Chapter Elven, ūtlagr
"Go, you must. No guest shall stay in one place forever. Love will be lost if you sit too long at a friend's fire."
Gunfire echoed outside the ship, and small explosions vibrated the metal walls. Athria stood behind Martin, waiting by the door. "Fucking hell." He murmured. She saw the discomfort and anger building in his face. "Martin, we have to go. Do what you need to do."
"God damnit all to hell!" He gritted his teeth and pistol-whipped the door mechanism. The door hissed open, and he led them back to the loading bay. Athria grabbed the arm of the Quarian and pulled her along with them.
Martin entered the loading bay first and began shooting at the Turians in front and above them on the walkways. "Athria, Barriers, now!" He yelled his orders as he drew his second pistol and continued to make a path for them. Athria didn't expect the boldness she was seeing. Martin wasn't ducking behind cover and was near standing in the open, firing off in all directions. She returned to reality, threw up a biotic bubble around her and the Quarian, and began running with Martin out of the ship. The three took off down the ramp, eventually also covering Martin from the gunfire coming from the attackers.
Once they passed the attackers, Athria pulled down the Barrier and slipped down an alleyway with Martin trailing, keeping anyone from following. The Quarian sped past Athria to a maintenance tunnel, unlocked it, and jumped down. "Martin! Hurry!" Athria pleaded. He turned around and slid into the tunnel, making their escape.
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Velpia was in a skycar heading back from her meeting with Martin; her mind was amiss with how to approach the situation if things came to ahead. She knew the Colonel was closing in on the Quarian; hell, he probably had her in custody by now, all thanks to her hard work over the last few weeks. One step closer to finally going home again and leaving this place behind.
She sat quietly, watching the scenery pass by and trying to calm her worries when her omni-tool lit up. She quickly read the message: "Code Red, Castrum under attack. All personnel are to return at once." She sped back to the ship, fearing the worst.
She neared the loading bay, but instead of getting out of the skycar, she overwrote its automated commands and piloted the car into the bay over the large enemy force below her. The gunfire began bouncing off and through the car before alarm bells started to go off inside. Velpia Slammed the car down with a metallic screeching sound on the loading dock floor, taking a few of the attackers with her as it slid to the end of the ship's door. Velpia pushed the door open and leaped out, pulling out her Phaeston rifle and began firing her weapon toward the crowd, pushing their way toward the ship.
Velpia heard the ship's engines kick as the vibrations overtook her senses. She started to back up the ramp with the few other Turians next to her. "Get in now!" another from the back yelled. The entire group ran the rest of the way in as the doors closed.
"What the hell is going on, Corporal?" Velpia demanded from the Turian working the controls. "Natives are getting restless, Ma'am. The Colonel is pulling us out; a more concentrated force is moving in." Velpia turned away from the man and made her way to the front of the ship. She moved through the tight corridors, pushing past the injured and the medical crew. Confused and angry at what was going on. Velpia marched her way onto the bridge where the Colonel was barking orders.
"Docking clamps have been released!" someone yelled from the front. Engines are primed and ready!" "All systems green, Colonel!" The Colonel stood above the crew on an elevated platform, looking over the ship's readouts. "Get us away from the station!" he barked. The ship jerked from a muffled explosion, "Sir, their gunships have finally arrived!"
"Are the point defense systems online?" The Colonel asked. "Yes, Sir!" the woman beside her yelled out from her post. Velpia looked up at the Colonel and saw what she thought was a smile. "Fire."
The woman returned to her screen for a few moments. "Two gunships down!" she reported. The ship began to move out of the docking bay and sped away from the station. "I want a full after-action report on my desk in two hours! Lieutenant!" Velpia straightened herself and saluted, bringing herself to attention. "Ready room, two hours!"
"Yes, Sir."
Velpia returned to her quarters to set down her equipment and try to piece together what had happened. She had hoped that her stepping away for a little while wouldn't jeopardize the mission, but that possibility always existed.
