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Chapter 23

Shades of darkness filtered through my vision like shadows flickering upon a wall. I could barely make out the Lout's presence before me, his bulk situated at the opposite end of the crate, and I had no desire to use the light of my omni-tool. Our makeshift transport swung haphazardly as it was loaded onto a freighter bound for parts unknown. I cursed my ill luck and wondered how we would survive the hours spent trapped together in a space all too small for both me and my hostility.

I had seethed with anger when first our crate budged, unaware that it was scheduled for loading and transport. The Lout said little as I berated him, vile epithets spilling from my mouth that would have impressed many a krogan. He remained opposite me, slouched against the crate's wall, ignoring my flood of anger and frustration. I stewed with indignation, furious that he had trapped me so easily, and shifted awkwardly in the cramped space.

He seemed to enjoy my discomfort, my aches and pains providing him with no end of amusement. For my part I chose to ignore him as best I was able once calm, but when our legs intertwined as we attempted to stretch in the small space my anger flared again and I spat curses at him in frustration. He chuckled and stifled a yawn, only serving to enflame my ire, and soon I was as furious as a rutting vorcha interrupted during the deed.

With effort, I pushed my thoughts of intricate torture aside and pondered my situation. That Aria would exploit her resources for profit I had no doubt, but I had never considered myself so easily expendable. However, the knowledge and the reality were far different, and still I questioned the logic behind the Lout's words. He was an unknown entity and conveniently thrown in my path at a most opportune time. It was highly probable that he was the one to set me up instead of Aria, providing me with false intelligence on Aria's motives so I would voluntarily betray her secrets.

I seethed with frustration at my lack of options. I had always trusted Aria as she had never led me astray. I hated the fact that I was questioning my loyalty to her based on the word of a man I barely knew. I made up my mind to contact her as soon as I was able and without the Lout's knowledge.

He stirred slightly as the crate shifted, soft snores whispering through the quiet, and like a petulant child I kicked him in the hope it would silence such an irksome noise. He shot up with a growl, knocking his head on the lid of the crate, and swore foully.

"Quad-balls, woman! Watch where you jam that thing."

"You were snoring." I imagine he glared at me in the silence that followed, but I cared not, continuing on as if nothing had happened. "Who are you?"

He groaned with annoyance and I heard him shift, leaning back against the wall. "Not this again. Why do you even care?"

"Well, I thought since you decided to drag me on this pleasure cruise, proper introductions were called for." Sarcasm dripped from my lips and I made no effort to hide my displeasure.

"Yes, well, had I known the company would be so cordial, I'd have left you back at the dock."

I kicked him again. "Who are you?"

He swatted my leg aside, jamming it against his own and knocking his knee against the wall. He growled again in irritation. "Vale. And you're Jin. There - now we have our introductions, now let me sleep."

My suspicions surfaced at his acknowledgment of my name, and my mind raced with unanswered questions. "How did you know?"

He sighed again, his irritation plain. "Like I said, your reputation was known. We've had eyes on you for quite some time."

"So why didn't you act earlier?"

"We weren't sure, that's why Guy was sent in." He snorted with dark humor. "You know that wasn't even his real name, right?"

"I knew. What of it?"

Another chuckle sounded throughout the small crate, hollow and empty against the metal walls. "You do realize what he was, don't you? Or were you too busy fawning all over each other to realize?"

I remained silent, seething. I had known Guy was not his true name, but the knowledge that this Lout – this Vale – knew more about it than I grated on my nerves. I held my tongue, awaiting his response and unwilling to be party to his juvenile banter.

"No snappy comeback? No witty retort?" He shifted against the wall as if trying to see me through the dark.

"No." I stated simply. "Who was he?"

Vale cleared his throat, the harsh noise seeming to echo off the walls. "His name was Arnold Geiger. He used to front as an antiques dealer but was a suspected associate of the Shadow Broker. He's wanted in several systems for a number of charges ranging from petty theft and tomb robbing to kidnapping and murder – racked up a pretty hefty bounty too. Seems he'd been double-dealing Aria and so she sent you after him at her earliest opportunity." He paused and shifted again, and I had the oddest feeling he was looking straight at me. "By the way, did you find anything interesting in his files?"

I shrugged even though the movement was pointless in the dark and sent sharp pains up my arm. I sucked in an involuntary breath, hoping my injuries had gone unnoticed. "No. I found nothing."

"Mmm." He mumbled, but I knew he didn't believe me, not with such a poor performance as that.

"And your connection to Guy – Arnold? It sounds as if you two worked for the same employer."

"We did." He shifted again in the dark, and I pictured him leaning his head against the wall once more. "Things change."

"Mmm." I parroted his earlier mumble with one of my own. "So you were sent to bring him in for his crimes? I imagined you as more than just a common bounty hunter. How disappointing."

"Oh? What else do you imagine when you think of me?"

"Stimulating conversation," I quipped.

"You wound me," he stated blandly. "I would have thought Arnold provided you with all the stimulation you required."

I bristled at the comment, thankful it was dark, and again pondered devious methods of torture, the cold steel of my knife still secured within my boot. Breathing deeply, I pushed away thoughts of violence, struggling to maintain control over my anger. He was talking, and it was necessary he keep doing so. I required his information, even if it was false. I had learned long ago that every lie hides a kernel of truth.

"So what do you want with me?"

"I wondered when you were going to ask me that."

My skin itched with irritation. "Well?"

"I was encouraged to take you out as well, but payment was never negotiated and so no contract was ever binding. Besides," again I felt his eyes upon me. "You're worth more to me alive than dead."

I snorted with indignation. "Oh really."

"Oh yes." I could have sworn he was grinning wickedly through the darkness. "I know a lot of people who'd pay good money for a leg up on Aria. With my contacts and your knowledge of our beloved pirate queen, we could make a killing."

"If you say so." The irony of his words was not lost on me. Pursuing such a path to profit only led to death, and oftentimes I had been the one to deal it. Of all the information bought and sold on Omega, only Aria came out ahead. I had never understood the vast web of intrigue she wove, never knew the identities of her spies; I had never wanted to, until now.

"You still don't believe me?"

I wrenched my thoughts back to the present, recognizing the annoyed accusation in his tone. I remained silent, choosing instead to stretch out my leg and ease the cramp that was threatening to evict the remainder of my sanity. Vale grunted in annoyance and cursed again. We shifted positions, each awkwardly trying to maneuver around the other in the cramped space, finally settling into an arrangement as equally uncomfortable as before. I tried not to think on the picture we would make: my legs braced against the wall above his head while his long legs stretched out on either side of me. Instead I focused on the pain shooting up my arm, the scent of blood and smoke and fire on my clothes, and the absence of surety.

I no longer trusted anything I once held to be true. I recognized my need to contact Aria if only to hear her voice, untangle the truth from the lies, but it would be a near impossible task. Aria was a master manipulator and the realization that her manipulations had been practiced upon me was disheartening, if not unsurprising. I should have known better, should not have grown so comfortable. The possibility of her betrayal struck deep, and memory surfaced of Arch's boot in my face. I embraced the betrayal - the hurt - as it suited my mood.

Lesson learned.