Disclaimer: la-di-da-di-da, Bit later this one, but it happens. So there.

Chapter 4

Rakka

2 days pre-Reaper war.

Rakka was awoken by a soft pushing on his shoulder. His eyes snapped open and he turned to look up, fists clenched in case of attack, just to look into the visor of the Quarian from yesterday.

''Breakfast time.''

She turned and walked away. Rakka sat up and looked around. Several armed guards was keeping check on the prisoners, who on their part were looking intently at two crates the guards had bought in, one considerably larger than the other. A quick glance at the crowd and noticed the Turians and the Quarian looking at the smaller crate. Must be more food for the amino's then, which made sense, given the ratio of amino's to dextro's. Rakka moved closer to get a better look as the guards opened the crates to reveal packs of colourless sludge. One of the guards placed a bowel and spoon next to the amino crate, while a Turian placed a bowel and spoon next to the dextro crate. Rakka noticed a slight difference in colour between the two crates of sludge, the amino's were a slightly lighter shade of grey, probably so a cross acid incident didn't happen.

''You guys know the drill,'' The Turian guard said, almost bored, ''One pack each. No movement till we leave.'' With that the Guards left, 2 never taking their eyes off the crowd. As soon as they left, Rakka noticed the Quarian make a slight movement towards the dextro bowl, before Fenran pushed out of the way so violently, she got knocked off her feet. As he got on 1 knee to and leant out to grab the bowl, Rakka grabbed his arm and placed his leg on the softest point of a Turian elbow and applied enough pressure to make the Turian wince.

''I think it would be better manners to let the lady eat first, don't you think?'' He asked the Turian with a smile on his face, before adding more pressure. He wondered how much more the arm could take. The Turian crumbled.

''Okay, okay she can have it.''

Rakka looked at the Quarian, here face unreadable under the mask. She reached for the bowl and spoon, tentatively, like she was expecting it to bite, before snatching it and grabbing a packet before retreating. Rakka let go of the Turian, grabbing an amino packet, and kicked the bowl towards the crowd, opening his packet and scooped some out, noticing the blandness, and letting the crowd fight for the bowl behind him.

…

Several hours later, Rakka was still checking the walls for weakness, when he saw the Quarian press the wall several times and a door opened. Frowning from curiosity, as he went to where she had just been. He touched the wall, and a holographic interface popped up. Rakka was amazed by this, pushed even further until it came up: ENTER IDENTIFICATION.

Rakka entered his name, and a door opened. He went inside. It was a plain room, with basic chairs, and several cells. To his left, he saw the Quarian jump.

''Sorry for scaring you. That's a point, why did I scare you?'' Rakka said in a friendly voice.

''Nothing, just caught me unawares.'' The Quarian replied in a quiet, nervous voice.

Rakka saw her try and hide something behind her back.

''What's that? Can I have a look?'' Rakka put out his hand slowly, not wanting to appear hostile. The Quarian hesitated, before handing him a data pad. He tapped the screen and a list came up.

''Last days of summer… Hope for the hills… The story of the seaman…'' He looked up at her.

''You read?''

The Quarian nodded

''When I was put here they took away my books. Over time they gave me this datapads, and files of the books for good behaviour.''

''You had actual books? I'm guessing that wasn't on the flotilla. Are you on your pilgrimage?

The Quarian looked taken aback, before whispering like she was afraid someone would hear.

''You know of it?''

''One of my contacts used to be a Quarian who would feed me information that he found on his pilgrimage when I was on a large colony looking for a target. Speaking of crimes, why are you here?

The Quarian looked down, ashamed as far as Rakka could tell.

''I was too confident. I saw some files of prototype shielding the Asari were developing. I hacked in to the system and got up blueprints. They were flawed, but I planned to bring them back to fleet and complete them. But I made myself known. 3 hours later, they raided the building I was in, and here I am''.

Rakka thought a bit, before asking you were starving weren't you? The way you were holding your stomach. '' The Quarian nodded with earnest. ''I used to be fast enough to set up my feeding tube, and eat before Fenran got me, but he started waiting close enough to get it first. I hadn't eaten in 4 days.

Rakka thought for a while. He did a quick analysis of what he knew to this point before out bursting ''AHA!'', causing the Quarian to stumble back. ''I think I can get us out within the day. Get your datapad.''

….

''I hope this works.'' The Quarian grumbled. ''Best I can gather, the access system goes to a main server. Your datapad gets in the server, opens the gates escape. Done. Press the buttons''

The Quarian tapped her datapad. ''I'm through.''

''Before we go, what's your name?''

''Seva. Seva Vas'Terran.'' Rakka smiled. ''Rakka. Rakka Terketa. Nice knowing you.''

As if on que, the back wall raised up. More elaborate than the simple door the guards used. Probably if an execution squad needed to come in. Immediately an alarm sounded, while the prisoners looked on in shock.

Rakka did some thoughts. He remembered the plans, with various escape shuttles. He might be able to make it himself, but with the Quarian…

''FREEEDOOOM!'' He yelled as he grabbed the Quarians arm and ran for the new exit. He was aware of Kella gave a battle cry, and the stampede of the crowd.

As Rakka got through the exit, two armed Asari armed with avengers charged. He ran up to first and broke her wrist, before taking her gun, and proceeded to shoot the other in the shoulder.

''I won't kill you,'' he said as she cried in pain, ''that's their job.'' He pulled the Quarian away as the crowd got to the guard. There was several gunshots, before silence, then Kella yelled ''to the engine room.''

45 minutes later, and Rakka was still walking around, Quarian in tow. There were sounds of violence all around as more prisoners were released by the others. As they passed a room, he stopped. There was his coat, and a gym bag of books. The Quarian gasped in delight and picked up the bag. Rakka took the bag off her, and slung it over his shoulder. ''I'm stronger it'll help us move faster.'' As if on que an alarm began blaring: ENGINE MELTDOWN. DETONATION IN APPROXIMATLY 10 MINUITES AND COUNTING.

''Well, we better move fast'' Rakka muttered before breaking into a light jog. As they reached the escape shuttles, most of which were destroyed or left, leaving 1 behind, two Asari were fighting a brutal battle. Rakka identified them as Kella and Mati. Mati noticed Rakka, and gasped in surprise, allowing Kella to kick her to the ground and began to bioticallty charged her fist. Rakka almost casually shot her in the head, before pointing the gun at the spectre.

''You have 2 choices. I kill you now, and me and the Quarian leave. 2. You come with us to the Citadel, wipe my name from records, and probably get drinks. Which is it'' He extended his left hand, and pointed the gun at her with the other. ''Well?''

The Asari looked breathless in disbelief. She took his hand,

''Smart girl. We'll be there in about a day. Let's go.''

With that, they entered the shuttle and set a course to the Citadel.

Author's notes: Not as refined as I would like, but was in a bit of a rush, but I like to think I got the events across. Next chapter is my first non-Rakka chapter. Until then, good bye.