Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 26: Citadel Centric Problem
With the Normandy docked in the wards Jack, Leng, and Tali made their way through customs. Before the three made it to customs, a scanner immediately started up in the room, Tali just rolled her eyes at the security.
"Obviously the Citadel has 'upped' their security."
A C-Sec who was getting a message on the screen saying that one of the occupants were KIA.
"Sorry sir, this thing is stating your dead."
Command Authorization…
Reset Profile…
Done…
Going to Stand by mode.
The guard scratched his mandibles as the screen vibrated for a second.
"Now that's weird, must've been a glitch, you can go in sir."
The trio made their way in to the customs, to Jack's surprise he saw a familiar face, Chellick.
"Detective Chellick?" asked Jack
Chellick set down his data pad.
"Do I know you…. Wait a minute I know that voice your Commander Shepard."
Leng approached Jack.
"You know this Turian Shepard?"
Jack shook his head acknowledging Leng's question.
"Yeah Chellick here tried to use an Eighteen year old 'Human 'girl to go undercover in a dangerous sting operation."
Hearing that made Leng noticeably glare at Chellick which Chellick shot back.
"An operation which you blew by killing the suppliers, leaving me in this position."
Jack crossed his arms, smirking under his helmet.
"As I recall, it was your operation not mine, you could've done that yourself."
Chellick decided to drop the subject.
"fine… fine…. What can I do for you Shepard?"
Chellick looked exhausted from the chaos in his work.
"The Citadel looks like its seen better days."
Chellick just scoffed, stating he was right.
"Just noticing that now? …. After your Government left Citadel Space, Human supplies and manufactures left the Citadel as well. Omni-tools, Medi-Gel, Imports and Exports, nearly crippled Citadel Space's economy, well we should've saw that one coming, I mean relying on Human tech and not developing our own."
Hearing that Leng just made a noticeable laugh.
"That's rich, Citadel space is tearing each other apart because of our exodus."
Chellick just shot a glare at Leng.
"No one asked your opinion! Your Systems Alliance government had a duty to help the community, but you decided to leave while the Citadel needed repairs. "
"Don't act like you're the innocent victim here Turian, your Citadel Council is a cancer that finds success off of your client race's technology, that's why Human's will always have you beat." Stated Leng.
Jack decided to step in, to stop the fight.
"Look we're just her for equipment and supplies." Replied Jack.
Chellick turned around authorizing access to the Citadel.
"Alright, be on your way, oh and watch yourself, there aren't many of your kind here Shepard."
The three made their way out of customs as Chellick returned to his work. Jack, Leng and Tali made their way up to the upper wards. Leng stepped by advertisement board, to Jack's confusion Leng drew sword pointing at nothing. A second later a hooded woman uncloaked, surprising Jack.
"How did you know?" questioned Kasumi
Leng tapped on his optic eye ware. Jack approached the woman, on the intent of finding out who she is, but as he approached his interface scanned her and informed Jack that this was Kasumi.
"Kasumi Goto?"
Kasumi turned around to greet the Commander.
"Yup Kasumi Goto is the name, I hear your dealing with Collectors?"
"Yes I'm here to recruit you on a mission." Replied Jack.
Kasumi gave a small smile while leaning up against the board by Leng.
"Happy to help, oh I hope you'll be comfortable in a Tux."
That earned a raised eyebrow from Tali, Jack and Leng.
"Pardon?"
"Your Illusive Man, said you would be helping me getting my partner's gray box back from Donovan Hock."
Relenting to the request Jack agreed to her.
"If The Illusive Man said I'd help, then consider it done, now report to the Normandy, we'll be leaving soon."
Kasumi just rubbed her hand against Jack's shoulder, as she passes him.
"Thanks Shepard."
Leng just rubbed his scalp.
"Well… That was a strange character."
With Kasumi's recruitment out of the way, that only left Bethora, but before they could recruit her, Jack decided to head in to the weapon shop for upgrades and store locations.
The three approached the Turian store clerk.
"What can I do for you?" asked the clerk.
Shepard looked at the selection and was not liking the standard upgrades.
"Your selection is a bit … weak."
The Clerk shot a look at Jack.
"Weak? A Human can hardly take down a feral Varren, let alone a shatha-"
The Clerk was interrupted when Leng brought his fist slamming down on the counter, crushing it.
"Weak huh? I'd be very careful of your next words, or I just might reminisce of your kind I killed in the first contact war, and the sheer hatred for your kind."
"I- Uh" The Clerk tried to continue but Jack stepped in.
"So… both the Systems Alliance and Cerberus pull your ass out of the fire and you declare us weak not to mention that you got dealt a stinging defeat in the First Contact War."
"Okay, Look… I just say that stuff to get more Turians to buy weapons from this store… I- I lost my consumers which happened to be Humans when you left Citadel Space, I prayed for a Human customer for months, as a sign of good will and future sales, I give you access to the newer upgrades as well as a discount."
Jack bought the upgrades, then left the store as soon as they went down the stairs both Leng and Jack broke out in a laugh.
"Shepard, did you see his face it looked like he was going to soil himself."
"I think he already did." Replied Jack with a laugh.
"No wait! The best part was when he gave us a discount."
Tali just shook her head exhaling her breath through her vocalizer. Jack stopped in his foot steps when he heard a familiar voice.
"Shepard so you really are back?"
It was Bethora leaning against the metallic wall, Bethora hoped for a hand shake, but as soon as he grabbed her hand, Jack pulled her in for a hug. Bethora wrapped tightly around Jack, as she missed him greatly.
"It's good to see you Bethora, how have you been?"
Bethora wiped her tear away coming from her right eye.
"Not well considering the incident with the Normandy Two years ago, I started going freelancer in Citadel space, but finding work was hard, well now I'm here ready to join on another mission."
"Well the Normandy and her crew wouldn't be as good without you."
Bethora headed for the docking bay leaving the three to continue on through the Citadel.
Okay I'm ending the Chapter right here, I wanted to point out just the start of how much damage Citadel Space is, with out Human Economics, because Citadel Space became so reliant on our tech, it practically destroyed their economy when we left, Next Episode Jack will have a few words with the Council….