"ETA to Illium is 20 minutes, captain," Lanster's voice crackled over the intercom. A glower aimed in the general direction of the camera in my room. From my position on my couch, upon the raised plinth that occupied half of my room, glowering was all that my beaten self to handle right now.
"Thanks, Lanster. And can you tell – goddam it! – tell Indira to get up here, please," I asked between grunts. There was a long pause as the pilot processed the 'command', watching me on the cameras.
"...You're still struggling with the armour, huh?" he sounded amused. My glower evolved into a glare.
"Of course I'm still struggling with my fucking armour! Now stop laughing and get Indira up here!" I snapped. Lanster laughed before he signed off the intercom. My growl rumbled under my breath as the boot refused to pull past the calves. Goddam this was tight! We had to skimp some of the fancy armour attachments due to funding restrictions but this was ridiculous! My lungs heaved a breath when my calves stopped crying, boot secured. Well, at least they wouldn't fall off! Maybe.
"Need help, Dellion?" Indira laughed. My glare did not deter the bouncy girl as she skipped, a grin spread wide over her face.
"Why else would I invite you up this close to docking?" I grumbled as my cheeks inflamed. Indira laughed before snatching up my other boot. Using her biotics, she freed the clamps holding the metal plates together. "We need the elasticated clamps,"
"Couldn't afford them," Indira countered, snapping the clamps around my lower leg.
The effort to yank the chest plate into position ripped a sigh from my lungs. Indira was too smug for my liking as she freed the clamps that had hindered me. The Rosenkov Materials armour had been my preferred style; simple looking and didn't have that annoying 'boob-plate' either. It also increased the recharge rate of my tech abilities for when my brain remembered to use them. The overall dark purple base had neon purple lights, but streaks of light purple splashed around the edges of some of the plates, like the thighs. A curse yelped when a clip nipped the skin when the gauntlet snapped on, completing my suit. Indira had no such trouble with her black Serrice Council armour with plain blue stripes down her sides. As if she needed the extra power boost that armour gave her...
"Ok, ETA, Lanster?" I called. The microphones were always on, although they engineered the software to alert him when someone called him. The thought of him watching me was discerning.
"10 minutes, captain," Lanster answered. 10 minutes to get ready? God, we needed to upgrade everything; engines, armour, guns, shuttles, shielding for the ship, new flight system set up... arrh! How long would it be before some money flowed my way to get this shit?
The thought of the long elevator did not appease me. Thus cheating and abusing my power as captain to cut through the engineering tunnels to the CIC made sense, Indira took the elevator. She lost by 3 minutes, despite the head start. She stuck her tongue out at me when she arrived in the CIC, stung by the loss in the 'race'. My eyes rolled at the drell as they refocused on the projected 'windows' that hid the walkway on the second floor of the CIC. The blue marble of Illium filled the forward screens, lights dancing along the darkened edges. This was to be our first ship docking since leaving Sur'Kesh. On that point...
"Lanster. The Starquake can fly under atmosphere with four engines, one ready to fall off and another on the brink of failure, yes?" I asked, listening to the silence as the teams of aliens around me gave wary looks to each other. My fingers drummed on my arm as my tongue ran over my teeth.
"I was... hoping you wouldn't ask that, captain," Lanster's reply bounced off the intercom system. My tongue clucked, trying to control the panic that hazed my vision. "I mean everything should be ok but the rotary may seize up since it hasn't been disengaged it since we left the STG. It'll be fine!"
"Lanster," I began, tone light. All eyes swivelled in my direction. "Get us on the ground... in one piece if possible, please. The thought of the Reapers laughing at us for falling at the first hurtle is not comforting," My tone degraded as the words tumbled out, my fear decorating the higher tones. That may have spurred everyone, since the CIC became a clamour of activity as people clocked every movement of the Starquake. The engineers were in constant contact with the flight crew. My feet began a slow pace around the inner ring of the now bursting command hub. That pace only increased once Lanster's voice rang over the noise.
"Nos Astra Command, this is the RSS Starquake, requesting a landing vector," he said as the radio banter began.
"Nos Astra Command, roger that, RSS Starquake. You are three days behind schedule," the female voice responded.
"We have had engine problems owing to our delay, Nos Astra Command," Lanster's said. How could he be calm when the Starquake could fall out the sky?!
