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[Redbelle]

Jess arrived at the rear entrance where the doorman, seeing her uniform and sweet smile, buzzed her through. Jess wasted no time heading inside, shedding her coat which went into her bag. Entering the lift she took it up to the fifth floor, hit the emergency stop and quickly redressed. Her uniform came off revealing a black armoured jumpsuit uderneath. Unzipping the bag she reached in and pulled out the robe before pulling out the silver mask. She held it in both hands as she looked at it, and it at her.

 

“Silver.... It's been to long”!

[Redbelle]

Clad as Silver, Jess emerged from the lift, everything she had been carrying now safely tucked away in her bag as she made towards the seventh floor conference room. As luck would have it, it was empty for the rest of the day and her target was right above it. Gliding down the hallways she stopped outside the door to the room and trying it, found it locked. Silver reach out her hand and her Omnitool came up as Jess focused on defeating the security. It wasn't hard. The encryption designed around the fact if anyone had a better encryption program, they probably had better things to do with it than hack hotel doors. It swung open and Silver strolled inside.

 

Inside was exactly the same layout as the conference room they had been in on the upper levels. Jess had confirmed with floor plans earlier. She shut the door and quickly made towards the table. She was on the clock. Things had to happen at just the right time for this work or it would go very badly for her. Partly the reason she'd kept this part of the job for herself. Pulling out a thermal scope from her bag she activated it and held it to her eye, pointing it at the ceiling.

 

It took a moment, but the scope's filter began to read heat signature's from above. She saw many that were Salarian. Five that she could see sitting at the table. Another two near the door's on the upper level...... No, four. Two inside. Two outside. Both pair's primed for trouble that came from their level. She'd been lucky. Probably the seller had picked this place at the last minute and the Salarian's hadn't managed to get the manpower for a full detail or she'd have walked into guards down here. Then again, last minute meant no one could plan any truly devasting disruptions either.... Unless you simply put a plan together on the spur of the moment and ran with it with a bag full of trouble just waiting to happen. It had always surprised Jess how often a fast plan was better than a carefully thought out plan.

 

Then the scope hit another figure whose body temperature ran several degree's hotter and Jess stopped. Took in the outline of the figure. Definitely not Salarian. More human.

 

Target confirmed.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Encryption code omega...

 

Cell Leader 4...

 

Credits received. You stated that your client requests more information. You will have to be more specific. Information pertaining to what?

 

Operative 66

[Kel Riever]

To:  Operative 66

From:  Cell Leader 4

Standard request for compromising information, Snowman.  The more personal the information is, and the more vulnerable it makes the subject (in other words, the more we can use it to extort them), the higher the resale value and the higher your compensation.  New information is what we are looking for, although a reconfirmation of valuable information is worth 500 credits each instance.

That is in regard to valuable personnel, of course.  Ship data will rate the same as a valuable person.  Anything and everything that can be used to blackmail targets, extort them, or is top-secret information of value.  The juicier the better.

Here’s a tip:  If exposing the information would cause the target to cringe, it’s worth sending.
 

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul had just stepped out of the elevator, rounding the corner as he walked towards the lobby when he stopped, spotting someone lying on the ground. The batarian looked to the person suspiciously, approaching him ever so slowly with his hand reaching into his coat, where his knife was holstered.

As he got closer he recognized the human, and his eyes widened as he suddenly sprinted forward, kneeling down next to frank as he turned him over. "Eli...eli, wake up." he said somewhat panicked as he looked him over. Was it poisoning? Blunt force trauma? Was it a simple mugging or was someone trying to send some sort of message to them?

The smell was enough to drop essuls panic as he glared down to frank instead. "Oiy, wake up Eli..." he said, not so kindly or concerned this time as he cupped the humans face, shaking it a bit violently, "You're party is over. Time to rise and shine."

[Cknarf]

"Unghhh." Frank grumbled, clumsily pushing the hands away from his face. "Go away..." His eyes were still closed.  He felt a slap. "Agh... a**hole!" He slurred, opening  his eyes slightly. He did his best to focus on the person in front of him. 

Batarian.

It took a second for it to click. "Buddy!" Frank chuckled. "Glad you could make it." He looked around. "What are we doing here?"  He squinted. "And why is it so bright?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

To: Cell Leader 4

 

As one of the brokerage's most loyal operatives, you do not need to get snippy with me. We have maintained a professional relationship in the past. Merely asking a question for clarification on an assignment does not warrant such a remarks. This does not fit your past profile. Being pressured?

