Of Citadels And Castles, Part 9: Resistance Is Feudal

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By C. Mage

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"Well, I appreciate the aesthetics of the renovations, but I am curious." Thelo Ken looked up to Megani. "Normally, the Captain's chair is reasonably close to the command consoles. May I ask why the Captain's chair is much further back and much higher?" He looked at the stairs leading up to the chair.

Megani chuckled. "He's very old-fashioned. You'll note he doesn't have or use an omnitool. He fears that his close proximity to modern technology might cause it to malfunction."

"Ah. Would it be wrong to suggest that your employer is a bit...eccentric?"

"Actually, I think the generally-accepted title is 'strange'...and he doesn't mind. Despite his eccentricities, Machias Castle is a man of character and deeply-held beliefs." Megani said, a secret smile on her lips. "I honestly can't imagine I'd ever work for someone like him anywhere else."

Thelo Ken considered. "How long have you known him?"

"Five months."

"Only five months?"

"Trust me. Five months with Machias Castle carries a lifetime of experiences."

Thelo Ken nodded. "I shall see to the rest of the renovations."

As he left, Tali'Zorah walked in, looking around in wonder. Megani walked over to her. "Everything up to expectations?"

"And more. The ship itself is amazing, but…" Tali looked around covertly. "Is Machias here?"

"No, he went to get some rest. Why? Are you looking for him?"

"Yes, well, no, it's…complicated. Can we talk?"

"Of course."

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Tali led Megani to the room Tali claimed as hers. It wasn't one of the larger rooms, but it seemed to suit Tali just fine. She sat down on the bed and looked at Megani nervously as Megani sat on a chair, across from her. "What would you like to talk about?"

"Is...is Machias a good prisi'lai?" she asked nervously.

"What do you mean?" Megani asked.

"Is he...gentle or forceful? Does he have...strong appetites?" she asked, and Megani couldn't tell if she was fearful or hopeful. "Once he takes me, will I have a favored position and…"

Megani couldn't help it. As she listens, she began to smirk, then snort, then broke into full-on laughter.

"I'm SERIOUS! I want to know what kind of prisi'lai he is, so I can prepare for…"

"Tali'Zorah, I think you have the wrong idea about Machias," she said between chuckles. "By a great measure."

"You mean, he's not going to…" Tali would've registered shock were it not for the visor. "I'm not going to be expected to…"

"Oh, no, no, NO." Megani wiped her eyes.

"But it is his right, how could he not…?"

"Tali'Zorah vas Neema, listen. Just because you think he has the right to do something like that doesn't mean he WILL. In fact, if you suggested the idea to him, I think he'd look at you as if you'd gone crazy."

Tali considered this. "So he's not going to…"

"NO."

Tali's eyes blinked, then her face turned a different color and she bowed her head, holding her faceplace in her gloved hands. "I have made a complete fool out of myself, haven't I?"

"No, of course not. Machias isn't the kind of man to jump to those kinds of conclusions." She leaned forward. "What do you think of him? Not of the prisi'lai, of him."

Tali lifted her head. "You will not tell him?"

"Upon my honor as a doctor."

Tali nodded. "When I first saw him, I thought he was some sort of...alien god. He moves through combat as if everyone else is...just a shadow to him. He was like...a sun giving off solar flares. I was somewhat suspicious of him when he was polite and protective of me, as if he'd already claimed me as part of his mating group. But he made no move upon me, and I felt myself afraid that he was waiting for privacy, and that behind the man was a monster waiting to come out. I was terrified...and yet I was drawn to him, as if he generated his own gravity well."

"I think you may be painting him out to be more powerful than he truly is."

"Even so, quarian legends speak of the prisi'lai and how even some of the most noble were betrayed by their own desires. Power, wealth, members of the opposite sex, property, possessions. Very few were not tragic figures in the end. Undone by their own greed." She looked to the door, as if Machias was standing there. "Then he is not truly prisi'lai?"

"He's something...new."

Tali nodded. "How should I treat him, then?"

"I would suggest as a friend. You've heard his story. I'm the first friend he's got here. That's one of the reasons why he goes out of his way to be friendly. He's lonely. He's the last of his kind. There will be times when he will truly need us, more than he will admit."

Tali sat up slightly. "I understand."

"Good. So, don't worry. He's not going to start up a 'mating group'."

