Chapter Eight
Commander Mikael Demine of the Blue Suns quirked one elegant brow at the message flashing on his private terminal. It was from Joab, sent through their command channel. Mikael hadn't heard a peep from Malachi and his men in years; why would he be reaching out now? With a careless shrug, Mikael opened the message and read with marked disinterest.
As he scanned the text, his former nonchalance for the message wavered, turning quickly to wide-eyed alarm. Zaeed? Alive? Assassin, Malachi dead? Mikael leaned back in his chair sharply, his breath leaving him. Further down the message, Zaeed spoke of Samson's death on Omega, also brought about this mysterious turian assassin. He also mentioned an attempted reunion with Job and Ripper, the latter being MIA as usual.
Mikael knew where Job was; at least, he knew of his last transmission's location. The old man was about to enter retirement on Bekenstein and had been seen with the likes of Donovon Hock. The knowledge that it was about to cut short would be of definite interest to him, Mikael decided and pulled up a new document. He used the Suns-transcripted shorthand method of communication, saying as little as possible without losing its meaning. With sweat gathering on his forehead, Mikael sent it out into the extranet and closed his terminal.
Despite being a man of great means and skill, Mikael was no soldier. His platoon consisted of infiltrators, hardly suitable in a close combat situation. He would need further assistance if he was to survive a possible assassination. He paused, recalling something in Zaeed's message. Quickly, he retrieved it and read it again. A bodyguard? A woman? Mikael gave a small grunt of laughter. One woman would provide little protection from the turian who'd killed Samson and Malachi. If Mikael wanted to survive before she arrived, he would have to employ his own hired muscle.
Good thing he already had such muscle on galactic speed dial.
Within hours, Mikael's newest recruit appeared in his office's door. A krogan of considerable size and mass stood on the threshold, bright green eyes barely visible beneath his scarred and pierced brows. He lumbered into the office, shouldering his rifle casually in one hand.
"Name's Skud," the krogan greeted, his voice like gravel beneath a rover's wheels. "You Demine?"
"I am. You may call me Mikael," Mikael rounded his desk and offered a hand to the krogan. Skud ignored it and collapsed his rifle with a casual air. Mikael withdrew his hand with a strained polite smile. "I'll get straight to business, then, since you seem disinterested in formalities. You're here to ensure I continue living. I have an assassin after me, a turian sniper that has already taken out two of my compatriots."
"You're a Blue Suns boss," Skud observed. "Why hire me? Don't you have enough men in your employ already?"
"I do, but I command infiltrators, not soldiers. There is a soldier being sent to me on loan from another faction, but I do not trust her to do the job, not alone."
"And you're thinking that because I'm krogan, I'll be able to kill this turian bastard without getting a scratch?" Skud grinned. "Seems reasonable. I've taken out far more dangerous beasts than one turian sniper. I'll get your ass out of this alive, smoothskin. Don't you worry about that."
"Excellent. Remind me to give a little something extra to your captain when the job is through," Mikael replied with a gracious nod.
"He'll like that," Skud replied. "What now?"
"Now we wait for the other bodyguard. I use the term loosely in this case, of course," Mikael couldn't smother the haughty sniff that escaped him. Skud grunted.
"Best not to underestimate women, Demine. Got one on my squad and she'll blow you to hell and back without breaking a sweat. This one might surprise you."
"That remains to be seen," Mikael dismissed, returning to his chair and sitting down. "Until then, feel free to familiarize yourself with the layout of my station. You have free reign. My men have been ordered to stay out of your way."
"Sounds good." Skud turned and left the office, his heavy footsteps rattling the various pieces of art on the walls. Mikael eyed them anxiously, ready to spring should one take a fall. Working with krogan wasn't something he did often, and he preferred to keep it that way. Fewer things broke, for one thing.
Settling back, Mikael returned to his previous duties, his mind at ease with the krogan around and the prospect of further assistance well on the way.
Skud hovered at the landing dock, eyes heavenward to watch for the expectant shuttle. When it winked further up in the stratosphere, Skud moved out of range of its engines and stood behind a low wall to wait.
