A/N Thanks very much to those who have joined the followers and favourites list. I appreciate it and knowing you're waiting for more make s me want to right more.
GreenRena: Hope you like the chapter, it took longer than I expected to actually get to slaver hunting but first bit done. Unfortunately for the slavers there's plenty more to go. Aria is a cold sociopathic criminal boss who takes no shit form anyone. Sounds like a perfect match for Nat doesn't she? Dunno I guess we'll find out eventually. Mordin Rocks. I really enjoy writing his bits. See you next chapter.
Subsider34: Thanks for the advice on summaries...i wrote it again and I hope it's better. Really don't know how to shorten the idea in my head to a teny tiny summary to entice more readers. Did the 3rd attempt do better? I'm glad you liked Serahs' story, she has had a tough time and I'm pretty sure there will be lots more to come. No way am I killing off Mordin...jeez can you imagine how screwed Shepherd would be without him? Thanks for the awesome writer comment, I appreciate it.
Brodur: My bad on the re, hope you enjoy this chapter and chuffed with the EX for the last one. Thanks.
KhazintheDark: Yeah there's some filler but it can't all be constant action...can it? No comment. Dropping off a roof onto Batarian in full heavy armour and an omni axe? Yeah I'd crap myself. Definitely an interesting thought but possibly too close to Mary Sueness. Difficult to avoid with a vampire anyway so I'm gonna try and develop her skills and stuff slowly. I hope you like the progression. Krogan Vampires? Scary...shudder. Enjoy.
Everyone else: Where are you? Gotta admit I was a bit bummed at only 4 reviews or chapter 6. Yes I know it wasn't action, action, action but really? 4? Please, I get a real rush off reviews and a major boost so if you enjoy it, please let me know. Even if it's just a quick good story! I totally welcome all reviews and opinions and I'll do my best to reply. Thanks again for reading. Disappointed rant over. On with the story.
For the rest of Omega's 'daytime' Serah and I go over the basics of Asari meditation techniques, while we wait for Mordin's return. The clinic is closed and the Mechs are on guard so we are able to work with no distractions. I never did any meditation before, or anything really similar, and getting a handle on thinking about nothing was not easy but after some scolding off Serah I manage. Once I finally get the hang of it, I'm able to follow through with the visualisation exercises that Serah wants me to do surprisingly easily.
Picturing things in my mind has never been a problem for me but this is a real practical application of that skill. Serah tells me that Asari use mental techniques developed over thousands of years to release their biotics. First they visualise the biotic effect they want before mentally tying the visualised effect to a mental mnemonic. Then the learned mnemonic is tied to the discharge of their powers. This then allows the Asari to release their powers by simply running the mnemonic instead of having to focus and concentrate their biotic energy each time they want to discharge them. This technique allows the Asari to use their abilities with greater ease, less drain on their biotic resources and far greater reliability than other techniques. She tells me that in combat terms it means Asari can fire faster, for longer, with more punch and with fewer 'fizzles'. And the most important ability of all? Being able to visualize what you want to do. Asari Matriarchs are exceptional biotics not just because they have great amount of power, but because they have centuries of experience behind their visualisations, driving their biotics effects to perform with elegance and power most other biotics cannot hope to achieve.
We are discussing the different methods of visualisation when the sound of Mordin returning distracts us. Realising we've been working for almost 4 hours while the Salarian has been out we decide that's enough for now. We leave the isolation ward to see what Mordin as been up to.
The clinic looks more rough and ready than I remember it looking from the the game. The waiting area is a dozen or so mismatched chairs next to the reception desk. I follow Serah down the next corridor, and we find the Salarian in a lab off to the right. Opposite the lab is a ward room with 8 beds each with a selection of equipment around them, but no other patients at the moment. The beds look to be 2nd hand equipment, I guess Mordin wasn't kidding about resources being limited. I'll need to make sure I find a way to pay him back as soon as possible. The lab he's in is has piles of equipment in crates and packing boxes in various corners, and Mordin main workbench in a brightly lit area, and a surgical unit in the other corner. I wonder how long his clinic has been established, everything has a thrown together look at the moment.
Mordin sees us come in and he waves across to where he's standing with a small pile of hard cases, busy opening and sorting some equipment.
"Ah Serah, Nat, come in. Successful visit with contacts. Acquired some equipment for you Serah, also armour. Civilian gear not suitable."
I look at my jacket and I have to agree, it definitely came off worse from my encounter with a Krogan up close and personal.
"Okay, thanks. What did you get and do you think it will fit?"
"Fit no problem, have scan data." Mordin reaches across and passes an armoured case across to me.
I crack it open on the workbench, and see what he brought me. Mordin starts explaining.
"Jormangund Technology Hazard 4 Suit. Jormangund interesting Human company, very impressive usage technology in their. Previous owner was Asari merc. Unit modified with energized weave technology, and Shield Modulator unit. Armor tech not the heaviest but good against biotics and with upgraded kit shield system very advanced for light armour will outperform many medium suits. Was expensive but best I could find at short notice for biotic combatant."
"How expensive?" I ask worried. Mordin glances at me and cocks his head, blinking.
"Total was 23660 credits. Dent in resources but necessary. Not able to pay back if dead, not combat trained, relying on physical abilities to keep out of fire, therefore light armour for mobility. Light suits poor on physical protection therefore must optimize shields. Only other option was Kassa Fabrication Colussus 9 Light Suit. Much better physical protection but 38000 credits without mods. Shield Modulator 8000 credits alone. Too expensive and Hazard suit better all round."
