CHAPTER SEVEN:
A LONG TIME AGO…
Knowledge is power. And with the discovery of the ruins, our power increased tenfold. We couldn't believe what our eyes beheld. As we first brushed aside the dust from off the first ancient Prothean artifact we'd ever see, a sense of wonderment and unbridled joy began to take hold, turning what had been a simple spark into a blazing bonfire. Hosts of new worlds, cultures and ideas were going to open up to us.
And yet…despite all our newfound knowledge…all our new power and prowess, we learned something. I believe it was one "Isaac Newtwon" who said that he had been but a child playing at the seashore, with the ocean of truth stretched out before him.
What he meant was simple. "I've learned that there's so much MORE to learn". And he was right! Not merely about the world around him, not just the universe's laws. But even about himself, and what he could do.
We were all so fascinated…we couldn't wait to see what lay in store for us.
I remember being that happy. That hopeful. That bright-eyed. Eager for new adventures on the horizon, eager to learn more.
If I could have just one wish, I'd like to go back in time…meet that little boy I was…
"And tell him the AWFUL GODDANG TRUTH ABOUT THIS PLACE!" The human yelled out angrily from inside his dressing room, the manager sticking his head inside, the vaguely amphibian-esque Salarian frowning slightly with its big, black eyes, its long, three-fingered digits gripping the door.
"You've got to get to the stage. The customers will be here any minute now and they need-"
"They need their EDM crud, I know, I know…" The moustachioed brown-haired, hazel-eyed human sighed, stroking the "Hulk Hogan" style moustache/beard combo he had in front of the mirror he now stood in front of, his pale white shirt already matted with sweat under the pits as he turned around, heading for the door and pushing it open, making his way past pleasant pictures depicting scenes of the owner's homeworld of Sur'Kesh. Pushing the door to the club open, the bright red, green and pink lights assaulting his vision as he put his sunglasses back on, removing them from his pants pocket and sighing as he moved to the stage and cracked his knuckles, plopping down to the piano.
"Thank goodness the boss spent the GOOD money for this. If he'd half-assed it like he does my super small closet of a room, I don't know what I'd do…" He sighed, beginning to play a few notes before his head began to sway back and forth.
Bit by bit, customers began to make their way into Bahm's Bar, from Krogan to Quarian to Turian, all plopping down and eagerly ordering beer as the electronic piano music began to form a song for them to enjoy, background music to keep the rhythm of the club/bar going all night long, an asari woman who looked rather…authoritative…sat down directly across from the human, looking up into his eyes.
Asari were…somewhat unusual. Monosex, faintly female in appearance for the most part, with very well-developed bodies that were soft and slightly wet to the touch, with a lack of hair or a crest like the Turians had. No, they had "tentacle hair", tentacles that were thick and wavy and constantly slicked back, indicating, at one point, a kind of amphibian origin much like the boss's own race. That, and their very, VERY blue skin. Captain Kirk would have been in Heaven getting to any base with an Asari, no doubt…but you didn't screw around with them. Their psychic powers were positively insane. No need for a rape whistle when they could break you in TWO like a TWIG.
"Can I help you?" The human asked, continuing to play the electronic piano as the people on the dance floor began grinding to the music. "I've got to play "Dirty Bit" next, but then I can take requests, ma'am."
"For someone who seems to have an AFFINITY for music, you do not appear to enjoy this." The asari noted. "You've got the skill, clearly. Why is your expression in your eyes so…loathing?"
"It's kinda…bull." The human sighed sadly.
"…bull?"
"It's an injustice of culture. Nobody remembers the band Reel Big Fish, but the Black Eyed Peas are going to survive into 3008? There ain't no justice in the world." The human sighed, shaking his head back and forth. "If only Ska had gotten as insanely popular as techno."
"So I suppose if I was to request a tune from the classic techno maestro "David Guetta", you would be irritated?" The Asari inquired, moving one leg over another and gesturing at the bartender, who looked up from the glass he was cleaning and nodded at her as she motioned her pointer finger at a crate nearby on his bar that read "Black Gold Vodka", making him nod.
"Depends…what's the song?" The piano man wanted to know.
"Titanium. I find…the singer within to be oddly appealing."
