A/N: For the sake of flow and relatable characters, Goya the female turian will now be renamed Nyreen Kandros. Aria's former lover from the DLC.
Purgatory
CHAPTER EIGHT
Duty Calls
It was rather calm in the early afternoon. Nothing was really going on in the prison. In fact, according to Aria, it was getting almost unbearable. She would have to create a distraction if something didn't happen soon. It had been almost an hour ago that Liara had seen the prison queen disappear with some beautiful asari whom wasn't Morinth.
Sitting at the asari table in the general public area, the young asari wondered if this was how boring the rest of her life was going to be. Mindlessly kicking her foot, the professor sighed. Unexpectedly shaking the woman from her thoughts, Liara heard a human yell out from one of the metal platforms.
Her piercing blue eyes followed the sound to the woman in which it came. It did not take long for the newest asari to remember the woman who had so blatantly blew off her indoctrination. Pacing about the herd of woman, long high heel boots rapped against the metal decking. The tall dark haired beauty continued to shout again, this time the asari was able to comprehended what the superintendent was saying.
Without lifting her gaze from her omni-tool, Miranda continued to shout out names.
"Sha'ira"
"Nylena"
There were long dramatic pauses between each name.
Quite curious and greatly confused, Liara leaned over to the closest asari next to her. "Nyxeris, what is she doing?"
A near disappointed expression floated over the maiden's face as if her name would not be called. "Duty Calls".
"What?"
Wrapping up whatever she had been doing on several data pads, the moderately lavender asari huffed, "Well that's what the warden calls anyway."
The blue asari barely understood the maiden from the sucker that was customarily in her mouth nearly all the time.
Ripping their attention away, Miranda called out two more names. "Kelly Chambers"
"Diana Waters"
After the names were called out for a third time, Miranda barked, "Hit the showers and be at Gate 13 in twenty."
Her voice sounded so sterile so commanding to the prothean professor. Gently reaching out for Nyxeris' arm as she was about to leave. Liara questioned, "Why do they have to shower? What is at gate 13? Where are they going?"
If her scowl had been her own hand, it warned the new comer to remove her hand at once.
"I'm sorry" muttered the younger maiden.
Removing the cherry red sucker from her mouth, Nyxeris cocked her hip and waved the piece of candy like a wand. A quick, smug glance up and down Liara's body indicated that the Nyxeris was not impressed.
"Don't fret, it's nothing you'll ever have to worry about." With an abrupt turn, the lavender asari was out of site.
Liara suddenly felt very much alone. Her eyes glazed over the crowd hurriedly looking for Shiala. She knew the huntress did not much care for her. But she knew, she also would not allow anything bad to happen to her.
Approximately forty minutes later, the women's whose names were called were standing in a large room. As instructed, they were showered and freshly shaven. They knew that if they refused to comply, that horrific events would await them. In prison, it was typically easier to comply then to resist; especially at Purgatory.
The room itself was not well lite, having amber luminescent lights every few feet apart. In the center was a large carpeted rug; about twenty feet wide by twenty feet long. In the middle of it was a crest with a large lion on it. The impressive animal was embroidered with brilliant gold thread; making its features even more striking. At first glimpse within the dim room, the lion crest seemed to be glow; as if it were on fire itself.
Cradling one side of the magnificent rug that one would not expect in a prison were two large renaissance looking pillars. Large deep swirls made up their massive structure. Further confusing anyone who had not been here before, were three separate rooms across from the pillars. There were four steps to get to each room, however there were seven steps required to enter the main room. Covering each of the room's entrances were thick and heavy dark red curtains. Again something not seen in a typical prison, however this was no ordinary prison – this was Purgatory.
Less than half an hour later, both Sha'ira and Nylena were topless and standing on a white line painted on the ground before them. A wide piece of thick fabric fastened around each woman's neck with a ring in front that laid flat against their skin. A ceremonial asari necklace weaved itself through the loop and dipped nearly all the way between their breasts. Although topless, a sheer sarong that brushed against the floor draped loosely around their sublime waist.
The asari were not put on display or were even mildly insulted as they were dressed in typical asari attire for an evening of fun.
Adjacent from them was the human redhead. She was standing still although not as tranquil as the asari were. Her fists were fidgeting and she was a bit anxious. Chewing on her bottom lip, Kelly Chambers was wearing a heavy white cape that covered her entire body. A large green emerald forced onlookers to stare at the magnificent stone that smothered the clasp at her throat. It was unknown to everyone else except the superintendent what Miss Chambers was or was not wearing under her cloak.
Next to her, working down the white line was Diane; standing cool as a cucumber. Unlike the other guest, she was in her daily prisoner uniform. Not much out of the ordinary, Diana's thick black hair was slicked back so that a cigarette could be tucked behind her ear. Her sleeves were customarily rolled up to not only show off her muscular biceps but the tattoos that littered them. She looked like the stereotypical lesbian prisoner.
It was something Miranda chuckled about when she did roll call about half an hour ago. 'She wears the part better than anyone.'
At the end of the crisp white line, standing alone was Nyreen Kandros. Her name had not been called in the open pit because she had been in solitary for three weeks prior to today. Cracking her neck to the side, the turian huffed as she felt the superintended scan her appearance.
Mentally Miranda readied her powerful biotics in case the former war hero decided to 'act out'. Keeping her distance, the black-haired woman, whose uniform looked painted on, subconsciously huffed with delight at how well the turian warrior actually looked. The modified to be harmless turian armor fit her well and was absolutely authentic looking.
