Hey hey hey, all! Seeing as my wifi at home mysteriously disappeared I am camping out at McDonalds right now posting this. …. and damn it I just realized my damn computer didn't save the end of this one! The hell?
Well I fixed it. Probably not as pretty as it used to be but I don't have much time. I really hope you enjoy it! Major thanks to Shadowmythic for the awesome review!
See ya at the end!
The next few days passed with out much of a hitch. In other words, they where boring.
Kolyat didn't speak of the night he hurriedly left my apartment after that memory relapse, and I put two and two together.
One: He didn't have an easy childhood. Judging from the memory he was bullied and kicked around at school.
Two: He enjoyed art.
For some reason that made me smile. Surly, stick in his ass, Kolyat, enjoyed art.
I headed through the doors and into the main C-SEC building, flipping Haron off as I did so; he mocked affliction.
"Tech!" he glared and then sighed. "I guess those Baterians I hired to murder you in your sleep didn't do much to help your moods..."
We stared at eachother then both burst out laughing. "Your a crazy sonova bitch, Haron."
"Not as crazy as you." he said. "By the way Bailey wants your ass, in his office."
"Why is it always my ass?" I waved him off and headed to the Captains office. Kolyat wasn't here yet and I had a feeling he was trying his best to distance himself from me.
"Captain? Wanted my ass in here again, eh?"
He waved me in and I took the available chair wondering what this was about.
"Tech, I have an opportunity for you." he started, getting right to the point. "How would you like a full scholarship to the Auxura Academy for Technology and Engineering in Tayseri ward?"
My mouth fell open. "Auxura Academy!" I repeated. "This... is a joke, right... I mean... what?"
The captain smirked. "Nah it ain't a joke. It's a one chance possibility." he said. "Now you don't have to give me an answer now but-"
"Like hell, the answers yes!" I was so giddy I couldn't contain it. Seriously I felt like jumping over the desk and giving him a rib crushing hug. That doesn't happen often.
"Alright now, calm down." he laughed as he said it. "The new semester starts next week if your certain." he said. "Didn't think you'd answer so quick." he added. "You'd be in advanced classes. After two semesters you can graduate and have a chance at becoming head of the Network division."
Head of Network Division?
"What's all this about, Bailey?" I raised my eyebrow. "I heard you offered Kolyat a position at the Academy," I said. "Now this?"
"Its all paid for by our new budget." he smiled slightly. "I owe you for that. Now I think your two would both benefit the most from these opportunities."
"Did Kolyat give you an answer yet?" I asked off hand. Bailey shook his head.
"Nah, not yet. It's a big decision though, he's got time."
There was a hiss from the the door way and Kolyat slid his tall slim frame through the door. "Bailey?" he said, his raspy voice cutting through the room.
"Hey kid, just talking to Tech." he said, he turned to me again. "You have free rein with him today, your free to go and... don't forget next week." he reminded. "Monday 10:00 Tayseri, you know the place."
"Yes, Sir." I said. "And uh, Thank you." Those where words I sparsely used.
He waved me away. "Don't mention it, kiddo."
Lesser men would be missing a limb for calling me that, Bailey was the one exception.
"What was that about?" Krios asked quietly as we left the main building. I was heading for the catwalks again.
"Bailey gave me the opportunity to attend the Auxura School of Technology and Engineering." I said conversationally, effectively hiding my excitement.
Kolyat's eyes widened. "Gods. That's... wow." he smiled slightly; so slightly I almost thought I imagined it.
"I know right? I've never been to an actually school before." I laughed slightly, he frowned.
"Not even when you where a kid?"
I shook my head but gave no audible answer. I suppose it was an odd thing.
"How where you in school?" I asked changing the subject.
Now it was his chance to fidget.
"I wasn't bad. You know they say Math is the universal language?" he said. "I failed that. Drell history was interesting, I did ok in that."
"How about Art?"
He froze up. "I was descent."
"You don't have to be ashamed that you enjoy art." I told him. "I've... dabbled a bit in it."
