Xora Patrone - Chapter 4

Title: Xora Patrone - Chapter 4: Delivery
Author: xRebel666x
Game: Mass Effect
Characters/Pairing: All Original Characters - Xora Patrone(female human), Lyrik Castius(male turian), Josie Madeen(female human), Hal'Jurgar(male quarian), Tren and Kero(male krogans).

Chapter 4: Delivery
November 3rd, 2185

  "Hey Xora, we're coming up on drop off point," Joselynn beaconed over the intercom.

  I made my way to the bridge and waited to see who was on the receiving end of the troublesome package. All I was thinking about is how I couldn't get rid of this stupid parcel fast enough. If it wasn't for the 500k, I would have ejected it from the airlock the moment the power came back on.  

  Shortly after my arrival, the rest of my crew joined me at the helm. Tren still hadn't apologized for giving me the black eye, granted I deserved it for saran wrapping him to the bed and putting tacks all over the floor. I don't think I've ever seen a krogan so annoyed in all my life… I don't think I would attempt to do it again though. Actually, I take that back, I would definitely do it again.

  There also didn't seem to be any awkward tensions around Lyrik. Maybe he fell asleep before I used him as a pillow. He could have also brushed it off as another one of my drunken nights. Possibly he doesn't even think anything of it since we are friends. He hasn't mentioned anything so I'm not even going to bother bringing it up.

  We could see the starship close in on our proximity. I could have sworn I've seen this ship before… I just could not remember where. Slowly the faint logo on the side of the vessel became apparent.

  "It's a Cerberus vessel!" I cried out, "Holster up!"

  As Josie docked the Dolus Bia adjacent to the other ship, Lyrik and I went to the airlock. I quickly checked my Carnifex pistol to verify it had clips inside and put it back in the holster loosely hanging off my hip. Lyrik strapped on his old C-Sec shoulder holsters and playfully dual wielded his pistols before securing them.

  "Show off," I rolled my eyes at him. He smirked in return.

  Tren and Kero walked into the airlock just as the door was about to open, standing directly behind us holding their assault rifles. I took a quick look around at my team and felt confident that we could easily overcome these Cerberus operatives. To my surprise, when the door revealed the crew from the other vessel, we were welcomed by a turian in blue armor, a salarian in white attire, and a human female donning Alliance Marine armor with the special ops logo, the N7.

  I cocked my head to the side, "Shepard?"

  She smiled, "I remember you… Xora, right? I met you during the Blitz."

  "That's right. Wow, it's been a long time," walking up to the Commander and shaking her hand. Reblicah Shepard looked nearly identical to when I first met her. The only difference was the addition of a few scars. She stood with authority and had the same confident glow in her eyes.

  "It's crazy that no matter how big this galaxy gets, it still feels small. You're no longer serving the Alliance?"

  "Nah, I left about 3 years ago to do this. What about you? What are you doing on a Cerberus ship?"

  "It's complicated. I never really worked for them… we just had similar goals at the time. That and I had a debt to repay. Now the Normandy is back under its rightful command." She looked behind me and noticed the parcel waiting, "I take it that's what you are here to deliver."

  I signaled the twins to bring the package aboard and immediately the salarian walks up to it with his omni-tool ready to scan it.

   "No no no no no no!" my whole team cried out, trying to warn him.

  He ignored our warnings and an orange glow covered the box. Immediately, my crew and I covered our heads in preparation for the repercussions. But there wasn't any sort of EMP blast.

  A bit frazzled, I asked, "How did that… how come it didn't?"

  The salarian responed, "Programmed omni-tool to override Cerberus encryptions. Scanning unknown packages can be highly costly. In this case, this parcel was an explosive device with a triggered detonation upon extracting its contents."

  "A bomb! Shit!" I couldn't believe it, "Never ever again will I deliver a package without knowing what's inside. I don't care how much they pay me."

  "This is normal for us," she turned to the side and yelled, "Zaeed, can you dispose of this?"

  A tall elderly man covered in scars and different colors eyes came up from behind the pillar, "My pleasure."

  As Tren and Kero went to assist Zaeed in disposing the package, the salarian became oddly interested in them.

  "Is this normally how salarians act?" Kero asked, trying to shy away.

