2.
The stench of rancid water burned the back of Ryder's throat the moment he stepped into Kadara's lower port. "Is the air here ever going to clear up?"
Vetra waved a hand in front of her face. "Most of this stink is coming from Tartarus."
"Yeah, there is a bit of a stale ale and krogan body odour in the mix."
As they entered Tartarus techno-beats boomed from all corners of the bar while dancers gyrated in their cages. And Ryder's boots stuck to the floor where patches of dried ale and vomit remained un-cleaned.
Vetra climbed the stairs ahead of Ryder. As she ran a finger along the grimy rail she looked back at Ryder with disgust. "Knowing Reyes, you'd think he'd hang out in nicer places."
"Yeah, but he likes it this way. No one thinks to look for him here." Ryder smiled as he kept the rest of the explanation quiet, like Reyes had asked him to do.
In the back room on the second floor, Reyes lounged on a couch surrounded by several armed men. He dismissed them with a wave of his hand on Ryder and Vetra's entrance. "Pathfinder! Sit, join me."
"I'll stand."
Reyes poured three glasses of whiskey. "You won't join me?"
"No," replied Ryder.
"Then it's straight to business."
Vetra crossed her arms over her chest piece. "What do you want, Reyes?"
Reyes laughed and crossed the room to where the Initiative members stood. His swinging hips indicating to the Pathfinder that he wanted something bad enough to flirt with him.
"So," drawled Reyes, sliding an arm around Ryder's waist.
Ryder stepped back. "I've said no, Reyes. Now, what is it Addison promised I'd do for you?"
Reyes covered his gaping mouth and winked. "You're turning me down? Again? Does that mean you and that asari are a thing now?"
Vetra stared wide-eyed at Ryder, mouth hung open. "You and Peebee? How'd I not know?" she asked.
"What? No." Ryder waved his arms. "Nothing… I… I told Reyes I kinda liked… Wait. How'd this become about me?"
Reyes frowned and returned to the table holding the whiskey. "We're meeting to talk business. Stop making this about you, Pathfinder."
Ryder clenched his jaw. I swear I'll punch you again, Reyes.
"We'll talk about you and PeeBee later," Vetra whispered in Ryder's ear. She stepped forward and nodded at Reyes. "What's the mission?"
Reyes drank one whiskey then stared in earnest at the other two glasses. "Yes. Business," he said, turning to Ryder. "Do you remember that rooming house out on the edge of Sulphur Springs? The one run by the turian you killed? Well, I've heard rumours."
"We're here because of rumours?" asked Ryder.
"Well, more than rumours. I know for a fact some of Sloane's old gang are trying to re-establish themselves. They're using the house as their headquarters."
Ryder frowned. "So close to our outpost?"
"How good is your intel?" asked Vetra.
Reyes grabbed a pistol from under one of the sofa cushions and motioned toward the door. "Why don't I explain on the way. Saves time. And I've been dying for a ride in your nomad. It's still painted black, right?"
"Actually, it's now Roll Initiative," replied Ryder. "So suck it up."
The nomad sat primed and stocked beside the forward station. Reyes called shotgun, but Vetra took the front seat, leaving him to climb begrudgingly into the back. Ryder kept his foot light on the gas pedal as he drove, for he was in no rush to get there. Wanting a distraction from Reyes's blithering backseat driving, he turned to Vetra. "What's a T-8 manifold for anyway?"
"It's used…"
"Turn right up here," instructed Reyes.
"I know where I'm going."
Reyes shrugged and lounged back in his seat. As he caressed the armrests he let out a low whistle. "The Initiative went all out. Leather seats. Where are the cup holders?"
"It's a combat vehicle, dipshit. There aren't any," replied Vetra. "Now what is it we're heading into?"
"Ah yes, Sloane's cronies. A turian who calls himself Crossfire, on account of his sniper skills, is in charge. He's fortified the two buildings, but my agents in the Collective have him surrounded."