"RSS Starquake, if you require any assistance, we can arrange equipment before attempting entry. Otherwise, landing vector granted," the asari's indifferent tone said, as if she had said it 1000 times that day already. Goddam, this was not helping my blood pressure.
"Roger that, Nos Astra Command, we will attempt entry before requesting equipment. We can exit atmosphere if necessary," Lanster said. Tension in my shoulders rattled, praying he wasn't saying that to ease my fears. If the rotary seized...
"Roger RSS Starquake. Have a save entry. Contact us when you are flying stable," the asari finished.
"Thank you, Nos Astra Command. RSS Starquakeout... I hate dealing with asari controllers," Lanster grumbled once he cut contact.
"Just land, please," I squeaked, clearing my throat afterwards. My hands rubbed my flushing face masking the red glow. Everyone in the room had other concerns than giggling at their flushing captain though. Endellion Shaik, mighty captain of an Anti-Reaper task force, was about to die in her first planet landing as captain.
"Engines brought to idle. Disengaging rotary system," Sershin said, the flight deck a baggage of noise and activity. They had their own concerns to worry about from the sounds of things.
My toes bounced me in place as nerves gripped me. Please Starquake, please don't kill me yet! My gaze spun around to the rear cameras. The massive ring holding the engines released the stability girders, leaving just the outer ring holding the engines. My breath snagged in my throat. The outer ring split, the engines parting three on each side. The metal girders would help create the leading edges of the wings, more metal telescoped out from the split rotary system as the engines slid down the wings into position. Six loud clunks announced they had locked in place. My eyes popped out my skull. Did... something just go right?
"Rotary disengaged, securing outer plates," Lanster called. The fanning plates that marked the unique shape of the Starquake clung to the sides, telescoping and slipping under one another until a smooth, seamless skin ran from bow to stern. "Engines powering up to entry levels, now entering Illium's atmosphere," Lanster said.
Within minutes, the ionising flames streamed up the Starquake's flanks. That the external cameras weren't melting was impressive by itself. Anything could and would go wrong with this ship. My teeth clenched together as the Starquake rocked, worrying about the engines falling off the wings. My luck had given me no reason to believe it would. Val glanced over his shoulder from his position at the foot of the stairs, one hand on an orange coloured screen. He grinned.
The fire vanished, clouds smothering our view. Seconds later, the ship soared through clouds and blue sky. The shaking eased as we levelled off. My eyes were on the screens, staring at the skyline of a massive city before me. Towering glass and metal skyscrapers pierced the clouds, so thin the wind would have shattered them. We ascended over a sprawling sea, following a growing stream of air traffic. The sun caught the glass of the buildings, glinting like mirrors. They joy to experience a planet once more – without being shoved onto an escape pod – poured joy into my weary bones. And in one piece as well!
"Nos Astra Command, this is the RSS Starquake, entry now complete. Requesting permission to dock," Lanster said, smugness lining his tone as he contacted with the tower.
"Roger RSS Starquake, permission granted. Please proceed to docking bay J71-A. Nos Astra Command out," the tower said, almost monotone. Lanster answered with a brief thank you reply, his joy died, his skills as a pilot not recognised. Easy way to fix that!
"Lanster, you are – hands down – the best pilot I have ever flown with," I aid, my relief overwhelming. It would crash down on me once dockside. Val laugh from across the room.
"Oh God, don't say that. It'll go straight to his head!" he called.
"Piss off, Val. You ready to go?" I retorted. The copper turian grinned.
"Always, captain," he responded. My eyebrow rose, brain turning to make him squirm...
"Good, then you can get Mat'al and Indira," I said. Val's superior expression fell. It was my turn to become smug. If there was one thing Val hated dealing with it was Indira. And Mat'al after those blasted computers became such an issue, even before then to an extent. Val opened his mouth, plates furrowed. "That's an order," I sang. He glared at me now. The urge to laugh in his face rose, but politeness smothered it. He grumbled.
"Aye, aye, Captain," he muttered as he stomped out of the CIC, muttering under his breath. He ignored my smirk as he passed. Got one up on him!
Until he had gathered up the officers for the mission, my gaze fixed on the enclosing city, watching the skycars below me dance in anarchical rows. The city lights, combined with the reflected sunlight, blinded us as we slipped past massive towers and footpaths miles above the ground. Then the traffic ramped up. Ships of all sizes and designs flew alongside us. The school of fish swam towards dock. Dock J reared as we swerved to starboard, the massive skyscraper, taller than most seen already, reminded me of a gaping giant. It swallowed us whole as the ship slipped into 71-A. The Starquake hovered, waiting for the docking clamps to lock it. The engines silenced. And now, time to be captain for the first mission. My hand touched intercom on the panel before me.
