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[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina

 

Irina sat in her quarters bouncing a tennis ball against the outer wall of her cabin. ‘I can’t deal with this,’ she said. What the f*ck? I can’t deal with the immaturity any more.

 

And I paid 75,000 credits on a f***ing skin weave. What the hell was I thinking? I could have used that money. Fortunately, I have enough to get home.

 

“VERA.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“VERA, how much can I get for a 2180 Starstreamer? I paid about 200,000 CR new,” Irina asked and continued bouncing the ball.

 

“With depreciation it is worth 120,000 CR. Do you wish to sell it?”

 

“Yes, find me a buyer and sell the bloody thing. Handle the transaction for me. It’s on the Citadel doing nothing but racking up monthly storage charges.” Irina said. “And mark me as scrubbed for the next mission. I’m not feeling well.”

 

“Have you seen the doctor?”

 

“It’s nothing the doctor can fix. My head isn’t in the game and I could get someone killed,” she said. “Scrub me.”

 

She clicked off VERA’s terminal and continued throwing the ball against the floor and wall.

 

Then she tapped her omni-tool and clicked on the terminal. “VERA, put me through to 10-61- 02 5022 111.”

 

An older woman picked up. “Hello?”

 

“Mum?”

 

“Irina?”

 

“Yeah, Mum, it’s me after all this time.”

 

“We’ve been worried sick about you. We thought you were dead.”

 

“Well, almost, I did my best, but as luck would have it, here I am. How’s Dad?”

 

“We divorced a couple years ago,” Her mother replied. “He couldn’t deal with the idea that you might be dead, and he became miserable to live with. You never even wrote.”

 

Irina started crying. “I’m… sorry… I wasn’t fit to be around anyone… after the war… it’s really complicated. But now, I just want to come home…. I need to come home.”

 

She and her mother talked for another half-hour, after which she started packing her gear. She found a picture of Jenus among her belongings. She paused and looked at it for a moment, then set it on her night stand. All of her gear fit inside two duffle bags excluding her weapons. She stashed them in the port observation lounge, and took the elevator up to Naleena’s quarters.

 

Naleena was inside working on the deployment plans for the mission when Irina buzzed her door.

 

“Enter.”

 

Irina walked inside wearing her BDU pants and a hoodie.

 

“I just received a report from VERA that you’re scrubbed for the mission,” Naleena turned to her and said. “You appear in perfect health. I don’t see any reason why you can’t be assigned to a team.”

 

Irina looked at her. “I’m resigning. I’ve decided to return to Earth, be with my family, and maybe meet someone and raise a family.”

 

Naleena sat dumbfounded. "Aren't you and Jenus?"

 

"It doesn't appear that way anymore," Irina replied

 

“So you're just going to quit and leave?" Naleena asked.

 

"There's nothing holding me here anymore."

 

"What about Vayne?"

 

"He's a friend, but that's different," Irina replied. "Look, I've made up my mind. I'm leaving."

 

"But you can’t. Not this close to a mission,” Naleena said. “I need you.”

 

“Sorry, Boss…. I just can’t do this anymore.... Tell Vayne I said goodbye,” Irina said as her eyes welled and left.

 

“Irina!” Naleena shouted, but there was no reply.

 

///////////

 

Irina gave VERA a forwarding address for her last paycheck, for team contact, and instructions, “if Jenus is really interested this is where she can find me.” She just couldn’t face anyone right now, and she never expected to hear from Jenus again. She left the ship, turned around for one last look then turned her back on it and took her first step toward a different life. A life that would be different, a simple life without the violence and horrors she’d seen over the past several months, and one without aliens. She’d be welcomed as a war hero in her home town, but she just wanted quiet.  

 

In the spaceport, Irina went into a hair salon and had her natural auburn hair color restored and her hair done in a French braid. Anyone from the ship looking for someone with bright red hair would miss her as she walked to the terminal to buy her ticket and check her bags and weapons. Her permits would allow her to take them home with her.

 

Her supershuttle to Earth with stops at Thessia, and The Citadel left in four hours. She bought a book at a gift shop, sat in seat at the gate waiting and read.

[Cknarf]

Just outside of Milgrom...

 

"Did you wanna go back for more? We got plenty of room left in the holds."

 

"That won't be necessary." Marius replied, while closely examining the metallic object he had snagged from the vault. "Take us back to the Citadel."

 

"You sure bro? That's a lotta money we left sittin' down there."

 

"You heard me, Quintus."

 

"Alright, alright. No need to get all fuckin'... you about it. Sh*t."

 

Quintus began preparing the ship for takeoff, as Marius started unloading crates from the Kodiak.

 

"Hey, bro?"

 

"What is it, Quintus?" Marius sighed.

 

"Are we uh... still goin'?"

 

"Going where?"

 

"Well, you said if we got the stuff, which we totally did, we could make a trip to my  uh... all-time favorite vacation destination."

 

Marius sighed again.

 

"I suppose I did say that, didn't I..." He stroked at his mandible. "I'll think about it."

 

"Oh, come on, bro. It'll be fun. Come ooooon. C'MAAAAAAAAAAAAAN--"

 

"I said I'll think about it." Marius turned his omni-tool to silent, and got back to work.

 

"C'MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!" Quintus' voice echoed over the PA.

[Kel Riever]

Iole and Tallis opened the door to their cabin.  They’d both left Anika and Ereba behind after the strange outcome of the session.  It had been some time before they exited the sim room, however, wanting to give Irina and Jenus some time to work things out.  It was a surprise to find Jenus in the cabin alone.

“Where’s Red?  Where’s Red?”  Tallis wondered.

Jenus glanced up from her bunk where she lay, said nothing, then looked away again.

“Come on, Jenus,” Iole prodded, “You didn’t leave on the best of terms.”

