Mass Exodus
Chapter 22
Korless stomped up the ceramic path. On each side of him the fronds of exotic plants hung down over his head. Water dripped off of them onto his long quills and down onto his long hide cloak. He looked at the clock on the greenhouse's far wall again. An hour had passed since he last looked. He clucked his tongue in annoyance, spun on his feet and stomped back down the path. He reached the large pond where the rest of his pack was resting. Either laying around on the ground or washing in the pond. A couple of the females were even whistling, signalling their willingness to mate. Ordinarily Korless would reprimand them for wanting to have sex in the middle of a botanical garden, but at that moment he was far to annoyed with the Tau.
The last time he had seen them was when they left him here in the 'Kithoi Ward Botanical Gardens' with the rest of his pack. And that was the last he had seen and heard from them, but not of them. This particular greenhouse (The largest) had been closed off to allow them some privacy, but that had not stopped Korless from sneaking out and getting information from the VI's dotted around the area. And they told him about the Tau press conference, where neither he nor his pack were mentioned. That had been quite a while ago, and Korless still held out hope that Or'es would arrive with an explanation. But that hope was slowly turning into the anger only a betrayed man can feel.
He stomped back up the path away from his pack. Ignoring the female dragging a young male into the bushes. He tried not to glance up at the clock at he took his rage out upon the floor.
His quills twitched, someone was trying to sneak up on him. He looked into the foliage around him, trying to spot whoever he could feel out there. Korless' eyesight was incredibly acute, even by the standards of Kroot, so it didn't take him long to spot the leaves rustling as if something had just moved past them. "I can tell you're out there." He called.
"That is impressive." Giggled a female voice. "That's the first time I've failed to sneak up on someone, well, ever." A tall woman dressed in black and white melted into view. Her face was completely hidden by a skull faced mask and she was wearing a long, black leather coat that hugged her figure closely. Had Korless any interest in such things he would have been slightly distracted.
"There are Eldar here." He hissed.
The Eldar laughed. "A very recent state of affairs I must confess. We arrived with you, or you arrived with us more accurately." She told him.
Korless lowered himself onto his haunches, his hand drifting to his hunting knife. He watched the Eldar step out of the bushes and lower herself into a cross legged position opposite him. "My father met an Eldar once." Began Korless. "And I remember what a Human once told him and he passed onto me after he met this Eldar. Never ask an Eldar a question. You will get three answers, each true and terrifying to know. So, I ask, why are you here?"
The Eldar leaned back, gripping her own ankles. A whimsical smile on her face. "I came to have a chat. I decided it was time to update you on the situation regarding your Tau friends."
Korless raised a hairless eyebrow. "That was only one answer. And not particularly terrifying. I am disappointed."
The Eldar cocked her head. "Did you know your whole way of life is illegal now?" She asked with a concerning level of nonchalance.
"Explain." Growled Korless.
The Eldar reclined sideways, lying across from Korless, propping her head up on her hand. "It's very simple. Knowingly eating dead people is very illegal in Citadel space. As is modifying the DNA of unborn children." Korless could tell the Eldar was smiling behind her mask. "Don't those two things, form the basis for your entire society?" She asked with unconcealed mirth.
Korless clicked his tongue as he thought, finally saying. "Those laws won't effect me, I'll petition for special dispensation when I sign a treaty with the Citadel."
"You obviously aren't aware." Snickered the Eldar. "You have signed a treaty. The Tau signed it on your behalf."
Korless scoffed. "I don't believe you. Or'es would not allow that to happen." He told her.
"Oh no?" She answered coyly. "You have to have noticed that when the Ethereal is around she just can't seem to quite speak her mind." Korless stood up suddenly, surprising the Eldar who rolled onto her back and swiftly to her own feet. "You have noticed." She tittered quietly.
Korless stomped back down the path towards the pond. He gave a raucous squawk as he approached his pack. "We're leaving!" He bellowed. All fifty of them moved at once, quickly gathering up their affects and grabbing their long rifles. "Get the two who are mating!" He ordered and a pair of Kroot disappeared into the bushes. A moment later a pair of indignant cries sounded across the clearing and few Kroot began to laugh.
Korless turned back to the path where he had had his odd conversation. But the Eldar was gone.