Tali nodded, although she was surprised to find that part of her was actually...DISAPPOINTED by those words. She remembered all the stories she'd read about quarian history, how some of the prisi'lai kept their mates and concubines chained in their lairs like animals...and a tiny part of her remembered how Machias fought and how kind he'd been, thinking, Maybe it really wouldn't be that BAD…

She looked up and realized Megani was looking at her with a particularly discerning look. "Still with me, Tali'Zorah?"

"Yes, of course. I-I-I should check in with the engine room, make sure the VI is integrating well and check it for stressors under complex maneuvers...excuse me." She stood up and walked towards the door and exited the room.

Megani had to laugh, albeit quietly. It really wasn't fair, after all. Tali was a young quarian out on her Pilgrimage, vulnerable in many ways. I really shouldn't take advantage of her naivete this way, and it's not like I'm trying to discourage her from being interested in Mac. I will apologize.

Later.

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Machias sat in the command chair, looking down at the consoles and the display screen in front of him. He'd already inspected the circles and etchings in the metal around the support and stairs leading up to the chair itself. He'd spent a full day preparing the circles and interlocking designs, making sure they were etched deep so pure silver could fill the grooves made by the etchings and circles.

Machias Castle was a firm believer in being prepared.

He nodded, then walked down the steps towards the main console. He heard the side door open and smiled. "Ready to start this hayride, ladies?"

"Absolutely," Megani said, taking a seat at the tactical station. Tali simply nodded, making her way to a seat in front of the engineering station. "I am curious, though...you've been very evasive about the VI you added to the ship. You mentioned that you did a lot of 'customizing' on its persona."

"Not on its persona….on THEIR personas."

Megani blinked. "'Their'?"

"I thought that it might be a good idea to have a different VI assigned to each section of the ship, all designed to work together. That way, if someone tries anything funny against one of 'em, the others can rush in to assist. Thelo Ken told me a little about this 'cyberwarfare' stuff. I couldn't understand much of it, but I do know there's strength in numbers, so I asked Thelo to set up the VI systems to, how did he put it….'accommodate that kind of architecture'? Yeah, that's it."

"How can you tell them apart?" Megani asked, a little concerned.

"I gave them distinct looks and names. They're also set up, so Thelo tells me, to act in the role of 'subordinate assistance in the event the position has a normal set in the position'. That way, they don't get uppity." He faced forward and addressed the air: "Boys, come on out, crew wants ta meetcha."

Seven holographic humans dressed in varying types of fashions from the Old West appeared., each one looking quite different. "Ladies, let me introduce you to the boys. First, the Tactical VI." He pointed to a tall man in black, with a formidable handlebar moustache. "His name's Wyatt."

"Wyatt" walked over to Megani and tipped his hat. "Ma'am," he said politely.

"Next, the Engineering VI." He turned to another man, dressed in similar clothes, not as lean, with a larger and grayer moustache. "This here is Virgil."

"Ma'am," He tipped his hat to Tali. Tali was used to VIs, so very little surprised her about them. But she did find herself intrigued, and decided to learn more about Earth during the 1800s...specifically the Old West.

"Our Medical VI." Mac indicated another slim man, wearing fancier-looking clothes, a thinner moustache and a two-gun rig around his waist. "Call him 'Doc'."

"Ladies," he said, an odd, smooth accent to his voice. There was mischief in his smile.

"Our Sensors and Navigation VI," Machias said, indicating a woman wearing a buckskin dress and carrying a rifle. "This is Annie."

"Hullo, ladies. Don't worry, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for ya." She smiled, not appearing as old as the others. She strongly reminded Megani of Tali.

"Thelo Ken said I needed a 'cyberwarfare' VI, to handle people trying to attack the VIs themselves. So I asked him to find the best VI he could find for that." He turned to another female VI, this one dressed like a saloon girl. She was beautiful and smiling, but it was an EVIL smile, the lure of a born temptress. "This is Kate."

"Mornin', ladies...looking forward to having your back," she said slyly. From the eyes and the smile, though, the only reason she'd have anyone's back would be to achieve the best opportunity to find the right place to put a knife.

"Don't worry about her, you two. She only LOOKS like she'll betray us at a moment's notice. Thelo Ken said that her approach to cyberwarfare is the use of misdirection and giving the attacker a false sense of success." Machias shrugged. "He knows more about this than I do, although I suspect, Tali, that you and she might work well together."

"Who are the other two for?" Megani asked.

"The first is our Inventory and Supplies VI." This one looked less like a gunslinger and more like a storekeeper, apron and all. "He handles making sure we have everything we need for whatever we need, even anticipating them. Call him 'Able'."

