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[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena - by Naleena

 

I crushed my cigarette in the ashtray next to the elevator and looked up at Jess. "I've really been on edge since the Batarian mission. Dr. Tolus ordered me to take some time off. I intend to do that immediately after we speak with Sha'ira," I said as we walked toward shuttle, then stopped about half-way there. "Now the Janiri is heading to Thessia for dry dock. Since I've been under a lot of stress, I could 'forget' Ms. Babylon is in the lounge before we depart. She's very low on the Commander's to do list and so would get overlooked. There's vending machines in the lounge so she won't starve or die of thirst. They won't notice her there until she pounds on the door after the Janiri leaves. After we're done  with the Consort, I take the three of you back to Armali in my shuttle. You meet Ms. Babylon there, and the four of you book private transport back to the Citadel, and I head to my island resort. Or we could just let her go here, and... she could follow us and cause a bunch of trouble.

 

"I think we just leave her be. Or am I thinking like a pirate now?" I turned and continued walking to the shuttle. "Come on, let's get out of here."

 

///////

 

It felt good to be back in the pilot's seat again. That bombshell, Babe, slid into the co-pilot's seat that fit her contours like it was made for her. She'd make a paper bag look good. She looked straight ahead then turned her head toward me and smiled with that blow pop of hers in her hand. I was undressing her in my mind. Maybe that was what she wanted? I had to focus. I had to get this ship in space.

 

I flipped the switches and checked with the other passengers. "Is everyone strapped in?"

 

"That's an affirmative, Calico," Miss Priss said in her dripping drawl. This was going to be a long trip.

 

////////

 

I piloted the ship through Citadel traffic to the relay. Moments later we were in the Silean Nebula. From there it would be a 16 hour trip to Teyolia System. Babe looked a little bored and my thoughts began drifting to things they shouldn't. As promised I set up an account for her on the VI with access to the gunnery calibration program so she could run simulations and make adjustments. The woman was thrilled to have something to keep her occupied. It would also give me time to become occupied with boring things like reports I needed to finish and sign off. Jess and Priss watched vids in the back during most of the trip. Priss kept complaining about my video selection not being sexy enough. She was thrilled that I at least had Vaenia.

 

When we arrived in the Teyolia System, I made contact with Sha'ira over a secure channel. I sent my Spectre ID and stated this was official business, not an investigation into her personal affairs. I just wanted to ask some questions. She told me that I could find her at the Flowering Lotus Arcology in Astella, the Capitol City of Nevos at 10:00 am. We would be arriving on Nevos at 6:00 pm. Time on Nevos isn't Citadel standard.

 

Nevos was a backwater Asari world, almost off the grid. I say almost because we did manage to take notice and colonize it despite there not being a mass relay in the system. The Elcor didn’t bother with it because the gravity was too low for them. That was fine by me. Being off the grid meant that it didn’t receive the same level of regulation and oversight as other Asari colonies. Political lobbies and corporations set up their headquarters here to get out from under the watchful eye of the government and public. Plus it was a resort planet with a warm climate and plenty of nice beaches.

 

It’d been a while since I’d been here. You see as many Blackout Sports Skycars here as you do X3Ms (taxis) on the Citadel. And it costs almost as much to drive them. The rhythm seemed different, too. Even the joggers ran slower. Maybe that’s because there were no muggers chasing them. At least the people still seemed friendly.

 

They built arcologies, or small cities housing about 100,000 people each with all the amenities right into the cliff sides. Astella, was in a sub-tropical region sheltered from most of the weather by a mountain range on a peninsula to the west. The natives did well in spite of the violent hurricanes that occasionally lashed the coast. Some of these places had been standing as long as two or three years.

 

The sun disappears quickly in Astella like a high-heeled hooker on a Saturday night. The days were short and the nights even shorter. Even with my travel lag and the time difference, falling asleep wasn’t easy with all the peace and quiet banging in my head. Waking up was just as brutal.

 

We had continental breakfast at the hotel and headed over to Sha'ira's.

[Cknarf]

Sanves, sunrise.

 

Mr. Taetrus’ directions had brought Frank to a small clearing, deep within the forests of Sanves. Lying on top of the shuttle, he waited for his package. He let his legs dangle over the edge, and thumped them against the hull every few seconds like an impatient child waiting for a meal to arrive.

