"Overseeing the shipment. What's it to.." It was Torbin Williams. A cousin of Ashley. Azul thought about when he blew his head off his shoulders at the battle of the Citadel. The man was a bloody monster then. From the biotic strands, he was on his way to becoming one again real soon. "Is that you Lunastrider? Well, I'll be damned. What are you in the smuggling business now?"
"The hell? No, I am not even remotely close in that kind of business." Azul stared at the man. His biotic's already priming up. "Just a setback. However, it is already getting taken care of."
Galtea: Bass is back. As in his personality is resurfacing. His Get ability kicked in saving him. No wonder he was marked in the dangerous section. I have tried talking to him to no avail. He wishes to speak with you. It is strange about how much his brain patterns have changed. He has a copy of your mind. That part stuck. I have no idea what he is planning.
'Ughhh, alright then. Hope we get a refund for the stuff not taking hold.' Azul then looked at Torbin. "Your family know you are here? You know purchasing brain-altering chemicals that will cause the death of several humans?"
"What!?" Torbin said shocked. He turned to the Salarin's that accompanied him. "You said this will help them. Help us!" He pokes the next nearest smugglers. "You think I am gonna stand by and let you do this?!"
"Oh, you are going to stand in our way? How are you going to get your next dose? What about your next shoot up?" The Salarian pulled out a syringe. "Look here primo stuff." A blue-green mixture was in the solution. "You need your fix thats how you operate."
Azul looked at it. A precursor to the Reaper Virus. Get a bunch of humans hooked then give them the next version. Easy to do. Especially with the precursor giving a strong addictive quality. That and human's traveling everywhere more then other races.
The others kept alert. A blue wave started to shine around Torbin. Azul really didnt want to save the man. Not even remotely. The hesitation was strong. A part wanted him to let the man die. Druggies were scum to him plain and simple. With a sigh, he felt a twinge in his head.
'Help him.' the voice said. It was deep from his subconsciousness. It was his own voice at that. This one was unbelievably foreign to Azul. Now that he thought about it, all the others were gone. His Ki was absorbing them or something weird.
Bass: Are you just gonna let this filth do this to one of your own?
Galtea: Something weird is going on. Standby.
'You had my memories what the hell do you think?' Azul took a step back and the light faded. At the last minute, he threw up a biotic shield over Torbin. "Take em out." He said to the others. Something caused him to pull the man behind him. Just in time as a Salarian took a shot.
System: New missions available.
Mission: Do not kill all the smugglers. Rewards: ????,???
Mission: ????? Rewards: ????
Reaper Node: Expose someone to the virus then cleanse it. Rewards Vary.
"Pow," the shot tore into Azul's shoulder.
Health -12
"Ouch, that stings" Azul looked at the men with a frown. He used Shockwave next. "Hah," that blast pushed them back and away. Or the way he could see the other smugglers take firing positions. "Are we not gonna solve this peacefully?" The smugglers were already getting up. The strands didnt need to tell him anything. The others already ducked into cover as he moved forward. He activated his Adrenaline Rush as well as Biotic Charge. 'I am not exposing any of my people to that stuff.'
Bass: You can expose a smuggler. Or the junkie. Both are things you dont care for.
"Pow, pow," two more shoots went out. One hit against Riku's shields. The other Azul dodge and it hit Slipp in the shield as well. Looking back he saw Slipp looked actually angry. It was weird considering Turian's facial expressions were hard to read sometimes.
"Blasted Heavy Pistols!" Tifa said. She was about to move forward until she rubbed her chest and jumped into cover. She sent a message through telepathy hitting Azul. 'I cant focus. My Pather abilities have kicked up a notch and are messing with me. I can cover you if you take the brunt of it.'
'Can do. Just focus on navigating through it. I will take the big stuff on.' Azul then used lift causing the smugglers to float. 'Make sure you stay away from the shipment. It will affect us more than them.' Tifa mentally nodded to him as he canceled the lift. While the smugglers were falling down she tagged them each in the arm.
"Pow, pow, pow, pow," the shots rang true. As this was happening, Slipp was moving around the side-firing at a few more smugglers that came by.
Sliding over Azul picked up his pace and got in close with a smuggler. "Pow," the smuggler fired. He missed. The shot his the floor. Azul reached forward and punched the man's side. "Wham," the shields took a hit and discharged. The punch making the smuggler go off balance. Azul felt a little damage from the energy feedback.
Health -3
It was negligible. The salarian was already stable and engaged Azul in full-on melee. He stuck with a fast palm strike toward's Azul's face. "Swish," it missed and caught nothing but air. Azul had leaned and gave the man a shoulder thrust. Right before Azul could hit the man's leg and disable him he had to close his eyes as a blaze of fire came his way.
"Psshh," one of the smugglers had use the move Enferno blasting him with fire right in the face. Throwing up a shield around his eyes, Azul then moved through the next Enferno that came his way. "Psshh," he broke through easily and delivered a knee strike to the smuggler.
