The Red Moon Collection - 4 - Fragments and Ire
Chapter 10
ISV Trueshot, in orbit over Illium, Tasale System
"Should have a berth in just a few minutes," Kay called over the ship's intercom.
"Good thing there was a delay," Fynnis commented. "Because this firmware is being a bastard."
Will glanced over his shoulder to watch as the turian stood behind him working on his omnitool. The turian was attempting to finish connecting Will's suit of armor into the battle network that he and Kay shared. Unfortunately the suit was rather old and had not been given to them in a state that would allow for easy modification. Will looked down as he crossed his arms and eyed the armor plating around him. It was painted red and silver, the colors of the Red Moon Collective. After coming to the realization that he was still without any gear, he bitterly requested a set of armor and a weapon from the RMC's armory. Thankfully, Kallux had authorized the loan after being called by the quartermaster, and without having to question Will about it.
"You're not instilling me with a lot of hope for this armor," Will muttered only semi-jokingly.
"Eh, it'll hold together," Fynnis assured him. "I ran a quick diagnostic on it. It's not top shelf, but it'll keep your organs in close proximity. For a little while, at least."
"I can feel my concern just floating away," Will remarked sarcastically.
He looked over to a workbench on the wall of the cargo bay to see the rifle he had requisitioned laying at the center. Picking up the borrowed M-15 Vindicator from the RMC had been surprisingly difficult. He had come to terms with everything he had lost when the Hyperion was destroyed, but being reminded of his father's rifle pained him deeply. It had been the last physical thing he had of his father's and it was undoubtedly obliterated as it sat in the armory when the ship was destroyed.
"Alright, you should be good to go," Fynnis declared as he stepped to Will's side with a confident nod.
"No other complications?" Will asked.
He stepped over to the workbench and retrieved the rifle before stowing it on his back.
"Only a few glaring deficiencies in the armor's structural integrity. Nothing to worry about."
"Thanks," Will replied with a smirk. "We should probably head up to the cockpit and make sure everything is going smoothly," Will suggested as he turned for the door.
"That and make sure the Spectre hasn't arrested Kay," Fynnis said with his usual unflinching sarcasm. "He's going to do it eventually. He's probably itching to do it as we speak."
The two of them passed through the door to the hallway and hurried toward the stairs near the aft end of the ship that would take them to the upper level.
"He's not going to arrest her," Will said both to assure Fynnis and himself. "I mean, as long as she doesn't do anything really bad in front of him."
Fynnis laughed as they headed up the stairs. "Oh, then we've got nothing at all to worry about! It's not as though we make a living doing things that are generally considered 'bad' by the median moral consciousness."
"You're not helping your case," Will reminded him.
The two of them took the final step to the operations deck and turned down the small hallway past the officer's quarters to their left and right. Straight ahead Will could see Kay sitting in the pilot's seat with her fingers drumming impatiently on a wall panel as Vayren stood behind her with his arms held behind his back. Will and Fynnis approached quietly and came to stand on either side of the Spectre to see an idling comm channel blinking on one of the cockpit screens.
"I thought you said we'd be docked in a few minutes," Will jabbed.
Kay groaned. "If the fucking port would hurry up we would-"
She stopped as the comm channel turned from orange to green.
"You are cleared for docking, Trueshot. Proceed to docking bay 4-9."
"Thanks, inbound now." Kay rolled her eyes in irritated relief despite her amicable response.
"You will be met by a port representative, please prepare any relevant immigration or declaration documents."
Kay leaned forward and ignited the thrusters as she pointed the nose of the ship toward the surface. "You got it."
She reached over and placed a few commands into the navigation panel as the ship began its descent.
"I'm surprised they approved us to dock so quickly," Vayren commented.
Kay looked over her shoulder. "We've been here dozens of times. They've probably got everything they need on us on file already."
Will raised his brows. "Really? I've only docked here once or twice, and that was just for a quick cargo drop. What kept you coming back here?"