Ryder peered at Reyes through the rear-view mirror. "Then what do you need us for?"
"You heard me say their leader has exceptional sniper skills, did you not?"
A vein throbbed in Ryder's head. "And you need me to take him out."
"I figure if we take out the leader, the rest will fall."
Vetra looked back at Reyes. "Do you not see the irony in this?"
Reyes laughed. "Well, perhaps you didn't quite understand me. When I say the rest will fall, I mean to their deaths. I don't expect you or I, or my agents, to sit around idle while Ryder has all the fun."
Ryder parked the nomad behind a hill near the old rooming house. Reyes's men lay perched on the ledge most likely watching for a chance to take out Crossfire. To his left, and crouched around a rock, several salarians and a human busied themselves studying an omni-tool. Ryder suspected they were the tacticians.
"And you're sure your intel is right?" asked Ryder. This was Reyes. He'd stab you in the back as easily as he would fund a medical clinic. Ryder didn't regret saving him over Sloane, but as willing as he'd shake his hand, he'd arm the other.
"Of course," drawled Reyes. "Now let's take care of this. I've other plans for this evening."
Ryder climbed out, waited for Reyes to disembark then closed the door. Vetra met him at the right storage compartment where she watched him down a bottle of cytogreens.
"Still running cold?" she asked.
"Let me guess? Gil told you?"
Vetra smiled. "Sure did. But he didn't tell the doc, so you're all good."
"Great. Besides, I'm just fuelling up. I still have a feeling things are gonna go south. It's been that kind of day. Now let's get this over with."
Ryder set their communications to closed-channel then added Reyes to the link through SAM. He unlocked his viper from his back and sauntered toward the men hovering over the omni-tool.
Close behind him, Vetra whisper in his ear, "I haven't forgotten about you and PeeBee. But I'll save that for later."
It's just… "There's something… We don't know what we are."
"Uh huh," chuckled Vetra. She patted him on the shoulder and moved ahead of him.
After a quick reading of Addison's mission confirmation, Ryder took a position on the south ridge. "SAM. What am I looking at here?"
On their private channel, SAM replied, "There are three armed turians and a heavily armoured female human in the house where the krogan died. There are also five unarmed persons sitting on the kitchen floor."
"Hostages?"
"I do not know."
"What about the other building, SAM?"
"I cannot penetrate the shields. I do not know what is inside. Apologies, Pathfinder. I will keep attempting work-arounds."
"Thanks, SAM."
Ryder slid down the hill, moved to the north side of the encampment and took cover behind a rocky outcropping. Through the sight of his viper he scanned the compound.
"Any luck seeing in the main building yet?"
"Not yet, Pathfinder. But there is a turian on the roof."
"Already knew that," replied Ryder. Through his scope he spotted a crate on the roof of the old boarding house. A perfect place for Crossfire to hide.
When he saw the turian's crest of horns peek above the crate, Ryder narrowed his aiming eye. Took a breath and started to release it when…
"How did you know about the turian? He is behind cover?" asked SAM.
Ryder sighed. "Because it's Crossfire and he wouldn't be inside. Someone proud enough of his sniper skills to call himself Crossfire wouldn't hide inside a fortified building. When you said you couldn't penetrate the shield, I knew Crossfire would be outside where he can prove his skills."
"I understand."
"Good, now be quiet."
As Ryder re-gripped his viper his kinetic barrier shimmered and vibrated. Crossfire had him in his sights, but was toying with him by only using a concussive shot. Ryder grumbled, switched his ammo to disrupter. "I'm not in the mood for games."
Ryder squeezed the trigger. The turian's armour shimmered before the spiky head disappeared below the ledge. Hopefully to the ground, thought Ryder as he waited to see if Crossfire would rise.
When he didn't, Ryder climbed back down the hill toward the others, thinking that was too easy. Way too easy. But now he and Vetra could go get the T-8 manifold Gil wanted. And grab a drink at Kralla's Song while they waited for the Tempest to return from Eos.