"Wow Doc, that is...way more than I expected. I don't know what to say."
"Price high, stock of good quality light armour poor, most mercs prefer medium or heavy. Say? Say nothing, use in good health, pay me back in future. More to see."
Mordin turns and pulls across another case which he opens, and pulls out a piece of head gear.
"Hazard Suit Helmet, provides full body protection. Suit VI monitors external environment, also user health. Hard suit, rated for dangerous environments. VI also links to weapons for tracking ammo use. Faceplate cam polarize. Useful for concealing identity. Expect also of assistance if weakness to ultraviolet light confirmed." He passes the helmet across and I notice the paint scheme matches the armor already, an optical camouflage scheme of greys and as effective as a tactical cloak but just because cloaks are awesome doesn't mean the old fashioned tech doesn't work. I should blend into shadows very well, breaking up my body shape very effectively. Mordin pulls across a weapons case.
"Nat, assuming you intend to use shotgun recovered from dead Krogan?"
"Yeah, I guess. Heavy recoil but I can handle it okay." The Salarian snorts at me and passes across the weapon in question.
"M300 Claymore. Most Humans can't fire it. Recoil known to break bones. Also very heavy. Formidable Melee weapon. Okartog's personal weapon. Modified with hi performance distributor coils for mass accelerator, and improved Heat Dispersion System. Gives 3 shots per heatsink. Perfect for use with biotic pulls. Light Hazard Suit clip storage limited 8 spare heatsinks. Make sure to recover spare sinks if possible." I nod in agreement. Not the most profound statement I ever heard but it sure makes sense, and let's face it, while in the game there was plenty of time to scavenge off corpses, now I'm here I'll need to take every opportunity if I'm gonna take down the slavers. To be honest I'm glad as hell Mordin went out and got this armor for me, I wouldn't have had the first clue about what to choose, and I really can't fault his choice. I snapped my attention back to the Salarianas he passes across a heavy pistol.
"Armax Brawler 7. Good pistol, unmodified. Good damage, decent accuracy. 24 Shots per heatsink." The pistol unfolds at the press of a button. It looks servicable, and has a decent weight to it. I press the button again and it fold into its retracted form before I clamp it to my magnetic thigh plate.
"Combat knife and sheathe. 4 Incapacitance Grenades...Human Term...flashbangs? 4 Micro High C9 Programmable Detonators...link to omnitool...set to detonate on contact, proximity, or voice activation. Supply of medigel, armour equipped with medical system but suspect medigel may not work on vampire physiology. Suggest test to confirm. Medigel tubes can be used on casualties if necessary. Final suggestion. Hazard suit stores water for consumption, in rechargable pack mounted on rear armour section. Could load with blood packs instead of water. Provides blood for food, healing and recharging biotic energy instead of medigel and water. Agree?"
"Yeah that sounds like a great idea."
"Okay will provide with Asari blood packs to fill reservoir after you put suit on. Can change in isolation ward."
With a nod, I heft supply cases and head back to my ward, leaving Serah and Mordin talking. Once there I tip the cases out on the bed, then strip out of my ruined jacket and pants and the tight fitting bodysuit. What a relief. I find the Hazard suit's under lining and systematically pull it on. Designed to allow you to wear full armor for an extended period of time without discomfort, the undersuit regulates temperature and waste, and hooks into the main hard suit. Next I pull on the Hazard suit piece by piece, working from the feet up. Armoured boots and greaves, lower torso with knee and leg guards, arm guards and shoulder pauldrons, and lastly slip the main torso and back unit over my head. Once I have all the main pieces on, I slowly and methodically hook up the suits connections, sealing myself within the armor. It takes me a full 10 minutes to slowly and carefully connect everything the first time, but finally I have it on and adjusted. Lastly I pull on the helmet, it settles into the collar connectors and then with a hiss the environmental seal is completed. A second later the the helmet connection triggers the suit's VI to power on. A HUD appears on my visor with suit system readings as the VI boots up. It amuses me that as the VI starts it checks time and date as well as location, reminding me of a new PC startup before I died. I jumped slightly as a husky sounding female voice introduced itself as the suit VI, and began talking me through its systems and capabilities.
Half an hour later and I am grinning like a loon. I've run a program that subtly adjusted the suit, and it no feels like it fits like a second skin. I'm beginning to get to grips with the VI and its capabilities, Jormangund Tech definitely go in for smart kit, and the VI talked me through transferring my omnitool data across to the unit built into the suit, which has way more processing power. I've also successfully linked up to my weapons and stored the pistol on my thigh and the big Claymore on my back. All in all I feel bad ass and totally psyched. Hey I know there is probably much better hardware out there but for now this will do me just awesome. I leave the helmet on, with the visor open, sure it means I can still Omega's pervading stench, even in the clinic, but I think I prefer it like that. I've discovered that I'm adjusting to my enhanced sense of smell and actually don't like being cut off from the extra sensory cues it gives me. Once I am satisfied that I'm good to go I head back out and find Mordin and Serah talking. Serah sees me and beckons me across to a desk where she has 3 units of blood.
