Essul knew what was likely to come, and he knew what he'd allowed this mission. He closed his eyes and rested a hand upon his face, on the long healed burns on the lower right of his face as he remembered where his rage had come from.
"I've much to answer for...there can be no doubt of that." Essul said to himself with a shake of his head as he made his way to the conference room. Today had been a poor example of his ability to keep himself controlled. And he would make sure to answer for them, even if the punishment would be harsh. In truth, he could see no other outcome but that of a harsh punishment.
He came to the conference room as he took in a breath, letting it out slowly outside the door as he worked to calm his nerves. "Just do it...you've put yourself here, now you have to deal with it." He muttered to himself, right before he entered the room.
"Captain T'sarius..." He said, giving a salute to her as he entered the room and addressed her. When he came to a stop, he gave a bow of his head as he continued, "You wished to see me, Ma'am." he said, showing her the respect he would have shown his own commanding officers back in the hegemony.
Anika moved with the rest of the commando's into the shower and felt some relief as the hot water hit her skin. Sliding her hands over her scalp she tried to put aside her worries.
Hearing Irina call Johnny's name she looked over her shoulder and smirked. "I never got where you fall in our rank structure. Should you be standing to attent.......". Her eye's wondered down and with raised eyebrows, she turned back to the shower. "....never mind. Still, putting aside the jokes, I'm worried. Cerberus will likely be looking into why this ship is here now we've cut into their business. If they have good analysts they could tie the Janiri's presence here with the Medusa in Batarian space. If I know Jess she'll be making a lot of noise and with our target..... One thing Jess taught me is to look for relationships. The Medusa and Janiri have been pretty close of late, then suddenly they split up. One is here, where it has no reason to be. We never got a call about the poaching so any good intel officer will know to look for another reason and...... And I'm worried about the Medusa. This ship can take care of itself but Jess is sneaking through a hornet's nest trying not to set it off".
Water cascaded off her shoulders as she bowed her head, then flicked her hair to send water spraying off as she looked at the group. "The Medusa's not fast and in deep..... This diversion could cost us if the people we're trying to fool get smart".
Meanwhile, in the tunnels where no one can hear you scream!...... Aboard the Medusa.
Jess rolled onto her back and propped herself up on her elbows as she looked behind her at the squabbling group and yelled. "NUFF! These access shafts don't have active airflow so you get hot under the collar.... everyone else feels it. Literally, cool down. Now you at the back! It's simple. Crawl backwards till you reach the third turning on the left. Then go back till you reach a right. Then normally you'd go on the first right but the light short out means you go around so you take another left..... Then first right, first left, crawl on, another left and we'll be back at the ladder...... Unless you want to try another hatch. Then it's Third left, first right, first right except it's first left.... then first left, first left, second right to the next hatch we can try. It's quicker that way.....".
Jess paused, took a breath, then went on. "Unless you want to try a hatch below decks, in that case...... Third left, first left, first right and down the ladder, then left, right, left, right. That will get us to another hatch". She took a deep breath exhaled slowly. "Well then, we're following you now.... Lead on"!
"If I recall, this was the second run-in with a Cerberus ship we've had," Irina replied as she turned off her water and grabbed her towels. "The first was on Omega, and VERA got into a pissing match with its AI. So they know a bit about our capabilities. And Jess just has to be careful not to overplay her hand. I think that's why she wanted an Asari delegation on board.
"Honestly, I don't know what good it will do her other than create another diplomatic incident. It's not like the Asari will go to war over two military officers. I know the Alliance won't. The Turians on the other hand? Violate a law you don't know about and they'll throw their entire navy at you. If you ask me, Jess should have gone with Turians. She just better have her star charts up to date."
**************
Naleena sat in her chair, looked up at Essul, and tossed her stylus on the table. "What were you thinking down there? Explain yourself."
Anika sighed as she leaned an arm up against the wall and rested her forehead against it. "If they start drinking to seal the deal..... Anything could happen. One time she was scheduled for execution on a backwater planet while I was off moving cargo. One ambush that went wrong for them and I was hurrying to Jess...... I broke into the room and found her in bed with her executioner and the camp commander working on a reprieve..... She presided over their marriage a few years later..... Literally married them on the hanger deck. She made me wear a gown..... I hope Morgan keeps her in check or this mission could get very interesting".
