Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect, this belongs to Bioware. Please enjoy.
Chapter 11: Den of the horny drunks.
Vixen stormed out the council chamber with Kaidan and Ashley literally nipping at her heels. She wanted to punch something, tear something apart with her biotics but instead she settled for letting the steam filter through her ears as she charged down the steps leading back to floral gardens. She could barely remember most of the meeting through the red haze that had developed over the course of the demands and shouts. Saren had appeared as a giant holo and played the act of 'big bad Turian Spectre' as he basically denied being on Eden Prime. But Kaidan and Ashley had spoken up saying that a dockworker had seen him shoot Nihlus, which made Saren's hackles rise and he basically told Kaidan that he would never make a good Spectre or should have never been considered. Udina had basically nearly lost all control as he shouted so much Vixen thought his head was about to blow or she would go deaf. He demanded that the council strip him of his rank and hall his sexy Turian ass back to the Citadel to be charged for his crimes. But even Vixen knew that the Council wouldn't do that, he was demanding the impossible. Then Anderson brought up her visions, maybe thinking that it might contain information about what happened at Eden Prime…yeah about 50,000 years ago maybe but not in the present. But what haunted her about the meeting was when Anderson brought it up; Saren's eyes zoomed in on her. At first he was surprised but then it seemed to bubble over into confusion and anger. Vixen knew she didn't tell him about her visions but why would he be angry about that? All they did was give her broken images and really bad headaches. But still it felt like he was accusing her of something that she had no idea of. But the council came to her rescue by saying that her visions were nothing more than broken images that had no real value to the case, Udina nearly blew an artery while Kaidan and Ashley started to join in the arguing. But Anderson simply looked at Vixen and shook his head, he knew from what the council said that she had talked to them behind his back. It wasn't because she didn't trust him, she didn't trust Udina.
Vixen started to storm towards the elevator but a voice she didn't want to hear anymore called out to her.
"And where do you think you're going Commander?" Udina called sternly from across the room. Vixen halted in her strides before turning towards the snapping turtle of a man. His wrinkled features were etched like stone and Vixen growled, she knew that look, she was in trouble.
"I thought it would be best for me to go since I'm not needed" Vixen pointed towards the elevator. Udina seemed to turn his stone etched face into a sneer that would have made Saren jealous.
"Not this time Commander, you heard the Council, we need evidence." Udina told her. Kaidan and Ashley fell in line behind Vixen making her spine tingle.
"What kind of evidence" Ashley perked up, her voice filled with anticipation.
"We need to find evidence saying that Saren was at Eden Prime or had something to do with it" Anderson spoke. Vixen turned her gaze towards him and when their eyes connected there was no warmth between them like there usually was. She had gone behind his back to talk to the council and he felt betrayed or maybe he felt hurt that she didn't talk to him first before doing it. But she couldn't think about that now, she had to concentrate on the fact that Udina was out for blood.
"Ok fine, I'll play this little game…where do you suggest we look?" Vixen growled as she folded her arms and cocked her hip. She felt Kaidan's eyes swarm her body as she did and resisted the urge to throw up. Udina nearly turned that new shade of purple she liked while Anderson shook his in dismay.
"I have a contact down in C-sec; he might be able to tell us where to find this other C-sec officer that has been investigating Saren." Udina rubbed his chin. Vixen narrowed her eyes at the white cotton clad man, for the latter part he was talking about Garrus but who could this contact be?
"His name is Harkin…" Question answered and Vixen had to cover her mouth to stop herself from being sick.
"Problem Commander?" Udina quirked his eyebrow, as Vixen smiled playfully.
"Besides the fact that Harkin hangs out in Chora's Den more than doing his job, he drinks so much that he is drunk 24/7 and he does drugs like its candy. Other than that I'm fine" Vixen jabbed. If one thing it certainly showed what kind of company Udina kept. Udina ground his teeth together and before he could lash out at Shepard for her tongue, Anderson stepped in.
