Shu

A cultured [INSERT TOPIC HERE] discussion thread

@Dark Cloud Dr Pepper is the superior soda.

Ban the User Above You

Banned for the pun.

A cultured [INSERT TOPIC HERE] discussion thread

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Ban the User Above You

Banned because trendy jug.

Mass Effect: Second Vigil

AMINA GALAL

”ROGUE”

---

Amina slipped a fresh thermal clip into her Mattock rifle, then raising her head up slightly to survey the carnage around her. Black smoke boiled up all around, pouring from the flaming, crumbled debris of the shuttle nearby as well as the surrounding foliage that had caught fire in the fighting. Bodies were littered about, human and turian namely. The human corpses clad in white and black trimmed armor with Cerberus emblems stamped across the helmets and shoulders. Amina wore the same armor, as did the unconscious soldier slumped over next to her in the crater she and pulled him down into when the fighting first began. Craters dotted the small clearing and discarded weapons and burned out clips were strewn about.

It had all happened so fast. Aminas’ unit were tasked with snagging up a piece of alien technology located in an underground cavern, the entrance to which was right behind her at the foot of a small cliff. The item had been found originally by a Turian geological survey team, the world in question being on the fringes of Turian-Council space. Cerberus had found out about the tech thanks to one of their usual taps into alien coms and when the Illusive Man learned of the find he sent Aminas’ team straightaway to pick up the relic by any means necessary and bring it to Cronos Station.

By the time Amina and her unit had arrived a turian response team was on scene, granted in small numbers. The shuttle made a softening strafe on them and Amina and her comrades rappelled down catching the turians in a blitz. Those that survived scattered. The CO ordered the Cerberus force to dig in and hold position while the relic was brought up out of the cavern. The relic had just been loaded onboard the shuttle when it was hit by a barrage of rockets from the nearby ridge, destroying the shuttle and presumably the relic. Turian forces took up positions on nearby ridges and the last thirty minutes had been a short but vicious firefight, turians perched on the cliffs rained down rockets and sniper fire while the Cerberus troops spread out and relied on their own scopes and marksmanship. Amina’s ears still rang from the constant blasting of the Mattocks and the explosions. The turian forces had pulled back again just minutes ago after suffering more losses.

Amina glanced around looking for surviving members of her group. She had seen at least three duck back inside the shaft for cover and two more had dove into a crater on the opposite of the destroyed shuttle. The man next to her, Geoff, had been knocked out by the force of a blast that had also charred his armor. He was alive but wounded, blood caked on his arms and legs. Their transport was destroyed and with the presumed destruction of the relic their mission failed. There were no other Cerberus vessels or personnel nearby to help and Amina knew that if captured escape from the turians would be anlmost totally impossible. At least she would get to perish on a beautiful planet with its’ bright red and gold colored fauna that snaked and wrapped around the nearby hills and ravines like something from a poem. She knew Cerberus would tell her family, in that Amina held comfort as she rested her weapon on the edge of the crater and placed her finger on the trigger - ready to die for the true human cause and take as many turians with her as she could.

A shot rang out nearby followed by a scream, and then another shot and a scream. Amina’s head swiveled to see the most bizarre of sights. From behind the blackened wreckage of the shuttle came an asari, strolling in the most casual way unconcerned with the bloody battlefield on which she walked. In her right hand was a pistol and of all the things to be wearing she had on… a dress. The asari had rather uncommon minty green skin and white face tattoos and even from meters away Amina could see her smiling - looking directly at Amina. Amina spun around and impulsively raised her rifle, about to call out for the asari to freeze and drop her weapon, when she felt a tap on her left shoulder.

Amina turned around again to be met with a towering turian, face tattooed white and patterned into a grinning skull. Amina froze, unable to move and wanting to scream. The turian smiled at her just as the asari had - or as close a thing to smile as his kind could manage - then raising a large pistol of his own and blowing Amina’s brains out of the back of her head.

---

Amina breathed in sharply as her eyes opened. She was “back” in Svalbard, laying in her bunk curled into a fetal position the sheets twisted around her. Her heart was hammering and her forehead moist. It was night still, after the party and after Amina had gotten a ride back and retired to her own bed for the night. Her head swimmed and pounded, a potent hangover taking up the whole of her skull. Damnable asari booze. Amina reached back and rubbed at her head fiercely as she unwound the wadded up sheets from her legs and lower body, rolling over on her back. She remembered that flop of a mission so well - too well. She remembered how after she and her surviving comrades drove the turians back they managed to hijack a turian long range shuttle and get off-world. She remembered how they barely got out of turian space and dumped the craft in Council turf before having to manage a flight to where the closest Cerberus contact was to be found. And she remembered how displeased the Illusive Man was at the loss of the relic. His men too, but mostly the relic.

Amina recalled what the relic looked like. An eight foot pillar of a deep blue color and twined with hose-like cables and topped with a spiked pedestal. Reaper tech - she had seen enough of it on Cronos Station in the labs, and then there were those fragments of Sovereign. In hindsight she was glad that she and the others did not have to ride with that thing all the way back to the Horsehead Nebula. They say indoctrination is that way, some can last for days or longer without so much as a twitch while others’ fates are sealed within just an hour of being around a Reaper device. Amina often wondered how long she could resist the sway of a Reaper, or if she had already been tainted by them during the war only to be saved by their eradication breaking their subtle link over her. She found her thoughts drifting to Janiri and how the asari had been exposed to that orb that Banes and his lackeys had. The Reapers were gone and yet their black legacy remained, their stain on the fabric of the galaxy. Amina hoped the asari was not a liability, as cold as it was to feel that way, and that she was under constant monitoring and tight security.