The shuttle touched down, its wide side door opening and a slim figure in Blue Suns armor emerged. She glanced at him briefly, determined he was a nonhostile, and approached. Skud closed the gap between them on the landing pad.
"You must be that other one Demine told me about," Skud said by way of greeting. "Name's Skud; Mr. Demine hired me to help you out."
"Did he? Must not trust women," the merc drawled, her tone suggesting she'd expected this. "I was told as much before I left."
"Just prove yourself and I don't think there'll be any problems," Skud assured her. "I don't make the stupid mistake of thinking females can't fight. Some of the toughest jobs I've had have involved taking women down. Hardy bunch, females."
"It's a man's galaxy," she quipped carelessly. Skud chuckled.
"So they say. Got a name, merc girl?"
"Yes, but it's not important right now," she deflected without malice. "I'm just here to make sure Mikael survives, just as you are."
"Fair enough. Come on, he's probably waiting for you." Skud started off, the merc in tow. They moved through the station quietly, passing a number of slender men in light armor carrying sniper rifles and pistols. Skud watched the merc cast a cursory glance their way; he smiled. He could feel her distaste for them through her suit. He couldn't blame her. These lightweights would surely get killed within the first few seconds of heavy combat. Snipers were puny, only safe when up high or behind things. He partially hoped this turian they were watching out for would be a more worthy opponent. Turians, at least, were tougher and provided a more satisfiying fight.
Demine was at his desk where Skud had left him, his dark head bowed as he read from his computer screen. He looked up when they entered, the barest flicker of a smile crossing his features to see the female merc at Skud's side. He rose with the grace befitting of a sniper and stepped up to her.
"You're one of Zaeed's, ahem, men?" he asked airily of the woman. "I didn't quite believe it when I read he was indeed alive. There had been reports of a bounty hunter of the same name and repute, but I never would've guessed it was the same man! How is he?"
"Angry," was the brief reply. Skud grinned. He liked this one. "I'm not here to chitchat, Mikael. I'm here to take you back to Joab, per Zaeed's orders."
"Orders?" Mikael echoed, indignant. "I know Vido is dead, but no leader has been voted upon yet! Zaeed cannot possibly think he can just waltz back from the dead and take over?"
"That's his plan," the merc replied blandly. "The others have stood behind him; what's your excuse?"
"That is between Zaeed and myself!" Mikael insisted. "You can just tell him I have no intentions of leaving my base, not until I know what's happened to Job and Ripper!"
"Job is on his way to Joab now, Demine. You can either fall in line or find yourself on the business end of my gun. Zaeed would have me bring you back alive, kicking and screaming if I have to, but I personally have no problems putting a round in your knees and throwing you over my shoulder. What'll it be?"
"You dare!" Mikael sputtered while Skud gave a loud bark of amused laughter.
"Didn't I tell you not to underestimate women, Demine? This one would have your quad in a jar if you let her! Ha!"
"Macho posturing aside, Mikael," the merc interceded, stepping closer to Demine. "It really is safer on Joab. At least you'll have more protection. I'm tough, and I'm sure Skud here is too, but this turian has left whole squads in ruin. He'd rip your men to shreds, no matter how good you think they are. This guy? Well, he's better. I'd rather fight him on equal ground and Zaeed could use your infiltrators." She paused. "Just come back. Zaeed wants to keep the old guard alive. He's not looking to overrun your operations no matter what you might think."
"I will leave when I see this assassin for myself!" Mikael replied hotly. "I have faced down the greatest assassin in the galaxy and survived! This amatuer does not frighten me!"
The merc sighed heavily, taking a step back from Demine. Skud watched her closely. Would she do good by her words and take his legs out? He hoped so. As much as he was getting paid to protect this pompous ass, it would still be worth every cred in his account to see him get taken down a notch. And by a woman no less! That would stick in his craw! When her hand whipped around to grab her pistol, Skud permitted himself a sharp cackle.
