Mass effect, p.102
Mass Effect, page 102
“I owe Cerberus,” Leng replied. “We both do. If it wasn’t for Cerberus we’d be in Hell’s Half Acre. Or dead.”
“Cerberus is using you,” Kim replied. “You don’t seem to care but I did. There are limits to what one should do for a cause. Even a good one.”
“So you joined the Biotic Underground. And now you’re in the kidnapping business.”
“I tried all sorts of things after I left Cerberus. The Biotic Underground being the latest. And we’re not in the kidnapping business. We need money, that’s all … Biotics are naturally superior. We’re more intelligent thanks to the way our brains are put together, more resilient because of the dangers we have to overcome before we’re born, so when we’re in charge things will improve.”
“For who?” Leng demanded. “For you? For humanity? Or for your leaders?”
“For everyone,” Kim said stubbornly. “For all races.”
Leng shrugged. “Maybe that’s the problem, hon … Maybe we should have been focused on ourselves. We had something special—and seeing you reminds me of that.”
Kim smiled as they arrived at the other side of the cavern and made the turn. “Are you trying to sweettalk me, Kai? If so, it won’t work.”
“No,” Leng lied. “I’m thinking about my life, that’s all. Thinking about what is—and what could have been.”
There was a long moment of silence as they walked side by side. Kim was the first to speak. “Get over it Kai. What’s gone is gone.”
The words were harsh, but Leng thought he could detect a wistful tone in her voice. He wasn’t free. Not by a long shot. But the first step had been taken.
FOURTEEN
ON OMEGA
The conference room consisted of a cavern located just off the main floor. And while Mythra Zon took her seat at the table the conversation stopped. Zon smiled as she looked from face to face. “Most of us are here for a change. That’s good because we have plenty to talk about starting with T’Loak’s efforts to locate us. Arrius? What can you tell us?”
Arrius Sallus was in charge of security. An important responsibility to begin with and one made even more so by the fact that the Pirate Queen was eager to find the organization and destroy it. “Well,” Sallus responded, “T’Loak is offering a reward of five thousand credits to anyone who can provide her with information regarding our location.”
Ocosta Lem frowned. “That’s a real concern. Someone is bound to notice our movements and turn us in.”
“True,” Sallus replied. “Which is why I paid more than two dozen street people to submit bogus sightings. T’Loak’s operatives will have to check on each one and that will take time.”
“Well done,” Zon said. “The last thing I want to do is wind up in a cage right next to Tactus. I think we all know what’s going to happen to him once T’Loak has made her point.”
“Tactus is an idiot,” Rasna Vas Kathar put in sourly. “He should have prepared his people for a counterattack. Instead he just sat there counting T’Loak’s money and drinking beer.”
“But he was a useful idiot,” Sallus countered. “Thanks to his stupidity T’Loak focused all of her attention on him. And we gained more time.”
“That’s true,” Zon allowed. “But the clock is ticking. We’ll have to pull out and do it soon. And when I say ‘pull out’ I mean leave Omega for a safer location. Who knows? Once we destroy Cerberus it might be time to tackle the Citadel.”
“If we destroy Cerberus,” Kathar put in doubtfully. “I’ve been thinking about the plan and I’m starting to have some doubts. If T’Loak can chase us off Omega, what makes us think we can destroy Cerberus?”
“Maybe we’ll fail,” Zon responded. “But it’s worth a try. The plan Gillian put forward is so audacious it might work. Where is Gillian anyway? I thought she was going to join us.”
Kathar chose his words carefully. The truth was that he didn’t trust Gillian, although he wasn’t sure why. Plus, he feared that her rising star might eclipse his own. “That was my hope,” he lied. “But with T’Loak on the hunt I thought it would be best to put both Gillian and Nick on the front entrance.”
Sallus frowned, opened his mouth as if about to object, and closed it again.
“Okay,” Zon responded, “but I think the plan is sound. We have Leng, and judging from the Illusive Man’s initial response, Cerberus wants him back. So all we have to do is get the Illusive Man to deliver the ransom and then kill him.”
