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[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena looked over at Morgan, took the cigar out of her mouth, spit a stray tobacco leaf on the ground. "Drink? That's what one does first in a town like this. Maybe we can pick up some scuttle butt. I'm buying. What do you say, Anika, Jess?" She put the cigar back in her mouth. 

 

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'll wander around and see if I can learn anything," Dahlia said as they started walking toward the saloon.

 

"No, you won't. Not right away," Naleena replied, "I don't know how we're going to be received. I know you can handle yourself, but that lawman looks like kind of a joke and is probably owned by one of the bad asses in town. We'll stay together at first. We can split up later. No froo froo drinks either. We're bad asses, but leave the ryncol to the Krogan.

 

"I'll also be surprised if this place has any clean glasses."

[Redbelle]

Jess shrugged. "Clean's over rated anyhow. Besides. Alcohol'll kill anything. Let's head in". As she started forward she stopped almost at once and put her hands on her hips as she took a long ragged breath. "They weren't kidding about the atmosphere. Breathable. Thin. Breathable and thin". She raeched behind her into her pouch on the back of her belt and pulled forth a rebreather. Putting it over her mouth she took a few deep breaths allowing it to rebalance her own oxygen levels.

 

"Word to the wise luv's. Maybe if we see people with rebreathers we know they'll be wanting to do something serious and strenuous. But maybe the long timers here have adapted better to the O2 in the air. Not expecting trouble though..... Just...... being cautious".

 

Putting the rebreather away she drew another breath of the dry arid air and once again set off towards the saloon. The group followed and as they closed, they saw two large full framed swing door panels. Someone stepped outas they neared. A miner perhaps, coughing and hacking as he staggered outside giving the group a view of the inside which seemed to appear as a some form of interior airlock that relied less on hard seals, than maintaining a slow release of interior pressure. Jess had trouble working it out when she realised that a full functioning airlock in an establishment with an open door policy for business would be counter productive to enticing the customers.

 

The coughing man, on leaving the saloon, immedately doubled almost over as his hand reached down for the rebreather strapped around his neck and pulled it to his face. Making an aweful retching sound he straightened and staggered away in a line made of zig's and zag's.

 

Jess looked to the other's. "Guess this is the place". She said aas she tilted her head and listened intently. "Anyone else hear that"?

 

"Hear what"? Anika asked.

 

Jess narrowed her eye's as she concentrated. "Heard something like it in a pub on Omega...... A piano"? She guessed as her face broke into a smile. "Oooooh, this place has pedigree". She said eyeing the swing doors. "Who want's to go in first"?

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I will." Naleena smiled. She knew Morgan could follow her inside the saloon with his helmet view.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 15 juin 2014 - 07:34 .

[Redbelle]

Jess grinned at Naleena's appearence as she choped her cigar. "Live the dream girl".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena passed through the mass effect field airlock, and opened the swinging wooden doors to the saloon. The doors swung closed behind her and she stood momentarily and looked around the saloon. The crowd was mostly human, but there were a couple Vorcha: one who was running a three-card Monte game, a Krogan, a few Batarians playing cards, and a couple of Asari Commandos. The commandos were seated at the end of the bar. There was a group of Turians seated at another table. The bartender was a Krogan. She removed the cigar from her mouth and spit another stray leaf onto the floor off to her left and replaced the cigar in her mouth. She walked slowly and deliberately up to the center of the bar, and leaned on it.

 

The Krogan came over. “What’ll it be?”

 

She slapped her credit chits on the bar. “Bottle of whiskey. Your good stuff. Five glasses.” She motioned with her left hand for Morgan, Anika, Dahlia and Jess to enter.

 

“This is a no smoking establishement,” the Krogan said.

 

Naleena stared at him for five seconds. He handed her an ashtray.

 

“Okay, okay. I’ve been trying to make it a no smoking establishment. I don’t want any trouble.”

 

“You won’t have any…. from us,” Naleena said.

 

She handed the ashtray to Dahlia, and took the glasses and bottle. There was a table near the bar. Naleena kicked out a chair set the bottle on the table and sat in the chair. Dahlia grabbed a chair from a neighboring table. The glasses were filthy. Naleena poured the drinks.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan saw Naleena wave to come in through his visor, and he followed on through.  Big Nose Gullet’s Saloon was mostly as brown-grey on the inside as it was outside, though the windows helped with the light.  Apart from that, the saloon was lit by low, yellowish overheads.  Old, Earth-style piano music played in the background, piped in through a sound system Morgan couldn’t spot.  He watched Naleena order the whiskey and set up at a table, so he headed there and got himself a chair, plus a couple more for Jess and Anika if they wanted to grab a seat.

 

Even Morgan spun his finger through his glass before Naleena poured.  He didn’t actually sit down in the chair he brought over, instead leaning over the table when she put a finger of whisky in the glass.  “I see you’re adjusting,” he lightly teased Naleena.

 

The batarians were in a quiet, but intense match, played with actual physical cards, rather than omni-tool interfaces, which intrigued Morgan.  He was familiar with the game, ‘Slaver’s Haul,’ a favorite of the enemy he fought when he was part of the Alliance.  One seemed to be taking his losses a bit sorely, though he apparently had coin to keep betting. 

 

Morgan downed his whiskey and thanked Naleena.  He was still taking the establishment in before he would be ready to sit.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

One of the commandos at the bar shouted. "Hey, Gullet! I want a clean glass."

 

Gullet stomped over to her. "That's the cleanest one I've got."

