Chapter 8: So, what now?
Tali checked her suit seals as she sat into one of the seats on the Kodiak and began buckling herself in. Vega walked next patting Cortez on the shoulder
"This baby ready to set us down on home turf homeboy?"
"Sorry, what?" Cortez quipped back, he didn't mean to be rude but right now he was concentrating heavily. The last time he flew the Kodiak to Earth it crashed and he was nervous to put it lightly.
Vega frowned, he and Cortez knew each other pretty well after all they'd been through their fair share of crap together and Vega knew when Cortez was 'off'. He patted his shoulder after twigging about their mission on Earth.
"Don't sweat it bro' you'll be cool"
"Yeah sure, I just need to concentrate" Cortez waived off. Vega nodded and looked toward Tali who was waiting patiently for everything to start, he shrugged his shoulders like Tali had listened to the entire conversation.
"What?" She asked with a confused attitude
"Oh nothing, never mind…" he resigned himself to his seat and buckled up.
Joker pulled the Normandy into dock on Earth a fair distance between the ship and land due to the size of the thing.
"Welcome Normandy, Mr Moreau. A pleasure to see you again this time on better terms!" cried the docking assistant
"Indeed" Joker began, though he hated the formal mumbo jumbo these guys had to spurt, he did have to admit he felt a sense of pride returning to the place where Shepard and her crew essentially helped save the Galaxy, with him. "Request to send 2 Kodiaks down"
"Permission granted Mr Moreau, Admiral Hackett has requested to greet you once you land"
"Thank you, over and out."
Joker made his way down to the shuttle bay, he'd gotten Kaidan to help with bringing EDI's unit along in the hopes of someone helping get her back to being 'EDI' again.
They all buckled in ready to go when Kaidan noticed Garrus hadn't arrived yet. He got a little pissed.
"Anyone would think he'd be the first one here" he bitched. Joker rolled his eyes and turned in his seat just as he got the engine running.
"Really? You're going down that route?"
"What?" Kaidan asked pretending to have some innocence to it all
"Grow up for fuck sake" Joker added, he turned grinning. Liara looked on like it was a tennis match
"If I may interject-" she began
"Shut up" Kaidan snapped
"O-K" Liara drew out folding her arms and settling back into her chair. Just as she did, Garrus entered, his armour carrying his guns, ammo packs, the works.
"Err Garrus, I don't think they'll take lightly to you going in like that" Joker started.
"I don't take lightly to my partner being kidnapped so tough shit" Garrus seated himself with anger pulsing throughout his body.
"A'ight, just don't expect me to stop anyone jumping you" Joker finished. He turned back to his console muttering stick up his ass again before radioing Cortez.
"Steve, everybody on?"
"Just waiting for that Sheena to finish buckling in, she's… being a little diva-ish about it all" Cortez rambled on like he wanted his brains to fall out of his head.
"Tell her to hurry up, we're cleared to drop"
"Cool" some yelling was heard in the background, followed by some choice words back from Sheena before overhearing Tali scream
"BUCKLE UP OR WE THROW YOU OUT THE DOOR BEFORE WE LAND!" Joker began clapping and laughing.
"Oh Tali, I love that girl" he buzzed over "Steve, you ready?"
"Yeah we're good Joker" Cortez finally confirmed. The Kodiaks hummed brightly from beneath as Joker rolled out first. The silence in Joker's Kodiak was uncomfortable, almost sliceable with a knife. Liara sat and watched Garrus examining his scope on his sniper, adjusting, readjusting repeatedly she then glanced over to Kaidan who was giving Garrus an evil stare, it didn't seem to want to break either. Javik was in his own world just looking about and Traynor sat chatting away to Dr. Chakwas about different methods of pain relief, Liara looked over with a raised eyebrow as to why they were even discussing that, but it wasn't for her to pass judgement. She felt annoyed and it was becoming more evident to her that Kaidan still had something for the Commander. Suddenly Glyph's interface on Liara's data pad started to blip away. She rummaged through her bag and pulled it out hastily.
"By the goddess" She muttered to herself. Her search results just didn't seem…normal.