"You can also talk to Barla Von; he might be able to give you information about Saren" Anderson spoke up. Vixen tilted her head but nodded in response, it was a good idea and a good enough distraction for the other two. She needed to find Garrus on her own.
"Alright, we'll get on it" Vixen saluted to Anderson before walking towards the elevator with the meerkats in toe. Kaidan and Ashley had to jog to keep up with Vixen's long strides, Vixen on the other hand wanted to run away from them both. Her biotics were screaming to get out and her temper was on a knife edge. They reached the elevator and as they walked in Vixen pushed the button to go down to the brightly lit presidium. The elevator gave a soft hum before it started to move at its dreadfully slow pace…she would have been better wading through Krogan vomit again.
"Where are we going first Shepard?" Kaidan piped up. Vixen gave him a side long glace from the barrier of red and white hair. He was looking at her with those awful eyes that screamed for her approval while he shifted from foot to foot as if he was ready to dodge an incoming punch. Vixen glances down towards her Omni-tool, pretending to check messages and other systems.
"You two are going to Barla Von, see what information he has" Vixen told him. Barla Von she knew too well, dealt with him and his high prices for information. He privately flaunted his status of being one of the Shadow Broker's informants and all the information Vixen had gotten from him was good but expensive, told her it help his cover as a financial advisor but Vixen didn't buy it.
"What? We're not going to Chora's Den?" Ashley almost spat. Vixen rolled her eyes.
"How do you want to do this Williams? Go to a night club which it full of horny drunk aliens or go to a nice shiny office with only one small Volus…you pick" Vixen growled as she slammed her Omni-tool off. Ashley jumped but looked towards the polished floor while she kicked the imaginary dust. Vixen shook her head making her hair flow with her movement while she let out a sigh.
"I thought so…I'll go to Chora's Den and talk to Harkin, you two go to Barla Von's office and get the information we need" The doors opened up to the bustling crowds of aliens of the brightly lit Presidium. Ashley strode out while keeping her distance away from any and all aliens making Vixen think that she had made the right choice in not taking her to Chora's Den. Kaidan on the other hand stood beside Vixen shifting his feet back and forth like he was afraid to move. Vixen sighed before she turned to the shifting man; the Council was seriously thinking of making Alenko a Spectre?
"What Alenko?" Vixen growled as she folded her arms and cocked her hip. Kaidan blinked for a moment but soon he wiped off the puppy dog look and stared at Vixen's shoulder with an intense gaze. Vixen wondered why he wouldn't look at her in the eye.
"Are you sure you want to do this Commander?" Kaidan asked. Vixen was surprised that he used her rank he had been calling her Shepard for so long that she had kind of gotten used to it. But Vixen rolled her eyes as she let out a sigh of frustration.
"If I wasn't sure about it, Alenko I wouldn't have suggested it. I'm not a child, I'm a big girl I can take care of myself." Vixen spoke with slight venom in her voice that made Ashley flinch. Kaidan seemed to deflate but nodded and walked out of the elevator to join Ashley in the bustling crowds, Vixen watched them walk off and disappear into the crowds before the doors closed and she was finally alone in the confining space. She sighed, letting the sound echo around her before the rested against the smooth metal walls. This was started to make her skin itch with irritation, why did Alenko think that she needed protecting or watching all the time? She was fully healed and ready for a fight, she felt like she could take on a Krogan battle master if she wanted but that look in his eyes before he covered it up. It was a look of worry. She felt sick, she could take care of herself and she didn't need anybody else. Not Kaidan. Not Saren. Not…
Her heart ached as she thought of Nihlus in that medical bed full of wires and tubes. Vixen bit her lip hard to rid herself of the images in her mind, the blood fell down her chin and dripped onto the cold floor.
Pull yourself together Vixen she scolded herself. She needed to find Garrus so that she could avoid Harkin at all costs. To say she hated the guy was an understatement. She brought up her Omni-tool and started to type out a message.
Garrus,
Need to talk to you. Where are you? Urgent!