 

"Easy, Ereba," the other Asari said.

 

"I can handle this, Mirna." the first Asari replied, and turned to Gullet. "Well clean it. I'm sick and tired of your lousy food, lame-assed excuses and watered down drinks!"

 

Gullet glared at her. "You dare!"
 

The Asari paused, stood, and gave him a head butt right square on the plates. Then she shook her head. "Sorry, Gullet. My dad is Krogan. They say we don't get anything from our fathers. I say it's a bunch of crap! I sure got his temper." She stroked his plate where she hit it.

 

"It's alright. I'll forgive you this time just because I like you, Ereba," Gullet said and took a towel and wiped out her glass, "but this is your last drink. You've had enough. Good head butt." 

 

"Did I ever tell you my grandparents tried to make me undergo the rite of passage when I was 50? I was ready, but...." her voice trailed off into the din of the bar.

 

Naleena looked over at Morgan. "Maybe I should try that to get a clean glass?" She downed her drink and laughed.

 

About then, a commando officer entered the saloon and shouted. "Hey Danri! T'goni! Get your blue asses over here on the double!"

 

"Yes Ma'am!" Ereba downed her shot, grabbed her rifle, and the two commandos left. 

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne felt the ship leave the relay as he began to come back to, eye starting to flutter open as he rested his head back, feeling unconsciousness come onto him once again. 'Maybe it won't be so bad...sleepin for a few minutes or so...' he thought to himself. He hoped morgan would understand, didn't want him getting the wrong idea about him.

 

The next time he came to was his head jerking up and away from the medical table, feeling the ship groan and shirk as it unmistakeably touched down at a dock. He looked around the medical room, groggy and blinking hard as his vision began to become clearer. Vayne looked down to his own body, seeing the bandages covering his midsection where he'd been gut shot. The rest of his body was peppered here and there with new bruises, adding to the discolored landscape of scales and healed wounds of yesteryear.

 

"Great...now lets see the rest of me." he said aloud as he worked hard to move up into a sitting position. It was the first time since he'd crashed that he felt like he was thinking straight, and that meant he could get out of this awful hospital bed and start stretching out the good old pair of legs. When he started to move however, vayne frowned as he worked to get himself upright, feeling a bit weaker then usual, and as he finally managed to sit up after a couple minutes of pure exertion, he was breathing heavy and feeling a bit light headed. "Well now...that's not too good..." he said in between breaths as he sat still, letting himself get a hold of his blurry and swaying vision.

 

"Come on now. You've been through hell and back, and now sitting up is giving you problems?" he asked himself as he grunted, teeth gritting as he swung one leg over the side of the bed, followed by the other, now sitting over the edge of the medical bed. "Yeah...thought so." he said with a grin, even though he wasn't feeling too good at all. More worrying though was that he felt a bit numb, like he was still a bit buzzed from the drugs.  Vayne pondered if it were possible he was still being administared the drugs, but looking back at the iv's he saw they'd been removed and put away at the side of his bed. He also however saw the large white medical tape that snaked around his back, a noticeable depression inside it.

 

"That's..." he wanted to say more then that, but found himself a bit short for words. He looked back to the ground, taking in a deep breath as he stared long and hard at the floor, trying to judge how far up he was from it, and if he might be able to slide down it a bit. One eye meant no depth perception, so whether he was 5 feet or 5 inches from the ground, he didn't have a clue. Tentatively feeling with his feet, vayne was glad to feel solid floor connect with his bare feet. "Hah, yes." he said with a large smile as he pushed off the bed, pretty soon finding himself with his legs on the ground, and his body coming down on them hard towards the ground. He reached for the bed rail with a yelp, grasping it for dear life as he worked to right himself, leaning on he bed for support as he blinked in surprise.

 

"What the **** was that?" He asked out loud, sounding angry, nervous, and just a tiny bit afraid as he felt his hands trembling on the rails, working to keep his weight supported. He felt like he weighted a ton, his hump weighing him this way and that as he struggled to stand up straight, knees shaking from working so hard. He'd never felt anything like this before, and damn well didn't like feeling it now. With a few deep and controlled breathes, he pushed off the railing, and soon found himself shakeingly standing on his own away from his bed.

 

"What's wrong with me?" He asked no one in particular, really worried now about how weak he was. Had he been out longer then he thought? No way, he'd need to have  been out for at least a month to have had his muscles start to atrophy. He looked down at his shaking arms, struggling to lift them as he clenched his claws, seeing his muscles press against his scales. They were still in tact, and the wound to his gut hadn't been too bad. So then that only meant it could be...

 

"Ancestors no..." vayne said, eye going wide with fear as he tried to walk around towards his chart, finding taking just a step or two difficult as he reached for his diagnostic charts. Please not that, of all the injuries he could get, please by the power of whatever metaphysical beings alive, don't let it be the krogan killer.

 

"Patient suffered from multiple shrapnel pieces penetrating his hump, some managing to pass through and out of the skin. Nerve bundles and some fluid pouches were too damaged from shredding or burning to be saved, and had to be removed. Muscular and Bone damage was extensive, and require massive regenerative cell therapy to heal. Nerve clusters were unable to be saved...patients redundant nervous system has been diminished as a result..." he read aloud, a feeling of cold dread and fear washing into him as he read on, getting quieter and more hushed as he went on. He stopped however, hand going to his side as he leaned on the medical bed, tossing the chart gently onto his bed as he stared up at the light, a blank expression on his face. He let out a deep and heavy sigh, sinking to his feet as he brought a hand up to his head-plate, wiping off whole bullets of sweet.

