"They lose the day in expectation of the night and the night in fear of the dawn."
Velpia had brought Martin back to the clinic where they had previously visited. She managed to call Kenith and explained the situation, and relayed them to an Asari scientist working on Omega since the other doctors either refused to look at him or refused due to the clinic's popularity that day.
After explaining Martin's situation, it piqued her curiosity more than anything. When she arrived at the clinic, she spoke like Martin was just a subject. She had very cold bedside manners, to say the least. Several times she compared him to an animal. Sure, Martin may have felt like a Neanderthal at times, but he didn't need to hear it from someone who probably had more PhDs than he would ever see in four lifetimes. He could only imagine how or why she ended up on Omega.
Velpia stood against the wall by the door, watching the Asari poke and prod Martin for almost an hour before running the scan. Kenith was assisting Dr. Dantive with blood samples.
She was staring intently at the monitor for some time, trying to get a better look at something in Martin's brain. The Doctor quickly flagged Velpia over. "Your Human appears to have a control device implant." She explained plainly.
Velpia looked at the screen to see a small dark blot on Martin's brain. "Okay, so what is that, and how long until you can get it out?"
Martin quickly looked at the two, "The Human would like some damn input on whether or not he gets cut open!" The Asari put her hand on his chest to push him back on the table. They both dismissed him as they continued.
The Doctor proceeded with her cold demeanor. "It's pretty self-explanatory. The chip allows the user to control or influence the subject in several ways. Unfortunately for me, it's not that simple to remove. If I tried to remove the device, it could cause complete memory failure and possibly permanent loss of muscle control. Your human would be worthless to you."
"The Human has a name..." Martin again protested from the table. "So what can we do?" Velpia asked.
"We can't jam it without knowing what kind of signal it uses. The only thing I can recommend is to keep him away from whoever has his leash." She stepped away and pulled out her Omni tool to turn off the scanning device. "If I find anything else, I'll contact you." She then turned to walk out of the room.
"Did we have to get the damn cold-blooded vampire bitch?" Martin asked while moving the scanner away.
"She's a Veterinarian; what did you expect?" She replied.
Martin stopped for a moment. "What am I? A dog?"
He sat up and noticed Velpia seemed aggravated by the Asari's prognosis.
"Nothing is fucking easy around here." She jokingly said. He got off the table and patted her shoulder in agreement as he walked out of the room.
They walked out of the clinic together, heading back to their room. They needed the rest of their equipment if they were going to track down Dallas. Their ride back to their district was quiet. Martin was still trying to process what Dallas had said. "So Dallas... What do we know about him? Why would he be after you beside the hole to meet my boss, explanation." She asked calmly.
Martin let out an annoyed sigh, "He was a squad leader in the Militia back home. When we were betrayed by the government, he was one of the junior NCOs that voted to stay put when the rest Officers and NCOs agreed with me to pull out of the area to petition Congress in person. He disappeared shortly after. But he's not acting like he used to; some things changed."
He leaned his head against the window and shifted himself to face her. "I'm not completely sure if this is the same Dallas I knew.
"Considering what we know about your issue, he could be in the same position... just worse." Martin shuddered at the thought. Not being in control of your own body seemed a fate worse than death.
"Not a very pleasant thought," Martin added. "Any ideas on how to track him down?"
"Not many, no." She responded. The pair sat quietly, thinking about what to do or what had happened. Soon though, their silence was broken by Velpia's Omni tool. She brought her arm up, and it projected a hologram of Aria. "I hope you've made some progress on Ghost?"
Velpia looked shocked to see her face on the other end. "Uh, yes... ah, some." Martin spoke up over her nervousness. "Ghost is a human male named Dallas Marino. We don't know who employs him yet, but he's working for some human organization as far as we can tell."
"The Alliance?" Aria questioned. "We don't know; he kept rambling about saving humanity." Aria's stance seemed to change. "I'm impressed you could get any information so quickly. But I take it you let him get away?"
