I don't own the Mass Effect.

Chapter 3: The Slavers

The pounding on the fucking door wouldn't stop. Next to me, my lover let out a long groan of her own as the noise roused her, her body trying to bury itself further beneath the blankets as if that would help make the pain stop.

"Fuck off!" I didn't really care who was out there, all I cared was that my brain was trying to burst free from my skull each time they hit the goddess damned door.

Whoever it was mercifully stopped knocking, letting me slump back into my pillow as I tried not to whimper in relief. Holy fuck. That was the last time I ever mixed Thessian brandy with Illium White. And hadn't I had a beer or two... that sounded right. I think.

Ugh. Most of the last shift was a blur. I remembered getting back to our place with Voya, remembered bringing Illyan and a tired but awake Rane up to speed on everything that had happened, and there being a unanimous vote that drinking was required. And I had vague recollections of Voya and Illyan trying to fight but mostly just falling on their faces. After that... I'm pretty sure that Rane and I had had very drunken sex, my neck certainly felt like we had at least.

Before I could even think about trying to fall asleep, the Athame cursed door slid open so that light could launch an assault on my eyes. I had the briefest glimpse of who'd hacked the thing before I had to snap my eyes shut against the glow.

"Voya! Light!"

Everything went dark on the other side of my eyelids. Which was awesome.

A three fingered hand nudging my bare shoulder was less so. "Voyaaa.."

The Quarian wasn't apparently in the mood to show all that much mercy, because a moment later my cheek stung from an annoyed smack.

Shoving back fantasies of a very justifiable homicide, I cracked an eye open to glare at her.

Gleaming eyes glared right back at me. She wasn't wearing even a half-mask like she normally did, which let me see the way her lips were twisted downwards in displeasure. The normally gray skin around her wide eyes was almost black, which I thought meant that she hadn't gotten much sleep. Or that she was as hungover as I was.

Blowing out a long breath I tried to fight back a groan. "Let me guess. Emergency?"

Her short, spiky hair moved as she shook her head. And then again when she nodded and tapped the center of her chest.

"Not an emergency but is for you..." Taking another deep breath, I tried to make my brain actually work. "Hungover Voya."

She actually stomped a foot on the ground in annoyance, rolling her glowing eyes back before reaching up for her neck and mimed something being wrapped around it. She followed that up with a slashing motion across her throat.

Something on her neck, someone dead... it took me another twenty seconds or so before I managed to work it out. "That slaver did something?"

Her head shook again, hand rising in a fist.

"Zero? Oh. Fucking seriously? Now he doesn't have any slaves in stock?"

A tight nod.

"Athame's fucking azure." Closing my open eye, I kept struggling through the logic chain. "Fuck. Not a good time for it. But been months. Fuck. Time.. timeframe."

Voya tapped my shoulder again, waiting until I had forced my eyelids apart enough to see her before making a quick series of gestures. It did make me relax slightly, but only slightly. "You sure we have that long?"

Arms crossed her petite chest as her foot started tapping again.

"What time is it now?"

Another quick sign told me were in the middle of the second shift.

"All right all right. We'll get up and shower, you get Illyan up." I started to turn to Rane's huddled form before I remembered to correct myself. "Wait, wake Illyan up without hurting her."

The Quarian rolled her eyes but spun on a heel and headed out of the room. I felt safe in my assumption that she was also badly hungover when she staggered when she tried to turn, reaching out to a wall to keep herself upright. She took a moment to collect herself before vanishing down the hall...

"...leaving our door wide open." I could only groan, rolling onto my side and sliding an arm around my lover's very bare waist. "Rane."

"I heard." Her voice was muffled by her pillow. "Have to?"

"We did promise her."

The lowborn merely groaned and tried to press her back into my chest. "Why did I let you talk me into drinking?"

"Because you get very aggressive when you're drunk." I covered up a yawn by pressing my mouth into the back of her neck. "And you forget your level entirely. Never heard some of the phrases you used to describe Shaaryak before."

"Pillars... be merciful and crush this one.." She tried to bury her face further in her pillow, groaning in protest when I used my grip on her waist to pull her back. "Did I really?"

"I.. think so? Bit hazy."

There was another groan. "Can we just... shower and pretend I didn't lose myself?"

Smiling slightly to myself, I kissed the back of her neck before turning and grabbing my omni-tool from the nightstand. A bit of painful brightness, followed by a few commands, had the door shut and the password scrambled. Though the latter was mostly for the principle of the thing, I didn't doubt that Voya could slice through the new one if she really wanted to.