"Alright everyone, we have arrived in Illium. Thank fuck for that!" I sighed, resting my hands on my hips. "Someone buy the flight crew a drink, they have earned it. Engineers too once they can take a break," A cheer from the cockpit. roared. Let them relax for now. "Engineering team, I need you guys on those engines. I expect a full report by the time we get back. Intel team, you are to handle the requisitions. We don't have a lot of cash to spare, but the engineering team get dibs for the engines. Food and fuel are the priorities, so I don't want to see fancy bedsheets floating around. And I don't care how scratchy yours are, scratchy quilts are better than starvation!" My eyes pinned towards Iona, the steel grey female turian with the amber markings on her face, a meaningful gaze. Her eyes narrowed on contact. We weren't friendly.
"Ground crew to the airlock, we move in 5!" I said. The room cried 'aye aye, captain,' as the crew moved onto their duties.
The engineers bustled out the airlock with piles of equipment. Their eyes only for the engines. With luck, we wouldn't be here too long, that depended on whether the team could get them functional once more. My back stretched as Mat'al crawled out the labs in his armour. His Mantis sniper rifle secured on his back. His silver speckled navy eyes slipped to me as he moved towards the stairs. My eyes followed him, noting the strain marks in the bright CIC. These new scientists had better relieve some of the pressure off him, he had to stay in good health. He wasn't a young, bounding salarian anymore.
My legs paced around in the CIC for 4 minutes before moving to the airlock. As hoped, the ground crew had all gathered. Valérien, Mat'al, Indira, Jacques Krysin – a dark silver turian with off-white markings with sap green eyes – and Aroqoul Jour'sa, a rust red salarian with a green stripes under his gold eyes. All but Mat'al saluted as I approached. My spine remained rigid to prevent a shudder shaking me. Tine to be professional now. We were taking a small team in since we had to include a larger team on the return trip.
"Everyone ready?" I asked.
"We are. And remember, Endellion," Mat'al said. My sigh interrupted him.
"Don't wander off, don't pull a gun out, sign nothing, don't make eye contact with anyone, don't talk to anyone, we collect the scientists and are back on the ship ASAP," I repeated from his ramblings during that meeting. "I'll be careful," I said under his critical stare.
"We shall see," Mat'al answered. My grumblings stayed internal as my combat mentor straightened my spine with a good threat. He was good at hand-to-hand, a field my own skills did not excel in at all. That and his air-rounds, air filled bullets, were hurting since he was aiming for the same spot over and over again. Bruises decorated my back from the last round. My shoulders shook out as we waited in the airlock.
Once the door freed us to the planet's surface, the captain had vanished and an awed child appeared. The sleek floors, the crystal glass, the brilliant neon lights. an alien world. The foreign text hypnotised me, the asari aliens who dominated the offices on the other side of the text engraved glass. I was following, rather than leading, the ground crew towards the exit of the dock. The city remained blocked from view but it was close. My eyes skimmed past Mat'al as the salarian tracked towards a circular door. It gave a quarter circle twist before disappearing into the floor.
The city lay before me. The noise hit me; cyber squeals, low hums. The city was like a quieter, brighter 2010 city. Cities held their own character and this one didn't give me any immediate opinions. This was my first proper city on a planet, the Citadel could count. This was my first functional city on a planet. Feros was a colony in an ancient city long abandoned, Noveria had been a research facility, Virmire had been so filled with krogan and indoctrinated turians you can't call the facility a proper location. My gaze tore away from the scene, back to the crew around me.
…Where was my crew?
You are kidding me... you are fucking kidding me! Not even two minutes in and I had already lost the team. My gaze gaped at the bustle of people around me. Had the team powered on ahead while a plant-lined balcony grabbed my attention to stare at the scenery? Indira hadn't noticed either or had she and she decided it would be fun to watch me squirm. Shit!
"Mat'al?" I called. A few of the asari glanced at me as they passed, a few Volus, a species my knowledge could fill a stamp and no mores. And they looked annoyed at my interruption. A nearby asari clerk grabbed my attention. "E-Excuse me, miss," the dark blue asari smiled, assuming service. "S-Sorry, have you seen a group of aliens walk by? Two turians, two salarians and a drell?" the smile faltered, realising this was no customer she spoke with.
