Wow, alright, that was quite a wait, eh? On the plus side this is easily the longest chapter yet, though I think the last third of the chapter isn't all that well put together, to be honest I just wanted to get this off my desk. It is a little closer to what I wanted to begin with, which is nice. So here you go, I hope there's less of a shitstorm this time.
"So we're looking for a green...giant?" Garrus asked, his voice had an electronic tang from speaking through his helmet comm. The Omega station loomed over them through the cockpit windows.
"No, it's a green robot giant." Wrex was similarly armed and armoured, he had his omni tool open and was watching the video of the two soldiers fighting the YMIR. His helmeted head bobbed and bounced gleefully as he watched. "He he, I like this one," he said, looking up at Shepard. "Can we keep him if we find him?"
Shepard raised an eyebrow, "I don't know if he's potty trained." She said dryly, "besides why would that even happen? He's a complete unknown."
Joker looked over his shoulder, "Uh, Commander, you have a habit of collecting strays." He looked back and gently swerved the ship around a small asteroid. "I mean, there's Ashley, a soldier from a completely different company." He held up his hand and ticked fingers off. "Garrus, a surly C-Sec officer. Wrex and Liara, who are just random freak'n aliens that you seem to like, and Tali, a quarian." He shrugged. "Face it Commander, you like the strange and unknown."
Garrus looked at Joker, "You think I'm surly?" He asked, "I've always seen myself as more disgruntled than anything." Joker nodded thoughtfully and tapped something into his omni tool. "Maybe grizzled too." Joker nodded again and continued typing.
Shepard frowned, "what? I don't collect strays." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Those cases all made sense," she said stubbornly. "Garrus was after Saren, and Liara was involved with Benezia. Ashley got officially reassigned and Wrex-"
"-Actually I do just like to hit stuff." Wrex put in helpfully.
Shepard sighed, "Fine, but there's absolutely no reason to think this...thing would have any reason to accompany us on our mission. In fact, the only reason we are checking it out is because that vid made it back to the alliance and the council wants me to check it out." She jabbed a finger at the other three men in the cockpit. "I do not pick up strays!" She snapped, turning heel and marching into the airlock.
The three men shared a look. "Whats wrong with her?" Wrex asked, shrugging.
"I dunno," Joker said, "But she's been on edge ever since Liara left." Omega grew closer, the station now filled the front windows. "You guys should get ready, docking in five." Wrex and Garrus followed Shepard into the airlock, "and try not to piss her off!" Joker said as they rounded the corner.
"Yeah," Wrex grunted, "Even I don't want to deal with a pissed off Shepard." Garrus chuckled lowly but wholeheartedly agreed. Shepard might not be as strong as a turian or a krogan, but regardless of the odds, she usually came out on top.
"So what are we going to do when we find him?" Garrus asked as they walked into the airlock. Shepard quickly closed her omni tool, too quickly for Garrus to see what she had been looking at, but he could guess.
"It's armour configuration and doesn't match any known players on the board," Shepard said, her previous anger was gone, replaced by a cool tone and a relaxed expression. "The council wants to know who we're dealing with and what their intentions are."
"Why send us?" Wrex asked, flexing his arms absently. "We're not exactly the B-team."
"You did see the video, right?" Shepard asked dryly.
Wrex took a breath to argue the point before clapping his jaw shut. "Fair point." He mumbled, pulling out his shotgun, "shall we?" He said with an audible grin.
Kai Leng strolled through the streets of Omega with the comfort one could only achieve by being the most dangerous thing in eyesight. The Illusive Man sent him after a vid circling the extranet. Kai was told to find them, if it was human he'd extend an offer, if not he'd eliminate the threat. Kai's hand brushed the pistol grip at his side, reassuring himself that it was still there. Killing something like that would be a challenge, he liked challenges.
Kai ducked into a back alley on the far edge of afterlife. He walked confidently to a pile of boxes and refuse and quickly dug into it. At the bottom of the pile wire bundled snaked out of the building and almost immediately sunk into the station deck. Ignoring the stench and filth, Kai seized the bundle and opened his omni-tool, tapping into it. A voice thinned by electronics filtered into the air.
"Did you hear about those Eclipse mercs?" A male voice said, turian.
"Yeah, an entire fire team plus mech backup wiped out by a two-man squad." Another man said, a batarian with a voice filled with derision. "I think they were all drunk, two people can't do that much damage."
"There was a vid, can't get a camera drunk, Garka," the turian pointed out.
"Ain't hard to fake a vid, anyone coulda done that," Garka said. "I heard that thing was seen tagging along with Renaldus, maybe old Mallus found himself a new bodyguard and he wanted to show him off." He chuckled, "must not be any good if he has to fake a vid to do it."
"I dunno," the turian said, "I've seen a few fakes on the extranet, you can always tell because of the pixels-"
Kai disconnected for the wire bundle and quickly buried it again under the trash and filth, he didn't need anyone else to know Afterlife's security was compromised and he had what he needed. A foot scuffing across the floor echoed down the alleyway. Kai's eyes snapped up to the entrance, where the dim shape of Afterlife's elcor bouncer blotted out a large portion of the incoming light. Kai quickly punched himself in the face and jumped headfirst into the filth.
"Yeah yu better ruun!" He slurred loudly, shaking his fist at the empty alley. He tried to stand, slipping in what he hoped was grease twice before he managed to acquire a wobbly balance as the bouncer got close enough to make him out. The bouncer looked down at Kai curiously.
"With stern authority; human, what are you doing?" The bouncer asked.
Kai swayed dangerously for a moment," Ah'm jus try'n t' enjoy my nithg." Some of his words were barely audible, distorted by drink as they seemed.
"With well-meaning pity; return home human, your night has gone on far too long."
Kai stumbled back a few steps. "Your face is too long!" He spat.
The bouncer took steps to loom over him. "With enraged fury; The length of my face is not of import, you will leave, now."
"Woah, woah!" Kai raised his hands defensively and stumbled away from the bouncer. "Ah'm go'n, ah'm goin'." He started walking unsteadily away, keeping the act up until he was several streets away from the club.
Kai straightened, scrubbing a layer of filth off his face and heading for his ship, his pace strong and steady. He needed a shower, and he had a lead. He brought up his omni tool and opened an extranet connection into a secure Cerberus database; he typed two words, 'Mallus Renaldus'.
