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[Kel Riever]

There was one member of Team Boom who wasn't quite aware of how difficult things were yet and that was Tallis.  She was busy showing Anika around parts of the Janiri she'd missed out on.  Which was more than expected, especially once off Naleena's deck, outside the hanger, and away from the small arms areas.  

It took a while to explain things, though.  Tallis tried to keep her dual repetition to a minimum, and often pointed or used other gestures to indicate what she wanted to describe.  One of the easiest introducitions was to the krogan chef, who seemed to take to someone approaching his size.  Eventually, Tallis showed Anika the lounge with a window out.  There was no one around, but Tallis seemed adamant about showing Anika the view outside.  Something she obviously treasured on the journeys through space.

[Redbelle]

Jess saw Menus storm past with a look that would have curdled milk on her face. "Hey luv. You got a.....". Jenus brushed past without stopping and stormed off up the corridor. "..... Minute? Well that's telling".

Making her farewells, Jess caught up with Morgan. " Well.... Anika's in for an interesting time if she embeds with the commandos. Glad Jenus isn't on my ship. She'd have come out of that meeting with a black eye".

[Redbelle]

Anika sat down where Tallis had taken her and spent time looking out the viewport. "This must be something at FTL. The Medusa doesn't have ports this big. The makers looked at these as structural weaknesses. If you want to look outside you have to put on a headset and use a drone..... This is..... Better".

Looking over to Tallis, Anika thinned her lips. "I'm not worried if your not worried but.... Jenus. Is she okay? I heard what happened to Mira and when Jenus took over.... Well, what's she like really"?

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena was walking out the conference room and heard Jess' remark as Jenus disappeared down down the corridor and picked up Iole and Ereba for their run.

 

Naleena was fuming when she left. "She was lucky there are regulations against officers striking enlisted personnel, Jess. We had a talk, then bottom line, I told her she has to follow orders. We're dealing with her rigid view of how things should be and it clashes with how things are," Naleena said, and then commented. "She'll have to learn to deal with it."
 

[Redbelle]

On the Medusa, Dogger was talking to Sherie outside the newly christened ships dining room.

 

".....So Anika left and I got duties she covered till we can straighten the schedule out".

 

Sherie nodded. "You know, life on board isn't what I imagined. When you told stories of your time  here I imagined a barely restrained group of animals with little self control and personal hygiene issues".

 

"Heh.... Should have seen the last crew".

 

"Still, I noticed your slipping back into swearing like a sailor on occasion".

 

"S'all part of the part Sher. I have to be larger than life sometime. Get the rooks snapping to. Problem with these newbs is they think. Thinking's good. Always take a man who can think over one who doesn't..... But there's a time for thinking and a time for doing. If I don't draw a line for them to know when to do one or the other then I ain't doing mah job".

 

"Well, I'm just glad.... although....".

 

"What Sher"?

 

"Maybe deep down..... I'm a little disappointed".

 

Morgan blinked. "Sher"?

 

"I wanted this to be your last hurrah before coming back home. I wanted to see you in your element. To see this side of you".

 

"Your seeing it. Medusa's changed. Everyone's finding their feet.....".

 

"I want to learn how to shoot a gun".

 

Morgan stopped talking and stared at her.

 

"And I want to join in those card games you think I don't know about".

 

"We only play for jellies.....".

 

"And I want to know what goes on in the Captain's cabin that has me delivering milk by the gallon. I want to be part of your world Dogger. Here and now. The kitchen is my place. I've made it how I can work with it and despite your Captain Stone's...... dislike..... She's been good enough to let me work it how I want. But I can't stay in the kitchen or our quarters. I want to be a part of this.... this crew. I want to know what it was like for you..... Please Dogger. Don't shut me out of this".

 

Dogger's mouth finally snapped shut. "You might..... not like the full package Sher".

 

"Oh please. You came through alright".

 

"Some things I've done.... I don't look back on some of it proud. Other's I'd rather pretend didn't happen".

 

"Your holding back from me". Sherie said, not accusingly, but sadly. Almost resigned. "Dogger,  when I married you..... Did you think I didn't know that your life came with skeletons"?

 

"You shouldn't have to...."

 

"Deal with them? Your my husband sweetheart. That doesn't mean I can't get angry or annoyed. But this.... this life? It isn't what we built for ourselves back at home. I know you killed people and I know it still bothers you. But I know this life meant that if you hadn't, then you wouldn't have been there waiting for me at the end of that aisle. My uncle wouldn't have given me away to you and..... And I know that no matter what happens, no matter what I learn about you, I won't hate you". Sherie pushed a lock of hair that had slipped into her eye's back into place. "I mean, you know what I did. The first time we met. I cleaned myself up and made a new person out of myself for our children's sake. Raising them was the greatest accomplishment you and I ever did together..... But we're past caring for them now. Now it's time for us..... And if that means.... I'm here for the long run Dogger and I've no intention of leaving until I have what want. And I want us to reconnect. To stop being the responsible parent's and just be Dogger and Sherie.... Just like it was".

 

"You want..... Look Sher, there are things that might be.... a bit much to take at face value".

 

"I can be very open minded". Dogger shifted uncomfortably. "Something wrong"? She asked.

 

Dogger looked like he wanted to be anywhere else than where he was. "Well..... how to put this".

 

"Spit it out Dogger".

 

Dogger wrung his hands before he noticed he was doing it seemed to steel himself before looking up. "Your not the only Dominatrix on board the ship".

 

Sherie looked at him cooly, arms folded. "And how do you happen to know that"?

 

Dogger told her. Sherie's slap came, a moment later.

[Redbelle]

Jess shrugged. "I'm just a layman merchant shipper. We don't have opposing command structures that need rules and regs to figure out whose in charge of what..... Unless we convoy but that's different. Look, if she gets to be to much of a pain ship her over to the Medusa. I could use a good gunner. Maybe get her to see the other side of life and beat out some of that well meaning regimented thinking..... Because when it comes to delegation of responsibility I thinks it's universal a CO gives duty to those who can handle it and Jenus doesn't look like she could handle breakfast right now".