 

“Uuuuuuuughhhh where’s muh druuuuugs?” Frank slammed a fist on the shuttle. Just as he did so, he noticed a bright object in the sky.  He quickly sat up, and squinted for a better look.

 

Muh drugs?

 

After reaching a certain altitude, the outermost layer of the object was shed, blasting away from it in two halves. A parachute deployed, and a strobe began to flash as it slowly descended.

 

Sliding off the shuttle, he moved to intercept it. He didn’t have to walk far before realizing it was going to end up in a tree.

 

“Really? Really!?” He threw up his hands. “Of all the trees in the forest!”

 

Frank started his way up the tree, but after a good ten feet or so, he stopped and looked up.

 

Only… a hundred or so to go...

 

He could already tell how this was going to end. As much as he wanted the sand that dangled high above the forest floor, he wasn’t about to die trying to reach it. He still had quite a ways to go before he reached that level of addiction.

 

“Yeah… f*ck this.” He carefully made his way down, and looked up at the package. And then to the Kodiak. And then back to the package. A smile crossed his face.

 

Moments later, the sound of hundreds of different species trying desperately to get laid was drowned out by ‘VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVT’, followed by a shitload more  ‘VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVT’.

 

Having been sawed nearly in half by a hail of 7.62, the tree cracked and splintered as it fell to the ground, surprisingly not in the direction of Frank and the shuttle. Wasting no time, he pushed the door gun back to its resting position, and went to retrieve his package.

 

Within the ruggedized crate, was a smaller box. Inside that box, tucked neatly into foam, were twenty glass vials filled with a fine red powder.

 

“Fuckin’ riiiiiight”

 

Accompanying the vials, was a datapad with an additional message from Mr. Taetrus.

 

[Mr. Elias, instead of the standard brick, I have supplied you with individual vials. I have done so for your safety. This particular product is extremely powerful, and can be dangerous if used improperly. A single vial, ideally, should last three to five days. While it is possible to consume an entire vial in a 24 hour period, I would most definitely advise against it. Any more than that could prove deadly. I trust that you will use your best judgement. -- T]

 

“One per day. Got it.” Frank chucked the datapad off into the forest somewhere, and headed back to the shuttle, carrying his purchase under his arm.

[Redbelle]

Meanwhile, back aboard the Janiri.

 

Amy Babylon spent 5 minutes alone with her calibrating her recording equipment before her instincts told her she'd been waiting to long and went to try the door of the conference room. Finding it wouldn't open, she frowned and hit the door release control that flared an angry red. As if chiding her for her impatience. Amy however felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she hit the door with the bottom of her fist.

 

"Hello? Hello? Is anyone out there! What's going on! Why is the door sealed"?

[Kel Riever]

Jenus

Jenus was on her way to meet Irina for a jet bike ride she was looking forward to when she passed by the lounge and heard some banging on the door from inside.  She almost kept going after a pause, but then stopped again.  The voice didn't sound like any she'd heard on the ship before.

Moving closer to the door to hear better, Jenus listened.  Then she tried to open the door and found it locked.  Jenus inadvertently looked up, as if speaking to a voice in the sky (a natural, predisposed habit), and asked, "VERA, who's locked in the lounge?  Open the door."
 

[Redbelle]

Amy's pounding was fast becoming more and more violent as she got no response to the point that she was beating both fists against the door as she yelled.

 

"I know there's someone out there! You can't do this! I'm a reporter! I have clearance dammit! When I get out of here I'm filing for grievance! Do you know how many stories I could be covering right now! Things you all watch on the news! Dammit someone listen to-......".

 

The door abruptly slid open and Amy found herself falling through the now empty space shrieking. "....-MEEEEEEEE"!!! She fell on her face, just getting her arms under her in time to cushion the blow. Looking up she first saw a pair of boots. Then coveralls as she looked up to see an Asari looking down at her.

 

Popping up like a jack in the box Amy grabbed hold of the front of her tunic, wide eyed as she gasped. "Spectre! Stone! Captain! Naleena! Where! Now! Key Words"!

[Kel Riever]

Jenus dark eyes seemed hard, but it was in fact a curiosity which was on her mind.  She looked down at the woman who fell in front of her, watched her pick herself up without offering so much as a hand, and then staring at her like she'd jumped out of another dimension.  After a noticeable silence, Jenus tilted her head slightly.

"You're on a military vessel, you do realize."

