Chapter Eighteen: Goliath
"There is nothing impossible to him who will try." - Alexander the Great
Rinn snuck into the club using her cloaking device and passed the bouncers outside. The club's pulsating music began to drown out the panic in her chest, overtaking her own heartbeat. She moved cautiously, weaving around the patrons so as not to make it obvious that some cloaked individual had made it into the club. She kept her eye scanning for any signs of danger as the dim lighting and swirling colors offered her plenty of shadows to hide in. But the crowd made it difficult to stay unseen for long.
In a dark corner of the club, Rinn decloaked, her breath shallow as she tried to calm herself. She pressed her back against the cool wall, the synthetic bass vibrating rippling through her suit. She needed to blend in to lose herself among the bodies of flashing lights. She looked along the entrance, making sure no one followed her. She was sure Martin had gotten the merc's attention. He was good at making a scene when the time called for one. The way he insulted the Turian would probably piss off the entire hierarchy if they heard it. But she had to be sure. Before she could completely regain her composure, another Turian waltzed it. She squinted her eyes, trying to see if this was the Turian from before. As her eyes adjusted, she realized it wasn't that Turian.
Velpia had walked in through the entrance. Her posture was tense but focused. Rinn's heart skipped a beat of relief. She didn't hesitate; she pushed through the crowd, making her way toward the Turian. When Rinn broke through the crowd, Velpia locked eyes on her with a look of relief. Velpia's mandibles twitched in what might have been a smile, but her eyes still were serious, "I heard your call over the comms. Are you alright?" she said, leaning in close to be heard over the music. "Yes, Martin... I think through them off my trail," Rinn yelled over the noise.
Velpia nodded and pointed over a small table in the back of the room, partially hidden by a pillar. They sat down, trying to blend in with the other patrons. "I'm sure the others are on their way, so we should just relax here for a while until they get here," Velpia reassured her. Rinn's thoughts darted back to the alley and just how outnumbered Martin was. "Do you think Martin is alright? There were a lot of mercs in that alley."
Velpia's mandibles twitched again; she appeared to be laughing, even though she couldn't hear her. "Unless they had brought an army of Krogan, they aren't stopping him. And even then, I wouldn't be too worried." Rinn thought about it. If she wasn't worried, then she herself shouldn't worry either, and she pushed the concern out of her head.
Rinn's curiosity got the better of her. She knew that Velpia and Martin worked together and seemed to be at least somewhat close, but she didn't know how close. "You two fought a lot together?" She asked. Without hesitation, she responded, turning her attention away from the rest of the club. "A little too much." Velpia Joked.
A shadow began to loom over their table. Rinn looked up to see a tall, muscular human with a smug expression on his face. He leaned casually against the table, a toothpick dangling from his mouth as he regarded them with a condescending smirk. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he drawled, his voice oozing arrogance. "Two little ladies alone in such a fine place as this?" Velpia looked the man up and down with an annoyed look. "Who taught you that ice-breaker? A Vorcha?" The man smiled, if not condescendingly
"While I would enjoy a little R with you two, the truth is, I've got a job to do, " the man continued with arrogance in his throat. He straightened up, looking down at them with the sense of superiority that made Rinn's skin crawl. "You see, we've got the exits blocked off, and we're really only interested in one of you." He tilted his head towards Rinn, his gaze narrowed. "So how about both of you come along quietly, and I'll make sure neither of you pretty ladies gets hurt."
Rinn reached down under the table slowly while the man's eyes focused on Velpia. She gripped her sidearm, waiting to pull it on him. Velpia's eyes narrowed, and she leaned back in her chair, feigning indifference, even letting out a small chuckle. "You humans aren't as intimidating as you think, you know." she said with an icy tone.
The merc's smirk widened as he reached out to brush his hand against Velpia's face. "Feisty, aren't you?" His fingers barely grazed her before Velpia swatted his hand away with a sharp movement, her mandibles flaring in anger. "Don't touch, I'll rip you apart." She stared the human down as her face became focused and hinted at her contained fury.
The merc chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Oh, I like a woman with spirit," he taunted, his grin never faltering. "But seriously, ladies, this is your last chance. Come with me, or things will get... unpleasant."
Rinn's heart raced as she glanced around the club, trying to spot any way out of this situation. She didn't want to fire her weapon and hit anyone else in the club by mistake. The merc's smile quickly turned from a smile to a gritting as he grabbed Velpia's arm and attempted to yank her out of her chair. She braced against it but lept up and struck the merc in the throat. Appearing from behind him, a blur grabbed the man by his hair and slammed his face through the table. The Merc's body flopped down to the floor.