0
"Woo! Two days leave!" Shouted Shepard as she stepped onto the Presidium, followed by Garrus, Ashley, Kaiden and Liara. "Time for us to have some fun!" She shouted, thrusting her arms into the air in triumph. Upon receiving a glare from a nearby grounds keeper she quashed her exuberance slightly.
"We should go see Tali." Said Kaiden, who was walking on her right side.
"Yeah we should." Added Celsys, who had suddenly appeared on her left.
Shepard practically jumped out her own skin in surprise. "God damn it Celsys!" She cried. "Stop doing that!"
"Uhh Shepard." Began Garrus hesitantly. "She's been here the entire time."
Shepard glowered at Celsys, who was struggling to contain her laughter. "Oh. You. Bitch." She muttered.
Celsys patted her on the cheek. "Calm down my dear. You'll have a heart attack." Celsys produced a card from her belt and thrust it into Shepard's hand. She looked down and saw that it was blank except for an address. "Come round at Six, and bring Tali if you can." At that Celsys turned around with a smile and ran for the edge of the causeway and vaulted off the edge. Shepard and crew ran off to try and see her land. But they could see nothing. Only the gently lapping water of the lake.
"I think I kind of hate her." Said Shepard quietly.
"She is awesome." Gushed Liara.
"She's not allowed to swim in there." Said Garrus, matter of factly.
Liara gasped. "You're not going to arrest her are you?" She asked.
"No." Sighed Garrus. "I couldn't if I wanted to, I'm not a C-sec officer anymore."
"Anyway." Said Shepard, bolting off at a quick walk. "We're going to see Tali, and then we're going to whatever the thing Celsys invited us to is."
Tali grimaced at the plate that had been placed down in front of her. 'Yet more hospital food' She thought grimly as she pulled to top off a plastic bowl of grey mush. "Why don't they have any decent food?" She muttered to herself. She had just begun to place the first spoonful of paste into her mouth piece when she heard a commotion outside.
"I'm her friend!" Pleaded a familiar female voice. Loudly.
"And the rest of you!?" Shouted the elderly ward matron. "I'm sorry they are not allowed in!"
"Oh come on." Whined Shepard.
"One of you at most." Said the matron with impressive sternness. "Miss Zorah has sustained a very traumatic injury and needs her rest."
"Uh, fine." Grunted Shepard as she stepped into Tali's room. "Hey Tali." She greeted with a beaming smile. "She's a battleaxe." Laughed Shepard, pointing to the door with her thumb.
"I heard that." Came a reply through the door.
Shepard grimaced at Tali and the two woman laughed quietly. "So, you doing ok?" Asked Shepard, pulling up a chair.
"I'm fine." Replied Tali, returning to the slightly horrible task of pushing food into her mask's mouth piece. "Food's bad." She commented blithely.
Shepard didn't even try to hide her grimace as she watched Tali 'eat'. "Do you always have to do that?"
Tali nodded. "Yeah. It's pretty annoying." She admitted.
"Must be." Said Shepard quietly. "Well me and the gang just came by to see if you were alright. And to see if you wanted to come to a party, but I don't think the matron is gonna let you go."
Tali looked up at her. "Well I could ask my doctor." She said. "I don't think he wants me around anyways."
Shepard gave her a puzzled look. "What makes you say that?"
Tali shrugged. "It's just a feeling I get." She muttered. "Most people don't want Quarians around anyway."
"Well I want you around." Shepard told her. "It'd be great if you could make it to the party. At least I think it's a party, Calsys wasn't really specific." Shepard passed her the card with the address. "It's a warehouse in Kithoi ward. Turn up at six she said."
"I'll be there if I can." Said Tali with a thumbs up.
0
Or'es yawned as she walked down the halls of the hotel she was staying at. The Council had been kind enough to pay for enough rooms for every Tau on the Citadel, over ten hotels all fully booked and filled with Tau of various shapes and sizes. Only those of a suitably high rank were getting full rooms to themselves though, and Or'es was one of the lucky few. Korless had chosen to take his pack to the closest thing the Citadel had to a forest and stay in a botanical garden, much to the Council's annoyance.
