Drew Karpyshyn by Mass Effect: Retribution

Author:Mass Effect: Retribution [Retribution, Mass Effect:]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Video & Electronic, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Extraterrestrial Beings, Space Opera, Interplanetary Voyages, Fiction, Space Warfare, Human-Alien Encounters, Games, Adventure, General
ISBN: 9780345520722
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 2010-07-01T05:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

Kai Leng wasn’t worried about being recognized as he made his way through the twisting thoroughfares of Omega. The last time he had been here his appearance had been carefully altered. This time, as per the Illusive Man’s instructions, he wasn’t wearing a disguise.

Still, he was wary. Though he appeared calm on the surface, his senses had entered a state of hyperawareness. It was always a good idea to be on the lookout for trouble when visiting Omega. The lawless station was overrun with mercenaries and criminals; every encounter had the potential to suddenly erupt into violence.

Kai Leng glared at a pair of batarians approaching him, his eyes burning into them, sizing them up as potential threats. The four-eyed freaks noticed him staring. He could see a moment of indecision in their eyes: was this a threat worth confronting, or one they should just walk away from? In the end they made the right choice and crossed over to the other side of the street.

When the Illusive Man had first told him of his latest assignment, Kai Leng had expressed his skepticism.

“I don’t think Aria T’Loak is a fan of Cerberus.”

“She’s a businesswoman,” the Illusive Man had assured him. “At the very least she’ll listen to our offer.”

“And if she refuses?”

“We’re not looking for a fight,” the Illusive Man had reminded him. “We’re trying to form a partnership.

“I need someone I can trust for this mission,” he’d continued. “Just say and do everything exactly like I told you and it will all work out.”

Kai Leng rounded the corner and came in sight of Afterlife. As was typical, the line to get in stretched down the block before disappearing around the corner. He had no intention of waiting in the queue, however.

Marching up to the krogan bouncer at the entrance, he declared, “I need to see Aria T’Loak.”

“Name?” the krogan asked, ready to relay it to someone inside for confirmation that he was expected.

“I’m not on the list,” Kai Leng admitted.

“Then you don’t get in.”

A pair of thousand-credit chips suddenly appeared in the assassin’s hand. He reached over and pressed them into the krogan’s massive palm.

“You can’t bribe your way into Afterlife,” the krogan declared with a deep laugh, extending his hand to return the credits to Kai Leng.

“Tell her I have information about a man named Paul Grayson,” Kai Leng insisted, refusing to take the money back. “She might know him as Paul Johnson,” he added.

The krogan’s eyes narrowed to thin slits, but he did reach up to activate the transmitter built into the collar of his suit.

“Relay a message to Aria,” he said to someone inside the club. “Some human here to see her about Paul Grayson. Or maybe it’s Paul Johnson. He’s not on the list.”

There was about thirty seconds of silence as they waited for a response. Then the krogan’s eyes went wide as he heard the orders coming from the other end.

“Yeah. Right. I’ll send him right in.”

He turned back to the waiting human. “Aria’s sending someone to meet you.

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