The cacophony of deafening gunshots and explosions rang through the market with a fierce vigor. The Crimson Fist goons did not exceed fairly large numbers and the actions of the team seemed to be thinning them down easily enough. The well placed barrage of bullets and explosive powers accented by the occasional sniper shot or discordant grande set the tempo for the onslaught in the dark. The mercenaries did not expect the quick blackout caused by Olan and the sudden plunge into dark added another hitch in the machinery as the force they seemed to be facing was much larger and more deadly than the small group lead by a Quarian that they believed they were hunting. A sniper shot from Haze brought the lead man down as he initiated a charge but his comrades continued unfazed. They met fierce resistance as the rest poured shots into the charge breaking it and forcing the Crimson fist to take more cover. 

Nik looked at the advancing soldiers as his Asari trained her best to tone down her sociopathic urges. He nodded in silent approval as Daro announced that she managed to stabilize the mercenary for the moment, he knew the doctor was good for something. As Haze kept them them back as much as possible with precise fire, Ryland pushed on the side keeping the `pressure on them. Nik decided that they were in a good enough position to continue pushing the offensive, the crimson fist soldiers were still out of it do these unforeseen circumstances as the occasional bright blue muzzle flare lit up the darkness around them. The non-Vorcha among them had been smart enough to switch to thermal or night vision but the other bastards just fired and charged blindly wanting blood. They were not organized at the moment and that was something Nik intend to exploit. He tapped Raya on the shoulder giving her a thumbs up to signal that he was about to do something extraordinarily stupid, and then he did something extraordinary stupid.

The drell vaulted over the electronics stand and into the noman’s land between their position and the enemy. A salarian popped his head up from behind cover to take a shot and Nik reacted reaching his hand out and pulling inwards with his biotic powers. A dark azure covered the salarian and yanked over the barricade and right into the firing lane of Nik’s shotgun which punctured a wide hole through the mercenaries chest. The body and now considerable amount of blood was still suspended floating slowly in an almost angelic state before the biotic hold broke and they both came to the ground the blood first with a splash, the corpse hitting a moment later.  The leader of the motley band of vigilantes never stopped moving forward and he hit the enemy’s cover going over it sideways as bullets flew over his head. He landed a top one of the vorcha holding out on the other side knocking the creature down to the floor. As the mercenary growled in protest Nik took the moment to shove his shotgun down the creature's mouth before pulling the trigger splatter the remainder of the head all across the ground. As he did another one came up and bashed of his own gun across the back of his head. Bright pain flashed across Nik’s eyes as he lurched forward now looking down the barrel of the vorcha gun. In a quick series of events as the vorcha moved to pull the trigger, the drell managed to shoot his hand up and knock the gun away the blast firing now missing his head by inches.

The world suddenly went very quiet as all Nikusill could hear was the ringing of his own ears. He leaped forward and tackled the mercenary to the ground. The drell grabbed the vorcha’s head and slammed it into the ground once, twice and then a third time finally cracking the skull. As the ringing subsides and sound came back to him he rolled off the body as a batarian came barreling towards him swinging what looked like to be a coolant part from a spaceship at his head. Nik raised his hand and focused his biotic energy outward and a large pulse hit the batarian sending him flying through the air only to get riddled with bullets by Nik’s companions.
[hr]

As suddenly as the conflict started it began to subside. As the team continued to lay down fire and push forward, out from far behind the enemy position a large blood red flare went into the sky.  The mercenaries seeing this began shooting to one another as they pulled back and retreated from the market being called back to regions unknown for reasons unknown. The team took a few potshots at the retreating forces but soon they were alone again the only sound being their staggered breathing as they caught their breath. The entire conflict lasted maybe thirty minutes and yet the market was coated with blood of various hues and many more bullet holes than there had been previously. Nik called for the group to gather back at the meeting place where Daro and Masf where. The quarian mercenary was sitting down propped against cover as a hand covered his now patched up wound, each breath sounded hard as if he had just climbed up a mountain each intake a fight of its own. Nik leaned down so he was at Masf level and began to speak to him once more.

[color=cyan]”Okay listen to me Masf. You are going to be fine. We are going to give you some painkillers and then you can take us back to your boss and you can get treated fully there. You don’t have to die here.”[/color] The drell nodded empathetically taking the quarian’s hand and squeezing it trying to keep him awake as Daro continued to try to administer first aide. The rest of the group watched the scene keeping an eye out for another attack, Olan on Nikusill’s orders sending his drones out to keep watch on the perimeter. 

[b]”No, no none of that. I’m afraid it is this old soldier’s time to die.”[/b] Masf spoke his voice quiet and filled with pain though not sounding at all afraid but almost  a sad sort of happiness if now was any time to feel that emotion.

[color=cyan]” Masf there is no need for you to die. We can save you.”[/color] The drell explained sternly.

[b]”Saving me would be a waste of your time. The Crimson fist are pushing deeper into my people’s territory. That’s why the flare went off they are redirecting all the troops in to break through our last lines. They want to get to the civilians, the women and the children....  Jek isn't going to be able to hold them off forever you need to get there.”[/b] The quarian explained as he coughed a single loud and painful cough the had a resonant sound of all that was death.

[color=cyan]” I understand... But somebody needs to show us how to get there.”[/color] Nikusill questioned, Masf was right they were playing against the clock and if the Crimson Fist got to Jek before them they would never be able to bring them down. Not that it made Nik feel any better about leaving a man behind even if he is a man they just met.

[b]”Here let me see your omni-tool...”[/b] Masf asked and Nik obliged activating the device and holding it in front of the Quarian as he typed in a series of commands setting a marker deeper in the district, inside of Revenant territory. [b]”That’s one of the pathways through our defensive fortifications. A turian by the name of Ardan is defending it with the rest of my boys probably waiting for my return.... Ardan is an outsider like you're caught in the middle of our little war when he came in here a week ago looking for a Drell that kind of meets your description.... Tell them.... tell them Masf sent you and tell Ardan that he is relieved of his post. He should be able to accompany you to Jek’s position.”[/b] Masf explained as lowered his hands once more and leaned his helmeted head back gasping in pain his voice getting weaker as he went on.

[color=cyan] “Ardan.... got it. I thank you Masf.”[/color] Nik explained making quick note of the location as Masf nodded weakly. Though the quarian spoke once more now a faint hoarse whisper as he struggled to get his words out.

[b]”Now.... I must ask you two more favors.”[/b]

[color=cyan]”Anything we can do.”[/color]

[b]”The first please give hand me my rifle, I believe I dropped it. A soldier should die with his weapon. ”[/b] Before Nik could turn around one of his squadmates handed him  the rifle without another word retrieving it from the floor now stained in its owner's blood. Masf took it and held it against his chest firmly, his mask hiding the grimace of pain as he wrapped his hands around it, though his sharpened labored breathing give him away. After collecting himself he spoke again his voice now filled with a certain sort of strong conviction in it.

[b]”My last favor comes in two parts. The first is that if you ever happen by the Flotilla... my wife and child are still there. I left ten years ago promising to return with vast fortune... to make their lives better. Tell my wife I loved her and... Tell my little girl.... tell her that her father is sorry.”[/b] Masf spoke solemnly before continuing.

[b]”And finally I ask that you are the one to kill me. To end an old man’s suffering before he dies of an infection. I would rather die by a bullet than by some disease. Please..... grant this honorable death to this old soldier.”[/b] Masf explained, Nik nodded in agreement in silence but he made no actions to move as Masf was no longer addressing him. Masf was now addressing the only other quarian in the room, the doctor that had helped stabilize him...Daro. Masf was of a certain breed of quarian old, proud and filled with a certain vigor that many lost when they were banished from their homeworld by the geth. It was that old sensibility that made him want Daro to kill him, because it felt right. Because that way he knew his spirit would find peace.

Nik looked up from his position kneeling by Masf up at Daro. He knew that she was not going to like having to do this, not like having to do this at all. Honestly he did not want to force the act upon anybody but though little he did know of Masf, what he did know was that he seemed to be a good man and a good man deserved a quick death. [color=cyan]”Daro...you don't have to do this. I can end it just as easily for him. Though the choice is fully up to you”[/color] He explained  his voice soft, offering one final attempt for the young doctor to get out of it if she wished. The silence around the marketplace falling in around them and sitting oppressively watching over the preceding.