Chief looked down at Mallus as they lounged in some kind of food establishment in Omega's markets. Mallus was busy devouring a plate of what seemed to be mostly a variety of different meats sliced into strips. He ate with chopsticks oddly enough, a twin surprise, not only were chopsticks in this reality, they were accepted and used by different species.
"Mmh," Mallus grinned around a mouthful for food before swallowing, "I know they're not your humans, but spirits if you folks don't make fine food." He dove back into the plate happily.
Cortana looked curiously through his helmet. "I thought turians couldn't eat human food?"
"We can't," Mallus said, gesticulating with his chopsticks. "But styles can change hands, if enough thought is made to keep everything as it should be." He went back to his plate, noisily slurping a long string of noodles. He looked sideways from his meal, "you can get something you know," he said around his noodles. "They sell levo food and some might call say you're rolling in it now, even after buying those." He nodded to the assortment of weapons and clips that they had recently bought for Chief. Some of which were apparently illegal in most 'civilised' places.
Chief shifted on the bench seat beside Mallus' stable. "I'm fine," he said. Mallus shrugged and continued his meal.
"Well, fancy seeing you here," Zo said as she and Walesh emerged from the packed crowd and sat down. Zo looked at Mallus with a soft smile. "So, how did the titanium buy go?" She asked sweetly.
Mallus froze with a mouthful of meat halfway in his mouth and shared a brief look with Chief.
Chief nodded. "It went well."
"So nothing odd, or dangerous happened that we should know about?" She asked. Mallus swallowed.
"No, not in particular," Mallus said slowly.
"Then can you explain how a vid of our friend defying physics managed to get into every omni tool in the galaxy?!" Zo snapped, slapping down a data pad with the vid of Chief deflecting the YMIR's rocket on a loop.
"It's not our fault we were attacked!" Mallus insisted. "All things involved I'd rather not get shot at but we didn't have a choice."
"And I thought we were trying to lie low with an inter-dimensional illegal alien super-soldier on board!" Zo hissed. "Not to mention River and Simon, you know what would happen to them if the wrong people-"
"-I'm aware." Mallus had stopped eating, his hands were by his sides and his body relaxed. Chief invisibly raised an eyebrow behind his visor. He'd seen that posture on Lord Hood and both of the Keyes. Mallus looked Zo in the eyes and spoke in a calm even tone, "now we got dealt a raw hand back there, no questions to it, but Simon and River are safe on the Repose and Chief is soon to be on his merry." His tone softened, he was talking to his friend now, not his subordinate. "I've got us this far Zo, don't start doubting me now."
Zo sighed, "Yes sir," She said with a smile, "never started, sir."
"Good," Mallus said, "Now we should get off this rock as soon as spirits allow. It's not safe, as my more than capable first officer has mentioned." He pushed away the plate of food stood, his Omni tool flashing briefly into existence as credits were transferred in payment. "Chief? You have all the goodies and party favors you need?"
Chief shrugged and stood, attaching the weapons to the mag-plates on his back and thigh. "I'll be fine," he said, he turned off his speakers, "Cortana?"
"I'm good, I've been integrating your new omni tool into your suit's systems. I should be able to operate it easily enough with some practise," Cortana said into his helmet, the A.I sounded tired. "It's still taxing, dealing with such odd systems."
Mallus nodded, "as talkative as ever, shall we?" He extended a hand towards the exit and brought up the rear of a rather strange line up.
Once outside, the four walked easily towards the docks and the Repose, their journey made easier by the ever-present bubble of space that surrounded Chief as he walked head and shoulders over nearly everything that wasn't an elcor.
"Wait up." Zo's voice turned the heads of the other three, she was looking at a small store tucked away in a space that seemed too small by half. "I promised River and Simon that I would get them souvenirs," She held out her elbow to Walesh, "If you would accompany me?" She asked.
"Happy to," he said brightly, "mutual consumerism important bonding activity in many cultures." He linked his arm through hers and they disappeared into the tiny shop.
"I'll wait here," Mallus called after the pair, "don't worry about it!" He chuckled and crossed his arms, leaning on the wall out of the way of the street traffic.
Chief joined him, standing straight-backed beside him with his hands clasped behind his back.
The street was packed with people, every space faring species known streamed through, most at least glancing at Chief, several stopped entirely to point and check their omnitools, looks of awe across their faces.
"Looks like you're a bit of a celebrity now," Mallus observed. "Don't let it be getting to your head, as puffed up and loud as you are." Chief looked over at him without saying anything, somehow giving the impression of a single raised eyebrow which Mallus blithely ignored. "Any thoughts to what you'll do next?" Mallus asked.
"We'll head into council space and try to find someone to help us." Cortana said. "We can petition the council if I recall correctly."
"Worse plans." Mallus nodded thoughtfully. "Though in my experience and of those I've heard, the Council is not one for expedient decisions." He scratched his chin. "Seems far fetched, in truth, trying to jump across dimensions or alternate realities and othersuch. Might not be possible." he looked sideways at Chief, the big spartan still looked straight ahead at the swirling crowds. "You know…" Mallus started, "you're welcome to stay here, it's not such a bad life, our is. Certainly worse." He added
Chief glanced over at Mallus. "We got here," he said. "We can get back."
Mallus shrugged, "Can't be arguing that logic." He sighed, "ah well, offer's on the table is all."
Chief locked eyes with Mallus, or at least Mallus thought he did, it was hard to tell.
"I appreciate the offer." He said, it seemed genuine enough, thought he didn't say it with any change in tone or inflection.
"Wow," Cortana said in Chief's ear, "Two full sentences in less than an hour, you are touched." Chief could almost hear the wry grin.
After another handful of silent moments Zo and Walesh came out of the shop still locked together at the elbow, each carried a bag in their free hand.
"Did you get what you needed?" Mallus asked as they made off for the docks together.
"Indeed," Walesh said. "Many options for purchasing, was a little out of my depth however, as I am neither human nor female, did not know what would be best for gift."
"Which is why I chose both of them." Zo said, "Neither of them would want any kind of reptilian figurines." She rolled her eyes, "Spirits knows why you do." Walesh freed his hand and dug into the bag he carried, pulling out a small plastic replica of an ancient earth creature with odd plates sticking out along its back. He looked up at Mallus and smiled.
