Chapter Text
Afterlife bar
“Another asari mead.” V’lana requested as she handed the turian bartender her glass, receiving in return a full goblet. Downing it in one gulp, she handed it back to the bartender, “Hit me with another and keep them coming until I say when or I pass out—whichever comes first.”
“Careful Lola…asari mead sneaks up on you and the last thing you want is to get sloshed here.”
“Carrying detox.” V’lana smirked, slurring her words slightly as she held up a hypo.
“Yeah.” James chuckled as he took the hypo and injected the subcommander with it, “But carrying it and knowing when to use it are two different things.”
The antidote clearing the alcohol out of her system, V’lana sighed, “Yeah. I know. It’s just…”
“You’re worried about Alenko.” Vega interrupted in a kind voice, “Yeah. I am too. Waiting’s a bitch, isn’t it?”
“It sure as hell is.” V’lana growled.
“Well…tell you what…” James suggested with a cockeyed grin on his face. “I managed to scare up a card game with some of Aria’s guards. Why don’t you join us? Better than drinking alone here.”
“You’re right.” V'lana replied with a sigh, “Lead on.”
“Here you go, Trexiks.” James exclaimed as handed the bartender his credit chit, paying the subcommander’s tab for her. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks, James.” The bartender replied, “Oh…tell your human friends not to go to the downstairs bar, Forvan’s tending bar tonight.”
“Thanks. I will.” Vega responded with a nod of his head, “Have a good shift Trex.”
“Take it light, Vega!”
Entrance to the VIP section of Afterlife
“Wait a moment, Commander.” Samara requested as she drew the biotic into an alleyway close to the entrance. “There are some things you need to be aware of. As you know, Morinth is a predator. She will be very cautious. You need to get her interested in you enough to contact you, while at the same time being careful not to repel her or scare her off.”
“How do I do that?” Kaidan inquired.
“When she finally decides to meet you, try to subtly steer her towards inviting you to her apartment. I will follow behind at a safe distance and when the time is right, spring the trap. Be careful, until I get there, you will be in great danger. She is planning to inflict great horrors on you and if you’re not on your guard, you’ll want her to.”
“How can I get her interested in me when I’m not even talking to her?”
“She’s attracted to courage or suicidal bravery.” Samara explained, “If you hurt someone defending yourself or someone else, she’ll be impressed. But, if you are the one picking the fight, she’ll lose interest. She likes it when someone shows skill in smoothly working through a nightclub crowd. You’ll attract her the moment she sees you. What you have to do is lure her into dropping her guard.”
“So say we’re talking and she’s interested…” Kaidan queried, “How do I get her to take me home with her. I get the feeling the direct approach won’t work.”
“It won’t.” Samara affirmed immediately. “She’s drawn towards those showing strength, directness, and vigor, but is turned off by displays of modesty, chivalry, or humility. She’s especially excited by violence. You’ve killed, Commander. She’ll like that."
“Okay.” Kaidan took a deep breath and exhaled, “I think we’ve covered everything. I guess it’s time to go in.”
“Do not worry, Commander.” Samara assured, “I will be with you and will not let you come to harm. Also, if you’re unsure about anything, come back here and talk to me. Remember, we only get one chance at this.”
“I won’t fuck it up.” Kaidan swore.
“I know.” Samara confidently replied, “Good luck.”
Coming up to the turian bouncer guarding the entrance, Kaidan declared after the guard asked him what he wanted, “I was told by someone that this place puts the rest of Afterlife to shame.”
“Your friend’s smart. Who was it?”
“Jaruut.”
“Go on in.” The bouncer replied as he opened the door, “A piece of friendly advice: You start a fight, we hurt you. If someone starts shit with you though, then you can kick their ass. Have a good time.”
Entering the bar, Kaidan noticed a man near the entranceway leaning against the wall. “Hey? You got a sec?”
“Sure.” Kaidan replied, “What do you want?”
“Do you know where I can get any tickets for Expel-10? They’re a sensory band. I heard this gorgeous asari say that this is her favorite band, so I’m hoping to get tickets…”
“So that she’ll go out with you?” Kaidan interrupted as he filed the information he’d just been given in his memory.
“Yeah.” The man enthusiastically replied, “But I gotta act quick. The band’s playing tomorrow and I don’t have any tickets.”