Criminal/legal activity
Sidonis hands self into c-sec
C-sec questioning finds no lead due to Omega not in Jurisdiction [of Council]
C-sec hold Sidonis for a further 2 days before release
Sidonis changes address and is given help for identity reasons via C-sec to live on the Citadel
Last purchase(s):
OMEGAcreditforU VISA card ending 2389
03/29/2186
Mr L SIDONIS
Purchase from: FoodGaloreEmporium
Premium petit Pellet (Digestive aid gravel for Turians and chickens/birds) 1KG 700 credits
Sirloin steak X2 580G 300 credits
Cooked and peeled freshwater prawns300g 250 credits
Mixed seed bag500g 100 credits
Mixed dried chopped fruits 500g 150 credits
/TURIANMAGAZINESPECIALS
Fornax – Teri special edition (meet Teri Turian our new hottie) 50%off -150 credits
FUNTIMEPHONESERV
TTcall 35mins – 200 credits
TTcall 42mins – 230 credits
Phonecalls:
0800 9262469 EXT 2914 35mins
0********** Blocked number 1:47mins
0800 9262469 EXT 2914 42mins
0********** Blocked number 55mins
0********** Blocked number 12mins
Liara mused at the data pad, then looked towards Garrus who was sat looking at the floor. He felt eyes on him and looked up, his eyes meeting with Liara's. He nodded his head slightly, the kind of body language you could only read between each other what's up? She gently shifted her Data pad from one hand to the other. Garrus' eyes fired up, he nodded a second time to answer OK he didn't want to be moving about in the Kodiak though.
The Kodiaks began to descend onto Earths ground, various crew members on both shuttles tried looking out the view slots to see how badly damaged London had become.
"Ho-ly shit. It's a mess" Joker began over the radio to Cortez
"Yeah, took it pretty bad huh? But they're already working on it, to your left"
Cranes and various construction vehicles, apparatus and workmen were visible, and it wasn't just Humans either, all races were helping out. A strong alliance presence seemed evident too, some still searching through piles of rubble pulling out bodies in the hopes they were alive. Joker flew over to the Alliance HQ and finally parked the Kodiak
"Alright, ready to rock and roll guys"
"K2 touchdown" Cortez radioed to confirm he had also landed. Liara began for the door pushing the Data pad into Garrus' hand as they walked off together, the landing area had quite a walk before Admiral Hackett became visible.
"So nothing significant on the data I managed to get from Glyph on Sidonis" she scrunched her lips up
"No but he obviously has a penchant for this 'Teri'" he scrolled about a bit "How about this unknown number? Can't we get a trace?"
"Well if Glyph couldn't I probably couldn't…EDI would have been preferable but Y'know" they exchanged saddening glances
"Ok, well we'll talk to Hackett, I would hope he can get me contact with Sidonis some way or another"
"Wooaaahh now guys, you don't wanna be making the crew thinking you're getting something on do ya huh?" Vega slapped both Liara and Garrus on the back, it winded Liara so much she nearly coughed an entire lung up "Oh shit… is that… well I'll be" Vega whistled to himself
"Put your tongue back in" Garrus snapped looking at Liara concerned he then looked up to find Miranda stood by Hackett. Vega hot stepped it first shaking hands with the Admiral.
"We must stop bumping into each other like this Ms Lawson"
Miranda arched an eyebrow, her steely exterior not giving a hint of any emotion off other than 'whatever' but inside, she couldn't help but feel the swoon hitting her, hey he was buff and had the talk, walk – "AHEM" Vega's hand still waited to meet with Miranda's
"Erm yes Mr. Vega, a pleasure to meet you again" she smarmed finally her hand meeting his to give it a solid shake. Miranda never gave wimpy handshakes. Ever.
Vega's grin was one of an impressed soldier, who obviously was thinking of other things too.
"I'll have to cook you up more eggs sometime soon" he continued
"Really dude? We-eeee-ak" Joker guffawed. Vega cut him a look before he turned to continue chatting up Miranda, only she had already moved along. Damn he cut another look to Joker who was now doubled over laughing like a madman but also wincing, trying his best to stop laughing.
"Garrus, good to see you, I suppose you've been updated?" Miranda shook his hand looking concerned, she never knew how to gauge the Turian he kept his cards close to his chest. Garrus shook Miranda's hand back and acknowledged her question, Admiral Hackett stood beside her, his face serious as ever.
"I see we have extra crew members?" he questioned eyeing the other 5 aliens that stepped off the Kodiak Cortez piloted.