He took off a set of holographic spectacles, rubbing them on his apron. "I shall do my best to remain true to my name."

"And last, but not least, the VI that handles our interior security." He pointed to a young man, barely into his teens, but dressed like a gunslinger. "This is 'Billy'."

"How DO, ladies?" he said, tipping his hat to reveal sandy blond hair.

"This is….quite a rogues' gallery you've got her, Machias." Megani put a hand on her hip. "Any plans to redo the decor in the bridge to Early Earth Colonial?"

"Naw, I figure this'll do just fine." Machias drawled. "Tali, tell Annie where the Rayya went down. We're gonna have ourselves a good old fashioned investigation."

"Yes, Captain." Tali said quickly. For the first time since the Rayya went down, she began to feel some real hope that the source of the curse would be revealed, and the social stigma of being part of the Rayya's fall would be abolished at last.

A part of her wondered, and worried, if this was going to be a wild pyjak chase. It occurred to her that she might have blinded herself to any faults, overlooked them in her zeal at discovering that Machias had the power to help her.

Deep space is the last place one wants to be when finding out that you're all alone on a powerful ship with someone who might be a little..frustrated. How would he react? Would he become cruel? Physically abusive? MAGICALLY abusive? Would she wake up one night to find him in her room, doing things to her and…?

She stopped herself. STOP. THINKING. ABOUT. THAT. KEELAH, stop being afraid of him. Or whatever it is that makes you like feeling that way…

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"What's the name of the system we're coming up on?" Machias asked. He'd been walking around the ship, and as always, careful not to touch anything that looked important...which, to him, looked like everything on the ship. He was lucky Thelo Ken had made the controls for his bathroom and other functions in his quarters manually operated using functions like old-fashioned plumbing. The new toilets had taken some getting used to, regardless.

"It's the Mareides system," Annie said from the nearby speakers. "According to the route Tali laid out, the Migrant Fleet passed by this system. The Rayya moved in closer to take samples of the atmosphere and send down a survey team, since the probes they'd sent down sent back favorable results. They came into a stable orbit, then less than an hour later, systems all over the ship began to fail, disastrously. Tali said it was the darndest thing she'd ever seen, and based on how the Rayya was made, it should've been impossible for every single system to fail like that."

"I'm going to the Chair. Take us in on the exact same route the Rayya took. Check with Tali to ensure distance, speed and course."

"Aye-aye, sir."

Machias nodded. Time to find out if I'm right.

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Machias was sitting in the chair, Tali was working with Annie, and Megani was working with Wyatt on Tactical. "We are on approach," Tali said, a hint of caution in her voice. "So far, no change in functions. It was at this time the reports from the probes were being analyzed."

"What was the final judgment on the planet?" Machias asked.

Tali shook her head. "No one knew."

"Can we do the same? Send down probes?"

"Sure thing," Virgil replied. "Sending them down now. Ours are more advanced than the ones the quarians used, so we should get results back faster."

Machias nodded. "Look for things that would make the planet of value to quarians."

"We should be getting results back in a few minutes," Virgil said.

"Actually…" Machias looked down at the sigils and circles surrounding the base of his chair. They were starting to glow. "I think we're getting results a lot sooner than that."

The VIs all regarded the phenomenon. "I cain't tell what's causin' that glow," Virgil said, uncertain.

"That's because the circles and signs are reacting to a magical field surrounding the planet. I can also feel it...Lord-a MIGHTY, but it's a powerful one…" Machias sat down to center himself, concentrate on attuning himself to the planet's mana field. "We're well beyond the altitude of any other planet before I started feeling it...the field around this planet must be excessively powerful to emanate this far from the planet's surface...yes. VERY powerful...hmmmmm…" His brow furrowed and he cocked his head. "There's something else...something intelligent."

"Intelligent? Did the quarians survive the Rayya's fall?" Tali asked.

"Yes...but there's more. MUCH more." He opened his eyes. "Billy, get us a shuttle ready. We're heading down to the planet."

"You got it, boss."

Machias turned to Megani and Tali. "Time to visit the scene of the crime."

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Megani piloted as Tali and Machias sat in the crew chamber. "It's odd," Megani called back from the pilot's seat. "I expected more turbulence as we descend, but the weather conditions are extremely calm. Unusually so, considering the cloud cover."

"Good. Scan for any traces of quarian tech. In fact, see if you can find any other trace of advanced intelligent life here." Machias laid back in his seat, closing his eyes. He could feel Tali'Zorah looking at him and smiled. "What's on your mind, Tali?"

