CONTENT WARNING FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE
CHAPTER 8: UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS
Mallory watched the smoke and vapor drift across the room from cigarettes and e-cigs. The smoke drifted across a holographic dancer and was lit up for a moment. The light reflected in the drying tear tracks on Mal's face.
Quiet jazz lilted through the bar like it was dancing with the smoke and vapor.
Mal's red flecked eyes were bloodshot as she wiped her nose onto the sleeve of her jacket and sniffled. It had been a long time since she cried. Really cried.
Mal sipped the whiskey and soda placed in front of her by a pretty waitress. The woman hadn't said a word. Just placed the whiskey in front of Mal before running a hand over the ganger's shoulder and walking away.
The ice had melted and watered down the whiskey and soda but it still tasted good as Mal surveyed the utter destruction of everything she knew and loved. Even her very identity. Her name and family.
Mal thought back to what could remember. She barely remembered running down the sidewalk in the pouring rain, the rain causing blood to run into her face.
She did remember meeting Chris. She remembered Chris killing the Bomber who was chasing her.
She remembered Chris' lifeless eyes staring into nothing.
Mallory remembered Crystal smiling and letting her know it was all going to be ok. She remembered Crystal sleeping in her bed when she had nightmares about people chasing her in the dark. She remembered Crystal kissing her bumps and scrapes.
She remembered that Crystal was her mama. She remembered that Crystal thought she was perfect.
She remembered Crystal dying in her arms.
A lump grew in her throat and she downed the whiskey and soda. As soon as she put the glass down it was taken away and another replaced it as she sniffled and tried to keep from crying again. A small touch on the shoulder and the waitress was gone.
It was all to much.
Mal didn't have a family anymore. Deidre did.
Mal wasn't Deidre. Deidre died in the AMX and Mal couldn't even remember how.
Deidre was alive. Mal was dying.
Deidre had a brother.
Mal was alone.
Mal wasn't Deidre and never could be again.
Shepard didn't have a sister. She died when he was young.
Mal was nothing.
Mal pulled out the photo of her family and smiled as fresh tears, finally overtaking her, rolled down her cheeks. She sniffled and took a sip of her whiskey.
"Honey. I realize you don't want company, but do you want to talk?"
Mal looked up to see a pretty blonde woman in her 30's. Small lines in her face told a story of working in this bar for a long time. Or another one a lot like it. Mallory sniffled and exhaled slowly. The waitress sat down next to her and laid a hand on Mal's shoulder before laying her head on top of the hand. She peered at the picture.
"Who's that?"
Mal sniffled.
"Mom and dad…well…not my real ones…they took me in…"
The waitress smiled. Her eyes were sad.
"They sound like your real ones to me. Do you want to talk about them?"
Mal didn't want to. Words fell out of her mouth anyway.
"Chris saved my life the first time we met. Chased me across a road to stop me from getting run over and then stopped the guy who was trying to take me. This is his hat…"
Mal tugged on her frayed knit cap. The waitress hummed before putting a finger on Crystal's face and looking at Mal questioningly.
"Crystal…she took care of me. Took me in. Raised me. Fed me. Washed me…she was my mama. She thought I was perfect." Mal's chin was trembling by the end. The waitress stood up and, as Mallory thought she was leaving, placed a motherly kiss on top of Mallory's head.
"She is your mama. Still thinks you're perfect. Every mother loves their little girl…"
Mal continued staring at the picture but still felt the waitress was there.
"You have any other family?"
Mal swallowed a lump.
"Not one I can remember…but whoever I was before had a brother…"
The waitress hummed again.
"Whoever you were before?"
Mal, despite herself, let out a choked laugh.
"I'm damaged goods. Can't remember who I was for most of my childhood. Took a good knock to the head. Crystal and Chris took me in after."
The waitress sighed.
"Honey. That one is on the house."
The waitress moved to leave before stopping.
"It sounds like you could have a brother to…"
Mal sniffed and finished the drink in a gulp before leaning back and reaching into her pocket. Part of her hated the poison. Another part of her, the screaming part, couldn't live without it. She inhaled through her nose and shivered. Mal sighed before leaning back in her chair and rubbing her thumb and forefinger together.