"Ah, yes, long story but let's say 'we gave them a lift'" Liara confirmed
"Well can't say we see many Volus touchdown on Earth" he mused "To the point of it all though, I wish we could celebrate on better terms. But it seems nothing or no-one wants to give us that time right now. I suspect it was quite a journey coming here"
"Yes sir" Garrus answered back professionally, no matter how long he had been out of C-sec his Turian military respect always stuck like glue. "I think I could get a lead onto Shepard and with all due respect I'd pretty much want to get going on this now"
"I couldn't agree more" Hackett was impressed "At the moment all we have is the nurse suggesting Blue Suns were involved with this"
Dornak happened to look over at the mention of Blue Suns whilst the other two of his crew scrolled through their data pad checking emails and latest scavenge areas of interest.
"Err, sorry to intrude-"the Volus drew breath almost a little too excitedly
"Yes?" Garrus cocked his head down to the side to meet the Volus short stature.
"Oh never mind" nerves got the better of him and he shook his head about to amble away. Garrus frowned and started for him, grabbing his shoulder and turning him around.
"You know someone don't you? Do you know who did this?" he barked
"What?! No! NO! I heard you say blue suns and-"
"AND WHAT?" Garrus got angry, Liara placed a firm hand on his shoulder trying to pull him back but Garrus became pure muscle and wouldn't shift.
"And! If you let me finish" Dornak spat, he inhaled deeply he was on the verge of crapping himself "I have contacts within the Blue Suns so maybe I could help you"
"Help me? MAYBE?" Garrus shoved his face into Dornak's "Listen you little shit, we just found you scavenging in what now is the middle of nowhere, we helped you, gave you food and bed and might I add took you back to Earth with us as a gesture of goodwill. If anything I would have shot you on sight but let's not get into that right now; so your MAYBE better turn into a I WILL or do I have to force you to look down the barrel of my gun?"
"Ok Ok! Ill forward my contacts to your email" Dornak flapped tapping away furiously on his Omni tool.
"No wait here, we could use you" Garrus frowned and turned back to Hackett. "I need contact with an old friend. Names Sidonis, Lantar Sidonis" Hackett frowned thoughtfully.
"You think he's involved? I can arrange for Captain Bailey to help with that"
"Not sure and yes that'd be great" Garrus followed Hackett to the main office blocks dragging Dornak with him. Narran and Gruz turned to look where Dornak had gotten to, only to shrug off the fact a huge Turian was scraping his behind on some gravel down the walkway.
"Oww" Shepard whimpered to herself finally coming too. Things were really hazy, her head still hurt from the whack she received and she wanted to rub it. Only her hands wouldn't move, or not so much wouldn't, they couldn't. Her eyes adjusted to seeing them tied to the sides of a chair, her feet also tied at the bottom. "Oh shit" her head dropped back in despair, anyone would think she'd be celebrating with a large beer and cheap snacks getting stupidly drunk and having fun, but no, not Shepard of course not! She gasped at the sound of chattering and squinted her eyes to look around. Her room was grey and dark, one pathetic light in the room hung above her like an interrogation room, 2 tables and 2 bookshelves near the back hadn't met a duster in months and tarpaulin seemed to be strewn across the floor close to the door… had she been in that tarpaulin? She frowned getting a little worried at the thought but remained her cool. The figures couldn't be distinguished through the frosted glass but were both definitely male. She squeezed her eyes in concentration hoping it would help her hear the conversation better.
"I'm going to put my helmet on now, if she clocks my face she'll remember me" One said to the other. "Also give Sidonis another call, fucker thinks he's getting off lightly, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have a fucked knee"
"Ok sir, what do you want me to say?"
"Tell him I want to help him with a new identity again, I dunno if there was one thing he could do with, it's keeping low. Especially with that prick Vakarian on his tail." He then snorted in the most disgusting manner possible and hacked up something from his chest before spitting it out on the floor. Shepard grimaced at it all, already clocking onto who she was dealing with. "Pricks got credits to his eyeballs, and he got away with not being fucking shot, yet I'm the one who ended up with a fucked knee thanks to that prick Vakarian. So I want payback let's put it like that"
"Aye sir" the second figure saluted.
"Now to check on this bitch, I can't believe we got her Vakarian's got to be so pissed right now it almost hurts" He laughed huskily, almost choking "Fuck him man, I got his bitch and I feel so good right now" his handful of men around him laughed along whooping. "I'll be happy when I have that fucker's fringe above my fireplace"
Shepard's eyes widened, this was all over a knee shot? –Oh crap- the door began to open, Shepard feigned that she was still unconscious and dropped her head forward.
