Mess room
Do'ova paced nervously. If she had nails to chew, she'd be doing it while thinking, and overthinking. The captain has stated they will go to Omega. Being in the terminus systems, their little ship will be much safer from the Directive.
Except it won't. Not with the blood pack lurking around the docks, waiting… watching. She just knows it.
It was stupid of Jen to get into an argument with that krogan. If he had just kept his mouth shut.
Jormun and the turian merc gathered on opposite sides of the room. A distance that read well between them.
Satima walked in from the cockpit heavy with concern. She leaned over the shiny dented surface of the table, sighing. "Ok, guys. I know it's been rough these past few days. We've bit off more than we can chew." She eyed the room. "If we don't refuel for a longer run, and stock up in case there's no choice but to hang around the Terminus systems." Satima leaned up, crossing arms in resolution. "We'll be sitting vorcha. Easy to pick off."
Do'ova folded her slender arms to herself. Clearing a nervous throat as their captain continued.
"You know how dangerous the system's planets are. With plenty of gangs, illegal trades, and other unsavory life choice outcomes. Let's not volunteer. Stay clear of anyone while we're on the station. Someone gets curious, lay low. Send a silent nock to my omni-tool."
The merc watched and listened closely as this girl for a captain finally acted more responsible. A leader her crew needed. How long it lasts? That'll be decided within the next couple of hours.
Satima glanced to Do'ova before dismissing the crew. Jormun nodded, heading back to engineering, but Do'ova wasn't satisfied. She needs to speak with her parents.
The turian merc watched the nervous girl reluctantly walk to her captain.
Satima faced her. "Listen, D. I know what you want, but we can't do it. Not this time. Let's wait for the Directive to lose interest again for a little while. Maybe…" She was cut off by her salarian crewmate.
"No! I want to speak with them. Please!", her high-toned shrill voice seemed to pain Satima. "My father… he was sick!" She calmed herself. "I am very grateful for you and Jormun, for saving my life. But I need to check them. Then…I-I'll stay here forever. Serving this ship." A thin smile faded fast at her captain's expression.
"Can't make it happen.", Satima shot it down. "I'm sorry." She left back to pilot controls.
Do'ova stared off in anger, leaving to stomp her way back to quarters. The moment they dock, she'll slip out while the rest of them wander around for supplies. Jen was injured from the krogan. Her father tried patching his wound before the pack vorcha showed up.
What happened to them? Oh, why did she leave at all?!
They made it to Omega, with the Haven docked and loaded into the stations' systems. Satima had requested re-fueling and some diagnostic checks. She stayed in the ship as the turian merc got ready to leave. He stopped short of the cockpit. The door out a few feet away.
"Leaving already?", she said occupying herself with scans of the ship.
He smirked, not quite ready to step out of the airlock. Something made him linger.
"You said you were a prisoner of the hive station? How did you escape?", he watched her movements closely, curious for her answer.
Satima stopped typing at his question. A deep memory playing before her. She glanced away to the chair next to hers. Turning to face him, Satima stared past the merc. She saw something in the distance, a shadow, and shook her head.
"An opportunity came, and I took it. The rest gets fuzzy."
Satima returned to her work. The turian stood still, trying his best to read her. Humans had shifty ways of confusing him with their soft facial expressions. He'd get lucky with his best guess, and sometimes he could figure out the subtle hints of anger or fear.
Satima still checked her ship's diagnostics, paying no attention. Eventually, after realizing she wouldn't talk anymore, he left.
On Omega, he returned to a spot long forgotten by the new inhabitants. The broken bridge that was never repaired creaked from his steps. His favorite perch to scan the area displayed overhead as he walked further into the old building.
Ascending the stairs slowly he could still hear the gunfire in his mind. The room to his left remained closed, a morgue he set up for some of his fallen comrades.
"Probably bones now.", he said to himself.
There to his right was the room with the balcony. She found him right at this spot and things were never the same again. Not for her and not for him.
He sat down in the old bunker room on the second floor eyeing a bottle of brandy lying underneath a bed. Grabbing it he gulped the hard liquor fast. It burned so good down his throat.
An hour of self-loathing later, he left the old compound. At a terminal hub, he wanted to contact an old friend. Thinking fondly, suddenly, of her powder blue skin and tender smile.
It felt like a betrayal to another. He shook his head. She's gone, dead. And he's been dead along with her for a long time. Maybe too long?
Before he could make the call, a station-wide alert came on. The large holo-projector showing a face. It was Satima's. There was a hefty bounty for her straight from the Directive.
"Damn!", he thought, watching a large seedy crowd begin to copy details onto their omni-tools.
At the docks, Satima waited in the warehouse district.
It was hard to focus with a blaring alarm coming from the inside of the station. Jormun left to make a call to his family, promising to not take long. Satima wanted to meet his mother someday.
He spoke of the migrant fleet often, his family, and his home planet Rannoch. He wants to take her there, give her a safe place to live, to call home. But that means a closer relationship. One she's not sure she's ready for. Pacing in circles, the time had passed into a later hour. Much later.
Worried, she went looking for him. Satima tried comming Jormun. No answer. Bringing her tool to message Do'ova.
"D.", she commed. Seconds passed with no answer. She tried it again, trying not to attract attention. "D? Where are you?"
Silence.
Full of worry, Satima walked amongst the heavy crowd, pushing them out of her way, noticing how noisy the area became. The docks were getting full, and so was the entrance to the wards below. Getting supplies will be harder without an audience, now.
Several crowds spoke to each other in hushed tones, relaying or syncing their omni-tools together. A voice from above the market's balcony started repeating an announcement.
Looking up, she noticed this crowd of people staring at the large holoprojector. It had her face on it. Satima gulped and backed up slowly. If she drew attention to herself any bounty hunter in that crowd could find her.
