Location: Slave Market, Kenzo District, Omega
Jahla
She'd been so focused on following closely in Holdrek's wake that the diminutive Volus had not even seen the trap forming until it was too late.
They came at him from all sides. Two Krogan, almost as broad and tall as Holdrek himself, rammed into his shoulders and knocked him back. At the same time, two Asari and a Turian all moved forward and enveloped multiple stasis locks. The Battlemaster went rigid, eyes flashing in impotent rage as he futilely tried to move.
Jahla melded with the crowd that was rapidly moving away from the confrontation in an overwhelming sense of self preservation. It looked like Holdrek's captors had completely forgotten, or did not even know in the first place, about her as the other two Krogan moved back to flanking positions. At the same time, three more figures moved forward, two Turians and an all too familiar Batarian. She gasped, overwhelmed by the aura of malevolence that exuded from the central Turian. His skin was unnaturally grey, even for his species, and had been heavily augmented with cybernetics. Beside him the other Turian paled in comparison. Even the Krogan seemed affected as they shifted uneasily but kept their rifles trained on their captive.
Ghro Xach'fer looked practically pitiful beside such menacing darkness, but had a menacing aura all his own. The Batarians eyes barely twitched or blinked and his head seemed to turn slowly at almost unnatural angles.
"Saren!"
Holdrek spat the word out as he strained against the biotic energy surrounding him. The fact that he had managed to speak at all spoke volumes to the venerable battlemasters strength as he continued to struggle. The biotics holding him in stasis grimaced as they tried to keep him still.
"Ahh, so this is the vaunted Paladin. For some reason I was expecting….more?", his quiet voice oozed sarcasm as he circled the struggling Krogan. "Still, he's definitely a fine example of his species. We could use some of his aggressiveness in our project."
Ghro's head snapped back and forth between them, a slow smile spreading across his face,"Bait. We take him, let it conveniently slip where he's being held so that
Asari bitch Spectre and the Herald will come running, right into our grasp."
The disgraced Spectre nodded slowly. "Excellent idea. An even better idea would be to take the Herald to Sovereign for some alone time. I'm sure he would find it quite Awakening wouldn't you agree dear Ghro?" Hooking his arm around the Batarians shoulder, Saren let out a slow, mirthless laugh as he once again regarded Holdrek. "Rather ironic that he will become a willing tool of the very cycle he has fought so valiantly to prevent."
Holdrek's eyes flickered in astonishment and the Turian again laughed, "You're surprised, Raik Holdrek? Of course we know about the Gray and their constant meddling. No matter how hard my associates try to stamp them out, a few always survive, just like Earther cockroaches," his face hardened in anger and disgust. "A vile insect from a vile planet that will be eradicated, just like your pitiful companions, once we are finished with you!"
Two more Krogan had arrived and now formed a loose semi circle around the stationary warlord. Most of the surrounding onlookers had left, wisely not wanting to be anywhere near such a potentially volatile confrontation, but there were enough still loitering. Either die hard, willfully ignorant or just plain stupid, they made Jahla feel relatively safe, staying close as she furiously tried to work out a way to get Holdrek free.
She was so focused that she did not notice the Turian in front of her shrug his shoulders and continue on his way leaving the diminutive Volus completely out in the open. She looked up just as Ghro was casting his gaze over the onlookers and they froze as their eyes locked.
Large black pupils fixated on slightly glowing eyelets as her breath hitched and she instinctively tried to move away. She watched as his eyes swiveled from her to Holdrek and he stiffened. With a visible shake and rapid blinking he turned towards Saren who was talking to the other Turian.
"My lord, we should go. Our next haul of 'volunteers' should have already arrived at Virmire." He gestured to the other Turian, "Lorethin can finish up here. He can meet us at Virmire and, once Holdrek has turned in his companions, we can finally set our plans for the Citadel invasion in motion."
Saren's eyes narrowed as he regarded the Batarian before slowly looking about the area, "Rather talkative of our plans right now aren't we Ghro Xach'fer?"
The Batarian shrugged and gestured vaguely towards the thinning onlookers, "It's not like any of these dregs of society know or care what we say, and our new guest isn't going anywhere. Now, should we go?"
"As you say," Saren finally agreed. "Lorethin, we will see you on Virmire."
With that the former Spectre and the Slaver headed towards the elevators.
"You heard the master," snarled Lorethin, "let's get this scum to the docking bay. Don't worry Krogan," he grinned and patted the fuming warlord on the head like a pet, "soon everything will be okay and right with the world."
Holdrek's eyes focused over his shoulder and grinned back, "I'm not big on catch phrases but, as an acquaintance of mine is fond of saying, keelah selai bareface!"
Lorethin's jaw slackened, then quickly skewed with rage...
Just before it exploded.
The Turian Biotic stumbled in confusion and shock as he was covered in gore from his former companion and barely had time to gasp before a shotgun blast took him in the chest.
With their trinity broken, the two Asari stumbled and Holdrek made his move. Roaring in fury, he charged forward and delivered a bone shattering punch that sent the closest maiden flying.
The other fell back and raised a barrier as her Krogan companions charged forward, firing as they came. One bellowed in pain and rage as another blast from Jahla's shotgun took out his knee.
Whirling to face her as his berserker rage took over, he was totally unprepared as Holdrek's own shotgun opened up at point blank range, its discharge colliding with the side of his head.
