Chapter 2
The Contract
Crowds of people, human and alien alike were as much of cover as they were in the way as Ty ran, bumping into them and trying to dodge through with the Cerberus officers hot on his tale and C-Sec starting to mobilize. His eyes scanned the areas looking for anywhere to give the officers a slip but found none as he saw red and blue lights on his side and a few Turian's wearing C-Sec armor getting their guns ready. Maybe C-Sec would get them off his tail or maybe they would chase him. He wasn't sure; all he knew was to keep his legs moving.
As he turned a corner he almost ran into a crate that was in his immediate way making him have to vault over it using his left hand to push his momentum up to jump it. He swung his legs over the crate and used his right hand to push him forward back onto his feet into a full sprint without losing his speed. As Ty looked back after getting more than a few steps away from the crate he saw one Cerberus officer take the crate to the gut while the other dodged to the side and stayed on his tail.
The warrior turned his head to face forward only to slam into another human which knocked him to the ground and made him roll to a stop at the Avina terminal near where Captain Bailey was. "Hey! Watch it!" The woman grumbled. Ty glanced up to respond but his words stopped before forming as he saw a woman who looked like Commander Shepard.
Before he could comment he saw that the other Cerberus officer was only a few yards away. "Damn them." He muttered as he scrambled to his feet and jumped over the guard rail.
"Hey, wait a minute!" The woman yelled at him.
Ty landed on the ground and used his momentum to roll and continue up into a run. There was no way it was Shepard no matter how similar they looked, it was just someone of close resemblance since Shepard wasn't due for another month or so, Ty thought as he ran, and if it was she probably wanted to arrest me, that's Alliance for you.
The former mercenary got to the docking station and hopped on his space bike, as it powered up he saw a Cerberus officer with C-Sec on his tail come around the corner. He gave the Cerberus officer the finger and took off. His full mask came out from his hoodie and without delay he started flying fast and hard to the mass relay before C-Sec would catch wind it was him. "Plot destination." His VI said.
"Omega."
"Destination chosen, prepare for a mass jump."
He closed in on the relay and set his bikes navigation to "relay hopping" as he put it before he hit the relay. Relay hopping was something he had experimented on when he started making his space bike. Because of how small it was he was able to navigate it to land exactly where he would need to enter the next relay at which would send him to the next and next until he finally reached his destination within minutes. As he accelerated he prepared himself for the relay hop since it had a way of making him a bit lightheaded, he shot forward through the relay allowing him to jump all the way to Omega Nebula. "Jump successful." His V.I. informed.
Ty flew to the forsaken rock known as Omega not entirely excited to be back since last he heard the mercenary groups were all causing a ruckus which meant Suns would be everywhere. After guiding his bike into his docking bay he shut his bike down and got off. His mask retracted itself as he made his way down the hall where he was met by one of Aria's Batarian guards. "You have a lot of balls coming back here Ty. The last time you were here you and the Blue Suns shot this place up." The Batarian named Moklan said.
His words made the former mercenary furrow his brow in agitation. He had spent his time defending Omega, not destroying it. The Suns were the ones who had taken pleasure in destruction while they were hunting for him. "The Blue Suns were the ones who shot everything to shit. Every shot I fired hit them and I didn't kill civilians like them so take up that bullshit with Tarak or the other assholes." Ty said not holding back his disgust for them.
Moklan smirked a little, a smirk the human had become all too familiar with. It meant things were either about to heat up or he was going to try and get under his skin. "He still wants you dead you know and it's a pretty hefty reward."
Yeah, he had heard about that from all the bounty hunters who tried to cash him in. He was pretty sure it was higher now than it was after the twelfth bounty hunter had failed six months back, but if Moklan wanted a fight then he was going to give him one. "Listen; if Aria wants to talk to me then I'll go see her. If not, leave me alone. I'm not here for trouble and if you decide to cause some with me," Ty pulled out one of his tomahawks out quickly and continued, "I'll put you down faster than you can say 'humans are a blight to Galactic purity,' understand?"
The Batarian smiled. He was just getting under his skin to see him get riled up. The purple eyed man didn't dislike Moklan; he just distrusted him after the incident years back when he left Ty and Grizz to fight off thirty mercenaries because he was going to 'flank' them. By the time he did the pair were executing the remaining mercenaries. "Aria wants to speak with you then you can do whatever you want. Cause trouble and we'll put you down."
