"Sir! I wouldn't be calling if it weren't important." Deltano's voice filled the war room of Haven 2. "The raiders kidnapped Mycerra Colton and threatened to bomb the entire camp if she didn't give herself up. She planted a tracker on herself so that we could track-"
"Our resources are thin, General." Haestrom said and maintained heavy eye contact with the Primarch on the other side of the circular podium. "I would send resources if I had them."
"She has a tracker. Once it's out of range- "
"I can't help. I'm sorry." Haestrom dragged his hand down his face.
Primarch uncrossed his arms. "Do you have a current location, General?"
"Sir, our scanners tell us she's approaching the southern part of the city, by Refuge 4." Deltano breathed heavily into the microphone, his voice breaking up.
"Haestrom, get Refuge 4 on the comms and have them send a shuttle with support. General, send the tracker signal code to Refuge 4 so they know what to look for." The Primarch ordered. "We'll do what we can. Can you spare the shuttle at Haven 1 and extra hands?"
"I already sent it in pursuit. Vasa R'ila, Calun Dravis, the three best humans and two turians. Armed and ready for combat." Deltano's dual tone flared. Primarch Victus noticed it and stored it away for personal use later. "You realize if Haven 1 loses the last human founder- "
"Haven 1 will not lose its last human founder." Haestrom stressed. "The Alliance will dedicate resources to ensure that."
"I have reports to collect. General Deltano out." He ended the call abruptly.
Haestrom turned to the Primarch and pulled up Refuge 4 on the comms. Three shuttles headed south in pursuit. "How many lives- "
"-does one person affect?" Primarch finished. "Enough that it matters to us. That it should matter to the Alliance. What do you know, Haestrom?"
He held out his hands. "There are certain parts of the investigation I'm not permitted to share."
"I don't think you understand my line of inquiry, Haestrom." Primarch Victus leaned casually against the wall and clasped his hands. He emphasized his talons as he picked at the four fingers and two thumbs. "It's been weeks since that meeting with Mycerra Colton. Your investigation into Cerberus turned up numerous reports and a visit from a ranking government survivor who wanted you to stop digging. I'm a military man. I know what holding secrets look like."
"It's not that easy, Primarch- "
"But it is, Haestrom. You trickled reports to Haven 1 when I know for a fact you possessed triple the amount you provided in that direction. I have people there who are at risk without your help."
He anguished a moment longer. "We caught an operative spying on the now destroyed camp of biotics. The history of their organization is government based. Until they went rogue."
"And now they're targeting your people. My people. Everyone." The Primarch moved closer to Edwin Haestrom. "This isn't about protecting governments. It's about protecting people."
"I don't know the full extent, Primarch. What I know is they're interested in aliens, biotics, and how to improve humans. They had an interest in Colton, but I don't know the depth of it. That's what I know. I was trying to help Colton focus."
"Forget the woman for a second. What about Cerberus helps me help my people?" The Primarch demanded.
Haestrom exhaled. "Before they turned rogue, they possessed massive government resources. After the Reapers struck, they somehow held that advantage. They've been kidnapping and killing aliens. Dissections, live tests, you name it, they've done it. We don't know their numbers but they're hiding among the populace. Scavengers and raiders are helping them. For once the mercs for hire are saints in comparison." He supplied.
"Any chance everyone will have the unique ID tags?"
"I don't know. Not likely. I investigated the records for Antonio Garcia. Common name. Don't have a database to cross reference the ID number. The man didn't give up names. He tried to kill himself. We have him- "
Primarch Victus gripped Haestrom by the collar. "Where is he being held?"
"I can't let you do that, Primarch. You have a reputation to uphold." Haestrom gripped his wrist and attempted to pry it back.
"That operative is the only source we have right now. This organization is becoming a problem. Take it from me, Haestrom, it's small now, but it'll become a bigger threat if not tempered and eliminated." He let the man go. "If you don't get all the answers out of him, I'll make sure someone does. You can hold me to that."
He walked out of the war room.
Haestrom crumpled at the pedestal.
The comms flared around him. People demanded resources he lacked. The city's holographic map lit up with incidents and changing numbers lowering the population count. Not for the first time, the former head of security for Eezo Mining Inc. wondered if he sunk too deep into the mess to pull himself out.
Pulling himself to his feet, he scanned the numbers, tracked their shuttles, and pulled up data. Replying to the calls, he tried to put minds at ease knowing most of what he said was lies.
The shuttle landed. Mycerra never broke eye contact with Balencia.
The door opened.
"This isn't personal, Mycerra. It's just good business." Balencia walked off the shuttle. "Whitton. The biotic is all yours. I assume everything is according to plan?"