Amina placed her open palms over her eyes and made slow circling motions, groaning ever slightly. She had experienced her fair share of hangovers but this was just all but unbearable. Soft people, hard drinks. She could only imagine how bad it would be had she gotten completely tanked off of the esala. She knew not what the time was but guessed it to be between two and four in the morning, if not a little earlier. Some water would be good but Amina was not in the mood to get up and walk about. Besides, she did not wish to stumble into Nadara or Solveig or Zelifa or anyone else who may have stayed up extra late. Amina knew “running” was childish and futile and she would have to address her storming out like that at some point, but not now. Right now she was just too embarrassed - and angry about many things.

What is wrong with me? Why am I feeling like this? Why did I act like that last night? It is because… is it because they wear the masks of my enemies? Those once my enemies, now my allies? Amina felt a cold, treacherous chill roll down her neck and spine.

As she lay there awake for perhaps half an hour Amina realized more and more what she really wanted was for this inner turmoil to end. It had to, as she could not truly face up to any of the others - the aliens namely - until she had come to some inner resolution. Whatever it may be. How does one go from hating a race and thriving off of killing those among it to serving beside members of that race and calling them brothers and sisters in arms? Can it even be done? Can I… change my outlook on things? Can I put aside what so long I embraced as a truth - as my own truth? Who is wrong? Me? SRN? What is truly right and wrong about all this? Were the things Amina did during her time with Cerberus truly part of a fight for greater things, or had it always been just a narrow minded bigots’ way of seizing power and conquering those deemed lesser? Was Solveig right? Did Amina just need to open her mind and soul up and cast aside the propaganda pumped into her by Cerberus in their now obvious bid for greater power? Was Amina the brainwashed bootlicker and not Solveig? Had it all been for nothing? Leaving the Alliance, abandoning her service and life because of a paranoid fragile outlook on the galaxy? Was she doomed to live and die alone and mangled of the mind and heart - her only thing to hold close and cling to a crumbling racist ideology she had been taken in by?

For a long time Amina lay there, one arm across her throbbing eyes, deep in anxious thought - her mind swirling. At some point the hangover and fatigue took over and Amina finally slipped back to sleep for the rest of the night.

A cultured [INSERT TOPIC HERE] discussion thread

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@Dark Cloud

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Mass Effect: Second Vigil

	AMELIORATION◢ Longyearbyen, Svalbard Evening, April 14 @Shu@Shift@Auz@bitsnpieces @KaiserElectric@Awesomoman64

From: Sunset
To: Shadow, Wraith, Venator, Rogue, Lunatic
Team,

I have an update on Janiri. Let’s meet in the mess hall once everyone has returned to base.

Nadara entered the mess hall, where a number of others were chatting amicably and finishing their dinners. Only a few glances came her way, though likely more so because they admired her figure than due to any lasting memories of her involvement in the dispute from earlier.

She sat at an empty table and began squeezing her favored stress ball.

After a few minutes of extended thought, Nadara decided to send a second message.

From: Sunset
To: Shadow, Wraith, Venator, Rogue, Lunatic
Team,

Kysar, guns won’t be necessary. It’s good news.

From one of the tables in the back of the mess hall, Solveig stood up. A shower and a change of clothes had done her some good (as well as two plates of food).

With her trademark intense expression she began her way over to Nadara's table, third plate in hand - some steamed greens and rice, she sat back down in front of the Asari, giving her a curt nod and nothing else before she got back to finishing the food in silence.

Quickly putting the stress ball away at Solveig’s presence, Nadara instead leaned her head on her hand, watching the human eat. “We should really demand better quality food,” she said offhandedly. Nadara assumed Solveig wouldn’t need to be told she was waiting for everyone to arrive before going into the details. “Rescue go alright?”

"I don't mind this," Solveig answered with a slight shrug. "Simple, but fine. Rescue wasn't so simple, but was fine. I suppose." An underwhelming response that she stated with an air of discomfort. She wasn't really sure how she was feeling after the mission. She wasn't sure how Zenn and Kysar would be feeling either.

"Uhhhh-" Solveig began after a pause. "I... you're well?"

Nadara sighed dramatically, dropping her head to the table, only to remember where she was, and quickly raised her head again. Goddess knows the last time they provided a deep cleaning on these tables.

“Fine, fine. Had a run in with my mother though, so— you know,” Nadara waved her hand in the air absently, “still recovering.”

Solveig gave a slight smile, "Good luck with that." she said with a knowing glance, taking the last few bites of food from the plate.

Amina came strolling in, shed of her armor and kit she wore a simple black turtleneck she had grabbed earlier and a pair of sleek, olive colored trousers to go with. Even as plain as the choice in clothing was it gave the militaristic woman a very unique pedestrian look compared to the usual.
Amina passed Nadara and Solveig up initially, taking the time to get her meal in order before sitting with the two.

“Well?” Amina asked expectantly as she dove into her food, ears open.

Nadara blinked a few times when she realized the person sitting down was Amina. Where has she been hiding this outfit? She thought, appreciating the way the ensemble accentuated her lovely form. Probably under that horrible coat, she added, unable to stop herself. It should be burned.
“Oh,” Nadara finally said aloud, realizing Rogue was waiting for a response. “Let’s wait for the others, shall we? I don’t want to have to repeat myself multiple times over.”

Kysar was in the med-bay when he got the message. Officially, their trip had been uneventful leaving the Turian to claim that a bumpy ride through a debris field had been the cause of his battered look.

“Fuck me.” Kysar said aloud. Up until now the Turian had been deathly silent, his face long with self pity and devastation. “Here we go ag-“ His train of thought stopped dead as the nurse jabbed at his arm rather pointedly.