A few flakes of Red Sand fell into her eyes and Mal clenched her eyes tight as painful tears started.
At that moment her comm pinged. She opened it and found a message from a contact she didn't recognize.
"Freckles, he's following me. Please come."
There was a location attached. When Mal clicked it, it was moving. It wasn't far away.
Mal's teeth showed before she abruptly stood up and dropped a credit chit on the table. More than the two drinks were worth.
Mal stormed to the front door. She stopped and turned to see the kind waitress sitting on the bar. The older woman was watching Mal with sad eyes.
"Come back whenever you want, Honey."
Mal stepped out into the crush of Humanity in the passageways of Zakera Ward. The contact wasn't all that far, actually. Mal ran in that direction as she fired back a message.
"I'm coming."
Jenna hadn't worked at Chora's Den long.
Only since Detective Chellick from C-SEC had asked her to act as an informant in the club. Jenna's work at Flux had been similar, but the clientele was entirely different. A rich gambler or fat tourist at the casino would been thrown out if they looked cross eyed at the waitresses, let alone touched them.
In the few weeks Jenna had worked at Chora's Den, she been touched and groped more than she'd like to remember and security always seemed to just be in on the joke.
That had changed when Freckles, Mallory, had walked into the bar earlier that night. The willowy brunette had signs that Jenna recognized. Red sand user. Ganger…but she was nice…and she had the saddest eyes.
It made Jenna want to tell her it was all going to be ok, but the truth was that, for people like Mallory, it was never going to be ok.
It made Jenna ashamed that it was Mallory of all people who had knocked that ex-cop, Harkin, on his butt. The cop had been thrown out not long after…right before Fist came out and told everyone that they had to leave. Right now.
It's a good thing Jenna took him at his word because, from what she heard, there was some kind of shootout in the Den not long after.
Jenna was walking back home when she saw him.
Harkin.
He was following her. Through every tunnel and into every tram. He was still in his C-SEC uniform so nobody even dared stop him. When Jenna looked at him she watched his eyes bore into her. She didn't like the way he smiled at her when he knew she was looking.
Jenna considered calling C-SEC, but she wasn't sure they would do anything. Even if Harkin was ex-C-SEC and not current…if the cop that showed up was a friend of Harkin's…
So Jenna had messaged Mallory instead. After putting the boots to Harkin, Mal had told her to just message if there were anymore problems. So Jenna did.
At that moment her comm chimed.
She looked down to see two words.
"I'm coming."
Jenna felt warmth flood her stomach.
Jenna kept walking and made for her apartment just a few corridors away. She entered the apartment section and up three decks to her small one-bedroom place on Zakera Ward. Cheap, but not bottom of the barrel.
Jenna locked the door behind her. She opened a holo-screen on the wall that showed a view of outside her door. Harkin was standing directly in front. He was grinning at the camera.
"Hey, girlie! Come on outside!"
Jenna closed the camera and tried to calm herself. She went to sit on the couch and wait for Mallory to appear.
As soon as she was getting comfortable there was a positive chime from her door and Avina's voice filled the room.
"Override accepted. Welcome Officer Harkin."
Jenna wanted to scream as the door opened and Harkin entered. Not even bothering to lock the door he strode across the room and grabbed her by her throat. Jenna tried to scream but Harkin covered her mouth.
"You think you're so good? Working at a shithole like Chora's Den? You think I don't know what goes on with the waitresses in that place? You are a fucking whore!"
Jenna felt her eyes go wide and she began to thrash as Harkin pushed her down on the floor.
His breath was hot and smelled of alcohol.
His body weight bore down, and she was unable to move.
Jenna's eyes began to run with tears as Harkin pulled at the loose clothing worn over her work clothes. She kneed him and Harkin grunted before dropping an elbow onto her face. Jenna tasted copper and went limp as she was stunned. The tears continued to run as she felt cold air on her legs. Harkin ran his hands up her legs and Jenna tried to stay still and screwed her eyes shut.
"That's good. You know, this is easier for everyone if the victim doesn't fight back."
Jenna didn't even hear the door open. Neither did Harkin.
Jenna's eyes were still screwed shut when she felt his weight come off her and Harkin began shouting.
