Chapter 7
Reyes was poring over shipping manifests in his private lounge in the Tartarus. Business was picking up. Exiles on Eledaan were becoming more and more desperate and as a result they were more determined to scavenge materials to sell to the smugglers who traveled between the two planets. It didn't necessarily make him feel good to know that his success was at others' expense, but for now this was how it had to be.
Reyes smiled when the message from Scott came in. He couldn't help it. He felt almost giddy knowing that the handsome pathfinder was thinking of him. He certainly wanted more than drinks, but one step at a time.
Mere minutes after he responded to Scott another message came in from one of his men. After reading Reyes threw his nearly empty bottle of cheap beer against the lounge wall. It shattered on impact, amber liquid and glass shards dripping down to the floor. He paced angrily as he thought about his next step.
Zia Cordier was truly a thorn in his side. Possibly a very dangerous one. Not a day went by that Reyes did not regret his involvement with the conniving woman. She was brilliant, yes. A master at deception, a skill Reyes had admired her for. A beautiful temptress to be sure. He certainly knew why he had let himself be drawn into her bed. But Zia was a thousand percent out for herself. Not a thing in the world would stop her from betraying her closest friend, if she had any—nothing could cause her any amount of hesitation slitting a lover's throat in the very bed they shared if the price was right. Not an ounce of loyalty or sentiment existed in her heart, and it was not long before Reyes understood the enormous mistake in putting any trust in the woman. He couldn't help but wonder how she had fooled the psychological analysis every member of the Initiative went through before they were even considered for a place in Andromeda. Not that any of that mattered now. She was here and she had just jammed a huge rock in the gears of one of his contracts.
He couldn't put it off any more. He needed to deal with Cordier now. He glanced down as a new message pinged in from Scott Ryder with an estimated time of the Tempest's arrival.
Reyes' expression softened. He desired nothing more than some time with the pathfinder but it looked like business was going to have to come first, again.
Reyes rapped his knuckle on the counter of the bar in Kralla's Song. Umi rolled her eyes before pouring him another drink, then quickly turned away so she wouldn't have to engage in conversation. Not that Reyes cared. She was not the one he wanted to speak to. Reyes was nervous about the upcoming conversation, an emotion he would not normally admit even to himself let alone anyone else. He felt like a special kind of asshole using the human pathfinder for his own personal business. It made him feel like everyone else—the leaders of the Initiative especially. It made his flesh crawl in an extremely unpleasant way.
"You look like you're waiting for someone."
The frown in Reyes' expression melted away, his eyes slid closed as he relished the resonant tone of the man he'd agonized over for weeks. A flutter of butterflies in his stomach instantly quickened his heartbeat. With a steadying breath Reyes opened his eyes and turned with a smile.
"That's my line," he said with a wink, his heart skipping a beat when his eyes met Scott's and the man smiled in return.
Scott moved to lean against the bar next to him facing Reyes. The smuggler swallowed as he drank in the sight of the beautiful man in his clean, close-fitting uniform, for the hundredth time hating himself for what he was about to ask.
"It's good to see you, Ryder."
"Likewise," Scott said, shifting a little, a look of nervousness flashing briefly in his colorful eyes. Scott glanced down at the drink. "You started without me," a touch of amusement laced the comment.
Reyes chuckled. "I, uh, must apologize profusely, Ryder. A touch of bad business has come up. There is something I must take care of before I can enjoy your company." He watched with a touch of sadness as the pathfinder's expression closed off, hating himself all over again. "Something I could really use your help for."
Scott looked away to watch the other patrons of the bar, not really seeing them. "Don't you have plenty of people on your payroll who could go with you?"
"No one that I would trust with this." Reyes reached up and gently touched Scott's jaw to turn his attention back to him. When those soul-bearing eyes met his Reyes stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Believe me, Scott. You have no idea how much I am cursing my luck right now."
Scott swallowed, very aware of Reyes' touch—missed it the moment those fingers slid away. Scott studied the other man a moment before sighing out an amused breath. "All right, Reyes. But you owe me big time."
Reyes' smile was genuine. "You're one person I will happily owe something."
Scott cleared his throat. "So, what's happened?"
Reyes sighed loudly. "A business rival, Zia Cordier, lifted cargo I was moving for a client."