"Nat I've got the blood Mordin mentioned for your fluid pack. How's the suit? You look good in it, have you managed to find the access point for the fluid pack. I grin as I successfully point it out, (thanks VI) and we hook the first pack up. The VI freaks a little, throwing up a warning about non standard fluids, and asking if I'm sure. I ask it if the blood will cause its systems any problems and it confirms its filters and pump unit can cope quite adequately. Satisfied I tell it I am sure and it begins filling the fluid pack, suctioning the blood packs empty. The pack takes almost all of the 3 packs, and I quickly suck down the remnants, before turning to Mordin and Serah.
"I don't know how to thank you guys for your help, it means a huge amount to me."
Serah just grins at me, while Mordin smiles.
"Not problem. Stay alive Natalia. One thing you can do at the moment if willing."
"Sure, anything." I reply as Serah tries to shut Mordin up but he waves her off. Obviously this is what they've been talking about.
"Mordin!"
"Quiet Serah. Natalia, Aria provided you with secure apartment?"
"Yes, there's not much there at the moment, just a couple change of clothes and some weapons. Why?"
"Serah followed from her residence before being attacked by bounty hunters. Could use a secure residence until can confirm safe."
"I'm not helpless Mordin!" Serah protests indignantly.
"True. Not healed fully also. Resourceful yes, intelligent yes, capable of fending off another team of bounty hunters? Probably not. Not having Natalia's physical advantages. Almost died or worse already." Mordin chastises her, and Serah groans in frustration.
"It's not a problem for me Serah, I have a spare room, you're welcome to stay if you want to."
"I don't want to impose Nat, really I should be fine now the hunters are gone."
Mordin looks at her with a frown. "Don't want to lose new student Serah. Need you to move until sure hunters gone."
"I could just stay here in the clinic for a while."
"No. Obvious place for hunters to look. Tracked you to Omega, will have found workplace. Risk of clinic being compromised, danger to patients and you. Best to stay few days in secure location."
"Really Serah, it's fine, stay at mine for a while, the whole block has a biometric lock and I doubt many are willing to piss Aria off by causing trouble there."
"Are you sure Nat?"
"You're my friend Serah of course I'm sure." The young Asari still looks troubled then sighs and gives me a reluctant smile. I guess she really doesn't want to give up her independence. After what she's been through I'm not surprised.
"Okay, Nat thank you. I'm sorry about being so reluctant, I just tired of running..."
"It's fine Serah and I understand. I would be very angry if I was you, I'm surprised you're calm about all this."
She shrugs. "You killed them for me Nat, and I'm hoping that was all of them, at least for now."
"Right then, should we go past your place and pick up some clothes and stuff?"
"Well I have like a panic pack, you know the stuff I need if I need to run suddenly. That has everything in it that I need for now." Serah replied, and then pulled up a map of the ward to show me her apartment. Mordin looked at the map as well, then looked at us both, pointing at a spot on the map.
"Natalia, suggest I accompany Serah to her apartment, retrieve equipment. Any more hunters possibly don't know about you yet, best keep it that way. You head here, and keep watch as we arrive and depart. If you spot hunters then comm me and we can intercept them. Eliminate that group then hurry Serah to your apartment. Hopefully they lose track of her then."
I agree to Mordin's plan, and make sure I have both their comm codes. Just as I'm ready to leave Mordin starts hurriedly tapping at him omnitool. My VI asks me if I want to accept an incoming omnitool program. I accept and discover Mordin has sent me an incinerate attack.
"Should be useful Natalia, very effective attack, high damage and psychological effect as well, good for blocking areas and preventing pursuit, also ideal for removing evidence."
I thank him, and give Serah a quick hug, then leave Mordin's clinic. The VI informs me as soon as I leave the coverage provided by Mordin's mechs. I don't see anyone else around, and hurry off through the passages.
20 minutes walk through the ward was uneventful and I'm outside Serah's apartment block. It's a bit run down and the area isn't great but at least it has a camera system outside for some extra security. I comm Serah and let her know I've arrived and the area appears clear at the moment. She tells me they will leave the Clinic now and head over. Looking around the alley I'm in there's no real cover, but up above there are more of the maintenance passages that are all over Omega. I glance around and confirm it's all clear and then easily wall jump up to the gangway above. Up above the passage looking out over Serah's block I'm confident no one will see me here hidden in the deep shadows, and I've got a good view across to the apartment block and along passage in both directions, and I spend a few minutes watching before I realise I have a blind spot around the far corner of the block. I need to check that area out if I can, and quickly call up a local map on the suit's HUD, instead of having the orange glow of an omnitool giving away my location. Scrolling around the map I groan in frustration, the gangway I'm on isn't even on the map so getting a route is hit and miss. Thinking for a moment I decide heading to the right around the front of the block is my best bet if I can.
