Mass Effect: The Complete Novels 4-Book Bundle (105 page)

“Where did they go?”

“Beats me … Now take a hike before I tell the guys on the roof to put a rocket into the pile of trash where your buddies are hiding.”

Hendel nodded. “Roger that … I like the teeth by the way. Nice touch.”

And with that Hendel turned his back on the Lightning and crossed the street. Anderson and Kahlee were waiting for him. “No luck I’m afraid,” Hendel said. “They don’t know where the biotics went.”

“Damn,” Anderson said. “We’re back to square one.”

“How about Gillian?” Kahlee inquired. “Maybe we should look for her at this point.”

“Sounds good,” Anderson allowed. “But
where
? There’s a price on her head. So she’ll be in hiding.”

There was a moment of silence before Hendel spoke. “I have an idea. Do the quarians have a presence on Omega? If so they would take her in if she requested sanctuary.”

“Brilliant!” Kahlee exclaimed. “They’re bound to have a facility here. And that’s exactly where she would go. Come on. Let’s find the quarians.”

The lights were dim and the air inside the warehouse was cool. Sounds had a tendency to echo off the walls as teams of bio-suit-clad quarians worked to move a pile of outward-bound cargo modules to the loading dock. Tar Vas Sootha’s office consisted of some movable partitions located in a corner of the cavernous room.

Tar was in charge of the warehouse and known for his no-nonsense style. Gillian was seated on the opposite side of his utilitarian metal desk and she was frightened. And for good reason. After going to the Afterlife in hopes of speaking with Aria T’Loak she had gotten into a fight and been forced to flee. Then,
having spent a night tossing and turning on her cot, she had been ordered to meet with Tar. And he wasted no time getting down to business. Gillian couldn’t see the expression on the quarian’s face but the extent of his displeasure was clear.

“Gillian Nar Idenna,” he said sternly, “to say that I am disappointed in you would be an understatement. You came seeking sanctuary. And based on your status as a crew member of the
Idenna
, plus your valor in defending that vessel from pirates, sanctuary was granted.

“So, how do you return that favor?” he demanded. “By entering the Afterlife and killing a number of Aria T’Loak’s guards. Video of your exploits came in via the news feed this morning. And T’Loak put a ten-thousand-credit price on your head.

“Do you know what that means? The lesser gangs, not to mention each and every street thug, will be out looking for you. Not only to score the reward but to earn favor with the Pirate Queen. And someone knows where you are. You can bet on that … So, if we allow you to stay they’ll come after
us
. And most of the people on Omega dislike our race already.”

“I’m sorry,” Gillian said contritely. “I really am. All I wanted to do was talk to T’Loak. But when I tried to do so her guards attacked me. I had to defend myself.”

“Which you did very well indeed,” Tar replied crossly. “Well, it isn’t for me to judge. And we have no interest in collecting the reward. But you can’t remain here. Trouble is bound to find you and we can’t afford it.”

“But where can I go?” Gillian inquired plaintively.

“You should have thought of that earlier,” Tar replied coldly. “Collect your belongings and get out. Your name will be struck from the
Idenna
’s list of crew members and you are no longer welcome in the fleet.”

Gillian rose, made her way to the area set aside for single females to sleep in and began to pack. Somehow, without meaning to do so, she had ruined everything. And she knew that Tar was right. Just about everyone would be gunning for her. And with no allies to depend upon her life expectancy could be counted in hours rather than years.

But she wouldn’t die easily … Whoever came after her would be forced to pay a price. The thought was accompanied by a sense of grim determination as Gillian made her way to the door. Eyes were upon her. She could feel them. And Nar would be informed the moment she left.

The door opened, Gillian squinted as the artificial daylight hit her eyes, and the incessant roar of life on Omega assailed her ears. Her heart was racing and she was beginning to feel the effects of the adrenaline that was entering her bloodstream as she walked away. The voice came from her left. “Miss … I don’t know your name. But I know who you are … And I want to help.”

Gillian whirled, hands raised, and ready for combat. There was no need. A woman with dark hair was standing with hands held away from her sides. “My name is Cory Kim. I’m a member of the Biotic Underground. Nick Donahue told me to say ‘Hi.’ He’d like to see you.”