Zon made it sound simple. But Kathar wasn’t buying it. Not for a moment. He couldn’t say that however. “Yes, well, how are negotiations going?”
Ocosta Lem was in charge of the process and the salarian cleared his throat. “The Illusive Man refused our initial demand—and offered five million instead.”
“That’s to be expected,” Zon said mildly. “The most important thing is bring the Illusive Man to Omega.”
“Yes,” Lem acknowledged. “Although it would behoove us to keep the amount as high as possible in hopes that we’ll be able to kill the Illusive Man and keep the money.”
Sallus grinned. “I like the way you think.”
“So we countered at seven five,” Lem said. “And we’re waiting for a response.”
“The Illusive Man will go for it,” Zon predicted. “He wants Leng back.”
“Speaking of Leng,” Kathar said, “was it wise to place Kim in charge of monitoring him? They have a prior relationship you know.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that,” Sallus said pointedly. “Cory and I spoke about it. She assures me that they were acquaintances. Nothing more.”
Kathar could tell that Sallus was still annoyed regarding his decision to put Gillian and Nick on guard duty. So rather than aggravate Sallus further he chose to back down. “Good. There’s nothing to worry about then.”
Zon was aware of the tension between her subordinates and sought to placate them. “There are dangers. But we know what they are … And we’re prepared to deal with them. Thank you, everyone. This meeting is adjourned.”
Anderson was dreaming. It was a nice dream, or would have been except for the klaxon that was bleating. Then a hand touched his arm and he awoke. “David,” Kahlee said. “David … Pick up the handset. It could be important.”
The comm was located on his side of the bed so Anderson fumbled for the receiver and brought it to his ear. Maybe Gillian was calling. Or someone who knew where Gillian was. “This is David Anderson.”
There was a pause followed by a brief burst of static. “Admiral Anderson? Dor Hana here.”
Anderson struggled to sit up. Hana! He felt a sudden wave of guilt. He was being paid to gather information about whoever had absconded with Paul Grayson’s body and possible connections to the Reapers. But he’d spent all of his time looking for Gillian and Nick. He cleared his throat. “Good evening, sir. Or good morning as the case may be.”
“I hope I didn’t wake you,” Hana said. “But I had a moment, and thought this would be an excellent time to check in. How is the investigation going? Have you been able to gather any information regarding the Reapers?”
Alarm bells went off in Anderson’s head. But why? As the representative of a Council member Hana had every right to inquire about Anderson’s progress. And, more than that, Anderson wanted the Council to take an active interest in the Reapers. But he couldn’t shake the vague suspicions that haunted the back of his mind. Not that it mattered because he had nothing to report. “I’m sorry, sir … But no. I keep running into dead ends.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Hana replied. “But it’s a difficult task and like all difficult tasks it’s going to take time.”
Was Hana being nice? Or was he relieved to hear that Anderson hadn’t learned anything? It was impossible to tell. “Yes, sir. I can report that we have made some progress where Gillian Grayson and Nick Donahue are concerned and hope to locate them soon.”
“Good,” Hana said. “Keep me informed.” The call came to an end a few seconds later.
“What was that about?” Kahlee wanted to know.
“That,” Anderson said, “is a very good question. I wish I knew the answer.”
Hendel was tired. And for good reason. The Biotic Amp and Supply Laboratory was open around the clock. So, having assigned himself the task of monitoring it, it was necessary to go without sleep for as long as he could. The theory was simple. Being a biotic himself, Hendel knew that amps require occasional maintenance. And since everyone agreed that the BA&S lab was the best on Omega, every biotic who could afford to go there would at some point. And that included Gillian Grayson and Nick Donahue. The problem being when. It might be days, weeks, or even months before one of the youngsters made an appearance. But Hendel had nothing better to do and, according to his reasoning, some effort was better than none.
“The hide,” as he thought of it, consisted of a badly damaged delivery vehicle located across the street from the lab. It had been home to one of the city’s beggars before Hendel threw him out and moved in. Then, after making appropriate arrangements with certain locals, he settled in. That was when? A day and a half earlier? Something like that. Although it could have been more given the way he smelled.