  "Astonishing. Two similar krogans, nearly identical. Shared bloodline? Brothers perhaps? Extremely irregular but not impossible. But, no, something more here… could it be? Twins?"

  Tren, Kero, and I looked at each other confused. The only ones who knew their secret was the clan they escaped and the crew on the Dolus Bia. Astonished, I had to inquire, "How the hell did you figure that out?"

  "Yeah, how did YOU figure that out?" Tren stuck is face directly into the salarian's.

  Reby could notice my krogan becoming irritated, so she intruded, "Mordin spent a lot of time on the Special Task Force. He's a very skilled scientist."

  Mordin continued to study the twins as they carried the package behind Zaeed to the elevator. As they disappeared behind the doors, all I could hope for is that Tren wouldn't get too aggressive against the curious observer.

  "If you don't have anywhere to be, I would love to catch up with you, maybe give you a tour of the ship?" Shepard happily threw out the suggestion.

  "Definitely," I smiled. I turned to Lyrik to see if he would be interested in joining us but he was already busy talking to the turian on Shepard's team. They were pointing out each other's similar markings. I could only guess that it meant they came from the same location and were discussing it. So I left him behind to join Reby for the tour.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  Reblicah showed me around most parts of the ship she called the Normandy. It was such a beautiful ship. I was actually a bit jealous, although I could never give up my Dolus Bia. She had quite an interesting bunch of people on her crew, especially the ornery bastard at the helm. I wish I had him as my pilot.

  She suggested we have some drinks so we made our way to the Port Observation. She stood behind the bar pouring me shot after shot. Shepard poured herself one glass of a clear liquid and nursed it. It appeared that she slowed down since the Blitz… granted back then we made it a point to get wasted. We started sharing stories about our lives since our first meeting. The more we drank, the more we revealed. I discovered that the great Commander Shepard was in a serious relationship with the turian from earlier. She even showed me the scar on her neck, calling it a "marking." That's when she started asking about Lyrik.

  "So how long have you and your quartermaster been together?"

  "Damn… too long. I believe we've known each other for 6 years."

  "And how long have you two been a couple?"

  "A couple? No, we're not dating!" I was appalled, even the word 'dating' sounded dirty.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry! I noticed how he looked at you and it is the exact same way Garrus looks at me."

  "We are just really good friends," I awkwardly looked at the liquor in my shot glass.

  "You two would make quite the cute couple," a mysterious voice mentioned.

  I turned to my right and this hooded woman was sitting in the chair directly next to me. She startled me so much that I nearly fell off my stool. I could have sworn there wasn't anyone else in the room. And I sure as hell didn't hear the door open or hear anyone come in.

  "How? What? When? Were you there this whole time?"

  "No, I had to satisfy my curiosity first. By the way, I like what you've done in your room, feels homey," her smile glowing through the shaded hood.

  "Wait… huh?"

  "Oh, right, never mind."

  I looked at her confused, "How the hell do you know how the inside of my ship looks like?"

  Shepard leaned over the counter and whispered, "Kasumi's a bit of a master thief. Don't worry, she didn't steal anything… she just likes to look around."

  "You have one hell of a team, Reby."

  "Only the best," she grimaced with a fake smile, pouring another round. I could immediately tell by the look in her eyes that she had a great deal on her mind. I could only imagine the emotional stress she was going through. "I need the best if I'm going to accomplish the impossible."

  "I take it you have a long journey in front of you."

  "That's putting it gently," her mood immediately changed. I could tell she had a lot on her mind and it was taking its toll on her. "There will be sacrifices, there will be death… I will be fighting until the end just to save as many lives as I can. Humanity's hope rests in my hands."

  "That comes with any war."

  "True but let me put it to you like this, I used to put a notch on my gun but now there isn't a weapon large enough to hold them all. Especially after all my recent events…" she stared vacantly at her drink, her fingers tracing the rim of the glass delicately.

  "It can't be that bad."

  "Have you heard what happened in the Bahak system?"

  "No, I typically try to avoid that part of the traverse due to my relationship with batarians."

  "Good, continue to stay away from there… as a personal favor to me."

  "You got it," I nodded in agreement. Then I remembered the information we retrieved from Purgatory. This was my chance to get something in return, "Reby, there really is no easy way for me to ask you this but a few days ago I stopped by Purgatory. I have surveillance records showing you were there. I am currently the only one who has access to them and I am willing to delete it… because I like you Reby. But I need some information first."

