Backroom Deal

Part 5

A kick to his left side startled Drokira out of his slumber. Reflexively, he reached out to his side arm, but a heavy boot pressed down on the weapon preventing him from lifting it up. He whipped his head upwards to confront his would be attacker to only see Bane smiling down to him. "It's dawn." He slowly lifted his boot and then backed away.

Drokira's body ached for more sleep and he shook his head to wake himself up more. "Hell of a wakeup call," he complained with a crack of his neck.

"My apologies. Next time I'll be gentler and then fluff your pillow before you go to bed." Sarcasm oozed from the man's lips.

Bane's wittiness was not very appealing to Drokira. He swore under his breath as he looked over at his friend who was still waking up. "Thought you said we could sleep here?" The other sat up.

"I did." Bane peered out the bunker's side window. Light was barely seen outside. "The sun's coming up. Grab your gear and get out. I fueled your rover up for you. Before you thank me, it's not a kind gesture. If you fuckers run out of gas out here you will draw more kett. I don't want that kind of attention. I like what I've got here."

"Any weapons you could spare?" Ralea looked around. Drokira watched him. He hoped his friend didn't push the issue. If this man was as armed as he put himself out to be, then an attack would be foolish.

"Aye, think I have rifles you can have. Old Initiative junk. Was just keeping them around for spare parts. They are bitches I can tell you that. Should be able to hold up until you get to Prodromus." Bane walked over to a container and pulled out pretty beat up assault rifles. Drokira wasn't going to complain. It was probably a lot better than their pistols.

"Why are you not there?" Ralea eyed him suspiciously as he checked out his new piece.

This made Bane chuckle. "I'd do better out here on my own than with them. Though the little duck can sure hold her own."

"Little Duck?" Drokira repeated the title carefully. Was the translation wrong? He knew that a duck was some earth animal. Small creature that resided in water. Not a threat at all.

"She came here weeks ago. Hell of a shot. Called herself the human pathfinder. She helped out taking some down kett generators. Put quite a dent in their operations here and gave me more territory. No complaints here."

"Her," Ralea grunted over to his friend. The reference was to Celeste Ryder. The red haired woman they met on the Nexus who argued for their freedom and tried her best to talk them into joining up with Kandros.

Drokira walked up to the window while Ralea talked and eyed his rover. He wanted to make sure this guy didn't take any of their stash while they were sleeping. His body ached for rest so bad that he was sloppy in just letting it sit out there. Bane caught onto what he was doing. "It's all there. I have plenty of salvage here. They may pay for mine though. Sorry, boys."

This made the batarian snarl, "What are you implying?" Typical human. Always think they could sell better than their kind.

Bane gave him another smirk and held up his hands playfully. "Easy. You will get creds from them I'm sure. Heard they wouldn't touch the old sites. Probably old wounds. When you are done with it, come here. I may have some work for you."

"Thanks, human. We might," Ralea was already out the door and heading to the rover. Drokira was on his heels. The lighter color batarian turned to look back up at Bane at the top of the steps. "Which way is it?"

"Go northwest until you come to a large structure. Once you are there, then head directly east and you will see the outpost. A shuttle heads out twice daily so you won't be able to miss it."

"What does the structure look like?" Drokira plopped down in the driver's seat and began to engage the nav controls.

Bane chuckled again. "Believe me, you won't be able to miss it."

Ralea slapped Drokira on the arm. "Let's just go."

As the rover took off, Drokira couldn't help but to look back at the sea of the kett power generators and the facility. He then shifted back around to look ahead. The horizon was slowly lightening up as daybreak approached. "Think he is truthful about the deal?"

Ralea yawned as he stretched his hands upwards. "I never did trust humans. I just told him that shit to get out of there. We were losing time as it was."

All they had to do according to the exile, Bane Massani, was head to northwest and come across a unique structure. Once they hit that, then go east and they will find the outpost easily. Just how easy would it be?

