6315 réponses à ce sujet

[Redbelle]

Jess shook her head. "I don't want to know what he did. Not through his eye's. I need to talk to him though and find out..... I need..... to just talk.". Jess looked down sadly at the man on the deck. "Dammit..... I do not look forward to this side of the job".

 

Reaching down she pulled out one of the dossiers. "Here. This is yours". Jess said passing her Naleena's own file. "Iyana left these behind. I've only looked at mine but it's got information no one but this group could possibly know. Things described on mission that weren't told to others and things no one on the team ought to know without a lot of digging. We've got a mole on the team and I'll wager this retake attempt got screwed because Iyana knew things about us she shouldn't...... We need to smoke whoever this is out. Maybe see if we can turn them around or at worst, put them out of an airlock".

 

Jess pursed her lips. "About Morgan.... Naleena he's suspect in this too. He's got the connections to Iyana and you've seen how deep that woman can get into someone's head. We have to suspect everyone on the team and find this person before it eats us out from the inside".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia did not speak to anyone. She was quite disturbed by what she saw during the mission. She went straight to her quarters and locked the door behind her, and opened VERA’s terminal. She was shaking.

 

“Dahlia, my readings of you inform me that you are distressed and wounded. I suggest that you see the doctor in Med-Bay,” VERA said.

 

“I don’t need to see the doctor. I need to contact Aria T’loak,” Dahlia said.

 

“One moment, and I can open a channel to her.”

 

“No, that’s not secure. I need to use the QE interface. I need to know it’s her, it needs to be private, and I need to do this now.”

 

“That will require permission from Naleena.”

 

“VERA, please. You didn’t see what I saw. You can monitor the communication. If I begin to give away any classified information, or any information that may jeopardize this ship or its mission, you can interrupt the connection, and please keep the door secure behind me. I will take full responsibility.”

 

“Very well, Dahlia. Since you are allowing me to monitor this, my programming allows me to make this kind of decision. Still, I will have to notify Naleena and make note of your usage of the QE in my log.”

 

Dahlia relaxed. “Understood. Thank you, VERA.”

 

Dahlia keyed in a request for the image and data for the ship on which Iyana escaped. The Khukuri came up in the database. She downloaded it into her omni-tool.

 

“I assume you are going to give this information to Aria. What purpose is this going to serve?” VERA said.

 

“I consider Aria a friend. VERA, you don’t know what I saw over there. Aria may have the reputation of a crime lord, but she has never done anything or allowed anything approaching the atrocities I saw in the years I’ve known her. She needs to be warned about Iyana.”

 

 “What kind of atrocities?”

 

“You know about the bodies. Jess’ crew was killed by dismemberment. She turned the ship into an insane asylum with failed genetic experiments running loose everywhere and she was cackling about it. Torture, cannibalism. The woman is pure evil and insane.

 

“I held Morgan’s head in my hands while the doctor in the Medusa’s Medical Bay saved his life! Do you understand now?”

 

“… I… am adjusting my software to accommodate your emotional response. I have processed your response and understand. How do you know that Aria doesn’t have an agreement with these people?”

 

“I am certain that she has an agreement with their main organization, but she needs to know who she’s dealing with.”

 

“If she were to confront them with the information, they would be able to deduce who gave her the information…. They would come for you.”

 

“Maybe, VERA. Aria is a good Armali Five Card player,” Dahlia replied, “Also giving her this information is not without personal interest.”

 

Dahlia left her quarters, and she avoided contact with everyone. Anyone who passed by her she simply looked down at the floor. She took the stairs to Deck 2 and entered the Conference Room. VERA locked the door behind her. Dahlia’s movements in the room were recorded on security cameras.

 

She stepped onto the QE pad and the table lowered into the floor.

 

***************

 

Bray received a page on his omni-tool. He approached Aria in her private section of Afterlife.

 

The Pirate Queen sat with her legs crossed. She was looking at some data sheets and shipping manifests that Grizz had handed her. She was not in a good mood. “What is it, Bray?”

 

“You have a call from Dahlia,” Bray said in his soft voice.

 

“Just put her through.” Aria said and dismissed Grizz.

 

“I can’t. She contacted you on the QE,” Bray said.

 

“Oh, for f*ck’s sake. What’s so damned important? Dahlia? What could that urchin want? And where did she get a QE interface?” Aria asked and strutted off into her private suite. Bray stood guard outside the sound proof room.

 

Aria tapped the security panel, did her retinal scan, and entered her private office and closed the door behind her. The lights turned on upon her entry. She was alone. She locked the door behind her and sat in her chair and activated the QE. The ambient lighting dimmed. Dahlia stood before her.

 

“So what’s so important that you took me away from my business, Dahlia?”

 

“Are you alone?” Dahlia asked.

 

Aria sighed. “Yes, I’m alone. Now what is it? Is Naleena being mean to you?” Aria laughed.

 

Dahlia was not surprised by Aria’s demeanor. “No. I contacted you to give you a warning. This is privileged information. If you were to buy it from a broker agent it would cost you a fortune. And… I don’t think you’d be able to buy it from any broker agent since it involves one of their own.”

 

Aria sat up in her chair. “You have my attention. Go on.”

 

“There is a Shadow Broker agent: one of the bosses. Her name is Iyana. She is human. She is very dangerous.” Dahlia said.

 

“That’s it?”

 

“No. Do you remember Captain Jessica Stone?”

 

“Ah, yes. Captain Stone. How is she these days?” Aria asked.

 

“Not well.”

 

“Really?”

 

Dahlia ignored most of what Aria was saying. “When Naleena was on Omega, she was pretending to be a Spectre. Now she is one.”

 

“Congratulate her for me, will you?”