"Ha ha!" Tallis was laughing. She made some sort of incomprehensible hand motion. At least to most.
"You're the worst!" Iole blurted, then broke into a laugh though she tried to stifle it. Reminding herself of the mission that has passed pretty much did the trick. "We can't worry about Cerberus to the point of second guessing. Are they vindictive anyway? Or are they going to treat their people like an accounting book." The automatic cut off stopped the flow of water to Iole's stall and she stepped out, toweling herself down. "I've got to take five to get a message out. See you all in a bit."
In the peripheral vision of the observant, Jenus was seen to be listening quietly, with interest. The moment attention was directed her way, however, she ignored it, as if nothing had happened. But it was fairly clear she'd been intent on the conversation.
After Iole got herself put together, she exited for Team Boom's cabin. There she sat down at the small table, after moving Jenus' trophy spear off of it, and began typing her message on the small interface there.
To: Frank 'Beans' Eli, Man of Mystery
From: Freckles Gold
I've hope everything is going well with you. We're...back from another mission, the kind of things that makes you...makes me...think...about you. I won't go into details, there was a lot of blood spilled though it wasn't ours. I dwell on it sometimes, although in this case it was pretty clear cut they deserved it. Cerberus. Anyway, you'd think the way I handle a gun that this kind of thing just dusts off my shoulder. I mean, it isn't getting to me hard either, but I guess anytime I'm faced with something dangerous, I feel I wish I were around you. That's...probably too mush puddle. You know what I mean, all of it. Having a great time. And yes, I've grown pretty tired of my uniform lately.
There's been some tension too. Is it bad if I drop names - Jenus! Don't worry, she couldn't care less that I talk about things. I actually think it's going to resolve itself, but sometimes I can be naïve. And Jenus, she can go at things...forever, if she needs to. I swear she thrives in conflict, wouldn't know what to do with a quiet moment if it hit her in the crest. Drama...see...that's why if I could just cast some sort of spell, I'd be out of here, back in that leather jacket, engaging in some out of bounds activity with you. One day, Frank...and not in some far off future either. I mean soon...as soon as makes sense.
P.S. Tell your grandma I said hello. And your dad. And your two crazy brothers. Even the one who has a temper. Him you can hug for me, especially if it makes him uncomfortable.
Morgan was staring at the batarian security escort in front of him. Both had their arms folded across their chests and stared at each other. Neither said a word, until finally Morgan got up, turned toward one of the built in, alloy utility cabinets, opened it up, and pulled out a bottle with two metal shot glasses. He came back over and poured a shot each for the escort and himself.
"You waited until now to bring this out?" The security escort asked.
Nodding, Morgan said, "I saved it for a toast at the end of the deal, but it looks like that's a bit off. We're stuck here, anyway, so I think this is an emergency circumstance.
In the tunnels where no one can hear you scream...
"Go on!" Lomala ordered the escort behind her.
The batarian hesitated no longer and slid backwards. "Third left, first right, then first left because the light is out..."
Lomala got irate. "Third right, then first left. Then look for the left because the light is out."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure! Do you want a demotion?! No? Then get moving..."
The security escort wasn't about to challenge Lomala any more...
The halls of the rat people....... Aboard the Medusa
Jess followed the Batarian security officer's route as she trailed behind Lomala, making small talk the whole way as they took the first turn. They crawled on, then came the second. Then they crawled onwards, further than they had come the first time around until finally they arrived at the third turn when the security guard called to them.
"Ma'am! I'm at the left turn..... But there's no right! I don't understand"!
Jess stayed quiet behind the group as she listened and kept her poker face mask on. The directions she'd given were the ones to get to the hatch from the conference room. Following the instructions by the letter, going in the opposite direction had led the group off into a completely different section of the crawl space. Leaning to one side, she called ahead. "What do you mean? Are you sure? What do you see? I can't tell from back here"!
"So then luv, you do this kind of thing much where you come from"? Jess asked. "What is it you do anyway? We never got to talk. Not really. Did you and Morgan talk about anything besides business"?