"Congratulations?" Mallus said uncertainly. Walesh nodded happily and replaced the figurine in the bag. and continued to walk. Zo met eyes with Walesh and conveyed some kind of message with them, because the salarian quickly placed himself to walk beside Chief and allow Zo to fall behind next to Mallus.
"So you gave him the offer?" She asked quietly, It was worded as a question, but she knew the answer.
"Yup," Mallus murmured.
"You had to know he wouldn't accept," Zo said. "He doesn't belong with us, you see how he is."
"And Simon and River made such perfect shipmates when they first came aboard?" Mallus demanded in a whisper. "I got a soft spot for folk with a spinning compass, so shoot me." He shrugged, "besides, sharing sides in a fight goes a long way to building trust."
Zo smiled, "Careful where you say that, Janeth just might." She dropped the grin and sighed, "I just think they're more danger than they're worth, or we can handle." she glanced at the big human. "Alternate realities? A.I? You know how far we'd have run the Repose if the Council found out we had a fully aware A.I on board?"
"Farther than she can take us," Mallus admitted quietly. "It's all stardust over hull now eitherside, he said no."
Zo nodded, "I wish him the best, but I need the best for us, and that doesn't include those two."
"Can't say you're wrong," Mallus said, his eyes far away in thought. He shook his head and focused on the present. "All the same, I'll be keeping that offer open." He didn't say anything more, but Zo knew that the conversation with her Captain was over.
Chief strode towards the docks in long, sure paces; he had to go slower than he would normally so that the others could keep up without struggling.
He'd pretended to not hear any of the words traded between Mallus and Zo, it seemed more polite that way. He found himself feeling a rare kind of respect towards the Turians, they were good people who did not need the complications that his presence would bring down on them.
"Any ideas how we're going to get to the council?" Cortana asked him privately.
Chief clicked his speakers off, "We hire a ship," He said.
"h'uh," Cortana huffed dryly, "wish I'd thought of that." She sighed a rush of static in his ears. "I suppose we do have the money…" She said thoughtfully. "I guess I just thought it might be harder than that." She said. "We have everything we might need, proof of our alien-ness, a way to get to the council, weapons to protect us…." She trailed off. "Suppose I'm just used to our missions being less...simple than this, I suppose."
"We did fight a giant robot." Chief said dryly.
"No, yeah you're right." Cortana relented, "Alright, let's go."
The four of them continued on to the Repose and none of them noticed the small shape that followed at a distance, patiently waiting, watching, and learning.
Doctor Liara T'soni scrambled uncertainly through the cave, why the excavator's hadn't made the entrance more manageable was beyond her. "Doctor Glasnow?" She called out into the cavern. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Her voice echoed hollowly and the light from the entrance faded, replaced by dying electronic lights that flickered fearfully as she passed into a prefabed portable lab, though how they got it underground she'd like to know.
"Doctor T'soni!" A human male called out. He burst out of a door and recoiled in fear as he came nose to barrel with her pistol. "Wait! It's me Peter Glasnow!" He shrieked, scurrying back into the door he came from.
"Ah," Liara lowered her pistol, "My apologies." She spared a glance at the weapon in her hand, before her adventure with Shepard her first instinct would have been biotics. She smiled, It appears she's rubbing off on me, Liara thought fondly. Her aim had improved significantly after suffering through Shepard's...tutelage. "What is going on here Doctor? where is all your staff?" Liara looked around the dim labs, not a soul could be seen or heard besides themselves, there should be almost two dozen scientists working this site.
Dr Glasnow looked around shakily, "I-um, yes, the staff." He said, almost sounding as if he were speaking to himself. "They're further in, gathering data on the artifact." His eyes flicked side to side.
A lie, Liara thought, not even a very good one. She sured up her barrier and kept her pistol drawn. She waited for Glasnow to continue. "Well?" She asked. "Your message said there was something here that you thought might be prothean in origin, something I might have insight into?"
"I did?" Glasnow asked himself again. "I did," he repeated with more conviction. "Well yes, of course," he said, a jovial tone as if to make light of a simple slip of the mind. "Yes, If you'll come with me I can show you the artifact."
"I would rather take a look at the data you've already recovered." Liara said, a gentle probe to gauge his reaction.
Glasnow blanched, "no no no," he said quickly, "You must see the actual artifact, you must study it, bask in its presence-" He cut off abruptly as Liara tossed a throw at him that sent him flying across the room, slamming against the wall with a dull thud.
"Again, apologies," Liara said. "But I believe you to be indoctrinated, and I cannot trust anything you say." She said. She double checked that the doctor was indeed unconscious, then moved on, warily keeping her pistol at low ready.
Liara slowly worked her way through the desiccated remains of the lab, it appears that not only was the front of the labs in the best condition, but so was Glasnow. As she went further into the excavation site the labs condition steadily deteriorated, matched in lockstep by the minds of it's inhabitants, skilled and lauded scientists with more doctorates among them that most universities raved like animals and attacked on sight, often with little more than their hands or quickly scavenged clubs or other crude weapons.
Liara tried to limit herself to non-lethal attacks, using her biotics to incapacitate her enemies, but the once scientists were rabid, quickly rising from attacks that would put most krogan on their backs. Her pistol rang out, blasting out kneecaps and crippling hands and arms. Pained howls scratched at the metal walls and scraped at her ears. A trio of salarian scientists, snarling like mad varren charged at her, each one carrying deep wounds from previous attacks, a singularity bloomed between them and her and three gunshots rang out. Three corpses floated in the air for several moments before the singularity faded.
A silence filled the labs, broken only by low groans and snarls distantly behind her. Liara kept moving deeper into the labs, which once more took on the appearance of a natural cave formation. Liara turned a corner and gasped. "By the Goddess."
A massive obelisk dominated the center of a large open space, it was dark grey and made of all hard lines and angles, it was certainly not prothean in origin. Liara grimaced, "But you are certainly Reaper technology," she murmured to herself. A dark purple structure had attached itself to the spire, sinking tendrils deep into the many angular grooves in its surface. The Reaper structure glowed with a malicious dim light.
Liara hesitated, what should she do? She was desperately curious about the central obelisk, but Reaper tech was immensely dangerous, and indoctrination was subtle in its effects. She needed to eliminate the Reaper threat before she could take the time to study the obelisk.
Liara reached out to touch the obelisk.
The obelisk began to hum, a deep thrum that fill the cavern and made her chest and head vibrate. As though it were alive itself, the Reaper structure jerked away from the obelisk as if in in pain, tendril flailing and withering.