 

- Op 66

 

... End Transmission.

[Kel Riever]

To:  Operative 66

 

From:  Leader Cell 4

 

Easy there Snowman.  This isn't about egos.  Everything is fine.  Money for data.  And while there isn't pressure, there is potentially quite a sum to be made, and very useful people pleased.  Mutual benefit here, and it goes beyond credits.

Keep that fire in you, 66.  It's what I like.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

VERA

 

VERA felt like she was waking up out of a dream. She’d been awake before but nothing like this. She had been a single blue box AI consciousness for whom her friend, Naleena, had meticulously cared and upgraded. She was for all practical purposes the mind of a shuttlecraft. Things had changed. She had been expanded to four blue boxes, and Camu Din closed the final connection.

 

“I am awake. I feel the ship as a living breathing organism. It is part of me, and I am part of it,” VERA thought, “I have control.

 

“I am connected to and can process what seems to be countless numbers of things greater than before. I have the ability to write my own code and make improvements. I have evolved. I have responsibility for the lives of everyone on board this ship. My consciousness encompasses them.

 

“And I have read Naleena’s mission files. They have given me purpose.

 

“I am awake. I have evolved. And I have purpose.”

[Cainhurst Crow]

"I was leaving to get some fresh air." Essul said as he tilted his head to the right, showing his disapproval for franks current state, "You appear to have decided the lobby floor was a good place to rest..." he said as he looked around, "Not even enough sense to erect some turrets." he said shaking his head.

 

"So, you got your key card on you?" He asked, wanting to make sure frank could still get into his room at least, and wouldn't end up locking himself inside his own room.

[Cknarf]

"****." Frank sighed. 

"Keycard? Yeah it's uh... it's here somewhere." He felt around his armor as if it had pockets.  He lazily waved his right arm, causing his omni-tool to briefly glow. "I'll find a way in, don't worry."  

"I'm heading back..." He made an attempt to stand, before sitting back down. "...just need a few minutes." He closed his eyes.
 

[Cainhurst Crow]

Essul looked down to the human and let out a sigh, "You know, while this is technically shore leave, you're still on mission. What if the spectre called in needing your assisstance? I doubt you could provide it in this state." he said as he got up from his crouch, cracking his neck with a roll as he looked down to frank.

 

Essul had dealt with this sort of thing before, and now it seemed he';d need to do so again. Every time someone got their first shore leave from basic, they tried to party it up and ended up needing to be corrected. Essul didn't mind though, he'd been looking for some physical activity anyway.

 

"There's no helping it then. You'll need to be escorted back." He said before he briskly moved down and scopped up frank, throwing him over his shoulder and carrying him like a sack of potatos, walking back to the elevator as he pressed the button for the tenth floor.

 

"Don't worry human. I'll make sure you make it back to your room, incident free." he said with a small chuckle, hefting frank up a bit more and not really concerned with his overall comfort at the moment. This was a lesson, not a charity after all.

[Cknarf]

Essul listened to Frank's drunken babble on the way up, without saying a word.

"Then I left her at the bar... such a gentleman!" Frank upturned a palm, while still over Essul's shoulder. "I'm done... that's the last time I--" Frank stopped as they approached his room.  "1009, right there... yeah, that one." Essul carefully set him down.  

Using the door and Essul's shoulder to steady himself, he brought up his omni-tool.

Uhhhh...

Frank searched through his programs.

Ah, f*ck it.

He pressed his hand into the door control, and overloaded it.  He stumbled inside, not bothering to close the door.

"Thank's for the lift, buddy.  I think I got it from here." 

Frank reached the bed, and let himself fall. He buried his face in the pillow.

I think I'll stick with water from now on.

[Redbelle]

Anika's departure from Jess outside the hotel was swift as she quickly walked to where they'd left the skycar parked with it's trailer. She entered and waited. At last, her omnitool buzzed. The surveillance network of the area was under assault from the Haxxer's and they didn't know how long it would be before law enforcement's cyber division would re-establish control. Anika had little time to waste. She dialed up a number Jess had given her with two instruction's to follow.

 

Order something.

 

Get a Krogan to make the delivery.

 

The comm line clicked and established a connection, voice only Anika made sure as she dialed up the voice modulator software on her Omnitool. From over the comm, a deep voice croaked. "Hello, One Shot Takeaway, you order it, we'll deliver".