Henrique manhandled Mycerra off the shuttle.
She tried to biotically charge and fell face first into the ground. Her hands slammed into the gravel protecting most of her face.
"Nice try, freak. Sorry, Ma'am."
"It's alright." Balencia put her boot on Mycerra's back and pressed down. "Nothing personal, Mycerra. It's a shame you can't be persuaded to serve me, but I have bigger dreams than being a drug dealer on a mud ball when the whole galaxy is at my fingertips."
Mycerra winced. Gravel pressed into her palms. "Do me a favor and go fuck yourself."
Balencia stomped hard. Mycerra gasped for air.
"Mathers?" Mycerra reached for him, pleading.
He stepped back and pointed his rifle at her.
Options flashed across her mind in rapid succession. Wait till they helped her to her feet and charge. Punch, biotic charge. Biotic freeze. Shockwave. Run. Outnumbered, overpowered. Likely to die. They weren't the reapers. Killing her served no purpose.
Wait till they helped her to her feet and charge away from combat. Run like hell. Likely pursued but she might survive.
Try and succeed in dying before she made it off ground. Not an option.
A miracle distracted them, and she'd make a break for it. Not likely to occur.
"Your passage is secured on the vessel. You'll find that Cerberus intended to kill you. We have a better offer. Join our crew. Become a Blue Sun." Whitton, the turian, offered. "You'll have a chance to prove yourself by killing the last of the Cerberus bastards yourself." The turian gestured to the kneeling scientists on the far end of the docks.
Balencia stomped one last time. "Don't threaten me with a good time." She smiled and sauntered past the turian.
Mycerra watched her execute two scientists from the ground.
"They tell me you're biotic." The turian approached.
She didn't realize how tall they were until staring up at them from the ground. The highest visible point reached his knees.
"Aria's going to love this." Whitton gloated.
Gunfire broke out in the distance behind her.
The rifles pointed at her rooted her to the gravel lot.
"Not our problem, Whitton. We have a ship to catch." Balencia said.
Henrique threw her over his shoulder and walked toward the second shuttle privately marked as a stand-alone taxi service. Mycerra slammed her fists into Henrique's back hard enough for him drop her. She rolled hard to her feet and mad dashed across the lot. A bullet struck her left shoulder and hip. Landing hard in the gravel, she rolled onto her back and sent a shockwave toward the direction of Mathers and the turian.
"Help!" She shouted loud enough to scratch her throat. "BY THE- "
Mathers grabbed her ankle and pulled her toward the shuttle leaving a bloody smear in the gravel. The turian lifted her by the shoulders and curled a talon around her throat.
"One more word, human, and I'll bleed you on the docks of Omega."
The gunfire moved closer.
Balencia biotically paralyzed Mycerra on the floor of the shuttle and motioned for the pilot to get them out of there.
Helpless and bleeding out from two separate wounds, Mycerra feared tomorrow.
She glimpsed a thin line, the last view of Earth.
The shuttle fled into the sky, soon to escape orbit and dock at the Alliance ship SSV Philadelphia.
"Where were they going?" Calun Dravis demanded of the nearest soldier. "Does anyone know?"
"I know how to pilot. Get in!" Vasa sprinted for the abandoned shuttle. She hopped behind the wheel running down the list. A turian pulled her from the craft, the ticking sound audibly louder the faster it circulated.
The group ran for cover behind the chain link fence and guard shack.
A deafening boom followed rapidly by exploding metal chunks technical parts rained on them like a frag grenade. The smell of fuel permeated the docking area.
From his half wall, Dravis watched the escaping shuttle turn into a speck on the horizon, then nothing before cursing fluently in his native tongue. He nearly tossed his pistol in mounting frustration. His face tightened up and he violently screamed out of nowhere.
Vasa thanked the turian that saved her life. Large chunks of the shuttle covered the gravel lot and the dock leading to the water's edge.
"This is not good." An Alliance soldier from Refuge 4 repeated in growing concern. "Not good. Not good. Not good."
"Need to think." Dravis paced parallel the blood smear in the middle of the gravel lot.
His mind delivered no acceptable answer.
"R'ila to Deltano, we lost her. We were too late." Vasa reported over the comms. "They're leaving planet."
A long silence followed.
"I'll try to raise the ships in orbit." Deltano replied.
Vasa permitted him the fantasy anyone could reach the ships in time and sat down. She put her head in her hands. "By the Goddess, we're never living this down." Running her fingers along her tendrils, she traced each bump and smooth scale to distract herself.
