Chapter 3
"Commander" Blared Cartwright's voice from over the bedside intercom. "Commander" The Bitch punched the speaker and held her finger down on the response button.
"Give me time to wake up Cartwright?"
"Forgive me Commander, but we've arrived at Turvess, We've been orbiting for two hours, I've been calling you for just as long"
"Well then...maybe you should call harder"
"...what?"
"Nevermind. Tell Holi and M.T to meet me at the transport shuttle"
"Roger Ma'am"
"And prepare a transport shuttle"
"Roger, again" The Bitch pushed herself lifelessly from the bed. She removed her armour from it's storage unit, the blood red breastplate, the black spiral down the one intact sleeve. She preferred to bare a fully tattooed arm as she fought, which she had become accustomed to in her time with the Talons. Her helmet was scarred beyond recognition, she had begun to chart a tally of lives she had taken, but the Reaper wars had turned it into a blur. She clumsily clung onto the visor as she made her way to the elevator and mashed the loading bay button on the console. She clambered into the small metal box and she leant against the back of the lift. The doors opened and she was greeted by Holi, M.T and Cartwright, who was saluting.
"Sleep well?" Holi asked. The Bitch grunted.
"Aww poor princess" M.T added. The Bitch grunted loudly
"The shuttle is ready commander!" Cartwright barked loudly, eyes locked straight ahead, "May I join you on this mission? I'm trained to the highest of Alliance standards, and I'm quite the sniper"
"No" The Bitch moaned climbing into the vacant shuttle
"But..I"
"No"
"That's why we really call her The Bitch" M.T joked as he stepped on to the shuttle behind Holi and closed the door after them. The Bitch kicked the ground twice.
"Let's go!" She declared raising a fist in the air. The pilot took off plummeting through the sea of stars toward the lush green planet. The Bitch looked forward on the way down, through the atmosphere, millions of gigantic trees formed a formidable canopy in which thousands of large buildings were intricately crafted around the trunks. Gunshots rang throughout the forests, she looked around for the source. "Follow the sound" she whispered to the pilot. He turned slightly and shot straight for a clearing below. In the clearing was a lone Cerberus ship, and a dozen Cerberus Troopers looking at the treetops "Land" she cried ripping her Wraith shotgun from it's holster. The pilot opened the doors as he hovered a few feet from the ground.
"Alliance!" Cried a Cerberus trooper alerting half a dozen of his allies to The Bitches presence. The Bitch leapt from the shuttle and took shelter next to a gigantic tree stump, shooting blindly from cover.
"Holi, drones!" The Bitch demanded, as Holi crouched next to her releasing her drones one in attack mode, the other defence. "M.T get down here" M.T launched from the shuttle in a blur of biotic fury, causing it to rock heavily, and knocked a Cerberus trooper twenty feet across the clearing, his head slamming into the Cerberus shuttle. The Bitch peeked over the top of the stump, the bullets whizzing past her head, she counted six troopers shooting at her and Holi, three shooting at M.T, one unconscious, one was fighting a drone and loosing. The other seemed distracted by something else in the other direction. "Holi got anything else?"
"I have a turret, but I think that's a bit overkill, besides I haven't really tested it yet"
"Fine, well ready to get your own hands dirty for once?"
"No"
"Now" The Bitch leapt over the stump and shot an omni arrow straight into the chest of the nearest trooper. Holi changed her defence drone into attack mode, and popped off a few potshots from her new Phalanx pistol. M.T flew across the battlefield smashing his fists and face into troopers left and right, knocking some down and killing others, as he flew past The Bitch she ripped his Claymore shotgun from it's holster and fired of a couple of rounds into a Troopers faces, ripping from his skull. The Bitch surveyed the battlefield and picked out a Trooper as a blue ball of fury dominated the battlefield behind her, and Holi was helping too probably. The Bitch shoved her Omni-blade deep into the ribs of the Trooper and lifted him a foot off the ground before throwing him aside like a ragdoll.
"That's all of them" Holi shouted, having expertly surveyed the area from behind the stump.
"I didn't think we killed that many" the bitch pondered looking at the corpses with very precise holes in their foreheads.
"Speak for yourself" M.T shouted raising his fists triumphantly "That's why they call me the MurderTrain motherfu-" a single bullet took down his barrier, he turned furiously, spotting the smoking Predator pistol, and the Centurion holding it nervously. "Why don't you come over here so I can shove that gun up your ass" M.T murmured charging his biotics again. The Centurion span and began fleeing clumsily toward the trees, stumbling slightly, when suddenly a load crowing was heard from the trees.