Health -9
The fire portion didnt do much. However, the energy involved in it did. The Smuggler doubled over in pain. He wouldn't feel it much longer, as Azul brought his left elbow down delivering as solid strike to the back of the smuggler's neck.
"Tak," the blow broke the little protection around the neck. As the Salarian dropped to the ground, Azul brought his foot down cracking the man's head open. "Crkk," the resistance was paltry at best. With the power of his Ki boosting his strength as well the flame's around his feet, the smuggler didn't have a chance.
Reaching down Azul picked up the heavy pistol and went into cover and fired at the one's that were heading to Tifa.
Over on the upper deck
Riku was running up behind one of the smugglers shooting below. Her feet were quiet as she moved. The female smuggler didnt know what hit her before it was to late.
"Whack," Riku hit her in the back of the head with an elbow strike. "Wooaahh," the smuggler went over the side and hit the bottom floor. "Thump," she survived long enough to look up to see Riku looking over the balcony and apologize.
"Sorry!" She waved actually apologetically. "I was just trying to knock you out." Seeing the smuggler lifting her gun at her she frowned behind her helmet. "Hey, I said I was sorry. Geez." Ducking back as the fire hit the balcony.
"Pow, pow, pow, pow," then the shots stop. Riku looked over the side again to see Torbin had gotten over there and knocked the woman out. She didn't have enough time as she was getting shot again from someone on the balcony on the other side.
"Kachak, the sniper round almost caught her in the shoulder.
"Jeez, these people are not friendly at all," Riku said as she took cover.
"You dont know the half of it." A smuggler said coming up on her with a shotgun. "Bye bye kid." He fired the shotgun thinking this would teach her a lesson.
"Kachak," the blast took hit Riku in the side. The strangest thing happened. Well at least to the smuggler's eyes. The Riku in front of him disappeared. Turning into particles of light.
"What the hell?!" The smuggler question as he tried to find the actual Riku. "Where are you? Come out you stupid .." Was all he got to say.
"Schlik," A dagger went from the bottom of his throat into his skull. "Gurgle," the blood pooling in his mouth cutting off the rest of the words. "Schlik," the dagger was pulled out as Riku kicked him over the side. "Thump," the body dropped below.
"Wasnt an accident this time," Riku said smirking. She moved the shotgun in her hand. "Thanks for the shotgun to. I will put it to good use." Running down the side in a crouch she was moving to the sniper.
-2 minutes later and the fighting was over-
"Yah know it sucks.." Azul said as he walked around to the downed Salarian. "I have been a good boy.. to good. Not killing you would just tear me up inside. If I turn you over to C-Sec, you get free in a matter of days. If not hours. The best thing to do would be to kill you here and now. Killing you and others like you, will go a long way to saving just a few more people on the Citadel."
"This drug you use on humans.. does it work on your kind?" Azul pondered for a bit.
"Of course it does. Just doesn't cause the major issues it does to humans." The Salarian answered with a stutter. "I ne.. evv..never touched the stuff. Not my thing. Cant get paid if you use your own stuff." The strands let Azul know he was telling the truth. But it was not enough to dissuade him. Azul felt his power delve deeper. The Salarian was afraid of the drug.
"That is so not fair. How can you not try your merchandise yourself?" Grabbing a syringe Azul stabbed the Salarian In the side. "See look, it is going over so well right now. Have another." He stabbed another one in. Seeing the Salarian health go down a little, he stabbed two more in."
"Azul.. stop. You will kill him." Slipp said.
"Your fucking point?!" He said to Slipp not looking back. "Torbin come here. Not a request." The man walked over and looked at Azul. "How many have you brought in? How many times have he dosed you up?"
"I.. I.. I don't know. I left the service long enough. Never reenlisted and started merc work. I have been using for a while now.. to long." He looked down trying to remember his head was funny. A voice kept telling him to do whatever it takes to score more. He looked at the syringe and licked his lips. "Slikk," the drool already drying up his chapped lips. "I always needed another dose. That's what the voice would say. I overhear this new stuff was primo shit. Way better than what they had been giving us." Torbin backed away scared to look any more.
"What are you gonna do to him?" Slipp asked. "You cant just kill him."
A renegade option appeared around the heavy pistol nearby. It was strange. Different than the previous ones. A light blue was mixed in as well. Small Paragon strands wrapping around it. Almost strangling it. It didnt win but it didnt dissipate. Azul selected the option.
"No, you cant. I can totally do it. Shit, he would just be another dead freaking dealer." Azul looked over to the smuggler. He was buying time for Tifa to deal with everything. "What do you think? Would you like to have your brain matter scattered all over the place? I hear it is amazing." Azul said picking up the pistol and placing next to the Salarian's head. "I really want to do this. It would feel so good yah know." Azul felt the visions start to fade away. All the people the Salarian personally injected started to fade along with their deaths. There feelings faded away as well. 'Oh man, the Pather power is really dangerous.'
