Philip scrambles back with his bit of cable collected, standing next to Zaylus with similar motivations.
#Aroste – April 29, 2026
Celyna raises her left hand palm up, elbow still at her side as a biotic glow envelops both her and the mech, which starts to lighten. She grits her teeth against the throbbing pain in her chest and focuses on breathing steady despite it as she waits for Leah to join her before lifting. Mingling the mass effect fields of multiple biotics is always a delicate thing. It's important to sense the fields produced by the other biotic and be
in tune with it, lest something tear, shoot off unpredictably, or in the worst case scenario, explode.
Ehanis raises a brow at Wenera's words, but snorts humorlessly at Jason. "I didn't plan on joining up with them when I left Freedom Falls, for the record," she says. "I did talk with Wenera the night before, but... I didn't know they were interested in me until I met Syld in Derrai."
Ehanis nods to Wenera before continuing. "I wanted to get away from everyone for a while, and they could offer me that," she says. "And I'd like to keep it that way, because there's just seven of us and nobody knowing where we live is the only advantage we have."
Uvena listens in silence to the explanation, her attention drifting towards the closed cockpit door.
Va'ynna carefully embraces Victoria, still sobbing. "If you had arrived any later...," she murmurs softly, barely audible between sobs.
Jasper quickly detaches the cables from the APC and also joins the peanut gallery to watch the biotic display.
Leah follows Celyna's lead, soft glow shimmering around her as she joins in. She focuses on reorienting the mech while Celyna keeps it off the ground, small mass effect fields firing off around it to influence its rotation. There's no grand display. The mech isn't hurled dramatically into the shuttle. It simply rises and turns weightlessly in the air, subtle movements of her fingers directing it like a conductor to an orchestra.
Jasper nudges Zaylus with his elbow as the YMIR rises over the lip of the Kodiak and reaches out, offering another low slice of his hand for emphasis.
Jason listens, Ehanis' words doing little to clear anything up. "Right. You needed time to yourself so rather than just telling everyone where you were going and what you were doing, you ran off dramatically and turned it into some big ordeal that you had to know people would want to follow up on." he says, hands lifting off his thighs, palms up, as he offers a confused shake of his head. He indicates Wenera's addition with a gesture
her way, his confusion only growing as he looks back at Ehanis. "I mean-... why go through all of the trouble to even bother hiding anything from Mian? And why were you here in Derrai in the first place?" he adds, almost as an afterthought as if none of it is adding up to him.
Victoria 's hold tightens for a moment, as she gives Va'ynna a careful squeeze. "I know, I'm sorry." She remains silent for a moment, allowing Va'ynna to cry. "I'm sorry I was not faster."
Zaylus visibly passes glances at the salarian, lest he start to think this is his moment to make a move. When his attention is grabbed he looks between the man's gesture and the mech, a short laugh coming from his helmet. He repeats the gesture in understanding- one he'll certainly use to communicate with Jasper in the future. "You got to admit though, this is probably safer." He suggests,
Philip just watches the floating mech with wide eyes - biotics certainly haven't lost their wow-factor for him yet.
Celyna walks the YMIR slow and steady into the shuttle alongside Leah, still focused on her breathing.
Ehanis glances Wenera's way, looking increasingly frustrated at Jason's tone. "I always took the first reliable transport I could find to put as much distance behind me as possible," she says, the irritation in her tone as well. "So when a salarian in some nowhere coast town told me about a water ship going to Derrai he was going on, I couldn't pass that up. That miserable city has a spaceport, and I was going to wait for
Va'ynna continues to shift around to get more comfortable after being squeezed. The medi-gel is doing a good enough job numbing the pain from the scrapes she got during the rescue. "Thanks," she mutters softly between sobs. "I... I just... just want to... go home."
Renala keeps watching the salarian, stepping around him to get a better view of the mech entering the shuttle.
The building is still on fire, but the harsh wind and wet conditions outside is keeping the fire from taking the exterior for now.
Jasper frowns, bringing his arms in close to fold across his chest as he continues to watch. "Guess so..." he concedes, failing to conjure up much enthusiasm given the lack of winches and pulleys.