 

Dahlia put her hands to her head. “Aria, let me finish! Naleena intercepted a package that was supposed to be delivered to Iyana, but then gave it to the agent who was supposed to make the delivery after she had all the information. The agent made the delivery, but unfortunately the information had become worthless. It had to do with the Collectors. Iyana doesn’t tolerate failure and was going to ‘deal’ with him. Stone was with the agent at the time and now was a target as well. I was there in the shadows listening. I heard it all.

 

“Iyana had a varren she sent after her, and Stone shot the varren, and she also shot Iyana once in the leg. The agent drew a pistol on Iyana in self-defense, but Iyana is a powerful biotic and ripped the gun away from him. Unfortunately by the time Stone reloaded, Iyana escaped.”

 

Aria sighed. “The killing of a varren would cost me a fortune?”

 

“Iyana was going to assassinate Androkan, a Spectre.”

 

“So that’s what that shooting in Club Kyrgis was all about?” Aria commented. “Androkan had a stick up his ass when we spoke. Typical for a Turian. I hope you have more?”

 

“Yes. In retaliation for killing her pet varren and wounding her, Iyana took over the Medusa, killed fifteen members of Stone’s crew, cut them into pieces, and shipped them in crates to the Audron. Not all of them, but fifteen. Why fifteen? It was a joke to her. I looked it up. There’s an old song from a pirate story:

 

Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest,

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Drink and the Devil had done for the rest,

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

 

She turned the Medusa into a chamber of horrors crewed by mutants and others she must have gotten released from asylums for the criminally insane. There was torture and cannibalism…. It was horrible. The whole thing was a big joke to her. She’s insane and evil. She managed to escape on this vessel.” Dahlia transmitted the packet via QE to Aria’s omni-tool. It was the Khukuri.

 

“A lot of ships dock here, Dahlia.” Aria said as she checked the data she supplied with known ships that had docked with her station. The Khukuri had been there several times before.

 

"The woman looks like this:” Dahlia transmitted an image of Iyana to Aria via QE.

 

“I see. She’s a powerful biotic, and a supervisory level leader in the Shadow Broker network?” Aria’s wheels were turning.

 

Dahlia nodded. “Yes. Do yourself and the galaxy a favor. If you see her, kill her. The Broker will replace her with someone who is perhaps sane and less sadistic. What is wrong with the Shadow Broker that he tolerates this? Goddess, what I saw was just… sick. Aria, I’ve seen you run your operation, and never once have you done anything like that.”

 

“That’s because I don’t have to,” Aria said. It was bravado and nothing more. She would never do anything like she Dahlia described.

 

“No, you don’t. I know you use the Broker. Everyone does. Just be very careful about how you deal with them, especially those who arrive on the Khukuri. And please, don’t tell anyone about this or from where you got this information. And please, just act irritated and say I was complaining about Naleena.”

 

“I suppose I should thank you for the information. There… will be a bonus for you. Tell Naleena I said hello and don’t forget to congratulate her on her new assignment,” Aria smiled and signed off.

 

************

 

The lights in the conference room came back on, Dahlia stepped back, and the table raised. Dahlia left the conference room and ran into Commander Selani.

 

"I noticed that the QE was acitve," Selani said. "What were you doing in there?"

 

"I was on a private call with Aria T'loak." Dahlia replied.

 

"Since when do you have permission to use the QE?" Selani asked. "I will have to report this to Naleena."

 

"I cleared this with VERA. The call needed to be private and secure. VERA was monitoring to make sure that nothing classified about the ship or crew or mission was divulged. She would terminate the call if anything like that occurred. So go ahead and report this to Naleena, Commander."

 

Selani sighed. "Next time come to Naleena or me first, okay? Get some rest. You look terrible."

 

Dahlia's omni-tool vibrated while she was on her way back to her quarters. She opened it.

 

Dahlia:

 

I have deposited your allowance to your account. Buy yourself something nice. 20000 CR.

 

Enjoy.

 

Aria

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  The following was a collaboration with RedBelle)

Previously...( http://forum.bioware...res/?p=17389370 )

Cluster unknown, System unknown, aboard the Nostalgia
 

The man tilted his head forward. "We have a healthy relationship with the broker already. An understanding that exists on the smooth transaction of credit's for his information on an almost daily basis. We provide a steady income for him while using information to enrich ourselves , of which a portion goes back to the broker for more and so on and so forth. It's a comfortable arrangement but let's be certain we know what it is your offering.....".

 

"The Kings and Queen's exist's in competition with other parties. Most noticalbly the Asari who comdemn..... but refuse to take action against Aria on Omega who is at the heart of the web the Asari have weaved. We know that Aria and Concellor Tevos enjoy a rather..... close relationship, despite their apparently polar position's in the glacatic hierarchy. Aria control's trade in the Terminus. Tevos supports Aria's control. Confronting them would be like confronting two sides of the same coin at the same time and the Asari have effectively seized a sizable portion of galactic influence already. We would like to see to it that their grasp is.... relaxed to a degree to promote free trade by our organisation to those in the Terminus who desire a break in their monopoly....". The man clasped his hands in front and rested them over his stomach.

 

"..... You came to us to make a deal. To avoid reprisal's? Then here are our term's......".

 

"First, you will return the Medusa to our control intact with the remaining crew. What you stole will be returned". Behind him, Tarball's made a short, loud sound that sounded like a laugh being choked off in this throat. "Second, you will take effort's to open the Asari market's to us so that we may move into them and protect our interests in those area's. We also require warning should the Asari try to take over our territory. Thirdly.....".

 

"Thirdly we require an evening of the scale's." The woman interrupted. "A gesture that cannot be mistaken in its attempt's to placate us. All this is nothing we ourselves could not take and so the effort is meaningless. But for you all to undertake an enterprise on our behalf..... to take the risk and hand over the reward..... Yeeeeess, I think I know exactly how to make this Iyana suffer her penance".

 

"We do not discuss that with him". The man objected.

