AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just started up a youtube channel and one of my first LPs is of Mass Effect. Just search for The Tired Dad Plays.
You can also follow me on twitter here: /ShawnHerndon1
Artificial light, brighter than what counted for night on Omega, peeked through the blinds into the dingy motel room. The bed was a mess of tangled sheets and legs. Shard's arms stretched over both sides of the bed, Jaq hanging over her chest. The alcohol from the night before helped push the two into a deeper sleep than they could normally enjoy. But the light now piercing Shard's eyes was ruining the mood.
She groaned and tried to roll onto her side to get away from the annoyance. Unfortunately for Jaq, this meant she got dumped onto her head on the stained carpet. Her legs actually came over her head as she tumbled backwards, coming to a sitting position. Groggily she looked at Shard and decided if she had to be up, she wouldn't be the only one. She shoved her with a biotic push that sent the mattress off of the frame, and Shard along with it.
"Aw come on Jaq, I was sleeping," came a very un-krogan-like whine.
"Well you should have thought about that before you dumped me on my ass." Jaq cocked one of her hips, and folded her arm. Shard realized neither were wearing any clothes yet and smiled at the sight. Jaq made a motion with her hand, lifting Shard off the ground and pulling her toward her. "You're lucky you're hot." She planted a quick kiss on Shard's lips and then smacked her on her ass. "Now get dressed, we got work to do."
Shard rubbed a sore spot, "And here I thought I was in charge." They laughed some more, putting their armor and weapons back in place before heading back to their ship.
"Glad you could join us ladies. Had a fun night?"
"Shut up Koto. Did you get enough supplies?"
"Yeah we got it. You found us any jobs captain?"
"Ugh, you too?" Tali rubbed her hands together nervously. "I mean, it's not a problem and I'm honored Tali really. It's just strange."
"Heh-heh, it's got a good ring to it don't you think Jaq? Captain Urdnot Shard? We got a warlord in the making over here. Ha-ha-ha-" Shard shut him up with a headbutt that sent him sprawling to the floor.
Shard smirked down at him and rubbed the back of her gauntlet against her forehead. "Yeah I found us some jobs. Here." She sent the contacts she picked up to the others' omni-tools. "First one I'm interested in is about some missing guy. A Sean Myers. His brother promises a reward if we find him. We can go talk to him down in Gozu District."
Tali stepped over Koto. "Well don't keep the captain waiting." Koto was a little surprised at the comment. Shard must have been rubbing off of the girl.
The crew made their way to the lower residential area of the station by shuttle and were nearing the resident of Alexander Myers, the owner of the bounty. Shard stood at the head of her pack and moved in front of a door tucked into a corner next to a bank console. She reached out and rang the bell before hearing a voice through the thin metal.
"What do you want?"
"We're looking for Mr. Myers. We saw his post about his brother. We're willing to take up the job."
After a few moments, the entrance to the room went green and opened to the four crew members. "And who the hell are you?" Shard smiled. She had been waiting for the chance to use the name she picked for her crew earlier this morning.
"We're Maw Company. I'm Captain Shard." She could practically feel Tali beaming next to her. "You're Alex I assume? Let's cut to the chase. Where do you think your brother is?"
"Hell if I know. Frankly I normally wouldn't care. That bastard has always squandered away anything he's owned or that he borrowed from me on drink and whores. But he found himself in possession of something valuable for once. Something he owes me. So I need someone to find him and bring him to me."
"And exactly what is it that's so valuable you're willing to pay this kind of money just to find it again? Must be worth your while to do through all this trouble." Shard leaned back into her hip, her arms crossed."
"It's none of your business. Now are you going to take the contract or not?" Jaq sneered at the man now, but it was Tali who spoke up first.
"You should watch your mouth when you talk to our Captain like that. She deserves your respect human."
"Fuck you suitrat." In a fast motion Shard pulled him into a headlock, wrenching until a scream escaped his lips.
"Apologize to the lady."
"Ah ahhhh, I'm sorryI'MSORRYLETGO" Shard shoved him back and winked down at her quarian friend. Tali felt bolstered by the respect shown to her by Shard and knelt down towards the coughing man.
"I saw the post you made. It's four weeks old. You don't have a lot of takers on the contract. So if you don't want our help, we have better things to be doing."