Ty nodded and followed Moklan to the club. He had learned long ago not to keep Aria waiting if he didn't want to be dragged there. They passed the line of people trying to get into the club. A human was at the front of the line complaining about getting in because Aria apparently was "expecting" him. The former mercenary rolled his eyes and kept walking with the Batarian, most people had tried that but there weren't many people who Aria was expecting and most she was expecting were either hit contracts or people like him.
They got through the doors and continued walking down the last hall until the last set of doors opened and the music sound waves started hitting them. Afterlife, great. Moklan stopped and looked at him as he pointed to the bar area. "You may want to take the long way around. The Blue Suns are recruiting over there."
That meant seeing Anto but Anto wouldn't kill him, the Blue Suns would try. "Thanks for the info." He said with a nod.
Ty walked the long way to the stairs up to Aria but as he got there he passed Anto who just glared at him, all four eyes boring into his two. The purple eyed man had earned it but he also didn't like the Batarian as much as the Pirate Queen did so he didn't care too much, "Hey Anto, no hard feelings right?" Ty asked with a smirk.
Anto gritted his teeth. "Fuck you Ty, go talk to Aria."
"Hey it wasn't my fault, she came onto me…Besides, last time I checked Batarian and human couples don't work." He made it in front of Aria who was sitting down reading a data-pad. "So Aria, how you been?"
"Ty, it's been a long time." Aria stated as she finished with her data-pad and handed it to one of her guards. She was now giving him her full attention. "Do you plan on making Omega a warzone again?"
It wasn't his fault that Ortega district got blown to hell, yes the Suns were hunting him in particular but they blew it up with a damn gunship, he just shot it down and protected civilians. "Isn't it already? By what I hear some merc groups are tearing this place up?"
Aria motioned him to sit down and he sat adjacent to her. "They're tearing it up because of Archangel. Now, what is your business this time on Omega?"
"I received a call from someone to meet them here so here I am. I don't know what she wants or who she is but she apparently knows me."
Aria's smirk was a knowing smirk though he wasn't sure if it was because of their history or because she knew who he was talking about. "You always have had your way with attracting women. I did notice a new human had showed up, she's downstairs. You may like her, I heard she's cute."
"They have to have a personality too, not just looks. You know that. Anything else you wanted to know? I don't plan on staying long or being back here for a while."
"Look after yourself Ty."
"I usually do." Ty said as he stood up.
"Oh and remember that you're always welcome here and if you are ever looking for company…well let's just say I'm always available for you." The Pirate Queen said with a hungry smile.
Ty stopped himself as a smile worked his way to his lips. "Is that your way of asking to meld with me again?" He asked with his smile as he looked at her
She gave him a look he knew too well, she wanted more than what she would say out loud in the company of others. "Maybe. Think about it when you have time. The offer is always there."
"I'll keep it in mind, besides I'm sure you'll find some way to get me to owe you one."
Aria nodded. "At least you know. Just remember that I'm always watching you."
"I hope you enjoy that. See you, Aria."
Ty walked down from the stairs and then down to the doors below Aria and finally through to the bottom part of the nightclub. The music had changed as he got down there and began searching for whoever it was trying to contact him. He looked at the booths and made sure to avoid the Blue Sun that was sitting down within this part of the club when he noticed a cute woman that really reminded him of his friend Haley in the corner. She looked to be younger than Haley though not by much since she seemed to be in her twenties.
She had long black hair and appeared to be five foot three with the heels on and probably five foot one without. Her choice of outfit was a dark purple spaghetti string tank top and a black skirt with black heels. She, like Haley, seemed to take good care of herself though her body wasn't as finely toned as his friends had been, but she still had some defined muscles.
She seemed nervous though sitting in the booth but as soon as she made eye contact with him she perked up a bit and waved him over. He made his way over and sat down in her booth and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"She was right, you really do stand out. I'm sorry, where are my manors, I'm Jessica. You helped my friend out, her name was Haley. Do you remember her?"
Ty thought for a second about Haley and remembered the good times, there was a lot of fighting against Blue Suns in that time period but she and him had formed a great friendship during that time. "Yeah I remember her. She was in trouble with the Blue Suns and I gave her shelter while I killed off the guys who were hunting her."