"Sia did have a beautiful voice." The human admitted as he nodded back at her, finishing up the latest song and taking a deep breath, readying the piano to begin playing "Dirty Bit". "I am SO sorry, but I'm gonna have to SING for this one to get the full experience out. The more everyone's swept up in the song, the more stuff they buy, and the more they buy, the bigger my paycheck is."
"I completely understand." The asari complimented, as he looked over her attire. It was very tight-fitting, crimson and with golden trimmings around her neck and on her boots, with a fine, dazzling tiara atop her head. "You've not seen this kind of outfit? I am a Justicar. Currently seeking out a particular...person of great interest to me. A deeply personal interest."
"Maybe I've seen her. Why don'tcha tell me what she looks like, maybe I can help after the song?" The piano man admitted as he cleared his throat, beginning to sing as lights began to shift and fade around the room, people feeling a desire to drink and just enjoy the revelry rising in them as the Salarian boss of the club smirked broadly, sitting at a nearby table with none other than Nihlus the Spectre himself.
"I'm telling you, he's amazing. It's some kind of light and forcefield combination that influences people's brainwave patterns or something. Gets 'em in a great mood. Having psychic powers has gotta be reaaaally nice, huh?" Bahm chuckled, showing off a toothless grin, his long, thin head bobbing slightly back and forth to the tune, his horns atop his head having…nibble marks.
Nihlus decided not to ask. Nor about Bahm's eyes. They were obviously contacts but he could faintly see through one, giving away there was an odd pattern to the iris within…
"THAT'S what he said it was?" Nihlus inquired of Bahm, cringing slightly as he glanced up at the stage, the human taking notice of Nihlus, smiling broadly, now clearly enjoying his work a bit more.
"No, he cracked a joke about it. Told me "Hey! It's a kind of magic". But it's obviously psychic powers." Bahm remarked, waving a hand in the air. "And there's no galactic law about this sort of thing. There's laws for pheromone influence, asari and Turian psychic manipulation, but since humans are still so new to everything, they're still not even considered. Until they amend the law, I can milk him for all he's worth!"
"Cuz I'M! HAVING! A GOOD! TIME! WITH YOU!" The crowd sang out, Nihlus cringing again as he shook his head. No, no. Business first. And having a bunch of people shouting at you that you were having a good time was NOT the same thing as actually enjoying yourself!
This wasn't fun for him. He yearned to be anywhere but here, having to do this…
…
…
…
… the sun beat down hot and heavy on his head as young Garrus of Palaven cringed, struggling to hold the sniper rifle up and aim at the far-off bottles on the rock some distance away…but it was an effort just to do THAT. As faint yellow-tinted clouds swept about the rocky hills of Palaven, Garrus Vakarian winced, his father glaring down at him, claws resting on his hips.
"Are you even LISTENING to me, Garrus? Try again."
Ohhh how Garrus yearned to be anywhere but here, having to do THIS. The red and black sniper rifle flopped to the ground as Garrus cringed, feeling like he was COOKING in his pale bluish/white armor, his father's regal gold and blue attire a stark contrast to the…well, "clown suit" poor Garrus felt he had on. "Can we stop for a while? My arms hurt."
"Not until you hit those targets. Now…" His father drew in a harsh breath, snapping his claw digits. "AGAIN."
Garrus yanked the gun up, took in a deep breath, his pale blue eyes focusing in on the bottles and pulling the trigger of the sniper rifle. It fired off several rounds, high pitched and whining…and Garrus missed again, the rounds bouncing harmlessly off the rocks around the bottles with a "VIP-VIP-VIP" as his father whacked his own face, shaking it back and forth.
"Siiiigggghhh…"
"Why are we doing this? I'm not going to get any better?" Garrus reasoned as his father frowned.
"These deep sighs are going to destroy my back." He remarked aloud. "Don't you understand? This is exactly when you try HARDER, Garrus. You've got to pull yourself together and do it. Because if you stop now? If you give up on something when it gets HARD…you'll never make it anywhere in life." He informed his son, gently putting a hand on his son's back. "I'm not doing this to punish you." He murmured softly. "It's not my job to make your life easy. I'm to teach you how to be an adult. Now…"
Garrus raised the sniper rifle up again.
"AGAIN."
"Looking at the map AGAIN?"
