Author's Note:
It was long after I launched my last side project, so with ME 2 out I wanted my Triumvirate which previously existed only on my deviantart account, to surface in a fanfiction. Please, enjoy.
'Lost but not Damned'
Launch chapter
The dusk was slowly setting as they cocked their guns and checked their barrier generators. The Turian Spectre watched the crowds below. Now, that the dreadful sun was slowly hiding on the other side of the planet, people started opening their crams, shops stalls and other earthly good's centres. There was even a slavers tent with lots of cages.
''Are you sure the target will arrive today?''
The other one, a human male in his thirties asked. The Spectre turned it's polarized helmet's visor towards him and nodded.
''My intel rarely fails me, Sinead. She will go to that brothel like she always does. Then Katarzyna will start a fight with her bodyguards and during it, I'll shoot her. Simple plan.''
The human smirked. It would look rather spooky for a man, to see him smiling with a large scar running through his left cheek and lips, but to the Spectre, Humans looked mostly the same. Sure, he could recognise faces, but he always thought of them to be dull and simmilar. Likewise, most humans did the same with Turians.
'' It's so simple that you've been repeating it over and over for the past ten days. Remember, that without me, you'll need to find a quick getaway yourself.''
'' I'm counting on you, Sinead.''
The plan was really simple, but carrying him out was more complicated. They waited on this planet for ten days, scouting the areas both in blazing sun and freezing moon. The assassination was delayed as they've checked al current whereabouts on the target. A young Battarian female which had the ambition to flood citadel space with a new strain of drugs based on the red sand's effects, but with a much more addictive factor.
The Spectre got to the case and, as always, called for his best operatives. As he explained, with first human SPECTRE, the humanity secured it's place in galaxy's order. He was so curious about the younger collegue, that now he even followed Commander Shepard's example and mobilized his own team, ship, crew, and adapted to his style of waging war. A truly weird act for a spectre, not to mention that it was strange for just Turians. Maybe it was that, that the best Turian spectre became the most wanted criminal in the galaxy? Rumours spreaded fast on the extranet. Even here.
The time was right, and so everyone took their positions. Katarzyna, the blonde musclehead, was waiting at the entrance to the exclusive night-club-brothel and was playing drunk. Grey Ghost, the Spectre, took his position on the bell tower that once belonged to human's church, but now, after Batarians took the colony over, was badly damaged and unused. He saw Katarzyna through his scope and he smiled to himself. The two humans were supposed to be like pupils for him and future candidates as human Spectres, but as far as now, only she of the two was interested.
He couldn't see the other human from his position. Sinead was a good addition to the team, but he was now more used to commanding his spaceship than to field action. Still, he proved to be skilfull enough for spectre's needs of combat power. For this mission, he had the least difficult task, to hijack a vechicle for them to escape and pick up Katarzyna and Grey Ghost. There was still an hour or so for the target's estimated arrival, but Sinead was supposed to have a car by then.
Sinead walked down the street with his boots dirty from the sandy dust that covered almost everything on this planet. He got pass the square market and was about to move into one of the backalleys, when he encountered a bigger mass of people. Here was the slavers's tent and their ''showcases''. He wasn't new to this custom as he often visited the Terminus's Systems. Batarians took pride in slavery.
Someone has put an auction for one of the slaves and people were shouting out their bids. He decided not to look on those poor beings and headed for the alley, when he heard a gentle, somewhat metallic sob. Somehow, the metallic tint sounded familiar to him. He searched for the cries's source and he found himself in front of a cage with a small creature.
It was no doubt now, that he saw her. She was a young Quarian female, maybe seventeen by the standards. She wore a black-red-white envirosuit with her visor tinted with the darkest colour. The glass had cracks and the girl was trembling and coughing. And crying.
There was a remembrance. A Quarian face, without a mask. Friend's last words and a faint smile. Tears. They took over when he tapped the metal bar of her prison and whispered loudly to her.
''Hey! How long have you been without filters?''
She looked at him, surprised with his care in his voice. She remained curled on the other side of the cage, but she whispered back to him.
''Three days.''