With the light no longer assaulting our eyes, I managed to slowly coax her into getting up. Of course, that meant that I also had to do the same, both of us wincing and groaning as our bodies protested the movement. Grabbing clothes, we shuffled into the bathroom to shower together. Any other day and more might have happened, but with how difficult it was just to remain standing we restricted our activities to getting clean.

"Pillars.." Rane groaned as she inspected the right side of my neck once we were done and at least partially dressed. "I really was the aggressor."

I let her fingers gently turn my head around, another sound of displeasure escaping her as she saw the relatively unmarked skin on that side. "Rane, I really don't mind if you take the lead once and a while."

"Cieran, this isn't just being... in control, your neck is... Pillars." My lover turned away, pulling open cabinets, eventually pulling out a small jar of salve and a roll of white bandaging.

"That bad?"

"We should... probably check the sheets for blood."

Definitely a first with her. I wasn't a stranger to being a bit roughed up after being with Nynsi Shaaryak, but Rane was normally a more... relaxed lover. I tried not to wince as she carefully tended to my neck and shoulder, and tried not to wince again when I saw the bruises I'd left on her in return. It didn't like look like I'd broken through her tough skin anywhere, but she was definitely going to be sore for a while.

"Are you all right?" I quietly asked once she was done with me, and had pulled a shirt on over her head.

Her skin flushed a little as her lower eyes turned to stare down at the floor. "I'm rather mortified, Reyja'krem. And hungover. And sore. But mostly mortified."

Sighing, I reached and grabbed her waist, pulling her close and letting her press her face against the not-wounded side of my neck. "I'm not upset Rane."

"But it was... I mean..." Warm breath hit my skin as she exhaled. "Even uninhibited I should not have gone so far."

"Rane..." I shook my head very slightly, a hand sliding to the small of her back while the other rose to gently touch the tense muscles further up. "It's all right."

"Reyja'krem, this isn't being a little bold or you letting me take the lead, your neck is...ah.." Her words cut off as I carefully grabbed the back of her neck, nudging her head back enough to where I could lean down and kiss her. There was the briefest of protesting noises before I felt her press closer, fingers lightly grabbing my shirt as we slowly made out.

Eventually we had to break part for air, our foreheads resting against each other as we breathed.

"Rane, i'm not upset. It's all right."

She let out a quietly whistling sound as she exhaled. "Do you intend to quiet me in that way if I protest yet again?"

"Only if that is what my lover wishes."

There was the tiniest of twitches in her lip. "Reyja'krem, your neck is-"

My lips were pressing against hers before she could get out another word, her chest vibrating with a very pleased sound when my tongue slid into her mouth. Her warm, earthy taste filled my mouth as the kiss deepened and lengthened, not stopping until she had to pull back with a soft gasp.

"You forgive me too easily, Reyja'krem."

"Probably." I gave her a final soft peck on the lips before stepping back and covering my mouth as I yawned. "Come on, we should get out there before Voya breaks the door down."

I half expected her to be pounding on our door again, or pacing the hallway. Instead we found her in the kitchen, already having several cups of tea lined up on the counter while she busied herself making yet another. Next to each mug was a bottle of water and a pair of small pills that I recognized as lightweight painkillers.

Rane nearly walked into my back when I had to stop, trying to wrap my brain around the sight of Voya being... domestic. And thoughtful. When the lowborn touched my arm in question, I stepped aside to let her move forwards... only to likewise stop in place and simply stare in confusion as both sets of her eyes took in the sight.

For her part, Voya seemed startled that we were already awake. She quickly covered her surprise by crossing her arms and glaring at us in turn, daring either one of us to comment.

Knowing better, I simply shook my head and shuffled over to the counter and grabbing a stool to sit on. Even better, the tea was high quality stuff from Bekenstein, not the crap I usually forced myself to drink. The pleasant herbal smell did wonders at making me feel less like crap, and I felt my hangover draining away as I drank the stuff. While the pair of us downed painkillers and caffeine in equal measure, she finished making her own drink before moving to setup a small tablet on the counter's surface.

We have a limited window according to his extranet page. The screen glowed as she tapped out her words. He currently only has one slave in residence, to be sold during the fourth shift. He expects to have more stock arriving late tomorrow, with possible deliveries a few weeks out.

I grunted, setting my empty mug aside before grabbing my water. "So we have a local day window to work with."

