Yeah, a new chapter. I'm hoping that I'll keep on updating at a fast pace, but you never know when something might come up. Anyway, this chapter is aimed at diving more into the "story." That means no fluffy stuff .(For Now!)
Disclaimer: No, Mass Effect is not mine. )
Chapter 2: Sadistic
Chellick sighed as he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, exhausted from the argument with Pallin earlier that day. It had probably been hours since he had done anything, but that didn't mean there was nothing to do.
Right now, Chellick needed some rest. He didn't know if the sleepiness was genuine, or if it was just the drugs. Probably the drugs. Suddenly, an unforgiving alarm rose from his wrist, and the startled turian nearly fell out of his chair.
He fumbled with his omni-tool until finally finding the source. If turians could raise an eyebrow, he would've, as it appeared as if he had received an email from Pallin. It was common knowledge he disliked talking quite vigorously.
"Chellick, something urgent has happened. Meet me in the Bridge, conference room 3. Don't tell anyone. Go Now."
Chellick read the email over again a couple times over again. He scratched his chin, contemplating what Pallin was playing at. The message gave him no information. It wasn't like him to pull something like this, in fact, it seemed like the total opposite of what he usually did. What did he want him to do, just waltz out of the academy?
Chellick decided to trust Pallin, as this must be extremely important to send him a message. Chellick put his hand on his desk and began to pull himself up. His legs detested furiously, and searing pain ripped through his flesh. Chellick was beginning to regret taking the drugs, as the scowl on his showed. "Dammit Pallin," Chellick muttered under his breath as he managed to drag himself out of his office.
For a second time in a day, Thera was walking through the park, and basking in the sun. It had truly been the day of her life.
"Detective Thera," she chirped to herself, for the hundredth time. It was catchy. It was at that moment when the happy young woman looked back on how far she had come. She had gone for a swim in the deep end of the pool only years ago, but had already made it back. It had almost been too easy.
Thera cringed at the idea that she had cheated. She hadn't really. Through her "work," Thera had managed to make quite a few powerful friends. They had been more than happy to pull a few strings to make it easier for her to scramble to the top. She had deserved it though, for all she had done.
Reality all but destroyed Thera's moment of deep thought like a stone through glass. Terror welded her to the ground, and she tried desperately not to cry. There was no mistaking it. The asari in front of Thera was definitely her.
All happiness wiped clean of her face, Thera cautiously made her way towards the tall asari that was on the bench, seemingly lost in a book. Moments before she had been hugging turians for god sake. Now, the day seemed to be starting its long, dreadful spiral downwards. As soon as she stood in front of the asari, an icy set of eyes met her own. An all too familiar shiver ran along her spine. She could never get used to those eyes.
"Greetings Thera," the asari said, her words seeming to be sweet as candy, even though her trained ears could hear the bitter aftertaste. Thera reminded herself not to show any weaknesses now, she would not allow her enemy the upper hand. Not anymore.
"Greetings Karisha," she managed to spit out, her rage eating away at her mind and soul. The beautiful asari put stuffed her book into the purse hanging at her side and stood up to her full height, becoming a couple inches taller than the human in front of her. Without another word, the asari
bobbed her head to the right, signaling Thera to follow. She started off, with no words said between them.
When they were alone on their walk, Thera decided to find out what the hell was going on. She wanted answers.
"So Thera, what are you doing out of the Academy? I do believe you don't leave work until eight," Karisha said, interrupted her thoughts. Thera sped up then spun around, grabbing the colar of Karisha's shirt and pulling the asari's face down until they were face to face. That took Karisha by surprise, if only for a second.
"What the hell do you want with me?" snarled Thera, her eyes filled with hatred. She wasn't weak anymore, and she would show her that.
"I have nothing left to give you, I've done everything that I needed to."
Karyisha brushed Thera's hands off her, and a sly smile slithered across her face.
"Oh but Thera, you owe me everything," Karyisha leaned in towards the other woman's face, her words dripping with venom. "You'd be dead if I hadn't saved you, or worse."
Thera did not need to be reminded at her past, it already haunted her. It was true, If Karisha hadn't shone her the light, Thera would have never made it out of the pit. She had done a lot to pay Karisha back, but nothing could ever really be given to repay her. She just sometimes wished the asari would stop coming into her life though. It too easily reminded her of the past.
Thera looked away and bit her upper lip before making her decision. Her jobs always made her feel like an item, but some training never did hurt. She turned back to the asari, her face filled with untold amounts of grief and tension.
"What do you want."
As the two women rounded the corner of a street in the back wards, they saw the alley they had been looking for. Back towards the end of the alley was a side door that led into their destination. Two guards stood on the outside, one a bulky human, and the other was a fierce looking turian. Immediately upon seeing Karisha and Thera, the bouncers stepped to the sides and opened the jet black double doors. They were inside.
Thera breathed in the familiar odor of cologne, perfume, and great food. She had found that it was a rather exotic scent. Above them was a modern neon-violet sign that gleamed the words of the back-water restaurant: THE BRIDGE.