Jenus glared.  “We talked!  Is that what you wanted to know, Goldie?  We said things.  We’re through with the conversation.  She’s probably in her cabin.  If you want to know how she is, why don’t you go and ask her yourself?”

Tallis was actually shocked.  Even for Jenus, the reaction was cold.  Especially considering who it was about.

“Because you should know how she is, Jenus,” Iole replied with weight in her voice.  “Or at least have an idea.  The way you’re talking makes it sound like you don’t care.”

There was a slight shaking in Jenus’ voice, but she forced herself to steady it as she spoke onward.  “I told you down in that room how it was for me.  Do I look like I have time to hold everybody’s hand?  For all the years I’m going to live I still don’t have enough of them to spend chasing people who are going to turn their back on me.  Maybe I shouldn’t worry about it, did you think of that?  Maybe she should get lost, since she’s got more of a thing for that giantess who wants to step in and start running everything.”

“No way!  No way,” Tallis protested.  She was obviously upset by how Jenus was.

Iole put a hand on Tallis’ shoulder and held her gaze, the moment passing between them becoming clear.  Tallis, though she didn’t want to, stepped backwards and out of the cabin.  Once the door closed, Iole turned to focus on Jenus.

“You don’t mean what you are saying…”

“I do, Goldie!”

Iole got very quiet, and sat down at the edge of Jenus’ bunk, moving into her space.

“You do not, and it’s time you listened to me now…”

~ ~ ~ ~

Every minute that ticked away of those last moments before Irina would leave gave nothing but the passage of people who didn’t know who she was, nor did they care.  Just people coming and going, waiting for shuttles, passing time.  There was the occasional conversation of interest that could be eavesdropped on, or sight of someone who stood out, but all within the realm of the mundane.

There was no Jenus.  And if there was some hope that she would show up at the last minute, that hope bled out as it was finally time for Irina to board.  A last look around left nothing to question.  There was no Jenus.

The line was short for boarding.  There was a volus family of three in front of Irina.  Ahead of them was a turian who looked at the news feed.  The boarding steward, who asked for tickets with forced enthusiasm. 

Then Irina felt someone grab her arm above the shoulder.  Her instincts were to pull away, nobody should be grabbing her, and then the threat of people who might be out to harm her came into her mind.  The grip tightened, and Irina turned, ready to deal with whoever it was that was harassing her.

And then she saw it was Jenus, who stared at her with dark eyes, wordlessly.  There was a strain on her face, her emotion ready to break forth, but somehow it was stuck, frozen behind a wall of agony.  Jenus couldn’t talk, but she was there, and she wouldn’t let go.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina turned and tears were streaming down her face as she held Jenus in an embrace that she never wanted to let go.

 

She turned to the boarding steward. "Get my bags and gear."

 

He smiled and nodded.

 

"Armali Starlines flight 493 for Nevos now boarding at Gate 32... please have your boarding passes ready." the attendant announced at an adjacent gate.

 

"I'm glad you came," Irina said, her arm still tightly around Jenus. "They have to get my bags. Let's find some place and sit." She guided Jenus to a couch in the now empty gate area and just held her.

 

People walked by and no one looked. These scenes were common in spaceports: two people with their lives so intertwined they couldn't be separated. Somehow they'd get through this.

[Cknarf]

Citadel Docks, Aboard the Vepr.

 

“Thirty minutes ‘til we’s up out this ******, and on our way to the promised land!”

 

Quintus’ voice boomed over the Vepr’s intercom, much, much louder than usual. At least Frank thought it did, as he filled the toilet with a seemingly never-ending stream of vomit. Never in his life had he experienced a hangover such as this. The headache he was experiencing was on par with the one associated with the Royal Special, if not stronger. The mixture of drugs and alcohol in his system likely would have proved lethal, if not for Lilith’s last-second injection.

 

Frank reached up to flush, briefly stopping for a moment, feeling as though his body wasn’t quite finished revolting against him. After several more heaves, he figured it was safe enough to leave the bathroom.

 

Adir arrived on deck two, just as Frank was shuffling into his quarters.

 

“I brought you more ice.” The quarian held up a frozen pack.

 

For once, Adir found himself on the receiving end of a crushing hug.

 

Taking the pack in hand, Frank entered his room, and closed the door behind him.

[Redbelle]

Anika spotted Ereba as she pressed the weights on the bench. It seemed her encounter with Jenus had left everyone feeling out of sorts and the exercise room had cleared out shortly there after. Anika however was trying to get to know this member of the team and as Ereba finished her last rep, Anika reached down and held the weight's as she pushed them back up onto the rack.

 

"Subbing for Mira"? She asked as Ereba rose from the bench and Anika handed her a towel. "We heard stories on the Medusa. Not much though. We had this comm officer. He didn't take well to the responsibility. What did happen with Mira in the end"? She asked as she held up a water bottle for Ereba. "And how did you get involved with this team? Seems like you managed to fit in just fine..... Did Jenus give you a hard time too"?

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Ereba took the bottled and drank. "Thanks. From what I hear Mira is back on Thessia waiting for an arm to finish growing for her. Then they'll attach it. Then she's got rehab and all that. You know how it is," she said and sat on the bench then laughed a little. "Me? I guess I drew the black card with my CO enough times they shipped me out. Nah, Jenus never gave me a hard time. I just follow orders right now and try to stay out of trouble. Goddess knows I got into enough of it. I should be a gunnery sergeant by now, but I opened my mouth way too many times." she looked at Anika directly in the eyes. "That's what happens when you go blood rage on your CO.

 

"So I promised my girlfriend, Shay, I'd keep my mouth shut and behave myself. I'm gonna make first sergeant then I'm putting in for discharge. When Mira comes back, I'll go back to my old unit, I hope.... if the military doesn't screw this up."