Velpia tried to speak up. "It wasn't exactly.. our falt-" Martin cut in
"- We had them cornered, but the Blue Suns interfered. We've been having some issues with them during our investigation. We'd appreciate it if you could talk with them and have them back off while we handle this?" Martin bargained.
Aria laughed, "You've got some quads for a human," She paused for a moment, "I'll have a chat with Tarak," she sighed as if annoyed, "I expect results soon." The call ended, and Velpia began to freak. "What the hell is wrong with you?! She's going to flay us alive if you keep talking to her like that And asking a favor! You've lost it, and I'm going to die because of you!"
Martin recoiled from her flailing, half smiling at her ridiculous display. "She's not going to kill us. We gave her something she didn't have before. Tit for tat." Velpia paused her freakout and let out a deep breath. Even though they had been working together for some time, he was still an enigma to her, one she didn't know if she wanted to understand.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
They returned to the room to gather their things and get a quick rest; however, it was a ruse. Martin knew the only way to get to Dallas now, in the time he needed, was to join him and gain his trust. He knew Velpia wouldn't allow him to go through with it. He waited until she fell asleep and quietly snuck out. He didn't like his plan; there was the chance he could be changed or permanently controlled. He left his prized pistol and all his credits with her and a handwritten note. He asked her not to follow him, and he would return soon; if not, he asked her to flee Omega.
Martin contacted Dallas; he said he had given it some thought and wanted off Omega. He created a story that Aria was now after him for failing to complete their mission. Dallas' conditions were to come unarmed and alone. If these weren't met, he'd have to force his surrender. Martin walked to the meeting point, a Docking Bay for departures. Martin still had a pistol to defend himself as he made his way to the dock. Once he arrived, he was instructed to bay fifteen; Dallas met him at the Docking bay door with Madz in tow.
"I see you followed most of the demands," Dallas said while looking at his pistol. Martin slowly reached for it. Madz quickly clenched her fist, not trusting his intentions. Dallas held his arm out in front of her and signaled for her to back away. Martin grabbed his pistol, turned it around, and surrendered it to Dallas. He took his weapon and led him into the docking tube. Martin was taken to a holding cell in the ship's brig and was left there. The room was bright white and a massive glass window and a large sliding glass door. He sat down on the padded bench and waited. "At least this cell is better than the one on the Batarian ship."
A few hours had passed before Dallas returned. He entered the cell and leaned against the wall. "I'm surprised you came."
"I didn't have much of a choice," Martin replied.
"No, I guess you didn't." Dallas turned his back to look out the window. "It was a relief that you came. I didn't like the idea of killing my old commander."
"That's good to hear," Martin responded. He leaned back against the wall and folded his arms. "So now what?" Dallas turned around. "I've been instructed to keep you here until such a time that you've been cleared."
"How long does that take? Martin questioned.
"As long as it takes." Dallas folded his arms and leaned against the wall. There was a short silence.
"Ever think about Earth?" Dallas' question pierced through the quiet. It was a difficult question for Martin to hear. He stared at the floor in front of him. "How can I not?" He quietly replied.
"Shit still keeps me up at night." Dallas paused, staring into nothing. "We did everything they asked and were discarded for it."
Martin remembered what had happened that year, nearing the war's end. Half of the Militia turned itself over to the rebellion. Then out of fear, the military began decimating the other half. He remembered fighting to keep his people alive, being branded as traitors for the actions of his commanding officer. How they were hunted mercilessly, even through their calls of surrender.
"There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice." Martin quoted.
The two old soldiers remained quiet for a time. A moment of silence to lives lost.
"Cerberus has treated me well, Martin." Dallas raised his head and looked at him.
"You act as if I should know that name," Martin responded.
"Cerberus is the protector of humanity. We do anything necessary for the advancement of our species." Dallas didn't hesitate. Martin could tell he was firmly loyal to them. "Anything?" He asked.
Dallas pushed himself off the wall. "We aren't held back by governments. We know who our enemies are, and we are given a task to complete. Simple."
Martin let out a laugh, "Nothing is ever simple.".
