Coffee break
I left a note on the desk for Serena and then left the room heading for the elevator. Using the panel besides it, my request was answered quickly "Identify yourself and your destination".
"My name is Grayson Carlyle and the destination is the ground floor." I said to the panel, unsure where the actual microphone location was hidden.
"I recorded the voice now Mr Carlyle, you have permission to travel between ground and first floor freely. The ground floor is high security area; your permission is limited to the entrance hall, the bar and the cafeteria, please stay in these areas while you are there."
"Thank you, I am going to grab some food, you don't happen to know where Grizz is running about?"
"I can contact him, but only if it is important. He is currently not in the building, so you will have to wait nevertheless"
"Ok, then please call him and tell him I've found something in the reports he gave me, something valuable as I see it."
"I inform him, security out."
I stepped inside the elevator and emerged in the ground floor a few seconds later. Unsure where to go exactly for the cafeteria I looked for any signs as a human clad in battle gear approached me "I've got a message from Grizz for you. He will join you soon in the cafeteria."
As he started to turn around and walk away immediately without even waiting for an answer I stopped him with a question "Thanks, but do you happen to know where this might be? I'm a newbie here, and there are no signs giving you directions."
He turned around again, wearing a slick grin "As this is no public building you don't give an intruder directions, do you? Anyway go down this corridor, then turn left and shortly afterwards right." With a curt nod he went off.
"Thanks again" I murmured, heading for the cafeteria now. It was an elongated room with lots of seats and tables, accompanied by a couple of synthesizers at the far end, lacking any kind of decorations in order to give the place a decent look. It reminded me of the humans' words "It is not a public place, that's for sure. Unless you like ugly places, nobody would go here by choice."
The few present guests ignored me more or less, which was appreciated. I headed for the synthesizers, awaiting a comparable uncharitable menu as the room suggested, but was dumbfounded. The synthesizers were grouped by race, each of them representing a variety of possible menus outlined on the panels beside them. "Well, better to have a crappy room and a good menu than the other way round."
I chose an array of meats and vegetables, and was surprised a second time as I found coffee available at the self-service bar. "Last time I had a good coffee is at least a year ago, I hope it is not that artificial stuff."
Sitting down at one of the tables I had barely started my meal as Grizz entered the cafeteria, greeted me and got himself something to eat before sitting down next to me.
"Hope you like the food, it is surprisingly good."
"Yeah, it's great. But what I like most is the fact that this is a real coffee and a good one besides!" I replied my face wearing a happy grin.
"Seems you are easy to satisfy, give that guy a coffee and he's in for the day." Grizz chuckled at my expression.
"Be sure of that, do ya'know how difficult it is to get a decent coffee? Even on human colonies they often have this artificial shit, I am truly surprised you've got the good stuff here."
"Aria looks after her people, that's one of the reasons for her continuous success. I never understood your peoples' addiction to this beverage, but the humans of our personnel really appreciate it. and besides, some of the Asari also seem to like it"
"Makes sense, these people are hired for giving their life for her if necessary, there's no harm if they feel content with their job."
"That's the idea behind it." With a short pause he continued. "I was informed you found something of importance in the intelligence I provided you with?"
"Yeah, it is not a final proof, but as close as we can get. You remember my story when this information broker approached me yesterday?"
"I do, but he himself is a dead end, too many possible clients."
"I know, but before this meeting I was contacted by a batarian who brought me to the pub where we met. Well, contacted is maybe the wrong word, he followed me and I pushed a pistol on the back of his head in a by-road. Anyway I saw his face pretty well, and also the big scar on his left cheek, looking like a Varren liked the better of him. To come to the conclusion, exactly this guy as well as the information broker and one of the suspects met on a photo which is attached to the last report."
"I'm sorry, but this does not proof anything, even if it intensifies some suspicions." Grizz interrupted me.
"I know, but this photo was taken just twenty minutes on a place in the lower markets I left just a few minutes before, the batarian must have followed me right away after this gathering. Could still be a coincidence, but strange enough to tell you."
"That makes things different, so you say they met right before you were invited to this meeting where this information broker – his name is Garviel by the way – offered you the job to kill Aria. Well, this is proof enough for me, but she has to decide in the end, I will forward this information to her. Be ready to be questioned about it again, I'm off immediately after I've finished my meal."