As the woman composed herself, Jenus had her own realization that the woman aboard was out of place, even if she had clearance.  Then she remembered what she heard just before the woman came flying out the door.

"Reporter...You are a reporter."  Jenus' eyes narrowed.  It was uncharacteristic of her but she decided she wanted to find out more first.  "We have a reporter on board a Spectre's ship.  How convenient."  The sarcasm leaked out for a moment, but then Jenus reeled it back in.  "Pardon me but who exactly are you?"

[Redbelle]

Amy's eye's were intense as she held back the biting panic that threatened to rise up in her throat. "You don't understand! I'm a reporter and stories are opportunities that come and go! They happen and then their over! You have to anticipate! Ready yourself! You have to be there where ever a story erupts and have your equipment on and pointing in the right direction to capture it and right now my story is that your Spectre is taking my..... The Medusa's captain to see the Consort and I've been stuck in a room when I could have been talking to who I need to talk to to make sure this story gets the airtime it deserves! This isn't because it right or wrong or about peoples rights to this or that! This is news! This is the stuff history is made of that goes on the record to win Pulitzer's and look your colleges in the eye and smirk at how all that reporter boot camp hell where they make you feel this small.....". She held her thumb and forefinger up, a span small enough that Iole had to squint to see it. ".... And after they set you out into a world of competition where the whole point of you is to find stories and turn it into content that's up to broadcasting standards and if it isn't you get berated for letting something slip through your finger's.... And if it's not that then it's because you didn't leave enough time for the data wranglers to pull the data off your drive to edit and title frame...... Dammit why do you people not care about the craft we put into our work? Maybe if we started charging you people for news you actually might value it more when the reporting community scoop your intelligence to things you want to know! You know every species military own intelligence services use the media as a point resource to know where to spend theirs"?

 

Amy's face was growing red as the pitch of her voice grew and grew. "And all that.... Means that I need to be that shuttle when it departs so I can get a shot in at getting the questions about Shia-ra's departure on film and broadcast so I can enjoy the 30 seconds of fame in the industry before the next media cycle starts and it's forgotten because it's satisfied and I have to go find more stories to air because that's my job! Now where in all the hells is Captain Stone and your Spectre"!

[Kel Riever]

Jenus was glaring by the time the woman took a breath between sentences.  She'd clearly mistaken Jenus for someone like Iole.  Someone who'd put up with her, without knocking her on her ass and accept every bit of punishment that came with it just for the satisfaction of the look on a face.  And clearly the woman did not read that on Jenus' hard and angry expression by the time she paused.

But Jenus had paused too, because of what the woman had said.  And she found an even meaner avenue to travel along.

Jenus activated her com and contacted the bridge so that only her end of the conversation  could be heard.  "Bridge.  Yes this is Jenus.  I have a woman here, she tells me she's very important.....Well, I have to take her word at it because she is a reporter after all.  She says she's hear to meet with Spectre T'Sarius and Captain Stone...Of course...Oh, well, isn't that perfect! I'll let her know right away!  Jenus out."

Without taking her eyes off the human, Jenus dropped the hand she unnecessarily had put by her ear for show and said, "Miss...Reporter.  I have been informed that I should take you to see the Spectre and Captain at once.  There will be a necessary change of attire but there is a place where you'll be able to don an appropriate outfit just off the hangar bay.  So if you will, please, follow me."

Leading the way down the passage way to the hanger, Jenus slyly peered over to the woman, watching to see if she'd follow.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"Captain Stone, huh? Very well. Do you know if Captain T'sauris is still aboard? I'd like to ask her about-" Essul was cut off abruptly as he heard what sounded like shouting. Essul walked back towards the room, the two guards in tow as he looked around. He walked to the door and opened it to find it empty.

 

"What?" Essul asked aloud as he looked around the room, the two guards looking to each other as they got on the comms, "This is Yeoman Triana. What happened to the reporter in the lounge?" She called in, curious if she had her moved.

 

Essul however had his mind racing to conclusions. A person Naleena had ordered detained was no longer there. Sounds of shouting coming from this area previous. It could only mean one thing in his mind.

 

"Send out an alert to watch for this reporter! And keep an eye out for any crew members who may be missing!" He called as he dashed down the hallway, drawing his knife and holding it in a reverse grip as he sprinted down the hall. This had to be some sort of scheme by an enemy infiltrator. They must have posed as a reporter, and the captain knew enough to detain them while they verified the info. Then taken a hostage after escaping the room, and were now loose on this ship with a captive crew member.