 

Ereba took a breath, and continued. "Now your boss needs to talk to her squad leaders a bit more before she makes an appointment, but I understand why she made this one. That Batarian? I saw the way he held the team together, and he can fight. That's what she wants.

 

"And you want to know what's funny? I could write letters to home and say exactly the crap I've seen while on this team and no one would believe it. Real live Prothans? Collectors? VERA? VERA in a Geth? Yeah, right they'd really believe that stuff. My dad would think I'd been drinking too much."

[Cknarf]

Widow, Aboard the Vepr II

 

Adir and Quintus

 

Aside from a few poorly played chords from an extremely out of tune guitar, all was quiet in the cockpit, as the VI piloted the Vepr towards the relay.

 

A loud gasp from Quintus caused Adir to perk up, and focus on his station

 

“What? What’s wrong?” The quarian asked, quickly scanning over details of the ship.

 

“I think I just had one a them ef… effinitys. Epenities. Amenaties?” Quintus turned in his seat.

 

“You mean an epiphany?” Adir suggested.

 

“Yeah, right. I just had one a those.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Quintus nodded. “When we get there, I’m gonna bring this everywhere I go.”

 

Adir was quiet, as he waited for Quintus to finish. It quickly became clear that was all he had to say.

 

“That’s it?”

 

“I’m going to use it to help me score. Sh*t, I might even be able to help you get some action, old man.” Quintus plucked a few more strings.

 

“As if I need your help talking to women.” Adir scoffed. “I was quite popular with the ladies in my younger days, you know. Why do you think I never returned from my pilgrimage?” He chuckled

 

“I always thought you were exiled?”

 

“Keelah, no. Although I probably should have been, for some of the things I did...” Adir shrugged, smiling under the helmet.

 

“Do I feel a story comin' on? I think I feel a story comin' on.” Quintus leaned forward a bit.

 

Adir just waved the thought away.

 

“C’maaaaan. Let it out, you old dirty bastard. Drop some a that old guy wisdom on me.” He laughed.

 

“Not right now.” Adir acted like he had to do something at his station. “We should get back to work.”

 

“Caaaaan do!” Quintus started plucking. As usual, it was terrible. What wasn’t terrible, however, was the turian’s singing voice. Apparently the guy could sing.

 

“Almost heaven, West Virginiaaa… Blue Ridge Mountians, Shenandoah riverrr…”

 

“Life is old there, older than the trees… Younger than the mountains, blowin’ like a breeze…”

 

“Country roads, take me hooooome, to the place, I beloooong, West Virginiaaaa, mountain mamaaaa, take me hoooome, country roads…”

 

Why he chose to play a song by a 20th century Earth musician is beyond me.

 

“It really is a shame, you know?” Quintus suddenly stopped playing.

 

“What, your lack of guitar skills?”

 

“That hurts, man. But no, not my lack of guitar skills.” He carefully set his instrument down. “It’s a shame that your people are stuck inside those suits, and in rickety old ships.”

 

“Tell me about it.” Adir sighed.

 

“All those fiiiiine dextro chicks, trapped in their skin tight suits that leave almost nothing to the imagination… Mmmm…” Quintus made a lady shape with his hands. “You know what? Forget Thessia. I say we set course for Rannoch.”

 

“What, are we going to retake the homeworld?” Adir laughed. "Just the five of us?"

 

“Damn straight.” Quintus nodded. “I bet they got some killer beaches there…”

 

“I really wouldn’t know. I suppose I could find something on the--”

 

“Shh shh shhhh…” Quintus closed his eyes, as he imagined all of those glorious quarian butt cheeks, jiggling happy and free on the sands of Rannoch.

 

“Aww yeah…”

 

“While I can’t help but agree that our women are indeed blessed with the galaxy’s finest curvature, I’m not about to embark on a suicide mission for the sole purpose of ogling them.”

 

“Hey, you’d get a home out of it too.” Quintus added.

 

“This is my home, Quintus.”

 

“You know what I mean.”

 

“I’ll never get to see the homeworld in person, nor will any other quarian alive today, and I’ve come to accept that.”

 

“Don’t be so negative, old man. You know, someday, the quarians are gonna take the fight to those synthetic bastards, and you can bet your ass I’ll be there fighting alongside them.”

 

“You’re willing to die for the quarian people?” Adir asked, perhaps feeling touched by the pilot’s words.

 

“Die? F*** no. I plan on survivin’ that sh*t, so I can reap the benefits of being a big war hero on a planet full of hotties that ain’t never been loved before.”

 

Adir just shook his head.

 

“What? You think I was just gonna do it out of the kindness of my heart? Shiiiiiit.”

 

“You know, just because they’re on Rannoch doesn’t mean they will magically acquire an immune system…”

 

Quintus just shrugged.

 

“Ugh." Adir rolled his eyes. "We’re approaching the relay.” He turned back to his station.

 

Quintus turned as well, taking manual control of the Vepr in order to make the jump to the Parnitha system.

[Redbelle]

Anika nodded as she brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Nally does tend to do it all herself. A life of self reliance and hiding from authority may have made her Spectre material, but, and don't tell her I said this. But sometimes I worry her past is getting in the way of accepting asking for advice. Now Jenus is being controlling and demanding things without explaining why she wants them. Back on the Medusa, when I was new there, Jess always talked things through with me till we got a measure of the other. We didn't click right away. She was too brash. Took risks. But she always took time to explain why she felt she had to take those risks. That's important I think. Communicating. Listening. Doing both effectively".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"So, you think maybe I might be the one to talk to her about it? You know, since I'm not too close to the situation and all that," Ereba asked while she was breaking down her rifle. "Mira must have been a really good leader, but what I think's going on is that she's trying to prove she's as good or better than Mira, and she's doing that by being tough. So Jenus thought she had to take you on to prove her toughness to the others. Red got in her way and showed her up. Red's a veteran. Kinda like a matron. Her stepping in was okay, but....

