[h1][center]Borealis - Hangar[/center][/h1]
[center][@Rtron] & [@DearTrickster] Feat. [@Zombiedude101][/center]

[hr]

[color=hotpink]"Good!"[/color] Serena said, smiling as Dex answered correctly the last piece of the chess game. The turian's arm had been completely repaired and cleaned, her omni-tool had downloaded the VI to block and respond to Gal's calls, and Serena had finally taught Dex all the various rules and pieces of chess. They had been at it for an indeterminable amount of time, Serena only occasionally glancing at her Omni-tool and frowning in irritation.  [color=hotpink]"All right. We're gonna go through them all one more time, and then I'll show you my personal set and tell you what each one is supposed to represent. Then, I'll beat you down in chess and we'll all have a grand old time!"[/color] She grinned, winking at the Turian.

"[color=007236]I'm pleased we were able to work out some kind of trade off for the repairs. It'd feel wrong otherwise, to me at least.[/color]" Dex replied turning The Rook to examine it. "[color=007236]Despite beating a new player at the game I'm sure you'll lord it over me in some manner.[/color]" Dex laughed.

Standing to stretch they had enjoyed uninterrupted time together all thanks to the VI Serena gave Dex. They shared a giggle over the automatic reply after the third phone call.

"Hello! You appear to be trying to contact one Dex Noratus! This is the third time you have attempted this, so if you would kindly fuck off, that would be great! You are unwanted and annoying! Please, do not call again!"

After their giggling session ended Serena pulled up her Omni-Tool. [color=hotpink]"Iosif, I know you're on the ship and I know you've done something to your arm. Come down here please."[/color]

"[color=007236]Don't fall for the polite veneer![/color]" Dex added over the comms.

[color=hotpink]"Alright. While we're waiting for him, lets go through the pieces and how they move again."[/color] She held up a pawn.

Dex's talon traced straight along the line where the other pawns were set. "[color=007236]That is the Pawn. It moves only one space at a time and...[/color]" Dex squinted at the board going over the moveset, "[color=007236]Can only take another piece diagonally?[/color]"

Pointing at the bishop she said, "[color=007236]While the Bishop can only move diagonally on the square colour it's set on. Here is the Rook, this is my favourite piece so far.[/color]" Her talon floating over the Rook piece. "[color=007236]It moves in straight lines, horizontal and vertically.[/color]"

"A pawn can only move one space at a time, except for when it first moves, and then it can move two spaces at a time. It can only move forward and take pieces diagonally." Serena corrected, setting the pawn down. "You're correct on the Rook and the Bishop." She picked up a Knight. "This one?"

"[color=007236]Uh...The knight? It moves in the shape of an...[/color]" Dex struggled trying to remember the weird word Serena used the translator gave a vague replacement. "[color=007236]I forget what you called it but it moves like this.[/color]" Tracing out the shape of an L on the board.

"[color=007236]But only in that shape.[/color]" She said hesitantly. "[color=007236]...right?[/color]"

"Correct! It can also jump over other pieces, whereas all the other pieces on the board are stopped by other pieces." One could hear the happy chirp in Serena's tone. She put down the Knight, picking up the Queen. "What does this piece do?"

"[color=007236]Ruins your day.[/color]" Dex replied brightly. "[color=007236]That is the Queen, can move like the other pieces. Though has to follow the same rules. For example if you want to move the Queen like a Bishop it has to stay on the same coloured tile until the turn is over.[/color]"

"[color=007236]There is so much to remember for one game.[/color]" Dex said squinting at the Queen piece.

"Not really." Serena shrugged. "Just consider all of them your 'team'. Each has their own specific roll and skills." She put down the Queen, picking up the last piece. "And what does this one do?"

"[color=007236]That piece decides the game. The King can only move one space at a time and if you manage to trap it or take it out then you win.[/color]"

"Only if you trap it. You cannot take the King. But other then that, correct!" Serena placed the last piece of her basic chess set up, moving it aside. "Now. Do you want to play with the automatic custom set, the static custom crafted set, or the hologram set?" Serena spoke brightly, pulling out three brief case like objects and putting them in front of Dex.