"Oh no not again." The Centurion cried as he was lifted into the air by some unseen force. He grasped at the invisible device, choking on the very air he breathed. M.T dropped his charge stunned, Holi summoned a drone, The Bitch looked on eagerly. The Centurion was slammed into the ground, wheezing heavily, as the infiltrator dropped his cloak to reveal a species completely alien to The Bitch. It wore a dark hood, adorned with shadowy feathers that draped across it's back. It's combat armour bore blackened patterns that stretched from it's wide arms to it's spine. It had long spindly legs, making it almost seven feet tall, with one of it's talons wrapped around the Centurions neck. It's clawed hands gripped tightly around a modified sniper rifle, of unusual origin that appeared to have had the scope removed. He held the barrel of the rifle against the Centurions forehead, and coldly pulled the trigger.
"Who are you?" The Bitch demanded, stepping in front of M.T, arms folded muscles flexed.
"I could ask you the same thing"
"Will you?"
"What?"
"Will you ask me the same thing?"
"I...don't even...what?"
"Who are you?" The strange figure lowered his weapon and lifted his hood, a large beak shape masked covered his face, the sun glinting off the edges, and large black feathers streaming down his back.
"I am Stevan Ravinski, Cassow to the King"
"I'm The Bitch, Bee to the Itch"
"She's a Spectre" M.T interrupted pushing The Bitch forward
"A Spectre?" Ravinski proclaimed "I was wondering when I'd meet one" He stepped forward and appeared much taller than previously thought, at least another foot. "You don't look like much"
"Come say that to my fist" The Bitch demanded clenching said fist.
"Calm down" Ravinski implored kindly "I just meant you aren't much physically"
"Again come say that.."
"No I meant you are shorter than your subordinate"
"Seriously!"
"Here your status is greatly...influenced by your height"
"Is that relevant?"
"Not right now"
"Good, so why are Cerberus here?"
"Capitalising on war"
"War? The Reaper War?" Holi asked
"The war between the King and the Emperor, The final war as it's so optimistically named"
"And you fight for the King?"
"I do what needs to be done" The Bitch surveyed the myriad of corpses.
"Was this all of them?" She asked
"That depends"
"On what?"
"If you are including the other shuttles that landed"
"I'm obviously not" the Bitch sighed deeply
"I noticed at least six shuttle land, this one, four more like it around the forests and one larger ship landed in Neasta, at the King's palace. I believe a Cerberus ambassador will attempt to sweet talk the king, forge an alliance."
"What would an alliance gain them?"
"If they succeed they will have access to the most feared army in the universe.
"The Reapers?"
"The Rachni?"
"The Geth?"
"No...Us...The Raloi" Ravinski pleaded seemingly confused.
"No offence buddy but, uh, we've never heard of you before" M.T explained hamfistedly.
"You've...never heard of us? The Dreadhawks of Harlix? The Murder of Crolles? The war of Willoaek?" the three companions looked at each other and simply shrugged. "Fantastic!" Ravinski cried, "You'll see the Raloi in action first hand, you won't be dissappointed I guarantee it" He swung his rifle round onto his back and drew a grappling hook from his belt.
"Wait" Holi shouted, "Do you have an omni-tool?" Ravinski held up his arm, the familiar orange glow of the omni-tool materialised around it, he pressed a few buttons and linked into their communications channel.
"The Council made contact with us a few years ago, I consider this a souvenir. I should be able to hear you now, but we should test it" He grappled onto a distant branch and disappeared among the treetops.
"That Ravinski guy is such a tool" The Bitch remarked, evoking a smirk from M.T
"I can hear you"
"Perfect, Where to?"
"There it is, The palace of Neasta" It wasn't difficult to see, a grand building of glistening white wood, almost marble in it's appearance, built high atop the tallest tree in the canopy, thick arched bridges linked each building tower and rampart. "Some people say it was the first nest back in the time before weapons, before words, before war"
"Sounds boring" M.T mumbled crushing a fallen branch beneath his feet.
"All I'm saying is a small fire at the base of that tree, and whoosh" The Bitch stated clambering over the splintered remains.
"And all I'm saying is you will burn my home, family and planet to the ground"
"...Your point being?"
"We aren't doing it, we're almost there stop complaining" Ravinski was but a shadow in the treetops, occasionally leaping from platform to platform. "Look, there, as I said the largest envoy landed here"
"We can't see from down here"
"Looks to be twenty five outside maybe more inside, seems like the King has some of his Cassow outside"
"You'll be ok with killing your comrades?"
"Hm...Oh...yeah totally"
"You sound pretty cool with that"
"We believe death is the highest honour, we can discuss religion later, radio silence from here on out, I'll meet you inside, there's an elevator in the hollow of the tree"
"Yay more elevators" Holi moaned, before sneezing sharply.
"Twenty Five guys, think we can handle that?" M.T asked
"We killed twice as many on the way here" The Bitch responded slicing through the undergrowth with her omni-blade.
"Not all at once"
"We'll be fine"
"Are you getting worried in your old age?"
"More like eager" They reached the bottom of the trunk, the palace was swirling above them in the stars, but there didn't seem to be an entrance in sight, and the base of the trunk seemed at least ten miles in it's circumference.