They crawled on further and Jess made a noise in the back of her throat. "You know.... I think our lead took a bad turn. This is...... Hang on.... Let me think...... Yep, this leads to a drop down to the next deck. might want to warn your guard in case he doesn't see the......".
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGRRRRHHHHHHHHH"!
".......Drop". Jess finished as she called out. "STOP! Priss? What happened? Is he okay? There should be a shaft with rungs. Look down and tell me if he caught hold of them! It's not a big drop but..... well..... It's big enough to a broken bone or two"! She became aware of Lomala glaring at her as she looked back at her. "I'm sure he's fine. And now I know where we are. This should be the shaft to the lower deck we can use to beeline to the ships mess. There's a hatch there we can use that opens into the stores".
As Morgan poured the third shot, he somehow knew that things had taken a turn for the more...dramatic. "It could be worse," he said to the batarian in front of him. "A lot worse."
~ ~ ~ ~
Lomala was rather disciplined for her position in the batarian Hegemony, particularly considering the circumstances. Which meant she spoke in a low, as opposed to a loud, growl. "I'm considering this a more unfortunate deal as every minute passes. Any other surprised you have for me as we move through this ship? Razor wire traps? More drop offs and pits?" She wiped her brow with the back of her arm and then said, "Go ahead, lead the way Captain. I'd like to see what is in store along your next path."
Jess pursed her lips as she let out a long breath. "Not sure I like the insinuation luv. I offered to get you out of the conference room and let's be fair..... If it hadn't been for a jammed hatch we'd be home free. But fine..... I'm not happy being in here either. I've got a busy work schedule what with repair work..... Which the funds from this deal will make far easier when we replace the older worn out equipment. Now listen. Your on my ship and that means your safety is my top concern.......".
From up ahead, Jess heard Priss call out. " He's okay! I think! Lights not great but I can hear him groaning"!
".....Top concern". Jess repeated. Sorry if we're not clockwork like a military but I'll thank you not to cast dispersions on our buisness before the deals made". Now budge up and let me past.
Lomala pushed up against the side of the crawlspace and Jess squeezed by her. As she did pressing against Lomala, she sniffed the air and remarked. "That's a lovely scent you have on. Very Earthy. Musky? What's it called"?
Jess quirked the corner of her lip. "Well...... You've caught my attention". She said as she winked. Then scrambling forward she moved past Miss Priss with the same difficulty. Lomala could hear them.
"Don't go pretending your not enjoying this Miss Priss. But keep it leashed. We need to get out of here first...... So you can.... Ugghh.... Luv.....now's not the time"!
In the hanger, Dragonrise watched as the progress bar for the upload neared 100%. 97..... 98..... 99.....
"Uggghhhh.... Okay its done! Everything's been uploaded. The omnitools should self install now. Uuuh. That's my job done..... I guess.....".
Dogger, who had been watching with impatience, nodded once and went outside. "Listen up everyone! Clear this gear squared away..... and get those crates ready for shipping! I want everything ready to look like its prepared to go when the Baterians arrive"!
With that he turned to Dragonrise. "Grab your equipment. Then follow me to the bridge. We need to start thinking about the subnetwork".
" Uggghhh. I told you. Just find the satellite that's part of it and infect.....".
"Talk about it later". Dogger said brusqely as he beelined for the hard wired phone to the bridge. "Aelias, we're all set to go in the hanger. We can get the captain put now. Have the repair crews open the conference room doors as soon as Jess is out of the tunnels and tell the interference crews to get ready to withdraw once they near an exit hatch".
“Yesterday…. all my troubles seemed so far away… Now it looks as though they're here to stay… Oh, I believe in yesterday.”
By the time Frank reached the amphitheater, Quintus had already drawn some listeners. It wasn’t exactly a capacity crowd, but there were at least fifteen asari, each one captivated not by his guitar, but by his more than pleasant voice. Several of them were recording with their omni-tools.
Frank stopped at the top of the steps, and watched. He received a message on his omni-tool, and opened it. He typed up a response.
Spoiler
I’m doing okay. I’d be doing much better with you here, though. The job on Bekenstein was a success, aside from a few things. I’d give you the details, but it’s something I’d rather discuss in person, and in private. Please understand.
