Chapter 5
Omega Eastside Docks"Okay, I'll take an air car to Afterlife. Zoë, you see if we can scrounge up passengers heading for Illium or the Citadel. Stay on this level and make sure to keep the others close."
"Expecting trouble sir?" Zoë asked.
Mal smirked. "This is Omega." He looked at the others. "Eastside Docks has merchants, a bar as well as other forms of entertainment. Keep a gun on hand and watch what you drink." He reached the bottom of the ramp, "Captain."
He looked back to see Cheyenne striding down the ramp, a satchel over her shoulder. "I'd like to come with you." She said.
"This isn't a stroll in the park Doc." Mal said.
"No, but it is a simple meeting that you have to admit little chance of danger." The Doctor said calmly.
"This is Omega." Mal said.
"And will I be any safer with you than wandering around by myself?" Cheyenne asked.
Mal looked at Zoë for help. She responded with "Have fun with the Captain Doctor. With you there he is sure to be on his best behavior."
Mal scowled. "Very well doctor. You can come with but I think you'll be disappointed." He waved to his first mate. "Keep a light burning and keep the chaos to a minimum."
He was several steps away when he heard Zoë's "Your the one usually causing the chaos…sir." Before he and the doctor were lost in the crowds.
Zoë looked at the others. "Like the captain said, stay here at Eastside. Stay in the main areas as the rest of the area is dominated by the Blue Suns and the Blood Pack."
Sienna bowed her head. "I will stay here. I think I'll use this time to meditate." Before going back into the ship.
Tylee looked at Zoë, "I'm going to visit some of the vendors. See if I can get some parts for the Geth sled."
"I'll go with you." Tika said, "Get a chance to see if there's any news about the fleet."
"Remember to take a gun." Zoë warned the innocent pair. She looked at Illyana who was wearing a shawl and hood.
"I think I want to get some fruits and some incense." The Asari companion said.
Zoë nodded. "I'm going to post some adverts for passengers. I'll seal the ship until I return."
The others nodded their understanding. "There's a waiting area," Zoë said gesturing to the end of the dock, "that is if you're all back before I am." She checked her sidearm then used the code to seal the ship with her omni-tool. "Time to work." She said hoping the captain got the pay for the last job.
XX
AfterlifeMal sat with Cheyenne as the music pulsed around them. They sat off to the side of the entrance.
Cheyenne had managed to get a table without a caged Asari dancer while the captain got their drinks.
"How can anyone do business here?" she asked leaning in for him to hear her.
"It helps dealing with annoying things like recording devices." Mal said.
Cheyenne was looking around when she spotted an Asari in the balcony and she almost thought she was glaring at their table when the Asari looked away and a barrier was lowered.
"What species are we looking for?"
"A Batarian. He's sporting some wicked scars and dresses in something from what looked like old earth." Mal said.
"So, the Asari in the balcony isn't who we're waiting for?" Cheyenne asked.
Mal turned and saw the barrier. "No. no the Asari isn't interested in us." He said and continued to look around. He spotted Porthos as the Batarian entered Afterlife from the back and strode towards them. What surprised Mal was the smile on the aliens face upon seeing him.
"MALCOLM SHEPARD!" Porthos's boomed as he strode closer and extended his hand to shake.
"I take it that you delivered the cargo as agreed upon?"
Mal pulled the datapad from inside his jacket and extended it for the Batarian to see. "Fai Dan was killed by something controlling the colony. Commander Hunt has taken over control until the Alliance cruiser arrives and the colonists get sorted." Mal said.
Porthos nodded. "The money was transfer as agreed and the cargo was delivered so it appears your job is done."
"Appears nothing, it is done." Mal said hardening his gaze and tone.
Porthos nodded. "I misspoke." He pulled out a credit chip. "The full amount as agreed."
Mal picked it up and checked it. He nodded before slipping it into a pocket. "Then it seems we can continue to have a working relationship." Mal said.
"Good." Porthos said and motioned for a waitress. "Then we drink."
"I can stay for one. My first mate is rounding up passengers for Illium and the Citadel." Mal said.
"One." The Batarian said. "And you can introduce me to this fetching creature at your side." Porthos said taking the doctors hand and giving it a gentle kiss to her knuckles.
"Oh captain, I thought you said he was a pirate." Cheyenne said smiling at the scarred Batarian.
"Porthos the Pirate!" the Batarian said with a chuckle. "Ah in my younger days perhaps. But now I am a simple business man."
Mal accepted the mug, peering inside. "Is this…" he took a sip and gasped.
"Batarian Fire whiskey. Guaranteed to grow hair even on the toughest substance." Porthos said with a chuckle taking a healthy swig from his own mug.
Cheyenne sipped hers and made a face to which the Batarian laughed.
