Jackson squirmed uncomfortably, wriggling his three-fingered hands together. His index finger hurt somewhat – five fingers were never meant to fit into these gloves. His legs screamed at him for the lack of blood flow. He checked his clutches and breathed deeply through the filters. All he could smell was his skin.
He looked across at Thea and Kisa, who were sleeping soundly, their countless bags serving as a bed. His own bag, which was very large, clang loudly every time he poked at it. He never knew that his armour was this noisy. He tried to stretch his body, but was stopped by the unyielding fabric of the enviro-suit.
Jackson traced his memory, trying to remember how he managed to get to this miserable position.
…
After he had told Kisa exactly how he felt, she gave him her confirmation – she will join his mission. She seemed somewhat annoyed, since she was now well into her matron age; Jackson was sure that she was planning to live on Nevos for a very long time. They finished packing her belongings and left for Thea's hotel.
Thea had actually meet somebody while she was gone: a smuggler. Thea claimed that they will travel to Omega, the main reason being that her residence was there.
Omega was a risky choice, but Jackson didn't complain – the crime heaven of the galaxy also held quite a few gifted and forward-thinking individuals. The Sorceress Group's connections would help him to sort out exactly who he needed. Also, the device that Jackson would need beyond Beta-Two was highly illegal – Omega was the perfect place for such things.
The biggest problem right now was to get to Omega in the first place – Jackson's WANTED status prevented him from leaving the planet in the regular way. That's where the smuggler came in. The human female, who called herself Black Paint, suggested that he take a Quarian identity, since nobody would try to check his face.
"A Quarian?" Jackson moaned.
"What's wrong with Quarians?" Thea snapped. She was angry at all those who looked down at Quarians, and her past friendships made that a particularly sensitive point. "They have similar body as you humans do, and Black Paint is correct about nobody wanting to remove the mask."
"I've got no problems with Quarians. But being one is going to be difficult. How about the legs? What is my cover story? Quarians don't go to Omega for the sake of it, you know…" Jackson complained. He was slightly surprised – he was complaining perhaps for the first time in his life. Something had changed inside him.
"We can wrap bandages around your legs – say that it's broken. I have a full enviro-suit, and even a clean-slate identity!" Black Paint said. She was doing a very good business here.
"And nobody is going to ask questions if you are heading to Omega." Kisa added. She continuously wondered about Jackson's song, and what it meant for him. She had searched the extranet, which claimed that the song was an old human pop song. Most people had forgotten it already, yet Jackson sang the century-old song completely by memory.
"I'm still not sure…" Jackson said.
Half an hour later, he was wearing the Quarians' suit. It was too small for him, forcing him to hunch over. With his mask on, he looked through the mirror – he did look like an injured Quarian. The helmet's food sterilisers were replaced with a voice mixer, turning his voiced into a high-pitched voice of a Quarian on the Pilgrimage. Jackson had to admit - it was a perfect disguise.
…
Jackson eyed the Turian and the Krogan, who were approaching them from the other side of the Transit Bus. The bus was a rather big ship which made regular, legal trips to Omega. Holding almost 500 passengers, each "cabin" held about twenty. Their cabin was relatively empty (a work of Black Paint, who received a generous sum of money), save for about five other passengers. The Turian and the Krogan were the two which eyed them carefully – carrying lots of bags, looking very tired and having an injured Quarian as a friend, the trio looked like an easy prey. Jackson was expecting trouble.
"What are you doing here, Quarian?" The Krogan said, having crossed the whole length of the cabin. Both Kisa and Thea woke up almost instantly.
"Wh… wh… why?" Jackson stammered in high-pitched voice. He had decided to hide his personality as well, and acting scared seemed to fit the situation.
"Looking for a planet to live on?" The Turian said. "Wait, you don't have one! Ha!"
Jackson felt his biotics charging, but forced himself to relax. Quarians weren't biotic, and he didn't want to fight.
I can't believe how rude everyone is to Quarians. Jackson thought. Such jokes were already made against him during his short life inside the suit, and he got angrier every time that happened.
"Hey, leave him alone!" Thea said, shoving the Turian back. Bad mistake.
"What do you have to do with this, hu? Nobody cares if I remove that Quarian's helmet and watch it scream!" The Turian growled menacingly. The Krogan's muscles tensed. The situation was rapidly becoming volatile.
Crap… If they see my face, I have to kill them. Jackson thought. He reached for his clutches, planning to use it as a weapon. He wasn't sure how to deal with a Krogan without his biotics, but he was sure that the clutches weren't going to do anything. Still, it felt good to hold onto something.