"Oh! Well, uh...you are not...exactly what I pictured."

"I expect not. Anything in particular, besides being an ugly human?"

"I never said anything of the sort!"

"So you don't think I'm unattractive?" Machias inquired.

"I...are you playing with me?" she said indignantly.

"Not in the least. Just trying to understand standards of beauty."

"I don't follow."

"I've been doing a lot of reading up on the major races, their differences and their similarities. Until they joined the galactic community, all they had was their own race to say who looks attractive and who doesn't. It's hard to get my head around...until a few months ago, my viewpoint was sorely limited."

"Oh?" Tali settled back in her chair. "What have you learned?"

"Plenty of things have changed. An all-female race that's able to have kids with anyone? A race that can get sick so easily, they live out their lives in suits? Keep in mind, that with my line of work, the unusual is pretty much usual for me."

"Well, Machias...when appearances are different, one must rely upon the things that are not. Strength. Compassion. Courage. The kinds of qualities that attract people, regardless of race."

"Hey back there!" Megani called out over the engines. "I think I've found what we're looking for..." She had more to say, but the shuttle suddenly jumping and tumbling about like a leaf in a hurricane robbed her of what else she had to say. Tali'Zorah had been in far too many ship emergencies to be caught flat-footed by something like that, and strapped herself in fast. Mac had been strapped in already, but only because he didn't feel comfortable "flying around in a tin can". "We're caught in some kind of freak storm!" Megani called out. "Prepare for an emergency landing!"

Machias grabbed the armrests tight. "My kingdom for a HORSE!" he yelled as they came down,

The shuttle, thanks to Megani's expert piloting, landed right-side up and only bounced twice before skidding to a stop and half-burying itself in the side of a hill. A few minutes later, the wind died down and was gone.

Machias opened his eyes. "Sound off if you ain't dead," he asked dryly.

"I'm okay," Tali'Zorah said, getting to her feet.

"Likewise," Megani said, her omnitool activating. After a few moments, she nodded. "The shuttle is going to need some repairs before it'll be airworthy again...not to mention a few dozen people digging it out first."

"Can we get out of here?" Machias asked, removing the straps and standing up, stumbling slightly but managing not to run into Tali, for which he was grateful. He didn't want to know what a misguided hex would do to her suit.

Megani tapped her omnitool. "Control systems are out, the shuttle doesn't think we have authorization to open it."

Machias was already in a sour mood; crashing had that effect on him. He pulled out one of his managuns and said in a gravelly voice, "VI VENTI…!" The etchings on the gun turned a deep amber as he aimed at the door and fired. The noise created by the blast was drowned out by the sound of the shuttle doors being blasted open.

Machias walked to the door opening. "Authorized," he said simply, then jumped from the doorway to the ground below.

Megani shrugged. Machias may have had an old-fashioned way of dealing with things, but no one could argue with the results. "As I was saying before we were rudely interrupted, I found the wreckage of the Rayya, as well as energy sources around it. Looks like the survivors built a small city...and there are definitely high concentrations of energy using quarian tech."

"Any signs of other technology?" Machias asked. He was starting to get the hang of knowing what questions to ask, even though he didn't understand the answers half the time without further explanations.

"None native. No indications of any culture or developed communities either. They either died out on their own…"

"Or something helped them along." He turned to Tali. "Your suit all right?"

"It is strong and well made. It'll take more than a crash to compromise it," she added, a hint of pride in her voice.

Machias nodded, understanding. For quarians, their environmental suits were also a matter of style and craftsmanship. Tali must've built her own, made it to last. "Well, come on, we got some walkin' to do." He pointed to the far-off community. "And I got a feelin' the reason for the unwelcoming storm is also right there, too."

"I've waited too long already to find out what happened." Tali'Zorah strode off towards the city. Machias and Megani looked at each other, then followed.

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As they walked, untamed plains and meadows gave way to farms and buildings. Sure enough, the people working in the fields were all quarians, still in their environment suits. Megani was scanning the area with her omnitool, but Tali didn't need any scanners to note something was different about the quarians there. They seemed...cowed, turning away from the three of them as they walked towards the center of the small city. "They are...afraid of something."

"Yeah...and five'll get you ten I know why." Machias looked around. "Think about it, all the systems going haywire at once. All the failsafes failing at the same time. This wasn't sabotage. I think one of your people got close enough to a planet who was part of a prisi'lai bloodline, and it awakened power inside him. A lot of it...and that quarian let it get away from him."