5 minutes later and I've negotiated the networks of gantries, maintenance tunnels and ladders to make my why 45 degrees around the front of Serah's block. According to the mapping software I'm in the middle of another factory block at the moment, so now I'm in the right area I just ignore the map software and have the VI shrink the display down. I comm Mordin and find out he and Serah are still about 10 minutes away. I reach the corner of a gantry a full 20m above the main passage Mordin and Serah will approach on, which I think will be too high to fall without injury. I do have a good view from here but I won't be able to help if the shit hits the fan, and this corner is as close to the block as this gantry goes. I spot another gantry running over the passage below me, and I move to drop down to it when down at ground level I spot the flare of a lighter in the dark shadows of the alley hidden in the blind spot. Shit. Ambush, surveillance or coincidence? I flick the suit's vision mode to infra red revealing a Human and a Turian, both armed and armoured. Not likely to be innocent on Omega but coincidence is still possible. Fortunately like most people they aren't looking up. Moving slowly I climb over the side rail and then down, hanging below the metal gantry, then drop to the gantry below, landing knees loose to absorb the shock. The synthetic tread of my boots reduces the sound to a dull rattle and thud and I freeze up in the dark, while I wait to see if they heard. They stir a little, looking around but don't seem concerned. Note to self, acquire some sound dampening tech for dropping from heights. I wait for a couple of minutes for them to settle again then slowly walk in a crouch across the passage below until I'm positioned roughly 15 straight above them.
"VI, can you detect any comms traffic from the targets below?"
"Encrytpted suit to suit comm traffic only at this time."
"Can you break it?"
"Analysing...decryption possible...estimated time to completion...42 hours, 17 minutes, 49 seconds. Do you wish to proceed?"
"Crap. No don't bother. Why so long?"
"Inadequate hacking software at this time." I sigh, something else to upgrade.
"Mordin, I have 2 guys in the alley on the south side of the block, armed and armoured but I can't confirm they are hostile. I'm in position above them and so far I'm undetected."
"Hmm, any comm traffic?" Mordin's rapid speech fires back at me immediately.
"Local traffic, encrypted and I can't break it."
"Oversight, electronic warfare suite...still not STG operation. Keep watch and listen for traffic. Outbound traffic upon arrival...assume hostile...let me know."
"Okay will do. Serah you ok?"
"I'm fine Nat. A little nervous but Mordin is great at keeping me distracted."
"Natalia, eta 4 minutes 20 seconds. Keep informed."
"Will do." I cut the comm channel and try to work out what to do next. Looking down below me there aren't any convenient ladders or ledges to use to drop down to. Plus I'm too close for them not to hear me land. I guess that means I need to land on one of them and then take down the other? I remember something the VI mentioned in its tutorial earlier.
"VI analyse targets."
"Active or passive mode? Note Active scan will be detected."
"Passive only."
"Visual Analysis...Target 1 Human. Hahne Kedar Medium armour Scorpion series 5. M3 Predator. M15 Vindicator. Target 2 Turian. Kassa Fabrication Medium Colossus Series 8. M9 Tempest. M15 Vindicator."
As it spoke the VI highlighted their armor and weapons, plus various weak points.
I quickly let Mordin know what I'm up against and my plan. He thinks for a second and replies.
"Plan workable. Turian armour system substantially more capable. Advise engage Turian first with surprise. Stun from above Use combat knife. Strike for primary arterial flow to brain through neck and torso connectors. Disabling and death within 40 seconds without immediate treatment. Or immediate death with successful strike through connector upwards below lower jaw flange to brain. Have VI highlight weak points. Could use other weapons but sound of weapon deploying very distinctive, lose advantage of surprise and height. Once Turian down target Human."
"Mordin!" Serah sounds shocked at the Salarian's rapid advice on execution. Mordin isn't fazed at all. He snorts.
"Serah. Already told ex STG. Enemies need to be dealt with quickly if engaged. Natalia not trained. Only logical to give benefit of experience."
"Thank you Mordin. What you said make sense. How far away are you?"
"Apartment ETA 1 minute 30 seconds. Visual range of your position...estimate 55 seconds."
"Okay I'm moving into position. VI tell me if you detect any additional comm traffic from the targets when Mordin and Serah are in visual range."
"Acknowledged." As I talk to the VI, I again carefully climb over the side of the gantry and underneath it, then adjust my position so I'm above and very slightly behind the Turian, before transferring my weight to my left hand, momentarily surprised at how easily I can hold my weight up. The VI tells me there are 15 seconds until Mordin and Serah are visible and I raise my boot up to slowly pull the molecule edge combat knife free with my right hand.
"Visual range in 3...2...1...friendlies in visual contact." The VI helpfully informs me as I see Mordin and Serah come into view. I ignore it as I concentrate on my targets below. There's a pause of some 10 seconds as my friends walk closer to the block, before the Human points at them, and the VI immediately reports a comm burst outbound from the Human. Crap Hostiles then. Oh Well.
"Hostiles confirmed." I tell Mordin and get a click of acknowledgement. The Human moves around slightly to keep watching but so far the Turian has still not changed position.
"Dropping in 5 secs." Time to go. Knees bent slightly, legs and feet together I release my left hand and drop.
Murphy's law is a fucker, and I'm sure I'll get screwed sooner or later, but now is not the time. The Turian crumples forward as my full armored weight impacts the back of his head with no warning. He could be dead already but I'm taking no chances. I fall forward riding his body to the ground, left hand snapping his head back, right hand slamming the combat knife as hard as I can up through the neck guard of his suit into his brain, following the VI's helpful marking in my HUD. He's definitively dead now, and I'm up and moving before the Human shmuck beside him has done more than start raising his weapon. My knife comes free of the Turian's head in a gout of gore, and I spin right, launching myself at his partner, leading with the blade. Enhanced musculature, and a molecular blade against a stunned bounty hunter. No contest. I jerk the blade free of his neck as the corpse relaxes, and drops heavily to the ground. I flick blood off the blade then sheathe the combat knife, pull my Claymore free and deploy it as I look around for additional targets. Nothing. I breathe out, a long sigh as I look at the bodies. The dead Turian makes me feel...not nothing, relieved that he went down so fast, the lesson is that surprise is a powerful weapon, then I glance at the Human corpse and feel momentarily pissed at missing out on an opportunity to feed. The unexpected thought shocks me to my core. Have I really become so predatory so fast? I suddenly feel nauseated, scared at how fast I am adapting to my new body. Taking another deep breath I shake off my sudden revulsion, there's no time for this. I comm Mordin.