She turned around and started to walk fast back to her ship. When Satima got there, directive soldiers were all over it.
Cursing under her breath, she watched from the corner of a docking platform as they searched the ship. It felt like they were invading her own body. Her SHIP!
There were no signs of Do'ova or Jormun. Were they taken?
Satima backed up looking around in a panic. She found a tan head wrap lying in some old tools on the floor. Satima wrapped it around her head and face only revealing the eyes to see.
Walking past the same crowd from earlier she decided to find the one person that could help.
"If he's still here?", she thought.
He watched the crowd. The Haven was already swarmed by soldiers. They found nothing. He figured she had either escaped or left earlier before they came. A female figure pushed hard past the crowd below.
Although her head was covered, her unique eyes darted between groups of Omega residents, watching for sudden movements towards her.
Satima.
The turian merc immediately walked into the crowd blending in as carefully as possible. Satima never noticed him as he followed her steadily inside an elevator. He then touched her arm to alert the captain.
She gasped at him and pulled out a long blade. "What the? How did you find me?!", she yelled angrily at the surprise.
"You can't seem to stay out of trouble kid.", he smirked.
She put the blade back while punching the level panel," Have you seen Jormun? Or Do'ova? What if they're taken, because of me?" Her panicked voice strained to ask.
He nodded no.
"Great! No telling where they are or if they've been captured?", she paced in front of him.
Satima rubbed her head in frustration then brushed back ginger red hair, tossing the wrap to the floor. Wiping a nervous sweat from her ridged brow. She stopped to turn, facing him, and cocked her head.
"You didn't sell me out, did you?", Satima glared.
He raised an eye, "No, helping the Directive is the last thing I want to do. I'd rather kiss a krogan, and that's a painful act to consider." The turian laughed in jest, watching her react with a smile.
Satima nodded satisfied with his answer, for now, stifling a low chuckle. The elevator seemed to rattle and stopped suddenly.
He stepped to the panel. "What floor did you press?", asking edgy.
"Anywhere?", she shrugged in confusion.
Turning to her, he gave a questioning glare. "New to Omega?", he replied sarcastically.
Satima gave him an evil stare before the panel light dinged loudly.
At that sound, the turian had a rifle ready for any surprise. The elevator stopped and the door slid open to a dark district. For a reason long abandoned, it had been deserted by all residents.
Satima held her hand in the pitch-black atmosphere, she couldn't see it. The merc stepped out cautiously, he turned on his rifle light.
"Stay behind me.", he said in a serious tone.
Satima scoffed, "I can take care of myself. I'm not afraid of the dark."
He grunted in irritation from her comment. She'll either die horribly or get them both killed. Horribly.
Gozu District
Jormun had finished his call earlier than expected. Keelah! His mother can be so stubborn! Wanting him to come home. That all he knew about the Directive was good enough to fulfill the tradition of Pilgrimage.
It wasn't. And he's not coming home. Not without his friends.
He tried comming Satima with no luck. Even Haven couldn't receive his call. Must be some jammers nearby. Courtesy of some slumlord wanting to make a quick credit over call charges.
He hates this place. And fears it.
That bar was hectic. Too many gangs, too many smaller factions. All pushing and biting their way to the top. A top that was barred shut from anyone. Who knows where the infamous Aria T'Loak really is?
Jormun kicked an empty hallex container out of his way, hearing someone from behind scurry to a corner of the wide walkway. He faced their direction, Ish out. "Who's there?" Sounds of skycars outside echoed, drips of dirty water lined the walls.
He started to lower his weapon, and walk away when the figure stepped out from the shadows. A tall breathy, faceless… "Do'ova? What in Kee are you doing down here?"
She blushed, looking down in embarrassment. "Oh, uh. Looking for my family."
Great.
"Does Satima know that?", he asked.
Do'ova shook her head. "She won't help me. Why? I've been a very good shipmate, haven't I?"
Jormun felt sorry for her. He's just as much in the dark about the rest of that bar fight. The vorcha swarmed them. He shot one in the face, helping Do'ova to find cover. Her family under heavy fire. No one could do anything until Satima came out of nowhere.
Took down two of the vorcha with quick skill. Shot a krogan in the eye, slicing behind his great armored knee, where it's vulnerable. Making him kneel. His deep booming voice laughing away at the thrill of pain and the feeling of gushing blood.
She covered them both out of the bar. All the while Do'ova yelled for her father. It ended with them hiding out on Haven.
"Do you think they're still on this station?", he wondered.
The salarian nodded furiously. "Oh, yes. I accepted a call that our captain did not answer. It was Jen. My cousin. He's alive and needs help."
"Help with what?"
Do'ova stood closer. Making sure no one heard, leaning to whisper. "The pack have him and father. We can save them."
Keelah.
….
Satima stood next to him, a blade visible in her human-like hand. She tilted her head to each sound, careful where to step. Maybe she was capable after all?
They walked past an open doorway. It had fallen debris in it. Poorly lit hallways and one particularly scary one with a flickering light. Unfortunately for Satima, it brought a bad memory of being alone in the dark on the hive.
The honeycombed levels and shadowy alcoves on every deck. She closed her eyes briefly, before returning her stare back into a void.
So, she lied to him. It wouldn't make things better if she jumped at every sound, or if she imagined a horrible monster coming at her from this darkness.
The turian could tell through his visor that her heart was racing. Everyone is afraid of what you can't see coming at you.
Further, into the district, the sound of whispering suddenly passed behind them. They both looked, already feeling jumpy.
"I don't like this.", Satima remarked, spooked.
He didn't either. The quiet and constant dark was a perfect mix for an ambush from anything.
After a few minutes of walking, they came to a grated metal bridge that had old red bloodstains. It overlooked a long drop into a vat of Eezo.
The whining noise of the mining machines echoed around them as they walked further. Glowing blue ore lit the path they descended in the strange ward.
