The skiff's destination was a wide slab of Vex metal with a single warp gate on one end. The gate is dark, but there's a Fallen console wired to it. Azul tinkers for a moment and the gate lights up.
Telysa goes through first. She calls Linvana through almost immediately.
On the other side is a cold, dark chamber. A dozen pale shapes are huddled together against the far wall. Awoken, bound and muzzled, dressed in filthy rags and huddled together for warmth.
"Some of them were in there for two days," Simin says. "No food, no water, a single bucket as a toilet."
Linvana eyes the bruised Corsair and considers how close she came to sharing their fate. She seems to be taking it all in stride.
The two of them are watching as a team of Corsairs transfer the rescued prisoners to a medical transport. Telysa is on the opposite corner of the platform, being debriefed by Paladin Fen.
"Have any leads on where they were planning on taking them?" Linvana asks.
"They're working on the skiffs' nav-cores as we speak. But by the time we crack them, the buyers will be in the wind. This operation has been running since the Taken War, maybe even since Skolas's rebellion. All those ships that went missing…It will take months to untangle it."
"If there's anything we can do to help…"
Simin shakes her head. "You've already done more than I can ever repay you for. Without you, I'd…well I appreciate the offer, but this isn't your kind of work. You don't know the Belt's underground, and it would take weeks to get you up to speed."
"Yeah, but when find out who's in charge, give us a call. I'd love to introduce their face to my fists."
"No promises. But I'll keep you in mind."
"Oh, this is yours," Linvana says. She slides Simin's grenade launcher off her shoulder and offers it to the Awoken woman.
"Keep it," Simin says. "Stars know you've earned it."
"Simin, come on, it's-"
"I insist. And I will be deeply offended if you don't take good care of it."
Linvana relents and slips it back on her shoulder.
"So," Simin says after a moment. "About Telysa-"
"I can't lie to her Simin."
The Corsair sighs. "You can't tell her either. You must see that."
Linvana's protest dies on her lips. She's asked Tel many times for details about her past, but only ever gets cagey snippets. For a long time she thought Tel was embarrassed by something, but no. Telysa was afraid of her past. Afraid she'd done something terrible.
Like abandon her former lover, perhaps.
Her anger cools to frustration. "I'm not making any promises. And what I said about lying still stands. But…I'll try to figure something out."
Simin nods and turns her attention back to the rescue. They've nearly finished loading up the recovered by the time Telysa breaks away from Paladin Fen. The Hunter trots over to them.
"Well, not bad for a day's work," she says with a grin. "Fen wants us to follow him back to Vesta to refuel. He says he'll see if he can scrounge us up a reward. I guess we're getting paid after all."
"Telysa, there's something you need to know," Simin says. "Khariss, he implied he's been working with Akraviks."
Her smile evaporates.
"That's as much as I got, but who knows what might shake loose when we start plucking at this operation."
"Well that explains who was buying the Vex tech," Telysa spits. "Probably made them the long-range teleporter too. If you find anything on him…"
"The moment I hear anything, you'll know."
Telysa straightens and grips Simin's shoulder. "Thank you."
"Really, I need to be thanking you."
"Liutenant! This is your ride!" Paladin Fen calls, pointing to the medical transport.
Simin groans. "Sir, I'm fine. Just a few bumps and bruises."
"Fantastic. You're still getting on this ship. One week of shore leave on Interamnia. That's an order."
"Well. I suppose this is my queue then. I am forever in your debt." She grabs Linvana's and Telysa's hands. "The whole Reef is."
And then she's gone, walking stiffly up the transport's boarding ramp. The hatch closes and the ship starts its burn towards the edge of the atmosphere bubble.
"What was that about?" Linvana asks when they're gone.
"Akraviks?" Telysa grimaces. "A demon of my past. He's…he's the reason my old team broke up."
Her thoughts go back to the mission report she'd read. Details were sparse, but there'd been something about a Splicer captain and a lost Ghost. "You never told me the full story about that."
"I will some day. I'm not ready yet." She takes Linvana's hand and they start strolling back towards their ships. "Soon though, I think."
Tel's smile is all it takes for Linvana to realize she can't keep it a secret.
"Listen Telysa, there's something I need to tell you-"
The Hunter's grip tightens. "If it's about me and Simin, I don't want to know."
Linvana's train of thought crashes. It takes her several moments to get it going again. "Wait, you know already?"
"Bits of it. It's obvious she knew be before, she's not good at hiding it. And she's not the only one either. Always feels like someone's watching me when I come out here. Whoever it is they think I am…well, I'd rather not be her."
"That's it?" She's not even slightly curious?
"Yep. Let the past stay the past."
They reach the edge of the platform, where their jumpships are waiting.
"You know," Linvana suggests, "We could always ride together."
Telysa smirks. "And now who's the helpless flirt?"
"Come on, it's been a hell of a day. I'll just be lonely and bored on the flight back."
"Well in that case -" Telysa plants a quick kiss on Linvana's lips. "I think you can wait a little longer."