 

Ereba shook her head as she checked the barrel. "But you two shouldn't have screwed around like that either. That was bad. If you'd gone at it even half-assed it would have been better. What you did, though..., it really looked bad. Now Goldie and Two-times, they understood. And me? I'm an outsider filling in. I follow orders and observe if you know what I mean. But Jenus was humiliated, and for a fire team leader? I don't know how she's gonna recover from that. All I know is that it's gonna be mighty quiet in our next training session.

 

"You know I have no other choice now but to put a Council logo on my helmet and an Asari emblem over it, now," Ereba added. "I have to do the same with my armor. I have to show support for our squad leader to let her know that she's not a joke. It's our way." She looked up at Anika as she finished putting her rifle in its case. "You want to be part of this unit? I'd suggest you do that, too. You're from Earth, aren't you? So put Earth's flag over the Council's. In fact, I suggest everyone in this unit do this now."

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul entered the workout area right at that moment, walking in silently as he glanced towards the two inside. He walked pass Ereba and Anika, pausing to give the both of them a courtesy tilt of his head as he went towards the interface of the holodeck. He typed in some of his usual settings, waiting as the system scanned in his body and generated an opponent for him to fight. A simple light-construct of basic-humanoid appearance, and no discernible features, a vague outline of a face with its glowing features.

 

Something that he could hit a lot, without feeling guilty or worried about it. Essul cracked his knuckles as he brought himself into a fighting stance, both arms at chest level and his body at a 45 degree angle to his opponent, left arm leading, and his legs in a basic stance, as the computer assumed a similar pose. Hand-to-Hand fighting was what he normally did to blow off some steam. And that paperwork had left him quite stemmed indeed.

 

The hologram ran forward and tried to land a haymaker, Essul's left arm moving up to smack it aside at the wrist, and his right arm lashing out as he took a step towards the hologram, turning his torso with the deflecting left strike, and sending his right fist into the holograms jaw. It backed off, Essul held his distance, and the two began to slowly walk, circling one another.

 

   ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

 

Vayne walked along the open-air corridor as he slowly approached his room, counting the numbers of the different apartments as he finally came to his own.

 

Number 8715, With an impressive shady look at the towering skyscrappers above, and a queezy inducing look at the hazy ground below, the winds blocked by the field generators of the apartment complex to keep the residents from feeling the heat, the strong winds, and from jumping to their deaths.

 

He brought his omnitool up to the door, having it scan his ID to confirm it was him as the security locks and sentries disabled from inside the room. He opened it up as he stepped through the threshold, the lights coming on with a flicker as he walked through the entrance hallway, and into a large studio he owned. It was spartan looking, a basic metal paneling on the walls, floor, and ceiling, an L shaped couch face his TV, 2 desks aside to a wall with a bookshelf between them, a kitchen area that had been quite neglected, his armory of course, glass cases for some of his mementos gear, and a thick layer of dust on everything as Vayne pressed his hand on a counter, running it along it to see the large clumps of grey matter come sliding off and go into the air.

 

"Wonder how the fish are doing..." He said as he walked towards the tank, having invested in an automatic feeder and tank cleaner for the things. He dusted off the glass, looking into the clean aquarium with curiosity as the automatic feeder dispensed some food, the Khar'shan Snapping Eel sliding out of its hiding place to snatch up the bits of dried meat as vayne smiled.

 

"Good ol' Snap-jaw. Did you miss me, snappy? I missed you..." He said with a dopey grin on his face as he walked over towards one of his cabinets, going to get the dried jerky he used for his eels food as he hummed to himself.

 

Neglected as it was, it was good to be home for a while.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Ereba returned to the Commando quarters and saw Iole and Tallis sitting playing cards. She opened her locker and took out her armor and her helmet, and looked at the others.

 

"Goldie, Two-times, grab your armor and helmets and follow me. We're heading to the fabricator. This is important," Ereba said. "And I think you know why."

[Kel Riever]

"The kid wants us to go somewhere," Iole teased. "I suppose if it's important enough."

"Sure. Sure."  Tallis put down her Magic the Gathering cards and got her things.  Both of the Commandos followed Ereba out.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

On the way down to the fabricator Ereba explained. "Look, I got as good a sense of humor as anyone, but this isn't funny," Ereba said as they walked. "Jenus was really humiliated in our last training session. I think we need to show some solidarity. Some small symbol that we have her back. I know this isn't much but it's something.

 

"I'm putting the Council emblem and Asari insignia on my uniform and helmet just like hers. I think we should all do it. I told Too Tall that she should put Earth's flag over the Council if she's serious about being part of this unit. We can't have our fire team leader facing us and not see unity with her. You know what I mean?"

[Redbelle]

Anika stood before her armour in it's frame and frowned.

 

The problem wasn't that she couldn't put an emblem on her armour. The problem was that when Ereba had told her that she needed to put an emblem on her armour, she had realised.... None of her armours had ever sported an emblem. Not one since leaving the Complex.

 

Back in the day, in her years of augmentation she had been given coveralls and armours all sporting the hexagonal Cee of the complex. Once she'd gotten out though, she'd never thought much about emblems as the Medusa didn't really have one. No one sported them and so Anika had just followed suit of rugged individuals sporting their own tastes. And she had always leaned towards plain white......

 

What did that say about her?

 

On the one hand, she'd always been drawn to the purity. The simplicity. The uncomplicated nature of the look. On the Medusa no one had ever told her she ought to change what she wore..... But now on the Janiri, an emblem, to her mind as she looked at her armour seemed to her like a defacing of something she put value in. Which was ridiculous when she thought about it. But there it was. She been told an emblem would ease tensions. Yet she resented the idea of an emblem. Which if she didn't put one on her armour would likely be noticed and yet another source of aggravation.

