Chapter 6

The Turian weapon seller exhaled heavily after the two patrons left, the sound echoing in the now vacant shop. The Klausian got his creative mind working it was true, but he was a frightening man to deal with, what with his cold glare and considerable skills. He paid handsomely of course, and obviously appreciated his craftsmanship, but the Turian still was just as happy to see him on his way once their business was complete. The seller set about cleaning the shop, it was well past closing time anyway, and the usual bustle of an Omega evening was already dying down outside. He had been at it for about an hour when it happened.

It started as a strange buzzing in his skull, as if a hive of bees had somehow been loosed within it, zooming to and fro. The Turian dropped the assault rifle he had been carrying with a clatter, and lifted his hands to his head. It was about this time the music began. Whether it was real or just echoing in his mind like the buzzing he couldn't tell. It was slow, moving note to note in a soft yet relentless fashion, driving him to the brink of madness and back again with each change of the tone.

The weapon seller slid to the floor behind the counter, every cell in his body felt like it was on fire with pain, and he moaned weakly where he lay, too frightened to even ask what was happening to him.

The door swung open, and the music fell to a whisper. The Turian clawed his way up, trying with all his might to face those that had entered. He felt weak, drained of energy both in body and mind, and still the music whispered to him, telling him things, dark things, evil things.

The first two through were blue suns mercs, their blue and white helmets hiding their faces. They flanked the door on the right and left. The third entered, wearing black armor and the insignia of a blue suns captain, he was a species the weapon seller didn't recognize at first. He had stark gray skin and red goggles covering both eyes.

"A Helghast!" He whispered. The Turian looked down to see he was still shaking, and at some point had soiled himself.

The Helghan Captain gave a small smirk as he stepped aside to allow a fourth into the room.

The music rose again to a crescendo, waves of sound tearing through the very fabric of his being. He wanted to scream, but all he could do was whimper.

The newcomer floated in. And floated was the right word, for he was a good six inches off the ground, a long black duster, very similar to the Klausian's, lightly touched the floor. What the Turian saw in front of him defied classification. He thought what it was was human, but he couldn't be sure. What skin was visible had a gray and greenish hue to it, but the thing was mostly clad in black leather. Over its face was a massive mask the Turian could not identify. The weapon seller did not recognize it, for how could he know what an early twentieth century earth gasmask looked like?

Whatever it was it wasn't another Helghast, that he was sure of. It's build was too slight, almost emaciated. Scars crisscrossed what parts of its body were visible, and the breathing of this creature, the slow methodic in and out through the filters in the mask, thundered in his ears. And when it spoke, all the universe seemed to be swept away, leaving only this creature and the Turian, who's very existence seemed as fragile as an egg shell.

"THE ONE EYED MAN WAS HERE." The voice was filtered through the mask, but still it split his mind like a dagger, again he tried to scream, and again all that escaped was a whimper. "WHERE HAS HE GONE? WHAT WAS HIS ERRAND?" The creature stressed his S's, and it was an accent the seller had heard a few humans use in the past… Russ… Rusain? Russian? He couldn't think, the pain was too great.

In an instant all that he was was laid bare to this creature, every event of his life from birth to the present was examined. It seemed like an eternity passed, but outside of his own mind it was only a few minutes.

"WORTHLESS." The voice intoned, and the Turian felt himself being lifted. "TRASH." The creature raised his hand, and the Turian rose with it, far past being able to struggle, the Turian tried to close his eyes. The pain continued to roll over him, and he wished for death. That wish was granted. With a sickening crunch, the human telepath and biotics marvel known as Psycho Mantis crushed the body of the Turian weapon seller into a bloody ball, the blue haze of a mass effect field surrounding the now broken body.

The former commandant of the eighth Helghan legion, and current captain in the blue suns mercenary band, Mollock Sayre, looked on with grim fascination. He had seen it several times before, but he enjoyed the spectacle. Mantis wadded the Turian like a used tissue, the sound of the cracking carapace filling the small front area of the shop.

Mollock didn't know what Mantis had said, it had all been in the Turian's mind of course, but that he didn't get what he wanted was clear.

At a nod from Mollock, the two mercs began ransacking the shop, looking for anything that might lead them to what they were after. It was almost certainly a waste of time, if something was there Mantis would have seen it in the Turian's mind.

He turned to the short, emaciated human who had landed next to him and cracked his neck loudly. "What about this Klausian concerns you so much? If we simply capture the remaining relics before him, he will have no way of stopping us. Better just to continue on. If he crosses our path then we can deal with him. Or better yet, let me send some men down to the dock, I'm sure they'd be able to discover which ship is his…"

"I can almost see it." Mantis breathed. "Like shadows in the fog."

Mollock knew exactly what Mantis was talking about: the future. It made even the hardened Helghan warrior shudder. This creature beside him truly was on the doorstep of becoming a god.