Vixen sent the message and prayed to the spirits that he would get it, unless he was like her and hardly checked her Omni-tool for messages. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips as she thought of all the lectures she had from Saren and Nihlus about not checking her messages but she shook off the nostalgia, she had a job to do and it was one she wasn't looking forward to doing. Vixen pressed the button to activate the elevator, telling it to take her towards the wards. Not realising that her Omni-tool had buzzed, alerting her to a message.
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Vixen walked through the back streets of the Wards; she wondered why Chora's Den was in the back alleys, everyone knew about the place. Maybe it was a matter of privacy for the people who went in there but it hardly mattered, you can walk into Chora's Den perfectly fine but if people saw you drunk and ready to fuck someone's brains out you had been to Chora's Den. Vixen swore she saw Udina in there once but she might have been mistaken. Vixen reached the doors that led into yet another back street with the blaring lights promising almost fully naked Asari dancers. She started to cross the bridge but suddenly she heard a faint click, the sound bouncing off the walls. Vixen stopped in her tracks as she steadied her breathing, she knew that click well. Someone had armed a gun, she glance out of the corner of her eye to look across the bridge. The lighting didn't help, the shadows hid whoever had the gun well but that didn't stop her biotics from flaring across her body like a fire. Then, as if they were a jack-in-a-box, two masked Turians appeared holing up there rifles towards her.
"There! I think that's one of them!" One of them yelled. Vixen focused in on him but the other rounded the corner and fire a round of bullets, a few hit into her shoulder while the others bounced off her biotic barrier. Hissing and cursing Vixen sent out a wave of biotic power sending the one Turian over the side with a deafening scream. Vixen focused on the other as she growled and narrowed her eyes, the Turian left standing flinched but readied his gun growling back. Vixen ground her teeth as she crouched down into a stance as if she was ready to fight hand to hand.
"Damn it, He didn't tell me one of Alenko's men was a Biotic…let alone a woman!" The Turian shouted like he was talking to another person on his radio. Vixen growled if there was more she was in deep shit.
"Who are you working for?" Vixen shouted over to him. The Turian aimed his rifle to her head as he hissed at her.
"Why bother asking when you're gonna die?" The Turian yelled. Vixen narrowed her eyes as she charged her biotics, then with a scream that sounded like a war cry she ran towards the gap between them. Her biotics shone round her propelling her forward until she reached the other side, effectively slamming into the Turian making him slide down the wall until he hit the floor. She straddled his hips before she grabbed his rifle and shoved the barrel of it to his forehead.
"Tell me!" Vixen screamed. The Turian squirmed beneath her but Vixen tightened her thighs round his armoured waist making the Turian shudder…maybe wasn't the best idea but she needed him to keep still just in case she pulled the trigger. The Turian gave a warbled snarl but Vixen pressed the barrel of the rifle harder into his forehead.
"I'm not telling you, you Human meat bag! I'd die before I betray him" The Turian growled out but Vixen's face didn't even flinch.
"Look pal, I'm dealt with scarier Turians than you, just tell me and I'll let you go" Vixen purred with a deadly sweet smile on her lips. The Turian stilled and Vixen could swear she saw his eyes widen behind his dark visor, his hands were itching to do something but the pressure of the barrel of his rifle caused him to pause.
"Don't make me kill a nice Turian like you" Vixen spoke softly and the Turian beneath her took in a breath.
"What about my friend? You killed him" He growled out. Vixen pouted slightly, that Turian had nice legs as she recalled.
"He shot me, I only responded…didn't mean to throw him over the side. I do really like Turians and I prefer not to kill you but when I get attacked and my body starts to throw out this horrid red stuff, it hurts you know" Vixen spoke softly but sweetly. The Turian glanced towards her shoulder; the red blood ran down her armour like a waterfall and Vixen was drawing on all her strength not to hiss in pain. The Turian beneath her growled but let out a deflating sigh as he gazed up at her.
