armor reacts to blunt force trauma's. Now assuming of course she had managed to actually hit with enough force to penetrate the plates you have a gel lining inside the armor. It won't take the full impact, but any force will cause it to harden and absorb a portion. Enough hopefully that will allow you to survive event's like that encounter you had where an Asari detonated a singularity while you were caught in it".

 

"My other armor handled that pretty well".

 

"Your other armor was rendered crippled. This will take more punishment".

 

Jess looked over at Babe who was still standing beside Anika. "Foot okay luv? I have to admit, I wasn't expecting that".

[Kel Riever]

Babe gave a satisfied look as she decided it was the perfect time to pull out a blow pop from the black leather belt that hugged her waist.  There were slender pouches apparently designed just for carrying her favorite treat.

"Just testing."

Swear to Grud Anika saw Babe wink.  No one else did, even though they were looking right at her.

"Does it have anything that shoots that comes with it?"

 

[Redbelle]

Kolme gave a sad and weary sigh. "I'm afraid that Conventional weapons are not my forte... Though if you insist I have a few armature canons I could redesign for personnel.....". His mind seemed to wander before he came back to the conversation.

 

"Now then, Ms Babe. As you can see the armor's hard-point system is mostly the same as any other you care to see that either comes in a clip on harness, or a molded integrated armor system. I suppose one so.... amply endowed a harness might be more appropriate though some extra absorbent padding might be required else you throw yourself forward to avoid enemy fire and find your bouncing off into no mans land".

 

Without an elbow on the side facing Kolme, Jess turned around so her back was to Babe and Anika and jabbed him in the ribs. "Keep it technical". She hissed before turning back around again.

 

".....Yesssss". Kolme said, obviously not sure what Jess had interjected for. "Well as I was saying. The hard-points are the same as any other. Except in this suit I took the liberty of adding additional hard-points for modular addons as well as a couple extra in the palms of you hands. Now if you key a weapon to those hard points and are within 5 meter's of your weapon, you can summon it back to your hand as long as you have the palm of your hand pointed towards the weapon. As for the modules....".

 

Kolme stepped forward and when he was by the side of the frame, he waved a hand and a holo keypad appeared there. "Fast and practical were the key design feature's of this armor and this frame is designed to make sure your equipment is stored and can be quickly added. For example, I've added a shoulder mounted canon system that you can have on one, or the other, or both shoulders. The actual canon design and hard point matching system is fairly easy to reproduce. The one's I designed are intended for disabling an opponent. Let me show you".

 

Kolme pressed a few keys and on the frame several actuators came alive. One moved to and screwed itself into a bolt hole on the side of one of the two shoulder canons held in the frame and with the frame's clamps releasing, the actuator pulled it out and moved it towards Anika's shoulder. Aligning the hard points the two surfaces came together and the canon slid back on a rail as it's back dipped down until it rested on Anika's back, neatly tucked out of the way.

 

"Now these canon's are a little bigger than the regular destroyer micro missile option, but then these do not fabricate their own ammunition. What you add to them lasts until it's all gone. In this I added riot foam that those fine fellows in C-Sec use. Fire it at something and on impact it will harden almost instantly leaving you with someone who will be quite unable to move until you chip them out".

 

Anika's eye's scanned her hud, the armor registered the addition of the shoulder mount but....

 

"How do you fire it"? She asked.

 

"Voice activation for now I'm afraid. I haven' had time to design a better interface so your stuck with it for now.. You simply say, Target, acquire and fire".

 

"Gotcha..... Target acquire fi-".

 

"STOP"! Kolme's panicked voice rang out.

 

"-re". Anika finished and was about to ask why when her Hud came alive and bracketed the person in front of her in an aiming reticule while the canon swung up on her shoulder and pointed itself straight at Jess.

 

Jess scarcely had time to duck as Anika swung herself to the side but found it was no good as the canon simply tracked Jess's movement's as Kolme reached for the barrel and tried to yank it downwards".

[Kel Riever]

It was a good thing Babe knew her guns.

And that Kolme had shouted his warning, and also did what he could to yank the barrel down.

Babe had the time she needed, and not a second more.

First, Babe was off like a shot, slamming into Anika from the side to keep the barrel moving away from Jess.  The barrel kept swinging to compensate, but by then Babe was reaching into one of the protective plated just below where the cannon barrel attached to the armor.  It was unclear what she did at that point, but there was a distinctive crunching sound, and then as Anika fell, despite the efforts of the suit, she saw the error light appear on her hud.  The gun was deactivated.

Babe was kneeling on Anika, with some sort of wire in her gloved fingertips, which were now smudged with a bit of black.  A look in her eyes at the wire, then she tossed it and called back, "You all right, Jess?"