I’m on Thessia, now. Taking a bit of a vacation, while Marius does business on Sanves. Here I am, on the asari homeworld, and the only one I can think about is somewhere across the galaxy fighting terrorists. You have completely ruined Thessia for me. lol, Thanks, commando.
I’m babysitting Quintus at the moment. Or trying to, at least. I assume you saw the vid of his little altercation with that fighter? I’m pretty sure everyone has by now. You should be expecting another one shortly, but I have a feeling it won’t be nearly as popular as him getting a beat down. I don’t think you were around long enough to witness his ‘talent’.
I’ll tell everyone you said hello. Do the same for me, if you want. If not, just tell them I’m doing okay if they happen to ask. And don’t let anyone touch my stuff! As for Jenus, I don’t know what to tell you. She came to talk to me after your little episode on Eingana. I think it was to apologize, or something, I don’t know. I kinda forgot. She’s cool people, though, I can tell, so just be patient, and keep your cool if she gives you any sh*t. I’d rather you two not kill each other while I’m gone, you know?
I know it’s short notice, but the Astella G.P. is coming up in a few weeks. If you wanted to go AWOL again, you know, just for a weekend, I would totally be cool with it. Just saying. Nah. There’s way more races left in the season. We’ll catch one eventually! Just seeing you would be enough, to be perfectly honest. Give me a heads up where you’re going to be once in awhile, will you? Job permitting, of course!
See you later, commando, and stay safe! -- Frank
“Eli, we’re about to land. Get dumb ass and head here, NOW.” Marius came over his omni-tool, just as the message was sending.
“Be there soon.”
“Yesterday... love was such an easy game to play… Now I need a place to hide away… Oh, I believe in yesterday…”
Quintus finished his song, and took a bow as the crowd applauded. He’d always dreamed of being a star, and he was doing just that, although on a much smaller scale than he had imagined. This was likely as close as he was going to get to fame.
This is gonna get hella views.
“Yeah, I know. I’m pretty great.” Quintus agreed with everyone. “Ya’ll wanna hear one more?” Again, he received a positive response. “Awriiiiight! Here goes!”
Unfortunately for the audience, he chose an instrumental. A few asari stood and left, but most stayed in an incredible display of politeness.
Frank had been watching the crowd, particularly a woman who was seated high, and off to the side. Her hand would frequently move under her hood, and to the side of her head, as if she was speaking with someone. He couldn’t tell for sure, as her face was well concealed under a scarf of some kind. She nodded once, and stood. She moved towards the stage quickly, and with purpose. When her hand disappeared into her coat, it set off alarms in Frank’s head, causing him to start down the stairs himself.
Quintus stopped playing as she closed in, not because she looked suspect as a motherf*cker, but because he was trying to hollaaaaa.
“Hey girl. You wanna--” Quintus stopped as she withdrew her hand. “F***!”
Several shots rang out, some entering his flesh directly, others passing through his guitar first, sending splinters of wood flying everywhere.
Frank was slower on the draw, his pistol coming out only after the attacker had fired her first shot. Shoving his way through the panicked crowd, he sent three block shavings in her direction. Her shields ate all but one, the third projectile projectile passed clean through, spattering the stage with red. The shooter turned her gun on Frank, firing three one-handed shots with her strong arm.
The first struck his hand, wrecking his synthetic fingers, and knocking the gun from his grasp. The second one, he took to the chest, knocking the wind out of him. The third narrowly missed his head, and took off a small portion of his left ear. As he stumbled, and fell to the ground, the shooter made a run for it.
Frank gasped, and moved a hand to his chest. Looking at his hand, he saw blood, but far less than he expected. Rolling over, he reached for his gun, and emptied it toward the shooter, as she made the last step. Unfortunately, none of his rounds hit their mark, and she disappeared beyond the trees.
Scrambling onto the stage, Frank crawled over to Quintus.
“I-I didn’t th-think I was th-that bad.” The turian managed a faint chuckle, closing his eyes tight while trying to deal with the pain.
“Just the guitar, buddy.” Frank smiled a bit, undoing his belt in order to use it as a tourniquet. “I’ll tell you one thing, though. You’ve got the voice of a goddamn angel.”
“N-not yet, I don’t. G-give it a m-minute.” He responded, his mandibles twitching hard. “*F***…”
“Hang in there, bro. You’re gonna be alright.” Frank took his hand, and squeezed it. “Marius, Quintus has been shot.”
