Here we go folks. Hope y'all enjoy! Don't forget to REVIEW! I need that feedback
POV: Aedbearer
After dealing with Raros and leaving her alone we made our way to the city where Caleto was staying at the moment. It came with the plus that Ditriyne was also in the city working on some city reform stuff at the capital building. Caleto being the one easier to get to we decided to go after her first. As a side note Caleto was the youngest Matriarch on their council and Ditriyne was the second oldest.
Kelli was a bit down in the dumps on the way there and it was obvious for the reason. It became obvious that her twin knew exactly what her mistriss was donig and probably had helped her. Which meant that she was complicit in every single one of those experiments that they performed at the facility. Not something you would ever expect of a family member and it had to hurt her.
She refused to talk about it though and I left it at that. If she didn't want to talk about it she wouldn't get me forcing her to. Besides that though she made sure she kept herself focused on the task at hand at that was showing to Caleto that she wasn't untouchable. Then when we were done with Caleto, Ditriyne would be next on the chopping block.
As for Ilok he hadn't really said a word since we left Raros' compound but that was expected of him on some level. He was never much of a talker unless spoken too. It made me appreciate the man as he valued and knew silence. At this point too he had earned my full trust back. He wouldn't be on this mission if that wasn't the case.
Either way we were now in the city as we had parked the ship at a port a couple miles outside of the city and entered together. Though after we entered we split up for a bit knowing exactly where Caleto would be in a couple hours. There was no point in risking us being seen together and it felt weird to be in the field without armor and just civilians on.
Plus it had been ages since I wore makeup in public; it was subtle and only noticeable if someone was looking for it but it did enough to maake me mostly unrecognizable to most everyone. Kelli and Ilok confirmed this when they saw me walk out of the bathroom after applying it. Hell, Kelli actually complimented it and said that the next time she had a date she wanted me to do her makeup.
Pushing that aside the cloths of this area felt stupid wearing them. The clothes were all about aesthetics and nothing about functionality. Felt like I was talking like a penguin with how tight everything was. Not to mention because of that I couldn't even hide a weapon on me which set my paranoia off the whole time. Then there was the fact that some Asari were looking me up and down like I was a piece of meat. It was flattering but completely unwanted.
The only good thing about the cloths was the fact that they were long sleeved and I had gloves. Which allowed me to hide my augmetic arm and hands easity without much trouble. Still, everything about this made me feel like a clown and it wasn't helped when Kelli met back up with me at a cafe about a block from the soup kitchen a couple hours after entering the city. The looks of jealousy she got from the other Asari were almost murderous. Kelli just shook her head at seeing that and sent a few of them triumphant smirks, I just sighed at that.
"I know I'm a halfway decent looking guy, I never would've gotten Tali otherwise, but why are all of them practically drooling over me. It's annoying and a bit concerning in all honesty," I asked Kelli as I took a sip of the tea the cafe served. They said it was an Asari specialty but I wasn't exactly a fan. It was too sweet for my tastes.
"They feel you and I'll say this boss, you're lucky they aren't trying to walk over here and get all of your attention. Hell if it hadn't been obvious you were head over heels in love with Tali I would've tried my hand years ago," Kelli smirked in reply as she took a gulp of her coffee. As she did so I noticed Ilok taking a seat a few tables over from us with a cup of coffee as well.
"The hell do you mean feel?" That was concerning to the tactical part of my mind. If they could feel me out through any type of way than sneaknig about would definitely be a problem for me in the future. Especially with all my current targets being exclusively Asari and with all Asari bodyguards.
"You literally send out waves of biotic energy when you're agitated. Most can't feel it but the strong biotics can and the amount of power you send out attracts them. I've read somewhere that it was how Asari used to look for mates when we were still living in huts several thousand years ago. On the plus side you've never done it on missions so don't worry about it there," she stated matter of factly and I couldn't help but groan.
"So, I've essentially been flirting with everyone around here and every place I've walked since getting here. Fantastic," at this Kelli's smirk grew into a smile.
"More like the whole city boss. I was on the other side of the city about an hour and a half ago and I could still feel you," growling at how irritating this was about to be Kelli chuckled in my face for a moment before shaking her head and giving me a subtle gesture with her head to look to my left. Doing so I got to see several Asari staring at me hungrily and all of them looked highclass.
