Hey guys! This is a shorter chapter setting up for the next one which is shaping up to be a bit packed with things happening. :) I hope you like and, as always, thanks for all reviews, faves, follows, etc. :D It really does mean a lot!

Chapter 36

The Storm Brewing

"Once again I smell the heat sparks
When my Flemish plate gave way
And the lance ripped through my entrails
As on Crecy's field I lay."

Through a Glass, Darkly
General George S Patton, Jnr

The Aegrus were everywhere.

Caius and his crew had the made last of their journey on foot in the early hours of the following day. They had left early in the morning, hoping to succeed in their goal of avoiding travelling in the sweltering heat of a Palaven mid day.

They now stood staring at hell. They had found the Aegrus nest.

The creatures had burrowed deep into the ground, leaving a huge entrance in their wake. You would almost assume it was a natural cave formation if it wasn't for the smell and... the screams.

The chemical stench pouring from the entrance was overpowering. Occasionally a mutt would emerge and take a look around, performing a rudimentary patrol of the immediate vicinity before returning to the nest.

Caius turned to the others. "One of us needs to get in there. I have the most experience using the tactical cloaks so how about I..."

He went quiet as the sound of children disturbed their discussion. The small group quickly concealed themselves among the underground as four scared turian children passed them by, keening and wailing with fear as their escort of three mutts pushed them forward.

The children couldn't be more than four or five. The hybrids knew there was only one reason that the mutts would bring those kids back to the nest. They were already infected and in the final stages of transformation. They could even make out the veins pulsing green in the children's necks. There was nothing they could do for them except grant a quick and painless death.

They had to watch as the four children, wailing and holding on to each other, were pushed down into the nest. Their sounds of despair slowly faded into the distance as they descended.

Jack muttered, "The Aegrus must have access to a town or village. There is no way they would collect a group of kids like that without being seen."

Graxius nodded. "I dunno. There are a lot of orphans around now, some of them even forming little gangs. I'd bet anything that the Aegrus have discovered a hideout."

Caius glanced at the entrance way. "I'll get in touch with Gaius."

Gaius mulled over the information sent by his team.

This was bad. He had never considered the Aegrus using the orphan situation as a potential source of of new recruits.

He looked over at Acca who was hopping excitedly on her feet while trying to convince Marcus to have some imaginary tea with her. Before they took her in, nobody would have really noticed if she had disappeared. How many others were out there like her with no one waiting for them to come home. Hell, with no homes at all any-more.

He stood up and called the little girl to him.

"Acca, can you come over here for a moment?"

The child happily bounced over to him, hopping over to Gaius and leaving Marcus holding a small pink toy teacup in her wake. She smiled at Gaius.

"I need to ask you some questions."

"Okay!"

"When you were alone – before you found us – did you know of many other children who were like you? With no families to take care of them?"

She nodded.

"Do you know where they go?"

"Some go to the kids shelter but others go into the caves!"

"The caves? Tell me about the caves..."

The girl began to speak quite animatedly, her mandibles and hands moving wildly as she talked.

"They are under the city! I have been in one or two. They are scary. The other kids weren't as scared of the noises in there but I was."

"Acca, what noises did you hear?"

"Like screaming. I didn't like it all so that is when I started staying up on the surface. The others said I was silly to be scared."

Gaius smiled. "No. You are incredibly clever to be scared of that. Do you know of how we can get down into the caves?"

Acca went a bit quiet.

"Is there something wrong?" Gaius asked.

"No but you can't just go down there."

"Why not?"

"You have to get permission from the boys."

"The boys?"

Acca bounced up and down on her feet once more.

"Yep! They are a gang! They hang out at the kids shelter. Miss Aurelia tries to keep them in line but its hard cause they are stupid boys!"

Gaius laughed. "Thank you, Acca. You can go back to having tea with Marcus."

The turian child went back to where she had made Marcus sit on the floor and the two resumed their tea party.

Caius was given the go ahead to enter the nest.

They had sat for several hours watching the comings and goings of the place. The eight pupil-less eyed mutt arrived for its tour of duty like clockwork every twenty minutes. Once it had finished its starting habits and begun its tour, Caius dived passed in his tactical cloak and disappeared into the entranceway.

