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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 23, 2015 12:16:16 GMT -6
Maelstrom smiled to see Lysander on his way back. Though he had stopped by the N7's room, he thought better of remaining there. Hospitals had security too, after all. Instead, he helped himself to a bit of Lysander's lunch... specifically a piece of broccoli for a brush and some mashed potatoes and gravy for paint. The room's mirror was the canvas. He doubted his friend would mind. What he painted for her was a rather lovely plant of earth origin noted for helping people unwind and for its long and controversial history in North American law. There were no security cameras in that particular area, so he felt rather confident that the work of art would not be traced to either himself or Lysander, particularly given the extremely-medicated but hyper young human the next room over.
Lysander suggested a double date, to compensate the nurses for their help. "I got dibs on her," he said, referring to Weaver.
"Sorry, but I'm busy every night until I head out," Maelstrom said. Placing his arm around Lysander, he added, "Hey, sorry you got away from me. I thought it was him making the stink in there, but right after Weaver went to find him, out comes this giant elcor complaining of how he thought he got food poisoning at a vorcha joint!"
"Anything you need help with, Lysander? Or should I head out for now and give you a call later tonight?" Maelstrom asked.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 23, 2015 15:15:52 GMT -6
Eric was glad for Maelstrom’s intervention, taking over for Weaver and the C-Sec officer. “Yeah, yeah, man. Stay a moment,” said Eric, continuing his pretense. “You just show up outta nowhere n’ then bug out again? I mean I’m sorry I disappeared on ya… on everybody. Help me get inta bed, let’s exchange comm codes. Maybe I can hit you up when I get outta here.”
As he spoke the arm around Maelstrom -his omni-tool arm- made a fist and tapped Maelstrom’s shoulder with it, shaking it, trying to indicate to him that his excursion was not in vain. Eric’s former escorts did not appear to notice.
“That’s the last time you go anywhere unsupervised,” declared the flustered nurse. “You screw around one more time and your toilet will be screaming at you!”
“I said I was sorry! Haven’t you ever got drunk? Or high? There’re probably people in this hospital right now bombed outta their skull…”
Eric poked at Weaver’s shoulder “And someone’s got an appointment with them… right…now…”
Weaver took hold of his finger and bent it back. “Sleep it off, Mr. Lysander.” Eric snatched back his hand and shook it out, prompting Maelstrom to lead him back inside his room as the nurse and C-Sec officer returned to their posts.
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Post by dargene on Mar 24, 2015 11:38:21 GMT -6
"Meldom" a voice blared, his eyes were opened forcefully and a light was shined into them "Meldom can you hear me" the voice spoke again. Meldom managed to weakly brush the light source from his eyes "Uhhgh" was all he managed as his arm flopped back to his side "Meldom i need you to open your eyes for me so i know you can still see". The bed Meldom was on slowly raised upwards so he was in a slightly leaned back sitting position "Light in eyes make it hard to see.." he said with an annoyed like tone.
"Well at least you can still talk, now lets try some basic tests, look up towards the light.. mmkay, now down... Good!" he exclaimed "basic visuals seem to be fine, now lets try some motor functions" the doctor said. Meldom did not like this doctor, he was to pushy, he wanted to rest and sleep, so tired he thought to himself. The doctor handed Meldom a pen and paper "Try writing" the doctor said, Meldom obliged and attempted to write his signature, it came out fine if a little sloppy, the doctor took no notice and nodded "Here" he said gently underarm throwing a ball to him. Meldom managed to catch it with both hands.
"Alrighty, well basic visual and motor functions seem to be intact, we can move on to more advanced things when you feel better, to be honest its a shock you are able to move or.. well do much.." the doctor pulled up a representation of the Salarians body. "As you can see there were several bullet wounds, minor fractures and breakage and also internal bleeding, you are very lucky to be alive" Meldom snorted "Yep, feeling lucky". The doctor gave him no glance as he continued "You had some brain trauma that a" he did some air quotes "Friend said he fixed in the O.R and there is also several foreign signatures in your bloodstream"
Meldom managed a nod, his neck ached slightly "Poisons" he blurted out "Exotic in my line of work but i work with several, good to be resistant" he said. The doctor let out a nod but was only half satisfied with the answer "That explains half of it.. but there is some..metallic like substance in your blood stream, i sent some to the lab but they can't analyzed it, it looks.. well... alive with the mass of it at your spinal chord, several people are interested in this as they look like tiny nanites or something, the tech of which far supersedes our own.