"Mm, what did she steal?"
"No idea. Client paid extra for privacy. Considering my fees, it must be valuable."
Scott's scarred eyebrow raised in surprise. "You didn't check?"
Reyes feigned hurt, his bottom lip pouting just a tad. "Honor's got a price and the client paid it."
"Mm-hmm, and how'd this rival get a hold of the cargo?"
Reyes smiled, slightly embarrassed. "Her usual tactics. She got my middleman drunk, then stole his ship." Scott scoffed. "Yes, it's hard to find good help these days." Truth be told Reyes was surprised his man's throat hadn't been slit, which was Zia's usual tactic, but he didn't tell Scott that. "When Zia's in Kadara she always stops here, so I figured we could," he raised his voice, "ask Umi if she knows anything."
The irritated bartender stopped in front of them with a dramatic sigh. "What do you want now?"
"Information," Reyes said, his voice smooth with his usual charm.
Umi folded her arms across her chest. "That will cost you more than a round of drinks."
"You know I'm good for it," Reyes gave her his best smile. She rolled her eyes.
"What do you wanna know?"
"Zia Cordier, she been around recently?"
"You mean your ex? Yeah, she was here."
Reyes inwardly winced. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Scott turn to him.
"Ex? As in girlfriend?"
There was a hint of hesitancy in Scott's voice that Reyes didn't like. He smiled brilliantly at the pathfinder and spoke in a teasing tone, hoping to glide right past that subject. "Girlfriend is such a strong word. We had drinks occasionally..." he cleared his throat and turned back to Umi. "So, she was here?"
He could still feel Scott's eyes on him.
"Yeah, met with a salarian. Shifty guy I'd never seen before. Maybe it was the Charlatan," Umi's voice took on a mocking tone.
"Anything's possible," Reyes said, amused. "You happen to overhear their conversation?"
"They were planning to meet someone at Spirit's Ledge."
Reyes winked at the asari. "Thanks, Umi."
"Whatever," the bartender said already walking away. "You didn't hear it from me."
Reyes turned back to the pathfinder who was studying him with that intense gaze that made his heart hammer in his chest.
"You want to go to the meeting spot and I'll check out the Collective lead?" Reyes forced a smirk. "I doubt Zia was meeting the Charlatan but you never know."
"Is this about getting your cargo back, or one-upping an ex?" Scott asked, no joking tone present.
Reyes chuckled, trying to laugh it off—trying to show Scott without saying as much, that Zia meant nothing. "Ryder, are you jealous?"
"Just answer the question."
"It's about the cargo," Reyes held Scott's gaze, sobering his tone. He didn't want to lose his chance with the man for anything, especially not over a misunderstanding with the piece of garbage that was Zia. Reyes straightened and stepped closer to Scott until they were practically breathing the same air. "I swear it," he said, holding that colorful gaze.
Scott eventually nodded and Reyes stepped back because if he didn't he would claim that beautiful mouth with his own. The time for that would come.
"I'll work my contacts." Reyes' fingers slid lightly up Scott's bicep. "Give me a call when you reach the meeting spot?"
"All right," Scott nodded with a small smile. "But you really owe me, you know."
Reyes smiled with a wink. "Oh, I know."
Scott heaved a frustrated sigh as he emerged from the bar. His multi-colored eyes roved over the faces in the crowded marketplace. He hadn't failed to notice that the demeanor of the people toward him and his crew was very different since his last visit. Many talked to him willingly, openly. Others offered him discounts at their stalls. A few had even offered to take him out for drinks. Dislike and distrust was still palpable with the general public, but individually he could see almost a 180 degree change. It was encouraging to see. He wished he could enjoy it, but his thoughts were on the damned smuggler who had just managed to wriggle out of their not exactly date.
"SAM," he said, walking back to the docks.
"Yes, pathfinder."
"Tell Drack and Liam to suit up. There's been a change in plans."
