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Another Realm – Those Who Fight

Hellhound Edition

I'm going to be trying something a little different with this edition of Those Who Fight, building on what I did with the team of marines in Chevalier and the first perspectives from Nikita Korolev's point of view. Using secondary and minor characters for the points of view, we'll explore a bit of the AR-verse version of Mass Effect in order to build up the wider universe and take a look at what Shepard, Cieran, and Miranda are doing from outside perspectives.

Current chapter concepts include roles for Ashley Williams, Halia'kul vas Antiva, Magnus MacKinnon, Jondum Bau, Nynsi Shaaryak, Aria T'Loak, Donnel Udina, Yan T'Ravt, and others. I am also toying with the idea of having chapters to explore the Matriarch's Cult and old Cerberus's operations, I will likely be putting up a poll on my profile to gauge interest in that.

Grinning Murderess

Halia'kul vas Antiva

Date: 11-01-2187

Location: Hall of the Elders, Old District, Celthani, Xentha

The old hive was changing... and the bitching was epic.

"You can't be serious!" A raucous voice shrilled from the lower bowl, the old woman slamming a hand down on her desk. "Allowing aliens to recruit within our walls was one thing, allowing them to build factories within the District is too far!"

High Elder Shar'lan slammed his Elcor-bone cane into the ground to punctuate his retaliatory snarl. His desk and those of the Superiors were slightly elevated from the rest, allowing their owners to survey the assembled Elders, one from every vhaka on planet. "You would rather we continue to send our children into Celthani proper!? To be abused and paid a pittance as servants?"

"They should be hired here!" Veh'frea snapped back, not about to back down. "Our economy is improving by our projections, we do not need alien charity!"

That drew another Elder into the fight, Fehi'chi rising and slamming her tooth-covered staff down onto her desk, a few trophies sending fragments flying as they chipped. "Watch who you accuse, gutter-born! My niece holds a position of power in their corporation, as do others of our race!"

"Hardly!" A scoff came from a male near the back, the boorish Wes'kular heaving his bulk upright. "Where are the Quarian Captains and Commanders? They are all Turian, Asari, Batarian, our people are little more than chattel!"

I could only sigh and sink back into my chair, closing my eyes as I heard the hair rustling coming from the other Takers on our observation deck. It was the same ancestors-cursed argument that had been going on ever since the High Elder had agreed to the Blades' proposal, and despite the fact that such was entirely his right, the other Elders continued to howl and whine. Personally I thought it was mostly motivated by the fact that none of them were receiving cuts from Kean's corporation.

Not that the clever keshin was doing this out of charity or anything equally inane. In exchange for re-equipping the Guard with weapons and armor sold nearly at-cost, training them once they had the new toys, and bolstering their numbers with a full regiment of soldiers; the Blades would be given full access to the District when it came to recruiting, permission to purchase land and construct arms factories, and anyone bearing their mark would be off-limits for the Takers.

"Oh look." Hesk'with sighed from where he was sitting beside me, "Real politics begins."

I cracked an eye open in time to see Fehi'chi smash her staff over Wes'kular's head, the male recoiling in pain before gamely getting his bulk up and over his desk in a surprising display of athleticism to tackle the younger woman. Other brawls had broken out elsewhere, but the majority of the Elders seemed content to simply remain at their desks and comment on the fighting. For his part, the High Elder and the other Superiors strode down from their platform, doing their best to haul the combatants apart and have the floor-staff drag them outside to cool down.

And naturally, in their own observation booth, the Elders from Antiva and the other Imperial worlds that held our kind were already pointing, shaking heads, nodding, and otherwise revealing that they were betting on who would win and how long this particular brawl would last.

"What do you think about all this?" I asked, watching as Voya'chi's aunt did her best to kill her rival in the short time she had before Shar'lan got to their part of the fight. Her staff whirled as she got it up in both hands, parrying aside a heavy blow before jabbing it at Kular's fat, following that up with another snap-strike at his skull.

"I don't really care." Hesk replied with a lazy shrug, the male kicking his legs out and sinking back into his chair. A single hand rose to run through his neat beard, making the Human tags around his wrists jingle softly. "I don't intend to join you or the others, I prefer my independence, but I'll admit to being tempted."