 

Anika sighed. Aggravation..... As much as the Jenus had seemed to take offence, Anika herself had seen the thumb war and rock paper scissors match as a good way to avoid having to actively engage another member of the group until she'd put more, less supervised sparring time in with the group. The simple fact was, she was stronger than most by a wide margin. The extra strength and weight was useful she had to admit. But it made physical interaction with other's difficult. Back on the Medusa, when she'd been sprung, she'd broken the XO's hand in a hand shake. Metal tumbelers had several of her hand prints in them from times when she'd gripped them to tightly. She had to have several repairs to her lighting controls in her quarters from her hitting them to hard. The Medusa, unlike the complex, wasn't built to withstand someone like her. And so she'd had to learn to hold back which had by extension given her an air of aloofness and ice. Sparring with the team had not been the problem. The problem had been Jenus pushing for results. For maximum performance. Even with the extra mass of densified bone and muscle her speed to weight ratio was still above par and the idea of facing someone down who hadn't spent time getting to know how fast she could move, or the power behind those movement's worried her.

 

They were commando's of course. They wouldn't back down from the challenge. But Anika knew the only way to go forward while protecting them was to ease them into understanding what she'd been made to be.

 

It was all just so unfair. She'd found someone she'd followed off the Medusa to her ship and now the team she wanted to be on was finding fault with her because of her augments. It was always the augments. Never her personality, or her ideas, or her concerns. People saw her as a towering Amazon first. Jess had first seen the woman that was her. But she had the Medusa and would likely never part with it. Then Naleena had entered her life and had been so relaxed and open in her company that Anika had simply allowed herself to believe that everything would be fine for as long as she was by her side. Only now she was a Council Spectre working aboard a ship with a group of commando's whose leader had a grudge against and seemed to think that pushing herself into a point scoring match aimed at breaking records was a good idea after Anika had shown her the gap between them on the bench press......

 

......

 

She had to spar with them. Of course she did. But she knew the dangers and she had to prepare them. This wasn't the complex. She wasn't sparring with sister's who were as durable as her, as fast to heal and could hit as hard as her. Something as simple as a hold lock could result in a breakage even in those days. She didn't want to think what would happen if she messed up a submission hold and shattered a shoulder, or an elbow. Or even a kneecap because she'd gotten to overzealous. They all needed time. Time to get to know each other. Time to build bridges. To understand each other's strength's and weaknesses......

 

She looked at the armour again and imagined emblems. She'd never had an emblem before. Somehow though, the idea of one of Earth seemed wrong. Earth may have been the cradle of her species, but she had been raised in the complex and then, the Medusa.

 

"VERA"? She asked thin air. "I want to get some emblems put on my armour....".

 

"Another one? My my, months go by and no one recycles their armour for emblems and then poof! A whole commando unit up and come along all at once....".

 

"All of them"?

 

"Not to mention a few others".

 

"Can I do it"?

 

"I'm afraid not".

 

Anika looked at the hulking suit in front of her. "Why not"?

 

"You suit is..... shall we say.... costume built. The fabricators can't handle it. Trust me, I've been looking it over every way I can since it came aboard and I can't see anyway way something so intricate and complex could be reconstituted. Whoever made this was obviously more interested in the craft rather than military reality. It's impressive and certainly outperforms most armours in my database, but it's uniqueness is both a blessing and curse. At this time the only module aboard that can repair and modify it, is this frame it came with. I've checked the frame's database thoroughly. There's no means of using it to make the modifications".

 

"Damn". Anika muttered softly. "Is there anyway....."?

 

".....To get around the problem? Why of course. But it's going to take a little more time and effort to get the desired effect. Tell me dear. Have you ever heard of Decals"?

 

VERA explained and Anika chewed the idea over in her mind. "Can you get three made? One of a hexagonal Cee. One of a Medusa's head, then one more of the Commando's insignia"?

 

"Certainly. Though I should tell you that you would not look the same as the others without having the insignia over something else".

 

"Hmmmm. The Medusa over the Cee on one shoulder. The squad emblem will stand alone. I already left everything behind to be here. The Medusa took me away form the Complex and was a positive part of my life. So it'll cover the Cee. The squad is a new start for me. It's something fresh.... new.... Something I want to be proud of for what it is on it's own. There's nothing I'm using the squad to supplant. That's enough for me".

 

"It may raise some eyebrows".

 

"Then they will have to listen to my reasons. I don't fight for my peoples home world. I fight for the people I choose to be with".

 

VERA was silent for a moment. "Very well. I'm confident there will be some who understand that reasoning. I just hope your logic can break the wall of emotional reason I've been noticing of late".

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne had cleaned up his appartment and gave his eel more food for it to eat. He'd spent a couple hours checking through his items and picking up a few of them to take back. He had them in a small cardboard box as he walked towards the door of his apartment, turning away to give the studio flat one last look before he left once more.

 

It was good to remember that outside of the fighting and a squad, you had a place you could come back to when everything was done.

 

He booked another skycar and made his way back to the Janiri.

 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

 

A few punches and rounds of fighting, and essul was feeling refreshed and ready. He took a shower and got cleaned up, heading back to his office and set about to complete the last of the paperwork backlog. In the rest of the shore leave allowed, he finished it, the last of it done with 6 hours left of leave, Essul decided some actual rest was in order.

 

He got some stuff to eat, went back to his quarters, and retired for the evening for a quick power nap before they were to leave the planet.

 

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

 

((Omega - Collaboration with Kel and Jen. Part Final.))

 

 

"....." Machaera stared at Tyrius in silence as he contemplated the nature of the turian in front of him. '

 

This man is mentally unstable, even for my tastes. His skills and malleability however are what matter. If he has the skills and ability to follow orders, then he can be as crazy as he wants to be...'