Rinn quickly darted her eyes in surprise, seeing Martin standing and looking down at the Merc. Her panic washed away as Martin began to smile. "You always have to get the last hit in, don't you?" Velpia said, her tone teasing but with a hint of relief. "What can I say? He looked like an asshole." Martin quipped back with his usual cocky grin returning.
Athria and Dez stepped forward and finally caught up with the rest of them. "We should probably leave now while we have the chance," Dez shouted over the music. Velpia interjected, "Thatassholesaid that they have the club surrounded."
Martin smiled from cheek to cheek, giving Velpia a look. "You think a few idiots would get in my way?" Rinn and Velpia looked at each other before looking at the others. "Let's just get out of here," Athria shouted over.
The group quickly moved, slipping out the back and into the shadows of the Citadel's ward. They headed out to an elevator and got on, taking it further up and away from the area. Rinn pushed herself into the back. Thankfully, the group was alone in the elevator and could all relax a little. Martin seemed the least concerned, especially after he checked his omni-tool. He also seemed much better physically after they left the clinic and ate before the merc jumped them.
"So what are we doing now?" Velpia asked the group. The elevator was silent except for the silly music that played overhead, cutting to a news update. "Alliance officials have announced an official end of hostilities, which some call the "Eden Prime War. Officials state that Geth's presence outside their space has been relegated to small pockets of resistance."
Athria straightened herself, turning her attention to Velpia. "We need to get back to the ship and stay put. Hopefully, they don't know how we got here, and the ship's more defensible." Martin cut in, "That's a bad idea." Martin said plainly. "All we will do is draw them to a ship that can't leave. What we should do is-" Velpia cut him off and rolled her eyes, "Here we go." she said condescendingly. Martin turned to Velpia and gave her a playfully disappointing look. "Look, they want Rinn. If they track her back to the ship and interrupt the repairs, we will have bigger problems. We should keep on the move for a while, stay ahead of the Mercs, keep them guessing, then sprint back once the ship is ready." Athria looked over to Martin and surprisingly nodded. "That's not a horrible idea, Barbarian." The others looked over at her. Rinn herself was surprised; this was probably the first time she had actually agreed with him.
"Dez and I should return to the ship and monitor things remotely if they show up. Martin," She stared at him with some conviction. "Keep Rinn safe, and don't cause too much trouble."
Martin nodded silently as he darted his eyes to Rinn for a moment. The elevator stopped as Rinn, Martin, and Velpia got off, leaving the others alone.
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As the elevator doors slid shut behind them, Velpia found herself walking alongside Martin and Rinn through the corridors of the Citadel's ward. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the near-empty space, a stark contrast to the pulsating music they had just left behind in the club. They moved quickly, keeping a low profile as they navigated the twists and turns that led toward the sky cab depot. Rinn kept a wary eye on their surroundings while Martin, ever the soldier, maintained a casual yet alert posture. Velpia took the lead, though she really didn't know where they were going.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Rinn asked. Martin was quiet for a while before speaking up. "Well, First, We need to get away from here, and Second, we still haven't got everything we need for the trip, so we might as well get that done while we are out and about." Velpia was satisfied with his answer, at least some of it.
They continued for some time, eventually reached the Sky cabs, and got into one. Velpia watched as Martin climbed and punched in directions to the Shalta ward before Velpia stopped him. "It could be better if we went the Sliver strip. There's a lot of people down there to get lost in the crowd." Martin paused for a moment before sighing and clearing the destination. "You just want to gamble."
Velpia settled into the seat beside Martin, the hum of the skycar beneath them as it soared through the Citadel's vast network of wards. The lights of the Citadel's skyline flickered past them in a blur, casting fleeting reflections across the window. She glanced sideways at Martin, noticing the way he leaned back with a relaxed posture, his arm resting on the armrest. The sight stirred a mix of nostalgia and determination within her.
She allowed a small, playful smirk to tug at her mandible, "You always were a bit of a killjoy; what's wrong with having a little fun while we're out? I doubt anyone will notice us or try anything with all those people out and about."
Martin turned his head slightly, acknowledging her with a half smile, though his eyes remained dismissive. "We've got enough problems without adding distractions if we're being honest here."
Velpia leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial, suggestive tone. "Distraction can be good, you know. It helps keep the stress in check. Not every day we get a chance to enjoy ourselves while on a job."
Martin's face seemed to fight off a smile before returning to a more neutral pose as Velpia leaned closer. He turned to her with a raised eyebrow and cleared his throat. "Enjoying ourselves is a bit dangerous right now." he pleaded.