"Targets down. Looks all clear."
"Understood. Entering apartment in 10 seconds." There's a pause and I hear Mordin and Serah talking quietly as the Salarian leaves the channel open, then the sounds of a door hissing open and the footfalls and noise of my 2 friends checking out Serah's apartment. It takes them 30 seconds before Mordin talks again.
"All clear. Serah gather belongings quickly. Reinforcements likely on the way."
"Okay Mordin, just give me a couple of minutes here."
"Quickly Serah. Natalia still all clear?"
"Clear." I reply as I scan the area from the alley. How long before more hunters arrive? Or did they just intend to follow Serah? I hate not knowing. I take the time to drag the bodies deeper into the alley's darkness then 'recover' the Turian's Vindicator AR and Tempest SMG. I stow the Tempest on my left thigh and then swap my Claymore for the Vindicator. My shotgun is mean but short ranged, and while I know I will need to practice like hell with the Vindicator it's a good weapon. I'd rather have it and not need it than the other way around.
After a long 3 or 4 minutes Mordin tells me they're leaving the apartment. I confirm it's still all clear outside and then start moving. The plan is simple, Mordin and Serah have my address and I've added Serah to the biometric access list. We have a route planned and I will go ahead and check for more bounty hunters. If I come across anyone obvious I'll deal with them. If anyone pounces on Mordin and Serah in transit, I'll double back and assist. About 200m from my place I'll wait and check for anyone following them. Assuming there's no problems Mordin will leave Serah at my block, the biometric locks will let her in courtesy of a comm I sent before we set off, and she has a code to get in the apartment. Mordin will carry on walking and once I'm satisfied there isn't anyone following I'll make sure she gets settled in and Mordin heads back to the clinic. With a bit of luck the bounty hunters lose track of Serah and she drops off the face of Omega for enough time for Mordin to chase down anymore hunters while I hunt for slavers. Complicated? Not really. Workable? Definitely. Successful? Who the hell knows.
40 minutes later and I'm back in my apartment getting Serah settled in. Surprisingly we made it across from Serah's with no further difficulty. No one followed them and I didn't find anyone else waiting ahead, so I guess the bounty hunters have now hopefully lost track of her. Once she was secure in my apartment I ducked back out and headed to a convenient store, picking up a load of groceries. It's not like I'd had time to go shopping before after all. I've no idea what Serah likes so I just got basic staples in. If that's not good enough then she'll just have to wait until I get back so we can go shopping again. I've told her not to leave the apartment and if she has any problems comm me. Mordin has given her 3 shifts off so we can hopefully ensure she's safe before she goes back to work, I just hope she has the sense to stay in, I'm not going to be around to help for a while. I've checked through my stock of salvaged gear and left Serah with my old M5 Phalanx, M23 Katana and one of the Vindicators and a good stock of heat sinks. She can fight a small war, but I hope like hell she doesn't have to. I look across at Serah, she's making herself comfortable in the lounge, and checking out the weapons I've given her. Noticing me watching she throws me a wide grin. Damn she's a good looking woman. Stop it Nat, think about that later.
I'm trying to decide which of my weapons to take, or if I should just take them all, as I check them over, following my VI's instructions to strip down and check each of them. Somehow I don't think it should take 7 minutes to break a gun down, but I sure as hell don't want to fuck them up so I take me time, trying to absorb the actions and order for the future. I know I'm gonna need a load of practice to get to where I can do this quickly and efficiently, but I'll have to look after my gear if I'm gonna have any chance of staying in one piece until Shepherd is resurrected. After an hour and a half I've stripped and cleaned and loaded all of them. The Brawler goes on my right thigh plate, the Tempest on my left. My Hazard suit has 3 weapons clamps on the back so I could take my Vindicator, Claymore and the Mantis, I just not sure if there's any point. Sod it, I'll take them all. I'll look like a damned walking armoury but the weight is no problem so I may as well have the choice. Decision made I stow my gear on my armour, along with the grenades and spare heat sinks. Okay, I think I'm all sorted. Did I forget anything?...Nope don't think so.
"Serah I'm heading out okay, remember, please don't leave the apartment. There's plenty of food and if you need anything comm me."
"I may be young for Asari Nat, but I still have over 100 years on you. I'll be fine so stop worrying, I'm more worried about you going off alone after those slavers."
I'm touched at my friend's concern.
"I have to do this Serah, disappointing Aria is too risky. I will be careful though."
"I know, just don't forget to duck. I wish I could do more to help Nat, and thanks again for letting me stay." She walks over and gives me a hug, wish I could feel it through the Hazard Suit. I hug her back and with a wave leave the apartment, locking the door behind me. I comm Mordin to let him know as I head downstairs, throwing a casual nod at a Turian going into another apartment. He nods back and ignores me, and I'm quickly outside the block as the biometric lock seals the door behind me. Setting off at a quick walk I head off through the ward, there's a lot to do.
