Wait for the bait
After the briefing Sha'lea, Racen and Gatok were brought to their rooms and got their weaponry and equipment. We agreed to meet each other two hours later for lunch. As I came back to our room Serena was visibly relieved to see me. She welcomed me with a warm smile, her eyes betraying her fear. "This was a long status meeting, I already feared you would have to strike immediately."
"No, but now that we have a plan this is only a matter of time. We hired some old partners of mine – a group of three mercs – and the briefing took a while. We'll meet them for lunch at noon, so you'll get to know…". I was interrupted by a knock on the door. Surprised I turned around and suspiciously opened it a little to peep outside.
"Come on, it's me Gray, I won't drag you down – unless you invite me to do so." Sha'lea added in a mischievous tone.
I opened the door completely to let her in. "Hi Sha', come in."
She walked into the room, her eyes widened in surprise as she recognized Serena sitting on the bed in one of my big size T-shirt-skirts. "Sorry, didn't know you've got company, and such a pleasant one." She turned around to look at me with a knowing smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement and whispered. "I'msogladtoseeyouincompany,andsuchabeautifulonebesides."
"We'renotacouple,it'snotwhatitlookslike." I whispered back. "May I introduce you to my roommate Serena. Serena this is one of the mercs I just told you about, her name is Sha'lea.
Sha'lea stepped forward and greeted Serena in the manner of their kin with an embrace. "It is nice to meet you Serena, and a surprise besides, but not an unpleasant one."
Serena was seemingly a little overwhelmed by the events and embarrassed besides in her clothing. "Thank you, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Don't be embarrassed, I surprised you, that's my fault, not yours." Sha'lea tried to reassure her. She turned back to me. "How did you manage to meet each other in-between all this havoc?"
Serena answered before I could reply. "Gray saved me from some thugs two days ago. As I had nowhere to go he offered me refugee in his lodge. And the next morning this havoc - as you named it – started and carried us away."
"Well, that sum's it up, to be precise this happened right after we met and since then the two of us seem to be cue-balls in a mad game we cannot influence." I added to her summary.
Sha'lea placed her hand upon my breast. "You're still have kindness and care in there, don't loose it or you'll be lost." She made a short pause. "Grave words, but true enough."
"Serena said something comparable, so the two of you can now start to bug me all day long in shifts." I retorted with a wry smile. "Not that I don't like your company, but what's the reason for you being here?"
"I just wanted to meet a friend in private and see how he's doin' lately. Your mood left a bitter taste when you left that day, Racen thinks the same, and Gatok, well, you know Gatok, you're lucky if he thinks at all." Her serious expression showed her concern for me.
"Theyreallycareforme,morethanIcareformyselftheselastyears,howdidIearnthisfriendship?
She left me standing deep in thoughts and addressed Serena. "Are you alright, precious? You seem to be very anxious and boiling with barely restrained feelings and emotions. You're not used to violence in any form I presume?"
She caught Serena unaware with this question and suddenly the dam broke. Her eyes watered and her whole body shivered. But what really terrified me where the little blue sparks that crawled upon her, the air suddenly felt charged with energy waiting for ignition.
Sha'lea cried out. "Serena!" Suddenly the same kind of blue discharges were crawling upon her skin, She touched the younger Asari and for a fragment of a second I had the impression they melded into one being. "ButeveryAsariisabiotic…sheneversaidawordshedidn'thaveanytraining…". My thoughts were interrupted as Serena ushered a sigh and went out. Sha'lea lowered her softly onto the bed and sighed in relief herself.
She looked up, her face strained. "For your own sake I hope you didn't know she's an unchecked biotic." Her eyes were burning with anger. "But the way you're looking you didn't, good for you."
"I swear, I'd never saw a sign of this."
"She must have known herself, at least that she never had a training. But her strength is awesome, she would easily outclass me with a proper training for some years." Her voice sounded really tired, her face showing the signs of the struggle with Serena.
"Is she alright, I mean did you…were you forced to harm her in any way? And why did all this show up right now?"
"She is unharmed, I soothed her mind to sleep, she will wake up soon. To your second question I have no answer. She must have barely kept herself in check for the last days and now my question triggered the explosion. Face it, Gray, she's a big danger to anyone who's around her as long as she doesn't learn to at least control her abilities." Sha'lea sat down on the bed beside Serena, looking much more in need of some sleep as her younger kin.
"Can you train her, I mean would you do it?"
Sha' chuckled. "By the way your eyes are begging me to say yes you really care for her. Don't deny it, no chance to fool me this time. Anyway I would train her, but this needs time, I can teach her the basics in a few weeks - which would nearly eliminate the thread - but not how to use her abilities properly."