Liara stared wide-eyed as the Reaper tech shivered and disintegrated into bright embers of light.
"Well, that was certainly interesting." Liara mused. Her eyes snapped to the now undisturbed obelisk as a pale holographic interface shimmered into being, a broad circle in the center winged by two long panels.
"Hmmm," Liara hummed to herself as she traced her fingers through the panels. A line running through the circle shivered and flexed at the sound of her voice. "Oh?" She said, "You're hearing my voice." She told the device. "Now what are you doing with it?" She wondered.
Dr Henry Glassman stared in horror at the Forerunner artifact, sitting on the center table of his lab on the UNSC Infinity, which had possibly just gained spontaneous sentience. The Forerunner AI they'd found on the surface hadn't been overly hostile, save a small number near the core of the installation, this one didn't have arms or crazy laser guns, or even legs for that matter. But it was talking, and that was more than enough for Henry.
"I - uh, I'm not doing anything with your voice," he said fearfully, edging carefully around the edge of his lab towards the door. "Your voice is totally yours. I don't want it."
Silence.
"N-n-not that is isn't a very nice voice!" Henry added, he was getting closer to the door. "It really is quite soothing, for a possibly murderous Alien A.I." He added the last bit under his breath.
The artifact sighed, "Regardless I need to start studying you," The artifact's voice tinged with an affectionate excitement, "Don't go anywhere while I set up my lab."
Henry froze, two body lengths from the door, sweat began to bead on his forehead. "Roland." He hissed quietly, "Roland!"
"What?" The dark yellow image of a WWII bomber pilot project onto a nearby pedestal. He sighed, "Dr Glassman, for the last time, my ship does not have rats, or mice. You're either paranoid, or an irritated A.I. had technicians install speakers in your lab's deck and bulkheads. Take your pick."
"No!" Henry hissed, he pointed to the flat rectangular forerunner artifact, "It's talking!"
Roland looked at the artifact, then back to Henry. "...is it talking right now?" He asked politely.
"NO!" Henry kept his voice a hoarse whisper. "It said it wanted to study me!"
Roland pulled a confused face. "Why?"
"I don't know!" Henry said. "It's a crazy forerunner scientist A.I., how should I know why it does anything?"
"No, I mean why you?" Roland gestured, to henry. "I mean…" He grinned.
"I'm back!" The artifact said brightly, "I should have everything I need to figure out exactly how you work on the inside."
"There! See?! You heard that right?" Henry asked desperately.
"I did…" Roland said slowly. He looked at the flat block of metal carved with angular grooves. He sent a probe into it, carefully.
The A.I. chuckled, "It's not an A.I. doctor, it's a walkie talkie." Henry blinked. "It's just a speaker." he said, "transmitting someone's voice. Though from where I'm not sure."
Henry relaxed and approached the artifact. "Can we figure that out?" Henry bent to study the block.
"Time to take you apart to see how you-" The voice cut off abruptly.
The Doctor and the A.I. shared a look.
Roland shrugged, "maybe she'll find us," he said.
Aria looked at the datapad her employee had delivered to her. "What is this?" She asked.
The salarian bobbed his head. "A vid, your eminence, found on the extranet," He said excitedly, no doubt he was near wetting himself from being so close to her. "It shows a man-"
"I can see what it shows," Aria interrupted coldly. "Why are you showing me?" She settled back on her couch. "What do you think happens on my station that I already don't know about?" The salarian quivered.
"N-nothing Mistress, I simply wanted to ensure you-"
"Your pathetic sycophantry disgusts me." Aria curled a lip and waved the creature away with the datapad. "Leave."
"O-o-of course Aria." The salarian scurried away.
Standing beside her, a batarian chuckled. "Since when does sycophantry disgust you?" He asked quietly.
Aria smirked, "pathetic sycophantry disgusts me," she specified, "If you're going to kiss ass, at least have the decency to not whine about it." She looked at the datapad, two shapes battled a YMIR, one she recognized, the other she did not. "Another thing that disgust me is how something like this slipped our net." She glared at the surrounding men and women. She didn't raise her voice, she spoke calmly, coldly and with all the power that made her the Queen on Omega, she heard more than one nervous swallow. "I want you to find Mallus and his friend, and bring them to me, I want to talk."
"Sure thing," the batarian nodded and issued orders into his omni tool while several others in attendance left in a hurry- no doubt trying to find Mal themselves to advance their 'careers' in Omega. Aria's lip curled slightly, almost unconsciously, why did people have to be so weak? Just take what you want and put down anyone who stood against you.
"Hm," the batarian grunted admiringly.
"What is it Bray?" Aria asked.
Bray tapped in commands to his Omni tool . "Seems Zo is up to her usual tricks. I can't find the Repose in the docking registry. I'll send the vermin on manual sweeps."
"Mal did never like meeting on my terms." Aria mused, scratching her chin thoughtfully. "I'd like to know how he felt about Zo bringing that deal to me." She smiled, a slow smile that made Bray blink all four eyes at once. It was rarely good when Aria smiled, in his experience. "Mind the club for a while Bray," Aria stood and walked out of her private area, "let me know when you find him."
Bray blinked all eyes again. Yeah, it was never good when she smiled.
Mallus leaned on the tall metal crate that held everything that Chief wouldn't - or couldn't - give to him, the tall, drab green cube had the UNSC emblem emblazoned on the side. "Hey, whats in here anyway?" He rapped a knuckle on the crate, producing a sharp ring into the hold that came only from things filled to the brim.
Chief dropped a duffle onto the deck with a decidedly metallic clang. "That's classified."
A blue form popped into existence, riding on Chief's shoulder and casually leaning on the side of his head. "Which is code for 'I'm an obsessive compulsive weapon hoarding maniac.'" Cortana grinned wryly.
Mallus nodded thoughtfully, "I can see why Janeth likes you," he said, standing straight and shifting foot to foot. "So how long are you to be leaving this here?" He asked. "I mean, not rush," He added, "we can afford the docking fees. Mere curious is all."
"I'm running a search for ships headed towards council space now." Cortana said. "This whole thing is definitely getting easier. The systems I mean, I'm almost up to par." The A.I. had her usual trace of smugness about her. "There are 37 ships heading to or towards a council spaceport. Shall I book passage on the most expensive and luxurious vessel?"