"Yep that's her; she also mentioned that you two did more than just hang around." Jessica said with a knowing smile.
He allowed a small smirk form. It was true, they had done more than that in the year and a half they spent together, but despite how good it was they parted ways which was what they both had wanted though they held strong feelings for each other still. "Yeah that's true…alright Jessica, what's this about?"
Jessica took a deep breath and let it out; obviously she wasn't used to what was going on. She was completely innocent to the ways of the life he had grown up in. He inwardly smiled, he was happy that there were people who had the innocent childhood and teenage years he never had.
"Okay, me and Haley are more than friends and she told me if anything ever happened to her to go to the Citadel and give the bartender my number to give to you. The thing is I haven't heard from her in a week which isn't like her since we talked every day. I'm worried about her and I was hoping you'd go check on her."
Shit, sounds like Tarak might have looked for her. Damn it! The warrior looked around and saw the Sun sitting close by then looked back to Jessica. "Do you have a way to get home or did you taxi here on another ship?"
"Taxied, why?"
Ty stood up. "You need to come with me then, this place isn't safe for you to be seen with me and we'll talk about this in a safer place. I don't want the Suns hunting you next." He helped Jessica out of the booth. "One thing before we go, I need you to trust me completely so if there's trouble you'll follow my lead no matter what. Do I have your trust?"
Jessica nodded. "Haley trusted you with her life and so do I."
"Alright, let's go."
The purple eyed man walked with her back to his bike watching for anyone Suns or mercenary related until they reached their destination. A healthy paranoia was a good thing sometimes and had stopped more than a few incidents from happening. Once they were at his bike, he opened his small storage compartment where he kept an extra set of black clamdiggers and ammo and grabbed out his spare breather mask. He got onto his bike and handed her the spare breather mask. "Wear this. We're going to hit the relay and go to my place where it's safe."
Jessica put the mask on and got on with him. "This bike is safe right?" She asked with the mask distorting her voice a little. Not the first time a passenger had asked him that but every time had brought a smile to his face because he always wanted to respond about how it had only shut down mid relay jump a few times, right now wasn't the time for that. He needed her trust and saying that would not bolster confidence. "Yes, built it myself and have been riding it for a few years now. Trust me, you're safe."
"I trust you."
Ty's mask activated as he started his space bike up and lifted off the ground. He headed for the relay. "Plot destination please, Mr. Rhoddy."
"Home."
"Destination chosen, prepare for a mass jump."
The warrior relay hopped his way back to his home system and to the space station that was his home. "Jump successful."
As Ty approached he sent the activation codes to the docking bay on the station to get the doors open. The docking doors opened allowing him to fly in and land. As he landed he took notice that the bikes belonging to his father and brother weren't there. Hmm, they must be out finding Blue Suns. That was basically their occupation now, Blue Sun hunters.
He got off and his mask retracted, Jessica took hers off and gave it back to him to put back in the storage compartment on the back of his bike. "This is your home?" Jessica asked while looking around at the big room which got turned into a garage by Ty and his family.
Ty nodded as he motioned her to follow him. "Yeah me, my dad and brother live here. Used to belong to some biotic extremists who…well, Haley probably told you what happened." He said as he started walking to the door that led into the main room.
It was a big facility that had been converted into a home by Ty and his family, they broke down certain walls and built others elsewhere so it would have a kitchen, living room and about fourteen bedrooms in case they found someone who needed a place to stay and rejuvenate but couldn't in a normal fashion because of mercs, gangs or the Alliance. It was a well decorated place and had all the living necessities and felt like a home, they thought of it as a home as well but sometimes they all dreamed they'd be able to live planet side someday…juvenile fantasy but one that crossed their thoughts once in a while.
Jessica caught up behind him. "Actually she didn't. She said you didn't like your secrets being spread around so she didn't say anything. She said you were a mysterious guy but also a real charmer, you hated the Blue Suns and were willing to do anything to hurt them but that's all she told me." Ty rounded the corner and walked through the living room as he changed direction for his room. "Whoa, big place. How'd you guys come by this?"
"Took it from some biotic extremists that threatened the wrong person. It's a nice place to relax but none of us really do." He hit the green hologram on his door and it opened letting them both walk in. "Make yourself at home, sit where you feel comfortable."