 

"Not this time..." Essul said as he turned the corner, charging down the hall as he looked for anyone he didn't recognize. He managed to spot someone he didn't recognize, at least the back of their head, and shouted out to them.

 

"HALT!!!" He called loudly, voice actually echoing as he began to make a run towards the person, in his mind, had to be stopped here and now. "ON THE GROUND NOW!"

 

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

 

Vayne walked up to the store, walking up to the interface terminal as he scrolled through the options. And scrolled. And scrolled.

 

"These are...quite a bit...wow." Vayne said as he looked through the wide selection of goods. It was odd, to say the least. The krogan rarely thought about cooking, usually just buying whatever was cheap enough for him to afford. It didn;t help much that his krogan stomach could usually stand whatever he ate, foul or not.

 

"Something I can help you with?" The turian owner asked as he came over curiously, looking towards the armored and armed krogan.

 

"Yeah. I'm looking for some spices. Maybe some meats, for this ship I serve on..." Vayne said as he looked to the turian, "We're council employed, but that usually means we get nothing but standard rations..."

 

"Spices and meats, huh? Alright. So what kind of seasonings you looking for? Something with a Chirality?" He asked as vayne stared at him blankly.

 

"...I...don't know?" Vayne said honestly, as the turian simply looked to him, sighed, and brought himself to a slow face-palm as he brought up his omnitool, writing down an address as he looked to vayne.

 

"This...is the Fishdog Food Factory. They'll be able to take care of you for your meats. Tell me what kind of ship you serve on, and its crew." The turian said as vayne looked at the address.

 

"Asari. We got a lot of asari. Couple humans and turians. One quarian...one batarian...and two krogan, me and the cook..." The turian nodded as he went to the terminal, pressing a few of the orders as he looked to vayne.

 

"Alright...what ship do you serve?" He asked

 

"The...Janiri...?" Vayne said as the tilted his head in confusion.

 

"Alright. Here is your recipt, I;ll send over a nice mix of spieces for your ship...Next time, please tell your cook to come over." The turian said as vayne nodded, taking his leave as he grumbled under his breath.

 

"Lousy stuck up bird-face..." Vayne mumbled as he walked out of the shop, turning the corner. As he did though, he spotted another krogan following him from behind, in full armor as vayne nodded his head.

 

'Not this time bastard...' he thought as he brought up his omnitool, pretending to look at some webpage as he brought up his weapon menus instead.

 

"Kavadar Vayne!" The krogan called from behind as he drew his shotgun, the crowd around them turning to look as they heard a shout, "Ganar Slayt says burn in hell!"

 

Vayne turned around as his omnitool activated the ballistic blade launcher, firing its payload at the krogans face as he pulled his shotgun up, firing in the air as the burning shrapnel cut into its face. Vayne ran over and drew his shotgun pistol, slamming the barrel end directly against the blood pack krogans throat as he fired, the loud boom slightly mutted, but the shower of gore that rained on those behind the krogan wasn't, as the crowd was now screaming in terror.

 

Vayne took a few steps back, shoving the blood pack member down. Then he turned and ran, thinking one thing and one thing only.

 

"I ****** called it..." he said, cursing himself that he was right about the ambush.

[Kel Riever]

Jenus wasn't usually a fan of Essul.  But this one time...

When Essul yelled at the reporter (who still hadn't stated her name to her) to get on the ground, Jenus didn't exactly know what was up, but she was going to ride the jet bike in the direction it was going.

Since Essul was clearly running towards the reporter, Jenus shoved her to the floor and drew her sidearm to point it at the human woman.  "Don't move!" Jenus shouted at the reporter.  She called to Essul while keeping an eye on the woman.  "What do we have here, some sort of infiltrator?!"

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul stopped as he stood over the reporter, knife still drawn as he looked to Jenus. "Did you see anyone else with her!?" He asked the asari as he looked down to the human, "Stay right there...don't move an inch..." He said as he knelt down, turning her over to shove a forearm against the back of her shoulders to help keep her in place.

