"Is this how most negotiations in Cerberus end?" I shouted at Miranda as we took cover from the salvo of assault rifle fire.
"Not normally, no," she yelled back as her fingertips flickered from the use of her biotics.
"Can we focus here," Nihlus stated more than asked.
"Why should we, Mira seems to be enjoying herself," I motioned to the asari who was dancing her way through the mercenaries, humming a tune as she tossed them aside with her biotics.
"I still think we should have brought Grunt," Miranda said as she stood from cover, the immediate threat gone and Mira skipping towards us.
"I'd rather not have a krogan with anger issues negotiate, thank you very much," came Mira's reply.
"Unless it's a Cerberus negotiation," Nihlus muttered before making his way to a door that held a long engineer with a pistol. "Let's see, you're gonna kill two spectres, an asari commando, and a Cerberus agent with a pistol and no armor? I'd start running friend," he pointed out, his mandibles flaring as the engineer ran past us.
"I guess this is it," I said walking to the console.
"Careful, that console will open all the cells in the prison," Miranda warned.
"It doesn't matter, I told Shephard I'll get her a spare biotic, and I plan on doing that," I said as I hit the manual release, causing a pod to be released out of cryo. As the process began, several heavy mechs moved into position around the pod, causing us to spring into action.
"The doors sealed until the process is complete," Nihlus informed me, stepping away from the door.
"Mira," I began barking out orders, "You and Miranda hit the center of the glass with the most powerful warp you can manage, then get back," I said covering myself in my red barrier. The glass was hit by the combined power of biotics before I sent myself launching into it, shattering the glass and leaving me in between two Fenris mechs and Subject Zero herself. "This should be fun."
I launched myself at the closest mech, unleashing a shockwave that stumbled the other mech and began grabbing hold of whatever wiring I could. That was until a large amount of biotic energy wrapped around the both of us and slung us into another one of the mechs.
"I will destroy you!" Jack screamed as she began ripping them apart with her biotics. She finished off the mechs before taking a look at me and sending a biotically charged punch in my direction, which I met with my own. I quickly realized my mistake as the bones in my forearm cracked under the pressure, although she winced in pain and quickly retreated also.
"Easy, I'm here to get you out," I said putting more energy in my waning barrier, "There's someone who wants to meet you," I tried explaining before the rest of my team made it down from the control center.
"LIES!" she screamed as she threw another shockwave, flinging Nihlus back as he was the only non-biotic of the group to fight against the force. The others didn't hold up very well either, Mira sliding backwards and Miranda falling to a knee trying to keep her barrier from failing.
"Listen, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way," I said taking off my jacket and my only layer of shielding. "The way I see it, I've got the only ship off this station and I plan on taking you with me, one way or another."
"I'll never go with Cerberus," she said motioning towards where Miranda was, large logo blaring against her suit. I knew I should have spaced her.
"Good for you, I'm not Cerberus. I just work with someone who has a complicated relationship with them," I said, noticing her biotics flashing, "but you're not interested in talking anymore, are you?" I finished as she rushed me, fists glowing brightly again.
I ducked out of the way of the first blow and attempted to sweep her legs, which she easily avoided. She threw her arms down in a crushing motion, that I knocked aside with a biotic blast, not wanting to block another one of her attacks directly. "I can do this all day," I taunted, thinking she would fight more savagely and make more mistakes. Unfortunately, it's never that easy. Her barrier exploded outwards, collapsing my own as I was blasted back, a throw catching her from the side and flinging her into the wall. Looks like backup is here. "Don't be stupid, I have no reason to lie to you. Besides, do you know how much damage you could do inside my ship," I tried to reason again as she stood.
"Enough to space you all," she shot back, angrily.
"Exactly. The only problem with that is you'll be on the ship too. Why would I make an offer that would get us both killed?"
"If you're lying to me, I'll-," she began before I cut her off.
"Great then you'll come. I suggest we leave the way we came in, unless you want unnecessary trouble?" I questioned, "On second thought, don't answer that. Just follow," I said as we made our way through the dead mercenaries that we had killed on our way back to the ship. We approached the airlock, and much to my surprise, their stood Grunt holding Warden Kuril, our gracious host.
"Caught this one trying to set up an ambush," Grunt barked out.
"Well, well, well," Jack started before I unholstered my pistol and proceeded to paint the krogan's armor with the turian mercenary's blood, never breaking stride.
"No time to be petty. I'm not sure how Shepard runs her crew nowadays, but I'd prefer if we don't play with our food," I said entering the airlock.
"We could have gotten some information from him," Miranda pointed out as the decontamination process began.
"Information that is worthless to us at this point in time. As far as I'm concerned, mission accomplished," I said as Mira walked up returning my previously discarded jacket, which I accepted with a nod. "Filben, get us back to Omega, that's where we're supposed to pick up some mercenary for Shep's team and rendezvous from whatever she's dealing with on her side of the galaxy."
"We really need to discuss wh-" Miranda started as I raised my hand, stopping her.
"I thought we already went over this. You are under my command right now, so you listen to me," I said sternly, "I will not be questioned on my own ship by some Cerberus operative, no matter how attractive they may be." With that I entered the elevator and hit the button to engineering to check in with the team down there. After a minute of the most boring silence ever, I was greeted with a shriek of excitement from my biggest fan.
"I knew you would come back to me," Blair practically yelled as she ran from over by her console to wrap me in a hug.