"Look, I can't tell you…he's probably got a sniper trained on me right now and I'm surprised he hasn't shot you to get to me. I'm sorry, you seem like a good meat bag but I can't tell you" The Turian spoke, his low rumbling tell her that he was sorry. Vixen nodded and slowly pulled the rifle away from his head while slowly getting off his lap. The Turian stood up and nodded to her, Vixen cocked her hip as her arms fell to her sides as she looked at the black armoured Turian.
"You really think there's a sniper out there?" Vixen asked. The Turian nodded but kept glancing towards his rifle in her hand; Vixen looked down at the rifle. It was heavy and something she wasn't used to using. Vixen shifted her weight as she looked at the Turian who was staring right back at her.
"Come at me…" Vixen muttered to the Turian. For a moment the Turian looked at her like she was crazy or like she had grown two heads. But Vixen flicked her eyes towards her hand the shone faintly with biotics, the Turian gave a click before crouching down and swiping out at her with such speed Vixen nearly didn't see it. She ducked low and swept the Turian off his feet, the Turian's back slammed into the floor as Vixen gripped the rifle with a firm grip and aimed it at the downed Turian. A loud bang shattered the peaceful silence that covered the room; the Turian fell limp on the floor. Vixen let out a sigh as her biotics calmed before she walked up to the Turian and left his rifle on the ground next to him before she started looking over his body. She picked up his wrist and yanked off his Omni-tool before snapping it in half and throwing the remains over the edge into the abyss below.
"As soon as that Sniper is gone, you get out of here. Start a new life, new name, and new clan markings. You understand" Vixen growled softly, making sure her hair covered her mouth, as she looked over the body of the Turian. He gave a muffled chirp the Vixen suspected was laced with a small amount of pain. Vixen hadn't intended to use that much force in her biotic push but her battle instincts kicked in and she couldn't hold back. At least she was able to give this Turian another chance. After pretending to take the rest of his ammunition for her own she stood up and looked down at the Turian sprawled across the floor between her legs and gave him a soft smile. He deserved a new life. Looking over her shoulder to see if she could the shine of a sniper's scope but when she couldn't see anything she stepped over the body of the Turian and continued on to Chora's Den.
Chora's Den was loud and flashy. Lights and music pounded the walls as Vixen stepped in; eyes greeted her, some with mirth while others with surprise that a woman had even come here. Chora's Den was what you called a man's club but the odd woman did turn up to drag their husbands or mates by the ear out of the bar or rarely to join in. Asari danced besides poles or on top of tables while men held stupid grins on their faces as the Asari contorted into strange shapes. Alcohol of all kinds hung heavily in the air, so thick Vixen thought she could see the fumes in the lights. Bartenders collected glasses while servers, who hardly wore anything at all, smiled sweetly at customers as they poured more florescent liquid into their glasses. Vixen covered her mouth as she coughed away the smell fumes. She hated this place.
"Vix!" a small girlish voice called out to her over the music. Vixen looked round to see a small Asari pushing her way through the crowds, her purple markings highlighting the curves of her face while her wide eyes reflected the colours of the lights that bounced through the room. Her small body was dwarfed by that of the Krogan that stood next to her while Vixen glared at the thing she called clothing.
"Lacy, do you really have to wear that?" Vixen spoke to the young Asari as she bounced up to her like a little sister would do. Lacy rolled her eyes before she cocked her hip while resting her hands on her slim waist.
"On come on Vix, you always say that" that young Asari pouted.
"Because you always wear that thing, you can get the tips and guys with more clothing on" Vixen scolded her. But the young Asari waved her off before snaking her arms round Vixen's waist making Vixen shift slightly.
"What brings you here? You always try and avoid this place" Lacy told her as she started to play with the ends of Vixen's hair, curling the strand between her fingers as if it was water. Vixen placed her hands on Lacy's shoulders and pushed her back gently, Lacy had a small crush on Vixen and even though Vixen told her 'no' many times before the young Maiden Asari didn't take the hint. Lacy pouted before folding her arms across her small breasts.