Dallas' tone changed as it grew more energetic.
"But it is! This is our chance to finally set everything right, a cause worth something! Look at what they have given us; you must have noticed now!"
"Oh, you mean the control chip in my head?"
Dallas dismissed his remark, "We needed insurance just in case the cryo process could have damaged your memories. We have to be sure."
Martin became frustrated at the notion. "Insurance for what? If I didn't join, you'd just make me? How can I trust a cause if it forces me to participate?"
"You came here of your own choice! Dallas yelled excitedly. Martin's anger started to show. He was irritated; he didn't feel in control of anything.
"I didn't choose any of this!" He paused and began pacing around the room.
"I didn't choose to be put in cryo; I didn't choose to be toyed with by Cerberus; I didn't choose to be here!" He took a few deep breaths.
"The only reason I came was to get answers."
He walked a few feet toward Dallas.
"In the warehouse, you told me History was repeating itself... what did you mean? Dallas became quiet; he folded his arms.
"You don't listen, just like now. You didn't listen when we told you to surrender; so many died, and for what? So yeah, I left the Militia and told them of your plan; you had to be stopped."
Martin took a step back, and his mind flashed with a short memory.
"You... You were the one that caused all of this. You're the reason for the comm blackout when we tried to petition Congress; the reason they were able to follow us; you were the leak."
Dallas laughed as he unfolded his arms. "I took their offer. I would end our charade in the west in return for my freedom. We were doomed no matter how we played. The Colonel fucked us over really good, but you were too stubborn to see it!"
Martin clenched both of his fists. "You fucking idiot, we voted on it; it wasn't my decision! You were the fucking coward!"
"Better to live as a coward than an idiot." Dallas raised his arm with his Omni tool active. The ringing sound began to overwhelm Martin's senses. He began to feel disoriented and started to lose his balance. The sound increased, which forced him to stumble back to the wall.
"We were given a gift; we were to be the best soldiers humanity would muster, and you'd throw it away." Martin was struggling on the floor, trying to regain control of his senses, his heart racing, trying to fight what was happening. Dallas paused the control signal.
Martin was able to think again but just barely. He struggled to stand, his brain still in tremendous pain. "If they wouldn't take a chance with me" He paused to catch his breath, "Where's your chip?"
"I didn't need one."
Martin laughed, "And they call me an Idiot." Dallas dismissed Martin's statement. He knew where he wanted to be and didn't need to question his loyalty.
"Do you even know what it means to sacrifice anymore? To give yourself to something greater? Do you have any idea what I had to sacrifice to get here?"
Martin hunched against the wall holding his head in his hand. "Ask me about sacrifice?" He let out a pained laugh, "Ask me about sacrifice? You know damn well what I lost!"
""""""""""""""""""""
In the comm room of the ship, Madz was waiting for a call. She watched the action in the brig through a screen next to the seat. She muted the audio some time ago. She couldn't stand hearing the back-and-forth crap between these two. She watched as Dallas started to torture the prisoner. She was indifferent to his suffering; then again, she was indifferent to Dallas.
Since their mission changed, Dallas would not shut up about this guy. He would drone on and on about his days on Earth. They didn't impress her; they did lose, after all. Dallas still lived in the past, unable to let go, and she was tired of hearing it. She watched as the man contorted in agony, Dallas yelling at him. It didn't matter if he killed the man. All that they needed was inside his control chip. This display was nothing more than a payment to Dallas from the Illusive man, a promise made and kept. The ship's communications board started to blink, and Madz answered the call.
"Madz, I take it operations on Omega are going according to plan?" The voice over the comms asked in a calm male voice. She looked at the vid screen, seeing Dallas still playing with his... gift. "Winters handed himself over to us not very long ago, and we have managed to establish a suitable location inside Omega."
"Excellent; extract all the data from the chip and dispose of him. Then your operation on Omega will be complete." The communication ended, and Madz peeked over at the vid screen one last time. "I can't wait to get off this rock."