Mikael flipped away from the merc's weapon, landing deftly on his desk before pivoting on one heel and withdrawing a pistol from a drawer. All of this happened in an eyeblink and Skud found himself in the middle of a standoff. To her credit, the merc didn't flinch when Mikael's weapon leveled itself in her face.
"Don't do this, Demine," she warned. "It's not worth it."
"I'll decide what's worth it!" Mikael hissed, his dark eyes wild. "Under Vido's reign, I was able to climb the ranks faster than if Zaeed had been in command! He kept me down, kept my men down! He didn't think the Suns needed an infiltration unit, preferring instead to charge and take, take, take! He lacked finesse then and he lacks finesse now! No, little mercenary, I won't let him tear my empire down. I would die first!"
"I didn't want to hear that," the merc told him, her voice a little disappointed. "But I have my orders and I never leave an order unobliged."
"Then try and take me, if you can!" With that, Mikael leapt from the desk into the rafters, his slim legs carrying him effortlessly over the beams. Skud drew his rifle, almost from habit, and scanned the ceiling with it as Demine scurried about like a gigantic spider. The merc cursed violently behind her helmet and broke into a run after Demine's rapidly moving form. Skud followed after her, curiosity and the scent of an oncoming firefight igniting his blood.
The krogan and woman tracked Demine's movements back into the station's main lobby where all of the Suns in his squad had mysteriously disappeared. The merc stopped short, holding out her arm to still Skud's progress as well.
"We're in a base full of snipers," she whispered. "I bet you anything there are a hundred lasers trained on us right now."
"Just how I like it!" Skud growled, thrilled.
"You would," she replied shortly.
"Finding cover isn't going to matter in a second here," Skud observed, tempering his blood rage long enough to get a proper assessment of the situation. There were enough ledges, balconies, and pillars in the lobby to provide ample perches for a dozen snipers. The only real cover was a desk set near the doors and a few potted plants. Hardly enough to keep them alive long enough to take them all out.
"Your only solution is to do as I say, little mercenary," Demine's voice echoed somewhere above them. "Otherwise, Zaeed will receive you in a bodybag."
"Not a smart idea, Demine," she warned. "He didn't say he'd be difficult," she added in an undertone. "Figures. Nothing's ever easy."
"I'll decide that," Demine countered smugly. "We can do this one of two ways: You can back down and return to my office with me unharmed to await the arrival of our special guest or I can have my men shoot you down and have your body sent back as a warning. What will it be?"
"I'd go for the bodybag, but that's just me," Skud remarked with a shrug. He felt the merc look at him with annoyance.
"I get that krogan love battle and all, but why bother standing with me if he's the one paying you?" she jerked her pistol in Demine's direction. Skud shrugged again.
"I get out of here alive no matter what happens. If I'm lucky, one of you will pay my fee. Fighting is just a bonus."
"Of course it is."
"Enough banter!" Demine thundered. "Make your decision before I make it for you!"
Skud glanced at the merc sidelong, waiting. Her hand went up to her ear and she seemed to be conversing with someone on the other side of her commlink. After a moment, she lowered her hand, gripped her pistol more fimly, and looked at Skud.
"Time for that bonus," she informed him quietly. He heard an edge of excitement in her voice and grinned broadly. Excellent.
Without further warning, she dove to the side, discharging an arc of fire upwards. A sniper fell from the nearest balcony, his neck breaking on the way down against an outcropping. Skud chuckled darkly.
"First blood's ours, Demine!" he roared before diving behind the desk after the merc. "Try and take ours, if you have the quads!"
"Damn you!" Demine shouted, revealing himself on one of the highest ledges. "Take them out!"
At once, a barrage of gunfire fell upon them like rain, shattering the plants around them and taking massive chunks out of the steel floor. The merc slid beneath the desk further, Skud positioned in front of her. She curled up into the corner, her hands fumbling at her rear holster. A bundle of incendiaries appeared in her palm. These she wound about a plasma grenade, set its timer, and pressed it into his hand. Understanding, Skud popped out of cover long enough to hurl the makeshift mini-bomb into the balconies to their right. It exploded with an earsplitting boom, sending five men from their perches. Little more than armored hunks of flesh hit the ground around them. It was a glorious sight.