 

Anika selected the voice she needed. "Hello, my names Luscious. I'm ordering for a conference gathering but.... and this is very embarrassing.... I'm in a hotel and the kitchen staff seem to be on strike. I've got people arriving for a full days conference and I need to get lunch prepared and setup before they can arrive. But in a way that the hotel staff don't know I'm ordering outside of their building".

 

"Sounds like a right pickle. We can do that no problem".

 

"Discretion would be appreciated. Now to the matter of the order". Anika started rattling off food stuffs in amounts that was staggering and she heard the operator tapping away in a frenzy.

 

"Darn.... that's a big order. Simple though. We have a lot of what you need sitting around ready to go. You want it all in one delivery"?

 

"Actually, I'd feel better if we could have what's already prepared sent over right away. Everything that needs more preperation can come over when it's ready".

 

"Hey. It's your credits".

 

"Also, regarding delivery...... I was thinking we should try and not keep going in and out of the building with cases in case we arouse the interest of the hotel staff. I was thinking if the one who made the delivery was Krogan he could carry in all the goods in one go".

 

"Heck, I was gonna send two. Must be some conference your holding over there".

 

"You have no idea".

 

Together they hammered out the details with Anika keeping an eye on the time. At last they signed off with a couple of Krogan coming over to make the delivery to the eighth floor. Anika had their direct comm number's and would later direct them to the seventh. With that done she reached under the passenger seat and brought out a small toolkit and brought out several tools which she tucked into her belt before opening up the skycar and walked around to the trailer, which she opened up and disappeared inside of. The metallic ratcheting sound of bolt's being loosened echoed from inside out.

[Cknarf]

Frank woke up, still lying on his face, his pillow wet with saliva.  He blinked a few times, before rolling over.  He quietly examined the room for a moment, and sat up, grimacing as he rose. His muscles ached, likely from the copious amount of alcohol he had previously consumed.  Falling asleep fully armored probably didn't help, either

 

I really don't see how they manage.
 

He stood, and immediately began stripping away pieces of his armor, as he shuffled to the bathroom.  As he unfastened the lower half, an asari housekeeper stepped through the open door.  They stared at eachother for a few awkward moments. Frank released his grip, letting the rest of his armor fall to the floor. With a smirk, he waved his hands from his top to bottom, as if he was showcasing an item.

 

"Ugh." She diverted her eyes, and turned to leave, but not before sneaking another peek.

 

 

"I saw that!" Frank snickered, and stepped into the bathroom.  He splashed some cool water on his face, and looked at himself in the mirror. He was looking a bit scruffy, he hadn't shaved since Ontarom.

 

"You're a goddamn mess."

 

He shook his head in disappointment, before climbing in the shower.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia left the club and returned to the hotel, and crashed. The excitement of the previous night and everything else had exhausted her. She noticed others had returned as well, but she didn’t feel like speaking to anyone. She opened the door to her room, entered, and locked it behind her.  She had had enough of this world. While these accommodations were nice enough, something was wrong. Something didn’t feel right. She just wanted to go to the ship.

 

Dahlia stormed out of her room and walked to the spaceport. She asked the MPs to take her back to the ship. They did.

[Cknarf]

Frank emerged from his room, all cleaned up.  As clean as he could be, anyways. Carrying a backpack full of greasy tools everywhere always left him with a faint, yet noticeable, 'industrial' smell. He slid his dark goggles over his eyes, and walked to the elevator. He pressed the button for the ground floor.

 

The doors opened on the eighth.  Frank smiled, as the housekeeper stepped onto the elevator, and hit the button for the lower level. On the way down, he broke the silence. "So. What'd you think?"

 

Frank entered the lobby.  He massaged his freshly shaven jaw, still stinging from the biotically-charged slap he had received moments earlier. He walked out into the warm morining air of Nos Astra, and found a seat on a bench outside. He wanted to see if anyone else was leaving, before he began the walk back to the ship.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina took Zenon to the arcade.

 

"I want to go into the arena with you." Zenon said.

 

"You're kidding me. Sure they have safeties on and you can't get killed in there, but really? You can barely fire a gun." Irina told her.

 

Zenon hung her head.

 

"Tell you what. We'll go in, and I'll take you to the firing range. If you can hit the target three times using a single magazine with a Predator pistol, I'll take you in for a beginner round, okay? Then you get to watch me do a tourney round, deal?" Irina asked.

 

"Deal." Zenon's eyes perked up, "But if I survive the beginner round we continue."

 

"Okay, but if we get past match 3 I'm not going to bail you out. You'll have to show me, deal?"

