"Your biotic abilities are impressive, Pallas. Keep it up and you'll go far in this cabal." General Ordo clapped his star recruit on the back.
Tyene Pallas beamed up at the general, the blue markings of her home town freshly reapplied to her carapace for her promotion today. Her twin, Leto, couldn't be here because of his work with C-Sec, but her mother, her father, and her girlfriend were all present to watch the new honor be pinned to her dress uniform.
"This is a tremendous honor, sir…I owe it all to the support I have at home, though…Ah…if I can use this moment in the spotlight to make a request of our Quarian emissary….Miss Jana'Bree Vas Tonbay, with this honor and promotion, I think I can provide you the life you deserve. Will you stay here on Palaven? With me?" Tyene looked at the red hooded Quarian sitting beside her parents and other family members in the front row of seats.
"Yes, Tyene….I….I will have to get leave from the Patrol Fleet to live here, but yes." It was the first time that strong, authorative voice cracked a bit and with that, Tyene was sure Jana'Bree truly loved her.
But in that same moment, doubt seized Tyene like a vice. What if she COULDN'T provide for Jana'Bree with this promotion? What if Jana's suit ruptured or she got sick? What if she couldn't afford to have Jana's food filtered properly? Did Quarian women at least switch their hoods sometimes? Jana should have nicer hoods for military balls and such if so… Tyene realized she would need to go further than this if she expected to properly care for her future wife.
As she spent the next day observing the raw recruits from each year of mandatory training, Tyene frowned, causing a young girl to panic and blast the wall behind the dummy she'd been aiming for, leaving a scorch mark. Tyene hadn't left scorch marks when she'd been through her first year of biotic training. Her attacks fizzled out against walls. She needed an edge or it could be that very girl getting promoted beyond her in a few years. She'd be kept back like Nyreen Kandros before her. Every cabalist knew about Nyreen. Leaving in a cloud of shame because she refused to stay in the position the hierarchy demanded of her behind the lines. In Tyene's mind, Nyreen's biotics hadn't even been good enough to cut it there…But what if Tyene fell into that same trap? She couldn't.
"I need an edge." She told her brother over the link that night as she discussed her engagement with him.
"Look, Ty, you're a damn good biotic and an even better sniper. Why worry about it? It's not worth it to end up like those junkies snorting sand in back alley ways. Trust me." Leto replied cautioningly.
"Red Sand? Does it really boost biotic abilities like they say?" Tyene's curiosity was piqued.
"I'm not sure, I don't use it myself and I mostly deal with domestic disturbances and petty theft, not the drug stuff, though with Vakarian's rather loose interpretation of the law, I'd say there'll be an opening in that department soon enough." Leto sighed. "Look, Tyene, I know you and I know what you're thinking. DON'T. Now I have to go, apparently another disturbance in the Wards. I love you, and tell that to mom and dad as well." Leto hung up.
Tyene closed the channel and leaned back, thinking about the possibilities. Everyone always said there was group of Blue Suns mercs who dealt Sand down in the bad part of town and Jana'Bree wouldn't be home from her diplomatic meetings for a few hours. What did she have to lose? It really sounded like a minor drug and besides, she stood to gain a higher position in her cabal if her biotics improved even just a tiny margin. It was good for Jana, it was good for the cabal, and it was good for Tyene. With these thoughts in mind, she put on a long coat and an oversized hood and hurried out the door, leaving Jana'Bree a note telling her she'd gone 'grocery shopping'. With that, Tyene was off, down the dark streets of her home town, trying to ignore the pang of guilt as she passed the cabal building, a light still on in General Ordo's office.