"As we don't know how long this job will last we can at least use the time we have. And you're right, I care for her, but maybe not the way you're…"
Serena interrupted us with a moan, and she slowly opened her eyes. "Why…what…what happened? Why I….and why does my head feel like…?" Her voice was not much more than a murmur but suddenly she sat up straight and ushered a cry of disbelief. "Oh my god, what have I done? Are you alright, both of you?" Her eyes moved frantically between us, searching for any visible injury.
"Calm down, little one. The harm you've caused can be treated by a good nights sleep on my behalf, so nothing serious." Her voice was soothing, she touched Serena's arm to reassure her. "But be warned. You're a very powerful biotic and I'm pretty sure you never trained your abilities. You're capable of devastating everyone and everything around you."
Serena's eyes were still wide, her lips trembled as she answered. "I knew of my abilities but I didn't know about their strength. What should I do? Can you train me? I always wanted to learn, but…but I couldn't." She lowered her head and voice on the last words.
"Whomever prevented you to train your biotic potential did a grave mistake, you're a severe threat to yourself and everyone around you." Sha' made a short pause, turning her gaze upon me. "Concerning your training Gray asked me the same thing when you were unconscious. To answer both of your questions, I am willing to help you, but it will take time, something we're a little short off lately."
Serena raised her head, gazing at her older kin. "Thank you Sha'lea, I don't know what to say else."
"It's alright. Try to stay calm for now and if you need my help let Gray call me." She turned around to face me again. "And you, My favourite human badass, try not to arouse her in any way, you copy?"
"Got you." I simply said. "I need a coffee right now, 'need something?"
"No, and if you're going for a coffee, you should consider a second one, we should use the chance for a first lesson right now." She answered with an unmistakeable gaze in my direction.
"In that case I leave my room to my favourite two Asari maiden's." I made a little bow to tease them and quickly closed the door behind me. "Myroomisoccupiedbytwoadorableblue-colouredbeautiesandI'mgoingtocatchacoffee,alwayswrongtimewrongplaceasitseems… that'syourlifebuddy…andya' don'tgetyourmoneyback."
Two hours later the five of us sat in the ugly cafeteria and enjoyed our meals. In front of me stood my fourth coffee that day as I had to kill some time since mytwoblueladies had threw me out of my lodge. I looked upon the others, Serena and Sha'lea deep in a private conversation, Gatok musing about something concerning his food, only Racen returned my gaze and placed a question. "How did you find her? The explanation you picked her up recently is...well…a little vague maybe?" His smile became a little impish.
"Whatever you just thought, forget about it, I'm pretty sure it's totally wrong." I recounted the recent events and concluded with the words. "I don't know the reason for my offer, seemed to be right that very moment."
Gatok had given up to talk to his food and had instead listened to my story. "Gray goes close quarters, that's new." He grunted.
"What a summary my friend, be careful or your folks deem you a philosopher. But if you combine it with the events that followed the next day it's quite a streak you have there. Everywhere you go the fireworks gettin' started." Racen commented my account.
"Then make sure your combat suite's fire proof my friend as you just bought yourself a ticket for the next trip." I grinned back.
That very moment Sagrin approached us and sat down. "Hi guys, got some news you'll gonna like. Our prey has arranged something for his amusement tonight. He was very careful, didn't use any communication devices but a messenger. Poor wretch didn't expect this guy to owe Aria a favour or two." He grinned at that latter aspect.
"So he's cautious, doesn't make it easier then." I remarked.
"Yep, but as we know his destination we have lots of spare time to claim some old debts and arrange something. Be prepared at 6:30 pm sharp at the elevator, it will happen fast then." With a nod he left the table.
A short silence followed, interrupted eventually by Gatok. "Glad that waiting is over, 'could use some action lately."
"The day you're not eager for action must be the day of your funeral." Racen commented with a grin. "On the other hand I prefer to know the timeline, that's better than running on standby whole day long, waiting for an ignition that might not come at all."
"Right, so lets finish our meal and go for our apartment, a last briefing in case we missed something." Sha'lea summed it up. "I'll meet you in your apartment afterwards, we'll continue as long as you can take it, Gray can stay with the other two." She added looking at Serena.
"Seems you're a little other-directed lately my friend, but we'll make it nice and cosy for you, trust me." Racen chuckled, Gatok just grunted his approval.
I shrugged with a wry smile "Can't say I'm totally innocent for the events, so I'll have to sit that one out."
We left for our rooms, I quickly picked up my gear and joined Racen and Gatok in their lodge. The Preparations for the forthcoming battle needed most of the afternoon and eventually it was time to leave.