Chapter 4: What a Day
"How much is a lot?" I questioned. It made me nervous enough that Kelly had be studying me with the dossier they were given. I wonder if she knew more than that was given? Liara stared out into the city of omega. Despite being an outlaw society, they knew how to control the air space. "I was tasked from the moment you reached the Normandy to find out who you were." She replied. That sounds a little scary, I'm sure there's basic stuff they knew about me, but there must be something else. "So you were spying on me?" I said bluntly. To which she nodded and continued. "Being the new Shadow Broker has its uses." Those words sank in for a moment, I turned my head out into Omega in disbelief. The new Shadow Broker, in the flesh? She's like... Young and... Oh wait, she's asari so it makes sense she'll be the source of all knowledge... For like a thousand years!
I snapped out of my trance. I then felt myself being grabbed on my shoulder and being turned. "We shouldn't linger here too long, it'll draw suspicion." Kaidan stated. He let go of me and began to set the pace for the group as he moved away from the scene. Liara followed in pursuit catching up to him. I fall in from behind with the quarian tagging along to the right hand side of me. We pretty much formed a tight square formation was we made our way through the crowds. Every now and then I would see some of the local folk giving us dirty looks. Some of them looked like mercenaries.
I took my attention away from them. I should get to know the group better, I know Kaidan enough. Liara... Well that's something else. I just need to know who the quarian is. I felt a little nervous of asking considering from what I heard about the species. But since she's in Shepard's team, it can't be that bad... I felt bad enough for even thinking like that.
Kaidan led us through some alley ways, it appears we were gonna circle round Afterlife maybe. If that's what he's getting at then it's a good plan. Remain in the dark yet close at hand to appear should anything arise.
I look towards the quarian, from what I remember most of them look the same apart from the different colour schemes and suits. This one is different though... "I haven't seen a quarian wear a suit quite like that often." I spoke breaking the ice. I saw her glance at me, it must have sparked something. "It was a gift from my father when I returned from my pilgrimage." She explained. I caught on to what she was talking about, the pilgrimage that is. "Someone I knew used to talk about quarian pilgrimages quite a bit." I said. It was difficult to tell what her reaction is due to the masks they wear. "Sure it's a good idea, but there's one flaw to it all." I continued. She tilted her head at me, maybe that hit something. "How so?" She asked back, there was a sense of curiosity in her voice. Yet there was a part of it that didn't agree with me. Did I also mention her accent became really thick just then?
"Well you're, sent out into the big bad galaxy expected to come beck with something worthwhile." I expressed. There was a moment of silence between us, it did seem silly though. I heard that some if not many don't return from their pilgrimage. Either due to finding a better life elsewhere or they just can't manage it. The quarian's voice filled the empty space again. "It's all for the good of the fleet, if one does not return it means less resources to spend." Sounds a bit harsh but I suppose there is sense in it. "It sounds a bit morbid, but when were surviving on bare minimum we have to do all we can." She spoke. Something to mentally jot down, it interested me somehow... Somehow...
We entered some sort of market area of this part of Omega, still pretty grubby and just a stinking mess. Kaidan halted us within the market place. "Lets split off in twos to keep a low profile, we don't want to draw too much attention here." He stated with a firm look on his face. He turned to Liara and said. "Liara you're with me." Kaidan then pointed to the quarian and said to me. "Icarus, look after her." He instructed. I nodded to him as he and Liara disappeared within the market. I turned my attention back to quarian. I still don't know her name!
"So what's your name?" I asked sheepishly. The quarian gazed at me for a moment and said. "Oh! My name's Tali." She nodded at the end of her sentence. Tali, what a nice name... I gave her a small smile. "Now that introductions are over, want to see what's on for sale?" I casually asked, it'll give us to talk about stuff... Yeah smooth...
I led her to an elcor vendor who appeared to have a lot of junk on display. Well to be fair everyone had junk on display. "Welcoming, hello human, is there anything of interest that you desire." spoke the monotone elcor. I gazed round what was on display, junk and more crap. Just when I was about to give up on hope, something caught my eye. Something, that was so unique to human culture it is now viewed as old and crude. I can't believe that one would exist on Omega! Black market maybe, I don't know. I raise my hand and point towards the item I desire. "How about that guitar?" I asked. If only elcors could show emotion by stance then it would have made the situation even more delightful. "With great surprise and curiosity, I am surprised that you choose something as old as that." I gave a soft smile towards the elcor, today is your lucky day elcor. "Well, old habits die hard." I exclaim.