 

"She's got the ride to Dis to get her head on straight. You want my advice? Give her the professional treatment. She wants to hide behind discipline? Do the same. Don't give her the satisfaction of reaching out to connect while she's pulling this, better than the best stunt". Jess reached up to rub the back of her neck. "Fact is luv, if she can't follow she shouldn't be leading. Maybe she's got other qualities that put her in this position. But unless she's the best out of what you have, you need to find a lever to move her, but keep it out of her sight so she doesn't get offended by what she's likely to see as the slight. I'm sure regulations and rules will cover it though if she's determined to play the soldier".

[Kel Riever]

All about Jenus

Tallis smiled at Anika.  She began by drawing a large circle with her two index fingers, which Anika recongnized as a gesture for 'All is one' but then realized that Tallis was using it to represent something else, more like, 'All of it' or in reference to Jenus, 'You have to look at all of her'. 

There were a few more gestures with smiles and open arms, then frowns and fists.  Tallis was explaining in her way that Jenus was your best friend and worst enemy at the same time.  Then Tallis pointed to her palm, and pounded her chest.  That one took a little longer to figure out, but Tallis added words.  "To herself.  To herself."  And Anika understood that Tallis meant that Jenus was both the best friend and worst enemy, to others, and also to herself.

Tallis sat and patted a chair near the window for Anika to sit.  The warm presence of Tallis was infectious.  She went on with gestures and hand signals to explain that Jenus would lay her life down for her, even if she didn't know her.  Using her fingers to mark where Jenus' facial markings were, Tallis used it to simultaneously communicate that Jenus was a warrior.  Pounding herself, Tallis said, "Fearsome heart.  Fearsome heart."  And Anika got the sense that despite whatever had happened, Tallis would follow Jenus to the end of the galaxy.

~ ~ ~ ~

Because Jenus had taken the run straight back to the Janiri, with no pause for niceties like ice cream, Iole had followed, wanting to keep an eye on her.  But she did drop back to take the time to talk more with Ereba. 

"...And that's more of what Jenus is like.  Think about this:  how many people, soldiers, even elites, downright heroes do you know that if they hated someone, they would fight just as hard alongside them?  You can try to name a list but I call lies on anything other than a very short one.  If you want a list of people who say they would?  Sure, you can make a long list.  But it's a pretty short one when it comes to people who put their all into it when they don't like the person standing next to them.

"That's part of Jenus, too.  And I will be the first one to tell you that it still doesn't make it any better, not one bit!  Not dealing with her.  Not unless you realize to your core that because she saves your life, if she ever does, that she will be one of the biggest buttcrests you will ever come across.  Really, try having been around her for thirty years.  Do you know how much I am clear in many ways she will never change?  Never.  I mean, what happened between us?  I have earned my broken face and blows on her.  And here we are, still on the same team.  Doing the same thing. 

"You can't separate her.  Whatever it is that makes her hard is what has her save your life.  Whatever has her hate Essul is the flip side of a credit chip to the thing that would have her follow his orders without question.  It's sort of sinking in now, barely, with people.  But Jenus doesn't want to like us, nor does she want to be liked.  She couldn't care less.  What she wants to do is win.  What she wants to do is be victorious.  Why else would she try so hard going after Arian?  How many people would give up on that turian eventually, if he never changes how he is.  I will tell you one person who will never give up on him is Jenus."

Iole shrugged. "I'm not a psychologist.  There's got to be some explanation for it.  But I suggest you don't try to get her to like you, or you to like her.  As a matter of respect for your ability, she has it.  You can pick a fight with her, but there are few times I've gotten in under that crest and it is hard for me to figure out what exactly has done it the few times I have.  Something about the last run in sticks out, but I still can't quite figure out what it was that had Jenus soften to me after our combat.  I don't think it was because I broke her pelvis."

~ ~ ~ ~

Jenus was up in the armory.  She was by the fabricator.  The two Commando twins were also present, but kept to themselves, sensing the emotion and wanting to steer clear of it, though they cast a glance over their shoulders every now and then.

At the fabricator, Jenus opened the door to the materials recycler, where weapons were tossed for automatic breakdown and reuse by the machine.  She had both weapons she'd changed out a few missions back:  Her Claymore and her Carnifex.

"Idiot weapons.  Meant for something with four or five asses to haul around.  Do I look like I came from Tuchanka?"  Jenus made sure the weapons were cleared once again, removed of all ammunition, before she hurled them into the recycler.

The automated verbal warning came from the sophisticated machine's VI.  "Are you sure you want to break down your weaponry?  Some components may not be retrievable."

"Yes, you idiot machine!  And you can refabricate them or you wouldn't be on this ship as the high end fabricator we need!"  Jenus slammed the switch to obliterate her previous weaponry.  Then she started punching in the codes to make herself a standard Disciple.  "A gun is a tool.  I'm the weapon!"

As the fabricator went to work, making her a new Disciple, Jenus' eyes narrowed with mischief.

"VERA."

"Yes, Jenus?"

"I need a new armored helmet and I'd also like some hardened armor shoulder plates for my commando uniform.  External, please.  And I'd like them to have insignia displayed.  Review the rules for displaying the Council symbol with that of a galactic nation."

"In regards to your uniform, as you serve the Spectre and the Council, usage forbids the display of an individual galactic nation's emblem in a position of superiority over that of the Council.  For example..."

"Right, VERA.  But what about the exemption clauses for irregular units?"

"The exemption clauses are to make formal exceptions for the display of personal symbols of special units that are generally considered moral enhancing.  An example of this is the skull displayed on Essul Ran'Perah's helm..."

"Enough about Essul!  This is what I want the fabricator to make..."

