Leader of the pack

I woke up a couple of hours later as the communicator chimed, Serena was up and answered the call faster then I could shrug of my sleepiness.

"Hi" a short break "Wait, I'll turn on the loudspeakers, so he can hear you."

"Ok, thanks" came the answer this time through the loudspeakers.

I shook off the remaining sleepiness and answered. "Gray here, I'm listening".

"Hi, it's Sagrin, Grizz' superior officer. Your presence is required in the cafeteria, we've got a meeting there in 30 minutes to inform everybody about the recent events. Afterwards I've got some updates and a new task for you."

"Ok, we're coming down, thanks." The communicators light turned off as he ended the call.

"Seems you don't get a rest" Serena commented with a little snort, obviously disapproving the short amount of time they had granted me to recover.

"I expected nothing else. I was in the middle of things, and I guess I've proven my trustworthiness. Considering what has happened today, it is quite possible that someone inside the organization plays for the other side. So they need everyone they can count on."

Serena thought about my answer and nodded. "Guess you're right, so let's get moving, I feel like a cue-ball in a game I can't influence, but for the moment I have no choice."

"And I'm really sorry for that, you know that" I answered with regret in my voice.

"Don't get started, I told you I don't blame you for it, and I say it again: without you the game would be already over!" she retorted with blazing eyes.

"Ok, ok, I got the message, and the cue-ball feeling is mutual. Don't know where all this started, I definitively had no hand in all this, at least none I know off." I answered chuckling. "Don't wanna stand in your way if you get really furious."

She released her breath and her features softened immediately. "Now I'm sorry, if you're not the one to blame for that mess I shouldn't shout at you. But let's get moving, maybe we can grab some food before the gathering."

"Now that you mentioned it I'm starving. Let me jump into my armour, I bet I'll need it."

I donned my armour and grabbed my weapons while Serena took a quick shower, 15 minutes later we both went for the elevator.

"What do you think they'll have in mind for you?" she asked me on the way.

"Two possibilities: To catch someone they want to…let's say interview or they want me to blow something or someone to hell, I guess it's the latter one."

"Both sound dangerous if you ask me, but you seem to be absolutely calm, did you see too much blood and death to dare or is it because you don't care if you live or die?".

I swallowed before answering "If all Asari are that perceptive, they should be feared as the most dangerous predator in the universe. She reads me like an open book…".

"Kinda read me like an open book, do you? To tell you the truth I think it's a mixture of both, I have seen a lot of blood, death and mayhem in my life, so you get kinda' used to it. On the other side I'm currently figuring out if I don't care about myself, at least I always believed I am searching for someone who is able to put a bullet in my head."

"That sounds very ominous and mysterious, and even if I can see or feel your current mood, I am unable to detect the source of your brooding and self-endangering state of mind." She replied looking at me as we reached the elevator, Jason already waiting in front of it.

I quickly changed the topic, addressing the young pilot with a smirk. "Hi Mr. lifesaver, may I introduce you to Serena, I recently picked her up during a little fire-fight. Serena, this is Jason, he saved our asses this morning."

"Now that's an introduction. It seems you always make friends when the air is laden with bullets. Please count me in for your next fire-fight if you always pick up such kind of company." He replied with a broad grin.

"And it is nice to meet you, too. I can assure you that I am the only one he picked up, at least recently." Serena continued. "But I can only account for the last two days, so I cannot be sure."

Before I could reply the elevator arrived and we went down along with lots of other people, all of them anxious to hear the news about to come. We headed for the cafeteria and acquired some food and drinks before the announcement started. The room was crowded soon as more and more people arrived, eager to hear some news about the recent events. The whole room was brimming with anticipation, the tension was nearly tangible and the people gathered in groups and discussed the rumours in low voices.

Shortly afterwards the Turian officer I had met in the hospital just a few hours before climbed up a desk and demanded attention, the room fell silent except some hushed whispers. The Turian's mandibles flared as his gaze swept over the crowd. His features resembled a longer life than most mercenaries could expect, together with an old scar on his left cheek, his appearance was grim but determined, he issued an aura of authority.