Kaidan Alenko sighed as he stared at the tiny little ball that Earth was on the enormous wall map that was before him. The Gargarin Station was home to psionic users…those with psychic powers, specifically, human youths who needed training. The "X-Men Mansion" as it were…if the X-Men mansion was in space and run not by a affable bald man in a wheelchair, but the sadistic Turian version of the lunatic drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket.
And if you ever made that comment to him, he'd psychically launch you into the wall like he had to Tommy Chestnut. And of course, Kaidan remembered Jeffrey Hardy.
They're about to organize a searching party!
"We're a looong way from nowhere, y'know….especially Earth." The dark-skinned Rahna remarked, her faintly Indian features exotic and attractive even at such a young age as Kaidan smiled back at her, turning away from the map. "Think they'll ever find Jeff?"
"I doubt it. I'm pretty sure Vyrnnus ATE him." Kaidan wisecracked. "I'd go looking here on the station but…it's so TINY. I mean…there's a whole big, bright galaxy out there, and we're cut off from it." He said, spreading his arms wide, his voice becoming sad as he shook his head back and forth. "I mean, it feels kinda like-"
"We're all alone out here. Except for each other." Rahna finished. "Together, we are aaaaall alone." She sang out, Kaidan smiling at this as one of their friends popped in, putting a hand on Kaidan's shoulder.
"Kaidan. Rahna. Shelby's got the transmitter going." He whispered to them.
The three of them headed off, Rahna and Kaidan lagging behind to talk more to each other as they made their way through the halls of the Biotic Acclimation and Temperance Training center on Gargarin Station, walking across cold, steely walls all paid for by "Conatix Industries", which made sense considering it was VERY likely that Conatix had CREATED psionics due to experiments with "Element Zero" that had unknowingly affected innocent humans-
I mean, ah…coincidence! Just a TOTALcoincidence that people living around Conatix's factories had had their children exposed to Element Zero in utero and then just so happened to get people visiting them after the kids were born to suggest enrolling them in their training center at the station! Unrelated action! Completely! They swore.
"Can't believe we're smuggling messages back home. It's crazy that we have to resort to this." Rahna admitted.
"Well, didn't you just say we were so alone out here? I mean, how long has it been since you talked to anyone back home?" Kaidan asked Rahna as she sighed slightly.
"A year and a half…crazy. That's when WE met, remember?"
"Yep. My "dorm buddy" at "Brain Camp"!" Kaidan snorted.
"Holy Cow, it all sounds so HILARIOUSLY nerdy!" Rahna chuckled s they entered Shelby's room, the grey-eyed tech wiz grinning broadly up at them as he turned away from the improvised little brown and blue "radio" he'd made in his spare time.
"Y'know, maybe that's why they keep us out here. So we don't get beat up." Kaidan wisecracked as Shelby nodded.
"Good thing you're in time! Now, you keep this on the down low, guys."
"We know what Vyrnnus will do if he catches us."
"So we don't get caught." Kaidan reasoned, quickly shutting the door.
…
…
…
… "You don't want to touch that stuff." Nick insisted to Nihlus as he sat down, FINALLY on break after briefly stopping over at the justicar's table, the nice woman giving him a photograph of Samara for him to use, and if he "ever saw her, please call the number on the back immediately". Nihlus put down the jug of "Thunderbrew", cringing a bit as he sniffed it.
"It's diluted?" He inquired.
"No, I caught a RAT going through the stocks. I'm throwing them all out and getting new stocks in tomorrow. Don't tell Bahm." He requested softly. "But some bottles I missed, so…don't drink that."
"So that's why you haven't found a better place to live, is that it?" Nihlus inquired, raising an invisible eyebrow in the air. "You're paying to cover up the many mistakes your boss makes? How many times has this happened, Nicholas?"
"Nihlus, please, call me "Nick". Nicholas is too stuffy." The human insisted, waving a hand in the air. "And it's alright. It's enough to just make ends meet AND pay for one amazingly great life insurance policy! I'm just glad to see you again. I've tried to keep in contact with you ever since…well, the incident on Palaven. How's Saren? I've heard he's been getting so many medals he could melt them down and make a gold STATUE of himself."
"Ugh. He hates statues." Nihlus said, shaking his head back and forth. "Forget your full name, STATUES are too stuffy." He remarked as the human drank of his "Shirley Temple", Nihlus looking the drink over. "Rather…effeminate-looking drink."