 

"Not the krogan killer...thank everything." he said with a small chuckle as he kept looking up at the lights, glad to hear the news. His back up nerves were damaged, but they weren't all dead. Same for his fluid sacks, most of his organs say for a lung, and a now smaller and less optimal back up heart, and most importantly, his redundant brain wasn't damaged in the fight. He had been worried he'd be spending the rest of his life stuck in a wheelchair or worse, confined to a bed.

 

"Few burst sacks and some busted nerves endings...not bad for a 8 on 1 fight." he commented as he worked hard to get back on his feet, an arduous process taking more then 10 minutes. With that he took his first slow, lumbering, and painfully tentative steps towards the door. His nerves weren't going to redirect themselves, and the sooner he got moving, the sooner they'd get back to work.

[Kel Riever]

Jess and Anika were the last members of the Audron’s party to enter, but they had barely cleared the bat-wing doors and Jess had only one good pull from her cigar, before the three brightly clad women from outside came following through.

 

“My they grow them big off world, Miss Dila,” said the human woman in a pink, tight leather, revealing dress.  She placed her hands on her hips, tilted towards Anika, and batted her eyelashes.

 

“They do, <HISS> Miss Priss,” said the volus lady in a yellow-green suit, with decorative markings.  “But I think that tall work of magnificence <HISS> has eyes for Miss Shiana.”

 

The asari in light blue wore a suit that was so sheer, close up it was almost impossible to tell where her clothes ended and her skin began.  She came at Anika from the opposite side of Miss Priss, looked up at the seven foot bodyguard, and said:

 

“Hey.”

 

“I can make due,” said Miss Priss, flinging her long brown hair to one side.  “Looks like someone’s far from home.”  She sidled up to Morgan.

 

“He isn’t the only one,” Miss Dila said as she sauntered over to the table with Naleena and Dahlia.  The volus put her wide form nearest to Dahlia. “We <HISS> have all sorts of entertainment for you here, hon.  <HISS> Doesn’t have to be what everyone thinks the usual is.  I like asari.  <HISS> They aren’t picky like the rest.”  Miss Dila then looked across the table at Naleena, “And don’t worry. <HISS> I’ve got enough to entertain more than one.”

[Redbelle]

Jess looked between the 3 brightly dressed ladies and made to speak when from the back of the bar on the upper story, she heard a shout, followed by yelling. She looked up just in time to see two Turian's grappling with each other as one rought his elbow in and around, cracking into the other's temple which made him lse his grip on the other. That was all the other njeeded as he flung him around and over the upper floor railings.

 

The one who took the hit went flying up and over and across before gravity began his enevitable plunge downwards. Everyone was looking at this point and those who occupied a table under where him vacated, grabbing drink's and hat's before the Turian's body splintered the table. The table having broken his fall the Turian looked up, shaking his head from side to side before starting his unfocused gaze up from where he had come.

 

The other stood above on the second floor, one hand planted on his hip. The other drawing out an old Omni-chrom which he flipped. The Omni-chroms holo display appeared and after reading the time, he flipped it back shut and stared down at the fallen Turian.

 

"You paid for twenty minutes! You got twenty minutes! You want extra you pay extra"!

 

"Please"! The other said from below. "I've spent everything I made this month! She's special! We love each other! We're going to leave this planet......"!

 

The other rolled back his head and laughed. "You can go when you please! My girl's not going till she's fufilled her contract! This is business Pug! If your going to cause me trouble then best you stay out of mine"!

 

"The Drowned Aspire would have taken us in"!

 

At that the Turian on the balcony glared down. "You keep my girl's out of that damn fool cult business boy". He growled. "Them there rumours of them taking in other species ain't more than a pack of lies".

 

"I've seen them! It's true"!

 

"Gullet"! The balcony Turian shouted. "Your place is a mess! Take out the trash"! And with that he turned and walked out of sight.

 

Jess watched the interaction with the other's before sitting down with Naleena as the three dressed ladies continued fussing over Anika, Morgan and Dahlia. "My kind of place". She said holding three finger's up to Naleena and gestured to her glass before nodding towards Anika. "And if you play your cards right I think you'll be in with a shot there too". She mentioned to Naleena.

[Redbelle]

Anika felt lightheaded. The Asari's very presence was overpowering. But something was not as before.

 

This Asari felt..... Caged..... Fearful..... She covered it well, her smile and lithe body pressing against her's. Already she felt the warm feeling spreading down from her chest into her stomach. This was the kind of woman she and Jess would have picked up after a night celebrating a big job and go off to have a night of enjoyable but ultimately forgetable fun......

 

Anika briefly wondered why, with this woman pressed against her, she was thinking these things. The cloth between them doing nothing to hide the firm suppleness of her body. Nor the strength from which she gripped her arm. She was available. She was willing. It could happen.

 

So why was she resisting?

 

Anika looked over towards Naleena. And instantly, the feel of the woman and the sound of the music chatter and laughter fell away. Instead the sun was shining through the tree leaves as a faint burble of water flowing over the rich fertile ground could be heard. A note of laughter and she turned in time to cath a fleeting glimpse of two figures, unclothed. One blue, one fair skinned with flowing blonde hair run past before the forest obscured them. Then she blinked and she was back in the bar.

 

The Asari the Volus had called Shiana was looking up at her with a look of confusion that mirrored her own. "What did you.....". She stuttered. "I didn't meld.....".

