The Cruelty of Hesitation
Chapter Four:
Fight
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. They are inspiring and much appreciated.
"Ten thousand and not a credit more," Shepard slammed her fist on the table, although it held no real force behind it. "Take it or leave it."
Antuin leaned back into the booth, sliding her hand along the top of the material in slow motion. She smiled at Shepard; her eyes were alight with mischief and her lips quivered in amusement. She was enjoying the game.
Garrus looked over at the two from his spot on the wall. He shifted his weight. This was taking too long. He knew it. Shepard knew it. Antuin knew it.
"Surely the indomitable Commander Shepard can spare a little more than ten thousand?" She questioned as she crossed her legs underneath the table. "This information is extremely valuable. It can get me killed. Ten thousand would barely cover my ass if I needed to shuttle off this piece of junk of a planet."
Shepard lifted her shoulders in a cool shrug. "Then you'll find other credits elsewhere. It's all I'm offering. Either we do this the easy way, or we do it the hard way. Your choice, Antuin."
The asari let out a bubbly laugh, overjoyed at the woman's threat. "Oh, don't tell me you'll shoot me, Shepard. That's too easy."
"Last chance," she watched the asari carefully, her eyes never leaving the woman.
Antuin smiled at Shepard again, and lifted her hand through the air before slashing it down. "No deal. Sorry Shepard, but you put all your tricks on the table and I'm still not buying. Your loss." She gave her best casual shrug back to Shepard.
"You just lost out on ten thousand credits." Shepard opened her omni-tool and began to speak. "EDI, please convert voice recognition. Give me all information on subject 'Antuin'." A beeping sound could be heard from her omni-tool as EDI converted the information.
Antuin looked over at Shepard, her forehead lifting in slight surprise and confusion. "Who are you talking to?"
Shepard shook her head at Antuin, her dark ponytail swaying gently behind of her as she did so. The asari didn't deserve an answer anymore. Shepard only stayed in her seat to show the woman she had made the wrong choice.
"Subject 'Antuin' confirmed. File is now available. Transferring file." There were numerous beeping sounds as EDI began to upload the data to Shepard's omni-tool. Ten seconds passed and Shepard began to peck a few keys near her arm and then looked over at the woman. Shepard gave her a small, amused quiver of her lips before she began to speak.
"Code Name: Antuin. Real Name: Lelinia L'nvess." Shepard scrolled the image on her arm down a bit. "Known Associates: Lairven K'nesslick. Vessna Jones, Brodderick Jes'na." She looked up at the woman to gauge her reactions; she wanted to double check to make sure the information was correct. Her blue eyes wove over the woman's features. Slightly creased forehead; Arms crossed in a defensive posture. Lips slightly askew to show surprise. Shepard had what she came for.
"Employer," Shepard continued before looking back down at the visual. "Nassana Dantius." Shepard's own brows suddenly crinkled. Why did that name sound so familiar to her?
"That's enough," the woman hissed as she quickly stood up from the table. "I won't forget this, Shepard."
"Neither will I, Lelinia." Shepard replied as she watched the woman snatch a package from the booth and disappear into the crowd of the club.
Shepard closed the image from her omni-tool and looked back at Garrus. "Nassana. Why does that name sound so familiar?" She asked him curiously.
Garrus shrugged his shoulders. "You've met a lot of people, Shepard. I'm sure the name is somewhere in the databases on Normandy if you've dealt with her before."
Shepard stood from the table with a sigh. He was right, and the way the night was turning out (as in, nothing was going her way) they should head back to the ship to rest and regroup.
"Let's move." She waved a hand behind of herself to signal Garrus to move forward. She took the lead, dodging and weaving in between people as best she could without seeming rude.
Eventually she found herself standing in place in the middle of the dance floor. She felt Garrus hovering close behind of her. She frowned as she looked around at all of the laughing and dancing forms. She saw someone stumble out of the corner of her eye, spilling the alcohol from their glass all over the floor. They were all so ignorant. They shouldn't have been in some club getting drunk and dancing the night away. They should have been preparing for the war on the horizon. They should have been—
Garrus slammed into the back of Shepard. She heard a growl erupt from his chest as she turned to face him. He was already half-turned, pointing an accusing finger at a trio of laughing batarians.
"You want to start something?" Garrus asked coolly. "Then try doing that again." He stood there staring at them, daring them to try anything.
The batarians all raised their hands in a defensive gesture, a mocking smile still on each face. Once other people started paying attention to the situation, they began to gather around in anticipation of a fight.
"Garrus. . ." Shepard warned and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"It's all right Shepard," He said as he faced the three. "I've got this."
One drunk human pushed his way up to the front of the scene to see the four in their standoff. He laughed loudly and then placed his hands around his mouth. "Fiiiiiight!"
The crowd followed his lead, a chant now soaring up into the second floor of the club and making people look down from the railings. Fight, fight, fight.
Garrus let his hands dangle at his sides lazily as the three surrounded him. "I wouldn't try it," he said to them as he held his head straight forward.
Shepard shook her head in exasperation and stepped back into the crowd to watch Garrus. She'd step in if need be, but there was no stopping him now.
Moved by the excitement and chanting of the crowd, the first batarian threw his fist at the back of Garrus's head. Garrus turned immediately; slamming the back of his elbow into the batarian's head with a sickening crunch. He crouched as the second came after him, the batarian foolishly trying to throw the same punch to the front of his head, and Garrus slammed the opposite elbow into his stomach.
He stood to his full height and faced the third batarian as the crowd erupted into a wild cheer.
Garrus rolled his shoulders and waited for the opponent to make the first move.
The batarian bounced back and forth on his feet before charging at Garrus. He went to…Shepard's brows creased. She couldn't tell what the batarian had been trying to do. Garrus had already grabbed hold of the alien's armor. He slammed his head into the batarian's and watched as he crumpled to the floor.
The crowd erupted into another cheer as Garrus dusted his hands, and then armor off. "Let's go, Shepard. I've had enough of Omega." He turned, leaving the three opponents writhing on the floor without another word.