"Trying to run away? Let us see your face first!" The Krogan roared, swinging his fist at him. With incredible speed, Jackson dodged it, but fell off his seat with a thud.
Both Kisa and Thea charged their biotics, but before they could launch an attack, another Turian quickly rose from his seat and attacked the Krogan. This greyish Turian had barely any facial markings, save for a fiery white marks near the back of his head. He was tall and well built, even for a Turian. His was dressed rather well, and definitely didn't look like someone who lived on Omega. His eyes were electric blue… or was it because of his biotics?
He smashed the Krogan in the stomach with his biotically-charged fist, then proceeded to attack the key joins around the Krogan. Although the monster fought fiercely, it was inexperienced and clumsy compared to the fighter in front of him. After a brief fisticuff, the Turian knocked out the screaming monster by hitting it repeatedly. When the Krogan's secondary systems started to kick in, the Turian took Jackson's clutches from his grasp and smashed it against the Krogan's head, knocking it out again.
Everyone in the cabin watched in awe. When he turned to the other assailant, the other Turian fled the room in terror. Even Jackson was impressed – his speed and accuracy was very commendable, and his ability to take down a Krogan without a weapon (clutches didn't count) was impressive. He turned to Jackson.
"Sorry that I broke your clutches. Are you alright?"
Jackson nodded, fully appreciating his help.
"Thanks. Wow… you took down a Krogan!" Jackson replied. Kisa had rushed to his aid, and was helping him to stand up. Thea stood at a slight distance, eyeing the Turian suspiciously.
"Yes, well…" The Turian didn't continue.
"Do you mind if I ask your name?" Thea said.
"Nekros. Nekros Agius." The Turian replied. He joined Kisa in helping Jackson, who acted as if he had re-opened his wound.
"Damn… Not a rupture, thank god, but the left leg hurts again. Do you have anything for the pain?" Jackson asked, continuing to be surprised at his own high-pitched voice. He then realised what he had said – "thank god". That was a human expression, not Quarian. Luckily, the Turian didn't seem to notice.
"I'll get some painkillers. It's here somewhere…" Kisa got the cue – Jackson wanted to talk to this Turian.
"What's your name?" Nekros asked, naturally taking a seat beside Jackson. He had noticed Jackson's relatively tall stature as well as his quick reflexes against the Krogan.
"Bui nar Tapaan." Jackson lied. "Thank you so much for saving me again. I don't think I would have survived another fight."
Thea grunted. "Another fight? You never had one in the first place!"
"But that human! Wasn't he trying to mug me?" Jackson whined. He was somewhat enjoying this.
"He was performing, you idiot! Street performers are everywhere on Nevos!" Thea replied.
Nekros chuckled. He was amused at this unusual trio. "On your Pilgrimage, I assume?"
Both Jackson and Thea was surprised. Not many knew about the Pilgrimage, let alone care about it. Thea knew about it thanks to her girlfriend, and Jackson knew about it because learning alien culture was a part of his training. But how this Turian learned about the Pilgrimage was a mystery to both.
"How... how did you know? … Yes. I was visiting Nevos to take some photos. You know, those really ancient two dimensional photos that works on chemicals instead of omni-tools. I found an old human camera on Omega and managed to get it. But I wanted to do something with it, you know? Capture a secret, perhaps. Do you want to have a look?" Jackson suggested, hoping that he would buy it.
"Two dimensional photos on paper? That's new! Or old, I should say. Yes, I am interested." Nekros realised immediately that Jackson was more than what he claimed to be.
"That would be nice, actually. I wouldn't mind more company." Kisa returned with a syringe, filled with coloured water. She placed it over the suit, which it accepted automatically, injecting the fluid into Jackson's legs.
"Uh-huh, there is no way I am allowing another alien into my house." Thea teased. She decided to let her suspicions pass for now.
"Come on, Thea! You know I get awfully lonely on Omega!" Kisa replied, taking the syringe back out. "And besides, Bui's camera is a curious thing to look at."
Jackson stared at Kisa, as if in shock.
"It's okay Bui! I won't take it from you!" Kisa laughed. Soon, Thea and Jackson joined in.
A curious bunch! I'm not sure how true their words are, but they certainly seem interested in talking to me. Hmmm… I doubt slavers will try to capture me, after what they've seen. Perhaps they are really just an unusual group after all. But... Oh well, I wouldn't mind company myself. Nekros thought. He smiled and continued to chat with the three people.