“Sorry, man.” Kaidan replied, shaking his head, “You’re out of luck, I don’t have any.”
“Well if you score some, let me know. There’s creds in it for you if you do.”
As he sauntered at a leisurely pace near the dance floor, Kaidan overheard a turian coming on strong to an asari dancer.
“Come on, baby…” the turian propositioned, “I can pay. I’m a good tipper too.”
“Stay away from me!” The dancer exclaimed in an irate tone.
“You playing hard to get?” The turian pressed, “Come on…give it up, baby. I’m sold. I got creds. We’ll go on back to my place. Don’t worry…I’m not into anything kinky if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Pushing the turian back, the asari snapped angrily, “Back the hell off asshole! I’m a dancer not a hooker. You looking to get laid—go up to the main level and leave me alone.”
“You got a mouth.” The turian lewdly remarked, “I can’t wait to see you use it.”
“That’s it.” Kaidan warned, interposing himself between the turian and the dancer. “She told you to back off. So, back the hell off—now!”
“What business is it of yours?” The turian retorted. “I’m just looking for a good time. Now get the hell out before I throw you out.”
As the turian approached him, Kaidan struck, punching him first in the gut and then a quick uppercut that knocked the brute on to the floor. Watching as his foe slowly got to his feet, the human allowed his biotics to momentarily flare as he pointed to the exit. “You can leave on your own two feet or I can throw you out. You’re choice.”
“I’m leaving…I’m leaving.” The turian said as he sulkily headed for the exit muttering under his breath, “Damn humans. Think they own everything.”
“Thanks for your help.” The asari said with a slight smile, “Security must be on break or something—again.”
Leaving with just a simple nod of his head, Kaidan continued his leisurely stroll until his attention was drawn by a man standing near some tables motioning for him to come over. “What is it?” The biotic asked in a flat tone of voice.
The man glanced nervously at the room, “I need help and don’t know who to ask. You’re human and you’re not high, so you’re it. Can you help me out here?”
“Depends on what you need.” Kaidan replied cautiously. “Slow down and tell me what the issue is and we’ll take it from there.”
“All right.” The man heaved a sigh, “Give me a moment. I just don’t know what to do here.”
“Take your time.”
“My friend, Moira, is a reporter. She’s doing a piece on Omega’s gangs and she’s been hanging out with Florit…”
“Who’s Florit?”
“Florit’s the leader of the Red Talons.” The man explained, “He’s one of the worst of them—although they’re all pretty bad.
“Risky business. This could end up very bad for her if she’s not careful.” Kaidan cautioned.
“You’re right.” The man confirmed as he glanced in the direction of a table where a man and woman were talking with each other. “That’s her. Florit’s made her. His gang’s on its way here and they’re going to mess her up—as a warning to anyone else. I have to get a message to her—fast.”
“You’ve got a lot of info on this.” Kaidan skeptically responded, “Wanna tell me how?”
“I’m her tech.” The man explained, “I’ve been monitoring the gang’s communication. The last transmission said that Florit’s gonna ice her.” His face reflecting his fear, the man pleaded, “I’m just a techie. I’m way outta my league here.”
“What do you want me to do?” Kaidan asked.
“We have a code.” The man explained, “All you have to do is go over and say two words. My friend will get the message and take off. Just say ‘terminal’ and ‘eternity’ in that order—it has to be in that order. Please tell me you can do that. If you don’t—she’s dead.”
“I can do that.” Kaidan responded with a nod of his head.
“Thank you!” The man answered back, relieved, “Thank you.”
Walking calmly and leisurely over to where Florit sat talking with his victim, Kaidan paused at their table.
“Something you need, man?” Florit challenged.
“Is there a public extranet terminal around here?” Kaidan asked, dropping the first code word.
“In a club?” Florit laughed, “Don’t you have an omnitool?”
“That is a pretty strange question.” Moira interjected, picking up immediately on the first code word.
“I get by on public terminals.” Kaidan replied as he dropped the second word, “My omnitool’s been broken for an eternity.”
At once picking up on the code sequence warning her of danger, Moira stood up, I gotta go pee, Florit.”
“Hurry back, Moira.” The gang leader responded, “I’m ready to head out.”
Continuing his sweep of the bar, Kaidan overheard a turian tough talking to his pal, “Good cred hunting tonight. We hit ‘em in an alley and as long as they’re not one of Aria’s people, we’re good.”