~ ~ ~ ~

About a half hour later, Irina had returned to her cabin from whatever she'd been up to.  The door was unlocked, and whether to her surprise or not, Irina found Jenus waiting in the room, lounging on the bed.  Jenus had her Commando leathers on, with a new set of gleaming alloy shoulder pads, and she played with a combat helmet in her hands.  Jenus looked at it with satisfaction and said, "Hey, Red.  What do you think of my new gear?  You know me, I'm usually a straight up uniform asari, without any personal modifications.  But all this irregular unit operation has been rubbing off on me so I decided it was time to make statements.  You know, to boost my moral."

Jenus spun the the side of the helmet to face Irina and aimed a shoulderpad in her direction at the same time.  The helmet was black, with an unmistakable set of symbols set on either side of it in Jenus' favorite secondary color, scarlet.  It was the symbol of the Asari Republics displayed above and in the dominant position over the symbol of the Citadel Council.  That same priority of emblem display was on her external shoulder armor plates, not in color but engraved for anyone to see clearly. 

Irina knew what Jenus meant by it, and knew it was going to get under certain people's skin.

[Redbelle]

Anika nodded as Tallis explained in her own unique way. Her armour, now empty as Anika sat on the couch with her feet up so she was half sitting half lying, stood looking like a silent guard, not moving an inch. In counter point, Anika was all animated conversation as she sat up and floded her legs underneath her.

 

"You think I'll fit in? Last time I went on an assignment I didn't have armor I could get into as quick as now. Armor may not be all I am but when your up aginst professional's you can't afford to not take every advantage you can get. The rest of you have biotics and I'm huntress trained to get in close and go toe to toe with biotics..... Oh jeez, I forgot about Keith". Anika slapped her forehead and winced. "He'll be expecting me to teach him how to shoot..... I'll call Dogger. He can teach..... Or maybe not. Come to think of it I can't think of anyone who can teach rifle handling.... Maybe Priss but she's more pistol focused. There's Morgan though.... I guess his brother could show him. Oh and you have to meet Babe sometime. She's all shy but when you get her going..... Well, you have to meet her to believe her.... Oh and is Luscious still aboard? Captain wanted him questioned to see if Iyana was an emotional vampire.... Don't ask. Anyway, how do you test if someone can still feel certain feelings"?

 

Anika dropped back and grinned. "Sorry, talking to much. This is all new for me and I'm.... Well I'm excited. Little overwhelmed. Thinking ahead, trying to see where I can bring something to the team. I need to make sure my gears stowed and ready to go. Oh and Droptop needs a proper storage bay. And I need to setup the armor's maintenance frame. I was thinking in Naleena's room but then I thought that would be to much like bringing my work home and every time I go in or leave.... well I'd never be out of it. Maybe in the locker rooms? I need to tell people not to touch it. Frame's designed to stop people touching it. I didn't ask.....".

 

Anika went on as she looked between the viewport, the room and Tallis as she spoke. The nervousness was evident and a new experience for Anika who knew she was finally amoungst those with whom she was not as unique as when she was on the Medusa. Not in terms of her size or genetic tampering.....

 

These people knew how to fight. Had tailored themselves to be a well oiled fighting machine that she didn't want to disrupt, but slip into.

[Kel Riever]

"A black eye?" Morgan affirmed to Jess.  "I get the sense that it might be a bit more satisfying for you than that it would teach her anything.  And you might want to use that new, reinforced fist of yours.  Because that's some thick skull you'd be punching into."

[Kel Riever]

Tallis blew out her cheeks and made a waving motion in front of her face, then she laughed as she joked with Anika to don't worry and relax.  She started answering questions. with gestures and/or dual speech.  Anika got the sense that:

Tallis was trying to tell her not to worry about people on her last ship, they'd be fine.

Luscious, yes, was still on board.  Testing feelings wasn't going to be that hard, Anika should just trust herself.

Babe sounded interesting, but she really had no idea who Anika was talking about.  And as far as Tallis was concerned, the most interesting person from the Medusa was Anika.

A place could probably be designed for her personal equipment if Anika talked to Septerax.

And everything was going to be all right, Tallis reassured Anika.

"Easy.  Easy," Tallis said to the extremely tall human and gave her a hug.  Tallis then pulled away and made another gesture.  Anika didn't understand it, but Tallis boldly bopped Anika on the nose with the tip of her finger and said, "Naleena.  Naleena."  And then Tallis rubbed Anika's shoulder to hopefully calm her down.

 

[Redbelle]

"Hmph, Haven't got it yet luv. I don't even know what Kolme's building really. He just said he'd make one I couldn't break and kicked me out". Jess was silent as she walked back to the airlock with Morgan. "It's not that I don't value independence luv. One look at the Medusa and you know that. But there's a place for it and not for it. I was always taught that if you praise, do it in public. When you critisize, do it in private. Jenus going all passive aggressive just told everyone in that room she's not got control enough to hold back her feelings and will let things best kept under wraps slip out. So when she's in a fight, will her control hold sway then? We're all still feeling each other out and seeing her lose it and be ineffective at losing it will lead people to question if she's the right successor to Mira. She just damaged her own credibilty in front of the group and if someone doesn't point that out to her so she can watch it in the future she's going to find that she's going to be stepped on and sidelined for being problematic. Which if it was just her I wouldn't be worried. But now she's the face of a team of commando's. And I know Anika will insist on getting in tight with them.....".

 

As they neared the airlock Jess signed them out before turning to Morgan. "Jenus has issues communicating effectively and that's a bad trait to have in a team leader. She may kick ass in combat, but put her in a meeting we all saw how she blew. If the higher ups think that's what she'll do time and again, if that's her reputation, how long before they cut her out of the loop, start planning missions without her input and that team ends up in deep water's because Jenus was deemed to troublesome to work with in the planning phase? I'm glad she's got her own idea's. But in the conference room, you have to be able to manuvre and pick the battles that won't damage your credibility. Everything she said could have been said in private....... Awww, forget it. She's not one of mine..... C'mon luv. I want to get on with Medusa business. I'd like to get several matters attended to before I call up our hacker friend. Interesting handle. Goes by the name DRAGONRISE".