 

Anika took a deep breath. Feeling her skin prickle for her touch even as she pulled herself free."I'm...... Not now..... Thank you though". She managed before taking a seat and reaching for a glass of whiskey Naleena had poured. She downed it in one without seeming to notice and had a vacent look in her eye that only the splash of another drink being poured into her glass seemed to bring her out of. She focused on Naleena pouring another out for her. "Thanks". Was all she said.

 

Jess looked between Shiana and Anika with a perplexed expression. "Well that's never happened before".

 

Anika nodded. "Tell me about it".

[Redbelle]

Jess sighed and leant forward so she was sitting with her head closer to Naleena and Anika. "So level with me". She said to Anika. "Does this thing between you two mean the casual romp's out of the picture for us luv"? She level the final part of the question to Anika. "Because I know we had our fun and all. But if the picture's changed I'd appreciate being kept in the loop so's I don't come back to our place with a pickup and find you or her together thinking why'd she do that". Jess looked between the two.

 

"All I need you two to tell me is where do I stand? And I need to know because..... if your serious. Or maybe think it could be.... I won't get in the way. But I need to know because otherwise it's business as usual which mean's those three....". She pointed to the three ladies, the Asari now tugging on Morgan's other arm to the outraged look of the one called Priss who hung onto the other. ".... Those three might get an invite to see what the inside of an Turian warship looks like from the bedroom".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena stood, reached over and offered Anika her hand, smiled at her, and guided her to a chair next to her she had pulled out for her. “Sorry, ladies. This woman is taken.”

 

Anika took her hand and sat in the chair, and she was relieved. “Thank you.”

 

Miss Shiana gave a look of disappointment, and turned her attention to the human male. “Now I do like the quiet types. What do you say, sugar?”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Jess, perhaps I should explain," Naleena said, "Anika and I melded, and I... shared things with her I hadn't shared with anyone in centuries. I've not felt this close to anyone in a long time. A melding that deep is a sacred thing among my people. Memories are exchanged, some of them very deep. She knows me for who and what I am. I do not control Anika," She looked at Anika with her purple eyes. "I will never control you. But know that you are always with me now. Our meld was not casual."

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 16 juin 2014 - 07:14 .

[Kel Riever]

Morgan watched the entire scene play out with the turians on walkway overlooking the saloon floor.  There wasn’t a lot of complaining from the regulars who just had their table smashed, so it was clear getting tossed over the side of the balcony wasn’t as infrequent an occurrence as one might imagine.

 

“What do I look like, the local pushover?”  Gullet looked angry and an angry krogan was never a good thing to not have on your side.  “Pug!  I swear I’ve been meaning to work on my backhand.  Now you clear out that broken table or you’ll never step in here again, money or not!”  He seemed to calm down at that point and glanced up towards where the other turian had been, mumbling to himself.

 

Pug, the turian unceremoniously ejected from the second level, rubbed his crest, but said nothing and started picking up pieces of the shattered table.  The shame was evident in his eyes.

 

At that point, Morgan began noticing some slight tugging coming from one side of him, then the other.

 

Miss Priss, on his right, said, “Come on, honey, you want to have a seat at the gambling table?”

 

Miss Shiana took Morgan’s left hand. “Give the handsome man options, Miss Priss.  Though he doesn’t have to choose if he doesn’t want to.  Your busy friends means there’s more for you, if you want it.”

[Redbelle]

Jess listened to Naleena with a carefully blank expression and when Naleena ahd finished, Jess picked up her glass and held it up to her. "Good to know luv". She said as she knocked back a shot's worth of whiskey. "But what I'm getting at is.... do you know what Anika and I have done in the past? How we get along? Basically luv me and her have boundaries that encompass the other. Adding a third to that map means that you and her encompass the other...... But where does that leave me? Where do I fit into......".

 

"Captain". Anika interrupted. "I.... showed her..... the shower".

 

"On the Audron"?

 

Anika blushed. "Yes".

 

"........ And the shower head"?

 

Another nod. "And Naleena felt what I felt".

 

Jess's eye's crossed as she went into deep thought "From third to forth base without so much as a nibble..... Gotta say luvs. I'm feeling a little left out here".

 

"Captain. It's a meld. It went deep".

 

"I'll just bet it did".

 

"Oh..... You did not just say that"!

 

"Oh you bet I just did"!

 

Anika opened her mouth to retort, when suddenly she clamped it shut and just looked at Jess. "Your jealous.....".

 

"Am not".

 

"Are too".

 

"Am not".

 

"Are too"!

 

"I'm free to choose who I like"!

 

"Then tell me if anythings changed between us".

 

"It hasn't"!

 

"And are either of you two going to feel uncomfortable if I join in"?

 

"Captain..... It's.... a..... meld! It's not like what we do....... Not entirely". She amended

 

"Aha"! Jess crowed as she leveled a triumphant finger.

 

"Look captain. It's pretty obvious you don't get it".

 

"I've had a meld or two here and there luv".

 

"Deep ones"?

 

At that Jess paused. "How'd I know if a meld was deep or not"?

 

"You wouldn't". Anika told her bluntly. "Not unless you've had enough melds to understand the feeling..... the encompassing..... The most intense that you can have are the one's where you blend so much that you lose track of yourself and your partner.....Where you don't know where she ends and you begin. All that's left is the feelings and their all yours and not yours because their hers and it's.... like water from two ocean's caught in a twister. They come together and two become literally one where your left totally exposed and open. Then when you reach your limit..... you both fall, back into the ocean you came from..... but the experience leaves droplet's with the other. We shared that. And Naleena did that to me, with me. It can't be the same for you. Even if she agreed to it. Meld's aren't like jumping into bed Jess. They take something more".