“Nick? Really?”

“Yes, really. We know about the fight at the Afterlife. Everybody does. And we’d like you to join our organization.”

“How did you find me?” Gillian demanded suspiciously.

“That was easier than you might think,” the other woman responded. “Aria T’Loak is offering ten thousand for you. Dead or alive. We offered fifteen thousand but only if you were alive. A street vendor saw you enter the warehouse last night.”

“You have that kind of money?”

“Yes, we do,” Kim replied cheerfully. “We withdrew it from T’Loak’s private bank! And she came after us. But we’re still around. Here, put this stuff on, and keep the hood up. Nobody will recognize you that way. And we need to lose your tail. He’s watching from a passageway on the other side of the street. No, don’t look. Let him think we’re in the dark. That will help us give him the slip.”

“A bounty hunter?” Gillian inquired as she pulled the lightweight robe on over her clothes.

“No,” Kim replied. “Kai Leng and I spent time in an Alliance prison camp together. Cerberus got us out. He stayed in the organization; I left it.”

Gillian felt a sudden flood of hope.
Cerberus!
Here was a possible link … But she would have to be careful. Mistakes had been made the night before. Stupid mistakes. And she didn’t want to repeat them. “Do you know where this Leng person lives?” Gillian inquired, as she pulled a pair of goggles over her eyes.

Kim frowned. “One of our people will follow him. Why?”

“Oh, nothing,” Gillian replied. “Thank you, Cory. Please lead the way.”

Kai Leng had been watching the quarian warehouse from the other side of the street for hours and had nothing to show for the effort. He was still upset with himself for missing the kill the night before. The way Gillian Grayson had come charging out of the club caught him by surprise, but he was supposed to be better than that.

As a self-imposed punishment for the failure Leng resolved to wait outside the warehouse until his target emerged, even if that took a full day. But he was tired, hungry, and his resolve was beginning to fade.

Suddenly Leng’s pulse quickened as the door to the warehouse opened and a human female emerged. Was it Gillian? Leng brought the sniper rifle up for a quick look and, as the crosshairs floated over the woman’s face, he saw that yes, his target was right there in front of him. Should he take the shot? And risk return fire from the quarian guards? Or follow Gillian until she was well clear of the warehouse?

Then, before a decision could be made, a
second
female stepped in to block his shot. Leng swore, then swore again, as the shock of recognition registered on his brain. Because he
knew
the second woman. Or had during the time both of them were confined to an Alliance prison. She was a biotic named Cory Kim, and more than that, an ex-lover. But that was ancient history. What was she doing on Omega? And why was she talking to Gillian?

Leng was still trying to come up with a plausible hypothesis when both women walked away. His first
impulse was to follow. But what if Cory had backup? A person or persons assigned to watch her six? Anything was possible. So Leng forced himself to take thirty seconds and scan the area around him for anyone or anything that looked suspicious. Not an easy task on Omega where just about everyone could constitute a threat. But the effort was fruitless.

It would have been nice to take more time, but if he did there was a good chance that Cory and Gillian would lose themselves in the crowd. And judging from the pack on the teenager’s back she wasn’t planning to return. So Leng collapsed the rifle, slung it across his back, and took up the chase. The key was to stay back, but not
too
far back, lest he lose the women to a sudden twist or turn.

There was plenty of foot traffic, which worked in his favor part of the time, but also made it difficult to see, thereby keeping Leng on edge. Although they were mostly healed his wounds were still painful at times. Fortunately neither of the females seemed to be concerned about the possibility of a tail, and never took the time to glance back over their shoulders.

Such were Leng’s thoughts as a group of ten or fifteen youngsters surged out of a side passageway in front of him. They were chasing another teen, or so it appeared, as they shouted incomprehensible gobbledygook and their quarry led them in a circle. Then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the youngsters were gone. And as Leng looked up the street he realized that the two women had disappeared as well. Was that a coincidence? Or had he just witnessed some street theater staged for his benefit? There was no way to know.

Leng sighed. He would go back to the safe house, get some rest, and visit the Beggar King in the morning. Having located Gillian once he was confident he could do so again—if a bounty hunter didn’t find her first. The possibility of that brought a smile to his face and made him feel better. Positive thinking. That was the key.