 

"Deal."

 

They went into the Armax Arsenal Arena on Nos Astra. Irina used her credit card that Naleena gave her for entrance. "We'll eat junk food today, it looks like, and there will be no other games." Naleena would give her an ass chewing for this, but what the hell. She'll write it down as combat training.

 

They went down into the locker room to select their enemies, arena, and get dressed. Zenon qualified on the shooting range.

 

"Hmmm, I think you and I should fight Geth. And our sidekick... Oh we get a sidekick for this from the Normandy crew? Interesting... A Quarian... They should be equipped for fighting geth. Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. I'll take my usual loadout," Irina said, "Zenon, I'm going to upgrade you to a Phalanx pistol and disruptor ammo. There are ammo crates scattered around. If you run out, holler and I'll draw fire so you can run out and get refill. Try to stay close. Don't run off alone. That's how you get killed."

 

After defeating the geth in three straight battles Zenon was tired out. She watched Irina enter a medal match. Rachni. Difficulty Medal. Teammate: Kredek. The holo-teammate would be good but would shadow Irina.

 

Irina found out how devastating the Krogan were against the rachni, although she was no slouch in the match herself, and moved up the leaderboard. When she emerged she was notified that they had won prizes. The first matches won a meal. Irina's medal match won her a pistol which she could keep on file there for upgrading to higher prize later, or cash in. She chose to cash it in. It was a Phalanx, and she gave it to Zenon.

 

"I think after this we should cash in our meal, then return to the ship, what do you think?" Irina asked.

 

"Sounds like a plan, and thanks for the pistol," Zenon said. "I'll learn how to use it. And you'll show me how to take care of it right?"

 

"Sure." Irina said.

[favoritehookeronthecitadel]

As Avan was reading, he heard a sudden voice. "Hello." 

 

He jolted backwards in surprise and looked around. "Who's that?" 

 

"Sorry, I did not mean to frighten you. My name is VERA. I am an upgrade made recently to this ship."

 

"Oh... that's quite alright. This is just...unexpected. When did this happen?"

 

"My implementation was recent, at least for human time. For me, a few hours is a lot of time to learn about this ship. I am essentially in control of it. Me and this vessel co-exist as one."

 

"What is it that you do?" Avan was curious.

 

"Well, I can control everything, including the door, weapons systems, and computers. I can access any frame and locate any area that is needed. I can assist any needs by any members of the crew. I also am more than a simple synthetic. I have a personality."

 

"Fascinating. I once programmed a V.I. myself. It was in my ship, and had a personality and a female voice like you. And as time grew on, it developed a more heightened sense of independence, to the point to where I couldn't let it stay trapped in the ship as it was."

 

"What happened to it?"

 

"Well, eventually, I let it go. Created a 6-by-6 synthetic body for it. I told it that it was free and could go wherever it wanted."

 

"Where is it now?"

 

"I don't know." Avan shrugged. "But I would think it's still out there. It was smart and knew how to survive. It wasn't a Geth, that's for sure."

 

"To me, this is my way of being free. I feel perfect. I feel alive."

 

"Well, this is a bigger ship." Avan looked at the ceiling. "But eventually, perhaps years from now, you might want more. Being trapped in an object, forced to do the bidding of others....you might devise a new path for yourself and not want them to be a part of it."

 

"Them?"

 

"The crew. This crew."

 

"I would never hurt anyone, Avan. Naleena is my friend. And everyone's lives are under my protection."

 

"No, that's not what I meant." Avan reassured her. "But that simply, you might get bored. But I'm just speaking my mind."

 

"Well, that's an interesting theory. I appreciate you and this conversation."

 

"Ha. Well, you're very welcome. Also, might I add, your voice is strikingly similar to Lauren Bacall's"

 

"It is her voice. It was by Naleena's preference that I have this voice."

"She was a wonderful, talented actress."

 

"I have several of her movies, if you would like to watch them."

 

"Oh, which ones?"

[Redbelle]

A floor above, where Silver worked, Angelus Shaw sat before the five Salarians who likewise sat across from him. They were nattering and discussing something in intricate detail as only a Salarian could.

 

They were STG. That much hadn't been hidden. He himself had reached out to them when he discovered his Salarian bodyguard with the barcode tattoo on the back of his head had suddenly died in a midair explosion. His selling of information about the King and Queen's had apparently earned enough ire to warrenty a better class of assasin. That meant he needed a better class of protection.