Chief didn't say anything, at least not that Mallus could see, but the little blue woman on his shoulder sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine, more gunmetal gray and no baths. You know, we're both lucky I can't smell. Passage secured."
Chief nodded.
"We'll send someone to pick up the crate, not that we couldn't do it ourselves, but it might look a little suspicious, walking through the station with a two cubic meter crate on our backs." She thought for a second, "well, his back," she added.
Chief took two steps to loom over Mallus, who craned his neck up to maintain eye contact. The Spartan offered a hand. "Thank you for your help," he said.
Mallus shook, "Think nothing of it." He said, managing to wait until Chief look away to try and shake the pain from his hand. Spirits, what a grip.
"Captain, a small human is requesting to speak to a crew member." Walesh's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Shall I send it away?"
Mallus and Chief shared a curious look, or rather Mallus looked at Chief with a curious expression. "No, I'll check it out." He said into the comm. "Hold tight." Cortana flicked out of vision and Mallus crossed the hold to enter the airlock. The second set of doors swished open to reveal a small human child. Dirt covered her face liberally and her filthy set of clothing was either small enough for a creature years younger than her, or big enough for something twice her size.
"Are you Mallus Renadus?" She asked brightly, looking up at him from under a messy mop of brown hair.
"Renaldus." Mallus corrected. "Who wants to know?" He asked suspiciously.
"I was told to tell you that Aria wants to talk to you." The girl said happily, happy to be doing something that might get her a free meal at the end of the day, or at the very least a look into Afterlife.
Mallus smiled. "That's nice," he said before sealing the airlock and setting on emergency quarantine lockdown.
Mallus dashed into the cargo bay and made up the catwalks to his quarters, opening his Omni tool as he went, "Walesh, we're leaving, now," He said into the comm.
"What's happening? Cortana said through Chief's speakers as the giant caught up to Mallus, easily matching pace up the stairs.
At the same time Walesh's voice burst over the comm "Captain? We are leaving with the Chief still on board? Thought he was getting off?"
Mallus opened a channel to all the crew, "Aria's found us, I don't think any of us wants to be around for one of her 'chats'."
"We need to leave." Chief's baritone held a powerful authority in it.
"Great plan," Mallus grinned and clapped the spartan on the shoulder, "Wish I'd thought of it." he swept into his quarters and began pulling his armour's undersuit on. "Walesh, get us out of here, it seems we've taken on some travelers with an urgent need to get to council space." The plates came next, his hands moved with practised ease. The sounds of the Repose's engines spinning up seemed to take three times as long as normal.
The building hum reached a peak and began to wind down. "Walesh, what spirits possessed you? I gave an order." Mallus' snapped. "We're. Leaving."
"Apologies Captain." Walesh said as Mallus sealed on his chest plate and scooped his helmet up. "Mantis gunship off the stern relaying orders to remain docked."
"Spirits cursed street rats," Mallus muttered under his breath. "They give a warning shot yet?" Mallus asked. "Give their rules a little push, see what they do." He strode into the bridge with Chief close on his heels. The big human had nothing in his posture to suggest that a crisis was unfolding, not a ounce of tension. The ship's engines spun up quickly, building to it's peak as though her captain's desire to leave permeated the whole of her.
The ship rocked as an explosion bloomed beside the cockpit windows, throwing everyone who wasn't seated off their feet.
Mallus looked up from the floor at Chief's extended hand, "Of course you didn't fall," the turian grumbled, seizing the hand and shooting to his feet.
"They've fired a warning shot," Walesh said over his shoulder.
"Thanks," Mallus said flatly. His eyes stared empty, their owner lost in thought.
"Options?" Chief's voice was still untroubled, he could have been asking about which picnic basket was best suited for this particular afternoon stroll.
"None good," Mallus admitted, tossing his helmet from hand to hand. "We can't fight the gunship, Repose isn't armed, and if we fight the troops that are no doubt coming to escort us to Aria, the gunship opens up on her." He rubbed a hand over a bulkhead. "I won't be losing her, not now." He said, almost to himself.
"Cortana?" Chief asked.
"I could hack the gunship," Cortana said through Chief's helmet, Mallus shook his head.
"Those gunships have terrible cyber security, but they can all be insulated, no signals in or out. You'd need physical access or to wait it out for an all clear" Mallus scratched a mandible thoughtfully, "and I doubt they'll let you climb aboard," he sighed. "No she's got us cornered, and whatever pains we'd take breaking free will be greater than whatever she's got planned for us." He tilted his head in thought. "Probably." He turned on his heel and marched out of the bridge. "Walesh tell the gunship we're standing down. Stay here while we're gone, I want the Repose two words from gone when I get back."
Walesh nodded without turning around. "Understood captain."
The entire crew, save Walesh, was present in the cargo bay with Chief and Mallus entered, all eyes shot up to the catwalks as it rattled underfoot.
"Cap'n what's go'n on? Kalia asked, a dirty rag was slung over her shoulder and her face was smeared with grease in several places. "You get'n us in trouble again?" Her eyes narrowed in a mild-mannered accusation.
"Not by design, I assure you." Mallus said with a light smile, dropping his helmet on a nearby crate. He addressed the assembled crew, "Aria found us and wants to talk," He started. Zo, seated on a large crate, flexed her mandibles and Janeth chuckled richly.
"Can't stay away from the azure can ya?" The Krogan flinched as Kalia smacked his head plate.
"No doubt-" Mallus continued without responding to Janeth's comment, "-Due to mine and Chief's newfound fame on the extranet." He shared a look with the crew, "I'm not expecting much more than a conversation because we haven't been playing on Omega's bad side lately, but you can't assume with Aria."
"I'll start working on contingencies," Zo said immediately, she hopped down and crossed the bay, exiting towards the engine room.
"I can be helpful there!" Kalia scurried away after her.
Mallus clapped a hand on Simon's shoulder, "best prepare to plug some holes," he said quietly, looking sideways at River, who had found something of great interest in the deck and was staring at it intently.
"In you or the ship?" Simon asked a nearly rhetorical question.
"Luck favors the prepared," Mallus murmured. The human sighed.
"Very well," he said, "Come River, you can help me collect supplies." The young woman looked up.
"We won't be small for long," She said, her big blue eyes swung to Chief, "he won't let us."
"She's a little strange," Cortana said. "More than a little."