Before she got an answer, Babe looked down at Anika through her helmet.  "Maybe....Kolme could use some assistance with this.  I know my heavy weapons."

[Redbelle]

Jess appeared from behind the table where she'd rolled over it to escape the line of fire. First her forehead appeared, then her eyebrows. Then her eye's came up over the tabletop as she scanned the situation before she rose up from where she was. Seeing Babe on top of Anika whose shoulder mount was smoldering Jess leaned on the table with her good arm.

 

"Sodding Nora. The more the change I swear the more they stay the same. I'm good luvs. How about you? Everything okay"?

 

"Only my pride". Kolme announced as he picked himself up off the floor. "Voice activation.... is probably not a good way to operate the armor's alternative functions. At least she didn't say screen".

 

"Screen"? Asked Anika who was to taken in by the sight of Babe straddling her armored chest to realize what she'd just done. That was until the plate began streaming smoke of from underneath them that was thick and viscous and poured out of the armor until vision in the workshop was practically nil.

 

"Screen". Kolme said in the fog. "It's a perfectly safe to breath smoke cloak that fudges most sensor equipment's attempts to lock onto you. Of course it also prevents you from locking onto the enemy but when your retreating....".

 

"That's what smoke grenades are for". Anika called out from somewhere in the inky white depths of the smoke. Reaching for her helmet Anika tugged it off and sat up, only to come nose to nose with Babe whose face swam out of the roiling smoke. "Oh..... Hello". Anika said as their eye's locked with each others.

 

Kolme's voice again rang out from somewhere "Shall we move onto the rocket propelled grapple canon"?

 

"No"! Came a chorus of voices.

[Kel Riever]

Babe smiled.

And that smile...

She still had her blow pop sticking out of one side of her mouth and she took a big suck from it, before briefly removing it to tell Kolme, "You might want to install voice activation on the air vents next time you put a smoke screen in, too."  Then she put the blowpop in her mouth again, stood, and helped Anika up.

Which in and of itself was pretty amazing.  Anika knew her body physics and Babe's were...astounding.  That and that....well it just felt really, really good to be lifted up by Babe.  Once Anika was above her, Babe looked up to keep eye contact, shoved the blow pop head into the side of her cheek with her tongue, and added, "You should let me work with the cannons on your suit.  They're a bit...smaller...than I'm used to, but I can help Kolme with it.  Or you."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"It's complicated right now. I trust you. That's not the issue. What you're proposing would work anywhere but on the Citadel. Here, humans are in charge of security. I'll be right over," Naleena replied. "Arian is a person of interest as far as C-sec is concerned, and I need to ask Arian a couple questions, too."

 

"I know...I made a promise not to probe, and I'll keep it. If you want to ask him questions, go ahead..." Essul said plainly, in his eyes it was the truth. Arian was hiding something, but whatever he was hiding, the batarian thought, would come out in due time. He'd come onto this crew with his own secrets as well, after all. Everyone had them, and it was their right to give them when they felt it was right.

 

He turned to arian as he spoke, "Naleena is on her way. For now, we keep out of c-sec's hair and way. Avoid drawing their attention too much..." Essul said, looking to pass the time until the captain arrived, "So...how are you holding up, medically?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena arrived at Arian and Essul's location shortly. "Arian, you look terrible and you'll get medical attention, but I need to know two things. C-sec found a body and witnesses identified a Turian matching your description...." Naleena repeated what she had heard over the news and over C-sec channels regarding what witnesses said about the Turian. "Did you have anything to do with the murder?"

[Kel Riever]

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

Morgan and Dahlia

Dahlia listened to Morgan go on and on. "I know Jen needs protection, but both of us know that she'll never be able to fulfill her dream here, but what was she studying? A research lab could be set up on the Janiri, a modern medical bay, and they have VERA who could assist Jen with her studies. I'm sure Naleena would make accommodations. She'd be safe, Morgan."

"Sure, you're right about that.  But would that be what Jen wants?  She'd have to be asked."

Morgan couldn't help but think all of this was his fault.  He had to come up with answers.  "But that's a separate issue than earning more than $40 million credits a year, every year."

Well, now the number came out.

Morgan looked at Dahlia across one of the crates now being installed with bolts.  "There are some big numbers that get thrown around at our level, but people don't waste money like that without answers.  Let's be realistic, I couldn't get the funds before and I tried every legal means necessary...you name it, grants, charities.  Someone has to care, Dahlia, and that was my job.  And you saw what I had to do for the money.  I don't expect someone, even at the Council level, even for a Spectre, to approve of bottomless funds like that without going into details about why, what does Jen do, what's the payoff.  The well-being of someone on Naleena's task force is only going to go so far."