"I don't drink. Beer tastes disgusting to me. Besides, I work a long shift, can't get drunk." Nick reasoned as he toasted Nihlus. "But enough about me!"
"Actually…I'm here ABOUT you. The Citadel has actually heard of your interesting…I believe Bahm calls it "psychic powers"? They wished me to evaluate you. I've a two-way communication link, they'll be able to observe you through this small camera I've got on my shoulder armor." Nihlus asked of the human, pointing at his shoulder as a tiny camera sprung up, a tiny little blinking red dot beeping a bit. "Could you, perchance…give me and the Council a private demonstration somewhere we wouldn't be noticed? Away from prying eyes?"
"Oh, absolutely." The human cheerily remarked, getting up and heading out of the club, whistling cheerily, the justicar noticing Nihlus looking nervously down for a brief moment…she had a bad feeling about him. Something told her to follow this Turian. Find out what he was up to…
After all, the jungles on the outskirts of the planet Sur'Kesh…you could so easily get lost in here…or dumb a body.
And she was sure the spectre hadn't come here just for a "demonstration"…
…
…
…
… "What happened?" Garrus asked, embracing his mother, tears welling in his eyes as she gently rested her hands on his face, smiling as best she could, a set of bandages covering her right eye and one leg and arm broken in casts. She laid down in the A-Wing of Palaven Central Hospital, the faint green light being cast over mother and son as she cooed softly to comfort him…even though HER insides were what was on fire and it hurt when he hugged her as deeply as he could.
"It was a hit and run, they said. Not that I remember." His mother sighed out, shaking her head back and forth. "Worst part is I dropped the groceries…I had a care package I was going to send you. But Garrus…what are you doing here? Your study abroad shuttle should have left hours ago." She asked, looking genuinely concerned as Garrus sniffled, hesitant to speak before the words stumbled out of his mouth like HE'D stumbled panickingly into the hospital room.
"I…I didn't go, mother. I heard you were here and I ran all the way from the port. It doesn't matter. It was just a dumb trip anyway, I…I can take care of you now. We both know Dad won't leave work to be here."
Mrs. Vakarian looked genuinely hurt by THIS, shaking her head back and forth, her tone becoming faintly scolding. "Now THAT'S not fair, Garrus. He called me the moment he heard, and he's worried sick. In the time it would take for him to travel all the way back here from the Citadel, these old bones would be healed. I told him to stay put. But Garrus…" She hesitated before sighing slightly. "Your scholarship was only for THIS summer, and if you don't go, you lose it. You won't qualify again. This was your dream." She insisted as he slowly walked to the back of the room, turning away from his mother, head bowed. "I won't let you waste it! Go back there and-"
"It's too late." He murmured. "They're gone, and if I just left you here, like this, I wouldn't deserve it. I wouldn't forgive myself. Dad was right, y'know…" Garrus added with a quiet, sad air of resignation. "…he always said he'd support me in whatever I wanted to do. But he really meant "I'll support you as long as it's what I WANT you to do". It's time I faced the facts…I'm an officer's son. And that's all I'm going to be, Mom. I'm sorry…"
…
…
…
… "You didn't call your mom or dad?" Kaidan asked of Rahna, raising an eyebrow up as everyone in the cafeteria murmured and muttered in between mouthfuls. "Why not?" He wanted to know…the two of them not noticing who'd just walked into the room and was standing in his white and orange/gold attire, arms folded over his chest, pale skin alit in the light of the room, eyes glaring, his upper face covered in sickly green warpaint.
"If my parents got a message from me, they'd report it to the administrators. And I've no idea where my brother's stationed right now…"
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think Shelby's transmitter actually worked. It did look pretty dodgy…" Kaidan admitted before turning around…seeing
Vyrnnus the Turian standing there. "…uhoh." He squeaked out.
"PLAY TIME'S OVER!" Vyrnnus roared out. "Everyone to the training room. NOW!" He shrieked out, pointing towards the hallway that led into the training room as people BOLTED, Rahna being knocked against the wall as Kaidan gently helped her up.