XX
Zoë sat on the reclining chair at the bottom of the ramp. She had posted the ads and was now watching out for possible passengers. She spotted several other ships dock. She glared at the one that disgorged a group of Vorcha who headed for the nearest alleyway. She relaxed taking her hand off her shotgun.
Illyana was back shortly after her carrying a bag. The companion nodded and headed for her quarters in the rented shuttle.
The first mate checked the time on her omni-tool. The captain should have reported in by now and both Tika and Tylee were still gone.
Zoë decided to give them one more hour before she sealed the ship up again and went searching for them.
Like the captain said, this is Omega. She thought as she saw a well dressed man walking towards her.
He looked to be in his mid-fifties and had his salt and pepper hair slicked back.
"Are you the captain?" he asked, his tone cultured and made Zoë think of upper class British.
"I am the first mate." She said standing to address him.
"I saw your ad and I need passage to the Citadel."
Zoë cocked an eyebrow. "Depending on the cargo the captain is hired to transport. We might be heading to Illium first."
The man seemed frustrated. "Its important I get to the Citadel."
"There are other ships." Zoë offered, not liking the man's tone.
He glanced towards the other ships and Zoë followed his gaze. "They aren't as appealing." He said.
Zoë wondered what he meant as several of the ships were in fact newer and she hated to admit it better than Serenity.
"We'll get there when we do. It all depends on what the captain says." Zoë said again.
"When will the captain return?" he asked.
Zoë shrugged. "It depends on the captains business. More than that I can't say."
The man looked like he was going to say more when Tika with Tylee approached.
Zoë nearly missed it, but the look of disgust on his face when he saw the ships Quarian pilot.
"Are we late?" Tylee asked carrying a box.
"No, the captain and the doctor are still out." Zoë said.
"Good. There should be a delivery of parts within the hour." The mechanic said brightly.
Tika was carrying another box. "Where do you want this?"
Tylee looked at it. "Best put it by my workbench. Thanks for helping carry all of this."
"Just remember I'm a pilot not a power lifter." The Quarian said groaning when Zoë took the box. When the first mate returned she found the man was gone and put him out of her mind.
"Tylee, what have you all bought?" she asked.
"Odds and ends, and I got a deal on some of the parts." The mechanic said.
"You get to tell the captain your burning through your budget." Zoë said and saw the mechanics smile falter a bit.
XX
Four hours later…
The hover car landed on its designated pad and the doors hissed open to hear a man and a woman laughing. The man used the side of the car to stand and then help the woman out and she too used the car to stand.
Zoë Sinclair stood at the end of the dock with her arms crossed and shaking her head as she watched the very drunk captain and doctor stagger their way towards her. The pair was leaning against one another and laughing. Zoë was going to go and offer them some help back to the ship when an older human wearing battered body armor sporting a very faded Blue Suns logo walked up to them and before anyone could move pulled his gun and shot Cheyenne point blank to the back of the head.
Mal fell with the body and the man was lost in the crowd before Zoë reached them.
"Captain!" she said seeing Mal sitting looking at Cheyenne, her blood splattered on his face.
"Captain, are you alright?" she asked. He looked at her blankly.
"Are you shot?" Zoë tried and checked on the doctor, finding no pulse she focused on the living.
"Mal!" Zoë said and slapped the man who seemed to be in shock as he stared blankly at the dead woman who just moments ago had been full of life and laughter.
"Zoë!"
the first mate turned to see Tika running out of the ship.
"Stay back!" she yelled as she saw Tylee. Illyana and Sienna coming out of the ship. The crowd was forming as many only now realized that there had been gunplay.
Tika stopped several paces away. "Keelah! Is that…"
"Call Dock Security." Zoë ordered as she pulled Mal to his feet. Sienna was there supporting the other side. "Is the doctor…" the Drell asked.
"Dead. Shot to the back of the head." Zoë said. "She didn't stand a chance."
"Who did it?"
"A merc wearing Blue Sun markings. Human, middle aged." Zoë said as they dragged the captain into the ship.
"What are we going to do?" Tylee asked, she had tears running down her face as she looked to where Cheyenne was still laying.
"Deal with getting the captain sobered up. Then we find out what the hell happened." Zoë said and she knew that there would be a reckoning.
Even if we have to turn Omega upside down.
XX
Zoë stood over the sheet-covered body of Cheyenne Sixkiller. She'd left the captain to the others, but right now she needed answers.
"You and your captain can't help but cause trouble."
Zoë looked at Aria's right hand Batarian and scowled. "What do you know?"
"Dead human on the ground." Anto said. "And reports say she was shot by another human."
"He was wearing Blue Suns marks." Zoë said.
Anton grunted and motioned for one of the workers. "Get me the video feed."
"There is no…" the Volus started but the Batarian had a short temper and lifted the short alien up with little effort to see him eye to eye. "Either you get me that feed, or I will be more than happy to send you out the nearest airlock…without your suit."