"Don't look down.", he said with a smirk.
Satima averted her eyes. She stepped in the red blood making a disgusted look. It seemed sticky, oozy.
"Human.", he pointed out with his rifle.
"How do you know?", Satima asked curiously." It could be vorcha or krogan."
"The smell.", he answered with a nod to the air.
She didn't need the details on how he became acquainted with the smell of human blood. What was strange is the fact the old blood didn't coagulate properly. It should have been like an old paint stain. Not liquid and runny.
An open doorway that looked clear and well-lit seemed to be the path out. Satima followed, watching for anything to come jumping out at them. Her heart raced faster, something was watching them, following them.
She knows it. His visor alerted him again to squadmate distress.
"Calm down. You're not alone here.", he said over his shoulder to her. His taller height threw a long shadow over her.
She nodded back to him and took a deep breath. Satima felt better, for a few minutes at least. She missed Jormun. He would've had her back.
…
Do'ova cautiously led them further in the Ariake district. Another stairwell led them through the warehouse levels.
Her omni-tool glowed orange over the sandy-toned features of her face. Licking thin lips in anticipation of the find.
Jormun watched the alleys. Eyeing anything suspicious. If her cousin is down here, is he still alive? "D, are you sure this is the right area?"
His nervous voice made him clear an overly dry throat.
She nodded, walking faster ahead. "His code is through this door."
Keelah it was one of the gang's own clubs. Loud music thrummed from the walls, as a few patrons stalked outside around them. Vorcha. Dirty, nasty things. With features made of nightmares. One of them stopped the pair, halting them in place.
"You go no further! Not Blood!", he spat at them.
Do'ova shook from fear, trying to muster enough courage to buy their way in. She gulped, thrusting a forceful arm out toward it. Omni-tool glowing on them, she brought up the credit sum. "Five hundred creds!"
Jormun winced at her shouting the number. He stood to her side, ready to fight. Hoping not to.
The vorcha screeched awfully, shaking his head in dissatisfaction. "Not enough! Not enough, I say! Need more for special Afterlife meeting. Yes?"
They didn't need to know what that meant. Do'ova supplied another two hundred credits. Their screechy friend shouted in amusement. "Yeeesss! This will be fun!", he laughed loudly at them, opening the door.
Jormun rushed Do'ova in.
Inside, bodies pushed through loud voices and deafening music. Do'ova glanced around with a blush, as two asari made it clear how much they enjoyed each other's company.
Wandering the dance floor, they were spotted by a krogan in dark red armor. His face was scarred by fire and a cruel grin displayed at them.
Jormun tried to keep up with her, but soon she was lost in the crowd. He yelled her name, pushed away some vorcha who hissed at him. Red sand spilled on the floor in front of him, as two humans scurried out of the way.
Hands grabbed his suited arm, tightening a firm grip. Stopping him from reaching Ish. His head swam when a blow hit hard against his helmet. He writhed on the floor. Dancers swarming him. A dizzying figure stood looming in front of him.
"Well, well, well.", the deep voice said. "Looks like our rat has returned."
…..
They ended up in a large barely lit room with rust colors in puke green and mud brown. The black walls wet with condensation from the many pipes that flowed through. Steam spurted out in small holes on the metal pipes.
The turian turned off his rifle light. The dark in this room was alleviated by illuminators, though dim. In front of the walkway were stairs. They slowly descended.
At the bottom, a door was kept locked to a hallway separated by glass. Which had bullet holes in it. Satima proceeded and studied the panel.
"I can hack through. It's a really old encrypted lock." She brought up her omni-tool in confidence.
He noticed a lot of broken glass on the floor and a few extremely old pods. In front of one was a terminal. He turned it on to witness something he was only told about.
The adjutant project that Cerberus tried to keep in control but failed. He found some footage from the security cameras. His eyes widened to see her. A strong feeling of regret made him queasy. He then turned it off.
"I got IT!", Satima said loudly, proud of her skill.
He flinched to see if one of those things would come running out of the darkness. Nothing happened. At least not yet.
"Spirits, kid! Keep your voice down.", he told her a little too loud himself.
She covered her mouth and made an apologetic stance to him.
The door opened behind her, while the turian turned his rifle's light back on and nearly dropped it in horror.
"SATIMA! RUN!", he screamed.
Satima was grabbed by the exact monster he watched earlier on screen. She yelled kicking and cursing. He took potshots at it, careful not to hit her. She tried to wriggle from its grasp, hyperventilating from the terror she felt.
A small whining noise started to deafen her, as she continued to struggle. All the commotion was being blocked out when a thought dominated all the others. Survive. Reaching the side of her belt, she felt for a weapon.
Satima stabbed it in the eye with her blade, dark blood spurting on her shoulder. The adjutant stumbled backward grabbing at the object in pain. When the turian dashed to Satima to help her up, the adjutant attempted another swipe at them.
Dodging together, he put her behind an overturned console. Her whole body was shaking. The monster bellowed and roared in anger, ripping old terminals from their stands. Sparks flew outward from the violent rage.
She stared ahead, unable to shake the feeling of fear at almost being killed by that thing. Satima recognized a voice shouting at her, but all she could hear was the sound of her frantic heart.
The turian merc tried to get her attention, but the poor girl was terrified. He grabbed her chin gently, trying to get eye contact. "Listen to me.", he began. She kept breathing hard, staring off in horror. He shook her shoulder. "Satima! We have to run! Look at me!"
She faced him, her dark teal gaze wide in panic. Satima stared into his avian eyes, suddenly finding a calm. He released her chin. "I know you're scared." The creature retrieved the blade from its eye. Now searching for them, hurling biotic warps at objects in the room.
He continued, "We have a chance to escape if we work together. You told me you survived hive?"
Satima nodded. Slowing down her breathing, listening to him.