"Now, that probably means that everyone knows that I'm here. Fantastic," controlling my irritation to not let our more power I shoved it down and just drank my tea in silence.
"At least there's no way to actually recognize who's sending out the pulses without being in close proximity boss. Could be worse," I shut my mouth after that. Kelli joined me in the silence and didn't say anything. Though she did make a bit of small talk as we waited and I obliged her in talking. It was mostly mundane stuff just to keep the time flowing by for us.
After another hour of waiting at the cafe and with a lot of stares it was finally time for the soup kitchen to start its preparations. Nodding to Kelli we stood up and made our way there and entered the facility walking up to the person in charge as they directed the workers. A couple minutes later we finished talking to them and they agreed to let us help out. Especially after a donation to the fund.
So we helped set everything up and pretended that we were a couple to the few that asked. Which did earn some jealous glares from other Asari but none of them said anything and I ignored them all. It did feel a bit weird during it though as my name for this little operation was Fen and Kelli went by Shika. Made getting called Fen weird for me but after a couple of messups I got used to the name.
So that's where we ended up for now as we waited for Caleto to make her appearance. While we were doing this Ilok was looking into Ditriyne and seeing if there were any holes in her security that we could exploit. It seemed that we wouldn't have to wait long for Caleto to make herself known as about a half an hour before the soup kitchen was set to open she showed up.
It wasn't just a PR thing either. She truly enjoyed doing this and it made me feel unsettled for doing this but they brought this on themselves. They should've never done what they did and they will pay for it. Either way, we spent the next couple hours helping out at the soup kitchen and I took advantage of what Kelli had told me earlier. Sending out small waves of biotic energy by making myself irritated. I couldn't control it by myself so that was really the only way to do it. And it worked as Caleto kept sneaking looks at me.
That is until I went to the back of the kitchen where no one was. Before even making it halfway there I knew that Caleto was following me and it turned out to be true when I reached one of the cabinets pretending to look for something before closing said cabinet and turning back around. Doing so put me face to face with Caleto.
She was just as tall as myself with deep purple skin. Black markings in an elegant pattern around her eyes and white markings around her cheeks looking almost like spears as they pointed to her mouth. Her lips were bare of any makeup but she held a confident smirk on her face as she practically raped me with her eyes. That made me extremely uncomfortable but I pushed it down and instead lifted my left hand up between us.
Smiling at the woman her smirk got even wider as she took a bold step forward getting mere inches from me. I answered that action with a smile before I grabbed the glove over my left hand and took it off revealing the augmetic. She looked at it confusingly for a moment before I reached out and rested it on her shoulder with the fings grazing the back and side of her neck. That's when it hit her and her entire face morphed into one of pure horror.
"You are not untouchable," I took one deep breath closing my eyes feeling the red engulf them before opening them again and staring down at her with red eyes. I gave her a bloodthirsty smile before putting my glove back on and patting her shoulder before walking past her feeling the red recede. I heard her collapse onto her knees behind me and taking big gulping breaths of air before walking out of the kitchen and back to the line to continue helping out.
Over the next two hours Kelli and I continued help out at the soup kitchen without any problems from Caleto or her bodyguards. That being said thoughafter ourtrip to the back of the kitchen all of them were sending me weary looks. They might not have known exactly what was going on but they definitely suspected it. It didn't matter to me though as long as they kept their noses where they belonged.
Once we finished up at the Soup kitchen we helped clean up with Caleto and her bodyguards. Caleto looked visibly scared and shaken whenever I got close to her but she hid it decently well. Only someone who was looking for it would've noticed but every time I saw it brought a smile to my face. All of them deserved that type of fear and if I have to be the one to administer it then so be it.
Either way, once everything was done and the kitchen was all cleaned up we stepped outside. Caleto and her bodyguards were there waiting for their ride but we stayed a good distance away. However, as we waited she looked over at me and the only thing I could do was look back at her and smile. It was a vicious smile promising the pain of a thousand deaths if she even breathed a word of her meeting with me. From the look her face made upon seeing my face she definitely understood the underlying meaning behind it. Good.