After a while, she headed to the ready room for what the ship expected was the full command crew debrief, but to her surprise, when she arrived only the Colonel was sitting at the end of the long table. Unlike what the outside of the ship would suggest, the inside was in near-perfect condition. The perfect camouflage for operating in the Termius systems. The ready room was clean and bright, with a long glass and wood table flanked by chairs. The Colonel sat at the end; his uniform was pressed and neat, contrasting his harsh reputation. He fought in the Relay 314 incident, became a Spectre, and was known as "The Butcher" for taking down several pirate bases on the edge of Turian Space. Rumor had it being the Council's go-to man for eliminating troublesome actors in the Termius systems. He retired a few years ago, only to return and be given this command.
"Lieutenant, take a seat, I need some answers." Velpia nodded and followed his orders, sitting at one of the seats at the side of the table. "First off, it appears Aria finally got word that we were operating on Omega. We knew we didn't have much time, but the situation as it was wouldn't have been a problem." The Colonel droned on. "We captured the Quarian a few hours ago, and she was brought aboard." Velpia butted in, "That's great news, sir." His calm demeanor changed quickly becoming more aggressive. "Itwouldhave been if someone didn't sneak onto our ship and grab her while Aria's little pet army attacked."
Velpia's stomach dropped. "Sir, I—"
The Colonel cut her off, his eyes narrowing. "I'm not finished, Lieutenant. The timing of the attack and the infiltration was too perfect to be a coincidence. Someone must have leaked our location and plans." Velpia felt a cold sweat forming. "Sir, I was following up on a lead to secure our position. I had no idea this would happen."
The Colonel's gaze bored into her. "You were seen leaving the ship before the attack. What lead was so crucial that it warranted you abandoning your post?" She hesitated, gathering her thoughts. "I was meeting with an informant, trying to confirm the Quarian's location and ensure we had no other threats. It was supposed to solidify our mission, not jeopardize it. I didn't realize we were even moving in on her yet."
He leaned back, eyes still locked on her. He pressed a button on the halo display in front of him. A small screen popped up from the center of the table. It turned on, displaying a still-framed image. Her eyes couldn't believe what she saw: a human with two pistols exiting the ship. Her disbelief gave the Colonel all he needed to know. He stood from his chair and walked to the opposite side of the table, sitting down in the chair.
"Who is he?" he said nefariously. "And before you lie, remember, he's killed members of this crew; this will be seen as treason." Velpia clenched her fists under the table, trying to regain her composure, swallowing the lump in her throat. "A human, Martin Winters. He's..."
The Colonel slammed his hand into the table. "He's what, Lieutenant!"
"He's a Mercenary I've worked with in the past. I only recently became aware of his involvement with the mission when I spoke to him," she sheepishly responded.
"And you didn't think to warn us? It seems like a little detail that might have been necessary to divulge. The Quarian is gone, and our mission is in jeopardy. I need to know if you're compromised, Lieutenant."
Velpia's heart was racing out of control. She didn't completely understand the building rage in her chest. "I didn't leak any information about our mission to the Human; if anything, this was probably a ploy to get me away from the ship so he and Aria's people could attack. There is the possibility that the two were working together."
"Why you? What makes you so special?" he asked. Velpia sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before returning to the Colonel's cold gaze. "We were friends once, guilt maybe?" The Colonel sat back in his chair silently, keeping his eyes on her, judging her.
The Colonel's silence was more unnerving than his shouting. Velpia could feel his eyes boring into her, weighing every word she had said. Finally, he leaned forward, his talons steepled under his chin.
"Lieutenant, you need to understand the gravity of the situation. This mission is of vital importance to high command and to me personally. Any failure reflects poorly on all of us, but especially on me." Velpia nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. "I understand, sir. I'll do what is necessary to make it right."
The Colonel's eyes narrowed. "You'll have to do more than that, Lieutenant. You're going to find this Martin Winters and bring him to me alive. He probably has the information the Quarian had, so we probably won't need her. Dispose of the Quarian and the Asari; I don't care who they work for. My men need retribution for the injury he's caused us.
