6315 réponses à ce sujet

[Cainhurst Crow]

Faed sighed. "No, it does not. Please don't be alarmed. I see this is difficult for you, and I gather this will be difficult for others as well," Faed said as he pulled a hood over his head and began walking toward the restaurant. "It was difficult for me at first, but you must understand that I cannot survive without Legion. Geth are a lot more complex than we thought. Legion is made up of 1183 runtimes residing now in billions of nanites in my body. When I was in med bay on the ship, it reached consensus that the only way to save my life was to enter my body through my cybernetic implants.

 

"After it cured the infection, I became aware of what happened and another presence. I was alarmed at first, but we reached a consensus that since this was my 'organic platform' as Legion calls it, that I would have primary control. There was a lot of trust involved: a trust that has never existed between my people and the Geth. We practiced. The switching was jarring at first, but that was mostly my own fear that Legion wouldn't return control. Once that fear was put to rest, the switching became smooth.

 

"We're in a symbiotic relationship. A union of organic and machine. Neither of us can survive without the other."

 

Essul was silent as he mulled it over, looking away as he tried to wrap his head around the whole thing. "I'm no expert, so I'm not going to pretend to know anything much about what you've been through...I just know that a person's body, having to share it...I don't know if it'll ever be something I can really get..." He explained as best he could.

 

"I suppose though...as long as you're both happy with how things turned out...it can't be that bad." Essul said as he rubbed the back of his head, "Just warn me before you do that. We batarians see a lot of stuff most of you don't. Body language, the way a person holds themselves, how they walk, what they do with their hands. Seeing all of that just change in the blink of an eye really messes with your head."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

While they were at the restaurant, a matron working behind the bar had been staring at them on and off trying not to be too obvious. Faed had caught her out of the corner of his eye and had pulled his hood up. Then she decided to approach.

 

He looked up at Essul. "Here it comes."

 

The Asari leaned over and spoke in a low voice. "Pardon me, but ... are you Quarian?"

 

Faed continued to look ahead toward Essul. "Yes, I had hoped not to attract much attention."

 

"I haven't seen a Quarian in centuries," the matron replied. "I'm Sonira. How can you survive without your environment suit?"

 

Faed sighed. "I had an accident on a planet in the Terminus. A Geth platform who happened to be nearby saved my life by implanting its nanides in my body to act as my immune system, giving up its freedom to save my life."

 

"Somehow I don't believe you," the matron replied. "What's really going on?"

 

Faed looked up at her. "I was part of a secret research project run by a couple of renegade Quarian microbiologists. We set up a small colony of volunteers from the migrant fleet. The volunteers were exposed to mild irritants at first, then gradually to stronger and stronger microbes, each stimulating an immune system reaction," Faed said. "Eventually we got to some virulent strains, but the Collectors attacked and destroyed the base and killed everyone. This Batarian is part of the crew of the ship that fought off the Collectors and rescued me. I'm the only survivor of the experiment. All of the research data was destroyed in the attack, and I'm not a scientist, so there is no way of telling the Migrant Fleet how to replicate the experiment."

 

The Asari got a sad look in her eyes. "You must get tired of telling people, and I'm sorry that your people won't benefit," she said and stood. "I'm Sonira. Your drinks are on the house. I assume you can drink Turian Brandy? And a Batarian Ale for you?" she looked at Essul.

 

"Yes, and I'm looking forward to enjoying some real food for a change," Faed said. "And... I understand there are some races in the area? I've never been to one. "

 

"At the Armali Raceway," Sonira replied. "It's one of the biggest events of the year. This is Discovery Week Celebration. The anniversary of the week the Asari discovered the Citadel. I'll be back with your drinks and a menu."

 

"Just please don't make a big deal about me being Quarian without a suit. I don't want a crowd."
 

"As you wish."

 

Sonira entered their order and walked back to the bar.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Thessia - Serrice - the Academy (sj & kel)

 

 

The day after Naleena met Rea found the two of them back at the miltary academy.  It was morning, and though there had been a bit of rain at night, by the time they were crossing the parade ground, the weather was as beautiful as ever.  
 

There was a bit of a discussion as to when it would be best to meet the instructor, Rea favoring after class over an office appointment.  She said the instructor didn't have a back to back schedule, and the classroom would avoid most faculty eyes.  The students were unlikely to expect anything.  So it was after the last cadet exited the instructors classroom that Rea gestured for Naleena to follow her in.

The classroom was small, perhaps meant for thirty students at most in a comfortable setting.  The instructor was clothed in a simple, saffron colored gown.  Naleena saw she was a matron in her later years, and moved with a bit of an effort, possibly due to a chronic condition or perhaps even old wounds.  Modern medicine being what it was, either the condition was severe or somehow treatment had pulled up short.  The instructor craned her neck as Rea came in.

“Rea Iallis, a warm surprise,” The instructor beamed, “Tired of running cadets through drills and tactics?”

“Unlike you, much of my work has to be done outside.  And unlike you, I find my words come up short.  It's easier for me to show people what to do sometimes.”

“Be glad that you can.”  The instructor peered at Naleeena.

Rea motioned to the black clad woman accompanying her.  ”Danya this is Spectre Naleena T'Sarius.  Spectre, this is Danya P'tanos, my good friend and the most difficult instructor to have at the academy.”

Danya laughed genuinely, and Rea saw one half of her smile was frozen.  ”Welcome, Spectre.  Rea and I like to give each other a hard time.  I suppose you aren't here to attend my class.  Here to teach it?  I could use some time off.”

 

Naleena noticed the half-smile as well. “Is this a class in how to make decisions that cause one's superiors discomfort?” she joked. “I'm sure I'm quite qualified to teach that one. Actually, I'm here on a very serious matter. Lieutenant, would you mind closing the door?”

 

Naleena set her omni-tool on record which was standard procedure during interviews. “I've been investigating a charismatic serial killer who has gathered a very loyal following. Regretfully, all evidence gathered, including accounts of former associates who were lucky enough to survive give the name of a former Serrice Guard, Xhuan Setura. We have done some digging into her files and have run into a lot of dead ends. All of them simply say 'Dishonorably Discharged' and classified. I believe there is more to it. Given the project I'm currently working on, I could easily get clearance, but that would arouse unwanted interest you understand.

 

“You see, I belong to the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance unit. Galactic police if you will. When one of us goes down we band together. The special unit that conducts internal investigations is looked upon as bureaucratic parasites by the rest of us who are trying to do our jobs. But in reality, we are not above the law, no matter what anyone says,” Naleena said and made eye contact. “Tela Vasir even though she is dead, has Spectres on the force who thought she was a fine officer before her untimely death last year. No one really knows all the details. I just want you to know that I understand the loyalty to an officer with an outstanding service record before such a discharge. I'm not here to judge or start a debate.

 

“What I would like to learn is what unit Setura served with, what type of training they had, and which Matriarch sponsored the unit, if you know these things. I will draw my own conclusions.”

 

Danya lost a bit of her smile.  More importantly, her look became hard in concern.  She looked down at a few datapads on her lecturn and started to pick them up.  “I'm not sure I can help you.  There is a more formal method of going through with this that won't have me appear to be speculating incorrectly about my peers.”

Rea stepped forward and cleared her throat.  “The Spectre talked to Syra, and she has the Matriarch's blessing.  I, too, think she's all right.  This isn't going anywhere but this room.”