She rose from her seat and made the short walk to the brig. As she came to the door, she saw Martin on the floor as Dallas paused his torture. She straightened her back and took a breath. The door opened, and she entered without saying a word. She grabbed Martin and helped him to his feet. Dallas looked at her, confused.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
"Completing our mission," She put his arm over her shoulder and began to guide him out the door. She carried him down the corridor of the ship to the medical bay. She wrestled him onto the table. Not long after, Dallas stormed in,
"What are you doing?" Madz ignored him as she strapped Martin into the restraints.
"I'm extracting the data Illusive man requested." Dallas was still confused; he wasn't briefed on this.
"I think I need to make a call."
"""""""""""""""
Dallas stormed out of the room as Madz continued her preparations. She had gathered the tools neatly on a small tray and wheeled them over to the operating table. Madz scanned Martin. He hadn't moved since he was put on the table. She started the electric razor and approached Martin's head with no movement. She had figured he must have lost consciousness. A hand grabbed her arm; it frightened her. The head moved, and it pitched upward, revealing an upside-down grin.
Martin took advantage of her shock and rolled off the table. The table tipped over, his arm still attached, and he kicked Madz in the diaphragm. She was sent backward into the wall, gasping for air.
He removed the last restraint and ran for the door. He sped down the corridor heading to the front of the ship. Dallas was exiting the comms room, oblivious to what was charging at him. Martin tackled him to the ground and started punching him in the head.
He was pushed off of Dallas and slid across the floor. Madz was approaching him from the other end of the hall. "Nice try, but not good enough!"
The ship shook, and the lights cut out before returning. Madz quickly looked at her Omni tool. "The ship is being attacked from the outside!"
"What?" Dallas turned around to Madz. "We need to get off the ship!". Another muffled explosion rocked the ship's hull as the power fluctuated again.
Martin watched as the pair ran for the airlock. He calmly followed them down the docking tube and to the dock floor.
Madz and Dallas didn't make it far outside. They were stopped at the dock, surrounded by several armed guards with raised guns. "Don't move humans!" The Batarian signaled to the two in front of them.
Martin exited the docking tube and stood a short distance behind them. "You think I would've come without backup?"
Velpia appeared to be leading the group, which surprised him as she ordered them to take the two into custody. She gave a slight nod to him.
As they approached, Madz and Dallas crept closer together; she threw her hands down and caused a tidal wave of biotic power that threw everyone around them to the floor. They bolted off, heading for the exit.
Martin quickly got to his feet and began chasing after them. The others were slower to recover but soon also started to follow. Martin needed a plan; he couldn't just catch up to them. Dallas still had access to his chip. He kept up with them, trying to keep some distance. Soon they exited the open air, and Madz took off in a different direction.
"Vee, Madz took off left towards the commercial center!" He struggled to keep up with Dallas, even with his enhanced speed.
They headed through the nighttime crowds, slowing Dallas down as he attempted to march through. He needed a plan fast before he lost him. Dallas was losing him, but he noticed him dip into an electronics shop in the distance. Martin burst in and scanned the shop. The startled shopkeep stood like a rock staring at him. He noticed the Salarians' dark eyes repeatedly dart to his left. He walked into the back storeroom and began hearing the familiar running sound.
Dallas sprang out from behind and tackled him to the ground. They struggled on the floor before Martin could get on top and begin choking him. Dallas turned up the signal's strength and influenced Martin to release him.
Dallas stood up and dragged Martin up off the floor. He grabbed him by the back of his head and smashed him into a pile of equipment.
The items were thrown off the table and onto the floor.
Dallas backed away to toy with the control chip controls as Martin looked up to see a device turn on from the fall. The ringing had stopped, and he could think again. He calmly grabbed the small device and placed it into his belt pocket. He stood and turned toward him as he turned up the controls for Martin's chip, but It didn't affect him.
He took a few steps back in amazement. "How?". Martin rushed him, exchanging blows. Throwing each other around the poor Salarian's storeroom, eventually spilling out into the street.