Once she left Kelli and myself stood there for a moment before walking to the hotel we had decided to stay at. Ilok had gotten it for us under a false name he made on the way to Thessia. The hotel itself was a rather nice one being in the nice part of town; well more specifically the nice part of town. Where the politicians went when they wanted a quiet time away from everything or to do something shady. In other words, a little extra money given and we were never officially there.
Walking back we spent it in silence until we reached the entrance of the hotel. Going inside Kelli asked if I wanted something to drink from the bar. I told her to bring it up to the room, I wanted to get the makeup off. She nodded and walked off leaving me to go to the elevator up to the sixth floor.
Getting into said elevator and riding it up the usual jaze music you might here started playing. It wasn't to my tastes but I just drowned it out and went to the room. Knocking on the door once it opened a couple moments later and Ilok poked his head before giving me a nod and letting me in.
Two beds greeted me upon entering. There was no sign of a third or a cot and asking for one to be ordered up would look suspicious. If any information broker was in the area, which there had to be, that would tip them off we weren't normal. Plus, common workers talk far more than anyone actually realizes and they would definitely talk about that.
Getting into the room and immediately into the bathroom I washed off my makeup and took a shower. Choosing to just walk out in a towel after finishing up Kelli was already back with a couple of beers set on the counter. Seeing me walk out of the bathroom she tossed one to me before taking a shower herself but choosing to bring her clothes with her. By the time she was done and out I had put some clothes on. Baggy and comfortable.
"Mission go well?" Ilok asked taking a sip of his beer after asking.
"Accomplished, no problems at all. Don't know if she'll talk to her bedfellows but she got the message that they aren't untouchable," I stated taking a swig of my beer. "Anything on your end Ilok?"
"Not as much as hoped. Ditriyne very cautious and reclusive, paranoid. She took the warning seriously. Hired extra bodyguards as well."
"What did you find out then?"
"Most of her schedule, where she's staying and how she gets to and from places. Also, she has people in the city looking for anything," that was a good amount of things we could use. Gesturing with my hand to go on I wanted his analysis on what the plan should be. He had seen all of this first hand and his STG training should prove useful her.
"Recommend more observation to find best solution. Possible plan in works but to many variables to recommend action upon any plan yet."
"Where do you need us to figure out the variables?" I asked him. I preferred making my own plans but most of that was when I knew the place and the players. Something like this was better suited to Ilok and if I found something we could capitalize on then we would use it in the plan. Otherwise, Ilok was in charge of the planning for this one.
"Garage in morning, outside city center during midday and inside city hall most of day. Coffee makers specifically."
"You thinking poison?" Kelli asked and Ilok bounced his head side to side as if to say maybe.
"Drinks are tested. Would need slow acting enough to pass test but not be lethal. Hard to find that type of poison without it being noticed."
"Could pass it off as a scorned lover getting revenge," I suggested but Ilok shook his head.
"Poison of Ditriyne would be tested once affects take hold. Would be easy for them to find if bought; would need to be made. Know a couple that could work but ingredients hard to come by. Would attract the feelers she has in the city. Poison least likely."
"What about the other two options?"
"Get in car before they enter surprise them in garage so nothing happens and we leave after dropping them off at city hall. Hard to pull off but would be best for your intentions. Would need to take out a guard before acting. Very hard to do. Almost always in pairs, bathroom attack would be needed."
"And outside city hall?"
"Hire outside company. Create distraction and kidnap Ditriyne during attack. Could get bloody if wrong people hired or bad luck. Far too many variables to be good plan for intentions," I was silent for a couple of minutes before shaking my head.
"We'll check into all possibilities in the next few days. See which one could work the besst, for now let's get some sleep," I finished the last of my beer and laid down on the bed. Kelli joining me and sleeping on the far side of the bed.
We spent the next four days studying the comings and goings of Ditriyne at every opportunity we had. It took us all of a single day to completely eliminate the possibility of hiring outside help. The City Hall always had people outside of it and most often they were either media or passerbyes. Having that type of attention fall on us wouldn't work, especially if someone was able to get even an image of us.
After the second day it was confirmed by myself that the lights in the garage weren't the best. A few constantly flickering in and out at times a singular break in the circuits would look natural and take out all of the lights. The flickering lights weren't anywhere near the important parts of the garage, mostly near the stairs no one used. With that though all it would take was for one circuit to break and it would look natural. We could make our move there.