The doctor switched the view to the base of Meldoms spine and pointed "here is the large amount of mass, we have no clue what effect this is having on you because you have been asleep, as far as we can tell its benign but.. we would like to do more tests". Meldom stared at him "How soon can i get out of here" he said with determination. The doctor was taken aback for a moment "Well, if everything checks out, within a week, if it does not.. slightly longer, we are working on a theory to get the foreign objects out.. in the mean time.. just rest i suppose" he said with a shrug, Meldom nodded. "Im going to need my Omni-Tool" he said.
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 25, 2015 22:07:16 GMT -6
Taking Lysander's queue, Maelstrom led the former N7 back to his room. He was grateful when he saw the hospital personnel leave. The day forced him into contact with more people with the power to make his life miserable than he was comfortable with. Lysander's gesture moments ago, though, did ease his mind somewhat.
When they reached his room, Maelstrom gestured off at the mirror. "Don't mind that. Present for Weaver. Never used the stuff myself, but I think she could use a small garden of it. Know that old joke about turian soldiers being out of ammo...? Pretty sure it's applicable to her too."
"How did it go?"
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 26, 2015 8:51:50 GMT -6
“Hah!” was Eric’s reaction to Maelstrom’s attempt at artwork on the mirror. He did not really care for the dinner used to create it. The man in black armor explained his motivation, finishing with “Know that old joke about turian soldiers being out of ammo...? Pretty sure it's applicable to her too."
Eric lay down in his bed and rubbed his brow with one hand. “… I think she is the stick…”
"How did it go?" Maelstrom was eager to learn of Eric’s – and Emily’s – findings.
“Well… we’ve got a fake vid… and a fake autopsy report to go with it.” Eric waved his omni-tool. “Your Emmy snapped copies o’ that along with the original, holos n’ all. Forger didn’t finish yet. We get the original report to C-Sec before the fake and that should throw up a big red flag that this was all a setup. Should get th’ charges on you dismissed and stop whoever’s gonna drop by to conveniently lose the body.”
The N7’s eyes flickered as he added “And as a bonus, Emmy was able to copy all the data from Willie’s omni-tool. We can see how big of a blip you, me n’ Mr. B are on Intelligence’s lidar.”
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 26, 2015 9:11:23 GMT -6
“And as a bonus, Emmy was able to copy all the data from Willie’s omni-tool. We can see how big of a blip you, me n’ Mr. B are on Intelligence’s lidar.”
Maelstrom considered what Lysander said for a moment before asking, "I don't suppose you have any contacts in C-Sec we could drop these off with? If not, I think Shala knows someone, but I'd rather not draw more attention to her if it can be avoided."
"As for the intel on us, do we want to share it with Bridges from the start, or do we want to deal with some things ourselves first?"
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Post by Shala'Bekk vas Neema on Mar 26, 2015 11:41:34 GMT -6
“And you couldn’t peel away this other type of interference?” asked Theraxos’ supervisor, a human named Bailey.
“No, Captain,” Shala said. “I went over the coding character by character for three hours and couldn’t find the key to unlocking it.”
Bailey leaned back and thought for a moment.
“Well, at least you saved us some time,” he said. “Rather than wasting it looking for this other guy, now we can start looking for the real culprit.”
“But we couldn’t figure it out,” the salarian tech said.
Bailey nodded. “But with something as distinctive as that, now we’ll know to keep an eye out for it,” he said. “Whoever they are, it’s a trick they can’t use again.”
“Miss…Bekk, is it?” he asked, looking over at her. “Thanks for helping us out with this, you certainly saved that guy, whoever he is, from an Alliance lynch mob. How’d you like to come work here?”
She was glad she was wearing her helmet, otherwise he would have seen her jaw drop in astonishment.
“Not full-time, just as an on-call consultant,” he said. “For those times when my boys here are overworked or can’t crack something.”
“Yes, anything to help out,” she said.
He nodded and extended his hand, and she took it.
“Glad to hear it,” he said. “Your people didn’t earn any fans with the geth attacking here a couple of years back, but if you help out around here enough, maybe you’ll start changing some minds.”
“It’s possible,” she said. “Thank you, Captain.”
*****
As soon as she and Theraxos exited C-Sec, she brought up her omnitool and began composing a message.
“You’re contacting him, aren’t you?” he asked.
She nodded.
“If he’s willing, I’d like to meet him,” he said. “I’d like to meet the man I almost risked my career for.”
“I’ll ask, but I don’t know how he’ll respond,” she said.
“I understand,” he said.
She resumed typing her message.