"Like getting my ass waxed. Let's just blow his brains out and take what we need," Jaq bluffed.
"Wait wait wait. It's a star chart. A new one. He-he won it in a poker game one night." Jaq backed off and Alexander got back to his feet. "My brother told me it had details about some eezo rich planets out in the Traverse. I've been trying to get in touch with him ever since. Look, that prick owes me a lot, and as far as I'm concerned that chart is mine."
Koto grumbled in the rear. "You want us to steal it for you."
"Look krogan. What I want you to do is find my brother. After that, it's my business. He is missing. I didn't lie. He was last seen talking to some of Aria's guards at his favorite dive. I'm afraid he might have run his mouth about what he found, and someone took him out to get it."
Shard was silent for a moment. "Half now, half later. We've been screwed before. Take it or leave it." Alexander mumbled about scam artists as he moved his fingers to send half the agreed bounty to Shard's omni-tool.
"What's the name of this 'dive?'"
"A pisshole called The Fat Asari. It's about two blocks away."
"We'll start there then. Move out."
"First job people, let's get it right first try. Koto and Jaq, talk to the guards in the area. See if you can sniff anything out. Me and Tali will get a feel from the bartenders and dancers."
"Oh I see how it is," Jaq leaned against Koto cocking her eyebrow up at him, "Red fucked me silly just so she could take her girlfriend out and leave us with the real work." Koto laughed his agreement.
"Wha-what? We're not..I mean I don't think we are...I mean um-" Tali rambled out.
"Calm down Tali. Jaq's just screwing with you."
"No, I did that to you."
"Shut up Jaq. And get to work." Jaq and Koto's laughter traveled around the corner as the moved onto their objective.
Shard looked down and put her arm around Tali's shoulder. "It's fine Tali. She understands. Come on. Let's get to work."
"Ye-" Tali knew Shard wouldn't want to see her so timid. "Yes captain. Ready when you are."
"Good." The two females saddled up to the bar. Despite the early hour of the station, it was still packed. Shard imagined the night life never stopped on Omega. A salarian female was wiping down the bar.
"What's your poison ladies?"
"Nothing right now. We're on the job. Hoping you could help us out. We're looking for a human male. Name's Sean Myers." She pulled up his picture that had been attached to the job posting. "Heard he liked to hang around your lovely establishment. Seen him lately?"
"Yeah I know that cloaca. He's got a tab about as long as your tits. Look if you want to collect some money from him good luck. Give him a bullet for me too."
"Nothing like that. His brother wants us to find him. How about any of the dancers? You see him talking to any of them before? More than usual?"
The salarian rubbed her chin. "He was sweet on an asari. Trila. But she's been out for four days. Talk to her friend. Over there. The batarian dancer at table 3."
Shard left a tip with the bartender and moved over to table 3. Shard had never seen a batarian female before. Not much about them on the extranet. And Cerberus only seemed concerned with the males. She was heavier set than the males of the species. Curvy in all the right places, and had two sets of breast instead of two. Goes with the eyes Shard figured. As they made their way to the table, the occupants left the booth, leaving the dancer free.
"Hello madams. May I pleasure you with a dance? It'll only cost you 20 credits."
"Actually we just wanted to ask you a few questions."
"I apologize mistress. But I am not allowed to speak to the patrons unless a dance is paid for." She gave a suggestive look to Shard waiting for the payment."
"Well if you insist." Shard turned to Tali and started to tap her foot. "Well, you heard the lady. Get in the table and get the dance." Tali was sure her mask wasn't enough to cover her shocked expression.
"Me? Why me?"
"Because it'll make me smile. Come on, you'll like it." Tali hesitantly moved into the seat at the table as Shard paid the tab. She was almost sitting on her hands as the batarian started to sway her hips, inches away from Tali's body.
"I heard you know a woman by the name of Trila. And her friend Sean Myers. A human male. We're looking for them."
"Yes mistress, I know of Trila. I hope not to displease you, your mightiness, but Trila is a friend, one of the few I have and I do not wish to hand her over to enemies."
"She doesn't have anything to fear from me. I just want to talk to her. I promise."
"I have been hurt before with the promises of powerful warriors like you madam."
Shard stepped closer and softened her eyes. "On my honor to mother Tuchanka, Trila will come to no harm from me or my crew."