Leah lets the asari set the pace, merely matching her. Given the size of the mech, there's no harm in being cautious. It would only take one slip to damage something and the goal is to bring all of this in intact. She rises on her tippy toes briefly to ensure they're not going to make contact with the seats before gently gliding the YMIR the rest of the way in. Soon, Celyna would feel the influence of Leah's mass effect fields
Jason bites down, holding Ehanis' gaze, her obvious frustration only further feeding into his own. It culminates in an unamused snort and he brings a hand up to scratch at the back of his neck. "Ya know-..." he begins, fighting back at the urge to really tell her off, "...I was on your side." he explains before qualifying it with a small tilt of his head. "For the most part, anyway. I mean-... yeah, I thought you were being a bit of a
whiny, sniveling, brat." Catharsis. "Running off on the only people that care about you? But, hell-..." he shrugs, "...I told Ilyna that I thought she needed to give you some space. Let you do your own thing. Make your own decisions. But now I get it. Why she feels like she has to coddle you so much?" He returns his forearms to his thighs, leaning forward in his seat for emphasis: "You make really stupid decision." He lets
that hang for just a moment before continuing. "But to be completely honest? Right now I couldn't give a shit less about that. I don't care about your family drama. I don't care about you throwing a temper tantrum and running off. What I care about is why that asshole-..." he gestures vaguely in Jelvan's direction with a nod of his head and then looks to Wenera, "...and his people are so interested in you and V."
Victoria loosens her hold on Va'ynna allowing her to break the embrace if Va'ynna wanted to. "I know, we will. Once we are back in Freedom Falls, we can head to a doctor first and then straight home after that."
Zaylus leans forward to peek inside, seemingly worried about the fit as well. He doesn't want to be obstructive, or get squished, so he maintains a distance while the biotics finish up. "Easy enough." He muses, which is especially true when all you had to do is watch.
Celyna slowly increases the mass of the mech again once Leah has let go, letting it settle gently on the floor of the shuttle. Afterwards she lets out a breath, shoots Leah a quick grin, and then leans out of the open door, one hand on the Kodiak's frame as she addresses the trio outside. "Anything else you boys need moved, or...?"
Va'ynna slowly lets go of the hug and sits down in her seat. "I... I... yeah," she says, still sobbing in spite of trying to reign it in. "And... I... hope it's over." She frowns as her stomach growls almost loud enough to be heard. "Do you... have anything... to eat?"
Ehanis glares at Jason as he continues to lay into her, but instead of defending herself, she sighs and glances at Wenera. "They know of Sala's interest in Va'ynna, but they haven't told me if they know more about that."
Wenera looks down on the floor for a moment before looking back at Jason. "I've been working against Piros before," she says. "I was in Neddal four years ago gathering intel on her and Jelvan's operations there, but I was nowhere near when they were struck by my leader and a squad of contracted mercenaries. I do know that Piros' interrogation then did not yield any actionable intel about her organization." She pauses and
glances at the exit. "She wanted to know where our base of operations is, and is out for revenge." She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment, looking a bit saddened. "She... melded with me, twice, to get intel out of me, so... I could tell she had no intentions of ransoming Va'ynna; I could tell she was angry at someone tied to her, but... her mind had so much noise and difficult feelings that I couldn't
tell who it was..., and I was more worried that the information she was after could have been the only thing keeping Va'ynna alive that I... I focused on blocking her out." She looks back down. "My... head is still spinning from that, so... I'm sorry if I sound all over the place. I haven't... heard anything from our people about Va'ynna either."
Uvena looks at Wenera thoughtfully as she explains, narrowing her eyes as she ponders who that somebody could be.
Leah returns the asari's grin with one of her own and spins around on her heels to face the others. Hopping back out of the shuttle she dusts off her hands playfully and offers the group assembled outside a bright smile. "Well done, team." she says, joining Renala over by Jelvan.
Jasper gives a shake of his head to Celyna's question. "Think we're good." he says. Leah's addition draws a snicker out of him and he adjusts the brim of his cap sheepishly. "Thanks 'fer the helpin' hand." he says, the appreciation sincere despite his fun being ruined.
Jason's gaze lingers on Ehanis but when she doesn't push things his posture relaxes. As Wenera begins to speak his attention turns to her, a focused frown on his face as he listens. A bit of frustration begins to bubble back up when the asari speaks around the subject rather than giving direct info, but it quickly slips away as it becomes clear how much the day has weighed on her. The mention of someone tied to Va'ynna causes him to pass
a knowing glance Uvena's way but he doesn't comment on it. "It's fine..." he says, shifting in his seat as he looks back to Wenera. "You said you were investigating Piros and Jelvan in-... Neddal, was it?" he asks, furrowing his brow, "What can you tell me about that?"
Victoria kneels next to Va'ynna and places a hand on her cheek, using her thumb to wipe away some of the tears. She was just about to open her mouth when she hears Va'ynna stomach grumble, she pauses for a moment thinking before reaching for a pouch on her hip and pulling out a tube. "The only thing I really have on me, is this nutrient paste." She makes an apologetic face. "Once we get back
Zaylus | "Impressive." He offers the compliment as thanks, straightening up the cable on his arm so it will fit back in the case. With the show over he wanders over to do just that, getting distracted by the progression of the fire. Either nervous or just mesmerized he watches for several moments.
Celyna smirksand nods, and then takes a seat near the open door, sitting stiffly to avoid agitating her wounds. The medigel is doing a good job of numbing them so long as she doesn't hunch.
Wenera nods slightly as she thinks back to it, and starts enumerating what she knows. "Sala Piros was a security consultant operating out of a prefab building much smaller than this compound. There was a salarian there that looked like Jelvan Darennon, but I didn't have a name on him then and I never saw him wearing armor. They had eight other mercenaries, but I've been told none of them survived our strike." She hums
thoughtfully. "They had a shuttle that would go on... longer trips, but I didn't see anyone outside of their permanent staff near their base." She frowns and looks down at the floor, looking a bit conflicted as she continues explaining, "I... I never saw any footage of our strike and was picked up after it was done," she says, "I've... never wanted to, I guess, since it... it was hard on our leader."
Va'ynna reaches over to take the tube and look it over. "Thanks,... it's... it's fine," she murmurs before uncapping it and squeezing out a large mouthful of the bland paste.
Renala sighs releived the mech is secure inside. "I might get a head start on setting it up during our trip home," she says over helmet speakers. "I'll unplug any motor and weapons systems first, of course."
Jasper likewise gets back to work on prepping everything for their departure, hazarding a brief look Jelvan's way before offering the others a departing nod and starting over towards the APC to give it a once over.
Leah passes Renala an appreciative dip of her head, a silent indicator that she's ready to return to her duties guarding Jelvan. The asari's comment causes her to give a sweeping gesture to the open shuttle door and the mech that now resides beyond it. "All yours." she says, leaning against the outside of the shuttle's doorframe.
Jason draws a breath in through his nose as Wenera continues to rattle off inconsequential details surrounding the question, but he listens even as his patience is tested. "Wenera... I need to know why your people were investigating them." he clarifies, hoping that it's just the nerves and the events of the day wearing on the asari rather than assuming an intentional attempt at giving him the run-around. "For that matter, who even
Victoria stays next to Va'ynna. "I'm keeping you within arm's length, sweetheart." She places a hand on Va'ynna's knee, trying to find some words to comfort Va'ynna. "I think I gotta organise that beach getaway once we get home."
Zaylus eventually turns from the sight, storing the cable in its case. It's likely more amusement than anxiety as he leans nonchalantly against the APC and continues to watch the fire. For a moment he does turn to call in Jasper's direction, "Any other chores to wrap this up?"
Wenera sighs, looking a bit apologetic. "Everything is need-to-know, so I don't know who she got the Sala lead from initally four years ago, but she said it was personal." She looks thoughtful for a moment, and a bit conflicted. "The asari Sala murdered in Raelos was an... Ardat-Yakshi. Latent, by the sounds of it. My employer does not believe that was... a coincidence when I reported to her, but I didn't know that she was
Va'ynna nods as she swallows the paste, not seeming too bothered with its (lack of) taste and texture. "I... I would... like that," she says between sobs, as she is unable to stop crying yet. "Maybe... stay off-world until... we know if... if this is... over." She knows that probably won't work since she has a job and responsibilities here, and so does Victoria.
Uvena raises her brows. "Va'ynna is not one," she insists, "but she has an asari father, so they could have had faulty intel."
Jasper gives the massive tires a couple of light kicks with his boot before Zaylus garners his attention, one hand coming to rest against the APC. He makes a show of glancing about before ultimately shaking his head. "Naw. Think we're 'bout finished here. Just waitin' on Jason to wrap things up and give the word." His gaze wanders over towards the fire in the distance, causing him to draw in a breath. "Reckon it ain't gon' be too much
Leah settles into her spot, leaning a bit heavier against the shuttle. She gestures for Jelvan to take a seat. "Might be here for a while." she informs him.
Jason shifts in his seat, trying not to let his own discomfort show, but he does pass a sharp glance Ehanis' way. As much as he'd love to hammer home just how baffling- and troubling- it is that Ehanis has purposely remained out of touch given the details of all of this, he knows better than to bring up that topic in mixed company. So a hard glare will have to do for now. Soon his focus returns to Wenera. "Ardat-..." he trails off with
a shake of his head, as if unsure of what that is. "Okay-... I'm following but there's a whole lot of holes so how about you start filling in some of these blanks? Starting with who your employer is." He shoots another glance Uvena's way before holding Wenera's gaze and giving a small tilt of his head, "Have a feeling I might already know 'em."
Victoria smiles at Va'ynna. "I'll see what I can do." She remains in her kneeling position, still with a hand on Va'ynna's knee.
Zaylus shrugs, "Yeah, alright." He nods, giving Phil a look like they've been let off for a smoke break. He crosses his arms over his chest, looking like he's getting comfortable to wait. "As long as it doesn't land on top of us." He muses, content to fire gaze with the boys.
Wenera frowns. "I was getting to that." She sighs and takes a moment to gather her thoughts. "Our leader is an asari matriarch, but you might have crossed paths with the commander, who is also asari. There's a salarian mechanic too, and... the rest of us are here." She looks conflicted again as she continues, "We're also part of a colony, but they don't want anything to do with this, and... giving you a location would betray
Ehanis nods. "The commander has mentioned Redrock, yeah," she says, "even said we might work together someday." She glances at the shuttle. "I don't think this was what she meant, though."
Uvena keeps her eyes on Wenera and Ehanis as they speak, not responding to the look Jason gives her.
Va'ynna eats another large squeeze of the paste and it does quiet her stomach for now. She is still sobbing, even if it does help a little. "Thank you...," she murmurs as she caps the tube.
Jason furrows his brow, looking a bit confused as Wenera continues, his gaze flashing Ehanis' way. "You mean the place Jasper took Sioria to? If that's your attempt at staying hidden-..." he clicks his tongue, "...sorry but that cat escaped the bag months ago." Realizing he's getting off task he gives a shake of his head, "...And how about some names? Who is this asari matriarch and commander?"
Victoria keeps the smile on her face. "Once we get back, definiely getting something tastier than paste. Any thing special you want?" Vicky is just trying her best by taking Va'ynna's mind away from her ordeal.
Wenera sighs. "I cannot give you that," she says, an apologetic look as she averts her gaze. "I trust you, but I don't want anything identifying on record. We won't last long if we... must go on the defensive, so we cannot risk it."
Va'ynna looks down at the paste tube, turning it over in her hand. "I... I've... lived on this stuff... for months before," she says before growing thoughtful. "I... uh, don't know, but... a warm, fatty, salty meal... like from the Respite, that... that would be nice." She closes her eyes and wipes at it with the back on her hand. "I... I... I think I just want... to be home." She takes a deep breath, but doesn't help much
Jason's confusion returns in full force, now directed at Wenera. "You do understand that we just saved your life, right? You understand that I put my people at risk by refusing to take Piros up on her offer to bring your-..." he thrusts a finger in Wenera's direction, "...ass in before. Hell, I didn't even know you back then! But you know why I made that choice? I made it because it was the right thing to do. And now I'm left here
in the middle of someone else's mess and you can't even give me some fucking names so we can try and piece this whole clusterfuck together? This is ridiculous, Wenera! You realize that, right?! This doesn't have to be difficult, just tell me what you know for fuck's sake."
Victoria stands up next to Va'ynna and wraps an armored arm around Va'ynna's shoulders. "I know, we will be on our way soon. We can locked ourselves in our room, watch some vids and eat some fatty food." A comforting smile still on her face.
Ehanis looks frustrated and gently squeezes Wenera's shoulder. "Do as he says, Wenera," she says to her in a lowered voice.
Wenera leans forward and places a hand on her forehead as Jason doesn't accept her need for secrecy. Ehanis' words makes her nod, even if she looks very conflicted. She lowers her voice and leans forward. "Okay, but this... better not be a mistake," she says, sounding dejected. "Their names are Matriarch Malea Alayn, Siveya T'Vezan, Urdnot Syld and Luyn Domar."
Uvena feels some sympathy for the young asari, but she doesn't stop Jason. She raises her brows at the mention of T'Vezan, but stays quiet.
Va'ynna nods at that, but she doesn't give an immediate response and focuses instead on trying to calm her sobs. She leans her head towards Victoria despite the armor.
Jason relaxes a bit as Ehanis intervenes, passing an appreciative glance her way. Whatever points she's earned, however, are very quickly squashed as Wenera begins to list the names and glides over a familiar one. Not the name he was expecting to be familiar with. "Siveya-... the asari that took a shot at Va'ynna?" Although that bit of info helps to bridge a few gaps, the look he levels on Ehanis is not a pleased one. "And you still
didn't think that, at any point, it might be a good idea to-... oh, I don't know, touch base with us and say, 'Hey, you'll never guess who I bumped into'?! Fuck, Ehanis! We could've helped! We could've pooled resources! We could've avoided all of-..." he gestures idly towards the burning building in the distance, "...THIS!"
Victoria remains silent and with an arm around Va'ynna. Opting to remain silent for the time being and simply just being there for Va'ynna.
Uvena looks more than a little displeased about Siveya's actions, even if she has read up on the reports since joining up.
Ehanis narrows her eyes. "I didn't know that," she snaps back. "I haven't read every report and every file you had, but it wouldn't be my call to make anyway."