Scott drove the nomad over the rough terrain following the coordinates Reyes sent him. Next to him Liam hummed a tune under his breath while keeping an eye on the passing scenery. Drack's hulking body took up the entire back seat. The old krogan passed the time unloading and reloading his shot gun, occasionally checking the sight. Scott listened absently to SAM's suggestions on routes to reach the hideout base nestled among the cliffs of Spirit's Ledge. Something about it didn't quite feel right. He had already convinced himself that this feeling he had was nothing to do with the fact that the cargo saboteur was Reyes'... whatever she was. That had certainly been a surprise, but Scott was not so naive or ridiculous to think that a man like Reyes wouldn't have old flames. Especially in the situation the outcasts had found themselves in, who wouldn't have sought company with others? There was something else nagging at him, but the more he thought about it the more elusive it became. The secrecy of the cargo contents bothered him. What was it? Who on Kadara could casually pay the fees Reyes charged for secrecy since the funds were indeed substantial? What cargo would require such secrecy to begin with? Undoubtedly something incredibly dangerous, in which case Scott would have to involve himself in more than just helping Reyes recover the goods.
What if it was something else altogether? What if it had nothing to do with the cargo and more to do with the person or persons responsible for the cargo?
Scott let out a heavy breath. He didn't know anything. His imaginations were likely making the situation a hundred times worse than it was. Still, he didn't like it. The scenery blurred by virtually unnoticed as his thoughts swirled. Eventually, SAM's voice broke through on all their comms.
"ETA 5 minutes."
Scott blinked, refocusing on the road as Drack grunted his approval from the back seat. "Thanks, SAM."
Scott parked the nomad in the shadows of a rocky overhang and the trio covered the remaining distance on foot, weapons at the ready. As they drew close Scott was pleasantly surprised to see Reyes waiting for them.
"Funny seeing you here," Drack rumbled, eyeing the smuggler with one green crocodile-like eye.
Reyes smirked. "The salarian Umi mentioned wasn't associated with the Collective. Likely a smuggler Zia hired to move the cargo once she'd taken it." Reyes smiled at Scott. "Anyhow, I'd rather be here for the unveiling. My contacts have observed little movement here, which tells me it is likely a holding place for stolen cargo."
Liam looked skeptical. "Wouldn't there be posted guards? If the cargo were so important, I mean."
Reyes shook his head. "Not necessarily. Activity draws unwanted attention. The lack of security tells scavengers there's nothing to steal. It," Reyes shrugged, "doesn't always work, but out here risks are sometimes the only options."
Scott pursed his lips, eyes turning to scan the area around the base. It certainly appeared to be devoid of life, but he'd learned early on that could be a deadly mistake. "Only one way in?" Scott directed his question to Reyes as he scanned the front of the base that appeared to be built into the cliff-face.
"As far as I know."
"All right." Scott lifted his assault rifle again and after a few short commands to his team he led them inside.
They did a quick sweep of the base for people. Scott didn't feel any better about not finding anyone. It simply strengthened the feeling that something wasn't right. Reyes, however, went straight for the cargo crates. After breaking into the first one, Scott watched the man from a distance frown as he gazed inside.
"What's the matter?"
Reyes moved onto the next, his frown deepening.
"They're empty," he said, getting to his feet with a bewildered expression.
Suddenly all of Scott's uneasy thoughts came together. Reyes was a top dog in the smuggling world of Kadara, a business that was unfortunately necessary and highly competitive.
"What if this was all just an elaborate trick to get you here?"
Understanding washed over Reyes' face as he stared at Scott.
"You mean there was never any cargo, of course." The smuggler's expression became pained, almost defeated.
"Bravo," a woman's accented voice echoed into the base. Scott and his companions turned as one, weapons raised and trained on an armor-clad woman as she sauntered casually toward them. Scott's eyes darted around behind her trying to determine where she might have come from.
SAM, can you see anything? Scott asked on their private connection.
An electromagnetic field is blocking my scanners, pathfinder.
Shit.
"I knew you'd figure it out eventually," the woman continued, stepping into the light, her sultry gaze entirely focused on Reyes.
Scott couldn't help the flush of jealousy that squeezed around his heart. This must be Zia Cordier—Reyes' ex-lover—and she was very beautiful. Flawless bronzed skin wrapped over a generously curved figure. Her fiery red hair and olive green eyes were striking in the light. Scott suddenly felt self-conscious about the burned scar permanently marring the skin over his eye.
Reyes stepped up next to Scott glaring daggers at the newcomer. "Zia," he growled.
"You never could resist a huge payout," Zia sneered.