It's the middle of Omega's 'nightshift' and I'm back down on level 23. I got down here with no trouble, there's not many people around at the moment, and those that are know enough to avoid a fully hard suited person carrying a M300 Claymore at the ready with a small armoury on them. My visor is open and Omega's stench drifts past my nostrils. The slave pens are 50m across the way from where I crouch on the 2nd floor roof of a bar called Infinities. I'm underneath a huge 7m x 3m display that scrolls through a series of gaudy ads for the bar's 'dancers' while speakers thump out god awful music. Not an ideal spot to watch from, my hearing's badly compromised but I'm almost invisible hidden by the glare and deep shadows. Below me there's a pair of Krogan serving as bouncers, but fortunately the breeze is carrying their scent up to me and not the other way around. Havnoc's comment about my scent stuck with me, and if it was unusual enough for him to notice, I think the bouncers probably would as well. Idly I wonder if he would help me on this hunting trip but decide I need to prove I can do this, to myself if no one else. Perhaps if this all works out I'll see if Havnoc feels like raiding the slavers main depot with me, but first to deal with this slave mart. I turn my attention back to the slave pens.
From where I crouch I get a good idea of the layout of the slaver's facility. A 4m fence surrounds a patch of ground 70m long by 30 deep. Ahead of me in the centre is a small arena of seating with the auction stage and auctioneer's block. When the auction is running slaves walk in from a temporary waiting area in the fenced in space behind, then are forced to stand naked on the stage while they are bid for, either alone or in small groups. The waiting area is a series of 10 small pens arranged 2 by 5 and connected on their left to the main slave holding area, a long warehouse with no windows, and parking bays for their customers in front it, along with a gatehouse at the main gate. To the right of the arena I can see a double garage facility plus an 2 storey accommodation block with a canteen area and admin office. I try to gauge how many slavers the facility could house, I can see one guard at the gatehouse, a Batarian surprise surprise, and there must be at least a couple watching over the rest of the depot but I can't see them so they could be anywhere. I have no idea how many slavers there could be.
I watch for 30 minutes, spotting several cameras but still see no sign of other guards patrolling. There must be more surely? Are the slavers really that lax? Or just that confident no one would attack them? Omega is such a brutal place I'd assumed there would be regular raids on this kind of place but maybe the slaver cartel has enough control to deter raids? I rock back on my haunches thinking. Should I wait for the 'daytime' and see what activity there is? Or do I go now? I don't know how long I have until Aria gets bored of waiting, the sooner I can start the raids the better to keep Omega's Queen amused. Which I'm sure is what this is really about, Aria could take down the slavers any time she wants. All I will be doing is passing a test and making a point for her. I wish I knew more about planning this kind of crap...guess I'm gonna be learning in the school of experience. Okay I'm doing this now.
I guess my first problem is getting in. Take out the guard with the Mantis from here? Too noisy and I could miss alerting the slavers. Jump the fence? The surveillance system covers all of the fence and its lit up with flood lights. Maybe I could get the guard to come out the gatehouse with a distraction? Crap no, the first thing he should do would be report the disturbance before leaving the gatehouse, doing this alone is gonna be hard. My gaze drifts to the factory building to the right of slave mart. It's a 6 storey block and as I look at the drop from its roof to the accommodation block inside the fence, a plan dawns on me. It's way too far for a normal human to jump at about 7m across and 12m down but I'm no longer normal. It might hurt some but I'm sure it's doable, and even better none of the camera systems I can see are aimed up. Okay I have a route in.
Quickly I close my visor and polarize it before heading to the alley at the back of the bar, and check no one's around then drop to the ground with a dull thud, before trotting down the passage in the direction of the factory unit. A few turns later and I come back out on the main passage, glad to discover I'm now on the far side of the factory. I wait for a couple of minutes for the foot traffic to clear then quickly cross to another alley on the opposite side of the factory from the slave mart. Moving quickly into the alley I startle a Turian bum that reeks of alcohol. Seeing the huge Claymore the Turian almost shits himself, cowering back into his den made of packing crates. After a moments thought I decide not to kill him after all I need someone to spread the word after my raid, and once I'm done I'm pretty sure the bum will trade his 'news' for more dextro friendly booze.
Halfway down the alley I find a back fire exit to the factory. No sign of anything to climb to the roof though. It occurs to me that it doesn't rain on am asteroid, looking for a drain pipe is frickin dumb. What can I say, I'm not used to being out in space yet, give me a break. I open my omnitool's hack problem, and after a stressful minute I hear to unlock it with a click. Slipping inside I find myself inside a dark corridor, I switch my HUD to low light and head off to the right. The damn place is like a warren of passages and small fabrication labs. I've no idea what they make here but I'm not planning on setting off whatever cyber defences the owners have by trying to hack their labs. I concentrate on heading up, looking for stairs, anything I can use to gain altitude. 10 minutes later and I've reached an upper level but I'm still 2 storeys from the roof. Cursing quietly to myself, the only thing that goes to the ceiling is the vent system. But surely if they have vent units on the roof there has to be a maintenance access of some sort? It would be internal, to provide a basic level of security and it would make sense if it was nearby the vent units themselves...there, I track the venting system to the ceiling and finally spot a ladder on the far wall of the factory. With a sigh I note I'll have to head down again to get across. I tell the VI to keep track of the ladder's position and head off.