For a moment, Danya looked suspiciously even at Rea.  Then she put her datapads back down and spoke to Naleena.  “What you are asking about is sensitive.  Let me tell you that Xhuan Setura was never dishonorably discharged from the Serrice Guard.  That was the navy at work, a bunch of protocol driven space floaters who never have to look their enemy in the eye.  You can tell me as much as you want how difficult it is to make life and death decisions, and how you see people dying over a video as you send down a bombardment, but it's nothing at all when you have to put an Omni-blade into someone and twist it, their blood spilling all over you.  Xhuan Setura, whatever happened to her after her time here, is and always will be remembered as one of us.”

Danya then sighed, as if there was weight to the conversation on her shoulders.  “I'm not going to question your information Spectre, or your investigation.  I will help you because of Rea and because of Syra, though I will not violate any code I have sworn to.  Here is the long and short of it in regards to the questions you've asked.  Xhuan Setura was sponsored, as were the battle sisters of her unit, by Matriarch Tysis.  If you're wondering where to find her, you won't; she's dead.  The unit is officially known as the 4th Starfallers, a group of twelve Commandos generally operating in teams of two to four meant for rapid interdiction and behind enemy line strikes operating on the spur of the moment intelligence.  They are highly mobile, highly dangerous and always ready, really the kind of people who do their job the best. 

“Training for the unit is severe.  They are as tight a group as you can get, living together at all times.  All Serrice Guard are an elite force, but this unit is amongst those who are most tightly bonded.  It is their mission that so demands it.  Casualty rates are low against what is expected of the unit, but generally high regardless.  So when a Commando joins, they either fit in immediately or are removed until a suitable candidate is found.  The Starfallers have it down to a science, and those who stay in have always been in for good.”

Naleena heard the admiration seeping into Danya's voice.  “I wish I could train Commandos like the Starfallers do, but I will never learn their methods.  That is because in large part they practice an ancient martial art, along with their unit specific training, which they will not share with outsiders.  The art is known as Selipse, and was lost with the old worshipers of Athame and the other goddesses long ago.  At least it was thought to have been, but it has been kept alive within the Starfallers.  I believe, in fact, the unit was introduced to the art by Matriarch Tysis, who was a master of the form.  Regardless, it is as brutal an art to the trained as to those who are unfortunate to fall victim to it.  I'm sure part of the loss of its popularity was beause it was viewed as an unnecessary brutality, but I suppose Selipse has worked well with the Starfallers and lives on through them.

“Anyway, there you have it, Spectre.  I do not know where the Starfallers are currently assigned but I know all of them are off world.  I'm sure with your access, if you wish to seek them out, you have the ability to do so.” 

 

“Instructor P'tanos, thank you for your information and your service to the Republics. I really wish this did not involve one of our own. Your information has been a great help,” Naleena said, turned and started to leave. Then, just before reaching the door she turned around. “One last thing. Does the name Xanthe Remi ring a bell?”

 

Danya started picking up her datapads again, with some determination but a bit more slowly this time.  “No, not that I can think of.”  Then after a second or two she seemed to regret some of her reaction at least and briefly paused to say, “Good luck with your investigation, Spectre.  I can only hope that this does not lead in the direction it sounds like its going.”

Rea thanked Danya and gave a non-verbal cue to Naleena that she thought that was all Naleena was going to get out of the instructor.

 

After they left the building, Naleena stopped, on the steps and faced Rea. Paused a moment and saw a puzzled look on Rea's face. “It's nothing,” she said. “It's just that Xanthe Remi trained with the Serrice Guard at one point in her life. It probably wasn't with this instructor. You wouldn't happen to know how I would go about getting the assignments for the Serrice Guard units, would you?”

 

“I think that would normally be considered classified information,” Rea said, “But the assignments would ultimately pass through the Commando Special Warfare Command.  That is here in Serrice, as well, though not at this location.”

 

They continued to walk back to central garden of the campus. “You know, Rea Iallis, I would be remiss if I didn't do this while I am here,” she said. “I have a state of the art Asari Super-frigate. Pretty much everything about it is classified. This case is not my primary mission. My primary mission is highly classified and commissioned by the Council. Matriarch Syra is aware of the gravity of it. The mission is very dangerous. She told me you are one who thinks outside the box. I need people who can think outside the box, and who are not afraid to speak their minds. So I make this offer to you. Would you join my team?”

 

“Truly?”  Rea asked.  Her expression was wide with surprise and wonderment, but then retreated in concern and she stopped walking to address Naleena.  ”I would be honored, Spectre, but if you are giving me a choice about it, I would have to decline with respect.”

Rea looked around, “The work I'm doing here is critical for the Republics.  There just aren't enough instructors with the diplomatic training required to pass it on.  I suppose if there were a replacement for me, I could reconsider, but there isn't.  We're terribly short on the combined knowledge base which is extensive.  That and my next assignment is going to take me to Illium, which will be significantly more complex.”

“Maybe another time,” Rea added, with an apologetic smile, though she knew that was hardly a replacement for a 'yes'.  ”I would  normally accept, but I am needed just where I am.”

 

Naleena stopped before turning into the Prothean Studies building. “Given the fact that you turned down invitations to join the Serrice Guard, I held a thread of hope you would accept, but I think we both knew you wouldn't,” she said with a smile and tapped her omni-tool. “Matriarch Syra thinks very highly of you. Nevertheless, my offer will remain open should a suitable replacement for you come along. Here is my direct contact information. You have been of great assistance to me. Should you require the same of me in the future or decide to join my team, do not hesitate to use that address. All is one, Rea Iallis.”

 

Naleena nodded her head in a slight bow, turned and walked up the steps to the building.

 

 

Rea was going to let the Spectre go, then called out, “One more bit, if I might.”  She caught up just a few steps short of Naleena and looked up at her.  ”I tell a lot of people no.  It's probably a fault of mine.  But I can't say I feel a little bad about doing it.  If you wouldn't mind me making it up to you a bit, my family has some pretty great seats at the raceway.  My sister is in the premier event, it should be exciting if you are into that sort of thing.  There's a ticket I meant for someone to come along who isn't going to make it.  You are welcome to it, and if duty isn't calling you away.”

 

Naleena turned around and smiled. “That was unnecessary, and thank you. I am planning to take some personal time once I leave Serrice. Attending the races might help me take my mind off work matters,” she said. “Who is your sister? I'll watch for her.”

 

“Whisp.”  Rea caught herself and smiled.  ”I mean Longbow.  Whisp Iallis is her real name, but nobody much calls her that except her SO from time to time.  And of course her family.  I would be honored if you would attend.”

 

Naleena paused for a moment. “You don't have to express honor to me, Rea. I am simply Naleena. I was born on an Asari colony world. I do not have a sparkly clean past. I didn't even earn my position. Someone with power nominated me. I am the last living person with the T'sarius name, at least to my knowledge,” she said. “The Iallis family on the other hand is a name that holds respect in the Republics. It is I who am honored.”

 

There was a girlish giggle that escaped for just a moment from Rea, a glimpse that showed another side to the otherwise proper Commando.  Naleena knew she couldn't quite take in what was said.  ”There's this one aunt we don't really like to talk about.  We  haven't gone about saving the galaxy or anything of the sort, either.  But I suppose it's a pretty good pack.  We'll see you at the races, then.”

[Redbelle]

....

"Go ahead and have a drink if you want.  It's all there, wine, brandy, milk if you've got a soft stomach," The smug asari said as she tilted her head towards the wet bar.  Her eyelids squeezed with satisfaction.  "You know not to try anything you shouldn't, I'm sure.  There's a good payday attached to you so I promise we're highly motivated to get you delivered, whether you co-operate or not.  Might as well enjoy what you can." 

 

Anika took a bottle and looked at the label.