 

The woman looked over at Tarball's, perched on the arm of his throne and Tarball's looked back before giving her a nod. She smiled sweetly. "There is a fleet of ships that has been built. A fleet built using material stolen through negotiation and deception. A planet that was by right's the human races. That the other races banded together to seize that planet from us was, in hindsight, a boon as it seems it will pay us a boon more valuable than the ship's we could have built from it".

 

The woman stood and smoothed the long flowing skirt over her leg's as she waled forward to stand beside the man. "Your third and final condition, is that you locate, acquire and bring us one of the ship's that make's up this secret fleet of the council.". She woman licked her lips. "All that technology of all the other species crammed into one vessel. All species but one. The one's who should have been at the forefront of the enterprise. Bring us a ship of the fleet that we might learn it's secret's and the debt will be considered paid for".

 

Jrudek weighed what had been said and did his best to hide his disappointment. In his mind, he had to remind himself that the people he was dealing with lived in their own world, with their own rules, and their lack of understanding might take some time. Iyana had taught him that patience. Jrudek had learned it the hard way.

Of course they thought that they already had an arrangement with The Shadow Broker. Why would they think otherwise?

“Your Lordship, I was certainly sent here not to make any demands upon you. And in your presence, I do submit to your judgment. My master has given me permission to accept such terms as you describe. Know that the return of your vessel safely would entirely depend on the speed at which I might reestablish communication again with my master, and as well, the good fortune that those who wish it back do not in turn risk her existence. Please understand the threat does not come from us.

“In regards to the asari, our group can accomplish what you ask for. We are uniquely positioned to assist in this area. The reasons will become clear as time goes on, but we can accept a deal in this area and perhaps further a relationship of mutual interest here.

“To your third point, a ship of this fleet you speak of,” Jrudek said, then paused. “It sounds as if you feel there is some lack of equality in your access to its design. We are great believers in such equality, and may even find our interest in such an acquisition aligns with yours. In short, this term is accepted as well, though I know my master and she would ask that you consider more than this ship, in return for a shared knowledge.”

Jrudek looked down upon the suit given to him by the pilot who delivered him. He pulled it forward off his chest, to examine it as if it were some strange creature, then let go and lifted his face back up to The Lord. “There is…one other matter that I could not leave here without addressing, your Lordship.

“She whom I serve, Iyana by name, can only accept your terms if, in spirit and in action, you can accept but one of hers. That is, in her dealings directly with you, that you treat her as your equal in station, in all manners of interaction from here forward, to include a title if necessary, though she does not request this. And she does, in fact, with to meet with you directly, face to face, in safety, as one partner of same rank would with another.”

Jrudek nervously awaited his answer, standing without allowing it to overcome him. If he could not accomplish this last point, all was for naught.

 

"Equality is a gift that is earned".

 

The voice was soft and southern and both the man and woman turned to look at Tarball's who rose from his throne.

 

"I have heard enough. If this Iyana wishes to meet with me then I shall grant her request. With terms. It is clear that this woman want's something. As an agent of the shadow broker I am under no illusion that what you have gathered here today will end up in your organisation's hands. But the rabbit warren of the King's and Queen's runs deep. Tell your mistress I shall accept her.... for now. We will see what comes of the relationship. But tell her this from me. I do not take kindly to those who disrupt my organisation. I shall give her the chance to set this right. But if she can't, I will crush her. This is not a threat. It is an incentive to earn my forgiveness. You shall be allowed to speak with her and later you may return. Until then, you shall remain on my ship as her spokesperson". He gestured to the guards. "Take him to a secure room and post guard. Give him access to speak with his mistress. Let us see what she say's".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena was disappointed that Jess didn’t want to join, but paused for a moment after Jess spoke about the mole.

 

“Yes, we do have a mole aboard the ship, Jess. This varren had the information locked in his mind,” Naleena said. “There was a meeting between Iyana, an Asari named Xhuan whom she calls her ‘Hawk,’ and the Shadow Broker Cell Leader 4. Cell Leader 4's face was obscured on the screen. Information was provided to Iyana through Cell Leader 4 about our vessel and our team. The question remains: who is the mole?”

 

She moved away from Jess giving her room to deal with Luscious. “I will have VERA monitor all outbound communications on all frequencies. We are going to have to give up some freedoms for security until we catch this mole,” Naleena said and turned to face Jess. “Perhaps there is more than one?”

 

*********

 

Naleena activated her com on a secure channel to VERA. "VERA,"

 

"Yes, Boss."

 

"Effective immediately, I want you to monitor, record, and log the location of every outgoing communication on the Janiri. All communication bands. And decrypt any encrypted communications. Do not inform any of the team or crew. We have a mole."

 

"I am on it, Boss." VERA replied. "Boss, Dahlia used the QE to make a call to Aria T'loak."

 

"How did she gain access?" Naleena asked.

 

"After discussing the matter with her, I allowed it. She said I could monitor the call and terminate it if she disclosed anything classified. She said she would take responsibility."

 

Naleena sighed. "What was it about?"

 

"She told her about some of the things that happened on Omega and the Medusa and warned her about Iyana. She told her to kill Iyana."

 

"I will speak to Dahlia about taking liberties with the QE when I return to the ship. I think she just needed to speak with a friend," Naleena said.

 

"That was my assessment as well, although Aria seemed irritated at first."

 

Naleena smirked. "Aria is always irritated. She needs to relax. Thanks, VERA."

 

"Logging you out, Boss."

 

Naleena disconnected.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Terrorist bomb destroys three stories of the Baria Frontiers Office in the Drakon Trade Center

 

Shootout at the Azure Hotel ends in the death of a Council Spectre

 

This is Emily Wong, Citadel News Net.

 

Yesterday on Illium, in Nos Astra, terrorists set off a bomb that destroyed three stories of the Baria Frontiers Office in the Drakon Trade Center killing thirty people and severely injuring another twenty. No organization or motive was given for the bombing. Local fire and police are still investigating the scene of this tragic event. Bodies are still being pulled from the building.