"The pay?" I guessed, smirking a little as Fehi'chi abruptly went flying backwards when Shar'lan grabbed her by her hair, the High Elder following that up by winding up with his cane before slamming it into Wes'kular's chest.

"The gear." He corrected, giving my body a significant glance before returning his attention to the floor, watching as the combatants were hauled out of the room by whatever body part the floor staff could keep a grip of.

I smirked a little, stretching my arms and feeling my new armor move with the motion. While I still wasn't sure about the dour navy and silver coloration, I could appreciate the sleek, customized Musakani made armor covering my body, just as I could adore the brand new Shaaryak-Redcliffe Carbine resting beside my chair, the Blade model hand-cannon secured on my belt, and my nearly unlimited access to armories filled with a delightful variety explosives.

I was particularly looking forwards to trying out the SIU modded razor-wire grenades.

"It is rather pretty, isn't it?" I teased, running my claws over my chest. "You want to know how much it all cost?"

"No." The man groused. "No coat yet?"

"No." I sighed, kicking one leg over my other to make my Vorcha-teeth anklet rustle. "You only get one of those when you pass their training and officially noted as a Lancer. Still, if you change your mind I can put in a good word for you, or maybe Deshi could. Voya probably wouldn't though, don't think she ever forgave you for that mess on Cultchatka."

His eyes rolled a little, "Everyone in that family is a vindictive little keshin... guess some things don't change. She still a raging xenophiliac?"

"Somewhat." I turned my lips down a little as I thought about my old... friend wasn't the right word, we'd never really been close, but we had been stuck dealing with each other on almost daily basis during our time together in the Lady's army. "She's edgier, twitchier than she used to be, and I think she's sleeping with Kean."

"Huh." Hesk grunted, "Thought she preferred Asari... didn't she have a thing with Elder Cor's twin bodyguards for a while?"

"Depends if you believe her brother or not." I shrugged, "Still, having met him, he's not bad. Shoulders are a bit narrow but his mane is rather impressive."

The other Taker grunted dismissively, but the general chatter ceased as the High Elder finished limping back to his place, the various other politicians settling back into the chairs as official business resumed.

"The treaty with the Silver Blade Corporation is not up for debate." Shar'lan boomed, his deep voice easily carrying across the large chamber. "It is my right as the High Elder to negotiate on the District's behalf, it has been signed and completed."

"If I may?" Another male cautiously rose from a position near the back, his formal robes a mixture of teal and black. "I am less concerned with the agreement, Shar, than I am with the speed with which you concluded it. This... Kean seemed desperate for markets, for recruits. We could have held out for more. Why did you rush the deal?"

I grimaced in irritation. The old keshin should have just asked 'what you know that we don't?' and gotten it over with instead of dancing around the stupid question.

My uncle glowered, but thankfully answered the unspoken request rather than the idiotically spoken one. "During my conference with the Lady this past week, she hinted strongly that the District's time as being exempt from her conscription is nearing its end."

Cue uproar in three... two...

"The deal with the Blades will-" He didn't get to finish the sentence as the lower bowl exploded as furious shouts came from a good thirty of forty throats, wood and metal clashing as staffs and canes were slammed against the floor or desks to emphasize whatever point their were trying to make, and things more or less fell apart for the second time in ten minutes.

I could only shake my head as politics became a full-contact sport once more, the younger and more virile Elders trying to shut up their rivals by physical action rather than through words. That lasted all of a minute before the High Elder lost whatever patience he might have still had and flung a stunner into the most chaotic section of the brawl. Everyone on the upper level winced a little at the deafening ring and flash of white, though the old kolsha below had it far worse, many of them emptying their guts onto the floor or clinging to their former enemies just to stay upright.

"Enough! From all of you!" Shar bellowed into the dazed silence. "The next conceited little keshin to interrupt will be strung up by your mane until your learn to keep your mouths shut!"