In the back seat, Rinn fidgeted uncomfortably, clearly feeling like an intruder in this exchange. Her gaze flicked between them, unsure whether to speak or stay silent. Though not hostile, the tension was palpable, making her presence feel even more awkward.
Velpia caught a glimpse of Rinn in the backseat. Out of the corner of her eye, she looked uncomfortable and decided to ease the atmosphere. She turned slightly in her seat to address the Quarian. "What about you, Rinn? Ever been to the Silver Strip before?"
Rinn's voice was soft, hesitant. "No, I've... heard of it, though. It's not really my kind of place."
Velpia chuckled lightly, trying to draw her into the conversation. "That's the beauty of it. There's something for everyone. Maybe we'll even win big and get ourselves a better ship." Martin gave a small, amused huff. "If you're planning on gambling away my money, I'll pass. Thank you." Velpia shrugged, leaning back and allowing herself to appear more relaxed. "You worry too much. A little risk never hurt anyone. Isn't that right, Martin?" Martin's gaze softened slightly, but his response remained measured. "I hurt people. That kinda risk is different than ending up naked and homeless."
Rinn remained quiet, feeling more like a third wheel than ever. Velpia could sense it, but she didn't push any further. The teasing had served its purpose—testing the waters with Martin, seeing where his head was at. She needed to rebuild that bond and trust if she would pull off her plan. But she also knew Martin well enough to recognize when to back off.
'''''''''''''''''''''
As the skycar approached the Silver Strip, the lights of the bustling entertainment district grew brighter, casting a colorful glow over their faces. Velpia allowed herself a moment of genuine excitement, but underneath it all, her mind was calculating, planning her next move.
Martin sat the car down, and they climbed out. The district was busy as usual, and Velpia remembered the last time they were here and wondered why they never enjoyed themselves among the chaos of people. They began to walk through the crowd of people standing and talking, their excitement filling the air around them with their laughing and cheering.
Velpia decided to take the lead and brought them to an arcade. She hoped to press her more into their conversation without the Quarian being subjected to her display.
Velpia led the way through the crowd, her gaze darting to the various bright lights and holographic displays that lined the Silver Strip. The noise and energy of the district were infectious, and despite Martin's stoic demeanor, she could sense the slight loosening of his guard. The memories of their past flashed through her mind, those quiet moments they shared, if only for a short time. She wanted to tap into that again—rekindle that connection, even if it was all part of her larger plan.
As they reached the entrance to an arcade, Velpia turned to Rinn, her expression shifting to something more casual and friendly. "Rinn, why don't you take these and have some fun?" She handed the Quarian a few credits with a smile. "We'll meet you back here in a bit."
Rinn hesitated, looking between Velpia and Martin. "Are you sure? I mean, we should probably stick together, right?" Martin also seemed somewhat confused, looking at Velpia. "Go on, Rinn. We'll be right here. Just don't stray too far." Velpia said. Rinn looked at Martin, who just shrugged at the invitation. Rinn nodded, taking the credits reluctantly before slipping into the arcade. The moment she was out of earshot, Velpia turned her full attention back to Martin. The lights from the arcade reflected off his face. She could see the reflections in his eyes as she stepped closer.
"You know," she began, her voice playful but with an edge of seriousness, "we could both use a break. It doesn't always have to be about the mission, Martin. We're allowed to live a little, aren't we?" Martin leaned against a nearby pillar, his arms crossed. His gaze was steady, but there was a slight softening in his stance. "I'm not against enjoying myself, Velpia. But this is a bit much, don't you think?"
Velpia tilted her head, studying him. "What do you mean? This is probably one of the few chances we get. I mean, before I left Illium, you offered." Martin's face turned a slight shade of red before clearing his throat as he tried to maintain his composure. Velpia moved closer, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "We had something good, you and I. We worked well together. Trusted each other. I miss that."
Martin's eyes flicked to hers, and for a brief second, she saw a flash of the old familiarity. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the guarded look she had come to expect. "A lot has changed." Velpia let out a soft sigh, a mixture of frustration and acceptance. "I know. But maybe it could, with time." She allowed her hand to brush lightly against his arm, a gesture that was more about testing boundaries than affection.
Martin didn't pull away, but his posture stiffened slightly. "Time's kinda funny out here." He replied. She gave a small, rueful smile, recognizing the truth in his words. "True. But until then, we can make the most of what we've got, right?" Martin finally uncrossed his arms, his expression softening just a fraction. "Maybe." He shrugged. "Let's not get carried away. Or anything." Velpia nodded, sensing that she had pushed as far as she could for now. "Alright, soldier. I'll behave... for now." She added the last part with a teasing lilt, hoping to keep things light.