 

Immediately after the attack, Council Spectre Tela Vasir, accompanied by Council Spectre Jane Shepard, now affiliated with the organization Cerberus, entered the building to investigate, and this resulted in a high speed chase that ended in a shootout at the Azure Hotel.

 

Conflicting reports say that Vasir, who recently received numerous commendations from her superiors, took a human hostage and held Spectre Shepard and two Cerberus operatives at gunpoint. Speculations are that Vasir, an Asari, feared that Cerberus, a known terrorist organization, was behind the attacks and was acting in self-defense. And another report dismissed that in its entirety, saying that terrorists attacked the group on the roof restaurant, and killed Spectre Vasir. Immediately after the shootout, Spectre Shepard left the scene allegedly to pursue the assailants.

 

The investigation has been turned over to Spectre Supervisor Yalson Sao and the Nos Astra Police Department.

 

This is the second time in two weeks that the Drakon Trade Center has been the target of terrorists. Two weeks ago it was the target when the terrorist organization Strata Pact set off a devastating car bomb that caused the collapse of the Nova Dawn building. Police have vowed to step up security and set up checkpoints at all entrances to the Trade Center.

 

Memorial services for Spectre Vasir will be held at the Siari Temple in downtown Nos Astra on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. The route through the City of Nos Astra from the Temple to the Cemetary will be closed to traffic for two hours beginning at 9:30 a.m.

 

Stay tuned for further updates. This is Citadel News Net.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Iriina was in Med-Bay with Vayne on a Medi-gel IV. Her medical condition was deep bruising and a concussion. Dr. Tolus had finished removing the blade from Vayne, stitched him up, applied medi-gel to the deep wound, and he was well on his way to recovery. He had regained consciousness and the painkiller had him feeling pretty good. Still he was under orders not to leave the bed.

 

"You. Limited duty for three days. I heard what you did. No head butting for a week. Need to let brain heal." Dr. Tolus said, and then muttered to himself as he walked away. "Poor woman. Must have been dropped on her head when she was a child."

 

"I heard that!" Irina said.

 

Vayne chuckled. "So, Irina, tell me. What really happened there in Engineering?"

 

"Well the first part was pretty simple really. It was straight tactics. Someone needed to open a second flank so we weren't pinned down so we could get to the controls. Then Eteon took on Rat F*ck, and you were taking on that assh***, so I thought...."

 

Vayne shook his head. "No. I mean after that. When you were alone."

 

Irina got a bit nervous. "Okay. Well, you went down and were out of action. Golt turned to face me. I was standing there with my shotgun mumbling 'Oh sh*t! Right. If I do it and miss we're dead. If I don't do it, we're all dead. Okay. Well, Irina, you didn't want to live forever.' So that's when I pulled that grenade, and you heard me roar and run straight at him. The actual plan was to dodge him and stuff that grenade in the hole you blew in his chest. But when that didn't work, I improvised. So, it was basically fear of death that motivated me."

 

"You're not as crazy as I thought, but we can't tell anyone the story that way. We Krogan have ways of telling our battle stories."

[Cknarf]

"This crew....its the first time I've been able to interact with foreigners and not have met with rancor, or needed to use deception to do so."

"I'm sure it's a welcome change for you." Frank smiled.

"I have to be honest. My past experiences with your people weren't the most enjoyable." He scratched the back of his neck.  

"The last time I spoke with a batarian, aside from yourself of course, was... hell, about ten years ago? Our conversation was brief, and violent.  It ended when one of us lost an eye to a varren skewer..." Frank yawned. He was sore, and exhausted from running around the engine room. He sat back down.

[Kel Riever]

(Note: the following was a collaboration with Shotgun Julia)

The request for Naleena’s personal Scythe shuttle to return to the Medusa didn’t take long, as Naleena wanted to have access should she need to get back to the Janiri at a moment’s notice. Jenus, cleared for R&R and setting off to meet Irina, left Iole who prepared for liftoff immediately.  Two crewmembers from the Janiri hopped aboard for some equipment transfer, then just before Iole was about to close the hatch, Dahlia leapt aboard.

Iole was close to Dahlia’s age, which meant within a couple of decades when it came to asari.  Iole watched Dahlia start to strap in, lost in her own thoughts.

“Terminus,” Iole called back into the cabin.

Dahlia looked to the cockpit.

“Up here,” Iole invited, waiving to the co-pilot’s seat.

Dahlia hesitated, then took Iole up on her offer.  She moved into the co-pilot’s seat and strapped in.  “I hope you aren’t having me sit up here because you think I have the slightest idea what I’m doing when it comes to flying a shuttle.”

“No,” Iole said, “We’re short on co-pilots but I’ve got this bird in a non-combat situation.  Keep me company.”

Iole’s golden eyes seemed to smile into Dahlia’s violet.  “You don’t have to even say anything,” Iole comforted.  “I just hate flying alone.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Dahlia moved at a brisk pace through the Medusa after she disembarked from the Scythe.  The erratic path to the medical bay and the mutilation of the freighter’s interior served only to remind her of the horrors Iyana had inflicted on the ship, her crew and the people she cared about most.  The white haired woman had goaded Dahlia into an attack and she fell for it.  An attack that couldn’t have been made without a certain amount of critical information on the group from the Janiri. 

So consumed by her hatred for Iyana, Dahlia didn’t notice she had arrived at medical until she almost stumbled through the door.  There, the patients within had been separated.  She saw the old doctor, Jobe, who recognized her and quietly waved her within.  Jobe brought her back to Morgan, who was in a separate area for intensive care.

“He’s going to make it, but he needs constant monitoring.  Any moment he should be up, but you have to let me know when he awakens.  He may not be in much condition to speak.”

