Chapter 6
"Christia" The Bitch stepped into the engine room, she pulled her shimmering Golden hair behind her head. Christia was busy monitoring some sort of engineering thing on a datapad, but stopped at the mention of her name. "I'm sorry-"
"We aren't going to Omega"
"No"
"We can't go there now anyway, not with The Girl"
"No"
"I understand, it's not somewhere I'd ever take a child….no offence"
"None taken" The Bitch turned slowly and began to leave, only to stop suddenly. "Did I do the right thing?"
"Taking The Girl? Yes, we couldn't leave her on that planet, with those people"
"I meant all the other stuff"
"…No"
"What should I have done?"
"Well, I would have killed them all" The Bitch nodded slowly and left Christia to her sciency things. She decided to pay Holi a visit before heading to the bridge. Holi was tinkering with her turret when she entered.
"Still have a headache?"
"Always"
"We'll see if we can't find another room for you"
"It's alright, all my things are here now"
"What are you doing anyway?"
"Just making a few adjustments"
"What kind of adjustments?"
"I'm trying to get it to fire rockets, bullets, and the flamethrower at the same time" The Bitch smirked she looked at the assortment of items strewn across the floor and noticed a few grenades.
"Are those Christia's-?"
"Pollen grenades? Yep, I thought I could replace the flame thrower with a pollen thrower"
"Ok, well I'll leave you to it"
"Hang on" Holi closed the compartments on her turret stood up and faced The Bitch.
"Where are you taking The Girl?"
"Somewhere far away, like she asked"
"Where?"
"Tchuchanka, I figured M.T has young family, she might be happy there"
"Will she be safe there?"
"Safer than she'll be here"
"I guess, that's good enough"
"That's the best we can ever hope for" She commented as she stepped out of the doorway and on to the elevator.
It took a while to reach Tchuchanka, but she just slept to pass the time, The Girl had her cabin for the night so she was stuck in the crew quarters, sharing a bunk with Cartwright. M.T was about ready to leave by the time they arrived, he appeared haggard, but eager. His family had gathered with him at the landing area, his pregnant wife and all twelve of his children.
"Hey Bitch" M.T said in a voice as worn out as he was "Let's get off this rock" He laughed.
"I need a word with (M.T's wife) first"
"I'm happy to see you too" M.T strode past and straight onto the shuttle, almost stepping on The Girl as he passed, barely noticing her.
"(Wife) I have a small favour to ask"
"What is it Jessica?" Jessica pulled forward The Girl, and stood behind her, her hands upon The Girls shoulders.
"This is….The Girl" The Girl looked at her feet anxiously.
"The Girl?"
"She doesn't have a name yet, but I was hoping you could provide her a home" (wife) looked The Girl up and down, M.T's children all gazed on in qonder, one of them ran forward to steal The Girls doll, but she scared him off with a hiss. (wife) laughed boisterously.
"She's tough, she'll fit right in, besides it'll be nice to have a girl around for a change, twelve children and all of them male, what are the odds?"
"Thank you (wife)" Jessica knelt down next to The Girl and looked in to her worried little eyes. "You'll be safe here, these are nice people and now you are far far away from the bad ones"
"Thank you" The Girl muttered as she walked toward her new brothers, Jessica took a moment to compose herself before hopping back into the shuttle.
"What was that about?" M.T moaned, almost half asleep.
"You've just adopted a daughter"
"What's her name?"
"Don't know"
"She'll figure it out" He uttered before shortly beginning to snore.
The next stop was Omega, she hadn't heard anything from the council since Heshtok, so she figured they could use some shore leave. It was always quite a sight heading to Omega, The Asteroid lit up with a thousand dazzling lights, It looked serene and Beautiful, however the inside was anything but. Fighting, stealing, smuggling, gambling, stripping, fighting some more, all that could be experienced in a single moment on Omega. It was foul, rotten on the inside, but it was home. The streets were her haunt, the people her ghosts, she left as a mercenary but returns as a Spectre. She wondered who she would visit first, Harrot, who used to give her the odd freebie for protection, () of the blue suns, a rival mercenary group, maybe even Aria would entertain her for once, unlikely but still, it was nice to know she had more sway than she used to, as did the Talons. Ever since they played a major part in Aria retaking Omega they've become one of the Major Mercenary Groups, along with Eclipse, The Blue Suns and The Blood Pack. It was busy when they docked, she could see the lustful eyes gazing at her shiny new ship, they could try and take it, they would fail. She granted all of her team shore leave, however some of them appeared reluctant to exit the ship, they wouldn't be this prejudice on The Citadel she thought, but she held her tongue. She was surprised however at Cartwright's eagerness to see Omega, he probably wouldn't last long she thought, but she held her tongue. Christia left sullenly, and quickly without speaking, she headed straight for Afterlife, no doubt to work in the lower levels for the exclusive guests, The Bitch could probably get in now that she was a Spectre, but she felt like exploring a little first. Her allies all split from her, apart from Cartwright who refused to leave her side, she knew where she could find them however, M.T would be at the bar in Afterlife if not in a holding cell, Holi would be in the lower markets seeing what tech she can get her hands on, Mr Wiggles…..well hopefully he'd come back.