“Oh.. sorry.” The nurse said, seemingly with a tone. Side-eying the human, Kysar wondered if he had seen her in the mess hall earlier on. A ping from his now working Omni-tool drew his attention away from his staring. It was Nadara again, specifically addressing him. Spirits, she really needs to learn how to send messages. He thought as his eyes rolled.

Discharging himself from the hospital the Turian limped across the halls. His stomach churned, feeling as if he was having to hold down vomit that was sitting in his throat. Not only did he not know what Nad thought good news looked like but she’d also called the whole team there. Kysar hadn’t said a word on the ride home but could feel the tension from both Zenn and Sol.

Sheepishly, the Turian opened the swing doors of the mess hall. Though fixed, they made a horrible squealing sound, drawing the attention of a few eating their dinner. He wasn’t sure but Kysar swore he saw them try to wolf down their food as he approached the others. Nadara, Sol and Amina all sat at the table together off to one side of the room. The Turian sat at the table behind the trio without a word but in view of Nad. Keen to avoid her gaze, he’d sat directly behind Sol, hoping she wouldn’t turn around. Folding his arms tightly over one another he breathed a heavy sigh. Okay, I’m here, let’s get this over with.

"Please excuse me, Nadara." Solveig said, glancing to those at the table. She'd felt Kysar's presence, and without looking had heard the limp in his step. She stopped thinking about how tense things felt and for a moment just felt bad for him. They'd all taken a beaten afterall.

She rose from her seat, the legs of the chair scraping loudly and for too long on the floor. Solveig picked up her empty plate. It was bothersome for it to just be sitting in front of her, especially if this was about to be an entire meeting. As she turned around from the table and began walking, she quirked a brow momentarily in his direction and looked at his leg. It was like a question that just wasn't given any words.
Soon enough she was past him and had headed to go wash her plate. She hoped everyone would be in attendance by the time she was done.

---

The shuttle ride back to base was no less awkward than when they had first departed. Zenn was still stewing in his own frustrations at how his teammates had stepped in at the end; but also at how he had reacted. His anger and embarrassment clouded his mind and kept him from being able to articulate his feelings in any meaningful way. When they finally landed, Zenn exited the shuttle without a word and went straight for his bunk to grab Ranger. He needed a long walk in the cold, and he was sure Ranger was tired of being cooped up as well.

The two strolled through the frozen streets of Longyearbyen. Zenn moved at a rather slow pace, barely lifting his head to see the sights around him. His suit’s temperature regulation kept him from freezing, but he could still feel the bite of the wind swirling around him and the chill of the snow layering on his suit. Ranger, on the other hand, was having a great time! Running around Zenn at full speed, occasionally stopping to roll in the snow or jump into snow piles he found. The quarian would watch him go, and wished nothing more than to trade places.

Zenn’s pace eventually slowed to a stop. He lifted his head and looked up to the brilliant night sky above as he finally was able to bring his thoughts to words.

“Why did they do it?” He thought aloud. “I had him. I could have killed him myself. I had a plan and everything to cover it up, but they just had to jump in instead. Why? There wasn’t a bounty or reward to claim. And he wasn’t exactly a threat. There’s only one reason and that’s they didn’t think I was capable of going through with it. They thought I was some helpless ke'sed trying to act tough. Well… I guess there is one other reason...”

Ranger walked up to Zenn and tilted his head to the side. Zenn looked down at his animal companion and elaborated.

“That they actually cared. That Sol was trying to stop me because she believed what I was doing was wrong. And Kysar, while misguided, was genuinely doing what he thought would save me from making a huge mistake. But that’s impossible, right? Why would anyone actually care about me? I mean, look at me! I'm nothing special! I’m just another soldier among millions! I'm not even on their level! Compared to them I’m an expendable asset! The only thing I know how to do is point and shoot! Beyond that I’m worthless! Nothing but a tak’tal!”

Zenn dropped to the ground, placed his arms against his legs, and buried his face in his hands. “So why did they go out there with me? There wasn't anything in it for them, and if I didn't make it they could easily replace me. Yet they still went anyway. Followed me into the unknown risking their lives standing side by side with me… and I scolded them because they stopped me from shooting an unarmed man… Keelah I’m not just worthless; I’m completely pathetic.”

Ranger whimpered and moved closer. He pressed his nose against the side of Zenn’s helmet, then started pushing him to pull his head up.

“This is why I don’t make friends. Sooner or later I screw things up. Happened with the Ghosts, and now it's happening with this group."

Ranger responded with a few barks.

“Of course I want to fix things! But what would I even say? ‘Sorry I snapped at you two. I just assumed your actions were based on a lack of trust in my competency because I invest all my self-worth in my ability to complete assignments due to the fact I don't believe I have any value as a person beyond that’? Yeah. I'm sure unloading my insecurities on them will mend things and not make me look insane…"

Zenn glanced at his omni-tool, finally reading the message Nadara had sent everyone requesting they meet in the mess hall. He let out a soft chuckle at the immediate followup message she sent as well.

"But, I guess I gotta start somewhere if I want to make this work.” Zenn said as he pushed himself off the ground. "Come on, boy. Let's see if there's still time to repair things."

---

Zenobia eventually wanders her way into the mess hall again, looking a fair bit more rattled then the last time she was here. And the last time involved someone close to getting shot!

"I'm here...." Zenobia announces flatly. "Hold your applause."

A moment after Zenobia arrived Sol came back from the kitchen. Without a plate but with a mug of hot tea in hand. She took her seat again, this time beside Zenn who she gave a quick glance of awkward acknowledgement, as she shuffled and brought her seat closer to the table. Sol also nodded at Zenobia. I was not about applaud? she thought to herself.