Bass: Heh, your own pysche is messing with you. Your as messed up as me.
'Shut up! Bass.' Azul said causing the NEtNavi to chuckle at him. It wasn't malicious. Bass was happy to find someone like him. Focusing on the here and now, he made a note that needed to question Galtea but not now.
"C-Sec stop what you are doing." An officer said coming over. "Hands were I can see them."
"Sigh, this is just not happening right now." Azul turned and felt the strands instantly. The C-sec officer was on the take and wanted to make sure he got those involved silenced or bought off. Azul walked over slowly. "Officer... you see."
"Hey, no sudden moves."
"They are not sudden." Azul pushed his biotics and then charged him. 'Biotic charge. Flame Fist' His left hand lit up in flames as he dashed over closing the little gap between them. "Schlkk," he stabbed the man right in the chest. "See I planned it all out. Down to you dropping next." Azul stepped back and left the officer to drop to the ground not saying a word.
"Thump," Azul turned to one of the crates.
"Holy crap man." Riku said. "I knew you were a little crazy but.. this is broad daylight.
"What have you done Azul?" Slipp said next. "We dont need this kind of heat."
Tifa said nothing. She was trying to suppress the Pather feelings she had been receiving. If it wasn't for Azul she would have broken down already. Most of the stronger ones he siphoned. Her understanding of the power rose exponentially.
"Shut up and watch. Or just shut up. I dont care either way right now." Using a little biotic energy, he lifted some of the shipment. About a pound of it. Walking over he dropped it on the wound. In a matter of seconds, a thin synthetic layer washed over. The fresher the kill the easier for it to change them. Brain still had a few signals firing off. The yes opened. Then the hands started to move again.
"Azul what have you done?" Slipp asked.
"Showing you first hand what you are messing with. Oh, he is ready to bite. Better watch out." Azul walked over and threw the Salarian at the C-sec officer. "Eat up now, more for the collective or some shit. I dont know what you call yourselves."
"What the hell is this?!" The Salarian squealed as he fell. He looked up to see the C-Sec officer staring at him. His eyes vacant and the intelligence returning. Just not human intelligence. It grabbed him and open its mouth. "What is it doing? Why is its mouth open like that? Is it going to eat me?"
"Oh no. Something far worse."
"Are you going to help him?"
"You help him," Azul said grinning at her. "Go on doctor. Help both of them at that. This is what the Salarian was planning to spread to human colonies. Then to localized planets. I will stay here and watch it."
"Doesn't make it right to do this." Slipp. Riku looked over and agreed with a nod.
"If you care so much Riku you can help her." Turning to his Omni-tool he made sure he had a nice full recording of the events that just happened.
For the next few minutes, the Salarian would get up and run only to be caught really quickly. Slipp tried to grab a gun to shoot the c-sec member but Azul would fling it away. Riku would glare every time as well. She tried to smash the man with a biotic slam or a shred move. Each time Azul put up a barrier. They wanted to end it by killing the man. He was not gonna allow that at all.
"Stop that! Hah hah." Riku said panting. Slipp was on the ground breathing heavily as well.
"No. You want to save him, so do it." Azul said while his focus was on Torbin, then Slipp, and then Riku. "I can do this all day actually. It is fun."
"Ah, I have control now. Better than before." Tifa said moving over. "I have the voices blocked out."
Observe: Tifa Lockhart?? Lvl 5 Class Vanguard Lvl 5 Martial Artist
Status: Calm, Energetic
"Alright good." Azul reached out and pulled the C-Sec officer over. 'Mental Cleansing.' Watching over him intently, the process vanished and watched as the officer went limp again. Moving over he waved his Omni-tool over. 'Alright Bass, this is your shot. You have the plan so get to it.
Bass: Very well NetOp. I will execute the plan.
Bass uploaded into the C-Sec Officer and took control. Activating the man's mannerisms he arrested the Salarian who had passed out under the effects of the drugs now that he was not running for his life.
"Well let's get something to eat." Azul stood up and started walking away. "Torbin good luck. If I hear anything about you doing drugs again, I am telling your cousin and then your uncle. See how you survive that."
"What about the shipment?" Riku asked puzzled.
"Concussive shot." Azul reached his hand back and fired an inflamed shot.
"Boom!" The drug went up in flames. The other containers caught fire as well. As a small fluctuation from the Auxilary field was placed down. The remnants were engulfed in flame as well. Azul had spent a few points to make sure it all went away.
"What shipment?" Walking away, Azul went to get something to eat. He found himself really hungry. Thinking it plated a part why he was so grumpy and on edge. "Gonna get some food." Tifa followed behind while Torbin, Slipp, and Riku stared and the shipment. A few C-sec officers came from around the corner and questioned them. They received a message from Bass asking for back up. The gunfire had already alerted them to the area.
For the next hour, they were interrogated while Azul and Tifa enjoyed a nice lunch.