Jahla ran behind the Battlemaster, rebreather struggling to keep up with her rapid breathing, as his Biotic shields took several rounds. Holdrek grunted and skidded backwards several feet as the Asari rejoined the battle, launching a shockwave that hit him head on. The three remaining Krogan seemed intent on closing to close combat, guns be damned, as they gave in to their bloodlust. He stumbled again as several rounds deflected off his shoulder. Just then, two more Turians and a Batarian advanced from the nearest lift and he could see at least an additional two figures behind them.
"Pull back Jahla!" Holdrek ordered as he grunted from deflecting another shockwave that bowled over one of the attackers. "We need to find a defensive position!"
The Volus rapidly backpedaled, belatedly remembering her omni tool and hurriedly opening the comms.
"Domino!"
Sebastian
Erik led as they pushed through the crowds. It was like moving against the current as the surging sea of species pushed past in a blind panic to get away from the cacophony of gunfire ahead of them. In exasperation he tossed his head back towards Lasiira and cleared his visor.
"This is ridiculous! If you don't mind, my lady, a little help would be nice?"
The Asari Spectre blinked in confusion before grinning wickedly as she understood what he was asking for. Gathering her power in rippling blue arcs, she spread her arms and focused on the gunfire.
"Move!"
The yell, also biotically enhanced, propelled people out of the way but not nearly as effectively as the massive shockwave that surged forward when she clapped her hand together. People shrieked as they were catapulted away and the four of them ran across the now cleared floor.
Sebastian slowed as he gingerly stepped over a writhing Asari Maiden, "They were running away! Did we have to hit everyone running away?"
"Doesn't matter," grunted Erik. "Everyone in this market is guilty of something, and probably quite a few of them are Awakened."
A bellow came from ahead of them and a handful of armed figures formed a line facing them.
"What about those that aren't running?" The Marine was fairly sure he already knew the answer.
"Those there?" Lasiira smirked as she once again began drawing in Biotic power. "Those would be well disciplined Awakened!"
Sebastian groaned as he skidded behind a pillar.
The line of fighters in front of him opened up in an impressive display of firepower that lasted all of about five seconds before they scattered like bowling pins as Manda suddenly materialized in their midst.
"Let's go!" she yelled. "Satja and Jahla need us now!"
She was about to flash forward into another charge, but the Marine grabbed her wrist. She whirled to face him, eyes glowing with barely restrained energy, before she forced herself to calm down.
Sebastian held her eyes, breathing slowly and steadily, until her rapid breaths slowed to match his. He looked toward the others and waved them all together.
"I know we all want to get to Jahla and Holdrek as quickly as possible, but surging forward without a plan is just asking for disaster. And, as much as none of you want to admit it, just because someone may have made some wrong choices doesn't necessarily mean that they deserve to die. Agreed?"
Jahla
"Cherk's luck," gasped Jahla as she let her overheating shotgun drop and once again pulled out her pistol. "There would have to be a bulkhead here!"
"Try to take a break!" Holdrek sounded almost as ragged as she did. The Battlemaster was bleeding from over a dozen wounds and he took a second to try to focus on reinforcing his barrier, but it still flickered alarmingly. "We'll only have a second to-"
More shots impacted against the wall beside them and he roared with frustration.
The Volus plunged around the corner of the bulkhead blindly, a prayer for luck on her lips, and promptly pulled up short as she nearly collided with a massive armored leg. Standing against the corner was an unpowered YMIR mech.
Jahla's heart skipped a beat before her mind caught up and a plan began to form. Bringing up her omni tool she rapidly began inputting commands.
"Holdrek! Keep them occupied just a minute more! Katiya's getting an upgrade."
Sebastian
The entire market hall had all but emptied now, with only the wounded and a few looters picking through the bodies. A few hundred yards ahead of them a bulkhead had slammed down, blocking off the next common area where the steady rumble of weapons fire could still be heard.
Seeing that Manda's rapidly flaring biotics had now settled to a calm flicker around her, Sebastian patted her shoulder and pointed toward the bulkhead, then gestured for them all to gather around him. His companions moved in closer and waited expectantly. The Marine took a moment to establish eye contact with each of them.
Manda. His first love that he thought he had lost so many years ago, only to show up on a slaver ship, of all places, with a motley group of companions. Even though he could all but feel her inner turmoil and desire to rush to her adopted father's side, she held his eyes steadily, mimicking his slow rhythmic breathing.
Erik. His newly reunited father, former N7 and Mercenary with untold years of experience, nodded slowly back at him in support, waiting for his direction.
Heffi. The young Quarian's eyes were huge and her hands trembled slightly as they gripped her shotgun. She was terrified but determined to help her friends. Sebastian gently laid a hand on her arm and gripped it reassuringly.
Lastly he looked at Lasiira. Her confidence in him and love radiating from her aura washed over him like a calming tide. The beautiful Asari Spectre cleared her visor and her radiant smile beamed back at him. He grinned, winking at her before clapping his hands together.
"Now, we're going to do this right. Slightly unorthodox but right. Erik, do what you do best and stay fast and loose. I'll take point with Manda and Lasiira on my flanks. Heffi? Bring up the tail and make sure that everything and everyone that we bring down stays down, okay? Alright then," Sebastian brought up his rifle to a ready position and tinted his visor.
"Let's go get our friends."