At Kysar’s presence, Nadara felt herself straighten, even though her posture was already impeccable. Her eyes wandered over the Turian’s form and she was surprised to see he had indeed left a firearm behind, but perhaps more suspiciously, he was in much worse form than usual. Kysar was often unkempt but his current state was downright disheveled. What has he gotten himself into now? She raised an eyebrow at his nod but otherwise didn’t say anything, instead acknowledging Solveig’s departure as she took her empty plate away.

Nadara hadn’t eaten yet. Between the detritus that was commonly served in the mess hall and the agitation of mediating the meeting between Lidanya and Charles she’d had neither the time nor inclination.

Zenn approached next, and something about him seemed off too. The normally chipper Quarian was sullen and withdrawn, leaving Nadara to wonder if the reactions from the three were related to the disagreement from earlier, or if something else had happened.

When Zenobia finally arrived looking shaken, Nadara looked between her and Kysar, wondering if the two had perhaps gotten into it? She hadn’t taken Lunatic to be Venator’s type, but she couldn’t deny the former’s charm. If there weren’t more pressing matters to attend to Nadara would have dug a little deeper into that curiosity.

“Thank you all for coming. I’ll get straight to the point. Janiri has been returned to the SRN.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Nadara.

“Wh-“ Kysar’s voice croaked as his feelings betrayed him. The Turian straightened himself in his seat, uncomfortable with thought. Maybe there was no use in pretending anymore? Yes, he did care about his comrades and Janiri had always been one of them. Clearing his throat he pressed. “What’s her condition?”

Sol straightened up in her seat. That was a surprise. It could have also been a message, she thought, but reserved that for herself. It was good news of course. But she knew enough about the Asari to know that wouldn't have been an easy feat.

"And on what condition?" Solveig asked, tacking on to Kysar's question.

"Same as before, though she did come around long enough to help us out of a jam," Zenobia said taking a seat, seeming a little more at ease now that she could inject herself into the group again. "Good thing too, turns out my old gang and I weren't exactly keen on a reunion."

Nadara nodded. “Janiri is stable for the moment,” she responded to Kysar before turning to Solveig, who always seemed to ask the questions that got right to the heart of the matter. Very perceptive. “An agreement had to be made with Matriarch Lidanya, whom I delivered her to earlier.” Nadara paused and sighed before locking eyes with Kysar. “I did what I thought was right this morning. You may not be aware of Ardat Yakshi but they truly are dangerous killers addicted to their art form. I was given the information that Janiri suffered from this condition and needed to be turned in. I acted out of instinct and necessity, not allegiance. Though I will admit I didn’t consider her part of our team—” Nadara looked from Kysar to Solveig and back again, “I didn’t consider that you and Sol might.”

Nadara sighed and crossed her arms. “I don’t condone your reaction to my decision,” she continued, suddenly finding interest in observing someone in the distance who was leaned over their plate. “But I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit it gave me pause. More so because you weren’t the only one offended by my actions.” Nadara focused her attention back to the group momentarily, her gaze lingering on Zenn and Solveig before inspecting her nails. She’d need a manicure soon.

“Ultimately, there were some inconsistencies and curiosities involved with Janiri’s case. When I looked into it, I didn’t expect what I discovered.” Nadara explained in detail what she had shared with Amina and Zenobia earlier on the shuttle about Janiri’s past, her records, and the Asari High Command’s intentions with her. “Amina, Zenobia, and I went back to Matriarch Lidanya to retrieve her, but we met some resistance from Eclipse members who were after her as well. We handled the threat and convinced Lidanya that the safest place for Janiri would be here, where her presence would be unexpected. Charles has agreed to allow Asari medics appointed by Lidanya to lead Janiri’s care. There were a few other points in the agreement, but suffice to say, she’s back in the hospital next to Katya.”

Nadara took a breath, realizing this was most she had ever said at one time to anyone on the team, much less to all of them. “That should cover everything. But in future,” she said, narrowing her eyes at Kysar. “Do refrain from pulling a gun on me, or questioning my loyalties again.”

Ever talkative, Solveig simply took several long sips from the mug, mulling over Nadara's words and listening to the recap of the events. She'd noted the point about Eclipse members - and Zenobia's own confession which caused her to raise a brow. But all in all the explanation sufficed and seemed correct. Finally, she placed her mug down and took a breath. "Fair." Solveig said with a grateful nod, before going back to the drink.

Nadara glanced at Zenobia. “I’ll let you field this one, ex-Eclipse.”

Zenobia scratches the side of her head. "Pretty unlikely. Eclipse doesn't have anywhere near the pull it had back in the glory days, and they have even less now with a good chunk of them scattered through the Sol system. Otherwise I'd still be with them, but now? Barely worth it." She chuckles, noticing most of the group didn't exactly find the comment funny, and went on with a small clearing of the throat.

"We didn't leave any of the hit squad standing and there wasn't enough time for them to communicate off-base. If I was running that operation I'd assume that Nadara's mother fought them off and got Janiri to her destination, and I'd focus on the Asari. Even if I knew SRN got involved, I wouldn't assume that a matriarch would just hand off something that valuable to us.

"Long story short, this shouldn't bring down any heat on us that we couldn't handle already."

Kysar slammed the table. Not enough to damage it but more than enough to turn heads. He was tired, oh so damn tired of everything. After all this time it was Nadara's mother who had taken Janiri? A fact so obviously cast to the side by the Asari throughout her whole 'tale'. The Turian could feel his mandibles scrunch up, he was just sick of it all.

Maybe she was being honest and she had thought about others or maybe it was another ruse to get back in the everyone's good books. Kysar didn't know and frankly, in this moment, he was beyond caring. He wanted to yell, to scream but not at Nad, not anymore, just at the world around him.