 

"Whiskey huh...". She said unscrewing the cap as she looked around the cabin pleasantly. "...Well how could I say no. You do seem to have gone to some trouble on my account".

 

Plucking up two glasses she poured two fingers into both, holding them with their glass sides between her thumb and forefinger as she poured before setting the bottle back down. Sliding one glass into her free hand she leaned back, threw a leg over the other and held out the other glass, looking at her captor from under her eyelashes.

 

"Care to join me"? She asked with a smirk.

[Kel Riever]

Armali Raceway

"Spotter and Chief are reading the com," Divine told Longbow.

"We'll be locked out of speaking with them by Turn One, and won't pick them up until thirty seconds before the line.  Remember the new revisions?"

"Just you and me for more of the duration," Divine said over her shoulder as she settled into the back seat a bit more on the jetbike.  "Maybe talking to you too much is what's making me sick."

Longbow throttled.  "Don't even say something like that.  Goddess be damned I'm ready to tear up the sky!"

"I'm with you.  Here come the lights on the gantry."

Longbow lay herself down into the bike.  Her heads up display streamed with a battery of information, but her eye was on the single green light that was about to change to a sequence of five red lights.  "Engine and surface temp, Divine?"

"Engine's fine, surface on the hull is a bit cool."

"Let us go, already, Armali..."

The green light flashed out, then at one per second, the red lights filled the board.  On the fifth, Longbow was firing the thrusters, launching from her standing start.  The jet bike's soft, angelic whine broke out into a shriek and they were off for their timed qualifier.

[Redbelle]

Truth be told, Anika was worried. She was hiding it. Or thought she was hiding it but when she thought about her circumstances, she was in trouble.

 

Getting into a situation where she was without a weapon. Without her armor and no way way to call in for help she knew she'd royally screwed up. All her training teaching her to be a soldier first, everything else second had been chipped away by her time on the Medusa, then the Janiri. She'd gotten soft she knew. And the price was people holding her at gunpoint taking her to who knew where...

 

Grud, she hoped it wasn't the complex that sent these people out. She'd stayed hidden for years and hoped they would have forgotten about her but that seemed wishful thinking.

 

Get it together girl. Let's see our options. See what openings there are. How to make some if there aren't.

 

The glass remained outstretched and she swayed it from side to side sending the liquid inside gently sloshing up the sides. "Come now, won't you drink too? It's good stuff right? You chose it after all. Setting all this up? You didn't short change my worth on the drink selection, did you!?.

[Kel Riever]

The smug asari lost her expression briefly, peered down at the glass, and said, "I'll drink with my friends when my job is done. I'm not here to ruin your stay if you don't make me and I'm not about to have you ruin my contract. You've been a gem so far. We'll be parting ways, shortly and I'm sure you'll have a good chat with who we're bringing you to."

Anika knew the drive was longer than anticipated. The vehicle could have gone to higher altitude speed lanes, and crossed the city in minutes. Instead, it plied the lower, local lanes. She could also read the smug asari well enough to know it didn't sit well with her to have to watch Anika, so Anika guessed it had something more to do with where they were going and it taking a particular amount of time.

None of Anika's captors spoke after the last comment from the smug asari. Outside, the city had changed to a wealthier, and more suburban neighborhood of residential buildings, many that were estates. There was some typing on the console by the driver, and the vehicle floated over the outer wall of one of the estates with sand colored walls. As the walls were cleared, Anika could see extensive grounds, and the entrance to an underground garage, just to the side of a long, two level, modern mansion. The long garage door automatically opened, and the vehicle passed through its low lit interior to head for the far side where a set of glass double doors headed into the mansion. There was a second pair of vehicles like those Anika travelled with, but no sign of anyone.
None of the Eclipse agents had given Anika a chance to make a move during the trip. They were careful about her exit, staying close but far enough away for even Anika to be unable to do anything with the multiple threats. The smug asari took the lead, bringing the entourage through the double doors. Beyond was an elevator and a spacious hallway to what must have been some sort of den, but it was a wide set of black marble spiral stairs where Anika was escorted. The stairs could handle two asari abreast, and took up a good amount of space. Anika speculated that the sturdiness of the stairs showed a functionality that made here wonder if it wasn't for an asari that had a krogan mate. The top of the stairs placed the group into another spacious hallway of cream colored walls, decorated with paintings, side tables, and what looked like some expensive sculpture. There were archways, halls and doors off the passageway, all wide, but the smug Eclipse agent motioned to another set of double doors.

"You go through there. I'll give you a reminder that you may not see us, but we're around, so keep it calm like you did on the way over here and it'll go as well as you can expect. Now, travel along!"

The double doors were heavy, black alloy, more for style than hardened for any sort of protection. They slid aside silently as Anika approached, to show a grand living room beyond. There was an incredible hearth two meters high, with fire lit. The floor was covered in an exotic rug, while the furniture seemed all of leather. There were no viewscreens, or computer displays of any kind that Anika could see. And the colors of the room were off-whites, warm creams, and the gentle accent of an earthy black or deep brown.

Two tall backed chairs faced the hearth, tall enough for what could have easily been a krogan in fact, though stylistically Anika couldn't imagine a krogan being comfortable in them. Next to each chair was a side table, topped with a silver tray of drinks and hors d'oeuvres, pristinely set. Though the backs of the chairs were tall enough to hide the figure sitting in them, Anika knew the one on the left was occupied, as she caught the shadow of someone in it against the wall. With the chair, the form of the shadow was mostly hidden, but it beckoned an irresistible curiosity and Anika found she'd crossed the threshold into the room before she knew it. Behind her, the double doors closed.

[TheMajonese]

At the bar

 

"Something strong...", Arian gave the short answer but he immediately added: "Do you have Ryncol?"

 

The asari bartender looked at him for a second, then she laughed and shook her head. "You see any krogans? They are the only one who really drink this stuff. Since you won't find many krogans on Thessia, we don't have Ryncol here. But instead we have..." She began listing some alternatives and even though Arian eventually ordered the 'strongest' drink the bar offered, he didn't look happy with it.

 

When he stared at his tiny glass with a look on his face as if the shot had personally insulted his family, Arian mentally prepared to pay for many more of these drinks before he would feel 'drunk'. Or even close to it.

 

"This may take a while", he muttered before he downed it and immediately turned to order the next one.

[Cknarf]

"We just have to drink faster." Johnny knocked back his shot, wincing a bit as it went down. "I'm gonna need a few more of those." He said, sounding a little hoarse. Whatever he had just consumed was much harsher than he was used to, but he didn't seem to care. He was on a mission.

 

"And get him more of whatever that is. A lot more." Johnny nodded towards Arian, as the turian took another shot. The bartender went to fill another shot glass, but Johnny stopped her. "No no." He shook his head, then pointed to a much larger glass intended for mixed drinks. "In one of them."

 

A little Later...

 

Johnny wasn't sure if Arian was feeling it, but he sure as hell was. 

 

"And then she was like... she goes... what do you mean 'no'? What are you--"

 

"Watch it, a*shole!" Snapped an asari, as Johnny caught a piece of her shoulder as they passed each other on the way out. He stumbled a bit, but managed to use Arian for support.

 

"And I told her... I said... sh*t." Johnny squinted at the sign across the street, that was displaying the time. He checked his omni-tool for confirmation. "We're gonna miss the start... of the jellyfishes... We gotta go!"

[TheMajonese]

On the way to the cinema

 

Arian missed half of what Johnny was trying to tell him. Some words of what the human said sometimes seemed to just go straight through his head without him noticing them. He still had a vague idea of what kind of story it was though. 