"So he did this on PURPOSE?" Tali said a little too loudly to be friendly.

"Easy, Tali. He likely reacted by instinct, but magic and instinct isn't kind to anything above a certain technological complexity. It took out what kept the ship going, but from the looks of things, this prisi'lai might've actually tried to save the quarians on the Rayya."

"If this quarian was so helpful and benevolent...why are all these other quarians afraid?"

Machias frowned. "I don't know...but I'm going to find out. When it comes to magic, never believe what you see at first glance. For example, that's a telling sign." He pointed ahead to the wall around the city. "Look at how high it is...twenty feet, at least."

Megani looked at the wall, then back at the quarians working in the fields. "I think I see what you mean. Look at the quarians. They're all male. They're all armed and the farms have places to sleep at night. Where are all the females? For that matter, where are all the children?"

Tali looked at the walls again. "The wall's not meant to keep enemies out...it's meant to keep people IN," said in realization. And with that knowledge came a measure of horror.

"Let me do the talking," Machias suggested. "I'm going to need a closer look at this quarian, this prisi'lai."

"Then if you want to get closer, let ME do the talking," Tali insisted. "I think I know how this prisi'lai might think a little better. But I need you to do something for me, Mac. Can you give me the means to pass for someone like him?"

Machias considered, then moved her behind a building, gesturing Megani to follow. "All right. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to give you both glamours."

Megani chuckled. "Now is hardly the time for makeup and expensive clothes, Mac."

"What? No, a glamour is like a...magical disguise. I'm going to give you both the appearance of people with magical power, and disguise my own, make it look like I'm your lackey."

"ACTUALLY, the proper term is 'heera'," Tali corrected, the visor hiding her smile well.

"Heera. Okay, let me get these glamours fixed…"

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Prince Seefah was in a particularly good mood today.

His people were being very cooperative, as usual. The Planting Season was almost done, and with the Harvest Celebration upcoming, he was looking forward to adding new heeras to his collection. He'd always stuck to his own rules regarding their choosing: none under birthing age, no more than four per season and, most importantly, no cheating on the Lottery. After all, the parents were never as gratified as they should have been at the idea of their daughter potentially becoming the heir of a prisi'lai, gaining a heritage of power and command.

Why weren't they more appreciative? Seefah never could understand it, not since the day the Rayya came to this planet and his destiny had been revealed to him. This place would be the NEW Rannoch. He would bend the planet to his will, make it safe for his people. He'd already learned how to make certain areas germ and microbe-free, safe for quarians to live without needing suits. It took some practice, some trial and error, but he only used the OLD quarians for the testing...and a few seditious voices, but sacrifices had to be made. And it paid off, after all, more than three-quarters of his city were completely disease-free. He still allowed some areas to require suits, so that his people would better appreciate his efforts.

He walked out onto the balcony and looked at his people, down below, then past the wall and…

Wait.

He picked up a pair of visionmag goggles and saw something, people walking towards his main gates. A quarian female...and two aliens, one asari, one HUMAN!

Seefah's mind spun within his skull as he recognized the suit belonging to the quarian. The Zorah family colors. He racked his brain, trying to remember what part of the ship he'd last seen her in...wait. The labs. That part broke away from the Rayya, landed several hundred kilometers away. If she is prisi'lai ALSO…!

He put the goggles away and opened his mind, using the catechi, the spirit eyes. What they told him spoke volumes. The Zorah girl was a powerful prisi'lai, no question. The asari had some magical power, but not as much as the quarian. The human had no power at all, but that hardly came as a surprise to Seefah. Humans were barely sentient enough to command their own ships without crashing into things. He must be the quarian's heera, and the asari must be as well, since prisi'lai don't share. He smiled. This could be a golden opportunity. Add the other prisi'lai to his collection, wouldn't take much, just a few drops of extracts from some of the native flora, make her easier to control…

Just have to play it kind and hospitable, at first. Don't want to spook her. Play the right motivations, get her to drop her guard...and keep my own up in case she tries to pull the same trick on ME. Who knows what vile, treacherous things she's thinking RIGHT NOW…?

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Tali looked down at herself. "I look like some sort of shiny ornament...and I feel stupid."

"Hey, remember the plan. We talk with him, find out what he's like and if he's really in charge or if someone's pulling his strings," Megani whispered. "Then we use the element of surprise, confuse him, and let Machias do what he does best." Megani looked down at herself. "I think I look rather nice."