The slam was all he could do to keep from erupting like a volcano. Even getting angry was starting to get old. This day had felt like weeks.

The Turian's chair screeched as he pushed it back from the table, standing without looking anyone's way. He wished harder than he ever had done before that he had Zenn's ability to cloak. To disappear before everyone without drawing attention to himself.

Kysar turned and hobbled towards the door. He needed air and he needed to see Janiri.

Nadara raised her hands as she expelled a breath, shaking her head in Kysar’s direction.

"He took it better than expected."

“He yells when I take her, he slams things when we bring her back. I don’t understand that man.”

"Let him be.” Sol said quickly.

"Don't you get it?" Zenn said as he slowly stood from his seat. He took a step towards Nadara, but in a very calm manner. He was clearly trying to avoid the conversation from escalating further. "Nadara. What you did could have cost an innocent woman her life and you only considered the consequences when it directly affected you; not her or anyone else around you! We understand now why you did it, but that doesn't mean any of us have to agree with it."

"However," Zenn paused for a second to recompose himself and gather his thoughts. "you are right. What happened this morning was unfair to you. I can't speak for everyone, but I need to take responsibility for my own actions. I jumped to conclusions I shouldn't have and made terrible accusations about you," Zenn turned his head to look at Solveig, ”something I've come to realize I do too often." His gaze lingered on her for a moment as he wished she could see the sorrow in his eyes before he turned back to Nadara. "In any case, I was wrong and I'm sorry. You weren't acting recklessly or choosing a side. You were doing what you honestly believed was right at the time and I should have talked to you first before making any assumptions."

Directly affected me? Nadara thought, indignant. As if my life would have been any different had I just left things as they were. In fact, due to the actions she’d taken, her relationship with her mother was more tenuous than ever.

“I accept your apology, Shadow. But it seems you’re still making some of those assumptions.” Nadara stood from the table. “If there’s nothing else…” she said, excusing herself from the others. She didn’t need this, she thought to herself, surprised that for once, Nadara agreed with Kysar.

Zenn just stood there with a bewildered stare as Nadara left. He was glad she accepted his apology, but he was still making assumptions? Like what? He had no idea which part she meant and now that she had exited he couldn't ask any follow-up questions.

He turned to face the others at the table. "Did I say something wrong?" He asked with genuine worry. He still had more apologies to make and wanted to be sure he wasn't doing something wrong.

Sol recalled a moment before everyone else had arrived, a throwaway comment by Nadara about her mother that had started to make sense, given light of everything else. She sighed, closing her eyes. Not sure how to answer Zenn's question, or how to difuse the situation. "Zenn, it's okay, uhh...

It's... not you. Not wrong, I... It will be okay..." If there was something she understood, it was that relationships with parents could be difficult.

"Janiri is back," she said, "let's... I mean. Thank you, Rogue, Lunatic." Solveig then looked to the door, thank you Sunset - wanting to also escape the room, or have the floor open up and swallow her whole. "It's good that Janiri is back - it's, let's just... Let it settle."

Something that was not settling, was her own nerves. Sol felt like an idiot, tumbling blindly through an awkward situation.

I wonder if SRN has a psychologist on hand. Amina wondered cynically as she pulled her plate back close, having shoved it away during Kysar’s momentary outburst expecting a fight.

“Well,” Amina spoke up as she lifted some food up from her plate, “Nadara did what needed to be done. Corrected her error and Janiri is back. Let us just hope that this case is closed now. At least somewhat.”
Amina hesitated, almost taking the food she had into her mouth, then stopping and looking between Solveig and Zenn, “Nadara was hellbent on getting Janiri back. She was not leaving that place until she had righted what was wrong.”

Solveig nodded sincerely at Amina's words. "I understand."

Solveig too, thought it best to take her leave, something was gnawing at her, a feeling to go and seek out Kysar. She wasn't sure if he would be happy to see her, after all, they'd spent a very icy ride back from the Citadel earlier. It just seemed the right thing to do. On her way past, another fleeting feeling had her reach out and place a hand on Zenn's shoulder. She gave him a reassuring squeeze - pausing as if to say something, but the words didn't come. Sol wondered if Kysar would be making his way to Janiri. She also wanted to see the young Asari, and Katya too.

As Sol placed her hand on Zenn’s shoulder, he looked up to her, then simply let out a sigh and nodded. She was right. There was no point dwelling on the subject. Janiri had been brought back safely and that’s what was important. For now he still needed to talk to her and Kysar, which meant he needed to follow the turian. As she started to leave, he quickly grabbed her arm.

“Wait.” Zenn said and immediately released his grip. “If you’re going to find Kysar, I’ll come with you.”

He looked back at Amina and Zenobia. “I know Sol already said it, but truly, thank you both for going with Nadara. I’m glad she didn’t have to do that alone.” He said before following behind Sol.

Kysar hobbled his way through the doors of the med-bay, heading straight for Janiri and Katya's room. Spotting a nurse making her rounds through the hallway, the Turian stopped to ask about the Asari.

"Excuse me?" He said in his politest tone. The human looked up from her flip chart at the Turian and her eyes narrowed. Stepping back with one foot, her arms tightly folded over one another.

"Mhmm?"

No doubt the woman had heard of Kysar lifting one of her colleagues up in a fit of rage earlier. The Turian felt as if someone yanked a cord tied to his heart. He deserved this and more.

"I... er... am here to see Janiri. I was hoping- I mean- do you have an update on her condition?"

The nurses eyes lightly fluttered shut as the woman sighed. ”No Mr. Proctus, I am not assigned to our Asari friend. I can, however, fetch the doctor."