"It's okay, Rahna, I'm right here." He offered gently, the two heading down the hall and into the training room…
Seeing Rahna's fellow Indian psionic Shelby tied up to a pole, large white blocks in a pile before him as everyone was forced to line up against the walls, Vyrnnus pacing back and forth before them, his voice harsh and biting as he narrowed his eyes at them all. "Clearly, some of you think this whole program is a joke. You think spending millions of credits to bring you here...train you…to make something out of your worthless shits…"
Kaidan flinched a bit as Vyrnnus stopped in front of him, looking right into his face, arms folded across his chest. "SOMEHOW you think its all a joke. Isn't that right, Alenko?"
"No, sir." Kaidan quickly said, Vyrnnus looking around the room.
"What about the REST of you?" He roared out.
"NO, SIR!"
"Anybody want to tell me why Cadet Shelby is here? Anybody want to know what he was up to last night?...NOBODY?" Vyrnnus whispered darkly, untying Shelby from the pole and knocking him over to the other cadets. "Get over there. No more games. All of you…" He informed them, holding up a gauntleted wrist as it glowed brightly, a smirk coming to his face. "Shall use these blocks to build THIS building." He informed them, showing a representation of a temple. "Should be easy enough for such…talented children." He darkly remarked. "But if you get a piece wrong…we start over. If a piece FALLS…we start over." He remarked, focusing his own psionic powers, burning, sizzling bluish flames enveloping one piece, lifting it up…and then DISSOLVING it before their eyes.
Everyone immediately gulped as one, Vyrnnus gesturing over at a nearby table loaded up with glasses of water. "When you finish it to my satisfaction, you can drink. You know…where I come from, it's much warmer. And today?...I'll show you just HOW warm." He whispered, gesturing with his head up at the red lights, which seemed to be not merely emitting a glow down onto the room, but…were making it much HOTTER. It felt like a sauna inside the room as Kaidan and Rahna nervously glanced at each other. "Your species has a phrase I think is apt…hell is for CHILDREN."
And so the work began, the entire room being alit with blue light as Kaidan swiftly whipped his shirt off. If he was gonna do his work in this hot room…might as well do it without the shirt. He didn't need itchy armpits distracting him, he thought to himself as his psychic powers flared up and he and the others joined in putting block piece after block piece together.
Tragically, some of them began conking out, flopping to the ground unconscious, their psychic power spent, putting too much of a strain on them. Some of them tried to help these poor souls up…
"Leave him!" Vyrnnus proclaimed, pointing at the nearby fallen cadet, his buddies cringing as they stepped back, getting back to work at lifting the blocks as Rahna cringed, struggling to keep focus.
"I can't…do it anymore."
"You HAVE to-" Kaidan whispered back.
"I can't…" She cringed, knees buckling, the piece she'd been working on about to fall down…but Kaidan grit his teeth, the piece flying back up, popping into place as Rahna regained her footing and rose back up.
"Thanks." She murmured softly, Kaidan warmly smiling at her as Vyrnnus walked over to them.
"Nice catch." He complimented. "Can you do it AGAIN, I wonder?" He mused, looking over at Rahna. "What's the matter, Cadet? Too tired? Too weak?"
"T-thirsty…" She muttered, Vyrnnus snapping his "fingers", a glass of water hovering over.
"Oh, I'm sorry…try this instead. Come on. Grab hold of it with your powers." He whispered inticingly.
"I…can't…" She muttered, psionic flames briefly engulfing the cup, hovering it SLIGHTLY towards her…before stopping in place, Vyrnnus tsk-tsking, shaking his head back and forth.
"That's too bad. But that was a really good effort…here…" He chuckled, his hand beginning to swell with bluish psychic energy as Kaidan realized what he was about to do, eyes widening in horror and fury.
"DON'T YOU-"
KRA-KRAAAK!
A powerful psionic burst struck her arm, and now blood was flowing freely, a bone popping through the skin as Rahna struggled not to scream, many of the other cadets gazing in horror, Vyrnnus snorting slightly. "Pathetic!"
If looks could kill, Kaidan Alenko would have murdered Vyrnnus on the spot. Since looks COULDN'T, he'd have to settle for the sizzling blue psionic energy that now coursed through his body, sparking out of his eyes as he wheeled on the Turian drill sergeant. In a display of pure, raw, unprecedented power that would have made Professor Xavier himself gasp in astonishment, a screeching blue blast of psychic power launched the Turian through the air and through the blocks the cadets had been using.