The tunnel had been ruthlessly excavated through the soil and rock. The size of it was immense and Caius grimaced as he realised why. It needed to be big enough to let a not quite fully grown Titan through.

As he descended, the way was lit by the strange glowing fleshy orbs the Aegrus horde produced as a light source. Not that they needed it. It was entirely for those they brought back for conversion.

As he reached the central chamber, the noise and the strong chemical smell both started to overwhelm him. The screams and moans of the dying and transforming were mixed with the screeches of the Aegrus.

There was another sound there that almost made Caius freeze in horror. It was a deep constant rumbling.

The tunnel suddenly opened up into a vast cavern. The Aegrus had cut walkways into the sides of the massive room, along which were stuck those unfortunates they had captured. Caius noticed the children from earlier huddled together on the cavern next to to -

Caius caught his breath. His worst fear was confirmed. The deep rumble came from a Titan. The thing was already towering above its siblings, the mutts clambering all over the creature while inspecting it.

He watched the mutts from earlier push the scared children closer to the Titan who's eight eyes rotated in its skull as it turned its head to face them. He could hear the keens of fear before the Titan rolled it's already massive head back and spat out goo.

Caius closed his eyes as the children screamed, the goo dissolving them into a pool of molecules.

Caius scrambled desperately out of the nest and reached the relative safety of his team.

"Fuck. That was grim. Never thought I would be seeing that shit again," he muttered out after heaving up his stomach contents. Graxius and Jack looked at each other than back to Caius.

The turian wiped a hand across his mouth plates. "Do you still have that rigged nuke?"

Graxius nodded. "It will take a couple of days to put together. The triggering mechanism needs some work doing to it."

Caius nodded. "Start it. We need to blow this place up. I'll contact Gaius again. They have a Titan."

Gaius was on his way to the children's shelter Acca had been on about when he got the call.

"Tell me that is a joke."

"Sorry, sir. This is serious."

Gaius snorted. "Get that bomb ready. I have Jun out with a couple of the boys to clear some black marketeers of their caches right now. Damn it! We could really use something like an orbital bombardment."

"I know."

"I'll be in touch. I have an idea of how the Aegrus are collecting those kids you saw. Be careful."

"Same to you."

Gaius let out a deep breath before he went into the tent.

Miss Aurelia was not what he had expected. She was a young and pretty female with yellow markings. For some reason he had it in his head that she was going to be some crotchety old lady. She noticed his arrival into the tent and went to him.

"Hello? Are you lost?"

"No. Are you in charge here?"

She flushed a little. "Yeah... that's me." She was staring at him weirdly. Suddenly she extended her hand to him. "Aurelia Crassius! And you are?"

He shook her hand and watched her face burn a shade of cyan.

"Gaius Sidonis. I need information about caves under the city where some of the kids are staying."

"Ahem... caves?"

Gaius shrugged. "I am going on what an eight year old has told me."

Aurelia looked confused, "What..."

"Her name is Acca? She said she came here to see you a lot."

The turian, in her excitement, grabbed Gaius in a hug. She was laughing happily until she realised what she had done. She looked up at Gaius's face before she slowly backed off. She was now bright blue.

"Ahem... sorry... sorry, I just hadn't heard from Acca in days. How is she?"

"Fine. Me and my crew are taking care of her for now. I want to know about these caves."

Aurelia shook her head. "They are not caves. They are catacombs and have been part of the city for centuries. Some of the kids have been using them to hid out in."

"Is there not enough room here?"

She laughed, "Look around. I can barely fit the children I have in here now. They have promised me more tents and shelters but nothing has arrived so far."

Gaius nodded. "I can help you with that."

She stared at him. "Really? Why would you..."

He interrupted her. "I'll get you some tents and supplies if you will give me the best way into the catacombs from here."

"I'll do better than that! I'll take you to dinner!"

Gaius frowned at her.

Aurelia laughed, "Joke... it's just a joke..." She coughed. "I have a friend who has a map of the whole system. I'll get that for you."

Gaius nodded and headed out. Aurelia followed after him.

"You can visit anytime you want..."

He stared at her.

"Ahem... I mean... within reason."

Gaius left in the direction of Trajus's tent.

"That's it, Aurelia. Make yourself out to be an idiot to the first really handsome and nice man to pass your way," the turian hissed to herself before she went back to work.