“What? By who?”
“Assassin.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. I hit her once, but I couldn’t stop her. Human, judging by the blood.”
“Sh*t. How is he?”
“How the f*** do you think?”
“Sit tight. I’m on my way.”
“A-are those s-sirens?” Quintus asked. Frank nodded in response.
“No time. Besides, the authorities are already en route.”
“Go… Be-before they get here.”
“No way, man. I can’t just leave you here alone.”
Quintus shook his head.
“Cops. You have to.”
“He’s right, Eli. You have to get out of there before they arrive. The last thing we need is to deal with the police. I want you to head straight back to the hotel, pick up Adir, and get your asses back to the ship. ASAP.”
“Got it.”
“It’s gonna be alright.” Frank assured, speaking as if it was fact. He shook his hand one last time, before releasing his grip. Quintus responded with a weak turian thumbs up, as Frank took off.
Aboard the Vepr
“M-Marius? Bro...”
“I’m here, brother.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“This isn’t your fault.” Marius responded, even though it kinda was. Appearing in a viral extranet vid isn’t the best way to maintain a low profile. “You don’t have to apologize for anything.”
“No. I do. F-for making your l-life so difficult.” Quintus responded. “Al… always fuckin’... up. Maybe it’s better if I… if I just go...”
“I…” Marius started, trying to put words together after being hit with a ton of bricks. “I should be the one apologizing.” His voice broke ever so slightly. “After the way I’ve treated you for the past thirty years… and you’ve stuck by my side despite all of it.” Marius pressed his forehead against the wall. “I should have been there for you…”
Marius didn’t get a response.
“Don’t die on me, Quintus.” Marius began pacing. “Without you, what purpose do I serve? You are literally the reason why I get out of bed in the morning, you know that? There’s no one in this galaxy that I care about more than my little brother. I know you can’t always tell, but I love you Quintus, far more than I am capable of showing.”
Still, there was no response.
“Quintus? Quintus!?” Marius started to well up.
“Gaaaaaaaaaay…” Quintus responded, the sound of voices were evident in the background.
Marius couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Or maybe it was a sob? It was a little bit of both.
At the park.
Completely ignoring Marius’ request for him to return, Frank pushed himself hard down the concrete path that led through the trees, using the small drops of red as a guide.
Essul watched the datapad drop, only to return his attention to Naleena as he nodded. "I am sorry for what I did, Captain. Cerberus...is an organization I have a personal and sorted history with..." Essul began, hoping Naleena would hear him out as he began, "I was already resentful at whoever had been doing this poaching. Hunting a species who cannot hope to fight back and that you know to be sentient...it is dishonorable, to me. A dishonor that I was already looking to deliver retribution, upon..." He said as he looked away, holding himself at attention as he scowled.
"But I had control...until it became apparent that Cerberus was involved..." He said, shaking his head as he looked to Naleena, "My resentment overtook my self-control, and before I knew it I was acting on my base instincts...but that organization...those animals!..." He said as he stopped himself, realizing his voice had been steadily increasing and stopping himself sort as brought a hand over his eyes, looking down as he spoke.
"Forgive me for this deviation, Captain. But do you know of my military history during the Anhur Rebellion?" He asked as he looked up to her, not sure if she would indulge him or not.
Naleena shuddered inside at the mention of Anhur, but was careful not to show it outwardly. She had done some wetwork for a corporate interest, taking out a high profile target using poison and stealing the documents he carried delivering them to her handler. She didn't ask questions as to the purpose. She just did the job because she was a professional.
"I heard about the rebellions because the systems bordered Asari space," she replied. "It's been a while since I read your dossier. Perhaps you could refresh my memory?"
"That war was a disaster from the beginning...the hegemony sent in the BSIU, my unit, to help try and fight it against the eclipse mercs. But they had better organization, better Intel, than we'd thought. During my tour my unit was assigned a Mission. Operation Crowbill, an attempt to use Orbital Drop Units on Anhur itself to seize the capital and end the war..." Essul began, recalling exactly what happened.