Gradually, bit by bit, the light level outside the truck increased slightly, signaling the start of a new artificial day. There hadn’t been much foot traffic in or out of the lab during the night, but things were starting to pick up as members of the day shift arrived. Hendel had been watching long enough to recognize many of the employees and give them nicknames like “Stick Figure,” “Four Eyes,” and “Fatso.” The problem was keeping his eyes open as he stared through the spotting scope that was set up in the back of the van’s cargo compartment.
So Hendel welcomed the knocks that signaled the arrival of some much needed caf and his breakfast. He placed a hand on his pistol, said “Come,” and watched as one of two back doors swung open. The street urchin’s name was Cora and he was paying her to buy what he thought of as his rations and deliver them at regular intervals. Cora had lots of tangled hair, dark skin, and luminous brown eyes. “Do you like pancakes?” the little girl inquired, as she pushed a steaming carton into the truck. “I like pancakes.”
“Then we’ll share,” Hendel said kindly. “Please close the door behind you.”
Once Cora was inside, and the morning’s feast was spread out on the floor, Hendel had no choice but to turn away from the scope in order to eat. Cora was hungry, and she was a chatterbox as well, which meant that she had a tendency to talk with her mouth full.
But that was okay with Hendel, since he had very little to say, especially to a seven-year-old street urchin. So he drank caf and listened patiently as Cora stuffed food into her mouth and told him all about her plans to grow up and be just like Aria T’Loak.
In between bites of food Hendel peered through the scope as people came and went. He was finishing his half of the sausage-filled pancakes when a large truck pulled up in front of the lab and stopped. Hendel swore as the driver got out, made his way to the back, and began to unload boxes. Due to the way the vehicle was positioned Hendel couldn’t see the front of the building. And that meant people could come and go unobserved.
Fortunately it wasn’t long before one of the lab’s employees came out to collect the boxes, which freed the truck driver to move on. And it was then, as the vehicle pulled away, that Nick Donahue appeared. He’d been inside the building. For how long wasn’t clear. A red jacket was draped over his shoulders, but was open in front, and Hendel could see the white bandages that ran diagonally across his chest.
The youngster looked taller than Hendel remembered him, and he was armed with two pistols. And there, at his side, was a pleasant-looking young woman with brown hair. And judging from the way she clung to him they were more than friends. Nick, the formerly awkward teenager, with a girlfriend? It was hard to believe.
The girl said something into Nick’s ear and Hendel saw him nod. Then they turned away. Hendel knew he had only seconds in which to exit the wreck and catch up with them before the twosome disappeared into the surrounding maze. He left the scope where it was, grabbed the shotgun, and gave fifty credits to Cora. “Thanks, hon, and here’s a piece of advice. Don’t model yourself on Aria T’Loak. She isn’t very nice.” Then he threw the back door open and hit the pavement.
There were people on the street by then. Lots of them. And some looked annoyed as Hendel plowed through the crowd and shouldered pedestrians out of the way. Then, about ten seconds later he spotted the couple, strolling arm in arm up the street.
Hendel wanted to dash forward, grab Nick, and shake some sense into him. But that would be a mistake and he knew it. Nick might spill his guts regarding Gillian and the Biotic Underground and he might not. So the smart thing to do was to follow the boy home and decide what to do at that point. But, having completed whatever errand had taken them to the lab, it soon became clear that Nick and his girlfriend were in no hurry. They walked a long way, and wandered in and out of a dozen shops, before eventually hailing a pedicab.
That forced Hendel to jog for a while, worried lest they look back and spot him, before hiring a conveyance of his own. It was a cart hitched to a rough-looking turian. “See that cab?” Hendel demanded. “Follow it. But stay back.”
If the ruffian between the traces was surprised by the order he gave no sign of it as he pulled Hendel through a maze of interconnecting streets. The ride continued for a good ten minutes before Hendel rounded a curve and saw the couple standing on a corner. Their cab was pulling away and had clearly been paid off.