Velpia swallowed hard. "Understood, sir. I'll start tracking him immediately."
The Colonel stood up, signaling the end of their meeting. "You have your orders, Lieutenant. Don't disappoint me again." Velpia saluted and left the room.
The Colonel remained in the room and waited for the door to close before exiting to the rear of the room to his quarters. He sat down at his desk and opened his computer: "Voice registry, Spectre access, clearance, Alpha, 3,5,3,3,7, Omega, Delta, 5,6,1,1,2, Baetika." He said, speaking into the computer.
The computer spoke back, "Specture access recognized; please speak your inquiry."
"Gather all available citadel information on Martin Winters, Human, known associates Velpia Palitis." Another moment passed. "One match found." The robotic, calm tone spoke again.
"Good."
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Athria, Martin, and the Quarian moved through the Maintenance tunnels, looking for a way out. The Quarian seemed to know where she was going, much to Athria's surprise. She must have spent some time down here. Athria kept looking back at the silent Martin; he had a cold, worried look on his face. He was keeping up with them but at a slight distance. Turning back around, she saw the Quarian had turned a corner, and they came to a dead end with a ladder and what appeared to be a hatch. "We can go up here; this should be far enough away from everyone." The Quarian stated.
"Before we go up, we need a plan; where are we going?" Athria questioned. There was silence as the two looked at Martin. "Damnit, is the artifact on the station?" Martin sharply asked the Quarian. "No," she replied. "So, we need to find a way off the station," Athria added. Martin raised his head, "I do know of a ship we can use at least for a bit. It's at the passenger transfer dock; it might still be there."
"Alright, looks like we have a plan then." Arthia sighed. The three climbed out of the tunnel and wandered towards the marketplace. The skycar depot was located not too far from there. Athria was standing side by side with the Quarian, with Martin just off behind her slightly, with that same silent worried look as before but looking around, probably looking for trouble.
They approached the Skycab depot, with six Skycabs parked in front of them. Three of the cars opened, and Martin quickly took the lead, pushing the others behind him. Six armed guards stepped out of the cabs, each armed to the teeth. They were a mix of species: Turian, Batarian, and Salarian. The Batarian stepped forward slightly ahead of the rest as the other stood in place.
"So human, we meet again," the Batarian said. "Bray?" Martin questioned. Athria was confused and hoped this didn't look as bad as it looked. "You know him?" she quietly asked. Martin tried to wave off the question, but it only irritated her. "Look at the memory on you," Bray responded.
"What do you want, Bray? Kinda busy right now, if you don't mind." Martin said with a slight err of defiance in his voice. "About that. Aria wants to talk to you and your blue friend here. We're taking you to her."
"What about the Quarian?" Martin questioned. "She didn't say anything about her; she can go about her way." Athria grabbed Martin's shoulder, "We don't have time for this."
Martin turned his back slightly away from Bray, "I know, but I'd rather not have both Aria and the Turians pissed at us." She saw the logic of his statement even though she didn't like the idea. Martin turned to Bray, "We'll go, but can you drop our friend off here at the Passenger Transfer dock? I'll pay if that's required."
"You know, Human, you did us a solid last year; we can drop her off." Martin turned back around, told the Quarian what she was looking for, and explained what she needed to do to get on the ship. "Alright, let's go."
Athria and Martin sat in one car with Bray and a Turian while the Quarian was taken in another. The cars flew in close formation before the Quarian's car split off from the group and headed off in the correct direction. Athria was relieved, although ever so slightly. They sat there quietly for the rest of the ride.
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The skycar descended towards the neon-lit heart of Omega: the Afterlife Club. The club was a towering structure of metal and light, pulsing with the beat of heavy bass music that could be felt even from the outside. Its exterior was a chaotic blend of advertisements, holograms, and lights, a testament to Omega's status as a hub of vice and commerce.
