REQUIEM
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
PURSUIT NARROWS
November 6, 2185
0932 hours.
Transit Terminal, Dracon Trade Center, Nos Astra, Illium.
Soldier Urdnot Grunt, First Lieutenant Miranda Lawson, Information Broker Liara T'Soni, Assassin Thane Krios.
He grunted. He tried to move, but there was something keeping him down; something heavy and crushing him. He sniffed, and he smelt smoke; flames and the smell of the dead. Blood. He could hear sirens in the background, people shouting. He could barely remember what happened; only that he had been kicking that salarian's fleshly body, and then a wave of fire had washed over him...only for him to black out.
He grunted again, pushing his back upwards to try and push off the concrete slab that was pinning him to the ground, the thing easily weighing more than five krogan. But he wasn't just any ordinary krogan; he was Urdnot Grunt, a krogan supersoldier and krogan of the old genes, and he would not let this slab weigh him down. With another heave, he grabbed hold of the edges of the slab and shot them upwards, launching the slab off of him and onto the ground beside him, causing a thundering crash that echoed through what was left of the building.
He looked around at his surroundings, trying to find something he could recognize, but came up empty. The whole place was completely torn apart; bits of rubble littered everywhere with flames licking at every corner. The service desk was nonexistent, the elevator doors bent inwards, and the stairwell blocked off by a piece of ceiling.
A long, drawn-out groan was heard and he looked up, seeing that the ceiling looked about to crumble in on itself, the friction causing pressure that facilitated the groaning. Heh. He looked back down, and saw that there was barely a place on the ground that was clean; concrete, dust and flame was located everywhere, along with the bodies of the dead and dying.
He looked over and he noticed the asari guard, the one named Nelyna. Her body was pinned under a larger piece of concrete than his, and both of her arms were twisted, and her head a gash across the face of her tentacles that was as big as his fist, with dried purple blood around it and her brain clearly visible. She wasn't budging, so she had to be dead.
He sniffed and cracked his neck, licking at dried orange blood that had crusted around his upper lip, from a wound long regenerated. He dusted himself off and leaned over to pick up his claymore, which had flames crawling towards it. Once he liberated his favourite weapon, he went about walking amongst the rubble, searching for his battlemaster's soldiers.
Where are they? They should have freed themselves by them. Pfff...fleshies.
He heard rough coughing from nearby, and as the huge krogan honed in on the sound, he found himself recognizing the sound; the drell. He continued until he found himself near the front entrance, finding the drell in question sitting against a wall, coughing nonstop from a lack of oxygen. He seemed to be choking to death from the amount of coughing he did. From what Grunt could see on him, the only injuries he had was a gash across the side of his face, and a long cut across the front of his leg; from thigh to just above the ankle.
Thane looked at Grunt for a second, but was unable to talk as he continued to cough, and the krogan knew that if he didn't get him clear soon, the drell would die from coughing himself to death. The krogan always has to save the day. Heh heh heh. So he moved over and quickly scooped up the drell, drapping him over his shoulders and jogging towards the entrance.
As he arrived, he saw that the explosions had destroyed the majority of the systems, which meant the door's haptic inteface was offline. So instead, Grunt opened it the old fashioned krogan way; he rammed it.
The door blew outwards, both pieces landing a few meters away as he cleared the building, smoke flooding out of the entrance way like a horde of darkness. Grunt then suddenly stopped and looked around, noticing that there wasn't just NAPD police cruisers landed in the parking lot, but also NAFD firetrucks.
He turned around, and finally noticed the numerous asari, human and turian firefighters, all of them dressed up in red and yellow hazmat suits, with fully sealed helmets. All of them held hoses, and they all looked at the enormous krogan like he was crazy. Ignoring them, he placed Thane down on the ground, and lay him against the stairs, the drell's coughing finally dying down as he desperately sucked in air.
Finally, after a bit, he calmed down, and eyed the krogan, "Grunt, you have...to go back...inside. Liara and...Miranda are still...in there."
Grunt nodded and cracked his knuckles, doing the same with his neck before standing up and rushing back towards the burning building, which was being assaulted by jets of water, firefighters directing their hoses into the building to desperately try and douse the flames. One asari was shouting orders at others, but as soon as he noticed Grunt approaching, he stopped and stood defiantly infront of him.
"You can't go in there!" the turian objected, "Its not safe!"
Grunt growled, and picked the turian up by his collar, hoisting him in the air until he was inches from his face, "Not safe? Do you know who I am? I am Urdnot Grunt, Warrior of Battlemaster Shepard! And I. AM. KROGAN!" With that, he dropped the turian, stepping over him, sprinting into the building with nenewed purpose.
The smoke was almost blinding, and the flames burnt his nostrils, but he ignored them. He moved back inside and retraced his steps, narrowly avoiding a piece of concrete that collapsed from the ceiling and pulverized the body of a dead salarian employee, bits of dust and debris shooting up in clouds.
He looked everywhere, but simply couldn't seem to find the asari or Miranda anywhere. He growled angrily as he searched, stepping ontop of a crested piece of pillar that was still standing, trying to see if he could see them on the elevated ground, but to no avail. Just as he moved to forfeit the rescue effort, he blue light emerge from within the field of debris...
...followed by a biotic explosion as every piece of concrete within five meters of the light blew apart, flying into the air like flares. And from within emerged the battered form of Liara T'Soni, armoured labcoat spotted with dust, grime, and torn in some areas, with the asari's face covered in numerous cuts and scratches, but nothing serious. She cradled her arm, which appeared to be broken, and it was confirmed by her wincing as she lifted it, but upon seeing Grunt, she shouted.
"Grunt!" she shouted over the roaring flames and sirens outside, "Get over here! Miranda needs help!"
Grunt nodded, "ON MY WAY!" he boomed, voice rocking the entire complex as he leapt from his crest, his landing likely heard by all in Nos Astra. Not even hesitation, he immediately thundered over to Liara's position, who was now looking at a certain piece of debris.
And there was Miranda, and she had definitely seen prettier days. Out of the four of them, the ex-Cerberus operative was the worst hit. She was unconscious, which was good, as the fleshy would be in a world of pain if she was awake. Her lower lip had burst open and red blood crusted around it, and one of the teeth at the back of her mouth had fallen out, now finding a home on the floor of the Transit Terminal.
She had broken three fingers and mostly likely crushed the bone in her left wrist, as it was pinned under a second layer of concrete. She had third degree burns to her left arm, as flames had previously licked at it, only for Liara to douse them with her biotics. They couldn't see the rest of her body, especially her legs, but they were likely broken. And to make matters worse for her humility, her suit had split along the back, which meant that one tug would cause the already delicate suit to fall apart and leave the operative likely naked.
Miranda was in a serious condition.
Liara brought up her omni-tool and did a scan of her, "Goddess, she's in a horrible state. One of her kidney is threatening to fail, and some areas are most likely going to hemorrphage. Likely for her she's in a coma; how long it'll last? I can't tell; we need to get her back to the Normandy immediately! Grunt, help me with her!"
Grunt shoved the asari aside, "I can carry her myself; you just worry about the drell, Krios."
Liara looked shocked by the krogan's treatment of her but quickly shook it off when she saw how he so easily picked up the two slabs holding Miranda down and tossed them away, the krogan giving a roar of effort as he did, slapping his hands to together to get rid of the dust as he bent down to pick up Miranda.
"Careful!" Liara pleaded, "Her body is delicate!"