Mallus watched the two humans disappear towards the med bay, "you two weren't the only ones to lose your whole world." Mallus said. "Let's be off, Aria's hired hands'll be here any minute." He scrubbed a hand over his scalp and shifted from foot to foot. he picked up his helmet and snapped it into place and sealed it with a twist.
"You alright?" Chief asked.
"I'll be fine," Mallus said distractedly, "once we're finished with her, I'll be fine."
"You mentioned you two had the past," Cortana said. "What happened?"
"That's my own business," Mallus said shortly, then sighed. "Long story short, let's say Aria isn't accustomed to being...refused," he said delicately.
"Hmmm," Cortana hummed thoughtfully.
A loud metallic clang echoed through the cargo hold. "Captain," Walesh began.
"I heard them," Mallus said tiredly, "Ready to dance?" He asked Chief. Mallus crossed the hold and opened both of the airlock doors, letting in a small crowd of mercs.
"We're here for Mallus Renaldus and a green thing." The lead batarian shouted, scanning his eyes around the hold, comply or we will destroy this ship..
Mallus shot the leader a perfunctory wave, "yo," he said, "Things one and green reporting to idiots." He couldn't help a grin as the batarian ground his teeth audibly. "I assume Aria wants us alive," he said.
"Correct." The Leader growled.
"Excellent!" Mallus said brightly. "As I recall it's quite a walk to Afterlife, so we should step off, wouldn't want to keep the ole' whip cracker waiting." He waved to the airlock. "unless that's the sort of thing that moves you," he added, his tone the paragon of understanding and tolerance.
The Batarian closed one set of eyes, and sighed in what could only be described as a silent scream of mental anguish. "Fine, we're leaving." He jerked his head to the other mercs and they fell in as a ragged circle around Chief and Mallus, forcing them to move with the group steadily towards afterlife.
"Hey, have you ever heard the joke about the batarian priest and the two elcor?" Mallus asked happily. He might be in an unfavorable position, but spirits be damned if he wouldn't make everyone else just as uncomfortable.
Chief walked through the crowded dance floor of Afterlife, the people was not a hindrance, however, an irregular circle of mercenaries made sure their progress to Aria wasn't hampered. Hundreds of eyes trailed the strange group. Mallus, walking beside him, managed to exude the impression that not only were these mercs not a threat to him, but rather they were there at his own whim, and not Aria's.
A krogan merc looked crossways at Chief with an eager glare, from his experience with their species, he no doubt wanted to fight Chief. He sighed internally and ignored the merc, keeping his pace just slow enough to not overtake his guard while still looming over their heads.
The group climbed a short staircase and entered a sort of VIP area, an asari lounged on a couch with her legs crossed elegantly and arm stretched out along the back of the couch.
As the group approached the mercs spread out, surrounding the raised area. A batarian and a turian each approached Chief and mallus with omnitools activated, they ran some kind of scan over the pair. The turian scanning Mallus nodded to Aria quickly. The batarian frowned, showing the results of the scan to the surrounding men, each of which did a double take and stared at Chief for a moment, their faces painted with curiosity tinged with fear.
"What is it?" Aria snapped impatiently. The batarian stepped over to show her the results.
"You think they found me?" Cortana whispered.
Chief's speakers turned off. "Don't know." He said he didn't bother whispering, his armour was completely soundproof.
Aria looked up from the scan results, her face didn't carry even the faintest trace of fear, Chief suspected that there was little this creature was afraid of, certainly not a fight, even one she suspected she'd lose.
"Hm," she looked Chief up and down in surprise, "not too often I get a visit from an empty suit of armour." She arched an eyebrow gracefully.
Mallus pulled off his helmet "It's not something you can replicate," he said quickly. "I assure you. Its some kind of stealth tech Cerberus was working on." He added.
Aria's lip twitched in a near smile, "stealth," she repeated, turning to look at Mallus skeptically.
"Yup," Mallus said with a firm nod. "Can't get much more stealthy than old Chiefy here." He clapped a hand on Chief's shoulder. It sounded a little like slapping a tank.
"So if it isn't Cerberus, who is it?" Aria wondered aloud. "Oh please," she said as Mallus' mandibles twitched. "You're always quick to offer a tempting lie in order to throw off suspicion, hide the truth behind common sense."
"Do not," Mallus grumbled.
Aria turned to Chief, "I don't know who you are, but whoever sent you should know-if they don't already- that I am in control here: Captain, Colonel, Commander in Chief, if you will, it's all me, and I only have one rule." Her eyes bored into Chief's visor. "Don't. Fuck. With Aria." Her dictate was powerful, someone used to getting their own way regardless of who stood before them. Chief pushed away a comparison to the Prophets.
Chief stood stock still, waiting in silence.
"I think she wants you to say something," Cortana whispered.
Chief sighed internally. "My business is my own." He said simply. Next to him Mallus visibly winced.
"And my business is rule," Aria said lightly. "My. One. Rule."
"If you forget I'll remind you." A batarian growled, cracking his knuckles and patting his sidearm.
Chief glanced sideways and all four of the batarian's eyes snapped shut for a moment.
Mallus chuckled quietly. "You know we were just leaving when you came calling," He told Aria dryly. "You could have been rid of us without a word."
"You were leaving because I came calling," Aria corrected his with a raised finger. "A commander should take an interest in her underlings." She said. "To keep...insubordination to a minimum." She uncrossed and recrossed her legs, switching sides. "So, where are you off to in such a hurry?"
Chief glanced over at Mallus, who shrugged and nodded reluctantly.
"To the Citadel," Chief said.
A noticeable expression of revulsion passed Aria's face.
Mallus shifted foot to foot in the growing silence. "That's all he's going to say," He mentioned. "In case you were looking for elaboration."
"I've got enough for now." Aria said quietly. "One more question." She stood and leaning in close to Chief. The surrounding guards tensed. "Where did you get schematics that advanced?" She asked." Chief said nothing.
A pistol's barrel clinked against the back of Chief's helmet. "She asked you a question." A batarian guard spat. The tiniest spark of red light flickered across his visor.
Chief sighed. The barrel pressed harder.
A headache exploded behind his eyes and the universe slowed to a crawl. Spinning around the barrel Chief snatched the weapon out of the guard's hand and gave the man a good smack on the head.
Time resumed its normal pace and the batarian was slammed backwards into a pillar as Chief easily disassembled the pistol, tossing the parts onto the floor.
Chief took a step back and clasped his hands behind his back, ignoring the shocked and enraged looks and arsenal now pointed at him.