Also on the second day Kelli had done some recon in City Hall itself and eliminated the possibility of poison completely. Even with it next to impossible just from Ilok's information it was completely eliminated upon her assessment. There was no reliable way for us to even get it into the coffee without poisoning everyone who would drink from that pot. If the pot we guessed was the one they would choose regardless. To many things could go wrong and if someone didn't have the same tolerance as Ditriyne a lot of people could die.
Which left us with hitting them in the garage at the beginning of her day. Which was the only thing they kept relatively consistent. Each morning at exactly 0713 they all piled into the cars and they each parked at the same spot with Ditriyne going into the second to last of a four car group. So with that information on the third day around nine at night I hacked into their system and hit a circuit breaker shutting off all the lights in the garage. It would show that the hospital knew it could happen but I doubt that they would tell anyone about that.
It also had the effect of the next morning at 0530 they called an electrician to look at it but by then it was too late and we were already geared up and ready for the plan. A simple one in all cases relying on my ability to shut off the lights at the right moment just when she opened her door.
Kelli would knock out the driver and shove her into the back. Ilok would take care of the one in the passenger seat and I would make sure that Ditriyne got into the back of the car. While also making sure that the two guards kept their noses clean and didn't do anything. Ilok would also help with that while Kelli would focus on driving.
A simple if high risk plan. A lot things could go wrong but Ditriyne would be leaving the city in two days and this was our best option. The one with the least amount of possible collateral if things went wrong and the one that would hopefully be the most intimidating. Now, all there was left for us to do was wait in the garage.
We hid behind the cars near the stairs in the garage making sure to hide in the shadows and if we needed to move only to do so when the lights flickered off. Again not the best plan but it was the best one we had without having to start from scratch when she moves to a new city if we miss her here.
Right on time too the entered the garage at 0710, the cars came in at 0711 and Ditriyne's hand grabbed the handle of her door at exactly 0713. As soon her hand hit the handle I hit the breaker again through my hack and ran as quietly as possible. Her guards already acting immediately and shoving themselves into the cars and preparing to take off. Their headlights not yet on.
The next thing I knew I was behind and Ditriyne and shoving her through the door and onto the seat and almost immediately two bodies fell onto the floor in front of us in the car. The next moment Kelli and Ilok took their spots in their respective seats and we had taken off with the caravan. Only a moment behind the car in front of but not enough to raise any type of suspicion. Ditriyne was spooked for a moment before she saw the people on the floor in front of us were her guards. Ilok also had a change of clothes for us in the bag that now sat on his lap.
At that realization she looked up and saw my helmet staring back at her. My sawed off accompanied by Ilok's SMG pointed at her temporarily unconscious guards and my pistol underneath her chin. She looked at me defiance written all of over face and eyes but there was fear there as well. Only a small bit but it was still there.
"I will not be intimidated by a filthy human mongrel who believes their Athame's gift to this galaxy. Your species is nothing just like the rest and I'll see back where you belong. Underneath Asari superiority," she sneered at me and to be honest that was unexpected. The vitriol in which she spoke told me all I really needed to know though. I could see Kelli raise an eyebrow from the mirror as if to say 'really?'
"And yet, here you are. At this mongrel's mercy… Besides, I don't want information or anything I could get from intimidation. I just wanted you to know and realize that you aren't untouchable," she opened her mouth to speak again but before she could I wacked her throat with my pistol closing her airway if but for a moment.
"We could have had a civilized chat but I guess not. For being rude you will leave this meeting with a reminder of me," forcefully grabbing her left wrist with my right hand I activated my hologram construct from my omni-tool. Only this one was much smaller and held the same concept of the poles I had used to brand the councillors. Stabbing it into her palm she held back her voice refusing to scream as I branded her hand.
With it finished I clubbed her on her temple and she dropped like a sack of potatoes. Over the next couple minutes as we drove both of the guards began to stir but a quick application of violence and they were back to unconscious. Which led us to the hardest part of the plan, ditching the caravan so we could get away safely.