"Ah, I think I did, there are few drell around," she pointed down towards my right. The crowd thickened in that direction. "We sell several components you can add to your omni-tool that allows you to track people-"
"A-Ah, no thanks. T-Thank you for the help," I said, making a hasty escape, earning a severe frown from a displeased saleswoman. The crowd swallowed me within seconds, all features smothered by bodies. My lack of height played against me. The vast majority of the asari were at least a head or two taller than I. There would be no way for someone to spot me in this mess, even with my flaming red hair.
The next 15 minutes were spent getting bumped around, tripping over stumpy volus and earning a few stares and glares from the aliens around me. My nervous smiles appeased no one as my brain hunted for a clear spot to peer through the crowd or locate something prominent. My quiet spot appeared, although my shoulders had to force my way through to reach it. In the safety of the edge of the pedestrianised zone, my eyes couldn't make anything out from the crowd around me. There were no salarians at all and the few that were around were not dark skinned. No drell, not even a turian. Shit! Oh fuck, I was so dead! Ok, ok, deep breaths Dell. It's easy, just go back to the docking bay. Mat'al can't scold you if you were safe in the Starquake. Yeah, let's do that! My feet turned me towards the crowd before freezing. The horror creeping on me only enhanced my panic as the unfamiliar landscape flooded my senses. Where was I? Where was the dock? Fuck!
My ass dropped onto a bench, eyes the size of dinner plates as the full scale of what occurred sank in. I was on a strange planet, lost my crew, lost my way and there was no way for me to convey my location to the crew. My eyes caught my glittering omni-tool. Desperation burst through me, hands shaking as my fingers navigated my messages. Make contact, had to find help!
"Hello?" a voice asked. My scream surprised even me, legs leaping me away from the sound as my eyes assessed the situation. A pale purple asari jolted back in surprise but she smiled after a moment, calming herself. "Are you alright ma'am?"
"A-Ah. Yeah, I'm ok. J-Just got separated from my friends," I said with a shrug. "I'll find them soon," Oh please, let me just get back! "A-Actually, could you tell me where Docking Bay J71-A is?" the asari blinked.
"Oh yes. It's just over there. I can take you there if you'd like," She responded. My hope soared.
"T-Thank you very much, I appreciate it!" I said, relief flooding me. The asari smiled before walking alongside the edge of the bustle. My eyes scanned the crowd to see if anything looked familiar while following the asari. Nothing sprung to mind though. For now, my mind set about to memorising the landmarks should something happen. The downside to this city, however, was that most of the buildings were very monotonous. Same colours, holographic trees, same skyline. It didn't help, not in the slightest.
"New here?" the asari asked. My gaze snapped to the asari, startled by the start of conversation.
"Y-Yeah," I said. The asari laughed.
"It isn't so bad, everyone is laid back and eager to lend a hand. I... well, would it be rude of me to ask a favour?" she asked. My head tilted to the side in curiosity.
"Maybe, why?" I asked.
"Well, I'm trying to get signatures for a petition to help give more support to new, small companies on Illium. As you can understand, being such a massive port it is very hard to settle your roots here. All of the big companies smother any attempt to create competition. Do you think you could sign it?" she asked, running her hands along her cartilage covered head.
"A petition? Well, I-I don't see why not," I said. The asari burst into a wide beam.
"Oh thank you! You do me a huge favour!" she exclaimed, bring out a datapad, passing me a pen. "Just sign on the dotted line," My fingers grasped the datapad and pen, staring at the blank screen before me. There was a dotted line but was otherwise blank. The pen lowered to touch the pen to the surface.
"Endellion?" a voice rang out.
My skin leapt a mile, eyes flying everywhere. That voice... why was it so familiar? A voice I had heard a hundred times. My eyes locked with someone, moving out from the bustle of people. My eyes widened, the datapad and pen dropping from my hand. The purple asari spun around, glaring at whoever had interrupted. My mouth floundered for words.
"L-Liara?" I asked. The pale asari's face spoke of shock, maybe even disbelief. She came, as if unsure as if to approach.
"Endellion, Dell... Y-you are... alive? Oh, thank the Goddess!" she cried, running across the distance, enclosing me in a tight hug.
"Liara! Oh it so good to see you! I've not seen you in ages! How have you been?" I asked, joyous. Liara T'Soni, one of the closest people from on the Normandy, was here? The asari gripped my shoulders, not believing the solid human before her.