The Bridge had great food, great service, and great privacy. It was a wonder to most how it wasn't the most populated place on the citadel. The answer was actually quite simple: the patrons did not tell anyone about this. This was to keep it from being too popular, or it would lose the secrecy and unique taste of high class. Although normal people did come here, most frequenters are always here on business. The sound-proof booths and the clandestine conference rooms made it perfect for those secretive deals, shady or otherwise.
Because of the fact that this was a place for business, it would be foolish not to have varieties of delicious foods. This made it by far the most diverse restaurant in citadel space. There would always be business between races, through prosperity and through war, which means all specie's foods are essential.
An asari waitress simply stood out of the way to let the two women pass by, letting them go to their normal seat. They chose the usual booth, near the entryway. No words went between them for minutes, they just sat there in the booth, staring at nothing.
"What do you need?" asked Thera, finally deciding to drag her mind from the netherlands. She didn't have time to dick around, she might as well get this done. Karisha looked up from playing with her straw to look at Thera. She smiled, an unusually friendly one, at her companion.
"Right to the chase eh'?" asked Karisha in her near lyrical voice.
Thera rolled her eyes. She could only begin to imagine what the asari needed of her. Hopefully not something too humiliating.
"It seems as though we need some information from a certain Dr. Vouge, about a certain patent of his. We don't care how you get this information, as long as you do it with pristine accuracy. It is very important that nobody else finds out about your little 'visit' with him."
Karisha knew just as much as Thera did on her tactics on getting what she needed. It was all in how she could twist men's most primal function for her own needs. She was, of course, thinking of lust. After years of practice, one gets good at batting eyelashes.
"What is the data I need?"
"The condition of a certain patient. A Mr. Felmann. We need to know when he's going to make his recovery and get out of the hospital."
Thera's face became that of curiosity. But only briefly. She had learned long ago that questioning what the Shadow Broker wanted only meant trouble. Karisha took a purse that had been hanging at her side and rummaged around for something. After minutes, an expression of relief shone across her face, and her hands withdrew from the pouch.
She slid the objects on the table across to her; a fake I.D, and a letter. Thera eyed the letter like it was going to hurl itself up and bite her.
"Consider it our... Contract," said Karisha, easily spying Thera's suspicion. Her human friend eyed her quizzically.
"Exactly what is our contract?" Thera asked, shifting uncomfortably on the booth's leather seat.
"It shows you what more you must to do to pay off your debt."
Reluctantly, Thera picked up both items and stuffed them into a slot in her Officer's uniform. Suddenly, Karisha got off her seat and tried to see over Thera's head.
"What do you see?" asked Thera, curious of her bewildered companion.
"I think... I think I just saw Pallin!"
Chellick had finally made it to The Bridge. Even after the walking, he still could not imagine what Pallin could want. He looked around the restaurant, trying to figure out where the conference rooms were. That was another thing. Why the conference rooms? Why not just a booth? Was it really that important? A bad feeling in his gizzard made him cringe. This did not seem right. He was so caught up in his gut feeling that he hadn't noticed the waitress approaching him from the side.
"Excuse me sir, but is there something you need?" asked a rather frightened asari.
Chellick spun around, expecting someone to pull out a gun at any time. At this, the waitress jumped back. Most were not too keen on a jumpy turian with a heavy pistol.
Realizing how it was just a waitress, he calmed down.
"Sorry, I thought you were someone else. You haven't seen an officer come through here have you?" Chellick asked, anxious for some answers to his questions.
"Actually, there have been quite a few that came through," said the asari, clearly upset. "Several?" thought Chellick, more questions forming in his mind. The waitress's eyes suddenly lit up.
"There's one of them now!"
Chellick turned as fast as he could, just catching the sight of Thera disappearing down a hall to the right. "Thera, Here?!" Chellick asked himself franticly.That was the last straw. There was so many questions fogging up his head he couldn't think. He raced down towards the hall, leaving the asari in the dust. He was going to find out what was going on.
As Chellick ran down the hall, he spotted Thera's long hair going through a door. He had a hunch of which door it was. He screeched to a stop at the large door she had disappeared into. Above it read "Conference Room #3." He opened the door and rushed in, only to ram right into Thera, who had been standing just inside the doorway.
Two muffled yells were heard. Chellick had run into Thera, who in turn did the same to Pallin. Pallin did not let out any sound though. He attention was far too focused at somthing else.
"Pallin, Thera, what the hell is-," is all he managed to say before they were flattened by screams of terror. Thera dashed to the far end of the room where she got down on her knees and started sobbing, while saying incomprehensible words. Chellick discovered what had made the officer so emotional.
About the room were mangled and bloodied carcasses, they looked like they had been brutally murdered. They had been stripped of all but the most basic clothing. Pallin, went deeper into the room, dodging the bodies littered on the floor. He made his way to the end of the long conference table, where there apperared to be a heap of their clothes. Through all the clothing, Pallin picked up a number of specific articles of clothing. They were four gored and bloodstained C-Sec officers' uniforms. Chellick looked upon the room once more, the realization hitting him. He knew these people. They were all from C-Sec.