[Redbelle]

Anika's eye's took a faraway look for a moment as she stared at a point just over Tallis's shoulder. "Yeeeah..... Nally. You know, we still haven't decided on if we bother getting cabin of my own or if I'm going to move in with her..... It makes sense I have one. Nally will need her place to herelf on occasion and sometimes when we just need rest we can't be..... uh..... hmmm.... distracting each other". Anika's grin grew as her cheeks grew redder. "And is she distracting......".

 

Snapping back to the now Anika cleared her throat and looked down embaressed. "Ah... Not that you'd want to know of course. I mean, she's your commanding officer. That's right isn't it? Actually now I come to think of it, Who do you answer to? Whose chain of command do you fall under because right now to me it's just Naleena".

[Kel Riever]

Tallis stared blankly at Anika for a moment, then grinned with a bit of a silly,  but fun smile at Anika.   She shouldered up to her, and the fingers of one hand, pulling at them with the other, in order.

"Tallis.  Tallis.

"Jenus.  Jenus.

"Essul.  Essul.

"Naleena.  Naleena.

Tallis then gave a bit of a sheepish throw of her shoulder and crossed up her own legs on the couch.  Then Tallis began a series of gestures with her hands, ending in placing her palms together by the side of her head.  She seemed to be indicating she thought Anika should bunk with Naleena.  But then she was indicating something else, which was some sort of alternative Anika couldn't really figure out.  Tallis seemed a bit frustrated for a bit, then gave up and smiled. 

~ ~ ~ ~

Back on the Medusa, when Morgan and Jess returned, whomever was around seemed to have gotten into gear.  Maybe it was that the ship was about to leave.  Morgan and Jess caught up with a flustered Dogger, though it wasn't immediately apparent as to why.  Then both Morgan and Jess got a blip on their communicator.  It was from Babe, indicating they might want to consider meeting with Amy, or at least giving Babe an idea of how they wanted to handle leaving the Citadel with her.  Apparently Babe presumed Amy was coming along one way or the other.

Morgan said to Jess, "I was going to meet with Dahlia, but that might be best to take care of after we get under way, since she's nav.  Amy, well...that might be more of a pressing concern."

That was a pretty bad pun, Morgan thought to himself, and was thankful he didn't intend it to be one.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina grinned when she saw Jenus’ armor and helmet. “Sweet, Jenus. It’s sweet. Do you mind? Do you mind if I join you in making a similar statement. You don’t want to do this alone and be seen as the ‘malcontent’, do you? Because my morale needs improvement as well, and it needs a personal touch, too. Come on, let’s go to the fabricator. Let’s have a little fun and see how our Spectre reacts to this.”

 

Jenus returned the grin. “What do you have in mind?”

 

“You’ll see.”
 

Irina’s base armor was black and scarlet light Colossus from Kassa Fabrications. She changed over to light from the medium after her skin weave for mobility. Jenus loved that armor and was wondering what her girlfriend was going to do to it. They walked back down to the armory and to the fabricator.

 

Irina tossed her beloved Mattock into the thing. “Screw it. VERA, I want a Cerberus Harrier with full auto and semi-auto fire, red-dot sight, stability damper, and high velocity barrel…,” she said and turned and winked at Jenus, “in blue and with symbol of Earth Alliance Marines on the stock. I was a Marine, and I think it’s time to show a little pride.”

 

“Are you sure you want to do this. This operation cannot be undone.”

 

VERA began manufacturing a beautiful Cerberus Harrier matching the exact specifications for her. “Will there be anything else?”

 

“Yes,” Irina replied and tapped into her omni-tool a set of instructions. “You’ll love these, Jenus.”

 

“I would advise sitting alone on the shuttle while wearing those. I do not understand why you do not use an omni-blade modification.”

 

“The composite material of the gauntlets will give added armor protection to my forearms, and the design won’t impede my manual dexterity at all, VERA,” she said. “Besides, I like the look. The spikes, well, they’re good for my morale, and they’re intimidating. You might want a pair for close combat, Jen. Just think what you could do with a forearm bash.”

 

“Very well. I will construct a pair meeting your specifications.”  VERA replied and began construction of gauntlets with retractable silicon-carbide spikes on the forearms.

 

“Take my armor and put Systems Alliance Marines logos on the shoulders over the symbol of the Council. Not the official Alliance logo, but the Marines. I can’t be Alliance anymore, but I’ll always be a Marine. And I’d like my helmet repainted with the symbol of the Marines on the front over the symbol of the Council,” Irina said and turned to Jenus. "A little pride… for morale.”

 

The logos were plain for everyone to see. This was in full support of Jenus. It let her know she wasn’t alone. It was a gesture that Jenus wouldn’t forget.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena gave the order to get underway to Thessia. It would be a quick stop at Serrice to download a copy of the Einganan Archive at the University. The Medusa received the message that they were getting underway as well, and Thessia would be a place where Jess would have a little time to purchase some cargo of certain alcoholic beverages at fairly inexpensive prices compared to the rest of the galaxy. The mark up would be substantial in Batarian space or even elsewhere should she decide to keep some around.

 

The journey would take about 6 hours total time from departure to arrival on Serrice. The Janiri would be landing at a sports field near the computer science building on campus. Security would be tight and demonstrations were being organized against having a military vessel on University property.

[Redbelle]

On the bridge of the Medusa, Jess gave the order to get underway, then declared she'd be up in her quarter's if anyone needed her. On the way over she spotted Sherie standing patiently by the lift to her quarters.

 

"Captain. I need to speak with you".

 

"Actually Sherie I've got a lot of work to do. If Morgan or your husband....".

 

"It's about my husband that I wish to speak, and I believe this conversation is better served in private".

