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Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on Mar 3, 2015 23:34:23 GMT -6
“…there's nothing more valuable to me than my friends," Maelstrom said, and then left.
I think there is, she thought.
*****
She lay in bed for a few minutes, trying to get her feelings in order, when an idea struck her. Why she thought of it, she didn’t know, and what was even stranger was that she thought it was a good idea.
“Ren,” she said, calling up her suit’s VI before she changed her mind. “I need you to access the video logs of the hospital and delete any recordings of Maelstrom.”
“That information is encrypted,” it said after a few moments.
She brought up her omnitool and scanned the encryption. Not bad, she thought. Only six months out of date.
It took a few minutes to break through, but once she did, Ren was able to do as she asked. She then shut off her omnitool and lay back down again.
Protecting a man who can never love me, she thought. What is wrong with me?
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Mar 4, 2015 0:13:11 GMT -6
Esteban sat alone behind a sizable stained oaken desk, rubbing his weary eyes. The dim lighting of his personal office on the Citadel hid his weary expression quite well. The Engineer hadn't got much sleep over the past three weeks. At least, he thought it was three weeks. Time lost a lot of meaning ever since he came back from the mission. A good part of his first few days was restoring the system after an attempted hack erased parts of the data collected. The hacker, whoever he or she was, did not realize Esteban assumed any hacking attempt would succeed and more focus on backing up all data. He had one of the most advanced ghosting systems in the galaxy in place.
He leaned back in his chair, yawning. He was tired. He could not deny that. There was so much he needed to do. There were new potential recruits. All the data from two missions needed to be compared, analyzed, and stored for future reference. Not to mention....
Esteban reached out, patting the firearm he had sitting on the desktop. He could not shake the suspicion he was being watched. He tried to find out who was watching him or how they were doing it. But no matter what he tried, nothing worked. It was like the wind itself was watching him. A small bead of sweat ran down the side of his handsome face, leaving a wet trail... he was nervous. He would not lie to himself about it.
He tapped his wrist, pulling up his omnitool display. Eric Lysander's contact information was still at the ready. Esteban still trusted the former N7. And he knew, if anyone in the galaxy could track whoever it was that was watching him, it would be Eric. His finger hovered over the 'contact' button, to fire an SOS message to Eric..
But instead, he tapped his wrist again, killing the light. He fell back into his chair, sighing. No.. he thought. He couldn't bug Eric because he was scared of shadows. Esteban shook his head, his eyes drifting shut...
He could... yawn.... he could handle it.. he just... needed t.... need to....
Was the air always that strange shade of green?.....
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Post by Joe Fischer on Mar 4, 2015 6:35:15 GMT -6
[AUTHOR NOTE: All characters and references to them appear with GM's approval.]
The briefing on the planet had advised him that the sun was brighter than what he was used to, and stepping off the ship immediately proved it right, leaving him fumbling for his sunglasses.
A majority of the passengers and people waiting for them were asari, so he and all the other “aliens” stood out. He watched as spouses kissed each other after being separated, parents hugging their children and old friends shaking hands. Some things were universal, and the joy of reunion was certainly one of them, proving that underneath all the differences, peoples of the galaxy were the same.
As the mini-reunions ended, the families and friends left, and he kept his eyes open for those still waiting. Within fifteen minutes, there was only one, an asari nervously pacing. Her skin tone was different from the one in the picture he had found among Murchadh’s items, but that could just be chalked up to poor picture quality.
Fuck it, he thought and approached slowly.
The asari saw him approach, and he saw her posture lock up with tension.
He stopped, smiled and raised his hands in what he hoped was a nonthreatening manner. “Are you Nelia?” he asked.
“No,” she said, her posture still rigid with tension. “Who are you?”
“I’m Joe Fischer, I worked with Murchadh,” he said. “I don’t suppose he mentioned me?”
“As a matter of fact, he did,” she said, the tension leaving her, but then suddenly she seized up again. “Oh Goddess, is he…is he…?”
There was never an easy way to say it, so he just said it: “Yes.”
“Goddess,” she said again.
“Can you take me to Nelia?” he asked.
She nodded.
*****
The asari in the hospital bed had her eyes closed, but they opened slowly when he entered. He was no doctor, but he could tell she was in a lot of pain.
“Murchadh?” she asked weakly.
“No,” he said gently as he approached. “I’m a…friend of his. My name is Joe.”
She nodded, but was then suddenly stricken with a severe coughing fit.
When it passed, she said with a weak smile, “Murchadh was right, you are a big one.”
He didn’t know what to say to that; somehow it didn’t feel right to play his usual role of the jokester.
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” she asked.
He nodded.
She let out a sigh. “I knew,” she said. “I don’t know how, but I just…knew.”
“I only knew him for a short time, so I didn’t get a chance to know him as well as I could have,” he said. “If it’s not too much to ask, can you tell me more about him?”
“Of course,” she said, smiling faintly. “Have a seat.”
*****
They talked for several hours, with her doing most of it: how they met, when they realized their feelings for each other, the diagnosis of her illness, with many side trips along the way. The other asari, which she introduced as her sister Elinara, remained silent through most of it.
As hard as he tried to stay awake, he knew it was a losing battle; his internal body clock was totally off, telling him it was night—even though it was still daytime—and he finally fell asleep.
*****
It was night when he woke up.
