Here is chapter 2. Might be a while before I update again. I have other stories that need tending to at the moment. Reviews and criticism are welcome.
Updated 3/31/2019: Redid quite a bit here. Going to have to fix more chapters to keep my continuity straight might have to replace entire chapters.
Lost in Paradise Ch.2
Finally being able to cut loose and just have some fun was an immense relief. She had been dogged for so many for years. The STG, The Shadow Broker, and Cerberus never seemed to stop. Always watching and observing her movements forcing her to hide. No more. This was her message to all of them that she wasn't going to go willingly. It was her moment to show them all what she was capable off.
Nox grinned as she charged the two mercs who had moved up first prior to her display. They made to fire, sending mass effect accelerated grains of metal toward her. She spun her lightsaber blocking several. She sent a bolt of electricity at one making the human man's body contort as he was temporary paralyzed. She dodged a final shot from the human woman who had started to backpedal away. Nox's lightsaber lashed out cleaving the woman diagonally from shoulder to sternum. Nox spun taking the human man's head off on the back swing before the shocks racking his body wore off.
She then laid down a force wave as she finished spinning. The other mercs were knocked back before they could fire back at her knowing that their comrades were well out of the picture. The red armored Krogan who had merely stumbled back a bit regained his footing quickly and begun to cycle his minigun sending a line of continuous fire toward her. Nox used the Force to leap out of the way by stepping off a wall at least a full story up and threw her lightsaber at the krogan as she flew through the air. It arced as it flew heading straight for the krogan. The krogan saw this and leap aside just in time to escape the spinning death wheel. Diving out of the way the krogan saved himself, unlike like three of his companions. The three mercs were cleaved in two as it spun by as they had just got to their feet. The krogan's minigun wasn't as lucky, getting severed into two useless pieces of scrap.
Nox smiled as the blade came back toward her. She grabbed it before landing on the opposite wall of the alley and propelling her herself back toward the ground. She rolled into a ready stance holding her lightsaber out in front of her while her knees were bent in a crouch.
"Your move di'kutla," she said using a Mandalorian curse she learned from her best friend and notorious Chiss bounty hunter, Teri. Many of the mercs that had recovered from the force wave and weren't chopped in two, fired at her in response. She whirled her saber around hearing the occasional pop and sizzle as she blocked the incoming fire. She danced around the enemy fire that she couldn't get with her saber with ease looking like a whirlwind of violet light.
When most of their guns had overheated she stopped. She took count of how many. There were around seven left not counting the krogan who had just got back on his feet. All were more wary and waiting for what she wondered? She looked into the mind of a young human man and tore the information from it. He screamed, grabbing his head as she took what she needed from his mind.
When she was done he fell to the ground, his body limp and dying without proper brain function as this technique was not known for subtlety. From what she could gather there were two snipers instead of one. She smiled cruelly and held her hand out and an assault rifle flew from the ground from one of the dead mercs and into her waiting hand. Nox threw her saber again to force the other mercs into cover. They certainly did not want to follow their fellows' lead. She quickly fired two bursts in quick succession. Each burst of fire traveled toward two separate buildings guided by the Force. Both bursts struck each sniper in the chest, downing k-barriers and piercing armor. She tossed the rifle lazily aside and retrieved her lightsaber as it finished it arc.
The krogan whom hadn't moved for some time, he just stood there observing. The giant lizard man shook his head and trudged off.
"Where are you going?!" one of the batarians in the squad called out.
The dim light of the alley revealed his brow plate to have a reddish hue as he turned to look back at his now former squad.
"I got better things to do than get killed by a magic wielding human of all things," he called back before continuing down the alley.
Nox smirked. Even with helmets on she didn't need the Force to sense their fear and indecision in the mercs except the fool batarian that appeared to be in charge.
"Smart." Nox looked back from the krogan's retreating from and to the remaining members.
"I suggest you follow suit. I haven't even got to the good stuff yet" she offered them. Three of them did not need much convincing and turned tail to run. The batarian leader and two other equally stupid mercs stayed.
He hefted his massive harpoon rifle, "I plan to take this human bitch out. The Shadow Broker doesn't except failure."