Dahlia nodded.

Jobe left after checking on Morgan’s monitors.  Dahlia pulled up a stool and waited.

The minutes passed.  Dahlia went over the events that had happened in her mind again.  She couldn’t stop the lingering feelings left from the meld she had with Morgan, feeling his heart slow, shutting down the pain…the worst part was the shock to Morgan’s system was so powerful that he really didn’t feel that much pain.  But the shock stuck in Dahlia’s mind, a place where Morgan’s system had suffered so much that the rules of the nervous system altered and the body shut down certain reactions to survive.  Dahlia had been there, in his mind, when he knew he was dying.

Morgan stirred and Dahlia’s eyes widened with anticipation.  He didn’t awaken, however; his eyes moved rapidly under his lids like he was dreaming.  Then they stopped and Morgan was still again.

The man, hard faced, a veteran of war, looked helpless and it tore at Dahlia.  He’d been there for her, letting her do what she wanted, his faith in her unfaltering, and he didn’t treat her like a child, or a brat, or some apprentice who didn’t know what she was doing.  He was honest with her.

Now he looked old.  Not even old, just weak.  A shadow of what he had been.  The strength that was there had gone and Dahlia wondered for a moment what would have happened if he did die.  If she never did have the chance to…

The asari maiden looked around.  Jobe had gone into another room, and no one else was around.  Dahlia watched over Morgan, helpless, in need.  She couldn’t help herself.  She had to.

Dahlia leaned over and pressed her lips to Morgan’s.

When she pulled away, his eyes were open.  They weren’t in focus, but he whispered barely audible words.

“Taking advantage of me, D-lightning?”

"Uh.... No... Not at all, Morgan." Dahlia blushed. "I was just sitting here looking at you hoping you'd wake up soon and wondering if a kiss would.... That sounded silly," she stroked his forehead. "The doctor said you're going to make it. How are you feeling?"

 

Morgan's closed his eyes slowly and when he opened them, they were able to bring Dahlia back into focus.  He swallowed, his throat dry, then said in a still quiet voice, "You helped save me.  I'm not going to complain about stealing a kiss."  He sighed before he rolled his eyes away to the side and added, "Those wounds, they take all the fight out of you."

 

Dahlia looked at him with her big purple eyes. "Then I will be here to help you fight. I will protect you until you are well. Let me do that for you. That is what friends do."

A light sigh left Morgan and he looked back at Dahlia.  Whether he was resigned or tired, she couldn't tell, but before she could ask, they were interrupted.

"I thought I heard talking," Jobe remarked as he came over.  "Ma'am, didn't I tell you to let me know when he was awake?  For his own good, all right?  Now let's see..."  Jobe began working the monitor over Morgan's bed.  Morgan pulled together the strength to roll his eyes in feign exasperation, and curled a tiny smirk.

 

"Sorry, Doctor. How is he?" Dahlia asked.

With his head down over a display on the monitor, Jobe moved his eyes up peer at Dahlia.  "Lucky to be alive.  And we'll see.  This man's just getting started on his way.  He needs rest, so perhaps you could keep the talk to a minimum.  Company's good.  Just quiet company."

Morgan sighed again and his smirk faded.  He blinked once, and said, "Don't worry about what happened.  I almost shot Jess.  Someone could have died..." Morgan cut himself off.  He was fading back to sleep.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia turned to Jobe. "I'm very tired myself, and I haven't slept. If you wouldn't mind, I notice an extra bed in here. I'd like to stay, and I was wounded as well. Could you take a look at it?"

 

"Sure." Jobe said. "You'll have to remove your armor."

 

Jobe handed her a gown and turned his back. Dahlia removed her armor, and she had no modesty about this. She just wanted the wound on her ribs examined and treated if necessary.

 

Jobe turned around expecting her to be in the gown. "My. I keep forgetting about Asari and the monogendered thing. Your wound looks like it's healing well. I'll apply some burn treatment so that it doesn't leave a scar..... That ought to do it. There's a fabric medical uniform in the cabinet behind you that would be a lot more comfortable for sleeping, and there are some blankets in there as well."

 

"Thank you, Doctor." Dahlia said, and she lay down on the bed next to Morgan and went to sleep.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"I'm sure it's a welcome change for you." Frank smiled.

"I have to be honest. My past experiences with your people weren't the most enjoyable." He scratched the back of his neck.  

"The last time I spoke with a batarian, aside from yourself of course, was... hell, about ten years ago? Our conversation was brief, and violent.  It ended when one of us lost an eye to a varren skewer..." Frank yawned. He was sore, and exhausted from running around the engine room. He sat back down.

 

Essul shuddered as frank told his story, a queasy look on his face as he waited for frank to sink back down. He looked tired, and from the state of his comrades, it wasn;t hard to see why.

 

"Most batarians who manage to leave the hegemony...aren't good people." Essul said as he looked away from frank, pacing a bit as he explained, "The hegemony says they're mostly good people but its not true..some are...but they're the ones usually called bad..." Essul said as he tried to explain, rubbing a hand on his helmets forehead as he shook it.

 

"It's complicated, but the truth is it takes a certain type of person to leave. They either gotta be desperate enough, or crazy enough, or both...most of the folks you meet doing well for themselves out of the hegemony's watch, they're folks who were too out of control for people like me to deal with all the time...so my government...let's them go." He said as he threw up his arms, sounding exhausted and more then a bit irritated talking about it.

 

"Those who aren't let go find ways to escape. Only problem is, the galaxy only sees our worsts, and everyone else gets the backlash for it. The unlicensed illegal slavers, the mercenaries, the convicts, all of them make up a lot of who you meet...and they'd kill someone of their own kind as quickly as they would a human in most cases if it meant getting something out of it." he said as he slumped down accross from frank, sounding more then overwhealmed as he tried to explain.

