"Cadus, is our shift almost up? My head's aching." The Batarian said as he hefted his assault rifle up and on to his shoulder as he walked wearily along side his Turian comrade.
"Shut it Batrev." The Turian growled in aggravation as he and his 'partner' walked down the dead quiet docking berth. The night was nearly over and the sun was just about to rise. But that provided little solace for the ache Cadus still felt in his back. "Batrev, just be happy we didn't end up like Echo squad. They really got chewed out by Lieutenant Varla, and serves um right too, stupid fucks. Chasing all around C-Sec headquarters for a ghost just because an 'Agent Dale' told um too. Idiots."
Batrev kept pace as he looked left and right at the various docked ships. "I heard Echo was ordered out into the thick of it earlier tonight. Heard that one of the guys blew a civi's head off with a Widow. Damn civi was dressed up like a husk or something, but it doesn't matter. Executor Sohmon isn't going to like hear about that."
Cadus gave out a shiver. "Yeah well it isn't like we had it choosy either. Just damn lucky when we got jumped by a full squad of guys in the incarceration bloc, all we got slapped with was docking bay guard duty; but Spirits this is monotonous! The Military and Merchant bays saw most of the action, but could we have been post there? No! Varla just had to give us the private docks. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of the trouble makers came in on these ships." The Turian hissed.
Their footsteps echoed around the dimly lit berths, rows upon rows of quietly humming or silent ships their only source of tone.
"Cadus. Did you see the other guys at headquarters putting on the green bands on their arms? What do you think that means?"
"How the hell should I know Batrev." The Turian barked. "We weren't issued bands, so we weren't issued bands. For all we know those guys could have been sent to the worst parts of the riots. While I wish we had something more interesting and calming then watching creepy sleeping ships, I'm glad we aren't on the streets dealing with pissed off people."
The two continued with their silent patrol with checking ID plates and power states. They were looking for something amiss, but found nothing.
"So what do you think Cadus?" The Batarian's voice echoed in the void. "Do you think it's true?" That Shepard's a Reaper?" Batrev asked.
Cadus wheeled around and looked at the Batarian square in the eyes. "Spirits Batrev, will you shut up! First Husks, and now Reapers? Walking around all these sleeping ships is already creeping me out and you just had to bring that up?!"
"Damn Cadus, I'm just askin. And why do you think these ships are creepy?"
Cadus let out an annoyed growl. "Reminds me too much of the war." His eyes looked at the sleeping sentinels in their docks. Their engines quiet, and none were showing any sign of life. "It was near the end of the war. I was with the 63rd heavy flotilla. Security detail. By that stage, we were finding clusters of Reapers either 'dieing" or 'dead". Each one as quiet as my Ancestor's catacombs. At first, we sent in teams to the processing ships to run Recon and Rescue ops. We got lucky. Found people we could help. Most of the time though, they didn't find anything worth saving. Just nightmare ships filed with the Indoctrinated, the dead, and the undead. What made things worse though is that, every so often we would stumble on one or two of the crafty bastards lying in wait among the other Reapers, playing possum. It would take out five or six cruisers or two full dreadnaughts at a time in addition to the recon teams before it was put down." He looked back at Batrev. "We soon stopped the Recon and Rescue ops and just shelled the corpses from long range. There was nothing alive worth saving at the stage anyway."
Batrev was quiet for a long time as he trailed his companion. Finally the silence got to be too much for him. "What's a possum?" Batrev asked.
"How the hell should I know? I heard a human say it once." Cadus said as he quickened his pace down the bay.
Batrev scratched his neck. "Well, it kinda makes sense though; in a twisted sorta way. You know the old human saying, takes a thief to catch a thief? Maybe took a Reaper to stop the Reapers. "
Cadus stormed forward. "Sounds like a story right out of Noveria. If Shepard is a Reaper, I hope 'it' burns."
The two continued down the berth to another section. Neither said a word as they walked, shining their assault rifle's flashlights down the black gallows of walkways and dead ends lined with crates of cargo. They had both nearly reached the end of their patrol when something caught Batrev's eye.