Vetra approached Ryder from a group of salarians checking their tech armour. "Nice shot, but the jobs' not done."
Ryder locked his viper to its back slot. Whatever fight was coming, he was sure it would be close-quarter from this point on. "Are we storming the castle?"
"Looks like it," replied Vetra. "Just not sure what's inside. The Collective is securing the other building. So it's up to us to you know, clear out the main building."
"Yeah. SAM hasn't had any luck penetrating the shield. Wonder what's in there?"
Vetra shrugged. "Or who's in there?"
Reyes approached from behind and clapped a hand on Ryder's shoulder. "Sloane's people. That's all that's important. Now why don't you go do what you do best," he said as he pushed Ryder toward the building.
"Why do I always find myself in these types of situations?" asked Ryder.
Vetra laughed. "A promise is a promise."
"Even if it wasn't made by me?"
Ryder pulled out his carnifex, loaded disruptor ammo and approached the front door. He was still in no mood for games. "If SAM can't unlock it, I'll shoot it open."
"Why don't you try knocking?"
Ryder raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Why not?"
Ryder shrugged. "Doesn't hurt to be polite, I guess."
"It's a little late for niceties. You just killed their leader. I thought we could save the ammo."
Ryder frowned and knocked on the door. To his surprise it slid open. An initial glance showed bunk beds stacked with crates, metal barrels cluttering the floor and several aliens standing in the middle of the mess. He gripped his trigger, then hesitated. No one was carrying weapons.
"Don't shoot!" called the turian standing out front.
Ryder stepped inside the room, his finger still on the trigger. "Ah, what's going on…"
Something whizzed past Ryder's ear. A violent force threw him backward to the floor. His breath exploded from his lungs on impact. He lay coughing on the floor, dazed by the flash of white light burning his eyes.
Heat engulfed him, burned his exposed skin. Smokey bitterness filled his mouth and lingered on his tongue. He rolled onto his hands and knees and retched until hands grabbed him and pulled him from the room. On the ground outside, Ryder lay on his back coughing and sucking in as much air as his aching lungs would allow.
Vetra leaned over him. "Ryder? Scott? Are you okay?"
Ryder rolled onto his side to spit out the thick sour phlegm in his throat. "What the hell happened?"
"I happened," said Reyes. He stood over Ryder smiling and dangling a grenade pin from his fingers.
Vetra grabbed Reyes by the shoulders. "You asshole! You almost killed the Pathfinder!"
Reyes pushed Vetra away. "He's fine. Look."
As Ryder listened to them, adrenaline shot through his veins. Anger swept through him, took control of his mental senses. A biotic charge rippled under his skin. He didn't remember activating one. Though he certainly had somewhere to discharge it.
Ryder jumped to his feet and charged Reyes. "You son-of-a-bitch! I had that handled!"
Reyes landed sprawled on the ground several metres beyond where he once stood. A hand touched Ryder's shoulder. Violated, he spun around and shoved the intruder back. "Don't touch me!"
"Scott?" Vetra was rubbing her shoulder as she stared at him with wide eyes. "It's me."
Ryder's breath caught in his throat. Vetra? "Did I…? Did I hurt you?" His limbs ached to move, his biotics were charging without his consent. With caution he reached out to her. "Vetra…" Sensing he wouldn't be able to control his strength, he pulled his arm back. "I'm sorry."
"What's gotten into you? Are you all right?"
Ryder stumbled back. Every fibre of his being wanted to release another biotic charge. A fire burned in his chest. His sight sharpened, his skin prickled with the bites of a thousand fire ants. And he swore he heard crickets chirping back in the Milky Way. He felt powerful. Invigorated… Good.
But this wasn't right. He had no control.
Ryder crouched till his fingertips touched the red dirt beneath him where he tried to ground himself. The energy inside him needed to be relinquished. But not here.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
It wasn't helping.