 

"I...I am sorry for..." he paused as he motioned towards his face region, looking like he struggling to find the right word before he threw up his hand in surrender, "...This...your story made me a bit uncomfortable, and when I get uncomfortable and I'm not in danger I ...I do this." he said, still not having the right word for it as he rubbed the back of his neck.

 

"I need an ale...and another suppressant." Essul said, sounding somewhat defeated as he spoke up.

[Cknarf]

"I hear that." Frank stretched, as he rubbed his eyes . "I'm getting  trashed at the next bar we come across, that's for sure.  Maybe copious amounts of alcohol will help me forget some of what I saw today..."

There were a few minutes of silence.

Frank rested his head against the wall, and sighed deeply. "If there's any updates, let me know, will you?" He motioned to the medbay.  "I could use a nap."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

It was mid-morning Citadel time. The Council had recessed after hearing complaints by the Volus over patent infringements by Kassa Fabrications. The session was long and arduous. Councilor Udina was constantly defending Kassa, while she was trying to keep both Sparatus and Udina from tearing into each other so she could actually hear the Volus complaint. The break was welcome.

 

She was in her office drinking tea and reviewing documents, when her QE light lit. It was a private call from Aria. She locked her door and returned to her chair.  "Aria, I wasn't expecting you to call. How are things on Omega?"

 

"Like you care," Aria said.  "A lot less political, white glove bulls**t just the way we like it here, thank you very much.  How are things in the biggest sellout space station in the galaxy?"

 

Tevos took a sip of tea. "Charming as always, Aria. I'm trying to keep a bunch of children from tearing each others throats out. You know they'd try to do that if we didn't have all that 'white glove bullsh*t.' Let's just cut to the chase. What can I do for you?"

Aria made a disdainful expression as she often did, more to show herself above these kinds of conversations as necessary as they actually were.  "There's a file I'm sending you, probably a known criminal, but something to add.  Caused a problem for your beloved Spectre. Actually, one I'm fond of...it's nice to see the Council not screw it up for once.  Anyway, I don't know if I would put this on the scale of some of the other problems about this one, but I had a feeling about it...and I thought I'd pass it along."

 

Tevos took a moment to scan the file, and she keyed the name into her terminal. "Hmmm.... Very interesting. You're right that she is a known criminal, and this information adds considerably to the scant dossier we had on her. She had been very careful to cover her tracks. How did you... never mind. I probably don't want to know. Perhaps we can tighten the noose on this one? I know you, Aria. Nothing is ever free. You want something for this. What can I do for you?"

"I'll come calling."  Aria's eyes narrowed.  "And when I do I expect to be answered.  For now, it's open, and you owe me, Councilor."

 

"Don't worry, Aria. I am well aware of our 'arrangement.'" Councilor Tevos replied. "Anyway, thanks for the intel. I will pass it along to the appropriate people."

 

Aria signed off, sat at her desk, and smiled.

[Redbelle]

Jess knealt down, dropping to one knee as she rested her elbow on her other. "Hey Luscious".

 

"******"! He spat back. "Where's Iyana? What have you done with her"?

 

"Nothing".

 

"Liar"!

 

"She got away".

 

"Give me back my ship"!

 

Jess paused and stared at him. "Still yours huh"?

 

"Wait till Oda get's here.... I'll order you spaced"!

 

"Oda's dead Luscious".

 

"Wait!..... That's right. You got to him too didn't you. Him and the rest. Cut them out. Save the good wood! Cut out the rotten"!

 

"Luscious.....".

 

"You were always bad for the ship! Rasgul was my borther! When he retired he should have left the ship to me but you stoles it from's us"!

 

Jess frowned. "Rasgul died to. You know where we are right"?

 

"Of course! We're taking on cargo! Let me go I have to oversee the loading! Those boys wouldn't know what to do without me"! Luscious's face went blank for a moment before he looked around confused. "What's the meaning of this? Why are you here crewman? Where's Iyana"?

 

Jess sighed. "Iyana will be here shortly.... Do you know who I am"?

 

"Of course! You work for me! Iyana always said I was destined for greatness! She made me coffee! She! Made me! Coffee"! He blinked again. "Stone? How did you get on board? GUARDS! GUARDS"!!!

 

Jess stood and motioned for Naleena to follow her away from the prisoner. "He's lost his mind. I don't know.... Maybe he's lost it. All he ever wanted was the ship and instead he was a pawn aboard her. Being fed lies he drank down like his alcohol..... As much as I want him to pay, I think he already has.....". She paused.

 

"Which makes what I have in mind harder to say but it needs to be done and I need your input.....".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena appeared a bit shocked. "Don't tell me you're thinking of sparing him because of the state he is in? That... may have to do with the way I had to do the meld. He tried to hide things information that I needed. He was a bit more... intact before. The meld forced him to face everything. Let me tell you what I saw and perhaps this would make it easier.

 

"When he first contacted Iyana he was as you left him: a drunk, but he still had his wits about him. He 'surrendered' your ship to the Khukuri and allowed it to be boarded by two shuttles of mercenaries led by the giant Krogan, Golt. Stron and Oda defended you. Luscious dismissed their concerns, stating 'When my people come aboard, there are going to be some changes around here!  I will make the Medusa the ship of respect she was under Rasgul.  I will be the king that guides her bow!'

 

"He met the mercs in the shuttle bay. The fool continued, 'Welcome to the Medusa, my new hires! I am Captain Luscious Kennedy, and as my personal guards, you will help me restore order on this starship. Order that has been a long time coming! As soon as we’re done with putting things right around here, we’ll get to your payment.  And celebrate!'

 

"That was when Iyana emerged and approached. Luscious told her that Oda was his first mate and Stron was nothing. Iyana instructed them to bow before her. Stron said that he would not bow before anyone. Golt hammered him to the floor. Luscious knew then that he had made a grave mistake, and fell to his knees. Luscious began to behave like a common servant to this witch."