He looked over at the bed, and Elinara was still there with Nelia. He looked closer, and could see the unmistakable stillness of death.
“It happened shortly after you fell asleep,” Elinara said, her face wet with tears. “She just closed her eyes and…”
She slumped over her sister, weeping. He went over to her and held her, not even feeling the tears stream down his face.
*****
It wasn’t until morning that Elinara was ready to leave her sister. He had stayed with her, unwilling to leave her in such a time.
Just before he left, he put something on Nelia’s chest and wrapped her hands around it: a picture of her and Murchadh together. He didn’t know where or when it was taken, but they were both smiling.
“Back together,” he whispered, and then left with Elinara.
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Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on Mar 4, 2015 17:44:24 GMT -6
When Shala woke up, the first thing she saw was Theraxos sitting next to her bed. She may not have been able to read his facial expression, but his whole posture radiated tension.
“Shala, I…” he began but stopped, and then handed her a datapad. “I need you to look at this, it’s a video clip taken from a security camera.”
She took it and activated it. It showed a human she had never seen before; then Maelstrom entered the picture, walked up to the man, shot him and then ran away.
“Tell me you had nothing to do with this,” the turian said, unable to look her in the eye.
“I’ve been here for six days, of course I had nothing to do with it,” she said, hurt that he would even think such a thing.
“I spoke with the staff, they said the killer came to visit you just before he shot that other human,” he said, looking up. “And that he was the same human who assaulted them when they treated you for exposure. Did he say anything to you?”
“Yes, he told me of his plans,” she said, unable to keep the annoyance out of her voice. “He said that after he killed this human, he was going to personally lead the geth on another assault on the Citadel.”
“Shala, I need you to be serious,” he said.
“Of course he didn’t say anything!” she shouted, exasperated and a little ashamed at losing her composure with him.
She understood he was only doing his job, but she needed an outlet for all the emotions that were still swirling in her after the debacle of a conversation with Maelstrom, and he just happened to be the unfortunate target.
“Ever since you were brought in, I’ve been doing nothing but try to track this human down,” he said. “And I’ve come up with nothing. There’s no footage of him on any security cameras—except this one—and all my informants have nothing on him either, it’s like he doesn’t even exist.
“Do you know what this looks like?” he asked. “This has all the earmarks of a professional assassin, who knows how many deaths he is responsible for?!”
He slumped down in his chair, apparently exhausted. “I care about you, Shala,” he said. “Ever since the first time we met, I’ve just wanted to protect you, keep you safe. A man like this is dangerous. He clearly does not like leaving loose ends, and I’m afraid he may come to see you as one, and…”
“There’s no need to worry, Theraxos,” she said, reaching out and touching his arm. “And I do appreciate your concern, but I know he would never hurt me.”
“But then why did he take your helmet off?” he asked.
“He didn’t, I…I did that voluntarily,” she admitted. “Don’t ask me why, just...trust me when I say it was to help him. And he’s not an assassin. Have you heard of Cerberus?”
He nodded.
“He was a prisoner of theirs, but he escaped, and now he hunts them, even as they try to recapture him,” she said. “That’s why he’s careful to hide his identity, he doesn’t want them to find him.”
“But that still doesn’t explain why he would kill this human,” he said. “Do you know the man he shot? His name was Willard Cronauer, and he was a high-ranking officer of their military.”
She shook her head.
“Something like this demands we find his killer, Shala,” he said. “Are you sure you don’t know anything about this?”
“If Maelstrom did kill this Willard Cronauer—and I’m not saying he did—the only reason I could think of is that he was a member of Cerberus,” she said.
“Maelstrom?” he said. “Is that what he calls himself?”
She cursed herself for letting such a thing slip; she knew how much he valued his secrecy. “Yes, that’s what he calls himself,” she said, nodding. “And before you ask, no, he never revealed his real name.”
“Still, it’s something to go on,” he said, standing up. “I’ll try to keep you out of this, but you still may have to come in for official questioning. Like I said, this was an important human, they aren’t going to let something like this go.”
She nodded as he left.
*****
She knew Maelstrom had told her not to contact him directly, but she couldn’t bear the thought of him being unaware of this new threat. She activated her omnitool, preparing to let him know of it.
Why are you doing this? asked a voice not unlike her mother’s. It’s clear he’ll never love you.
She pushed that thought aside and composed her message.
Maelstrom I know you told me not to contact you directly so soon, but I thought you should know that shortly after you left, a C-Sec officer came by asking about you. He showed me a video clip of you murdering another human, and the officer told me the victim was a very important member of your military.
I don’t believe you did it, you are far too careful to let yourself show up on a security camera. But if you did do it, I’m sure you had a good reason. I defended you as best I could, but I did let your name slip, I’m sorry.
It would appear that your voyage has become more difficult. I will pray to the ancestors that you navigate these rough seas safely.
Keelah se’lai.