"Then you can survive this. Trust me.", he tried to widen his mandibles into a smile. It was cocky and unused, but Satima gave a surprising response. "Ok.", she agreed. "Let's get out of here."
They ran past the door and found a broken hatch to their left. The other way was also covered in debris when the adjutant began roaring behind.
Panicked, they searched desperately for a new way out. He noticed a leaking gas pipe in the hall that could be ignited on the adjutant, but they needed to find cover. Satima found an open hatch with a ladder.
"We can escape here!", she shouted in a panic.
The adjutant came running down the hallway, its biotic warps hurling towards them. There is no time to debate. He pushed Satima down the ladder, and turned almost face to face with the beast, then threw himself back down the chute, shooting the pipe with precision.
A blast of fire and heat shot him fast downward, listening to the adjutant roar in pain.
Down the chute, he landed on something soft and lumpy. His ribs were sore, and some of the fire singed the front of his armor. It seemed a few minutes passed by as he painfully got up.
"Satima?", he grunted. "Where are you?", yelling, hoping she could hear him.
He heard a small moan below him.
"...he..here..", she said raising a hand.
"Spirits!", he reached down grabbing it, pulling her up out of debris she previously fell onto.
The turian didn't know he had landed on her, quickly scanning for anything broken while feeling guilty. Satima stumbled backward but held on to him as she walked forward in a drunken stance. She turned around to him.
"You fell on me! That really hurt.", she stumbled backward, falling on the ground unconscious.
Kneeling beside her and shaking his head, he knew her vitals were steady with a quick scan. Picking Satima up, the turian merc hoisted her over his shoulder. Just his luck.
….
Jormun woke up with a splitting headache. If he gets any more blows to the head, he'll end up with permanent trauma. Keelah, where is Do'ova?
The quarian noticed his arms were unable to move about freely. Glancing down, he viewed the restraints on his wrists. Do'ova made whimpering sounds from his left. She was equally restrained and panicking.
"D… are you alright?", he asked. "D?"
She stared away, shaking with fright.
The little room they occupied had a musty smell. Dust motes fluttered where lights cornered parts of the walls. A vent between the wall next to him and the outside looked closed. It was warm too.
Were they moved to the ore processing levels?
His attention sharpened when the door opened with two vorcha and a krogan, entering. Jormun hoped to never see that krogan's scarred face again.
"Prax Worlock.", he muttered.
Prax circled Do'ova, turning his unsettling gaze to Jormun. "So, rat.", his voice thick with contempt. "You've come back to finish the job? Perhaps get the payment promised you, for your little pilgrimage?"
Gulping, Jormun tried to answer without squeaking the words. "I've returned for a friend. Her family. Where are they?" He attempted, as Prax came closer. "If-If you know, I mean." Looking away.
Prax chuckled, "Oh, I know." He turned his great body to Do'ova. "Well. I believe a certain someone has been missing you. Let's go visit him."
He signaled for the vorcha to undo their restraint. Jormun was hustled behind Prax, as Do'ova was made to lead with him. He feared what the tyrant is up too. Further along the walkway, they spotted several ore processing holds. A network with plenty of slave labor fueling the profit.
Terminus systems were always risky when escaping death.
"Where are we going?", Jormun wondered. "Are you going to enslave us to the blood pact?"
A vorcha hit him with a shock baton. He griped to himself, following along.
Prax stopped at a lift, pressing the icon on a panel. "Making you a worker would be satisfying. But you're too much trouble. Too knowledgeable in our pact."
Keelah, that sounded indefinite. Pushed on the lift, Do'ova swallowed fear. She faced the big krogan. "Dural didn't mean to interfere, Prax. He's young and stupid."
"You got that right.", Prax replied.
"So, he's alive? Right?", she wondered.
The lift came to a halt on the last level. Walking out, the heat from furnaces below them billowed up in the dry wind. It was almost scalding. Prax stomped ahead, leading the small group to a set of steel cages. He opened one with a grin. "Here's your friend."
Do'ova rushed inside, looking intensely at the floor. A similar sandy-toned male salarian laid motionless on the grated bottom of the cage. His eyes were wide with terror. Slash marks on his legs and arms had been stained with colored blood.
"Pity. If you had been here a few weeks ago, you know? When I sent the demand. He'd be alive, still. Ah, well."
Prax laughed aloud, his booming voice echoing off the hollow level. Jormun shook his head. Poor D.
Do'ova balled her fists tightly, tears streamed her face as a hard-line formed from her lips. She closed her eyes, breathed in deeply, exhaling in a controlled manner. Promptly turning with a swift punch to the evil krogan's mouth.
"You Werlock bastard!", she screamed.
Prax knocked her down hard. Putting a large foot on her slender chest. Pressing hard to crack ribs and smash her heart. "I'll crush you like the bug you are!", he roared.
Jormun had to act fast. He tripped the left vorcha, taking a hit to the gut from the other. Borrowing a move from Satima, head-butting the creepy creature. It screeched in anger, but Jormun slid out of the way.
The stupid vorcha jumped forward, falling off the catwalk over a furnace. With one left, he looked around anything to fight with. Eyeing the shock baton in front of him. Jormun beat down the second blood pact scum, knocking him unconscious from repeatedly high voltage surges.
Panting from the fight, the quarian put his attention on Prax. Do'ova will die if he doesn't stop him!
He can't take him on as Satima did. And he's not an expert hand-to-hand fighter. Hell! He's just an engineer from Rannoch!
Do'ova's strained breaths put a fire under him. He's an engineer and a quarian. Hacking is second nature to him.
Jormun quickly tweaked the baton to a maximum power surge. It won't kill Prax, but it will certainly slow him down. Painfully. Redundant nervous system be damned.