I smiled in bemusement as the quiet continued, looks of shock visible on many faces. Violence was hardly uncommon to this hall, it was practically a ritual at this point. The usual response would simply have been to let the idiots fight it out with their fists and staves of office, for the worst to be dragged out for an hour or two, and for the calmer heads to discuss everything in the relative peace that followed.

Using an actual weapon, even a non-lethal one, was a serious breach of etiquette.

"Someone get those other idiots back in here, I don't intend to repeat this shit." He continued, irritably tossing his massive cane onto his desk with a heavy clatter. "Now!"

While the floor staff leaped to obey, I glanced at the nearest clock and scowled as I realized that I was running low on time. Pushing myself to my feet, I shook my head back and forth to make my hair rustle, gaining the attention of the others. Of the fifty or so Takers scattered across the wide balcony, perhaps twenty groaned and got to their feet as well, their armor the same dour coloration as my own rather than the chaotic mix borne by the others.

"Enjoy your training." Hesk smirked as I turned away, arms crossing his broad chest as he leaned farther back in his chair.

"I won't." I replied as I turned away, injecting some saccharine sweetness into my voice as I started walking. "But I will enjoy the paychecks... and the discounts... and the free gear."

His growl was just loud enough for me to hear it, and I smirked with satisfaction as those of us who had signed on filed out of the room. The more recent recruits took the stairs, while those of us farther along in the training regimen showed our wisdom, and our sore legs, by deciding to wait for the lifts.

"Would have liked to have heard the rest." I glanced to my right, seeing the young features of Kulo'tash. The young man had a lovely set of bruises on the right side of his face, legacy of picking a fight with a Batarian in our hand-to-hand lessons a few days ago. "You think he's telling them the same intel that the Blades gave us?"

"You mean the same intel our initial briefing gave us." The reply came as a low murmur from behind me, Jure'halli replying in her soft voice. "We are Blades now Kulo, remember that."

The youngest Taker to volunteer winced. "Right, sorry. Still, you think...?"

"Probably." I replied with a shrug, "Information is the sharpest knife after all."

A quiet hum of agreement went through the small crowd before we all piled into the elevator, an almost unnatural silence falling as it began to lower us down to the ground floor. I wasn't exactly comfortable with silence, I didn't think any true Quarian was, but it was hard to say anything when you remembered half of the ancestors-cursed shit that we'd been told the day after we'd signed our contracts.

We'd all been a little more than annoyed when Executive Commander T'Laria had showed up. The pay and equipment may have been outstanding but the fifteen year lock-in period hadn't been, nor had the news that, if we retired before twenty years had passed, we would be expected to return all of our gear. A few of the others, mostly the younger ones, had been equally displeased to find out that they wouldn't be kept on all-Quarian units, and that they would need the Director's explicit permission before undertaking assignments from the High Elder.

The... 'presentation' that had followed had more or less blasted that clear out of our mental valleys. Helmet camera footage of... things inside of Omega's mines, similar creatures in the bowels of a Cerberus base on Carastes, and massive data-files filled with raw data, images of a thousand dead Reapers above and upon Ilos, known events believed to have been influenced by Leviathan action, and theories about possible future actions from both parties. The sheer scope of what the Blades and Greater Warlords thought was coming was...

I mean, we'd all heard the stories and warnings about the black orbs, the assertions by that crazed Human Spectre and conspiracy peddling fools that the Reapers were real and were coming... but I hadn't honestly believed in any of that. Maybe there were a handful more of giant ships like Saren's old ship, and maybe the Asari had found some ancient being that thought of itself as a god, but nothing that the galaxy couldn't muddle through.

Sederis' proclamations that total war was coming suddenly didn't seem so insane, and I felt far smarter about joining the Blades before the Lady could begin conscription of our people. I didn't doubt for a moment that active Takers would be at the top of her list.

"What's on the docket tonight?" I asked as the lift reached the ground floor, eager to find any other conversation to distract myself. "Anyone's hacks stay in place?"

"Mine did." Jure replied. "Crash alarm at midnight for the full base, so we'll want to get to bed early if we can manage it."

There was a chorus of groans as we all filed out, moving down the old stone halls, staff leaping aside and watching as we strode past them. I flicked a hand over my chest, making sure my necklace was firmly on display, and heard the others doing the same.