The dance ended and the dancer sat on the edge of her stage. She looked from the quarian back to Shard before tapping out an address into her omni to send. "You can find her here. But please, do not tell her I told you."
"You don't have to worry. Thanks for the dance. Have a nice day. Come on Tali." The quarian moved stiffly from her seat but was stopped when the batarian moved into her path. Shard couldn't hear what they said to each other, but Tali looked even more flustered when she caught up to her captain.
"What was that about?"
"She uh, she gave me her contact. And her work schedule."
Shard erupted with laughter and held out her fist. Begrudgingly Tali lightly tapped her fist against Shard's, letting out a sigh while she did it. "I hate you."
"Nah, you don't."
They met back up with Jaq and Koto at the entrance.
"Any luck Koto?"
"Bad news boss. Myers is dead."
"What do you mean?"
"Guards say they found a body in a wreck a few hours ago. In a nearby district. Was a mess. Not much left but ash. Found his ID in the car with him."
Shard frowned. Something didn't smell right. She looked over at Jaq.
"What do you think?"
"Doesn't sound right to me Red. How often do you see wrecks so bad they don't even leave enough behind for a DNA scan? And his ID just happened to make it through? Bullshit. Can't believe Koto here bought it."
"Didn't say I bought it. Just didn't really care. If he's dead or not, we can tell his brother we found his body."
Shard shook her head. "Jaq's right. It's too convenient. And besides we got a lead. Follow me. We gotta go meet a dancer."
Jaq smiled as she turned to follow. "I'm liking this mission more and more."
Maw Company made its way to the small apartment that the dancer told its captain about. As Shard was about to ring the door, she heard some shouting inside. A man's voice. And a woman. She figured no one was about to answer in the middle of a fight so she called Tali forward. "Get this door open."
Tali's swift motions made quick work of the lock. An asari and human looked up in surprise as they moved into the small living room.
"What is the meaning of this? Get out of my house now before I call the guards."
Koto just grumbled in annoyance. "She plans to call the cops on Omega? She must think we're new around here." Shard held her hand up to quiet the large male.
"Calm down. My name is Urdnot Shard. I'm looking for Sean Myers. I heard that he was a friend of yours Trila." The woman seemed shaken by the sudden events, and how much of her private life seemed to be very public information. Shard looked back over to the human male. "I assume you're Sean?"
"I..I don't know what you're talking abo..about."
Jaq shook her head. "Jig is up buddy. You're little ploy with the crash didn't work on us. We know who you are."
The man almost collapsed in a heap onto the couch. "Oh fuck, I knew it wouldn't work." The asari wrapped her arms around him and spoke in soothing tones.
"Sean, it was a good plan. We'll find a way, don't worry."
Shard stepped forward. "Look, we were hired to find you by your brother, but we're not here to take you in or anything. I just needed to find out where you are. I'll tell your brother, collect my award and we'll be out of your hair."
The man's eyes went wide and he shot up. "No! You can't tell Alex. He's trying to kill me. Ever since I found that damn star chart. I had to fake my death because he tried to shoot me at his apartment. You can't tell him where I am. He'll come for Trila." The man was frantic.
Koto rolled his eyes and shoved him back down before stepping back. "Look Shard we got what we needed. Let's just get out of here."
"Captain, if he's telling the truth, telling his brother about what we found may put the dancer in danger."
"You know I always got your back Red. You decide how we play this."
Shard weighed her options before speaking. "Look. No one knows we figured out you faked your death. We'll just tell him that's what happened. But in exchange, I want that star chart."
Sean didn't even wait for her to finish the sentence. "Take it. It's only brought me problems. Thing's cursed."
Shard was momentarily stunned. He had just handed over a fortune and didn't seem to care. "Do you know what is on here?"
"Yeah I know. And I don't care. I just want to be safe. Me and Trila." The asari smiled over at him and put a hand on his cheek.
Shard hadn't expected to find this on Omega. It reminded her a bit of her Tuva and Siva. "Well, it's a deal. We'll take care of it.
Before she could turn to leave, she heard several weapons get unhooked from armor and knew without looking they were being trained on them. Then she heard the familiar voice of Alexander Myers.
"Thanks for finding my brother. Don't take it too hard, but there's been a change of plans."