  She gulped, "What kind of information?"

  "I need to know why you were there."

  "I was recruiting a member to my team, Jack."

  I remember that name.

  "Jack? We found her name on the list of prisoners. You recruited her?"

  "Yup, she's quite the biotic and a great addition to the team."

  I cringed at the word "biotic" and slammed down the shot in front of me. "Is she on the ship?"

  "She's down on the forth level. I can take you to meet her if you'd like?"

  This Jack person may be the only one who has any information on the killer I'm hunting. But she's a damn biotic and I don't know if I'll be able to contain my anger. Especially with these drinks in me, she could easily trigger my nerves. Shepard has quite a few biotics on her team. The asari justicar, the cocky lady in the white suit, the quiet drell, the young athletic man, and now this ex-prisoner, all biotics… if I upset one, chances are the others will pitch in. So I need to think, what is more important? I need that info…no matter the cost.

  I nodded, "Take me to her."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  Upon walking down the stairs to the area below the forth floor, I could see the faint silhouette of a woman. The closer we became, the more I could see the tattoos covering nearly every inch of her body. From the tips of her fingers up to her shaved head, every bit of flesh was inked. She definitely looked like an ex-convict. The moment she met my eyes, she scowled at me. Immediately, I felt there was something about her I just didn't like.

  "Who's this, Shepard? You know I don't like having random people in my space," the tattooed woman immediately stood up from her cot and approached me directly as a display of dominance.

  "I know," Shepard shrugged, "but this is Xora, we shared some drinks together after the Blitz on Torfan."

  "I don't care who she is, why is she here?"

  "Be nice to her, Jack. All she wants is to ask you a few questions about Purgatory."

  "Why?"

  Before Reby could further elaborate, I intruded, "I'm investigating the trail of a murderer."

  She eyed me from head to toe, evaluating my body language and determining if I would be 'worthy' of her assistance. "Fine, ask your stupid questions," she sneered, crossing her arms.

  "What were you in Purgatory for?"

  "Let's see… I killed a few people, crashed a space station into a hanar moon, ran with some gangs and pirates… the list is pretty extensive."

  "How well did you know the other inmates on Purgatory?"

  "Not very well… after I murdered the fuckers who thought it was okay to rape me, they put me in cryostasis."

  "Do you know if anyone incarcerated spent any time in Terra Nova?"

  "I just said I didn't know anyone. I don't make a habit of being friends with anyone. So no… I don't."

  Something here just isn't sitting right with me… I have this feeling… maybe… let's ask her…

  "Have you ever been to Terra Nova?"

  "Yeah, I was there. What of it?"

  "Was it by any chance in the summer of 2173?"

  "Maybe," she snarled, "that kind of information will cost you."

  "Jack, cooperate," Shepard's authoritative command subdued the biotic freak.

  She glared at me, "Yeah, I was there that summer."

  The moment she said those words, my gut clenched. The images of the crime scene flashed before my eyes. All the files and documents of their murder rushed through my memory. Then I saw them… my parent's bodies as if they were in the room with me, scorched and dismembered. And her… with their blood.

  It's her…

  Quietly I stood there, paralyzed by my thoughts. The red tint of the room faded to a bluish grey, dulling out everything around me. The hum from the Normandy's engines disappeared, leaving a deafening silence. The air around me became heavy, making it difficult to breathe. After 12 years, I finally found her.

  Then I could hear my name being breaking through my illusion… but it was muffled.

  "Xora."

  I heard it again, a little clearer.

  "Hey Xora."

  I shook my head back to reality and noticed Reby cautiously examining me.

  "Are you okay?"

  The familiar surroundings slowly came back into perspective. Bringing my hand to my forehead, "Yeah, it was just the alcohol kicking in, that's normal."

  "Okay… you had me worried there. Your transmitter is going off."

  I look at my hip and notice the blinking orange light. In one flawless movement, I snap it off and answer, "Yeah."

  Josie's voice came through, "We're all ready to go Captain."

  "Got it, I'm on my way."

  "I'll walk you out."

  I nodded in agreement. As we walked away, I shot one last glance back at Jack. All I could think about was how I was going to avenge my parent's death the next time we met. The only issue was getting through Shepard. As long as Jack was on her team, she was untouchable.