"Hey! You?! Put me down! I'll fucking kill you! And the stripper to!"
Jenna opened her eyes to see Mallory. Harkin was up in the air surrounded by blue energy. Jenna, through her tears, looked at Mallory. The ganger's face was a mask of rage and contempt flooded forth from her eyes. The snarl screwed onto Mal's face showed her slightly red tinted teeth. Harkin continued to shout.
"Fucking freak! You need your goddamn superpowers? Huh?! Can't fight without them?"
Without a word Mallory threw him to the ground and Harkin howled as he rolled over. Mallory jumped on him in a full mount and began throwing punches. Jenna's eyes widened as blood spattered from Harkin's instantly broken nose.
Punch after punch pistoned into Harkin's face. The knees started as Mallory repeatedly kneed Harkin in the side before continuing to punch him. Jenna hadn't even realized it, being so engrossed in the destruction of Harkin's visage, but Mallory was screaming.
Jenna's tears returned at Mallory's scream. So full of pain, regret, and rage. Jenna came to her feet and began yelling.
"Mallory, stop! You'll kill him!"
Mallory looked up at Jenna and the waitress recoiled from the ganger.
"That's the fucking point!"
At that moment the door opened and two C-SEC officers strode through the door…no wait. One Turian male C-SEC and one female Alliance officer.
The C-SEC officer drew a gun and pointed it at Mal.
"Stop! Put your hands in the air!"
The Alliance officer was much less hesitant. She ran directly at Mallory and tackled her. Mal began throwing punches and the Alliance police officer threw an elbow into Mallory's face. The ganger spit out blood and continued fighting.
Jenna looked at the Turian officer. He was approaching Harkin. The alien kneeled beside the ex-cop and, for a terrifying moment, Jenna thought he was going to help the would-be rapist. Instead he turned Harkin over and snapped cuffs onto him. The Turian opened in his omni-tool.
"C-SEC Central, this is Vactus. We have Harkin in custody. Get medics over here, he's gonna need a trip to the hospital."
"Fucking quit it!" The Alliance officer shouted as she finally turned Mal over and brought her arm up to her shoulder. The angle didn't look right. Mallory screamed and went limp. The Alliance cop put cuffs on Mal. Then looked at Jenna.
"What happened here?"
Jenna pointed a shaking finger at Harkin and related the events of the day. She explained that she had called Mal for help. She explained what Harkin tried to do and what Mallory stopped. The Alliance officer sighed and came over to Jenna before kneeling down next to her…when had Jenna wound up back on the ground?
"I'm Officer Deckard. We have medics on the way. Do you want to be looked at?"
Jenna looked at the Alliance cop closer. Black uniform typical of Alliance cops and a silver badge. A real metal badge not the holo-badges that C-SEC had. Black hair in a ponytail pulled through a black baseball cap, full lips with a small scar across them. A scar inline with that in her eyebrows. Green eyes. Sad green eyes. In another time and place she would have been called pretty.
What was an Alliance cop doing here anyway?
Jenna voiced the question and Deckard smiled.
"I work for the Embassy. Harkin was due to be deported back to human space by the Citadel, so I was supposed to escort him back and put him on a shuttle. His override codes showed up at your door. They're flagged in the system so when he punched them in it sent an alarm to C-SEC Central. They shouldn't even have worked…actually I'm going to mention that. A human was hurt because C-SEC didn't pull the authorization on the codes." Deckard scowled before looking over at Mal. When the cop's eyes found the prone ganger, her expression softened.
"So your friend here just kinda lost it, huh?"
Jenna nodded. Deckard hummed.
"Can't blame her but I'm sure the Red Sand didn't help."
Jenna looked at Deckard in surprise. The cop shrugged.
"She's high as a kite."
Jenna sighed as Citadel emergency medical entered the apartment and walked over. The Asari medic smiled and kneeled down.
"Hello, Jenna. I'm Bratheta and I'll be taking care of you. What hurts?"
As Jenna was talking to the medic Deckard walked over to Mal and lifted her to sit on her butt. She looked the ganger in the face and snorted.
"Bad day?"
Mal rolled her eyes and looked away.