 

"You can have the freedom to do whatever you want. But make no mistake. You will be working for me, and I will be calling the shots on who does, or does not, die..." He said as he looked tyrius in the eyes. He waited to see how he'd respond, and if he'd need a bit of breaking first.

 

Tyrius's eyes roamed over Machaera, the kind of cold assessment that would have any veteran at the ready.  It was evident that the turian was judging a violent response, so it came as a surprise when his predator eyes receeded and he let loose a chuckle.

"You, Half-Face, have it, I see.  You have that inner spirit that drives you."  Tyrius pointed to himself with his talons.  "I think I would like to work with you.  I will give you my price now in credits and in people if you will give me the terms of our initial agreement.  To be fair, even you, Half-Face, may want to make our first contract short in term, and we can readdress a longer commitment after our time together.  I feel we will be wonderfully surprised as we get to know each other, but it is always better to be safe, yes?"

Tyrius brought up his Omni-tool and laughed to himself.  "Safe.  Such a word!  Let me see, for my last contract, here is what I was hired for and because it was a simple mission, I asked for only one person.  Just a note...the people you give me shouldn't be that important..."

 

Machaera smirked as he held out a hand for the turian, "Welcome aboard. My mission is a simple one, Investigate an attack that occured on a world in the terminus systems." He said as he nodded at the price. A man who worked for literal blood money, he could get behind such a novel idea.

 

"Someone is responsible for it. And by the end, I'll make sure you get someone as payment." He said, smirking with what little of his lips and cheek muscles were left to let him do so.

 

Tyrius bowed his head in affirmation.  "Where is it you wish me to go, Half Face?"

 

"Come with me,Tyrius. I think you aught to meet my team as well..." Machaera made his way back to his ship with his newest asset in tow, as he approached the docking area where the Blade Wolf was anchored, Ren'Danna and Yron walked back, the team of escorts carrying a few pieces of equipment back into the ship as she regarded the turian.

 

"Made a new friend while you were out?" She asked with an intriuged purr to her voice, yron raising a brow at the turian as he took his hand off the gun, "Certainly looks tough? You dropping him off somewhere or what?" 

 

"No. Lorek is still our destination. Tyrius here is going to be working for us, provided we give him people to end, intimately. And given what's happened on that planet, I think I have just the person in mind..." The batarian said as he and the others boarded the ship. It took off, making its way towards the fueling station and from there, Lorek's home system.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

VERA paused for a moment. "Anika, you mentioned that you had to learn to hold back on the Medusa. Perhaps a demonstration of your full abilities on the 100 kg bag might illustrate the point that you will have to hold back when sparring with the team? My inventory shows that Quartermaster Septerax has a spare bag in the cargo hold."

[Redbelle]

Anika's eye's lit up. "Thanks VERA. I'll head down now. Could you record this? You can send it to the team later".

 

Anika turned away from the finalised Medusa's head and the hexagonal Cee she had drawn from memory. Happy both were done she tagged both designs to be printed and ready for collection as she got up and stepped outside the cabin. One quick ride down the ship later she was deposited into the cargo bay where she stepped out and looked around, looking for Septerax.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

VERA prepared the optimal camera angles for the shots on the heavy bag. 6000 frames per second should provide adequate resolution for slow motion.

[Redbelle]

Aboard the docked Medusa, Dogger rubbed his eye's before yawning into his hand.

 

Sherie had been driving him to exhaustion every night since her meeting with the Captain. It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd been ten years younger but lately he'd been forced to admit to himself, he wasn't the spring chicken he'd been in his youth. Not that age seemed to have had an effect on his wife who seemed as energetic as ever. Lately being on duty had started to be a refuge from Sherie's recent spurt of matrimonial duty as it gave him as excuse to...... Well..... Not discover that Sherie's aerobic regime of positions was starting to make parts of him cramp in places that would send him to the medical bay if Sherie kept pushing him. And wouldn't that just tickle the Captain! Poor old Dogger, getting on in his years.

 

The children he and Sherie had produced ought to have been evidence of the years slipping by but lately, being back on the Medusa had driven it home. He'd joined the ranks of senior.... and now, he didn't seem to need to work for it. People looked at him and saw an old salty dog of the space lanes now. He'd always been on the other side of that inhis day. The young man who had been XO for a time. But with a group of older, more experienced section cheifs under him to learn from even as he organised and set about making sure they in turn would keep the ship running.......

 

His musing were cut short when he noticed a figure coming up the ramp. He squinted. From where he stood at the back of the cargo bay, the figure looked to be young. Thin in the shoulders and lanky and awkward, Dogger stepped forward and as he drew closer, so to did the figure to reveal him to be a nothing more than a boy who carried what looked like a long case copmuter deck on his back. His hair was long and black that mostly hid his acne ridden face and his black shirt and trousers seemed more to make a statement than be actual clothes.

 

"Hey! Son"? Dogger called out, drawing his attention. "You can't be here! This is a loading area! No sight seeing! Head off now"!

 

Rather than turn and go, the boy stepped closer till he and Dogger were stood with no more than two metre's apart. When the boy spoke, his voice was a mixture of childish high pitch that was just starting to break.

 

"Urgh... I need to see the Captain. She's expecting me".

 

Dogger narrowed his eye's. "Captain didn't say about babysitting kid. Head off home before I have to throw you off".

 

"The boy shook his head. "Nuh uh.... Nectershare called me and told me to meet her here".

 

"Nectershare"?

 

"Your Captain's handle? Don't you surf the net grandpa"? The boy said, a sulky expression on his face. "We go back..... Well, her and Dad. I took over when he got burned on a data run went bad. I'm as good as he was though. Better in fact! She never knew I'd taken over his old contacts. Got a lot of good business to. Few more pay days like her last, I can afford college".