"Damn me for only coming with a pistol," she muttered, fishing around her sides for supplies to create more slapdash bombs. Skud pulled his SMG from its port and handed it to her. "Thanks," she grinned, loading it with inferno ammo. "Now it gets fun."
She scooted out from under the desk and, diving into a roll, skidded to a stop behind a far pillar. Immediately, a grazing of fire followed in her wake, peppering the column with bullet scars. Skud waited for the fire to die down, then thundered over to her and hid behind an opposite pillar. They exchanged a quick glance and brief nod before she circled out of cover and shot down a few more snipers. She rolled along the column back into cover so Skud could whip out and do the same to the other side of the room. In minutes, all snipers had been brought down and now littered the lobby floor with their bodies.
Skud grinned to hear Demine howl in rage at being bested and started to come out of cover. The merc did the same, her stride easy and confident. Suddenly, she froze and jerked her head upwards. Skud followed her gaze.
Hanging from the underside of a balcony was the turian assassin. He'd been waiting for them to clear the room, Skud realized angrily. Damned turian bastard!
"Get down, Mikael!" she shouted suddenly, pushing Skud's bulk out of the way and racing towards the stairs. The turian flipped gracefully up onto the balcony's ledge, rifle in hand. Skud watched in dumbfounded amazement as the assassin seemed to fly from the ledge to the window frames, crawling across them to reach the other side of the lobby. The merc had disappeared from view, lost somewhere in the shuffle to find Demine and get him away from the assassin's range.
Just then, Demine's lithe formed glided out from his hiding place and landed onto the window's ledge beside the turian. The turian paused mid-swing, his visored face whipping up to look the Blue Suns boss in the eyes. As if in a dance, the two dove and swept over the expanse of glass panes, dodging and weaving whenever the other attempted a strike.
Demine propelled himself from the window and landed with his feet flat on the turian's chest. They hung suspended in the air for the barest of moments before the impact of Demine's kick sent the assassin plummeting to the floor. The turian kickflipped out of the way when Demine attempted to stomp his head as he landed. On the ground, neither man, accustomed to remaining in high places, had an advantage. It was an equal battle fought on equal ground. However, it soon became clear that the human had bitten off more than he could chew.
The turian struck quickly, delivering a bone-shattering uppercut to Mikael's delicate jaw. The merc boss stumbled back, his feet skidding along the steel floor. He spat out blood viciously and sprang like a wild cat onto the turian's chest again. Demine hooked his fingers into the collar of the turian's armor, flipping over his head and taking the assassin off his feet. The turian slid across the floor, coming to a violent stop against a column.
"Mikael!" the female merc's voice echoed through the lobby. Skud looked up and spied her on the stairs again, her pistol out. She vaulted over the railing towards Demine, long strides closing the space between them in seconds. She raced in front of the Suns boss, shielding him with her body and pointed her gun at the fallen assassin. "Your spree ends here!" she cried.
Across from her, the turian pushed himself to his feet. Skud saw his hand reach for a sidearm. "Look out!" the krogan called. His alert forced the merc's hand and she fired two shots into the turian's shoulders, one bullet each. The turian reeled from the force, his kinetic shields having already been broken down by Demine's previous assault. He fell to the ground again, blue blood streaming from his wounds.
She stalked over to his writhing body, gun still held before her threateningly. "You've killed in cold blood, you bastard. Not anymore," she snarled and pinned him down with a boot to his throat. With his shoulders wounded, he couldn't push her off his neck and instead lay there, chest heaving. She bent low and hooked a finger under his helmet. "Let's see who you are." She jerked the visor from his head and made to toss it aside when she paused. Her body stiffened visibly and her foot slowly left the turian's neck. She backed away, the assassin's helmet slipping from her fingers. Her voice shook when she spoke again:
"Garrus?"