Dex smiled humming pleasantly through her sub vocals. "[color=007236]Hologram. It'll be easier to hack and cheat my way to victory.[/color]" Grinning mischievously at Serena. "[color=007236]I'm just kidding. I'm surprised you cart around all these chess sets. I barely travel with enough change of clothes.[/color]"

She was still grinning but the strain on Serena's smile gave the turian pause. "[color=007236]I [i]was[/i] kidding.[/color]"

Serena's smile twitched ever so slightly at the mention of hacking her hologram chess set. It remained on her face, but never reached her eyes. "Good. Because if you do decide to do such a thing, I'll sabatoge your arm beyond all repair." She hesitated for a moment, seeming to realize that she [i]may[/i] have taken a joke too seriously. 

Dex sat up straight crossing her arms over her chest humming displeased.

[color=hotpink]"Sorry. I cart them around because two of them were made by one of my parents each, and the last one they helped me craft."[/color] She opened the one Dex had selected, pressing a button on the side. Immediately two full sets of chess pieces popped up in holographic form. Different races represented the different pieces. Alliance Marines were pawns, Krogan Battlemasters were rooks, Asari Commandos were knights, Salarian STG were bishops, Rachni Queens were the queens, and Elcor 'walking artillery' were the kings.

[color=hoptink]"This is my mom's. Board is fully programmable, so you can switch between all the known races for the various pieces. They change based on what piece you have as the race."[/color] She changed the rook from Krogan Battlemaster to the N7 Destroyer, and then to the Geth Juggernaut. She changed the Rook back to the Battlemaster, smiling at Dex. [color=hotpink]"If you want to personalize your set, you can flip through all the races and then press the green button in front of you. Say your name, and the set title, and it'll save for next time you want to use that aesthetic."[/color]

Dex relaxed at her apology understanding these sets weren't just any old sets. They were keepsakes from her family. Dex could understand that protectiveness completely. "[color=007236]Apology accepted. I don't usually talk about my family but...[/color]" Dex began slowly still deciding on sharing something generally personal. "[color=007236]I have three siblings and my mother and father. I'm the oldest.[/color]" 

Proceeding to cycle through the different races for the chess pieces she continuned, "[color=007236]This is pretty cool. I understand why you would be protective of something special like your chess sets. I can see myself reacting the same way if someone messed around with a keepsake.[/color]"

Settling on changing the King to be a Turian Primarch. "[color=007236]I miss my family like crazy. I was,[/color]" Dex paused then amended, "[color=007236]I mean I [i]am[/i] close with them. Just haven't seen them in person for a long time.[/color]" She changed the Rooks to be Vorcha Warriors, her Bishops became Volus Merchants, the Knights changed to Batarian Enforcer, Queen was changed to Asari Matriarch. The Pawns changed to Turian Soldiers. Running an eye over her side she liked the mix up and loved that she could customize the pieces. "[color=007236]I don't like to talk about them, they're a big target for counter-spy measures so it felt like even mentioning them painted a target on their backs. But... I don't work as a spy anymore. I'm back to being a pilot.[/color]"

Dex couldn't help but grin at that little relevation, smiling at Serena. Humming pleasantly again.

Serena nodded, smiling slightly, relieved that Dex wasn't as offended at her overprotective slip.  [color=hotpink]"My family and I were tight knit too. Had to be. Lived in the most dangerous city on the planet. Police are corrupt, or killed before they become a problem. The only protections are the gangs, and they're constantly at war with one another. I'm pretty sure they're well protected, given the gang we sided with. However...."[/color] She suddenly bit her lip, worried. [color=hotpink]"I don't know if the Alliance went after them....I hope not."[/color] She shook her head. [color=hotpink]"Are you going to vist them again? You're a pilot remember. The Borealis could drop by whichever planet they're on."[/color]

She gestured towards the board. [color=hotpink]"You get first move."[/color]

Dex tilted her head at the mention of the Alliance, deciding to move the pawn in front of one of her Rooks first. "[color=007236]My homeworld is kind of out of the way and I don't think the team would see much reason for taking a detour. Taetrus isn't the most lucrative colony for mercenary work. Horrible vacation spot. All swamps and well into the megafauna stage.[/color]" She chuckled. "[color=007236]What's another few years?[/color]"

"[color=007236]Your turn, Serena.[/color]" 

[color=hotpink]"Ah well. If we ever do break up for a brief vacation, I'd be happy to tag along with you on a detour there. Horrible or not, it sounds interesting."[/color] Serena sucked in her upper lip, finally deciding upon moving her knight. The asari leapt over the pawns in front of her, coming to a stop in the familiar L shape. 