 

Dogger reached up and scratched his head. "Just who the hell are you, boy"?

 

"Urgh.... Not boy. Can't tell you my name.... Safer that way. Just call me by my handle. It's Dragonrise. Now can you call your captain? I had to skip school for a few days for this job. I'd like to get back before someone checks my meat space and sees I'm not where the net says I am".

[Kel Riever]

"Is this really a good idea?" Iole asked while she stood next to Ereba at the fabricator.  "I mean, here, this was after all something that was supposed to annoy the Spectre.  Or annoy someone.  And it pretty much almost violates regulation.  We're commandos.  Not a private hit team."  Iole twisted her mouth.  "Even if we act that way sometimes.  Lately.  Often."  Iole spotted something on the fabricator.  "Someone requested a squad emblem for Team Boom?  We don't have one.  Well, I think it's a number 5, if we wore numbers.  We've just got our individual colors."

Then Iole joked.  "Maybe it should just be a bomb!"

Something interrupted Iole and Ereba.  It was the fabricator.  Tallis had already spit out a helmet from it with an emblem.

Iole's eyes popped open wide.  Then they narrowed.  "You would do something like that!  And no, that's just for you.  Nobody is wearing that but you!"

Tallis had produced a Magenta helmet.  On it, front and center of the forehead, was a pink bear silhouette, like a Teddy Bear.  With a unicorn horn on its head.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"A bomb? Why a bomb?" Ereba asked.

 

Iole told her the story about Jenus on Illium on their first mission when she blew up the Nova Dawn Building thus giving them the nickname "Team Boom."

 

Ereba narrowed her eyes in a sarcastic manner. "No, I don't think that's a good idea. It makes fun of our team leader... sort of. And besides, what she did with her uniform isn't against regs. It's on the edge of regs, but not against them," she  replied. "I don't see anything wrong  with a Council insignia under an Asari insignia on our armor or our helmets. That's what's going on mine. I don't want to rock the boat, if you know what I  mean." She put her helmet in it and requested Jenus' pattern.

 

"But Two Times can wear that. I think Jenus will understand," she laughed. "In fact I think the enemy would start laughing and give us the drop on them."

[Kel Riever]

Iole contemplated for a minute.  She really wasn't a fan of the whole emblem idea, but she got what Ereba was saying.  She did the same thing, printing out the emblem of the Republics over that of the Council.  "This is sort of Jenus' message, I'm sure, that this is a Republics operation before it's a Spectre operation, or something like that.  She also, I think, gets the idea that she can send that message and get away with it...just...it's just like her." 

The golden eyed asari sighed while looking at her shoulder pads and helmet.  Then she glanced at Tallis.  "Well, at least she's happy."

Tallis already had her helmet on with logo, and of course had matching silhouettes on her shoulder pads.  She even totally forgot to add any other emblem.

[Cknarf]

Parnitha System

 

“Guess I should get some sleep.” Quintus yawned, as he stretched his arms a bit. “Gonna need energy for all that ass I’ma be gettin’ after we land.” He stood up from his seat, and picked up his guitar. “My record is eight.”

 

“In one trip?”

 

“In one night.” Quintus played a quick riff, and slung the guitar. “Night, O.D.B.” Quintus patted Adir on the shoulder just before slipping out of the cockpit.

 

Adir just shook his head. Good ‘ol Quintus. The kid hadn’t changed since he signed on with the original Vepr, Adir’s Vepr, over a decade ago. Whether that was a good thing or not, the quarian couldn’t say for sure. Still, there was no denying that his heart was in the right place most of the time. If only the same could be said for his sibling…

 

Omega, 2170.

 

Spoiler

“You had such a bright career ahead of you.” Marius sipped at his drink, as his younger brother knocked back yet another shot. “And I did too… I should have just…”

 

“‘nother round!” Quintus raised an empty glass. It shattered as he slammed it on the counter. He held up his hand, and attempted to focus on his palm, which was now wet with blood. “F*ck.”

 

Marius sighed.

 

“Come on, you idiot.” He pulled his brother from the bar, and dragged him outside.

 

As they walked through the streets of Kima District, they passed a group of Mercs, clad in blue.

 

“We needa join them guys.” Quintus mumbled. “Freelancin’ don’t pay sh*t…”

 

“It pays enough if we don’t spend all of our credits on alcohol.”

 

“And wh*res! Don’t forget the wh*res!” Quintus added with a laugh.

 

“Of course. How could I forget?” Marius checked their account balance. “423 credits. We’re never going to get off of this rock.”

 

“That’s a… that’s a ticket to uh… somewhere! *hic*”

 

“Yeah, for one.”

 

“You… you go on and go.” Quintus stumbled a bit, but Marius made sure to keep him upright. “I like it here… anyways.”

 

“I can’t do that. I made a promise.” Marius looked over. Besides, you’d be dead in a week without me.”

 

“Ha. Yeah, probably less.” Quintus nodded. “Love you, bro.”

 

Marius just shook his head.

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

Adir

 

“I’m only asking 5,000 for all of it. I really don’t think that’s too much, considering how much equipment is here.” Adir pulled open a crate. “It’s quality gear, I promise you.”

 

“3500.” The turian crossed his arms.

 

“4500.” Adir countered.

 

“3000. I really don’t need worthless human junk.”

 

“This worthless human junk sure worked fine at Shanxi. 4,000 is the best I can do.” Adir immediately regretted that Shanxi bit, when two other turians flanked him.

 

“I say we just waste this as*hole and take it.” One of them said.

 

“Yeah, it’s not like anyone’s gonna miss him.” The other added.

 

“You know what, boys? That’s the best deal I think we’re gonna get.”

 

Adir went for his sidearm.