Before she had time to hide it, Nyreen reacted to the human's surprise. "Jaw dropping wouldn't you say Superintendent Lawson?"
The black hair beauty scoffed at being caught displaying anything but a hard ass. Closing her data pad, Miranda shot back, "Keep it up Kandros or I'll throw your ass back in solitaire in a heartbeat." Ignoring the human's warning, the nearly six foot tall turian rolled her eyes. Further driving her dominance, Miranda barked, "Got it?"
Reluctantly, the turian answered, "Yes ma'am". After being locked up for nearly a month, she was not going to blow her first chance out of the box. Especially as she was still learning the ropes being at Purgatory less than a year now.
The curvaceous guard was about to engage further when a woman's voice from behind her spoke. "I'll take it from here Miranda."
Unlike anything she had seen before, the turian veteran watched as the typically relentless Lawson backed down without as much as a hint of protest. Whoever had commanded her had the black beauty's devoted loyalty. Or as Nyreen pondered, 'someone she was actually scared of.'
The woman's voice boomed filling the space around them. As it went, the voice was strong and confident. It exhumed complete authority. "Alright ladies, listen up. We have some very eager visitors from Illium today." Although there was not a place in the hall where the voice could not be heard, the woman remained in the shadows of the room.
Kelly grumbled, "Great. They are the worst."
Sha'ira whispered, "Would you rather they hail from Omega?"
The short copper haired woman's attitude quickly changed, "Good point."
The asari and human shared a friendly smile, "That's true."
As the voice moved closer it sliced through the soft chatter, "We have some who are looking for a fighting experience. Nyreen, that's why you are here."
A red headed woman slowly emerged from the shadows. She was about 5'10 and had a muscular build. It was the first time the turian had laid eyes on the woman, but she could tell by her statue alone, this woman had a military background for sure. As she moved into the light and addressed her, Nyreen could tell this woman did not need the bully tactics of her subordinate; Miranda Lawson.
The mystery woman wore a form fitting uniform that fit like a glove, not like a porn star like her super. Her physic was slender but strong. Just by the way the woman stood, with her arms crossed and rocking on her heel, made the turian tremble at the thought of tangling with this human in a dark alley.
Suddenly breaking her stance, the woman sauntered towards the other red head in the room. Although Kelly's hair was a short pixie cut, the red head's longer bob suited her perfectly; looking like an Alliance poster child. The new leather in her dark gray uniform creaked as she approached the younger woman.
This time her voice was softer, much to the cloaked woman's preference. "We also have a volus who loves dancing humans." The purgatory officer chuckled, "Cue Kelly Chambers."
Proud that her talents had been noticed by the higher ups, the redhead blushed. But it did not take long for that blush to vanish as thoughts of what happened the last time she danced for a volus. It was not good. The younger redhead was having second thoughts and started to slouch.
Recognizing the sudden unwillingness of the prisoner, the experience guard moved close enough to Kelly's ear to whisper where only she could hear. Pretending to comment on her neck clasp, the older redhead declared, "I have absolute confidence you will do your best Miss Chambers."
Kelly's eyes batted a few times stunned by the woman's proximity. Stepping back far enough to make eye contact, the taller woman glared; saturated with intimidation. But as she spoke, the soldier's voice betrayed the forceful message her piercing green eyes were conveying, "We wouldn't anything bad to happen to Miss Nef now would we?"
Horrified at what could happen to the one person she cared about, Kelly shook her head repeated.
Turning her back away from the shaking human, the senior officer spun on her heels, "So there won't be a problem will there Miss Chambers?"
"No Shepard" uttered the girl with her stomach in her throat.
The tight ass superintendent immediately barked, "Shepard what?!"
Kelly lifted her head once again, "No Commander Shepard. I won't be a problem."
As if there had been no tension at all, the senior officer moved towards the asari pair. "And the two of you will offer your services to a couple of asari diplomats – looking to spice things up a little."
Unlike Miss Chamber's reaction, Sha'ira's eyes lifted in anticipation.
Shepard gazed approvingly up and down at Sha'ira and her young assistant. "Looking lovely as ever Sha'ira. You have much to be proud of." Allowing her eyes to gaze upon the light blue skin perhaps a bit too long, Shepard interrupted her own thoughts by adding, "Oh and tell Aria, her shipment should arrive on next week's shuttle."
A small bow of her head preceded her reply. "Thank you Commander Shepard." Sha'ira being well into her matriarch years certainly knew how to play the game, and based on how she handled the seasoned officer, she knew how to play it well.
Strolling to the center of the room, the woman in charge casually clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on the heels of the boots. Gazing at the prisoners of Purgatory, she looked calm and relaxed. She had absolutely everything under control. After all, order and control were her two basic rules. Don't cross them and you would be fine. Just keep your head down, don't cause any unnecessary problems and your stay at Purgatory would be a pleasant one. Assured that the afternoon would go without a hitch, Shepard cleared her throat.
"Everyone understand their assignments?"
In unison the group of inmates answered, "Yes Warden."
As Shepard was about to leave, she leaned over to her second in command. "Miranda, keep an eye on that volus. If he even thinks of touching Kelly, I want him put down – immediately. No questions asked."
"Copy that Commander."
As the dark-haired beauty watched as her superior officer strolled off into the distance, she knew that her number one priority was the prisoner's safety. Although power and a lot profit along the way, didn't hurt the commander's pockets either.