 

Naleena continued and tears welled up in her eyes. "Under Galactic Law, Luscious Kennedy is as guilty as Iyana for the acts she committed. Because he invited her on board to assist him in his mutiny, which in itself is a capital offense, Luscious Kennedy stood by as Iyana butchered your crew alive. Do you know why the number fifteen?

 

"I studied Earth history and literature.

 

Fifteen men on a dead man's chest

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum

Drink and the Devil had done for the rest

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum

 

"She sang that you know. It's a song from a pirate story. It was a joke to Iyana. This whole thing was a joke. But this doesn't mitigate Luscious' guilt.

 

"Luscious Kennedy watched as Iyana dismembered a living crewmember using a monomolecular blade - his name was Felix; and Luscious himself committed acts of torture and rape of a crewmember - the one that is in our medical bay as we speak. I saw these events through Luscious' eyes, Jess!

 

"Luscious Kennedy is guilty of mutiny. Luscious Kennedy is guilty of sixteen counts of murder. Luscious Kennedy is guilty of rape. And numerous other charges I won't even bother to mention. Luscious Kennedy, by the powers granted me by the Citadel Council, I sentence you to death!"

 

Naleena drew her 9 mm and handed the grip to Jess. "Just do it, Jess!"

[Redbelle]

Jess held the gun down. "I think your misunderstanding me Naleena.... I'm not going to spare him. I'm going to use him. Luscious is the only man here who has seen Iyana. Spent any time with her. He's an example of what will happen to anyone who let's her get to close.....".

 

"You think I don't want him dead? Thanks to him the Medusa's a wreck. My crew lined packing cases and most of the team is down for recovery. I know what's happened. But the question is, what do we do now"?

 

"Iyana won't leave us alone. She won't leave me alone and while we were aboard I created the best weapon to use against that woman. Something that will cripple her and force her into the shadows. And that's where I can track her down. But we can't afford to spend time on her.....".

 

"We're here to stop the collector's. Much as things have gotten heated we can't lose focus now. Luscious is an asset in our hands and we can use him against Iyana if we employ him right...... But what I need to know is this..... Can you make him like Iyana made him? A puppet working for us"?

 

Jess sighed and rubbed her eye's. "I know that sounds bad but Iyana's about discover she's someone else and Luscious as an eyewitness can support the plan I have. Look at him Naleena. Iyana broke him. Death would be a mercy and I am not feeling merciful. Not to him. He's going to become the face of what happens to you when Iyana get's close to you and it'll have an affect. Maybe she'll even try to get to him and give us a shot at her. Now can you put him together to appear in front of a camera long enough to get what I need, or do I need to look elsewhere"?

[Redbelle]

As Iyana was supported, hobbling towards her fighter's exhaust port, she saw the welding drone.

 

It's bulbous frame was scorched from exhaust venting and it's gripping arm had a piece of the fighter in it's grip. The metal twisted under the force of it hanging on.

 

A crewman ran over and Iyana pointed. "Find out how that was sent to me. Stone is far more resourceful than I gave her credit".

 

"My superior"?

 

"I left a clean escape plan for leaving that ship yet Stone sneaked this through the layer's contingencies. I want to know how she did it".

 

The crewman nodded and knelt to his task as Iyana held a hand to her wounds. A moment later the crewman looked up. "There's nothing....".

 

"I did not ask you to find nothing". Iyana said softly, danger undercutting her light tone.

 

"There's nothing but some rudimentary coding... and a voice file".

 

"A message"? Iyana's face split into a grin. "A final curse? A futile effort at inflicting some small hurt upon one who beat her perhaps? Oh play this message. Let us hear the words of Stone".

 

The crewman nodded and bent to his task. A moment later a sound file, low in quality as the compression distorted the voice but Iyana could hear the distinct tone of Jess.

 

"To Captain Iyana. From. Commanding officer of The Medusa. Congratulations".

 

Iyana blinked in surprise as the message seemed to peter out. Then as she was about to order the message shut down there came four last words.

 

"Your a pirate now".

 

The voice message shut down and the only the sounds of the bay echoed throughout the hanger.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena nodded and understood. Jess was right. She took her pistol and holstered it, and put her arms around Jess and held her close for a moment. She needed the closeness to feel reattached to life again after the madness she'd just witnessed. That they'd both witnessed. Naleena moreso having seen everything, and more than for which she bargained.

 

"I'm sorry, Jess. I'm so sorry for everything you've gone through here." Naleena said, and then put her hands on Jess' shoulders. "Yes, that's an excellent idea you have. We have an image of Iyana, samples of her dna, and Luscious. And you're right, she may even come for Luscious if we use him as bait. He knows a lot in his insane ramblings. She doesn't need to know that we have it all already. Let's show the galaxy what happens when you deal with Iyana. I'll get him ready to appear in front of a camera.

 

"Thank you for staying my hand. The brig on the Janiri can hold him for now."

[Redbelle]

Jess held her close. "Hmmph... Don't you go getting soppy on me luv. you'll get me started". Jess grinned over her shoulder. "it's been a hellava day. But we're through it. We got the ship. Saved a crew and found out just how dangerous Iyana can be. She's Shadow Broker though so we'll have to be careful.... I know some people. Call themselves the Light Brigade. They safeguard information and no one knows who they are. Think of them as the anti Shadow Brokers but they don't have his influence or pull unless they pull together. I need to make some call's. Let them know I need to speak with them". Jess pulled back with a smile. "First things first though. I need to get this tub moving. Then I need to call in on Morgan". She shrugged. "Captain's job's never done".

 

She paused. "And has anyone seen Anika"?

[Redbelle]

Anika sat in the airlock. The outer door had shut and pressurised. But the inner had failed to open. She'd been trying to open it for ages before throwing her hands into the air and gave up to sit down. The tangle of wire's and circuits having defeated her.