"My CO was a batarian who had a lot of strange habits, one of them was the persoanlization of his armor. Another was quoting passages from some book he read, at the time I hadn't bothered to learn what it was...We thought we were dropping into enemy territory without them being alerted. But they were...Eclipse wasn't simply operating alone. Cerberus had decided this was a chance to strike at the hegemony, and they struck hard. Our LZ was swarmed the moment we dropped, anti-air fire downing most of our ships. Me and my CO barely made it out...and he ended up taking a shot to the head keeping me alive..." Essul closed his eyes as he worked to keep himself calm, his voice level as he recalled what happened.
"Those of the BSIU who survived were taken into custody. Eclipse worked us over with some punches, a couple of shocks with an omnitool...then they handed us over for Cerberus ops to loosen up..." Essul removed the hand from his face, palm sliding down the right side as he rested his middle and index finger on the burns under his eye, "These burns...this scar...that was getting out lucky. The things those bastards did to my unit...men I grew to love and hate, getting chopped apart for fun. Fingers removed, Eyes torn out because they knew about our faith..." His voice quivered with that, feeling the same boiling rage and vulnerability he did back then, stuck tied to a chair as he was made to watch.
Essul made sure to take in a breath before he continued, his balled fist loosening back up as he finished his story, "What I did back there...it was one of the games my captors played with the others...It had been my turn when some infiltrators managed to blow the warehouses we were being stored in. 5 of us managed to leave that place alive...and we made sure no one from cerberus did before we left..."
"Seeing those cerberus agents, I didn't see them for who they were. All I saw was what they did, and I wanted to do it back to them. Make them feel the fear of someone standing over them, while they were forced to play some kind of sick game..." Essul admitted, looking down with a scowl as he said it, "And I...I...there's nothing else to say other then the truth...I should not have acted how I did, and I disgusts me that I gave it so easily..." he said as he looked to his own hand, the one he'd used to hold the knife, "That I was so weak...that I couldn't keep even myself in line..."
Naleena sighed and nodded. "So you acted in the heat of the moment. The problem is that your action plays into the hands of those who opposed your appointment. And there was an Alliance officer present who saw another 'hot headed' Batarian holding a blade to the throat of a human, regardless of whether that human was part of Cerberus, a known terrorist organization," Naleena said. "They're folk heroes with The Illusive Man's propaganda machine working overtime recruiting after taking down the Collectors and capturing their base.
"If we did not have this mission, and had there not been an Alliance officer there, things might have turned out differently. But I, too, am being watched and must act with restraint. Remember my roots, Essul. I cannot havethe Salarians trotting out my rap sheet trying to disgrace me. What made the STG actions really any different than Cerberus? The fact that they said they return them? Do you really believe that? The only difference was that we didn't have a firefight and they weren't rounding up the entire village. They were taking them gathering information for use against the next possible rachni threat or what not. They have DNA samples and bioweapons to use against every single race in the galaxy, but the Council does nothing because the Salarians have a powerful seat, and the Krogan genophage was just an example of what they can do." Naleena was getting wound up and pulled out a cigarette. She offered one to Essul. She lit hers and Essul's.
"People like us, Essul, we have to be careful. We're being watched by others who want to discredit us. I saw something in you which is why I gave you this position. Don't let this happen again."
//////////////////////////////////////////
The Janiri made arrived in the third system and now had to remain cloaked. VERA did passive scans for any activity and located a private refueling station owned by EAE near the asteroid belt where the company was mining. The ship approached, and she made arrangements for payment. The ship docked, refueled and was on its way.
Sixteen hours later she arrived in the fourth system with stealth drive engaged.
"You are a traitor to the Republics and the Council!" Xanthe rasped, barely able to speak through the pain she experienced.
On her knees, Xanthe was in the largest of the Kurinth's cells, her arms strapped to an alloy bar at each joint. In turn, the bar was chained to a collar around her neck, and then went to some sort of anchor behind and above her, keeping the upper part of her body suspended. Xanthe's head hung limply but she was further immobilized by another set of alloy shackles that had been fastened in place to the deck. Upon her crest, like a set of headphones that went over Xanthe's temples instead of her ears, a biotic neutralizer kept her from using her own most powerful natural defense. Her captors had modified the brig cell in short order for their most important prisoner, and there was no escape from the Spectre's bounds.