Reyes huffed a laugh, although he was anything but amused. "What can I say? I'm a greedy man."
"That's why you don't have any friends," Zia's eyes grew cold. "You're a selfish bastard."
Scott became angry at the accusation. Perhaps Zia knew the man better than he did, but everything he'd witnessed about Reyes told him the man had a heart and, possibly more importantly, a conscience. He found himself speaking before he realized.
"Reyes is a better man than you know." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Reyes turn to look at him and he fought the flush that heated his skin. He concentrated on keeping his gun aimed at the woman. Her expression melted into a pitying pout as she turned her attention to Scott for the first time.
"Oh, honey," her tone dripped with mock sympathy. "You have no idea how wrong you are." She smirked, taking in Scott's appearance. "But you will."
Reyes stepped forward, all joking instantly gone. "Leave him out of this." His voice was a low, dangerous rumble that Scott had to strain to hear.
Zia appeared surprised for a moment, her eyes gliding back over to Scott with an all new interest that lingered far longer than he liked. "You must really like this one, Reyes."
"Cut the shit," Reyes snapped. "What's this all about?"
Her eyes finally slid back to Reyes. "You've been taking all the good jobs in Kadara, not to mention buying up all the good merchandise coming in. It's attracted far more than just my attention."
"So what?" Reyes huffed. "The local smuggling union got together and decided to take me down?"
Scott heard the pounding of many armored footsteps approaching from all sides.
"Something like that," Zia purred, pulling her weapon out from behind her back looking quite pleased with herself.
"Shit," Reyes and Liam cursed at the same time, and Drack chuckled as soldiers surrounded them.
"Take them out," Zia raised her voice.
Scott acted immediately. He activated his biotic implants to create a barrier around himself and his companions just as dozens of shots rang out. Scott turned and grabbed Reyes' arm as he and his companions raced to the far side of the room to take cover behind some metal crates. Scott crouched with his back against the smooth metal siding and cursed under his breath. The only exit he knew of was behind him with dozens of angry armed smugglers between them.
Reyes met Scott's gaze when they both realized the only escape was through Zia and her men. Reyes forced a smile.
"I apologize for getting you into this, pathfinder."
"And leave you to face that psycho bitch alone?" Scott smiled back.
Reyes opened his mouth to answer when he heard Zia's enraged scream.
"He's a fucking biotic, take him out first!"
Reyes' blood ran cold imagining his worst fears. Beside him Scott suddenly seized up in pain, blue-white electricity sizzling around his body. He dropped his weapon to grab his head in agony.
"Scott," Reyes reached for him when a deafening shot fired behind him.
"Got it," Liam said, still looking down the scope of a sniper rifle. "Bastards tried to use a dampener."
Reyes turned his attentions back to Scott. The pathfinder's eyes were squeezed shut in pain and when Reyes gripped his hands he could feel them trembling in convulsions through the armored gloves. Drack and Liam kept the enemy occupied around them, but he and Scott might as well have been the only ones there for all the attention Reyes paid them.
"Scott," he tried again, the pain and regret he felt for getting the pathfinder involved in all this was evident in his voice. His fear that someone would attempt to take Ryder out with an illegal biotic dampener had now been realized and he knew it could have been a lot worse—knew it was possibly just the beginning. Everyone knew the pathfinder was a biotic, that was no longer a secret, if it ever was. Nothing would stop the enemies of the Initiative from carrying such devices—unstable and dangerous as they were—everywhere they went. This, he watched Ryder's body continue to shudder in convulsions, this he had never seen before. Normal biotic dampeners did not do this. He should have known Zia would have the means to get her filthy hands on one, or have one specially made for her use. He could hear her screaming orders at the men around her, all of them bent on killing this beautiful man in front of him. A man whose whole purpose and honest intention was to save them all, give them a home. Scott did not deserve this, and any who would have ill will toward him did not deserve the life the pathfinder was trying to give them.
A darkness swept over Reyes' face listening to her call for the pathfinder's head. He pulled the pistol from the holster on his thigh. He'd had quite enough of her. He closed his eyes and listened closely, pinpointing in his mind her location. Then in one fluid motion he stood, turned and fired a single shot. Zia's screaming cut short, casting the base in an eerie pause of silence. It was as if the world stopped spinning until her body hit the ground. Then all was chaos as the shooting resumed. Drack was in his element, laughing as he cut down one after the other of Zia's makeshift posse. Liam sniped off the rest. Soon it was over, no sound but an occasional growl from the krogan warlord as he kicked a body in disgust and Scott's uneven breathing.