"A full afternoon of squad exercises," Kulo complained as we moved, two fingers running over the Krogan crest shards hanging from his belt, "And then probably a full night of running around in the dark."

"Look at it this way," I advised with mock sagacity, "Those Huntress bitches will be doing the same thing, and we get paid twice as much."

He snorted, "Keelah, Isuppose that's true."

I smirked and was more than ready to throw out a few ideas on how to mess with the stuck-up Asari who hadn't made the cut to join the elite, only for my eyes to widen as a slightly short but extremely well-dressed male moved to stand directly in our path.

His dark suit had been woven from a hideously expensive silk, and the coat wrapped around his deliciously broad shoulders was obviously real Antivan leather. The beard was a tiny little patch of white upon his chin, but he made up for it with an expansive mane that flowed past his shoulders, the white strands rustling as he smirked. A hand bearing rings upon each finger rose to his chest, tapping a small metal tab hanging from a simple cord around his neck.

The identification tag of a particularly vicious Corsair, whom the Hegemony had paid me a small fortune to deal with.

"I hate you." Jure muttered, raw jealously in her voice. "Keelah but I hate you so much."

I turned and gave her a smile that was all teeth before accelerating, my Promised openly looking me up and down as I approached.

"Halia." He cocked his head a little, "That is... a novel ensemble."

"Nole." I replied, "What did I say about greetings?"

He blinked, then the skin around his eyes darkened, his mannerisms shifting to reveal his youth. "Hal, we're in-"

I grabbed him by his coat before he could continue, hauling him up onto his toes so that I could press our mouths together. He resisted for all of a second before giving in, and I enjoyed every second of the groans and complaints from my kin around me as I reminded them just who had claimed the rich heir to the Zhakas family.

The young man was more than a little flustered when I let him, go, his flush not vanishing in the least. "Please tell me we aren't going to do the second part in public."

"Of course not, your father would kill us." I couldn't help but laugh merrily at his evident relief, "I mean, we haven't done any preparation. No advertising, no ticket sales, think of the haul we could bring in-"

He sighed and leaned up, shutting me up by virtue of pushing his skilled tongue into my mouth. I hummed in approval before turning him, allowing him to wrap an arm around my armored waist. The other Takers had continued on, and I set off after them, my future mate easily keeping pace.

"You're leaving already." His voice was low when he spoke again, our little group proceding out through the main doors.

"Unfortunately." I replied with a sigh, repeating the sound when I realized that the crowd from earlier had not diminished. Most were waiting for the official words from the Elders once the closed conference had concluded, and a few whose ancestors had been enterprising souls were selling food and drink to the waiting masses, but a sizable portion were clearly hoping to glimpse any Takers they could see.

Several other Promised quickly pushed their way through the crowds, finding their partners to spend what time they could during the short walk to the shuttle pads, a loud of amusement came when Jure's Promised simply picked her off the ground and spun her around, and when she tried to launch into an embarrassed tirade, he simply dipped her nearly horizontal and kissed her deeply. Others were far more demure than she and I, simply speaking quietly or exchanging quick embraces.

In contrast, those who had not yet attached themselves quickly drew the attention of young men and women eager to claim them. Kulo, inexperienced young man that he was, made the mistake of moving too close to the edges of the crowd and was promptly encircled by young women eager to ask for every detail about the Krogan that he had killed... while showing off the rich robes and scarves that teased heavily at what lay beneath.

I smirked a little, entirely content to leave him to his fate. "I do have scheduled leave in two weeks, three days in Asariel, we're getting a rest before our live-fire mission."

"Truly?" He perked up at that. "I don't believe that I have any plans... perhaps I should reserve a floor at the Garden. Perhaps a massage artist from the bordello your Blades own in the city would do as well."

The lustful groan at the idea came out before I could prevent it. "I will be there, and I will kill anyone who tries to stop me."

Nole'Zhakas laughed and smiled, clearly beyond happy that he could please me so easily. I didn't mind the enthusiasm much, finding a Promised eight years younger certainly came with some advantages. It was like having a little Varren pup around, hanging on your every word and almost desperate to maintain your approval.