Martin gave her a small, almost reluctant smile in return. "Good. We've got enough to deal with without you stirring up trouble. God knows I cause enough of it."
As the conversation tapered off, Martin shifted his attention to the arcade, where Rinn was trying out one of the games. Velpia stepped back, giving him space while her mind raced with possibilities. He was still wary, but she had seen a crack in his armor, a small opening that she could work with.
''''''''''''''''''''''
Martin stood at the edge of the arcade, watching Rinn as she tried her hand at yet another holo game. The flashing lights and constant chatter surrounding him created a sense of liveliness that he found annoying and unsettling. He'd been to places like this before, back home on Earth during his time, hanging out with old friends from high school, but the circumstances always seemed to shift, reminding him of how far he'd come and how much of his life had changed.
Velpia was nearby, though she'd eventually drifted away, which came as a relief. She was a little too touchy today. Her earlier attempts at flirting lingered in his mind, stirring up memories he wasn't entirely comfortable with. He wondered if staying with her on Omega was a mistake when they escaped the Batarian ship, but he quickly pushed out that line of thinking. He appreciated her efforts to lighten the mood but couldn't shake the feeling that something else was behind it. She never would push this hard unless she wanted something or needed something. And now, the timing of it all just seemed out of place.
Martin stood against a wall on the second floor, watching over the arcade as his thoughts continued to run through his mind. The sounds of the arcade began to blur together. Without focusing his attention, it was just a loud white noise that bounced around in his head. Martin found his thoughts drifting and interrupted by everything going on around him. He glanced over at Rinn, who seemed engrossed in her game, then back at Velpia, chatting with the bartender. With a quiet sigh, he decided to take a moment for himself.
He slipped out of the arcade and into the open-air promenade. The cool air hit his face, and he took a deep breath, relishing in the relative quiet of the outside. The strip was just as busy but spread out, with people milling about, laughing, talking, and going about their business. He let his eyes wander over the crowd, allowing himself to blend in, if only for a moment. As he scanned the area, something caught his attention. A group of people stood a little too still and a little too focused near one of the alleyways leading off the main strip. Their eyes were sharp and on alert. Their Posture was rigid. They didn't look like the type to be here for a good time. They were too pent up.
Martin's eyes narrowed, his instincts kicking in. He counted five of them: two humans, a Turian, a Salarian, and a very large murder Turtle... He remembered the name; Krogan.
He remained composed, hoping they weren't here to start trouble. Too much security, too many witnesses. They didn't seem armed or wearing armor, at least from what he could see. But something about their demeanor screamed trouble. He watched as the Krogan exchanged a few words with the others, his deep voice rumbling even from this distance. The humans nodded, glancing around as if making sure they weren't being watched. Martin recognized that behavior—caution, calculation, the kind that usually preceded something unpleasant.
Keeping his movements casual, Martin shifted to a better vantage point, careful not to draw attention. His mind ran through possibilities—who they might be, what they could be planning. The Silver Strip wasn't the kind of place for this, but this felt different. They were out of place, setting off all kinds of alarms in his head.
He considered his options. Confronting them directly wasn't smart, not without knowing more. But ignoring them could be a mistake. They could be after anyone—Rinn, Velpia, or even himself. Or they could just be random troublemakers. The only way to find out was to keep an eye on them.
Martin leaned against a nearby wall, keeping them in his peripheral vision while pretending to check his omni-tool but instead letting out an alert to the others. His heart rate was steady, his breathing calm, but his senses were on high alert. He needed to figure out their intentions before deciding his next move.
He decided to let himself be seen and activate his comms. "What's happening, Martin?" Velpia cracked over the comm. "We got some weird types outside, a few humans, a Turian, Salarian, and fat-ass Krogan mother fucker." He responded by trying to keep his conversation below hearing level.
"Shit, alright, I'll pull Rinn away and see if we can't make it out the back." As Martin returned his attention to the group, they disappeared. "Ah, fucking Christ."
Martin Power walked back into the arcade eventually picking up his pace to a stiff jog. "Vee, watch yourself."
"Yeah, no shit." Martin began sprinting, pushing his way through the crowd, knocking over small children and to the back of the upper level of the arcade. He rushed down the fire escape to see the group of Mercs confront the two on the ground level.
The door locked behind them, leaving them trapped in the back alley. Martin leaped off the balcony as the Krogan began making demands and landed on the group behind him.
He quickly turned and rushed the Krogan, which, to its surprise, was caught off guard by the human falling from the sky.