This resulted in Kelli taking extremely liberal interpretations of traffic laws. Though she caused no crashes that we could see there were definitely a few close calls as we ditched the caravan and found ourselves in an alley near our hotel. Getting out of said car we quickly changed into the clothes that Ilok had brought and made our way back to the hotel. Once we got back to our room we grabbed our packed up bags and checked out taking different taxi's to different parts of the town before making our way back to the ship.
I had the longest walk of the three of us and arrived at the ship after two and a half hours of walking. Both Ilok and Kelli were there and were on separate terminals looking up what they could on who would be our next targets. Before I could even open my mouth though Kelli turned around and spoke.
"I've got good news and bad news. Which do you want first boss?"
"Give me the good news."
"Miqua, Sheor, Xailsha and Nosraes have all gone to ground. Not a peep out of them in the last two hours and that's from the Shadow Broker themselves. I went through some other channels that owe me a good fair few favors and same thing. Ditriyne probably told them everything but the message you wanted is getting across. They're running scared."
"What about Corlishi and Glaeesya? If they haven't gone to ground what are they doing?"
"Corlishi is in the middle of a business deal with a Turian arms dealer. Trying to get a better supply of weapons for the Asari as she is the Wartime minister. As for Glaeesya she's with Tevos on Dekunna in negotiations with the Elcor seeing if they would be willing to act as armored troops for the Council," both are at places I'd rather not interfere with. Maybe show my face but nothing drastic beyond just saying Hi. Nothing like what was done earlier today.
"What about the bad news?"
"Shepard has been detained by the Alliance. He… uh is being accused of causing a meteor to slam into the Alpha relay. Killed 300,000 and some change Batarians when he did so. The Hegemony is demanding he be handed over. The Alliance is apparently going through a 'investigation' to see if he's responsible," Ilok stated turning around in his chair to stare at me.
That… was not what I expected to hear today. As he finished talking my mind went through a lot of scenarios in which he would willingly do something like that. All that suggested he made the decision of his own volition were immediately dismissed. He may hate the Batarians but he wouldn't do something like that. I might if given the opportunity; no, I would if given the opportunity. Shaking my head I looked back at them.
"Where is he and as bad as that is. Does it affect us?" They each looked between each other for a moment exchanging glances and I knew the answer to my question before they spoke.
"The Alliance is calling for everyone who's been on his team in the last couple months to report to Earth or risk being labeled as a possible suspect as well," Kelli stated looking at me with a small smile as if to say sorry.
"The Quarians are telling them Tali'Zorah has been with the fleet the last month so she's been excused but everyone else is not. The Batarians have considered putting a bounty back on you but have yet to do so. Out of principle I think," Ilok stated and I couldn't help the sharp bark of laughter that left my mouth. Of course.
"So, what do you want to do boss?"
"I'd rather not have the Alliance hounding me so we'll head to Earth. If we even get a wiff that something is wrong though we are out of there. See if the other four resurface while this goes on," they both nodded at that and I headed to the cockpit and started up the ship.
Breaking orbit a couple minutes later I headed straight for the Relay. Despite going by customs on the way out they didn't care about me. They didn't give a shit about anything leaving, only about what was coming in. That being said we wouldn't be heading straight to Earth. We were going to Omega first, we'll be picking up Vrule first as some extra muscle in case things go south.
Reaching Omega about eight hours later he needed no convincing. Just had to make sure that Samuel knew that he was in charge and then he was on the ship. We then hit the Relay and made our way to the Sol system. Upon arrival we were questioned through the radio by customs. When they found out who was in charge of the ship, me, we were told to wait. Almost 15 hours later an Alliance Dreadnaught arrived.
When they did they ordered us to fly into their hangar. I did so without complaint and upon landing in said hangar the doors closed and we were immediately surrounded by Marines. With at least a squad, if not more, of N7's with said Marines. Looking out the window of the ship I looked back at my squad and simply shook my head.
Could we kill everyone here, probably; could we do it without at least one of them dying, probably not. Which essentially resigned us to just going about this by the orders that the Alliance gave to us. Not something that I was particularly happy about but it was going to happen. As long as they didn't ask me or mine to relinquish our weapons it could be acceptable. Opening the door and extending the stairs I walked out with the others following right behind me.
"Put down your weapons!" the one with an LT insignia on his armor barked at us. Instantly I saw all the ones I had identified as N7's go stiff at the words. Ready to move at a moment's notice. At the Lt's words both Kelli and Vrule chuckled but otherwise didn't move. Ilok and myself didn't voice anything but neither did we move.