 

It was hard to tell how many shots he had, the only thing Arian knew for sure was, that he had paid an absurd amount of credits for them. The drinks had either been that expensive or he had way too many of them. In any case it would still need a while until he would feel the full effect of the alcohol. He was a good drinker and thanks to his enormous body size, he also had more blood than most turians. For now he was still able to walk straight, at least that was what he was thinking.

 

When they left the club, for a split second, Arian remembered what had happened the last time he got drunk and felt a light sting in his neck. But since they were in a crowded part of the city, it was unlikely that someone would try to kill him here. 

 

Johnny and Arian arrived at the cinema just in time to not miss the movie they were here for. "Let me do the talking...", Arian said to Johhny, sounding surprisingly convinced, before he approached the asari that was selling the tickets. He somehow doubted that they would get a ticket when someone knew how drunk they were. Arian cleared his throat and began to speak with an almost whispering voice. "Hi...we would like to have two tickets for the...ahm...Blasto film?" He just realized that he couldn't even remember the movie title. In addition to this, his attempt to appear as natural as possible resulted in the complete opposite. He was staring at the asari without blinking even once and he stood there as if he had a stick up his *ss.

 

The asari looked at him, then to Johnny before she turned back to the turian. With a sigh she took the money and gave Arian two tickets. She looked as if she wanted to say something but Arian immediately turned away.

 

"I hope this movie is as bad as it looks", he said and gave Johnny his ticket. "Or otherwise I want my money back."

[Redbelle]

Anika cast a look over her shoulder at the door before looking back at the chairs and stepped forward. The floor appeared made of boards as she heard the groan of it creaking as her weight settled on it. It was time to get some answers however as she felt resolve swell up inside her and she quickly walked the distance in a determined stride until she was close enough to reach out and touch...

 

"Stop".

 

Anika came to an abrupt halt. Her body simply refusing to move. The voice that had commanded her had come from the obscured figure in the overlarge chair and now she wsa closer, she could see where the leg poked out was actually part of some armor the person in the chair was wearing. However, closer to the fire, Anika could see the size was beyond even what she looked like her her armour...

 

The person in the chair was either wearing overheavy armor or...

 

Or the person was bigger than she was.

 

Confirming her suspicions, the figure placed a gloved hand on the chair arm and rose up towering over Anika who was beginning to feel the effects of this persons voice wearing off as she felt movement in her limbs once again. The figure however turned. An enormous visage standing an additional two feet over Anika. All plated amor with a helm that covered their face. The voice alone was modulated and Anika couldn't tell if the figure was a man... or a woman... or something else.

[Kel Riever]

Armali Raceway

If anyone thought activity at the Raceway was going to subside in the evening, they were sorely mistaken.  Yes, the previous night there was activity but nothing public as it involved setting up and racers prepping.  But this night brought on what many asari had been waiting for.  And though the standard day of Thessia was roughly as long as Earth's, the long-lived species seemed to have a penchant and stamina for pulling all hours. 

The mood, in fact, had shifted as youth had gone home.  There was a club light atmosphere, complete with music piped in from live bands (including Sirenes).  Nightlife from the city now became centered on the raceways and the jet bikes did not stop coming.  Pros racer qualifiers for singles and doubles launched from a start line lit like day, and the coatings of the bikes included some sort of luminescent chemical that allowed them to be seen shooting across the sky.  Add to it the lights fom the rest of the raceway, the hard light parts of the track, the video screens, the stage lamps, the decorative illumination and the city that cradled the track against the ocean, and it was a veritable multi-acre nocturnal extravaganza.

Of course, there was food and drink, but the atmosphere also had a sort of posh feel as well.  It wasn't that every asari had wealthy means, but it was that those who were around seemed to be all about it.  Flaunting it was in, mocking it was out.  The impression was many asari had, in fact, spent quite a bit of money just to attend the event.  Eyes were wide, the attire was extraordinary, and the idea was to have that time of your life...a life that lasted a thousand years.  Not to say that there weren't naysayers, but for the most part, they were in the minority.  Moreover, it showed on the raceway as the pros, many of whom did need to call it a night for the next days race, gave way to the open classes of race that anyone could join.  And those that had joined had laid everything on the line to do so.  Jet bikes became more exotic, if perhaps not quite as refined as their professional counterparts.  There were some larger fins seen, some inefficient but wild designs, and instead of the tight, intense races of the pros, these racers were under-classed or outclassed by their competitors in wide margins.  A sort of rub it in your face attitude from the winners, all in good fun though, with a degree of underlying respect.

  Many of the bikes ran their race and then were out on a lot for show.  You could see the immense pressure the vehicles faced, even at the lower levels of competition.  There was damage to the outer coats.  In a few cases, maneuver fins were warped quite obviously, and would need to be replaced before the next race.  Scorch could be seen and smelled from the rear bike thrusters.  It was exhilarating if one was a fan of such a thing.  And the lower tier racers, of course, loved the attention, happy to talk to anyone about it all.

There was a feel that, all in all, even if the races happened elsewhere, at other times, that this was something special.  And as the asari passed wine amongst each other, or talked about racer stats, or danced to the music that was playing, when they did eventually fall asleep, they would be dreaming of jet bikes.

[Redbelle]

"Your smaller than I imagined... I knew you would be less than us but I can't remember ever being as you are".

 

The gears clicked in Anika's mind as she took the time to properly look at the person standing before her. The armour was black and matte, showing no marks or repair jobs that had stretched across her old armour from the times she'd jumped into the fray. A pistol hung on this figures belt. Actually to Anika's eye's it looked like a rifle. Heavy with a large bore in the barrel. But the way this one wore it......

 

"Sit down".

 

Anika moved before she could say no. The force that had seized her now did so again as she crossed between the figure and the chair to sit in the one that had been vacant. Anika's eye's blinked and her brow twitched as she turned her head to look at the one now standing over her.

 

"How are you....".

 

"Do not talk".

 

Anika voice froze in her throat as her mouth slowly closed, leaving her to watch as the figure nodded and slowly sat in the chair they had occupied.

 

"That is good. You are resisting. Higher tolerance's were built into you. You do not want to do as I say"?

 

Anika felt a fog in her mind that she had not been aware of as she took the question to mean she could answer and shook her head.

 

"I am obeyed. You? You are raw. Untempered. A chrysalis. You could have had power. Instead you ran".

 

"Your.... from the .... Complex"!

 

"As are you. But you left. Before the final augmentation".

 

"Your... my...".

 

"I am one of four. Your sister's in sweat and blood. From the same crucible that made us, now free to serve in this galaxy as we were meant to".

 

"Why am I".

 

"Silence". The figure said as she leant back in her chair. An armoured leg folding over the other as the figure's armoured fingers steepled together. "I will explain".

[Cainhurst Crow]

While they were at the restaurant, a matron working behind the bar had been staring at them on and off trying not to be too obvious. Faed had caught her out of the corner of his eye and had pulled his hood up. Then she decided to approach.

 

He looked up at Essul. "Here it comes."

 

The Asari leaned over and spoke in a low voice. "Pardon me, but ... are you Quarian?"

 

Faed continued to look ahead toward Essul. "Yes, I had hoped not to attract much attention."

 

"I haven't seen a Quarian in centuries," the matron replied. "I'm Sonira. How can you survive without your environment suit?"

 

Faed sighed. "I had an accident on a planet in the Terminus. A Geth platform who happened to be nearby saved my life by implanting its nanides in my body to act as my immune system, giving up its freedom to save my life."

 

"Somehow I don't believe you," the matron replied. "What's really going on?"