"Need to think." Dravis tapped his head in aggravation.
"Stop that, STG. She's gone."
Dravis stopped pacing. He activated his omni tool and began scanning the area and shuttle wreckage. No one stopped him. No one had the heart to acknowledge the shortcomings and uncomfortable truths.
The human doctor aboard the stolen Alliance vessel helped Mycerra the best he could. The unfortunate reality for them laid out like a nightmare. The medigel and top of the line care afforded her the ability to recover from the injuries quickly. Slinged up, on a regiment of antibiotics, and encouraged to not move too much until her hip healed up, Mycerra stayed in the medical bay under cuff and armed guard. Balencia assigned Mathers and Henrique to the task of detaining detail. She liked to aggravate the wounds every couple days out of spite.
"No more medigel, Dr. Parsi." Balencia ordered the only doctor aboard the ship.
"That's cruel and unusual treatment." Dr. Parsi contested.
Balencia shoved her pistol in his face. "It'd be a shame to lose you, Doctor, but I don't particularly need one aboard right now."
Mycerra yanked on the metal restraints. "Stop picking a fight without a civilian. If you have a problem with me, take it up with me."
"Oh, but I enjoy this more. You can't do anything if I happen to decide to airlock him for my own entertainment."
Dr. Parsi held his ground. "You're nothing more than a bully."
"An armed bully." Balencia mocking saluted in Mycerra's direction. "Ta ta!"
Mycerra motioned Dr. Parsi closer. "Don't push it, Doc. She may not need you, but I need you. So do ten other people. Sometimes, winning is going along with what you hate the most." She cleared her throat. "You mind if I have a glass of water. A bit parched."
A knock on the glass stopped Dr. Parsi from immediately complying.
"No loosening the restraints." Henrique shouted.
"Just give me a straw and raise the side table high enough so I can drink from the straw. And if they bitch, I'm not against you holding the glass and helping me." Mycerra assured him. "I've been through worse. I promise."
His face reddened.
"It's okay, Doc. We'll survive this. Alive. They won't." She nodded to Henrique. "Please."
Dr. Parsi fetched the water, managed to find a straw, and raised the table high enough to make it work without his assistance before Henrique moved the rolling table to the far side of the medical bay. "Was that necessary?" The doctor demanded.
Henrique flipped off Mycerra. She returned the middle finger salute.
The following days proved no easier for Dr. Parsi or Mycerra. "We'll need to work on physical therapy soon." Dr. Farsi tried to explain to Whitton when he visited. "I can't do that when she's anchored to a bed."
"He has a point." She cut in. "If you want a fully functional payday, I need to be mobile again."
Whitton pulled up pictures of Omega and showed them Mycerra. "Home, Sweet, Home. We'll be arriving soon. Have you ever seen Omega? You'll loathe it from day one." He gloated.
She wondered if that's the only thing he knew how to do. "I'm sorry. I was born and raised on Earth. You're going to have to provide more reason for me to afraid of what you're hanging over my head." She lied.
Deltano, Dravis, and R'ila filled in enough details about Omega that she developed a low opinion of the place months before now.
He played live footage, his eyes fixated on her.
She controlled her facial expression. Live footage of the other biotic prisoners played in real time. She recognized parts of the ship from vague memory before Balencia knocked her out and she woke up in the medical bay under Dr. Parsi's care. "They're their own people." She tried to shrug; the restraints exceptionally tight.
Smugness overtook her control. "Whitton, not that I like you much, but thought you should know. If she can turn on me, she'll turn on you. I'm human. You're an alien. At the end of the day, she's primarily loyal to the bottom line and humans. You're not human."
He sneered. "You are the one who should be careful. The right buyer and…"
Her brow lifted; her mind dulled by the medigel. "I find it amusing you're throwing your life away because of your pride. Might want to buff that fringe of yours on your return then. You might need it to blind her and throw off her aim."
"I don't need a human's help." He locked the medical bay door behind him.
The trip, which would have taken a few hours, encompassed six weeks total. They'd jump from relay to relay, waiting on certain relays to be repaired before jumping forward again. By the time they reached the Terminus Systems, Mycerra healed up enough to walk and return to average expectations.
She went to sleep one night and woke the next with an asari standing over her looking like a sexy domme with great tits.
She sniffed herself and recoiled from the smell. "My apologies. I asked for a shower and was told to go fuck myself." She said to the asari. "Just give me a minute. My foot's numb."
Dr. Parsi entered the cell and helped her up. "We docked at Omega." He whispered.