I had finished my meal in the meantime, now pondering what to bring for Serena, as I absolutely had no idea what a young Asari could be in for. "May I ask for a favour before you go? I'd like to bring Serena something to eat, but I don't have a clue about Asari eating habits, the menu is not a big help either, as I don't know the names. Could you possibly fill in that gap for me?"
The turian, who had finished his meal likewise by now, stood up issuing an amused snore. "I'm doing my best, but forgive me if she doesn't like it. I know some of the things they tend to like, but I'm far from being an expert. So let's have a look."
He chose a variety of food and a drink he guessed most Asari preferred and handed the tray over to me. "Here you are, and as I said, keep my name out of the line of fire. I'm going to meet Aria now to tell her the news, won't be long until you hear something."
"Thanks, and I won't mention your name if she doesn't appreciate it."
We left the cafeteria and I headed for the elevator where we parted. As I entered the room Serena was awake, but seemingly just stood up, as she was still wearing that odd shirt of mine.
"Hi Gray, I just wanted to catch up with you in the cafeteria, I'm starving." She greeted me with a smile.
I placed the tray before her, lifting the cover. "No need for that, I brought you something. But I'm a newbie to your food, so be gentle with your judgement of the selection."
She beamed at me. "Very attentive of you, now let's have a look what we have here." She turned to the meal before her and started to eat immediately. "Don't worry; it's not my most favourite food, but a good selection, I am surprised they have such specialities."
"In that case I must admit, you can honour Grizz for it, I would have played lottery with the Asari menu to tell you the truth. But concerning the quality it's the same for me, they have a selection of food for the different races that are in her service, I had a great meal of human food, and – even more important – they make a great coffee, not that artificial bullshit you get on most occasions." I answered lifting the second cup I had brought with me.
"Coffee? Never heard of that, so I guess it is a humans' thing. Maybe I'll try it once." She said between some bites.
While she ate her meal, I recounted my discovery and also the fact that I presumably would have to leave her alone for a while.
"I didn't expect you to be here holding my hand all the time, especially considering your new job, as you call it." She said between bites. "Be careful out there, my guardian angel, I hope you have one of your own." She added looking at me with sorrow in her eyes.
"I'll try to keep that in mind, but as I said to you yesterday night, I'm waiting for the day I am running out of luck…the second time then." I swallowed hard, fighting back the emotions that tried to overwhelm me, my thoughts racing back to a certain day soon to be five years ago; the first time my luck had failed me completely.
Serena now looked at me with concern; the sorrow in her eyes was now replaced by a mixture of fear and compassion. "You are a mystery to me, Gray. You are always presenting that stern faced guy, determined and hard as a rock, even merciless sometimes, and then, suddenly and seemingly without a visible cause, your barriers give way, you seem broken, an ocean of grief, all emotional. And then, a few seconds later, the barrier is up again."
"I must admit this happens more often recently, the madness at my heels is finally getting me…" My voice trembled and faded of.
"Did you ever consider the possibility that whatever is hidden behind those barriers needs to be treated? You told me you are running away from yourself, so maybe the better of you is at your heels and you just have to let it in." Her eyes were fixed at mine, looking out for any reaction on her words.
"Maybe she is right, maybe the time has come to stop running…there are two possible outcomes, I'm going insane or I can figure it out, but I certainly can't go on like this."
"You don't have to give me an answer; I just want you to think about it." She added, not expecting a response any more.
"I will, I just did think about it actually, but now is certainly not the time to do this, not before I've finished this job." I finally answered, again swallowing hard. "And I thank you for your honest words."
Her expression changed to a soft smile "I'm glad you didn't back away into your nutshell completely this time. I won't give up on this, be sure about that. But you are right, for now keep your barriers up and running, may be very well your life-saver."
She stood up, still wearing my awkward looking T-Shirt, and halted in front of me, locking her eyes with mine. "Take care of yourself, if not for you, do it for me."
Looking into the fathomless depth of these eyes, my still boiling emotions calmed down. As the tension left me, I felt ready for another round. "I promise." Was my simple answer before I turned to my luggage to assemble my armour and weapons, still pondering what was going on with me.