It was late afternoon by the time Anderson, Kahlee, and Hendel arrived at the quarian warehouse. The trip had taken longer than any of them would have preferred because there weren’t any addresses on Omega, some of the streets were blocked off, and others led to dead ends. All of which made for a very frustrating and time-consuming journey.

Finally, having arrived in front of the warehouse, Hendel went forward to seek admission. A guard listened to his request and chose to enter the building rather than radio the request to her superior. A sure sign that she thought the matter was sensitive and didn’t want Hendel to hear her end of the conversation. The quarian returned five minutes later. Her voice was neutral. “Follow me, please.”

“Can my friends come as well?”

“Yes.”

Hendel, Anderson, and Kahlee followed the slim, slightly built female into the dimly lit building and over to an informal office where a second quarian rose to greet them. “Welcome,” he said. “My name is Tar Vas Sootha. I’m in charge here … I understand you have some questions regarding Gillian Nar Idenna. Please sit down.”

Hendel had given his name to the guard but reintroduced
himself and his companions. Tar nodded. “You are listed in our records as Hendel Vas Idenna. And you are considered to be an honored member of the ship
Idenna
. Were it not so I would have refused to meet with you.”

“Thank you,” Hendel replied. “As I told the guard, we are looking for Gillian Nar Idenna. She came to Omega on her own—and might have sought sanctuary here.”

“She did,” Tar said gravely. “And we were happy to have Gillian here until she entered the Afterlife club and got into a fight with Aria T’Loak’s bodyguards. Are you aware of that?”

“Yes,” Hendel said soberly. “We are.”

“Then you know that Gillian killed a number of people, fled the premises, and that T’Loak put a ten-thousand-credit bounty on her head.”

“That’s very regrettable,” Hendel allowed, “but I
know
this girl. If she killed people it was in self-defense. Is she here? We’d like to speak with her.”

“No,” Tar replied. “She isn’t.
You
say she acted in self-defense. And that’s what Gillian claims. But what else would she say? T’Loak’s spokesperson called the attack ‘unprovoked.’ And we have no way to know what the truth of the matter is. But having lived and worked among us you know that many people despise our race—and that makes our presence here on Omega rather tenuous. So Gillian was asked to leave.”

Hendel jumped up out of his chair and drew his pistol. It was aimed at Tar’s head. “You rotten bastard! You knew there was a price on Gillian’s head and you put her on the street. Not because she had
done anything to you but in order to kiss up to T’Loak and the rest of the scum on this worthless pus ball. I should blow your frigging head off!”

“Hendel,” Kahlee said, as she rose to intervene. “Please put the gun away. Killing him won’t solve anything.
Please
 … What’s done is done. We’ll find her.”

Slowly, incrementally, Hendel allowed Kahlee to push his gun arm down. And a good thing too … because two heavily armed quarians had arrived by then—having been summoned by a means unknown. “You’d better hope that Gillian survives,” Hendel said, as he holstered the pistol. “Because if she doesn’t I’m going to come for
you
.”

“Show them out,” Tar said coldly. “And inform the guards. If any of these people show up again, shoot them.” The meeting was over.

It was evening, Afterlife was starting to fill up, and T’Loak was in a bad mood. And for good reason. Though superficial in nature, residual issues related to the bank robbery and the rampage the night before had taken up time and energy that would have been better spent on other things. Such were the crime lord’s thoughts as Immo entered the U-shaped enclosure reserved for her on the second floor and waited for the asari to acknowledge his presence. Aria was well aware that Immo had thrown himself at the deranged biotic the night before and knew that kind of loyalty was hard to come by. She forced a smile. “Yes, Tann. What’s up?”

“Some customers would like to speak with you.”

T’Loak raised an eyebrow. “None of them are crazy biotics I trust?”

It was a joke but Immo wasn’t known for his sense of humor. “No, ma’am. One of them is a human named David Anderson. The other is a female named Kahlee Sanders.”

T’Loak knew both individuals fairly well, having held them prisoner on Omega during the widespread search for Paul Grayson. She had been acting on behalf of the Illusive Man at the time, as well as herself, on the theory that Grayson was responsible for Liselle’s death.