 

Jess listened, sat back and sighed, rubbing her temple. "So you two aren't interested in jumping into bed with me".

 

"Well now". Anika said eyeing Naleena with a coy smile. "I wouldn't go that far. Naleena did enjoy that shower".

 

Jess held up her glass and clinked it with Naleena's. "Well then luv. You lemme know when you want to experience the real thing". Drawing back her her glass she eye'd Morgan looking between the two girls hanging onto his arm as Dahlia kept trying to shoo the Volus away. "You think he know's the shower head trick"?

[Redbelle]

Just then, Jess heard a commotion and turned to see the fallen Turian, Pug, hauling part of that table he had broken off in his arms. He was moving through the tables close to her own. Turning away she waited till she judged he was close enough and then stood and swung around directly into his path with her drink in hand. She'd tied it well and both bumped into each other. Pug nearly losing his hold on what he carried. "Hey watch it"! He moaned.

 

"Sorry luv". Jess apoligised. "Just looking to see what else the bar has".

 

Pug looked down at her table. "Doesn't get much better than that". He mumbled as he made for the swing doors.

 

Jess swung back into her seat to see the Volus looking at her. "<Hiss>..... Perfectly done Earth Clan...... <Hiss>..... But Pug's a good man...... <Hiss> I hope you intend on putting that back".

 

"Put what back"? Anika asked. Looking between the two.

 

Jess leant forward and placed a chip on the table. "He mentioned the Drowned Aspire so I swiped his access key. I can figure out where he lives with it so we can pay him a visit without people seeing us seeing him". Looking around she opened her Omni-tool and connecting to the key, began cracking it's encryption. "They call this security". Jess gripped. "I could sell them a VI that does ten times the job and needs a super computer a day to crack".

[Redbelle]

Looking up, Jess called to Morgan. "Luv! Either take them upstair's or sit down and have a drink with us"! She thought for a moment. "Actually, Luv's...."! She called to the two women at his side. "Bring him over and let's see how good a time we can have"!

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia felt like a fifth wheel again. She was the youngest, but really not the least experienced of the group. She felt that her experience might not be valued because of her youth. After all she was only 90. Morgan had finally seated himself with his drink, and she decided to make some conversation with the quiet human. He seemed like he was a fifth wheel, too. A very important fifth wheel nonetheless. He seemed to be a very serious sort of person and that intrigued her. She liked to have fun, but also knew when to get down to business. Again it was a thing of age and timing that others simply didn't understand at times she felt, but if she stayed clean she got the job done. She was doing her best to stay clean. Alcohol was fine. Her Asari physiology could handle that without any problem. Naleena had cut her off from the drugs.

 

She removed the Volus' arm from her and turned to Morgan. "This place is even rougher than Omega," she laughed, "So, Morgan, how long have you been out here? You know, away from Earth?"

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 17 juin 2014 - 02:23 .

[Kel Riever]

Miss Priss and Miss Shiana giggled and took Morgan by each arm to sit him down at the table.  Miss Shiana then pulled Jess down to a chair as well.  Priss threw her arms around Morgan from behind while Shiana wrapped herself around Captain Stone.  Morgan’s second drink found itself near his hand and he picked up the glass, though he held it without taking a drop.

 

“Earth?” Morgan looked across the table at Dahlia.  “I haven’t seen Earth in about 3 years.  It wasn’t the most pleasant experience when I left, but I am due back.”  His face went dour for a minute.  “Overdue, in fact.”

 

“Handsome,” said Miss Priss, “Look at all the benefits you’ve got being out in the stars.” She gave a hearty laugh. “And all the surprises.”

 

“I love Thessia,” chimed Miss Shiana, “But I wouldn’t trade it for this place in a heartbeat.”  She winked at Naleena and Dahlia each, then stroked Jess’ shoulder gently.

 

“It’s all about the <Hiss> action.  Isn’t it dear?”  Miss Dila leaned in slightly towards Dahlia, but saw in the young asari’s body language a lack of desire. “Even if the action <Hiss> isn’t your type.  You just have to <Hiss> look around until you find something that <Hiss> is as interesting to you as you are to it.”

 

“Exactly,” both Miss Shiana and Miss Priss said at the same time.

 

Miss Dila gave Dahlia a wave with her fingers, then did the same to Priss and Shiana.  “I’ll be around.  There’s <Hiss> always someone who’s a good fit <Hiss> if you get my meaning.”  Priss and Shiana chuckled as Dila took her leave for better prospects.

 

Morgan cast a sidelong glance at Jess who he saw looking straight back at him.  He felt embarrassed again, for whatever reason, and while his stare returned to his drink, Morgan started to laugh at himself internally for his inability to keep his calm around Jess.

 

Morgan responded to Dahlia, “Let me tell you something, kid…and I’ll apologize right off the mark for calling you that when you’re at least twice my years in this universe.  But you’re sharp enough to know I don’t mean any disrespect. 

 

“You’re getting your first dip in a big pool out here, with people who watch one another’s back in the rough parts.  This isn’t about being a hanger on, or being needy.  It’s about staying on the path you want.  I’m not much for advice, but if you’d take it, I’d say you’re feet talk louder than your words.  Make sure you’re standing where you want to be.”