Xanthe spoke to Kheres of course, who stood close by with another of her Serrice Guard team members. Two others were in the room, Jeineroa the turian merc with her entire arm in a medical cast, and of course Iyana in her silvery armor. Kheres and her team member did not respond, but Jeineroa cackled, and Iyana leaned forward to speak to the kneeling Xanthe.
"I see it is difficult for you to understand loyalty beyond your common perceptions. Set aside your disbelief, and your centuries of wisdom will come to the fore. Kheres and her teams that you brought aboard have a greater fealty than to your feeble institutions, or even to my cause. Yet my cause is aligned with theirs in every way. Foremost is in the way of how those who bestowed your rank and position have failed, and there is demand for a different era." Iyana gestured with an open palm to the asari commandos. "Blame not Kheres and her sisterhood for seeing the obvious. Blame yourself for your lack of vision."
A string of saliva dripped from Xanthe's mouth to join the small pool on the deck between her knees. She looked down the length of her left arm, where one finger was bent backwards at an unnatural angle. "I've seen what you've done, Iyana. It's pointless to go on and tell you that you are mad, I already know. Why don't you go ahead and start carving me up. History has always had space for the cruel, though their time in its course is always brief, and their cause nothing more than an ephemeral future of self gratification."
"Well, actually," Iyana mocked, "This gratification is more for Jeineroa than myself." She nodded to Kheres, who stepped to Xanthe and locked her arm in her hands. She started twisting and regardless of the binds, they did not prevent her from the torture she was about to inflict.
Xanthe took a last look at her arm as she had known it, the sound of Jeineroa's cackling dull in the background as her own fear consumed her.
~ ~ ~ ~
It was minutes later, though it might as well have been a lifetime later, for Xanthe as Kheres came to pause in the excruciating damage she'd inflicted. The bones of each of Xanthe's arms had been obliterated, blown apart internally. The Spectre was only alive and conscious due to whatever infernal technique had been used and a bit of medical treatment administered by the asari. The fountain of pain that sprung in Xanthe's mind was like a white hot star burning in her cranium, while vomit and saliva had evacuated horribly in front of her. Worst, Xanthe knew she was only at the beginning of what Iyana had in store for her.
"We will, in the end, finally meet, you and I," Iyana spoke aloofly. She stepped with one shining high heeled boot right into the mix of Xanthe's evacuated contents. "Despite that I do not speak to the real you yet, I will let that person still smothered by your pretenses know that a Spectre is a symbol and there is more of a message to be sent than packing up your disassembled form into some crate and sending it off. Your false form does not represent a ship, or the thing someone loves. Your form is much more than that, and therefore its fate lies along another path. None of what you are surrounded by is under your guidance anymore, Xanthe. Not this ship, nor its crew, nor your flesh, and not even your consciousness.
"If it makes any difference, however, I will say that I find your kind a true tragedy. Loyalty to a cause that does not return to you what you have given it. If only our paths had crossed sooner, Xanthe, perhaps you could have been saved. I judge it beyond your current comprehension, but as you proceed on your journey, through all the destruction and trappings of these false forms that will be stripped away from you, I must emphasize the lesson that control is paramount. Something to think about while you scream to live."
"I...mmm," Xanthe mumbled through her agony, "mmm...not...afraid...to die."
Iyana's laughter rang through the cell. "Oh, yes, we all have our roles! Well, that little fable of yours might hold weight if you were at least aware of being a grand actress. You will thank me when we finally do meet, and you won't be the first." Iyana let the tendril of a biotic whip uncoil from her hand and slowly drop to the floor.
The door to the room opened abruptly. On the other side of it was Sophie, wearing her typical stained brown coveralls tied by the sleeves at the waist and a sweaty and grime streamed white singlet above. She was swinging an electric bolt wrench/drill device in one hand and said, "Sssorry it took a bit there."
"Better late than never," Morgan said as the fourth shot was pounded down. The batarian security escort got up to his feet and stumbled. Morgan offered him an arm to steady himself, though he waved it off.
"Not used to four shots hitting me like that," the batarian escort said, "But I'll be all right."
The batarian stumbled a bit as he followed Morgan out to meet up with his companions at the hangar.