Before he could fire however, Nox pulled out something special she had been working on from behind her back. It a slim looking pistol, small and easy to hide. She took aim and fired in a blink of an eye or in this case two batarian eyes. A red bolt of plasma sailed down the alley, bypassing the batarian's k-barriers with a flicker and embedding between the four eye slots of his helmet, piercing right into his skull.
Everyone in the alley all had looks of shock as he fell to the ground. Nox herself was shocked as well, mostly because the blaster she spent the last twenty years perfecting didn't explode in her hand for the first time. Nox had to pull back and examine it to make sure it was still there. The batarians lackeys shared a look and bolted, finally seeing they were far outmatched.
Nox couldn't help but smile as she stood there for a moment before busting out laughing. "That was so fun. I had almost forgotten the feeling." She said to herself as she proudly holstered her blaster and folded her lightsaber in half and attached it to her belt.
"Well, Suspicious and intriguing really doesn't seem to cut it now." Nox turned to see Miranda approaching. She had almost forgotten the beautiful Cerberus agent was even around here.
"I see you didn't flee at my awesome display of power. Good for you." Nox quipped while making a fist and holding it in front of her face. A little bit of lighting crackled as she did so halting Miranda's pace slightly. She fears me. Good. It will keep her from trying anything stupid.
Miranda shook her head, "I admit, it was hard to wrap my head around, but it does change things." Her tone was serious and her gaze shifted to Nox's weapons. "It was foolish on your part to reveal your nature and those items."
Nox's face darkened. She was tired of this. She was Sith after all, abate a very laid back one, but still. All this hiding and running was getting to her.
"There is only so far you can chase down a manga cat before she turns to lashes out at you with her claws." The statement seemed to give the Cerberus Agent pause as if she wasn't sure where they stood now considering the semi-friendly report they had moments ago.
"I see, I will take my leave now. C-sec will no doubt be on their way." Miranda turned to leave, but Nox grabbed her arm.
Miranda looked back to see the grim look on Nox's face.
"Miranda," it was the first time she heard the woman speak her name aloud. It was spoken in a soft, authoritative manner. Miranda didn't know what to think as she made eye contact.
"Cerberus is untrustworthy and fickle. Get out while you can. Take it from me, I know their kind all too well."
"Cerberus was there for me when I needed them. I will repay my debt to them." Miranda answered coldly.
Nox's concerned face shifted to one of indifference. She shrugged and held up her hands, "Fine, but when you truly decide to break your chains, seek me out."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Miranda asked suspiciously.
Nox shrugged, avoiding the question. She made to leave.
"Wait," Miranda grabbed Nox by the shoulders planted another kiss on the woman's lips. Nox was caught by surprise by this action again. During the kiss she felt a hand reaching for her lightsaber. Seeing Miranda's true motive Nox broke the kiss.
"Nah uh uh, nice try, but…" She waged her finger in front of the agent's face.
Whatever she was about to do or say next was halted as the sound of footsteps and cocked weapons surrounding them both. Nox looked around as the alley filled with Cerberus agents.
Miranda turned and walked just outside the firing line. "I would say it was a pleasure. As I said earlier, your little power play here was a bit foolish." The agent lifted up the blaster she had pocketed of Nox. The Dark Lord raised an eyebrow. It seemed non-force-sensitives always went to the blaster instead of the more... elegant weapons. Then again the humans in this reality believed bladed weapons to be a thing of the past. Relics.
Nox smirked, "You seen what I was capable off and wish to make the same mistake. I am not the one who is foolish." Nox crossed her arms in disappointment. "To think I thought you more than a pretty face."
Miranda gave Stih a smirk of her own, "Think of this payment for saving your life Chora's Den."
The smirk that had graced Nox's face morphed into a cruel smile. Miranda seemed to loose all her gusto from a moment ago. "You believe you have power over me." choking noises could be heard as the soldiers began choking and dropping their weapons. Miranda took a step back and brought up her Omni-tool.
"Snipers now!" The Dark Lord giggled as Miranda's answer was silence. Nox stepped forward bypassing the dying strike team. Miranda tried to run. The beautiful agent found herself frozen in stasis again. Nox leaned in close when she reached Miranda.