"I'd like to inform you about recent events and the course of action we are going to take in the near future. I will tell you now what happened this morning, afterwards please proceed to your officers, they will give you your orders for the day." He made a short pause scanning the crowd again. "An unknown enemy attempted to assassinate Aria this morning in the Afterlife. She was severely injured but survived, and as the surgeons told us, she will survive most likely but it will take some time before she will be recovered fully. On our way to the hospital we were attacked again by a host of different vehicles but managed to escape. Our losses were severe, so we need every one of you to stabilize the organization. Be prepared to face more attacks, this is not over yet. Please proceed now to your officers for further instructions." He finished with a nod, scanning the crowd again, which was calm now, most faces wearing stern expressions. After a few seconds he jumped to the floor, immediately accompanied by an Asari.

"I'll go meet him to get my instructions, guess he's the one that told us to be here." I left Serena and headed for the Turian who still stood in front of the desk as I arrived. I greeted him with a nod. "I'm Grayson Carlyle, you told me to address you after the announcement."

He looked at me inquisitively, seemingly comparing my appearance with what he'd heard about me and finally returned my greeting. "It's good to see you again and in one piece, as I've heard you saved her life and had a rough ride to the hospital."

"I'm still wondering how this wreck still held itself in the air, but we made it, yes. Speaking of that, how's Grizz' doing?"

"Actually the old warhound is better than expected, I already talked to him, but only for a few minutes before the drugs took him away to wonderland again. But I'm sure he'll make it, and he told me to thank you, and that the two of you are even now."

I grinned on that message. "Well, he certainly hasn't lost his humour, I'm glad to hear that! If you see him next time, please give him my best wishes and also from Serena.

You said you've got a task for me to do?".

"Right, but this is confidential, so let's go somewhere else." With that he turned around, indicating me to follow him. We moved through the crowd, some of the faces turning by regarding me suspiciously. We went through several locked doors until we reached a small room with no windows, the only furniture a small desk and 4 chairs.

The Turian sat down and suggested me to sit down likewise.

"I am Sagrin, the leading security officer of this organization. Grizz is one of my executives, and a good friend, besides that. I was told you played a key role in the events of this morning, and you saved the life of my boss at least once, if not twice." He made a short pause and glanced at me, his features still unreadable before continuing. "We believe that the attempt to kill her was only possible because we have a mole in our own ranks. Because of your actions this morning you – an outsider to the organization – are one of the few persons whom I trust in the moment. So everything I tell you from this point is confidential, you will tell nobody about this conversation except Grizz or me, is that understood?"

I nodded my approval. "I more or less came to the same conclusion and expected this."

"That speaks for you. As I already said I've got a job for you to do. Your revelations this morning together with the turmoil the assassination attempt aroused in the stations' network we were able to detect one of the culprits and its current location. We are almost sure he is the originator, he pulled the trigger."

He handed me some pictures showing the same individual – a batarian - I had identified on another picture together with the information broker Garviel this morning. "Aria said he is not powerful enough to claim her position, he must be part of something bigger."

"We believe the same, but he is the only target we have in the moment, and we rather reply to this insult then waiting for the pack to attack the wounded leader."

I nodded on that analogy. "Without knowing much about Omega's hierarchies that makes sense, it is better to show the pack the leading wolf has not lost its bite."

"Right, and therefore it is crucial that you act as soon as possible, but it will be difficult to reach him. We located him in his headquarter, not too far away from here, and I'm pretty sure none of his guards are on vacation."

"An assassination will be very difficult then, I cannot attack a whole building on my own."

"Again you're right, and that's why your first task is to inspect the intelligence data I transferred to the workstation in your room and develop possible scenarios for an attack. Money is no obstacle, and if you need support we will hire other mercs according to your needs. No one in this organization except me, Grizz and a few selected individuals will know about the whole operation."

"I'll examine the data and report back to you. I may have a suggestion concerning the mercs to be hired. A small team of specialists I worked with in the past is currently staying on Omega. They recently finished a job and are looking for a new one. They're professional, reliable and work as a team."

"If you think they are trustworthy we will check them, send me their files. Any other questions besides that, 'cause I have to leave soon.?" Sagrin's face was still calm but grim, his eyes showing no sign of the storm around him. He stood up indicating the briefing was over.

I stood up likewise and nodded. "No questions, and thanks' for the briefing, I will immediately start to work on the files."

We left the room together. "You remember the way back? Your security profile has been enhanced, you have clearance for most areas in the ground floor now. I have to go to another briefing."

"I'll find my way back, thanks, I contact you tomorrow morning to tell you the actual status."