"Yeah. Me to. Look, you're going to a C-SEC lock up for the moment. They don't like vigilante crap around here, but I'll go to the Alliance Security commander, and we'll get it sorted."
Mal just looked right through Deckard.
"What about Harkin?"
Deckard's face darkened.
"Dirty cop. Dirty human cop. My jurisdiction. He's going away."
Mal nodded and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet by Deckard. She rolled with the officer as Deckard turned to allow Mal to walk. Deckard hummed.
"Done this before?"
Mallory grit her teeth.
"I'm a parole client...back on Earth."
The Alliance cop laughed.
"I don't give a damn. Didn't violate any human laws."
That gave Mal a small smile. At least she wasn't getting extradited to Earth.
As Deckard exited the apartments with Mallory a number of C-SEC vehicles surrounded the walkway outside. Deckard walked to the lone black air-car with the silver and blue shield of the Alliance Security Forces on the side.
Mal sat in the rear and leaned her head against the window as Deckard buckled her in before getting in the driver's seat and leaving the area.
Mallory sat in the lock up at the local C-SEC precinct. Nicer than the ones she was used to. Private toilet and bed. A clear door that was some kind of bulletproof glass or something instead of a metal door with a little meal slot.
Oh, and the lights worked. Always nice.
Mal was sitting on the bed with her knees up to her chest and her arms on her knees. She didn't know how Citadel law worked but probably before long she should be seeing a judge so she'd know what her charges are.
Right on cue, a C-SEC officer walked up to the door with…Garrus Vakarian?
"Thanks, Lieutenant. The Commander appreciates the discretion."
The human C-SEC officer shook his head of blonde hair and spoke in a Canadian accent.
"Ah don't think anything about it. She beat the snot out of a dirty cop and a rapist. Not like anyone is going to be crying about him drinking through a straw for a bit. Besides Alliance Security picked her up. As far as I'm concerned none of my officers ever saw her."
The cop, whose name tag read BAILEY, turned and walked away.
Garrus looked at Mallory's bedraggled face for a moment before gesturing.
"Come on. You're free to go."
Mallory stood and picked up her coat from the bed beside her. She pulled it on and followed Garrus through the precinct. She stepped out the doors and into the lobby. There she found Officer Deckard talking to, fuck, Commander John Shepard.
Garrus walked to them. Mallory stopped in her tracks and stared. Garrus stopped in front of Shepard and gestured over his shoulder at Mal. Deckard threw a two fingered salute at Mal before departing. Garrus walked to stand by the Citadel Rapid Transit terminal. Shepard slowly approached Mallory.
Mal stood and looked up slightly at Shepard. The man ran a hand through his buzzcut before sighing.
"Look…I don't think either of us knows what to do about this right now…I still have to have an awkward conversation with my…our…with Robert and Hannah Shepard."
Mal snorted and smiled.
Shepard smiled back and then it faded.
"Look…um…Deckard over there ran your information…she sent me the file, but…I didn't read it. I think you've had a hard life and I don't think that's any of my business yet. Unless you want it to be."
Mal narrowed her eyes. John smiled.
"This is all up to you. Your pace."
Mal sucked her teeth.
"Alright."
John rubbed the back of his neck.
"One more thing…do you know a Jarrod Kremmling?"
The name sent ice into her veins. John took the look on her face for an answer.
"He put a hit out on you…yesterday."
Yesterday…yesterday.
Mallory's ears began whistling again and she clenched her fists.
'The fucking bastard lived.'
John crossed his arms.
"Um…I don't want to assume how you know him, but…"
Mallory cut her eyes to Shepard.
"I'm a fucking gangbanger, Shepard. Don't play stupid, Hero."
Shepard put his hands up.
"I don't care. I just have to know."
Mallory put her face in her hand and stepped away from Shepard.
"Why? It's not your problem. Saren has a warrant and now you and Anderson can find and kill Big Bad Spike. I'll fucking…stay here and…I don't know…do what I do."
Shepard crossed his arms and shook his head.
"It is my problem. Number one, you're part of my crew. Number two, apparently, you're my sister."
Mallory whirled.
"You don't know me. Open the file Shepard! Check my record. I bet my list of convictions is longer than your list of medals!"
Shepard spread his arms wide.