The skycar landed on one of the designated pads, and Martin, Athria, and Bray stepped out. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, alcohol, and the club's electric hum. A pair of Krogan bouncers guarded the entrance to Afterlife, with an Elcor filtering out people in the crowd. Their imposing figures barely acknowledged the newcomers as they passed through.
Inside, the club was a sensory overload. The main floor was a sprawling space filled with patrons of all species, dancing, drinking, and indulging in various forms of entertainment. The walls were adorned with flashing lights and massive screens displaying advertisements and music videos. The bar was a long, curved, sleek counter manned by an assortment of bartenders who expertly mixed drinks for the clamoring crowd. Elevated platforms and private booths surrounded the dance floor, where dancers performed for the more affluent clientele.
Martin and Athria followed Bray through the crowd, weaving past patrons lost in their revelry. The atmosphere was a chaotic blend of colors and sounds, with the music's heavy beat resonating through the floors and walls. They ascended a flight of stairs to a more exclusive area reserved for Aria's guests and high-profile visitors.
Aria's private booth was on a raised platform overlooking the club. The area was separated from the rest by a transparent barrier that could be polarized for privacy. As they approached, two bodyguards stepped aside, allowing them entry. The booth's interior was lavishly furnished, with plush seating and a table laden with an assortment of drinks.
Aria T'Loak lounged on a central couch, her posture exuding an effortless authority. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto Martin and Athria as they entered, a faint smirk playing on her lips. She was an imposing figure, her presence commanding respect and fear in equal measure.
Athria was nervous, standing in front of this dictator of a woman. Every bad outcome flashed through her mind as she awaited what was to come next. She peeked at Martin, standing firm and calm, if not confident, in front of her. He had to be insane to stand here like this. He had to know what Aria was capable of doing to them. Their lives could end right now if she willed it.
"So, I find a ship full of Turian soldiers parading around my station, and then you two are seen fleeing from the area." She stopped, stood up, and adjusted herself before continuing. "Then I also find out that your friend—" Aria pointed at Martin "-that you were seen speaking to a bar, shows up in a Skycar, crashes its way through my people, and escapes on the Turian ship."
Athria turned his head toward Martin, deciding if she should speak up. He still hadn't budged, holding his calm and confident demeanor, staying silent. "I think this is all-." Aria lifted her pointer finger to Athria, cutting off her sentence. "No, I want him to say explain." She said, stepping closer to Martin.
Athria saw a smile develop on his face, a defiant act in the face of someone so powerful. He must have lost his damn mind. She thought. "We snuck onto the ship to free someone out of Turian Custody; your people gave us the cover we needed to escape," Martin said plainly.
"And the Turian's name? You're friend, what was her name, Velma?"
"Velpia," Martin corrected quickly. "Right, Velpia. Why was she trying to get on the ship?" Aria continued. "Because she works for the Turians now. Unfortunately, when I met her at the Bar, I didn't realize she brought an army with her." Athria kept her mouth shut about the half-truth. At least that remark might not get them killed.
Aria backed away from Martin and sat back down on her couch. She reached forward to the small table with a drink and took a small sip from one of the glasses while the bass from the music thumped in their chests.
Martin sighed through the conversational silence. "If you are wondering why the Turians were on the station, they were looking for Information on some artifact but had picked up our friend instead, thinking she knew where to find it."
Aria's face turned sour, "If I hear anything about this fucking artifact again, I swear I will murder every asshole on this station. Just the rumor of that thing has caused me nothing but problems for weeks now."
"Well, let us leave, and we will take the rumors with us. We will be out of your hair," Martin offered. Aria pushed back into her couch. "I'll tell you how this will work. I will let you leave the station. But if I need something done somewhere down the line, you will answer the call; if not, well, I'll make sure someone finds you and your blue-assed friend here."
Martin politely nodded before calmly leaving. Athria walked just behind him, quickening her pace to pass Martin once Aria was out of sight.