"You survived Noveria, we had heard rumours but nothing conclusive. What are you doing here on Illium?" she asked.
"Ah, well my crew and I came here to pick up some new crew members to help us tackle a Reaper issue. But I kinda... got lost... in about 2 minutes," I coughed, a red flush staining my cheeks. Liara tutted, serious though. "But this lady was helping me back to my dock," Liara blinked, turning to regard the pale purple asari. The purple girl seemed to have lost a lot of colour…
"Ah, Caria T'Slerka, still tricking newcomers into signing indentured servants forms, are we?" Liara asked, her tone turning cold. What? The asari panicked.
"A-Ah, L-Liara! N-No, I was just a-asking this young g-girl to sign a p-petition and-" the asari stammered. Liara bent down, plucking the datapad off the ground. She navigated through it. "G-Give t-that back!" she demanded.
"My, my. You have been busy, so many people... Oh dear, looks like you have transmitted none of this data back to your employer. Wouldn't it be a shame if someone were to... erase that," Liara gave her a meaningful look. A blue aura surrounded the asari, the datapad crushed into tiny pieces, the fragments flying over the edge into the abyss below.
"No! What have you done! Do you have any idea what you have do-!" Caria started, but she saw my expression, saw how it was moulding into pure, molten hatred, she froze.
"You were tricking me?" I asked, hands twitching for the Carnifex pistol at my hip. Caria stared between Liara and me before panicking. She fled into the bustle of people, screaming. "Bitch! Get back here, you whore! I will rip your goddam spine out and shove it down your throat!" Her scream echoed above the din, people yelling from her colliding into them in the crowd. "OI!"
"Colourful, but effective," Liara said, amused. That snapped me out of my haze of fire. Bitch tried to make me sign a bloody…sign a…sign… My cheeks warmed more as the realisation of my near miss hit.
"Oh fuck! Mat'al warned me! He fucking warned me!" I cried, banging my head on the edge of the balcony banister, gripping it in my hands, surprised and annoyed the bash didn't knock me out. "I'm such a fucking idiot..."
"Come now, Dell, don't be angry with yourself. You can say something a thousand times but experience shall always be the better teacher," Liara reasoned.
"But I should know better! Oh damn, he will gut me like a fish!" I said, running my hands through my hair. "And what's Val going to say? And... oh Raisha... Shit!" My hand slapped over my mouth in horror. "I'm so dead... Oh God, I told them I would be a horrible captain! I told them!"
"Captain? You are a captain? Already?" Liara asked, her tone surprised. My eyebrows upturned as my gaze turned to the pale asari, her eyes curious. My arms flopped by my side.
"It's a long story. A-A lot has happened since Noveria," I said.
"Well, why don't we go somewhere and catch up. Garrus told us he saw your name flying around C-Sec at one point but then everything... vanished," she prodded.
"It's... it's too long and sensitive a story to explain here. B-Besides, I need to-" I said. Liara grabbed my arm, eyes in the distance. My brows furrowed, following her gaze over towards a nearby building. Was that a red laser pointing over he- oh fuck...
"Get down!" I snapped at the same time Liara hauled me to the ground, hiding behind the solid metal banister. A shot rang out. The banister pinged, a dent appearing on our side. Screams pierced the din. "Bastards! Who the hell are they? Goddam it, not even here a goddam hour and I'm getting fucking shot at,"
"Shadow broker agents," Liara frowned. "Well, I was hoping they wouldn't have tracked me down this," My gaze gawked at her. Shadow broker? The... information kingpin? He was after Liara? "Ok, Dell, stay here and I can lure them away-" she stopped when she saw me hurl an Incinerate across the way, a few yells and curses ringing out as they dodged it.
"C'mon, you bastards! Bring it on!" I yelled. "I'm in a foul fucking mood and I need to kill something!" My head ducked as the laser trained on me. My eye winked to Liara. "Let's clear house," Liara was quiet as she studied me, watching me pull out my Carnifex.
"It seems you have... changed a little," Liara commented. A laugh burst free, my blood bounding through me at the thought of a fight.
"Just a little," I said with smile. "Come on, as if I'd let some bastards target my friend and not help," Liara smiled as she pulled out a Predator pistol.
"I know where their temporary base is. This way," Liara crept, keeping her head under the metal barrier.
The Galaxy Map has been updated for this chapter. Please see profile for link to Archive.