 

There was a loud bump on the floor as Pug dropped the last large piece of the table he was hauling.  He picked it up, frustrated, and brought it outside.

 

“And don’t end up like him,” Miss Priss offered, “If I may be so bold.  Good kid thinking some preacher’s got all the answers.  Forgot what he was looking for, probably.”

 

“Well,” Miss Shiana added with a smile, “Who are we to judge? Maybe one of these people here is a fine preacher”

 

Miss Priss nodded back.

 

Morgan thought he heard a grumbling from across the bar, coming from the table with the batarians.  He thought he caught the losing batarian cast a dark expression at the group from the Audron, then the batarian busied himself with his game again.  Morgan turned to Jess, wondering if she caught the same reaction, but he stopped thinking about the batarian altogether when he saw her still looking back at him.  Her brown and silver eyes seemed to catch a beam of sunlight from the window, and Morgan swore those eyes were flickering.

 

There was no turning away this time for Morgan, however.  He found himself unable to glance aside.

 

Miss Priss’ and Miss Shiana's faces beamed knowingly at each other.

 

“Gurl,” said Miss Priss.

 

“Gurl!” said Miss Shiana.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"No offense taken, Morgan. While I am 90, I'm barely considered an adult by my own people," Dahlia replied, "Aria took me in and didn't make a dancer out of me. I know how to watch another's back. Take that Batarian in the group over there. I don't think he likes us very much. I would hazard a guess he doesn't like humans. There are a couple of slot machines near them. I can take a walk over and drop some credits in them and listen in on their conversation if you want. I don't think they'll give an Asari maiden any trouble. If one does I'll beat him with his spine. 

 

"I'll stop at the bar and buy a bottle of beer, and head over to the machines. What do you think?"

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne was feeling more stable on his feet as he slowly walked about the deck of the ship, making his way to the armory in nothing but a pair of pants, passing by some turians as he looked to them and gave a nod and a friendly, "Howdy" to each passerby. Arriving at the armory, he opened the door, the quartermaster looking him over with a arched brow and a click of their mandibles.

 

"Something...I can help you with?" they asked slowly, unsure and cautious at the site of the bandaged up and shirtless krogan in front of them.

 

"Hey there, sorry to bother you but I got some things I need to pick up." Vayne said with a smile and a polite tone of voice, leaning to try and peak beyond the turian standing in the doorway and quickly needing to grab the doors frame to keep from stumbling over, "There should be a modded shotgun, and a red suit of armor. Most likely...damaged." he said, giving a bit of a strained smile at the mention of that. He wasn't looking forward to seeing the damage, not on his best suit at least.

 

The turian went into the armory, holding up a hand in front of them as they looked vayne over, "Sorry. Strict no shirt, no service policy. I'll get your stuff and you just wait here alright?" not waiting for a response, they went back in to the armory, vayne frowning as he grumbled under his breath, waiting for the turian to arrive as he shivered a bit. Who knew how cold a ship could be once you didn't have proper clothes on? As a tray was brought out hovering about the ground with his stuff on it, vayne let out a sigh as he took one look at his chestpiece.

 

"Son of a ******..." he cursed aloud as he looked at the huge gaping hole just above his shoulder, seeing some speks of dried orange blood and more concerning, the glint of some now severed electricals and microlectricals. The hole was the size of a biotiball, and it the metal seemed to twist inwards at strange angles as the ceramic itself was heavily cracked all around. There were massive scraps and scratches, some plates of metal reinforcement ripped off entirely, exposing the uncolored ceramic, where cracks formed all around the anchoring holes. Beyond the chest was the leg, which he noticed seemed to have been pulverized in the blast. The thin layer of ballistic grade mesh visible as the only thing not dented or chipped on his suits ankle. "It's been completely wrecked."

 

"Yeah, looks like it. I got some ceramic, even metallic raw materials for basic repairs and such. This though? You'd need a real pro to get it back in shape, with more resource then I got to work with. Any of these suits came back like this, I'd scrap it and get a new one issued." he turian said as he pointed a claw at the hump hole, "This right here is missing a huge cooling system and power regulating line, you need to rewire the whole suit and get those parts replaced, before you fixed the cosmetics, or you'll be wearing a huge eezo powered bomb."

 

"And you can't do anything about it?" Vayne asked as he picked up the shotgun, examining it closely as he set it back down. It was light as he remembered, and one handed as well. Both good in his book.

 

"Sorry, none of the other suits got electronics this advance. Well, some might. But that ain't my department to be prying into." the quartermaster said nonchalantly as he looked at the shotgun, then back to vayne, "I really hope you got a spare suit. Hierarchy regulation doesn't supply us with krogan gear."

 

Vayne let out a sigh as he looked to the quartermaster, "Yeah I got a spare..." he said as he began to drag the cart behind him, making his way to the docking bay, "Wish I could wear anything other then it though. Damn corners are going to be a pain.

 

-----------Some Time Later---------

 

"Come on...fit in there already..." Vayne said as he struggled with the upper protion of his armor, him and a few other crew members. "Alright stop, just stop. Damn things gotta get backed off and put back on." he ordered as the angular shoulder and hump armor was slid a little farther back. Vayne stood with his hands gripping a railing tight, wincing every time they tugged or pulled the armor connecting itself to his still sensitive hump.

 

"I don't think the locking guides are fully unfolded. Let me take a look." one of the turians offered as they examined the two tracks which should have let the armor slide together.