"Another relic, maybe two, and it will be clear."

Mollock didn't know whether Mantis was speaking to him or to himself. When they had first met, Mantis hadn't spoken at all, merely made his will know through his powers. Mollock knew he was being used, maybe even influenced a little, and he was fine with that. He would use Mantis as well, to bring about the revenge he had sought all these years. Once he had that, Mantis could use the relics to tear a hole in the universe for all he cared.

"He's there… standing in my way." Mantis hissed. "I will not be interfered with. Not now while I'm so close…"

Mollock looked at him through the red lenses of his goggles, his own breathing ragged in this place. He had slowly gotten used to the radiationless, oxygen rich atmosphere so many other species preferred, allowing him, unlike most other Helghast, to breath without a helmet. But still at times he missed the caustic air of Helghan.

"So close… So close…" Mantis continued to hiss beside him. He was sounding more and more like a junkie all the time, but the power that he had obtained would no doubt have changed anyone who had tapped into it.

Mollock thought about repeating his suggestion, but decided to drop it. This pit stop had delayed them enough already. They had gotten the lead on the next relic from his contacts on Omega, it was time to move again. He snapped his fingers and the two well trained merc returned to his side.

"Return to the ship." He commanded. "We will depart to find the next relic shortly." This is why Mantis needed him, he could control minds of course, but not for long periods. He needed Mollock to command these men, and if it meant even a chance of gaining his revenge, Mollock was happy to do it. The four figures departed silently from the shop, leaving the horrid mess for someone else to find.

...

"The first target of our recruitment efforts is a human genetics experiment, a human being that was subjected to gene therapy in order to create the perfect soldier, a human weapon." The Klausian walked quickly through the quiet Omega night, the soft snap of boots on metal the only noise echoing through the narrow streets. Jill trundled behind, trying to keep up, and also trying to give full attention to old one eye as they walked. She had no idea where they were going, but it didn't matter. He was finally sharing information with her, and she was eager to receive it.

"His DNA was spliced with many other species by old friends of yours, the research scientists of the Exo-Geni corporation."

Jill ground her teeth at the mention of her most hated enemy, but remained silent.

"They succeeded, after a fashion…" The Klausian continued, slowing his brisk pace a little. "…never met the man, but the documents on his progress are astounding. Ten years ago he was put into a cryogenic sleep while around him, test subjects of a particularly vicious nature got loose and slaughtered the researchers in there under ground base in the Dark Void Cluster. I believe he is still there."

"But if these creatures are that ferocious, how can you be sure?" Jill interrupted, trying not to sound out of breath.

"I cannot be certain of course. But I know his genetic make up and cybernetic implants made it impossible for him to be a suitable carrier for the young of said creatures. That's how they reproduce by the way, impregnating humanoids by forcing embryos down their throats and the allowing the young to consume them from the inside out."

Jill swallowed, but said nothing.

"And he was experimented on with their DNA as well, so even if they were aware of his presence in the cryo tube its hard to say if he would have been identified as friend or foe."

"So you have a hunch?" Jill asked, arching an eyebrow.

"A… hunch?" The Klausian frowned. "I suppose, if you want to use that term you may. The Klausian word is kehl, and it refers to what is essentially the same thing. Although it's meaning is far more complicated and its usage far more nuanced and varied than yours."

The Klausian continued. "After that we will need a biotics expert. And not just any will do. I have a few possibilities in mind, I am confident by the time we've added our next member that I'll know the candidate I want…"

Jill could barely believe how open he was being. This was the first time he had discussed his plans with her farther than just a general outline, and she was happy for it. Still something was bothering her. The Klausian stopped walking so abruptly she nearly ran into him.

They stood there for a moment, and then Jill spoke. "Far be it for me to question all this information, but I have to say I'm surprised you're giving me this much, especially since you've been playing things so close to the vest up until now. So why the change of heart?"

He turned to face her, his face suddenly expressionless. "Because you are about to be tested, Ms. Valentine. And in a few minutes from now you'll either have proven yourself worthy of being part of this mission, or you'll be dead."

Suspicion filled Jill's expression, but before she could ask him what this was all about, she realized they were surrounded.

Three Vorcha, a Batarian, and a human emerged from the shadows around them, the human with a pistol, the Vorcha with assault rifles, and the Batarian with a shotgun.

"Well well." The human crooned, walking up to them with a limp. "Awful late for such a vision of beauty to be skulkin' about now ain't it?" He licked his lips, his eyes locked on Jill.

Old one eye yawned, then his eyes floated to the Omega overhangs above them, as if admiring the Spartan Omega architecture was the most engaging thing to do at this particular moment. Jill glanced at him quickly. The expression on his face was one you'd expect to see on a museum patron, an 'oh that's interesting' look.