Quite wisely, everyone immediately backed away, many of their mouths agape as blue flames sizzled off of Vyrnnus's armor as he chuckled darkly, wincing in pain. "You've got SOME skill, boy…but…I'm going to teach you what it REALLY MEANS TO STRIKE SOMEONE!" He roared out, launching himself at Kaidan, the two of them grappling, trying to force the other back, psychic auras surrounding their forms. The entire room was bathed in scorching blue light, Kaidan being knocked back slightly as Vyrnnus drew his knife. "Come on! Finish what you started, boy!" he roared out, swiping with a knife, cutting across Kaidan's stomach…
Well, that did it. Kaidan let out a howl, a shockwave of psychic energy launching forward, slamming into Vyrnnus and knocking him down as he bounced up, fist held high, letting out a war cry, a blazing, burning ball of blue flames and psychic energy, intent on BURYING this Turian.
"NO-" Rahna managed to cry out…
KRA-KRAAAK!
...
…
…
… "How…how in the…?" The Salarian councilor murmured, Nick calmly tossing a small fireball up and down in one hand, bouncing his head back and forth as the flames sizzled and hissed in his grip, a big, slightly goofy smile on his features.
"That's…it's simply…incredible…" The Asari councilor gasped out, hands flying to her mouth as she and her fellow Council members beheld the sight Nihlus was relaying, the Turian councilor the most shocked of all, mouth agape, frozen in place before he finally spoke.
"Human…are…are you?"
"Maybe it's just magic when we meet?" Nick chuckled out. "
"The best way I can explain it is his skill is a harmonics-based psychic ability that manifests through reality manipulation?" Nihlus murmured, pacing back and forth, holding his head in his hands as the fireball dissolved and Nick put his hands on his hips, smiling broadly. "I believe it's how he's been able to survive so many fatal incidents."
"We knew he had some kind of power, but this-this is…I mean…" The Salarian muttered. "…the sheer number of possibilities!"
"I mean, it would be one thing if it was merely minor manipulation, but… but to THIS EXTENT…my OWN people don't have this level of psychic might!" The Asari councilor whispered to her fellow compatriots.
"What? You don't like what you see?" Nick wished to know. "What's wrong? I'm on your side. Well, really, EVERYONE'S side. I go where they need me."
A saddened, mournful expression came to Nihlus's face as he cringed, looking away in shame. "I'm so very, very sorry." He murmured. "Councilors…does this mean you…?" He trailed off as Nick took notice of the justicar that was watching them from behind a tree and he turned to look at her, waving a bit as Nihlus walked away from Nick, looking at the communicator, not seeing someone else was watching them.
"We're dealing with someone on a threat level of FAR higher than…anticipated. Potentially…Extinction Level." The Turian councilor informed Nihlus. "With what you have said he had done before…and what we've seen him do here…I've never met anyone who could have more of a direct and indirect influence on other people's lives."
"You know what is required." The Asari councilor sighed. "It is…regrettable to do this to one who seems so earnest and kind. From all your reports he was of invaluable service to Palaven and Earth."
"Are we sure this is what we must do?" The Salarian councilor spoke up. "We could study him. Take him in for tests."
"He doesn't deserve to be a lab rat." The Turian councilor snapped. "He's earned better for what he did for my people. Nihlus…can you handle this swiftly, with a minimum of pain?"
Nick inwardly cringed hearing this, mouthing to the justicar "Goodbye" as the Turian spectre nodded at the Council members.
"…don't worry, sir…" Nihlus stonily murmured, turning the communicator off, pulling out his gun, aiming it at the back of Nick's head as the human sighed slightly, as if…disappointed. "I've got it under control." He remarked, turning the communicator off, readying the gun.
THA-BAM!
The kid slumped to the ground, the justicar gasping, barreling out from behind the tree, a psychic blast sending Nihlus reeling back as she glared hatefully at him. "What have you DONE? You murdered a defenseless innocent in cold blood!"
"If I hadn't, he…" Nihlus winced. "Someone with his powers could destroy everything and everyone so EASILY. The Council can't risk someone like him just…farting around the galaxy! I…I had to…" He murmured.
"And I HAVE…to do this…" The justicar growled out. "You KILLED him! You will face justice!"
…
…
…
…"Jesus, Kaidan! You KILLED him!" Shelby howled in horror, Kaidan's body still alit with bluish flames as he stepped back, cringing at the body before him as he turned to look over at Rahna, who was still clutching her arm.