Theoretically. Her fingers paused. Will you be good to participate?

"Why would I not be?"

Her wide eyes pointedly flicked to my neck. Do you have a fetish or something?

Rane's skin darkened significantly, and I felt my own skin flushing a little. "Batarian skin is thicker than a humans."

Ah. The Quarian's cheekbones actually shifted from gray to something closer to black before she seemed to shake herself. The mission. We still don't have much data on his base, and I didn't see much beyond my cell.

"So we know the front entrance, which is guarded by those custom mechs." I took a swig of water before continuing, "And that front room with what, six cells?"

Voya nodded. Plus the door leading to what I think are his personal chambers. I have our base map here.

Long fingers shifted the tablet so that we could see what she'd sketched out, a simple wireframe blueprint showing what we knew. It really wasn't all that much. Besides our own memories, all we really had to go on was the size of the building and the size of his neighbors, and then theorizing how much space he might have into the floors above and below him.

"We know there's that water treatment plant below the market." Rane murmured, reaching out to tap the image thoughtfully. "Aria's people run that, so I don't think he could use it for anything."

"Escape route maybe."

She nodded slightly. "Possible. Probable. What about the space above?"

He could easily afford it, with how much he charges for his services. Voya's lips scrunched in displeasure, showing her sharp little canines. On paper another slaving group owns the space above him, but it is certainly possible that he simply pays them to maintain that fiction.

"Gives him a lot of space. He have any assistants?"

"Does who have what?" All three of us glanced over as Illyan shuffled out of the hallway, her scalp still wet from her shower. "Wait, is that tea?"

"Our old friend Shith, and yes."

The Asari let out a lustful groan before nearly lunging for the cup, and the two plain pills next to it. She took a long gulp before letting out a strangled sound, her throat working as she forced herself to swallow. "Athame's ass, I thought you threw out this crap boss! And it's fucking ice cold too, did you bother to even heat it?"

Voya looked more than a little pleased with herself as Rane groaned and I sighed. "Voya made the tea. Be glad she didn't poison it."

"This shit frozen is poison. I said I was sorry about the fur thing didn't I?"

You did. Once you finish your tea, I will have forgiven you.

Illyan could only gape at her. "You..."

"Illyan," Rane schooled her features into immobility, even as her dark eyes split between her and Voya. "Surely you would not be so rude as to throw out the tea that Voya so kindly made for you, especially in light of your past actions."

"Boss!?"

"This is between you and her, don't drag me into the water too."

The big Asari grimaced, glancing down at her cup and then at Voya. "I'm starting to not like you."

How will I ever survive? The Quarian actually mimed swooning.

Rane smothered a grin while I barked out a short laugh.

Illyan growled. "Fine I'll drink this crap so we're even. But this means war, you know that don't you?"

I was unaware that we were ever at peace.

While the Asari hyperventilated in preparation for downing the disgustingly cold tea, I tried not to smile as I turned back to Voya. "Back on topic, did you see any assistants?"

Not that I saw, nor have we seen any come or go. Do we still go with our original plan?

I tried not to grimace. The plan we'd come up with when we'd first sat down to tackle the idea of killing Shith was... well, it was a plan. I just wished that I could say it was a good one.

Three of us would have our armor painted in haphazard grays would cover up the usual plain black, and we'd exit the store through the utility access on the first floor so that no one saw us leave. We'd emerge on the floor below us and head over to the slave markets, escorting Voya as if she was a slave. The goal would be to act as if we were irate former customers heading to confront him about the shoddy job he'd done retraining her, and to shout that very publicly when we confronted his mechs.

He'd either be stupid, and let us in, or be smart, in which case we'd play the aggrieved pirates and blast the machine guards. From there, Rane would use Voya's hacking algorithms to get inside. If he'd been an idiot, which we didn't really expect, we'd simply execute him and then depart after a short period of time to make it seem like we'd reached some kind of settlement. If he'd been smart, we'd either have to hack our way into his rooms or blast the door down... but we really didn't have a plan beyond finding and killing him.

There could be mass effect barriers like he'd had on the slave doors, physical doors that couldn't be hacked, Athame alone knew how many more mechs, and that wasn't even considering his own skills which we had no idea about. And that was all assuming that he was trapped inside without a way out.

"Athame's fucking azure!" A cup slamming onto the counter broke my musings, Illyan almost retching before grabbing her water and downing half of it in a matter of seconds. "That's... fuck!"

"You'll live." I shook my head before sighing. "Rane, you have any thoughts on this?"