 

"Naleena posted guards outside the lounge where she was locked up in. I talked to them for a minute, and she's gone. I hear screaming, and I come back to see nobody there..." He said as he looked down to Amy, "Name and Rank, Ma'am. Spit them out now." He barked

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Would you hurry up? Irina thought as she paced around near  the airlock. Then she heard the commotion near the CIC and observation lounge. She ran back, ready to draw her shotgun.

 

When she arrived there was Jenus and Essul standing over a woman in civilian clothes lying on the floor with her hands behind her head.

 

"What the hell is going on here?" Irina asked.

 

"Captain T'sarius told us to stand guard here until Captain Stone arrived," Yeoman Triana said.

 

Irina raised her eyebrow. "Really? Until Captain Stone arrived?" she laughed. "And who exactly is this on the floor?"

 

"Amy Babylon, I'm a reporter. I deplore this treatment!" the woman protested. "And I don't see what's so funny!"

 

Irina knelt on one knee. "Well, for one thing, Spectre T'sarius and Captain Stone left several hours ago on a shuttle. And you don't even have a proper visitor's badge," she said. "What do we do with people on board without proper visitor's badges?"

[Cainhurst Crow]

"What? They're both gone?" Essul said as he looked to Irina. If that was the case, then this person would probably be waiting here for a while. A long while, held inisde the room.

 

'I can think about it later...' Essul thought as he shook his head and looked back down to Amy Babylon, "Stand up..." He said as he kept a firm grip on her bicep, "Tell me how you got out of that room.":

[Redbelle]

"You tell me". Amy said to Jenus as she mistook her question as one being posed to her. "Aren't all Batarians' terrorists anyway? Why aren't you stopping hi- HEY"!

 

Amy hadn't moved like Essul had said and as a result was easy prey for him as he dropped her to the ground and manhandled an arm behind her back. "Help me! Assault! You! Blue skin"! She barked looking up only to see a smirking Jenus looking down at her.

 

Oh grud, she's not going to help! Amy thought as her hand reached into her jacket pocket. I'm being assaulted by this alien and she's just......

 

Suddenly mental playbacks of things said in the Terra Firma offices repeated themselves in her mind at high speed, including some choice observations about Batarian culinary habits and their prisoners. Fear gripped her even as her hand gripped a small cylinder in her pocket that she brought out, her index finger on the release trigger.

 

"Get your paws off me you damn dirty alien"! She cried as she hit the trigger and maced her attacker square in the face and all four of his eye's.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul closed his eyes as the mace enteree his optics. A few seconds later he shook his head, rubbing some of the substance away with his knife hand while keeping a hold of her.

"Mace...I take it?" Essul asked as he glared at her. The benefits of having q constantly pain killed nervous system was a lack of pain as a deterrent. His vision was blurry in two of his eyes as tears flowed from them, and his mouth and nose both tased and smell something spicy and chemically, but outside of two symptoms he was fine.

"That stuff is awful...also not as effective as a stunner..." essul said as he looked st her I the eyes, his 6'5 framd dwarfing her own as he smirked, "Which is good. Anything more dangerous then mace, and I'd need to dislocate your shoulder."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina grabbed Amy from behind by both arms and knocked the canister of pepper spray from her hand. She restrained her with a wrist lock.

[Kel Riever]

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

Teyolia System, Nevos, Astella, Flowering Lotus Arcology

Shi’ara, or ‘The Consort’ as she was known as from her days on the Citadel, would spend a good part of her self-imposed exile in the T’Yana Botanical Gardens, a privately owned institution meant predominantly for research, and seldom open to outsiders.  As such, once the proper connections were made, the party from Naleena’s shuttle arrived with little guidance and no fanfare.  A single guide brought them in, leaving them at a path within the grounds where they would have to walk to and find a person much sought after, whom few could gather an unscheduled meeting with.

Perhaps Sha’ira had become better at determining who she let in and who she dismissed, even unannounced.  Or perhaps she’d determined it was inevitable that someone would get through to her.  Maybe even she’d had a prediction of who was coming.  The latter speculation made more probable as there were few questions the guide asked, as if the guide knew of the occurrence of the meeting.  A simple confirmation of the Spectre’s ID was all it took and Naleena wasn’t even presented with the typical small talk of those who associated with Sha’ira to put visitors at ease.

