Location: Heavy Freight Hauler Gallant Prize, Brekkit Orbit
Exact month unknown, 2183 (assumed)
Lasiira didn't know how long she had languished in the cells before two helmeted crew members had roughly grabbed her and dragged her into this room. Snow she gasped for breath as the Batarian tightened his vice like grip around her mangled throat and lifted her even further up the bulkhead. She struggled, futilely slapping at his armored biceps as her vision began to go blurry. With a snarl he threw her back to the floor in a heap and whirled on his subordinates.
"Someone had better give me a reasonable explanation as to why we're still orbiting this heathen cursed mudball of a planet or you'll be worse off then this filth!" He gave her a kick in the midriff for emphasis as the two officers cowered even more.
"Captain," his first officer bowed as low as he could, arms spread wide and head tilted so far to the left it was amazing he didn't snap it himself. "We've been assured by our contact on planet that the last part will be arriving within the next two days. Along with a tech who specializes in freighter drive core repair. We will be ready to jump within a week."
The Captain grinned savagely. "For both your sakes it better be or you'll wish you were as lucky as this whore by the time I'm done with you." He waved his arm in a dismissal.
"Now get out of my sight!"
Both of the officers greatfully backed out of the room. As the hatch closed he once again turned his attention back to Lasiira, all four eyes roaming up and down her ravaged body before grabbing her by the back of the neck.
His breath became fast and heavy as he began repeatedly punching her in the kidneys making her gasp in pain. Forcing her to bend over the desk he punched her in the crest, dazing her. As she struggled to regain her senses the Batarian laughed and flipped her over, bending her backwards to stare into her face and expecting to see fear and terror.
Instead the look of pure loathing and hatred gave him pause. This was a person who had not broken, would not break and, given the chance, would destroy him. She sensed his hesitation and her face split in a mocking grin.
With a roar of frustration he threw her against the bulkhead. The maiden twisted around to stare at him, unable to speak but her eyes and contemptuous smirk portrayed it all.
Ghro Xach'fer, firstborn son and heir to one of the greatest warlord clans in the Hegemony, was afraid of her.
"You will pay for that bitch!" Ghro grabbed her and threw her across the room, running across to grab her as she landed, and began to ram her repeatedly against the bulkhead.
The smirk didn't leave her face but Lasiira closed her eyes, content in the fact that the pain would soon end and she'd finally be in the embrace of the Goddess.
"I beg your forgiveness my Lord," the quiet and calm voice made him stop mid swing. Lasiira cracked her eyes open to see the ships doctor standing bowed in the doorway. His head was bent heavily to the left, eyes facing his captain properly downcast but the ones facing her flashing in concern.
"Remember who she is and what we stand to gain by keeping her alive my Lord," he soothed. "She's worth far more to us alive than dead."
Ghro grunted, reason finally grabbing hold of his enraged mind, as he let her drop to the floor.
"You're right Dharem. And forgiven for this intrusion." Ghro regained his posture and rigidly turned towards the smaller doctor who quickly moved out of the doorway. As he tried to pass to tend to Lasiira, Ghro lashed out, claws ripping into the doctor's neck and shoulder.
Dharem immediately dropped to the floor, neck tilted passively as Ghro towered over him.
"I forgave you this time vyrrum but, if you ever interrupt me again, you will wish you'd been treated as lightly as this bitch! Now clean her up!"
His position and dignity assured, the Captain stormed out. Dharem assumed his submissive pose until the hatch hissed closed before rapidly moving to Lasiira's side, making soothing sounds as he gathered her into his arms and carried her over to the bed. He hissed in anger as he ran her omni tool scanner over her body. The physical condition was terrible enough but he was far more concerned of her internal damage.
She stared back up at him, eyes wide, as her mouth formed a word that she would most probably never be able to speak again.
Why?
This was the second time the Batarian doctor had risked his Captain's wrath by intervening. First when she had her throat torn and now this.
Dharem's eyes radiated warmth as he brought his hand to her cheek and ran it up to her crest, moving in a gentle way that only someone intimately familiar with Asari would know.
"We are not all monsters like that beast that calls itself our captain," he said sadly. "The Fourth Pillar states that all life is precious and to be revered, even if not birthed by the sands of Kharshan. Strength is to be found through diversity and compassion." He sighed. "Many of my people have forgotten that tenet. But some still follow true ways"
He began humming softly as he administered medigel to her many injuries. As his hands swept across her neck she felt a sharp jerk and heard a small click from the nullifier. Lasiira's eyes widened as she was able to feel the biotic rush again.
Dherem slowly shook his head and, hidden by his body, pointed a finger to the corner behind him.
