(A/N): I know Saren's "young Turian" disposition on the world is a bit stereotypical in every sense of the word, but I've said it before and I'll reiterate: for the amount of story time Saren gets, he's criminally underdeveloped as a character. If I do infringe too much upon his canon self, as in what is depicted in Evolutions, Revelations, and ME1, please let me know. Now that I've really started to touch on one of the more major characters, I should probably state once more that I don't own Mass Effect. All characters and other property belong to Electronic Arts and Bioware.
Chapter 12: The Pain We Share
Inevitably, we all carry the burden of certain regrets. The impact of our actions and their inevitable consequences, hangs on our psyches like corpses displayed outside a fortress' wall. My regret is how I treated Saren during his youth. Even as he had largely passed a fragile sequence of his past, it continued to haunt him. What I had done, what I had told him, and what I made him do shaped him into the damaged man he is today.
Feb 16, 2155
22 hrs/12 min/46 sec
XinDian District, Omega Station
With the help of the lieutenant's omnitool, Fredrick and Saren had made their way down into the heart of the station to the XinDian District. As they arrived, they noticed the area had been increasingly fortified. Squads of the same armored pirate began to patrol the streets and the surrounding area outside of the district. Infiltration would be especially challenging, as the enemy HUDs had motion trackers meaning excessive movement would tip them off to anyone nearby.
With usual fashion, Saren and Fredrick entered the district via the air ducts. Fredrick used his enhanced vision to keep an eye on his surroundings, telling Saren to keep still whenever someone got too close. Even if they weren't one of the pirates, people would still panic at the thought of interlopers on their turf, especially on a station filled with the worst the galaxy had to offer. Eventually, they made their way to the environmental control room towards the other side of the block and exited.
They exited onto a ledge, which opened up into a massive room, where down the middle was a control panel and a series of fans at their general level. Towards the left and right were stairs that led downward to either side for maintenance purposes towards similar rooms at the back of each walkway. At the main control panel were two workers, who had yet to notice their presence.
"What do you have in mind, Maj- Fredrick?" Saren asked, still becoming accustomed to referring to his mentor by his first name rather than rank and surname.
"As much as I could easily take down this whole nest on my own, my job is to teach you how to use your environment to your advantage, not to throw you to the wolves just yet. We'll get down there, and work something that'll throw the block into confusion, such as start breathing out excessive steam. It's become pretty apparent that Aegaf Amali knows someone has it out for him. If he plays his cards wisely, he'll make like hell off this rock till we lose his scent. If we play our cards in accordance, he won't even have a chance to get onto a shuttle outward," Fredrick explained. "Remember, you'll be a Specter. So long as you keep your head down around the bigwigs, you won't have to be held accountable for shit. Let's go."
The two made their way towards the other side, and apprehended the two workers. Neither of them was armed or dangerous, but Fredrick couldn't risk them alerting the pirates to their presence and identity. While Saren kept watch, Fredrick manipulated the environmental controls to suit a more humid environment, flooding the block with a thick mist. Fredrick and Saren walked back into the civilian sector, and used the information from the late lieutenant's omnitool to guide them to their target. Having also adjusted their telecoms to local frequencies, they could tell Amali had yet to leave, or take any serious action outside of defense.
As they made their way down the hall, Fredrick once again used his implants to guide them through the vapor, tainted a light orange by the mellow lighting. As they made their way around, both civilians and pirates were rushing around. Saren then tapped Fredrick on the shoulder with another question.
"There are still pirates around. Aren't you worried that they'll see us?" he asked nervously.
"A pirate's loyalty is only as strong as his rate of income. Once they realize a job is worth much more than they are being paid, they'll flee their employers like Pyjacks out of a burning building. I've made an infamous reputation among the Terminus Systems. Even if they did pay attention to who they pass among this confusion, they see me as nothing more than a quick end to their careers. If you live long enough and rack up a high enough kill count, they'll see you as the same." Fredrick had fought against and infiltrated enough criminal establishments to very well know the ins and outs of the criminal mentality.
"I see," Saren said with increasing discomfort. "I thought there would be more heroism in Specter work."
"There is and will be. Even if we aren't defusing bombs last second, remember what I said earlier, Saren. People all through the galaxy are much safer with individuals like these dead."
The two eventually exited the steamy blindness of the tight corridors and entered a more open area. Ahead, across the opening from where they stood was medium sized apartment complex. A few Blood Pack soldiers at the base of the building were arguing with their leader about presumably orders.
"Are those Blood Pack?" Saren asked.
"Undoubtedly," Fredrick answered. "And if I'm not mistaken, that's Warlord Qurg at the head of that squad right there." Fredrick put on a scope onto his particle rifle and looked down it. He zoomed in on the Krogan's face, and got a good view to confirm identity. Just then, the Krogan drew out his shotgun in rage, and shot the leg of a subordinate Salarian clean off, sending it across the clearing. "Yes, that is Warlord Qurg. He has a nasty habit of severing the limbs he finds distaste for, especially men who fail their jobs," Fredrick said bringing the rifle down to his hip.