"Lots of business," Kay replied as she turned back to the flight controls. "Back when I was still just a slave on the ship we'd make actual legitimate runs delivering indentured servants to and from the planet. Looked good to have some official business on the books in case the ship was ever investigated."
"Hmm. I can't imagine you do that anymore."
"Fuck no," Kay assured him. "But there's always plenty of... uh, cargo, that needs hauling. Merc jobs on occasion."
Will looked through the forward viewport as the ship began to level out over the outskirts of the city they were set to land in. While the Citadel and Illium were both impressive, Illium was a different kind of beauty. Illium was mesmerizing. The colors of the sunset mixed with those of the superstructure skyscrapers were bold and dazzling. Those colors combined with the elegant and sometimes odd shape and design of asari architecture created a sight that Will couldn't help but be entranced by. Kay monitored the mostly automated controls as they brought the ship through its traveling lane and in position to float gently into the massive spaceport. The docking armatures automatically assumed control and wrapped themselves into position on the ship's hull, locking it into place just as the Trueshot slid into its berth.
Kay jumped to her feet and immediately stepped past the others. "C'mon, slackers."
Will, Vayren and Fynnis turned and hurried to catch up with her as she led them down the stairs to the port side of the ship where the airlock had been lined up with the docking ramp. The four of them stepped into the airlock and waited as it swiftly cycled the atmosphere and opened the outer door to the ramp suspended hundreds of feet above the surface of the planet. Will and Kay stepped out first, followed by Vayren and Fynnis.
"Damn, I forgot how hot this place is," Will muttered.
"It's actually rather cool now that the sun is setting," Vayren noted.
"Remind me not to step outside at noon," Will replied with a laugh.
Together the group took a few steps toward the end of the docking ramp and door that led inside, only to see it open as an asari strolled out with a datapad in her hand. They slowed their pace as the asari approached them confidently and gave them a corporate smile.
"Good evening, welcome back to New Estrana," she greeted. "New passengers with you?"
Kay was clearly not happy with the information they had stored on her. "Two new ones, yeah."
"I see. And have they visited Illium before?" The asari looked to Will and Vayren knowingly.
"Uhh, yeah, once or twice," Will replied.
"Many times," Vayren answered.
The asari attendant nodded. "Perfect." She looked to Kay. "Do you have any goods to declare, Captain?"
"None," Kay replied. "We're just here looking for some friends."
The asari looked down to her datapad and made a few entries. "I see your payment has already been transferred. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"I think we're good," Fynnis informed her.
"Wonderful. If you require transportation, we have taxi terminals just outside the doors of the main lobby. Enjoy your stay on Illium."
The woman smiled and quickly strode back to the door from where she had appeared as Will turned to the others.
"So what's our first step?" He asked. "All we know is the alias Ralliston is going by now and that he's here in New Estrana."
"We should find the immigration office," Fynnis suggested. "He would have had to register to stay on the planet for more than a week or two."
"Yes, and they might have records on his place of residence," Vayren agreed. "Assuming, of course, that the information he gave them is even true."
"Just what we need, more variables to make this difficult," Kay chimed.
"Come on then," Will said as he started off down the ramp. "Fynnis, think you can find us an immigration office?"
The turian activated his omnitool and nodded. "I'll see what I can find."
The group of four reached the end of the ramp and stepped into the interior of the spaceport. After walking down a hall to a security checkpoint each of them went through the process of presenting their identification and passing through security at the customs checkpoint. This included Vayren, who Will noticed did not identify himself as a Spectre while talking to the security agent. After they had been cleared they boarded and elevator that transported them to the top floor where the main lobby was located and began walking toward the entrance doors.
"Surprised you didn't push through security with your Spectre clearance," Fynnis mentioned to Vayren.
The turian had noticed as well.
"I didn't mention it. In fact, I used a fabricated ID," the salarian responded.
Kay gave him a confused look. "What? Why? If I were a Spectre I'd be pushing that kind of authority everywhere I went!"
"There are people on Illium who don't need to know I am here," he answered.