 

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

 

“Then… then I’m gonna… I’ma… I-I forgot. Heh.” Quintus rambled on, as they took a shortcut down an alley. Rounding the corner, they saw a quarian getting a rather serious beatdown.

 

“We’ll take the long way tonight.” Marius said, after pulling back.

 

“Bro, they’re gonna… they’ll kill him.”

 

“I fail to see how that’s our problem.”

 

Quintus wanted to assist, but he knew his brother wouldn’t budge, not without some kind of incentive. He put quickly something together in his drunken brain, something that Marius would agree to.

 

“We help him, then take his sh*t. He lives, we get paid. He doesn't, we still get paid. Errbody wins.” Quintus drew his Carnifex, and sprinted toward the action without even waiting for an answer.

 

“Dammit…” Marius reluctantly followed.

 

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

 

“You okay?” Quintus glanced down at the quarian, who had managed to sit up.

 

“I’ll be fine.” The quarian coughed.

 

Quintus gestured with his Carnifex at the remaining assailant “You. Get goin’. This is Gavian territory.” It really wasn’t, but he was drunk, and it sounded cool.

 

“Gavian?”

 

“Yeah. Marius and Quintus. Remember the names. Now get outta here ‘for I change my mind.”

 

“I’ll see you again.” The turian threatened, as he slowly backed away. “My boss is gonna hear about--”

 

There was a gunshot, and the turian fell to the ground.

 

“No, he isn’t.” Marius stepped completely out of cover, and over the body.

 

“What the f*ck, bro? You didn’t have to do that.”

 

“He was going to be a problem later.” Marius offered a hand, which the quarian reluctantly took to pull himself up.

 

“Thanks for the help.” The quarian said, while dusting himself off. “But I really should be going now.” He began packing up his wares.

 

“Not so fast.” Marius stopped him. “We need to talk payment.”

 

“Right right, of course. How about… 200 credits?”

 

“I think your life is worth a little more than 200 measly credits. At least my brother thought so.”

 

“Yeah. We need at least…” Quintus counted on his fingers.

 

“Enough to get off-station.” Marius finished.

 

“I don’t have that much. Where are you headed?”

 

“Anywhere but here.”

 

The quarian thought for a moment.

 

“I have a ship down at the docks. A small one, very small, but there’s enough room for the both of you.”

 

“You offering us a ride?” Marius asked.

 

“Yes, In exchange for your services. I could use a pair like you to avoid… well, situations like this.” He gestured at the three bodies on the ground. “This business can be a bit… messy at times.”

 

“What kinda business you runnin’?” Quintus asked.

 

The quarian pulled open the crate, revealing a load of rifles.

 

“What do you think, bro?”

 

Marius nodded. “Let’s do it.”

-------------------------------------------------------
Present Day
 

Frank

 

Frank quickly sat up. His heart was pounding, and he was covered in sweat. He tore the covers aside, and turned to sit on the edge of his bed.

 

He silently mouthed some expletives, as he wiped his forehead. His dreams, when he had them, were often far from pleasant, but something about this one in particular really got to him.

 

It’s gotta be the drugs…

 

He thought to himself, while standing up. He shuffled across the room, rubbing at his temples all the way to the door. He left the room, and made his way towards the bathroom. A door to his left opened, and a groggy looking Kira staggered out.

 

“Hello, Frank. Are you feeling alright?” She asked, while tieing off her robe.

 

Frank shook his head.

 

Kira stepped out into the corridor, and embraced him. Something about the hug felt off, at least he thought it did. It was almost as if it wasn’t meant to comfort him, but Kira herself. Frank noticed the sweat glistening on her face as she pulled away. Their eyes met, and they held each other’s gaze for a few moments, until Quintus emerged from his quarters.

 

“Son of a…” The turian ran a hand over his face. “Sup?” he asked, upon seeing the two in the hallway. “Ya’ll have a bad one, too?”

 

Frank and Kira looked back at each other, as if to confirm.

 

“I was just going to find Marius.”

 

*groan*

 

They answered simultaneously. Frank headed into the bathroom, and Kira for the elevator.

 

Quintus just shrugged, and went back to bed.

[Kel Riever]

Somewhere in the Terminus Systems

The Khukuri was ready for launch.  Dust had already been kicked up off the Tarmac and a steady wind blew across the surface.  Xhuan Setura faced Iyana in her silvery armor.  The asari had her back to the mercenaries at her personal command, and the disturbed nuance of her expression was something only Iyana could see.

"You know that I did not kill Jrudek," Iyana said, loud enough to be overheard by the engines but out of earshot of the other mercs who were far enough back.  "It was his own choice.  He would only give his life if he knew it would protect us, you realize.  It was the Spectre who is responsible for his death."

Xhuan's jaw clenched and she nodded once.

"We will avenge him, my Hawk."  Iyana reached out with a clawed, shimmering gauntlet and stroked the side of Xhuan's cheek with the back of her fingers.  "What I go do now is part of that.  It is all for our greater cause."

"I want to go with you, my superior," Xhuan said, her voice strained.

"Yes, to be with your sisters in arms.  But that time will come soon enough.  You must stay here.  You must run this colony without mercy, with a fist of steel.  We are growing.  We will continue to grow.  Use all that I have provided for you, and when I return, you will meet your sisters face to face, and bond with them then.  Mourn Jrudek's passing in the meantime, but he will always be a hero, and should be remembered as such.  The enemy is weak, my Hawk, and they will fall."

With that, Iyana turned and boarded the ship, her violet cloak billowing behind her in the wind.  Xhuan stepped back to her mercenaries, to watch the Khukuri lift off, and head to the stars.

Once she was at the holographic navigation map of the ship, Iyana selected its destination.  There was a salute from the navigator at his station, acknowledging the course to be set.

Iyana's thin lips curled.  "Now we will let loose this hound of Hell!  Enough time has been wasted.  Promises must be kept!"