But as Or'es walked down the hallway she realised something. She could smell Korless. It was a little known fact that Kroot didn't produce excrement like any other race. Their digestive systems were so efficient they only produced a strong smelling liquid substance that they then sweated out. And it stank. Korless (like other Kroot) could alter this substance's smell so it didn't smell quite so disgusting. Korless only let it get so bad when he was challenged for dominance by a younger Kroot, or when he was incredibly angry. Or'es noticed her room's door had been forced open.
She stopped at the door and called into the room. "Korless, are you there?" She asked, almost wearily as she stepped into her room and started to undo the straps on her combat boots.
A crash came from the expensive suites rudimentary kitchen. Or'es stepped closer to the door, resting a cautious hand on her (mostly ceremonial) bonding dagger. The dreadful smell grew more intense as Or'es stepped into the kitchen. Korless was sat on his haunches pulling various jars and packets out of the fridge, inspecting them and (if they didn't meet his approval) throwing them over his shoulder. Then he pulled out a large bird of some kind, plucked and with its guts removed. Korless pulled of its legs and threw them into a different corner of the room. Or'es heard the snap of jaws and looked over to see Korless' hound curled up in the corner. It snapped up the second leg and Or'es swore it looked directly at her as it did so. Or'es became nervous, she had seen the thing bite through the arms of Orks before now and it was deceptively fast on it's thin legs. The thing was named Gutter. It was well trained and quite old. But it was as vicious as anything Or'es had ever met.
She turned back to Korless who was looking at her with narrowed eyes. He pulled a strip of meat off the bird and placed it in his mouth, swallowing it in a single gulp. "Hello Korless." She greeted nervously. "What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to talk." He said quietly. "About the treaty you signed with the Citadel."
Or'es licked her lips. "What about it."
"The Tau are now a member race. As are the Kroot." Growled Korless, narrowing his eyes.
"Yes." Admitted Or'es hesitantly. She brought to mind a prepared speech. "You're now the leader of your whole race. You have to think of the greater good."
Korless' face darkened. He had always been sceptical of the concept of the greater good, bringing it up was a dangerous tactic. And this time it hadn't paid off. Korless jumped to his full height. He towered over Or'es and growled dangerously. "We are not a client race."
"I am sorry Korless." Said Or'es, trying to remain calm. "But that is what you are under Citadel law. Prinol decided that we cannot make to many waves at this time."
"Pah! Prinol." Shouted Korless with derision. "I've known many Ethereals over my life and I can tell you, Prinol is an idiot. And bad at his job. You know it but none of you have the courage to say anything." Or'es tried to tell Korless he was wrong. But the words refused to cross her lips. "We are not a client race." Continued Korless. "And we never will be a client race. We were promised an equal partnership on Pech, but we have never had it."
"You do have an equal partnership!" Insisted Or'es.
"Then why was I not consulted regarding the treaty?" Asked Korless piercingly. "You have bound us by the same laws as the rest of the aliens. No eating the dead, no tampering with our own genetics! You know we need those things! They are our society, our lives!" Korless was towering over Or'es, bellowing down at her. She drew her knife instinctively but froze when she heard the clicking growl of Gutter. "And the worst part is." Korless told her, settling into a dangerous calm. "You didn't even argue our case did you? Prinol declared it, and it was so. He wouldn't tell his new friends about the disgusting company he keeps and you didn't even have the courage to stand by me." Or'es dropped her knife and nodded wordlessly.
"When I first met you. You would have done." Finished Korless, stepping past her. He whistled for Gutter, who growled as he slunk past Or'es. "Consider this a goodbye. I'm taking my pack away from here." Said Korless from behind her.
"Where will you go?" Asked Or'es quietly.
Korless clicked his tongue in thought. "Somewhere lawless. There must be a place that has a use for mercenaries somewhere in this galaxy."
"You know, we could end up fighting each other one day. And I won't hold back Korless." Or'es told him gravely.
Korless laughed. "On that day, I will enjoy eating you." He said. Or'es laughed at the strange compliment.
o0o
The shuttle landed gently, it's hydraulic landing gear hissed as it took the weight of the relatively small craft. The side door folded open into a set of steps and Ressi stepped down them wearing a thin smile. She was followed by Supant and Anysus both looking somewhat nervous. Tevos nodded to each of the three diplomats as they stepped off the shuttle, as did Sparatus and Valern. The thee councillors weren't nervous, but they were wary. The reports from the diplomats had painted a picture of an incredibly intelligent and eloquent man, and if Taldeer was anything like her father they had their work cut out for them.