 

Faed looked up at her. "I was part of a secret research project run by a couple of renegade Quarian microbiologists. We set up a small colony of volunteers from the migrant fleet. The volunteers were exposed to mild irritants at first, then gradually to stronger and stronger microbes, each stimulating an immune system reaction," Faed said. "Eventually we got to some virulent strains, but the Collectors attacked and destroyed the base and killed everyone. This Batarian is part of the crew of the ship that fought off the Collectors and rescued me. I'm the only survivor of the experiment. All of the research data was destroyed in the attack, and I'm not a scientist, so there is no way of telling the Migrant Fleet how to replicate the experiment."

 

The Asari got a sad look in her eyes. "You must get tired of telling people, and I'm sorry that your people won't benefit," she said and stood. "I'm Sonira. Your drinks are on the house. I assume you can drink Turian Brandy? And a Batarian Ale for you?" she looked at Essul.

 

"Yes, and I'm looking forward to enjoying some real food for a change," Faed said. "And... I understand there are some races in the area? I've never been to one. "

 

"At the Armali Raceway," Sonira replied. "It's one of the biggest events of the year. This is Discovery Week Celebration. The anniversary of the week the Asari discovered the Citadel. I'll be back with your drinks and a menu."

 

"Just please don't make a big deal about me being Quarian without a suit. I don't want a crowd."
 

"As you wish."

 

Sonira entered their order and walked back to the bar.

 

Essul did his best to remain stone-faced, a stray blink the only indication of his confusion at the young man's story as he quickly got into the role, nodding his head and giving a smile as he watched Sonira walk away from the group, turning around as he looked towards faed.

 

"Guess that's going to be my entire drink for the night..." He commented, knowing full well that if he drank any more after the ale, he might not wake up for some time afterwards. He didn't mind, water could have its own charm.

 

"So...I take it that you want to keep a few secrets to yourself. I can understand that..." Essul said as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I won't pry if you don't want me to. But if not, I wouldn't mind hearing your reasons. We got a bit of a wait till the waiter comes around anyway..." he said with a nod.

 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Faed and Essul

 

“Essul, you know the history. Geth and Quarian have been at war for three hundred years, yet Legion and I are living in harmony. How do I explain that? What would people think? They’d think I was being controlled by Legion,” Faed said. “If the galaxy knew the truth about me, that there are Geth inside, they would imprison me in the name of research, and there is no Spectre around right now to protect me. So it’s best to simply tell lies. Besides, you saw, no one wants to hear the truth anyway.”

 

After dinner, Faed was not ready to head back to the ship. Neither was Legion. There were things to do, places to see.

 

With permission, Legion assumed control momentarily, and cocked Faed’s head slightly to the left. “Essul, XO. No Geth has ever been to this world. We would like to observe the Asari in their native environment and acquire data,” Legion tapped on Faed’s omni-tool. “We have located several venues where local Asari cultural events are taking place. We would like you to accompany us to one or more of these.” Then it looked up at Essul and blinked in a mechanical fashion.

 

As before Essul was startled by the switch, took a quick breath but let it out and shook his head, then nodded. “Faed, you were supposed to warn me about the changes, but I guess sometimes these things just happen,” he sighed. “I’ll have to get used to them. It probably would be a good idea if I did accompany the two of you. Where did you have in mind?”

 

“There is something called The Pavillion downtown. One of the singles racers, Deadlock, will be there signing autographs,” Legion said.

 

“And you want an autograph?”

 

“No. We want to gather data on the behavior of the organics seeking the autograph,” Legion replied. “We do not understand the importance of an autograph of one of the participants of an event.” It gestured with its hand.

 

“Having something meaningful signed by one of the participants, in this case perhaps a jetcycle jacket, can give one something to look at years later and they can better remember the event,” Essul explained. “Or if the jacked belonged to the person who signed it and they become very famous, some people may sell it for a lot of credits to a collector.”

 

“We were unaware the Collectors were interested in such items, and we thought Shepard Commander eliminated them.”

 

Faed took over. “Not those Collectors, Legion. A person who collects those kinds of items. I know it doesn’t make any sense to you. Just go along with us. You’ll understand soon enough,” he said. “Let’s grab that taxi.”

 

Faed punched in the address for The Pavilion and the taxi lifted off and entered the traffic stream. To say Armali was a beautiful modern city would be an understatement. It was the shining jewel of the Asari Republics if not the entire galaxy: the height of Asari civilization. Technology was at its peak here as well as culture. Everything was manicured, yet it maintained this without sterility.

 

The taxi landed in the parking lot at The Pavilion and there was a long line of Asari maidens outside waiting to get in. The sign said “Sold Out.”

 

Faed sighed. “It looks like we’ll need to go somewhere else.”

 

“That will be unnecessary, Creator Faed. We have secured valid passes,” Legion interrupted.

 

Faed tapped his omni-tool. “How did you manage to do that? The show has been sold out for the past two months.”

 

“We obtained passes from those known as ‘crest-takers’ while we were selecting venues. We did not think you would mind if we used your funds,” Legion replied within Faed’s head.

 

Faed relayed the message to Essul.

 

As they approached security check at the door, Faed got the passes ready and prepared for the strange looks from the lightly armed Eclipse guards. The guards checked the passes and waved them through.

 

Once inside, the venue was huge, darkened, with lights and several bars, and a large dance floor. There was a stage where a live band was setting up. There were about 4000 people inside, about 90% Asari and under 100 year old maidens. The rest were dates of Asari. Faed and Essul were seen as older males looking for a good time with a maiden.

 

Deadlock had arrived and there was a line at a table where she was signing autographs. Asari were milling in groups. Legion observed through Faed’s eyes but remained in the background. Faed decided he wanted something to drink and motioned to Essul to head to the bar.

 

“What’ll it be?” the bartender asked.

 

“Turian brandy with a bottle of water,” Faed replied.

 

“But you’re not Turian. You’re….” the bartender said.

 

“Yes. Yes. Quarian with no suit. I’m dying and have many anti-biotics in my system right now to ward off infection. I just want to experience life without my suit for one night,” Faed said.

 

“Sorry to hear that,” the bartender said and poured a stiff tumbler. “Here, drink’s on the house. Enjoy the night.”

 

“You deceived her, Creator Faed.”

 

Faed walked away from the bar as Essul placed his order. “They don’t want to hear the truth, Legion.”

 

“That is not logical.”

 

“Geth have been their enemy for centuries,” Faed said. “Changing that will take time and a peace offering from your Consensus.”

 

“We understand.”

 

Just then the band arrived on stage, lights flashed, and a cheer rose from the crowd. The noise was deafening. 

 

Spoiler

 

Legion was observing the rhythmic gyrations the Asari made to the music while Faed drank his Turian brandy. Soon a young Asari grabbed his arm and tugged him to the dance floor.

 

"I don't know how to dance," Faed said.

 

The Asari looked a bit sad.

 

"We have been observing the movements, Creator Faed. The rhythm is mathematical. We can do this for you." Legion said.

 

Faed followed the young Asari. 

 

Legion was duplicating the dance moves to near perfection.

 

"I thought you said you couldn't dance?" the Asari said.

 

"We observed and followed," Legion replied.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan

Bezina started talking a bit more loosely after her second drink.  "...and so I'm coming off that little trap of a relationship.  I mean, I liked her.  She was a tailor, like I said, I learned a lot.  That's how I can tell about your suit...it isn't just that I know it looks good.  Anyway, she was an asari, I'm an asari...that brings complications, I'm not afraid to say.  I couldn't handle her fawning over me, either.  I've got to get out, do you know what I mean?  I can't have some person hanging onto me.  Plus she was a crybaby.

