Chapter 9: Abandon Hope, Ye Who Enter
"Cerberus had arranged lodging for us at a hotel near Erissana's compound. Our room was on the third floor, with a tiny balcony overlooking the grounds of the upcoming ceremony. It was otherwise small and sparsely appointed—Cerberus didn't yet have access to the near-unlimited funds it now commands, and spent little on luxury. The cramped accommodations were of no concern to me, but Kay complained bitterly. He spent the evening smoking cigarettes on the balcony while I attempted to meditate.
"However, I found myself distracted. Anxious. Determined though I was to show Kay nothing but confidence and competence, I confess I was somewhat nervous. Matriarch Erissana was a high-profile target—the highest to which I'd ever been assigned. She was powerful as well, not just in influence, but also personally: her combat skills and biotics were matched by few. And I was attempting this mission under the auspices of an alien black ops organization, with a partner I did not trust and who did not trust me. I began to wonder if I hadn't finally found myself in over my head.
"Before I could examine that thought too closely, however, Kay's voice shook me out of my ruminations. 'Krios!' he hissed. 'Get me my rifle!'
"I did not move, nor even open my eyes. 'Why?' I asked, perhaps petulantly.
"'I have eyes on our target, goddammit! Now do as I say, before we lose her!' I opened my eyes just in time to see him pound his fists on the railing in frustration, cursing. 'Too late. She's gone.' He whirled around to glare at me. 'What the fuck was that?' he demanded.
"'A judgement call,' I replied.
"The look on Kay's face reminded me of nothing more than a volcano about to erupt. 'What the hell do you mean, a judgement call?'
"If I'm to be truly honest, I must admit to having found immense satisfaction in so provoking him. Despite my doubts about the mission as a whole, I was confident in the decisions I had just made, and could not resist the temptation to rub his nose in it, as it were. 'I judged that it would be best to stick to our plan,' I said smugly. 'I judged that the sound of your shot would bring the hotel's security to our room in a matter of moments. I judged that your proposed course of action would draw unnecessary attention to our position and ourselves. And I judged our chances of being killed before escaping to be unacceptably high.'
"Two long strides brought Kay's face to within inches of my own, and he snarled, 'Don't you ever question my orders again.'
"His anger bothered me not at all. I felt myself to be in complete control of the mission now—and more than that, as though I had successfully wrested that control from Kay. It was a heady, powerful, and altogether inappropriate line of thought, but it did serve to overwhelm my anxiety for a time.
"The following evening was, as Kay put it, 'show time.'
"It was not uncommon for visitors on Cyone to travel heavily armed, so when we reached the Matriarch's compound, our weapons were checked without incident. Well, nearly. Kay hesitated at first to hand over his blade, but it was too large to conceal, and he would not be allowed inside until he surrendered it. Mine, however, was small enough to be well hidden, so I was able to keep it with me, undetected by the guards. I doubted I would need it, but I felt better knowing it was there.
"We were among the few non-asari present at the gathering, and as such drew an uncomfortable amount of attention. As the dinner drew to a close, I noticed one of Erissana's commando bodyguards whispering to her and nodding at Kay.
"'We may have a problem,' I murmured to Kay, fearing that somehow she'd made us. But before I could warn him further, the Matriarch herself approached us, a smile on her face and suspicion in her eyes. 'Good evening, gentlemen,' she said. 'I don't believe I've had the pleasure.'
"Kay shook her proffered hand. 'Stefan Karlsburg, Envitië Technologies. This is my associate, Cisell Pallos.'
"I bowed. 'It is an honor to meet you, Matriarch.'
"'You are too kind, Sere Pallos,' Erissana replied. She frowned at Kay. 'But I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your company, Mr. Karlsburg.'
"'We're a subsidiary of Baria Frontiers,' Kay said smoothly. 'Envitië Technologies codeveloped many of the innovations in the Arphelia's navigation systems.'
"Erissana raised her eyebrows in an expression that was simultaneously curious and challenging. 'Oh? And what innovations are those?'
"I saw Kay's jaw clench fractionally as he raced to conjure a believable lie, and I stepped in an instant before his hesitation would have become questionable. I chuckled softly and smiled, praying my own nerves weren't so clearly betraying me. 'I'm afraid those details are beyond our expertise, Matriarch. Our department is public relations. We represent Envitië's interests, but have little knowledge of the specifics of individual projects.'
"The commando at Erissana's side narrowed her eyes, her face pinched as though she'd tasted something sour. She reached for the weapon at her side. 'Matriarch—'
"But Erissana held up a hand, halting the commando in her tracks. 'Stand down, Faella,' she said, almost gently. 'These men are our guests. And I'm certain,' she continued, holding Kay's gaze with narrowed eyes, 'that they know better than to attempt anything… untoward.'
"Kay raised his eyebrows in feigned offense. 'I'm wounded, Matriarch. Nothing of the sort ever crossed my mind.'