Grunt growled. This asari is annoying, "I know. Just shut up already and get outside," the krogan nodded to the building, "You're not a krogan, so I'm sure you'll die if this place collapses on you."
Liara pouted for a second before finally nodding, coughing from an inhale of smoke as she spun around and rushed for the entrance once more, Grunt delicately placing Miranda's comatose body on his shoulder before he turned for the entrance and began a light jog towards it, more rubble collapsing around him and the flames getting disturbingly close.
But he made it nonetheless; he rushed through the collapsed door, surprising the firefighters once more as he came out with Miranda on his back, red blood dripping down her back from multiple injuries, skin red and blackened on her left arm from the burns she suffered. He moved down the steps and towards Liara, stopping briefly to get the asari's confirmation.
She nodded to him, helping Thane up and cradling her broken arm at the same point, and they all moved into their skycar. And before Illium police or firefighters could ask any questions, Thane, the only one capable of flying at the moment, gunned the engines and shot forward, flying into Nos Astra's skyline and heading for the area they landed the kodiak.
Setting the vehicle on autopilot, Thane turned to Liara, who sat next to him and exhaled, coughing as he did, "Was the information worth it, Liara T'Soni? Miss Lawson could die in the condition she is in, and we're lucky we had Grunt present to get us out. I could have died from lack of oxygen."
Liara nodded slowly, facing the area up ahead before gulping and nodding again, this time meeting the drell's eyes, "Yes, I believe so. I-"
"This isn't about what you believe, doctor," Thane responded, shaking his head, giving her a scolding gaze, "Was it worth it, or not?"
Liara angrily retorted, "Yes, of course it was! This information can lead us straight to the Shadow Broker! We can end him, free Feron and stop any more pointless deaths! I just need to get this information back to the Normandy for myself, EDI and Legion to crossexamine to see if we can crack the coding. Sekat has heavily encrypted it, but with two AIs helping, we should be able to crack it. We'll see where the Shadow Broker is soon enough."
"If it stops anymore of these pointless deaths, then so be it," the drell replied, "The Shadow Broker has taken enough as it is. It is my duty to put an end to his reign of terror."
"I like the combat," Grunt spoke up, voice carrying through the car, with Miranda's body remaining as silent as ever in her comatose state, "Its fun. Shepard picks good fights; first the Collectors, and now the Shadow Broker. I look forward to meeting these Reapers; the way my Battlemaster speaks of them...they must be the worthiest foe in existence. I shall look forward to doing battle with them, as any krogan should. Heh. Heh. Heh."
"Why does that laugh make me shiver?" Liara commented, eying Thane. The drell shook his head, unsmiling.
"Because it promises death," Thane retorted, this time allowing a small, barely noticable, smile to grace the corner of his lips, "And I believe he was chuckling, not laughing."
The rest of the ride was silent.
The data needed to end a powerful foe.
They just had to hope it reached the Normandy.
{Loading...}
November 6, 2185
1217 hours.
Medical Bay, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate Normandy SR-2, Docked with the Rayya.
Commander Marcus Lee Shepard, Medical Chief Karin Chakwas, Professor Mordin Solus, Senior Assistant Lia'Vael nar Ulnay, Chief Engineer Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, Legion.
"Marcus," Chakwas' voice sounded next to him, shaking him from his zone out that he had been experiencing. He shot his looked up at her and immediately stood up. He had been sitting there for quite a long time, ocassionally accepting food from Gardner. Kelly had come down and talked to him, but he felt that she was still shaken too much by the Collector Base to facilitate proper conversation anymore; it seemed more and more that she was suffering severe PTSD.
Chakwas smiled as he stood and looked him in the eyes, "You can see Tali now. She's awake and wanting to talk to you."
Marcus' eyes practically lit up as he moved past Chakwas and into the Med bay, the door sliding shut behind them as they moved inside, Marcus homing in on Tali's bed, which was the second on the left. Zaeed's bed was empty, as the mercenary had left a while ago, the kodiak having dropped him off on Sanctum in the Sigurd's Cradle, and was already heading back to the Normandy. Good luck, Zaeed. I know you'll have the Blue Suns, and hopefully the Eclipse and Blood Pack, ready when the Reapers arrive.
Lia was monitoring Tali's heart rate on the left of the bed, while Mordin stood on the right, omni-tool out and scanning Tali's body. Legion stood at the edge of the bed, looking like something of a...guardian?
Tali, upon hearing the door open, twisted her head around to see who was coming and a look of relief appeared on her as she saw a familiar man clad in N7 cap and hoodie approach her, the quarian smiling weakly at him. As he approached, he saw that she was encased in a sterile field, the only thing protecting her from the bacteria of the world outside. He would go and get her suit later, but for now he just wanted to be with her; to see her face.
He pulled a chair over and sat next to her, moving to take her hand, only to have another three-fingered hand, Lia's, slap his hand away, glaring at him, "Don't touch her, Commander. Any bacteria you bring into contact with her will worsen her condition."
Marcus nodded, trying not to pout like a scolded child. Instead, he let his hand drop and was content with just looking at her. She was beautiful as always and, while a bit pale, nothing had really changed. She was wrapped up in a blanket to preserve her dignity, but she had chosen to leave her face exposed; so the only people who got to see it now were Chakwas, Mordin, Lia and Legion.
Chakwas appeared to the side and smiled at the two of them, "As far as I'm concerned Tali, you're cleared to go; just take it easy for a couple of days. You will experience some pain around the stab area for a time, but that's perfectly natural. Just do light work and you should be fine. If you two are talking, I can retrieve your suit for you."
"Thank you doctor," Tali thanked, nodding to the doctor, "I'd appreciate that."
"Please darling, call me Karin," with that, Chakwas nodded and left, a motherly smile still on her features as she left. Marcus didn't even acknowledge her leave though; all he had was eyes for Tali, his gaze filled with relief, anger, grief and irritation. He barely even heard Mordin speak, or his omni-tool turning off.
"Will allow you two privacy. Seems important among your species. Will be in Tech Lab if needed. Examining cross-species reproduction project," that caught his attention, and he looked at Mordin, shaking his head. The salarian's grin dropped and upon seeing the spectre looking at Tali opened his mouth in realization, "Ah, I see. Well, allow you two more time to discuss. Acception or rejection. Come Lia. Much to do. More to consider on project. Maybe consider a hybrid-chemical conversion of dextro-levo chirality into one substance? Hmmm."
Lia nodded and then nodded to both of them in return, "I will be in the Tech Lab as well if you need anything. Just call me if you do, you know, if you do need help."
"Lia!" Mordin shouted over the sound of the door closing, "Much work to do! Musn't waste time! Shepard and Tali's relationship depends on project!"
Lia nodded again and left, rushing out of the door like a startled rabbit. Marcus and Tali laughed, but quickly turned back to look at each other, Tali raising an eyebrow at him. He frowned at her, "What?"
Tali snorted, "Don't 'what?' me. You know what I'm talking about. What does Mordin mean by 'cross species reproduction project'. And don't tell me its for Garrus and Kasumi, because they aren't even at that stage yet. You haven't been telling me something, have you?"
Marcus gulped and shifted his feet on the ground, "I may have...withheld information from you, but it was never intended. I just never got the time to tell you, that's all."
Tali just raised another eyebrow, "Suuuurreeeee...you're going to tell me right now."
Marcus nodded and opened his mouth to speak, only to remember that Legion was still standing there. With a frown, he turned around and saw that Legion had its pulse rifle on its back, and was looking unfazingly at the door, as if waiting for someone. Clearing his throat, he addressed the geth infiltrator with the same frown, "Just what are you doing, Legion?"