It was smaller than she remembered, it was that damn Captain's Cabin, she knew this status would spoil her. She hadn't slept here much since she joined the Talons, but it was still home, it seemed abandoned, it always seemed that way. She stepped up to the door and forced it open, it never locked, and let herself in. Cartwright decided to stay outside and keep watch, he didn't want to be involved in a crime, although as a Spectre this was probably allowed, maybe, it was her hosue anyway fuck it. It was still empty, a thick icing of dust caked the empty surfaces. She moved a few items examining them thoroughly, but she couldn't recall if she had seen them before, she remembered the building, why couldn't she remember the contents. She walked to the corner of the house she called a room, in reality it was all just one big room, but with just her and her father living there, she found it had plenty of space. Her father was gone now, long gone, since before the Talons, but she remembered he was brave, he was kind, he kept her safe, he wasn't her real father after all he was a Turian, but he loved her all the same, and she loved him. She could remember now, not objects, but events. When her dad had fought off burglars, the sand addict they found passed out in the kitchen on her fifth birthday, the day her mother was shot over an unsettled debt. These are the events that made her who she was today, these are the things that she had to embrace to survive, to thrive, to live. She suddenly felt light headed and decided to leave, Cartwright fell in behind her as she went to find Holi in the markets.
"Little Fish?" A heavy voice called out from behind her, she turned around but could only see two unfamiliar Krogan stood facing her, the crowds slowly began to move away and part as a chubby Volus in gilded armour pushed his way through.
"Pinball!" She shouted a smile lighting her face.
"You know I hate that nickname"
"You know I hate that one" Pinball ushered over the Krogan, who flanked him intimidatingly, she wasn't scared though, she had….Cartwright….well then. "How have you been?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Oh, you know starting fights, winning fights. All good and you Little Fish?"
"Same here really"
"You should see my new ship"
"You have a ship?"
"Oh yes, I've gone into piracy, it's much more profitable than mercenary work, plus if you're good people will fight for you"
"And I suppose these are some of those people?"
"Oh Yes, let me introduce you." He held his hand out to his right "this is Weyrloc Rusk, and that is Weyrloc Jarrar, outcasts since Clan Urdnot took over" He curled his stubby little hand into a stubby little fist. "And who is your bodyguard?"
"This is lieutenant Cartwright, a most formidable opponent I assure you, I struggle just to keep him from charging into combat and slaughtering everyone" Cartwright looked on stunned at the accusation. "He was assigned to my ship when I became a Spectre"
"I applied for Spectre status too you know? But I was beaten in the vote by Renli Nova" He mimed spitting "Good for nothing Engineer"
"Didn't he save a Volus settlement by reprogramming a Cerberus Atlus?"
"Perhaps, but he did nothing after that"
"He was injured in the line of fire"
"And the fool expects to be thrown straight back into it, once he recovers of course" He pretended to spit again "Where is The Warhammer? and Clusterfuck? and the other one…..?" He began to snap his fingers as he looked to the sky.
"MurderTrain?"
"That's the one, he's truly formidable." He shot a glance at Cartwright and his Krogan guard shared a giggle.
"M.T is in the bar or under arrest"
"Of course"
"Holi is over there taking what appears to be a Fornax magazine from a Quarian's stall" Pinball looked over his shoulder and nodded upon seeing said sight. "And Kevalk….."
"He never recovered?"
"No"
"I'm sorry for your loss, I wish I could have fought with him"
"You were an…..able replacement"
"You are quite the warrior" He pondered for a moment. "If you ever get sick of serving the Council, I'm sure I'd be able to find room on my crew for you. you could join my honour guard here."
"Thanks, and if you ever want to help someone in your life I'll give you a call." He laughed at that.
"I'll be waiting eagerly" he patted her on the thigh as he waddled off, his honour guard close behind. She walked toward the stand she pointed out earlier.
"You have to pay for that" The Quarian merchant demanded, his grasp tight around Holi's wrist.
"I was going to" She lied
"Excuse me" The Bitch stated, "I'm a Spectre and this is one of my team, we've been asked to investigate under-age models in Fornax, we need this for an investigation"
"All the models are of legal age according to galactic regulations, it says right there on the front" The Bitch examined the cover to see he was telling the truth.
"Regardless we are going to need it...for free"
"Fine, take your smut, but if I catch you again I will take you to Aria"
"Do you even know Aria?" Holi asked angrily.