Her voice was weak and she let out a quiet cough.
'' How did this happen?''
''The slavers broke my mask when I tried to escape.''
He gritted his teeth.
''Do you want to live?''
He asked her seriously.
'' Yes. For Keelah's sake.''
''Will you come with me? I'll get you out of here.''
''Really?''
He just nodded and shouted to the Batarian slaver:
''How much is it for this Quarian!?''
The slaver looked back at him with confusion in his eyes. He had a vicious stare and he grinned in a stingy way.
Racist.
''Ten thousand!''
''Deal!''
Then another Batarian raised his hand.
''Eleven thousand!''
Before the slaver was able to acknowledge the new bidder, he heard a scream. Sinead was standing there with a barrel of his pistol still smoking. The batarian bidder layed down and screamed when he realized that his left knee practically ceased to exist. Sinead's face showed no emotions when he hid the gun and pointed his finger at the slaver saying:
''Ten thousand!''
''Sold!''
The slaver said with a little frustration. He then invited the client into his tent and ordered his guards to bring the slave to them.
The tent was crampy and damp. It smelled of sweat and blood and was in a state of complete mess. Sinead stood before the slaver and spoke calmly.
''You should cut the price. She has been without her filters for long enough to die soon. A reasonable discount, I think.''
''Ten thousand and no less. if you don't have the money, you shouldn't have bartered then.''
Then one of the guards entered the room. The tall Turian was pushing the coughing Quarian in front of him with a stun-stick. The batarian waved a remote in front of Sineads face.
'' So? Two-eyes? Take ior leave it.''
Sinead grinned and walked to the Quarian. He pushed her down to the ground with enough force for her to lay flat.
''Stay down!''
He hissed through his teeth and raised. The batarian chuckled atthe sight of force-presentation.
''Too bad this was your last transaction, mate.''
She looked up. Everything was like in slow motion. Her savior stood in a position to have the guard on his left and the slaver on his right. He then raised two silenced pistols, one in each hand and let out two almost simultanous shots. The batarian got shot in the chest before he was able to scream. The Turian guard got hit on the head. The projectile went through his visor, shattered it to bits and cracked his skull.
She got up on her knees. The human walked over to the batarian and fired once on his head. Everything was done quickly and without loud sounds. Before helping her up he quikly hid the batarian and his guard behind the desk. He reached out to her when he finally came to her. She let out a loud cough. If he could see her face, she would smile at him. She just said a thank you instead.
He struggled to get her into a car after he finally found one. She gave into a fever and was starting to have ravings. He quickly administered her with medigel through special socket he found on her suit's chest section and using her suit systems he lowered her temperature to beat off the fever. Then he heard a loud voice in his comm-link:
''Sinead! Where the hell are you? The target is really close and you're not in position!''
It was Grey Ghost. And he was pissed.
''I'm on it. Trust me, I'll get into position when it's time.''
He said nervously and checked the status on her suit's environment. She was smart enough before she got sick to isolate the other sections to prevent further environmental contamination.
''Hang in there girl. I'll get you out of here.''
And here he was. Rescuing a total stranger to him. Maybe it was becouse of his past? She reminded Him a lot and he knew how fragile quarians were. His first aid was just a temporary solution. Her body was weaker with every minute and he needed to act fast.
The fight started by Katarzyna wasn't meant to last this long. The turian bodyguards proved to be more hardy than she ever expected and they were now taking turns in fighting with her, to their boss's amusement. When she got a little time she ordered Ghost to shoot but he delayed the order. He didn't have a clear shot. When the boss raised her pistol to end the nuisance, she heard Sinead's voice:
''Out'ta the way!''
Katarzyna saw three flashlight of the approaching vechicle and jumped aside. The last thing she saw before getting up was the female batarian's terrified expression as her head cracked on the front of the car's windshield. Katarzyna jumped into the vechicle as quickly as possible for her and yelled at Sinead:
''Hit it!''
Soon Grey Ghost joined them. He was very surprised at their unexpected passenger.
''A sick Quarian? You have got to be kidding me boy. How could you endanger the mission like that?!''