Taldeer stepped off the shuttle with an elegance Tevos was sure she would never see matched, carrying her spear upright, the point above her. The tall woman looked around her, examining the landing pad. Usually it held the Council's personal evacuation shuttle. But it had been emptied, in an effort to give Taldeer a VIP experience. Evidently the attempt to schmooze her had failed as she gave the area a look that was so dismissive (and disdainful) Tevos was surprised the landing pad didn't simply disappear out of embarrassment.
Tevos stepped up to Taldeer and bowed. Taldeer didn't react in any way Tavos could see. Not even deigning to look at Tevos, she just continued to look around her with a dismissive stare. "Miss Taldeer." Greeted Tevos with a smile.
"Farseer." Said Taldeer. With a slight sneer.
"Pardon?" Asked Tevos.
Taldeer finally looked at Tevos and the Asari only just managed to stop herself gulping with fear under Taldeer's impressive glare. "Someone of my station is referred to as 'farseer', or 'honoured farseer'." Taldeer told her. "Only those of a similar standing may use my name to address me. And only friends and family may not use my title." She explained before stepping past the three councillors towards the lift. The glass doors slid open allowing Taldeer to step in. She gave Tevos an annoyed look and motioned to the lift controls. Tevos got the message and hurried into the lift with Sparatus and Valern.
Soon they were sharing awkward glances as they sat themselves around a table opposite Taldeer. She looked across at them expectantly tapping her fingers on the table. Despite having been there for a little over twelve seconds she did a remarkable job of acting as is she had been kept waiting for hours. Tavos coughed nervously. "As per the treaty we have arranged an apartment for you. Spacious but not luxurious I'm afraid." Taldeer nodded and something approaching appreciation crossed her face. "We are also willing to provide a modest income, but we must insist that if you supplement it in any way we will withdraw such financial aid." Tevos waited a moment while Taldeer considered this. After a moment she nodded again. Tevos nodded back and pulled out a data pad and slid it across the table towards Taldeer, who picked it up and inspected it closely. "As you can see." Explained Tevos. "This is your new address. It's a lovely spot on the Presidium close to the shops and restaurants."
"I shall need some kind of assistant." Said Taldeer. She looked up at the somewhat confuse faces of the councillors and continued. "I am unfamiliar with this galaxy and many aspects of it. An assistant would be a great help in that and other matters."
"Of course." Smiled Tevos. "We can arrange that, we'll send over one of-"
"No." Interrupted Taldeer. "I would prefer to interview any candidates myself, and I'm sure there are many out there with the skills and experience I am looking for. So perhaps a missive to any local information centres." She suggested in a way that was clear it was not a suggestion.
"Of course." Said Tevos. Making a note in her omni-tool. "Now I am afraid we must be going. But we will be able to accompany you to the door." She told her with a smile. Taldeer didn't return it, instead she gave a respectful nod as she stood.
The four of them stepped out onto the Presidium followed by a large group of C-sec officers. But as they did so a tall man dressed in a black and white leotard stepped towards them. The C-sec officers sprang into action putting themselves between the approaching man and the three councillors, all drawing their weapons with trained speed and skill. The man stopped short, his hand falling the sword on his hip.
"Let him approach." Commanded Taldeer, recognising the man as a Harlequin.
Tevos nodded to the C-sec captain and waved the Harlequin forward. He bowed his masked face slightly to the captain and stepped up to the three councillors and gave a low, almost mocking bow. And he presented to them three white cards. The councillors took them somewhat tentatively, looking them over. They shared slightly confused looks as the Harlequin turned to Taldeer and gave her a respectful nod and passed her another white card.
Taldeer looked over the card. The only thing written upon it was an address, and a time. Taldeer looked up and was not surprised to see that the Harlequin had disappeared. "Where is this?" She asked Tevos, pointing to her card.
"It's a warehouse in Kithoi ward." She supplied. "Do you know what this is about?"
"It appears the Harlequins are organising a party. And we have been invited." Sighed Taldeer.