"Well...not personally...but still"
"Well then we'll be leaving" They did so casually, as The Bitch brought up her omni tool, and began to fiddle with the screens. "You're getting sloppy Holi"
"I'm just out of practice"
"Is that what you were doing? Practicing?"
"I was until he caught me" The Bitch glanced at the magazine in Holi's hand.
"I don't know what you see in Hanar anyway"
"It's the tentacles"
"I didn't want to know" She covered her ears
"They can do all kinds of things at once"
"I don't want to know!" She shouted, shortly before her Omni-tool started to emit a signal "Looks like we've found M.T." She checked his location. "Holi look at this" Her allies looked at the Omni-tool.
"That looks like Mordin Solus' former clinic, God rest him" Cartwright interrupted.
"Wait he's at a hospital?"
"Now it's run by Mordin Solus' former assistants."
"Why is he at a hospital?"
"He could be sick" Cartwright uttered, much to Holi and The Bitch's dismay.
"He doesn't get sick!" She was defiant, forcing her way through the crowds, her comrades struggling to keep up.
"What the hell M.T?"
"Oh shit" M.T attempted to scurry back into the clinic.
"Why the fuck are you in a hospital?"
"Drinking, Drugs, Fighting, Fucking, take your pick" The Bitch laughed nervously, as she crossed her arms and lent back a little.
"Getting weaker in your age, old man?"
"Still stronger than you, Bitch"
"You wish" He laughed slightly.
"Yeah"
"Well come on, we've got shit to do, but one quick stop to make first"
"We still doing that?"
"Of course"
"Cool"
"How many strip clubs are there on Omega?"
"Too many"
"There can never be too many"
"Heh, agreed"
It was an eventful journey searching for Christia, she was obviously using a fake name so asking wouldn't have helped, it was the sixth club she went into, a high society club based underneath Afterlife, apparently it was Aria's favourite strip club on Omega, but they all claimed that. She finally found her, dancing on a table for a sketchy looking Turian.
"Hey there uh..."
"Rose"
"Rose, I'd like a dance, Rose"
"It'll cost you, 5000 credits"
"5000, no Spectre discount?"
"That is with our friends and family discount"
"Family?"
"I didn't make the name"
"Well If you'd be so kind as to move, sir"
"But I paid for an hour"
"And you'll be leaving with your teeth" The Turian scuttled off covering his mouth "As you were Chr...ose"
"What do you want?"
"I promised I would embarrass you" She took a seat, they all did, except for Cartwright.
"Ok, fine, this isn't as fulfilling as it was before"
"What?"
"I'll rejoin your crew"
"What?"
"I'll just grab my things"
"What? I paid..." Christia hopped from the table and headed backstage. "I wanted a dance"
"You'll get one" M.T commented, grabbing Holi's arm and thrusting her onto the table.
"I don't dance for money, besides there's a reason Quarian's don't strip"
"Your thighs?" Holi slapped M.T and stormed off offended. "See you on the ship" he laughed.
"Ok let's go" Christia was holding a small satchel, filled with clothes.
"But my..." She wasn't waiting to hear the end of the sentence.
"Hey!" Shouted a Volus, wearing a bright blue suit. "You can't leave in the middle of your shift" Chritia turned around and stepped toward him, she placed her foot on his shoulder and rolled him onto his back
"I quit" she whispered, marching out of the door.
"My dance..."
"Come one Little Fish" M.T uttered heading to the door and pulling Cartwright away from one of the dancers. The Bitch left sullenly, meeting her crew at the door, Holi with them.
"So Commander?" Cartwright asked, as they heading to the docking bay. "Little Fish?"
"Don't call me that"
"But..."
"Cartwright Don't"
"Aaaww he's just curious" M.T boomed "See Cartwright, she was given that nickname when she joined the Talons, and she's struggled to outgrow it"
"I have outgrown it"
"On the Citadel maybe, but in the Terminus systems, you'll always be a little fish"
"And you'll always be an Old man"
"Until the day I die"
They were waiting for a good hour to leave, but the co-pilot didn't want to leave without Mr Wiggles, and Mr Wiggles was nowhere to be found, he had disengaged his Omni-tool so as to not be tracked.
"Where the hell is Mr Wiggles?"
"His name is.."
"His name is dead if he doesn't show up soon"
"...What?"
"Shutup, nothing, back to work"
"Hey, uh, Bitch" Cartwright mumbled, "There he is" She looked out of the airlock doors, to see Mr Wiggles, both antennae wrapped around two Asari dancers, both looking forlorn that he was leaving.
"Mr Wiggles, you dog" She shouted, inducing jealous glances from the Asari. Mr Wiggles said nothing as he crawled past The Bitch and into the cockpit, the doors closing and the engine starting, they left Omega behind them as they drifted into space.