The other turian responded, “We got to get enough creds to get Hink off our backs.”
As Kaidan approached them, the first turian glowered at him, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to tell you to get the hell out.” Kaidan answered back in a gruff tone.
“We gotta pay the man.” The turian answered back, “We work for Hink. Get it? So…what do you think of us now…”
“How about I give you enough creds so that you can pay your boss. Then you leave and stay gone. No one gets hurt.”
“I can live with that.” The turian replied.
Unknown to the human biotic, and just as Samara had said, he was being observed as he worked his way through the club. Walking past an asari woman, she called out for him. “My name is Morinth. I’ve been watching you. You’re the most interesting person in this place. I’ve got a booth tucked away over here in the shadows. Come…sit with me.”
Afterlife—the guards’ breakroom
“Read ‘em and weep!” James cried out in victory as he laid down his full house and raked in the pot.
“Fuck you, Vega!” V’lana joked as she laid down her cards, “Two fucking pair.”
“Three of a kind.” Aria’s turian bodyguard, Grizz, growled as he set down his cards.
“Beats my pair of jacks.” Bray grumbled as he lit up a cigarette. Speaking to the sole female at the table, the batarian tough nodded his head, “You’re alright, Lola. Not like the Alliance humans who come here.”
“Hey!” James protested.
“You don’t count, Vega.” The batarian laughed. “You’re practically one of us.” Turning his gaze back on the lovely Romulan, Bray remarked, “Hell…so are you. You play poker…cuss…drink like a fish…helped out Aria a couple of times when she needed it—and don’t think she hasn’t noticed.”
“And I owe you big for the way you handled the Patriarch.” Grizz added as he guzzled down some turian ale from his bottle. “Nice and smooth. Got him to leave before those Blood Pack mercs arrived. Aria especially liked that. And we liked that there was no mess to clean up and no bodies to drag out.”
“Yeah.” Bray said as he shuffled the cards, “You and your people are welcome here anytime—even your humans. Just be sure they wear those uniforms.”
“Especially the women with their miniskirts.” Grizz chuckled. “But yeah, Bray’s right. Just tell any humans on your crew to wear their uniforms or something to mark them different from the local or Alliance humans and we’ll make sure that no one messes with them.”
“Aria also wanted me to tell you that she’s allowing you to post a small number of guards as a…what do you call it? Shore patrol?” Bray informed the subcommander and her human companion, “So long as one of our people are with them.”
“I’ve got no problem with that.” V’lana nodded her head, accepting the crime queen’s terms.
“Someone better clue Forvan in to leave Lola’s humans alone.” Grizz pointed out.
“I’ll make sure he gets the message.” Bray assured.
“Who’s Forvan?” V’lana inquired, “That’s the second time I heard that name mentioned. He got a problem with humans or something?”
“Yeah.” Bray answered back, nodding his head. “His brothers were stationed at a mining colony on Bekke when some humans led by a big dark-skinned human who used biotics.”
“Sounds like Jacob, Lola.” Vega muttered, “Might not be a bad idea to keep him away from here.”
“If he’s the one who led that attack.” Bray nodded his head in agreement, “Yeah. Best to keep him out. I don’t have a grudge against him, but Forvan and a bunch of other batarians do.”
“Okay.” V’lana nodded, scowling down at her cards as she drank her beer, “You said he led an attack on Bekke. What happened? Were his brothers killed in the attack?”
“Yeah.” Bray replied. “So Forvan now blames all humans and gets back at them by poisoning their drinks.”
“Don’t worry.” Grizz interjected assuring, “We’ll make sure he doesn’t do it to any of your people. They’ll be safe in Afterlife, the markets, and the docks.” The turian bodyguard further clarified, “Outside those areas though…we can’t guarantee anything.”
“Fair enough.” V’lana nodded her head as she grabbed a full bottle of beer and, opening it, took a good, hearty swig, “I’ll make sure my people understand and begin authorizing shore leave parties.”
“All right, Lola!” Vega exclaimed as he pushed his chips into the pot, “I’ve been wanting to bring Solana here for a drink and maybe a game with these lugs.”
“Great!” Bray responded with a big grin on his face, “Aria will be pleased. The bet is fifty credits. In or out?”