"Your man there looks like a rough chap he does. Tell him if he don't want your pretty face blown open by Varik's scatter gun, he better just keep standing there."

Jill didn't have to say anything. The Klausian wouldn't lift a finger to help her at this point this was her 'test' after all. She was enraged, he had taken advantage of her attention to lead her straight into an ambush. How long had he known they were being followed? From the very beginning, naturally. She was angry, but deep inside she was eager. Eager to impress him, eager to show her skill, and for a moment she hated that part of herself.

The human approached with a drunken gait. His eyes going up and down her form.

"Concentrate Jill, dammit!" She thought fiercely. Her mind was racing now, all her training coming to bear. "Five targets. If only I'd seen them coming, I could have picked them off from cover with ease. I've got my shields but no body armor. One good strafe is all I can stand up to then I'm done for. They are heavily armed, but have no shields or armor themselves. Still I'm surrounded without body armor and just my side arm… not good." She snuck a quick glance at the Batarian behind her and saw the small detail she needed to get out of this mess.

"Oh I'm gonna take care of you baby, gonna make you feel so good..." The human was talking again, his approach told Jill everything else she needed to know. Thug, not merc. No training. No experience save waylaying the stupid and the lost. His pistol was held limply in his hand.

All at once, a coy smile played across Jill's face. "And just how are you going to take care of me… hot stuff?"

The man stopped and whistled. "God damn baby…" Then looked up as if to thank the heavens for his fortune. Pulling the pistol from its clutch under her arm, Jill shot him through the bottom of his upturned chin, the bullet blowing through his skull with an impressive spray.

Stunned silence. The echo of the gunshot died quickly in the alley. This surprise was now Jill's best friend. Quickly and quietly, the Klausian cleared her line of fire.

Two more shots echoed up the alleyway, and two Vorcha crumpled with holes in their heads. The Batarian swore as his shotgun jammed. Clawing at the rear catch, he franticly tried to slip the thermal clip back into the slot made for it.

The third Vorcha raked her shield with his assault rifle, and Jill felt it buckle. It threw off her aim as she fired again. The first bullet sailed wide, missing the Vorcha cleanly. Jill's shields failed, and another spray would have ended her life, but she regained her feet and fired again, a single bullet taking the Vorcha in the chest, pitching him backward. Behind her, the thermal clip finally slipped into the Batarian's shotgun, and now ready for action, the Batarian brought it to his shoulder. Whipping around as fast as she could, Jill went onto one knee, buying herself half a second as the Batarian adjusted his aim. In that half second she put two in his heart.

The sudden silence in the alley way was deafening. Jill stood slowly, the pistol gripped tightly in her hand. She whirled again, this time bringing the weapon to bear on the Klausian. He stood to the side, hands folded behind his back, regarding her with mild interest.

"You son of a bitch." She gasped, out of breath. "Trying to get me killed?"

"No." Old one eye responded simply. "Trying to see if at some point you would get yourself killed. Or worse yet, someone on my team killed. If you couldn't handle five common street rats, even in a scenario where you were at a disadvantage…" The Klausian shrugged, and Jill felt her rage building. "Better to leave you here to the thugs of Omega than let you endanger the mission."

Jill gritted her teeth. "Did you arrange this?" She demanded. "Did…"

"No." Old one eye cut her off with a wave of his hand. "I did have to search more than I thought I would have to though. Finding a group of well armed highwaymen in Omega is harder than one would think." He crossed his arms.

They stood there a moment, Jill still pointing her gun at the obviously unconcerned Specter.

Part of Jill felt exhilarated, even proud of her skill. Another part felt sick, she had never been used to kill like this before, the feeling was disconcerting to say the least.

"I do not give compliments lightly, Jill Valentine. But you did well. You even saw the Batarian's thermal clip wasn't properly inserted." He inhaled slowly. "You did forget one crucial bit of information, however."

"And what was th…" Jill was cut off by a sudden scratching sound behind her. The Vorcha she had shot in the chest had clawed his way to his feet, assault rifle still in hand. With her shields still down there was nothing standing between Jill Valentine and death. Nothing, but the Klausian Specter whose name she did not know.

To say his hand was a blur as he drew his gun just wouldn't do justice to the speed at which the Klausian moved. The motion was so fast it seemed to defy what Jill thought was possible. So incredible was his speed that even if Jill had genuinely wanted to shoot him, she doubted she could pull the trigger on her pistol quicker than he could draw and shoot her down. Before she even could fully compute what was happening, the immense revolver roared. The Klausian shot from the hip, but his aim was true. An immense bloody hole appeared between the Vorcha's eyes, the force of the blast throwing the thin creature off his feet.

"Vorcha regenerate." The Klausian said simply. Holstering the revolver, he began walking again. After Jill was able to shake off her amazement (no small feat) she followed him into the gloom of Omega.