Va'ynna is standing behind the bar, wearing a dark-green dress she's not too rarely seen in. She is currently filling up a few glasses of beer for a human militiaman.
#Miner'sRespite – August 1, 2014
Halisi is sitting at a booth with Vaden and a young human male who's wearing a dirty gray jumpsuit. Vaden and Halisi are conversing while the man is sitting in silence, his gaze alternating between the two.
Vaden shakes his head. "Yes, yes. I know it's going to be expensive. Don't see any better options. Feel... useless, as it is."
Renala descends the stairs from the second floor, looking around the place. She's wearing a dark-blue top under her halfway zipped-up brown leather jacket , and nondescript pants. On the way to the bar, a familiar salarian and human catches her eyes and she approaches their booth. "Hey," she says looking between the two she recognizes. "It's been a while, how are you two doing?"
Vaden looks up, slightly surprised, as he didn't see Renala approaching. "Oh. Talking. Convinced Dr. Halisi to stop working for a while. Also getting to know new recruit." He gestures at the other human with his stump.
Renala extends a hand towards the new recruit. "Oh, I've been too much out of the loop since the last job," she says. "I'm Renala. I handle tech that gets in our way."
Philip looks at Renala and reaches across the table with a smile, offering his hand. "Hey, I'm Phil. Didn't know there were asari in Redrock. Cool."
Renala takes his hand. "Nice to meet you, Phil," she says with a smile before taking the seat at the row only one of them sat on. "So, what do you bring to Redrock?"
Philip sits back down and chuckles. "What, aside from my dashing looks and superb fashion sense?" He gestures at his jumpsuit.
Renala chuckles. "Betting all on the enemies swooning, huh?" she says followed by a smirk. "Sounds like a plan."
Renala nods. "Yeah, don't think Jason would get behind that without a backup plan," she says. "So," she looks between the two others. "What's that about you not working anymore?"
Halisi shakes her head. "Oh! No, no. I'm just... taking some time off to come here. Don't really have much... free time, normally. Always people neeeding help at the clinic. And it's taken a while to install all those medi-gel dispersal systems. Have you had a chance to try yours yet? I'm excited to see if they help." She pauses briefly and then quickly adds: "Uhm... don't go getting shot just to try it though..."
Renala shakes her head. "I haven't been up there for a long time," she says. "Jason wasn't happy about that when I last spoke to him, so I better come by some day."
Halisi nods faintly. "I haven't heard anything about any missions... guess... what happened hit you guys pretty hard too..." Her gaze lowers to the table. She shakes her head and takes a long swig from her drink.
Vaden glances out at the bar briefly, and then blinks, looking back at the others, mostly Renala. "Was talking to the doctor about getting a replacement hand."
Renala smiles. "That's great!" she says. "So, I take it you're heading to Illium or all the way to council space to get it done?"
Vaden looks away for a moment before answering. "Well... I am still looking at options. It is an expensive procedure."
Don't be afraid to ask me to chip in a little, though I can't offer much as long as I live upstairs here.
Sounds of gunshots can be heard from a small distance outside the entrance, and some near the entrance have started to take cover beneath tables. No bullets seem to have entered the Respite, but the wall behind the staircase seems to have been stricken by the occasional bullet, although there is no window there. A human guest descending the staircase seems to change her mind and run upstairs again. Those with keen hearing may discern two shooters, both using pistols.
Halisi drops under the table with remarkable speed, poking her head out and taking a quick look around for injured.
Va'ynna raises her brows, dropping a glass she's pouring, which survive the trip down to the counter, spillings its content (whiskey). She runs out towards the back door, still holding the whiskey bottle, its content swiveling to the point of some hitting the floor. She stands on the inside of it, flanking the door, looking terrified.
Vaden jumps in his seat, spilling Philip's beer. He looks around with a startled expression and then fumbles to activate his omni-tool with one hand while his eyes dart frantically around, looking for the threat.
Philip curses and joins Halisi under the table - although considerably slower. "Shit! What's happening?!"