Martin punched as hard as he could, only making the Krogan lose footing, more from shock than from pain. The shockwave ran up his arm and into his shoulder, giving Martin a moment of pause.
The other mercs scattered slightly, giving them space. They seemed content to let their muscle handle the situation—at least for now. Martin pressed the advantage, throwing a flurry of punches, hoping to keep the Krogan off balance. Each strike was precise, aimed at vital spots that would cripple or at least slow down any other opponent. But this Krogan wasn't just any opponent.
He put every ounce of force he could into his strikes. Punches like these would flatten most other opponents; he saw blood, but it wasn't the Krogan's.
The Krogan took the hits without much reaction, his small red eyes narrowing with amusement. He allowed Martin to keep going, letting the human get in a few more solid hits. But the smirk on the Krogan's face suggested this was all a game to him. Martin could sense it—the way the Krogan held back, waiting for the right moment to strike. And that moment came sooner than Martin expected.
With a low growl, the Krogan's patience wore thin. He batted away Martin's next punch with the back of his hand, the force of it nearly dislocating Martin's shoulder. Before Martin could react, the Krogan surged forward, slamming his massive head into Martin's chest. The impact drove the air from Martin's lungs, and he staggered back, struggling to keep his footing while his vision swirled.
The Krogan didn't give him a chance to recover. He was on Martin in an instant, one powerful hand wrapping around Martin's throat while lifting him slowly into the air. Martin fought against the grip, but it was like trying to move a mountain. The Krogan effortlessly lifted him off the ground, bringing him eye level with the beast's sneering face.
"Had enough, little human?" the Krogan rumbled, his voice thick with mockery.
Martin gritted his teeth, choking on the tightness around his neck. He tried hitting him again in the face but couldn't quite get enough force to stop the creature. The Krogan's grip tightened, and Martin could feel the pressure building in his skull as his vision started to blur.
He needed to do something—anything—before he blacked out. Desperation fueled his next move. What he could muster, he steadied his hands on the Krogan's forearms, lifted both of his knees to his chest, and kicked as hard as he could. The Krogan lost his concentration and dropped Martin to the ground.
He hit the pavement hard, but there was no time to feel the pain. Martin rolled to his feet, gasping for breath. The Krogan roared in frustration, his amusement now replaced with anger. Martin knew he couldn't take another round like that. He had to end this quickly.
Reaching for his waist, Martin grabbed his knife and sprang forward. He went for the Krogan's neck, aiming for the vulnerable spot between the armor plates. But the Krogan was ready this time. With a speed that was disproportionate to his size, the Krogan caught Martin's wrist, twisting it until the knife fell from his hand.
The next thing Martin knew, the Krogan's fist was slamming into his stomach, sending a shockwave of pain through his body. He doubled over, the world spinning around him. Another punch followed, this one to his side, and Martin felt something crack. He hit the ground hard as the krogan let go of his caught arm, coughing up blood as he tried to push himself back up.
But the Krogan wasn't finished. He loomed over Martin, his shadow swallowing the light from the street lamps above. "You should've stayed down," the Krogan growled, raising his foot to deliver the final blow.
Martin's anger rallied his senses. His mind slowed as the Krogan's massive three-toed foot descended on him. He managed to catch it, not by stopping it but by redirecting it away from his point of balance, causing the massive beast to topple over. Martin quickly sprang up and climbed over the Krogan, who was dazed from the fall.
The other Mercs, seeing their compatriot on the ground, tried to make a move, but the sound of Velpia and Rinn drawing their weapons made them back away, helpless to watch, and Martin began pounding away at the Krogan's face.
His fury mounted as his pain grew, one feeding the other, as his hand met the granite-like face. He didn't stop, not even as the Krogan began pleading for mercy, not even as its face started to resemble mush. Eventually, Martin stopped, but only after the Krogan stopped flailing. Martin's hands and face were covered in orange and red blood hues: Some his, most were of the Krogan.
He turned his hysterical gaze to the other Mercs as he stood on his trophy. If he could do this, imagine what he could do to them. They backed off, slowly exiting the alley.
Martin stepped off the Krogan before collapsing to the ground. The cold ground gave him comfort to his superficial wounds. The adrenaline was wearing off as Velpia and Rinn ran to his side. Mystified that he just beat a Krogan in hand-to-hand combat.
"Are you alright?" Velpia panicked, trying to roll Martin over. He resisted, swatting her away as he was comfortable. His delirious response cracked his voice in a playful tone. "Yeah, just peachy, and I need a nap now, thank you."
He coughed, trying to clear the choking feeling from his throat. "Can we go back to the car? I'm done with this place." He pleaded.
"Yeah, I think that was enough fun for one day."