The Dark Lord whispered in her ear as the dead bodies of the strike team fell to the ground. "Tell your boss, that should he interfere with my plans again. I will hunt him down and kill him personally There is nowhere to hide from me. However when next we meet, should he pledge Cerberus to me and tender his resignation I would gladly accept it." Nox grabbed the blaster prototype out of the agents hands. She turned and walked away. She let the stasis around Miranda fall after she rounded the corner. She used the force to cloak herself and disappear into the night.
Arriving at her apartment in the more fancier elements of the Zakara ward. She passed a man with a couple of human bodyguards. She smiled at the man. "Mr. Kellam."
The refined gangster looked at her and nodded, "Ms. Nox."
Her apartment on the Citadel wasn't the most extravagant as the one she had on Omega. Her designer had did a red sand and dark red theme this time around. Memories of the Ancient Sith Tombs on Korriban came to mind. She sat down, and leaned back. She turned her head immediately sensing the intruder in the next room over. She waited a moment sensing his intent. The mind was alien and very disciplined. A Turian, interesting.
She spoke, feigning intrigue. "And what might you want in my humble abode. To kill me? No, I wouldn't think so. You would have attacked by now." Nox sat up and stood facing the open door to the other room. "No, you want something?" Her voice lowered as her demeanor shifted. "So tell me before I rip it from your mind."
The Turian stepped into the dim light. his black armor was etched with red accents. He had dark scales and white face markings.
"My name is Nihilus. Special Tactics and Recon." His thoughts were well guarded. He went over a rifle maintenance manual over and over again in his head with a little from old regulation manuals thrown in. Strange that.
"Your purpose trespassing here?"
"I have been watching you. How you handled both groups tonight was miraculous to sat the least." Nihilus began to pace around the room looking over the tacky statues and vases. Impossible, she thought, I would have sensed him. She didn't have to wait long for her answer as she poured herself a glass of wine waiting for his response. She took a sip or two while waiting for a response.
"I reviewed the footage and believe that you may be useful to me in my operations. Simply put I am offering you a job." Nihilus turned to face her gauging her reaction.
"To be a Spectre?" Nox smirked taking another sip, "How delightful."
"Not exactly. You seem the type to be beholden to no one." Nihilus held a object in his hand. "So I am not giving you a choice in the matter. This is a detonator for the mirco-explosives you just drank." He tossed it to her Nox caught the detonator in her free hand. Rage built in her very being. She wanted disintegrate this alien. Well played, she heard the Fragment said in her head. Nox growled and looked at the Turian. Despite his well maintained mental defenses, there was a clinical satisfaction is his emotions that came pouring out.
She gritted her teeth and spoke, "I am assuming they are tied to a deadman switch as well. I kill you and boom."
"Of that you are correct. I have been tracking you using drones after I seen Cerberus and the Shadow Broker loose so many agents. I figured machines would be a blind spot for your telepathic web."
He threw a datapad at her. She used the force to hold it in front her face. Her hands were full after all. Both held agents of her subjugation. "You are now an attache and/or Consultant to a Spectre. Congratulations. You will not have the immunity I have as Spectre unless I say otherwise. Any questions."
Nox shook her head, "You are a deadman, but no."
"Good. Report to Spectre requisitions in the morning at the eighth hour." The Turian didn't even give the Sith Lord a passing glance, so confident he could turn his back to her. Nox spent the night seething in her room. She glared at the bottle of wine. Her unintentional weakness. She picked the bottle and smashed it against the wall. She would find a way to remove the explosives from her and then Nihilus would pay.
In a matter of months, Nox's blasters revolutionized warfare. The three companies she created were quick to create and distribute the new weapons even adding mods and creating their own unique style for each. All while fighting corporate battles with each other to remove suspicion that they were all linked. With a mass effect field generator propelling the bolt, the "blaster" as it was dubbed by the mysterious creator quickly made its mark on the history of galactic conflict.
Despite her new found wealth, Nox still had the indignity of being bound to a Spectre. She ran jobs for him and helped him on missions. She never revealed the true extent of her powers. Every night she would meditate and remove the explosives latched on to her intestinal track and stomach, one by one. Nihilus was eventually assigned a mission by the Council. The Shakedown run of the Human-Turian designed vessel, the Normandy. It was there working for Nihilus would get really interesting.