He sprinted forward, aiming for an under-arm opening. As Prax busied himself slowly trying to kill Do'ova, Jormun jammed the shock baton under the krogan's armpit. He roared in anger, receiving a full jolt that would fry a vorcha dead.
Jormun helped Do'ova up, as she leaned on his shoulder. They hastily walked to the lift. Reaching the top floor. Within one of the elevator's back to the docks, he checked her injuries and applied medi-gel.
She winced once or twice. Keeping a steady gaze onward. Alarms blared on the station as an announcement echoed back on the docking ward.
They pushed themselves out of the elevator, walking slowly in pain from the fight before. Jormun looked around to see crowds. And Directive soldiers.
Keelah.
…
The turian slowly walked forward in the new open district. Grateful for the extra light and civilization from upstairs. Balconies across blared music around him as it echoed off metal walls. Sky cars passed by overhead into deep tunnels of the mining levels.
Satima showed no signs of waking. Minutes passed, with his shoulder beginning to hurt from the weight. Not that Satima is heavy, but her little bit of armor and him carrying her for ten minutes put a strain on his muscles.
Slowly wandering in the ward, he looked around to see a red mark of graffiti on the wall. One that he smiled at.
As he walked into the district a few turians showed up, weapons in hand. They surrounded them.
"I hate surprises.", he thought.
"You have no business here. We allow so many refugees at a time and only turians.", the turian in red and black demanded. They all had their helmets on.
"I am a turian you moron.", he yelled agitated.
Some of them gathered behind him. Pointing and smirking. "Who is she? Your mate?", they all laughed together mockingly.
"Obviously human.", another one said.
"Slip her a little fun in the drink?", one from behind sniggered.
He glared at them. Welcome to Omega, where the obvious is oblivious to the rest.
A turian who was respected approached, with deep red armor. He wore no helmet, and his face along with one mandible was covered in brown clan markings. Yellow eyes stared straight his way, while a few salutes were given him.
"What's going on here?", he said sternly. Staring at the two newcomers in the talons district.
One of the talons stepped forward, "Sir! We have trespassers. An old turian male and the alien girl whose bounty was on the wall."
The lone turian's head snapped to the Talons merc. Pretentious little prick. But a more alarming question interrupted his thoughts. Were they watching them the whole time? Could the adjutant be theirs?
The respected gang leader walked closer to him and Satima, as he studied the taller turian in blue. Then he laughed, slapping the carapace back of the younger turian in surprise.
"Men. Put your weapons down! We have a legend in our district.", his demeanor changed into a more relaxed state.
They all looked at each other, obeying their orders. What was he talking about?
Aiden held out his taloned hand," Garrus Damn Vakarian! I thought you were dead?"
Garrus finally recognized the leader. "Aiden Aurelius? It's been a long time.", he shook it vigorously, eyeing the younger turian mercs.
Aiden returned the favor, "Too long. What's got you wandering back here for?" He questioned.
"Let's get inside the base first. I'll have plenty to tell.", Garrus answered.
They were led inside the Talons base. Hidden down an alley, and beyond a few shops. Aiden stopped in front of the door of a drug den. He put in an access code. Once through, Garrus saw a whole new underground of people.
Mostly turians and a few asari, these were refugees that could not leave. The sick were laid in one area of the building with volunteers trying to nurse them and any injured had been piled behind the groups.
He could hear children playing somewhere.
Dextro nutrient paste came in stock and barrel. Stacked four feet high next to each other on the far-left hand wall behind some Talon mercenaries guarding it. Following the turian men, Garrus noticed a small room to their right. Apparently, that's where they were heading.
"What is it you need?", Aiden asked, waving to a few asari and another turian guard.
"My friend needs medical help.", Garrus hinted at how long he had been carrying her. "And I would like a moment to sit down." He laughed with a wince.
Were he in his younger days...
Aiden nodded, he signaled for a merc to bring in a cot. An asari came in with a medical bag. Garrus laid Satima down, her face had a bruise around the eye. The asari nurse took scans, applied medi-gel and other ointments on Satima's cuts. He shouldn't have pushed her. But that thing was getting closer to them.
Garrus watched the asari. He didn't trust mercs or criminals, especially on Omega. Aiden looked on with fascination. This odd girl, with strangeness to her that lured him. The asari took out an injector, she lifted the brown sleeve of Satima's jacket. Garrus grabbed her hand.
"It's for pain. She has bruised ribs.", the asari nurse stated.
Garrus looked at Aiden who nodded in assurance. He let go of her arm. At the prick of flesh, Satima woke with a start, grabbing the injector and holding it tightly to the asari's neck. She glared around the room in total fright. Garrus knelt next to her.
"Satima, it's alright. No one is going to hurt you.", he tried a soothing tone.
It's been a while.
Satima looked at him in surprise, almost as if she forgot where she was. Garrus put a gentle hand on her arm and she let go of the injector. The asari nurse fled. Aiden leaned on his leg with a smirk.
"Dangerous and sexy.", he smiled at Satima.
Satima snorted to him. She turned to Garrus.
"Where is Jormun?"
Time passed while Satima paced the room. They wasted an hour talking, and she hated it. Jormun could be dead in an alley somewhere being picked off by vorcha and they wanted to talk! Satima settled against a weapons bench, occupying her thoughts with something constructive. Garrus sat with Aiden.
"I need the directive's dogs to leave the docking area so we can get back to her ship.", he informed. His request seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Aiden watched Satima and looked at Garrus.
"Strange girl."
Garrus noticed Aiden's curiosity. He averted the young turians gaze back to him.
"Have you been getting any trouble from the Directive lately?" Garrus didn't like small talk.
"No more than usual." Aiden leaned forward to observe her closely. "Who is she? Why is the Directive so interested in obtaining her?"
Garrus got irritated by this. He stood up to block his view. Aiden acted annoyed but eventually stopped staring. He knows something, Garrus couldn't trust him, but the man is his only shot right now at escaping the station.