 

Jess looked at Sherie for the longest of time. Then sighed and jerked her head to the lift. "Come on up". She said, moving into the car with Sherie right behind her. The doors closed and the lift ascended to expel them out into Jess's quarter's. As Jess moved to call her rise up wardrobes Sherie took the time to look about the quarters.

 

Bare metal, she saw, was a rarity apart from the decking. Practically every wall had throws and sleek fabrics hanging from the ceiling around a central view port while those same fabrics were anchored to the wall, giving Jess's quarter's a Persian bazaar look.

 

"An interesting choice in decoration".

 

"Sorry it's not more 1940's luv".

 

"You think I'm old fashioned"?

 

"I think I'm damn tired and..... wait a minute. BABE"!!! Jess yelled out across her quarters. "If your still up here, wake up"! Jess listened for any sounds to indicate Babe was still in her quarters as Sherie drew up to her.

 

"Why would Babe be up here"?

 

"It's.... complicated".

 

"And you won't tell me"?

 

Jess turned an annoyed glance at Sherie. "Babe's issues are for her to decide who she does and doesn't tell. Same as I don't go blabing to every Tom, Dick and Harry what other crew choose to share".

 

"Like sexual relations with my husband"?

 

Jess sighed. "It wasn't romantic luv. And if I remember you and he weren't even a couple back then".

 

"Yet when you put out a call for help, he came running. I want to know what your intentions are with my husband Captain".

 

"Strictly honourab...... No... No dammit I can't say it with a straight face.... But if it eases your mind, I never had a married couple crew my ship before and I wasn't planning on making a move on him".

 

"Even if he asked"?

 

"What"?

 

Sherie hugged herself even as she looked away. "Dogger's heart is mine, body, soul and mind but.... they keep drifting back here. To this ship.... to you"?

 

Jess opened her mouth to say something, but snapped it shut again as she threw off her coat one handed leaving her missing arm exposed to Sherie's gaze who seeing it, simply stood a little taller as Jess stalked into her quarters. "Babe! Last chance! Speak now or cover your ears and pretend your a statue".

[Kel Riever]

One of the fabrics parted.  Babe came through, freshly showered, a relatively modern, synthetic, smooth towel covering her from chest  to mid-thigh.  Her hair was wrapped in another towel.

"Sherie, nice to see you.  Thanks for all the help before."  Babe turned to Jess.  "Is there a problem?  Oh, by the way, your new bed has arrived.  Dogger was going to make sure it got up here.  And I hope you got my message.  I've been wondering when we were going to have that meeting with Miss Babylon.  Particularly since I hear we'll be departing shortly."

Babe took another glance at Sherie.  She seemed a bit...wound.  

[Redbelle]

Jess surpressed a groan as Sherie took in Babe's apparel and the way she'd been hiding in Jess's room. She folded her arms, the linen of her shirt like blouse creasing much like her brow as she said. "Bed? Dogger"?

 

"The old one got..... wrecked".

 

"How does one wreck a bed"?

 

"Training for the professional league bed bouncing championships". Jess drawled and looked to see that Sherie was not impressed. "Babe, maybe you'd better go see Amy....".

 

"Oh no Captain, please, do let Babe stay. I'm sure we can be civil, like adults".

 

Jess raised an eyebrow and gestured over to a couch off to the side. A two piece corner affair that was arranged in a sqaure with a table in the centre. Datapads were stacked neatly on it and as Sherie reached to straighten her skirt before sitting, she eye'd one that hadn't been shut down.

 

"Monthly projections Captain"?

 

"Calculating revenue". Jess said, snatching up the pad and switching it off before flopping down in her own side of the and gesturing for Babe to sit as well. "Crew needs paying. Ship needs maintaining. Fuel needs credits and we need a healthy supply of liquid to afford more cargo to sell elsewhere".

 

"Your busy then".

 

"Immensely and I'd like to get back....".

 

"About my husband".

 

Jess sighed. "Sherie, back when it was me and my old crew I was.... frustrated. I had a lot of steam to blow off and the last Captain, Rasgul, he was.... Well let's say he knew how to show a girl a good time. Good with knots, good with finding your limits and pushing them. When I came to command I had to bury myself in the work until I was sick of it. Sick of the ship, the crew, sick of not having my Captain around to be there to help me. We do long hauls. That means we take on a lot of cargo and ship it to distant parts of the galaxy where traffic is low so relay travel isn't an option".

 

Sherie simply sat as Jess spoke. Listening as she went on. "One day one of the crew pushed me over the edge. Can't remember what it was frankly. I only remember thinking he wasn't giving me the respect I was owed. Later I found out Luscious, the Captain's brother was stirring up the crew and on long hauls, it doesn't take much to stir up people".

 

"Space faring psychology Captain. The human mind needs stimulus. Changing stimulus at that".

 

"And the Medusa wasn't built for that. It's core job is cargo hauling. Not being a pleasure liner like modern day ships. To cut a long story short I was about to go to town on that crewman when I thought, why bother? It wasn't going to help me or him. Worse, it would show the crew that I was a Captain who used the lash without offering them a carrot. Cut a long story short luv, I took that man up here and when he came back down..... Well, naturally Luscious tried to get details of what happened to twist into a story he could use against me, but Rasgul taught me well how to command a person with.....".

 

"Sex"? Sherie asked casually.

 

"It's not that. That's part of it. Optional. Not it of itself. It's less physical gratification. It's more, getting in touch with something deep inside that you keep hidden from everyone else".

 

Sherie leaned back in her seat. "Could you explain that in more detail"?

 

Jess sighed. She hated this part. "It's like this luv. On the Medusa we live in a tin can nearly year round and interact with people very superficially. We throw up barrier. Keep people at arms reach. Only interact when we need to accomplish something one person can't do alone. It's because our routine is so regimented that we fall into these ruts.... Because there's no need to get out of them. There is nothing pushing us to find reason to interact with others because by the time you finish a year aboard, the forced proximity makes you think you know everything about them..... But we don't..... Because there's one thing everyone on this ship needs to do but doesn't even try to do".