"Maybe you're going to think I'm a bad person, Morgan, but we had a place together and it was fine at first, until she wanted this from me, and that from me.  And the way she spent her money...this piece of art, this expensive thing.  You know, she didn't take care of me like, well, like you do.  Or like a person is supposed to take care of someone they like.  I asked her for small favors, like I needed a car to get around...I know that sounds like a lot but we're talking money here, Morgan.  Someone who drops twice that on a pretty picture to hang on the wall.  I mean, we were living together, and unlike her, I had to struggle to make ends meet.  Oh, and I thought the clothes went without mention.  You know, after a while, she just didn't seem that interested in taking care of the little ends with me.  That was a sign, I bet she was seeing someone else.  I told her that too.  She got upset and was tossing a river out of her eyes.  Please.  She was such an actress."

The bartenders eyes slid to Bezina, then to Morgan.  He calmly took a last sip of his drink, and asked Bezina.  "One more?"

"Void, yes! More than one more!  If you're buying, I'm in."

"Technically, he's not buying," the bartender said as she poured, "...this one is on the house."

Bezina laughed.  "To having a good time, no matter what the expense!"  She took her tumbler in hand and saw Morgan didn't have a drink.  "Come on, nothing for you?"

Morgan leaned back slightly away from Bezina.  Instead of replying with words, he lifted his empty glass as if to toast Bezina, and he tapped on it.  Bezina saw whatever advert was projected on its surface was a series of words in some sort of paragraphs.  Morgan's finger had drawn her attention to it, and she couldn't read what it said on his glass, but she saw hers had the same thing.  And Bezina started to read the words.  As she did, her face became cold.

"You damn liar..."

"I didn't lie at all," Morgan said flatly.

Bezina put down the glass in horror and shoved it away from herself.  "I didn't see a thing.  You have nothing on me!"

The bartender took the glass, poured out the drink in the sink behind the bar, and handed it to Morgan.

"It's something the lawyers on Illium use.  I have your thumbprint on a projected legal document, specifically an arraignment for you to appear in court to answer for charges by your ex that you took more than a few things with you when you moved out."

"That money was mine!  I deserved it!"

Morgan shrugged, "I'm not here to judge.  But you've been hiding out, not the best job of it, but enough that it took something to find you.  And if you don't appear, then there will be a warrant issued for you."

"You, goddess-damned hair face!"

"Easy there," Morgan fought to contain a smile, "Remember you were just on about relationships with your own kind.  I'm not here to judge what you've got going on with your ex but according to her, those drinks you were offering weren't with your money.  And to her case, the credit chip I've been buying drinks for you with was also hers.  So I have to say, despite everything, she's still been a bit generous with you."

The slap that came from Bezina across Morgan's face stung, even though it probably hurt her hand more than it did his cheek.  Particularly since the sting kind of felt good to Morgan as far as making him feel he was on exactly the right track with Bezina. 

"Get out of here," the bartender ordered to Bezina.

Morgan raised a hand, "No, if you can stand it, I think there's enough money in there to give her a refill.  Can you consider that part of our agreement?"

"If she doesn't act up."  The bartender turned to Bezina.  "You get one more drink, if you sit there quietly and shut up, then I never want to see you in here again."

Bezina's eyes welled up with tears.  She looked at the glass in Morgan's hands that was her undoing.

Morgan stood, taking the glass with Bezina's fingerprint.  "I can't tell you what would happen to you if you tried to take it, but I think you know you'd regret it.  It would only make things worse, anyway, for you.  The record you'd received the arraignment was already sent.  Next time, if you can't get along with someone, maybe you should just leave without taking something important from them, if you could stand to take a bit of advice from a hair face."  With a nod to the bartender, Morgan said, "Pleasure doing business."

The bartender nodded back.  As Morgan left, Bezina clutched her newly poured glass of liquor and tried to keep her sobbing down.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Serrice – Prothean Sciences

 

Naleena entered the building looked at the directory for the various research departments. The high arched ceiling lobby had display cases containing various Prothean items. Light from Parnitha shone through the crystalline material of the ceiling that was neither glass nor any plastic, but a material based upon Prothean invention. It was impervious to normal cutting materials and thus provided security and allowed the lobby and corridor to be naturally lit during the day.

 

Dr. Marash’ia T’lara was in her lab on the fourth floor, seated at her desk. Level 4 security clearance was required for entry. Naleena scanned her card and retina at the door and it opened.

 

T’lara wasn’t expecting visitors and jumped when she heard the latch disengage. “I wasn’t expecting any visitors. Who are you?”

 

“Naleena T’sarius, Special Tactics and Reconnaissance,” she replied. T’lara had the heat turned up in the lab so Naleena removed her coat and draped it over her arm. “I hope I’m in the right place. You’re Dr. T’lara?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then you’re the one working on the archive from Eingana. I lead the team that discovered it. Find anything interesting?”

 

T’lara set her data pad on the table, stood and cleared the piles of documents from the chair next to her desk, making room for Naleena to sit. “Would you care for some tea?”

 

“It’s quite warm in here. I’d prefer some water,” Naleena replied.

 

“Sorry, metabolic condition,” T’lara said. “The archive is amazing. The Inusannon were highly advanced, almost as technologically advanced as the Protheans.”

 

“Any similarities between them? Most species in the galaxy obtained their technology from Prothean archives, and their ship, weapon, and power designs are quite similar to one another,” Naleena said. “Any indication that the Protheans took their designs from the Inusannon?”

 

T’lara hesitated. “I… don’t have access to that part of the archive.”

 

Naleena’s brow creased. “What do you mean, you don’t have access?” she asked.

 

“The military took that part for study,” T’lara sighed. “I only have cultural, anthropological, and historical sections of the archive.”

 

“What about the rest of the galaxy benefitting from the knowledge?”

 

“The treaty states that only Prothean Archives and Prothean Artifacts need to be shared. It said nothing about Inusannon archives,” T’lara replied. “So technically the military did nothing wrong.”

 

“Except that I had hoped you’d have some answers to some questions.”

 

“What questions?”

 

Naleena paused with frustration. “Any mention in the historical archive about a machine race?”

 

“This archive mentions the creation of artificial intelligence, and that’s as far as it goes. There is no mention of a machine race.”

 

“Given the condition of the planet, it doesn’t surprise me,” Naleena said. “Any mention of any archives they discovered?”

 

T’lara searched through what she had. “Yes, there is a mention of something,” she said. “At the beginning of their galactic expansion they had discovered large caches left by a highly advanced civilization that had mysteriously disappeared about 50,000 years earlier. Fortunately the military missed that. Does that help you?”

 

“It’s something,” Naleena said. “Thank you.”

 

“I’m sorry, but that’s all I have, unless you’re interested in Inusannon culture?”

 

Naleena smiled. “Thank you anyway. I need to head back to Armali. I have a race to catch.”

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul ordered his glass of water as he listened to the music. It wasn't to his taste, but he couldn't say he minded it either. Besides, it was a change of scenery, though not by much. He turned around to look out at the dance floor, not helping but to smirk a tiny bit in amusement in his own mind.

 

"Bunch of impulsive asari milling around and causing trouble...just like back on deck." He said aloud, the ale from earlier starting to make him a bit less guarded then usual. It certainly helped to take a bit of a buzz off as he looked over towards the famous asari. "Wonder if I should get an autograph, just for sloane...." He said, finding himself chuckling at the thought, "Yeah...big old signature with "get back to work" on it..."