Maelstrom I was able to prove to C-Sec that you didn’t kill the human. The footage that showed you did was a fake. I also found footage of what really happened, so C-Sec is no longer hunting you. I know you still have a difficult voyage ahead, but now the seas won’t be so rough.
Shala
PS: I was helped by a turian C-Sec officer, the same one who showed me the footage. He kept your name out of his report when you were still the prime suspect, and he would like to meet you if you are comfortable doing so.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 26, 2015 14:36:25 GMT -6
"I don't suppose you have any contacts in C-Sec we could drop these off with?” Maelstrom asked of his friend. “If not, I think Shala knows someone, but I'd rather not draw more attention to her if it can be avoided. As for the intel on us, do we want to share it with Bridges from the start, or do we want to deal with some things ourselves first?" Eric sat up at the mention of the former teammate. “Shala’s here…? I hate ta say this, pal, but I think she could already have somebody’s attention.”
The N7 exhaled and decided to explain himself. Maelstrom trusted him with gathering evidence and his real name so Eric felt he could trust the man in black with his brush with the Shadow Broker.
“I… kinda left somethin’ out when you showed me the vids earlier. That krogan that bumped into you? He paid me a visit right after Cronauer left. He was also at the bar where I got poisoned; he made sure I got to the hospital. He’s an agent for the Shadow Broker, uploaded a message to me straight from the chief info spook. It said that anyone on B’s team's being targeted for termination, includin' me n' you... could very well include Shala, too…”
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 26, 2015 17:15:09 GMT -6
"could very well include Shala, too…” Lysander said.
"I'd thought of that. Emily's been keeping an eye on her," Maelstrom said.
"I hadn't mentioned it earlier myself, but I got a heads up from the Broker too. Directly. Long story, but the short of it was that Shala was injured working on my ship. I contacted the Broker to find out where to take her, and, before we got off, the Broker mentioned someone looking into Bridges' operation. I'm so used to being hunted by Cerberus that I didn't think to mention it to everyone, especially since the Broker didn't have a good picture of what was coming and Shala was taking a turn for the worse..."
Bringing up his omni-tool, instructed Emily to transmit the files to Shala'Bekk, along with instructions to be careful on how they came into C-Sec's hands. She was resourceful, and he knew she would find a discrete way, whether it involved hacking or handing it off to the right person. Shrugging, Maelstrom said, "It's done. I trust her. Like everyone I trust, I think she knows I'll come running if she calls."
He heard a beep on his omni-tool from an incoming message, but he ignored it for a moment, something else rushing to mind.
Picking a seat, he slumped back into it. "Lysander, there's something I need to talk with someone about. I'm out of my depth with it, and I don't even know how to approach it. Are you still feeling well enough? And do you think we'll be safe long enough? I just can't seem to think of anyone else to talk about it with."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 27, 2015 9:17:54 GMT -6
Eric reminisced a moment of Shepard’s message and how it helped restore his own confidence. “It’s only us here. I was well enough ta go explorin’ but I still need to be cleared by the doc to leave. As for safety, it’s harder to hit a moving target so it’s probably best not to stay in one place for too long. Got mixed feelings ‘bout stayin’ in th’ shadows, though; sometimes hidin’ out in th’ open works better. Just spit it out, Mal. What’s on your mind…?”
A sly look then came over his face. “Oh my God… you’re stuck on someone, aren’t ya? It’s Shala, right? One o’ th’ twins? Both…?”
Then he added jokingly “Is it me? Hey, I know we’ve been through a lot together and I’m really flattered but I’d rather we be friends!”
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 27, 2015 9:50:22 GMT -6
"I'd rather we be friends!"
Maelstrom laughed. He reached up to take off his helmet, then reminded himself of the scam they just pulled on Weaver. Gesturing at the helmet he said, "Love to take this off right now, but I'd rather not show Weaver my actual face after the scam we just pulled."
"About us, though, Eric... I think we both know it's too late to start taking steps backwards from this. I mean, we've made explosives together..." Maelstrom said, trying to keep his tone even and failing miserably about halfway through. He started laughing again at the end, shaking his head.
After a moment to calm down and sober up, his serious attitude returned. "No, it's about Shala'Bekk. When she was fixing up Vengeance's computer core, things started going really bad. The core started frying, and we were close to losing Emily. I don't understand everything about it- I'm no techie- but she used her suit to keep things from crashing and buy herself time to make the repairs. She took her helmet off to save my VI, Lysander, and she almost paid for it with her life."
Maelstrom shook his head, "I can only think of one reason she'd be willing to risk that much..." He was sure he did not have to spell it out for the other man. "Am I wrong?"