""""""""""""""
Velpia was in pursuit of the biotic woman in the commercial area. She had Aria's people circle to the other side to prevent her escape. The site was busy with activity, with civilians covering most of the area not long before she saw Madz jump over a large crowd using her biotics.
"Anto, she's coming straight towards you." She took off in her direction, pushing people aside as she fought through the crowd. Gunfire erupted as she grew close to Antos's position.
The gunfire stopped after a faded Batarian scream echoed around the district. She passed the squad as they were recovering from Madz's assault and noticed her heading for a door some distance away.
Vee entered the doorway cautiously with her rifle raised. She looked up to see her running up a set of stairs. She let off a quick burst from her rifle and took off after her. They circled up the stairs exchanging gunfire for biotic attacks.
"Vee, be advised, Dallas is heading back to the commercial area in a car." Martin radioed. She reached the roof of the building and fired her rifle at Madz. She quickly created a barrier around herself as Velpia closed in, firing to force her to stay put. When she had gotten close enough, she rushed Madz, forcing her to drop the barrier.
Unfortunately for Madz, Velpia was taller than her and could reach her. She took several hard punches to the face almost immediately. Madz was entirely defensive as Velpia refused to give her time to land any biotic attacks. Velpia managed to get past her guard, grabbed her by the shoulder, and headbutted her. Madz stumbled to the floor. "I know your squishy face didn't like that." Velpia boasted as Madz lay on the ground holding her face in pain.
Madz rolled over and attempted to stand. Velpia approached and grabbed her as Madz quickly turned around and punched her, sending the Turian rolling across the roof.
Madz's face was cut open, bleeding profusely, as she headed toward the rooftop's edge. Velpia looked up to see a sky car heading towards their roof.
"No!"
She pushed herself onto her feet, pulled out her rifle, and held down the trigger. The gun let loose, a few shots hitting Madz in the back and arm before she could put up a barrier. The Sky car landed next to her. She quickly dropped the barrier and jumped in. Velpia's rifle overheated and stopped firing; she could do nothing now.
She heard another sky car approaching at high speed. She watched as it picked up the pace and rammed the first car;l forcing it to crash-land on the roof. Velpia dove on the ground for cover to escape the splash zone.
She saw Martin force the attacking vehicle's door open from the ground. He stumbled over to her, slightly disoriented, trying to maintain his balance. Velpia looked up and watched him walk behind her as she pushed herself off the ground. "You crazy bastard!"
Martin reached around and grabbed his pistol off of Velpia's thigh. He then walked to the wreckage and forced the door open of the other car. The scene was gruesome; blood was everywhere. Dallas was broken in half; part of his car had entered through the side window. Madz was alive but badly injured. Without thinking, he raised the pistol and fired two shots while shielding his face from the possible blood splatter. Martin stood back from the car and stumbled backward onto the roof. He was breathing heavily and moved his arm over his eyes.
"Finally fucking over." He quietly rejoiced. Velpia walked by and stood over him.
"You need any help down there?"
Martin cracked a slight grin; he didn't know if he would have the strength to pull himself to his feet. His muscles ached, and his head was in a constant throbbing pain that matched his heart.
"I just need a few minutes. I'm fucking beat."
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Sometime later, they were escorted out of Afterlife after debriefing Aria. She seemed satisfied with their results and allowed them to leave. Velpia headed straight for the cab depot while Martin fell behind, not knowing where or what he would do. She opened the cab's door and was about to climb in when she noticed he wasn't following.
"Are you not coming?" Velpia yelled to him.
"Didn't think I was still welcomed." He remarked. She removed her leg that was in the car and walked back toward him.
"You really think I'm going to allow you to run off and get Aria pissed off at us again?"
Martin stood in place; he couldn't tell if she was joking or serious. She was hard to read sometimes. "I... I just don't know what's going on."
Velpia took pity on his awkwardness; for all his hardheaded crap, he seemed like a lost child trying to find his way home. "Come on; we have some things to discuss anyways, like the credits you owe me."
"Shit."