He raised his brow ridge. "Really?"
"Show me yours I'll show you mine." I winked and he shook his head.
He frowned slightly. "That's suggestive..."
I rolled my eyes and opened the door that lead up to the catwalks.
"Again?" he asked.
I nodded. "I'm not good at this 'community service' shit." I said. "As you could probably tell."
We walked until we reached overhead the Darkstar Lounge. I slid down to the floor and pulled out my cigarettes; Kolyat did the same.
"I wonder why Baileys suddenly offering to send me to Auxura?" I questioned out loud. "Maybe the higher-ups are asking about my qualifications."
"It's a good opportunity for you." Kolyat said simply but didn't elaborate.
I looked up from the ground. "C-SEC Academy is a good opportunity too, ya know."
He didn't say anything so I continued. "Maybe you could use that to get started and then go to school for Arts." I suggested.
"That's not practical, Tech." he growled. "What am I supposed to do with studying art, huh? You'll always have a place in cyber crap because that's relevant." he looked away. "With Art it's more of a hobby, I can't make a life on that."
"Say's who?" I hissed, my eyes narrowed. "Those punks that harassed you in school?"
He didn't meet my gaze. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Well I do!" That came out louder then expected. He looked up. "Those little bitches are probably sitting in their mother's basement watching Fornax vids all day because they have not lives themselves! If you let what they did impact your decisions in life then they've won." My eyes narrowed again. "And I hate it when bastards win."
He was silent for a long time and I had only the thud of the bass to cut the awkwardness.
"I got my love for art from...from my mother." he said shakily. "She had a studio in our house when I was a kid." he laughed slightly, but it was lost in the bass. "When I was young she used to teach me different techniques, different styles." he leaned his head back into the wall and smiled grimly. "She could find beauty in everything."
I watched him intently. "Why did you come here then?" I frowned. Why try and commit murder. I thought I knew the answer, where this was going, but I prayed silently I was wrong.
"She was murdered when I was ten."
My heart broke. Suddenly the reason for all his pain was revealed. "Kolyat...I..." Sorry didn't seem like enough. I slid over quickly and threw my arms around him.
His body tensed as if he wasn't sure what to do, then he slowly embraced me back.
"Kolyat, I'm sorry..."
He sighed slightly. "Tech... it's," he faltered. "It's alright."
"Who did it?" I frowned and leaned back from him.
He seemed uncomfortable, I was afraid he'd slip into another painful memory.
"Baterians." he muttered.
"Fucking Baterians." I growled. "Where were you?" Please tell me he didn't have to watch or something.
"At school." he breathed. "When I—got home," he closed his eyes and his face contorted.
Now, I'm not good at these kinds of situations at all but I had to try, what this kid... this man had been through was insane.
I hugged him again. "I am so... so sorry, Kolyat." I whispered. "I had no idea."
"Tech..." he moved back and looked in my eyes. Damn we're close. I could perfectly see his deep green irises and every scale in his face. "I—Thank you."
"I told you I'd listen if you ever needed to talk." Even if I was probably the last person anyone would want to talk to. Hell, I wouldn't talk to me if I had the choice.
"I guess it's only fair that I explained a bit about myself..." I sighed. This was not something I said, or even thought about often. But he deserved at least a little bit after his confession.
"I grew up on the citadel, my whole life." I sighed. How do I say this. "I was-"
"Hey!" I turned and saw a man walking towards us. The fuck? "This ain't no teen age make out spot!"
I stood up and glared. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm with the Citadel health and protection division. I'm doing the quarterly check of the catwalks. Now both of you, I suggest you high tail it out of here before I get C-SEC."
"I'm with C-SEC you fucking moron. How the hell do you think I have clearance to get up here?"
He scowled at me.
"I'm going to need some identification, miss." he said boredly.
Growling I reached in my pocket and pulled out my C-SEC Identification holo. The man eyed it warily.
"Now you best get out of my face before I take you back to the precinct on suspicious behavior." I threatened.