The lowborn bit her lip, leaning forwards a bit so that her lower eyes could focus on the tablet while her upper set lidded in thought. After a long few moments she shook her head, dipping her head apologetically to the left. "I'm sorry Reyja'krem, but I don't see how we can do anything else with just the four of us. All indications are that he never leaves, so we cannot simply lure him into the open and allow Voya to utilize her sniper rifle. We have to go in."

Dammit. "Illyan? You have any ideas on this?"

Said Asari stopped chugging her water, swirling the last bit in her mouth before swallowing. "Sorry, missed most of the conversation thanks to that shit I just had to drink."

Sighing, I waved a hand at the tablet. "Going after Shith. We have an opening. Thoughts on our old plan?"

"Oh, that crap. Well... guy seems like a slasher eel to me. All tucked into his hole but ready to lash out and bolt at the slightest opportunity." She gave a little Asari shrug. "I think the plan can get us in without the crowd trying to drown us, but I don't think we'll catch him inside."

Which more or less mirrored my thoughts. "We can't bring in Tris, can't risk her cover. Calling Red or Ayle would defeat the purpose of disguising ourselves."

"Sounds like we shoot our way in and hope for the best boss."

"I agree with her, my Reyja'krem."

I glanced up at Voya, who nodded firmly. We shoot our way in and make sure we have plenty of charges to blast through anything he tries.

My nose flared as I exhaled. "All right. Rane, Illyan. Could you two go downstairs and start repainting our armor. Urban camo for ours, make Voya's look beat up and ragged. We'll be down to help in a few minutes."

Rane's eyes split between me and Voya, but she nodded before leaning in to brush her lips against my cheek. The momentary gesture complete, she rose and waved for Illyan to follow as the big Asari muttered something about unfairness before they vanished through the airtight door.

Across the counter, Voya crossed her arms and simply stared at me.

"If he bolts, we might not get him." Her large eyes narrowed slowly to irritated slits. "I'm not saying that we won't chase him, but the potential is there. You know that, right?"

Her grey chin jerked slightly in a nod before she grabbed her tablet again. I'm aware. You are holding to your word by helping at all, if he escapes then I will simply expect you to continue helping me hunt him.

"Which I will." My fingers drummed once. "But there's another thing I want you to remember. I care more about Rane and Illyan's lives than I care about your revenge. Fuck. At this point I care more about your life. If anyone is seriously in danger, I am pulling us out. Even if I have to reel you in from the waves to do it."

Lips pulled back to show her ivory teeth. If I have that creature in my grasp I am not letting him go.

"If you have him in your grasp and Illyan is bleeding out, you will fucking let him go and help us get her to a medic." I snapped back, my own eyes narrowing. "The same goes for Rane, for you, and for me. We can always track this asshole down again, we can't bring people back to life."

And if I take the time to kill that thing instead? You'll shoot me?

"No, but you won't be welcome back here anymore." A long exhale made my chest move. "Dammit Voya. You're getting close to being someone I think of as a friend, and I get that this guy doesn't exactly deserve to still be breathing, but we have the contacts to find him again if he bolts."

Her fingers drummed on the counter for a few moments before she resumed typing. Would you shoot me if I put any of you in danger while trying to kill him?

There was a sinking feeling in my chest as I breathed. "I'd rather you didn't put me in that situation."

Don't dodge the question. Would. You. Shoot. Me.

I took another long exhale and met her wide eyes. "If you made me choose between your revenge and Rane or Illyan's life? Yes. I would. I'd feel like a piece of shit for doing it, but I would."

The Terminus Quarian stared back at me before nodding slightly. You really care about them.

"You are included in them."

I thought you were avoiding trusting me until after this.

"I have a problem with trusting people too easily apparently."

Apparently. Her head tilted to one side as she seemed to think, her white hair shifting with the motion. I will... do my best to remember that not killing him today will not cause the galaxy to end Cieran.

My lips twitched slightly. "Done with the polite fiction that you don't know my name?"

It wasn't difficult once I realized that 'Reyja'krem' was a title and not a term of endearment. Voya's eyes stayed on mine for a long moment before glancing away. I also found documentation from two separate hospitals on Illium listing Cieran Kean as a known sufferer of Floating Mind. Usually caused by traumatic mental assault by an Asari. You were telling the truth.

"Surprised?"

….Yes. I guess you really do know what it feels like.