 

He watched faed get dragged away, giving him a smiling shrug as he watched him get taken to the dance floor. Poor guy, he probably didn't know how to dance at all. That's what he thought at least, until he saw Faed start to bust out some moves. Some very familiar moves from the others, able to pick up what was going on after a bit of looking around. That, and he looked a bit odd trying to shake what nature may or may not have given him, that it certainly gave the asari. Problem with emulating a species with all the same body type.

 

Essul couldn't help it as he tried to stifle a laugh, moving up his omnitool as he snapped up some video of the dancing for later, doing his best to stay still as he worked to get the footage. As he did so he felt a tap on his shoulder, turning to see an asari standing to his right, smiling at him.

 

"You enjoying the show? Or your friends moves?" She asked as she walked up to the bar, putting down her chit with a nod, "I'll cover whatever he's having. And some chilled cyone for me..." She said as she looked back to issue, offering him a seat as Essul raised a brow, going with it.

 

"Name's Letanze, we don't get many Batarians out this far into our space." She said with a smile as essul took a sip of his water, "What bring you around these parts?"

 

"Oh...this or that...checking out the race with my friend there..." Essul said with a thumb towards faed/.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena – return to Armali - by Naleena (only this post)

 

It was time to head back to Armali. I’d hoped that with the high security in this section of the Campus that we’d have something to go on, but it was too much to ask for. The military came in and took what they wanted from the archive for themselves. Somehow I wasn’t surprised. I knew what this was about. Credits. Credits for Asari corporations like Anotaria Industries getting the patents and getting defense contracts. Safety of the galaxy? Who was I kidding? War was about money even when the possibility of galactic extinction was at stake.

 

I grabbed a cup of coffee with plenty of sugar and cream on the walk back to the parking lot. And a jelly donut. I couldn’t believe these things had made it to Thessia. Fantastic pastries. I climbed into the X3M I’d rented, punched in my destination, pulled a cigarette out of my case and lit it.

 

The more I thought about things, the more I’d realized that it was a good thing that I’d kept a copy of the archive on the ship. VERA could continue to analyze it. I’d need access to one of the Prothean archives to do a comparison. This would mean visiting Mars or Palaven since Thessia didn’t have one. No wonder the Asari military was so quick to get their hands on this.

 

Prying would not be wise. It would even be worse to ask Syra to do it since she would oblige. It would put her life in danger, or perhaps her family. I remember one job I did that involved a pesky politician. My contact told me to pick up the politician's granddaughters at school. So I drove up in the stereotypical black skycar rental, told the children that their mom asked me to give them a ride home, gave them their “safe word,” took them for ice cream, then drove them to their grandmother’s and made sure I was seen. Nothing happened to them. I was the nice stranger who bought them ice cream after school. The politician got the message.

 

Then there was Setura. The one lead I got out of the conversation with the Guard instructor was the Starfallers. Xanthe had a detachment of Serrice Guard. I had a bad feeling about this. Turn around and walk away. That would be the smart thing to do. I guess I wasn’t that smart.

 

The Guard was a tight knit group. The Starfallers a group within a group. This starts to get like a secret society. They have cult-like consciousnesses, and that’s something to be afraid of. Investigating them would be dangerous, probably as dangerous as investigating Iyana. But I had one thing they didn’t. VERA. I just needed to find out who was in the Starfallers and their past connection to Setura. Then I needed to find out where the Starfallers were deployed. That would take some sleuthing…, and perhaps abuse of Spectre authority. I’d need to find someone with high level clearance in the Asari Navy. It wouldn’t be difficult. Not with the ship in dry dock.

[Cknarf]

“Don’ worry. There’s yet to be a good one.” Johnny assured, doing a fairly decent job of keeping stable as they headed inside. Since the movie was about to start, they passed straight by the concessions. It’s not like they had anything he was familiar with anyways, aside from coffee, of course. Johnny found it odd that popcorn, unlike the insanely popular caffeinated beverage, had failed to catch on galaxy wide.

 

45 minutes into previews and advertisements…

 

Johnny thought the pre-film bullshit was excessive back home, but the ads and previews before films on the asari homeworld were apparently relative to the lifespan of the species. Eventually, the combination of drunkenness and boredom caused the marine to fall asleep, with his head resting upon the back of the seat.

[Cknarf]

Serrice, Thessia

 

“You have no idea how much this means to me, Tabs.” Daliax spoke softly, as she squeezed.

 

“No need for all that, Gavian.” The asari smiled, as she pulled away. “You know I’m not doing this out of the kindness of my heart. Come. I’ll take you to him.” She gestured for Daliax to follow.

 

“How’s he doin’?”

 

“Fine, but he’s been annoying the sh*t out of my girls. He’s a handsy bastard.”

 

“Sounds about right.” Daliax shook her head.

 

They came to a pair of doors, flanked by two armored asari wielding shotguns. They stepped aside as they neared. Dax gave them a nod as they passed through.

 

“He’s in the third room on the left. Can’t miss it.”

 

“Thanks again, for everything.” Daliax said once more, patting her on the shoulder and heading to the room.

 

“What’s up’, dumb ass?”

 

“Dax? What are you doin’ here?” Quintus sat up in surprise. It had been years since he'd last seen his sister.

 

“Got an appointment for a little upgrade.” She tapped at her leg with her cane. “Galaxy’s goin’ to sh*t, so I’m headed back to work. Figured I’d stop to check on baby bro while I had the chance.” She took a seat in the chair next to the bed. "How ya feelin'?"

 

“Like I've been shot."

 

“How ‘bout the view up here, huh?” Daliax gave a little small talk a shot, before she got to anything real in depth.

 

“They won’t let me raise the blinds… something about uh… ‘snipers’.” He shrugged a little. “It’s not so bad inside, though. Been surrounded by armored up hotties the whole time.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

“That was you, huh?”

 

Daliax nodded. “I heard you were in trouble, so I called in a favor.”

 

“‘Preciate it. That’s the only thing keepin’ me from losin’ my mind up here.” Quintus looked away for a moment. “Is Marius here?” He asked, looking back.

 

“Of course he is. He’s waiting outside with the quarian.” She thumbed back at the door.

 

“What about Eli?” Quintus asked, sounding a bit concerned. The last he heard from Frank, or anyone for that matter, was the day of the shooting.

 

“He’s in Armali with his asari.”

 

“That’s good to hear, sis.” He sighed, letting his head fall back. “Been stressin’ about that since I woke up.”

 

“Yeah, kids alright. Lucky little fucker. I saw the vids.” Daliax crossed her arms. “Hey, speaking of that… are you sure she wasn’t just aiming for the guitar?”

 

Quintus started to laugh, but it quickly turned into a cough.

 

“Seriously, though. Do you have any idea why you’re being targeted?” Daliax asked, getting serious. “Did you go anywhere… do anything that might have p*ssed someone off?”

 

Quintus thought for a moment.

 

“Omega. That’s when the sh*t first hit the fan.”

 

“Did you f*ck with her?” Daliax asked the question in the only way it could be asked.

 

“Hah. No more than usually do.”

 

“I’m serious.”

 

“Nah. I ain’t that stupid, come on, sis.” Quintus shook his head. “Aside from a few in the business... that’s what Marius seems to think, but it’s somethin’... somebody else. It’s gotta be. Ain’t nobody we deal with would be tryin’ so hard to take us out, you know?”

 

“How can you be sure?”

 

“They hit us at home, sis. Nobody aside from Marius and Kira knew sh*t about the warehouse… Nobody.”

 

"You should have come to me sooner."