His pace slowed a bit as we drew nearer to the elevated shuttle platform ahead, the vehicles themselves descending slowly through the cleared paths in the hive that as home. "Can you tell me what the meeting was about?"

"No." I replied flatly, shaking my head, "You'll find out soon enough, and you know better."

He frowned a little at my blunt refusal, then sighed and shook his head. "Sorry, father insisted I ask."

I mewled and shrugged, accepting the apology. The disadvantage of picking the son of the fifth richest man in the District was having to deal with the fifth richest man in the District. He was always looking for more information, more influence, more ways to expand his businesses. The oaf hadn't taken the news of my new employment well, and would likely take the news that the Blades were expanding into the city proper even worse.

Killing him would be in extremely poor taste... and if I was being realistic, Nole wasn't anywhere close to ready to run the various interests... but it had become extremely temping after Nole had told me that his father had broached the idea of him leaving me for a 'more appropriate Taker'.

"Halia..." His voice was low when I growled, glaring at nothing in particular. "Please don't, I'm not going to give your trophy back or anything so stupid."

"Of course not, I wouldn't let you." My nose flared as I let out a sharp exhalation. The Promised simply didn't leave their Takers, not unless some rather extreme circumstances occurred. It just wasn't done. "But if that fat keshin implies anything the next time I see him I'll-"

Nole sighed and leaned over, his sharp canines pricking at my jaw. "I know, I warned him."

I growled a little, not at all assuaged. "If he thinks that money matters more than tradition and pride he is-"

It was his turn to grab my neck, stopping us both in place as he pulled me into another moment of passion. I allowed myself to relax after a few seconds and return the affection, and we only separated when I heard Jure shouting at me that it was time to leave.

"Two weeks." I informed him as he reluctantly let go of me, "Massage artist, a full suite. One with an ocean view."

"I'll be there." He promised, stepping back.

I nodded, turned to leave, and then shook my head sharply and dropped to a knee to undo the anklet wrapped around my right calf. Nole gaped as he caught the small string and the collection of Vorcha teeth, his mouth opening and closing in shock.

"For your loyalty." I told him as I narrowed my eyes. "And I expect it back, those were all armored veterans with those stupid flamethrowers."

The young man simply stared at me, then shook his head and bowed as low as he could at the waist, clutching the small thing to his chest as he did. My expression softened a little, and I smiled as I turned and strode up the stairs, finding Jure holding the shuttle's hatch open for me.

"You are impossible." She informed me as I stepped into the shuttle. "Seriously, two Trophies? I thought the kid was going to have a heart attack."

"Adorable, wasn't it?" I grinned as I found an open seat near the front, confirming with a glance that Kulo wasn't present. "Kulo?"

"Probably being dragged to a bed as we speak." She replied, moving to collapse beside me as the shuttle's engines thrummed their way up to full power. "Hope the fun he has is worth it when the instructors shave him tomorrow."

I laughed and settled back, kicking my left leg up to remove my remaining anklet. I'd probably weave the teeth in with the tags around my throat until I got the other one back... or maybe I'd be able to find replacements.

"Our first mission," I asked, "Pirate hunting?"

"Consortium tried to put a hit on the... on our people on Novgorod." She replied, "So even better than pirate hunting, slaver hunting. We get through two weeks of training, we can go have some fun."

Two weeks of training... then three days in a full-floor suite with a young man who would be desperate to please me in every way I could desire, probably along with an Asari capable of working out the aches and pains from months of training, and I'd be following that up with a lovely little jaunt into the Traverse to kill pirates and slavers.

Possible doom of the galaxy notwithstanding... I was living the good life.

Thought this might be a fun little snippet. Not much plot relevance in terms of the main story, but it works to cement the 'super-celebrity' status of Trophy Takers in the Old District, and provides a few other glimpses into their culture.

I don't really have a set chapter length in mind, so expect them to bounce around considerably as I find the motivation to turn these out. Next chapter will be from the Lady Warlord's pov as she handles a conversation with her sister, and makes a deal with Aria.

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat