Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on Jul 26, 2014 11:49:42 GMT -6
Shala was once again on the Presidium Commons, watching the traffic pass by as she ate her lunch. She could have eaten it in five minutes, but her employer Cysmeni Thori always gave her an hour anyway. She was dining alone today, but that was not the norm for her; had it not been for a stubborn capacitor, she would be eating with another quarian.
It was a female who was still on her Pilgrimage and so she treated Shala with a certain amount of respect not only for having completed hers but also bringing such a worthy gift back to the Fleet. But the respect was mutual, as young one had the privilege of meeting Captain Shepard, and she had nothing but praise for him; he had kept her out of jail on a vagrancy charge, something she could relate to all too well.
Finishing her meal, she activated her omnitool and brought up the reply she had received from Maelstrom:
Shala’Bekk vas Neema
I suppose I am well enough, though the past few days have not been pleasant. Artacus betrayed the ship, and we had to deal with him. I exercised restraint, so he's not dead. And we found a stowaway.
I'm glad to hear you are well, though I'm surprised to hear you're not with the Fleet. I will be sure to stop by the Citadel if I make it there. Please, be careful though. For what is supposedly the safest place in the galaxy, it contains more dangers than almost any place I've ever been. I know you can take care of yourself, though.
Maelstrom vas Vengeance
Anger had surged through her when she read about Artacus for the first time; betraying one’s ship was an almost unforgivable act among her kind. She wanted to know how the turian had betrayed the ship, but she knew Maelstrom to be very private and would not disclose any details over an open channel.
News of the stowaway worried her; a person like that could not be trusted. Anyone who snuck on board a ship could not have good intentions. She wanted to know more about that as well, but she also knew he would only give that information in person—if she ever saw him again.
“Spirits!” someone yelled, snapping her out of her reverie.
She looked over to see a turian C-Sec officer and a human female at a food counter. The human was clearly an employee and looked distressed. She couldn’t tell the turian’s expression—she never could with them—but his body language suggested agitation.
“I’m very sorry, sir,” the human said, looking even more distressed as she wrung her hands, a gesture Shala understood all too well.
“No, no, it’s not your fault,” the turian said, making a soothing gesture. “It’s just that I’ve had a very busy day, and I had heard good things about the food here.”
“I’ve already called a technician, he should be here in thirty minutes,” the human said.
“I don’t have that kind of time,” the turian said.
Shala briefly considered staying out of it—she didn’t want to do a good deed only to run afoul of C-Sec again—but the value of cooperation ran strong in her people and a month on the Citadel had done nothing to diminish it.
“Perhaps I can help,” she said, getting up and approaching. “What is the matter?”
“Our dextro food dispenser is broken,” said the human. “Oh, a quarian! Could you take a look at it?”
“Of course,” Shala said, stepping around the counter. “This is a common problem in the Fleet, so all of my people know how to fix something like this.”
A quick scan with her omnitool revealed the problem and just as quickly she fixed it. “What was it you wanted?” she asked the turian.
He told her and she programmed it into the dispenser, which quickly provided the requested item. She took it over to the turian, who took a small bite.
“Spirits!” he cried out again.
Because of their faceplates, it was almost impossible to read turians’ faces, but judging by his tone, he was pleased.
“This is the best food I’ve had since coming here!” he exclaimed. “Thank you, Miss…?”
“Shala’Bekk vas Neema,” she said. To cut off any possible inquiry, she added, “I’m not a vagrant, I live and work here.”
“Even if you weren’t, I’d offer you a job on the spot,” he said. “If you ever need any help, call C-Sec and ask for Theraxos Loressan. Thanks again, Shala’Bekk vas Neema.”
He paid for his meal and left.
“Thank you so much,” the human said as she handed over a credit chit. “For your trouble.”
“It was no trouble at all,” Shala said. “Keep the credits.”
“Well then, if you eat here again, make sure to come by when I’m on duty,” the human said, and winked.
“I will,” Shala said, smiling.
Ancestors, keep Maelstrom safe…