It takes me 15 minutes working my way up, down and across the fucking factory...thankfully the owners don't bother with security guards or even surveillance systems, whatever they make here it isn't valuable, and I eventually reach the ladder. I climb up and hack the access hatch, before closing it behind me, crouching and crossing to the low wall that runs around the rim of the factory unit so I can get a good unit of the slave mart below me. The accommodation block looks a lot further away from this angle, and a shiver runs down my back at the thought of this jump. I zoom in my image of the block's roof, it looks solid enough so hopefully I can land without plummeting through it..huh that would be a surprise for anyone below. Mostly I hope the noise I make landing in a hard suit doesn't give me a way. Taking a deep breath, I back away from the edge to get a run up. Here goes nothing.
With a burst of speed I plant my foot on the wall and leap out over the gap, arcing down to the roof below. Shit I think I've overdone my jump. I land with a thud on the far half of the roof, diving into a forward roll to absorb momentum, skidding to a stop at the far end of the block's roof. Too close...way too fucking close. A quick scuttle back wards and I'm away from the ledge and if I keep low I'm out of view from the gatehouse. Any sign of an alarm? Do I move now or wait?
"VI any increase in comm traffic in the area? Any sign of an alert?" I remember I have advanced tech at my disposal, makes sense to try and use it right?
"No detectable alarms active...no comm activity."
"Ok...um keep a passive scan for comms and alarms. Alert me if you detect any."
"Passive scanning commencing."
"Show me a map of the area and mark out the surveillance areas of known camera units?"
"A window appears on my HUD and shows a slowly rotating 3d rendition of the slave mart and my position." Wow
"Heh that's excellent how did you do that?" I ask surprised at the quality.
"Analysis and reconstruction of footage taken by helmet mounted scan units, during surveillance."
This VI is a damn sight smarter than I thought, I need to spend some serious time learning what this kit can do or I'll end up in trouble because I don't understand what the Hazard suit is capable of. I watch the image as the VI adds in the angles the slaver's cameras can see, and then it carries on marking in motion detectors as well. Clever stuff. I study the map, the VI moving the image at my command. There aren't many blind spots, the slavers gear is well situated, but the biggest mistake they've made is no systems cover the space above ground level. The logical place for control of their security system would be their admin office, so how do I get there? I stay low and trot across to the end of the block where the admin area is. Peering over the edge I can see windows but they're closed. Pulling up my omnitool I look for local network connections. It's secured but I run a hack and manage to bypass security, to access the office's basic functions. Environmental controls...there they are...windows...unlocked and opened. Bingo.
Checking the window it has indeed slid open, I climb over the edge and lower myself down line with the window. If I screw this up I drop 2 storeys and set off the alarms for sure. Taking a deep breath I let myself drop and then gasp in relief as my hands catch the frame and hold. I pull myself up and through the window and drop into a crouch to let my nerves recover. Opening my visor I give my sense freer access and wait, listening for sound. Nothing. Looking around I spot the depot's master security terminal plus various other desks covered with terminals, data tablets and documents. Checking out the security terminal I can tell all local comms and security systems are routed through it. If I cut them any guards may well notice...but I can do this..a patient hack gives my access and I cut off all incoming and outgoing comms from this facility to the main depot. Next I start accessing the camera systems...looking for slavers. There are 6 in the bunkhouse, 1 in the gatehouse and another on guard at each end of the slave pens. Zooming in the gatehouse camera, the guard looks totally bored, periodically scanning camera displays. I reset the camera back quickly to its original setting, and hope the guard didn't notice. Nothing happens and I let out a sigh of relief.
How do I deal with this? Checking the system I discover the gatehouse terminal actually only has access to the 4 cameras on its roof, seems like a bit of an oversight but I guess they wanted to make sure anyone taking the gatehouse couldn't check the rest of the system. I'm not complaining it means I can simply shut down the rest of the security system and nobody will know any different. First though I scroll the cameras and check out the pens themselves. It's pitch black in there, and I flick the system to IR. The pens are almost full, glowing bodies huddled together for warmth but no more guards inside. Checking the rest of the cameras shows no more activity so I have 9 targets. Do I take the guards outside first or last? Pondering for a moment I realise that if the guards outside detect me I will soon have another 6 to deal with so best to deal with the sleeping reinforcements first. Okay plan made, now to shut down the security. Seconds later I'm now invisible except to the guards themselves. I take the time to download the contents of the local terminals to my omnitool to examine later, and a quick search of the office turns up a wall mounted safe behind a picture. My hack software isn't enough to crack the safe, but I have an idea.
"VI analyse the files I downloaded, I need a code for the safe."
"Analysing...code file detected. Decrypting...complete...transmitting code."
A light on the safe blinks green and with a quiet click the wall safe swings open, revealing a couple of datapads, and a handful of credit chips. I download the data and then wipe the pads, then stick the credit chips in a storage compartment on my equipment belt. With a last look around the office I head out into a corridor.