 

"And that is"?

 

"Be vulnerable". Jess said dead panning Sherie. "When we are vulnerable is when people can truly know what matter's the most to you. When you can be open to joy. But the flip side of that is being vulnerable let's people hurt you. Most people I bring aboard, the people Rasgul brought aboard, all of them had times in their lives when they got hurt and that hurt pushed them from one track in life onto another. The Medusa's no reward for something you did in your life luv. It's a place you end up when there's nothing else for you. Or at least, if you think that's so. People who come here have walls up. And on this ship that's a recipe for trouble. As Captain, my job is to knock those walls down and make these people true crew. I don't have a pool of trained personnel I can write off to a resource department for like the Janiri can. I can't request people to fill the void others leave behind. I need people to see this ship as a place where they can rest their weary souls among other's of their like and be comfortable with everyone knowing their all the same in that sense. That barrier in the past had to come down and I have my own ways of doing that".

 

"Through intercourse"?

 

"Domination mainly. But not like how you think".

 

"I'm aware of the notion of domination Captain. My career before Dogger had.... a need for understanding on that topic".

 

"Then you know that it's all fake".

 

"You mean the play acting? The exaggeration"?

 

"Yes..... That's all fake. That's not the part that allows you to dominate another".

 

"And what do you think is"?

 

Jess raised her chin. "Domination isn't of the body, it's of the mind. It's the inspiring of other's. My job is to take my crew to height's they never imagined. To let them feel sensations they thought they could never imagine. In the end, it's about enticing people in with imagination and then let them come to the conclusion that no one else can match you. In that way they come to think of you in a new light".

 

Sherie's eye's narrowed. "It sounds like justification for a wanton lifestyle".

 

"Partly. I admit that. I can't deny that dominating one of my crew feels good. But here's the thing luv.... It's got to be good for them to. If it isn't then I've failed. This isn't all just for me luv. Between me and a partner there has to be a connection. Something that let's the other know how we both feel. If I'm hurting or making someone uncomfortable I need to know and not cross that line..... but everyone has a different line. Finding it, making them aware of it. giving them confidence that they are in safe hands while they show me their inner most self. Like I said luv. There's no greater time we are vulnerable when we're in the act of love. One poorly timed yawn or gesture can ruin an evening. I've seen it happen. Because when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, when the walls come down, it's also the time when we look for the littlest of reasons to raise them back up..... Anyone I bring up here, I do so to give them confidence... In themselves. In me. That there is a world of possibility they never imagined and that when they've experienced enough, if they ask me to stop.... Then it stops. No if's. No buts. Up here when I'm not working I can make people's fantasises, come true. The scary curiosity of things the galaxy, in all it's civilised wisdom, says is wrong.... But a person can't stop wondering about. Up here I can sate that curiosity and leave them with answers to questions like, 'am I not good enough'? 'Will so and so like me if I ask her out'? 'Do I have the courage to push beyond what I'm used to'......".

 

Sherie narrowed her eye's. "What are you saying Captain. I sense a point".

 

Jess leaned back in her seat. "Case in point. Dogger spotted you on one of our stays overnight and for the next fortnight, he couldn't stop talking about you".

 

"We met in a cafe. I thought he was loud, brutish and clumsy".

 

"He is. And you know what he said to us all? 'That's one classy dame who will never look twice at me. He'd list off reasons and try to convince himself to give up on you".

 

"Well, we both know he didn't".

 

Jess nodded. "Because it ticked me off that he was acting so beaten without even trying to woe you. I got the details out of him on your first meet. Fact is, you intimidated him".

 

"Dogger? Intimidated"? Sherie actually laughed. "I have a hard time believing that".

 

"Believe it. You caught his eye. But he imagined himself as being unworthy. After that I took every opportunity to dock the Medusa on the planet you were on and worked Dogger hard to boost his self esteem. He's a pretty good, solid guy.... But you turned him into a teenager about to go on his first date. You were something he never knew he wanted and he didn't know how to deal with that till I helped him figure out a way through it.... And in the end, he went back and.....".

 

"Opera". Sherie said wistfully. "He'd bought two tickets and took me to the opera house".

 

"Why did you go"?

 

Sherie actually turned her eye's away. "Because he kept turning up to try and talk to me. Enough that I knew that he had an interest in me. When he came to me about the opera.... Well I didn't believe he would actually like it and imagined he'd walk out halfway through. But it was a show I'd heard about from a friend and since he was offering I figured, free ticket. Public gathering. Why not? When I arrived he was dressed up smartly....".

 

"Uh.... Don't remind me. took ages to find him a good suit shop".

 

"..... We went in, he was a proper gentleman and to my surprise he stayed for the whole show. And when we left, I asked him if he'd enjoyed it....">

 

"He said yes"?

 

"He said he'd hated it. He said he could barely make out the words the singer was singing. The seating was to cramped. The set's and costumes looked cheap and......". Sherie actually laughed. "...... And he was right! That had been the worst production I'd ever seen and when he'd asked me why I hadn't left when I'd told him that, I said I couldn't very well leave after he'd gone to so much effort on my behalf.... And he said he'd stayed because he wanted to make sure I got a taxi before he departed". Sherie smiled as the memories came flooding back to her. "Goodness.... It feels lie a lifetime ago.....".

 

"Sherie.... I will never come between you and your husband. But it was on this ship that Dogger made the decision to get you to notice him. I helped, but it came from him..... And yet, somehow, I don't think he believes that. I think he came back because he thinks he owes me the fact that he went out and courted you. But to my mind, he did the hard work. I was just there to push him along".