"Remember, Megs, act subservient to Tali," Machias reminded her.

"Don't worry, Mac, we've been over our stories since we got disguised. We'll be fine."

"Was this a large part of your old job, Machias?" Tali whispered back.

"Anything to avoid getting other people hurt. Until this is handled, we're walking into a city full of hostages." He looked around as they reached the door to the city. "Walk slow, like you've got all the time in the world. I need to look around and check the auras here."

"Mac?"

"Yes?" he whispered back to Megani.

"Calm yourself."

Machias sighed. "Will do."

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The gates to the city swung inwards slowly, and Tali noted with hidden outrage that the people there were mostly female, with some males there to act as peacekeepers. It was something that a CHILD would come up with. A petulant, spoiled child.

As if on cue, she turned to a nearby wall, where some sort of poster had been placed. It showed quarian silhouettes under a dome, and above the illustration, quarian text that read: "SEEFAH PROTECTS YOUR FUTURE!" Another one, this one with a quarian logo that looked like three interlocking chevrons, said, "KEEP YOUR FAMILIES SAFE; THE LAWS ARE THERE FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND PROSPERITY."

"SOMEBODY'S fond of using propaganda…" Megani said idly, looking around.

"This is not the way of a quarian…" She looked up as she saw a group of quarian guards approaching. "Heads up."

The guards moved out to surround the three newcomers, then the path opened ahead of them to show a quarian male in a red envirosuit walking with a slight swagger to his pace. "Honored guests! Welcome to my humble city."

Tali took to the role quickly. "'Humble', you say? My, aren't WE modest, Seefah."

He stopped, then acted as if he just recognized her. The act wasn't very convincing. "Tali'Zorah...I should've known that, out of all the people on the Rayya, you'd have the same abilities I do. Even if they aren't equal to mine." He looked over Megani and Machias. "I don't recall us having any guests on the Rayya…"

"They were part of a survey team that came looking for the ship. Scavengers looking to sell scrap. The asari and I see eye-to-eye on many things, including the treatment of my heera. So, we work together. She provides training and I provide protection and companionship in return."

"Training, huh?" Megani didn't like the way Seefah was looking at her. "Well, as it turns out, I have a lot of natural talent to rely on, as you can see by the way my people are healthy and happy."

While Tali was keeping Seefah occupied, Machias was using the Sight to look over the city. What he found didn't make him smile. Not only did their auras suggest they were miserable, a collection of auras in the tower at the center of two suggested a gathering of other quarians...and Machias had a pretty good idea why.

"Yes...I can 'see' that," Tali said, somewhat imperious in her mood. Megani had to resist the urge to smile. Tali was clearly milking this for all it was worth. "Well, I hope the ancient ways of hospitality have not been forgotten."

"Of course not," Seefah said, trying to hide his displeasure. He had expected them to give up and kowtow long before now. Don't these people see how much more powerful I am? Well, if they can't learn except by the hard way… "Come, your visit was unexpected, but I'm sure I can find quarters suitable to ones of your stature. Your heera will be allowed to stay with mine, of course. Has he been trained?"

"Do not worry." Tali tried not to giggle. "He knows all too well what the punishment is for performing when not commanded. I will, of course, require use of him later."

"Excellent. I shall instruct the food preparers to surpass themselves. Please, rest, join me in four hours. We have much to discuss."

Machias watched the interchange and got the distinct feeling he and Tali were going to have a few words exchanged later as a guard escorted Machias away As Seefah walked with Megani and Tali towards better quarters, he sent a message by omnitool to Warsji, the captain of the guard, to pass on to Neeri: "Seduce the male human yet to be quartered with you. I want some leverage over my guests."

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Warsji delivered the message, but Neeri, the head heera of Seefah's collection, wasn't treating it like it was good news. She looked around at the other female quarians in the large chamber. All were chosen for their physical beauty, but Neeri was the most attractive and disciplined, and was also gifted with a strong tolerance for the things Seefah wanted her to do, but the news made her furious! Who does that...bashi-bazouk think he is? Thinking I'll spread my legs for any humanoid? The NERVE of that son-of-a-parasite-ridden-malformed-PYJAK! Well, there is no way on this planet or any other that I'll submit to that! Besides, I've seen humans before...brutish, uncouth, rude...with my luck, he's probably also fat and UGLY, too!

The door opened and Neeri turned. Then she stared.

Machias came in, then saw what quarian females looked like when they weren't wearing their suits...or much else, for that matter. He shut his eyes and turned around. "Excuse me, ladies...but would you kindly put some clothes on?"

