The Huntress

Chapter Eleven: Then There Were Four

Still begrudged at having to take the rebellious juvenile recruit in order to save her life, Huntress Vanessia made it very clear that she was keeping her distance from the young girl; who had now become her youngest recruit. As the newly formed commando unit made their way to the shipping docks, the youngest huntress dragged her feet far behind the trio of older asari.

Vanessia deep in thought followed the escort which Aria provided. Her mind wandered about the numerous obstacles that lay ahead of her new make shift squad in order to acclimate the new huntress. Flooded with the stress and the worrying about the tremendous responsibilities that lay ahead, the veteran huntress massaged her brow releasing a deep sigh. "Damn, all the things I'll have to teach her."

Concerned, Contessa was barely able to make out the leader's hushed words and asked, "What was that?"

With a frowned brow, Vanessia answered, "Oh nothing, babe. Sorry," and kept walking.

Very much to her liking, Contessa suddenly realized that her younger huntress, Shayla, had not left the captain's side since leaving Aria's chambers. Regardless of the worried expression on her lover's face, Contessa mused, Oh Shayla, how I adore you. You always have your captain's flank.

Knowing the squad leader was not about to share her internal thoughts at this time, Huntress Contessa dropped back a bit and gently asked the falling behind huntress. "Aleris Ankour, are you hungry? Have you eaten yet? Should we stop?"

The asari who had barely lifted her head since departing Afterlife, muttered with a slight shrug. "Nah, I'm good."

"Very well then, but please let me know if you need anything, Huntress."

The word huntress received more of a reaction than the mention of food from the girl whose stomach had been grumbling for hours. Not that the great queen of Omega hadn't offered her food and drink, but the hundred and sixty seven year old asari had been too stubborn to accept the ruler's gifts.

Heading down a boarding gate that Huntress Vanessia wasn't familiar with, made the veteran huntress instantly yank out her weapon and point it at the back of their vorcha escort's head. The sudden sound of a readied thermo clip instantly provoked the other two squad members to instantly retrieve their weapons as well.

"Where are you taking us vorcha?" barked the asari captain.

"Shits! I knew that's why she sends me. She thinks me expendable," hissed the lowly soldier.

Stunned, the youngest huntress stood behind the three gun totting huntresses as no one moved after the vorcha's statement.

Cautiously lifting his hands high in the air, the vorcha escort slowly turned around, hoping not to further antagonize the invoked commandos. His words trembled, "Aria says, you are to take her privates shuttle."

"Why would she do that, vorcha?" Vanessia's voice swathed with mistrust.

"I believes she thinks, you would leaves much faster in her shuttles." Upon finishing, the creepy looking escort closed his eyes in anticipation of becoming just another stain on Omega.

To his surprise, Vanessia spoke, "Fine, then lead on." The squad began to stow their weapons when the huntress further cautioned, "But let me warn you, vorcha, try anything fishy and I'll hit you with a biotic blast so hard, they won't be able to find evidence that you ever existed."

The escort's eyes hesitantly opened from deep within his honeycomb shaped forehead as he sighed heavily. "Yesa huntresses, me understands perfectly."

Forcing out a delayed breath, Aleris speculated, 'Great, she rules with an iron fist. This is going to be oh–so-much-fun'. The young huntress' internal exclamation was quickly followed by human slang she picked up on Omega, 'NOT!'

Down another long corridor sat Aria's luxurious shuttle. Vanessia's three huntresses enthusiastically cooed and awed over the magnificent craft. Only the senior asari remained unphased by the sublime curves of the space going vessel. Scanning up and down the shuttle, Huntress Vanessia swiftly recognized the design, being that of the exclusive Falconcrest Class, designed for the asari elite. Cocking her head to one side as she studied the ship, the huntress muttered, "Like the ones reserved for the asari republics, if I'm not mistaken." Stealing the words from her recent adversary, Vanessia added with a sharp condescending tone, "and I am never mistaken".

The senior asari ushered her excited squad onto the private shuttle after speaking briefly with the pilot. He had been instructed to take them anywhere she wanted. And much to her liking, he was a lot more respectful to the asari commando than the last pilot leaving Omega. The huntress chalked it up to his experience of working directly with the Omega queen, and the image of a singularity bolt up his ass was a little more than an empty threat to him.

Being the last to enter the cabin, Vanessia saw that the asari whom had barely left her side all night was bursting with curiosity. Mindful of the maiden's inquisitive nature, Vanessia softly asked Shayla, "Something on your mind, Huntress?"

The beautiful pale skinned asari beamed with delight at finally being able to ask the question which had been burning inside her since leaving Afterlife. Yet before the young maiden asked, her smile flattened as she considered how troubled her squad leader might be feeling. However her desire for knowledge was too much to handle, and now her captain had asked her to share her thoughts, which meant the senior huntress was ready to talk about what just happened.

The normally quiet asari spoke in a concerned monotone voice, "I know you didn't want her to come with us, so why did you choose to take her?"