[Cknarf]

Lilith

 

Lilith Ezra watched on the monitor, the madness that had unfurled in the main room of her penthouse. The mysterious young man who had arrived earlier had managed to get even the most uptight of her acquaintances onto the floor. He was clearly under the influence, thanks to the always generous Mr. Taetrus. Not that it mattered to her.

 

“Mica.”

 

“What?”

 

“Inform Mr. Elias that I would like to speak with him."

 

“About what?"

 

“None of your damn business. Just get him up here!”

 

“Uuuugh. Yes, mother.”

 

“And find his asari.”

 

“You want me to bring her too?”

 

“No. Just keep her busy.”

-----------------------------------------------
Mica

 

Spoiler

^Click to boogie^

 

“Mr. Elias?” Mica shouted over the noise as she approached

 

“Yooooooooo! You want in on this?” Frank asked, sandwiched between a couple guys on the makeshift dancefloor.

 

“I’d rather not. Listen, my mom wants to speak with you.”

 

Frank just kept grinding.

 

"Privately."

 

“No sh*t?” Frank shoved away his dance partners. “Sorry boys!I gotta go talk binnassssss.”

 

Mica siezed him by the arm, and dragged him away from the party.

 

“God damn, I love a woman in armor.What do you say we stop here and uh.. get weird?”

 

Mica rolled her eyes, and yanked his arm a bit harder.

 

“Where’s your woman?”

 

“Pffft. Not here.” Frank pulled another tablet from his pocket, and swallowed hard.

 

“She left you here?”

 

“No, she left like, before I even got here.”

 

“What?”

 

“Oh. Wait, you mean, ha. She went outside.”

 

Mica stopped before the doors to her mother's room.

 

"She's waiting for you inside."

 

"A'ight."

 

Mica headed for the balcony to find Kira.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan was on the bridge, Dahlia was present, and...Aelias.

"Aelias?..."

"Welcome back aboard your kidnapping vessel, First Mate Morgan Severn.  Is there anything you'd like me to relay to the crew?"

Morgan hesitated a moment, then said.  "You don't have to..."

"...no, I do.  Apparently it's good for me.  In the sense that what's waiting off this ship for me is much worse.  Your people have compelling ways to convince a person in need."

Dahlia was at navigation.  Morgan tossed her a questioning gaze and then said to Aelias.  "Well, welcome aboard nevertheless.  It's at least nice to see you."

"Nice to see you, too."

"All right," Morgan said to the bridge.  "Let's get the old vessel fired up.  Without emergency conditions pressing, this time."

~ ~ ~ ~

Babe sat on the couch, listening just enough to catch the details of the conversation.  She was sorting out some of the clothes she'd come with, particularly the cropped leather jacket with pins and prints.  Eventually, she dried her hair off with the towel and looked around without being able to find something to blow her hair out with.  The datapads were stacked near, and her omni-tool had also somehow made it to the table.  She picked up her omni-tool, crossed one leg over the other in her towel, and started scrolling through some screens.  Inadvertently, Babe caught the contents of a datapad or two, and tried to look away though she was pulled by her curiosity.  Babe settled for watching Sherie and her peculiarities.  She probably stared a bit too much as Sherie started glancing back over at Babe.

After the third glance.  Babe turned back into her omni-tool, and messaged Amy Babylon.

To:  Miss Babylon
From:  Babe

I suggest you make yourself comfortable.  Your requested meeting will be along shortly, I'm sure.  In the meantime, I would set yourself up to conduct business remotely as the wait may be a bit longer than expected.  You haven't sent out your allotted communications yet, I've noticed, so perhaps you would like to craft one of those.  I'm sure your staff will need proper general guidance in your absence.  Forward any additional requests you have to me and make yourself presentable.
 

[TheMajonese]

Stop sending your crazy assassins after me!

 

It was a somewhat paranoid behavior of Arian to always keep the messages that he sent via the extranet short and cryptic. But he was confident that his friend Ruyak would perfectly understand it. And next time he could get to Omega, Arian had to have a talk with the krogan. But for now, there were other things on his mind.

 

He had been the first one to leave the conference room after the meeting to have enough time to check his gear before the next mission. Because of that he didn't know what was going on with Jenus, only that she seemed to have a problem with Essul's promotion. Not that he really cared about this, it was her problem, not anyone else's.

 

After he returned to his quarters and grabbed both his armored helmet and his new weapon, Arian was on his way to the armory. Of course he could just bring his gear to the turian quartermaster but he wasn't going to let anyone even touch his armor. Arian preferred to work on his gear somewhere near the fabricator because since the machine wasn't used very often, it was rare that anyone would get close but when he placed the Typhoon on the table and the helmet right next to it, he spotted Irina and Jenus at the fabricator. The red-haired human now had a logo of the Alliance on her armor and her helmet.

 

Arian thought of Anika's heavy armor and looked down at himself, then he suddenly began to laugh, something that hardly anyone had ever heard from him. Custom armors..., he thought in disbelief and continued with his work. Since the Typhoon was going to be a lot more work than his armor, he began with checking his helmet that was shaped like the head of a dragon. Our enemies will probably mistake us for mercenaries...can't deny that it would actually be an advantage.

[Kel Riever]

"Citadel Control has given us the go ahead," Aelias informed Morgan.

"All right, pilot.  Take us out, easy this time."

Marshall took his time as he eased the Medusa away.

Aelias then called over to Morgan again.  "Commander Selani from the Janiri on the com."

"Put her through," Morgan agreed.  Then he spoke aloud to the Janiri's Captain.  "This is the First Mate speaking."

Selani's voice came through the general com, for all on the bridge to hear.  "I understand Captain Stone has a separate course in mind for the Medusa?"

"Yes, Captain.  We'll be on our way to obtain Omni-tools for trade, and then meeting a contact who will assist us with our mission."

"Affirmative, Morgan Severn, is it?  We will be in touch.  Selani out."

Morgan turned to Dahlia.  "All right, here's where Jess wanted us to plot our course..."