Shala’Bekk vas Citadel
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Post by spartan560 on Mar 4, 2015 19:29:56 GMT -6
A week spent combing Sector 22 and nothing to show for it except a pissed off Eclipse squad and three harrowing near death accidents from the environment itself. "Azrael has anything of note popped up since that Batarian's call?" He says hoping for anything, "No sir shall I start performing Alpha protocol one?" the VI responds. "No I don't want to raise Aria's ire and I certainly don't want any of the merc bands getting a whiff of what I'm doing, how's the Avrosh?" Izahm says sighing heavily 'I have to find a lead soon otherwise he may send someone else after her and I really don't need the competition' "The ship is still secure sir despite several determined attempts from Eclipse Blood Pack and Blue Suns at infiltration," Azrael replies. "Good," Izahm says scanning his surroundings for anything out of the ordinary. Suddenly he spots something that according to his mental picture of the layout for Sector 22 shouldn't exist, a power manifold that was hooked up to a nearby power cable. Somebody in Sector 22 was bleeding energy from Omega's own grid, utterly impossible to detect unless you were actively looking for it. "Gotchya!" Izahm exclaims walking over to the manifold, "Pardon me sir but what have you 'got'?" his VI inquires 'Damn I'm gonna have to add a new slang subroutine during my next update for Azrael's coding' he thinks before replying, "I'm scanning a power manifold that is redirecting a small amount of power form a nearby power cable, I would like you to try and follow this specific energy signature until you reach it's outlet." "Receiving data now sir, updating Sector 22 map now," Azrael replies already Izahm's HUD map is displaying the power manifolds energy trail, "Would that be all sir?" "Yes that will be all Azrael continue Alpha level monitoring of all communications with periodic dumps of data that is four hours or more old except any that follow previous parameters," Izahm responds beginning to follow the energy trail deeper into the heart of Omega towards the Eezo mines at the bottom of Omega he then closes the channel not hearing Azrael's reply not that it really mattered as if anything of note came up the VI knew to contact him directly on a secured and encrypted channel.
The Batarian had followed the human for a week now and with no sign of either the Doctor or her project he was about ready to kill the annoying human report the Doctor dead and her project destroyed and get off the station when he noticed the human start off in a direction with a very determined stride and his head facing the gorund clearly following an electronic trail of some sorts. "Found something have you," he says darkly beginning to follow the oblivious human, "Let's hope you find what I came here for so I can go home and you can meet your maker," He checks his Omni-tool making sure that the tracking program he installed was working properly, "and earn my paycheck."
Back in Afterlife Aria reads a datapad and then after a moments thought throws it to the side, "Mind telling me how a very well known and accomplished assassin from the Hegemony got on my station?!" the glare she gave her surrounding subordinates could melt Silaris armor. "He was using an alias I only know who he really is from my time in the Hegemony military," the one who gave her the datapad says, "Otherwise we probably never would have known who he was until he killed his target." "And what might that target be?" Aria says sending another withering glare around the room. "We don't know Aria," her second in command says, "I already have tails on all possible targets within the station with the exception of that one guy that you brought in here a week ago." Aria now focuses solely on her second in command, "Why can we not put a tail on him?" "Because he's in Sector 22, it's so far out of the way not even the Vorcha have hovels there. I don't think the assassin's target is him anyway he's just some merc," he says trying not to shake under her intense glare. "Even if he is just some merc I need to know who he is and what he's doing here," Aria says reclining in the couch, "And I need that information now!" The surrounding underlings jump at her last word then scurry off to complete her request glad she didn't throw anybody or kill anybody for such a huge lapse in security.
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 4, 2015 20:09:10 GMT -6
Maelstrom read the message from Shala'Bekk on his HUD, as he waited for word on whether or not Lysander would see him. Being patient was hard for him at a time like this, but at least Shala's message gave him something to focus on and kept him from pacing. He realized that most of the people around him would be wondering why someone visiting a hospital would be keeping their helmet on, but, given the recent attempt on his life, he figured that the extra attention being paid to him was less of a liability than his face.
Maybe it's time I get a third suit of armor, he mused. This set would be known to his enemies as well, but it had the advantage of not being what they were looking for at the moment. If he were to buy another suit, he would have to be careful not to let it become associated with his mercenary identity. Something totally unlike my style... Maybe white or ivory? And a new identity to go with it? Maybe Paragon? Renegade? Paladin? Paladin has a nice ring to it...
Snapping back to the moment, he activated his omni-tool and drafted a quick reply.
Shala'Bekk vas Citadel,
Thank you for the warning and for the trust you obviously still have in me. I already knew about the security footage. It's been altered. I was the target, and the victim was, I believe, unintended collateral damage. I'm fine.
The original footage, unfortunately, was wiped by our mutual friend after making a copy of it. The assassin used some kind of masking technology that rendered his image indecipherable. I'm afraid I'm in deep this time, and I can't afford to be an enemy of the Alliance too. I can't just run this time. I have to try to clear my name.
He was about to address it and hit send when another thought occurred to him.
You said you let my name slip. Was that all? Be honest, but please, tell me it was. Anyone with knowledge of who I am or anything of my past could become a target for Cerberus, because I know things now well beyond what I knew when I first escaped, and they'll stop at nothing to contain that knowledge. If there's any chance that this officer could let anything about me, other than my name, slip, then he needs protection. A word to the wrong person in a bar. An official report. That's all it would take for Cerberus to hunt him down and have him interrogated... and they don't like to leave loose ends.
Keelah se'lai, Maelstrom
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 5, 2015 11:09:30 GMT -6
A somewhat full-figured nurse with brown hair bound up in a ponytail and a reluctant expression entered Eric’s room. “Mr. Lysander…? Hello…?” Sounds of flushing and running water came from the closet near the room door. The closet door unsealed and Eric stepped out in blue short-sleeved pajamas with a dazed look on his face. The nurse inhaled, bracing herself for yet another complaint from the most colorful patient on the floor.
Eric jerked a thumb back at the water closet. “Nurse…? Does it have ta talk to me during my constitutional?”
Air puffed out of the nurse’s nostrils.
“We have to take samples to make sure that the grafts took and that you’re free of any toxins, sir. I can have the volume turned down half if that will help.”
The fussy patient’s mouth came up in a snarl of unease. “No – that’d just make it even more creepy-“
“Sir, please discuss that with your doctor - I have to get back to my station now. You have someone here to see you.” Eric raised a finger. “I don’t remember tellin’ anyone I wanted visitors yet.”
The nurse’s face screamed please, God, let me get out of here.
“He was very insistent that you’d see him. He’s says he’s an old war buddy of yours. Looks like he came straight from the front lines, too.”
Eric wondered if Alliance Intelligence was there to have another go at him. “I have plenty of old war buddies. What’s this buddy’s name?”
“Jonathan Mal Black,” she huffed.
Surprise twinkled in Eric’s eyes. Glad that it was not Cronauer or another agent he played into Maelstrom’s ruse.
“That war buddy…! My God… yeah, we do go back a ways.” Eric placed his hands on his hips. “Well, nothing like near death to shake old friends outta the woodwork, huh? ‘Kay, I’m gonna make myself a little more decent while you let him in.”
“Very good, sir.”
She nearly bolted out the door when Eric cut off her near clean escape with “Ah, Nurse Weaver?”
Shoulders tensed, Weaver slowly turned about. “Yes, Mr. Lysander?”
Eric clasped his hands behind his back and rocked his waist gently to and fro, coming up on his toes occasionally and smiling widely.
“I just wanna say that in all the time we’ve known each other I think you’ve done a great job. You’ve showed admirable restraint where others would've put glue on my bedpans, farted on my change o’ pillows or stapled me to th’ bed to get back at me. Thanks… ‘preciate it!”
“… I do my best, sir,” she murmured before she slouched out of Eric’s sight.
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 5, 2015 11:40:28 GMT -6
Maelstrom walked into the room followed the nurse up to the threshold of the room, at which point she made a hasty retreat. He puzzled over her reaction for a moment before heading into Eric's room. Looking around, he did not see the former N-7. He felt his hand go to his gun, wondering if someone had already gotten to Lysander or if his entire stay was a forgery, a trap meant to ensnare Maelstrom.
The bed was relatively neat, except where the sheets were pulled aside to allow someone exit. His eyes darted to a plush animal left sitting out, and he was almost certain he was in the wrong room.
Leaving his gun in its place but taking a firm grip, he called out, "Lysander? Are you here? It's me..."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 5, 2015 13:03:19 GMT -6
“One second,” came Eric’s voice from the water closet. Eric emerged wearing slippers and a robe. He stopped to look at Maelstrom’s tense hand on his sidearm, then to the bed with the plush doll and then back at Maelstrom.
“Trust me – that wouldn’t be the worst thing you’ve caught me in bed with,” he joked, hoping to put his friend somewhat at ease. He saw immediately that this was going to be impossible. Eric folded his arms.
“No flowers, candies or bears. Full armor, complete with sidearm spookin th’ other patients. Code names… I’m gonna take a wild guess n’ say that your last few weeks’ve been way more interesting than mine…”
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Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on Mar 5, 2015 13:23:24 GMT -6
Theraxos had been sitting in front of his console for half an hour, staring at the blank screen.
You have the information, what are you waiting for?
The image of Shala floated up into his consciousness, and he wondered what it was about her that made him so…emotional.
Do I love her? he thought. But why her, she’s a quarian!
“That Shepard, I always knew he was crazy,” said a human co-worker as he passed by.
“After what he’s been through, he's probably seeing geth and ‘Reapers’ everywhere,” said another who was with him.
To say many of the humans in C-Sec were agitated was an understatement; between the actions of the previously heroic Shepard and the assassination of Cronauer, they were looking for an outlet.
And he realized that was why he was hesitating. Had C-Sec been composed of turians like himself, he was sure that the matter could be handled professionally, but with humans now comprising half of the force, he wasn’t so sure; they let their emotions cloud their judgment sometimes, and while it seemed she had nothing to do with Cronauer’s assassination, he was afraid they would not see it that way.
You’re an officer of the law, do your duty! If she’s innocent, she has nothing to worry about!
*****
As he stepped into the C-Sec chapel, he was surprised at how small it was, maybe the size of two offices put together. There was another turian there, a female he had seen around the station a few times but didn’t know that well. She nodded in greeting and then returned to her prayers.
While his people did believe in spirits, it was not believed they could directly affect the material world; at best, they could be prayed to in order to provide guidance or inspiration.
He dropped to his knees and whispered, “Spirits of those officers who came before me, I come to you with a troubled mind. I have always carried out my duty before, and never questioned it; the law was the law, and the innocent had nothing to fear, for in doing my duty I was protecting them.
“But now I fear doing my duty will hurt the innocent,” he continued. “And…the innocent is one I have feelings for. To which do I owe my allegiance? Spirits, please guide me in this time of need. Thank you.”
*****
He was halfway back to his desk when the idea came to him; but was it him who was the source, or was it the spirits?
He shook his head; it didn’t matter, what mattered was that he had a solution. He activated his omnitool and composed a message.
Shala I need to speak with you. I know you are still sick, but it needs to be somewhere other than the hospital. Can we meet in half an hour at the place where we first met?
Theraxos
*****
Shala was halfway through composing her reply to Maelstrom when the message from Theraxos came in.
As she looked it over, she wondered what was so important as to ask her to meet somewhere other than the hospital.
But it’s not C-Sec either, she thought.
After replying that she would meet with him, she erased the message she was composing and sent another one:
Maelstrom I told the officer about your past with Cerberus and your efforts against them.
But he just sent me a message, asking me to meet him somewhere away from C-Sec. He did not say what he wanted to talk about, but I’m hopeful that he has not yet put you in his official report.
I’m going to meet him. There’s no need to tell me to be careful, because I will be.
Shala
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2015 13:49:28 GMT -6
TIME: NOW PLACE: OMEGA
A slight shiver ran through Naetilia’s forearm. It was her omnitool telling her she had received a message, but she ignored it. She was in the middle of treating a patient, a middle-aged human female with multiple bruises and abrasions along with several cracked ribs.
“How did you acquire these injuries?” she asked.
“She fell down the stairs,” said a human male, the woman’s mate. “Ain’t that right, honey?”
“Yes, I fell,” the woman said, looking at the floor.
“Very well, I can treat your injuries, but you need to be more careful,” Naetilia said. “Studies show that a person’s home is the number one location for accidents.”
“Don’t worry, Doc,” the male said. “She’ll be more careful. Ain’t that right, honey?”
“Yes, I’ll be more careful,” the woman said, still looking at the floor.
-----
With the patient treated, she closed the door to her office and activated her omnitool.
Doctor Bolanis I am writing to offer you a professional opportunity within my organization. There is the high possibility of danger involved but the pay will be commensurate with the risk. If you would like to know more, meet me in one week at the following location.
Esteban Bridges Owner, Bridges Unlimited
She turned to her extranet terminal.
-----
“Doctor Heplorn, I need to speak with you,” she said to the head of the clinic, a salarian.
“I just finished with a patient, I can spare a few minutes,” he said. “What do you need?”
“I’m leaving the clinic,” she said. “I’ve been offered a job with…another clinic.”
The salarian’s shoulders slumped for a moment, then sprung back up.
“Very well, I will not hold you here against your will,” he said. “I’ve actually been trying to figure out how to treat more patients. Without you around, I can focus on that. Well, thank you for your help Doctor Bolanis, let me know if you need a recommendation.”
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary,” she said.
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Post by spartan560 on Mar 6, 2015 12:26:39 GMT -6
As the hustle and bustle of the Eezo mine at the heart of Omega gets louder so too does the beeping on Izahm's HUD as he follows the energy signature. Suddenly his HUD goes haywire showing he has reached his destination but it's really hard to pick it out against the background power signature of the Eezo mine. "Azrael filter out any power signature that doesn't match the one I'm looking for," Izahm says working on his Omni-tool, "And then extrapolate the exact location using the signature we've already acquired against the normal signatures of Omega." "Yes sir filtering out signatures and extrapolating location," Azrael responds, "Sir my monitoring communications has picked up on increased comm traffic referring to you and supposedly a Batarian assassin from the Hegemony," Izahm stops moving and then waits for Azrael to continue when he doesn't he says, "Please continue Azrael," "Of course sir but I have no further information to report." Izahm sighs wishing he could have an actual AI, sometimes the VI just didn't have the intuitiveness he needed but it was a small price to pay for not going to jail. "Alright I'll keep a sharper eye out now thanks Azrael continue monitoring communications but I'm adding another parameter any communications dealing with this assassin I want recorded and uploaded to the database." "Will do sir," Azrael responds then Izahm closes the channel waiting for the updated energy detection parameters. Soon the bright energy signature of the mine is gone replaced by a single hotspot adjacent to the mine. "Hiding in plain sight huh," Izahm says checking to make sure his weapons are secure then he deploys his Revenant and walks towards the hotspot still unaware of the assassin following some distance behind him.
The Batarian assassin watches as his target starts having a conversation with someone then starts walking towards the Eezo mine deploying a Revenant as he does. "Finally you found the good doctor now I can go home and get that paycheck thank you very much," the assassin says beginning to follow Izahm checking to make sure the syringes are secured to his belt and his Carnifex and Scimitar are secured as well.
As Izahm approaches the hotspot he begins scanning for any defenses but there appears to be none. Nevertheless he approaches slowly Tech armor activated and alert for any danger. Sure enough his cautiousness pays off as four security mechs that have seen better days suddenly activate and begin charging him. A few sustained bursts from his Revenant and a single throw demolishes the mechs. Satisfied Izahm continues on still alert, suddenly an old crane comes to life and begins dropping cast off explosive barrels some of which explode others just bounce around acting like out of control bowling balls. "Frak!" Izahm exclaims rolling to the side as two explosive barrels detonate nearby taking his shields down a quarter, just as he stands up one of the unexploded barrels bounces and slams into his chest reducing his shields a fraction and causing him to stumble. Another detonates behind him reducing his shields further, then just as suddenly as it started it stops as the old crane runs out of barrels to transport. "Damn," Izahm says as he continues now more alert than ever. Soon however he reaches a closed door built right into the rock of the Eezo mine. It was recently put in too. "Alright Azrael I'm going in if I don't come out in ten minutes go to the Citadel hack into their servers and leave a message for Issen then take the Avrosh back to Nin okay." "Affirmative sir beginning preparations now and starting ten minute clock at your mark," Azrael replies. Izahm takes a deep breath to calm his fluttering heart then opens the door whispering, "Mark."
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Post by dargene on Mar 6, 2015 18:28:41 GMT -6
Meldom was taken from the Valiant directly to Huerta Memorial Hospital. It seemed like an odd choice for a Salarian but the Medical team that was waiting had specific instructions to bring him there. He was put directly into surgery, the doctors tried to remove the bullets and fix any internal damage before it became a major problem. The whole process took a hours and at one point a salarian Neurosurgeon was let into the operation room. forcing the other doctors to leave despite the protests of the staff, yet he had the authority. After however the doctors classed Meldoms condition as "Stable" and put him in one of the rooms, hooked up to many machines that would do most his bodily functions for him.
The first thing Meldom felt was pain, the brightness as he opened his eyes for the first time in who knows when, he struggled to breath for a moment as he fought against the machines keeping him alive. He was to weak to even lift his arm to his head. He looked at the machines around him, each one decicated to a different function that kept him alive more or less. His eyes glazed over the room to the nearby window Citadel... His cloudy thoughts swirled, unable to really focus on anything. The door opened and a nurse walked in casually, unaware that he was awake. She started to hum a tune while typing several things into a handheld computer, checking one of the many machines readouts every now and then. Meldom tried to speak but all that came out was a small whisper that was almost inaudable.
"Wh.." he croaked, speaking did not pain him but it was rather all the invasive tubes and drugs that had muddled his brain. The nurse finally noticed that he had woken and she stopped working "Oh!" She exclaimed before turning around and leaving, Meldom's eyes started to close again as he slowly drifted back into a deep slumber.
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Post by Esteban Bridges on Mar 6, 2015 23:52:17 GMT -6
Esteban heard what sounded like clicking, gradually growing louder. He coughed, suddenly gasping for air. He didn't realize his lungs were screaming for it, leading him to cough violently. He winced. His lungs were burning.
"Izzzz Missster Bridggggezz okay?" A grizzly, hoarse voice asked close to his ear. Esteban recognized it nearly immediately.
"I.." he tried to say something back, but his voice was cut off by a hacking cough.
"Why izzz Missster Bridggggezzz on the floorrrrr?" The grizzled voice asked again. Esteban felt a clawed hand grip his arm. He knew it was his new secretary, Shizzle. She came with a number of references from some of the top businesses in the galaxy. Esteban did not believe her at first, mainly because he did not know Vorcha could be female.
"I was poisoned," he wheezed out, gasping for air. Thanks to his secretary, some fresh air flowed through the open door, taking away the bad air. "Gas... environmental system..." that was all he could manage to say before losing his voice to more coughing.
"Me take you," she nearly growled, dragging his near limp frame out. She was fairly strong. Her high heel shoes clicked loudly on the ground. Esteban had a dress code at his office. He was old fashion. Though, he regrets not making exceptions for non-human races. Floral dresses did not look good on Vorchan women. "Me take you to HALL!!!!!"
Esteban started to fade from consciousness again. His last thoughts were of his secretary. He hired her just a day ago. If he didn't hire her, he'd be dead now... Esteban barely cracked a smile before darkness consumed his mind. He felt like he dodged a bullet.
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Post by spartan560 on Mar 7, 2015 13:28:21 GMT -6
"Mark" Those words felt like a life time ago to Izahm as he carried the unconscious form of Doctor Eliza McKay his armor dented scratched charred and missing in some places. "Damn assassin why couldn't he have died quietly," Izahm murmurs to himself checking his cracked HUD on the distance to Omega's populated center. Finally the lights of Omega nearly blind him as he suddenly steps into the middle of a suburb. He grabs the nearest passerby-A Turian-and says, "Nearest clinic now.." then blacks out.
5 hours earlier
Izahm enters the lab tech armor activated Revenant ready sweeping the barrel back and forth. "Doctor Eliza?" he calls out, "It's okay Issen sent me. I'm not an assassin," at the mention of Issen there's a flurry of sparks then a person appears off in a shadowy corner. "Oh thank God I thought after my handlers were killed C-Sec would just send somebody to kill me and collect the data." Izahm doesn't answer but walks further into the lab the door automatically closing after him. "Yeah as soon as Issen learned of your handlers deaths he started looking for a way to get you out. C-Sec wouldn't act because you were in the Terminus systems and that would spark a war with them and they decided that a Spectre was a misuse of resources. So he went private sector and hired me," Izahm says scanning the lab for anymore threats seeing none he relaxes and goes over to the doctor, "Are you alright?" "Oh yes quite fine now," McKay says going over to a terminal and starts working on it, "Just let me download everything onto my Omni-tool." "Sure just be quick about it I'm sure I'm not-" Izahm starts to say when the door opens behind him. He spins around just in time to catch a shotgun blast to his chest, "OOF!" he stumbles but remains upright thanks to his tech armor taking most of the impact.