"Hello to you too, Blair," I said letting her have her moment before stepping away lightly. "How's things going down here with the others?"
"Magnifique, the ships running as fine as ever, maybe even better," she said rocking back and forth on her feet, "I'd almost say she was combat ready if we actually had to do it."
"Well, that's great, good job," I praised, beginning to back away.
"Wait, there is something I could use," she said shooting me a coy look.
"What is it, you know I'll get whatever you need down here."
"Oh, it's not exactly for down here," she began, "I was wondering if you could get some flowers to help with the decorations."
"Blair, you do know you can go to the store when shore leave comes around, right?" I sighed.
"Yes, but if I leave who's going to make sure the clothes get washed, and the systems remain calibrated, and Filben doesn't wreck the ship, and Nihlus doesn't bre- "she began to rattle off before I placed my hand over her mouth.
"You're not the crew's mother, let someone else deal with all that. Go treat yourself to some flowers," I told her before hitting the elevator button where she had followed me, the doors closing between us.
"Approaching the relay to Omega now," came Filben's voice from over the intercom, "New record. Only 40 standard minutes this time."
"Don't wreck the ship," I yelled as I rejoined everyone else at the airlocks. "Okay, Jack, any questions so far?"
"Yeah, why didn't Shepard come get me herself if she wanted me so bad," she spat.
"Well, to put it bluntly she's currently trying to save another colony from being abducted and she trusted me enough to pick up the few stragglers in the meantime. In other words, the world doesn't revolve around you, sweetheart," I shot back, my voice even.
"I'll show you sweetheart," she began as she lit up and biotics and had guns from Grunt, Miranda, Nihlus, and surprisingly Filben trained on her.
"Save it, we can play later," I said motioning for them to lower the guns, which they did, albeit Grunt seemed put off at following the gesture. "Miranda, what do we know about this mercenary?"
"Oh, he's quite capable," I shot out at the unknown voice behind me, pinning the women beneath me on the floor, my body charged with biotics. It was a lithe woman wearing red armor with a hood covering her face.
"Kasumi?" Miranda asked confused.
"Wait, you know each other?" I questioned, my biotics fading as I rested on the woman.
"Yes, she's part of Shepard's crew, although I'm wondering why exactly she's here instead of on the Normandy," Miranda shot the girl a sharp look.
"That's a dumb question, I thought it would be more interesting over here, and you sure don't disappoint," the newly dubbed Kasumi said looking up at me. I stood up and held out my hand, which she took quickly, and pulled her to her feet.
"You could have just asked to tag along," I mentioned offhandedly as I walked towards Filben to take the gun away from him. "And I though you weren't allowed these after the Noveria incident."
"Noveria not my fault, wasn't informed Binary Helix rep would be boarding," he said pulling another pistol from under his seat and replacing it in his hand as he smiled. "Approaching Omega now."
He returned to his controls as he initiated docking procedures, while I searched for his hidden weapons, giving up after the fourth firearm. "Miranda," I said turning to her, "I don't suppose you could handle giving Zaeed the rundown?"
"Of course not, but where will you be? Shepard specifically told you to handle this," she said with a hint of disdain.
"I am handling it, by delegating it to you. A good leader delegates and spreads out jobs. You and Nihlus will get Zaeed, Mira and Grunt can go cause some trouble in the markets to try and get discounts, and I'll go have a drink with our host," I said making my way out of the airlock, ignoring the normal greeting party consisting of the batarian I shot and his lackeys.
I made my way through the usual crowd of people and walked towards the dark, rhythmic pulses coming from Afterlife. After harassing the bartender for a few minutes and paying too much for some Noverian Rum, I made my way to Aria's throne, where she overlooks her kingdom. Or at least the part of it she can stand the most. "Excuse me miss, do you know where a bloke can find some good conversation around this piss pot?" I tried to be quickly spun upside down and dropped onto the couch nearest to Aria, a smirk on her face as the glow of her biotics faded from her body. "Okay, I deserved that one."
"What are you looking for this time, more slavers?" she said in her normal monotone voice.
"Nope, just visiting my best buddy on this asteroid while my people do some negotiations. Drink?" I offered taking the top off the rum. She wordlessly summoned the bottle and took a drink before sitting the bottle on a table next to her.
"Bribery will get you everywhere on Omega, except with me. Tell me what you want or leave."
"Fine, fine. You got me; I'm looking to hire some protection for a friend of mine working on a suicide mission. Any suggestions?" I said sweetly, moving to sit next to her on the other couch, causing her guards to raise their weapons in my direction, "They never learn, do they?" I chuckled as the pistols were ripped from their hands by my biotics and were sat on the couch I had just abandoned.
"They have their uses. As for your request," she said with slight amusement in her voice, "I can forward a few files to your people. I'm sure you can pick out the keepers. You do know the price for this information though, correct?"
"Of course, I've got a krogan and an asari commando in the markets right now, shaking down people for better prices right now. Just send somebody by later and say you sent your regards or whatever. Should be fine," I shrugged, not too worried. "If that's it, I'll be going," I said making my way towards the stairs.
"Two more things," Aria said making me pause mid-stride, "There's a quarian down in the marketplace. Good kid, but not cut out for this place. He's looking for a way off world."
"And the second thing?" I asked making a note to ask Mira about it later.
"Stop buying this watered-down shit I sell, it better be the good stuff next time," she said motioning to the bottle I had gifted her.
"No promises," I smirked before returning to the ship.