Better Luck Next Time
Part 1 – A Conversation Over Drinks
Laughter rang out from the young asari, who then tilted her head and regarded her krogan companion with a smirk.
"You are contracted to kill me? So what do you think, Wrex?" Her question rang out against the steady thud of electronic music in the background.
The krogan – Wrex - sitting across her emptied his bowl of ryncol in one gulp, red eyes gleaming as he did so. Setting down the bowl, he returned the asari's smirk with a broad smile laced with sarcasm. To those who are unfamiliar with krogan body language, however, it might look like he was baring his teeth, and preparing to devour the slender blue beauty …
"Just politics at work, Aleena. Dirty secrets being covered up before they blow up in someone's face." He paused to savor the lingering sting of ryncol in his mouth. "Wonder if that's why the volus are so stuffed up. Too many things hidden in their suits," he grunted. That earned a chuckle from the asari known as Aleena. The volus – those in Council Space at least – were not exactly known for being kind and honest, virtues that were somehow never associated with wealthy bankers and businessmen. The act of ordering an assassination just fit that stereotypical image of unscrupulousness too well. The fact that they were all short and rounded was not helping either ...
"Perhaps I do happen to know too much about a particular volus … But what would you do now?" Aleena pressed on with her question. Her tone of voice was the same as before, but her smirk grew ever slightly wider. As an asari late in her maiden stage, she would never reject a good dose of excitement, especially when it involved making use of her commando training, and fighting a powerful krogan biotic. As an individual's capabilities evolve, his or her standard for "excitement" is also inadvertently raised.
She was also wary of Wrex, of course. However, if the krogan had really wanted her dead instantly, then they would not be having this conversation at all. Hence, there was no cause for alarm. For now.
"A contract is a contract, and he did promise me credits. Lots of it," Wrex answered after a moment of pause. As much as he respected the asari for her prowess in combat, there was not any other viable course of action. They were both professional mercenaries – killers –whose (mostly) solo successes had resulted in their reputation and steady trickle of clients. Such is the nature and stake of the profession they have chosen: if someone gives you an assignment that you can do, you do it or risk losing status. Nonetheless, Wrex thought, if Aleena was going down, shebetter went down in a straight-up fight. A warrior as capable as her deserves no less.
"…but, I will let you choose where to fight. Find a place where we decide our fates in a glorious battle," Wrex continued, arms spread out for dramatic effect.
An eyebrow arched up. "Oh? I know of a good place. Big enough for us to run around for days.. Uploading the coordinates to you now." She fired up her omni-tool, and, after a moment of searching, found the relevant entry for transfer. Beeping sounds from Wrex's own omni-tool caught his attention, and he accepted the data from Aleena after the automatic virus scans completed without incident. One can never be too careful in this line of work. He began to skim through the data, as Aleena spoke again.
"It's an old salarian space station. Used to be a staging area for surveys into the Terminus. Now it is just crawling with fellow mercs and pirates. No … one of consequence … will get into our way there." She meant to say "innocents", but checked herself before the word escaped her lips; youthful pride scorning at any signs of being "soft". However, looking up from his omni-tool and seeing the fleeting uncertainty in her face, Wrex nonetheless quickly caught on.
"Softie," Wrex chuckled … and composed himself instantly when deep blue eyes burn into his hide.
"Let's see if you still have the quad to say that, krogan, when I pull your hapless ass up into the air. See you in two days." Leaving Wrex with the threat, Aleena marched out of the bar with her head held high.
And she rather conveniently forgot to pay for her drinks.
"Women,"grumbled the krogan battlemaster.