"Suspicious behavior?" he repeated. "You have no basis!"
I leaned closer. "I'm very persuasive." I hissed. "Now get moving!"
The man hesitated then stalked off the other way. I turned back to Kolyat who was shifting uneasily, standing against the wall. "Did it really look like we were...?" he questioned eying the ground.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes it looked like we where getting it on." his eyes when wide. "Seriously, Krios?" I checked my omni-tool. "Lets go get something to eat."
For lunch we went to the Zakera Cafe. Kolyat agreed to let me pay, after some persuasion (coffthreatningcoff). After that we walked around the ward, nothing really eventful occurred. So at 1500 hours we parted ways. Today had left me with a lot to think on.
When I got home I popped open a coke, flipped on the TV and sat in front of my terminal. Oh what a difference a week could make. I was actually going to Auxura Academy. Actually going to get a degree in what I do. Hell I could even become head of Network.
And Kolyat could be an actually officer. Personally I think he would be good at it. But if it's not his passion and his hearts not in it then there really wasn't a point.
I thought about what he'd told me today, the reason behind his sorrow; his pain.
His mother had been murdered by Baterians when he was ten.
Krios. I frowned. Thane Krios. He'd given me the means to expand my knowledge when I was small. I wondered vaguely if he still had the holo's me and Mouse had given him. Not that he'd recognize me as I am now. Amazing what some hair dye and a razor could do for looks.
I wonder what Kolyat would say if he knew I knew his father all those years ago. My eyes widened. Was that why Kolyat tried to assassinate someone? Too follow in his father's foot steps?
Looking on my console I noted a message Fak had received from a 'Sender Unknown'. What the hell, Fak?
\SENDER UNKNOWN\
:RE: SHIPMENT
|ENCRYPTION|
ÐŒ ß##Ñ#Œz ÀO—ë# TKÆ"ÔèUL·ã¦^x#;¾ # #f # ~áé„âÕS=h¼Û###'êX#®EˆÐ Ç#Ç´#Z‰¬ #€ # ¸øÙÐP)#wý#µ‰º#ÉØ`¿#x¹Ñª É(ò"úåv:P# $bËië¥Ý× Úú#R;"FéòMr|Ï™tX#O„=þ´s;÷êÒb» cØ#N§oôý#à'ªŒð¹2õ(‚2,¡Ž-LmÕ†#,´a£(ÝJÉy¤éJÞÀàå
Zï§9ÂRýö#¯GÐNuëÆÇ#'l§J#µPó¥rÒ‰8} „"Fœ:-#à# D—uj¤bÊ¡jõU#²X®øüÖ5V.W=^½ç»=Ã# ˜Pj"4®ÅY¯Eïƒå#é#]°‹ #Ç€àŸ˜äf)Œ×ð#-gês—«ÎWŽˆ#î4W€œ#Dc£¦#Ô#l¦"æÞ›#ŸÐ»ý'º¤õQ~å{ÝËzŒÝ
I frowned, then laughed slightly to myself. Encryption? Please.
A minute later the text revealed its self.
\SENDER UNKNOWN\
:RE: SHIPMENT
The shipment arrived in mint condition. Your cooperation and discretion in this matter is much appreciated. As promised the necessary funds have been transferred to your account, along with a slight bonus in good faith.
We would also appreciate if you would terminate the corresponding messages relating to this matter.
When more information becomes available, we will contact you.
My frown became deeper. "Fak you crazy SOB." I muttered. What the hell was he playing around with?
Kolyat found himself again, laying on his back, cigarette in hand, staring at his ceiling.
She was going to tell me. Then that stupid human fucked it all up.
Why the hell was this eating him so bad? She was such an enigmatic figure. Suddenly an idea struck him. She'd grown up on the Citadel her whole life.
Jumping up he wondered why he never thought of this before. As he threw on his coat he headed out the door.
He was going to pay a visit to an old friend.
I already got half of the next one done. Hope you enjoyed it guys! On to the next!