"Damn, apparently the people that scare Spectres live in New Estrana," Kay joked.
Vayren narrowed his eyes. "This has nothing to do with fear. I assure you that these people have done nothing to frighten me. It's simply a matter of..." He sighed and shook his head. "Just leave it."
Will gave Vayren a curious look as they stepped outside into the twilight sun and walked toward the taxi terminal near the edge of the balcony.
"We got a destination yet?" Will asked.
"Yep," Fynnis replied. "The city's main immigration office is a few minutes away by skycar. Looks like they'll be open for another hour or so."
Kay stepped up to one of the hailing consoles and called a cab from the row of idling skycars on an outcropping below them. A car at the end jumped to life and spun to position itself by the loading ramp with its door open and waiting. Fynnis stepped ahead of the others and slid into one of the front seats where he accessed the control console and input their destination. Will, Kay and Vayren followed behind him and sat comfortably as the door shut by Kay's command.
"So I have to ask, is this information we're looking for public?" Kay inquired from the second front seat.
The turian shook his head and sat back as the car set off on its course. "It's not available on the extranet," he answered. "I'm hoping at the offices we'll be able to get our hands on it."
"Illium can be a very private place," Vayren warned them. "It would be wise if we had an alternative plan in place."
"I was assuming the alternative plan involved the words, 'I'm a Spectre,' and them handing over whatever we asked for," Kay asserted. "Is that not the case?"
"I used a false identity when we passed through customs," Vayren said with a sigh. "Why would I let the immigration office of all places know of my actual identity?"
Will raised a brow. "You're worried about your name showing up in anywhere? Who are these people you're trying to avoid on Illium?"
"It's not... people," Vayren answered hesitantly. "A person."
Will almost prodded Vayren to continue, but decided against it. Instead he turned to look out the window as the skyline flashed by, illuminated by both the setting sun and the bright, dazzling colors of signs and advertisements scattered across the sides of buildings.
"Glad this guy we're looking for isn't in Nos Astra," Kay mentioned to Fynnis.
The turian snickered and shook his head. "Yeah. Not sure the port authority would be too inclined to let us dock after our last visit."
Before Will or Vayren could ask, the skycar entered a sharp turn and descent toward the entrance of the building that housed New Estrana's central immigration offices. After a graceful alignment with the entrance plaza's unloading ramp, the door of the skycar popped open and deposited the group in front of the building's main entrance. Will led them into the extravagant foyer and came to a stop as he took a long look around the multistory room.
"Fanciest government building I've ever been in," Will chuckled.
"Most of the 'governance' on Illium is private industry," Vayren informed him.
Fynnis nodded in affirmation. "Yep. And while the vibe of Nos Astra is all about fast, modern business, New Estrana draws from classic asari elegance." He paused for a brief moment. "Well, that and fast, modern business."
Will smirked and pointed toward the welcome desk. "Let's see what we can find out."
The four of them approached an asari woman working at her console behind the desk. She glanced up to them and presented a pleasant smile as she turned her attention from the computer.
"Good evening. May I help you?"
"I hope so," Will said with an honest smile. "I'm looking for a friend of mine. He arrived on Illium a month or two ago."
The asari pursed her lips. "Hmm, I see. Well, let's see what we can do." She looked back to her console. "What is the name?"
Will looked down at his omnitool to find the alias that Ralliston was using. "Uhh... Vallarus Septarian."
The attendant typed the name in and looked through the data that was returned. "And what did you want to know about him?"
"I need to know his registered address," Will answered.
"You're in luck," she told them. "His address is non-restricted information. That will be ninety-five credits, please."
Kay scoffed. "Are you kidding me? For public information?"
The asari smiled politely. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but this is not public information. It is simply not restricted and has a standard fee for access."
Will rolled his eyes and tapped a few commands into his omnitool. "Okay, it's transferring."
"Transaction approved," the asari informed them. "I will forward the information to your omnitool. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?"
"No, I think we're good," Will answered as he opened the message in his inbox.
"Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful evening."
Will turned and headed back toward the door with the others following beside or behind him. As they stepped outside, Kay stretched her back and let out a bored yawn.
"So where to now?"
"We visit Ralliston's apartment," Will answered. "And I try my best not to kill him."
The apartment high-rise that housed Ralliston's address was in an area of town that had clearly seen better days. It appeared as though the area of the city had once, many decades or centuries ago, been the home to much of New Estrana's heavy industry. But the factories had eventually become out-dated and sold off as corporations moved to newer, more high-tech facilities in the ever-expanding city. According to the research Fynnis had done as they arrived at the building, it had once been a housing unit exclusively for laborers in the area. Now it provided a place to live or hide for anyone with enough credits to pay a cheap monthly rate. Ralliston's apartment was on one of the lowest floors, and the group did not have much trouble marking their way into the building without a resident's ID.
"1209," Will reiterated as they followed the series of doors down a hallway.
"I see it," Vayren noted.
The came to a stop in front of a plain metal door. Will raised his hand and tapped the console beside it, sending a hail into the apartment. They waited for nearly a minute before Will pressed the button a second time, only to be met with the same result. He stepped to the side and held an arm out to the door offeringly.
"Fynnis, you wanna take this one?"
The turian stepped up with a shrug and set to work. "Doubt it'll take much to-"
The door pinged and slid open.
Fynnis chuckled lightly. "Yeah. Like I said."
Will peered into the apartment to see a small living area and kitchen with relatively barren walls, counters and tables. He stepped inside and looked around curiously. The sun had set during their flight over, leaving only soft ambient light from the highrises above to sneak into the window at the far side of the room. After another step the automated lights flickered to life and illuminated the room with a dull glow. Will motioned to a door on one wall and glanced back to Kay.
"Check that out?"
She nodded and headed toward the door. "Sure."
Fynnis and Vayren stepped inside behind them and shut the door as they all began examining the apartment looking for anything and nothing in particular. Will stepped past the kitchen and looked over a pair of heavy footlockers lined against a blank wall. He knelt beside one and opened it up, revealing nothing but a few pieces of maintenance equipment. The equipment in the second footlocker was also sparse, though Will identified a few tools that he exclusively used for working on guns.
"Nothing in the bedroom," Kay called.
"Nothing in these footlockers either," Will replied. "Wherever he is, he's got his weapons and armor equipped."
Then, something unusual caught Will's attention. He narrowed his eyes and reached into the weapon footlocker to retrieve what looked like a baseball-sized chunk of metal, partially warped and bent but clearly part of some kind of metal plating. One side was a painted light gray that had faded over some time, while the other was the dull silver tone of the metal's natural color.
Vayren knelt beside him. "What is it?"
Will shook his head lightly. "I... I think it might be part of the debris," he said quietly. "From the Hyperion." He closed his eyes and envisioned the ship in front of him."The color is exactly the same as he hull."
The salarian gave him a sideways glance. "Something to remember you and the crew by?"
"Maybe," Will admitted as he opened his eyes and set it back down.
"I don't see anything else in here," Fynnis informed them. "It looks like this guy leads a pretty utilitarian life."
Will shut the two footlockers and stood with Vayren at his side. "Yeah. I guess now we just wait for-"
Before he could finish the door pinged and slid open, surprising the four of them. They spun to face the opening door to see a large turian in Eclipse armor standing firmly in the doorway with his assault rifle aimed toward them. Will immediately recognized him. Ralliston.
"You should scope out your robberies better next time," the turian shouted. "Because there's nothing of value here! And learn how to crack a door without triggering the silent alarm next time."
As his eyes fell on Will, Ralliston froze in place without warning. The grip on the rifle in his hands slackened and the barrel of the gun dropped slightly as his mouth opened in silent shock.
"Hume?" He asked under his breath.
Will took a step toward him. "That's right. And I haven't shot you yet." He stared Ralliston down. "I'd say this is going about as well as it could have."