"Yes." His voice croaked. "Yes please." The nurse turned, heading off down a corridor. "Oh and Katya's too... please." He called, hoping the nurse wouldn't ignore him.

Reaching their room, the Turian stood in the hallway, leaning up on the viewing window. With his forehead was pressed against his forearm, Kysar let out a long sigh. Maybe Nadara wasn't lying? He looked over Janiri with a keen eye but she appeared just as she had before. Perhaps the medical team had bathed her before returning the Asari to her bed. This time anyway. Kysar shrugged.

The walk to the med bay had been mostly silent, Solveig leading the way and Zenn following her. Just as she thought, they did see Kysar outside of the room, staring in from the window. Perhaps he was too afraid to go inside. She slowed down slightly as she approached so as not to startle him. Even in heavy boots, her steps were near silent. She stopped in the doorway for a moment, before turning to look at him.

Solveig then walked through, Katya was closest to the window, and she moved to her side - Sol lifted Katya's hand from it's still position, holding it gently in her own before placing a small kiss on the back of it. "Hello cousin." Solveig said with a rare, and very brief smile before taking a seat and once more glancing at Kysar and Zenn, waving a hand to invite them in.

The Turian had felt a chill down his spine as the two approached. Why were they here? To spread the good news of Nadara? He wasn't interested in that right now.

Surprisingly, Sol said nothing, just walking past and into the room. Watching her in his peripherals, Kysar's eyes followed her as she entered the room. His head cocked to the side as she approached Katya. He'd never seen the woman be so... human. So soft and gentle, warm even. Following her gesture to enter, the Turian saddled up beside her.

"Cousin, aye? Hey Zenn, I thought I saw a Quarian woman roaming around earlier, is she your sister?" Kysar coughed, masking a laugh that had escaped. He'd almost forgotten about their situation. Moving forward, the Turian approached Janiri, standing over her but not daring to touch as Sol had.

Zenn initially stepped into the room when Sol gestured for them to join, but stopped after watching the two of them with Katya and Janiri. These were their teammates; even family in Sol's case. It wouldn't feel right being at their bedside when he hardly knew them, but he still wanted to be there for support if his friends needed him. He decided instead to stay back near the entrance and give them plenty of space.

"Yes," Sol clarified with a raised brow. "My father's brother's son... He is Katya's husband." Did the man not believe her? She sat up straight in her chair, propping an elbow on the table to the side.

Zenn was standing in the back, Sol wasn't sure if he felt too nervous to come closer, or if he just didn't want to be there. "Please, you should sit," Sol motioned to a chair closer to the two patients. "You did help to save them.

“You know," Sol began again turning to Kysar who was watching over Janiri, "they say they can hear you if you talk to them." She then sank back down into her chair, fidgeting slightly.

Standing over Janiri the Turian pondered, wondering what he could possibly say to her. Maybe good job for saving Nadara's mother? How unlike her and yet like her, her dramatic rise from her coma was? Possibly that he was just happy that she was back?

"Ugh." Kysar grumbled, scrunching his face in frustration. "She wouldn't want to hear anything from someone like me anyway." Moving away from the Asari, he took a seat in an empty chair nearby.

Sol seemed very insistent that Zenn be by their side, but he was still very hesitant. Until Kysar started speaking ill of himself. Zenn took a half step, paused, then finally walked forward and grabbed the chair Sol had motioned for. He placed it in front of Kysar, then sat down staring straight at the turian.

"You mean someone Willing to risk his life for others?" Zenn said quoting what Kysar had said about him on the ship. "Someone ready to fight for the people close to him or come to the defense of anyone in need of help? Because that's who you are Kysar. And if I was in Janiri's place, hearing anything from you would put me at ease. Because I know you're looking out for me." Zenn reached out and placed his hand on Kysar's shoulder.

"For all of us."

"I-" Kysar's voice croaked, breaking under the pressure of it all. The Turian looked down to the floor as his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry Zenn, for er.. for what happened on the ship."

With his eyes still firmly glued to the floor, Kysar’s head turned Sol's way. "You too, I'm sorry for everything. I just..." Kysar felt his fists ball tightly together, constricting themselves, mimicking the feeling in his chest. "I just couldn't let you do it Zenn."

The Turian turned back to his friend, still unable to look him in the eye. "Those things you say, they're not true. It's... it's why I did it, why I killed Nemin. I couldn't let you become like me."

How can you induce a coma, and quickly? Sol thought as she felt the mood in the room shift. She was unsure if they were expecting a response. She was sinking lower into the chair until she realized that the fabric of her pants was making an obnoxious squeaking sound as it resisted the similar fabric of the chair.

"I- uhhh," she had no thoughts, just a slight redness on her cheeks from the nerves. She sighed. "Kysar you- you're... You're not someone to not... want to be like, or I-" she fumbled her way through trying to say something nice until she simply gave up. Why did you have to butt in like that? Leave them to it. She hoped someone would take over.

Zenn grinned behind his mask as Sol spoke, attempting to help him comfort their friend. When she fumbled, Zenn was quick to pick up for her. "I think what Sol is trying to say is that you are someone we'd want to be like."

"I don't know who you were or what you did before SRN, but none of that matters. All of us have done bad things. Things we regret…" It was Zenn's turn to look away from Kysar as he talked. His voice became shaky, and his arm trembled but remained on his friend's shoulder. "What happened with Nemin… It wouldn't have been the first time I killed someone like that… But it was the first time anyone has tried to stop me. And you were right to. Both of you… I'm sorry for how I reacted back there…"

Zenn shook his head quickly and looked back up at Kysar. He was getting off topic. He could apologize later. Right now he needed to focus on Kysar. "Look since we met you, you have gone out of your way to protect us. Stick up for us. Hell you stayed with us in that ship and fought tooth and nail for those quarians even though you had nothing to gain! Sure, your anger has gotten the better of you at times. You've made mistakes. But you're learning to control it. You're trying to be better. That's an example the galaxy could learn from."