 

"Applying lubricant to the slides should make it a bit easier to get in place as well." another turian offered, getting the stuff onto the pronounced part of metal that was meant to help secure the whole thing as one.

 

"Uhh...thanks...again, for this. It, uh...really...means a lot." Vayne said as he looked down to the ground, not wanting to look anyone in the eye while he blushed. His backup suit of armor was an older set, one made during his time as a pirate, truth be told. It had survived a spacing, bombardment by frigates, stabs, shots, burns, and biotics, all able to shrug it all off. It was sharp and angular looking, and a bit squarish should one look at it right. There weren't the ballisitc ceramic on a lot of modern armors, it was all metal, and weighed a lot. That was due to it having basic hydraulics built in, no eezo mass reducers, no electronic readouts, and as it turned out, no authomatic expander for the parts. It was an all manual, old fashion set, and vayne hated it with a passion.

 

"Alright, three...two...one...now!" Vayne yelled as he braced himself, feeling a full weight press against his hump as the others helped him into his suit of metal armor straight out of a old extranet vid. With a sudden and heavy clink, the upper and lower armors slid together, and vayne felt the familiar tug of securing anchors lock it stiffly into place.

 

"Finally...thank you. Thank all of you." vayne said giving a bow to some and a handshake to others as they went about the rest of their day, enjoying themselves. Vayne watched them leave, his smile of gratitude from before slowly melting into a heavy frown as he looked towards his shuttle, and the reflective glass of its observation seat. The color of the armor was different, most of it scrapped off to reveal its stock factory colors, not the brilliant red and gold of his old armor. The plates were all straight angles and sharp edges, a light grey and dark grey mix of natural and unaltered metallic tones. The black mesh beneath was about the only thing modern on this ancient piece of tin, which combined with the steel and iron colored pieces of plating, made it almost look a bit retro.

 

But anyone who knew their history of crime or military know how would know, just from a glance, that this particular piece had history, especially with the scraps, tarnishes, dulled, and scratched areas all around, wasn't a replica suit of armor but the genuine deal. A Tomkah Mark IV, or TM-4, one of the only attempts at krogan to make their own weapon and armor manufacturing, and infamously popular during the grand age of piracy.

 

To vayne, he could still see the captian stripes running down the naturally darker metal, shameless gold to show off to everyone who was in charged. The red of his crews flag, not a dark red of carmine or maroon his current armor was, but a proper scarlet color of blood to make him really stand out. He gave a low growl as he picked up the two gauntlets for his armor, slipping them on as he activated the resizing buttons on them, feeling the suction make an air tight seal. This suit wasn't something he liked to wear, brought up too many memories of his old days. But he didn't have much choice till he went into town, and saw if anyone could help repair his old armor.

 

He set out, armor scanned in his omnitool, chakram launcher, scimitar, and his new short barrel and pistol gripped shotgun at his side. "You'll need a good name..." he said aloud as he looked at the tiny thing compact itself, looking like a bloated pistol at his waist, "Something simple and easy to remember..." he thought a moment before he gave a nod, "You'll be a Thresher...yeah, thats a good name." he said as he patted it on his waist, metal clinking together as he did so.

 

Getting on his omnitool, he sent a general question out to the crew, asking where any of them might be.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan was noticing that the light danced on Jess’ silver eye a lot more than her brown when he was snapped out of his reverie by Dahlia’s words.  Then his omni-tool chirped with an inquiry from Vayne.  It was sent to the Audron’s general crew but Morgan had synced his tool with the Audron’s main mailbox to keep up on what was happening back at the ship.

 

“Pardon, a minute,” Morgan said to Dahlia while he typed a quick private message back to Vayne:  We’re at a watering hole called Big Nose Gullet’s Saloon, northwest and not far from the ship.  More dirty glasses…

 

“All right,” Morgan then addressed Dahlia.  He saw Naleena was talking to Anika but keeping an ear open on his conversation. “Providing your mentor doesn’t disagree, go ahead and give a good listen in on the two batarians discretely.  Don’t underestimate them, Dahlia.  And keep in mind while I don’t expect you to walk away from trouble, we aren’t here to start it either.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia understood Morgan's concern. "Don't worry. I do... did this stuff for Aria all the time. No trouble unless they start it. I'm just going to play the slot machine and listen. Just keep an eye on me in case, but I think I can handle this."

 

Naleena seemed to be occupied with Anika and in conversation with the others. So Dahlia walked over to the bar and ordered a bottle of beer, which was the equivalent of a soda pop to Asari, and casually made her way over to the slots. She took a pull off her bottle, set the bottle on the shelf of the machine and entered her chits. Loss. She tried again. Won half of what she put in. "****!" Still she continued and listened in on the conversation.

 

"..... I swear I recognize that human female that came in with the big one. I've seen her before." One of the Batarians said.

 

"Come on. It's a big galaxy. Are you going to fold or what?" the other asked.

 

"I'll see you and raise you, but I've seen her before, when I was with Griff. I know it." the Batarian said.

 

"Tardek, all humans look alike."

 

Dahlia had lost six times in a row, and kicked the machine.

 

"Hey, kid! Those things will rob you blind!" the Batarian at the table dealing said.

 

Dahlia glanced over at him and shook her head, drank some more beer, and piled some more credits in. Then hit a jackpot.

 

"Shows me what I know," the Batarian laughed, "Have fun kid."

 

"And that other one. That human male. I think he killed some of my men at Elysium," Tardek looked at his cards and called, "****!"

 

"Tardek, you're not having a good day. And now you're just seeing things. How many ales have you had? Your deal, though."