[color=hotpink]"Besides. It'll give me a great chance to test some of my protoypes in extreme environments like the one you're describing."[/color]

Eventually, as the girls enjoyed their homebrew chess game, their slavic co-pilot finally showed up, wearing a quizical expression across his face. [Color=steelblue]"You wanted me for something? I was running a diagnostic on the new software we bought off Roca. What's this about my arm?"[/color] 

"[color=007236]She's going to check it for repairs. Make you feel guilty for every scratch or dent.[/color]" Dex replied lightly. Moving out her Rook the Vorcha walked forward brandishing his gun about.

Iosif shrugged at that, [Color=steelblue]"It's seen use."[/color] Frankly, he'd not given it a great degree of thought beyond how much of a punch it packed when necessary. One of the overseers on Aratoht had learned that when tasting a mouthful of cybernetics during his escape from that hellish labour camp.

Raising his arm, it was only just clear he'd not made a [i]real[/i] check of it since Aratoht. Whilst in working shape, a little tuning wouldn't have hurt - he'd meant to do some work on it a while ago but circumstances had left him with other things on his mind,

[color=hotpink]"Seen use. Seen use. That's what every idiot with a robotic arm tries to say to make slight of the fact they haven't been treating it right."[/color] Serena snorted, moving her knight again, the Commando seeming to glide across the board.

Serena gestured to the chair Dex had vacated. [color=hotpink]"Sit down in that chair over there Iosif. You're arm is in a much better state than Dex's, which tells me that you'll be treating it better."[/color] Serena pointed over at Iosif, smirking at the turian.  [color=hotpink]"See that Dex? That's someone who realizes their arm isn't made for smashing doors and walls. You should sit down with him sometimes, take a few notes."[/color]

"[colo=007236]I wasn't [i]smashing[/i] anything.[/color]" Dex grumbled moving the pawn in front of her king next. The Turian solider marched forward two spaces, back straight and eyes forward.

Sarah floated over to Iosif, scanning his arm. Serena tsked as she looked at the reading. [color=hotpink]"However, he doesn't bother to check it. Tune it. Or do anything with it other than punch enemies in the face, it seems. It's been untouched and untuned for so long that I'm frankly surprised it's still in working condition. Dear God Iosif. There are the tech equivalent of blood clots in there. A lovely mixture of blood, oil, dust, and God knows what else. We'll have to give it a full cleaning and replace the older pieces."[/color]

[color=steelblue]"You'll do nothing of the sort, it needs some tuning but that's it. I haven't had the time nor access to the fine tools to do some real work."[/color]

"[color=007236]May as well get it over with Iosif, Serena works fast and does a good job. Though she does love to exaggerate if it's not in perfect floor model shape.[/color]" She said. "[color=007236]All she's charging is a game of chess in return for the repairs.[/color]"

Serena looked over at Iosif, raising an eyebrow, in a clear 'I wasn't aware I had made a request' look. [color=hotpink]"I have the fine tools. My specialty is in robotics. I've been working on prosthetic limbs and the like since I was eight. Unless your arm thrives on filth, the cleaning and replacing of the older parts, which I have, can only make it better. And I charge consistent chess gameplay. Currently I only have Dex, Vellios, and Tanya."[/color]

She moved her knight, taking Dex's pawn. The Asari lifted the Turian Soldier with her biotics and slammed him into the ground, taking his place as his body disappeared. [color=hotpink]"And she's not that good of a player yet."[/color]

Dex seemed a little disappointed at Serena taking one of her pieces so quickly but the animation was cool. "[color=007236]I [i]just[/i] learned how to play. Come on Iosif, the console on the bridge is probably an ungodly mess, decades worth of bandaid fixes are waiting for us to untangle tomorrow. They're not going anywhere.[/color]" Dex said considering her next move then moved out her bishop, the volus waddled forward seemingly counting credits, though wisely kept it safely out of Serena's knight path.

[color=steelblue]"Fine, though I haven't touched a board in a long while."[/color] Iosif relented, flexing his cybernetic fingers.