Kysar cleared his throat. What Zenn was saying, it was nice but he didn’t believe him. A few good deeds couldn’t make up for a lifetime of horrible crimes, could it?

“I.. erm.. fuck.” The Turian muttered, shifting in his chair uncomfortably. “Spirits, I could use a drink right about now.”

Sol had been listening to Zenn, just watching him talk; noting how easily words of encouragement came to him. She admired that, and she didn't realise she had been staring across at him until Kysar spoke up. She blinked and moved back into her chair, giving the cupboard next to Katya's bed a kick until it opened up. She reached in, to the secret spot in the back, and pulled out a bottle of vodka she'd hidden in there for her visits.

"Skål...?" Sol said sheepishly with a slight smile holding the bottle out.

Zenn gave Kysar a firm pat on the shoulder before finally letting go. Kysar was clearly struggling with all this, but that was okay. Hopefully he would realize he was becoming a better person, but that would take time. For now, drinks sounded amazing.

"Then let's go get some. I believe you promised to buy the first-" Zenn was stopped mid sentence by the sound of Sol kicking a cupboard near Katya. He watched as she reached in and produced a bottle of vodka.

"Or Solveig can have us covered!" Zenn said a bit surprised.

"Russian medicine." Sol said quickly, with another shrug.

Kysar smiled, a mild grin but a smile nonetheless.

Standing, the Turian went out into the hall to a water cooler he’d seen earlier. Grabbing three plastic cups, he went back inside and shared them among the others. Gently, he took the bottle from Sol and poured out three shots.
“As I understand, there’s a human custom where you touch the cups together before drinking, is that right Awks?”

"That's correct," Solveig answered as she took her own cup. "And we say cheers - or, well, in my country we say skål."

"Well if that's how you do it, then skål it is!" Zenn said as he took his cup. "Uh. You didn't happen to see any straws out there, did you? Actually, never mind. I think I can make it work."

“You should really carry a straw around with you, how do you usually hydrate yourself?” Kysar asked as he put his cup in the middle of the three of them.
“And Awks,” he continued, turning to the woman. “Why do you touch cups to the head bone? It’s not even your strongest one.”

Solveig narrowed her eyes for a moment, trying to deduce what Kysar meant. Oh no, and strangely, she couldn't help but chuckle. She would have the opportunity this time. "Because of this," she then reached forward to touch her cup to theirs one at a time, and then, she touched her forehead with it "skål!" She said, before downing the shot - hiding a tiny smirk behind the cup.

Humans. Kysar thought, shaking his head. Even though the Turian had spent the better part of a decade in prison with them, he'd still could never understand their strange traditions and sayings. Shrugging, Kysar followed Sol's direction, touching his cup to theirs before bumping it on his forehead. "Skull!" The liquid burned his throat as he downed the shot.

"Phew," Kysar said, clearing his throat. "Not bad at all."

Zenn did not question it. He was just happy things seemed to be patched up between everyone. He followed Sol's instructions, touching his cup to each of theirs, then the top of his helmet and saying, "Skål!" before waterfalling the drink.

As the drink splashed down Zenn's throat, he started coughing and hacking, unprepared for how strong the alcohol was. After a few seconds, he was able to get his coughing under control. He took a few deep breaths, then held out his cup. "Another!"

“I sincerely hope the three of you are not intent on becoming intoxicated and causing a disturbance in this facility.”

Standing just inside the door was a Salarian in a sleek white medical uniform who had seemingly appeared from thin air. It was Doctor Bawrin Taua, head of medical staff and research and personal physician of Charles Saracino and other ranking SRN members. In her hands the Salarian female bore a sturdy tablet the size of a clipboard which she was apparently about to consult when entering to find Solveig, Kysar, and Zenn breaking out a drink. The green-skinned Salarian’s face was taut and her otherwise bulbous eyes narrowed at the site of three individuals in her wards drinking of all things.

"No ma'am," Solveig said immediately, straightening up as any soldier would in front of authority. She turned to face the Salarian, any traces of a smirk were erased. "Just a toast. Just the one." She placed her cup down on the table closest to Katya's bed, and kept her hands neatly at her side.

Bawrin’s dark orbs just seemed to disappear further beneath her emerald eyelids as she looked between the three. “You are here to visit the patients, obviously,” Bawrin stepped closer, “but that does not entitle intoxicative beverages within the intern of an official medical amenity. Now, if you have spent all the quality time needed with the patients I ask that you remove yourself unless you have any questions you wanted answered.”

"Er.. yes, Doctor." Kysar stood, leaving the empty cup on his chair as he did so. "We actually came in for an update on their condition, is there anything?"

The Turian's hands wrung together as he felt his chest tighten once more.

After another second of glaring Bawrin’s face almost immediately went from agitated and fuming to stoically businesslike as she glanced down at her data pad.

“The Asari patient is suffering from lasting brain damage, however overall she is in a stable condition.” Bawrin said mechanically, “She will be off her feet for some time. I would say a month or perhaps slightly less.”

“The human patient,” Bawrin continued, “is in a comparably less desirable state. She is comatose… but scans showed no severe damage to the brain or body. I have instructed the application of some new experimental de-indoctrination procedures given what the report I was given said about the patient when she was found in Cuba. I cannot give an estimate on recovery just yet.”

Startled by Bawrin, Zenn pulled his hand into his chest and crushed up his cup as if doing so would hide it. Once the subject had changed to the patient's condition, he slowly scooted backwards to allow Kysar and Sol to be in front of him.