Hours later, Drokira was coming at wit's end. They were scouring the desert terrain of Eos and came across a few pestering insects. Their acid spray was a nuisance but the rover's wheels made quick work of them. "I bet he is laughing his ass off at us," Ralea spat as he wiped the sweat off his face. "It's fucking hot."

Drokira narrowed his brow. "Or he's waiting for us to die out here and come and take our stuff." Though his statement didn't make any sense. If Bane really wanted them dead, why did he just kill them in their sleep? Unless he was that psychotic. Just when he wanted to agree with his friend and turn the rover around to confront Bane, an image up ahead caught all four of his eyes. At first, he thought maybe it was a mirage but as the vehicle got closer, he realized it wasn't. A large dark superstructure just crest one of the peaks. It had to be what Bane said! It was massive! He elbowed Ralea sharply.

"What the hell was that for?" His friend hissed threateningly through his teeth.

"That has to be it!" With hope in the distance, he punched the throttle and tore the vehicle through the terrain. The rover jumped a rock and took some air. Then it crashed down with a violent thud making all of its passengers bounce. "Now we are talking!" Drokira laughed in delight.

"I bet we can find some salvage there! Look at that thing!" Ralea's eyes lingered on the monolith. He maneuvered to the back of the rover to dig through the equipment to see what they had to work with. Any delay could make it nightfall before they hit Prodromus but the extra creds was definitely worth it. The shadow encompassed the rover as it slowed its approached. Ralea looked over at his friend. "What's the matter?"

"Possible ambush spot." Drokira glanced around. The rover was down in a ravine with high walls on each side. Perfect location if the kett were planning on anything or anyone else for that matter. He figured that Bane was not the only crazy guy out in the heat. There was a pass through some rocks that was tight and twisty but doable. It would lead them to the base of the monolith. "We leave the rover here."

"What about our stuff?" Ralea shook his head. "One of us should stay here."

Drokira gritted his teeth as he eyed the monolith structure. He had no idea what to expect, but Ralea had a point. They already risked losing everything they had one time. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again. Shoving a pistol in his holster, he picked up the rifle and made sure he had a few fresh clips. "Don't leave me." He grabbed a sack and took off for the pass. The rock's sharp edges pressed up against his clothes as he moved through. Though the area did provide some shade relief from the bearing down sun. The base of the monolith revealed a circular shape platform with a console on one end. The design was foreign to him. Setting his sack down slowly on the dirt, he stepped up on the platform, transfixed by the console. "What the hell is this?" The alien tech had no sign of interface capabilities. His hand rested on the solid top and he crouched down on his knees to examine the base. "There has to be a lever or something, damnit…." Just as he was about to stand up, he heard mechanized clatter behind him. He turned around to see a few bots hovering the opposite side of the structure. He stumbled back and gripped his rifle tighter. "Stupid machines." He let out a breath and felt his heart racing rapidly in his chest. With their scanning the tech, he figured they were some type of drone and not hostile. Ignoring them, he returned to his task and then looked up at the obelisk. Rummaging through the sac, he took out a drill and moved over to one of the looming towers near the platform. He would have to severe pieces for examination for now. Just as he was about to drill into the material, he heard alarming screech come from the two bots. The pair's oculist turned red and they were now redirecting their focus on him. "Shit!" He dropped the tool and fumbled to pick up his rifle. The observer bot fired its red laser and it singed the side of his hand just as he grabbed his weapon. Luckily for him, the laser's hit was just inches away from the side of his left hand and it only left a small burn mark on his flesh. The mark still hurt like hell. Groaning through the pain, he grabbed his weapon and rolled to take cover. The Remnant bots were on him within seconds. He opened fire and nailed the first one right in the center of its red eye. The hits fried its circuits and it collapsed down. Drokira ducked as the second opened fire back at him. He darted towards the console and dove behind it. He had to take cover somewhere else. "Ralea! I need help!"