"Not here for pleasure or to tell you that I'm not into Asari like that, I'm looking for someone" Vixen told her with a gentle smile. Lacy smiled back and nodded, she hadn't given up, before she nodded towards the bar where the music was slightly less loud. They both took their seats, Vixen waved off the bartender who looked up towards them, and they pretended to check out the guys.
"Who are you looking for?" Lacy asked as she leant against the bar table. Vixen sighed as she looked round the room, noticing a building commotion with a Krogan dressed in red. His scars falling down his face like old war medals while framing his blood red eyes perfectly; he was tall in build and broad. Vixen would have said he was like all other Krogan but something about him made Vixen think twice. Then she felt Lacy's hand on her thigh slowly moving towards her hip, Vixen gave her a pointed look making Lacy stop and hold up her hands in defence.
"Is Harkin in?" Vixen asked as she brushed away the strands of hair that fell in front of her face, wincing in pain from the bullet wound in her shoulder. Lacy groaned and pointed towards a dark corner of the whole Den, there in the shadows was one human like shape that was slouched in the chair while his glassy eyes gazing outwards towards the bar. Yeah that was Harkin, stoned and drunk as usual.
"I don't know if he leaves or not but yeah he's here." Lacy groaned. Vixen nodded and went to stand up but a loud roar exploded from the commotion on the other side of the room. Vixen's battle instincts kicked in making her spin round to the sound with her hand on her pistol, Lacy let out a squeak of a scream as Vixen moved, Vixen found the Red clad Krogan trying to push his way through the many human guards that blocked an entrance way. Vixen was about to step in but the Krogan growled and stepped away to take a seat in one of the many large chairs. Vixen took her hand off her pistol but she kept her hands on the Krogan who was now staring right back at her, Vixen could feel the energy sparking between them. The Krogan was itching for a fight and could probably sense her raging biotics from the last fight; Vixen narrowed her eyes as she gave him a look of 'I'm watching you' as the Krogan gave her a wicked grin that would have made the skin crawl off anybody else but Vixen had seen worse. Turning back to Lacy she gave the young Asari and smile and patted her shoulder.
"Alright Lacy, I'll go and have a chat with Harkin. Be careful" Vixen smiled. Lacy smiled back and nodded.
"You know I will Vix, you just be careful with Harkin" Lacy stood up and kissed Vixen's cheek before walking off to continue her 'work'. Vixen sighed, that girl wasn't going to get in trouble one day. Vixen made her way over to the darkened table where Harkin sat, his glassy eyes rose towards her approaching form. Vixen felt her stomach churn as the small of alcohol and Red Sand hit her nose, she felt her nanites buzz to life to clean the red sand out of her body before it did any real damage.
"Well…you fill out that Alliance uniform really well sweetheart…how about you come and sit with old Harkin…" Harkin slurred as he waved over his lap for Vixen to sit. Vixen sneered as she cocked her hip and folded her arms under her breasts.
"Sorry Harkin, not here for that…" Vixen growled out.
"Wait I know that voice…Ah damn it…Shepard. What do you want?" Harkin slurred as he tried to wave the image of Vixen away from his eyes but failing miserably. Vixen arched an eyebrow at the bumbling idiot but growled when took another sip of his blue drink.
"I need information Harkin. Where is the C-sec officer that's investigating Saren?" Vixen bit out. Harkin gave her a slurred smile as he tried to laugh and again failing.
"You mean Garrus? He might be down in the wards at that Clinic…heard there was a nice French doctor there…if you get my drift" Harkin gurgled with laughs before he downed his drink. Vixen growled but nodded, the clinic wasn't far from where she was so she didn't have to take the Keeper tunnels to get there, plus if she started moving now she might be able to miss Kaidan and Ashley when they came to stick to her back like a virus or something again. She was about to leave Harkin drowning in his own sweat and drink when she heard that familiar roar of the red clad Krogan on the other side of the room. Really she couldn't get a break today.
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