Liam crouched in front of them. The expression on his face revealed he'd had no idea how serious the situation was until now. "SAM, what's wrong with him?"
No answer.
"Shit," Liam cursed under his breath. "SAM."
"My apologies. The dampener's field attacked not only Scott's implant but his nervous system as well. Immediate attention was required before it started a chain reaction that would have been irreparable."
"Since when do dampener's do that?" Liam looked horrified.
Reyes growled. "Since the scum down here have started experimenting with angara technology. Kett, too, when they can get their hands on it."
Scott groaned just then and Reyes hurried to help him sit up straight. The pathfinder winced and blinked a few times as if orienting himself. "Well," he said slowly. "That was unpleasant."
Liam chuckled nervously. Drack stomped over, took one look at Scott and narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything.
"You're all right?" Reyes asked, his gut felt like it was squeezed in a tight fist.
"I think so. SAM, what's the rundown?"
"No permanent damage was sustained, pathfinder. However, your system is in shock. It will take some time for the tremors to subside."
"Let's get the kid back to the doc," Drack rumbled, moving toward them like a lumbering mountain. Reyes was mildly surprised that the krogan was gentle and slow when he pulled Scott to his feet despite how angry he seemed to be about something. Reyes put his arm around Scott's waist from the other side and together they helped him toward the exit.
On the way they passed Zia's body. Reyes couldn't fight the impulse to look down at her. His bullet had struck true. Thick trails of blood ran down her pretty face from the bullet hole directly between her wide-open eyes. Something about seeing the blood pooling over those eyes he'd spent many nights looking into—before he knew the person she really was... He must have paused because Drack made an irritated sound. When they started moving again he felt Scott's trembling hand give his shoulder a comforting squeeze, and even though he knew he did not mourn her loss, he was grateful.
At the door Reyes stopped and gently pulled away from Scott even though his heart wanted him to remain at his side—to make certain he was safe. The look the pathfinder gave him was full of concern. Reyes felt a pang in his chest. How anyone could believe this man deserved to suffer or die was beyond him. Everything he'd seen and heard suggested Scott's concerns were always for other people and never for himself.
Reyes sighed heavily. "I knew I wasn't popular, but I never knew the other smugglers would team up against me. I am sorry for dragging you into this."
Scott offered him a small smile. "I don't get dragged anywhere I don't want to go, Reyes."
That made Reyes laugh. The innocent comment along with the honest and slightly less innocent glint in the pathfinder's eye...Reyes realized just how hard and how far he'd fallen.
"This probably isn't over," Scott said, glancing over his shoulder at the bodies. He turned back. "They might try again."
Reyes smirked. "Are you worried about me?"
He expected a smart remark, but was pleasantly surprised and touched when Scott looked him in the eye and said, "Yes."
"You can relax. I know they're coming now. They won't get the jump on me." Reyes looked back toward the empty cargo crates. "All that effort and no credits to show for it."
"Not everything is about credits," Scott said, still watching him, a kindness in his smile that made Reyes tingle all over.
"I know," he said. Then Reyes glanced away from that honest gaze, unable to look Scott in the eye when the next words slipped past his lips. "What you said back there, about me being a better man...thank you."
Scott shrugged because he had simply said what he knew to be true. "You're welcome."
Reyes sighed again. "I'm going to stay here and clean up this mess. Zia was a...piece of work, but it feels wrong to leave her out in the open like this." Scott nodded. "SAM," Reyes spoke to the AI but his eyes never left Scott's.
"Yes, Mr. Vidal."
"Take good care of the pathfinder, all right?"
Scott smiled.
"My number one priority is the safety and health of—"
"He gets it, SAM," Scott interrupted what would have possibly been a long automatic response of the AI's duties. Then to Reyes he said, "I'll catch you another time then. I'll be here for a while after all."
Reyes couldn't help the beaming smile on his face as he watched the pathfinder and his companions slowly make their way back to their nomad.
-tbc