The elcor called for an assistant to bring down the guitar, well acoustic guitar. I then heard a familiar voice from the side of me. "Keytar?" I looked down to Tali and slightly chuckled. "It's pronounced Gur-tar" I explained to her. "Ga-tar?" I was close to a face palm from her lack of native tongue of human pronunciation. I shook my head at her and whipped out my credit chit to pay for the guitar. As I waited for the monies to process I heard a thick alien voice from behind me. "We don't see many of your kind around here." That sentence can't be referring to me, there are plenty of humans about on Omega. Wait... Tali!
I shoot myself around to see three batarians and a human. From the looks of them they were freelancers. The lead batarian had a red-ish green mixture across his skin. They hadn't noticed my presence at this time, I took this advantage to step in before anything else was said. I moved slightly in front of Tali to obstruct the batarian. "Can I help you?" I blankly said towards the batarian. He quenched his eyes at me. "Help me? Can you help me? I'm afraid not, but that quarian can help us." I heard him say to me. What a rude bastard. "I don't think she's interested." I calmly said. I gotta try and use some of my charm to get out of this one, intimidating these guys will just lead to trouble. I waited for a reply.
"I appreciate what your trying to do, but this does not concern you human." The batarian exclaimed. He was pushing it and it's working. It's time to release something of my own. "Gobble gobble some more turkey." I spat out. As I expected the batarian was taken back by the response, it was most likely he doesn't understand what I'm on about. There was a moment of silence before the human within the freelancer group spoke up. "He just called you fat boss." That trigger a unwanted event. The freelancer group glared towards me, I was creating a scene. "So you insult me using human terminology, that's weak human." The batarian answered. I didn't have time to deal with this moron, I need to finish this now. I begin to raise my hand towards the batarian pointing in his direction with my armoured finger. "Gobble some more turkey face, you and your pounces best be heading off back to pansy land." I angrily said. I was prepared to continue my rant when I felt someone between us.
"Enough, you're both acting like children!" I heard Tali protest. I had to agree with her, we were acting like children a bit. I lowered my hand back to my side, I also didn't like the fact that she has placed herself between me and him...
"Hmph, the quarian has spoken some sense to this complicated discussion." I heard from the batarians mouth. His attitude was that of a sadistic mind freak. He really doesn't want to drop, just wants to push me that little bit further... I was ready to throw another insult towards the batarian when Tali gazed at me and shook her head slowly. As much as I hated it I backed down and stood ready incase anything was to go horribly wrong. She turned her attention back at the batarian who seemed to have a half smile written all over his face. She then spoke to them. "I'm not interested." She said in a rather harsh manner. The smug look on the batarians face fell, what a tool.
The batarian shrugs. "Well I guess we'll have to find another." he said. Tali returned back to my side and signalled me to follow her. At least she managed to resolve the situation better than I did, could have ended ugly if I did it my way. "Come on Icarus, lets go." Tali spoke towards me in a slight demanding tone. What about my purchase don't I get to finish that? I quickly shot my view to the eclor vendor and said. "Can you have this delivered to docking bay 16?" I swipe my credit chit to confirm the purchase. "With many thanks, thank you human, I hope to see you again soon." The elcor spoke. I then felt a tug come from Tali as she urge me to leave.
I followed her through the crowds within the market, I can't get them thugs out of my head. It seemed a little weird that a human is with a batarian freelance group. I'll keep that to myself for now... I noticed Tali reached her hand to the side of her head, obviously opening a communications channel. "Kaidan, were coming to you we ran into a bit of trouble." She said sharply. After a moment I heard a synthesised reply. "Just as well, the commander wants us to move to the lower district." We then changed our direction, I could see that Tali brought up her omni-tool to update the new destination. "Something here isn't right." I heard again from Tali's receiver. For the record, nothing here is right.
"We'll be there shortly." Tali said with haste. We navigated through the dark corridors of Omega, the closer we got to our destination, the less amount of people were about. We came to a stand still in a large room with various pipes jolted about. I decide to take the lead for once and acknowledge were here, I don't know where Liara and Kaidan are though... I brought up my omni-tool and tuned into squads channel. "We're here Kaidan, where are you?" I said. I began to observe the area around us, it was very poorly lit, difficult to see. "We can't see you, are you sure you're in the right area?" Kaidan replied my speakers. It then hit me, something was wrong, Tali even turned at the words Kaidan said. "What!" She spat.
"I knew something wasn't right about this, it's even worse that we can't get in contact with the commander." Liara added over the com channel. "Just hold tight Icarus, we are coming to you." Kaidan said in a rushed voice. Can't believe this, first mission and it's all going to shit. What made it worse was I heard a door open. I shot my head in the direction of the door which was behind me. In walked a large figure accompanied by smaller ones. I began to move to the side of the room, I brought an arm round Tali's back to drag her along with me. I think she noticed we had company. We moved into a dark spot within the room, barely enough room for the two of us. We stood side by side as the other beings fully entered the room. I could make out what the larger figure was, a krogan... The other smaller ones were vocha, about seven of them. What's more worrying is the fact they're all armed to the teeth.