Mycerra blinked rapidly and flexed her hand. "Hey, Doc…I'm fine. A bit rusty, but fine." She pat him on the back and faced the asari. She held out her hand to the woman in black pants and white half-coat. "Mycerra Colton."
"I'm told you're biotic."
"Unfortunately." She pulsed biotic energy through her right hand. "Guess I wasn't born right. Doesn't always function at 100%."
"You're biotic." The woman insisted.
"Yes."
Her mouth curled into a vicious smile. "Good. You'll be of use then."
"If you told me what you wanted- "
A blue hand gesture silenced her. Mycerra dropped the handshake. Dr. Parsi stood behind Mycerra, his nervous energy palpable. Mycerra extended her hand and rested it on his arm. She squeezed gently and let go.
The asari paced. "I'm told you are a strong combatant."
"Strong. Not suicidal." The injury to the shoulder and hip tempered her braver tendencies for the moment.
"That you know how to kill."
"I'm not an assassin but I know how to pull a trigger." Mycerra begrudged.
They locked eyes. "Then you'll earn your freedom, like everyone else on this ship."
"It would help if I had a name. No offense but calling you Asari isn't polite." Mycerra answered evenly. "Dr. Parsi here is most excellent. If possible, we could attach his freedom to my service as well?"
"You're willing to put your neck on the line for him?" The asari never removed her eyes from Mycerra.
"Yes." Mycerra stepped forward into her space. "It helps if we're clear about the terms." Her eyes searched the tattoos and facial expression for a clue of what to expect. She discovered nothing other than purple talon-like tattoos and blistering, heartless confidence.
The asari jerked her head to her salarian bodyguard. The salarian walked off and around the corner. "There's one rule on Omega. Don't fuck with Aria. I'm Aria."
Mycerra matched the energy and stood squarely in front of Dr. Parsi. She exposed her shoulder, scarred over, and her hip, also scarred. "Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to earn our freedom. Secondly, could I please have a shower now? The odor offends all of us in this room." She leaned away from Aria.
Aria pinned Dr. Parsi to the wall with her stare and pointed. "One wrong move and I put a bullet between her eyes."
"Yes, Miss Aria." Dr. Parsi bowed his head respectfully.
Mycerra crossed her arms.
"Get a fucking shower and change of clothes. I'll have transport present to bring you to Afterlife."
"What's Afterlife?"
"A club." Aria said over her shoulder.
Mycerra clenched her hands at her side.
"What exactly are we?" Dr. Parsi asked Mycerra.
"Not exactly sure, but I'll try to save us all, Doc. One way or another."
He nodded nervously. "There's an extra pair of scrubs you could wear in the medical lab."
"Thanks, Doc." She kissed his cheek and left the cell for the first time in weeks. She crossed paths with several dead Blue Suns on the way to the shower in the medical bay. Stepping over Whitton's body, then Henrique's put a malicious grin on her face. She nudged each body in passing.
"Hey, Turian. Why kill the bastards?" She asked curiously.
The turian mercenary studied her a moment. "They're bringing trouble to Omega. Stealing a human ship after the Reapers hit the galaxy leaving everyone on edge? It's no secret we're all hurting on people and resources."
She searched for Balencia. "There's a female human like me, biotic, strong, vicious, real bitchy. She dead too?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because that bitch stabbed me in the back." She looked at him. "I fought beside her on the battlefield, and she stabbed me in the back. Wouldn't that piss you off too?"
The mercenary nodded. "We shoot those people."
"I'd love to shoot the bitch too."
"You'll have the chance. If she fucks with Aria, Aria may give you the opportunity."
She almost smiled. "I'm starting to like you. Mycerra Colton."
"Brom."
"Clean up crew?" She gestured to the dead bodies.
He looked her over head to toe. "Are all humans monogender?"
She shook her head. "If you want to get to me, take me out for drinks. If you want a shooting buddy, I'm game. If you're looking for a good time, we're not compatible. Our doctors confirmed allergic reactions are highly probable. Besides, I prefer my partners female. Nothing personal. Should be interesting if Aria teams us up in the field." She continued her way to the medical bay.
The water cleansed away a week of body odor. The clean, black scrubs hung loose on her frame. She lost muscle since the Reaper attack. With the latest rations, she regained a few pounds. Her ribs showed. The myriad of scars littering her body walked her down a trail of bad memory lane. She tied the scrubs waistline tight as possible.
Meeting up with Dr. Parsi at the exit of the Alliance frigate, she flashed him an 'okay' signal.
A batarian approached them. "I'm Bray. Follow me."
The sky car models varied in design differences. She spotted one that match an earth design curve for curve. If she didn't know better, she'd thought the people of Omega visited Earth before.