 

She wished Jess were here.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"You're not as crazy as I thought, but we can't tell anyone the story that way. We Krogan have ways of telling our battle stories."

 

Vayne cleared his throat as he looked to irina, a small devious smile on his face as he began. "First thing ya gotta do, is make sure you work on setting the mood...pump up a few details...and never, ever, admit you were afraid unless you really want to look like a blowhard." He said as he stroked his chin, like some great dinosaur thinker, "In fact...I think I'll give ya a sample to help start you out..." he said with a toothy grin, clearing his throat to begin.

 

"It was in the darkness of the engineering deck, in the bowls of the madness that consumed the Medusa. I stood, a  shogun in one hand, a grenade in the other, facing off against the most monstrous thresher humper of a krogan I'd ever seen..." he said as he waved his arms slowly, as if showing her a mental landscape, "He stood, a towering tank surrounded by death and carnage, a hole in his chest, half his face gone and with an eye burning like the pits themselves. He'd taken wounds that would have killed the best of our kind, and he looked about ready to give a thousand times more...." vayne said as he coughed a bit, calming down as he continued the story. As he spoke, his voice got deeper and basier, like someone narrating a comm drama in the days of old.

 

"That monster was coming at me, I knew it and by all the beings in heaven and hell, I wasn't going to let him take me without a fight. I drew my grenade, pulled the pin, and got ready to ram it so far in his chest it probably have shoved through the other side for any other krogan. But while I was fast, Golt was faster, and he grabbed me before he could even get the grenade close to his wound. There I was, sure that this would be it, that I would be the next to die when that monstrous brute tried to drag it out a bit. That was his biggest mistake, and it let me ram my gun straight into his skull and blow his brains right out of him. BOOM!!!!" Vayne said as he rose from the bed, only to fall back down and get into a coughing fit.

 

"Shouldn't have done that...oh **** that hurt..." Vayne said as he winced, though he was laughing a bit as irina had jumped back in surprise. It felt good to tell a story to someone after so long. He rarely got to do it now a days, usually cause he never worked with a partner for this long.
 

"Anyway *cough*...you gotta sell it. Otherwise no self respecting krogans gonna believe a scrawny thing like you could be the great captain sangars krantt...much less that you took out Golt." he said as he relaxed back into the bed, breathing a bit ragged but still smiling non-the-less.

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  A bit of an edit on RedBelle’s scene, since Iyana only allows Xhuan to see her wounded in the hanger.  Presume that Iyana has Xhuan set her down, and Xhuan becomes the crewman in the narrative, opening the welding rig)

Xhuan looked to Iyana, confusion in her bird of prey visage. 

Iyana lay upon her side where Xhuan had put her down, a hand over the bullet wounds in her abdomen.  Her sweaty, white hair clung to the sides of her face and she stared at the welding rig with cold blue eyes.  “A pirate now.”

There was a sneer on Iyana’s face.  She leaned forward on one arm, as if looking at Jess herself within the rig.  “What are you saying?  You are still in control of your vessel?  What, Jess Stone?”

There was a nagging need to know that Iyana felt compelled to ponder.  “Get me up Xhuan.  Get me to my quarters.  There is recovery to be done, I must have my answers from Jrudek and I must contact The Shadow Broker as soon as I am able.

“But not in this condition.”  Iyana stared down at herself scornfully while Xhuan put a shoulder under her and lifted once more.  “People like Stone, the Spectre, their companions, cannot see their own slaughter.  Those beautiful creatures that came to help me -each were worth ten of the Medusa’s crew.  But they do not have the sight, the capacity to think like we do, Xhuan.”

“My superior,” Xhuan said with some concern, “There is time still…”

“Not enough!” Iyana hissed, before letting her voice calm.  “Not enough, my hawk.  But we can recover.  And Stone….Stone….”  Iyana needed to put her thoughts aside, but the cryptic message had her pondering.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Some of the Janiri crew arrived on the Bridge of the Medusa and in Engineering to begin work on getting the ship prepared to move. Commandos and the quartermasters’ crew from the Janiri had been removing bodies from the ship and putting them in crates. The ship was still spaceworthy and could make a relay transit.

 

Naleena smiled at the appearance of friendly uniforms on the bridge. But Anika was missing. Did she forget that communications were open?

 

“Anika? This is Naleena. Do you copy?”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Irina thought a minute. She tried to put herself in the frame of mind of sitting around a table with a bunch of Krogan, having a few shots. Her having regular vodka, not ryncol because that would tear her insides up plus she’d set off radiation counters….

 

“Okay, Vayne. How’s this? Pardon me if I steal some of your descriptions." Irina said and related a story to Vayne. Vayne laughed again and winced in pain.

 

"That's good. Now you're thinking like a Krogan!"

[Cknarf]

Frank had tipped over, and was now laying on his side. He snored loudly, while his face rested in a small puddle of his own saliva.

[Terca]

Eteon woke up after an indeterminate amount of time in the medbay. She was feeling crappy, but at least had stopped losing water through her skin. It was a bit cold being in what amounted to a hospital gown for Turians while the moisture evaporated over her mildly feverish body. Knowing she was better, if a bit cold, made that an easy price to pay for a cure. The explanation of what had caused her temporary lapse in immunity passed over her on first explanation but caught on after a moment of the doctor slowing things down for her.

She would need to be monitored, mostly to check and make sure rejection of the immunity supplements didn't occur. She had a long list of pills that contained the counter-pathogen to a long list of diseases that the Turians had systematically immunized themselves to over the course of their expansion into space. She wouldn't run into a tenth of them, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Three months of the pills.

 

At least it wasn't permanent. She, and anyone of her blood kin following would have the immunities. It was nice to know she wouldn't be on a regiment for the rest of her life.

 

"Last time I don't just space a rat." She mumbled to herself as she sat up in the med bay.