"Blood Pack" I head Tali whisper to me. An organisation, merc group. What are they doing here? My question was answered. "Come out, or don't. That would be fun." The krogan spoke out loud. The vocha gathered behind the beast. I looked towards Tali, I couldn't see her though, it's was really dark. "What now?" I quietly asked. Luckily the pipes around us did rattle and steam was exhausted from some, that gave us enough cover to talk. "We wait." She responded. I looked back to the krogan, by the look on his face he was getting ready to enjoy himself. "Find them, keep them alive if you can." The krogan ordered. Why would they want us alive, what don't we know? The krogan's minions began to scatter around the room. Things were getting tense, if Kaidan and Liara don't turn up soon... Well I don't wanna think what could happen right now. I heard snarls and comments being made by the vocha. Their fucking faces are enough to make me shoot them. I usually don't have a problem with other species, but when vocha are involved it just makes my blood boil a little.
One of the vocha came close to where we were, a couple of feet. I could heard the bastard sniff about... Like dogs... I watched as the vocha surveyed what was ahead of it... Blackness, I hope. Something then unexpected happen and I really wished it didn't happen. "Tali, Icarus report." Kaidan's voice came out through mine and Tali's speakers. The vocha darted his head in our direction and took a step forward. It then reached a hand out into the darkness. I couldn't take this much longer! A moment passed, I felt something touch my chest plate.
I gave up and let my instincts take over, I'll explain my actions later once we get out alive. I quickly drew my left hand up across my chest round the vocha's arm exposing his body to me. My right hand drew down to my Shuriken, I pulled it out of it's place and lodged it into the vocha and discharge three bursts into the fiend. For safe measure I lifted my right foot and extended it out into the vocha pushing the scum to the floor. I let off another burst into the vocha to make sure it's dead, bloody regenerative freaks. At this time I drew the attention of everyone in the room. "Move!" I shouted as I dashed out for the nearest bit of cover. I pitched myself behind some low piping while Tali positioned herself behind a much larger section of piping allowing her to stand behind cover.
We were greeted by a hail of gun fire, I peaked round the corner a few times only to meet another round clipping past me. I switched up my Shuriken for my Mattock, I checked the ammo count. Sixteen rounds... Good... I let off a blind fires towards the enemy. Tali deployed a sentry that whizzed off and scared a few vocha. Despite the distraction I was only able to let of a few accurate shots, no kills though... Tali how ever I think took one down. They were closing in on us and fast, I don't know how much longer we could hold them for.
"He's charging!" Tali shouted across to me. I glanced my head to face Tali and saw her firing in my general direction, she probably means the krogan. That's not a good sign at all. I stood and raised my weapon over the low piping, at the end of my barrel was the krogan. He had a battle scarred face, blood red armour and some big fuck off gun. I squeezed the trigger and felt my Mattock kick into my shoulder, I repeated this action several times letting off shots of succession into the krogan. This however, only seemed to anger him. Before I knew it the giant toad was scurrying his feet towards me, I the audible click toward from my weapon indicating it can not fire any more. I then heard a crunching of metal and screeching of steam implode my ears. The crazy git charged right into the pipes. I was greeted by a mountain full of steam, I could feel the heat from it and staggered back covering my face with my arms.
As I recovered from the moment, I then felt a series of rounds hitting my shields, it was hard to see what was ahead of my due to the shielding flares. My shields then dropped, I felt a several sharp impacts hit my armour, at least none were cutting through. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the Blood Pack krogan appeared round my bit of cover. He marched towards me and unloaded a shot point blank into my chest. The force of the impact knocked me off my feet, I landed flat on my back gasping for air. It became difficult to breathe, struggling for air I tried to pull the chest plate away from me. There was no anvil...
I heard my name being shouted out, my hearing was too distorted to distinguish who. I laid there helpless to the krogan in front of me who pointed the end of it's barrel towards me. I try to resist by lift my right arm and extending it towards the gun to see if I could grab it. No luck though, it was out of reach.
I guess it's all over, one mission and I'm out of action permanently. It's not how I planned to go out but if this is it, I might as well just accept my fate. I waited for the killing blow, but it was ceased was covered in a blue aura and lifted up off the floor. His arms began the flutter about, he then was flung to the side followed by a barrage of rounds flying across my vision.
I was saved? Why? I'm not that important am I?