The geth twisted its head to face him, flaps moving up in a frown of its own, "We are protecting Creator Zorah."
His frown stayed in place, "From who?"
"Creator Yala."
Marcus nodded in epiphany, "Peta's imprisoned Legion. He can't harm anyone now. Besides, you really think I'm going to let that sick son of a bitch hurt my fiancee a second time?"
Legion hesitated for a second, before...shaking its head, in a very organic fashion, he might add, "We deem this logic acceptable," it then turned to the bed and bowed; again, a very organic gesture, "Creator Zorah, Shepard-Commander. We will be in the AI Core if further assistance is required."
With that, Legion turned and marched away, moving into the AI Core with barely a sound. A second later, the sound of the door to the AI Core shut, interface turning crimson red as it locked.
Tali laughed halfheartedly, "It nods, makes frowns and then bows...Marcus, I think Legion's broken."
Marcus through in his own chuckle, this one filled with humor, "Its just learning to be more like us, Tali. EDI still struggles to understand humor, remember that?"
As if on cue, EDI's hologram appeared from across the room, but on a seperate pedestal, and she spoke, "Why did the quarian cross the road."
Both of them frowned at each other, and to Marcus' surprise, Tali answered, "I don't know; why did the quarian cross the road?"
"Because she had chicken feet."
Marcus grinned and gave a chuckle, and Tali's frown just deepened, looking at her mate as if trying to understand punchline of the joke. Before either of them could speak further, Joker's came over the comm.
"Wow, EDI. Stealing my jokes now are we? You're just lucky that I have a whole album."
The spectre smirked, "Do you Joker? Willing to share?"
"Sorry, me and my jokes have a nondisclosure agreement," Joker replied, and Marcus was sure he could see the shit-eating grin on his face, even if he couldn't see it literally, "Besides, I can't just let EDI steal all of my jokes. She might make them old, really fast. These ones I'd like to keep; you know, for battle situations. I've got a few on the Reapers too, you know. I've been saving those ones. Might even make extranet memes out of them."
"Logging out, EDI," Was Marcus' only reply, which cut off Joker's reply, along with EDI's hologram, which disappeared along with the pilot's voice. When that was done, the entire bay fell into silence and he twisted in his seat, turning back to face Tali, who was already facing him, arms crossed and eye raised expectantly. He knew he couldn't avoid the topic forever, so he gave a sigh of exasperation, and leaned forward, careful not to touch her or enter the sterile field.
"Its...complicated Tali," Marcus began, "I-"
Before he could continue, the door opened and both of them turned to it with angry and frustrated faces, annoyed at being interrupted. They softened when they saw Chakwas enter and place Tali's suit on her desk before hastily exiting, trying to not interrupt their private conversation longer than necessary. The door closed and then locked, ensuring noone else interrupted. With that done, Marcus turned back to Tali, and began again, the quarian avidly listening.
"I...damn Tali, well...remember how you said you always dreamed of having children?" he asked, "Remember how you said that I should have a woman that can provide me children?"
"Yes..." she trailed off, her voice hinting at the epiphany she had hit.
"Well...when we started approaching Mordin for medication, he started to believe that we were serious about being together. He basically predicted us getting married Tali," he revealed, "So...well, remember when you get shot by the Shadow Broker's men in Eternity back on Illium a month ago?"
She nodded, eager for him to continue. He chuckled at her excitement, and continued, a grin growing on his face, "Yeah, well as soon as you left the med bay and Mordin was alone with me, he revealed his plans to...well, he revealed this project he wanted to work on that would...that would allow you to bear...to bear my child. Our child."
Her eyes watered, but the smile stayed on her face as he continued, his grin growing with every word, his own eyes brimming with tears of happiness, "Well, the very next time we made love to each other, I took a few samples and gave it to Mordin. And as far as he's concerned, it'll be ready soon, he just needs to finalize it. Tali, do you realize what this means? We can have children together!"
He moved to hug her, as did she, but he immediately retracted, remembering he could not touch her. Her smile lessened slightly, also remembering, which allowed other memories to build up. But she managed to finish the topic on a happy note, "I'm looking forward to it, Marcus. When the Reapers are destroyed and this is all over, we can settle down, as husband and wife, and have a family. We'll...we'll have to find a world, maybe Earth, to live on, of course but-"
He cut her off, shaking his head, "Don't you worry about that, Miss vas Normandy. I'm going to get you back your homeworld, and I'm going to build you a house on it, just like your father promised you. And we're going to have a family in it. All of us, on Rannoch. Don't you worry."
"Yeah..." she sniffled, the happiness in her eyes suddenly melting away as her eyes suddenly found the scar inbetween her breasts. He found where her eyes had deviated too and his smile suddenly dropped as well, some of the old anger he had felt last night and all of today building back up as he remembered just why Tali was in this med bay to begin with.
One of her fingers traced the line of the line of the sealed wound; a scar that would be stuck on her body forever, there to permanently remind her of the life she lead and of the people who wanted her dead. But this man she had considered a friend; a bit of a lunatic when it came to his 'love' for her, but still a friend. But last night, he had tried to murder her fiancee in bed, and then stabbed her. And the look in his body, the way he moved; it was feral, animalistic, unquarianly. It wasn't the Peta'Yala she remembered.
"Tali, are you okay?" Marcus asked, trying to sound as soothing as possible. But she heard the sorrow in his tone; memories of last night returning to her head, her fiancee holding her body as she slowly slipped out of consciousness and bled out in their home; all because one selfish bosh'tet wanted her to himself.
She so desperately wanted to reach out and touch him; her soft caress always seemed to calm him down, and he had said that she always seemed to bring peace whenever she was with him. She held him together; she stopped the feral beast from Torfan from tearing itself out and lashing out. She was the only thing keeping him together.
"I'll be fine Marcus," she replied, voice soothing and reassuring, "Peta...didn't kill me, as much as he may have tried."
The spectre's face went from concerned to scrunched up in fury all in one moment, "I should have killed that piece of shit."
Tali looked at him with worry, "What did you do to him if you didn't kill him?"
Marcus placed his hands on his knees and shifted in his seat, voice still furious, "I sent him to the quarians on the Rayya; Captain Qet'Danna vas Rayya has taken him under arrest and will hold him until the trial. I, Kal, and the rest of the Normandy crew, as recognized by quarian law, have accused him of treason. EDI even dug up evidence that he was involved with aiding the Shadow Broker and Cerberus attack on the Rayya. We have all the evidence we need to get him exiled from the Migrant Fleet."
Tali shuddered as she remembered her own trial a couple of months ago. She remembered how everyone had been there; Captain Kar'Danna, Veetor and Elan, Kal and Madi, all of the admirals...everyone but her father. That had been the same day that her father had died. That she had lost him; the last of her family. But that would change tomorrow; when herself and Marcus got married. Just the thought gave her nervous shivers. She remembered Qet'Danna's name too, "Qet? You mean Kar'Danna's son?"
Marcus nodded, "Yeah, he took over after he found out about his father's death. When the Admiralty informed him that Peta was involved with his father's death, he said he'd love nothing more than to strangle the quarian, but decided to just attend the trial instead. Everyone's going to be there; all the quarians anyway. Garrus and Kasumi are coming though. Same with Wrex. I'm going as well."
Tali widened her eyes, "You are?"
Marcus, in turn, also widened his own eyes, "Why wouldn't I? We're talking about the man who tried to murder my fiancee, Tali. This is my responsibility, especially since I let said murderer roam my ship while Samara tried to warn me."