“Keep going,” Hendel instructed. “Pass them, turn into the next side street, and stop.”
As Hendel passed the twosome he saw that Nick was taking a long careful look around as if to spot any sort of tail. The teenager’s eyes swept across the cart and the man he had seen every day for years. But he failed to see past the beard, the scruffy clothing, and the situation. Nick didn’t expect to see Hendel on Omega so he didn’t.
Two minutes later Hendel was off the cart, on the street, and walking well back of the couple as they entered a narrow lane. A steep hill rose to the left of it and there was a shantytown on the right. It was lined by one- and two-story structures. Scruffy-looking people sat in front of many of them, eyeing passersby the way predators do, looking for any sign of weakness.
The debris-littered street turned gradually, so even though Hendel wanted to maintain eye contact, he was forced to hang back or risk being spotted. And that was how they lost him.
As Hendel rounded a curve he looked ahead fully expecting to see the couple in front of him. But they had disappeared. There was a door, however. A steel door that was set into the hillside and was partially open to allow a sleek gyrocycle to exit. The mechanically stabilized vehicle roared loudly and generated a cloud of dust as it sped away. A couple of guards, both of whom were wearing armor, stood watching as the gate closed. Were Nick and his companion inside? Yes, Hendel felt certain that they were, especially since the only other possibility was the shantytown off to the right.
Hendel was careful not to look around, or even glance at the guards, as he walked past. It would be a mistake to show how interested he was. But Hendel could think about the discovery and he did. You may be wearing two guns, the ex-security officer thought to himself, and you may have a girlfriend. But you’re still a pimply faced troublemaker and your ass is mine. Have a nice day, Nick. I’ll be back.
Kahlee and Anderson had been on Omega long enough to develop habits—one of which was to eat lunch at an upscale restaurant called Michele’s. And that’s where they were, comparing notes on a largely frustrating morning, when Hendel came barging in. He looked like a homeless person and was armed with a shotgun. So the restaurant’s security people hurried to intercept him. Hendel was complaining loudly, and threatening the batarians with bodily harm, when Anderson arrived. “It’s okay,” he said soothingly. “In spite of all appearances to the contrary he’s with us. Hendel, please stop threatening people. It makes the situation worse.”
It took some talking and ten credits each to convince the guards that they should return to their posts. Then, with a hand on Hendel’s shoulder, Anderson escorted the biotic over to the table where Kahlee was waiting. “Good grief,” she said disapprovingly. “Where have you been? We were worried about you. And you look terrible.”
“He smells even worse,” Anderson said, as the two men took their seats.
“Good morning to you too,” Hendel said grumpily. “I was about five kilometers from here, sitting in the back of a wrecked truck, watching a place called the Biotic Amp and Supply Lab.”
Kahlee frowned. “Why?”
“Because biotics go there.”
Kahlee’s eyes grew wider. “That was smart. Very smart. Did it work?”
“Yes,” Hendel said smugly. “It did. Nick Donahue showed up this morning with a girl on his arm.”
Anderson leaned forward. “And?”
“And they led me to what could be the Biotic Underground’s headquarters.”
“That’s huge,” Kahlee said. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go there.”
“Not so fast,” Hendel said. “The place is bound to be full of Level Three biotics all armed to the teeth. We wouldn’t stand a chance. Plus, if it’s there it’s behind a steel door inside a hill made out of solid rock.”
“Hendel’s right,” Anderson said gloomily. “We would need a small army to tackle a place like that.”
Kahlee broke the ensuing silence. “Right … So let’s ask someone who has a small army if we can borrow it.”
Anderson’s eyebrows rose. “Aria T’Loak?”
Kahlee smiled. “Of course. Who else?”
* * *
Kai Leng lay on his back, staring at the rocky ceiling and feeling sorry for himself. Where the hell was Cerberus? Surely the organization could have located the cavern by then. Assuming they wanted to. But the decision to invest the necessary time and effort would have to be made by the Illusive Man himself. Leng thought to himself, I put in more than ten years for Cerberus and they leave me to rot.