The woman sat down in a plush chair while he took his sniper, pistols and tomahawks off and put them on a shelf. He took his hood off. "Alright so you haven't heard from Haley in a week and she told you if something would ever happen to her to find me right?"
"Yes, she said that it probably wouldn't happen because you took out all the Blue Suns hunting her but she said someone might still come after her from them."
Ty sat on his bed and crossed his legs. "I hope she's alright, the Blue Suns that were hunting her are all dead but Tarak might of heard I was helping her and sent people to get her."
"What happened with you and the Blue Suns?"
Despite how bad things got, the purple eyed man forced a smirk so he didn't drown her with his own problems. What didn't happen? Killing innocents was a normal day for them. "Bunch of assholes is what they are. I had worked with them for a while and it didn't turn out how they thought and now they are hunting me just like the Alliance."
"Wait, the Alliance is hunting you?"
Oh wow, she really doesn't know who I am and my legend. Well at least some people don't know, maybe there is hope for an innocent future...right, that's never going to happen. "Yeah, I didn't do anything to them personally but my grandfather was an assassin and now I'm to be hunted and my children and their children and so on so forth...don't worry you're safe. They won't come looking for you. Where was Haley last? I'll go look there first and see what I find."
"She was on Freedoms Progress visiting her mom…do you think she'll be okay? She won't be hurt or anything right?"
"If she is whoever did it is going to die a very gruesome death. She'll be fine though, Haley can handle herself."
Jessica nodded and Ty stretched out his back, speaking of going home he probably needed to get her back to her place wherever it was unless she decided to stay in one of the spare rooms, that could be safer. "So what do you want to do? I can drop you off at your place or you can bunk here, it's your choice."
"Where would I sleep if I stayed here?"
"We've got a lot of spare rooms here so you could pick one of those."
A smile crept onto her face and what an intoxicating smile she had. It was full of mischief that could reel anyone in. Ty didn't allow himself to fall for it just yet; he had never the one to chase. "And if I didn't want to bunk in a spare room by myself?"
She's a feisty one. Reminds me a lot of Haley in a way. "We'd figure something out."
Jessica bent over and unstrapped her heels and slid her feet out of them. With her shoes off she stood up and closed the distance between them to sit next to him so their shoulders were slightly touching. She obviously was looking for a good time and believed to have found it in him. Ty looked at her with his smirk. "So I take it you want to share a bed tonight."
"Depends on if I get top or bottom and if you trust me completely. If I get top and you do then yes, if not then I'll just have to…persuade you to let me have top and trust me."
There was one thing he couldn't wrap his head around and something he didn't want to do. Wasn't she with Haley and if she was he didn't want to her to cheat on his friend with him of all people. "What about Haley?"
"She told me if I had the chance to take it with as much force needed."
Eh, sounds like Haley that's for sure and if I'm wrong then I'm a complete fucking asshole who was thinking with the wrong head. Damn it to hell, if Haley said fine then fine it is otherwise she's going to jump on my shit for not taking the chance while I had it. I'm still curious to why she would date someone who looked similar to her…ah fuck it; I'm giving myself a headache. Ty turned himself completely towards her and she did the same but she wrapped her legs around his waist and sat on his lap. He brought his omni-tool up and locked his door to prevent anyone from walking in if his brother or father returned.
Jessica made the first move by going in for the kiss though still being a bit shy about it as she gave him a long kiss. The purple eyed man rubbed his hands up and down her arms letting his hands roam neutral areas of her body for the time being to get her more comfortable. They stopped for a second with Jessica at a loss for breath. "Is this your way of making sure I go look for her?" Ty asked in a joking manor.
The raven-haired woman smiled as she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, she leaned her forehead on his and whispered, "No but you just gave me even more motivation to show you what I can do."
Their next kiss had no shy hesitation, no slow beginnings. It burned with passion and hunger even before their lips touched. Their tongues danced with each other only stopping to get each other's tank tops off. After she got his off they continued their kiss with him picking her up and laying her down on the bed and he was between her legs. Ty planted tender kisses down her neck and then down the rest of her torso eliciting slight moans and sighs when he reached certain tender spots. She had a nice well-toned body and knew her strength he soon found out when she pushed him over onto his side and got on top. She wasn't kidding about the on top thing apparently.