"Hey Cadus. Didn't there used to be an old junker in this berth? I was wondering when Capitol Port Control was going to get rid of the leaking sieve."
They both looked at the gleaming gray silver ship that sat obediently in its cradle. It was Turian in design and roughly the side of a mid-grade yacht. No bells or whistles, it's design spoke only of brutish, but refined power. The vapors coming off its hull hinted that it had not been in dock for very long.
"The engines are still cooling. There hasn't been a private or merchant ship coming or going for days, and there weren't any berths available for any new arrivals." Batrev said as he peered close at the vessel running his omni tool over the ship's ID plate.
Cadus walked over to a near by dock information panel and started pulling up files on his omni tool. "This doesn't make any sense. According to the report that garbage heap that used to be here was towed out two hours ago, and this ship slipped in right after it. No other notes as to who or what this ship belongs to."
A door hissed and opened from the vessel as a small gangway extended out. The light that rolled forth was blinding compared to the dim and sleepy surroundings of the hanger bay. Both Cadus and Batrev shielded their eyes for a moment.
"Are you ready to go my friend?" A warm male voice spoke.
Cadus then could make out the faint shadows of two people walking down the ramp.
"Holds it folks." Batrev said calmly. Obviously he had seen the same thing. "Please identify yourselves."
The pair continued to pass on down.
"Stop!" Batrev called out.
Cadus continued to strain his eyes as they took their time to adjust.
"Is there a problem officer?" A sweet feminine voice called out. The pair had no intention in stopping.
"Identify yourselves!" Batrev barked. Cadus could see him grip his rifle just a little tighter.
Cadus let down his hand as his sight improved. He could tell that the figure on the left was an Asari dressed in an elegant silver gown. Her head covered by a white scarf. She looked to be a Matron or a young Matriarch.
"Typical Batarian. Always so careful with security." A voice growled.
Cadus turned his attention to the figure on the right. The person was a Turian. Seasoned by age, but still held himself with a certainty of physique and rank. His dress was plains clothes. Gray trousers with a gray and white tunic which held thick black stripes arcing across the chest. A traditional black and silver head scarf known as a las'esh finished the ensemble.
By the Spirit's bones! In that moment Cadus recognized who he was. Immediately he stowed his weapon bowed his head forward with his arms at his sides. He heard the deity in front of him hum in appreciation of the deep gesture of respect.
"Who are you." Batrev barked, causing Cadus to wince.
"Persistent isn't he." The Asari smiled.
"Indeed." her escort growled.
Cadus jabbed his companion in the ribs trying to get him to shut up and back down.
Batrev continued unfazed. "What brings you to Esthasia? What business do you have in the Capitol?"
Cadus could feel his throat turning to desert. Shut up you Idiot! Just shut up!
"My business is my own, and you would do well to remember that." The Turian said smoothly.
"Your ship's registration is six years over due." Batrev charged.
"You know he is really being cute..." The Asari murmured.
"Cute?!" Batrev sneered insulted.
Just back down you stupid Pyjak and shut your mouth! Show some respect! Cadus roared in his head as his sent another elbow knocking Batrev in the ribs again.
"Well we do have to be going my friend. I feel we have a long way to the Tribunal, and an even longer wait." The Turian's velvet voice purred.
"Now just wait a moment! You two aren't going anywhere till my partner and I give you the clearance to do so. The Capitol is currently under martial..."
Batrev never finished his diatribe as he was hit with a biotic blast that sent him careening in to the pile of empty crates.
Cadus never once lifted his head, but he heard the Asari and the Turian calmly pass him by. He felt the reassuring, but firm clap of a clawed hand on his armored shoulder. It was only then that his looked up and saw the back of a returned legend exit the docking bay, the Asari resting her arm on his.
He's back. It was really him. He's back... Cadus said aghast as he stood rooted in place. Only the grumbled moans of his toppled comrade stirred him to action as he rushed over to help dig Batrev out. The Batarian never knew what or who had hit him.
Author's Note: Batrev and Cadus. I love my laughing boys.