"Weapons down NOW!" the man shouted and this time I did laugh while the rest stayed silent behind me.
"No," my answer was met with deafening silence in the hangar of the ship. I couldn't see past any of the soldiers helmets but I saw that they were tightening their grips on their weapons. The N7's though looked about ready to move if anything happened but were, for the moment, stationary.
"We'll come peacefully and without incident but we will not give up our weapons," I continued. It seemed to diffuse the tension in the room among the standard marines but the N7's and the Lieutenant stayed ready for a fight. The LT then cocked his head as if someone was talking to him and there probably was. Then his shoulders slouched and he let out a sigh, he'd probably been overruled.
"That is acceptable. You will be kept in separate cells in the brig," I nodded my head knowing that it was probably the best that we were going to get. Walking forwards the LT, Marines and N7's all took a loose formation around us. The Marines looked more tense than the others but the LT looked visibly agitated.
Vrule was the first to go into his cell and did so while growling at the Marines assigned to push him into the cell, I think one of them wet themselves. Ilok was the next to go in and he went in without a problem. Kelli being next and like Ilok she went in without much of a fuss at all without the marines even touching her. When it came to me though the LT shoved me into the room.
I wanted to retaliate, I really did but stopped myself. There would be no point in it at all and if anything that was exactly what he wanted. Instead of doing that I surveyed my cell and it was completely different then the others. This one didn't have bars and when the door closed behind me I was left completely alone in the room with a camera in the corner watching me. Seeing as there was no point in doing anything else I laid on the bed with my gun on my stomach and finger resting against the trigger.
Waking up to someone knocking on one of the walls of my cell door my gun was instantly pointed at the sound. From where the sound came from the wall shaded out and revealed itself to be a window, probably extremely thick too. The person who knocked was none other than Admiral Hackett who gave me a calculating look. The man said nothing but under the gaze of his critical eyes and weather face it was easy to tell he was evaluating me. Standing up I walked over to the window and stood in front of the man. Neither of us said a thing for another two minutes.
"Shepard speaks highly of you Mr. Wynne."
"He's a good friend and I've tried to be the same to him."
"I believe you have."
"Why am I in a cell sir?" we both knew that it wouldn't be that hard for me to break out and leave. Probably not unscathed but still. It wouldn't be that difficult. My reputation and experience has proven that beyond a doubt. You don't put me in a corner unless its your last resort.
"Beauracracy and for your… mutations. Not the best word but one that fits. You've created and used many different biotic abilities in the last year. We've recovered some of the data about you from Dr. Solus' terminal even after he tried to destroy everything. What we found was… interesting to say the least."
"You want to study me?" my tone wasn't accusatory. It was matter of fact.
"I don't, the scientists do. Though Shepard advised that I talk to you instead of them," I chuckled at his words. In the end Shepard still held allegiance to the Alliance. I respected it to be honest.
"Sorry Sir. No one is going to be studying me. What I am should not be studied, I don't even trust myself completely and have asked my friends to find countermeasures to combat me if I ever turn. Frankly, no one should have the power I have. And I will allow no one to study me."
"Even if Miss Zorah is in the equation," those were the wrong words to say. I could literally feel the pressure of my biotics come down. It was oppressive and not at all friendly. Before the anger could really take hold I reigned it into a concentrated wrath. Though I did notice in the reflection of the glass that biotic flames had appeared on most of my chest and arms. That was new.
Though the results of that being released were obvious to everyone as well. Hackett fell to a knee behind the glass. Glass that had visibly cracked almost over the entirety of the panel and even the metal below me had spiderweb cracks around myself. Getting down to one knee I looked at Hackett barely being able to hold his body up. Releasing the pressure of my biotics the man looked like he could breath again he lifted his face to meet mine.
"I do hope that wasn't a threat," he glared at me for a few moments before his face became a neutral mask but he didn't speak. So I did instead.
"You know me and mine weren't involved with what happened. You have one day to release us or we leave forcefully. The choice is yours," I then walked back to my cot and laid down getting into the exact same position as before.
Love y'all. Have a good day and/or night. Where ever you may be.