Neeri walked closer. Definitely not fat...and definitely not ugly, even considering he WAS human. "Why are you here, human?"

"Oh, I'm a 'heera', whatever that is...I got the impression it means 'servant'...and I gotta say, I don't like the smile that brung to your face."

"In your tongue, human, 'heera' means 'sex slave'."

Machias stood there for a few moments. "...what?"

"You didn't know?" Neeri blinked, stifling laughter.

"I'm afraid the job description lacked that little detail." He rubbed his face with his hands.

"Hmmmmm….turn around, let us look at you."

"Are you all dressed?" Machias asked cautiously.

"Is that important?" one of the other quarians asked, brought out of her bored, drudging existence by the entrance of something new that wasn't Seefah.

"Hell's fire, YES!" Machias blushed. "Where I come from, I don't see that much of anyone unless we're a whole lot better acquainted…!" Machias slowly turned to see nine quarian females walking towards him.

"Well, then...let's get better acquainted." Neeri smiled.

"Look, hold it. Hold yer horses. Look, I'll make you a deal. If you all just...sit down and let's talk a bit, I guarantee that, by dinnertime, you won't regret it. Covering up is mandatory."

"Very well."

Machias turned to look, then spun back around. "Above...AND below," he said tersely.

"Well, you should've been more specific, human." Neeri suddenly felt like smiling, instead of just showing a smile like a mask, for the first time in years.

.

.

"All right, Tali...what do you think?"

"I think we're in trouble. I remember Seefah. He was a child when this happened." Tali rubbed the chin of her visor. "Machias was right. He probably didn't want this to happen, but he finds himself possessing all kinds of power and no self-restraint? Of course he's going to grow up to be a monster. Parents dead...power of a prisi'lai? Probably was scared until someone else found a way to use him, give him orders."

Megani nodded. "Until the day came when he became smart enough to wonder why he was STILL taking orders. The old king lost control, enter the new king. You see this sort of thing often in gang mentalities. So Seefah takes over, gets power, finds he likes it and chooses to enforce it. But there's no one around who can punish him for his bad behaviour. They try and he….does things to them."

"So what do we do?" Tali asked.

"Trust Machias."

Tali nodded. "What will he do?"

Megani smiled. "Something AMAZING."

.

.

Neeri was in complete ecstasy.

She had no idea what Machias was doing to her and she didn't care. All she wanted him to do was to keep doing it forever. Four of the other quarians were passed out, or as close to it as they could get, on the rugs on the floor and the other four were watching, wondering how in the world Machias could elicit such sounds from them with his hands and the way he touched their bodies. Neeri could barely breathe. NOTHING Seefah had ever done had ever made her feel like that.

When Machias was done, Neeri could only look up at him in disbelief. She couldn't move. Every muscle was limp. "How…did you...learn to...DO such things…?"

"Practiced with people I was partnered up with. You cannot believe how knotted up a person can get from riding fast and hard chasing after fugitives, but I ain't NEVER seen anyone who needed a deep tissue massage the way you all do. Lord-a-MIGHTY."

"Tell us more about this 'massage'. It is not something quarians do." One of the quarians he'd yet to help crawled closer.

"Not a real mystery why. You can't exactly get the right treatment through envirosuits, can you?" He took the bottle of oil he was using and put it aside. "Okay, Neeri, you're done."

"Can't...move. Don't...want to."

"That just means I did it right. You, what's your name?"

"Ashala," she said with a smile.

"Move over here, you know the drill. So, all of you used to be engineers and scientists on the Rayya?"

"Yes. before the crash, before our worth was reduced to...masses of flesh for the sole purpose of providing pleasure to a tyrant." Ashala frowned. "Yes, he gave us protection from the hazards of this world, even from disease itself...and all it cost us was our reasons for wanting to live. I would rather be sick for a month than stay in Seefah's presence for a DAY."

"Yeah, you got a lot of stress built up here, Ashala. Hang on...let's see...how about...THERE."

Ashala's head jerked up, her eyes rolling up in her head, the only sound coming from her mouth was a loud, "KEELAH!"

"Yeah...look, remember, I'm supposed to be a 'heera' so don't let on that I'm not, you know…"

Neeri turned her head slowly to look at him. "Machias, whatever you say is completely and perfectly acceptable by us. Besides...considering what you're doing for us...if you offered us a choice between sex...and this….knowing what we do now...I think we would've picked this anyways..."