"Rahna, are you okay?" He gently asked.
"D-Don't…" She murmured, Kaidan looking mournfully at her as she grimaced, looking away.
"Rahna, I-" He tried to say.
"DON'T."
Within a few days, Kaidan Alenko was being escorted away. He was going off the station…and he was never coming back. "I just want a minute to talk to her!" He insisted to the bald-headed guards, wrenching free of their grip as the first one frowned darkly at him.
"She don't WANT to talk to you, killer."
"You go when WE say you go."
"Wait." A voice called out. A familiar, soft voice. The three of them turned around…
There Rahna was, standing by the wall map that Kaidan had stood before so often, one arm in a cast, biting her lip nervously as Kaidan looked at the guards.
"…one minute." The second guard said, Kaidan walking over to her, gently reaching out only for Rahna to reel back.
"Rahna, I'm sorry, it's just I couldn't let him-"
"I KNOW, Kaidan. I know." She admitted quietly, cringing as tears began to brim in her eyes. "But what you did…you can't make that right. He's dead."
"He DESERVED it! Even the administrators said he went too far! With Shelby, with you-" Kaidan growled out, pointing at her as a tear slipped out of her eye, Rahna shaking her head back and forth.
"That doesn't make it RIGHT. I'm sorry…I just-you…you scared me, Kaidan." She murmured softly.
"Time's up." The second guard spoke up, putting a hand on his shoulder as Kaiden frowned.
"Not yet. Rahna, please, just-" Kaiden began to say.
"NOW." The guard insisted…Kaiden snarling, his eyes glowing blue, hand enveloped in psionic energy, knocking the hand away.
"I SAID "NOT YET"!" He roared out.
"Goodbye." Rahna whispered, slowly walking away, Kaiden looking longingly at her, mouth slightly open, hand reaching out.
"…Rahna…" He whispered.
…
…
…
…Nihlus frowned as he sat down at the Citadel bar, Saren calmly plopping down next to him, other members of Citadel Security or "C-Sec" milling about around them as the bartender handed them some REAL Thunderwine. Nihlus tossed back his order, Saren taking small sips as the dark-skinned Turian smacked his lips a bit before speaking up. "Everything tastes disgusting this month."
"You MUST tell me how you escaped from that justicar one day." Saren inquired with a small smile as Nihlus cringed.
"I'm not…proud of how I did that. Nor am I proud of…what I had to do."
"I'm saddened his life had to end in such a way myself." Saren admitted mournfully. "I cannot quite explain it, but…he was a rare being. But I believe he would understand that you did what you believed what was best. What the Council felt was best."
"He has a son, y'know. Named after his last name. He's going to be enrolling in the Alliance military. I…funneled some credits his way to make sure he'd be cared for." Nihlus added quietly. "But even though he's got enough to buy a small freighter with that and the life insurance policy his father evidently had, it feels like blood money."
"You don't deserve to treat yourself like this. We have to make these kinds of harsh decisions for the greater good." Saren reasoned. "Like…I had to. I learned this lesson very quickly thanks to what happened on Palaven…and now you've learned it too."
"What lesson would that be, Saren?" Nihlus inquired with a slight frown as Saren took a large swig of the thunderwine, wiping his mouth on his wrist before putting the bottle down.
"Even the right choices can have consequences."
"Is that your idea of making me feel better?" Nihlus wanted to know, raising an invisible eyebrow up in the air, folding his arms over his armored chest as Saren shook his head.
"No, truth be told, it's not meant to. I'm here to help advise you on how you can be a better spectre, Nihlus, not to take it easy on you. But now that you know that…it'll make next time much easier on you. You'll be more ready for what'll come." Saren wisely intoned, waving the bottle slightly in the air.
"And there's always a "next time", isn't there?" Nihlus chuckled, holding up his own bottle, clinking it alongside Saren's…
…
…
…
…one such "next time" was soon coming up.
A calamity was soon about to overtake the galaxy. A tragedy unlike it had ever seen before.
It would unfold on the planet of Eden Prime, where one "Commander Shepherd" was doing a simple beginning mission for the ship known as "The Normandy"…a ship that Nihlus himself would be upon.
And it would change the course of the galaxy's destiny in more ways than any onboard could have possibly imagined.