Ralea was almost asleep in the rover when the sound of gunfire made him fall out of his seat. He stumbled to get up and grabbed his rifle. The firefight seemed to be coming from the structure's direction. The same place that Drokira went off to. He dove out of the rover and moved towards the pass. Just as he did, he felt a scorching burn strike the back of his right leg. The jolt of the hit caused his body to thrust forward into the rocky formation and then he stumbled down onto his good leg. The hit torn opened his flesh revealing muscle with blood gorging out. Wincing, he turned back around to see a group of six kett soldiers moving in. The group spoke some foreign tongue to one another as they approached with their weapons drawn. "Hell-"Ralea growled as he moved to get his weapon at them. His eyes darted to look for cover but the only place he had was the same passage that Drokira went and that would expose him to be struck. It was too tight for him to move and try to counter attack. Lifting the rifle up, he used the scope quickly and took a shot. The round pierced through the torso of one of the approaching kett. The others howled in rage. One returned fire and the blast got Ralea in the right shoulder. He immediately lost the grip in his hand and his rifle fell to the ground. Blood covered all over the clothes from the wound and he clutched it tightly with his left to try to suppress it. "Fuck!" He spat out as he felt his body trying to go into shock. Sweat beaded all over his brow. "Drokira! Get your ass here!"

Hearing his companion, Drokira took down the last observer bot and leaped over the console to head back the way he came. He came face to face with the horror of his suspicion. The kett did ambush them! Ralea was severely injured on the ground and the batarian desperately reached down with his blood covered left hand to get his pistol. The blood caused him to have a loose grip and he struggled to hold it properly. The kett were pinning him down; almost stalking him like a varren to his prey. What were they waiting for? Then it dawned on him! They were going to try to capture Ralea to take him alive. But what for purpose? Drokira didn't want to find out! He pulled the trigger and a blast of rounds struck another kett on the right. The ammo turned its body into a pulpy mess before it collapsed. The others turned their attention to him and opened fire. Drokira dove behind a rock and ejected the hot clip. Snapping in another, he pivoted to his left and picked off another. Ducking, he avoided the counter blast and then moved over to his right to check on his friend that laid there still in the open. Ralea was sitting with his head back against the rock. The loss of blood was becoming too overwhelming. He wouldn't last much longer.

"Do you like it?" Jaal held up the prized dagger in his hand for Celeste to examine. It had several serrated sides and the handle contained mulitple gems that were not native to the Milky Way.

"Jaal…." Celeste gingerly touched the gems with her fingertips. She never seen such a piece before. She began to wonder where he found the time to design such a thing with all their travels to Kadara and Eladeen lately. "I-I don't know what to say." The assumed gift brought her out of her stupor. She had been troubled still after speaking with Addison and the nagging inside tormented her.

A smile came across the angaran's face. "Then you approve." He delicately placed the knife down into box. "It is a ceremonial dagger. Mostly used as a gift on special occasions between friends and family. Years ago one of my brothers gave me one when I came of age. Of course, each design is different to the creator."

The gesture warmed her heart from his words. How did she get so lucky in finding such a being to love her and cherish her the way he did? In all her years on the Citadel and interacting with other races, she never would have guessed that she would have a relationship with one. The thought never particularly crossed her mind. And yet, she felt lost without Jaal being around. He made adapting to what already transpired in Andromeda easier. She leaned up on the balls of her feet and nestled her head on his shoulder. Gently planting a kiss on his face, she looked down at the knife before his hands. "Do the angaran name their weapons?"

"We do. Sometimes. Though I thought I would let Drack have that honor."

Celeste tilted her head in confusion. "Why Drack?"

Jaal chuckled and gently kissed her as he turned back around, clasping her hands with his. "My Darling One, it would be rude of me to name a gift for a friend." A pause. "Unless that's a custom in your galaxy. Then I may offend him…"

The air from Ryder deflated. How foolish of her! Of course he was making a dagger for Drack. He mentioned it earlier! But it had been months ago when he first came aboard the Tempest so that the conversation eluded her. Groaning softly, she moved away from him and felt her entire face grow red. "Way to go Celeste. You idiot," She fussed under her breath.

"You alright?" The angaran squeezed her hand lightly with concern.