"'Of course.' Erissana's pale blue eyes were as hard and cold as ice. 'Nevertheless, be aware that I've reinforced the Arphelia's cybersecurity. Her innovations remain the sole property of the Asari Republics. You understand.'
"I almost laughed with relief. The Matriarch was suspicious of us, yes, but she thought we were there to steal military secrets. 'You are wise to take precautions,' I said, 'but rest assured, we have no designs on any data regarding the Arphelia.'
"Kay glowered at me. 'Come on, Cisell. I think we may have worn out our welcome here. Let's go.' He nodded stiffly to Erissana. 'Matriarch.'
"Erissana dipped her head in response. 'Good evening, gentlemen.'
"When the Matriarch was out of earshot, Kay hissed quietly, '"You are wise to take precautions"? Sure, just go ahead and tell her we have ulterior motives here!'
"'She was already suspicious of us. Nothing we said was going to change that,' I argued. 'Let her think us thieves. It will distract her from our true purpose.'
"With an incredulous snort, Kay shook his head. 'Well, we better move now, before she tightens up her security anyway,' he said. At a normal volume, he added, 'Get your coat, Cisell. We're leaving.'
"That was the signal to begin our operation. I began to wend my way through the crowd toward the cloakroom, while Kay headed for the door. I soon lost sight of him.
"I still had no idea exactly how he intended to circumvent all of Erissana's security. It made me uncomfortable, not knowing. A small, nagging, perhaps paranoid voice in the back of my mind wondered if he meant to leave me here. But he was my partner, and I had no choice but to trust him.
"Once alone in the cloakroom, I checked the area's security. But there was no exit except to the ballroom, so surveillance was minimal. It was a simple matter to avoid the single camera's range and slip unseen into the ventilation ducts. To anyone watching monitors or reviewing footage, it would be as if I were never there.
"The ducts themselves were as small as I'd feared. As I crept toward the armory, I began to despair of ever getting our weapons to the rendezvous point undetected. With any luck, I thought, whatever small sounds I made would be dismissed as vermin. The scattering of desiccated droppings that littered the floor certainly attested to them being commonplace. I could only hope the creatures were as noisy as they were ubiquitous.
"I nearly hit my head on the duct walls when Kay's voice over the radio once again startled me out of my thoughts. 'Guard office is secure, Krios. Armory should be clear. Where are you?'
"'Almost there,' I replied quietly.
"'Well, hurry up. We only have about seven minutes before someone figures out something's wrong.'
"At least, that's what I'm fairly certain he said. The radio signal was beginning to break up and fill with static. 'Kay?' I whispered back. 'Kay, can you hear me?'
"There was only silence in response. I was on my own.
"I reached the armory moments later and peered through the the air vent. Immediately, I felt justified in my second-guessing of Kay—the room was not empty as he claimed it would be. Whatever distraction he'd created, it hadn't been enough to leave this post abandoned. 'Armory is not clear, I repeat, not clear,' I murmured into the radio. I didn't know if he could hear me or not.
"For an instant, I flashed back to my very first assignment: Arren gesturing to the man below me as if to say, Complete your contract.
"I was far less clumsy this time.
"I drop to the floor, tuck and roll. The guard's barrier shimmers as I leap to my feet, a Warp tears it away. I collapse her knee with a kick, she goes down with a grunt. She grabs for her weapon, too late. I immobilize her with a knee to her spine. Chin in one hand, scalp in the other.
"I hesitate. She is innocent, only fulfilling her duty. But I must do the same.
"Arren's voice echoes in my mind: Prayers for the wicked must not be forsaken.
"So I lean down and whisper in her ear, 'Go now to the sea.'
"Her neck snaps. She falls still, and so do I. 'Arashu, forgive me.'
"I… I have always prided myself in clean kills. No unnecessary suffering, and no innocent lives taken. I have not… always succeeded. But this was the first time I felt I'd failed in that goal. And suddenly, her face slackened in death, the asari at my feet looked… very young. I was all at once aware of… of precisely what I'd taken from her. Of how many centuries I'd stolen. I felt…
"Guilty… yes, perhaps. I had no contract for her. She had simply been in my way, and I was… saddened… that I'd had no other choice. I have tried to tell myself that she was no different than, for example, Gandu Pat's bodyguards, whom I'd killed without compunction. But such excuses have always somehow rung hollow.
"I never learned her name. And I'm still not certain why I… why that troubles me so.
"But I had no time for such reflections. I had only five minutes to retrieve our weapons, meet Kay, and get to the Matriarch's chambers.
"And I had encountered an unanticipated complication.
"Of all the skills I'd spent my life honing to as near perfection as I could achieve, computer code has always been my greatest weakness. I'm perfectly capable of picking a standard electronic lock or breaking into minimally secured servers, but any sort of advanced hacking I had long ago given up as hopeless. It was simply not a skill I had found necessary. But suddenly I found myself faced with a problem: the locker in which our weapons were stored was secured far beyond my ability to open. And I didn't have enough omni-gel to force my way in.
"Perhaps Kay could have talked me through it, but I still couldn't raise him on the radio. And we were out of time."