"Camera. Visual only, no audio. That seems to have stopped working at about the time I entered the room. Such a coincidence and shameful display of incompetence by the technicians." His lower eyes blinked in the Batarian version of a wink.
"Keep the collar on, and your returned biotics hidden. I beg of you for all our sakes. We have a plan to get you out but the pieces are not yet set."
Again the Maiden struggled to sound words.
Who?
Dherem patted her shoulder reassuringly. "You will learn soon enough. Now, I'm going to give you a sedative to help the healing. Also, as soon as I leave, the audio system 'error' will be found and corrected."
One last caress of her cheek and he headed for the hatch, turning back as he reached it.
"Remember Spectre Lasiira, walk in the shallows but prepare to face the rolling tide."
As the hatch closed Lasiira's eyes flickered wildly. Spectre? He knows! At least it explained Ghro's mixture of fury and fear whenever he faced her.
For the first time since her capture a new emotion bloomed. There had always been anger and a burning need to survive but now, in the darkness, she felt something more.
Hope.
Location: Transport Azure Bay, Brekkit System
April, 2183
The Asari child was once again peeking over the seat at him and, so far, her parent hadn't caught it. Erik winked and stuck his tongue out at her. The girl drew back for a moment, eyes wide in surprise, before screwing up her face and sticking out her tongue back at him. He was about to prepare a rebuttal when the child's mother noticed and tssked sharply.
"Ashanti! What has your father and I said about pestering other people!"
The girl rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Most people do not like being stared at and it is culturally considered very rude so I shouldn't do it," she droned in a perfect monotone. Erik smirked, obviously this was a common occurrence.
Any further interaction was stopped by the intercoms announcing they had arrived in Brekkit orbit. With one monkey faced, cross eyed look at the girl and a wink to the mother Erik grabbed his gear and headed for the airlock.
Four very bored looking Human Customs officers were methodically checking the passengers records and belongings and monitoring the offloading cargo. As Erik joined the line they waved the next person forward, an Elcor. The lead officer held out his hand.
"Welcome to Brekkit. Name and travel papers please."
The Elcor drew itself up and turned it's head slightly to look down at the Human. "Feigned politeness: Name is Tresan good sir and my papers are strapped to my left forearm."
The officer raised an eyebrow. "Feigned politeness? Why exactly are you feigning it?"
"Feigned innocence: Whatever do you mean. I am not feigning anything. Sarcasm: You can absolutely believe that I have genuine politeness and would never feign any emotion."
The Humans jaw dropped as he looked at his companions who were staring back at him with similar faces. "Are you for real right now?"
"Absolute certainty: I can assure you I am real. Curiosity: Are you real."
"Okay wise guy that's it!" All four officers moved towards the Elcor, including the guard monitoring the cargo.
With a quick look at his rapidly moving backside, the two cargo handlers nodded at each other and grabbed a large, heavily reinforced storage locker. Grunting with effort they ran it to the cargo lift where another worker waited with a gravity jack. Within thirty seconds the storage locker was out of sight, descending rapidly down the cargo lift.
Erik raised his hands placatingly and inserted himself between the guards and the Elcor, looping widely around the confrontation and coming from behind the guards to look like he had come from Planetside.
"Gentlemen! Perhaps I may be of assistance?" With very precise and calm movements he pulled a badge out of his pocket and flipped it open and closed dramatically. "Bjorn Bjornsson der Eriksson Nikkelsson Esquire of the Interrelation Liasion Interests and Exports Agency." He gave them a stern look. "I trust you've heard of it?"
The guards looked at each other, wide eyed, before nodding slowly. Official looking badge, official sounding name and impressive sounding agency? They were completely taken in.
"Splendid! Now my good officers; I'm sure you know that Brekkit is entertaining a bid to be the next stop of the All Elcor Rendition of Hamlet? Now good Mister Tresan here has come to inspect our facilities. How, I ask, would it look to the no doubt thousands of fans on Brekkit if their rather 'vigorous' customs enforcers derailed the entire production before it even began? It wouldn't be good would it?" He didn't give them the chance to process.
"Of course not! So, in the interests of inter-species relations and the thousands of fans anxiously awaiting his positive review of our beautiful world, I will take him to meet our representatives! Thank you for your diligent service!"
With a dramatic salute he set a course right between the Customs Guards who parted smartly, the rather bewildered Elcor trailing behind him. As they reached the passenger lifts and safely out of earshot, Erik turned towards him.
"Thanks for staying silent. That would have been a lot more difficult if you had objected or tried to be honest. Now, why are you really here?"
"Suspicion: I thank you but I'm not sure if I should trust you"
"Probably not," Erik agreed with a laugh. "But I did just save your hide from getting run in by customs and I'm fairly sure you really didn't want that."
"Resigned: No, I did not. Elcor are not known for subterfuge. Query: Are you partaking in subterfuge."