Moving to the back of the small craft that could easily carry fifteen Republic Matriarchs, or in this case, one powerful queen; Huntress Vanessia chose to sit in the back row of seats that allowed her the best view of the entire shuttle. Settling down into a white oversized lounger, the senior huntress sat with a single leg across her lap and arms crossed smugly over her chest before answering. Her royal blue eyes watching the other two huntresses choose their seats as she spoke. "I could not leave her there to die."

Shayla's greenish blue eyes shot wide at the outlandish idea, as she flopped down in the seat next to her captain. "Aria really wouldn't have killed her for sleeping with most of her dancers, would she?"

The senior huntress snickered before she turned a soft glaring eye towards the young huntress. Scoffing, Vanessia added, "Aria has killed for less."

Meanwhile, a few rows up, Contessa saw the young frustrated huntress take a seat by the window and started to ask if she could sit next to her. "Hey kiddo."

Harsher than intended, the young huntress bit back, "I said, I'm not a kid!"

Being the most sensitive one in the squad, Contessa gently smiled before a frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. The asari matron quietly took the seat next to the unexpected transfer and replied in her typically sweet melodic demeanor, "I am very sorry. I honestly meant no offense. Please forgive me."

Although young, and new to the group of commandos, Aleris instantly felt bad because the senior matron who had carried herself with great sophistication and pride, was only trying to be polite. Hearing the sweet voice apologize, made her feel somehow even worse for snapping at the huntress. Slumping further into her seat, the young commando felt nauseous as the woman's face looked kindly upon her.

Used to dealing with a much older ball of fury, Contessa's smile once again returned and she politely conveyed, "I am terribly sorry you were taken off Omega." Shifting her gaze to meet the younger girl's eyes, the matron continued, "It must be very difficult for you."

The young huntress barely nodded at the matron with the angelic voice. She was suddenly aware of how long it had been since she was spoken to in a civilized manner. It also dawned on her, how long she had been on Omega. The scrupulous space station had earned its reputation and rightfully so, having become a safe haven for hardened criminals and the galaxy's waste. The barbaric location was no place for a young asari commando. Despite how she felt about the Omega queen, she knew she would later come to be in the queen's debt for getting her off that hell hole of a station.

For a fleeing moment, Contessa saw this realization in the young girl's eyes. Aleris, feeling slightly more comfortable in the lieutenant's presence, slowly allowed her body to relax as she turned towards the matron a bit more, hoping to engage the asari in a conversation that was about something other than endless nights of pleasure.

Kindheartedly, the matron asari asked, "What experience do you have?"

The young huntress chortled before speaking, "Lots - tons. I can kill just about anything."

Grinning at the girl's enthusiasm and knowing personally what her squad had been through, Contessa lightly replied, "Well, we shall have to see about that."

Settling down next to the maiden, Contessa sat with knees pulled together and hands delicately placed on her lap. The young huntress couldn't help thinking she looked like a matriarch. At first, it greatly unnerved the young woman feeling as if an actual matriarch was speaking to her.

"So Huntress Aleris, what are your other interests; I mean, besides unnerving the queen of Omega?"

The blunt question caused the maiden to laugh out loud making her relax even more. Before long, the two were discussing their passion for shopping, and their strong dislike of spiders; especially when they crawled on them. From the back of the shuttle, Shayla kept looking around the seat in front of her, to the pair laughing hysterically as a distant shouting echoed about the cabin.

"I'm like…it's on me. And I'd yell. 'Get it off! Get it off me!' Goddess! Awful spiders." Laughter drowned out any other comprehendible sentences.

Thrusting back into her seat, Shayla wrinkled her nose and flatly stated, "Sounds like they are getting along, no?" When the huntress' statement didn't receive a single reaction from the asari who now sat closed eye at her side, Vanessia heard Shayla's soft leather chair creek as she again leaned forward to see what the two asari found so amazingly funny.

After a few more minutes, Shayla was barely able to make out the next outburst of teary eyed laughter. "Oh Goddess, yes, I love that dress! Monkea Tra'Bute is the best designer in the Universe. I just LOVE her work!"

The senior huntress once again felt the row of seats shift as Shayla slumped back into her seat. Knowing that her faithful and loyal huntress would never abandon her side in her time of need, Vanessia slowly released a deep breath. Without even opening her eyes, the asari captain offered, "Shayla, just go."

Shocked that her captain was still awake, the young maiden turned to her leader and asked, "Are you sure?"

It was when the maiden had again displayed her great dedication to her leader, that Vanessia cracked a smile and opened one eye at the young huntress. "Go ahead, Shay. Go see what they're carrying on about."

The eager huntress wasted no time bounding up from her seat before she abruptly turned back around and hurriedly placed a kiss on her captain's forehead, "Thank you, Vanessia. Thank you very much."

As the young maiden quickly headed towards the laughing duo, Vanessia's second eye opened to a mere slit. 'Aw, to be a young maiden again'. But as her head rested back onto the now still row of seats, she thought the better. 'Nah, I'm happy to be five hundred and fifty one. Goddess, going through that awkward sexually libidinous stage again, I think would kill me.'