"Kal tried to warn me as well," Tali admitted, "I should have listened to him. I was being so stupid."
"We'll make up for it by being there when the hammer comes down," Marcus promised her, "Do you want to come? You don't have to if you don't want to, I'm just suggesting afteral-"
"I'm coming," Tali finalized, unwilling to compromise, an anger of her own entering her voice, "That man tried to murder you, and he infiltrated our home. He claims to love me, and then almost kills me in the process of his attempted murder. I don't know how exactly, but its clear that Peta'Yala died a long time ago; the man he's become is not the one I knew. I will mourn who he was, and despise who he has become. I'll be there. When's the trial due to take place?"
Marcus scratched his head, "Standard military time? 1400 hours."
Tali nodded, "Then I'd better get myself into my suit then. I've got to make sure Gabby and Ken are hard at work before I leave."
Marcus laughed, "Do you ever lay off of them?"
Tali grinned alittle at that, enjoying the insertion of some humor into the predicament, "Never. I'd be a bad chief engineer I did."
"You're a hardass," Marcus replied.
"Another thing I got from you," Tali plauded, smiling back at him smugly. When she saw he had nothing to fight back with, she winked and he just rolled his eyes, laying back in his seat. It was then that his look turned sad, and he eyed Tali with a sense of disappointment and fear. It was not a good feeling for Marcus.
"I'm not someone you want to be, Tali."
{Loading...}
November 6, 2185
1349 hours.
Trading Deck, Liveship Rayya, Migrant Fleet, Enoch System, Rosetta Nebula.
Gunnery Master Garrus Vakarian, Master Thief Kasumi Goto, Chieftain Urdnot Wrex, Major General Kal'Reegar vas Normandy, First Lieutenant Madi'Soi vas Ceresa, Navigator Veetor'Nara vas Rayya, Medical Chief Elan'Shiya vas Rayya, Captain Qet'Danna vas Rayya.
The trading deck was full of noise; it echoed off the walls, it pinged off the windows, and ringed in all their eardrums. Quarians of all clans, trades and genders came to witness the traitor's trial, and were relishing in it. Garrus overhears some of the conversations himself; some people were curious as to what was going on, while others knew full well, and were crying for the quarian's exile. One quarian, he overheard he was the chief engineer on the Huzzi, even expressed the same belief.
Due to the Arena being unavailable due to the wedding preparations, the quarians had decided to retrofit the trading deck for use as the trial. The Admiral's podium had been shifted inside for the trial, and many storage crates had been moved forward so they could be used as seats or to be laid against. It wasn't the exactly what Tali's trial had looked like, but it was pretty close.
He recognized a few quarians. Just below them was Elan'Shiya, the Rayya's chief medical officer, currently holding hands with her nervous mate, Veetor, who was still trying to overcome his phobia of large crowds, and the angry shouting made by some wasn't helping. Kal and Madi were nearby, just next to him and Kasumi actually, and were also holding hands, conversing angrily about Peta.
As if to remind him of her presence, he felt the thief tap him on the shoulder and he rolled his eyes, turning to face the petite human. She wasn't in her usual cheery mood, having obviously been moved by the events that had followed last night, and she had actually shown some anger. It wasn't anger on the level of the mission in Hock's mansion a couple of months back, but it was still existent.
"These people are really angry," Kasumi pointed out, almost having to yell to be heard over the furious crowd, "You'd think these people were calling for his head."
Garrus nodded, "Wouldn't be surprised! He was responsible for the murder of dozens of civilians, and now, as far as they're concerned, he just tried to murder their greatest heroine! I can't say I blame them! I really want to rip him open with my talons, at the moment!"
Kasumi raised an eyebrow at the overly expressive turian, "Not sure I'm looking for the same thing, but I do want to hurt him!"
Garrus turned to Wrex, who sat on the row just behind and above them, "What about you Wrex? Death or exile?"
The old krogan chuckled, "Exile? I'm a krogan, what do you think? Plus, he just tried to kill my quarian niece! I taught that girl everything she knows, and she showed me some tech in return. Noone hurts my little quarian, I'll tell you that. This 'Peta' is lucky I don't rip his head off with my maw and spit it out."
Garrus widened his eyes at the chieftain, "You'd do that?"
Wrex grinned a crocidilian grin that never ceased to send goosebumps crawling along Garrus' skin, "With alot more gore, assuredly. You don't like me when I'm angry."
"I'm sure that goes for all krogan," Garrus piped up.
"So Wrex, you're like the Hulk!" Kasumi giggled, but only earned herself confused glances from Wrex and Garrus.
"Wow, Kasumi..." Garrus started, flabbergasted, "I knew you were mean spirited, but isn't that alittle too harsh?"
Wrex snorted, glaring at the thief, "I'm not fat," the krogan seemed to check his gullet just to make sure, and shifted in his seat, "Well, maybe alittle; I admit, varren meat's been growing on me ever since I freed myself of those rations on the old Normandy. But I can run just fine."
Garrus smirked as he faced the chieftain, "So sitting on that throne has made you gained weight. Wrex, I'm immensely disappointed."
That earned him a glare of daggers, "Watch where you step turian; I can only be so lenient."
Kasumi giggled under her breath as Garrus seemed to just stare back at the krogan, smirk growing wider, "Oh come now Wrex, I didn't realize it made you so sensitive too. That throne is really bad for you; should give the dietians something to fuss about."
Wrex growled, "I have a shotgun, Garrus. Don't push me."
Garrus guffawed, "It all makes sense now! I knew Tali was a little bit more feisty than she was on the SR-1; she really has taken from you, and Shepard. I mean, have you seen how well she leads a squad?"
"I think we've all grown up a little," Wrex seemed to settle, leaning back with his grin returning, "I mean, look at me. One war on the Normandy, and I've gone from mercenary to Chieftain of one clan, and unifier of hundreds of others. And you...Archangel, right?"
Garrus widened his eyes in shock, "How did you find that out?"
"Seriously?" Wrex guffawed, "Doesn't take a genius to piece it together. Turian who was part of C-Sec gets sick of their policies, leaves, shows up on Omega not long after, starts a team, becomes known as Archangel, and begins destroying the crimeworld on said station. Now, I'll just need to wrack my damn brain to find out how many turians I know that fit that category..."
"Point taken," Garrus looked away, hands clasping behind his back, "Although, Archangel's dead now. Its just good old Garrus now."
Kasumi looked at the turian, a serious expression crossing his face, "Well, maybe he should return just to kill one specific quarian."
Garrus faced Kasumi, a gleam in his eye, "Yes, maybe he should."
After a period of silence between them, Wrex shoved Garrus in the shoulder, focusing his attention on the doorway with a point of an armoured finger, "Look who decided to turn up."
Garrus and Kasumi practically turned in sync, and they saw them. Marcus came through the door first, clad in Terminus Armor, with Tali not far behind, their hands locked. Garrus noticed that Tali didn't look particularly traumatized by the event, and her posture was actually quite rigid and powerful, radiating a sense of strength in it. Spirits...she really has changed. We all have. Except Marcus. He's the same.
Garrus waved an arm in the air, beckoning Tali and Marcus to join them. Marcus almost immediately took notice and pointed to Garrus and the group, Tali nodding as they began to move towards them. In a matter of no time, the two of them made it over, Tali seating herself next to Kasumi while Marcus continued over and sat next to Garrus, between him and Kasumi.