Minutes later I crouch outside the door to the slaver's bunkhouse. I ran into no trouble as I quietly made my way here, methodically ensuring the building was clear, just in case someone was moving around after I shut down the security system. The VI is tuned to the slaver's comm channel so I can hear if they get an alarm. Unfortunately the bastards are bored, and I want to vomit as I listen to their casual discussion of which female slaves to rape before shipping them to the main depot. I promise myself they're going to die badly. I change my mind about killing the sleeping guards on at a time, quick and dirty is all that matters for now and I'll use the guards outside to make a point. I slap my visor down then take 2 grenades and prime them for contact plus 4 second delayed detonation. I palm the door switch and it slides open with a quiet hiss. I throw the grenades in, slap the switch again and duck back into cover as I change to the Vindicator. 3..2..1..CRUMP CRUMP. The twin detonation is a lot louder than I expect, blasting the door into a cloud of shrapnel. A second after the explosions I charge into the smoke. The room is shattered, and I realise I could have got away with a single grenade. The windows are gone, beds and lockers wrecked and the 6 slavers are mostly just torn bloody meat. I hear screaming coming from the bed at the end of the room, it's a Salarian that amazingly has only lost his legs. I shoot him in the head, a quick double tap, and then turn checking the others. They're dead...extremely so and I head for the exit.
Over the comm channel I hear the alarmed shouts of the guards. They've heard the explosions, seen the smoke and are heading towards the accommodation block. Where are they?
"VI, link to security system and locate targets."
Immediately a map of the compound displays on the hub, 3 red dots marking the guards as they head towards me. I might not be experienced but even I know that by not joining up they're making my life much easier. Over the comms I can hear the confusion, they've realised they have no external comms and are starting to panic. Righteous. I check the map, they're all still on the other side of the arena and can't see me. I duck out the door from the block and sprint for arena wall. Back against the wall, I check the map. The 1st guard is 4 or 5 seconds away, the 2nd maybe 25 and the last about 40. I crouch and ready the Vindicator and my biotics. A Batarian in light armour charges past, then starts to skid to a halt and bring up his weapon as his suit detects me. Too late. With a burst of biotics I yank him towards me, then open up with the Vindicator on semi auto. The 1st burst takes his shields out and the next takes off his head. 10 seconds gone, and the remaining guards are closing. They're not in position to see the dead guard but they do hear him die, and their blips start bunching up as the 2nd slows down for the 3rd to catch up. Their course will bring them through the arena. The VI tells me the 2nd is the Batarian from the gatehouse and the last is Human. I'll put down the Batarian happily but I'll take delight in killing a Human slaver. Fucker's going down. I drop the Vindicator and ready the Claymore, spinning round to guard the Arena's exit. The Batarian charges through, followed by the Human, both in light armour. I throw the Human into Arena's door frame with biotics and take the Batarian's shields down with the Claymore's 1st deafening shot. The 2nd blows most of his lower torso off, leaving the hideously wounded Batarian going into shock. I silence him with another round that removes his head and neck, then turn my attention back to the Human that's shakily picking himself up. I kick his weapon away, idly noting it's a piece of crap Elkoss Avenger series 3, not worth taking, then pick him up by the neck with my right hand.
"Time to die, slaver."
"You know who you're dealing with you dumb bitch?"
"Dumb bitch? I'm not the one with my feet hanging in the air fuckwit."
He tries to kick at me but I just give him a teeth rattling slap with my left hand that shakes a few more brain cells loose.
"You're dead bitch, you can't do this."
"No I can do this, I am doing this and you're the one who's dead. Stay there." I hold him with my biotics as I draw my combat knife, then he shrieks in shock as I slam the blade through his armour's shoulder joint pinning him to the Arena's door frame, blood bubbling up in a thick stream from the wound to run down his armour. Hmmm that looks tasty. I pop my visor and the slavers eyes go even wider as he watches me run my fingers through the red stream then lick them clean. I give a satisfied little moan at the taste as I absorb the life energy in it.
"Fuck, fuck, fucking freak, get off me bitch, get off me freak. Fucking GOD." His voice rises into a hysterical shriek then collapses into a whimper as I unbuckle his helmet and pull it off. I smell the acrid stench of fresh urine coming from his neck seal. He's pissed himself in fear, and I grin at him, allowing my fangs to extend as he goes white in an instant.
"Va...va...vam...vammm...vammmmpire."
"My my, aren't you observant, did the fangs give it away?"
He shrieks as I yank the knife from his shoulder and struggles vainly as I pull his throat to me before going limp as my fangs tear sink deep into his neck and I start drinking, unhurriedly, trying to be neat. He taste's good, I think his fear is adding to the taste, perhaps it's extra adrenalin in his blood as his heart pumps ever faster to cope with falling blood pressure. I feel him near unconsciousness and force myself to stop feeding, he's not getting off that easy. I drop the bleeding figure on the floor, check that I'm not too blood spattered and step away recovering my weapons. He's not moving but he's still conscious, a rapist slaver. Not for long. I bring up the incinerate program that Mordin gave me and focus it on his feet before setting off a long burn. It's low grade armour he's wearing and it doesn't last long under the sustained plasma burn, erupting into an inferno that crawls along his body, consuming flesh and armour alike as the slaver screams his lungs out. He slumps into unconsciousness before the inferno burn gets to mid thigh and I retarget the flame on his head and neck quickly finishing him off as I watch in mild satisfaction. One group of slavers dead, plenty of data to analyse for more information, credits recovered, a tasty snack and no evidence except that I really don't like slavers. Perfect. I stow my weapons and head for the slave pens, time to really damage the slaver's balance sheet by freeing their captives.