Normandy-Gunnery
Abigail Shepard walked down the long neck of the Normandy's towards the main battery. The door opened before her and there Garrus was…calibrating.
She smiled up at him, "Garrus."
He turned around to face her. "Shepard, it's been a while." His mandibles twitched.
"Yeah it's been pretty…"
"Busy? Yeah I know the feeling, and that you'd say that." Garrus grunted turning back to his work.
OK… "So how is work?"
The Turian General chuckled before her. "Well considering it's been a while since I've been down here, it is kind of hard to remember where all the buttons are. Plus I've had to recalibrate the system, during the war I calibrated it enough but someone messed up all my hard work so now I have had to fix it."
"And you wouldn't have it any other way," Abigail smirked.
"Well," The Turian adopted a thoughtful posture, "during Horizon it's not like I got to actually fire this big gun. And it's also not like I've been taken on any of the parties we have. So calibrating…err…recalibrating this big gun is the best I can do it seems."
"Well, sure," Abigail said cryptically, "for now."
"Oh?" Garrus asked innocently.
She chuckled, "yeah thinking of taking you on the next mission. To see a Krogan warlord."
"Ranaak Kurl? I heard things about him during my intelligence files, not like we ever met in person. Should be fun."
"I doubt it," Abigail grunted, "even if he is legitimate I am sure he will do all sorts of weird things to us to get his way, all we can do is see. You are to provide the muscle."
"So, if I'm the muscle then…"
"I'm taking Cameron too." Abigail offered.
"Oh? Sure you don't want James?"
"Well, yeah, I certainly do. But the issue at hand is who will provide the ability for us to get out of there in one piece. Cameron will be there to hopefully make sure it doesn't get to that point, he has a cool head." Abigail explained.
"Makes sense," Garrus nodded, "Still, James is not going to be amused."
Cargo bay
"I'm not exactly happy about this Lola." James Vega commented as the away team gathered in the access hatch to the Kodiak
"Relax James it's just a simple meet and greet, we'll be in and out and back home before its time for tea and crumpets." Abigail muttered.
"Yeah, a simple meet and greet with someone who wanted to kill you the last time we met."
"At least he is letting us taking weapons in," Garrus pointed out as he took a Phaeston from the weapon's rack.
"Yeah," James returned sarcastically, "doesn't matter in the least when he has an entire space station where he controls a bunch of mercenary thugs."
"We'll be fine James." Cameron assured.
He sighed, "I just want to be there as all."
"Well," Abby smirked, "I need at least one person I know is here who can bail my butt out of the fire. Someone who is big, strong, and will tear down entire mountains…with his bare hands…if Kurl messes with his Lola."
"Hmm," He said pulling her by the waist into an embrace, dragging her nearly too where her active visor was touching his head "you sure know how to make a man tamer about sending you to the ravenous masses."
"I've had a lot of practice." She teased.
He nuzzled her nose and held her for a second; the mission could wait for a few more seconds, besides they weren't actually in the position to start this shindig.
"Come on you two could you get a room please?" Cameron groaned from the side.
She glanced at him, "What Cameron, you missing something?"
She felt James stiffen up as he too looked at the Commander.
"I suppose." He muttered turning away.
"Captain, we just arrived outside the transfer point to the Omega 2 relay. We're in position." Joker reported over the intercom.
She looked up at the ceiling, "Thank you Joker." She turned back to her 'significant other' "duty calls."
"Well," James snorted, "I'll just be sitting here with bated breath, make sure the cat is fed, the kids are tucked in, get some random crewman to clean the mess hall."
She snorted, "Thanks James, that'll be fine." They parted and she began climbing into the Kodiak with Cameron and Garrus already waited for her.
"Take care Lola." James replied.
She turned back to him as the engines powered up.
"You can count on it."
Omega-Private Chambers
Well it certainly isn't Afterlife, Abigail said as she entered the cramped, musky, 'quarters' of the Krogan warlord, Kurl, who was waiting for them. His throne was flanked by two Batarian body guards while a pair of Vorcha, a pair of Batarians, and another Krogan followed them in. All of them armed with various weapons of various descriptions. They were in a bit of a pickle though.
"Bit of a heavy guard isn't it? You afraid of something Kurl?" She teased.
"Yes Shepard, the last time we saw each other you were causing my men to run away, dragging me along. You defeated my guards. You defeated a large portion of my task force. So I am a bit weary of you."
"Then why'd you let me have our weapons?" Shepard asked.
"Figured you wouldn't come without them," Kurl barred his teeth, "and who is this?"
"Just another member of my crew," Abigail cut in before Cameron could say anything incriminatory. "So what do you want?"