It hardly mattered as the botanical garden did most of that without any conversation at all.  The place was exquisite, a collection of exotic fauna that gave the mind a much needed rest.  Naleena, Jess, Babe and Miss Priss could feel the vitality of the air around them.  If their mission wasn’t so pressing, a day or several could be spent taking in the place.  Following the path took the party on a white footbridge over a pond whose surface was still as glass, then through a glade of sorts, lined by a magnificent array of flowers. 

The group wasn’t entirely alone.  Occasionally, a researcher or grounds worker would pass by.  Once in a while, someone who seemed not to have a designated function would pass by, giving the impression that they might be an acolyte of the Consort.  Most who were seen were asari, although a few were human.  Babe’s effect was not lost on them, but of this latter group, there was something more familiar they spotted in the golden coifed visitor.  Despite the interest, no one seen spoke much, as the tranquility of the botanical garden almost demanded an appreciation for its own natural symphony of beauty.

At the path’s end, Sha’ira awaited.  She was as enticing and gentle as ever, turning to greet everyone warmly.  As her eyes fell across each person, they felt welcomed.  Miss Priss, of all those present, was the least able to control herself, squealing with joy and jumping to hug Sha’ira immediately.

“It has been some time, child,” Sha’ira said to Priss with a smile.

“I thought you might’ve forgotten my little old self,” Priss beamed back.  “Ain’t gotta say how much I missed ya, do I?”

“Of course not.”  Sha’ira’s gaze lingered on Babe, although for the observant, it was the look of someone searching the past.  Babe had to glance away, an unusual reaction as it seemed there was nothing to be uncomfortable about in the presence of The Consort at all.  Then Sha’ira turned to Naleena and Jess.  “It is a pleasure to attend to you.  Who do I have the honor of meeting today?”

*****

 

I bowed my head to the Consort as was customary. "Naleena T'sarius, Council Spectre, and this is Captain Jess Stone, and Babe."

 

It was obvious that a memory stirred somewhere. Just seeing the Consort triggered a reaction in Babe. From that, I figured the two knew each other but the Consort wouldn't acknowledge it. Being a former thief and assassin made me an excellent judge of character. I was always looking for a tell of some sort. Something that would give away when a person was vulnerable. Our blonde companion had showed one in spades. For some reason, it bothered me. There was something about Babe that made you want to protect her. I just couldn't put my finger on it

 

*****

Jess lifted two fingers and tapped them above her right eye in a mock salute. "Eyah luv. Pardon us barging in and all. Nice place you have! Lot better than that stuffy Citadel of Squaresville. Believe you me I think you made the right choice relocating". Grinning broadly, she nonetheless took on a more serious tone as she dropped her hand and looked at her.

 

"Not exactly a social call though. Got a couple of crew who I figured could use the meeting. You know them both I trust? Lotta history. Not all of it of their own making but some that's catching up with me and mine. If your free after catching up I hoped to have a sit down and go over what you know of the past".

[Redbelle]

Amy screeched as she felt her hand being bent in a way it wasn't meant to close to the point of no return. "You can't do this! I have credentials! What's a Batarian doing aboard a council ship! That hurts dammit! How long have the council been working with the Batarians behind everyone's back! What are you all hiding! The people have a right to know what their officials are doing! Are they building these new classes of ship? Are the Batarians strengthening their military power! Are the Asari helping them? When I get out of this I'm not stopping till I have answers and Arghhhhh"!

 

Jenus twisted Amy's hand just enough to send shooting pain up her arm which was when all heard footsteps coming up from the corridor and a sleepy voice ask. "What's all the commotion? Jenus? I'm pretty sure that's a reporter your showing arms locks to and Essul......". Anika stifled a yawn as she stretched her arms up over her head  before finally coming to a halt in front of the three and peered down at the second in command. ".....Essul..... have you been crying"?

[Cainhurst Crow]

"She maced me..." Essul said as he wiped away more of the fluid, "Doesn't hurt at all...can't even feel it really. But it's definitely messed up my eyes. So I take it you know her, Anika..." He said as he sheathed his knife, looking back to the reporter, then Jenus and Irina, and then Anika, "How do you people standing having two eyes?" He asked, the world appearing flat, and just a bit greyed out, with his new vision.

 

"Alright. Time to put an end to this..." Essul said as he clapped his hands together, hoping to get the others attention as he spoke, "We'll take her back to the lounge. And have someone keep an eye on her this time. Wait for her to calm down a bit...maybe talk this out like adults..." He said as he reached up and rubbed the new eyes again, the normally painful act having no effect on the batarian.