"Just a girl who owns a ship. I need your help Aiden. Can an old friend request that much?", Garrus asked politely.
Aiden smirked," Old friend! You haven't aged a day Garrus. Must be that merc life and all the blue ass you can get." They both laughed until Aiden continued. "All right, I'll give you help."
Garrus smiled satisfied with his negotiation. Aiden nodded but seemed distracted when Satima nearly burned her hand with a soldering gun. Garrus never liked that look. He knows what it means.
"So, within the hour?", Garrus towered over the younger turian distracting his view once more.
Aiden had a blank look to his face. He clicked his mandibles and stood to shake Garrus's hand.
"Of course."
Aiden left the room. Garrus walked over to a busy Satima.
"You alright?", he asked concerned and sorry about earlier.
She glanced his way but went back to fixing an abandoned pistol. "Yeah. Just anxious to leave."
Garrus noticed she was having a difficult time cleaning a mod she found to her new weapon. He found a hanging cloth and took the mod out of her hand.
"You're doing it wrong."
"HEY!", she replied.
Garrus smirked at her.
"If you clean this tiny opening, you'll wipe off the grease. Without that, it will lock up and the mod will break. What is this anyway?" He fumbled with it to see what model it was. Armor-piercing type.
"Is it done yet?", she asked impatiently.
Garrus handed her the mod. "Do you know how to re-attach it?"
She snatched it scoffing, putting the mod back in the pistol, and cocked it with a smile.
"I do now."
Satima noticed how Aiden kept leering at her. The uneasy stares and how he moved his mandibles sent a bad feeling in her gut. She wondered where Jormun had fled too. Surely, he has seen the holo signs of her face.
Satima worried over his fate. She didn't want to be held responsible for his death. To go to Rannoch and tell his family it was because of her, that he died.
Garrus paced around the underground bunker. He watched Aiden. Satima could most certainly take care of herself, but a predator was always ready for anything. His days in C-sec gave him that much insight.
So Garrus planned. If Aiden made a wrong move, he would cut his prick off and toss it to that pet adjutant still lurking in the dark wards. The thought made Garrus smile.
Forty minutes passed and Aiden signaled they were ready. Garrus, Aiden, and Satima looked over a holo grid of their plans.
"I have two scouts out there. The Directive has a tight hold on your ship, but I think we can manage a good diversion." Aiden sounded sure and proud of his idea.
While the Talons play urban war with them, Garrus and Satima are to take a back-alley route to the docking hub. When they reach it, they will have a small amount of time to get on.
Aiden will release the Haven from the tethers so Satima can override the controls. Once completed they are free to leave.
"We have to find Jormun as soon as Haven is free. If they have him...?", Satima looked at Garrus concerned.
Garrus nodded in agreement. Satima watched them both. Even though Aiden was evidently younger than Garrus they acted as equals. She wasn't familiar with turian culture. Aiden gave Satima the same uneasy stare the whole ride to the outer docks. Garrus kept a firm hand on his rifle.
"Satima? Is that your whole name?", Aiden asked suddenly, looking her up and down.
The silence had broken, Satima reluctantly complied.
"My given name, yes.", she sighed annoyed.
"By who?", Aiden asked again.
Satima turned to him with a devilish grin until Garrus broke the conversation.
"I think you have enough information now.", Garrus blurted out.
Satima looked away and watched the lights of Omega's city. They reached their destination. Garrus and Satima got out with Aiden following behind.
"Through here.", he pointed to a door outside a club. Neon lights covered the wet street they walked on.
Aiden punched a few more codes and it opened. Not a dark scary corridor this time.
"Go through this alley. Follow it to the end. A door to your right will take you straight to the Haven." He glanced to Satima.
Garrus shook his taloned hand. "Thank you."
Aiden complied. He looked at Satima one more time, clicking his mandible, and watched them go down the alley to disappear.
"Strange eyes.", he muttered.
A minute into the strange area, they made their way back to Haven. Satima hated the quiet. She half expected a slew of the directive's soldiers on the other end just waiting to take her.
"So, you're a legend around here?", she asked trying to keep the thoughts away.
Garrus chuckled, "Not a legend. Just most wanted. Though that's not going to be a problem anymore." He checked another corridor. Clear.
Satima got curious about his visor. "Does it help?"
Garrus glanced her way then quickly turned forward. "Help what?"
Satima nearly bumped into him for not paying attention.
"Your visor. Does it help with fighting?", she pointed not noticing it till now.
"I suppose.", he replied. Her curiosity piqued his. Garrus glanced back to her again, deciding to humor her nervous questions. They stopped for a moment to check the next alley.
Satima waited until he began speaking. "I used to be a sniper. Trained as a boy to be a soldier, a long time ago." he reflected while checking their surroundings." I can use any weapon. Take your blades for instance. Did you know that at the right spot, you can separate the spine of a drell or snap the plating of a turian's brow?"
He sounded a bit excited talking about battle.
"Not in that way. No. I do know how to cut off a fringe or two.", she waved her blade with a smirk. Those small blades, rusty and crude to look at, but sharp as a varen's teeth.
Garrus watched her flick the blade in skill. He remembered Aiden, "Satima, be careful around Aiden. He's skilled, a trained soldier."
She took offense at his words. "And I'm not?! You've seen what I can do, Garrus! I can take care of myself."
He checked a noise in the alley, before turning to her, blocking the way until the point was made clear. "You can fight, I'll give you that. But you're still a kid. Satima, you don't truly understand what's out there. And people like Aiden cluster in places like this, just waiting to take advantage of scared little girls."
"I wasn't scared!", Satima protested about the adjutant. "I'm not a child!", she glared.
Garrus sighed in irritation. He stared at her, disappointed. "Kid, you are. Just, stay behind me. Ok?"