She waited until they were in the air navigating the harsh air traffic. "Bray, what are we to Aria? Slaves? Prisoners of War? Prisoners? Assets to be used? What term are we labeled with exactly?" She gave the batarian personal space.
"You're indentured assets. Until she determines that your debt is paid off, you're not leaving Omega." Bray answered bluntly.
Mycerra crossed and uncrossed her arms. "Don't fuck with Aria, huh?"
"Don't fuck with Aria." Bray repeated.
"So how far do I need to go to earn that freedom?"
"Not my call. I work for her." Bray looked over at her. "If you want off Omega, you'll fight hard enough to make it happen. You're too goodhearted to leave your doctor out to dry. You'll fly or you crash."
She nodded slowly. "If I ask her directly how much is required- "
"She'd have an answer." Bray confirmed.
She turned to Dr. Parsi. "Whatever happens, you stay alive. We'll get off Omega alive. We need to be a team." She held out her fist.
Dr. Parsi awkwardly bumped it.
"Thank you for cooperating, Bray. I appreciate it." She faced forward again and took in the sites of Omega despising every minute of it. The smell of Omega nauseated her upon stepping out of the sky car. Dr. Parsi never noticed the offensive stench that coalesced into one disgusting odor worse than a week's worth of body odor.
The line to enter Afterlife dragged out into the walkway. If Mycerra had one word for Omega and its infrastructure, she'd call it shabby bordering on untrustworthy.
"Don't worry. It's stable." Bray assured her.
She shook her head. "One wrong blast and it's all…" She made an explosion gesture. "I don't like this."
"If you don't like it, you'll have to swallow your pride and deal with it." Bray pushed her onward toward the club. "Move past the line! The elcor bouncer already knows."
Dr. Parsi looped his arm around hers. "We're going to survive this. You said that."
Her face showed the obvious disgust. "I don't know, Doc. I'll try."
She pulsed her biotics throw her left hand. Fear seized her.
Dr. Parsi helped guide her up the steps and into Afterlife itself. The bartenders directed them to the upper level. Their eyes inevitably landed on the dancers gyrating to the music. Suddenly the body odor of a week paled in comparison to the faint smell of metal, pure and rusted, sweaty mercenaries, and unwashed armor.
She kept her head down and followed the instructions with the gentlemanly Dr. Parsi on her arm. They met up with Aria on the upper level sitting on a sprawling couch. Alternate seating diagonal to the couch hosted more bar patrons tastefully dressed.
Aria gestured for them to sit.
Mycerra placed Dr. Parsi farthest from Aria. "Bray's been an illuminating individual. I understand we're classified as – indentured assets."
"For now." Aria crossed her legs. "I spoke with your former compatriot. She offered to kill you personally. Explain."
Mycerra angled herself toward the asari. "I don't know why she wants me dead. I only know I was the price of passage off Earth. For her. Along with the ten others you're using too. I assume you spared Mathers as well?" She asked.
"That puppy of hers? Yes. Do you drink?"
"No. I make it a point to not become drunk around people who think I'm a piece of property. Don't worry. You're not the first person to insult me in that manner. Not that it matters. What exactly buys our freedom? Dr. Parsi and I. I don't care about their others. They're their own people."
Aria prolonged the uncomfortable silence. "I have a list of people I need hunted down and killed. They're hard to find. Harder to kill. You want the freedom of yourself and the doctor, that's how you buy it."
"And the others?"
"Why do you care about the others?" Aria ordered a drink and returned her attention to Mycerra.
Mycerra's tense emotions blasted for everyone to read and feel if they cared to notice. "They're human, they didn't ask to be here, and they don't deserve to stay on Omega. That's why. No offense, but your home isn't exactly…a comforting place to live."
"Just the way I like it." Aria retorted. "Do you want the list or not?"
She sighed. "What about weapons and armor?"
"We'll call it a basic welcome gift to keep you alive long enough to start the hunt. The mercenaries who thought they were smart bringing trouble to my doorstep carried enough weaponry and wore enough armor should start you out."
Mycerra frowned. "How tough are the people on that list?"
"I bet you'll kill one and die from injuries in field. I look forward to your success."
"And Dr. Parsi?"
"He'll help at a clinic. No harm will come to him. He has my full protection." Aria promised smoothly and accepted her drink. "You don't."
"They took my omni tool."
"You can take one of theirs." Aria countered.
Mycerra fake smiled before her chest convulsed in unvocalized laughter. "It just gets better and better. Fuck my life."
"You and me both, Colton." Aria smirked in her drink.