"Brain damage?" Solveig asked, having listened to the Doctor speak.

"De-indoctrination?” She added, her body felt suddenly hot and cold all at once.

A horrible feeling she had been trying to keep squashed bubbled up to the surface. Guilt. Coiled up in her stomach like a snake, burning like venom.

All of her emotions caught up with her eventually.

Could it have been a different scenario if she hadn't been off planet? She looked down to the floor. It should be you in there. She has too much to lose, doesn't she? Husband... Children. You let this happen. It shouldn't have ever been her life at risk. None of the team should have been killed. You're her only family here... She was trying to help you find something and you left...

She has children.

Solveig couldn't focus with these feelings, the voice in her head growing louder.

Here she was, toasting and making jokes, when it should never have been Katya in the bed. Get your shit together. She felt her chest tighten with the shame, that same snake constricting her. Selfish. Even now you’re thinking of yourself.

Solveig closed her eyes, feeling the hand at her side start to tremble.

Kysar had spent a lifetime looking out for himself. Isolating himself as if he were a cancer in other people's lives, infecting those around him with nothing but terminal misery. As lonely as this life was, the one silver lining was that he never had any true attachments. To love, to care, to experience heart break were all feelings that had existed on the fringe of his world.

That changed with the war. By the end of it a seed had been planted, only growing as time a part of the SRN went on. Hell, even moments ago, Zenn had accused the Turian of caring, of protecting those around him.

And so, as he watched the life drain from Sol's face and her body begin to tremble, Kysar's heart broke. Not just for her but for their team mates lying in the bed. An overwhelming feeling of sadness drenched his body, washing away the happiness from moments ago. Like someone had taken his heart and torn it apart at the seams.

No. He thought, looking around at his team. I have to do something, I can't let everyone down. The Turian felt his fists tighten, a fire had been lit inside of him but not one of anger, no, it was one of warmth, of duty to his compatriots.

Kysar reached out, grabbing Sol's trembling hand. "Thank you Doctor, I'm sure your team is doing everything they can." The Turian squeezed his teammates hand, hoping to let her know he was there. "Please, I know we may not deserve it but if we can have some alone time with our comrades?"

“Why do you need such time?” Bawrin asked flatly. There was no malice nor challenge to her voice. The Salarians’ face was blank, save for a feint glimmer of irritation.

“I have work to be done and I need access to the patients now rather than later.”

Slowly, Solveig looked up and through the doctor, at some point beyond her. Squashing it all back down again with some deep breaths. The slight trace of tears in her waterline was overshadowed by the glazed appearance of her eyes, and a smile that wasn't hers crept across her face. "Of course," she said calmly.

"I think. I'll just... Take a walk." Solveig wriggled her hand free from Kysar's grip and made her way to the door at a languid pace.

Zenn watched as his friend’s heart was shattered in front of him. His brain was scrambling for words, something to try and ease her pain. He hoped Kysar taking her hand would have helped, but when it was clear they wouldn’t be allowed to stay, Sol quickly moved to escape. Her voice sounded calm, but her body language showed just how distraught she really was. This was too much for her. He needed to do something. He couldn’t let her just run away like that. But he also wasn’t about to force her to stay. That left one option. He looked over to Kysar, nodded, and immediately moved past the doctor without saying anything.

He quickly caught up to her, and matched her pace. He walked by her side to make sure she was aware of his presence. He wasn't here to sneak up on or startle her.

“Sol… I-" Zenn started and reached out to grab she shoulder, but his arm froze, lingering in the air before he ultimately decided to pull it back. "I just want you to know we’re here for you. If you need someone to talk to, something to break, or if you just want to sit in silence, just know you don’t have to do it alone.”

"Fucks sake Doc." Kysar said as he followed Zenn past the Salarian. "Learn to read a room!"

Catching up with Sol, the Turian took the other side of his teammate, following the Quarian's lead of walking beside her.

"Yeah, Sol I-" Kysar scratched the back of his head. Handling something this delicate was new to him. Better to follow Zenn on this one.

"Whatever you need, we're both here for you."

Solveig stopped, her eyes softening once she realised that she didn't know where she was going or what she was doing. The voices of Kysar and Zenn behind her bringing her back to reality. Nobody had ever done that before, she thought, and so the woman turned back around to face them. Finally, she nodded and exhaled a long, shaky sigh, waiting for a moment before speaking. "Not g-good at this. This isn't... I just… it's not what I do." She was clearly uncomfortable, her fingers tapped nervously against her leg. She lowered her head, letting her hair hide her face. "I find it... hard.” she admitted defeatedly.

There was a lot on her mind, more words in there - poetry that slipped through her bloodstream and became fire in her belly, but could never make it out. "Let's just... Sleep. Try again tomorrow."

Kysar shrugged. “I’m not any good with this shi-uh… stuff either.”

The Turian rubbed his chin and chuckled awkwardly. This is nothing like shooting fish in a hole. Unsure of what to do next, Kysar slowly reached out, retreating momentarily before deciding to commit. Placing his hand on Sol’s shoulder, he patted his friend, just as Zenn had done to him earlier. “Sleep sounds like a good idea. We’ve got the party tomorrow, maybe then we can have a drink and swap some war stories or whatever.”

Looking to Zenn the Turian shrugged again. Kysar hoped he’d be able to confirm whether this was a good idea or not. After all, the Quarian was the expert.

Sol seemed to be on the verge of tears and Kysar was now looking at him for guidance, but Zenn still didn't know what to say. There was really only one thing that would help him in this situation, but he wasn't sure if it would work for them...

Ah, screw it.

Carefully, Zenn reached his arms around his teammates and very gently pulled them in closer.

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Ban the User Above You

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