 

Dahlia scooped up her winnings and took them to the bar for a conversion to electronic credits. 

 

"So, you won. I saw you kick that machine, though." Gullet said, "and I ought to throw you out for that."

 

"Hey, people have been feeding that thing ever since I came in. It was due. Besides, those machines are shock absorbent and you know it. Don't **** with me about that ****," Dahlia said, "I want these chits converted to electronic chits on my omni-tool."

 

"A feisty one. Ha!" Gullet replied, "Where you from kid?"

 

"Omega. I grew up on the streets there. You make gel shots?" she asked, "You don't have to put the umbrella in it."

 

"Yeah, I can make them," Gullet reached down to get the materials, "What kind do you want?"

 

"Make two. One whiskey flavor, and one brandy." Dahlia caught Morgan's eye and motioned for him to come to the bar.

[Redbelle]

Jess kept her eye's on Morgan as Shiana sat across her lap while throwing her arms around Jess's neck. Jess flicked her eye's up to the Asari with a smirk as she slipped an arm around her back, much to Shiana's delight.

 

"Like what you see"?

 

"Only.....". Jess drawled. "....If the present can be unwrapped".

 

Shiana's smile broadened. "I have a place where we can be alone".

 

"Who want's to be alone"? Jess said, slipping her hand down lower as Shiana's breath hitched. "I say we bring the catch your friend's reeling in".

 

"Priss"?

 

Priss, who was hung around Morgan's neck, like an animal throw, as she stood behind him looked up. "Shiana"?

 

"We got ourselves a pair".

 

"Hmmmm". Like a cat purring she settled down with her mouth beside Morgan's ear. "Sound's like you'll be well taken care of handsome".

 

"But let's not rush things luvs". Jess's Omni-tool pinged and disappeared. Reaching to pick up Pugs access key she waved it in front of Shiana. "Seem's like I should return this to it's owner first".

 

"Oh.... that can wait".

 

"He'll go home and find he can't enter his own home. And then where will I find him? That cult headquarter's"?

 

"Pug's dead broke sweetheart. He spends all his time upstairs with Sillis. Just goes there to talk with her he does. Trying to convince the girl to run away with him". Shiana made a shooing gesture as she reached forward and sweapt up Jess's glass. "He's a romantic". She said as she took a sip. "He's the type who likes to make believe that the heroic knight with good intention's will win the day. Not like you people I imagine".

 

"Oh? What people are we"?

 

Shiana took another sip from Jess's glass. "The kind who look for trouble".

 

"Trouble tend's to find me".

 

"Trouble's trouble. You musta met the Deputy. He's a pushover compared to the sheriff".

 

"How bads the Sheriff"?

 

Shiana took a gulp and extended a finger to wag it in front of Jess. "Ah ah sweetheart. Your fishing. Your good. But this isn't my first time. You want to know something? You get to give something". Setting the glass down she wiggled herself in Jess's lap. "You know girl's like us sweetun's. We hear alot. But we don't get to run around with big guns or a posse of the armed and dangerous. You want to know something that could land us in hot water? You have to make it pay worth our while. A few girls here made the mistake of talking to the wrong people. They went missing for a couple of days and when they came back..... they couldn't work here any more..... You can guess why".

 

Jess nodded soberly. "I can guess".

 

"I know you do. So what do you all want to know"?

 

Jess took a deep breath. "Who are the people in town makes you nervous"?

 

Shiana stifled a laugh. "That's alot of answer's for one question. I'll tell you, but it's credit's for every name".

 

"Every group". Jess countered. "Name's of those in the group come with the charge".

 

Shiana tilted her head. "First off, the law here. The Sheriff's no good. Stay under the radar if you don't want to meet him".

 

"What's so scary about the Sheriff"?

 

"He's a biotic".

 

"So is she". She nodded at Naleena.

 

Shiana looked at her and shook her head. "The Sheriff's different. I've never seen nor heard of anyone more powerful. And the guns..... He's got a gun in every tentacle. People who went for cover found it ripped away or shot to pieces with no let up. And when he's done..... The bodies are hung a mile out of town. He takes them there himself".

 

Jess sucked in a breath and let it out slowly before continuing. "But he's not the worst"?

 

"He only kills the scum. Or people that cross the law. Which means people who cross him".

 

Jess nodded. "Go on luv....".

 

"How much"?

 

"A thousand".

 

"Twenty"! Shiana countered. "And he's at the bottom of the list so it'll only get more expensive the higher up you go".

 

Jess raised an eyebrow. "I like you luv". She said as she flexed her index finger where it rested causing Shiana to squirm in what was obviously not discomfort. "But if your not open to negotiation then a thousand's all you'll get".

 

"You don't know....... This world...... Liiiike, Huh......". Shiana gasped and Jess relented allowing Shiana to settle downin her arms. "You don't know this world like I do".

 

"Ten thousand".

 

"Twenty".

 

"Fifteen".

 

"Nineteen".

 

"Eighteen".

 

"Eighteen and a half".

 

Jess eye'd her. "Eighteen and a half..... flat. Everything you tell us".

 

Shiana met her gaze. "Everything I tell you won't be worth eighteen and a half".

 

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The other option is that I take you upstairs with Morgan and see how an Asari deals with three humans before I drop the bomb on those Batarian's who can't stop looking our way".

 

Shiana started to look but Jess jostled her causing the action to look in response to her movement. "Don't stare luv. Their not sure. And I'm not about to push them when I don't know them".