"I suppose close quarters would be a bad choice then?" Saren asked, thinking about how to take the hulking mercenary down.
"See? Now you are getting yourself into the mindset of the job," Fredrick encouraged proudly. There's a balcony above us, we could get a good angle from there, and there might be some equipment left lying around.
The two crept up a flight of stairs, trying desperately not to set off the five Blood Pack mercenaries, excluding the Salarian who had been thrown off to the side of the area and was clinging to his leg as he quickly bled out. On the upper balcony were two Vorcha standing guard, each with ML-77s. The two smelled the approaching men in white too late, and their lives were swiftly ended with two simultaneous cracks. Counting the deceased Vorchas' ammo, both had four rounds to expend. Altering the weapons' IFF systems, the two peaked out of cover and quickly whittled down a vast majority of the pirate resistance and the Blood Pack squad. Having fully drawn the attention of the remains of the Blood Pack squad, Fredrick jumped down and took cover behind a small wall to engage the defenders head-on.
Poking up from cover, Fredrick cut down an Asari vanguard while Saren gunned down her Turian partner. Fredrick realized amidst the initial chaos, he'd lost track of Qurg. Answering his confusion, he heard an angry growl from above, realizing Qurg had gone to flank Saren. Turing around and leaping back up to the balcony, Fredrick arrived to see Saren pinned to the ground with the warlord training his shotgun at a chink in Saren's shoulder pad at point blank range. Without hesitation, he swiftly kicked the Krogan off and bioticly charged the Krogan, sandwiching the beast against the wall behind him. Putting a hand behind the head crest, Fredrick kicks a leg from under Qurg, and drives his particle blade through the underside of his skull as Qurg falls. Fredrick quickly turns to pick up Saren after the close shave.
"Are you alright Saren? You had me worried there." Fredrick may not have liked this mission when he was first informed, but he was quickly becoming attached to Saren.
"Yeah, nothing too major. I'm surprised you managed to take down Qurg so quickly," Saren replied, taking Fredricks helping hand and getting back on his feet.
"Good. Now let's get Amali before he escapes." The two got down from the balcony once more and quickly charged into the compound. Still left in confusion from the steam from the environmental control center, defeating resistance was a matter of walking through the mist and gunning down anyone that moved. The two checked every floor, and Fredrick scanned for every possible escape route, but found none. Fredrick eventually entered what appeared to be Amali's personal office, but found the room to be largely vacated. All the criminal's personal belongings had been removed with the exception of a single holo-frame on the floor. He reached down to fetch it, showing an image of Amali with what appeared to be his Asari bondmate and single child. Fredrick held onto this picture as he exited the room.
Eventually, the two exited onto the roof of the complex, giving a good overview of the XinDian District below. The two swept from side to side before they heard the whirling of a gunship. Aegaf Amali came roaring from the edge of the building in his personal gunship with his dual-toned voice ringing over loudspeakers. "Wolf! I should've known it was you tonight. Soon, everyone will know when I put your metal claws on display as trophies!" A rocket flew out of a side compartment and detonated within close proximity of the duo, sending them tumbling back behind the building ventilation.
Fredrick and Saren took cover as the gunship hailed MG fire upon the roof. "Saren! Use your biotics to return the missiles to the gunship! Try and lower the ships shields before focusing on the engines!" Fredrick yelled over the rattle of shots ricocheting off the ground around him. Just as another pair of missiles was launched from the platform, Saren did as told, and turned the missiles on the ship. As the ship's shields flickered for a moment, Fredrick peaked from cover and shot the slightly exposed engine, sending it tumbling onto them, and nearly rolled right off.
The two getting up, Fredrick holstered his rifle, drew his pistol, shot the cockpit window, and threw it open. The insides had been lightly dashed with blue blood, and Amali had a metal rod stick through his torso. "Please Wolf! I surrender!" the wounded pirate begged.
"You… you…" Saren started, but couldn't quite force himself to speak his thoughts.
"Something the matter, Saren?" Fredrick asked, showing concern.
Saren started to tremble. "I know his face. I remember him as a child. He was there wh-when… my-my p-p-paaarents-"
"Right, and you must be one of those barefaced Varren of that filthy couple. Should I tell you how much they begged for their lives?" Amali managed to grunt out painfully.
"Have you ever thought about the consequences of your action, Amali?" Fredrick asked, slugging the wounded pirate with a solid blow to his mandible. "Anyways, even as a soldier, I'm still a part of the far-reaching arms of the law. For everything you've done Aegaf Amali, drug trafficking, feeding those who couldn't pay up to wild Varren, and for destroying the lives of millions, I'm under complete obligation to end your life right now," Fredrick hissed as he drew out his pistol and held it up to Amali's head. "Unfortunately, I'm in the position of teaching, so for the sake of today's lesson, I defer to Saren Arterius here," Fredrick growled as he dropped his aim and turned to Saren, handing the young Turian the grip.
"Fredrick, I-I'm willing to put m-my family behind if it means bringing him to justice." Saren didn't take the pistol.