Satima nodded, surprised at Garrus's sudden interest in her safety. It seemed strange. Garrus likewise felt awkward at his words. He just wanted to keep her safe.
Skilled she was, but not in the great wide scary expanse of the galaxy. At least not long enough. Too much hiding and not enough learning. She's just a kid, after all, or so he keeps telling himself.
"We need to find Jormun and Do'ova.", he said walking away.
"Right.", she followed behind, agreeing.
They reached the end of the door. Garrus used his visor to find any heat signatures. Clear.
"Stay behind me. Use your blades to defend in close quarters. The pistol to repeal anyone from getting close." Garrus had a bad feeling. Aiden was up to something. Friend or not, this galaxy has become darker. And its people more sinister.
Garrus opened the door. He took point and cover behind a crate. Up ahead there were a few soldiers. They either weren't paying attention or pretended not to.
Gunfire broke out. The soldiers ran from Haven. It was now or never. Garrus and Satima ran, keeping watch for any ambushes as they reached her ship. Garrus signaled by comms to Aiden. Within seconds the tethers released.
Satima opened the Havens cargo doors. Once inside she quickly went to the pilot controls, her hands effortlessly gliding across the holo-panels. Garrus closed the cargo doors, then ran to the mess at the airlock. Closing the hatch shut. He turned around only to be knocked out by a rifle barrel.
Satima managed to get Haven primed, but they weren't out of danger yet. Two fighter patrols swarmed the outer zone. If they see her ship leaving the docks, they'll shoot them down.
"Garrus I need you to ask Aiden for air support."
No response.
"Garrus?", she said nervously.
Satima got up and carefully eyed the corner of the doorway connecting to the mess, pointing her pistol. All the room doors were closed.
"...garrus.", she whispered.
Satima aimed the pistol walking into the mess. Garrus was nowhere in sight. She heard a creak on the floor behind her.
"I knew there was something strange about you."
Satima turned around fast. It was Aiden!
"How did you board my ship? The tethers were locked and there was no access!", Satima backed herself to the table. Behind it, Garrus laid knocked out. He hadn't woken yet.
"Garrus doesn't like to talk much. Selfish bastard.", Aiden glared toward the aged soldier. "You know he could've helped secured Omega for the Talons. He just walked off saying "this wasn't his war anymore".
Aiden got agitated.
Satima walked around the table, aiming her pistol at him, as she tried hitting Garrus with her boot.
"..garrus..", she whispered through gritted teeth.
Aiden kept talking. "The Directive is looking for you. You're a wanted woman." He stalked her around the mess table, "They're also interested in the people on the station. I've been offered a heavy number of creds for them. But I turned it down."
Aiden stopped, glancing around the interior of the ship. "I don't want wealth.", he stared at her. "I want Aria's head decorating my station. I want complete control of the terminus systems. All under the name of the Talons."
"You're insane.", Satima replied, disturbed.
Aiden laughed," It's called ambition." He leaned over the table with a menacing glare. "Living in the midst of the reapers rule has taught me one thing." Aiden leered, as his mandibles widened into a predatory grin. "You take what you want before someone else takes it from you."
Satima opened fire, careful to not hit the hull walls. He dodged. Aiden quickly ran to her, hitting her wrist hard, and grabbed her pistol throwing it across the floor.
She attempted to deflect a blow from his fist, but he sent her face down. Crawling to get the weapon that was thrown, he pulled her by the legs backward. She twisted herself and hit his face with her boot knocking him down.
Satima reached the pistol, but he stepped on her hand while she screamed in pain.
"I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I need to!", he grabbed her by the hair. Bringing her to his face.
Satima spits on him, then he dropped her hard causing her nose to be bloodied. Aiden straddled her while Satima fought with all her strength. "Don't struggle.", he warned.
Using her right hand, Satima hit his throat hard. He fell back, choking, gasping for air.
"HEY!"
Aiden looked up to see Jormun holding his shotgun, Ish.
"How did you get on board?!", he yelled surprised.
"I let him in.", Garrus kicked Aiden away from Satima. She scrambled on her feet, crouched in an attack position.
Do'ova stumbled in. Hugging the hull walls while the fight continued.
The talon merc held his side in pain, standing quickly. "Damn you, Garrus! Your self-righteous bullshit is preventing your own people from getting a foothold back in this galaxy!", Aiden sounded desperate as he backed away in fear.
Jormun cocked the gun. Garrus smirked putting his left boot on the bench, leaning on his knee as he stared at Aiden.
"You're not "our people". I think the Talons will get along fine without you.", he glared.
Jormun shot him in the chest. Aiden flew backward, but he was still alive.
Satima ran to Aiden in a rage, knocking him down with her body. She straddled him, pulled out a blade, and jammed it into Aiden's eye, while Jormun stood back stunned. Do'ova wanted to puke. She looked away, trying to focus only on what she found today.
Aiden screamed in agony as Satima lifted the bloody piece of plate and flesh off. "Don't struggle!", she shouted, and with one quick strike, ended him.
Satima stared ahead, panting and fuming in anger. Blue blood splattered her face, while she lifted the blade. Jormun dropped his shotgun in disbelief.
He's never seen her this violent before. Satima slowly stood up with the look of wild pleasure from the kill, as he tried to approach her. From his slight touch, she attacked him, pointing the bloody blade to his suited chest.
With a primal look to her gaze, she panted hard, ready to strike again. Until Jormun begged her.
"Satima, it's me! Jormun! I would never hurt you!", he pleaded fearfully. Satima stopped, letting him go. Jormun stepped back, shaking the feeling on the deck, and hastily walked past her to the engine room.
"I... I have to get Haven ready to FTL.", he nervously said sprinting by her.
Do'ova stared at her captain. What is she? Some kind of monster? And what Prax said, about a demand. Did Satima know this whole time that her father was alive? Dural missing, her other family and friends nowhere to be seen.