"Thanks for making it easy to get the doctor," a Batarian dressed in all black armor says holding a scimitar levelly at them, "Now I can end you and the doctor then take her lab data."
"Not happening pal," Izahm say positioning himself in between the Batarian assassin and the doctor, "How's that data transfer Doc?" "Only a few more moments then I'll have all the data," McKay says from behind him. "I'll protect as long as I can then when the transfer is complete activate your cloak while I distract him then run for Afterlife or the nearest population center," Izahm says, "So pal your move,"
The Batarian runs to the side firing his shotgun aiming for the doctor but Izahm jumps in the way once again his tech armor taking the hit. "Just get out of the way and I might consider letting you go Shadow," the assassin says even though he never really was going to let him go as a job is a job.
"Like hell," Izahm says firing his Revenant full auto at the man, "All you assassins are the same think you can use psychological tricks to get your way. newsflash everybody knows your tricks!"
The Batarian stands jumps for cover as Izahm fires at him. 'I guess there was a reason the bounty on him is so damn high and why they warned me to not take him lightly' the assassin thinks, 'We're in the middle of a firefight one he could potentially lose and he's joking with me?' the Batarian pops up and fires off another shotgun blast but his targets tech armor takes it again. "Okay fine then leave the data," the assassin says this time serious as all he was really being paid for was the acquisition of the data.
"NO whoever you are rescuer he can't have this data it would destroy the Citadel Council's reputation," McKay says quickly. "Doc I came her for you and the data no way am I leaving one of ya behind," Izahm says ejecting the spent thermal clip in his Revenant. Realizing his opponent would just remain in cover he switches to his Disciple and as stealthily as he can begins maneuvering to flank his enemy, "Transfers done cloaking now," McKay says disappearing from sight. 'Good now I can concentrate on this fool,' Izahm thinks standing up and taking a hit from the Batarian's shotgun to find his location. Suddenly there is a flurry of sparks and an exclamation of surprise as the Batarian stands up his shields gone. "Gotchya!" Izahm says firing off a throw at the Batarian sending him flying into the wall. Izahm then runs up and empties the entire Disciple into the stunned Batarian killing him. "Whew thanks for the overload save doc," Izahm says nodding to the now uncloaked doctor then notices the Batarian's armor beginning to flash, "Ah frak me!" he then lunges for the doctor reactivating his tech armor only this time using the tech armors full strength. Just as the Batarian's armor detonates in a massive explosion Izahm wraps himself around the doctor protecting her from most of the damage but his tech armor fails and they are both launched into a wall. Izahm sees stars but is okay though his armor is going to need repairs the doctor however is knocked unconscious. "Great," Izahm says shouldering the doctor, "Azrael begin preflight protocols," he pauses waiting for the VI's customary response but hearing none tries again, "Azrael begin preflight protocol," again no response. Then Izahm notices his cracked HUD which means his helmet took some serious damage, just how serious he had no idea. He brings up the nearest populated center on his HUD then begins walking there carrying Doctor McKay on his shoulders.
5 hours Later
"Nearest clinic now..." Izahm says to whomever he grabbed and promptly passes out exhausted from the walk there and the short but intense battle with the Batarian.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2015 14:39:10 GMT -6
[NOTE: All other characters and their actions appear with their player's approval.]
The pounding on the door came just as Naetilia was about to give Augunus his twice-a-day shot.
“Doctor Bolanis!” yelled a voice that sounded like the turian female who lived next door.
She activated her tech armor and drew her Predator heavy pistol, then stepped behind a doorway that looked into the small living space.
“Yes?” she asked.
“There are two injured humans just outside the building!” she yelled. “Hurry!”
A quick scan with her omnitool showed there was no one else with the female. She grabbed her Tempest submachine gun and medkit, ignoring her brother’s pleas, and left.
-----
Her neighbor was telling the truth. There were two unconscious humans, and they had company: three vorcha picking through their belongings.
“Drop whatever you’ve stolen and leave, now,” she ordered, drawing her pistol.
“There three of us, only two of you,” one of them growled, and the other two stopped and fell in behind him. “You leave your things and maybe we not kill you!”
She fired a warp pulse at one of the other looters and shot the other in the head, killing them both, then pointed her pistol at the leader.
“Your math is off,” she said. “Now drop what you’ve stolen and leave.”
It hissed at her, but obeyed. “Not forget this!” it yelled as it fled. -----
She activated her omnitool, making sure to set it for a human patient, then scanned them both. They both showed injuries consistent with being caught in an explosion, though the male was the more badly injured of the two; most of his injuries on his back.
“You shielded her, or at least tried to,” she said. “Rather noble…for a human.”
“Niniah?” he gasped as she applied medigel to him, then faded into unconsciousness again.
She ignored him, applied medigel to the female, and then scanned them again.
“They’re stabilized for now, but they need additional treatment, we can take them to the clinic I work at,” she said to the female. “I’ll need your help.”
The female didn’t move.
“You brought me to them, which means you’re concerned about their welfare,” Naetilia said. “It also makes you responsible for them.”
Still no movement.
She stepped up to the female and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I can’t carry both of them,” she said. “I need your help.”
After a moment, the female nodded. “I’ll take the female,” she said.
Naetilia nodded, then slung the male over her shoulder and hurried to the clinic.