The spectre turned towards him, helmet masking his features, along with his deepening his voice, "Glad you came Garrus."
The turian nodded solemnly, "Wouldn't miss it. I want to see this son of a bitch with my own eyes."
Wrex growled behind them, and Marcus focused his attention on the massive soldier, "Don't forget me; if it hadn't been for me, Tali would be dead by now. My training saved her life."
"I'm pretty sure I was the one who taught her the hand-to-hand defense, Wrex," Marcus quipped back, "You just taught her how to fire a shotgun."
"And how to get down and dirty," Wrex shot back with his trademark, debatable 'sadistic' grin, "I taught her how to think like a krogan. Be rough, strong and never show weakness. She's a fearless woman in combat, she is. Give me some credit."
"Taught her to fight like a krogan?" Garrus retorted, shooting Marcus a smirk, "Remind me to keep some extra masks on standby incase she gets the urge to headbutt somebody."
Marcus chuckled, nodding his head, "I'll put it on my to-do list. And yes Wrex," he turned to face the beast once again, "You get some credit."
"Only the part I deserve," the krogan dipped his head, thanking him.
"Tali going to be okay?" Garrus asked, "Can't have been easy."
Marcus was about to answer, but right on que, they heard Tali sneeze three times, followed by a coughing fit. Kasumi patted her back and just smiled, throwing off Marcus' concerned glances by telling him she was fine. He nodded, turning back to Garrus, Tali looking up and sniffling, voice rugged as she told Kasumi she was fine.
"There's your answer," Marcus told him, shrugging his shoulders, "Its a bad fever; about on the same scale she got when we...did it...for the first time. Chakwas says she'll recover soon, she just needs to keep taking the medication Mordin prescribes her; it attacks the fever and gets rid of it quickly if taken constantly."
Garrus raised an eyebrow suggestively at that, "You two in a hurry for something?"
"We're getting married tomorrow Garrus," Marcus explained, "Would suck if we couldn't finish the day off with a bang now, could we?" He smiled at his own pun, but apparently Garrus wasn't all that impressed.
"And so starts the 'we'll bang okay?' memes," Garrus sighed, "Spirits save the extranet."
"It wasn't that bad," Marcus tried to get in, but Garrus wasn't having it.
"Are you sure you didn't say that to Sovereign?" the turian asked, "It does explain why his shields dropped; probably fainted from how bad it was. And Harbinger! Spirits, its all coming together! He must have had the Collectors kill you so he didn't have to be subject to that pun too."
Marcus laughed, holding up his hands in a 'I surrender' manner, "I confess; I'm a convicted pun-cular manslaughterist."
Garrus didn't even grin, "Oh, that's even worse."
"Hey, I get paid to kill things, not to make jokes," Marcus said seriously, but with a bit of humor in his tone.
"They didn't pay you to dance either, did they?"
Marcus groaned, "Noone will let me to see the light of day on that one, will they?"
Wrex answered that noone, "Never. I've seen pups fresh out of the womb dance better than that."
Marcus seemed to shrink and both of them just laughed at the commander's expense. Their mirth was doused when the doors opened once more however, and the Admiralty Board strolled in. The room went silent in an instant, all angry shouting, and shouting of any kind, immediately becoming absent. Shala'Raan headed the group, followed by Han'Gerrel, Zaal'Koris and Daro'Xen, the last looking very dejected and annoyed.
Everyone watched them with interest, following their every step. Gone was the smirks on Garrus, Marcus and Wrex's faces, now replaced by straight lips and frownless expressions. He imagined the same went for Veetor, Elan, Kal, Madi, Tali and Kasumi as well. They were all completely silent, not making a sound. They watched as Qet'Danna vas Rayya greeted the Admirals with a Captain's blessing, and then turned to his seat, the quarian looking just as dejected as Xen, although likely for much different reasons.
Unlike last time however, Gerrel took the position on the upper podium, as it was reserved for the Chief of the Admiralty and Gerrel, as Regent of the Board, took his place on it, Shala having taken it in Rael's absence during Tali's trial. Shala now took Gerrel's place from last time, with Koris and Xen in the same places as said trial.
Everyone sat there and waited; waited as the commander of the Rayya's marine detail was beckoned forward by Admiral Gerrel. Waited as the soldier was ordered to bring Peta forward.
All waited. All were silent.
Peta's time had come.
{Loading...}
November 6, 2185
1357 hours.
Trading Deck, Liveship Rayya, Migrant Fleet, Enoch System, Rosetta Nebula.
Mechanic Peta'Yala vas Normandy.
The storage crate was small; compact. There was little room to move around, and it was covered in a veil of total darkness. The floor was hard and uncomfortable, and only his nocturnal quarian vision allowed him to see anything. But he didn't care how uncomfortable it was, or how dark it was, or how little room there was. He just sat there, dejected, arms wrapped around his legs and bringing them to hug his chest in a fetal position.
Peta deserved nothing but death; a slow one at that.
He had almost killed the woman he loved.
Tears dried around his cheeks, and all he could think of was what was to come. He didn't know if he could bear it; all those accusing looks, all those shouts of distaste, and the looks of the man he tried to murder...he would have to take it all. Submit to them all. He was on trial for treason, and he knew that the evidence was absolute, and that meant...
Exile. He would never see the Migrant Fleet again; for the rest of his life.
He choked out a sob in the darkness, shifting his body. He'd lose everything that he treasured; not that he had much to begin with. All he had was the fleet, the feeling of belonging to a people and the promise that he would be with the love of his life one day.
He would lose the fleet.
He would no longer belong to a people.
And the love of his life would forever despise him. She would spit at the very thought of his name.
He sobbed again.
This storage crate was his prison; the place where he would wait for his inevitable doom. His only light in the darkness was the omni-cuffs that encased his wrists, and that glow was dim, as intended by his guards. He could hear them outside; their voices muffled, speaking in hushed tones. But he heard their topic; him. They were talking in angry and enraged tones. They wanted him exiled. Everybody he knew wanted him exiled. It was the fate he was doomed to suffer, for the evidence against him was too great.
And Peta already saw first hand how great a speaker Shepard was.
It had all seemed so simple. Go in, slit Shepard's throat, get out, get the girl. It would be bittersweet, and he'd be a murderer, but he would have gotten her. But then he had kissed her. She had said Shepard's name. And he had lost it.
I should never have kissed her...oh Tali, I never meant to...Keelah, I never meant to...
Death was a much kinder fate...
...one he did not deserve.
In the end, Peta's body just didn't know whether it should cry or just thrash about in defeat, and anger. But he knew in the end what was done was done; he had wronged the people he cared about, and he must be punished. And that punishment was to be cast out, forgotten about, and have his name stricken from every record of every ship he had served on.
Peta gulped.
Peta'Tasi vas Nedas. That would be his name as an exile.
Tasi meant 'no one.' Nedas meant 'no where.' He would be Peta Noone, of Nowhere. An exile. An empty husk. A shell floating through space. A nobody. Noone would care, noone would notice, noone would remember. They would only remember the deeds he committed; and how atrocious they were.
He heard a shuffling up above and heard voices; the room had gone silent, Peta noticed, and he knew it was time. He would have to face his people and tell them that he had murdered his own fleet brothers and sisters for the love of one woman; that he had stabbed one of their heroines in the name of love. The same love that drove him to almost kill her.
Peta chuckled cruelly. The only thing he remembered from that night was the smell of her blood.
How ironic.