Garrus watched in alarm, unable to move to stop her from killing Jormun, and unable to comprehend what he just witnessed. There was something not right about her, this strange young woman.
Satima dropped the blade and sat on the floor eyeing the blood pool around Aiden's head. "I did this?", she spoke with a frail voice. Satima stared at her stained hands, glancing at Garrus before running to the ship's lavatory room.
Garrus walked to the body. New feelings emerged. He was impressed and worried. Satima acted like a wild predator more than a skilled professional. She was uncaged and enjoying it. Whatever HIVE had done to her was a permanent imprint that could not be erased.
A sound of alarms blared from Omega. He went to the piloting chair and flew the ship back out into space. Using a relay to escape again.
Minutes passed. Another close call. How long this borrowed time will last before the Directive really catches up?
Garrus set the autopilot and felt he needed to check in on her. Jormun saw to Do'ova's injury. She rested comfortably in her quarters.
Spirits. He could hear Satima mumbling from the coms he switched on. He hesitantly sat up, walking to the restroom, and knocked on the door. Garrus gulped down a hard emotion of uncertainty.
Satima heard him outside the door, rocking herself, in the same manner, she had always done before. She stopped crying. The hot, stinging tears began drying on her face.
After a deep breath, Garrus started to talk. "Do you want to talk?"
"Go away.", she replied.
Garrus opened the door. She was seated on the floor. Satima looked so much like a lost child. He cleared his throat and walked in, kneeling to face her.
"Do you want to talk about it?", he stared at her with a sincere look this time.
She shook her head as she looked at the lines of the tiled floor.
Garrus looked back at the dead body of Aiden. "I see you listened to my advice." he chuckled nervously.
She ignored him.
Garrus leaned back. Smooth. Complement her on acting like a crazed maniac. Satima continued to stare. Spirits.
"Look, Satima. You had every right to defend yourself. Like you've done before with Directive soldiers, or with anyone else, I'm assuming." He's not her father, he can't give her the answers to the cruelty of this universe.
She swallowed her tears, opening her mouth to speak. Garrus stood still, afraid of what she might ask. Instead, he was surprised by what he is about to hear.
"I'm not afraid of that", she began. "I don't want to be her." Satima swallowed again. "I don't want to be a reaper", she wrung her hands nervously, a small laugh escaped her lips.
"Reaper trained me to kill." she glanced away, with an ashamed expression. "But… she helped me get away from them. For a time."
Garrus saw Jormun at the corner of his eye. He motioned for him to stay where he was. Satima had not noticed and proceeded to talk uninterrupted.
Satima stared up at the hull wall. She took a breath closing her eyes. "Sometimes when I kill, I can't feel anything. It's like this empty shadow that's feeding off my mind. Filling it with thoughts I don't want."
Garrus leaned on the wall. She likes it. Complain all she wants, but Satima gets a small thrill from it. It's disturbing to him, but understandable. Surviving out here in this hell the reapers created will make anyone lose hold on reality. What's right. What's wrong. A grey area. And he hates grey.
"I met a batarian while running from some merc hunters. He gunned them down, took me in. After a few weeks, he took me to his home. Some old Cerberus base I've never heard of. His name is... or was, Borlask. After I turned eighteen and learned the smuggling trade, he gave me Haven.", she smiled faintly.
Garrus nodded and motioned for Jormun to come in. Odd for a batarian to take in a stranger, let alone defend one. He stepped away to leave them alone. Satima needed someone who cared for her to hear this and to comfort her.
"Ancestors Satima.", Jormun sat on his knees in front of her. "It must be hard to control what they did to you."
Satima looked at him and gently touched his hand, "I'm so sorry for earlier. I promise I will never hurt you, or Do'ova." She looked up to Garrus. "Or you, although spirits know how annoying you are."
Garrus shared a light laugh between them.
Satima suddenly felt so different than before. All these years she was taught to repress her feelings, bury her emotions and take every bit of pain.
Turning it into a weapon against others. That was the Reaper way. But Jormun changed that. He cared for her and never hurt her.
Borlask looked after her, mentored her. She thought about Garrus. How kind he was to her, unflinching and pondered about his nightmare a day ago.
Then she remembered Do'ova. Her calm expression died away quickly. "Shit. D! Is she okay? Where is she?", Satima yelled in panic.
Jormun reassured her, "She's recovering in her quarters. D is fine. But… we need to talk. After you feel better from earlier, yourself."
She nodded.
Garrus dragged the dead Aiden to the airlock and closed the door between them. He pressed a panel watching the body being snatched into space.
"Goodbye Aiden, you depraved son of a bitch.", he said with disdain, spitting to the side of the airlock at the turians name in insult.
A calmed Satima entered the bay area. She spotted Garrus returning from the airlock hatch. One question remained, and since he had become more comfortable around them, maybe he'll answer. She stood at the doorway, the question lingering in her eyes.
"The nightmare you had in the engine room. Who is Shepard?", she asked again with an eager gaze.
Garrus looked away agitated, remembering how vulnerable Satima is at this time. He walked forward, gently pressing past her in the doorway.
"No one.", he answered solemnly.
She watched him leave the area. The sadness in his voice touched her at that moment.
Safely away from the terminus systems, Satima resumed control of the Haven.
She hadn't slept in hours. Their run-in on Omega gave her plenty of new nightmares. She navigated Haven as far away as she could from that system. Hours had passed and she eventually fell asleep at the controls.
Comms echoed on, "We're going to need to refuel soon. Also, running out of provisions." Jormun's voice woke Satima from nodding off at the control panel. She widened her eyes to the holo-grid before her.
"Yeah... looks like we're in luck. There's a colony nearby.", her head ached from exhaustion.
She couldn't let herself sleep until they were clear of the Directive.
But how far can she go before she would end up cornered?