With a shrug of his shoulders, as if Morgan was trying to lighten the subject.  "I'd have an easier time placing Jen aboard that ship I suppose.  She'd probably love it.  It would be great for her.  But it's her treatment that has me concerned.  If Jen was a regular person, with regular needs, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.  She is the top of what she does.  Sadly, that isn't enough.  And that's why I'm the one trying to come up with a solution.  There isn't anyone else who's ever been able to do that."

Dahlia's eyes got as big as saucers. "Forty million credits a year?!" she asked. "That's how much her treatment costs? I remember when you sold the share of the ship for them. I ... overheard how much everyone got. I trust they had a good investment firm and the return on the funds is sufficient to cover costs not covered by their insurance?"

With a shake of his head, Morgan said, "That amount of money was enough to not have to manage it, not that I would even know about that.  It was far more than she'd need for good.  But that amount of money is...I'm only saying if I could...if there was some other way...without having to get that back.  I couldn't care less if it disappeared into the ether is all.  To find someone to transfer it safely, securely...there's never a one-hundred percent chance it wouldn't ever be traced.  Never.  You have to trust someone to do that...and even then...."

Morgan looked away from Dahlia.  He stumbled with his words but determination was on his face.  "It doesn't matter, Dahlia because of the people I do trust, nobody could do it without involving someone else, and I'm never going to trust anyone else that well to do it.  So that brings me back to trying to find another way."

"Morgan, everything is done digitally. Talk to Naleena. She likes to wheel and deal. Maybe she can think of something."

"Sure."  Morgan looked at Dahlia.  "Nothing ever happened to digital information being compromised."  Morgan put down the drill he was using to drive bolts.

"Sorry, I don't mean to shoot down what you say, but the problem with what you said is right in the same sentence.  It isn't just digital, it's that it goes through Naleena, which would be fine, except there isn't going to be any way I trust what happens.  It is a lot of money, and when it goes missing from wherever it is sitting at, someone is going to go looking for it.  And you can stamp 'Spectre authorized' on it as much as you want, it isn't going to stop the search for it.  Here, we're doing that to Iyana, aren't we?  We're tracking her down.  I suppose she's good enough at what she does that she hasn't been able to be tracked, so far.  But I'm trying to worry about as little as I have to.  And if I can find a better way, I want to." 

There wasn't a resignation in Morgan's voice, or defeat.  More determination.  He seemed different about his problems than how he'd been in the past.  "So, yes, I'll go to Naleena if I have to.  But in the short time I've got to figure something else out, as impossible as it sounds, I want to try.  You understand me, right?"

"My point is, Morgan, that the principal doesn't have to go anywhere. Only her draw of funds has to, and that's been regular," Dahlia said while holding the plating in place. "I'm sure you know how that works, right? You just need someone to handle that monthly draw. Talk to the Spectre."

Morgan was set pretty firm.  He looked at Dahlia and shook his head.  "I don't want anyone else involved if I don't need to."  Then he stopped.  "And by the way, when did you suddenly trust that everything Naleena did would all work out?  I'm not saying I don't, but I don't remember you having such an affinity for her.  Did I miss something?"

"I don't have an affinity for her!" Dahlia protested, paused and looked over at him. "And it hasn't all worked out, has it? Look at that screw up on Garvug. You weren't there. Anyway, do what you want. It's not my problem. But remember this, Morgan. All of us are involved, and now somehow we're going to have to make 40 million CR a year to pay for Jen's treatment over and above Jess' overhead and normal profit margin. That's no small blip."

"Easy there," Morgan said with a laugh, "All I meant is that if for some reason you had changed your mind about Naleena, it would be pretty convincing. And you're helping me out by just letting me talk about it.  Hand me that fastener over there, will you?"

Morgan smiled at Dahlia as he took the little item from her hand.

"I remember when we first met, Morgan," she laughed and smiled. "You were afraid of Asari. Now look at us. You're building these beds with me. But what I did with you, I'll do with Jen if it comes to that. Ease the pain. You have my word."

 

"You don't have to say that."  Morgan's voice was sympathetic.  Then he teased, "Besides, only certain asari scare me."

Morgan helped get the last planter in place to bolt in.  He held it fixed while he gave Dahlia the drill.

[Redbelle]

Babe's eye's were whirlpools that cut through the fog as the whirr of the air fans increased. Anika was immediately swept away and soon all other concern's seemed secondary to her as she gazed at the golden haired goddess. She dimly heard mention of her suits canons and then that oh so lucky blow pop she'd pulled out of her that broke the vacuum seal of her lips began the return journey as Babe's movement's seemed to slow in Anika's eye's.