He stood with his feet planted shoulder width apart. Chest heaving and sweat dripping down his back like an acid wash, he saw the Charlatan struggling up from the ground. Ryder ran to him and grabbed him by the shoulders. "What was in that explosive?"
Reyes raised his hands as he sagged back down to the ground. "Nothing. I swear… Let go of me. You're hurting me."
Ryder didn't mind hurting Reyes. But when the Charlatans' armour started to crack under his grip, it surprised even him and he let go.
Biotics. Something's affecting my biotics.
Ryder closed his eyes, gritted his teeth in defence of the raw power surging through his body. "I need to get out of here." He ran toward the nomad, stopped and glanced back at Reyes. "We're done here?"
"Not exactly," replied Reyes.
"Actually, that wasn't a question." The nomad's door opened on Ryder's approach. He climbed into the passenger seat knowing he was in no shape to drive.
A moment later, Vetra appeared on the driver's side. With one hand resting on the door, she stood watching him with narrowed eyes.
Ryder clenched his jaw, drew the steadiest breath he could and looked at her. "Get in. Get us out of here."
"What's…"
Ryder's biotic capacity was reaching an exorbitant level. "Drive. Now. Somewhere remote."
Vetra climbed in. "Yeah, sure thing."
The nomad backed up, turned sharp and sped across the hills.
SAM. SAM? Dammit!
The silence in Ryder's head fuelled his anxiety. He grabbed his knees to stop his hands from shaking. Static electricity surged from his fingertips rattling his armour.
Vetra skimmed the nomad along a cliff then turned the vehicle toward open land. "Your biotics?"
"What gave it away?"
The nomad came to a sudden halt. "Your whole body is shaking," said Vetra.
Ryder needed to release the charge now. He needed away from the vehicle before he obliterated Vetra. When the passenger side door flew open he ran from Vetra until he couldn't run any longer.
A scream tore from his throat as he pounded a fist into the ground. A nova wave spread out around Ryder with such ferocity he couldn't keep his feet under him. He landed on his side, exhausted but not spent. The biotic charge inside him was less, but not gone so he scrambled to his feet and released a second nova.
Better, he thought. Power still rippled through him, but at least it was now containable. He rested his hands on his knees and drew in deep breaths to help stop the build-up from charging again. "How you doing, Vetra?"
"That was something else," she replied. She was picking herself off the ground when Ryder looked at her. After off dusting her armour she approached him with discretion. "You okay now?"
Ryder stood. "SAM, how am I doing?"
The silence reminded him SAM was off-line. Whatever was affecting his biotics was affecting him too. The silence in his head was eerie. "SAM's gone."
"SAM?" called Vetra.
"Yes,Vetra."
Vetra shrugged. "He's still here."
Ryder tapped the side of his head. "But not here."
"I have lost my connection with the Pathfinder," said SAM's voice over the intercom of Vetra's hardsuit.
"Oh. That's a problem," she replied.
Ryder huffed. "At least it didn't kill me this time."
"Yeah, there's that." Vetra looked around as if something interested her before resting her sight back on Ryder. "So, are you just going to stand there? Or are we going to get the hell out of here?"
Ryder did a mental assessment, and deciding it was safe to approach Vetra he headed toward her and the nomad. Muscles coiled, and anxiety clouding his thoughts, Ryder forced himself to remain calm. He wasn't sure if he could control himself if someone so happened to piss him off. So he was thankful to only have Vetra near him. "Let's get back to the port, and get that manifold for Gil."
"You sure you're up for it?"
"Have to do something. The Tempest won't be back from Eos for another hour or so. And I have to keep moving."
Vetra opened the door of the nomad for him. "We could have you checked out by Dr. Nakamoto? He owes us. Or at least, owes you."
"And what do you think he can do about SAM?"
"Nothing, Pathfinder," replied SAM's voice over the nomad's intercom. "I will add, that I'm not getting used to this. I feel a void."
Ryder climbed into the nomad. "You and me both, buddy. You and me both."
…to be continued…