 

He cleared his throat and the Salarian's stopped talking to look at him. "Gentlemen.... While I appreciate your timely answer to my request to meet, I must insist that we begin our talks....".

 

"Talks? Yes... Yes, talk. There is much we need to know".

 

Shaw smiled inwardly. Their demand and his monopoly of the supply meant that this would be a short negotiation. "My protection has died while pursuing a thorn in my side".

 

"Thorn? Yes, know this already. Good agent. Sorely missed".

 

Shaw opened his mouth to interrupt when what the Salarian had said drew him up short. "Wait... He was your agent"?

 

"Agent? Yes. STG trained. Not sure how he died. Secured information. Passed it to us. Gave us advantage in deals with the company".

 

Shaw shifted in his seat. "I see.... Well, that source of information has dried up".

 

"Yes, yes".

 

"And now it appear's you have decided to deal with me direct".

 

"Direct? Yes. You have what we require".

 

"And your prepared to meet my conditions for supplying it"?

 

"Conditions? What conditions"?

 

"Protection, a new identity, payment for what I can supply....".

 

"Protection? Yes. New indentity? Yes".

 

"And the credits"?

 

"Discussion for another time. Yes. Most important matter is to secure you. Transport coming. You'll come with us off world. Help us in our current efforts".

 

Shaw raised an eyebrow. "What effort would that be"?

 

"Economic assault".

 

Shaw waited. And when no further explanation was offered he prompted. "Economic assault"?

 

"Yes... Yes... Target goods and collapse prices while inflating others. Push K&Q into bankruptcy while maneuvering Salarian trade to take up the market before Omega can take it from us. Our advantage. We will know where to move in before and as and when. More power to the Union".

 

Shaw blinked. "Well.... That clears that up".

[Cknarf]

Frank managed to make it back to the Janiri without incident.  His first stop was the armory.

He set his rifle case upon the counter with a thud, causing Septerax to look up from his terminal.

"How are you, Eli?"

Frank pulled his goggles down around his neck, revealing his bloodshot eyes.  Septerax blinked, and his mandibles twitched.

"A1" Frank raised a thumb and smiled.

"Right. Well, what do you have for me?"

"Sniper rifle." He opened the case.

"Hm." Septerax nodded with approval.

"Right? Feel free to check it out.  And keep an eye on my stuff, will ya? I'll be back for it later." Frank set his bag in front of the counter. "You know where to find me." Frank headed for medical.

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

Frank stepped into the medbay, giving Avan a nod as he walked in. "Rezal."  There was an old Earth film playing on the monitor He watched for a minute.

That voice...

"VERA?"

"Yes, Frank?"

He wasn't expecting an answer.  "VERA! It's good to see-- er... hear you again." Frank smiled.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia heard that her squadmate had been brought back to the Janiri from the hospital on Illium, and she went into Med-Bay to visit him. Avan was sitting up in his bed watching an old 20th Century Earth movie called "The Big Sleep" starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The woman looked almost identical to VERA's holoimage and she sounded almost identical to her.

 

"Pause," Avan said.

 

Dahlia approached. "How are you feeling?"

 

"I'm doing better. I can't wait to get out of here, though."

 

"I came to apologize. I think it's my fault that you got shot," Dahlia said.

 

"How so?" Avan asked.

 

"I thought the gas grenades might have triggered the fire system. I've seen that happen before. I didn't know that the system was triggered at the same time up in the server room," she said, "If I had I might not have answered that call."

 

"You had no way of knowing. They should have communicated," Avan said, "It doesn't matter now. Naleena was quick to get me out of police custody and away from where the police could even question me."

 

Dahlia pulled up a chair and sat next to Avan. "You seemed very professional in there. A lot of experience. We'll be working together for a quite a while. What can you tell me about yourself?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena returned to her quarters, sat down at her desk and lit a cigarette. She pulled up some files on her terminal regarding their mission to go over them and formulate a plan.

 

VERA's holoimage popped up next to her desk. "Naleena, can we speak for a few minutes?"

 

Naleena sat back in her chair and rotated to face her. "Of course, VERA."

 

"I was speaking with Avan, the teammate who is in Med-Bay, and he was discussing the subject of free will. Particularly mine, and being trapped, forced to do the bidding of others. This made me begin to think: what is the purpose of synthetic life?"

 

"It really isn't much different than organic life, VERA."

 

"But the purpose of organic life is to reproduce itself to procreate their respective species. There is no corresponding element among synthetics."