"Where the hell is this elevator?" The Bitch moaned.
"To your right" Ravinski whispered
"What happened to radio silence?" No answer. They headed right clambering over roots and debris for at least half an hour when they spotted two guards, both seven foot tall holding similar rifles to Ravinski and scanning the distance. "Guards" she whispered. Holi sneezed, the guards turned, two shots pierced air, and two bodies hit the ground. "Thanks" They slipped past the corpses and onto the lift.
"So what do you think of Ravinski?" The Bitch asked. Holi sneezed
"I like him" M.T boomed
"Why's that?"
"He has a unique way of killing that I approve of"
"Shooting enemies point blank in the face"
Holi sneezed
"Brutal and effective, no wonder he claimed to be feared. But the way he used smoke grenades and flash bangs liberally to confuse and distract the opponent before swiftly moving in for the kill. It's chaotic but elegant."
Holi sneezed
"Still I'd rather fight him than you"
"Same here" M.T gushed.
Holi sneezed. As the platform of the lift opened up into the assembly hall, they saw hundreds of Raloi encircling them sat on high wooden benches lining the wall, a Gigantic throne twenty feet tall stood opposite them with a ten foot Raloi perched on the seat, with a delightful array of rainbow coloured feathers adorning his chest and head, a bright gold mohawk adding an extra foot to his height. A ripple of murmers began to spread through the hall gradually getting louder the longer they went on, and soon reaching a crescendo as The Bitch stepped off the platform and walked toward, who she assumed was the king. The Cerberus troops all had their sights locked on her, but seemed hesitant to pull the trigger, she counted twenty, mostly Troopers, five Centurions. Clearly they didn't take the Raloi that seriously, they would have sent a Phantom if that were the case.
"Greetings" The Bitch declared, immediately regretting her choice of words. The Raloi murmur built up again, until the king raised his fist in the air to silence them.
"Greetings, human" He spoke calmly, his voice quiet almost a whisper, but the hall carried his words in echo to her ears. "It appears you are an enemy of our guests, they are quite nervous of your arrival" he looked over the troops. "Well that much is obvious"
"I've given them good reason to be"
"And what reason is that?"
"I keep killing them"
"And do you intend to kill us"
"If we have to" M.T shook his head violently, Holi shrugged.
"Let's hope you don't have to" The king rose from his place and slowly walks down the polished steps to stand directly in front of The Bitch, crouching slightly, his shadowy eyes peered deep into her adamant blues.
"But why have you killed them?"
"...It's my job?"
"And it is my job to negotiate with those who approach in peace. You have brought war with you"
"I'm.."
"I like that. I have always liked warriors, and I have always enjoyed war. Why do these men deserve death?"
"Because they come to you under false pretences" Ravinski uncloaked, his rifle lowered, his gaze directly into the narrow black eyes of the king. "They claim to want your help, to redeem your actions, but they fought for the Reapers and they want to enslave you."
"Lies!" The lead centurion boomed.
"Silence!" The King declared his shout rocked the hall, and shook The Bitch. "This is a Cassow of the Emperor. If he dares to enter our palace, then he deserves to speak."
"I have come as a peace envoy, the Emperor wishes to form an alliance against, outside threats, such as Cerberus"
"We pose no Threat" The Centurion claimed stepping forward his hand firmly on the trigger of his Phalanx.
"Your actions speak otherwise" the king whispered, "Is it true you fought for the Reapers, the enemy that we shut down our communications to avoid, the enemy that began The Final War"
"We bow to no-one, they worked for us!" The king stood tall, he strode past the Cerberus troops and took his place back at the throne, he lifted his rifle and shot the Centurion who spoke through the skull. Other Raloi took up a similar action killing all of the Cerberus troops in the hall.
"The emperor truly wants peace?" The king continued as if nothing had just happened.
"He does, we all regret what we did to survive, but now is the time to make amends, I am here to speak on his behalf." Ravinski answered.
"Good, it appears our true enemy is out there, it is time we were unified."
"Cool... so did we win?" The Bitch asked stepping forward slightly.
"If your mission was to kill all Cerberus troops, yes"
"Oh, Shit!" She exclaimed, "We should have taken one alive for questioning.
"I'm sure we'll get the chance next time" M.T commented.
"Holi call the shuttle guy...I want to say Randy Handford" The Bitch commanded. Holi sneezed and left to the landing area outside.
"Hey Ravinski, you're pretty cool"
"I know I overheard you when you were on the elevator"
"Oh, well fancy joining the crew? We could use someone with your skillset"
"I'm sorry but, war is easy, peace is long and hard" Ravinski, placed his hand on her shoulder and nodded slightly. M.T sniggered. "If you are desperate feel free to contact me, I'm sure we'll have some satellites up soon"
"Cool...well bye" The Bitch shouted as she skipped from the hall to return to her ship.