Trajus was as helpful as he could be.

There were one of two large tents remaining along with bedding. He promised to have his officers deliver the items to the children's shelter by the day's end.

Trajus handed over a receipt for the goods to Gaius before giving the hybrid some odd jobs that he would love to have taken care of.

"Just some assholes causing trouble. Thought you might be interested in helping us out."

"My boys will sort it for you. Gotta keep the peace in these parts," said Gaius before he took his leave.

He met up with Marcus and Peter before returning to the shelter. The very strange turian was still there, going as bright blue as before.

"Wow. So you really came through for me..." she said while staring at Gaius intensely. Marcus politely looked the other way along with Peter.

"The map?" asked Gaius carefully.

"Oh right! Here!"

His omnitool pinged. "That's the map and my contact details and..." Aurelia trailed off.

Gaius merely nodded. "Thanks. Be seeing you around."

Marcus and Peter headed outside ahead of him. Before he could get out the doorway, he felt Aurelia's hand on his arm. He turned to her.

"Sorry but... don't be a stranger."

She was wringing her hands nervously while flushing a deep blue, the colour almost glowing on her neck.

"Yeah, Sure," Gaius said carefully before he left.

Outside he shared the map with the other two.

"So... she seemed nice," said Marcus carefully.

"Who did?" asked Gaius absent-mindedly.

"That young turian. She really liked you."

"Hmm? Really?"

"Spirits! How long has it been since you flirted with a girl!"

"Ten years in another four days."

Marcus went quiet, his face showing his horror at what he had walked into. His mouth opened and closed as he tried to think of something to say. Gaius's omnitool went off. It was from Aurelia. The hybrid sighed then started to head back to the tent.

"Go to the catacombs entrance. I'll be with you in ten minutes."

"All right, Sidonis."

Gaius knocked on the tent's frame. Aurelia arrived out and her entire face flushed as she saw him.

"Hey. I didn't think you would come back this soon. I mean you only just left!"

"The message you sent?"

"Oh right! Here,"

She handed him a datapad. "This has details of most of the gangs you will find down there. I don't think they will be any hindrance to you but if you can persuade any of them to come back here, it would be fantastic."

"Sure. I'll see what I can do."

She beamed at him.

"Listen... I need to clarify something to you," Gaius began.

Aurelia gazed at him wide-eyed.

"You are a very beautiful woman and any guy in his right mind would be crazy to not be flattered at your attentions."

The female blushed furiously and started to awkwardly fiddle with her hands. "I didn't think I was that obvious. I mean we have only just met and..."

"I am married."

She stopped moving. "Oh..."

"I'll be honest with you. She died some time ago but she is always first in my heart."

Aurelia gazed up at him. "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be. I just want you to know that you shouldn't feel as if you are somehow less than what you are because I am... oblivious to you. I am not unaware. I just belong to someone else. You will find someone who will be perfect for you and who will treat you as you deserve to be."

She nodded slowly.

"As for me, I am content to wait for my wife's company."

"Do you believe in something after all this?" she asked quietly.

"I am not sure but if there is, then it will be worth the wait. If not then it is not going to matter to me anyway in oblivion."

He tapped the datapad, "I'll get this sorted for you, see if I can't persuade some of these rogue children to return to safety. If you need any other help than do contact us."

"I will."

Gaius headed out. Aurelia shouted after him, "Thanks... for everything."

He gave her a small smile and left.

Gaius reached Marcus and Peter at what looked like the ruins of a tomb. The day was nearly over with the sky glowing red and orange, almost as if on fire.

"This is the way in," muttered Marcus after he had pushed a large chunk of an ornate but broken stone door out-of-the-way..

"Why do we always get the bad jobs..." sighed Gaius as he peered down into the gloom.

Marcus looked at him and snorted. "I know how that happens to me – you bloody assign those jobs!"

"Oh please! You love a challenge!"

"Is that what you think?"

The argument escalated to the two starting to shove each other. Peter pushed the two hybrids apart before he went to to the entrance.

Peter chuckled before he activated the light on his omnitool. "Stop bickering like an old married couple. We have shit to be doing and the day is nearly over already."

He stepped into the darkness.

Marcus and Gaius looked at each other, activated their own lights and followed after.