I shifted my head to view my saviours, Kaidan and Liara manage to arrive in time. They were finishing off the attackers, they were either fleeing or putting up a petty attempt to take down the biotic duo. I saw Tali come out of her cover and rush over to me. She stood over me and tried to talk to me I think. There was too much echoing to understand what she was trying to say. She then held out her hand, I could understand what that means. I extended my own and grasped her hand in mine. She brought her other hand to help pull me up. Once I was up on my feet, Tali helped steadied me. I could hear myself breathing heavily, I had to control myself if I want to be able to carry on.
I bended down slightly supporting myself by placing my hands on my knees. I remained in the position until the side effects wore off.
I came to myself and stood back up again. "Icarus, are you alright?" I heard from Tali, she had a tone of concern. "Yeah, I... I think I'm fine." I replied sounding breathless. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turn myself round to see Liara in front of me and Kaidan just behind her. "Have you sustained any injuries?" Liara asked. I was about to reply when Kaidan answered for me. "He has suffered any suit ruptures, we should regroup with the commander." Liara let go of me and nodded towards Kaidan. "Lets head back to the Normandy, maybe we can get in contact there." Tali suggested. I just hope I don't slow these guys down too much.
Kaidan ejected a thermal clip from his Predator. "Good idea, I just hope she's alright." He said meaningfully. Liara approached him and said. "It's Shepard, she'll be fine." I saw Kaidan nod his head, my attention was then caught by Tali. "Here, you dropped this." She said handing back the Mattock rifle, I took it from her graciously. "Cheers big ears." I managed to spill out. Her head shifted back a little, ah wait... "Human expression." I said. Checking the Mattock I loaded in another thermal clip. Kaidan waved a hand at us, guess it's time to move. We began to advance to one of the exits when I clutched my left side of my stomach. If it wasn't a bullet wound it was a massive bruise swelling up. "Icarus?" I heard Tali call out to me. She was pretty worried, she seemed like that sort of person that worries for others. "I'm fine, don't worry about me." I told her, hopefully that would reassure her. I wouldn't know until after the mission probably.
We back tracked our way through Omega, what really ticked me off was that everyone was gone, no one to be seen. We entered the market place again, there was a crowd now, that eased my nerves slightly. Kaidan stopped as his ear pieces flickered to life with Shepard's voice. "Kaidan, we're done here but someone has ticked off the other merc bands." Too right someone has, it's become a bit of a mess. "We we're attacked by Blood Pack mercs. It wouldn't surprise me too much, but something is different." Kaidan replied. I should probably relay what I heard from that krogan. I reached up to my communications unit ignoring the pain across my body. "One of them said they wanted us alive." I added over the channel, I got a look from Kaidan. "We'll discuss this back on the Normandy." Shepard ordered. I lowered my hand and grip my rifle tightly, I sure hope we don't run into any more trouble.
We exited the market place onto the walkway towards Afterlife and the docking area. Something really stood out in the crowd outside Omega. There was like two armoured beings seem to be asking the locals something. "Kaidan are they?" Liara began to say. She couldn't finish though, one of them saw us and immediately opened fire. I was the first to return as I raised my rifle towards the two, trying to be careful not to cause civilian casualties. I managed to break one of their shields as the rest of the team got into cover. There was a whaling that came from behind me, I spun run to come face to face with another white armoured being. I didn't have a chance to shoot as my weapon was knocked out of my hands by a large dagger. He came at me again with a over head stab. I step to my side quickly and brought my hands towards his wrists, bringing the arm down and under my arms. I took a step inwards and hooked my foot under his, I jerked my torso and threw my opponent to the floor. I wasn't going to let him recover. I whipped out my Shuriken and peppered the white knight till he couldn't get up.
During this whole time gunfire erupted around me, more of them white soldiers appeared. "Icarus get to cover, you're out in the open!" Kaidan shouted down the communications channel. I searched for the nearest bit of cover, I saw some crates ahead of me. It would be a bit of a run but it'll have to do.
I made a dash for it, I felt rounds whizz past me, some of them hit me as my shields flared up and my body jerked in the direction the rounds hit. I'm almost there, just a few more steps. "Get down!" I heard a shout call out. I think it was meant for me? It was too late though, I caught a shimmer of a rocket speed towards me. I staggered back from the impact as I heard my shields collapse. Pointing my weapon forward I sprayed in any direction where there was an enemy. Again like earlier I received a series of sharp impacts across my armour. I fought to stay on my feet and drag my self to cover. I couldn't though, it was too much. Then my visor shattered in front of me. I let out a grasp and slammed shut my eyes to protect them. My centre of balance was tipped off, I crashed onto the floor. Like again, it was a little difficult to breathe, my vision was blurred and darkened. I heard a faint shout of my name before everything became too dark to see.
I guess that's it. What a day...