[b][i]Mass Effect: Seraphim Post[/i][/b]

It was then that Ashton's still-activated laptop beeped. Bringing up his inbox, the young man saw a message from one of his online contacts on the 'dark extranet'. Upon reading, the young man froze. Turning to Flame, the boy said, "Remember the Batarian dissident I told you about, Rigger? Apparently, he's dead." A pause. "Dead but not without his secrets; I've suspected that he carried some sensitive information on the Hegemony when he vanished and that's been confirmed."

Flame nodded at that, then said, "If it had been any other kid saying this, I'd be suspecting them. But right now, I believe you're right. Shall we go to the Main Hangar now?"

A swift nod as Ashton packed up his personal computer and omni-tool, carefully erasing all traces of his use of the local computer grid as he did so. The boy then gave a slight bow to Lokea and said, "Thank you."

He and Flame then walked down the control tower and went to meet with this 'Saris Fen'; Ashton assumed the name was Volus. Once they got there, Flame looked around, saying, "We seem to be an intact group. Can't say the same for these Blue Suns."

Ashton looked at where Laurence was and whispered back, "Well, it seems that Mr. Constantly Angry got here first. Anyway, I'll be introducing myself to this 'Saris' guy; he seems like the sort of person who'd tolerate some sass."

Flame's palm met his face as he said in a low voice, "Are you [i]sure[/i] you want to anger an employer who's shady enough to hire [i]kids[/i]?" A pause. "Oh, well, guess it's your coffin."

They waited for the Volus to arrive, and when he did, Ashton went a few steps forward. He then gave a slight bow and apologized for his forwardness, "Please forgive me for asking first, Mr. Fen, but having left a middle-class life on Earth - It is my companion who was a former slave, not me - to pursue the will of a now-dead friend," Ashton carefully avoided revealing that said friend was a Batarian, "I must ask what exactly you are planning to do with us as your 'employees'."

A purse of his lips, "And by that, why are you looking for a ragtag bunch of talented misfits? Especially misfits with a sense of morality. I presume it's for an idealistic mission, right?" Another pause. "Because if so, I'd like to see terms of employment; the promise of credits is great, but I want to know if I'd be able to do some freelance security work as long as I don't reveal anything [i]and[/i] send messages to my parents assuring them I am all right as long as I also don't reveal anything."