"I don't have to know…even if I'd like to. You're blood. We're family."
Mallory groaned and went to sit on a bench against the wall. Shepard sat down next to her and leaned forward.
"This isn't easy for me either, you know, but please."
Mallory looked over at Shepard.
"Let me protect you."
Mallory shook her head.
"I don't need a hero, Shepard."
Shepard leaned back and opened a hand.
"Then let me help you protect yourself."
Mallory leaned back and sighed.
"It sounds like you could have a brother to."
"She'll always be your mama."
"Don't look back."
Mallory sighed.
'Ok, Mama…'
The ganger turned her head to the Hero.
"You said I'm part of your crew?"
Shepard smiled and nodded.
"If you want. It's a bed. Three square meals. Exciting life."
"I'm not a soldier."
Shepard grinned wide.
"You don't have to be."
Mallory laughed and leaned back.
"Come on, Shepard. I know you're a big hero, but even you can't bring me onto an Alliance warship as crew without me being in the Navy."
Shepard nodded.
"I could if I was a Spectre."
Mallory turned to look at Shepard.
"Yeah, right. Secret Agent Shepard."
Shepard smiled and raised his eyebrows meaningfully.
Mallory's smile dropped.
"Wait, really?"
Shepard nodded.
"The Normandy is mine. Captain Anderson stepped down. She's mine and I'm a Spectre. I can choose my own crew all I want. I've already got a Turian, a Quarian, and a Krogan."
Mallory couldn't take it anymore.
She laughed.
Uproariously.
Until tears were running from her eyes before looking at John again.
"God…your conversation with your parents is going to be a lot, huh?"
Shepard smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. 'Hey mom and dad, do I have some news for you.'"
Mallory's smile fell.
"What do you need me on the ship for? I'm not just going to sit around."
Shepard leaned back.
"Well…now that I'm a Spectre I have access to a lot of resources. If you're going to be on my crew I need you to be up to speed. So…if you want…you'll have access to the best equipment. The best training. We can even get you a biotic amp compatible with whatever implant you're using."
Mal's ears burned and a confused look was plastered on her face.
"Implant?"
Shepard froze.
"You don't have a biotic implant?"
Mallory shook her head and, for some reason, felt embarrassed.
"I've just always been able to do this."
Shepard stared at her. Unblinking.
Finally, he stood up.
"We can fix that to."
Mal was very confused as to exactly why this implant was so important but got up to follow Shepard.
"A biotic implant will give you more control. More raw power even. Most people need them to actually be able to use their biotics. The fact that you can do what you can do without one is…anomalous."
Mallory's face fell.
'Why am I such a weirdo?'
John stopped and turned.
"So, are you coming?"
Mallory gave him a small smile.
"I don't have anywhere else to be."
Shepard smiled back and nodded.
"Alright then. Let's get to the Normandy. We'll get you evaluated in terms of training and then arms and armor."
Shepard turned to walk away. Mallory looked around the C-SEC precinct and over at Lieutenant Bailey seated at a desk and working diligently at a computer. Besides being a whole lot more clean, it was just like any cop shop she had ever seen…maybe things weren't actually that different out here.
Mallory turned to follow Shepard and found Garrus and Wrex standing and waiting. Wrex had his arms crossed before standing up straight. Wrex addressed the Commander.
"Ready to go, Shepard?"
Shepard nodded and pointed at Mal with a thumb.
"She's coming aboard."
Garrus and Wrex nodded. Garrus tilted his head at Mallory.
"I understand this must be a shock. If need be, feel free to talk."
Mallory snorted and nodded.
"Yeah. Thanks."
The ex-ganger looked at Wrex.
"Can you tell me about biotics?"
Wrex grinned.
"Yeah. You're pretty sloppy, kid."
Mallory spread her arms wide and then took a shot in the dark at Wrex.
"I'm self-taught and don't have implants Old Man."
Wrex laughed.
"Ancestors…let's get to the ship and we'll talk."
The squad walked away from Zakera Ward C-SEC and towards the rapid transit to the Normandy.
So that was a rough scene. This scene has a purpose in the future. It's not sexual violence for the sake of sexual violence.
If you care to, leave a review.
Thank you for reading!