The Volus's breathing became panicked and agreed to get the video feed.
Anton looked back at Zoë. "Was your captain harmed?" he asked in a low voice.
"No. but he's severely drunk." Zoë said softly. Anton looked at the returning Volus and took the data. "I'll go over this. I'll contact you with any information." The Batarian growled and left.
Zoë sighed and was going to ask one of the others to help her bag Cheyenne's body when a familiar figure stepped out of the crowd.
"Mordin Solus." She breathed seeing Salarian who'd been the ships doctor.
"First Mate Sinclair." He greeted and knelt down, pulling the sheet back he studied the corpse.
"Young. Too young. High caliber to external occipital protuberance. Death was instantaneous." Mordin muttered recovering her.
"Knew her?" he asked looking at Zoë.
"She was our new ships doctor." Zoë said.
"Unfortunate." Mordin said, his large eyes blinking. "Is this what humans call irony?"
Zoë shook her head. "No this is what we would call a tragedy."
"Arrangements to be made for transport." Mordin said "Will send assistant to aid in preparation."
"Assistant?" Zoë asked.
"Clinic is opened. Have been busy with the various species that live in the lower sections of Omega. Haven't been bored. Note that I haven't slept since then either." Mordin rambled on even as his hand worked his omni-tool.
"Since ships doctor is dead, does anyone meaning the captain require medical assistance?"
Zoë gave him a look. "No and only the captain who is currently sleeping off the alcohol he consumed. Besides he hasn't needed a doctors tender mercy's since he fell into that insect den on that jungle moon."
Mordin nearly smiled at that. "Yes, the removal of the stingers as well as bite and claw marks that the captain acquired proved…entertaining."
Zoë shook her head again spotting a young man with a casket pod, while Mordin continued his rambling that Zoë would never admit she missed after the Salarian had left the ship.
Has it only been a couple of weeks? She thought.
She turned to see Mordin and his assistant load Cheyenne's body into the pod. "The pod has a private energy cell that will last up to a month, easy to transport and won't drain any of the ships systems. Much better than the standard issued caskets."
Mordin gestured for his assistant to move the pod onto the ship. "If you require assistance here is the frequency to reach me at, which I gave to the captain when we parted ways and my clinics location should you need to be patched up. Probably the captain as I only had one bullet hole in you and that was friendly fire."
Zoë glared at him. "We don't discuss that."
"Agreed." Mordin said. "Would you rather discuss the time the captain got shot in his gluteus maximums?"
Zoë gave a sad smile. "Perhaps after we've taken care of our dead."
Mordin nodded. "Knowing the captain, there will be a trail of destruction as he searches for those responsible. Good man. Still think that he might have been made SPECTRE had he stayed in the military, still might."
Zoë snorted. "The captain goes above and beyond staying out of the limelight. You put him up for SPECTRE and I'll bet you double that you'll be one in his place before you can blink."
Mordin tilted his head and frowned. "Calculations force me to agree to your ideology." He frowned deeper. "And I for one would not do well as a SPECTRE."
XX
Afterlife
"Report!" Aria T'Loak barked as Anton entered her private balcony. The Batarian waited until the privacy screens were up before he spoke.
"Shepard's latest two eye got her brains splattered on the docks." He paused seeing Aria's glare. "Your pale eyed human wasn't hurt. He's recovering from trying to out drink Porthos." Here Anton snorted "Like the two eyed apes could out drink that one."
"As entertaining as I'm sure you think you're comments are, the rest of the repot better be without them, or we'll see how you do in the vacuum of space."
Anton was tough and in his position he had to be. But he knew never to break the one rule of Omega.
"Shepard was dragged into his ship by his first mate. I got the video feed from the dock master and was going to look it over."
He held up the data chip and Aria took it from his hand. "Leave." She snarled and waited until he was gone. She inserted the chip into a nearby console. She fast forwarded until she saw the captain and his companion staggering from the air car. She saw the man walk out of a back alley stride up behind the pair and pull the trigger. She rewound it twice more and froze on the image of the man's face.
His name flowed from her mouth, anger coloring her tone.
"Massani."
For some unknown reason the denizens of Omega felt a chill go up their spine.
XX
AN: This chapter is one of three possible drafts. I was debating on keeping Cheyenne around, but it would have the crew of Serenity pulling further away. This way they deal with issues that will link up in ME2. next chapter the hunt for a certain bounty hunter.
I may have separated Mal & Aria but they are far from finished with each other. I've gotten some interesting pm's about Tika being a poo Tali clone. Alright, first Tika is a pilot where Tali is an engineer. Tika is a non combatant where Tali charges in shotgun blazing.
Now about the sled…wow. I mean wow. Its just a sled not a transformer. You want something like that see Prime Effect by ApolloXL5. there will be a Geth and there will be cameo by everyone's favorite AI. Until the day when all are one…(see Transformers reference) ESM