"Ah and here she is, a wasted beauty on that bird brained prick" she felt his head near to his and he sniffed her hair "Still smells good despite the state she's in" Shepard heard a goofy 'hurr hurr' laughing with him from the corner of the room, slightly opening her eye she could just make out the guy by the door had a gun. "Telling ya mate, this is the woman who I met back in Chora's den all those years ago, She offered me a private dance in there you know" he sleazed, Shepard began to feel violated from the way he spoke of her.
"No way" The officer questioned in disbelief.
"Honestly" He replied "And damn she has one fine body, don't get me started on her tits" Shepard didn't know how much she could listen to anymore…what was best to do, if she shouted the guard could easily shoot her in shock, if she carried on with the unconsciousness she was sure she'd be abused. The only thing she could think to do was start to pretend stirring.
"Ungh" she finally croaked slightly swaying her head to one side.
"Ah she's waking up, shit" He backed away, Shepard felt relieved to see his body leave hers.
"Where am I?" she asked with a fake haziness "Who are you?"
"The answer to both questions is, it doesn't matter" the voice replied.
"Why not? I just saved the Galaxy and somehow I find myself from recovering to being here" she began to slip from her false pretence.
"Ah playing on that are ya? I'll give you that" He began golf clapping her "Not to mention all those other soldiers that ran alongside you huh? Let's not recognise them!"
"I didn't say that did I?" Shepard narrowed her eyes
"You implied it" he retorted.
"I didn't, were you by my side? Or snivelling around like you are now, stealing a woman because her boyfriend hurt your knee. Pathetic"
"What the fuck did you just say?" he questioned angrily. Oh shit Shepard felt her eyebrows furrow, she was tired what a rookie mistake to make…crap. "I said, what the FUCK did you just say?"
"You heard me loud and clear, if not then clean your ears asshole" she spat, why try make nice, it probably wasn't going to end up nice either way.
"You silly little bitch, you better watch I don't kill you instead of that prick Vakarian" he threw his face into hers removing his helmet, the smell of cigarettes and booze was thick, it almost made her gag. She could easily have been intoxicated herself he wreaked that bad.
"You really need to clean yourself up and stop the booze doing the talking" she began "you got away lightly if I recall, Garrus could have easily killed you if I hadn't have been there."
"Oh yes, the angel on his shoulder pulled him back huh? Omega had fucked his head up so bad and then you appear again like a fucking STD. Then he decides to shoot me in the fucking knee. I hadn't even the credits to pay to fix it up" he pulled a stool up and placed his foot onto it and began unbuckling his armour that surrounded his knee. "My knee got infected, I couldn't afford top grade cybernetics so had to settle for the horrid low grade heavy shit." His knee had exposed workings with what either seemed like fragile scar tissue or poor skin grafting in an attempt to cover the replacement. "It's slowed me down, and it hurts like a bitch, it aches EVERY DAY" he pointed at it with force.
"I'm sure it's nothing the alcohol blocks out for you" Shepard sneered, she'd ran out of sympathy if she had any for this tosser.
"Don't get fucking smart with me" he kicked the stool aside and stomped heavily back into Shepard's space, he then stepped away from her and screamed with intense anger and looked at the guard on the door "Get me a double whiskey, I'll need it after this" he panted with rage.
"Oh that's it carry on with the alcohol" Shepard was pushing him to his last tether.
"Fuck you bitch" His hand heavily met her face, her right cheek instantly felt searing hot pain against it. Nothing had healed fully and the pain inside her was immense, she winced and felt something pop on her stomach and as if in slow motion felt the chair shift with the force and went crashing towards the floor. The lights became dim as the guard and Harkin left the room, Shepard was winded her head became faint and dizzy after contact with the floor. She drew a large breath and looked towards her torso, that pop wasn't something good Oh please, no… a small blood patch began to stain her medical gown, it was slight but she still felt the warmth of her blood leaving the now reopened wound that had burst open after her stomach turned in such an awkward way to try combat the smack. She whimpered No this isn't me. Come on Amy think, THINK. She needed a way out but her head didn't want to co-operate, it was growing dark, her body either wanted to give up or rest. She hoped it was the latter…