 

He looked down to Amy as she just kept talking, jumping to conclusions left and right as he blinked in surprise, "Does she ever stop?" He asked as he looked to her questioningly.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina stood outside and turned to Jenus. "If I was going to be on a shuttle for 20 hours, I wouldn't want her on board with me," she said. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

[Kel Riever]

Jenus had been mostly amused by what had happened, and felt a bit remiss actually having to step in herself since it meant putting an end to the ineffectual, but humorous macing of Essul.  When Irina got that tone in her voice, though, Jenus said, "Sometimes Red, you have all the best ideas.  Why don't you go ahead."

[Kel Riever]

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

Previously...

Teyolia System, Nevos, Astella, Flowering Lotus Arcology

Shi'ara approached both Jess and Naleena, reaching out her arms to caress each of their shoulders.  "Though I have never met either of you, I am fascinated by those who bring me people I fully never expected to see again, and yet yearned to.  We can spend some time together and you can tell me your needs."  Shi'ara brought her hands down along Jess and Naleena's arms until she reached their fingers and softly squeezed them.  "But I understand from whom you've brought me that you must have questions.  I will do my best to tell you what I know.  Let us walk through the garden.  We will not be disturbed."

Releasing her grip, Sha'ira began to stroll, off the path and between tall trees with space enough between them to let in plenty of sunlight.  As she did, she gestured for Babe to walk alongside her, and as Babe did, Shi'ara held her hand.

"I have always found humans captivating and have made the best attempts to reach out and include them in everything I do.  It has been an ambition of mine despite the many difficulties I have encountered in doing such.  Even though it has been twenty years, I have learned so much, and yet only have a few humans who have stayed with me as acolytes.  Many, of course, have gone on to become independent, like Priss, successful in their own right.  And though Miss Priss and I no longer share our careers together, I believe Priss has done critical work.  Smaller groups, perhaps she isn't as appreciated, but Priss will go places I never could.  And of course she's with Dila and Shiana.

There was a change in Miss Priss mood that Shi'ara seemed to pick up on before the woman even spoke.

"I almost don't have the heart to tell you Miss Shiana...she's got no boots anymore."  Miss Priss bit the side of her lip and gave a helpless shrug of one shoulder.

Shi'ara stopped and turned to the woman in pink.  After a long sigh, she said, "That is a shame.  Have you been able to move on."

Priss nodded.  "I think about her always, though.  We shared a lot."

"I want you to tell me about it before you leave," Shi'ara said, "And for now I will hold your loss along with mine.  I appreciate your strength, Priss.  May I continue?"

Priss smiled, though she had released a few tears.  "Sure as a buck."

Shi'ara began walking again, but offered her other hand to Miss Priss, who took it and strode on the other side of The Consort.   "What we do is difficult, and so I first believed that it would be best to include humans when they were young, as we often do with asari.  It is without hubris that I say the training and education offered within our curriculum is exemplary, and prepares those we take in for far more than a career as an acolyte.  It has to as again, many move on to other vocations.  But I consider it my personal commitment, my gift back, so to speak, to give a student everything I have to offer.  So in my early days of interaction with humans, I created a place for those who had promise, who we found would blossom in our care.  Call it a school, if you will."

With a soft clutch of both Priss' and Babe's hands, Shi'ara continued.  "My sympathy led me to search for those who'd been less fortunate, mostly.  Orphans, those without a home, they received the greater part of my attention.  So it was with Priss.  People who could grow up under my tutelage, with the promise of a life they had a poor chance of achieving otherwise.  If I had stuck to my initial requirements, maybe events would have transpired more positively.  But in hindsight that would have been just as impossible to achieve.  As you can imagine, the idea of training from youth in our ways had a great appeal and there were those who came wanting a better future for their children who had means.  I do favors for clients, that is part of my work.  But those favors can quickly become double-edged swords when someone on the other end wants more than I can give."

Babe seemed increasingly uncomfortable at this point, though Shi'ara continued to hold her hand so that she wouldn't pull away.  There was a glance of worry from Babe over her shoulder to Jess, and even Naleena, before she put her face forward again, cast downward despite the beauty of the place they were in. 

"You are even more enchanting than when I last saw you," Shi'ara said suddenly to Babe.  "But you are no longer the girl I once knew.  Whatever happened to you, Jocelyne, and your sister and your mother?"