''Just shut up! You'll spank me later, now signal the Flotilla's Pride to prepare for us. Tell Golun to prepare a sterile laboratory for a Quarian patient.''
Ghost went silent and soon he forwarded the message. The prusuit wasn't orgaized as soon as he had predicted, but Sinead was still driving like crazy. Katarzyna was examining the Quarian ex-slave when they left the town.
''She just repeats Keelah selai all the time.''
''She's got an infection and runs a fever. She won't last long if the shuttle won't hurry.''
Ghost commented, now concerned with the life that was slowly fading. Sinead slowed down at the extraxtion point and they waited for the shuttle.
*****
The salarian doctor dressed in an envirosuit quickly pushed the trolley with the Quarian into his laboratory. Sinead remained outside to watch the room from behind a glass window. The spectre joined him soon and watched in silence.
''I know you still mourn Rodo's death Sinead, but I can't justify your actions. Yes, you saved her and it's a good deed, but you endangered the mission.''
''Haven't you lost a friend, Ghost? Ever? You don't have anyone. Rodo's was my only friend when I was bad. He treated me like family.''
'' That's not the point! Save your mourns and sentiments for after a mission! Let go of your past and concentrate on here and now!''
Sinead clutched his fists. If not for the hiss of door and a newcomer's arrival, he would definitevaly beaten the turian. The newcomer was an Asari in her young decades. She had a bright blue skin with black tattoos on it. Her face was emotionless, but her voice showed concern. She wore white and black camouflaged light armour.
''You won't understand Sinead's feelings, Ghost. You don't have the abbilities, nor empathy levels, nor upbringing to walk in his shoes. I shared his grief and I know the bond he had with Rodo was as strong as your bond with duty. You can't blame him for trying to protect this memory by saving somebody who reminds him of his best friend.''
The turian lowered his head in thought.
''You're right, Shara. I don't possibly have the means to understand this. If it's that important to you Sinead, then I appologize. See you later. Inform me on the Quarian's status after Golun finishes.''
He bowed and left.
The Asari leaned to the human and watched the operation. The word ''operation'' was a little exaggerated becouse the Quarian wasn't cut in any way, but the doctor had to remove some portions of her suit in order to examine her. The face wasn't visible to them, but the mask and helmet layed in an antiseptic.
''You know, as her savior, you could help them if you'd dressed appropriately.''
She said comfortingly.
''I'll leave it to doc. He'll hold the doctor-patient confidentiality policy. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to see her face.''
''Why?''
''Rodo's said to me once, that it would be the Quarian's ultimate sign of trust to show someone alien his true face. I want to uphold the Flotilla's customs to her.''
''I see.''
They sat there and watched the series of injections that the doctor made.
Soon he got out and started to wash his hands curiously. He was old for a Salarian and it showed that the fight for the Quarian girl's life was one of his toughest ones he ever battled. They opened a comm to him and spoke to him outside of the room.
''How is she, doc?''
''Not bad for a Quarian with so many infections. She'll live but I'll keep her sleeping to the point when she'll completely recovers. I regret that I didn't have any Quarian blood to bolster the treatment. A full rerun of the bloodstream would have helped her more than antibiotics and other drugs.''
He talked much, but, for a Salarian, very slowly. Sinead let out a sigh and smiled.
''Thanks doc. I owe you a drink.''
The doctor looked scared, and ran out. Yet soon he emerged from the laboratory carring the Quarian's helmet. He gave it to Sinead.
''If she's to function.. well... normally, you must find a replacement and bring it to me for disinfection. I've seen a broken helmet but with intact mask in your room once, it should do. The rest, won't. Try if it fits, if yes, bring it here.''
He gone back into his laboratory and left the two mercenaries alone.
''Rodo can help one life bloom, Sinead. You should give her his mask. It will be painful at first, to see it on someone else than him, but you'll be proud.''
''Yeah. I know Shara. I'll think it over.''
Well, this is it for the launch chapter. Wonder if people will like it. Remember, I'm not a native speaker and I love well written commentaries, reviews and critiques.