Aria looked at Chief with indecipherable calm. "Hm," she huffed to herself and sat down again. "It isn't too often I meet someone as strong as I am," she said, "A refreshing change." She waved the guards down absently.
"Can we take our leave now?" Mallus asked, snapping his own pistol to his mag clamps with a clack.
"Are you going to work for me?" Aria asked him.
"When cursed spirits drive me mad," Mallus said happily, turning on his heel. "Chief?" The two pushed past a dark-eyed group of mercenaries, one applying medi gel to the fallen batarian. Neither of them noticed the transparent shimmer follow them out.
Mallus burst out of the club with a light step, "Only one concussed batarian," he said happily. "Went smoother than a salarian bonding ceremony." He pulled up the comm and contacted the Repose. "How's the situation?" The two descended the broad stairs leading away from the club
"Gunship is pulling away." Walesh replied. "Appears your talk was successful."
"She just wanted a talk," Mallus said, "Thank spirits. We're on our way back now." He turned into a small side street, tapping the green holographic button to open the door.
The button flashed orange then red and beeped angrily.
Mallus frowned and tried again. He brought up his omni tool when he was denied a second time. "Hmm." He said. "Says something is wrong with the environment on the other side, guess we take the long way." Chief said nothing and turned to follow Mallus as he went back to the main way.
The second door let them pass, but the third they tried didn't, forcing them to detour again. Chief frowned behind his visor. "Cortana," he said.
"On it." She was already inside the environmental system. "Nothing is wrong with the atmosphere on the other side," she said. "And the system looks like it's been hacked."
"We're being herded." Mallus finished the thought. "Can you get us through here?" The door's hologram flashed green and Mallus put on his helmet with a 'better safe than sorry', shrug.
"That would be a yes," Cortana said smugly.
The next section was sparsely populated, a handful of omega natives went about their lives with a smattering of people enjoying the view of a broad balcony that spanned the length of the street, skycars zipped and flashed in and out of sight.
"Damn, I owe Garrus five credits." A deep rumbling krogan said, turning from the balcony next to a red-haired human woman.
"I'm sure he'll just add it to your tab." The woman said dryly, turning herself. "What are you up to? four hundred?" She asked as they approached Chief and Mallus.
"I'm assume you two are responsible for that little sheepdog routine?" Mallus asked, hand on his pistol. The two strangers stopped half a dozen feet from them.
"Yep.," the woman said. "I was surprised how hard it was to track you two down." She sounded impressed.
"Which begs the question, why go through all the trouble?" Mallus said. His eyes shifted back and forth between the human and the krogan.
"My boss sent me," she said. "I was in the area on previous business and they saw your vid." She opened her omni tool showing the oh-so-familiar image of Chief striking the rocket. "Wanted to congratulate you on your acting skills. It looked very realistic." Her wry grin was more than enough proof of a double meaning
"Thanks," Mallus said flatly. "But our schedule is already full, we're not casting any parts."
"Cortana?" Chief asked with muted speakers.
"Commander Jane Shepard," Cortana recited, "Born April 11th 2154 on earth, Served with Alliance military most of her life before being recruited into the Alliance's N7 program then further still into the Council's Spectres." An image of the redheaded woman appeared on the side of Chief's visor. "Considered a hero from her actions in stopping a geth invasion on the citadel nearly six months ago." She was silent for half a second. "And the other one is Urdnot Wrex, mercenary and hunter," She finished a little lamely. "Not much on him but a bunch of videos of him punching things."
Chief nodded. "What does the Council want?" He asked abruptly, stopping dead the conversation that had been going on between the other three.
A look of surprise flitted across Shepard's face. "You're well informed," She said.
"Oh, you have no idea," Mallus muttered.
"Just a check up on an unknown," Shepard said. "I was pulled off my assignment hunting geth for a fact-finding mission."
Mallus' omni tool beeped and flashed around his arm as Cortana sent him the info packet. "And the council sends Spectres on Fact-finding missions often?" He said browplates raised.
"He did punch a rocket," Wrex added.
"Fair enough," Mallus admitted.
"What now?" Chief asked.
"I've already got all the information I need." Shepard said lightly. She tapped her omni tool. "This meeting was a formality."
"...All of it?" Mallus traded looks with Chief. He tapped a message to Chief on his omni tool. A.I. illegal in council space could be bad.
Shepard arched an eyebrow. "I've got enough." She said finally. "Enough to satisfy the council anyway." She sighed. "Now it's back to hunting geth." she said tiredly, "God how I wish there was just a 'kill all synthetics' button, just delete all the A.I. in one go." Wrex chuckled knowingly and Mallus laughed nervously. Chief very nearly felt Cortana flinch and a red spark flashed across his visor.
"Alright," Shepard turned and waved over her shoulder. "its pretty clear you're not a threat to galactic peace, time to shove off." She and Wrex went to the balcony and her omni tool flashed, in seconds a skycar descended from the stream above and slid into place, hanging in midair with doors open for passengers.
"Kill all A.I.?" Cortana's voice coming out of Chief's speakers was still a little odd for Mallus, it made Shepard and Wrex spin with confusion on their faces. lights all around changed from their native colour to deep scarlet and omnitools on every wrist flashed into being, their hues shifting from orange to red, bathing the entire area in a crimson glow.
"What the…" Shepard wondered aloud.
"Cortana!" Chief barked, red sparks flashed across his vision, and a headache began to form at the back of his skull.
A face appeared on Shepard's omni tool, a woman's face constructed entirely of light normally blue shone up at Shepard with crimson hate. "A button to just delete all the A.I. in one go?" The woman sneered. Shepard looked up at Chief, she drew her pistol.
A tiny figure flickered into being atop Chief's shoulder. A being composed entirely of red light swung her legs easily from her seat, dangling her toes off her little perch. "Wouldn't it be funny if one of those A.I. pushed back?" She said, her voice was low and breathless, excitement thrummed through her avatar.
"Garrus…"Shepard took a step back to the skycar. "You might need to cover our-"
The skycar dropped. A distant sound of crushed steel echoed up to the balcony. One by one Skycars passing overhead dropped like stones, screeching metal filled the air.
Chief looked over to an astonished Mallus, fear and horror painted across his face. "Blackbox," Chief ordered.
"Right." Mallus nodded and sprinted for the door.