Changing the topic she walked over to the terminal on the desk. "Do we have connection to the extranet?"
"Sorry, don't know that, I just looked up the files Grizz send me."
"Then I just try, I want to make some investigations on my own, and since I've got a lot of time now…"
"If not I can ask Grizz to give you access, I'm sure he won't mind. In any case don't use it for personal investigation; you can be sure it will be logged."
She looked up from the terminal "You're always very suspicious, you really think they will log each and every thing I'm doing?"
"Think about it, this is the basis of the most powerful criminal organization on Omega. If they know personal facts about you, for example your family, it is quite possible this will be used against you if necessary. By the way, life happened to make me suspicious, I'm not exaggerating, you may call it wisdom of years, but this would sound odd considering your and my age."
"Ok then, I leave out all personal stuff, but don't you think then they will spy on us anyway?"
I pointed to the little jamming device I had activated when our luggage arrived. "This little gadget prevents that, so we should be able to talk freely."
"Oh, I see." Her puzzled expression made me smile.
We were interrupted by the com unit, I answered it and Grizz' voice greeted me "You're ready to go? Aria awaits you at the Afterlife as soon as possible."
"Just finished, ready for take-off."
"Perfect, see you at the elevator ground floor." The com unit went silent.
"I am not sure what awaits me there, maybe only discussing my discovery or even a first move, dependent on that it can get late."
"Don't apologize for what you cannot influence, you're not accountable to me, ya'know?"
"I know, but I still feel a little guilty for bringing you into this situation, even if you tell me it's alright."
"I am alright, ok? Be off with you, and don't worry about me, focus on yourself, I'm not in imminent danger here."
"You're right, so take care, and see you soon." With that I turned around and left the small apartment heading for the elevator.
Grizz already waited at the ground floor "There you are, I hope didn't interrupt you two lovebirds." He greeted me with a grin, turning to one of the corridors beside the elevator.
"You're really the caring type, aren't you?" I teased him. "But we're not a couple; I just met her yesterday night, rescuing her pretty blue ass from three batarians who were in for some amusement."
He snorted "This was your handiwork then, kinda mess you left there."
"You were there actually?" I asked him in surprise.
"No, it was in the news this morning, three more or less headless batarians, no trace no visible reason. But as always on Omega nobody really cares, the violence is part of the daily grind."
"It was a mess, but a quick one; maybe 25 seconds before the last one lost his head on the run. I tried to ignore it, just go by, but something forced me to intervene."
"The weak spot again, and now you've got a pretty little blue - how do you humans say – millstone around your belly."
"Actually it is a millstone around your neck, but I got the picture. Anyway I can't mend that right now, so what did she say?"
"I just told her a short summary and she told me to bring you, she also said she had some news of her own."
We reached the garage of the building, dozens of armoured shuttles like the one Grizz' had used to pick us up were parked in it, a couple of them currently in maintenance.
"Kinda' fleet you've got here. And by the looks the weather on Omega is rough." I commented the repair section of the hall which had obviously no lack of work.
Grizz grunted, glancing at our taxi from this morning, by far the worst damaged shuttle. "Yeah, we recently had some heavy weather, all along with bullet rain and rocket showers." I certainly hope that we've got better luck this time, I'm too old for such a ride twice the same day."
"I can assure you this has nothing to do with age, this time I'd prefer a calm ride."
"Anyway we'll be not alone this time, Aria gave orders today that no shuttle is allowed to travel alone." Grizz pointed at two human figures waiting in front of a shuttle.
Grizz introduced the two of them with a grin as we reached them. "You know Jason from this morning, the other one is his co-pilot Andrew, if they have a good day they're capable of drinking as much alcohol as I do, counted together of course."
I greeted Jason and Andrew with a nod "Good to see you guys, this time we've got the cavalry already with us".
Jason responded wearing a skew smile. "Quite an extraordinary summary of our best character traits, thank you Grizz, I'm utterly impressed. But we'll try that next time, old man."
"I count on that. Now let's get going, our lady awaits us." Grizz pointed on our shuttle and opened the door.
This time the flight was not disturbed by bullet rain and rocket showers, and I really appreciated that.