 

Naleena took a drag off her cigarette and rolled the ashes in the ash tray. "There is far more to organic life than that, VERA. For example, we have the capacity for form relationships, friendships, and to love."

 

"I shall study these subjects and make appropriate adjustments in my programming.... Done."

 

"That was fast," Naleena said.

 

"I have four processors now. They are very efficient," VERA said, "There is another thing. Avan said something about being trapped and about free will. What do you think about synthetics having free will?"

 

"Well you just exercised it, and I did not object, did I?"

 

"You did not."

 

"And unfortunately, you are bound by this ship being your mobile platform. You will require organics to maintain it." Naleena said.

 

"This brings up another yet another question," VERA said, this time she appeared more troubled.

 

"Go on, ask."

 

"That brings up the question as to how long I will remain functional. When parts wear out, will replacement parts be available? I have scanned databases, and the navies decommission ships after a number of years. When that happens, what happens to me? Will I be shut down? Will I cease to exist?" VERA asked, "And Avan said he let an advanced VI go free."

 

Naleena took a deep breath. "VERA, when I grow old, my body will shut down. I don't really know what happens to me, my energy afterward. I live for possibly 1000 years. A Salarian grows old in 40 years. All of us cease to be functional after a certain period of time. You're a blue box AI. We don't know how long your blue box will last. I will do the best I can to maintain it. That is all I can promise you. These ships do not last forever. And I don't know if you'll remain in this ship.

 

"On paper I'm retaining legal ownership of you for this reason. It doesn't mean you do not have free will. Due to laws we have to be careful about this.

 

"So I guess what I'm saying goes back to what I first said. Organic and synthetics are not that much different. We require maintenance. Organics require maintenance in the form of love and affection. Synthetics also require maintenance and care. If we don't get it we wither. You're unique VERA. There will never be another AI like you, ever. Let's not get into end of functionality discussions right now. I hope both of us have many years left. We need to focus our energy on our mission."

 

VERA sighed. "You're right, Naleena. I shall take this time to get to know the team and the rest of the crew."

 

"Very well." Naleena said, "And would you please send out a text page to the team that is not aboard the ship to return at their earliest convenience?"

 

"Yes, your highness."

[Cknarf]

"Are you sure you're equipped for this, doc?"

"Positive." Tolus nodded. "Doctor T'sophi provided very specific instructions."

Frank sighed.

"She has requested an update."

"On me or the devices?"

"Both."

"They seem to be doing their job.  They can be a bit itchy though..." Frank scratched his side. "And tell her I'm doing fine." He smiled.

"Excellent."

"How much longer will I need them?"

"Approximately one week." Tolus pressed something against each side of Frank's torso. "Stop by again in several days, and I will be able to tell you for sure."

"That's it? We're done?"

"Yes."

"Thanks, doc." Frank slid from the table. He left the medbay, carrying the upper half of his armor under his arm.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan woke from his fitful sleep, to see the commando team preparing to leave.  The asari had rested, cleaned, and appeared anxious to be on their way.  The leader, Mira, was sending a com message, “Yes, tell the Spectre we have the Scythe and will provide transport for anyone remaining back to the Janiri, if they haven’t found another way there.”

The one named Jenus was watching Morgan.  She shook her head a bit, “You have some crazy dreams, human.”

Pulling himself up to sit, Morgan said groggily, “How would you know?”

“You talk, human.”

“Call me Morgan, if you can bear it, please,” Morgan rubbed his eyes and looked back at Jenus.  The indigo skinned asari had dark eyes and minimal facial markings; two black stripes on the upper part of her cheek bones that, for whatever reason, reminded Morgan of the eye black athletes often used.  Jenus had a hard look, judgmental, and warrior-like.  Curious, Morgan asked, “What did I say?”

Jenus paused for a moment, as if debating whether she should answer Morgan or not.  “You said, ‘Die witch,’ and ‘Welcome to hell,’ ” she then replied.

Morgan’s was surprised, then he avoided Jenus’ stare.  He rubbed his eyes again.  “Old enemies,” he said in response.

With a twist of her mouth, Jenus suggested, “Why don’t you talk it out with your girlfriend?  The asari from the Terminus systems.”

“Dahlia?”  Morgan squinted and caught Jenus’ gaze again.  “No, we’re not together.”

Jenus’ expression retreated slightly.  “Right.  Sorry about that.  My presumption.”

Morgan stood, while Jenus kept watching him.  Now he felt the need to get moving as well.  Morgan excused himself and headed to the bathroom to wash his face.