Fredrick then put the pistol besides the ruined gunship. "Then allow me to give some depth to the situation," he said as he drew Amali's holo-photo out.
"Give that back! Give that back!" Amali whimpered painfully in response, as he reached out.
Fredrick ignored this request and continued talking to Saren. "The man before you is a family man. He works to support his beautiful life, and their lovely child here," he explained gesturing to the image. "Through his work, he probably supports them, feeds them, buys them comfort and safety. At the same time however, he causes millions of others to suffer and die. While you may argue that while he is in prison, his family can still thrive, is it really worth the risk of him escaping? Breaking out to continue distributing his drug? That is the choice you must make as a Specter." Fredrick then turned to the pistol and put the holo-photo upright next to the gun. Straightening up and turning towards the roof access, Fredrick said, "I'll be getting out an all-clear signal, so we won't be swarmed on our way out. The choice is yours, my friend."
Fredrick made his way down the stairs and found the nearest downed guard, and picked up the omnitool. He checked on the radio frequencies, only to find that every pirate in the district was aware of the clash at the compound and were preparing to retake the building. He quickly typed out a message to draw their attention away. "Hostiles eliminated, yet to be identified. Boss says to sweep the district, look for other assailants."
Just as he sent the message, he heard the familiar crack of a particle pistol off in the distance. As he approached the roof access, Saren came walking down, with his steaming pistol in hand. "Are you alright, Saren?" he asked.
Saren handed back his pistol and quoted what he had said earlier. "If you want justice, you must make an example of them," Saren answered somberly.
Fredrick took back the pistol patted Saren on the shoulder, and smiled. "I'm happy to know you've found closure, and avenged those you've lost. If you're still shaken, let's head to Afterlife. We can relax there." The two walked out of the compound and swiftly made their way out of the XinDian District.
Feb 17, 2155
01 hrs/00 min/30 sec
Afterlife, Omega Station
Of all the visits Fredrick had paid Omega, he'd never been to the Afterlife club before. After waiting through the long que outside, he and Saren had gotten themselves a few drinks. At this point, the two talked to each other about their respective military lives and missions they'd done. Saren had even begun to smile and share a few laughs with the ancient warrior. After their third drink, a Turian and Krogan bouncers approached them and interrupted their conversation.
"Aria would like to speak to you, Wolf. She has important matters to discuss," the Krogan growled.
Fredrick simply turned back to his drink. "I don't see what she's so worried about. I've yet to go after her."
"She's not going to off you, if that's what you're implying," the Turian reassured. "It just has to do with some of the other groups you've disposed of over the years."
"Alright, fair enough," Fredrick surrendered as he got up. "Come along, Saren. You may as well become familiar with the throbbing heart of this rock," he beckoned.
The two with their helmets under their arms walked up to the throne-like balcony of the Upper-Afterlife area. Aria was looking over the club with its vast mix of lights, dancers, and mass of customers. "Well well, we meet at last Wolf. I was wondering when you would come up here."
"I could easily ask the same, as to why you even bothered to invite me up here," Fredrick said. "If it helps you to sleep better, I have no interest in hunting you down. You're too goddamn important to the lifecycle of Omega, and if I did kill you, I'd really hate to clean up the resulting mess."
"Are you sure there isn't something… deeper to your reasons?" Aria asked with a seductive tone as she turned to face Fredrick and Saren.
"I can assure you, I wouldn't make a good partner in that sense of the word." Asari still rang a negative tone with Fredrick, as a direct result of the Incident.
"And who is the boy you brought along? Someone who got lost?" she chuckled, causing Saren to whimper uncomfortably.
"The council wanted the best to train Arterius here. Apparently, I'm it." Fredrick had already become too emotionally invested into Saren, and wasn't willing to let Aria touch him.
"Relax, I usually don't prefer pets to be that young. Anyways, back to why I brought you up here. You've done a really nice job mopping up Omega, I'm impressed that you've managed to get the job done with as little manpower you're equipped with," she claimed with a subtle sadistic cheerfulness.
"I just so happen to be designed for combat. Anyways, all you wanted to do was complement me?" Fredrick responded.
"As much as I may be the Queen of Omega, competition still exists. There are still groups out there that wish to take this throne that even I had to fight to claim. With you cleaning the streets for me, knocking out competitors that I wouldn't dare touch, it really does take a burden off my back. So name your prize, Wolf," she explained, before leaning back and chuckling.
"I'm not looking for rewards, Aria. I'm just doing my job," Fredrick answered, trying to appear modest.
"Ah, the head-tight soldier like usual. Try to turn your head a little more often. Anyways, I'll give you membership to the VIP club, just as a small bonus regardless. You never know when it'll come in handy."
"Well, thank you Aria. I'll take it regardless as a token of friendship. I'll take whatever allies I can get out here," he thanked before bowing lightly and turning back down the stairs.
"Try and get laid in the mean time, soldier!" she called out with a laugh.
Saren broke his silence when they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Spirits, does she really have to be that creepy?" he whispered.
"From what little that I know, 'creepy' isn't even the start of it. If what little I don know is true, then you better not end up on her bad side. Ever."