"Oh you'd better believe it my large friend! Now, given that I saw a rather interesting container being offloaded as you were entertaining the guards and given the fact that Elcor are hardly known for travelling to backwater Human Colonies I'm assuming you are either a smuggler or mercenary."
"Definitely not a smuggler," a voice rasped. The speaker came around the corner, a Volus in a rather beat up looking but heavily modified and bulky pressure suit. "He's my new muscle."
Peering up at the Human he planted his hands on his hips. "Are you here to see the beaches at Konnsgard?"
Well now, contact! Erik bowed deeply. "No but the cliffs of New Oslo are wonderful this year. Erik Hansson."
"Dib Naks. The big lump is Ril. We're your close contact backup."
Erik rubbed his hands together and grinned devilishly. "Gentlemen? This is going to be fun!"
Location: SSV Antwerp, Inbound Vector Brekkit System
April, 2183
"Well that was positively hostile!"
Lieutenant Aimee Lynn pushed herself away from the bridge communications panel and snorted in disgust as the channel switched off.
"Stupid inbred podunk backwater navy wannabes!" She raised an eyebrow at the quiet snort of amusement behind her and swiveled to face the Alliance Marine standing at attention by the Bridge Access.
"Something you would like to add El-tee?" she said sweetly.
"No ma'am!" Sebastian Shepard snapped to attention but kept the shit-eating grin on his face. "Just agreeing with the lieutenant's tactical appraisal of the local security forces."
"Of course you were Sebastian," the sultry southern voice drifted from the middle of the Bridge as Captain Sonia Vickers also swiveled towards the door. "If that tone were any sweeter ah'd reckon you'd be attractin' honey bees."
The bridge crew laughed as Sebastian drew himself up into a more dignified manner and the Captain turned away.
"Now then, what're we looking at Tacs?"
"Fairly standard system traffic ma'am," the Tactical officer returned as he threw a hologram of the system up onto the CIC plot and pointing to each signal. "One Asari Transport Liner preparing to boost out, registered as Azure Bay. Small sized transport boosting in from the far side of the ellipsis, too far for accurate IFF return, Alliance Navy surplus corvette Flag of Brekkit in standard orbit, Salarian Heavy Ore Hauler Gallant Prize also in orbit.."
He trailed off as his hands flew over the display, flicking through and enlarging the silhouette of the Hauler. The captain, noting his interest, levered herself out of her chair and headed down to the tank.
"Goin' to tell me what's got your boxers all twisted Guns?"
"Well ma'am, the whole thing seems a bit odd. Note the power distributions right here and here?" He quickly highlighted the cross section of the ship. "And look at the estimates of engine output. That things acceleration would put ours to shame! But this right here," his finger pointed directly at the main cargo hold. "That's what 'has my boxers all twisted'." He grinned. "Ma'am."
Sonia frowned as she studied the display. "I see nothin' Guns."
"Exactly!" his fingers whirled over the display and more numbers scrolled by. "Nothing at all! A freighter that size should have a huge mass ratio but this shows nothing at all! Our sensors can't get any reading on the hold which means-"
"Which means the buggers are jammin' us somehow," Sonia finished his train of thought. "Somethin' rather nefarious is happening over there. Shall we get some answers?" She turned towards Aimee.
"Comms, ring up those podunks of yours and ask what they have on it."
Forty seven agonizing minutes and three different conversations later they had their answers. The bridge crew listened as their captain ticked off the facts.
"So here we go kids. Orbital control says it's a system miner." She held up a finger.
"Customs insists it's a converted agriculture transport." She held up another finger.
"Planetary Administration goes as far as saying it's a converted refugee hauler from Eden Prime." Sh snorted as she held up a third finger, mirroring the rather unbelieving expressions of her officers. "Yeah, that one's total hogwash."
"Our esteemed Tactical Officer Burroughs," she nodded to him as she raised another finger, "is convinced our friends over there are deliberately jamming us and the output is a lot higher than our sensors let on. Which means?"
She raised her thumb, her hand now splayed out in front of her as she raised an eyebrow, inviting an answer.
"Slavers," Sebastian growled, voice low and loathing.
The hand closed into a fist. "Slavers," she replied, her voice just as angry.
"Beat to General Quarters! It's time to roll out the flag."
podunk- hillbillies or backwoods people
Badda boom. Mic Drop or, in this case, I should say pen drop. Lasiira is a Spectre. *Gasp* Anyone see that coming? Anyways, the fun is about to begin. I totally love Elcor. That whole non emotion monotone thing cracks me up. Going to have a lot of fun with good old Ril here. And don't count out his little sidekick Dib Nax either!
Total thanks to Tusken1602 for editing and advice!
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