 

Her hair, catching the updraft of a vent, fluttered in the breeze as Anika became fixated on Babe' lips as they slowly parted, moist and full, they parted like a succulent fruit as the pop entered close the reentry and Anika swallowed as Babe's tongue slinked out to greet it with a beckoning swipe across the top before darting back, tantalizing, just out of reach that marked the blow pop's doom as it entered the shadow of Babe's mouth as the swaying branches that had blurred in the background that did nothing to hide the mosaic shadow of the leaves.....

 

Anika blinked. The spell broken as she looked up and turned around, breaking the line of sight with Babe and seeing where had been once a workshop now lay a forest floor with tree's all around her. The pounding in her ear's stopped hammering and her heartbeat slowed as she slowly turned full circle and arrived back where she had been to suddenly find she was alone. Only the gentle rustle of the tree's spoke to her.....

 

Naleena's quiet place.

 

She'd shown it to her long ago, and told her if she ever needed it, she could retreat here. Her memory was cloudy but it all came rushing back as she remembered how her body had responded to Babe's close proximity. Something that had gotten harder and harder to resist.

 

Grud.... Who was this woman?

 

As her mind grew sharper and more focused, the forest faded, the soft contours of nature giving way to sharp angles of the metal benches and crates. Turning around, she saw Babe in her entirety as fog was sucked up an away into the vent's and slowly Jess and Kolme to came into view.

 

Feeling as if she'd just stepped out of a dark room out into the light, Anika shook her head and held an armored glove up to press her palm against her forehead. Then she took it away and answered. "I think.... you and Kolme can work on all the extra's. And when your ready send them to the Janiri. That's where I'll be".

 

Kolme looked over at her. "Yes yes. That's a good idea. Get that contraption and yourself out of my workshop. That Armature. That white one. It's built to bring you that armor if you ever find yourself without it. Now take it and go"!

 

Anika looked over to her Captain who nodded. Nodding back, Anika pulled her helmet back on, turned, and then stretched out her arms and bodily lifted the frame up and over her head before turning with it and headed for the Armature.

[Kel Riever]

Babe nodded, mentioned over her shoulder to Kolme.  "I need basic schematics for the hard point, and interface.  She turned to the quarian, seeing that Anika had somehow come out of that thing that happened around her, and that she often hated happened around her.

Kolme had a natural body language, of course, and position about making inventions for peaceful means came across clearly.  Babe didn't want to dissuade Kolme, but she knew that sometimes...often...things came to the last resort.  Even when they didn't, well, she never questioned herself about it.  Nor was Babe about to.

Somewhere, Babe remembered something about the killing, but had to brush it aside.  She watched Anika go, and turned to Jess.  There was a regret she felt, and the  blank spaces didn't tell her why.  All she said to Jess was, "We'll be on our way soon, won't we."

It was a statement rather than a question.

Babe put the blow pop in her mouth and looked down at the equipment for the armor left on the table.  She'd been wanting that ship to get out of the Citadel anyway, even though she also couldn't figure out why, either.

[TheMajonese]

At the C-Sec Checkpoint 

 

"I don't think I'll die", Arian muttered to Essul. "I've been through worse..."

 

When the spectre arrived and asked him about a murder, Arian couldn't help but stare at her. "A murder?", he echoed, dumbfounded by her question. It took him a while to realize that he had actually witnessed how Quinn had cleaved a man in two with her overly large blade. But Naleena didn't need to know that. For some reason Quinn hadn't killed the second assassin and that man seemed to have informed C-Sec about the incident.

 

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I was on my way back to the ship when I heard someone calling out for help in a dark alleway. Turned out two humans tried to kill me, one of them shot me from behind..." He pointed a claw at his bandaged neck. "Don't know what happened next. I woke up in some apartment. Someone had taken care of this wound. That's all I know."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Arian, you were tracked in the back of a sky car. A woman used a flash bang on our team. She led us on a chase through the Citadel until somehow your omni-tool went dark," Naleena said. "We believed you were kidnapped. C-sec and my team went to search for you. This woman attacked our team again. What can you tell us about her?"

[TheMajonese]

"I have no idea who this woman is", Arian gave back and it actually wasn't a lie. Despite the things that Quinn's had tried to explain him, he still didn't know who she really was. This whole concealment thing was ridiculous in his eyes. Quinn could have just told the spectre that she wanted to talk with Arian but instead she had to blow up her car and then fight through everyone around her for reasons that only she knew. In case she even knew why she did the things that she was doing. Arian still believed that she was crazy.

 

"I haven't even seen her. All I know is that I was brought to this apartment, not sure if this was supposed to be a kidnap. And I don't know if this mysterious woman is behind this. And whoever helped me didn't even steal anything from me..." He pointed over his shoulder at the Typhoon that he had bought earlier.

 

"That's all I can tell you", Arian added emphatically and looked at Naleena. There was no reason for him to tell her more than that. "If you want to know more about this woman, you should ask C-Sec."