"Voya, I don't compare what happened to me with what happened to you. I don't have to live with the memory of the actual event for starters."

Be thankful for that. Her petite chest heaved as she let out a ragged breath. Promise me that we will find him if he escapes today.

"I already gave you my word that we'd help you kill him."

You did. I could hear the material of her suit flexing as her hands tightened into fists before relaxing. You did.

I nodded before waving a hand towards the hallway. "Go grab your mask, we've got crap to do if we're going to get this guy."

She nodded determinedly, shutting her flat computer off before tucking it under an arm and heading for her room. I watched her go for a long moment, vaguely hoping that she'd meant it when she said that she'd try to avoid going totally insane today, before turning towards the door and heading downstairs.

The remainder of the second shift and all of the third vanished as we prepared. Armor was repainted, jagged grays replacing the matte black on three suits, while Voya's was done up in a dull, rust covered brown. She and Rane added more cosmetic touches to try and make it look far more low quality than it actually was, though how well that would hold up I didn't know. While they were busy painting, Illyan and I started hauling out the extra gear we'd need for this.

Small boxes of high explosives were carefully removed from their cases and prepared as shaped charges. Each of us would be carrying two of them, which was definitely overkill but none of us wanted to end up stuck beyond a mass effect barrier or locked doors. I didn't doubt for a second that Shith had friends, or at least allies, who'd be willing to kill trapped intruders for him. Assuming he wasn't capable of doing it himself.

Once we had our extra equipment checked out and our armor reconfigured, we spent a bit of extra time rechecking our guns before settling down to wait until Voya's watchdog program confirmed that the last slave had been sold.

Rane tucked herself against my side as we sat on the floor, tuning out Illyan's teasing about the bandages on my neck as the Asari and I played a card game. For her part Voya spent most of the first hour pacing irritably, eventually coming over to join us on the ground after Rane pointed out that she'd be better off relaxing as much as she could now.

"Matriarch's Council." I could only throw my cards down with a groan as Illyan grabbed the bolts we were 'gambling' in lieu of credits. "Sorry boss, just not your day apparently."

"Odds say I'll get better hands sooner or later." Grabbing the flat cards, I started to shuffle them in quick motions. "And then we'll see if you're still grinning fish."

"Bring it furface."

My lover flicked her upper eyes up from her omni-tool as she groaned. "Please, if the two of you must insult one another, be more inventive than that."

Illyan snorted. "He and Trena save the good ones for each other, you know that."

"I do, but-" The lowborn's words were cut off when Voya's omni-tool snapped itself to life and began flashing in alarm.

The Quarian quickly shot to her feet, checking a panel before nodding firmly.

"Right then." Blowing out a breath, I set the cards aside before shifting my feet under me and slowly standing. Reaching down, I waited for Rane to take my hand before helping her up as well. "Time to go."

Next up is Chapter 4: The Chase

No comm log today, everyone's a little too busy to send messages to Illium. There won't be one in the next chapter either, though I may slide in a short Trena scene.

Here we begin the first arc in this act, helping Voya get her revenge on one of the guys who helped in her enslavement. Things will get very interesting over the next couple of chapters, expect quite a few things to happen. Hopefully Voya will remember that being alive is important.

Please read and review, criticism is welcome, flames not so much, as usual. Reviews are my lifeblood as a writer.. every-time my email goes off with a review it makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so please. Even if it's as simple as "I enjoyed it, please continue."

Thanks, Kat

Review Responses:

DaLintyGuy → Not directly, assume she's in her early twenties. I could see a tech rifle being possible, reloads could be an issue, plus loading the right tech mines for the right situations. Hmm. I do have a few ideas now to use that idea if you don't mind.

Griezz → Glad you enjoyed the byplay. :)

Ranger Station Charlie → Ayle assuredly has her own agenda, but in this case she was genuinely attempting to be helpful but simply said the wrong thing for the situation.

Fan-Rei / GreaterGoodIreland → His identity is becoming an issue. Consider this as the rule of thumb; If someone knows that he is human, and what his title is, they have a chance of figuring it out. Aria's thugs wouldn't realize he was human for example (thanks to his armor), and would think him just another Batarian exile.

BJ Hanssen → I'm starting to be annoyed with myself for how many little mysterious I have in these stories...

Lfan8 → I'd put her odds at pretty good, and glad that you liked her.

5 Coloured Walker → Thanks for the nitpicks, got them corrected. Glad you're still enjoying it. :)

Tusken1602 → Hopefully she remains so for you.