"Good. Ashala, are you all right?"

"STOP...AND I'LL KILL YOU…"

Machias blinked. "Blazes, you needed this more than I thought."

.

.

Seefah smiled. It had been hours, and he knew no one could've resisted Neeri's charms. As he made his way to meet Tali and Megani, he checked in with the guards. "So, was Neeri successful?" he asked, thinking about how Tali'Zorah would squirm at the idea of her heera stolen away from her.

"Yes, prisi'lai. They ALL were."

Seefah stopped. "Only Neeri was commanded to seduce him."

"It sounded like she wasn't enough. We heard all these animal like sounds and screams. We'd NEVER heard them sound like that before. We came in to find the human...DOING something to them each in turn. After he was done with each one, they were exhausted and smiling, every single one."

Seefah's voice grew hard. "ALL of them?"

"Yes. When it was done, the human said he was somewhat tired and asked for a great deal of water. The quarian females were all worn out, and were unable to continue."

Seefah ground his teeth together. "SAY NOTHING OF THIS TO ANYONE. Do you hear me? If this gets out, I will have you both punished severely!" He turned off the omnitool as he approached the dining hall. How could this have happened? I could've turned this around on her, but if she finds out what happened, that this human was able to do what I could NOT...NO. I must find another way to get leverage on her.

He collected himself and opened the doors to the hall, seeing Megani and Tali sitting there, looking bemused as they both turned to look from each other to Seefah at the same time. "Well now...what shall we talk about?"

"The prisi'lai," Tali said with a smile. "I think it's time you really need to consider relinquishing control. I've been looking around at what you're doing. Instead of promoting growth, you're stifling it. The time of the prisi'lai is long past, at least when it comes to their place in modern culture. Really...look around you. These people follow you out of fear, and nothing more. None of them here would follow you out of loyalty. You've split up families. You've indulged yourself like a child, and in doing so, destroyed the sanctity of the life that is the source of your power." Tali remembered the words Machias told her to repeat, keeping an eye out for his responses. "Look at you. As you are, your link to this world's power is being corrupted. You probably couldn't beat my heera in one-on-one combat."

Seefah stood up, leaning towards Tali, fists on the table. "You come into MY domain, challenge my power, all while abusing the rules of hospitality?"

"Don't play the wounded host with me, Seefah. Your motives couldn't be plainer to me than they would if you'd painted them in twenty-meter high letters on the outside of your Wall. Where did you put the potion to subvert our reason? The food? The drink?" Tali was really started to feel the part, and could see that Seefah was more uncertain now. "Oh, try not to insult me by thinking me as gullible as your other pawns. Unlike you, I've had the benefit of a mentor." Tali turned to Megani, who was doing a rather impressive job of looking mysterious. "Someone who can provide knowledge and training."

Seefah glared at Tali, who was suddenly glad she had a tinted visor. "What are you proposing?"

"A duel. You and my heera. You win, and my mentor will give you training to harness your power."

"And if I lose?"

"You submit yourself to judgment for the things you've done, by someone trained to recognize and use magic."

Seefah turned to Megani, who nodded as Seefah faced her. He smiled. "Very well. I agree."

"We can be prepared within the hour. Prepare yourself." Tali'Zorah tried to make herself sound as imposing as possible. "I do not tolerate weakness around me, and though he is my heera, he is no weakling. Do not underestimate him."

Seefah sneered. "He's a HUMAN. Just because you beat him don't mean he's strong."

Tali stood up. "I will remember your words. Come along, Meg," she added as she spun on her heel and left the room.

.

.

As soon as they reached their room, Tali said down, her whole body trembling. "I cannot believe I did what I just did!" she whispered, not knowing if there were any listening devices around.

"You did very well, Tali."

She nodded. "Now what?"

Megani sighed. "Now we find out if Machias is clever...or insane. Or both."

"But aren't we worrying over nothing? Machias will win, of course."

"Tali, Seefah has been here for years, and Machias has been here barely a day. Seefah will likely make this quick, which means he'll be throwing everything he's got at Mac. Mac may know tactics, but he may find himself outmatched in the face of overwhelming force. Plus, Machias wouldn't try to kill Seefah. Seefah is under no such restraint."

"So….you're saying there's a chance…?"

"That we might end up spending time in Seefah's collection?" Megani shook her head. "Well, you have to admit, working for Machias does make things interesting, doesn't it?"

"One hour." Tali sighed. "Too much time to wait, and yet too little."

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TO BE CONTINUED...