After taking the lead, Jess had taken the group down the ladder to the lower deck and found the security officer dangling from one of the lower rungs where a strap had luckily arrested his fall. With a bit of brute force she freed him, and he fell to the ground with a thud. Inside the shaft however, Jess felt her omni tool vibrate. First twice. Then again. Jess breathed a sigh of relief as she let go and dropped the remaining distance to the bottom as she called up. "Good news! We're nearly out! Follow me and don't mind the grease stains! We'll laundry them when we're out unless your in a hurry! Follow me and don't dawdle! Next stop mess hall! Good thing to, I'm hungry"!
Ducking into another access way, Jess waited till everyone was down and then moved off, taking the access ways with practised ease till they arrived at another hatch. Reaching for the lever, Jess pulled it one way and the lever resisted at first, groaned under the load, then with a clunk, the bolts released and Jess pressed on the hatch. It swung open and Jess pulled herself out, turning to offer her hand to the one behind her when she spotted Sherie.
They'd emerged into the kitchen area and Jess saw her with several buckets and scrubber's. She had a plastic apron on and seemed to be scrubbing the place clean.
"Sherie? Something wrong"?
Sherie looked up. Her face a death mask of suppressed fury.
"Captain..... When I entered my kitchen..... I..... I..... When I found out which..... Animals!..... desecrated my kitchen..... I'll have a sharp butchers knife ready to show them what I think of what I found when I came in..... oh it'll be slooooow..... Slow and painful and I want you to see it. This is my domain Captain! All mine.... Who do you have with you"?
Lomala was quick to answer, and not shy about grabbing a nearby cloth to wipe the sweat off of her face. "A very temporary group of deal makers." Spotting a rolling pin, Lomala picked it up by the handle and looked at it weirdly. "We'd like to get back to the shuttle now, Captain. Seems like there are several things out of sorts to have you pay attention to."
Miss Priss, on the scene, gave a sidelong look at the rolling pin, and then without skipping a beat, turned towards the batarian escort who'd fallen down the shaft. "That was a bit of a briar patch. You all right?"
The escort grunted in a dissatisfied way.
Two crewmembers, a woman with long, red hair and Coco, showed up in the kitchen at that moment. The woman explained to Sherie, "Ma'am, Dogger sent us to help. Word's gotten back that you might need a hand with things." She then turned to Jess. "Captain, the asari liasons wanted to express their...gratitude for their stay and asked how long before you could have a meeting with them." Of course, the whole liason bit was a ploy, giving Jess a simple out if she needed it as far as time went. The red-headed crewmember presumed then to help by picking up a rag and beginning to scrub a nearby table. Taking a look at the condition of the room, she then stopped and decided it was more prudent to await instruction.
There could have been lasers shooting out of Sherie’s eyes, it seemed to Lomala, and she hesitated not a moment longer to get herself away with her security escort.
By this time, Morgan had shown up with the other escort, who minded himself to keep quiet with the rapid shots of liquor he’d had. “Why don’t we get up there and have everything settled,” Morgan went ahead and more agreed than suggested.
On the way to the hangar where the batarians’ shuttle was, Lomala activated her old omni-tool and talked to Jess, “Captain, I am forwarding to you the name of a contact on Erzsbat to transport the remainder of the omni-tools to, now that our deal is concluded. Credits are being transferred and we will take care to examine those tools on our return trip. That will be all I think I can tolerate from this meeting.”
The brisk brush off was about as polite a reaction as a batarian in trouble could muster, it seemed. Fortunately, when the group arrived at the hangar, everything was in spectacular order, with a confident Dogger pointing the way to the loaded shuttle. There might have been a few formal farewells not even worth remembering for Morgan. Once the hangar was clear and the batarians lifting off for their home destination, Miss Priss couldn’t help but gloat.
“I’d say that’s some hard work that was worth it,” Priss laughed.
Morgan called up to the bridge, where Dahlia was on navigation. “You can get out of that Commando uniform now, Dahlia. And get us jumped to the Erzsbat system as soon as you can.”
From there, Morgan knew, it might take some time, but the Medusa would meet that contact given by Lomala, off-load the other omni-tools, and then get back to Council space fast as they could without arousing suspicion. Somehow, the batarians never did demand a better deal. Maybe they were more desperate than he’d thought.
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