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 27, 2015 10:33:59 GMT -6
“She’s doing okay now, right?” Eric asked, concerned for her. [Maelstrom may nod or give a verbal response]
Eric rested his elbows on his knees. He tightened his lip, looked down and nodded.
“Would you be happier if you were wrong?”
He looked back up at Maelstrom. “I mean, could you live without anybody givin’ a shit about you? Whether you live or die…? Love makes people do crazy things. She knows how much your ship and your VI mean to you… you don’t… feel the same way ‘bout her, do ya?”
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 27, 2015 11:29:27 GMT -6
“She’s doing okay now, right?”
Maelstrom nodded. "Last I knew, she was planning to leave the hospital to meet with a turian C-Sec officer who she'd mentioned me to."
That seemed to comfort Eric some. "Would you be happier if you were wrong? I mean, could you live without anybody givin’ a shit about you? Whether you live or die…? Love makes people do crazy things. She knows how much your ship and your VI mean to you… you don’t… feel the same way ‘bout her, do ya?"
Maelstrom stared at the floor, as he thought about it for a moment. "It would be less complicated if I were wrong. If you'd asked me years ago, I'd have told you I needed someone to love me and be a part of my life, but now..." He shook his head. "It's just been about survival and about getting back at them for so long... I didn't even have time to think that way, you know?"
Thinking about the man's last question, he said, "I trust her, and that's a rare, almost intimate thing for me these days." He shot a sideways look at Lysander, "Don't get any ideas." A grin crossed his face for a moment before saying, "I want to keep her safe, as much as I'm able with the way my life is. I want to know she's doing okay. Thriving. But romantic feelings?"
He shook his head again, laughing. "I don't know. If you'd asked me back before I became the man in black armor, I'd have just said I wasn't interested except maybe with an asari. Only way humans and aliens can have kids. Now, though, how could kids even factor into the equation? Maybe I should be rethinking my choices, but what if life changes and somehow, as impossible as that seems, that man comes back?"
Finally looking back to the older man, he asked, "Should I be considering it, Lysander? I've been living as Mal for so long, I'm not always sure I know who Jonathan is anymore."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 27, 2015 15:14:54 GMT -6
“I’m still figurin’ out where I’m at,” Eric snorted. “Not sure how much help I can be to anyone else… sounds like Jonathan’s still in there otherwise this wouldn’t even be botherin’ ya. And, no offense, but I can see how you n’ Shala can get along so well since you’re both carryin’ some heavy baggage around.” Eric snapped his fingers and pointed. “Back on the Vengeance! This’s what I was tellin’ you about: somebody who’s been there with you! Think about it. You don’t have ta cash in now but… you sure you wanna give it up instead o’ seein’ where it goes? Maybe it’ll be great. Maybe it’ll the worst mistake you’ve ever made. But the chance, Mal… Jonathan… you know how many people would kill for that chance you’ve got…? Who aren’t mercs…?”
“Me, I...” Eric faltered. “I dunno. Guess it’s like that line ‘I don’t wanna be part o’ any club that’ll have me as a member…’ Yeah, I’m good for solderin’ n’ blowin’ shit up, but… it’s like sooner o’ later I rub everyone the wrong way. Again, Fate might catch me havin’ a ball n’ then smack it outta my hands ‘cause it was never supposta be mine.”
The N7 paused a moment then asked “Did you ever discuss this with th’ twins?”
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 27, 2015 16:05:27 GMT -6
“Did you ever discuss this with th’ twins?”
Maelstrom was surprised. His meetings with them were never exactly secret, and they were definitely not short. Somehow, though, he just never considered someone else noticing. It was his personal life, and it was a blind spot.
Lysander's right. Jonathan's still in there. That's dangerous, Maelstrom mused.
"It never really occurred to me until she did that," Maelstrom said. "It was too unusual for me to trust someone like that... I never even considered something else."
Realizing that Lysander was talking about the broader subject, he said, "Oh! Oh... yeah, a little. They've helped with things, but there's something different about talking with them about it. They're just getting out into the real world. Somehow, they understand everyone perfectly, but sometimes it feels more substantial to talk to someone who's been where you are instead of someone who just understands where you are."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 29, 2015 20:35:43 GMT -6
"If they're not careful, they'll catch up to us in no time," Eric mused.
Where he and Maelstrom had been, where the rest of Bridges team had been, was at the knife edge of death. Did their close calls have them reflecting and considering their future as were the two humans in the hospital?