[color=hotpink]"Good! I could help on the board. You pick up a lot of talents when you're the only one really good at mechanical and programming stuff in your various mercenary crews. Now Iosif, just have a se-"[/color] Serena's Omni-tool suddenly went off, a clear alarm blaring through it. [color=hotpink]"Oh fuck. Oh no. Nononono. Fuck!"[/color] She typed quickly away at her Omni-tool, muttering to herself. [color=hotpink]"Come on you piece of shit, connect! I know I made you better than this! Connect! Connect damn it!"[/color]
 
Dex looked up in alarm at Serena's sudden distress. "[color=007236]What's going on.[/color]"
 
It took entirely too long, but she finally managed to get it to connect.
 
She started speaking as soon as she could, in almost tripping over her words. [color=hotpink]"Vellios! Vellios! Can you hear me? Calm down. You're better than this. You're not like this. You're not back there. You're not on that ship. You're free. You're not in his control anymore. Calm down. Breathe. Focus on my voice. You're okay now. You're better than this...there we go."[/color] She slowed down as her omni-tool began to beep less and less, finally silencing. 
 
Dex stared at Serena absorbing everything she was saying, all the red flags in her mind were waving right in front of her. After the conversation they had earlier the way Serena was speaking to Vellios was suggesting something much worse than what she initially thought were his 'issues.'

Meanwhile, Iosif could only look on with a certain curiosity - and a discontented feeling sitting at the pit of his gut. Instincts told him to reach for his sidearm in case some shit [i]was[/i] about to hit the turbine.
 
Serena waited a few moments, looking at the Omni-tool, making sure everything was okay, eyeing the readings balefully. 
 
[color=hotpink]"By the way, I'm going to kick your ass for going to an underground fight club, as soon as we get there."[/color]
   
Dex's mouth opened and closed with the hundreds of questions she wanted to fire at Serena but settled on, "[color=007236]I'll grab my gear.[/color]"
 
She turned to the two of them, worry and relief at Dex's simple acceptance etched in her face. [color=hotpink]"We need to go. Now. Vellios is in trouble, he killed someone. There will be consequences for it."[/color]

[Color=steelblue]"Fine, let's haul him out before he does any more damage."[/color] Iosif grunted.

It only took them a short cab ride from the [i]Borealis[/i] to reach the club Vellios and Hazan had fought in. It took even less time to go and find Vellios and Hazan, recovering the injured Turian and taking him back to the [I]Borealis[/I], Hazan in tow.

While Serena and Iosif fussed over Vellios, Dex had delved into the security network, slithering her way into it's files and camera access. Within a few minutes of having access she went straight to deleting the footage. When the video feed had showed what happened, Dex hovered watching the action unfold. Deciding to take a few screenshots of Vellios tearing open the Krogan's head. Seemingly unaffected at a glance while Dex was reeling inside her mind. Questions were piling up within every minute. 

The screenshots were sent off to her private server, where she stock piled all her secrets and information from just about every job she ever took on. It was absolutely secure within walls of code and multiple safeguards, including but not limited to biometric scans and identification protocols. The information it contained was worth millions of credits. The feeds were deleted along with erasing any evidence the crew was here.

Throwing a glance at the severely beaten turian then staring down the very same Vellios in the screenshots. Missing a crucial link in the chain to understanding what had happened in the pit Dex was determined to find out. Her instincts wouldn't allow anything short of finding out the truth. "[color=007236]All cleaned up, Serena. Beyond the dead body it was as if we were never here.[/color]" Eyeing the asari, Aleera, that was hovering over Vellios when they arrived.

Having rejoined Serena and Iosif she spoke out the side of her mouth to her fellow crewmembers, "[color=007236]My scanners are combing through the asari's omnitool as we speak. I'll throw up some walls in case she tries anything while our backs are turned.[/color]" 

Taking up Vellios' other arm to balance him out from leaning too heavily on Serena. "[color=007236]Come on tough guy, you've got a medbay gurney with your name on it.[/color]"

Serena breathed a sigh of relief as they finally returned to the ship. [color=hotpink]"That went easier than I thought..."[/color]

She made a brief omni-tool call to Hazan, the only one still not on the ship. [color=hotpink]"Hazan, can you return to the ship? We need some help with Vellios. Thanks!"[/color]