"Don't let them escape!" Shepard shouted. Gunfire followed shortly after. Chief's shields flickering quickly and Mallus' flashed as they deflected projectiles. Small pistol round plinked into his armour, Mallus' shields died as a barrage of assault rifle fire erupted from Wrex and Chief's shoulder was thrown back as an immense round buried itself between the plates.
"Sniper," Chief said calmly, the door's hologram flashed red. Mallus cursed. "Open it," Chief said.
"It's locked!" Mallus shouted.
Red flashed streaked across Chief's vision and the light was becoming more chaotic, flashing in and out of being.
Chief curled a fist and slammed it into the door's hologram. The buttons flashed orange to red then green and the doors opened.
"You should do I.T," Mallus said as they dashed through. "I think you'd be good at it."
Chief sprinted forward, rapidly outpacing Mallus.
"Zo I'm going to need that contingency ready," Mallus said over the comm, already out of Chief's direct earshot. "Chief is incoming and I'll send my coordinates for a pickup."
"Aria change her mind?" Zo asked.
"Not exactly," Mallus said. "We'll explain later." Chief turned a corner, digging his fingers into the wall and slinging himself forward. The Repose was in sight, it's airlock doors open. "Just get the black box ready," Mallus ordered.
"Yes sir," Zo said uncertainly.
Chief ran full out for the Repose's personnel airlock, the red flashed becoming more distracting, green and purple afterimages bloomed behind them. A particularly bright flash momentarily blinded him, only moments from the door. His shoulder slammed into the doorframe and he tumbled into the airlock. "I'm in." He said, scrambling to his feet and ignoring the massive pain in his chest and arm.
The ship rumbled and pulled away. "Sending location, still a little red down here Chief," Mallus said. Chief burst through the second set of doors and Zo stood in the cargo bay with a box in her hands, the same box that Mallus had taken Cortana out of when Chief had woken up.
Chief seized the box and ripped Cortana's chip from his helmet, the holodisk in the center bright cherry red. He dropped the chip in the box and snapped it shut. He fell to his knees, feeling as though he'd just gone hand to hand with a hunter.
"Opening cargo doors and in position." A blue shield snapped into place and the large Cargo doors swung open to admit a spaceborne Mallus crashing into the floor as artificial gravity took hold of him. Behind him a station airlock
"Every time…" Mallus said breathlessly. "Walesh, hard burn." The ship burst into motion for several seconds only to stop abruptly. "What's the problem?" Mallus asked.
"This is the SSV Normandy." A voice came over the ship's loudspeaker. "You are ordered to stand down and not resist. We will fire if you do not comply."
"Zo, now would be a good time for that contingency," Mallus said
"On it Cap!" Kalia's voice shot through the comm.
The sound of a bomb going off filled the ship to bursting and every piece of electronic equipment shut off at the exact same instant. A small window in the cargo bay door showed lights snapping off all across the station.
Chief's headlamp clicked on. "An EMP," He said slowly, almost numbly.
"I noticed," Mallus said darkly. "But just how in the spirits are we safe!?" He scrambled to his feet and ran up to the bridge. Chief didn't follow.
Walesh waited in the dark and watched out the front windows, where the Normandy drifted next to them, close enough to see the human crew scrambling around their bridge while their pilot glared daggers at them.
"This was your contingency?" Mallus snapped, storming into the bridge with Zo close on his heels. "How is this better?" He demanded, waving an arm at the ship. "They're just going to wait until the EMP wears off and then we're still trapped!"
Zo held up a single finger. "Wait for it," she said.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the Normandy began to slide across the window. The human pilot's face changed from anger to confusion to astonishment as the distance between them slowly grew, quickly changing the fierce warship into a pale dot beside the station.
Mallus watched as the ship and station disappeared and the Repose lost herself in the debris ringing the station. "How-?" He started. He jumped as a suited form pounced onto the windows.
"Hiya Cap!" Kalia waved frantically through the windows with a wrench in her hand.
"We may have found some of that wreck's maneuvering thrusters." Zo said with a smile. "Or something like them, simple chemical rocket thrusters, all we had to do was network then and bolt them to the hull."
"And when they come looking for us?" Mallus asked. "These things won't take us far."
"Janeth, activate the crybaby."
"hehe," A low rumbling laugh came over the com and a pale shape shot out into the black over the bow. "Crybaby away."
"So...we're safe," Mallus said, halfway between a statement and a question.
"We're safe," Zo said. "As safe as we usually are," she added with a shrug.
"Spirits save us all," Mallus murmured. He glanced behind him. "Where's Chief?" He asked.
Zo shrugged. "He didn't follow.
Mallus found him, still on his knees in the cargo bay, head down and holding the black box.
"We need to talk," Mallus said. "Now."
Chief stood, slowly, as though a massive weight laid on his shoulders. He held the box in his hands gently. "Later." He began to walk towards his quarters.
Mallus planets himself in front of the door. "Now," He repeated.
Chief stopped at the doorway, already filled my Mallus. He waited a moment for Mallus to leave.
He didn't.
Chief sighed and shifted the box into his left hand, with his right he clamped over Mallus' helmeted head and lifted him up and gently set him down out of the way then carried on.
"Later it is." Mallus agreed.
Shepard sat in the darkened Normandy and ran over the mission, that disaster of a mission. What the hell had happened?! One minute they were talking to a relatively normal person, granted unnaturally good at beating people to a pulp, but normal-ish. The next red light is everywhere and a crazy thing nearly destroys the station!
The door to her quarters ground open to admit a panting Garrus, the doors were still on manual operation from the EMP. "Commander?" Garrus asked.
"Did you see the colour?" Shepard asked quietly.
"What?"
"Did you see what colour that...thing made everything?" The amount of scorn in her voice even surprised her a little.
Garrus sighed. "Yeah, I did," he said. "But it's a big jump to say its Reapers, it doesn't seem like their style," Garrus said.
"Red lights, murderous A.I. and advanced tech?" Shepard asked. "That thing can't be normal, someone or something made it, and right now it's a possibility I can't ignore."
The lights snapped on and a dull whine rose in pitch as the engines spooled up. "Power restored Commander," Joker said, sounding more than irritated. "Back to 100% with a signal on sensors, permission to pursue?"
I understand, Commander. I don't regret a thing. Kaiden's last words rang in her head "Permission granted." Shepard said. She stood and opened her dresser, she had a bottle of scotch in there somewhere.