"I told you Shepard, my only goal is to form an Alliance. I may not need you, you need me, and we can help each other." Kurl explained.
"OK, so then the question, is why? Not saying I won't do it, I am intrigued, but why?"
"We need each other…" Kurl attempted furrowing his brow.
Shepard shook her head, "Not really good enough Kurl, why me? We were just in battle the last time we met. I forced you to engage in a peace treaty, one you obviously didn't like or else you would still be on Tuchanka."
"I owe you a favor." The Krogan said plainly.
"A favor?" Abigail replied.
"Indeed." Kurl replied, brokering no further conversation.
"Well," Abigail grunted, "this isn't a trap or anything? You don't have a secret wish to try and kill us all? Make it look like an accident?"
"If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead. And I have no other agenda other than my own survival and freedom."
"Uh huh." Abigail grunted.
"You don't believe me?" Kurl tried.
Abigail cocked her head to the side pondering the problem for the moment, "To an extent. I believe you are being truthful about wanting freedom, but I am still not convinced about you having other objectives. But in truth I have little choice but to trust you, and since you haven't tried anything already you are probably genuine in at least wanting an Alliance. But if I was not in a quandary about where to put my Civilian Fleet I'd tell you to pound sand."
"I figured that would be your answer…and you have my word, as far as any official organization on Omega is concerned your Civilians will not be harmed."
She nodded, "We'll work on the details later, with the rest of my staff, the CO Normandy and any other people you want to bring in. The coordination of food, medical supplies, temporary housing, that sort of thing."
"I look forward to it." Kurl barred his teeth again.
I wonder if he is trying to look pleasant or aggressive, Abby shivered as she left the room, without the guard.
Omega Proper
Abigail Shepard walked through the outer docking ring of Omega heading back for where her shuttle was parked, not at the 'normal' entrance considering it was just a shuttle and not the Normandy, a full sized Frigate.
If anything can be called normal anymore.
"Ah Captain! Excuse me Captain Shepard!"
She whirred around drawing her hand to the Eagle not exactly knowing what she could expect from the voice who was yelling at her. She tried to see where it was coming from, and noticed a Salarian crest bobbing up and down over to her.
"Ah Captain Shepard."
Abigail smiled, though I'm still not exactly sure if it's him or not, "Palin, is that you?"
"Indeed Shepard," He said extending his hand which the human soldier took.
"Palin! How are you?"
"Doing well, just had some lunch, been waiting at the docking cradles as soon as the rumors started."
"Rumors?" Abigail asked uncertainly.
"Yes that you were going to be meeting with Kurl."
She nodded slowly, "So what brings you to Omega? Weren't you busy on Tuchanka in the wake of the Disciple crisis?"
The Salarian scientist looked both directions, down each one off the long lanes as if he was trying to make sure he was alone. Abigail glanced both ways and only saw long lines of people moving about one way or another, it was then she realized, Omega has become a lot busier since the last time we saw it.
"Indeed, I was," Palin's head snapped back around suddenly causing Abby to start, "at least until the coup started. I held my position for a couple of days but they sent an STG team after me with a kill or capture order. I managed to get…well as you would probably say…'out of dodge'…in a hurry. Omega seemed the best place to regroup and recuperate."
The human Captain nodded slowly.
"Besides," Palin smiled, "I figured it wouldn't be long before you showed up here one way or another. Considering what this place means to the Terminus Systems."
"Indeed." Cameron muttered nodding.
Palin looked around startled at the two compatriots of Shepard's taking them in for the first time. Abigail had to smile lightly at it, it was probably the first time he has seen Cameron and well Garrus for that matter.
"Ah, General Vakarian, I had no idea you were back with Shepard." Palin said finally glancing at Garrus.
"Good to finally meet you Dr. Solus, I have heard good things about your work from Shepard, though it's a pity we were never formally introduced on the mission…not that I recall anyways."
"Even if we were it was probably just in passing as you and Shepard were going off to save the day." Palin dismissed.
Garrus chuckled.
"And you are?" Palin asked suddenly.
Cameron moved to answer but Abby cut him off, "Uh he's, Cameron, Cameron….Shepard."
"Another Shepard?" Palin eyed the man. "Some long lost brother?"
"Something like that Palin, come on I'll fill you in on the details but not here, back on the Normandy if you want to come?"
The Salarian shrugged, "better then hanging around here all the time I suppose, the place is dirty, messes with my concentration."
"Alright, this way please." She led him out, by the shoulder, out to where they kept the Kodiak.
As they got in and rocketed away Shepard made sure to glance back at Omega taking in every single nook and cranny and every passing starship. The Space lanes sure seem crowded she concluded as the Kodiak surged into a brief FTL for the local Mass Relay.