At that point, Babe seemed to be far sadder than Priss was when she spoke of the lost of Shiana.  "I've had a very hard time remembering," Babe responded with a heavy voice, and then she went quiet, lost in herself.

******

 

(Naleena)

 

I listened and watched with my full attention, observing every nuance of their conversation. The Consort spoke softly to them. Babe seemed fragile as glass. One wrong turn in an interrogation and she'd shatter. Sha'ira called her Jocelyne. She had a sister and a mother whom she doesn't remember. Something horrific must have happened that she blocked her own memories. I'd seen this before.

 

I put my hand on Babe's shoulder. I shouldn't have. But I did. Her vulnerability drew me in. "I'm sorry for your loss. I've lost people, family, too," I said in a calm comforting voice. "And it's safe to remember. We're here to protect you."

 

I needed the information locked inside her head.

[Kel Riever]

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

Sha'ira let go of Miss Priss' hand to focus on Babe.  The look of concern on The Consort's face was not hidden. 

"As I said before, Jocelyne, I would never turn my back on you and anything that occurred is strictly my responsibility.  You bear no fault.  If you do not wish to speak more, I would understand.  I am here for you.  And what Naleena is saying is true.  You are safe with us."

Babe seemed frozen.  What was very apparent to those who had been with her was that for once, her mood did not seem contagious anymore.  Her beauty and alluring form were there, but they carried no compelling desire that interfered with thought, as they often did.  Inwardly Babe searched.

"I want to remember."  Babe's beautiful face expressed helplessness.  "There are only bits and pieces.  Jess has helped me with some."

Sha'ira studied Babe.  "Tell me what you can."

Babe reached for her pocked where her blowpops were, then stopped as if the habit lost it's ability to make her feel relaxed.  "I remembered my name.  Jocelyne Viviane Reith."

Jess and Naleena both caught the look of Sha'ira darken in worry, though her demeanor otherwise did not change.  "You are saying you have forgotten your name?"

Babe nodded, blushing in embarrassment.

"Forgive me," Sha'ira said.  "I am ignorant of most everything that has happened since you left my care."

Waving off the apology, Babe struggled but continued.  "I was...six when I was here.  My sister was twelve, or thirteen.  And Priss was...two?  And my mother had brought us because...it was how she was.  I think she was taking advantage of my father's acquaintance with you, although they were no longer together.  You were very kind.  I was happy to be with you.  I thought things would be better."

Shi'ara own sadness was now shared and she moved close to Babe.  "I remember your joyfulness when I first met you.  You were a little pillar of light."

"Two girls died."  Babe's tears flowed freely then. "I told you why I thought they did when you asked me."

"You were very brave.  What else do you remember?"

Babe looked at Priss.  "That a third almost died."

"And you saved her."

"No...I could have saved her.  And I could have saved the others.  I don't remember how but I know I could have."

"You saved her.  The girls nicknamed you Serenity for a reason.  You were always in the right place at the right time.  It was a talent.  I knew you had it when I first met you."

Babe trembled.  "Not right enough.  The other two are dead because of me."

"Not because of you."  Sha'ira took Babe in her arms.

"Because of me and because of Reine."

"You are able to remember your sister's name as well as your own?"

"Yes.  I remember Reine.  I remember Reine Melanie Reith."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina

 

She pulled Jenus outside the door and down the hall a bit. “You want to send her on a snipe hunt?”

 

“What’s a snipe hunt?”

 

“Well, it’s not really a real snipe hunt. It’s more like a wild goose chase, but we tell her that we have the boss’ itinerary and she’s not due to meet with the Consort until tomorrow because they’re catching some rays on the beaches, and if she hurries she can get there and capture the main event on camera,” Irina said. “By the time she gets there, everyone will be gone and we’ll be on our way to Thessia. If she wants to meet with the Consort she’ll have to make an appointment and from what I understand that’ll take her about three months.

 

“Either that or we could throw her in the brig next to that screaming mad man until the boss gets back, but that would be bad press for the Asari Navy.”

[Kel Riever]

Because it was Jenus and she really had no idea who this human was, or that she came from the Medusa, she got an evil look in her eye and said, "I don't think I could stand her on a trip, even in the brig.  And I bet it takes more than three months to get an appointment with The Consort these days.  Go ahead, let's put her on this snipe hunt."