Light. It spilled into the crate he was huddled in as one marine removed the lid off and tossed it away. The marine, a female, barked at him to stand up, vindicator battle rifle at the ready if he tried anything. But Peta wouldn't try anything; he had nowhere to hide, and no reason to try and escape. He would be a man and face what he had sowed.
He got to his feet as quickly as he could, trying not to fall over in the cramped space. Even standing up, only his head poked out, showing just how tall the crate was. The female marine commander beckoned two other marines to help Peta out, and they did, ableit roughly. Once out, they practically let him drop on the floor, and he did, pitifully, rolling up like a pathetic man trying to shield himself from a gangbash.
Peta'Yala-No, Peta'Tasi, get up, and act like a man. Face what you sowed.
He got up, slowly, and stood to his feet, holding his arms infront of him, the cuffs resticting his movement. The female placed a hand on his right shoulder and grasped it tightly, vindicator in her other hand as she pushed him forward, three other marines behind her, all wielding shotguns and SMGs of some description. He saw one of them holding a Mattock; most likely commandeered weapons from the Montgomery.
He moved through the door and out onto the trading deck, Peta desperately wanting to look at the ground as the marine lead him forward and towards the Admiral's podium and to where the quarian would speak his fellow kin for the last time. He wondered if they would even give him a shuttle to leave on; or just flush him out the airlock. More likely to do the latter than waste resources on a murderer...a traitor...
But he fought against his wishes and stood up, proud and tall, only looking up and meeting pair of eyes for pair of eyes as he was guided towards the podium. If he was going down, he would go down with pride.
Listen to yourself; in your moment of exile, the day you lose everything, due to the night you tried to kill the one you love the most, and you think about pride? You lost your pride when you sank that blade into her chest...
But he ignored those thoughts in his mind, only looking forward. No point in moping now...
He looked around the room subtlely, trying desperately to recognize everyone in the room. He saw the Rayya's medical chief, and that twitchy mate of hers...Veetor, was it? They stood on the level he was on, just looking at him, their faces hidden behind masks, but knowing them, Elan would be looking at him with disdain and Veetor with blatant disinterest; the quarian always more worried with his personal humility then anything else.
On the same side, on his left, and a few levels above, stood Kal and his mate, Madi'Soi vas Ceresa. Madi held hands with him, and looked down at him unblinkingly and Kal just fixed him with what Peta knew was a glare. He remembered the marine back in school, and the first meeting he had with him after that was after Tali's trial and after that? Well, he didn't remember much of that meeting, because it involved a rifle butt to his head, to which they had to get Peta a new mask. He sneezed, as if his body suddenly remembered he had a fever, followed by a croaky cough, in which his escort had to wait for him to finish before continuing to push him along, as if escorting him to his execution.
The krogan, Wrex, was the next person he noticed, fixing him with a hardened glare and bared teeth; Peta would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid of him. And below the krogan was the turian, Garrus, along with the little thief, Kasumi. And sitting inbetween them both was Marcus Shepard, the man who was supposed to be dead, but now wasn't due to Peta's incompetence. The Shadow Broker will probably hunt me down for my failure and kill me...so be it...least I deserve anyway...
They all glared at him equally; their eyes making them look like they wanted nothing more than to lash out at him like vipers and rip his throat out. The very thought caused him to throw his look away, where it unwillingly landed on...on...on...
His eyes widened and fresh tears brimmed in his eyes upon laying his eyes on her. He hadn't expected her to recover yet, but there she was on; in all her glory. Tali'Zorah vas Normandy sat on the right of Kasumi, fixing him with the same accusatory glare that everybody else was. If only she knew...It wasn't meant to be you...I was supposed to kill Shepard, and you got in the way...I'm so sorry...
Her glare remained unchanged, and he realized his words went unmouthed. He dragged his pleading gaze away from her, moving to face the podium that he was literally one meter away from, the guard pulling him to a complete stop. A tear fell down his cheek, unseen and uncared about. He could weep as loudly as the ancestors screamed for salvation on Rannoch three hundred years ago, and still nobody would wave a finger. I am noone. Crew of Nowhere. I am nothing.
Peta brought his look up, sniffling while sneezing twice again, watching the gazes of Han'Gerrel, Zaal'Koris, Daro'Xen and Shala'Raan brought down upon him, as if ready to pass judgment at that very moment. As if willing to cast him out as soon as he spoke. He waited patiently before Han'Gerrel placed his hands behind his back and clasped them, his high and gruff voice sounding through the room.
"This conclave is brought to order," he boomed through the room, his commanding voice just showing how much experience he had in his years in the military, all eyes brought to him, "Blessed are the ancestors who kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. Keelah Se'lai."
The entire room replied, and Peta found himself replying as well, as was a habit built into every quarian; even the marines behind him said it. When the room was settled down, Han'Gerrel was suddenly glared at him, and Peta felt like melting away. But he kept his gaze true and steady, not willing to break down. Be strong. Execute your last moments as a quarian as best you can.
Gerrel's voice echoed through the trading deck once more, hangar door behind him slammed shut and blocking the mirage of space behind him, "The accused, Peta'Yala vas Normandy, has come to defend himself against this charge of treason. The Captain of the Normandy, Marcus'Shepard vas Normandy, has recused himself from defending the defendant, due to his minor involvement in the charges. Will someone step forward to speak for Peta'Yala before these proceedings continue?"
The room was deathly silent. Noone raised their hand, noone spoke; a testament to the love felt for Peta'Yala, the man already convicted and guilty. No love felt for me...and not surprising...I deserve everything I get...but Tali...oh keelah, Tali...And now he remembered something else about her, as if his mind was mocking him; the taste of her lips on his.
He had seen her face; he had been blessed with that much.
All eyes fell Gerrel once more as he spoke, still facing Peta, "Peta'Yala, you stand accused of treason against the fleet. You are accused of disabling the Rayya's defenses and communications while secretly colloborating with members of Cerberus and the Shadow Broker's forces. With your help, they were able to board this ship and gun down dozens of innocent men, women and even a couple of children; you hid when all this occured. You are also accused of attempting to murder your own captain, and for stabbing his mate, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, in their cabin on their ship. What say you?"
Peta gulped, feeling all eyes land on him. He could feel Gerrel and Raan's glares, Koris' raised eyebrow and Daro's disinterested look. He felt Kal, Madi, Marcus, Kasumi, Garrus, Wrex, Tali and everyone else glaring at him all at once, as if attempting to kill him through mere glaring; but what would they be killing? A man without a soul? A monster? Peta'Yala was already dead! He already confirmed that...
You plead not guilty...
No I don't. I'm a murderer and a traitor, no point in denying it. They'd just waste more time bringing in evidence to prove I'm lying. I have an obligation to tell the truth, and I will. I will not waste anymore time lying; its time to tell the truth for once, and that's what I'm going to do. I will redeem myself, if only slightly.
What, to reassure yourself that your morally just?
No, just to give myself some closure and end this torture quickly.
Gerrel's voice broke him from his thoughts, "Peta'Yala, I ask again, what say you?"
Peta replied without hesitation this time, coughing before he spoke, "Guilty. I plead guilty."
There was a few gasps from the crowd, and he could tell from Raan's shift in position that she was surprised. Noone expected him to admit to his crimes; knowing Peta, they thought he'd lie his way out, but he hadn't. He had given them the truth, and it almost sounded too good to acknowledge. Han'Gerrel, recovering from his shock, spoke once more.
"You admit to these crimes?" Gerrel asked.