Eric attempted to bring the conversation back from melancholy. "Jesus, lissen to us! It's not like we've never been threatened before or never been in someone's crosshairs... guess we thought we'd go out swingin'. Not walkin' down a street or swiggin' a drink. Soon as they let me outta here I'm thinkin of misbehavin' a little. Too many people been takin' potshots at me. I'd like ta put them on the wrong end of a gun for a change; see how they like it. Before that... see if I can pay Shala a visit. Maybe also find out whatever happened to River..."
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 29, 2015 20:59:14 GMT -6
"whatever happened to River..." Lysander said.
Maelstrom had almost forgotten about the biotic former member of their team. He had never sorted out what exactly she was, but his suspicion that she was associated with Cerberus was never put to rest.
"Be sure to let me know if you find out what happened to River. I never did get to thank her properly," Maelstrom said.
Sighing, he forced himself out of his seat. "I should get going. I need to get back to the shadows." Activating his omni-tool, he sent a brief message to Lysander, including an extranet address he was certain would not be traced back to him. "In case you want to get in touch with me. It doesn't have to be important. Thanks, Lysander. I don't know what I'd have done without your help."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 30, 2015 11:05:53 GMT -6
“I needed somethin’ ta do anyways,” said Eric. “Was getting’ stir crazy. Thanks for holdin’ up your end o’ th’plan. And drop me a line if you run inta any other familiar faces. I’m sure Mr. B’s about due to rally the troops again.” Eric settled back in his bed, thinking over the consequences of his latest escapade. “I’ll probably be under lockdown ‘til then. Be the good lil’ patient n’ get poked, prodded n’ probed ‘til they think I’m okay enough to go. Maybe a bit too late to get on Jackie’s good side; checkin’ outta here’d probably be a good start.”
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Post by Maelstrom on Mar 30, 2015 17:05:25 GMT -6
"checkin’ outta here’d probably be a good start,” Lysander said.
"Probably," Maelstrom agreed. "I don't think I've made any friends with the staff either. I'm going to head out."
He offered a hand for Lysander to take.
[Insert reply.]
Maelstrom nodded. "Until next time." With that he exited the room.
#######
Maelstrom was back in the Vengeance before he realized he had a message from Shala.
Maelstrom I was able to prove to C-Sec that you didn’t kill the human. The footage that showed you did was a fake. I also found footage of what really happened, so C-Sec is no longer hunting you. I know you still have a difficult voyage ahead, but now the seas won’t be so rough.
Shala
PS: I was helped by a turian C-Sec officer, the same one who showed me the footage. He kept your name out of his report when you were still the prime suspect, and he would like to meet you if you are comfortable doing so.
"Emily, begin recording," Maelstrom said.
"Shala'Bekk vas Neema,
"Thank you for your help with this, as you have helped with everything. I cannot say enough to express my gratitude in this. If you have the means, please be certain that C-Sec gets the evidence in the data packet I sent you earlier as well. I think it might hint at there being a mole within the organization.
"As for meeting with this C-Sec officer, things would probably still be safer all around if we did not meet. That said, I suppose I am somewhat indebted to him as well. I'll leave the decision with you.
"Sincerely, "Maelstrom"
He went over it in his head for a moment before saying, "Emily, transmit."
He leaned back in his chair before activating the shuttle's sound system and contemplating what he might do for dinner.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Mar 31, 2015 15:13:05 GMT -6
"I don't think I've made any friends with the staff either,” agreed Maelstrom “I’m going to head out."
He offered a hand which Eric took earnestly. “Be seein’ you ‘round… Blackie,” he winked.
Maelstrom nodded. "Until next time." Eric released his hand and the man in black armor vanished out the door and back into the shadows once again. Alone in his room, the wily Ex-Marine laid back and sighed wondering when his doctor would come by to check on him. No doubt he would be informed by Nurse Weaver of Eric being found down in the morgue high on his meds. It was a thin hope to cling to but perhaps the doctor would not want to verify this by demanding an additional sample from him. While he waited it came to him that he still had Shala’s email address saved and it could still be active. He brought up his omni-tool and tried reaching out to her: ------------------------------------------------------ To: Shala’Bekk Vas Neema From: Lysander, Eric Subject: Catching Up
Been some time, hasn’t it?
I hope you’re doing well. Currently resting and recovering at Zakera Ward Hospital – stomach trouble; the kind antacid doesn’t fix. A mutual friend let me know you were here on the station. Not sure when they’ll let me loose. I’d like to see you again and talk about our famous friends… well one of them, anyways. Otherwise you can let me know where you’re at after I’m a free man again and I’ll come visit you.
I’m known for being a lot of things but I won’t have it be said that I’m not a man of my word.
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