"Yeah…." Celeste sighed deeply.

Jaal reached out and cupped her face softly. "If I've hurt you in some way…."

"No…" She murmured with a smile and kissed his hand. "I just have a lot on me right now. I feel like lately I'm just making wrong decisions and other people are going to pay for it." She slumped back against the wall and crossed her arms in frustration. Her mind brooding away.

Jaal shook his head as he moved closer to her. "Darling One, you are a great leader. The Moshae speaks highly about your deeds to her students on Aya. I have learned by being on the Resistance that everyone will not approve of each decision you make. You stay by it. Do not falter." He took his finger and gently touched the center of her forehead. "Just stay clear."

"Strike Team Thessia is on the move. We are ETA twenty minutes from our target. Will report once mission is complete." Sergeant Shassa pulled up her omni as she communicated the message back to Tiran Kandros on the Nexus.

"Good hunting, Thessia. I have your location marked."

The purple asari huntress turned back to address her small militia that composed of two salarian infiltrators and a human adept. "Listen up. Kett activity has increased and within proximity of the Prodromus' perimeter. We need to shut it down." The others nodded in acknowledgment. After arriving on the ark, Shassa immediately reported to Kandros for her assignment. As a huntress, she was given the task to lead one of the strike teams. First there was Metirn, a female salarian infiltrator, who had a pretty good eye on her and probably the best shot of the team. Then there was Zibal. He talked fast. Faster than most salarians she encountered but his strategic planning was off the chart. Finally, there was Johnson. A dash young brown haired kid straight out of Alliance Academy. Reckless and quite the flirt. His behavior sometimes got them into hot water in prior missions but when they were pinned, he always found a way to get them out. That's why she kept them on the team. Nothing like a wild card in the deck.

"Shit! Did you hear that?" Johnson turned his head to the sound of heavy gunfire to the West.

"Four clicks away, sir!" Zibal brought up his omni tool and his fingers danced over the controls.

"I didn't think Prodromus had any military forces established yet?" Metirn looked back at the outpost.

Shassa also looked back at the site. The kett she was told about were lurking around much closer. She didn't want to leave the outpost exposed for too long…She chewed her lip and listened carefully. The gunfire sounded like both sides so it couldn't be the Remnant. Whoever it was, they couldn't leave them unaided. "We investigate and if it's not ours then we quickly double back. Do not engage. Is that understood?" The others nodded their heads to the order. She really didn't feel like a jog in the heat.

Being the first to arrive, Zibal panted for breath and brought up his omni. He stood over the ledge that overlooked the ravine below that housed the firefight. He began to scan each form.

Shassa was at his side and strained her head to see below. She took out binoculars and zoomed in as far as she could. The main force were definitely the kett but whoever they were attacking seemed to be pinned down in the rocks just outside the monolith. "Zibal?"

"Kett, sir. Three deceased…no four. Two left." He moved around Metirn and Johnson just as they arrived to get the others. "I…this can't be right." His eyes became larger.

"What is it, Zibal?" Metirn noticed her squadmate's expression.

"Scans are showing that there are batarians down there!" The salarian's voice filled with alarm and surprise.

"Run diagnostics and try the scan again," Shassa grumbled. "No batarians are here."

"The sun fried our gear this fast? Damn," Johnson muttered as he knelt down and held his sniper rifle down to take aim at the kett. "I have them in my sights. Orders?"

"Wait," Shassa held up her hand as she looked back at Zibal. "We don't want to engage until we assess the situation. I'm not putting our lives at risk for some exiles."

"Diagnostics done and scan completing…now." Zibal retracted his omni. "Definitely batarians, sir. One's vitals are dropping and one seems to be holding his own."

The report baffled Shassa. She pulled out her own omni and connected to Apex headquarters on the Nexus. "We have a situation down here."

"Go ahead."