Peta nodded, his voice shaking, "I...I do. I am a criminal, and I'm not going to deny that. I have murdered good people through my actions, and almost murdered another good person in their own bed, on their own ship; in their home, after they let me aboard. I am guilty, and accept full responsibility for my actions. My obsession got many killed."
Raan spoke, "And what is this 'obsession,' you speak of?"
Peta turned to face her, knowing she already knew what obsession she was speaking of, but was asking for the sake of the confused crowd. And he answered without fail, voice shaking almost to the point of breaking, "I had a obsession with Tali'Zorah vas Normandy; I loved her with a passion and tried everything in my power to obtain her. I...this resulted in my standing here."
He sighed and looked back to Gerrel, seeing that the man looked very tired of this and simply decided to cast final judgment, "It would seem that there will be no need to bring forward any evidence, as you've clearly just admitted to being guilty. Let's finish this."
Peta gave a weak nod, looked down and closed his eyes as Gerrel said the words. This is it. The end. I will never see the Flotilla again. Everything I've ever known, and I'll never see a piece of it again. I've lost any chance to be with Tali, the love of my life and the only girl I could possibly want to be; not only that, but she hates me. This truly is what my life is like; a frail, pathetic excuse of a thing. And I continue to live while many people, murdered by Cerberus and Shadow Broker alike, lie dead. I am a monster.
I am noone. Crew of Nowhere. I am nothing.
Gerrel's words cut deep as he spoke, drilling his gaze into Peta's head, "Admirals, are we prepared to render judgment?"
He felt nod. He heard their omni-tools activate on their arms as they began to type in and send their judgment; to condemn him forever to the stars and to never see his home for eternity.
A few seconds passed before Gerrel looked up from his omni-tool, once more boring his eyes into the back of Peta's skull, "The vote is unanimous," a painful silence, one that would be forever marked in Peta's memory for as long as he lived, "Peta'Yala, you are hereby found guilty of all charges, and therefore found guilty for committing treason against the Flotilla. You have exactly six hours to leave-"
Gerrel's words were nothing to him; he just didn't care anymore. It had been done, and he just wanted to leave. He looked up at Gerrel and cut him off, "I have nothing on the Flotilla except for Tali and myself; one despises me and does not want me, the other is noone. Crew of Nowhere. He is nothing."
Gerrel seemed annoyed at being interrupted at first, but Koris cut off any angry retort he planned on giving as he, hands behind his back, spoke, "There is a shuttle waiting for you in Docking Cradle 05. It has been prepped for your departure; go safely, Peta'Yala vas Normandy. Keelah Se'lai."
"More like burn in hell," Gerrel mumbled under his breath, and Koris shot him a hateful glare, but Peta didn't care; he didn't want any friends, only to be gone from this place so he could forget it quicker. Already he felt himself slipping away, as if his carelessness was taking over his senses. He turned around, the female quarian removing his omni-cuffs and deactivating them, placing them in a suit pocket. She then began to direct him towards the Docking Cradle 05, the crowd in the area dispersing.
It was over. He had been exiled, and now all he had to do was leave.
They should have just executed him.
He looked one more time at Tali, who was already looking at him, shaking her head. Just as he met her gaze, she tore her eyes away leaning into Marcus, for protection, as if to spite the quarian. But he was beyond caring now; he hoped Tali lived a happy life in Shepard's arms, for she deserved it. A happy life. And Peta would suffer for his crimes.
Peta sighed.
It was better this way.
{Loading...}
November 6, 2185
1342 hours.
Reception Area, Spaceport, Vulpes, Sanctum.
Mercenary Leader Aria T'Loak, Lieutenant Bray, Admiral Jarral, Chief Technician Ahz, Mercenary Sata T'Loak.
"This one asks that you give the proper credentials."
Oh, I am going to rip this bitch apart if she doesn't shut her fucking cunt of a mouth. Aria was already pissed off over losing Omega; she didn't need this receptionist adding to it. She braced against the desk, growling at the hanar standing before her. Bray stood on her left, arms crossed and scowling at the same receptionist, while Jarral and Ahz animatedly talked, the rest of her men from Omega standing behind them. Sata stood on Aria's right, angrily crossing her arms and scowling at a wall behind the former ruler.
Sata was alot like her mother in attitude, but little else; Nyreen had definitely rubbed off on her. She was prone to anger like her mother, and didn't shit from anybody, but her father's moral compass was there. She yelled at her mother everytime she hurt an innocent, and was definitely more distant since Nyreen corrupted her with her...paragade logic.
Sata wore basic clothes, with a black jacket and jeans. Unlike Aria, she didn't have any facial tattooes, but she did have a omni-tattoo on her belly that Aria had gotten her for her 15th birthday. She was just as tall as Aria; and not all that old in asari terms. The miracles of asari aging.
But right now, she just wanted to rip the tentacles off of this fucking hanar, "This one asks if you'll please get the fuck out of my way and let me and my men leave. I've had enough trouble, I'm not about to have you adding to it."
The hanar didn't seem perturbed; yet again, it had no facial features as it was just a floating, sapient/sentient jellyfish. Its body glowed as it spoke, "This one pleasantly asks if you would refrain from insulting its language. This one does not like insults and is kindly asking to see credentials. This one will call security if necessary."
Aria just manically as she pulsed with biotics, "Just fucking try it!"
Sata had finally had enough, "Mother, enough!"
Aria turned to her with an angry look, biotics not lifting. How dare she...! But before she could finish those thoughts, Sata shoved her aside and turned to face the hanar, sparing her mother only a second-long admonishing look. She opened her own omni-tool, showing it to the hanar.
"Here you go sir," Sata showed the hanar, "My credentials."
The hanar pulsed with vibrant glow, "This one humbly thanks you for your compromise. This one accepts your ID and will allow you to pass through now, Aria T'Loak."
Aria glared at her daughter as she smiled at the hanar, closing her omni-tool and beckoning everyone to move through. The spaceport of Vulpes City was closed off to the outside due to Sanctum's hostile temperatures, and only observation windows allowed them to look outside to see the hostile environment that occupied the planet; cold winds and hot winds brewing together to cause an almost non-stop sea of tornados, none of which effected the city due to its kinetic barriers.
That little bitch had used her name to get through security. That little bitch had pretended to be her.
That little bitch was her daughter.
Aria knew she should be proud of her for using that excellent espionage tactics, but Aria could only feel searing hatred at the very thought of someone else posing as her, but she brushed it off, not wanting to start a fight over something so trivial.
"This one wishes you a nice day," the hanar stated as Aria was going past.
She suddenly whorled on it, wreathed in biotic power, making the hanar hover back, "Don't talk to me, jellyfish, or I'll open you from gut to head!"
The hanar went silent after that, simply watching the asari as she turned around and left. The biotics wrapping her body slowly died out, but the same anger was still in her eyes; remnants of her loss on Omega.
It was still a fresh wound; it was hard to believe she had lost the station only a day ago; it felt like centuries. Her life had been for that station, and now it was under Cerberus control, its residents oppressed by Cerberus, and a Cerberus fleet now defended it. She could only think and dread of the things Petrovsky was doing to her station, to her Afterlife...he still hadn't found her bunker, which would be a bonus for when she came back to reclaim the station, but that was but a small reprieve.
And during the entire War for Omega, Derius and the Talons hadn't lifted a damn finger, and Nyreen hadn't even come to her assistance. It had gotten to the point where Aria thought the Talons were wiped out when she wasn't looking, and Nyreen was dead; but she knew them, and knew deep down that wasn't the case. Where were you when I needed, Nyreen? Hiding? Playing hide and seek with Cerberus? You treacherous bitch.