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Post by spartan560 on Mar 7, 2015 15:26:14 GMT -6
Izahm wakes up in an unfamiliar clinic his head swimming from medi-gel and sedatives. He tries to move but his head explodes in pain causing him to groan loudly, "Godammit why does my head hurt so much," he mumbles laying back down, "And for that matter where is my armor?" he asks to no one in particular. Then suddenly he sits bolt upright as a thought enters his mind, "Frak where's the doctor!" he swings his feet around and tries to get up but collapses instead oblivious to the myriad of medical equipment hooked up to him that comes undone and the multitude of alarms blaring around him. "Ugh," he grunts trying to get up again, "Doctor McKay where are you?" Hearing no answer he starts limping for the door using the wall as a support. 'I gotta get outta here find my stuff then get the hell off Omega' Izahm thinks opening the door.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2015 19:47:09 GMT -6
Naetilia was checking in on the human female when she heard a commotion from the room where the male was, followed quickly by the blaring of the machines he was hooked up to.
“Doctor McKay, where are you?!” she heard him yell.
She stepped out of the room to see the door to his opening and him attempting to leave.
“Wait!” she called out, approaching slowly with her hands held open. “You’re not fully recovered, please return to your bed.”
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 7, 2015 21:34:35 GMT -6
"I’m gonna take a wild guess n’ say that your last few weeks’ve been way more interesting than mine…” Lysander said.
Seeing the man in the flesh, Maelstrom let himself relax a little, though not much. He looked around the room quickly, pleased to find no security cameras. His first order of business was to close the door to the room, and then picked a corner where he could not be seen through the window but he could easily keep an eye on the entryway. There was still a chance that there were bugs somewhere in the room, but there was only so much he could do to be secure.
He took a cleansing breath and started. "An Alliance Colonel took a shot meant for me. Not deliberately, mind you. He was trying to get me to turn informant. I don't even know how he found me. Anyway... Someone bumped into me, I dropped something, and I went to pick it up at the right moment for me and the wrong moment for him. Unfortunately, with my security protocols, Emily wipes records of my presence behind me. That wouldn't be such a bad thing, except that it means the footage I have of the crime would look suspicious... especially since someone else has already planted a damned good looking forgery that shows me shooting him."
He held out his hands in a surrendering gesture, "This is way outside my realm of expertise. Normally, if a claim is made that I killed someone, not only do I admit it, but I can tell them why I'm proud to have done it. I don't know what to do. I just know that I'll never make it with both the Alliance and Cerberus on my tail."
"I've come for help."
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Lekuhn
N2
"Let me see if I can remember...yeah, I can."
Posts: 27
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Post by Lekuhn on Mar 8, 2015 0:10:32 GMT -6
Lekuhn sat meditating, eyes closed, with his rifle in his lap. What had started as his mind stretching out into the past had dwindled to a mere recognizing of his vitals. His heart beat slowly and his breath drew easily in then passed slowly and gently out of his lungs. He pulled out of his vast store of memories. His mind, wrought with perfect memories of every moment of his and his father's past, had haunted him for years and he used this exercise to keep himself on a level plane conducive to making decisions pertinent to finishing a mission. Having his father's memory alongside his was troublesome. He often lost himself in them. Especially after finishing a job like the one he had just executed. He did not know the man. He only knew that there was enough money in this job to get him where he needed to go. Apparently this particular human had done atrocities that many would not speak of and just happened to target the daughter of a very powerful business man. Needless to say, said business man was not pleased and Lekuhn was given the job of eliminating him. This would be the last job he would do of this nature for a while. He thought it was simply because of the money he would make, but he was mistaken.
"Will they ever learn from their past?" Lekuhn had asked of his Asari stepmother once. "Time will tell little one." she answered
The shot was from half a mile away and Lekuhn banked it off of a support pillar on the building, as the man stood on a large balcony in the city of Thessia. It hit the man in the temple as he was sipping his tea thoughtfully, taking in the sights from high above. This position gave Lekuhn perfect cover, as he aimed his rifle out the window of the abandoned apartment building in a slum where he was posted. He liked taking these long, difficult shots. He felt that a life taken deserved time given to the craft of its taking.
No one would know it was him. The round he used disintegrated 2 minutes after impacting a target, doing just enough damage for the kill and leaving no traceable evidence. He would be long gone by the time they even figured out where the shot came from. For now though, he attempted to free his mind. He allowed his thoughts to trickle back into his stream of consciousness, organizing them and putting them in their proper place. Some were his and some were his father's. It was nice to know the difference, if just for a short time. He went slowly at first just letting a few memories back into his stream of consciousness, then faster until they flooded his mind once more. He would do this often after a job to keep his perspective, and to some degree, his sanity. He could now go on with his day without the continual looping memory of killing a man. Lekuhm loved life, he was just good at taking it. Just as he was opening his eyes, his omi-tool signaled that he had a message. The incoming transmission stated:
"Mr. Lekuhn Kroan, I am writing to offer you a position within my organization which I believe to be ideally suited to your skills. This job is high-risk, and I require the utmost confidentiality from everyone in my employ. That said, the pay reflects these high demands. If you are interested, please meet me at the place and time specified in the attached file.
Esteban Bridges
Owner, Bridges Unlimited"
Interesting, thought Lekuhm This should prove to be most enlightening. "Father guide me." he said
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