Steve examines the screens in front of him as he hears the gunfire. "Shit!" he mutters to himself, unable to spot any specific threat on the footage in front of him. He grabs his helmet off the desk and quickly exits the office. "Va'ynna!" he shouts, hurrying down the hall towards her as he locks his helmet into place. His voice takes on a metallic tone as the helmet seals. "What the hell is going on out there? I'm not seeing anything on the security feeds." he asks as he unholsters his Tempest.
Renala slips out of the booth. "No fucking idea," she says as she crouches beside the booth, zipping up her jacket. "I hope Steve heard that." She stares towards the exit.
A few bursts from a Locust can be heard from some point along the wall outside where the staircase is, every burst sounding like the shooter is moving along the short-side of the wall that's not the doorway. The other shooters still fire back. There seems to be a distance between the two types of weapons.
Halisi activates her omni-tool and begins typing away while still looking around. "Sounds like the fighting is outside. It might just be a dispute being settled."
Those looking outside may be able to disern the two with pistols, one of them being a human woman with a helmet, the other a dark cyan asari, both in dark-blue armor bearing no isnignia. They're 5 meters apart from each other after getting out of cover, now moving slowly towards the corner the submachine gun bursts came from.
Vaden finally manages to get his omni-tool ready and gets out of the booth and into a crouched position with his omni-tool raised.
Renala nods. "Sounds like it," she says. "I see two of them. They're interested in someone else outside, it seems."
Steve lets out a frustrated groan. "Alright, I'm gonna go out there and handle this." he says, jerking a thumb back towards his office, "Go in that room and close the door. I'll let you know when it's safe to come out." He quickly stacks up beside the door leading back to the bar and opens it.
Aylena opens the door to her office and emerges into the same hallway as Steve and Va'ynna. "What's going on, Briggs?" She's in a black shirt and gray cargo pants, holding a pistol aimed down.
The door opens, revealing the bar with the numerous people taking cover by their booths or beneath tables, some making a run for it for the stairs now and then. The glass door leading out is still closed but not locked, but the sounds of gunshots are still clear. The two shooters are still in view, while the third with the locust isn't.
Steve quickly glances back towards Aylena and puts a hand up as he begins to look over the bar. "I don't know. Stay in your office, I'll handle it." he says, lifting his Tempest as he exits the hallway and takes cover at the counter. After a moment of assessing the situation, and once sure of no imminent threat, he spots Renala and the others. "What the fuck is going on out there!?" he shouts from his position.
Renala starts making her way towards the bar after hearing Steve, keeping crouched. "Three people outside," she says. "I haven't seen the one they're shooting at."
One of the shooters seems to have been shot, and stops her approach while the asari keeps moving -- both still in view through the glass door. They're both shooting and swapping clips, though. The locust fire sounds to be close to the window furthest away on Steve's right, along the wall where Halisi and the others sat.
Philip crawls onto the booth and takes a look out the window, trying to spot the target of the two shooters.
Steve takes a deep breath and watches the door from behind the counter. "Doesn't look like they're interested in the Respite." he says, "Assuming they don't decide to start sending rounds our way, it might be best if we don't get involved."
Halisi will hear the occasional bullet striking the wall, but they do not penetrate the materials by a long shot; she will have no issue reaching the door. Phillips may see an armored figure standing by the corner at the end of the wall, taking cover while firing back towards the other two, the helmet's shape implies it's an asari. Her armor is green with orange trims.
Philip dodges back down and looks over his shoulder, shouting to no one in particular. "There's another asari over here! That's who they're shooting at!"
Renala arrives at the bar and quickly takes cover at the inside of it. "They sure picked a bad spot to fight."
Steve edges around towards the end of the bar and takes a position beside Renala. "No kidding." he mutters. He stands up straight and addresses the rest of the bar from behind the counter, "As you can all see, we've currently got a bit of an issue on our hands here." he begins, speaking loud enough to hopefully be heard by the patrons, "On behalf of the Respite, I'd like you all to proceed upstairs and remain in the second floor hall until further notice. Stay away from any windows or doors."
Kalev heads towards the bar from his room, looking tired but alert. He blinks as some human tells everyone to head back upstairs. He's not sure what's going on, but retreats three steps back, still facing towards the bar.
More patrons start to make they way to the staircase, leaving only a few people that decide to remain downstairs.
Steve rounds the bar once the majority of the customers have removed themselves from the situation. He hurries towards the door and takes cover near a table by it, hoping to better his view of what's going on.
The human shooter outside seems to limp back to a corner further away while the asari has just been thrown back by a not-too-strong biotic throw. The latter seems to get up and continue her approach, returning a biotic attack to help suppress the other shooter. Some looking at the windows may glimpse the submachine-gun asari crouching along the broad side wall.
Kalev grimaces slightly as he approaches the bar itself in a crouching walk. "What's going on?" He knew he should run and hide, but he had an important meeting with a potential iridium buyer - the best shot he might get in a long time. It was a risk he figured he had to take.
Renala gets up from cover and looks at the man. "Sorry," she says. "The bar's closed until the bartender comes out of hiding."
Steve remains where he is, watching the scene unfold. "Everyone good?" he calls back, looking around at those who chose to remain downstairs, "Nobody's been hit, have they?" He examines the door for any sign of bullet penetration.
Just a second after he looks at the door, it's hit from the human shooter taking cover at a corner across the street, before another impacts with the wall between it and the corner. It doesn't penetrate or shatter the glass, but it's very audible and causes visible damage to the glass.
Kalev gives Renala the slightist of smiles, eyes with a similarly slight glint of amusement. He knows he can't fight, but he might as well help while he was here, if possible. "I'm not." He hoped he didn't get blood on his semi-formal attire. Wouldn't leave the best of impressions on his potential buyer.
Steve ducks instinctively as the projectile makes contact with the door. "Shit!" he shouts as he quickly moves from his spot and takes cover beside the door. He pokes his head out from his cover to look through the glass, hoping to identify whether that shot was a mistake or actually aimed at him.
(Comms to Steve) One of them has locked themselves inside the garage. Asari. Heavily armored. Looks injured.
The asari combatant with a pistol can be seen running past the windows to Steve's right, not glancing inside. The human combatant remains where she is, with her pistol aimed towards the corner she kept firing towards. No more shots are fired.
Steve gives a loud "Fuck!" before stepping away from the door. "They're inside." he says, looking between Vaden and Renala, "One made it inside the garage."
Steve activates his comms as he makes his way back towards the counter. "I'm on it..." he says, sounding none too pleased.
Steve stops by the door behind the counter and gives Renala a nod. "That would definitely be appreciated. You armed?"
(Comms) I've locked the doors leading to the garage. She doesn't seem to have gun on her, but there could be one in the bag she brought.
Steve sighs. "Alright. Arm yourself and keep watch out here, then." he says, shifting his attention to Vaden, "What about you?"
Steve gives Vaden a nod. "That'll have to do." he says as he crosses the hall and enters the door to the kitchen. "Aylena." he begins over comms, "I'm heading through the kitchen. I'm gonna need you to unlock the door to give me access to the garage."
Steve lifts his Tempest as he crosses the kitchen. He cautiously rounds the corner to his left and approaches the garage door.
The kitchen is empty aside from some food that's left work in progress due to the change in situation. Neither the attacker or the chef is anywhere to be seen in there. The interface on the door to the garage turns green.
Steve stacks up to the left of the door and holds up a hand to Vaden... Not to brag, but to give a quick count down. He holds up three fingers and slowly lowers them, one at a time. Once all are lowered, he taps the interface and swings into the open door with his Tempest raised.
ArmoredAsari looks up as the door opens, the helmet hiding her expression. "Pl-please," she says in a low voice. "Don't shoot." She's standing leaning against the wall past the door, cluching her right arm which does seem to bleed. The bag rests by the wall just beside her.
Vaden enters the room with his arm still raised, not initiating any attack. He doesn't take his gaze off the asari.
Steve keeps his Tempest trained on the asari as he slowly approaches her. "Keep your hands where I can see them! Kick the bag towards us."
The garage is mostly empty aside from a broken sky-car and an old, but quite good, fabricator. There's some desks there with a few tools strewn around, and a datapad. It's not big, and another sky-car would make it difficult to walk between.
ArmoredAsari does as he says and kicks the bag in the direction towards them, it slides a few feet. She remains standing, her hands in front of her, but she keeps cluching the wound on her arm.
ArmoredAsari looks towards the door. "I don't know," she says. "One second I'm just looking around town... the next I'm shot at by those thugs." She winces as she lets go of her arm, some blood seeping out of the plates. "I ran out of clips, so I dropped my gun and ran. Then... I saw the garage was unlocked."
Renala makes her way downstairs, a biotic barrier sorrounding her -- a personal-range one. She looks around. "Everything alright down here?" she asks the people in the room.
There is no change in the situation on the first floor, the human across the street still holding her fire.
Steve uses his foot to sweep the bag over to Vaden. "By coming in here, you probably put us all in danger." he says, "Who's after you and why shouldn't I hand you over to them?"
ArmoredAsari is quiet for a few seconds. "I don't fucking know, I was attacked outside here," she sighs. "I heard someone outside here just before you barged in."
Kalev gets up, looking concerned - and mildly irate. "Has the situation resolved itself, then? Can I go?" He doubts he can make the appointment with the potential buyer on time, which will probably sabotage the deal that had already been on shakey ground.
(Comms) Something's odd about the signal I get from the garage door. It drops out for a few seconds. That's happened twice now.
Steve glances towards the garage door. "Shit... Sounds like they might be trying to open the garage door, Vaden." he says. "You." he begins, looking towards the asari, "Sit the fuck down. You try anything and they won't need to catch you. I'll finish you myself, understand?" He doesn't wait for a response before using whatever he can find for cover and sighting in on the garage door.
Renala glances at the door out. "One of them's still out there," she says. "I won't stop you if you want to go, but I can't guarantee they'll leave you alone."
The front of the sky-car would make adequate cover if the door controller on the outside is on the same side. The interface on the door controller flickers.
Vaden moves hastily towards the skycar, slightly crouched and with his palm, and the omni-tool in it, pointed at the door.
The human shooter seems to give up her position and leaves the area, no longer overlooking the Respite. She brings her hand up to her ear while speaking.
The garage door soon gives in and opens to 2 meters height rather quickly before stopping. An asari operating the controller raises her brows and unholsters her pistol after her omni-tool dissipates.
Vaden hovers one of his fingers over the button that launches the attack he has readied, but doesn't fire.
Steve steadies his Tempest, sighting in on the asari. "I'm only gonna say this once, lower the weapon!"
Kalev is silent, face serious, for a few moments. "The future of my company - my community- is potentially at stake." His hands ball into fists. "I won't let us become slaves again." His mouth moves into a crooked smile. "Wish me luck." He dashes out the door and makes a break for it.
The human glances at Kalev, but doesn't seem interested as she keeps talking over the comms. She looks worried.
Halisi seems rather surprised by the running human. She doesn't have time to discourage him from leaving.
Asari drops her weapon and holds her hands infront of her, not liking her chances outnumbered. "Oh... fuck," she says. "I just want the bag."
Renala glances out the door. "Looks like they're leaving him alone," she says. "Maybe Steve and Vaden took care of it."
Steve nods to himself and steps out from behind cover. "Alright-..." he says, waving the asari over, urging her to enter the garage, "Hands where I can see 'em. I'm not lookin' to get between you and whatever the fuck it is you're doing. But I'm not about to let a shoot-out erupt in our bar. How many are with you, and what's in the bag?"
Asari sighs. "Someone offered us ten thousand credits if we could get the datapads that she stole," she says. "There's two of us, but my friend keeps screaming into by ear to ditch the job."
ArmoredAsari groans. "She's wasting her money. There's nothing on them after her program... deleted it when I left Thessia."
Steve glances between the two asari. "You heard her." he says, "Now I suggest you listen to your friend and get on your way." He takes a step towards the asari, keeping his weapon trained on her forehead.
Asari nods. "Don't have to tell me twice," she takes a few steps back before running for it, leaving her M-3 pistol behind.
Steve takes a couple steps out of the garage, sweeping his weapon back and forth to make sure it's not a ruse. He bends down and picks up the M-3 to ensure the asari doesn't come back for it. "Aylena," he starts over comms as he backs up into the garage once again, "It's handled, close the garage door."
Steve nods at Vaden. "Appreciate the ha-..." he rethinks his words, "Help. Go let the others know it's over. I'll take care of this one."
The garage door closes soon after. "Remind me to look into upgrading the locks," she says over the comms. "We're fine, but Va'ynna is not taking it well."
ArmoredAsari shakes her head. "I can do it myself," she says. "There's medi-gel in the bag." She remains seated, however.
(Comms) What a surprise. That girl would cry at her own birthday party. Just tell her all the bad people are gone.
Steve takes a couple steps towards the bag and scoops it up. He takes a look inside, not wanting to just hand it over.
At Vaden's report, the people upstairs that aren't guests moves downstairs. Most leave the bar, but some stay as Aylena promises them a free drink for the trouble. Va'ynna makes her way into the kitchen, but stays away from the door to the garage.
The bag contains a good amount of clothes, some toiletries, one datapad and some first aid items like medi-gel, bandages and painkilelrs. There's a pack of clips in it, but no weapon. It seems hasily packed.
Steve takes the canister of medi-gel out and sets the bag atop the skycar. He approaches the asari and crouches beside her. He looks over the cannister of medi-gel turning it in his hands. A small smile crosses his face. "So... Ready to tell me what the hell that was about?"
ArmoredAsari nods slowly, taking a deep breath. "I'm... not without fault," she says. "I stole some records from... an investigator back on Thessia."
ArmoredAsari has removed the plates on her arm, and two bullet wounds are still bleeding slowly. There's another bullet wound on the side of her waist which is till covered by armor padding.
Steve smirks and nods to himself. "And I'm guessing it's not a coincidence that they happened to attack you on the day you seem to be packed and ready to take off, huh?" He glances back towards the bag, "So you lied to me. Safe to assume it was a lie when you said there was nothing on that datapad?" He makes no effort to hand over the medi-gel, keeping it just outside of the asari's reach.
ArmoredAsari shakes her head. "I only considered asari authorities. There's no way she'll report this, since it's something she did on the side... not really legal. I didn't expect thugs, though," she says, her voice a little strained. "Almost. A friend could recover three files on one of them."
Steve nods a few times. "I don't like being lied to." he says, "Million-credit question: What was on the datapad, and how much is it worth?" he asks, the cogs in his head beginning to spin.
ArmoredAsari lowers her head. "It's a message log," she says. "As for how much it's worth... it's probably worthless to you." She looks at the bag. "There's no... password or encryption on it, though."
I don't know about that. Obviously someone is willing to pay for it if they'll hire people to kill you for it, right?
Steve looks over his Tempest for a moment. He glances up towards the security camera and sighs. He tosses the medi-gel cannister onto the asari's lap. "But I wouldn't do that to ya." he lies.
ArmoredAsari nods. "All four datapads intact," she begins, "that would be worth a fortune, but the others weren't recoverable, so I threw them away." She picks up the medi-gel and stars applying it to her arm.
Steve remains quiet for a few moments before activating his comms once again, "Aylena, I'm not sure how you wanna handle our guest. She's a little beat up, but she's got medi-gel."
Aylena can be heard walking through the kitchen in a brisk pace, a video feed of the bar on her omni-tool to keep an eye on the situation there. A few seconds later, she stands in the doorway. "What's going on?" A holstered pistol can be seen on her hip.
Steve glances back at Aylena. "Sounds like the shooters were after our friend here, but we were able to convince them that it wasn't worth the trouble. We should be alright. Just an unfortunate happenstance that the firefight broke out so close to us. How do you wanna handle her?"
ArmoredAsari starts removing the side of her armor as she sees the other asari, looking at her for a few seconds before getting to her wound.
Aylena sighs, looking at their guest. "It's still bad for business," she says. "So, you promise that crap won't happen to us again?"
ArmoredAsari nods faintly after finishing applying it, her shoulders dropping slightly as the anaesthetic effect kicks in. "Yes, they're kids that didn't know what they've gotten into," she says in a lowered voice. "I've... been there too when I was young." She enables her omni-tool. "I can pay for damages."
Steve stands up and moves over to the skycar once again. He picks the bag back up and goes through it once again. After a moment of digging, he removes the clips from the bag and returns to the asari, dropping the bag at her side.
Aylena enables her omni-tool and sends over a payment request. "let's say forty thousand credits," she says, "and you're free to come to the Miner's Respite just like any other customer."
ArmoredAsari looks at her omni-tool for a few seconds before fulfilling the payment request. "There," she says as she puts the medi-gel in the bag. "I had funds set aside to hire mercenaries, but... I didn't come here to make enemies." She starts to slowly get to her feet.
Aylena raises an eyebrow as she sees the information on her omni-tool, then nods. "Thank you," she says, letting its interface dissipate. "I have shut off the garage door, so come with me." She takes a few steps away from the doorway to let them through.
Va'ynna is out in the kitchen, working on cleaning it up like she usually does before they close for the night. She looks a little distant, and slow in her work.
ArmoredAsari gets to her feet, picking up her bag. "One of the datapads mentioned this place," she says, "what I got to read before it was scrambled, I mean. Anyway, Is your security still run by Redrock Agency?" She starts making her way towards the door, her legs being spared completely during the shootout.
Steve raises an eyebrow and gives Aylena a funny look as he follows closely behind the asari. "How the fuck do you know that?"
ArmoredAsari shakes her head. "One of the messages on the datapad reported something happened here," she says, "but it was lost. I don't remember the sender, though." She continues through the door.
Steve continues following the asari, "The only thing that's happened he-..." he pauses, casting a glance back at Aylena, "Think it has to do with the salarian?"
Aylena frowns, taking the lead as she makes her way across the kitchen, patting Va'ynna on the shoulder as she passes her. "I'm more worried about someone spying on my establishment," she says.
ArmoredAsari follows after Aylena. "I'm actually looking for a salarian," she admits."Even with all that was lost, I still got a lead, but I need mercs." She glances at Va'ynna as she passes her, but doesn't say anymore.
Steve gives Va'ynna a nod, but doesn't pay her much attention. "I don't know what all this is about, but if you're payin', my employers are always lookin' for more work. If it has anything to do with that salarian-..." he glances at Aylena once again, "What was his name? Rellis? Well, that would just be the icing on the cake."
ArmoredAsari is quiet for a few seconds. "Rellis Darennon," she says. "That bitch who sicked thugs on me... she is no friend of Darennon, either. She was just sitting on the intel and doing nothing."
Aylena makes her way just across to the bar, the room being empty as the last patrons had left for the night. She sighs. "Not looking forward to the paperwork," she says before walking over to a terminal and typing on it. "I've ordered a cab, feel free to wait inside," she says. "I'm sure you're in no shape to walk all the way there, ms-.... With the blood loss and all."
Steve takes a position beside Aylena. "There was an incident here with Rellis a few months ago. Was before my time with the company, but I'm sure the people at Redrock would like to hear what you know."
ArmoredAsari nods. "I will pay them a visit when I recover, then," she says, "and when I'm sure I've gotten that bitch back on Thessia off my back." She looks over at the other asari. "Thank you." She makes her way out of the bar without awaiting a response, making her way over to a booth near the entrance, standing beside it while she wait for her shuttle.
Steve leans against the counter. A small smile crosses his face as he glances over at Aylena. "Well, that was exciting."
Aylena sighs. "You could say that," she says with a slight nod as she leans on the counter, facing him. "One thing's for sure, tomorrow's not going to be exciting because of it."
Steve watches the asari from behind the counter. He tilts his head and gives a shrug, "Maybe not, I don't know. We've got a nice number of regulars. Don't see them shying away over a random streetfight. And let's be honest... Forty-thousand credits?" he snickers to himself, "That was extortion. I mean, shit, this building is solid. There's no way they did any real damage to it."
Aylena smiles slightly. "I've lived on Illium for a century, I know a thing or two about when to take advantage," she says. "Besides, this is going to make some think twice about coming here for a while, and I'll have a lot of overtime to look forward to. And I have to clean the mess in the garage."
Aylena nods. "And I can't ask poor Va'ynna to do that," she says, "especially- You know how she is." She sighs. "I suppose I should get to work," she says. "Look for someone to replace the glass panes on the door, as that bullet hole is a terrible first impression."
Steve pushes away from the counter with a nod. "Guess it's back to work for me, too, then. Have fun, boss." he says, giving the woman one last smirk before making his way back towards his office.
Aylena remains for a few seconds to see the other asari leave before making her way over to the kitchen to help there.