Her lack of involvement probably had to do with her moral compass. Kandros and those damn morals of hers; they would get her killed someday.
Had Nyreen even been on Omega at the time of its fall?
Or was she helping Petrovsky kick her out? They did share the same ideals of protecting the innocent...
She snarled at those thoughts, which garnered the attention of her men; an attention she quickly didn't want. She pushed herself through them, moving to the front of them. Seeing that they weren't following, she came to a sudden halt and turned around, face scrunched in a scowl.
"Well, are we fucking going or what?"
Ahz spoke up, "Where can we go? Omega has fallen. You're no longer the Ruler of the Terminus Systems."
It was true, as much as Aria despised it. She was just another mercenary now; Omega had been the defacto capital of the Terminus Systems, and now Cerberus controlled it. She had been kicked off her throne and left to rot. She had no seat of power and her forces, her 'bully' squad, was now half of their original strength. It would take months to reform her fleet and troops, and what then? What would she do? Wander aimlessly across the stars like the quarians? Fuck that!
"Oh, but I am Ahz!" Aria growled back in defiance, "I don't need Omega to rule. But I will take it back, all the same."
Everyone just looked at her skeptically, not quite believing. It was Jarral who spoke up though.
"What do we do?" Jarral asked, shrugging her shoulders, "I have no fleet! You have no soldiers! Cerberus kicked our asses on Omega; and by the time we return, they'll be too heavily entrenched to be push out! What can we possibly do to retake Omega from them now?"
Aria raised her arms in the air, defiant as ever as Sata came to the front, her own arms crossed, "They may have the station, but they do not have Omega! Omega is us. WE make Omega what it is! I will scour across the Terminus Systems, the Attican Traverse and Citadel space, and I will build the biggest criminal army this galaxy has ever scene! It will rival the assault force of Elysium in sheer size!"
Sata scoffed, "Ten thousand troops? Where in goddess' name do you hope to rally such a force? And you can forget about the Blue Suns, Eclipse or Blood Pack rallying to your side. And the Hegemony will take alot of convincing. And you really think the Council will just let you wander through Citadel space?"
Aria grinned, "I may be...on good terms with Councilor Tevos. Besides, from what Shepard tells me, the Council will have more to worry about soon than some criminals gathering in their space; you've all heard of the Reapers. You know they're coming, and Shepard will come to me looking for an army. Oh, he will get it. But only after he has spearheaded by retake of Omega."
Bray scoffed, "What so great about Shepard?"
Sata snorted, drawing a glare from the batarian, "You really as fucked in the head as they say, Bray," she shook her head, and looked back at Aria, "Shepard is not likely to work with the likes of you, mother. The man views himself as a patron saint, and we all know they don't work with blasphemers."
Aria grinned cruelly at her, "Oh yes, but Shepard is also a pragmatist. He knows he'll need the biggest fucking army this galaxy has ever seen to stop the Reapers, and he needs us as part of that force. And the only way he gets us is if he helps us retake Omega. He will join us."
"Still don't see what's so great about him," Bray scratched his head, shaking his head as his arms remained crossed.
"He's a god on the battlefield," Sata stated plainly facing him, "Good enough for you?"
"Noone's that good," Bray snorted.
Aria glared at the batarian, "Shepard is. He fought armies of geth, krogan, defeated Saren Arterius, and from what I heard, personally traversed the Omega 4 Relay and into the Galactic Core, sent the Collectors straight to hell, and returned to tell the tale; right now, he's at war with the Shadow Broker, and the king of information hasn't killed him yet, he never will. He will destroy Cerberus; be sure of that."
Bray rolled his eyes, still not quite believing, and Aria didn't feel inclined to try and convince him; he would follow her orders, like it or not. She turned to the rest of the group, "So who's with me?"
"I'm your daughter," Sata deadpanned, walking over to join Aria, "I have little choice in this matter."
Bray shrugged and moved to join her, "I ain't exactly going anywhere, anytime soon."
Jarral sighed, following the batarian, "Why the hell not; at least I'll get to lead a fleet again."
Ahz nodded, hurriedly joining her, "At least this will allow me to stretch my tech skills."
Steadily, everyone else rallied to her. Aria was about to call out for them to follow her, but was interrupted by a loud, slow clapping from behind her, and she turned to the source of the sound, finding a familiar, grizzled and old, armoured form standing in the doorway leading into the market area. With a half smile, the man, who now looked like shit, stepped into the light, or rather, limped.
"Great fucking speech Aria," the man complimented sarcastically, "Brought a goddam tear to my eye."
Aria just smiled, "Zaeed Massani, a pleasant surprise. I didn't think Shepard was here." I'll be able to speak with him...
"He's not," Zaeed deadpanned, "I left his crew after getting shot to hell by some Shadow Broker cunts. Now I'm going to fetch some Blue Suns for him...well, not some, rather the whole goddam organization. Going to catch a flight to Zorya and see who this cunt, Darner Vosque, is. Shepard needs an army, and I'm going to give the whole fucking lot to him, if I can get the Eclipse and Blood Pack on my side."
...and maybe not.
"Blue Suns I can see you doing. You're a...charismatic, individual," Aria smiled, but it wasn't warm or cordial, "Eclipse and Blood Pack however, seem like a much bigger fucker to catch."
Zaeed just chuckled, "Couldn't have said it better myself, sweet cheeks. Goddam assholes are going to be hard to budge, but I figure a few bits of torture and the removal of a few limbs will loosen 'em up just fuckin fine."
"Will you join us?" Bray asked.
Zaeed glared at the batarian, "You fucking deaf, blink? I'm catching a flight to Zorya to rally some of my blue colored friends, and I'm not talking about asari. I'm not here to fight some personal war for you. Never liked Omega anyway; seemed like the place you'd go to for a toilet break before leaving again. Don't see your obsession with it, you crazy bitch."
Aria just laughed, "Call it my...hobby."
"You need a better one," Zaeed snorted, turning to limb past them to the waiting area, "Now if you don't mind, I've got to get flying. Blue Suns won't hire themselves, so I've got to give them some motivation. I think I'll castrate Vosque and see how cooperative he is."
"Until next time we meet, Massani," Aria spat.
"That time will be too goddam soon," Zaeed reciprocated.
They watched Zaeed limp away until he was out of sight, before Aria then turned around and lead them away. She had her own flight to catch; but it wouldn't a casual one. No, she was on a mission. A mission to unite the galaxy's criminals on one mission.
The reclamation of Omega.
It would rival the force on Elysium. No, scratch that, dwarf it.
It would be glorious. And she looked forward to seeing all forty thousand Cerberus soldiers burn.
That time would come all too quickly.
"Now that I look back, I forgave Peta for what he did. I...pitied him."
- Tali'Shepard pav Rannoch.
"I still dislike him for what he did, but for what its worth...I forgave him too. But he did deserve that exile."
- Marcus Shepard.
"And...he wasn't there when we got...married."
- Tali'Shepard pav Rannoch.
"Yes. That...that was possibly the happiest day of my life. Not even the honeymoon afterwards could compare to it."
- Marcus Shepard.
A/N:
Fair warning: If you do not like fluff chapters, be prepared to skip the next one, as the next one will be purely Tali/Shep wedding, with fluff afterwards (Best Man toast, followed by conversations between random characters and of course, the spectacle will be Tali and Shepard).
Chapter after that will be Tali and Shepard's honeymoon, and a large amount of that will be fluff as well, but not as fluffy as you'd think...