The Huntress

Chapter 1

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Early one morning in a dimly lit room, Huntress Vanessia was the first to rise. Without dressing, the amethyst matron padded across the cold wooden floorboards making her way to the washroom. The floor's radiant heating did little to ease the chill seeping onto her bare feet; while the cool morning air swept over her lavender skin, tingling as it engulfed her nakedness. Unashamed of their bodies, it was commonplace for the huntresses to sleep without clothes, or barely anything at all, when they slumbered.

Resting her body against the wood frame of the next room, the veteran paused and glanced back. Three slumber pods made from the finest asari silk hung suspended above the floor. Looking at her three sleeping commandos and seeing them snuggled tightly within their exquisite pods was a pure delight to the matron. Tucked inside each of the two smaller pods, which closely resembled hammocks, were her two junior huntresses; blissfully asleep. Across from them, but not far, was a larger duo pod. From outside the double sized cocoon, Vanessia could see every outline of Contessa's voluptuous body as she slept. A sudden urge tempted the huntress to return to her lover's warm cerulean body, but after releasing a deep sigh, the squad leader knew there was work to be done before the team woke.

Diffused amber lighting rising from the floor cast a soft shadow onto the lower section of the white walls giving off a warm peaceful glow. Asari and huntresses alike took their serene sleeping chambers seriously. Humans often referred to these rooms as minimalist infused feng shui. These quarters were often bare with little to no furniture, but still managed to envelop one with a sense of comfort. Some less ethereal races believed the architectural world have dismissed this notion and said it was merely the curved ceilings that reminded the asari of their mother's womb.

Leaning her head against the frame, Vanessia paused and listened to her sleeping beauties. Closing her eyes the captain absorbed the soothing sound of their slow breaths, savoring the sweet music. To the group's protector the rhythmic melody meant her team, her squad of beloved huntresses who had become her chosen family; were safe, sound, and within her reach. Overflowing with joy from the moment, the veteran pushed herself off the wall and continued to pad her way into the lavatory; a bright smile beaming across her face.

Once showered and dressed in her dark blue leathers, the roused huntress made her way to the open kitchen to make some tea. After pouring herself a cup of morning delight, the poppa bear of the squad put on a pot of kaffe for her team. Settling in at the apartment's main table, Vanessia opened her console and connected to the extranet. Slowly stirring her beverage, the amethyst captain patiently waited for the day's orders to appear. Anxious thoughts which had been persistently simmering in the back of the huntress's mind vied for her attention as she watched the holographic screen load.

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"We have entered the docking station. Five minutes 'til I land this bird." A turian male's vibrating voice announced over the craft's speaker system.

When boarding the small dirty shuttle that had been pre-arranged by the Asari Republics, Vanessia had noticed the outer hull had major dents and most of the windows were blacked out. A veteran of the smuggling scene, the name of the tin can also had been scratched out or covered up several times. The experienced huntress was sure it had originally been named after some turian bird or small battle on Palaven. The rusting airship, which was barely big enough to transport 20 people, had five rows of seating: two occupants per side; and even though the cushions were nicer than expected, the ships sole occupants opted to sit in the back where cargo was typically stored.

Kicking the shuttle's floor as if it had personally insulted her, the youngest asari vented, "I just don't understand why we are here?"

Piping up, even though she already heard the reason back on Ilium, Huntress Shayla extended her flattened blue topaz colored hands and asked, "The Matriarchy really didn't say why?"

Wishing she had the answers to calm her excessively nervous team, Vanessia stole a glance in her lover's direction as the engines flared up. "I was told, as soon as it becomes available, more information would be provided."

Worried, the youngest maiden snapped, as her typically vibrant cobalt skin seemed to be turning a dull shade of beryl, "This is madness, why are we here? All we're going to find is trouble."

"Aleris is right. We don't even know if it's a business, a gang or hell, even one person," exclaimed the normally docile maiden.

In a somber tone she regretted having to use, the senior asari disclosed, "I know." A brief exchange of glances occurred between the lavender captain and her cerulean commander as both matrons sat and listened.

Slamming her fist against the bulkhead of the small tanker, the junior commando contested, "We don't even have the target's name?"

The crashing sound of the shuttle making connection with the docking station silenced the seasoned huntress' reply, but all read her mouth as she lipped, "No."

Vanessia had been very clear this morning on what little information she had been given:

"The report says a settlement that was initially thought to have suffered losses from a natural disaster had in fact, been the victim of a planned attack. Investigators made the discovery once rescue and relief efforts were underway. Evidence was found on the planet that indicated the catastrophic event was possibly a trial run for a larger scale attack. Our orders from the Matriarchy are explicit: find and stop this organization from doing it again – at all costs."

"Basically the asari government is sending us in now because the situation is that desperate and all other measures have failed," added Contessa in support of her leader.

The youngest asari who was ready to kill anything excitedly announced, "So they are calling in the big guns now!" Looking over at the weapons crate Shayla had her feet propped up on, "I don't care what it is, as long as I get to finally shoot something," glancing sideways at the privy asari Aleris bragged, "…dead preferably."

Contessa spoke in a steady and factual tone, "Like the captain said, 'we are to close any and all possible leaks as well; no matter the consequences or casualties.' This kind of technology cannot get released onto the black market."

After the shuttle landed, the typically boisterous maiden was anything but eager to get off the space ferrying vessel. Seeing her young recruit's face paling even further, Vanessia set down a medium sized duffle bag that she had not let go of since leaving the apartment, and moved closer to Aleris, offering her assurance, "I know you don't like being here."

"But here? Why did we have to come here?" choked the youngest maiden now fading into a even brighter shade of green.

The craft's door slammed hard to the ground with a thud. Stench from outside instantly filled the hull. The ship's turian captain yelled in a short but authoritative tone, "This is your stop ladies."

Even though the asari considered themselves mono-gendered, it often irked them to be referred to as women. Especially since few races had more respect for their opposite sex other than being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. Focusing solely on a smooth exit, the eldest pureblood let the comment pass without warning.

Vanessia watched as the brute of a pilot dragged out their one and only piece of cargo off the small shuttle, a large wooden box marked fragile. Of course, the turian smuggler was clearly beyond warning labels as he struggled with the crate, finally completing its journey by kicking it to the dock. The seasoned commando disgusted with the space pirate's pathetic disregard for their belongings quipped, "Good thing I packed the detonator separately."

The large avian man backed away rather quickly before frowning at the huntress when she did not move. Had the pilot looked inside, he would have seen a military grade crate with a top secret access code and probably wet himself knowing it had been aboard his vessel. Motioning for Aleris and Shayla to move the large chest further down the pier, Vanessia turned back around to see the pilot boarding his craft.

Stopping just before disappearing out of site, the scarred face avian twisted around and looking directly at the squad leader repeated his earlier demand, "Remember, this landing never happened."

A simple nod from the senior commando affirmed his concern for secrecy. In a tone customarily heard for those the asari had a disliking for, Vanessia responded with a smart ass comment, "Yeah, yeah, I know I can't file a baggage claim for damaged goods."

The uncaring turian shrugged his shoulders then exhaled, "Whatever," before returning to his ship and taking off.

Seeing her lover softly drop the case housing her sniper rifle on the ground at her feet, the captain walked forward as her maidens set down the somewhat heavy carton next to the privy asari. Now that her team and cargo were completely off the landing pad, the asari captain turned to an even more distraught lieutenant, and began to affectionately rub her arms, as if to warm her up. The matron reassured, "Aleris, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you while we are here." Swallowing hard, Vanessia looked at her lover with an expression more hopeful than she felt, "Omega's mistress won't even know we're on her station."