"We picked up an ongoing firefight four klicks away. Scans show two batarians fighting against some kett. One is severely wounded. Request to engage." Silence answered her on the other end. Afraid she lost connection, she spoke again, "I repeat. Requesting to engage. I need that order." She exchanged worrisome looks with the others. If they lingered any longer, then the batarians would surely fall to the kett forces below. She would have to make the call herself….

"Engage the kett and get those batarians to safety. I want a complete evac. I'll meet you on Prodromus." The answer baffled the asari huntress. Never before had Kandros himself go to Eos for any mission. Something big had to be going on in the background and it had something to do with these batarians. That would have to be addressed another day. The order was given. "Engage the kett. Johnson snipe what you can get. Zibal, get to the batarians and start to render aid protocol. Metirn, you on me."

"By your side." Metirn followed the asari's lead as they scrambled down the rock. Unleashing a singularity attack, Shassa caught one kett off guard and the dark energy lifted it up in the air. That made an easy target for Johnson to pick off above.

The other Kett whipped around and opened fire on them. Metirn used an incineration attack. The fire distracted it and Shassa opened fire with warp ammo. Their combo attack made the kett explode into several disgusting pieces. "Check those four!" Shassa ordered Metirn as she moved around with her rifle still poised. They couldn't lower their defenses just yet. Though she knew Johnson had their back.

Zibal moved over to the injured batarian who was too much in shock to address him. "Hang on." He began to scan him with his omni to assess his injuries.

"Stay back!" Drokira had watched the early display and was grateful for the assist, but now he didn't want to have to fight against some potential pirates. He held his pistol towards the green skinned salarian.

"Your friend is going to die if we don't get him a medic evac," Shassa fiercely said as she walked up to him.

"I don't know who the fuck you are."

"We are from Apex. Strike team to assist the Initiative. We were dispatched on Eos to engage the kett and keep our outpost safe. What's your business on Eos?"

"We were sent here by your Initiative," Drokira spat with disdain. "Left us to rot. We were scavenging this site until we were ambushed by them and some bots up top."

"Remnant." Metirn came over to the group. "They are native to this planet too. The monoliths are their technology and they protect it."

"Sir! We are going to lose this one if we don't hurry."

"I'll call the medic evac!" Metirn took out her omni.

"Done already," Zibal quickly stopped her. "Enroute and should be here in a minute."

"Good thinking, Zibal." Shassa wiped the sweat off her face. "Goddess, it's hot." She winced from the sun and then looked back at Drokira. "Sergeant Shassa." She held out her hand, but he remained guarded. "I need you to come with us to Prodromus."

"I have salvage to transport too." Drokira motioned with his head towards the still in-tact rover.

"Medic evac is limited in space. We are not a cargo transport," Shassa shook her head as a shuttle was landing near their location. She motioned for Zibal and Metirn to take the injured on over.

"Then I'm not going. I can drive the rover." Drokira stubbornly moved away from the group back to his previous vehicle.

"I can't let that happen. I have been ordered to get you to Prodromus." Shassa felt her patience at the last end with this guy. "Your friend is dying. Whatever cargo you have-"

"Sir, I'll go with him," Johnson came up from behind. "I'll get him to Prodromus." He flashed a toothy smile at the batarian.

The asari rubbed her face in defeat. "Go. Straight there." She jumped on the transport and felt it lifting off immediately leaving Drokira and Johnson down below with the beat up rover and the dead kett. "She needed a serious talk with Kandros. Prodromus wasn't going to be happy to know that batarians were now in the mix. The one race besides the Geth that the Milky Way species really didn't want to deal with.

Johnson walked over to the rover and jumped into the passenger seat. "Let's hit the road."

Drokira grunted and eyed him cautiously as he joined him in the driver's seat. "Thought your kind didn't care for us." He grumbled as he fired up the rover's engine.

"Nah, you're cool. My dad was a cargo trader and one of his brokers was a batarian. Had some runs with Omega. Told me some pretty interesting tales about that place. Never got to go with him though. It was straight into the Alliance Academy. I've always wanted to see Omega."

"No you don't." The batarian rolled all four of his eyes. "It's a piss hole."