~ ~ ~ ~

"Keith?"

"Yes Mom?"  Keith had that other sniper rifle of his out, the one Morgan had used.  He was wondering when he's see Anika next and if she was going to tear the gun apart in the same way as his Revenant.  Morgan had fired it without pulling anything off it, but maybe Morgan didn't have the time to...

"Keith!  Pay attention.  Have you seen Jen lately?"

"No Mom.  I'm not her Mom."

Rosanne Severn came into Keith's cabin and shot him a glare. 

Keith got serious.  "Okay, I'm sorry.  I just...I haven't seen her.  I figured she was reading a datapad or something.  It's a big ship, I'm sure she's around.  And she wouldn't do anything stupid.  It's Jen.  You have to trust her."

Rosanne twisted her mouth worriedly.  "Based on what we have gone through recently, it isn't about trust.  I'm concerned.."

~ ~ ~ ~

Outside the Janiri's gangway, at the security checkpoint, Jen Severn stared up at the camera.

"Uhm, Janiri, this is Jen Severn.  Morgan's sister.  Uhm, permission to come aboard?"

Jen was in her silver suit, a datapad and her medical kit in her hands.

[Cknarf]

Kira, Outside.

 

“You’ve got to be kidding me...”

 

“What do you want me to do?” Kira asked, leaning slightly over the balcony for a better view.

 

I miss Nos Astra...

 

“Just… gather what you can."

 

“I doubt I’ll get much out of anyone at this point.”

 

“Do your best. Marius out.”

 

Kira heard the sound of a door opening. Looking back, she saw the guard from earlier.

 

“Hey. Everything okay out here?” Mica asked, lighting up a smoke.

 

“Just getting some fresh air. I was actually about to head back inside to find my date.”

 

“He’s still tearing up the dance floor. You smoke?”

 

Kira nodded, and accepted the already lit cigarette that was handed to her. Mica lit another for herself, before leaning against the railing next to Kira.

 

“So. What’s your game?”

 

Kira glanced over. “What do you mean?”

 

“I mean How do you make your money?”

 

“I dance.”

 

Mica raised an eyebrow

 

“Nude. For money.”

 

“Pfft. As if you could buy a rock like that with stripper money.”

 

“You’d be surprised, child.” Kira smiled a little.

 

“Seriously, though. Everyone here is some type of scum.”

 

“Even the little human with the ridiculous beard?”

 

“Especially the little human with the stupid beard.” Mica laughed.” He might biggest criminal in the building. Except for maybe Mr. Taetrus… He’s one of the largest dealers in the Milky Way.”

 

“Weapons?” Kira asked, her almost immediate response let Mica know her business without actually stating it.

 

“Drugs. I heard he’s even got contacts on Khar’Shan.” Mica flicked away her ashes over the balcony.

 

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

Frank

 

Frank explored the seemingly empty room for a few minutes, uttering 'neat' every couple of seconds. Ezra had a thing for blades, apparently, as the walls were covered with them. Frank reached out for a claymore.

 

"Please, don't touch."

 

Frank turned his attention to the woman at his side.

 

"The weapons, I mean."

 

Frank looked her up and down, mostly for identification purposes. Everything was a bit of a blur at this point.

 

Hot. Grandma. Not blue.

 

"Sup?”

[Redbelle]

After a while of talking, Sherie left Jess's quarter's and Jess leaned back on the coach, kicking her boots off to rest them on the furniture. "I think you've got another admirer Jocie". Jess said, poking Babe in her side. "She couldn't stop looking over at you the whole time. Gotta say though, she seemed to have a handle on it though I imagine she's heading straight for Dogger and..... well let's just say she'll demand Dogger to perform one of his marital duties".

 

Jess's head flopped back as she let out a sigh and moved to rub her eyes. Finding only one receiving the attention she wanted and mentally kicking herself. "Bloody phantom limbs.... Babe, I'm going to call down to the bridge, make sure Morgan's got things moving in the right direction. Then I'll call him up and.....". Jess stopped for a moment, then sighed. "..... And I'm stuck wondering if maybe I need to widen the circle of people who know who I and Amy are. You and Morgan are it on this ship. Anika on the other. But I'm wondering if I should let Dahlia know. She was a big part of getting the Medusa back. Plus she's got seniority over the juniors..... My gut tells me letting the cat out the bag is bad enough but if I try to stuff it back in it'll only lead to more trouble..... What do you think"?

 

Leaning back and closing her eye's Jess yawned. "When I'm done luv, I want to deal with Amy. Sister Amy. Not science Amy. You know....". Jess's yawn became infectious as she stretched herself as best she could. ".....The one whose trying to turn you and Morgan into TerF public relation tools".

[Kel Riever]

Babe did her best to stifle her yawn, but couldn't.  She said, as she took a look up and out Jess' ceiling.

"Amy Babylon might have a few questions about the meeting not happening on the Citadel."

She thought about Jess revealing the information about her sister.  The name Jess just referred to Babe as was also flipping through her thoughts.

"I'm...I don' tknow about what to tell.  I don't know Dahlia well enough.  And, by the way, I think it was 'Joss' by the way."

Babe had a sudden, uncomfortable squirm.

"The name...that name was Jocelyne Vivian...."  Babe stopped before she said the last name.  The memory coming back to her had a haunting effect.  "And I remember my father calling me Joss, I think.  But I stopped using it because I think someone else used it in a way that made me feel bad when they said it."

Was it her sister? 

The memory of a punishment came back to Babe.  She didn't want to remember it.  There was a lash involved and it appeared out of thin air.

Babe looked worriedly at Jess.  "You can call me Jocie.  I liked Babe because...because I didn't have to think about the...you know the people who gave me that nickname did it at least because they liked me."

Something seemed to get Babe up out of her seat, all by itself.  She stood there in her towel, and ran a hand through her drying hair. 

"I should get dressed for this meeting." 

Jess saw Babe looked somewhat pale.