 

"How could we? You weren't even in this sh*t yet." Quintus shrugged. "Are you sure you're my sister? Are you really real? Really? Am I real? Or anyone else?"

 

"What?" Daliax's eye narrowed a bit. "Are you okay, bro?"

 

Quintus just nodded.

 

Must be the drugs.

[Redbelle]

"Why am I".

 

"Silence". The figure said as she leant back in her chair. An armoured leg folding over the other as the figure's armoured fingers steepled together. "I will explain".

 

"I am the Sense. One of four. Sisters forged of our shared time together of which you know".

 

".... The Complex"?

 

"Yeeeess... When you left you did so at an opportune moment. Not long after, our training was accelerated. We were pushed harder. We had to fight for our survival. The gene sequencing, the augmentations, all of it was done with no thought for those who received them.... Many of our sisters died. The weak ones. All that was left was the strong".

 

"Thats horrible".

 

"Thats survival. The strong survived. Afterwards we thought we had reached the end but we were wrong.... There was another.... a final step".

 

"What step? We were made to be the apex of humanity. Body and mind. Pushed as far as a human body can go"!

 

"It wasn't deemed enough. Humans are weak, comparatively speaking to other races. The Salarians have intelligence and an infrastructure to support them gathering information they use to bargain from positions of strength. The Turians are a military mindset. Every one of their race has at some point been given some form of training to accept orders and be a soldier. Can you tell me that humanity could raise as many fighters as the Turians if they drafted from the streets? And their military... well we already saw it in action during first contact. We know who would emerged the victor there...".

 

"The Asari of course have powers that by human understanding of the 21st century should not be possible. And then we discovered how how little we knew and have been racing to create our own biotics ever since... To varying degree's of success but never one that could be deemed... stable. Or of sufficient power to make their creation worth while. The Krogan? Well, if we are anything then we were made to be like them I suppose. Or you were. We all were...".

 

"And it worked. We're the best soldiers humanity ever produced... right"?

 

"Yes.... But still it wasn't enough. Anyone can be pushed to their physical peak. Anyone, given the training and the enhancement surgeries. We were given more than any other human in known creation, but it was all part of the first phase of the experiment".

 

"...First phase"?

 

"...And when you left... You missed phase two".

[Kel Riever]

The Galaxy Hotel and Spa

Jess was interrupted, intentionally or not, by Miss Priss and Babe who came in from another morning at the beach.  Both had bikini's and heels, with a light shawl and hats (Miss Priss' all in pink of course).  There wasn't much change in Miss Priss' color from exposure to the sun, and she well knew it as she said, "I'm just a fair damsel."  But Babe came in, and it was like Parnitha had turned the normally lighly tanned goddess into a bronzed incarnation of Aphrodite.  It was as if the heat from the star radiated off every bit of her exposed surface.

Babe seemed mostly oblivious to her affect as she took of her shawl and hat, and headed to the shower.  "We aren't bothering you, are we," she asked Jess, "We happened by Morgan in the hall and he gave us the key to the suite.  Maybe we could all order up something to eat?"

There was a knock at the door then.  Without a cap to her curiosity, Miss Priss jumped to answer.  "I'd like to see who's all coming up to see the Captain!"  Neither Priss nor Babe were aware that Jess wasn't expecting anyone.

After verifying the person at the door was at least not obviously going to cause violence, Priss opened it.  There stood an asari in a gorgeous metallic blue business outfit, with some sort of briefcase kit in her hand, possibly holding a computer but certainly with space for other sundry items as well.  "Pardon me, I am Safiere.  Morgan sent me to see Jocelyne, Priss, and Captain Stone for a special fitting?  He and I have a business arrangement.  I am a tailor and am here to outfit the three of you for the races."

Safiere had eyes laid on Jess, perhaps because Morgan had described her, and she presumed she was talking to the three she was supposed to see when she saw the Captain.  Her gaze wandered to Priss then, whom Safiere gave a polite nod to.  But when she saw Babe, Safiere dropped the kit on the floor with an audible thud, and stood immobilized.
 

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Faed at the Pavilion with Essul

 

Faed began to get winded. He wasn’t used to the physical exercise, and Legion noticed indications of fatigue in his bio-signs. Faed exerted control.

 

“I’m sorry. Having been cooped up on ships most of my life, I’m not used to this level of activity. Thank you,” he said and started to return to where Essul was seated.

 

The young Asari leaned forward. “That’s alright. It’s been fun,” she said and followed him. “My name is Denala. I’ve never met anyone like you before. Where are you from?”

 

“It’s complicated,” Faed replied.

 

“I’m complicated,” Denala replied.

 

Faed realized the younger generation didn’t know what a Quarian looked like. He could tell them anything, and due to the headlines that saying he was a Quarian would get, telling them anything would probably be the best course of action.

 

“Trust me, it’s more complicated than you could imagine,” he replied and ordered a Turian brandy when he returned to the bar.

 

“Turian brandy? That means you’re dextro,” Denala said. “There are only two dextro species in the galaxy. Are you…?”

 

“Who says there are only two? But you’re right. There are only two, and I’m not Turian,” Faed said. “I’m dying. I don’t have long to live. I have a lot of antibiotics in my system to ward off infection. I wanted to enjoy a night out without my suit.”

 

“But how did you know how to dance like that?” Denala asked.

 

Faed offered Denala a seat at the table. “300 years ago on our homeworld, we Quarians were a very decadent people. That was why we created the Geth, so we would have more time for our pleasurable pursuits,” Faed said. “The Migrant Fleet has 17 million people living on thousands of ships. We had to create a way of maintaining some kind of coherence. Our researchers made a virtual city that is a replica of the largest city on Rannoch at the height of our civilization before the invention of the Geth.

 

“Do you see these nodes on my forehead?” Faed said and pointed to his cybernetic implants. “These are the visible ones. I have even more cybernetic enhancements. Every Quarian does. They help us with all of our technical work. And they allow us to interface directly with this virtual city where we can interact with each other via an avatar that does not wear a suit. Everything you can imagine is there, and your avatar cannot die in the virtual city. If it were not for this, the fleet would have fractured centuries ago.

 

“So while our fleet does not have room for pleasurable activities, we do have them in this virtual city.”

 

“But it isn’t real,” Denala said.

 

Faed frowned. “It is… the best we have,” he said and gestured to the club. “This, however, is real. And so are you. You are a sweet girl, Denala, and I am getting tired. I must go.”

 

He turned to Essul and motioned with his head that they should leave. 

[Redbelle]

Jess drew in a long breath as she pulled the comm piece from her ear and stretched on the couch as Priss and Babe approached. "Luv's... Please. Find me a bank and a sleeping guard and I'll take care of all our money troubles by nightfall... It'll beat trying to get contracts on this rock".

 

The knock on the door had Jess look up at the others and with a shrug. It was however, wasted on Priss's retreating back as she jumped up and headed for the door. Jess mouthed to Babe. 'I wasn't expecting anyone'. When Priss returned with an Asari in her wake.

 

When the case hit the floor, Jess knew the Babe effect had caught her in full and Jess chuckled. "Heya luv. Don't mind them. Just got back from the beach... Really, you can close your mouth now". She added seeing the Asari's mouth hanging open and gestured to Priss with a finger motion upwards.

 

"Now I heard the pair of you talking but didn't catch the details luv. Can I help you somehow? In some way? If it's an inoculation for my friends here, I'm afraid the only cure is the poison". Jess's smile broadened as she bent her back over the couch and spread her arms out. Looking over at Babe she raised an eyebrow. "You want to throw a robe on luv? Or brighten the view some more. I'm good with either, or. I'm in a being bad mood".